HEYYYYYYYY!

Boy O Boy, inspired by Meg Elison’s blog post about The Science Fiction Weight Loss Book, I was all set to post my thoughts on the new Candyman trailer, but I contacted my illustrious editor over at Rm. 220 and told her what I’d written. She said she would run it, and well, I sure do love working with her, so that piece has gone over to Antenna.works. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s out, as always.

Since I’m spending those 800 or so words otherwise, I’ll just have to blog about something else. WELL! It just so happens I’ve got PLENTY going on. For one thing, for some time now, I’ve been wanting to get into the voice over business. I love podcasts of all kinds, but especially ones that present fiction—like Levar Burton Reads, Tales to Terrify, Night Light, and allllll the Escape Artists podcasts. It turns out, I landed a role in a full-cast production of Wesley Jenkins’ “The Oak Knowers.” The role is small, but it’s an excellent start to a voice-over hobby, if not a full-fledged career.

I worked with the Escape Artists folks when “Mister Dog” came out on PodCastle, so I already think very highly of them behind the scenes as well as for the quality of their presentations. Here’s a link to Part 1 and here’s Part 2.

I keep wondering if my renewed interest in poetry is here to stay, and it would seem that it is. I don’t produce nearly as quickly as I did back in the Evergreen days, but I’m also turning out at lot less bad verse. My god. Some of that old stuff that none of you will EVER see… well, let’s pass over it in silence…. By the way, I have recently made the acquaintance of an illustrator/tattoo artist here in town named Malaika “Mecca” Theodore. Mecca is not only a generally cool person who is fun to be around, she’s also an amazing and accomplished tattoo artist, and a master of line and color. What’s more is, she’s also Guyanese, and it’s always great to meet someone who understands Bubblin’ Soca and black cake, ya dig? As soon as we get some time, I’m going to sit Mecca down over coffee and put together a proper interview. Watch this space!

It would be remiss not to mention the biggest recent news in my life, which is that Carnival has come and gone. Carnival in New Orleans is my favorite time of year capped off by my favorite holiday, and I made sure to party my ass off. It honestly wasn’t easy. The collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel and the bodies still stuck inside cast a pall of the proceedings—to the point where many in the city felt that this year’s unusual number of deaths and injuries on or around the parade routes might be connected somehow to the Hard Rock. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I do know that those bodies being left to molder for 4 months without the dignity of burial represents a low-point for our, at best, semi-functional city. Still, I was able to rally on Mardi Gras day, and I had an absolutely blast from that afternoon through Ash Wednesday. Thank God for Jazz, black folks, chatty strangers, and hot tubs—as well as my ABC, Kytara Epps.

I also, after about 15 years of trying, have sold a story to Strange Horizons. It’s called “The LEAP Test.” I don’t yet know when it will appear, but it’s based on the time I spent working as a substitute teacher at a community school here in New Orleans. It’s also one of the first glimpses readers will get into the world of my novel, Conjure Music. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a stealth prequel/sequel but it’s definitely related. For one thing, it includes the first official mention of the Delgado Community College for Spellcraft and Sorcery. You’ll definitely be hearing more about that institution down the line.

I’m going to end this entry before it gets (any more) out of hand. Rest assured that there’s a bit more news I’m sitting on. Very hush hush until I’m cleared to make things public. Don’t worry, True Believers. You’ll (probably?) (maybe?) hear it here first. Also, I high-key CANNOT WAIT for Wiscon.