Woman at Work, November 2025

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What’s Happening? It’s Hallowe’en as I write this. School was in a state of high excitement today! Presently, my husband is answering the door for occasional trick-or-treaters. Nothing like a bunch of kids in cute costumes to lift the spirits. (Ha ha)

What I’m Working On. The Warlock’s Army is still in progress. It’s at 60K words and coming to a major turning point. Cassander is trying to catch up with Viola, and Jeniana is confronting her Pop about hiding the implications from her.

What’s Next? I have no firm plans at this time.

Where I’ll be. Fall Folk Festival is this month. In fact, it’s next weekend! I guess I’d better decide what I’m going to read.

Fun and Games. New content was released for Terra Nil, which is a game where you restore ecosystems in a destroyed wasteland. The extra levels are challenging, and I’ve enjoyed them. I am not reading any books right now, but I do have an issue of Uncanny magazine in my e-reader. Kate Elliott has a new release out this month and I’m waiting eagerly for that.

Wishing you a spooky or spicy Hallowe’en, according to your own preference.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Busy November

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This November I have not one by two new releases! The first one will be Standing Stones and Safety Zones. The expected release is on November 15th. Just tonight (Friday, October 24th) I approved the cover art and I can’t wait to show it off!

The second will be Spirit of the Wolf, the anthology I posted on last week. I have a release date of November 18th for that one, but no purchase links yet.

Unfortunately these are both after Fall Folk Festival, which is November 8th and 9th, 2025. I wish I could sell copies there, but I won’t have them. That’s okay, it just means I can focus on the Cleodora Duology, which I completed last May.

My immediate job, now that I have the art, is to design the cover for Stones and Zones. Onward!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Queen Demon

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I read a great book, and I have to tell you about it! The book is Queen Demon, by Martha Wells, and it’s a follow up to her 2023 epic, Witch King. Honestly, I’m surprised at myself for not writing about Witch King more at the time. I got to hear Wells read a section of it at WorldCon, last August, so I was primed for the release last week. Obviously, the whole book did not disappoint.

Witch King consisted of two braided plots, one in the past and one in the present. In the past, a horrible army led by Hierarchs (sorcerers) had descended on a mostly peaceful world and was gradually conquering everything. Until a group of their hostages managed to start an uprising and escaped with their lives. In the present, that uprising had been successful enough that it founded the Rising World coalition. One faction had a conspiracy to turn the Rising World into an empire.

Events in both times are witnessed by Kaiisteron, a demon who is able to drain the life out of people and can change bodies at need. Kai’s people in the underearth have a treaty with surface mortals around how and when this is acceptable. In the past we meet Kai as a youth who gets caught up as one of the hostages and nearly dies. In the present, he is an almost unstoppable force. Though felled by treachery, he still manages to foil the would-be emperor’s plans.

Queen Demon picks up both plots directly from the conclusion of Witch King. In the past, Kai and his allies continue their war against the Hierarchs. We get a fuller sense of all the characters in Kai’s close circle. There are satisfying hints of relationships growing between them. In the present, Kai is tracking down a rumor that one of the Hierarchs is still alive. The truth of this leads to uneasy alliances with a couple of opponents from the previous book.

The best part of this series is in Wells’ world building. The Hierarchs left ruins scattered everywhere, which makes for a poignant landscape. It is a diverse world with people of all colors and sizes, having varied dress, foods, architecture, and manners. Everything is beautifully described. There are also a number of same-sex relationships that are not treated as being unusual, so bear this in mind if that sort of thing bothers you.

I do see some flaws in the work, factors that seemed random or maybe just weren’t well explained. That just means I might have to read it again soon, and see what clues there were that I missed!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Spirit of the Wolf

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I have a new publication coming out! My short story, “The Wolf God’s Path,” is part of another anthology from Wolfsinger Publications. Spirit of the Wolf is a charity anthology, benefitting Mission: Wolf, a wildlife sanctuary in southern Colorado that (no surprise) holds and cares for gray wolves.

“The Wolf God’s Path” is about a young woman embarking on a spirit quest. Lily is searching for an “alter stone,” a mystic stone that will allow her to change her path in life. The one she finds is guarded by Kirishac Redfang, the wolf god, who is not easily convinced that she is worthy.

One interesting thing about this story is that it’s set in the same world as “Mistress Henbane,” one of the tales in my forthcoming book, Standing Stones and Safety Zones. The title character, Mistress Henbane, is wise woman for a rural village. She’s partly a healer and partly their mystic defender. In Stones and Zones, we see Mistress Henbane having an adventure while healing someone. “The Wolf God’s Path” shows more of her ordinary duties.

I don’t have a release date yet for Spirit of the Wolf, but you can be sure that I’ll pass that information along as soon as I get it!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Woman at Work, October 2025

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What’s Happening? October is just beginning. It’s my second favorite time of year because I love Hallowe’en. On the other hand, I have to put my garden to bed for the year. Lots of trimming and mulching to take care of.

What I’m Working On. Layouts and organizing for Standing Stones and Safety Zones are my top priority.

What’s Next? I’m a bit stalled until cover art comes in for Stones and Zones, so I’m pushing forward on The Warlock’s Army.

Where I’ll be. Fall Folk Festival is next month, and I always have a good time there.

Fun and Games. I’ve been very involved with a video game called Wildmender. The goal is to save the world by restoring habitats in a desert. My current read is Network Effect by Martha Wells, an author I really admire. She has a new book coming out later this month, and I can’t wait to get it!

Wishing you a soft and lingering fall!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Fall Folk Festival

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Work continues on layouts for my next book, Standing Stones and Safety Zones. There are miles to go, but in the meantime I got a nice bit of news.

Fall Folk Festival has released their schedule of performances. They have me on Saturday in the early afternoon. This is a nice improvement from previous years, when I was scheduled on Sunday mornings. I will have books in the festival store, as always. This year I’ll be featuring my Cleodora duology.

Anyway, my brain might be full of type sizes and clip art, but this is something nice to look forward to.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Just-A-Con

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I’m at Just-A-Con this weekend. It’s a tiny local “relaxacon” where attendees can roam around and spend time catching up. I’m bringing books and doing a reading, but the emphasis isn’t on sales. (Although I did sell well last year.)

The important thing will be the catching up with friends. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a lot of us are worried about the direction of our government, turning sharply toward control and destruction. Keeping our community together is more urgent than ever.

In fact, my first program item will be a check-in to see how everyone is doing. I’m also on one about DEI and why there’s such a backlash. But in a more fun vein, those of us who were at Worldcon will give a recap of our impressions, and we’ll be talking about trends in gaming (table top, rpg, video).

I hope you all have a chance to rest this weekend and reconnect with your friend group. We’re going to need each other in days to come!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

And the Title Is…

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Project X is taking shape. I know which two stories I want to include in the volume. I have an agreement with my artist on price and delivery. But, until yesterday, I hadn’t settled on a title. So I tossed out a few alternatives on my blog, Wyrmflight, for reader feedback.

First, I should specify that “Project X” has already been used. Part of my process in developing titles is to search for key words and phrases, so I can avoid duplication of existing work. If the previous title is older, say more than ten years, I might still use that title. If it’s within the past few years, then definitely not.

Some of the potential titles were “Two Stories” because it includes two stories, “Fantasy Times Two,” “Partners in Sorcery/Magic” or “Standing Stones and Danger Zones.” After hearing the comments, I’m opting for this last one.

As I imagined myself at book tables, talking to potential readers, I found that my other ideas were more awkward. Customer: “What’s the book called?” Me: “Fantasy Times Two, it’s about…” Customer, “Huh? No, that’s okay.”

On the other hand: Customer: “What’s the book called?” Me: “Standing Stones and Danger Zones, it has two stories in it. One of them has standing stones and the other one is about…” Customer: “Never mind, take my money!”

Or so I hope!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Woman at Work, September 2025

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What’s Happening? It is Labor Day as I write this, and I’m enjoying a relaxing weekend. We went to a food festival yesterday, and had hoped to go to a local lake in the afternoon. However, my husband got serious about a home improvement he’s been putting off all summer. So just a quiet day for me.

What I’m Working On. The Warlock’s Army is my current WIP, as mentioned in several recent posts. However, I may need to pause it in order to assemble my next publication, due out in November.

What’s Next? “Project X,” that is. It is going to be a double feature, with one short story and one novella. I have given the story I want illustrated to a friend, who is a good artist, and I trust I will have cover art soon. However, I actually haven’t decided on the title yet. I have a few clever ideas, but nothing has jelled quite yet.

Where I’ll be. Just-A-Con, September 19-21, 2025. It’s a very small, relaxing convention where we’ll be talking about Worldcon, DEI, and more.

Fun and Games. In addition to my perennial game, Animal Crossing, I’m about to start a new one called Wildmender. The goal is to build a garden in a desert and explore some enigmatic ruins. My current read is Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders.

Wishing you a smooth segue from summer to fall!

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my blog, Wyrmflight, or follow me on Bluesky.

Some Nice News

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A couple of nice things have fluttered down to me, like little butterflies of happiness.

First of these, I was accepted to perform at Fall Folk Festival in November. It seems from the email format that I should have received this news earlier, but that’s fine. I can look forward to reading Lucy D. Ford’s work on November 8th or 9th, 2025.

Second of these, during the back-to-school staff training, the librarian let me know she wants to buy the Cleodora duology (Acorn Canyon and Willow Lake). I had loaned her the books during the last few weeks of the 2024-25 school year and she didn’t return them. Which I was irritating. But, she read them over the summer and they are appropriate for the school library, so all is forgiven!

Also, a submission window opened this week. I threw my short story “Curse Maker” through it. Let’s see if my lucky streak can continue!