Good afternoon, Readers!

Well, it's both Monday and Samhain, so, a very happy Hallowe'en and blessed Samhain in whichever way you celebrate the occasion.

Today marks the Celtic New Year, and there are many traditions surrounded this day. One of my favourites, which others might find terribly macabre but I find incredibly sweet, is the returning of dead loved ones. They are welcomed into the home with a place set at the table so that they can eat the Samhain meal with their living families. This is the time of year they check in on their living descendants to make sure everything in the home is well and good.

So, I would like to offer a very warm welcome to my grandmother, who I miss terribly. I hope she does check in on me... and is understanding of the organised mess that is my house. I am looking forward to her company, even if only briefly. She has many descendants to check in on.

If I have other ancestors who'd like to pop by, I welcome them too, and I'm very sorry I don't recall you at all.

Because ghosts, as we all know, read blogs.  Hell, blogs are so old and out of fashion that I'm pretty sure they're the only ones who do.

In other news, I have other news!

During a lovely chat with my mum last night, I was reminded that the second book of The Avalon Wars series (working title... I'm not enamoured with it) exists and is a thing. Not only that, but I sent it to her and she has finished editing it. I should be receiving the edits soon. I look forward to reading what I've written, because I've forgotten it all, and I'm excited to read her comments. She did say that she loved it, so I'm anxious to sink my teeth into it.

Then I have to figure out a second beta reader. My usual second beta reader is having issues that are limiting his time on the computer, so I don't want to add to his computer-related workload. Another person I would ask still has The Lioness of Shara Mountain, and is quite busy, so I don't want to ask her and add to her workload. I have some time to think of someone to ask to be my second beta reader. I haven't yet received the edits, and I won't have to worry too much about it until I've gone through all those edits in any case.

Speaking of The Lioness of Shara Mountain, I really need to start thinking about the book cover. This one is going to be a web novel, but even that requires an eye-catching cover. I have an idea of what I want, but I should muck around in my drawing software for a bit. I have so much art stuff to do. Ugh. Why do I do this to myself?!

There need to be more hours in the day. Or rather, I need to spend less time in an office, and more time doing my own thing.

Alright, the last bit of news I have:

November is my birth month. I'm not fussed about birthdays. I tend not to celebrate. But I would like this month to be something special. So, if you are inclined to want to offer me a gift, don't. Instead, consider supporting a charity I am championing - Trees for Life.

How? Well, half of all my royalties of Daughters of Britain are going towards a grove in Caledonia (Scotland), so you can help me celebrate my birthday by buying a copy (purchase links here) OR please buy a tree to plant directly (here). Each tree is just £6, I think.

My birthday wish is to end November with a big, beautiful grove of trees in the place in which I set Daughters of Britain.

Alright my loves, that is all I have. Sort of. I created a mailing/enewsletter thingy. If you want to receive monthly updates on my writing and art and (eventually, but not yet) exclusives, do sign up. You can do so here, if you want.

Now I'm done.

Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

So, I haven't written anything in a long while. I don't mean this blog. I did have a WIP that I was trying to get done by the end of this month, but then wonderful news of family from Australia visiting for Christmas hit, and I panicked, seeking a decent set of gifts for those who are coming. I struck on an idea for a hand-made gift, but it is a lengthy project, and it's quite involved, and it is taking all of my energy at the moment.

That is what I'm working on. It is currently my entire focus.

It involves a whole lot of planning and painting. You might have seen some of it on my Facebook page.

I can't talk more about it because it is secret, and I don't want to give it away for any of my family reading this. I will say, however, it is stressing me TF out. I'm not sure I'll get it done in time, and that is a scary thought. Of the 13 paintings I have to do, I have finished exactly two. Hopefully the third one will be done today. The paintings are not large, but I'm incapable of choosing easy subjects, it seems.

As I'm working on this gift, though, I feel like it might be a useful thing for others, so I'm contemplating creating a version that will be available for sale. No one really knows who I am, and I doubt I could sell very many units of this thing because (as my book sales prove) getting the word out about my stuff is near impossible, but maybe, if I finish it soon enough, I might be able to shift a couple units before the new year.

It is entirely dependent on timing, though, which is why it's so stressful.

The version I'm working on now will be my own, but I can make copies, which should be easier to deal with for those receiving it (I chose very thick paper), and will be quite easy for me to personalise. But I need to get these paintings done first. Then I need to fill in the rest of the pages with... uh... the rest of the stuff that makes up this gift, but aren't really full-fledged paintings.

If I finish in time, I'll be posting about it everywhere, but likely TikTok and Instagram first.

Maybe I'll hold off on making the thing available for sale until next year, largely because I don't want to spoil the Xmas gift for any of my family who might actually watch those.

I don't know. I'm feeling a little disheartened by things in my creative career at the moment, and it's hard to find the motivation and confidence to continue to try. This, however, is for family, so it's a little easier to find the will to get it done.

The project won't be secret forever, so keep an eye out. I'll be positing about it to my socials. And if I decide to make it more widely available, I'll let you know.

Right, it's time to go. I have work to do and whatnot.

​Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

What, two blog posts in a week? EVERYONE PANIC!

Okay, but in all seriousness, this is the actual report on Can*Con, starting with a little bit of backstory. I shall try to keep the gushing to a minimum.

Also, a warning, it's a long post today.

This is about when I realised that Can*Con was imminent and I have nothing with which to display my art pieces, I don't have what I need to take payments. I panic. I research those display grids you see all the time for art displays at conventions/open-air fairs. They are only available online, will not ship in time, and are hovering around $200.00. Well... fuck. I have an idea and check out the Ikea website and *heavenly choir* find a room divider that will both work, will look great AND will have a function outside of convention season. I put out a call for anyone who may be available to take me to Ikea and home again after I purchase said last minute thing. Luckily, my friend Bruce answered the call.

THANK YOU, BRUCE. You are a bloody legend! Have fun in Winnipeg.

Then I get a call that my ride to the hotel is unable to do it. I panic. I call my dad, who very kindly agrees to be my wheels; at least to the convention. He can't drive me back. That's alright. I'll find a way.

Once the rides were sorted, I realise that I don't really have the right hardware for taking payments. Well... shit. So, I ordered the Square tap/chip reader blue-tooth machine. I left it kinda late, because of course I did. It arrived Thursday - the day before the convention began.

I am so organised.

Nevertheless, it's done. I have a way to display my art, and to take payments. I'm all set. Sort of.

Never mind that I didn't make the three styles of leather dice bags I wanted to bring, and there was a painting I wanted to bring, but hadn't yet finished despite having begun it three months ago.

Whatever. Too late now! With one night left to go, I slept incredibly poorly.

Alright, everything was pulled together last minute Thursday night, but was ready to go in the morning. My apartment is an old building, and doesn't have an elevator. So, I made several trips up and down the four floors carrying my boxes, paintings and room divider down so my dad didn't have to. I was all ready when he arrived.

We loaded the car, and off we went.

We arrived at the hotel just a few minutes after the dealer's room opened for set up. I forgot what floor it was on at first, so I took us to the wrong floor before I figured it out. The elevators opened to reveal Brandon and Marie, and suddenly I was home.

I got a hug from both before unpacking the carts and seeing my dad off for a well-deserved weekend at the cottage. Then I returned to the room to unpack my stuff.

This is when I learnt that I had not restocked my books... and so of my self-published titles, I had only a few copies of The Seraphimé Saga, Ethan Cadfael and a few copies of The Dying God & Other Stories. I had nothing of Sky Road Walker. Uh... Oops. I also discovered that I had just one bookmark, when I was certain I had four. I still don't know where the other three went. FFS. Whatever. I set up my table as well as I could regardless. I was done pretty quick, and so I spent some time entering a lot of the things I didn't have in my Square, then went out for some breakfast; which I hadn't yet gotten.

That didn't take long and, adequately fed, the rush of getting everything together fading, I had a small breakdown. It wasn't overwhelm so much as the sudden lifting of overwhelm. Suddenly, in a safe, supportive space, there was a lifting of two years worth of stress and frustration. Needing a bit of space to process, I vanished into the quiet room (Can*Con had a quiet room! SUCH A GOOD IDEA) for a few hours and just let myself be. It was so nice.

Realising I hadn't eaten in a bit, I went out for lunch, stopping at Kyoto Sushi on Bank St, which has become something of a tradition for me when I go to Can*Con. Ate my fill, returned to the quiet room for a while until registration opened. I collected my tag and swag bag, managed to get a hug from Derek - and a book! - and then returned to the vendor's room to wait for crowds.

Friday was lovely. Seeing old friends again and meeting new ones was so much fun. I even made a sale that surprised the hell out of me. Now I have to make another leather dust jacket. Oh, the hardship. Exhausted by the crowds (I never really do well with crowds), I raced home in the evening to eat a late dinner, then collapse into bed.

With no one available to teach for me, I spent the morning and early afternoon teaching martial arts. I am not sad about this (I love teaching martial arts), though I did miss being at the convention. Once the classes were done, I raced downtown to the hotel, set up my table, got changed and collapsed in a heap behind my table. There I stayed for the rest of the time the vendor's room was open.

I had a lovely time chatting with everyone, got a number of hugs from friends, and made a couple of book sales, which is always lovely.

The evening had two parties I really wanted to attend. First, the book launch party for Brandon Crilly and Evan May, both of whom are top blokes, and I wanted to support them. It was Brandon's first book and Evan's third. As it turned out, Evan was unwell and couldn't make it all weekend, which was quite sad. But, Marie very sweetly called in so he could still be part of the proceedings. It was hilarious and sweet, and I'm very glad I was there for it. Nathan from Renaissance Press read from Evan's book (Easter Pinkerton and the Case of the Heretic Blood), and it was great. I've previously read the book, and it is by far my favourite of Evan's. Similarly, Brandon called in... to his grandparents, whom he had dedicated the book to. It was so very sweet, and my heart felt like it was going to explode. I haven't yet read Brandon's book (Catalyst), but I am absolutely looking forward to it.

Following that was mingle time and... I quickly became overwhelmed. There were too many people too close and too much noise for me. I don't do well in crowds normally, and I am three years out of practice. I started disassociating and that's when I knew it was time to go.

I missed the second party I wanted to attend - the 30 year anniversary party. I did plan to go, but I was about three seconds away from a panic attack, so I said some quick goodbyes and ran away. Almost quite literally.

Once home, I ate a quick dinner, cuddled with the cat, and collapsed into bed.

The last day. It was too soon for it to be over!

In any case, I arrived in the vendor's room on time, stuffing my face with a hastily bought breakfast, when I received a text from Nathan at Renaissance. They were waiting patiently for me to arrive so they could begin the book launch for my, Evan's and Elizabeth Hirst's books. I stared at my phone for a second, before fleeing the vendor's room, spilling hot coffee on my hand, as I rushed to the launch.

I thought it started half an hour later than it actually started.

I am a twit.

But I got there... not too late, and the launch went really well. Oh, did I mention that I hadn't chosen a reading until I arrived in the vendor's room?

I am organised.

In any case, I think it went alright, for having been chosen literally three minutes prior. Evan still unwell, Nathan read for him again. And then it was mingle time.

As I usually do when feeling stressed, I stuck to chatting with the folks I know and trust, and it was really lovely. It helps that I'm not a huge name in writing, so not a lot of people were there for me specifically, and I didn't have to deal with a tonne of people. I managed to not have a panic attack before I had to bounce - a little early - to make it to my one and only panel for the convention.

It was a great panel, with fellow panellists who offered brilliant insight into the knotty issue of niche genres and it was really fun to be on the panel. I hope I didn't blubber like an idiot in trying to answer, but I felt pretty good about it when it ended. I'm very glad I only had one panel. Any more and I might have a complete breakdown.

Back to the vendor's room after my panel for me, and there I stayed until it was the end of the convention. I sold more books (completely out of The Summer Bird now), a poster, and my last remaining bookmark. I was very happy to have sold those books. It made dragging my boxes up four floors back to my apartment so much easier at the end of the day (so, thanks, everyone!).

I was also gratified to learn that the silent auction of my art piece Stormbringer broke the $100.00 mark and wasn't a complete flop. I was worried that it would achieve a total of zero bids. I was very happy to be able to help the con in any way.

Pack up went rather smoothly, considering all the crap I brought, and soon, Nathan had me in an uber and before I had time to process anything at all, I was home.

I dragged my nonsense up to my apartment, fed the cat, ate some delivery, and collapsed into bed.

The whole weekend feels like it went by in a flash. I'm still reeling a little bit.

I forgot to take Monday off work, so I haven't had the recovery time I need, and I am still absolutely exhausted. I haven't processed it all yet. All I know is that I had a brilliant time, overwhelm and all, and I missed the Ottawa SFF community terribly. It was so good to see everyone, even if I didn't get to everyone I wanted, and I am already anxious to go again.

​Thank you again to everyone for making this Can*Con such a wonderful time.

Now I'm going to go home and collapse into bed.

​Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

Image by Joe from Pixabay ​

So as many of you know, Can*Con was this weekend just past. I will be blogging more about it in the coming days, but I am currently overcome with deep gratitude, and so I want to get it all out before I do any proper reporting on my weekend.

First and foremost, I am so profoundly grateful to the team of organisers responsible for brining Can*Con back in this post-but-not-really-pandemic world. From the Sheraton Ottawa for hosting the event, to the volunteer co-ordinator, and the all volunteers they coordinated, the programming team (particularly Brandon Crilly, who got to work on my behalf for a last minute programming change so I could attend my own book launch), and of course, the Can*Con Co-Chairs Marie Bilodeau and Derek Künsken who pulled it all together in this weird time we're living in.

Side note: Derek is retiring as co-chair, and the news broke this weekend. So, let me take this time for a special thanks to Derek, whose warmth and humour has made this event such a great place to go. I remember my first ever Can*Con, he dropped by my table to ask how I was doing. I had exactly one book (The Dying God & Other Stories) and a few prints of some sketches, and was feeling very small and inferior. Derek took me by surprise with his genuine concern for my con experience and helped me feel like maybe I was a real writer after all. He has done so every Can*Con since. I will forever be grateful for his support, consideration and kindness. Derek, if you're reading this, you are good people. Thank you so much. It cannot be understated how much my of my determination to continue writing has been informed by your thoughtfulness.

To everyone involved in the planning, thank you for making this event in line with the reality of our public health situation. It meant so much to me to be able to attend. Having high-risk folks in my life, it meant so much that vaccines and masks were required for in-person attendance. The lack of such prevented me from going to ComicCon this year, and had it not been in place, it's likely I would not be attending Can*Con in person, either. Thank you. A thousand times thank you.

My gratitude, too, for my fellow vendors, who laid their tables with fantastic books, art and gorgeous pieces of jewellery. Thank you for the laughs and the mutual support. Your kind words and genuine enthusiasm for one another has been a balm for my soul. You are all lovely.

Special mention must go to Jen and Eric Desmarais, who are both brilliant writers, fantastic vendors and long-time friends of mine. They took special care of me this weekend. It turns out you can attend a convention pretty cheaply when you have table neighbours who bring you snacks and make sure you aren't dying of dehydration, and starvation. You are both such incredible people, and I'm so thrilled that I can count you as my friends. Now that I think about it, it was at Can*Con where we first properly met and became friends (it was a mutual friend's party before that, I think).

Thank you also to my publisher, Renaissance Press, who published my third book with them this weekend. I can't believe I've fooled you three times! But in all honesty, Renaissance Press has been with me for my favourite publishing firsts. My first traditionally published book, and now, my first launch at an SFF convention. Having a launch at an SFF convention was on my bucket list. I can safely cross that off now. In all honestly, I've watched Renaissance grow from a wee independent small press into a press with many books under their banner who have become a champion for the marginalised and an avocate for the voiceless. I am so proud to be associated with this publishing house. Thank you. Thank you for believing in me and my books, and thank you for the good work you do in the world.

Thank you to the panellists, without whom it would be a dull convention indeed. For my part, I'd like to thank Kofi Oduro and Su J. Sukol, who sat with me on the Homemade is Fine: The Use and Making of Niche Genre Terms panel for a fascinating discussion. Special thanks to Sienna Tristen who was a fabulous moderator for that panel.

Lastly, a great big thank you to this year's attendees. Your participation was wonderful. It was so nice to meet you and chat. Thank you for the laughs and the compliments. Thank you for your respect and care.

A very special shout out to Helen, who absolutely made my weekend. Not only did Helen buy a number of my books, but she also bid on and won Stormbringer, the silent auction art piece I donated to the convention in the hope that I might be able to contribute a little something to Can*Con. I don't have much in my skillset, or current abilities, that would be of use. This was one of the few ways I could be of some help. In any case, Helen was absolutely wonderful for my ego, and was an absolute delight. Thank you. I promise I won't undersell my art.

Alright, that was a lot of gushing. There will be more as I continue to write about this year's convention. For now, though, I'm done.

Ciao!

Good morning Readers, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Edit: I wrote this post Friday Oct 7th, and first published it Monday Oct 10th. It’s now Friday Oct 14th, and I’m back here making the changes I meant to Sunday Oct 9th - because a lot has changed and I had a cold and was totally out of it. And now I have no time.

​I know how Gandalf felt.

Man, I’m really bad at this “timely promotion” thing. I apologise.

Damn everything... particularly me and not being able to consistently blog even once a week.

I'll get there.

But in the meantime, I have NEWS.

Okay, remember way back in the day when I announced that Renaissance Press will be publishing my previously self-published backlist?  Yeah.  It's finally happening!  The first of those books has been given a new life.  You might say, it has been resurrected.  Made undead, even...

It's Human. My vampire novel. In case the above terrible puns didn't make that obvious.

​Anyway, here is the cover:

It's not all that different from the cover I had designed for my self-published version. Apparently, the folks at Renaissance Press were really impressed with the book overall, so there wasn't really all that much that has changed at all. There are some important changes, though. Primarily, Renaissance Press has a distributor, so this book will be available in bookstores - finally. Hopefully. That's really all I want. To see my books in stores.

Can you do me a favour? If you happen to see any of my books out in the wild (bookstores, folks reading them, maybe?(with their permission)), as it were, would you be able to snap a picture of it and send it to me? I'm on Twitter (@SMCarriere) and Instagram (@s.m.carriere). If you happen to see them, any of them, please tag me.

It would literally be a dream come true.

Okay, now to other news. Can-Con is happening again, and I couldn't be more excited. There are some serious scheduling conflicts, however. So far. We just have the draft schedule. I will post an update if it changes.

Edit: There were changes!

The launch party for Renaissance Press was happening Saturday afternoon from 12:00 - 2:00pm. I am teaching martial arts during that exact time. My assistant is unable to take over that weekend. Not being able to split myself in twain, and not having access to any form of time-travel, I would’ve been utterly unable to attend, which made me sad. But, upon hearing the news, Nathan at Renaissance Press and Brandon Crilly (who was in charge of the schedule… and will also be launching his debut novel, Catalyst, this weekend. Be sure to check it out!), the launch has been moved to Sunday and I can attend! It’s at 10:30 and, just before my panel. In order to make it easier, I gave up on my signing session. There’s no real point to it, to be honest. I’ll be in the dealer’s room most of the convention, and stupid easy to find if anyone wants my signature for some reason. I will be there later in the afternoon Saturday, and all day Sunday. And of course, the rest of today.

The Dealer's Room is open to the public (you must be masked). Swing by and I'll be thrilled to sign for you. Largely because I expect that there will be no one seeking a signature, and I don’t have a table mate this year, so I will be a little lonely. Anyone dropping by will make my entire weekend. Come see me in the Dealer's Room! If I'm not at a panel (or teaching), I'll be there. Come see me any time!

Then I will be on a panel. Just one, thank heavens. I've not been on a panel in a long while, and I'll probably be a babbling ball of bollocks, but I'll try and be thoughtful and interesting. In any case, I'll be on the panel Homemade is Fine: The Use and Making of Niche Genre Terms. It looks to be a fun topic and I'm thrilled to be on it. That is happening 11:30 - 12:30 in Salon F.

Now, I'm pretty sure that Can-Con is limiting the number of in-person attendees this year, and as a result may already be sold out. BUT the Dealer's Room is open to all (provided you are masked), and I cannot stress enough that you should probably drop by to see all the amazing books and book-related things that the fantastically talented Ottawa-and-surrounds SFF community has created.

Christmas comes up fast, and it books are always a brilliant gift.

Right, I have been going full-tilt since Monday, and I’m exhausted and hungry so I’m in search of lunch and a nap before the convention starts in earnest.

Ciao!