Ash Vale Updates: August 2025

That’s the absolute dumbest subject line I’ve ever come up with but it matches my mood right now so that’s what you get!! Also I’m sorry this newsletter is coming to you so late, I didn’t schedule it in time. I’d apologise but I don’t feel bad.

I went to WorldCon in mid-August and it was just…the loveliest, busiest, most packed weekend I’ve maybe ever experienced in my life. I saw a fair number of panels, met so, so many great people, and hung out with friends I’d only ever met through the glory of the internet. I’m so glad I got to go because I might not get the chance again for awhile!

I’m also atrocious at remembering to take pictures of people, but I did take this selfie on the Seattle train from the airport, so that’s as good as it’s gonna get.

Writing

Sales/Updates

Early this year I had a flash piece published in an anthology from Black Hare Press called Blood Lust, and I found out this month it’s going to be reprinted in PseudoPod, where it will also be getting an audio version!! I screamed when I got this email, because it’s a small story but it’s one of the first short stories I wrote when starting this whole journey last year. It’ll be the first story of mine in audio, too! I’ll include more details when it’s available online.

In Progress

Draft Two of my book is just over 50k words and I feel has a way more solid trajectory than the first draft (which is to be expected but still feels good). I’m approaching ¾ of the way through, and my fancy spreadsheet thinks I’ll have this draft done in early December, though I’d love to be finished earlier than that. We’ll see! I follow the spreadsheet gods!

My Recs

Books/TV

Okay I know I am hilariously, painfully behind the times on this one as this series now has a successful TV adaptation on Apple + BUT. If you haven’t read Martha Wells’ MurderBot books, it’s a great time to start! I finished the first book (All Systems Red) in the series and it’s just a fun time. MurderBot is a half-organic, half-robotic construct meant to protect its clients, and doesn’t understand human emotions. Or it sure likes to pretend it doesn’t, despite all the soap operas it watches.

Short Stories/Poems

This short story is a delightful acid trip about trans magical girls who get powers! They transform into amazing things at will! And, they also crush people into powder and squish their organs and, possibly, make the world a worse place through violence. But isn’t that what war is all about?

Music

When, again in my life, will I have the chance to recommend a song that mentions Saskatchewan? Probably never.

Something Extra

Gaydar started coming up on my Tiktok feed awhile ago and I chuckled through my nose at the clips, as you do, but they’re apparently on YouTube now and I’ve been binge-watching! This episode is one of my recent faves because…I love Towa Bird. I’m sorry, Renee Rapp, please don’t fight me. She looks like she could fight and I’m very weak.

Anyway that’s all, folks—my September newsletter will have a bit more going on because I’m in an anthology releasing that day, and the OTHERSIDE Kickstarter will be live, but in the meantime stay greasy and don’t unscrew your lightbulbs if your fingers are wet.