Ash Vale Updates: November 2024
spooky scary skeletons again but this time it's colder outside
okay rude but true (credit to @matjohnson.bsky.social)
Things that Happened
First off - hey, that US election was fucked! That sure happened! Legitimately sorry for anyone affected by the incoming presidency which is, uh…a lot of people. Including us Canadians because the man doesn’t know what a fuckin tariff is. Yay.
Second, more lighthearted - I had 2 short stories out this year that are eligible for awards! In particular I’d like to highlight “I Met My Wife in the Woods” at Heartlines Spec, my debut story (woop woop) which, if you’re reading for any awards voting, you can read for free online here
thank you MR for the cool graphic because I am incompetent!!
Writing
Out Now
“Ruby Tips to Her Feathers”, my dark fantasy short story about a harpy and a witch and their animal-children, is out now in Goblincore from Prairie Soul Press! It’s available to buy in most bookish places as either print or ebook versions. It won’t be free to read online so I’ve included a little excerpt below to entice you to maybe buy it and support an Alberta publisher!
My love is moulting, you see.
Outside her control, her feathers will fall to the ground in clumps, painful nubs left in their stead until regrowth winds its way through her body. It happens with the changing of seasons, like now, when the rotting leaves of winter abandon their decay to make room for new growth. There is magic inherent in transition. Much like the budding blossoms that will soon emerge, my love must shed her snowy plumage in order to usher in her spring skin.
Coming Soon
This isn’t coming “soon” by any means (first half of 2025 I was told) but a short story I wrote about a young Norwegian boy who accidentally kidnaps a troll in his pocket when he moves to Canada has been accepted!! And even bigger news - this will be my first official pro rate sale! This one was inspired by my dad’s own journey to Canada and was really personal to write so I’m beyond delighted it found a home.
In Progress
I wrote a few poems when I was angry and sad which is how I think I write pretty much all poetry lolsob. I’ve sent them a few places but I’m not holding out much hope so maybe I’ll just put them in here in the future and make you all angry and sad too 😋
The book is at 60k words! I repeat, 60k words! This is not a drill! As things shape up towards the end I’m realising it might end up being more like 75k. I’m a wordy bish sometimes. But I think going into the second draft it will be helpful to have more words than I need and ruthlessly destroy them (ie. cry and put them in another document) rather than having to fill a bunch more in. The next newsletter update you get I should have 70k words and if I don’t, you’re allowed to flick cigarette butts at me!
My Recs
Books
I went on a vacation this month and got some good reading in so I actually have two recs!! The first is Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I went into this book knowing nothing about it except how highly it was recommended, and so I’m going to do that same thing to you - this book is excellent but I really think it’s best if you don’t look it up beforehand. The voice and perspective are so unique and fascinating that you get swept up in it. A really delightful read.
The other one I couldn’t put down was She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, the first book in “The Radiant Emperor” duology. Holy crap y’all, I absolutely devoured this book. It’s got some military strategy and historical fiction that might be off-putting if that’s not what you’re looking for, but I LOVED it. It follows a young girl, Zhu, who survives a grim start to life through pure determination and stubbornness, and goes through how her path intertwines with and pulls along a great cast of characters in 14th century China. It explores gender wishy-washiness and women’s roles and is gay (spoiler!) and I just think you should read it.
Short Stories/Poems
If you’re not in online short story land you probably don’t know this, but - there’s an online magazine called Taco Bell Quarterly. I don’t think they publish quarterly, and they are not technically affiliated with or in any way endorsed by Taco Bell. They’re an anomaly. Anyway they recently published this absolutely wild and bizarre poem called EVERYONE I HAVE EVER KISSED THINKS ABOUT ME ALL OF THE TIME AND IS IN LOVE WITH ME and I think it’s a worth a read even if you’re not into poetry.
An absolutely beautiful short story I read in the past month was Where They Sleep by Heather Clitheroe, in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. This is a melancholy, aching story of grief and hauntings told from the perspective of a very good boy (a dog). It made me cry so hard y’all, you don’t even know.
Music
I’ve been on a huge Melanie Martinez kick lately and this song off her latest album is soooooo good, it’s like angry feminist rage and revenge all tied up in a neat little catchy package.
Something Extra
Okay look, I know the thumbnail for this is freaky and it’s about a gore franchise (the Terrifier movies are notoriously yucky) BUT this article by Walter Chaw is unbelievably good. It’s about how the horrific imagery out of Palestine has made us simultaneously numb and paralyzed, and how the recent US election furthers that feeling and leaves us constantly ashamed to hope. This is just a masterpiece of non-fiction writing, even if the review subject itself isn’t your jam.
