Writer & Translator
You can read my science fiction story 'The Gates of Balawat', originally 'Balawats portar', in the brand new issue of Samovar Magazine. Also in the issue: poetry by Salik Shah, a column by Rachel Cordasco, and fiction by Stamatis Stamatopoulos. (Next week, you will also be able to listen to the story read in both English… Continue reading Read my story ‘Balawats portar’ / ‘The Gates of Balawat’ in SAMOVAR MAGAZINE
It's Banned Books Week - an annual celebration of the freedom to read, and also a time to highlight the many books that have been targeted for banning and even burning through the years. The wonderful YA Podcast Cast of Wonders is running a series of stories for Banned Books Week, between September 24th and… Continue reading Banned Books Week – at Cast of Wonders & elsewhere
Podcast master R.B. Wood has just published a brand new episode of the Word Count Podcast. This is episode #70 and the theme this month was very, very Poe-ish. The story prompts were the month of September, and this photo of Poe and his raven. Listen to episode 70 My story 'Buried' is inspired by… Continue reading Listen to R.B. Wood’s (Poe-ish) Word Count Podcast #70 & my new story ‘Buried’
This is a new thing for me and pretty darn exciting: I interviewed the very talented Macushla, a very talented and creative photographer, and that interview is now in Huf Magazine. And may I say... it looks amazing. Macushla talks about her work, and her life (she's worked as a model, she's travelled the world,… Continue reading Read my interview with photographer Macushla Burke in Huf Magazine
The new episode of The Word Count Podcast just went live, and that means you can now listen to my new flash fiction story 'Hidden' Listen to the episode. The story prompt this month was this photo and the month of August. I confess I might have cheated somewhat when writing this story, because… Continue reading Listen to R.B. Wood’s Word Count Podcast #69 & my new story ‘Hidden’
My Goodreads giveaway - for three paperback copies of 'Odin's Eye' (my collection of science fiction short stories) - has just concluded. Thank you so much to everyone who entered! 1,440 people entered the giveaway, and three people will be receiving a copy of the book in the mail very soon! I'm especially happy because… Continue reading Thanks to everyone who entered my Goodreads giveaway!
June and July have been very good to me: a lot of good things happened, after a spring when I occasionally felt like it was difficult to write, or at least difficult to know if the words I was stringing together were good words. It made me think of one of my favourite Stephen King… Continue reading Recap June / July – stories published, stories sold, reviews & more
This past winter, Syntax & Salt Magazine held a fun contest where people could submit playlists for writing inspiration. I submitted a playlist, and while I did not win, I did find a ton of great music on the winning list. So, when the contest popped up again, this time asking for playlists for summer… Continue reading My playlist for summer writing inspiration – at Syntax & Salt!
Three of my stories were published in May, and I thought I'd share some background for each of them. I've been thinking about these stories a lot this past month (no surprise!), partly because the writing process for each of them was so different. And oh, if you want to support excellent speculative fiction, consider… Continue reading Story notes for three stories
This has to be one of the coolest and most unexpected things that has happened to me as a writer: Australian guitarist Graham Greene has written an amazing new tune - and it was inspired by my short story 'The Gates of Balawat' from my short story collection 'Odin's Eye'! You can read more about… Continue reading A musical collaboration of sorts…
Time to blab about what I've been up to lately, writing-wise. February and March have been good writing months in some ways, and a struggle in other. I'm feeling a twinge of writers-block pinching at my thoughts occasionally, and that is making me freak out: I've already wasted quite enough years of my life NOT… Continue reading February / March recap: stories & more
(This short story was first published in Swedish, then I translated it into English, and it is part of my short story collection 'Odin's Eye'. The thought of the Voyager record always fascinated me: thinking of these "Sounds of Earth" traveling into space, and imagining who might listen to them in the far future. Rest… Continue reading Johnny B. Goode (a science fiction short story)
In 2015 I decided to take the plunge and get back into fiction writing after about a decade away from being a writer who actually wrote things on a regular basis. Here are some things I learned in the process of trying to get my writing mojo back. Read current writers One of the things… Continue reading 10 tips for writers getting (back) into writing & submitting short stories
A lot has happened in the last couple of months. And I'm not even talking about the big world out there, but the little world of My Writerly Things. Here's my personal highlight reel for December and January: I sold a story to Shimmer. I also sold a story to Flash Fiction Online. AND… Continue reading December / January recap: reviews, stories sold, interviews & more
Never (Always) Never again is not a statement of fact, no matter how many times we repeat it. As if we had never heard of Pol Pot, Srebernica, or Rwanda. As if we hadn’t stood on the shore and watched children drown in the Mediterranean. As if we hadn’t allowed them to suck water into… Continue reading Never (Always) – a poem
2017 has started out with a bang for me. Last week, Shimmer (one of my absolute favourite zines), bought one of my stories (*toots own horn loudly*). And if that wasn't enough for confetti and fireworks: the same day, Flash Fiction Online bought another one of my stories. (Can you say, "best day ever"? I did. Repeatedly.)… Continue reading Too long, too old; don’t read (with gifs)
Head over to the wonderful Gwendolyn Kiste's website right now and check out a brand new interview with ... me! Huge thanks to Gwendolyn for having me over for a chat about music, writing, inspiration, and more. I'm thrilled to be featured at her site, partly because she's such an amazing author. She's written a… Continue reading Read a new interview with me by Gwendolyn Kiste!
It feels very strange to put together an awards eligibility post, but I decided at the beginning of the year to do everything I could to put my best foot forward as a writer... so, by golly, I am doing this too, no matter how awkward it makes me feel. My goal for this year… Continue reading 2016 award eligibility post (AKA: what am I even doing?)
It's the anniversary of Janis Joplin's death as I write this. I don't much like to dwell on the stories of how people died: their lives were more important than how those lives ended. So this morning I went looking for a great Janis Joplin tune to listen to. That's when I stumbled on a… Continue reading Janis Joplin, Mama Cass & showing some love
I'm heading to a rather happy place for most of July. It's in Sweden on the water, and it looks like this (at least some days): And sometimes like this: Or like this in the winter (and yes, a few of you might recognize this as the cover image for my collection of poetry): I… Continue reading Happy place
