The journal

January 19, 2022 · 26 words

Take Two

The second Covid test came out positive. I don’t know which test to believe, but I guess I’ll be hanging around the house for a while.

January 18, 2022 · 304 words

I Don’t Get It

Last night I started feeling a little ill, with a sore throat. This morning I still had the sore throat, plus a bit of elevated temperature that fell far short of anything I could call a “fever.” Otherwise I felt reasonably okay. But we’re in a pandemic, right? So Covid was the first thing that […]

January 18, 2022 · 140 words

Across the Sea of Genre

Who says Taos Toolbox is only for writers of science fiction and fantasy? We teach skills that are applicable across all genres. Case in point: Stephanie Vance, a real-life DC political consultant, has written Across the Aisle, a romance set in our nation’s capital. Tough as nails DC lobbyist Dallas McGrath can’t belie

January 16, 2022 · 0 words

Another Fine Sunset Here in the Southwest

January 13, 2022 · 21 words

Cover Reveal

The cover for the forthcoming Czech edition of Hardwired, by an artist who rejoices in the superhero name Dark Crayon.

January 13, 2022 · 439 words

Plot Rant

I just finished listening to an audio book, a mystery/thriller thingie with an interesting, somewhat science-fictiony premise. The writing was on the high end of competent, and the characters held my interest, and the novel’s milieu was interesting and fresh, at least to me. What finally broke my patience was the autho

January 11, 2022 · 119 words

Rolling the Bones

We continue our survey of recent or forthcoming works by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Sara A. Mueller’s The Bone Orchard was workshopped at Taos Toolbox, and will be published by Tor Books on March 22nd. Here’s your takeaway: “A masterfully woven plot with refre

January 9, 2022 · 221 words

Marrying the Sea

In our review of recent and forthcoming books by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, we’ve seen Toolboxers write novels and edit a collection of stories. Here’s another kind of collection from award-winning author and Toolbox vet Fran Wilde, this of her poetry. In this

January 8, 2022 · 244 words

Oops! We’re At It Again

Almost every day I check the New York Times Coronavirus map— which, unlike the rest of the NYT, is not behind a paywall, presumably so that citizens in other parts of the country, or the world, can see how safe it is to venture outside their own homes. (Good on the NYT for making these […]

January 1, 2022 · 165 words

Vital Signs Are Good

Taos Toolbox veteran Ralph M. Ambrose has edited Vital: The Future of Healthcare, a new anthology on a timely topic. Our visions of the future – whether dark or hopeful, thrilling or mundane – have always challenged us to examine our world. How can we improve? What challenges will we face? Are we even ready

December 29, 2021 · 214 words

Behold!

Here’s another treat from a Taos Toolbox veteran, due to be published in April 2022 by Lethe Press. Christopher M. Cevasco has delved into history to write an ambitious, twisted tale about a Saxon woman called Godgyfu, but better known to us as Lady Godiva. A darkly twisted psychological thriller exploring the legend o

December 27, 2021 · 103 words

Another Holiday Goodie

In another festive treat for you, we celebrate the Feast of the Slaughter of the Innocents by marking the ebook of Fleet Elements down to $1.99. The Praxis still seems to be in sale for $1.99— I don’t know when that sale ends, so buy now— and Quillifer is $1.99 through the end of the […]