Gearing up for Norwescon 2026 in early April. My panels are mostly in the horror track due to my five novels for Arkham Horror published by @aconytebooks.bsky.social. You can find the preliminary schedule now at the website @norwescon.org. Hope to see you there! www.norwescon.org/con/schedule/
Bright yellow chrysanthemum with three large blooms. Pot wrapped in red and gold paper with gold and red money envelope decorating pot. Sitting on red and white Christmas plate.
he good fortune chrysanthemum has lasted long past Chinese New Year’s and may be ready to celebrate St Patrick’s Day soon. Trader Joe plant and a bright spot in the houseplants corner.
I adore this poster and it was on my mood board for Mask of Silver.
Women footballers in 19th century:
Moody black and white photo of my library gargoyle.
Working on my gargoyle lore for a talk at Norwescon next month. If your decor is haunted bookshop meets magical library, you have to have a gargoyle on your bookshelf.
Then, being a historical fantasy writer, I start thinking about the figures being sigils meant to draw beings from under the ice and into the mortal world. I think I need to go write a story.
I find watching figure skating is calming (I need calm). 1913 silent film is very calm. Admire the ladies' hats. Remember when the "figure" meant etching an actual figure or pattern into the ice to demonstrate blade control: youtu.be/ggU8TcivI1I?...
I want a library zeppelin so bad. Fax is optional.
Arkham Horror alert! The folks at @aconytebooks.bsky.social are offering deals on Arkham Horror novels, novellas, game books, and art books for a limited time! www.drivethrufiction.com/en/product/3...
Pink roses intertwined with pink and brown stripes. Roses have green vines and leaves.
Looking at endpaper art for inspiration. This is from 1930 picture book illustrated by CM Burd.
No oxen allowed on my balcony, but I spent a little yesterday trimming the surviving plants. The geraniums have loved the mild winter and are still blooming. The potted olive tree has grown another inch (it's Trader Joe special from last year and quite small). The honeysuckle put out new leaves.
Pictures of bookshelves overflowing with sign above saying “Never enough books.”
Sometimes you have to go to your happy place. Friends of Seattle Public Library’s bookstore, open Thursday this week.
Hoping for a day when people show up at scheduled times,
I'm also very glad I was watching it at home, nice and cozy, and not in open air seats in an ancient colosseum.
I enjoyed the Olympics' closing ceremony. Rigoletto is one of my favorite operas, although I wouldn't hang out in a dark alley or tunnel with its very morally ambiguous jester. I'd party with Figaro any day! And the 21st century DJ was amazing. www.npr.org/2026/02/22/n...
Received my Norwescon schedule and looking forward to April.
If you cannot achieve quiet, consider the origin of decibel.
Watching curling as you do when you want a moment of brain cleansing.
Got a nice note from the editor saying she understood the circumstances and appreciated having plenty of time to find another writer.
Wrapped two articles on Monday. Made the very tough decision to pull out of the next trio of articles. Unfortunately family obligations made it unlikely I could do it justice and I wanted the editor to have time to find a replacement.
Taking slow steps towards the future today. Love my editors who understand sometimes family must come first.
The plot in summary: Clown magically transports himself and orphan boy to Oz kingdom of Mudge. The ruler of Mudge wants to kidnap the Cowardly Lion. The Cowardly Lion has left Emerald City to eat someone containing courage (he does rethink this idea before doing it). Many weird encounters and an explanation for stone lions at the end. Cover shows boy, clown, and distressed lion on background of red and colored balls. Text reads The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson founded on and continuing The Famous Oz Stories by L Frank Baum, illustrated by John R Neill (the last showing Neill's signature in the manner he signed interior illustrations. Oz is shown as red O with green Z in center in the top title.
Happy Caturday from my favorite cat. This is appropriate as our Oz book club is diving into the truly strange The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson today.
As you enjoy your morning victuals prior to a bracing walk on the moors, enjoy a little word history. Happy Friday, dear writers!
Andre Norton paperback of Gryphon in Glory with pink background, gryphon in flight, and magic user doing something looks like light and smoke show.
Andre Norton was a huge influence on young me. Old me could never remember which ones I owned, so a recent sort revealed many, many duplicate paperbacks. Help me clear the shelves: www.biblio.com/book/gryphon...
Happy Tuesday. Sorting through the Gothics again for inspiration. Here's a few thoughts from last year's talk at Norwescon: rosemaryjones.blogspot.com/2025/04/you-...
Big Biblio #book sale for science fiction and fantasy titles, including a few of interest to Magic collectors: www.biblio.com/book/planesw...
James Rennie and Florence Eldridge as Gatsby and Daisy
A scene in Gatsby’s library
Brooklyn Eagle
Feb. 2, 1926: “The Great Gatsby” debuts as a play at New York’s Ambassador Theater. Pulitzer-winning playwright Owen Davis adapts F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel about Jazz Age hedonism and the American dream into one of Broadway’s biggest commercial and critical hits of 1926. 1/2
Brown bunny sitting on gravel path in front of a green background of grass and. dandelions reaching over the bunny's head. Photo by Ансплэш Степана on Unsplash.
Rabbit, rabbit.
January was definitely rough. So doing my best to start February with a little luck. Happy fresh starts to all the writers out there.
For those who need some poetry next month (which is next week too as we are at the end of January).
Sold "A Lycanthropy Reader" from the early 1990s AND a gardening guide from the 1910s this week. Glad to see some of the 20th century nonfiction going to new homes. Also proof that I'm not the only person that likes the weird stuff. More goodies here www.biblio.com/bookstore/lo...
