03.9.22 ‘Tune in Tomorrow’: Book cover evolution — and reveal!
Writing a book is hard. Getting a book published is harder. But every step along the way – which seem to come after long-anticipated silences, punctuated by lurching bursts of activities – is pretty exciting, because each step allows you to remember all over again: I have a book being published. By people who don’t…
Read More1.21.22 Farewell by the dashboard light
Aww, Meat Loaf! Marvin Aday, aka Meat Loaf, the actor and singer who paired for years with Jim Steinman to create operatic pop hits like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” has died at 74. I can’t say I was his biggest fan either way…
Read More1.7.22 My 2009 chat with Betty White on “Golden Girls,” the Queen Mum and skeletons in the closet
Back in 2009, I was just getting into full-time freelancing when I learned that “The Golden Girls” was coming to the Hallmark Channel in reruns. I’d done some work for them already, and asked the delightful press rep Pam if I could do some kind of “Golden Girls” package. I got the green light and…
Read More11.29.21 DisConIII (aka WorldCon) schedule – December 15-19
Come find me at DisConIII (aka WorldCon) in Washington, D.C. from Dec. 15-19! I’ll be paneling, partying, reading and selling. Here’s my schedule (subject to change)! Fannish Pictionary Palladian Ballroom Wednesday, Dec. 15, 4:00 PM Bring your artistic talent (or lack thereof!) and join the fun guessing fannish phrases, titles, or characters, based on drawings…
Read More11.13.21 PhilCon 2021 Schedule
Come find me at PhilCon in Cherry Hill, New Jersey from Nov. 19-21! I’ll be paneling, partying, reading and selling. Here’s my schedule (subject to change) Friday, Nov. 19, 6:00pm – 6:25pm (Readings) Randee Dawn Reads Yikes, they gave me a reading slot! Tell me in the comments what you want to hear (see my…
Read More10.5.21 13 Questions for Author Nicholas Kaufmann, Author of “The Hungry Earth”
Ever since I started reading Nicholas Kaufmann’s stories — and later, his books — I’ve been a fan: He weaves together a clever blend of horror, fantasy and suspense in which things often go very badly for his characters, but that’s an excellent thing for us readers. As the author of seven novels and two…
Read More7.16.21 It was 57 years ago today … The Beatles stayed in our hotel room
Did you know you can stay in the same hotel room The Beatles lodged in for a single night, on August 21, 1964? In Seattle, Washington? Now you do. And that’s what we did! The Edgewater Hotel, where this momentous event took place, has made a certain amount of hay out it all. (Not our…
Read More7.06.21 In which I can finally say: I have a fracking book contract
I’ve been writing fiction, quite literally, for most of my life. Decades. Hundreds and thousands of words, some better placed than others, some telling a story and some wandering off into the weeds. And today, I get to say for the first time officially: I have signed a contract to get my novel, Tune in…
Read More3.08.21 Drawn that way: Four times I got musicians to create self-portraits in my notebook
I don’t think I do that many “fun” posts here, so I’m going to change that at least once. In the 1990s I did a lot of music journalism; it was my “in” to getting bylines. I long ago segued into TV and film articles, but for a brief period I had this idea that…
Read More2.2.21 How to spend 25 years getting one story published (or) the “Rough Beast, Slouching” story
A little bit of fanfare, if you will. Dim Shores Presents: Volume 2, featuring my novelette “Rough Beast, Slouching,” is finally shipping copies! This is a milestone for me for a couple of reasons: 1) It’s the longest story I’ve ever had published (9,700 words give or take)2) It’s the oldest story I’ve ever had…
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