conventions, Magic of the Everyday, Moving, sale

More Sale News! And My First ReaderCon is Approaching!

M.E. Garber

I’m very happy to announce that I’ve sold my fourth story to The Journal Nature’s Futures segment. The contract was signed a few weeks ago, but in the mad rush of moving, I didn’t get to announce my happy dance until now. Trust me, the dance was very happy!

I don’t have a publication date yet, but again, you can be sure I’ll fill you in here once I know more, and I’ll link to the story when it’s published. One of the things I really love about Nature is the “Story Behind the Story” bit that they publish alongside the story itself. I’m sure I’m not alone in liking to read where the inspiration for stories first sparked, and seeing how the story came to life.

This particular story was, like so many of my flash stories, the creation of a Codex Writer’s Group contest called Weekend Warrior. I adore writing with the virtual company of hundreds of other writers, using the same prompts and later seeing all the varied and amazing ways they became unique stories. And I also love hearing about my contest-mates’ sales, too!

With the bank churning through the paperwork it needs to do in order for us to close on our new home, I’m in a “hurry up and wait” mode on the house purchase front. (whew!) This leaves me time to be excited about another opportunity moving to the Boston area has brought me: proximity to ReaderCon, a SFF convention held in Burlington, MA (a suburb of Boston very near to where I’m currently residing). I’ve never been to a ReaderCon before, so I’m really looking forward to meeting all the locals, and seeing some friends from more distant places, too! If you’ll be there, and if you see me, please do say hello!

Magic of the Everyday, Moving, Personal Life

Greetings from BOSTON, MA

M.E. Garber

Yes, we’ve landed in our temporary housing in a Boston suburb, and then threw ourselves into a whirlwind of house-hunting. House-camo is a tricky thing, as so much depends upon the setting–forest or field, suburban or more spread-out still, or perhaps even urban? But a net is absolutely necessary as the very last thing you want to do is fill your precious new home full of holes by using a gun!

Ahem, well. Yes. We hunted and haunted open houses and checked online and omg it was a lot. But we’ve been successful and will, with luck, close on our new home at the end of June. HURRAY! And once the offer was accepted and the wonderful “In Contract” email arrived confirming it, I simply crashed and slept for a full 12 hours. (Yay auto-immune crash, amiright?)

Gem the dog has been a true champ. She took to the new temp housing like a pro, and even the 2-day drive didn’t bother her too much. That second day she jumped into the car, looked around, and the expression on her face said, “Oh, more of this? sigh.” Then she stretched out and went back to sleep. I’m so very proud of her!

Writing has taken a nose-dive, as expected. Between the non-stop house-hunting, long hours walking a dog who suddenly has no backyard, and my own stress tanking my reserves, I’ve had nothing left for writing. That said, I’m looking forward to having my own office again soon, and to starting another wonderful book-length project, as well as diving head-first into some short fiction. It turns out that words are like air, and I can’t seem to go too long without either one!

Photo by Gene Samit on Pexels.com

A small tidbit about our new home area: we’ve been driving around various small towns while house-hunting and one day we wandered into Concord, and “discovered” that Walden Pond of Emerson fame is located there, in our backyard. It’s on our short-list of places to visit (but without the dog, it seems). Then we saw a historic site with a banner out declaring it open, so we stopped in to find the tavern that the country’s revolutionary founders met at while planning their revolt against the English king. The Wright Tavern bar has a deep dip where generations of bartenders stood, perhaps while serving beer (or cider) to Samuel Adams! History practically shivers in the air here. Pretty cool.

Well, time to get back to the “fun” of moving–updating addresses, finding new services, etc etc etc. And let me remind you that, if you’re NOT moving, please appreciate your stable home, and the comfort it offers. And if you are moving, good luck with the adventure!

Magic of the Everyday, Moving, the dog

Moving! Again? Yes, Again.

M.E. Garber

So it seems we’re moving again. Across the country, again. Soon.

Nope, this wasn’t the plan when we arrived here just over a year ago, but to paraphrase (and massacre the original phrase in the process), the first thing that fails is the plan, am I right?

Our house is already sold, by the way. Never even made it to the open market. We got extremely lucky with this, but at the same time, incredibly unlucky, too. See, we’d made a plan: list in mid or late May, husband travels to our new town for work at end of May, the dog and I follow after the house closes, likely in July or so. Except…our house sold last week.

Suddenly, we’re in a rush to get movers, look at houses in the new location, and, oh yeah, find a place to live in the interim that accepts dogs! Eeek. And, yanno…pack?

So I hope you’ll understand that I’ll be falling back into some radio silence here on Ye Olde Blogge for a bit, as all the moving parts get in motion. I’ll be back once things start falling into position and stabilizing again, and I’ll have plenty of wonderful updates and newsy bits and the like at the time. Including, of course, more details of the move and the new location and the dog in the new location, etc, etc.

Until then, I’ll be busy trying to do too many things at once and probably failing halfway at half of them. To tide us all over, here are a few wonderful pics of Gem being wonderful, and enjoying the snot outta her life here in this home (while we still own it!).

Brindle dog lying long in green, green grass on her belly, head tilted to one side and nose in the air, eyes squinted shut in pleasure as she basks in the sun while her back legs make a "sploot."
dark brindle dog lying stretched long on green grass, seen from above and behind, her back legs in perfect "lyre sploot"
brindle dog sleeping curled on a bed, nose tucked tight to legs, looking cozy and comfy

Oh, and as a final bit, for tomorrow: May the Fourth Be With You.

Magic of the Everyday, science, the dog, Writing

Writer’s Desk, 04/01/26

M.E. Garber

Out the Window: gray skies and rain, rain, rain. It’s either drizzling, or a steady downpour. The downpours, at least, come with the benefit that they sound lovely from inside, in the warmth of the house.

On the Desktop: a mug of hot, strong Irish Breakfast tea, black. On a day like this, what else would satisfy so well?

Today’s Work-in-Progess: I’m nearing the ending of my serial, Cryptic Kennels, and I’m thrilled with how it’s been/is going. The serial has taken longer than I’d thought, but part of that has been “life issues” (such as moving across the country), not that the story is fighting me. Actually, with all that mess of “real life,” without having made this a serial over at ReamStories.com, I doubt I’d be so near finalizing a first draft of this monster project. I’m glad I began my experiment with serial writing, since this one has brought me so much joy during this time of ongoing troubles and darkness.

So, yes. Today I’ll finish another episode, then move on to editing a short story or two, and perhaps even make it to submitting stories out to publications (and crossing my fingers for their chances).

And Another Thing: Yesterday brought severe storms lashing across this entire part of the state, and found us huddled in our basement during a 45-minute tornado warning. We were comfortable enough, but even in the basement, the sound of the storm raging outside was incredible! Fortunately, no tornadoes, although many around the area lost power. And then, this morning, I discovered that after we left the basement, rainwater found its way in. Ugh. Not surprising, given how much rain we got (and are still getting), but not a fun way to begin my day. As I type this, the dehumidifier is giving its all to dry everything out.

Obligatory picture of my dog, as she’s sleeping in an artful position on the sofa.

And A Final Thing: There’s supposed to be a historic rocket launch later today, with the launch window being 6:24 until 8:24 pm EDT. Fingers crossed that the Artemis II crewed launch takes place safely, and that we can proceed forward with the Artemis mission of returning humans to our moon. You can watch at NASA’s YouTube channel here. You know I’ll be watching (and bemoaning the fact that I can’t see it in person, as I’d have done before we moved up to Ohio).

giveaway, Reading

Giveaways for Great Reading

M.E. Garber

Not that long ago, I read and recommended “The Iron Garden Sutra” by A. D. Sui as a really good book. And now, over on Instagram, the author is hosting a giveaway through tomorrow, March 26! You could win a hardcover copy of the book if you like, follow, and comment here. It’s a great book, well worth the read!

And there’s another option for winning a free copy of something amazing: award-winning author R.S.A. Garcia is giving away three copies of her latest novella, THE UNBEARABLE TASTE OF FRUIT AND WINE. All you have to do to be entered is donate any amount to her cancer/medical-related GoFundMe page here, and the deadline for that one is March 28.

That’s all for me right now. I’ve just discovered the ants have woken up for spring and are trying to build their nurseries in my indoor orchid pots, so I’ve some “evicting” to do. Wish me luck, and I’ll wish all of you good luck with these giveaways! Happy reading!

Photo by Oziel Gu00f3mez on Pexels.com
Fantasy, sale

Sale News

M.E. Garber

It’s always a wonderful day when I can announce a sale. Which is what I’m doing now, of course–hurray! But this sale is something a little different.

See, I’ve sold a story to Liminal Tales, which is going to be read aloud during a theater event in the UK. I won’t be doing the reading (unfortunately it’s a bit of a commute from Ohio to the UK), but an actor will read the little story aloud for me. I’m hoping to get a link to the reading, so I can experience the final product. If you want a bit more about the venue, let me link you to the Liminal Tales site, where they have their various social media links, as well. Maybe you’ll want to follow them on Instagram? Or visit their Patreon page?

I’m not sure when my story will be read (neither are they, honestly–it all depends on all the other stories, etc., etc.) but you can be assured I’ll let you know when the story is read. And of course, if I’m given a public link to the reading, I’ll include that here, too!

Until then, I’m watching the strong winds blow away the gorgeously warm spring weather, and usher back in a freezing cold snap. Such is spring. At least I have good tea.

Magic of the Everyday, Nature, Reading, review

Onboarding Spring

M.E. Garber

Yes, spring. Let’s talk about that.

Two days ago, I spotted the first dandelion of the season blooming along the curb. The Canada geese have returned, and are pairing off, honking angrily when Gem and I pass on our brisk walks in the once-again chilly weather. The bucks have lost their antlers and retreated to the woods, while the does roam the neighborhood in great herds seeking succulent greens to further grow their swelling bellies. The fox squirrels are twitterpated, and red-wing blackbirds are calling in the meadows and pecking at the feeder in my yard, wondering what happened to the warmth they’d flown in with.

First dandelion of the season

The weather turned chilly again, and we woke on Sunday to a dusting of snow blanketing the grass. That, while the forecast is calling for upper-60’s near the end of the week! So yes, it’s definitely spring-like with the changeable weather.

I’ve started some of my earliest seeds (first time in a decade! living in Florida rather spoiled “seed starting” and seed catalog and all that, what with the climate differences), and am anticipating more sowing indoors in the coming weeks. And not a moment too soon! I’m missing the sun, the time spent leisurely walking instead of power-walking to stay warm, and watching the world instead of your footsteps for treacherous ice.

Spring. We’re not quite there yet. but it’s coming. I can feel it in the air, and see it in all the tiny signs around me.

But since we’re not there yet, and there are more chilly days and evenings ahead, let me tell you about what I’ve been reading.

Your Behavior Will Be Monitored, by Justin Feinstein
Oh how I loved this book! To paraphrase the back cover, this is the AI-driven future we deserve. I devoured this book in a single sitting, and it’s been quite a while since I’ve done that. The unique format of the book aided the fast consumption, I’ll admit, but I loved the characters, and simply had to know how it all resolved. It’s coming out April 7th, so just go ahead and pre-order this one now. Trust me on it. Love AI or hate AI, you’re sure to want to read this book.

The Iron Garden Sutra, by A. D. Sui
This is a slow-burn locked-room mystery novel, set in space on a “dead” generation ship, with a mysteriously flawed yet likable protagonist in Vessel Iris, a Starlit monk whose past haunts him. The way the author reveals the information on Iris’s past is a lesson in heightening tension, and giving the audience just enough to satisfy while keeping the craving for more alive. While this is clearly a character-driven novel, the plot grows more and more amazing, and the stakes and tension rise throughout, which meant I had a hard time putting this book down after the halfway point (be warned: make time). I listened to the audio version, and the narration was truly incredible, so you might want to enjoy the book that way, too.

Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl, by P. A. Cornell
This novelette is the total package: short, beautifully written, voicy, hopeful, gritty, and real. Set in an alternate retro-futuristic Toronto, Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a gem of hope in a world gone dark. Told in an omniscient voice, the tale feels like a fairytale from some future we somehow missed out on. By pulling in hovercars and airships and a settlement on the moon, the setting is equal parts The Jetsons and urban noir. None of the characters have names, yet somehow that works well here, letting us fill in the details from their titles, the setting, and their actions. The con in the book is simple yet devastating, since the reader can plainly see it coming while the protagonists don’t have a clue. And the wrap-up is a soft bow on the beautiful package of this short book, and keeps to what readers familiar with the author’s other works have come to cherish: logic, heart, and hope.

And with that, I’ll leave you with a final image: Gem sunbathing, with my newly-planted seedlings behind her soaking up the sun.

book review, Good Books, signal boosting, What I'm Reading

5 Favorite Reads of 2025

M.E. Garber

Here we are staring at the end of the calendar year. Today it’s actually above freezing, and the various accumulations of snow are finally, finally melting. Despite that, sidewalks remain treacherous with thin, invisible slicks of black ice, or snowfall that compressed into thick, lumpy ice patches–mini glaciers, if you will–which made my morning dog walk…interesting. But I wasn’t alone. Even the dog’s hind legs slipped and slid on ice at times, keeping her breakneck pace nicely in check for me.

Returning home, I curled up with a book, glad to escape even the melting ice. And it hit me: What better way to end out the year than with recommendations of the books I’ve read and truly loved this year? And just in time for any last-minute gifting needs, too (hint, hint–books make the best gifts!)

So here they are, in no particular order–my 5 favorite reads of the past year:

Wearing the Lion, by John Wiswell
Wearing the Lion is just one of those books that manages to hit all the notes–comedy, tragedy, pathos, and dogged determination–while making all of them feel real, and perfectly placed. Come for the ancient Greek Hercules retelling, be riveted by the nasty family dynamics, stay for the terrible (wonderful) puns and the uplifting found family doing what they do best: supporting their family through thick and thin.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea, by TJ Klune
Now look: The House on the Cerulean Sea was amazing, and devastating. But this followup somehow manages to top that great book, both in pain and in cheering. If the courtroom breakdown leaves you on the verge of abandoning the book, let me reassure you that you want to go back. You will not regret it. I told a friend that this book was the balm i needed for my bruised soul, and I stand by that description now. Months later, merely thinking about this book makes me smile.

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett
A secondary-world noir, sort-of-magical-but-but-not-really detective story? Huh? I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this book when I picked it up, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. See, I’d read other books by this author and they were…fine, honestly. Just not my exact cup of tea. Like hoping for chai and getting a great cup of jasmine green tea, you know? Yet here, everything just sang together, making chords instead of plinking out mere notes. The protagonist felt so relatable, his mentor remained mysterious yet became familiar, and the side characters all held my full attention while they were on the page. And the twisty plot combined with the totally unique world building that the story simply thrusts you into? This is one of those books that I simply could not put down at the close of a chapter!

Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman
What book on this list is not at all like the others? This one! I hear you: “A comedic action-adventure LitRPG novel–are you kidding me?” Honestly, I did not think I’d care for this book very much, but I got a free review copy and had time to read around the move and box unpacking, so I gave it a shot. And now I’ve caught up with the entire series published to date and am waiting impatiently for the next installment to drop! The book (and the whole series) is laugh-out-loud funny in places, utterly lighthearted and a pure pleasure to escape into. In other spots, Carl gets “real” and feels things deeply (and let me reassure you that those moments aren’t pebbles dropped for effect and forgotten; they get deeper and more meaningful as the series progresses), and he rages. He fails, he tries again, he makes mistakes and makes amends. He learns and grows and fails some more. But Carl always changes, sometimes despite himself and sometimes because of Princess Donut, his cat companion and adventure sidekick. And since this is a “dungeon” adventure, the plot of surviving the level will keep you flying through those pages.

The Keeper of Magical Things, by Julie Leong
You might be surprised I’m listing this book, since it’s the second in a series. But this book is completely freestanding from the first. It’s set in the same world, but with totally different main characters, a different plot, and even a different overall feel. It’s also, in my opinion, an absolutely fantastic book. Heartwarming, without being smarmy. Hopeful without being Pollyanna-ish. Sweetly romantic, without cloying pages of angst or a plot left dangling for “love.” If your mood needs a boost, this might be the very thing you need to read. While it’s definitely a character-driven novel, the longer I read, the less I wanted to put this book down, because the plot was so immersive.

So there you are. A lot of hope in this short list, and a good bit of cozy–the year felt like it needed all the hope I could throw at it, honestly. But also some simple escape into a darn good story. And isn’t that why we read? To escape into the story, for whatever reason.

I’d love to hear what books you loved in the comments.