Category: Writing

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).

Magic of the Everyday, Nature, Nebula Awards, Personal Life, Quasar Conference, Writing

Thanksgiving Countdown

M.E. Garber

We’re definitely in the “planning for Thanksgiving” stage, with lists being assembled, decorating having begun, and cooking times and menus being shuffled and balanced. Last week, I raked leaves. Our new backyard holds a huge pin oak tree, which even now is holding some leaves tight onto its branches, while most other trees around us are skeletons against the turbulent and cloud-filled November skies. I’m sure another round of raking is in my future. Yet despite that, we’ve already had a snowfall and accumulation that stuck around for a day and a half–about 2-3 inches of the white stuff!–before the temps rose up into the low 60s and autumn returned. Quite an introduction to the shifting of the seasons!

The Victor

We also watched as two huge buck white-tailed deer, one an 11-point graying elder, the other a much younger 10-point, squared off in our side yard over a young doe, who lay patiently nearby awaiting the outcome of their testosterone fueled fight. In the end, the elder buck fled to the other side of our house, while the younger stared across the fence at his vanquished rival for a long while, making sure he understood where things stood between them. A few days later, however, I spotted the young victor limping across the backyard of the house behind ours, only lightly putting weight on one back leg as he went. Next I saw one of his huge and gorgeous antlers was broken just below the halfway mark. Car, or the next conflict that he badly lost? Either way, the elder buck knows, because I’ve seen him walking confidently about again, reclaiming his crown as reigning buck of the neighborhood.

The Elder, post-defeat

In writing news, this past weekend was the inaugural Quasar conference. The Quasars are the smaller, fall counterpart of the Nebula Awards Conference. Unlike the Nebulas, the Quasars are only online, and much more intimate. If you attended the Nebulas, you got free entry to the Quasars. If you didn’t, the cost was a mere $50, which felt like a steal after seeing the programming!

There were sessions on speculative poetry, on collaboration, on contracts, and on getting science right (done in collaboration with actual scientists and science writers!), anthologies and how editing (and submitting to them) works, YA SFF, and so much more. There was also an amazing interview with the current and immediate-past SFWA Grand Masters, which was so motivating. It was followed by the announcement of next year’s Grand Master, who’ll be inducted officially at the Nebula Awards in Chicago–N.K. Jemisin! What a great pick!

So yes, overall the Quasars were the exact right thing at the right time, infusing me with optimism and writing inspiration at a time of year when those are usually lacking for me. If you didn’t attend this year, you might want to put it on your “yes” list for next year.

Personal life has been hard of late, however. Lots of things piling up with various family members and friends and finances and such, and all of it has piled up and up until it sometimes feels like the world is trying to bury me. Which has, of course, led to yet another slowdown in writing, one that I absolutely hate but that exists nonetheless. (Another reason the Quasars were so good for me was that it helped counteract some of this.)

Still, I can see the ending of the year, and with it the hopes for a new year blooming, right there on the horizon. And with the new year, which dawns in darkness, comes time to renew, refresh, and reinvigorate for another push. Another attempt at attaining long-term goals. And of course the new year brings more joys, both the big ones that come with success, and the smaller, more intimate ones that come with simple enjoyments with partner, pets, family, friends, nature, and simply being alive.

Which brings me back to Thanksgiving. Acknowledging and giving thanks for all the beauty and wonders in my life. There is so much to be thankful for. Even in the dark there are stars, and the wonder of them hints at stories to be glimpsed or imagined. Curiosity and awe blossom within my heart at the very thought.

Happy Thanksgiving.

book review, Magic of the Everyday, Nature, Personal Life, the dog, Writing

Rainy Day News

M.E. Garber

Yes, it’s a rainy day here. The all-day-long, maybe all-week-long kind of dreary gray that sometimes launches into sudden downpours that take those without umbrellas unawares and soak walkers to the skin. It’s chilly, too; only 52F (11C). With the rain’s thick damp, that chill really settles into the body’s core, creeping in from the corners of the house, and inclines me towards dreams of napping, although that remains but a dream.

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

Instead, I’ve made a warming cup of chai, lit a candle–my current favorite, which smells like honey and therefore wraps me in a scent-cloud of warmth like a beam of sunlight–and here I am, at my keyboard, getting on with words. Oh, and tonight’s dinner plan has changed to a warming roasted tomato-leek soup with grilled cheese sandwich. Mmmm, comfort in a bowl.

Last week Friday our back yard was finally fenced, and now Gem can run freely. She’s been going outside every day and just running loops of zoomies for the sheer joy of it. I cannot describe how happy it makes me–doubly so when I think how much pain I’m saving my arm and back now that she’s not constrained to leash-walks only!

Yesterday the neighborhood deer discovered the fence. They were…not pleased, to say the least. Two came up cautiously and sniffed at it, wondering what the heck?!? The third, a pregnant doe, just stood there, one ear flicking irritably. As if by staring at the offending fencing long and hard enough she could make it disappear. Unfortunately for her, the fence remains. A long while after the others made their peace by either walking away or leaping it, she turned, stared through the window accusingly at me, swished her tail, and trudged to the front yard. Where honestly, there is plenty for her to eat! And I’m hoping that without as many deer, we’ll get fewer ticks on the dog, and on us.

Miss Annoyed, flicking her ear
A yearling buck I’ve named “Nubbins,” for his antler starts.

Later, I plan on reading a bit. But let me tell you about a book I just finished. Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore, by Emily Krempholtz, is a cozy fantasy romance that is, as the title suggests, about the difficult task of reinventing yourself. Specifically, of changing your behavior and actions, and trying hard–your very hardest, because it is unimaginably difficult to change who you are–to be a good person after having been raised to be an evil villain. Honestly, the first chapter didn’t win me over, but it was there to set the stage for the change to come and I recognized that and stuck with it. And I’m glad I did. The book was funny, a bit witty, and oh-so-relevant as folks realize they’ve perhaps been less than kind to others. And while the resolution might be a wee bit too hopeful, I still loved it. Because who doesn’t want to be seen as flawed, but changed for the better, after having undergone a major mindset shift and behavioral change? We’re all allowed to change, right? Let’s remember that, and grant one another a bit of grace if one seems to be trying, is what this book is saying. And I’m on board with that. The book will be available in November 2025.

Magic of the Everyday, Moving, Writing

The Cross-Continental Moving Blues

M.E. Garber

Hey, hi! Instead of the Orlando, Florida area, I’m now coming to you from Cleveland, Ohio. Do you remember that huge-imongous snowstorm that swept across the midwest a few days back? The one with polar temps pushing it along? Yeah, that one. It delayed us, too. We sat in our car, packed to the gills with fragile orchids, cleaning fluids the movers wouldn’t move, and a lone betta fish in his multi-layered travel bowls to prevent spillage, and we wondered what travel god we’d pissed off so much.

In the end, we chose to spend another full day in the hotel outside of Savannah, Georgia. It was warm enough–barely–that the bagged and boxed orchids could remain in the tightly packed car under a draped thick frostcloth, I decided. And with nothing else to do, we headed into the old town of Savannah and took a trolley tour in the cool and misty rain.

Honestly it was lovely. After the stress and chaos of the previous weeks, a surprise day with nothing to do and nowhere to go as we found ourselves in a lovely small city was…relaxing and wonderful. Savannah wasn’t crowded, and we hopped off the trolley often to stroll and take in the sights. Highly recommended. The next morning, we were up early and on the road again….

And now we’re here. In an AirBnB awaiting the closing on our soon-to-be-purchased home (fingers crossed for Friday; they’ve messed up the “final” paperwork again). I have my laptop, and also my second monitor. And wifi that seems stable enough (again, fingers crossed that it stays that way). Yesterday I purchased a new connector for the monitor since the move has misplaced that, and today I’m up and running and feeling pretty good, actually. Like maybe I have this move under control, despite it now being completely out of my hands.

It’s an adjustment, moving from 85F to 18F (that was the temp when we arrived, but it went down from there). At least today it’s in the 40’s, and it looks like it’ll rain instead of snow (although the snow that first morning was gorgeous, especially since I was inside sipping hot tea). But I’m already dreaming of putting in a veggie garden, and puttering about in it growing carrots and kale and lettuce and such.

And today, I’m back to writing, and editing writing. It feels good to get back to the thing I love after this time away. To stretch those muscles and feel the sensations snap me back into place until I realize, “Yes, this is what I do, what I love to do. And I can do it!”

It may be awhile before I’m back to regular updates here, but I’ll get there again. I promise. I only hope it doesn’t take too long. Wish me good luck?

Personal Life, Writing

Happy New Year, Delayed

M.E. Garber

I know it’s already the 5th of January, a week into the new year of 2025, which means my holiday greetings are horribly delayed. You see, I got horribly sick over the holiday. On Christmas Day, my husband’s “bug” traveled to me, and I fell ill. And not just a little bit, but a whole lot of ill. For 3 days I didn’t even get dressed, and did nothing more than cough and snot everywhere, sleep and drink water and pee and sleep some more. Eventually, on New Year’s Eve, I snagged a virtual doc appointment and got prescribed glorious antibiotics and a cough suppressant.

So that’s been my holiday. I hope yours was a whole lot better. I hope you had a delicious New Year’s Eve meal with loved ones and toasted away the past year as you awaited the incoming year with anticipation and trepidation (which is always how it goes for me, equal parts hope and fear), and slept soundly, waking to a new beginning. New resolutions, new goals.

For me, my “new goal” is simply to catch up to where I’d expected to be right now had I stayed healthy. This post is step one.

✔️ New Blog Post.

Yessss! That felt good. Let’s hope the year brings more of that simple joy from here on out.

publication, sale, Writing

Imminent Publication Announcement

M.E. Garber

Yes, there’s good news to share: I’ve signed the contract, so now I can shout it out that I’ve sold a story to Inner Worlds. The issue is expected to come out on November 30th, when you’ll be able to read my story, “A Meditation for Mars,” and the other wonderful stories in this issue of the magazine dedicated to writings about our inner lives.

I encourage you to click the link above and read the previously published stories–they’re lovely and wonderful. I’m so happy that one of my stories will soon be published amongst such fine company. And of course, I’ll post here with a link to my story (and this edition as a whole, too!) once it’s available.

Writing

An Emotional Weekend

M.E. Garber

This past weekend, we took our Dasher’s cremated ashes up to Gainesville (where we used to live and where we adopted Dasher) to be buried on the property of his beloved (and exceedingly kind) pet-sitters. It was a tear-filled time for all of us, as we recalled what a great dog he was. Even when he was sometimes a bit of a butthead, it was usually because he simply didn’t understand human ways, and not that he was being a jerk on purpose. And now he has his forever rest, under a lovely oak tree in a huge yard that he loved. That makes my heart glad.

Husband’s favorite road and tree.

It wasn’t all tears, though. We also took in some of our favorite Gainesville sights, and visited a former neighbor and friend who we haven’t seen in ages! And the weather cooperated by cooling off enough for us to enjoy our meals outdoors. Such bliss. Also, we got to see my husband’s favorite tree–an old live oak on a narrow country road that the county didn’t cut down, but curved the almost-single lane road around instead. And yes, they attached reflectors on it for nighttime. It’s a grand thing to see.

What does not make my heart glad is the potential hurricane that appears to be coming our way later this week!! Tropical Storm 9 is expected to become Hurricane Helene, which right now they’re showing heading to the Florida Panhandle. But of course, there’s no guarantee that the hurricane, which they’re expecting to undergo rapid intensification as it traverses the Gulf of Mexico, will adhere to that path. It could well veer further east and south, and run right overtop of us, the way Ian did a couple years back. Sigh. It should be an eventful week of waiting, watching, and finger-crossing for everyone all along the Gulf coast, and everywhere in Florida. Time to go stock up on water!

That’s all for now. I hope you’ve managed to check out my publication page over on Ream. I’ve gotten some wonderful comments on the book so far, and I’m thrilled that folks seem to be enjoying reading along so far. I also just asked my Followers and Subscribers to help name an upcoming character (and Followers is a free level!), so go ahead and click Follow if you’re interested in that.

Cryptic Kennels, Fantasy, Ream, Ream Stories, Writing

A Great Announcement!

M.E. Garber

The day is here at last, when I can share my good news. I’ve been working at this for some while now, preparing, getting things ready for this day, when I can announce my new venture, and officially launch…

…my author page on ReamStories.com!

Wait. What the heck is Ream Stories, you ask? Fair enough. Let’s back up a step. Ream Stories is a place where readers support authors whose work they enjoy. It’s sort of like Patreon in that regard, but Ream is only for writers and readers, so it’s optimized for fiction. You can read online, or you can save the app to your phone’s or tablet’s desktop and read released chapters easily in the app. It’s…like magic, but with technology.

Ream Stories isn’t just me, either. There are hundreds of other writers there, in many different genres, all writing tons of amazing things. And while Ream is fairly new, it’s already gotten quite a bit of traction. It has some great features already, and more are in the works. So I hope you’ll give it a look-see, kick the tires, and maybe try it out.

Oh, speaking of “trying it out,” let me tell you what I’m offering over there. I’ve decided to release my very first serial on Ream. It’s a cozy fantasy I’m calling Cryptic Kennels, and it has this cool tagline:


“Legends & Lattes” meets “The Dresden Files,” set in a kennel for cryptid pets.

The first few chapters are free for anyone to read, without even registering with Ream Stories. Then there is a chapter that’s only available for those who register, but is still free. The remaining chapters will be available only for paid subscribers, and those will release once per week, probably on Wednesdays because Wednesdays seem to need something to look forward to, don’t you think?

At the end of a novel’s worth of episodes, I’ll edit the whole thing into a novel, and subscribers will receive an ebook with their paid subscription. Afterwards, I’ll release it elsewhere for sale. So if you’re looking for some fun animal hijinks and Mortal/Fae interactions, all with a touch of magic and not too much darkness or gritty reality, this might be what you’re looking for. And if you subscribe, you’ll be able to read it before anyone else–and through the community there, you might even be able to influence the story itself!

Even if you can’t subscribe, I encourage you to “follow,” since you’ll still get notifications and messages, and who knows–maybe once in awhile I’ll give away a month of a free tier membership! I’m looking forward to seeing you over at my page at ReamStories.com, and hope you’ll take part in the community I’m building at the site.