Deep Sky Anchor

Years ago, I was in a World of Warcraft guild, & right as we beat a big raid boss, one of the paladins said, “I hope it drops paladin gear!”

Everyone jumped on him, like he’d broken a taboo.

We were all hoping for new gear but, apparently, weren’t supposed to speak that truth. Continue reading “Hoping the Loot is For You”

Years ago, after finishing Otters In Space 3, I began outlining Otters In Space 4.

I am not good at outlining.

My outlines tend to look like a bag of small toys, a pile of tarot cards, a playlist of songs, or a vague gesture at several seemingly incompatible movies. Continue reading “Reaching the Heart of Otters In Space 4”

The eight-year-old was complaining about their homework, which just involved writing down one thought about something they’d read in class.

They claimed to have no thoughts on it. Whatsoever.

So I asked what it was about. Continue reading “The Inspiration Behind “Lizard Talked to a Porcupine””

This year, I received nine nominations across four categories—more nominations than I’ve ever received in a single year before. Probably more nominations than anyone has received in a single year before.
It also brings me up to a total of 52 nominations across the last 11 years.

Let’s talk about these nominations. Continue reading “Nine Ursa Major Nominations”

One of the costs I’ve found of being autistic is that I have to get REALLY REALLY good at managing, understanding, and explaining my emotions to others.

I see other people work out their emotions through the process of interacting with others… I rarely have that privilege. Continue reading “Working Out Emotions Through Fiction Instead of Reality”

There are people who I thought were friends but who I’ve learned cannot be trusted with anything under the social mask I wear.

In the past, people like this ended up being my enemies… Continue reading “The Weight of a Mask”

That feeling when you see a mainstream sf/f writer stumble on the history of Rainfurrest & discuss it with the kind of cold analysis that comes from not missing it still.

I owe so much of my career as a writer and most of my biggest successes to Rainfurrest. It left a huge hole. Continue reading “The Effect of the Pandemic on Furry Writing”

When I was in grade school, I was teased mercilessly by other kids for meowing like a cat.

These days, my eight-year-old answers roll call at school by meowing like a cat, and it’s made them one of the most beloved kids in their class, including with their teacher. Continue reading “Meowing at School”

I’m proud of myself: given a choice between writing and playing Hades just now, I willingly chose to work on my novel, without pressuring myself to make that choice at all.

This is real progress from a month or so ago when the mere thought of trying to write made me want to cry. Continue reading “Recovering from Burnout”

Me playing most video games: “You could not pay me to bother with reading the story text. Must kill things!”

Me playing Hades: “Gotta go gather more nectar so I can buy more story text.”