Please step into my virtual lounge and settle into my ultra comfy cushions with a cup of tea or other drink of your choice.
In these posts I share a bit of news about me, and down in the comments I want to hear news about you!
clears throat daintily THE NEBULAS ARE TONIGHT AND I AM ALL ABUZZ!
The ceremony will be livestreamed starting at 8PM Pacific on YouTube and Facebook and available to view after if you can’t watch live.
Aside form this amazingness I have a few other important things to tell you about below. Then we can all go back to going OMG AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
Continue reading “The Nebula Award Ceremony Is Tonight! | May 2023 Tea Time with Tempest”
Ever since I found out about this I’ve been vibrating with joy. Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion is a finalist for the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction. This is my first ever Nebula nomination and I’m beyond honored. Squeeeeee!
I’m up against some tough competition. The whole ballot is stuffed with great books and media and games. I’m in the best company.
This seems like a good time to point to this blog post I wrote on how the book came to be and this podcast episode where I talk about the publication process in more detail.
I hadn’t planned to attend Nebula Weekend this year. Problem is, with my Egypt trip coming up, I’m low on discretionary funds and can’t afford it. When I told my friend Alethea this she said I had to go then set up this GoFundMe to make it possible. (Have I mentioned lately that I have the BEST friends?) If it reaches the goal, I can go.
Continue reading “Ruby Finley is a Nebula Finalist | March 2023 Tea Time With Tempest”
I waited until the very last day of the month to send this update because I have been a busy bee. Last month I was invited to speak at the Jeddah International Book Fair. I had a wonderful time, as the pictures I took can attest. It was my first time in Saudi Arabia and I loved the entire trip. I didn’t get to see too much since I wanted to soak in all the goodness of the book fair. What little I did see made me want to go back someday.
I started the year off with a solo writing and meditation retreat. Sorely needed. I’ve been dealing with burnout for months and two solid weeks of only focusing on restorative things helped me start clawing my way out of it.
Now I’m settling in at home for two months of writing writing writing. I have a book due, a picture book to poke at, and a secret project to plan.
There’s some other news of interest below. Don’t forget to visit the comments and drop your own exciting news. I want to know what y’all have been up to :)
🧡 Tempest
Welcome to the second Tea Time of the month, featuring news about holiday sales, signed books, and my first in-person appearance! But first….
You probably know that Twitter is a weird death spiral which probably won’t result in it going away completely anytime soon, yet will still mess with a bunch of people’s online lives. If you want to be sure you can find me online outside of my blog, here’s where I’m currently active:
Mastodon: Wandering Shop is my home server. You can follow me no matter what server you’re on.
Instagram: I was silent on here for a while, then discovered that the experience is much better via a browser, so I’m back to engaging for now.
Facebook: I only interact through my Group there. Joining it is the same as following me in terms of your experience.
TikTok: I haven’t been on here in months. Not sure if I’ll get back to it. Just in case.
When: November 28 @ 7PM
Where: 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR
Very excited to announce my first official author event. A signing plus a conversation with my friend and fellow kidlit author Tina Connolly followed by some Q&A.
If you’d like a copy of Ruby Finley signed by yours truly, check out this list of bookstores I’ve visited recently. Powell’s is also offering to ship you signed copies if you order ahead of my event on the 28th.
You know there’s merch available for those of you who love Ruby Finley or know someone who does, right? Even better, said merch is on sale for 15% off until December 20. This includes everything on the Redbubble shop from backpacks to shirts to journals.
If you’re a book giver, all of the published books in my online store, Tempestuous Books, are available for 20% off with code holiday2022
And if you want a personalized autograph from me for your or someone else’s copy of the book, you can now order a custom bookplate.
All the details are on the holiday sale page.
I’m ready to hear from you 🤗 Just one note: this is a community space. Please keep in mind that this is my space, so please act the way you would if you were in my actual parlor having actual tea with me 😍
It’s been a tad over a month since Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion launched itself into the hands of readers. I’ve been so humbled by the great response! Many people have shared pictures of their kids reading it and the reactions have all been great. I even got an Amazon review from a 9 year old who said “…this book is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever read.” THAT is the greatest compliment an author can get!
Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered or bought it in the last month or who will buy it as soon as the budget allows. And huge, huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed it on bookstore sites and Goodreads and StoryGraph so far. Y’all are so great.
Due to a snafu, I haven’t had a “launch” event yet, but will later this month. It should happen on November 28th at Powell’s Books in Cedar Hills. I’ll send all the details as soon as that’s settled. Should be a fun time!
My Ruby Finley landing page has links to all the places you can get the book, including my bookstore Tempestuous Books. And if you do happen to buy it from there and enter the Promo/Discount Code TEMPEST (case sensitive), you can get 10% off until the end of the year. The Libro.fm audiobook promo code also still words: TEMPEST to get 30% off.
If you’re a physical book store person, I have been signing stock! I signed some books at the Rookwood location of Joseph-Beth in Cincinnati and 57th Street Books in Chicago a couple weeks back, and I’m going to sign stock at a few bookstores in Portland and Seattle ovr the next week and a half. I’ll update you on locations once I’m done!
The rush of a book launch eventually tapers off, eventually. I’m going to keep promoting the book as much as I can in many different ways. If you’d like to help the book get in front of every person who would love it, here are some easy ways:
If you’ll be at GGC this weekend, please come to my panel! I’ll be on “Our Favorite Female Sleuths” Saturday at 1PM along with Sarah Gulde, Seanan McGuire, and Crystal Frasier. here’s the description:
From Jessica Fletcher to Phryne Fisher, let’s talk about the female sleuths we love! What did the writers get right, what did they get wrong, and why do we love these inquisitive characters so much?
I’m always down to talk Murder, She Wrote and will also mention the ways it inspired aspects of Ruby Finley. Hope to see you there!
I don’t have an official signing, but if you come to the panel and bring the book I’ll find a spot in a public area to sign it.
As we get into the holiday season I’ll be setting up some sales in the merch shop, I’ll be offering some new swag, and there will be Ruby bookplates on offer. Everything will be in the newsletters.
I’m ready to hear from you 🤗 Just one note: this is a community space. Please keep in mind that this is my space, so please act the way you would if you were in my actual parlor having actual tea with me 😍
I’m not allowed to type in all caps or use excess exclamation points since this is also going to the email subscribers, so just imagine me shouting from a rooftop:
One Month Until Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion Debuts
And I have some surprises for you, so dig in.
🧡 Tempest
I have a bit of news to share with you below, but down in the comments I want to hear your news. Tell me about the stuff going on in your life that you’d like to share. Can be great things, or not so great things, or a funny story, or an epic story. Share pictures, share laughter, share what’s troubling you, share wisdom.
Continue reading “One Month Until My Debut Novel Publishes | August 2022 Tea Time With Tempest”
This month I’ve spent a ton of time thinking about the future and what I want from it. There are several things on the horizon that could mean great things for my writing career and my bank account (woot), which means I can start thinking about where I want to put down roots. Yes, this nomad wishes to be in one place for a long time. Or at least have a good home base so I can launch myself wherever else I want to go.
Like many Americans, I’m very worried about certain national trends. More and more I’m leaning into the notion that survival means ensuring I have community and that the people in it are as dedicated to mutual aid, support, and caring for each other as I am. Wherever I land, that’s the top priority.
All the examples of this kind of community I’ve seen are based on location: neighborhoods, towns, regions. However, I have friends and loved ones all over the country and around the world. I want to know more about ways we can provide mutual aid across distances, and best ways to organize such. I’d love to hear from anyone with ideas or experience in that area.
In the end, we all have to take care of each other. That’s how we’re going to make it.
🧡 Tempest
I have a bit of news to share with you below, but down in the comments I want to hear your news. Tell me about the stuff going on in your life that you’d like to share. Can be great things, or not so great things, or a funny story, or an epic story. Share pictures, share laughter, share what’s troubling you, share wisdom.
Happy Pride, everyone 🌈
This month has been hard–especially here at the end–for a lot of us in America. One minute we’re celebrating Juneteenth, the next we’re mourning the loss of rights. I often get frustrated and angry about how little power I have to change things and how feeble the suggestions are for fixing what’s wrong with our country (voting is only the most basic thing you can do and not the most effective, but that’s a rant for another time).
However, a wise elder recently told me that I can’t hold on to frustration at what I can’t change. I need to focus on what I can and should be doing. I was put on this Earth to make art and build community. That’s how I’m going to contribute to making things better. Imma keep writing. Imma keep holding space for the marginalized. Imma keep fighting.
I hope you keep fighting and doing what you were put on this Earth to do, too.
🧡 Tempest
I have a bit of news to share with you below, but down in the comments I want to hear your news. Tell me about the stuff going on in your life that you’d like to share. Can be great things, or not so great things, or a funny story, or an epic story. Share pictures, share laughter, share what’s troubling you, share wisdom.
Continue reading “Happy Pride + Ruby @ ALA + BIPOC Book Fair | June 2022 Tea Time With Tempest”
April showers have brought May flowers and also pollen. So, so much pollen. Why must plants get busy inside of our noses? Evil.
This May I’m a little bummed because I’m going to miss WisCon for the first time since I started going in 2003. The con is in-person and I had tentative plans to go. Then someone removed mask mandates for public transportation and I turned into the Nopetapus. I’m scared enough of catching things when people do wear masks.
Depending on what happens with cases and mask mandates, I may not even be able to do a book tour (not that I know if my publisher is sending me on one yet). Sadness.
However, this month is not only about sadness, there is also joy. Keep scrolling to see my joy. And don’t forget to share yours on I Heart This Thursday!
🧡 Tempest
I have a bit of news to share with you below, but down in the comments I want to hear your news. Tell me about the stuff going on in your life that you’d like to share. Can be great things, or not so great things, or a funny story, or an epic story. Share pictures, share laughter, share what’s troubling you, share wisdom.
Continue reading “Ruby is Ready for Reviews + New Classes + Best Breakfast Ever | May 2022 Tea Time With Tempest”
It’s my birthday week! *confetti toss* Sadly, we’re still in a panorama and thus I cannot celebrate by gathering friends for a party to end all parties. Until I can, I am not “celebrating” exactly, but I am putting my birthday wishes out into the world.
First Wish: I’d love to raise $3,000 by Sunday for the Vonda N. McIntyre Sentient Squid Scholarship fund that supports authors who want to take Writing the Other courses but cannot afford to do so. We have several more classes this year & I really want to give as many scholarships as possible.
You can make a one-time donation via PayPal or join our Patreon and support us monthly. If you can’t afford to donate, please share this widely and ask others to do so. Thanks!
Second Wish: For folks to pre-order my debut novel! Pre-orders help show my publisher that there is a ton of interest. Pre-orders from any bookstore count, whether you do it online or in person at your local bookmonger. Barnes & Noble has a 25% off pre-orders deal that ends today, if you don’t mind buying from the other book behemoth. (It is a pretty nice discount.) Use code PREORDER25.
Third Wish: Please request that your local library system buy my book. I want to make sure my book is as accessible to readers as possible.
Doing any of those things will make this the best birthday month ever.
🧡 Tempest
I have a bit of news to share with you below, but down in the comments I want to hear your news. Tell me about the stuff going on in your life that you’d like to share. Can be great things, or not so great things, or a funny story, or an epic story. Share pictures, share laughter, share what’s troubling you, share wisdom.
Continue reading “It’s My Birth Week + Podcast News + New Game Who Dis | April 2022 Tea Time With Tempest”
