Because we all know I work to music...have a short list of tracks I'm favoriting right now for the current WIP which is a gender-flipped Western/Seven Samurai mashup set in space. ;)

Highlights from the Persephone Track List:
Heart of Stone -- The Raveonettes
As the Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Chillout Mix) -- Motorcycle
​Eyes On Fire (Zeds Dead Remix) -- Blue Foundation
Love Will Tear Us Apart -- Joy Division
Hurt -- Johnny Cash
Short Change Hero -- The Heavy
Killing Strangers -- Marilyn Manson
Beat the Devil's Tattoo -- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Fade Out Line -- Phoebe Killdeer & The Short Straws
2Wicky -- Hooverphonic
Teardrop -- Massive Attack
Nine Million Rainy Days -- The Postmarks
Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby -- Cigarettes After Sex
Home is Where -- Caveboy
Deep Six -- Marilyn Manson
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Enjoy! I'm off to shoot up imaginary bars. ;)

So, today Skiffy and Fanty dropped the interview they did with me for Blackthorne. I hope you enjoy it. We had fun discussing a broad set of topics explored in the novel. :)

Today, I'm posting a snigglet from Blackthorne's POV. I know it probably sounds like I have a dizzying number of POV characters. There are seven. Yes, that's a lot. However, when you compare that with the number of POV characters in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (twenty-four), it's nothing. I think y'all are sophisticated enough to handle it. (I suspect that if readers can handle a white man writing twenty-four points of view, they can handle seven from a white woman.) Also, if you want the breakdown: three of the seven are women, and four are men. Two of those men are POCs and one is gay. As you can see, I'm working on being more inclusive in my work as professional writers should. Doing so makes my worlds more realistic. Ultimately, it wasn't just out of a sense of duty. It was actually a lot of fun, but then one of the things I enjoy about writing is the ability to look through other people's eyes--specifically people who don't look like me. It's a big part of the adventure. Anyway, here you go.

Good afternoon, y'all. Around here, July 3rd means prepping for July 4th, and since it's summer, that means outdoor grilling. Because nothing says Independence Day like burning meat and veggies over an open flame while it's 100F. Or something. :)

I spent a couple of days with one of my conservative relatives who I like very much. (His wife is one of my favorite people.) And the conversation went in mildly distressing directions twice. Once, when he was genuinely upset that I was unwilling to meet him "in the middle" or as I call it "let's shift the Overton Window by establishing that extreme views are legitimate, realistic, and acceptable perspectives on issues." I don't play that game any more. Thus, he accused me of being one of the people responsible for making political discourse so tense. I disagree. Strongly. If you are unwilling to admit that bigotry and extremism isn't an acceptable response, then we have nothing to discuss. I won't legitimize prejudice. In fact, I'm working very hard to root it out of my own consciousness. The fact that this makes you uncomfortable isn't my problem. I'm sorry that you're unwilling to keep up with progress. Funny, I seem to recall a time when white men were overly proud of their ability to adjust to changes around them. And that the phrase "Evolve or Die" was passed around a lot. Do you remember that? [cough] Now, because liberals are no longer playing by "the rules" and guilt-tripping us into being "reasonable" no longer works, we're told we're being "rude," "impolite," and sometimes "violent"--all for the mere act of disagreeing. That's the sign of a group that wants only their way no matter what and is willing to do anything, no matter how manipulative or sleazy or even downright evil to get it. [shrug] There is no meeting in the middle when you declare that only you get to decide where the middle is located. (See also: The U.S. has a homegrown terrorist problem — and it’s coming from the right.)

Anyway, I choose the image above today because my hope is that one day we'll revive the Equal Rights Act. It's obvious to me that American women need a constitutional amendment for protection. Misogyny has far to powerful a hold on this country to rely upon the good will of men. I'm done.

And now those links.