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Presence over Presents

Autumn into winter is my favourite time of year. I love how nature sheds her skin; wild things stockpile life essentials to coorie down in quiet dens, and the stasis of bulbs and trees. I’m inspired by the fall, the bands of light, the nip in the air. The quiet inspires.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I detest the hyper-commercialised consumerist calendar. It kills my soul knowing how profoundly distant we’ve become from the roots. It’s devolution, not evolution.

It’s a challenge to blot out that noise, and soak up the beauty beneath the tinsel, plastic, the abundance of waste and inhale the earth’s quiet song. It’s what I’ve always wanted to impart to my children, to appreciate and take stock of the real gifts and not presents that contribute to so many wrongs. Presence over presents. Appreciation of life not stuff. That noise has always fed my depression significantly.

As much as I’ve always been drawn that way, when I had the privilege of having my children, some folks expected that would change. And suddenly, I’d be all in for—Santa, Christmas, consuming and following the masses in the noise, the greed, the expectations, the stress. It’s depressing. It’s started early this year. My family’s den isn’t far enough away from the noise.

Learn and Revise

In October, I posted on my social media about my decision to pull A Life of Suicides (one of my first published books) from print.

This wee book is going through revisions and edits now. I knew I’d be mortified as soon as I looked at it! And again, I apologise to my readers for the errors. I’ve been on a continuous journey of learning and refining my craft(s), with much improvement since that book was published in 2018.

If you picked up A Life of Suicides before it was pulled, I’d like to offer a complimentary digital copy of the revised edition when it’s released—please reach out with proof of purchase (if you bought from me direct and don’t have a receipt, message me, I’ll remember you!).

The new, vastly improved second edition will be wrapped up by gorgeous original art by Don Noble of Rooster Republic Press.

The new edition can be preordered, digital and print editions release on January 1st 2024.

Exposure or Taking Advantage

There is an increasing expectation for free art (visual and written) in exchange for (often mythical) exposure. Hell, I’ve been asked for it. And in early people-pleasing naivety, I’ve done it. Now, with a fair bit of experience, I have to ask (as should you if approached),

dae a look like a’m buttoned up the back?

How can one claim to value and support artists, yet expect to be given it (often to sell) for free?

This work in exchange for exposure does not support artists; it takes advantage of them. Any business that collects work from artists in such a manner is highly suspect. If the exposure is so good, they should be able to pay for the work, right?

Those who seek this exchange don’t value the time and energy it takes to create. They don’t care about the artist or the art if they don’t respect it enough to pay for the crafting of it.

I’ve been asked before (and know many other independent writers and artists get this too) where the best place to buy my work is. The only way to be sure the artist is getting paid is to buy from them directly. It’s always a bit more personal, too.

Call me crazy, but imagine walking into a jewellery store and offering to take away their priciest diamond necklace—saying you’ll wear it to help the store gain ‘exposure’ if they give it to you for free. It is theft.

Asking for (and expecting) work for exposure is creative exploitation of the artist. This is not a professional approach to business. This approach exposes the business as one that lacks integrity or respect for the artist whose work it wants to use to build or prop itself on. This ‘business’ is full of grifters, chancers, shameless swindlers.

Artists work hard, we sacrifice, we lose our minds sometimes, and many of us under charge for the hours and blood we pour in. If you want to be sure the artist is getting paid when you pick up their work, buy direct from them when you can. This way, you can almost be sure no one is in the middle taking advantage or shaving a lump off for doing nothing to actually create the work.

October Markets

These are the markets where you can find me loitering behind a table this month. If you fancied picking up a wee book or two direct from me, you know where to find me. I’ll have some framed art prints and a few original framed OOAK pieces as well. As always, I carry limited hardcovers to events, so if you want any of those, you are welcome to order in advance to avoid disappointment. Just drop me a direct message / email.

Titles that I’ll have on hand:

  • #BeBrazen Autumn Equinox Edition
  • #BeBrazen Summer Solstice Edition
  • Delevan House
  • Clan Witch: Found Shadows
  • Incesticide: Collected Horror
  • Murmur: Collected Horror
  • Asylum Daughter
  • A Life of Suicides
  • Concoction V1
  • Concoction V2
  • One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: A story of love & survival through NICU

I don’t carry any threads except for those who have pre-ordered to collect, so if you fancy a cool Tee or hoodie, visit my Etsy.

Ghost

A wee blog

It’s October already, and, I’ve been saying this for a few years now and will echo again—time is a slippery beast, and it’s quickening intensely.

I wonder if it, too, is the ‘season’, like my elongated season of being sick. As a mother of young, fast-developing, high-energy, curious kids, the daily pace is rapid, and I always feel like I’m spinning too many plates. My bones hurt from it. I don’t have someone to comfortably hand a few plates to—their breaking is a certainty. And I’d flail myself for being stupid enough to trust while I pick up the shattered pieces and keep the others spinning. I’m tired. They get heavier or I’m weakening.

Perhaps it’s both.

Folks keep talking to me about the past and sharing old ‘memories’ oftentimes, those memories aren’t theirs. They’re selected by technology. I am bored of the nostalgic mindset. I’m fed up with many things that feel like they’re haemorrhaging time (life). It’s so finite. There are so many breaths filled with too many greedy, empty words. For children, for folks we love and spend time with (when we can squeeze that in this fast-paced race to death), being present is of far more value than daydreaming of yesterday. I’m glad yesterday is over. There’s more pain there than anything else. And all the pictures are imprinted in my non-digital head. My heart beats differently because of some of them. I wish folks would be present more. Have their feet on this ground and not prancing in yesterday’s dust. Be present today and grow for better, happier, stronger tomorrows. Nostalgia is a waste of today unless you’re a ghost.

Creativity Under a Blue Moon

On Wednesday, August 30th 2023, we’ll again be treated to the dynamic energies of a powerful “Blue Moon.” The second of two full moons within one …

Creativity Under a Blue Moon

Book II from Brazen Folk Horror

Pre-order yours, and don’t forget to subscribe to #BeBrazen .

Book II from Brazen Folk Horror

Intermission…mostly

From the dust of creative frenzy, there was a little impromptu reading of the prologue from Delevan House by Natasha over in TikTok. Here it is …

Intermission…mostly

Pardon our Dust (faerie and otherwise)

For the next eight weeks or so, Natasha and Ruthann will be locked away building on the world and characters we designed in Delevan House. The …

Pardon our Dust (faerie and otherwise)