Fran Wilde's Blog

A lot of you have mentioned wanting to see the “what I love” posts return, and I am excited to say that I agree — plus I’m making these free-for all posts from here on out. Each month, I’ll share a dozen* things I’m loving right now, with reasons; plus news and find-Fran updates. You’re welcome to share this post as it’s free for all!

All the books mentioned are on my shelf at Bookshelf.org

Here we go!

Books: Lovely Creatures - KT Byrski (coming from new publisher Psychopomp on May 14) — if a gothic house was raised by a traveling circus, or vice-versa, it would be this book. Someone You can Build a Nest In - John Wiswell - (out now!) - Monster hygge: found family, an epic quest, and so many good, crunchy bits. Cinderwich - Cherie Priest - spooky mystery wrapped in Appalachian Lore and family secrets (coming from Apex - June 11). Draw Every Day — friends, this is bringing me joy when I’m stressed. Grab some markers and join me. Order of Time - Carlo Ravelli - physics! I am feeling smarter already. And finally - the May/June Uncanny coming May 7, with stories (the Arkady Martine is especially exquisite), essays, and poetry (Ali Trotta! Me!).

Podcasts, Blogs, Apps & Decks: Alltrails — find new big and small hikes, right in your backyard; plan quests! I love the downloadable maps. Ologies - Allie Ward - I talk about this all the time, but, friends, she asked the lemur expert if they really do like to move it move it so we get to cheer about it again. Mandy Brown’s A Working Library — I’ve been following her since I was writing code (aka a LONG time ago) and this week was a banger — gossip, perjorative framing of women’s communities, and HILD. Woodland Wardens - a gorgeous oracle deck that I found with the help of my local indie (happy belated independent bookstore day) and I already love it, even if I have no idea *(yet) how to use it properly. Just look how pretty…

For more, visit Fran’s blog

I both enjoy doing these posts and dread forgetting a favorite or several (I know I will, so check back to see if I’ve updated (I will)). I did a lot of reading, many of which are stories that you will read in the coming year, and also a LOT of fiction for The Sunday Morning Transport (which obviously contains all stories I love and I will be talking about that more in depth next week… in the meantime, if you don’t subscribe, you should take a look here, and read our archives. It is a collec...

Time is so strange in Booklandia. It’s hard to believe that The Book of Gems came out only three months ago, and also so many wonderful moments happened on the way from there to here that it feels like just yesterday.

To everyone who’s posted, reviewed, and celebrated the third book in the Gemworld with me, and to everyone who is finding the books anew (cough, thank you Star Wars FACPOV fans!) I’m so glad you’re here.

To all the fantastic indie bookstores I’ve met along the way, and t...

Book Bites is Cooking the Books‘* more easygoing, somewhat irregularly scheduled cousin. Authors talk about their book and share a recipe, all in one tasty bite.

The Devil’s Gun
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250269350 
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250269355


Preorder links: Powell’s | Barnes and Noble | Amazon
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Welcome back to Book Bites! We are delighted today to feature an extraordinary book and a wonderful author, as well as their delicious recipe. Cat Rambo is the author of  Devil’s Gun (out 8/29/23) —

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July is my birthday month and I have brought YOU presents! 

Most of you know that in addition to writing books and short stories, I also edit and curate a short fiction magazine called The Sunday Morning Transport. For this, my birthday month, I’ve pushed all the buttons over there to bring you some amazing short stories and more goodies for free! (I mean, we hope you’ll love them enough to subscribe and help us bring more stories to readers in the coming months too!)

Here they are:

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It’s been two weeks since The Book of Gems made its way into the world, and I’m so grateful and happy for all of the enthusiasm, your kind notes, and the amazing comments coming from all quarters — and we’re not done yet!

Next Tuesday (7/18) — one week from today — there’s one more stop! Join me at Boulder Bookstore in Boulder Colorado, in conversation with the phenomenal Carrie Vaughn! (Click the link to register!) We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you to everyone who’s come out...

(And welcome back if you’re familiar with the goings on around these parts!)

So today, after a lot of hard work on the part of so many people, the third book in the Gemworld series, The Book of Gems, comes out from Tordotcom. This one’s been a long road, and absolutely worth the journey!

What began in 2016 with a short story that grew into a novelette (and almost a novella) about two young women protecting the Jeweled Valley against all odds, despite being unprepared for the task (...

It’s that time of year again, and I’ll admit I was looking at this post with a huge side eye because things were so much different this year. I’ve done a lot of reading, but much of it was student work (some of which is below!)

*A time capsule note before I get rolling: I’ve been doing this since at least 2013 (I think earlier, but wordpress is hiding the posts). One of the embarrassing things about that is how clearly my discomfort carries over from year to year (I am practicng, but don’t...

Hello everyone —I’m slowly climbing back out of what I didn’t really clock as a super intense work period, but now that I’ve slept for 3 straight days and The Chemist mentioned that he thought I’d been working really hard, whelp, I guess that’s true. (Ooops.) I turned in a few things I can’t wait to tell you about soon, and in the meantime, I have a list of where to find me for the next few weeks and change. Given the state of things, this also includes reminders for where to find me in online s...

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A while back, when I was trying to wrap my head around various things like Hugo finery (which unnerves me almost as much as actual Hugo events do), I realized that one thing I’ve always wanted is someone to cosplay one of my stories.

“The designer who promised the most beautiful gowns, usually delivered them, then disappeared, was back, and seeking a select few who would gain entrance, but only if they could find the shop. ”

And I decided, in order to distract myself from the abje...