Howard Hughes and the Two Hundred Sirens (71)
Another fine, sunny day. A chilly night, with a low of 44˚F. Our high was 76˚F.
And Sirenia Digest 200 went out to subscribers today. I hardly slept last night, and was up at 6 a.m., working in the issue's three-page prolegomenon by 6:45 a.m. (One reason I'm not sleeping is I've cut my Gabapentin dose in half; I need it, but it just has too negative an impact on my mind). I'm very happy with the issue. It's one of the best looking one;s to go out in a whole, and the story is quite good, as well. At the last minute, I changed the titled from "Oneironaut Collage" to "A Travelogue for Oneironautics." I like like the new title much more. And I hope all subscribers are pleased with 200. It's a strange milestone.
I was supposed to mention in the prolegomenon that the material pertaining the the results of a certain monstrous Nazi experiment was the product of the combined efforts of myself and Christopher Lee. It's part of something that he and I have been working on since July 2020, and it was a shitty thing to forget. I do not know how much of that material will ever be published. There's some I'd love to see done as a novella, but there are many storytelling hurdles. And yes, like many of my best stories ("The Steam Dancer," anyone? The World Fantasy Award winning "The Prayer of Ninety Cats"?), that portion of A Travelogue for Oneironautics" came from roleplay. It's a great untapped writing tool that more writers need to avail themselves of, especially when you are, as I have called myself, a "method writer."
But yeah, 200. Go me.
Here's a thing I said on Twitter today. Take it to heart: Young writers: Do not be afraid of the word "career." You are not an "enemy of the people" if you want to be paid for your hard work. Learning to be a good business person is a hugely important (and often neglected) part of being a professional author, fiction or nonfiction.
I forgot to mention that we finished the most recent season of Peaky Blinders, and it might have been the best season yet. Only one to go. And speaking of good TV, House of the Dragon just keep getting better and better.
Now, about our money woes. I'm reposting this from yesterday (and my thanks to those who have helped so far):
So, 2022 was a lean year. They happen. Kathryn and I are now having to pay taxes (self employment, paid in April and October), and it's going to leave us busted, despite oncoming expenses. So PLEASE have a look at the Big Cartel shop, where you can buy my books or Spooky's tie dye, OR donate directly via the "subscribe" option (default is $5, but you can put in less or more than that; we'll leave that up a week or so, so there's no danger of anyone being charged twice). Good years or bad, taxes or no taxes, there's still rent and food and vet bills and what have you.
Frankly, I find the "subscription" thing very confusing, but to simplify things on our end we want to try using it instead of of something like Indiegogo. Be assured: If you give us $25 or $1 or $100 dollars, whatever, you will NOT be charged again in November. We'll take the subscription feature down before the end of the month so that cannot happen. Cross my heart. I fucking hate asking for money. I always hate asking for money. But we can't live much more frugally than we are at the moment. We're reaching Lovecraft levels of frugality. So, if you can help, please do. Oh, you will find the subscribe option way down at the very top and very bottom of our page. A donation option would be far less confusing.
I think that's all for now. It's been a long damn day.
Later Tater Beans,
Aunt Beast
9:40 a.m. (cover art by Frederick Appleyard)
And Sirenia Digest 200 went out to subscribers today. I hardly slept last night, and was up at 6 a.m., working in the issue's three-page prolegomenon by 6:45 a.m. (One reason I'm not sleeping is I've cut my Gabapentin dose in half; I need it, but it just has too negative an impact on my mind). I'm very happy with the issue. It's one of the best looking one;s to go out in a whole, and the story is quite good, as well. At the last minute, I changed the titled from "Oneironaut Collage" to "A Travelogue for Oneironautics." I like like the new title much more. And I hope all subscribers are pleased with 200. It's a strange milestone.
I was supposed to mention in the prolegomenon that the material pertaining the the results of a certain monstrous Nazi experiment was the product of the combined efforts of myself and Christopher Lee. It's part of something that he and I have been working on since July 2020, and it was a shitty thing to forget. I do not know how much of that material will ever be published. There's some I'd love to see done as a novella, but there are many storytelling hurdles. And yes, like many of my best stories ("The Steam Dancer," anyone? The World Fantasy Award winning "The Prayer of Ninety Cats"?), that portion of A Travelogue for Oneironautics" came from roleplay. It's a great untapped writing tool that more writers need to avail themselves of, especially when you are, as I have called myself, a "method writer."
But yeah, 200. Go me.
Here's a thing I said on Twitter today. Take it to heart: Young writers: Do not be afraid of the word "career." You are not an "enemy of the people" if you want to be paid for your hard work. Learning to be a good business person is a hugely important (and often neglected) part of being a professional author, fiction or nonfiction.
I forgot to mention that we finished the most recent season of Peaky Blinders, and it might have been the best season yet. Only one to go. And speaking of good TV, House of the Dragon just keep getting better and better.
Now, about our money woes. I'm reposting this from yesterday (and my thanks to those who have helped so far):
So, 2022 was a lean year. They happen. Kathryn and I are now having to pay taxes (self employment, paid in April and October), and it's going to leave us busted, despite oncoming expenses. So PLEASE have a look at the Big Cartel shop, where you can buy my books or Spooky's tie dye, OR donate directly via the "subscribe" option (default is $5, but you can put in less or more than that; we'll leave that up a week or so, so there's no danger of anyone being charged twice). Good years or bad, taxes or no taxes, there's still rent and food and vet bills and what have you.
Frankly, I find the "subscription" thing very confusing, but to simplify things on our end we want to try using it instead of of something like Indiegogo. Be assured: If you give us $25 or $1 or $100 dollars, whatever, you will NOT be charged again in November. We'll take the subscription feature down before the end of the month so that cannot happen. Cross my heart. I fucking hate asking for money. I always hate asking for money. But we can't live much more frugally than we are at the moment. We're reaching Lovecraft levels of frugality. So, if you can help, please do. Oh, you will find the subscribe option way down at the very top and very bottom of our page. A donation option would be far less confusing.
I think that's all for now. It's been a long damn day.
Later Tater Beans,
Aunt Beast
9:40 a.m. (cover art by Frederick Appleyard)