“Going to the woods is going home.” — John Muir Photo: Eau Claire Dells County Park, near Wausau, Wisconsin. Photo by Sue Burke.

What was it like to write about a fictional pandemic during a real pandemic? I answer that question in an essay published Tuesday at TorForgeBlog.com.

I recently received this plant as a gift from some neighbors. It had outgrown their apartment, and I had a little space in mine, so I welcomed it into my home. It’s a Ravenea rivularis, or “majesty palm.” It grows in the understory — that is, in the shade of other trees and plants, so … Continue reading Meet the Swamp Thing

I’ll be reading a short story live at the Gumbo Fiction Salon on Thursday, May 13, which begins at 6:30 p.m. CDT. My story is about a princess who rescues dragons and battles the ultimate evil. The show will start at 7 p.m., but it opens a half hour early for socializing and open mic … Continue reading Where to hear me online: Gumbo Fiction Salon and open mic Thursday evening, May 13; and Tiny Bookcase podcast, available now

My next novel, Immunity Index, goes on sale May 4. It will have two virtual book launches. Tuesday, May 4th, 7 to 9 p.m., @ Volumes Bookcafe. With Seanan McGuire! Yes, award-winning author Seanan McGuire and I will talk about the novel, answer questions, and we’ll all have a lot of fun. Tickets for this … Continue reading Book launches for “Immunity Index” May 4 and 5

My flash fiction story, “Magic Rules Zero Through Four” was just published by Daily Science Fiction! Only 475 words. Read it here: https://dailysciencefiction.com/fantasy/magic-and-wizardry/sue-burke/magic-rules-zero-through-four In the author story comments, I talk about what led to this story: “My favorite words are but and what if. One day I thought about the way that the laws of … Continue reading My story at Daily Science Fiction: “Magic Rules Zero Through Four”

Chapter 3 of Interference contains this paragraph: “Long ago as a graduate student, I had researched a voyage embarked upon by Spanish conquistadors down the Amazon River in search of El Dorado. The travelers did not know that the purpose of the trip had been to gather together the most undesirable conquistadors — a ghastly … Continue reading The truth about Lope de Aguirre, who is mentioned in “Interference”

My publisher, Tor, has made a few ebooks available at the special price of only $2.99 throughout the entire month of April:   Semiosis by Sue Burke  Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey  Afterparty by Daryl Gregory Find out more about the books and get links to your favorite bookseller here: https://www.torforgeblog.com/2021/04/01/2-99-ebook-sale-april-2021/ *** My latest … Continue reading “Semiosis” ebook only $2.99

(This brief, moralizing rant by Stevland was cut from the original manuscript because the book was getting too long.) Sadly, I am the only one of my species. In addition to genetic advantages, sexual reproduction provides certain physical pleasures, and thus some hedonistic plants are self-pollinating despite the congenital defects that often occur; self-pollinators must … Continue reading Stevland speaks about flowers and seeds

I made two mistakes when I started writing the novel Immunity Index. The first mistake was to try “pantsing” as a writing technique — that is, to write from the seat of my pants rather than from a plan and an outline. While my first drafts are always shit (which does not make me at … Continue reading Three years ago today, I started writing “Immunity Index”