I’ve discovered that one more work of mine appeared in 2021, a republication of my translation into English of the short story “Francine (draft for the September lecture)” by Maria Antònia Martí Escayol, at Apex Magazine on December 28. This evocative, haunting story will make you wonder what’s real: after Renée Descartes’s daughter dies, he … Continue reading 2021 publishing roundup – update

Wildfires have a “30-30-30 Rule”: they most likely burn when temperatures are above 30C/86F, winds are above 30 kph/18.6 mph, and humidity is below 30%. That threshold is being crossed more often lately. What does this mean to trees? If we talked to them, we might learn their stories before the disaster. The eucalyptus grove, … Continue reading When forests burn

I had a few things published in 2021. Immunity Index, a novel, published by Tor. Library Journal gave it a starred review: “★ This dystopian biothriller reads like a 21st-century version of Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain, crossed with George Orwell’s 1984. The clone sisters and their creator each provide alternating perspectives of a chaotic … Continue reading 2021 publishing roundup

Ask not for whom the dinner bell tolls… Some of my houseplants have names. Steve, the lucky bamboo, was named by my sister-in-law. Coy is the aspiring gingko bonsai that does not reveal its growth plans. Swamp Thing is a palm tree native to wetlands. Bambino is literally its name: Alocasia amazonica ‘Bambino.’ The basil … Continue reading Don’t name these houseplants

Among my houseplants, large and small, is this little tillandsia, probably a Tillandsia ionantha, also known as an air plant. I got it several years ago, either at a local plant shop or the grocery store’s flower department. It’s easy to grow. Just dunk it or spray it with water once or twice a week. … Continue reading My tillandsia is in bloom!

I’ll be at C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, which will be held December 10 to 12 at McCormick Place on the lakefront here in Chicago. It’s one of the nerd highlights of the year, and it may draw 50,000 people — wear your mask and get your vaccine or covid test to attend. … Continue reading I’ll be at C2E2 on December 10 and 11

This fippokat has read and enjoyed my most recent novel, Immunity Index. Books make an excellent Christmas gift for others and for yourself!

Windycon, Chicagoland’s longest-running science fiction convention, is back in person for 2021! This year’s theme is “Urban Fantastic.” Windycon 47 will be held from Friday to Sunday, November 12 to 14, at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois. At its core, it’s a literary-based convention, but we’ll also enjoy games, costumes, art, filk … Continue reading I’ll be at Windycon 47 this weekend

Every flower is unique. And yet, some small yellow flowers have a nickname among botanists: DYCs, Damned Yellow Composites. Those are plants of the Asteraceae family, common worldwide, usually tenacious weeds with small yellow flowers. They may be pretty, but they’re so much alike that they’re hard to tell apart. Botanists sometimes don’t even try. … Continue reading Yellow

My writers critique group here in Chicago recently released an anthology, Over the Edge Again: An Edgy Writers Anthology. Samuel Durr, who also edited the anthology, used his experience as a hunter to explore the relationship between two people who didn’t seek each other’s companionship in his story, “Wild Heart.” In this essay, he shares … Continue reading Forest to Table