The Journal of Michael Merriam

I will be reading as part of the Speculations Reading Series at the new DreamHaven Books, 2301 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN on Friday, October 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

My plan is to read something in support of Shimmers & Shadows, and then something new, maybe an except from what I'm working on right now, or maybe the piece I have slated to appear in Shiny #4.

Mark it on your calenders!

I just received another shipment of books, so now seems like a good time to pimp my short story collection again.



If you would like a personalized copy, you can go to my website, click on the Make a Donation button and buy it directly from me using your paypal account. The book is $18.95 plus $3.95 for shipping in the United States, making the total $22.90. If you choose this option, please send me an email to me at mmerriamATgmailDOTcom with your shipping information.

If you are local in the Twin Cites and would like to buy a copy, let me know and I'll arrange a time and place to meet with you for the hand-off. Why should my local friends pay for shipping, when it gives me a perfect excuse to go out for coffee or lunch with them instead!

You can also buy it here.

For international orders, please email me and I can work out the cost of shipping.

(  Inside you will find these bits of fiction )

Despite becoming ill and still being that way, the weekend was full of fun.

( Details Behind the Cut )

The reading went well, I thought. We had around 24 people show up, and I sold a few books, in fact, I think I've gone through about half my stock. I've been talking with another writer who has a novel out with a small press about the two of us just plopping down at an empty table in a high traffic area and having our books available for sale and signing. The only bad part about the reading/signing/release party was: I didn't get any of the donuts, even though I was the one who got up early and went to the store to buy them.

I am bone tired and starting to get sick. All the panels I've been on have rocked, especially the Writing Business panel, which was high energy and had an inquisitive audience. I have one more panel tonight at 11:00pm, Urban Fantasy, then I can fall on my nose until we have to get out of the room tomorrow, if that's what I need to do.

I've been around a lot of my friends, which is great. I'll try to get careswen to do a report on her Living with a Writer panel, which was well attended and awesomely presented.

We went to DQ because it is tradition and I really wanted a double-cheeseburger and onion rings. They gave me fries instead, and the burger patties where flame-broiled hockey pucks. It was a big disappointment. The only reason I ate it and didn't ask for a redo was; we were on a time constraint, and I needed food right then and there least I fell over. Still it sucked. I need some water. I think I'm getting dehydrated.

I'll try to catch up on everyone's LJ come Monday.

I will reading from Shimmers & Shadows today at CONvergence, on the 22nd floor of the hotel in the Literary Lounge. We are treating this as the book release party, and will have donuts and soft drinks, along with copies of the book for sale.

The convention programming guide gives the time as 11:00 am, but THAT IS WRONG! At 11:00am I will be at careswen's Living with a Writer panel. I am reading at 2:00 pm. I hope to see some friendly faces!

Just fyi: If you are local in the Twin Cites and would like to buy a copy of Shimmers & Shadows, let me know and I'll arrange a time and place to meet with you for the hand-off. Why should my local friends pay for shipping, when it gives me a perfect excuse to go out for coffee or lunch with them instead!

Also, sometime in the next fews day I will be making a list of those of you who answered questions and offered advice while we were working on the collection, and entering those names in a drawing to receive a free copy. I will announce the winner after CONvergence.

Next week is CONvergence. This is my Programming Deathmarch, err, I mean Schedule.

Thursday July 3rd
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Where Do You Start?
What is the initial genesis or kernel idea of a book? Do you start with a character? A world? A cool scene? A plot?
Joel Arnold, Dana M. Baird, Garnet Gyre, Michael Merriam, Doug Texter

Friday July 4th
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Twin Cities Speculative Fiction Writers Network Meeting
Come learn about this resource for local aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers.
Michael Merriam, Hilary Moon Murphy

6:30pm - 7:30pm in Atrium 6
Getting Published 101
Looking to get famous and make lots of money writing? How about a more realistic view of the writing and publishing process? We'll cover subjects ranging from prepping a work for submission to coping with rejection.
Jerrod Balzer, Cynthia Booth, Roy C. Booth, Garnet Gyre, Philip Kaveny, Michael Merriam

Saturday July 5th
11:00am - 12:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from one of his works.

Except that I won't actually be there, so ignore this when you see it in the programming book. I'll be at careswen's panel listed below. Instead we will be hosting a release party and reading in the Literary Lounge later in the day. It will not be on the schedule, but I will be placing fliers all over the hotel to remind people.

11:00am - 12:00pm in Atrium 6
Living with a Writer
Significant others of writers and artist trade stories and tips about the joys and challenges of living with a creative person.
Cynthia Booth, Jennifer Lynch, Sherry Merriam

12:30pm - 1:30pm in Atrium 6
Writing Business: Cover Letters, Manuscripts, and Rejections
Back to basics. There are books that handle this topic fairly well, but nothing substitutes for experience. Active pros and semi-pros in writing, editing and publishing talk about the dos and don'ts.
Roy C. Booth, Holly Day, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Adam Stemple, Anna Waltz

2:00pm - 3:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading and Book Release Party
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from his new short story collection, Shimmers and Shadows.

We will be hosting a release party for the short story collection at this time in the Lit Lounge up on the 22nd floor of the hotel. This event will not be in the program guide or on the grid, since it is a last minute change and addition. I will post fliers around the hotel. I'm not sure what kind of refreshments we will have, but we will have something! I will have copies of Shimmers & Shadows for sale at the reading!

11:00pm - 11:59pm in Atrium 6
Urban Fantasy
The borders of faerie have moved from pastoral England to modern cities. What is the appeal of urban fantasy? Who writes the best stuff?
Kenneth Hite, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Juanita Nesbitt, Adam Stemple, Jody Wurl

And just to prove I'm still writing a novel:

Dark Water Blues


Richard and Holly have broken out of the Basilica and are hiding in an abandoned Minneapolis landmark. Any takers on whether or not it blows up or burns down?

... is here.




careswen and I are excited to announce that, after surviving the steep learning curve involved in a crash course on how to publish a book, Shimmers & Shadows, a collection of my previously published short fiction, is available for purchase.

( About the Book )

It had been somewhat busy here at Merriam Manor of late. The run down is thus:

Sooper Sekrit Publishing Project has fallen through. To be honest, I'm a little relieved, because if there is one thing I am learning, it is exactly how hard and time consuming it is to produce a professional quality book on a shoestring budget. Also, considering the slush pile I would have needed to deal with, well, maybe it's for the best. Especially when it comes to keeping my own writing career--such as it is--on track.

And speaking of how hard it is to produce and publish a professional quality book, Shimmers & Shadows is so close to being ready, we can almost taste it over here at Merriam Manor. Keep your fingers crossed.

careswen and I are getting ready to attend 4th Street Fantasy Convention this weekend and CONvergence the weekend after next. I am listed as a probably panelist for 4th Street Fantasy, though I have no idea which, if any, panels it will be. I do have my list from CONvergence, which I will post next Monday.

Between all of the above and a variety of other personal things, the writing has suffered considerably this month. That said, I think I am finally clear on what direction the novel is heading at this point. I wrote a fair chunk today and made an outline of the next sequence of events.

Dark Water Blues


The cable guy came and replaced my broken DVR. We lost everything we had recorded on it, which on the one hand is frustrating and on the other liberating.

We have also been economically stimulated by Uncle Sam. As for what we will be spending the money on, see above convention schedule.

The Reverend Selena remains very fuzzy.

There's your update. I might be able to blog from 4th Street Fantasy, since the hotel has wireless throughout the building.

We will be using four of these summaries on the back cover. Vote for your favorite(s), and if you think one could me made stronger by rewording it, please feel free to say so in the comments!


[Poll #1204253]
ETA: I accidentally included "…a grizzled war veteran wrestles with a dark government cover-up" twice in the poll and I have no idea how to edit the poll once it's up. Just ignore one of them when you vote.

Okay, this is what we are considering placing on the back cover of the collection.

Thoughts, advice, and ideas are welcome. We have limited space to work with.


Michael Merriam's diverse stories unfold

…where the faery realm intersects with the mundane world of the Twin Cities

…in the spacefaring future of exploration and adventure

…and in a mythical land of magic and danger.


Here you will find tales of adventure, horror, magic, humor, tragedy, and romance where

…a fallen Seelie champion is caught between his dark past and unusual mortal friends

…a hapless heroine running from the law survives more by luck than by wit

…two very different spirits find sanctuary in a historic shopping mall

…a grizzled war veteran wrestles with a dark government cover-up

…a young outcast strikes a hard bargain with the Muddy River

…freedom fighters and their captives find the battle-lines between them blurred

…a space transport captain makes a difficult choice and falls headlong into the middle of a conspiracy

…estranged lovers discover whether science or magic will save their dying Earth

…death is not the end, time does not always run in a straight line, and the rain blesses both mortals and fae.



This would be followed by some blurbs I have secured from some of my writer friends and a blurb from a positive review.