The Journal of Michael Merriam

On Thursday the 2nd of May, my short piece "The Sixth Son" will air sometime around 7:00am on The Morning Blend on KFAI FM 90.3 Minneapolis and 106.7 St. Paul. This little tale is a riff on and gentle poke at fantasy tropes.

I have two short stories—"Darkly Through the Light Waters" and "Rainfall"— appearing in a just released anthology, Magical Creatures from Celtic Mists, from Artema Press. You can check it out and buy a copy here.

Offered without comment, except to say that the writers organization I am help organize, MinnSpec, plans to sign up: Coffee and Books.

I listened to METAtropolis: Cascadia, and while I enjoyed every novella in the audio book, Jay Lake's The Bull Dancers and Ken Scholes's A Symmetry of Serpents and Doves stood out. Both of these stories really struck me as a reader and have stuck with me days later. I'll review the entire anthology later, but for now, I highly recommend you give it a listen.

Mr. Belyn remains Very Fuzzy Indeed, as befits a Maine Coon.

We now return to preparing for CoreCon.

Originally posted at michaelmerriam.net. You can comment here or there.

I will keep the writing chair warm for you...

I would never cause trouble. Look how innocent I am.



This is my sunbeam. You go find your own.

I’ve been away from Live Journal, just posting marketing stuff. I do have several things going on as writer, and I plan to get back to posting on a regular basis. But before we start talking about writing and writing related things, I wanted to update folks on Beyln.

First, I want to again thank everyone who donated to Belyn’s initial care and upkeep. As you might remember, the little guy showed up on our door, all skin and bones and bedraggled.



Over the next several months we worked to get him healthy and well fed, giving him a safe and stable place to live. After a few initial problems with urinating, he settled down and began to settle in. Belyn is active, playful, and inquisitive. He likes toys that make noise and the fish-on-a-string toy. He is also a cuddler, happy to curl up in a lap or drape himself across your feet and take a nap.

The one problem is that he and the Reverend Selena are still not getting along. Things are better, but they still get into howling, hissing spats and fights. A recent trip to the veterinarian found both cats in good health (The Reverend is in good health for her age), though neither were terribly thrilled with the trip.



The vet has given us contact information for a behavior specialist to call and we are all still hopeful that they will eventually, if not be friends, at least come to some kind of truce.

Over all, Beyln is turning into a big, fluffy, beautiful cat who loves the humans in the house. We hope to have many years of his companionship.

Temp-to-Perm office kitten approves of today's package from Carina Press.

In your quest to go from temp-to-perm kitten to permanent kitten, it might be wise of you NOT PEE ON THINGS. The more so since I know you know how to use your litter box properly.

That said, I know you are a stressed-out kitten in a new environment with a cranky older cat who doesn't seem to like you very much and you're just trying to mark some territory. That's why I'm only a little mad at you.

Also, you are still very cute.

I have been writing on Dead Brew II (title pending). I’m about to the middle of the book and finally have the shape of the thing clear in my head. What I need to focus in now is writing the synopsis for Dead Brew and get it sent out.

Speaking of sent out, I submitted three new pieces to Anthology Builder. I have more pieces to submit to them, but I thought I would start with these three and once a decision was made, submit three more. If I can get all the stories on Anthology builder I would like, that would be 12 pieces. I also sent out a query on a small short fiction collection of my space opera pieces. The publisher in question has told me he is looking for more SF and space opera, so I have high hopes.

Attempts to integrate Belyn—aka Temp-to-Perm Kitty—with the Reverend Selena have been mixed. It would help if Belyn would read her signals (which are pretty obvious, considering how vocal she is) and back off when she’s angry. I wonder if the male inability to read signals a female is sending is a universal thing.

He is still very cute and we are patient. Belyn really wants to make friends with Selena. She is not all that interested right now. I think she might be willing to ignore him, if he would stop getting in her face.

Snippet four of Last Car to Annwn Station is more character and relationship development, with an indication that Jill is about to be drawn into the metaphysical mystery that Mae is dealing with.

I received my postcards and 8x10 prints from Carina Press for Last Car to Annwn Station. They are lovely, and I will have them to give away at 4TH Street Fantasy Convention, Convergence, and Diversicon if I attend.

( Snippet #4 Behind the Cut )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Car to Annwn Station. Releases on June 27th. Pre-Order at Carina Press, Amazon U.S., and Amazon U.K.

Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep. Available in ebook format at Carina Press, Amazon, B&N, and in audio format at Audible.com

The Reverend Selena and Belyn had their first physical meeting after Belyn got through the screen separating them. Little Belyn came running into the study for protection from the big black cat making a noise like an overloading steam-engine. No one was injured, though Selena swiped at him and made him back away. Both cats are now sleeping in separate rooms, with Belyn safely behind a closed door again. I am now listening the the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Cats while I try to get a little writing in.

The writing has been going slowly the last couple of weeks, swallowed up in computer woes and a new kitten. I’m hoping to get back on track by writing a little this afternoon.

Belyn, aka Temp-to-Perm cat, has been neutered and given a clean bill of health by the veterinarian. He and the Reverend Selena have seen each other through a screen. The Reverend Selena made a sound like an air raid siren before settling down to glare malevolently at Belyn. For his part, Belyn’s noise was something more akin to an agitated teakettle, though he quickly became bored and continued his quest to escape the crafting room.

The release date for Last Car to Annwn Station has been moved back to June 27th (One month! OMG!). I should have postcards to give away at 4th Street Fantasy Convention and CONvergence.

( Snippet #2 Behind the Cut )

I am overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of people, many who I only know through computer pixels. Belyn is a very lovey and cuddly fellow, and we have great hope that his sweet disposition will allow him to integrate with the Reverend Selena once his visit to the veterinarian is over.

Thank you. Thank you all so much.