Month: December 2018

A Look Back at 2018

Posted December 31, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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Once again, thank you to everyone who’s supported me throughout the year, especially my generous and lovely patrons! This will be the last post for 2018 from me. I hope your year is ending on a high note and that 2019 will be off to a delightful start for you all! <3

Well, 2018. You were… quite a year, weren’t you? Like always, I’m not sure how we got from January to December so fast and yet here we are again. So I guess it’s time to start looking back at the year, to see what I’ve accomplished and done.

Yearly Happenings

Well, 2018. You were… quite a year, weren’t you? Like always, I’m not sure how we got from January to December so fast and yet here we are again. So I guess it’s time to start looking back at the year, to see what I’ve accomplished and done.

I… don’t have much to say about the year itself, to be honest. The biggest things I’ve done are that I’ve sold an essay and officially opened for editing and author services.

One ting I definitely want to look at very critically is this yearly round-up post. Did I catch everything you wanted to know? If not, what did I miss? I am hoooooooooopeleeeeeeeess. :/ (That said, I should probably warn you that I already have trouble tracking very broad and general statistics, so something like “a detailed breakdown of your reading this year!” is… not likely to happen.

But also wow I did quite a lot of things. That’s… so much more than I expected. O_O You’d think that with all the stuff I did is why I didn’t quite manage what I’d hoped with DemiPrincess2, but it actually isn’t. I did a bunch of things – and this isn’t everything, just the things I’ve completed – that I did to wind down or because my mental health was just that low. :/ Blargh. But hey! I finished effectively 1 novel, 2 novellas, 8 essays (some of them quite long and technically it’s more like 14 if you count unposted ones and ones I had to rewrite from scratch), and one short story! I’ve got another short story and a short poem in edits too.

Also I did a ton of other stuff. I’m re-evaluating the other stuff in part because the way I handled them this year – especially the livereacts – isn’t actually working for me. If it’s not working for me, it’s a sure sign it’s not working for anyone else either. I wound up doing far less with some things than anticipated too. I only recorded a few of the short stories that I’d wanted to record. Although that’s partially because my mic developed issues that took me forever to figure out. (Basically, don’t put electronics next to your mic.)

And, um, yes. That is… basically been it. I think? Did I miss anything? Tell me I didn’t miss anything!

Publications

  • Among the Glimmering Flowers
  • The Ice Princess’s Fair Illusion

Patreon Story Perks:

Patreon Essays:

Completed Stories

  • RibbonDancer
  • The Sea Horse of Moezerdam

Completed Livereacts

Doctor Who:

Regal Academy:

Lost Song:

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power:

Anne with an E:

My Only Love Song:

Steven Universe:

Record of Lodoss War OVA:

Princess Tutu:

Assorted non-TV-shows

Yearly Wordcount

Fiction: 207,281 words

Nonfiction: 76,517 words

When I started the year, I had one goal. Well, no. I had many, but when it comes to my total wordcount, I had just one. Well, technically it was two, but I’ll get to that. The one goal I had this year was to cut down on the amount of nonfiction writing I was doing and try to shift to writing more fiction. I know I can get a decent wordcount in a year. I just… kind of wanted the majority of that word count to be fiction.

And oh look I succeeded fantastically. My secondary goal, however, is one I failed to make because I’m not even going to try and write that many words in a day. (I mean, I could. I’ve done it in the past, but I’m not too fussed.) My secondary goal was to write 300,000 words in both fiction and nonfiction. I’m a little over 15,000 words short. And that’s okay because the main goal was to write fiction and whoot I did that! I’m really proud of myself. Is it where I want to be? Hell no, but it’s nearer to where I want to be than last year, so let’s see if I can keep up the momentum!

Odds and Ends

How about you? What’s your year contained? Good things, I hope.

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December 2018 Round-up

Posted December 30, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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Goals

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This Week on Patreon (Week 50? Ish?)

Posted December 21, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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My Patreon tends to be a fairly quiet place, but I wanted to share links to the posts that go up every week. In this case, I’m counting weeks from Saturday to Friday so anyone who wants to explore things during the weekend can do so.

Most of the posts are locked to patrons, though you’ll find at least one public post each month. Enjoy!

Public Posts

All-Patron Posts

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My Favourite Reads of 2018

Posted December 17, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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I know there’s still some time left before 2018 ends, but it’s definitely time to start making the lists and anything that I read that I want to add to the list after compiling it is going to be just mindblowingly awesome. (Very likely. I have some amazing books on my TBR pile that I’m hoping to get to before the year ends.)

In no particular order, let’s go take a look at the books I’ve enjoyed most this year! (Well, up to today anyway.) As usual, though, I’m restricting myself to 10 books.

1. Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault

I GET TO TALK ABOUT THIS THIS YEAR. I loved this so much. It’s such a fun enemies-to-significant-others story. It’s got everything you’ve come to love from a Claudie Arseneault story: a diverse cast in all ways, a lush and delightful (city) setting, great queer rep (especially ace and aro), solarpunk aesthetic and ideals, family (blood or chosen) looking out for one another, and fantastic relationships all around!

Did I mention it’s got witches and superpowers and secrets and that this is a delightfully bilingual book? And that it’s just gorgeous in its descriptions and the action is just fantastic and, wow, I just. What are words. I adored this book last year and I was so happy to reread it this year. 😀

2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

This book blew me away when I read it. It’s raw and powerful, packing a really hard punch. Again, what are words? I just. I couldn’t put this book down. Zélie’s quest is just so emotional and engaging. Adeyemi deals with aspects of fantasy narratives that most other books just glance past or glean over without too much thing.

And it’s just… I loved these characters and the way they struggled to communicate with one another given how large a bridge there is between their positions in life. Just. MARGLEASDSN. Read it.

CN: Assume that, if it’s something commonly warned for, it’s included in this book.

3. Dreamstorm by M.C.A. Hogarth

The conclusion (not counting the epilogue novella) of The Dreamhealers Saga! And wow did it not disappoint. I was swept away by the first time I read it. And then I read it again to write an essay about the series as a whole and it was still wonderful and delightful. It’s got a fantastic mix between calm, domestic scenes and THINGS GOING HORRIBLY WRONG. Also there is possibly too little baking to feel like a ‘proper’ Vasiht’h book, but there is also baking and delightfulness and just… It is a book that make me intensely happy this year.

4. Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Aaaaaaaaah! I was so excited about this book last year, especially when I heard about what some of the changes from SwoonReads were, and just. Woooooooow. I loved this so much. I adored Alice. She’s such a delightful geek. And looooook. Like. I know plenty of books that do this, but still. Loooooook. Aces getting happy endings! And not being, like, dead by the end of it. I wish thiiiiiis had been my very first ever ace book. That would’ve been so, so, so nice. <3

CN: Acephobia/acemisia.

5. Storm Wings by Becca Lusher

Book 4 of Wingborn. So definitely read the others first. We continue the adventures of Mhysra and her friends. The slow-burn romance fiiiiiiiiiiiiiinally goes somewhere and wow was that good. Also contains one Stirla shopping with a tomboy princess. That scene is every bit as good as it sounds and, honestly, this book deserves to be on this list of my favourite books for this year just for that chapter.

And then the dragons showed up and we finally learn what’s going on with Mouse and some of what’s happening with the Overworld and just aaaaah my heart. (Also Becca put in Moar Bumble just for me and how could you not love that massive, winged pup?)

6. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

AAAAAAAAAAAH! THIS IS SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOD. And, okay, it is superdark and I don’t recommend reading it on your own or in places where you cannot be emotionally compromised because this will gut you with feels. And also darkness but they’re part of the feels and I just. WHAT ARE WORDS. This is easily THE BEST book I’ve read, like, ever. It is that good. I loved it and I’m am in awe of it and just. Go read it. Unless the warnings are things you cannot read, then don’t, of course. Be safe. But otherwise this is SO GOOD and wooooooow.

CN: Assume that, if it’s something commonly warned for, it’s included in this book. I am not kidding all the warnings apply. There are, like, zero exceptions to this. If you need a warning for anything, tread with caution.

7. Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan

Last book in The Memoirs of Lady Trent. This is my fave of the lot, but I don’t recommend reading it without first reading the others. They’ll make much more sense. Or you could start with this one and play Spot The Foreshadowing with the rest, I suppose. But this has sooooo much languages and linguistics and fun stuff!

Also dragons. Lots of dragons. And adventures and alt!Victorian ladies going on adventures FOR SCIENCE! And it’s just great.

8. Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis

Speaking of alt!Victorian ladies doing things FOR SCIENCE… Okay, so that’s not technically what Cassandra is doing in this book, but she’s definitely a sciency-magic lady who is very frustrated by the fact that she can no longer do science-magic after spending, like, all her life, getting to be accepted and allowed to do it.

And then she gets herself trapped in a bargain with one of the fae. THIS GOES ABOUT AS WELL AS YOU’D EXPECT and then there’s her former fiancé who’s determined to not-ruin their relationship. (To be fair, Cassandra needed to be whacked with a pillow and literally everyone but Cassandra knows it and there’s sibling teasing and shenanigans afoot.)

And this is just a ton of fun.

9. Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones

Loooooooook at this. Looooooook at it. It’s so lush and gorgeous and wonderful. I do kind of prefer the first book, but that’s partially because the first book is a little more straight-forward in its narrative. This one is all twisty and turny and relies far more on magical realism and unreliable narrators both and requires much more careful reading. Also it has a larger cast and delves into lots of questions about mental health and just. Wow, this was such a beautiful book to read.

10. Moon-bright Tides by RoAnna Sylver

CUTEST F/F ROMANCE. Technically this is a short story, so it’s also a short read. It has so much in it, though. A neurodivergent witch, a mermaid, a fantastic setting that garners lots of questions (but enough answers to make the story work and the reader want moar) and just. MARGLEFLUDDLE. WORDS.

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Winter Sale!

Posted December 15, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in News / 0 Comments

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Winter Sale! Get "Among the Glimmering Flowers", "Feather by Feather and Other Stories", "A Promise Broken" and "Rapunzel, Rapunzel" for $0.99 each from December 15 to January 10! Happy holidays!

Happy holidays, everyone!

Because it’s cold and grey where I live and it’s time for the holiday season, I figured it was the perfect time to have a small(ish) sale! From December 15 to January 10, I’ve put four of my books up for sale at $0.99 each (or the equivalent in your local currency insofar as I can control it).

That means discounts ranging between 66% and a whopping 86%! WOW! If you’ve been looking to snap up some of my ebooks for cheap, for yourself or as a gift, this is the perfect time to dive in as these offer up a great selection of my work! Let’s take a look at the ones on sale with buy links and everything for the easiest shopping experience!

Among the Glimmering Flowers – From $5.99 now $0.99! Get it here!

Among the Glimmering Flowers by Lynn E. O'Connacht

Felicity feels stifled by her parents’ protective nature. She’s the crown princess, yet she’s not even allowed to care for her own pony. Her life consists of nothing but rules and permissions. All she wants is a little more freedom.

Horse-friend is happy to have a roof over his head, a job that he likes and food in his stomach every day. He never expected to run into the crown princess as she tries to sneak out of the castle. Or to get caught up in her clumsy attempts at having an adventure.

It isn’t long before trouble, rather than adventure, finds both of them, setting them on a course that will change their lives — and the fate of the kingdom — forever.

Among the Glimmering Flowers is the story of how two lovers first became friends and the first book in a series exploring a demisexual/allosexual romantic relationship. Readers looking for a low-conflict, cosy story should enjoy this novel.

Feather by Feather and Other Stories – From $5.99 now $0.99! Get it here!

Two stylised wings folded into a heart-shaped hug above a pile of feathers.Feather by Feather and Other Stories is a varied collection of over 40 stories and poems. In these stories, demons struggle with their nature (and bake biscuits); a young girl faces a witch in search of the bobble hat that will save her Great-Aunt; a steam engine attempts the impossible; a student finds a book that may spell the death of her; catastrophe strikes Nightshadow and his people, testing their faith in the Stars; a mermaid learns that life above the sea offers far more than princes; ghosts howl their stories at passersby; an asexual teenager struggles with relationships and trust; and Phee… Well. Phee is Phee.

Lynn E. O’Connacht’s first collection is a kaleidoscope of tales, featuring folktale and fairytale retellings, superhero fiction, science fiction, realistic fiction and more. Sensitive, imaginative, heart-wrenching, gentle, witty, candid, and engrossing Feather by Feather and Other Stories is a powerful and enchanting selection. It also includes an explanation on how to write your own triple sestina, a self-interview and brief commentary on every piece published in the collection.

A Promise Broken – From $4.99 now $0.99! Get it here!

A Promise Broken by Lynn E. O'ConnachtIt’s a rainy day when four-year-old Eiryn has to say goodbye to her mother. Scared, confused and unwilling to do so, Eiryn tries to summon water to stop the funeral from happening and her life falls apart. Her uncle is always sad and busy; she keeps hearing her mother’s voice asking her to follow; her best friend keeps getting into fights; and some of her classmates hate her for existing.

Arèn never wanted children, but he’s desperate to protect his niece from his people’s extreme caution regarding magic and other races. Kerisaoina children aren’t capable of using it and his niece is no exception. Despite being only half-kerisaoina, Eiryn is already starting to show that she’ll be one of her generation’s most talented magic-singers and those who don’t approve of her existence are trying to take advantage of a young girl’s grief.

Eiryn is determined to make her uncle happy, but it’s hard to make other people happy when you have to struggle through the day yourself. She’ll find a way, though. She’s promised. And even if her mother won’t keep her word Eiryn will keep hers.

She’ll make everything right again.

You’ll see.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel – From $2.99 now $0.99! Get it here!

Cover for Rapunzel, Rapunzel. A young woman with very long hair and a tower-shaped hat, reaching out to blossoms on a tree branch.You can’t be Rapuzel forever.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel is a collection of poems, a fairy tale of modern life, growing up and falling in love. Or not.

Divided into five different parts, Rapunzel, Rapunzel explores the impact of anxiety and bullying, and the strength of love, for others and for ourselves. It muses on the difficulty of discovering who we are and how the masks we wear affect our lives and relationships.

Most of all, Rapunzel, Rapunzel is about embracing all aspects of yourself, even the ones you’re scared to show, and finding strength in who you are as a person.

And that’s it! That’s the books on sale this winter from December 15 to January 10! Get them while they’re cheap! I, of course, think they make wonderful holiday reading, but I’m totally biased.

That said, if you’re not sure what to pick… I can try to help out! Let me give you my totally not biased (disclaimer: they may be totally biased) recommendations on what to get if you’re not sure which book is right for you. (Or get multiple ones! Together they’re $3.96, so that’s four whole books – cumulatively over 225K – for less than the price of one!)

I’d recommend Feather by Feather and Other Stories if you’re looking to get a good sense of my range. That’s got a little bit of everything, so there’s bound to be something you enjoy in there. It’s got short stories, novelettes, poetry, fantasy, contemporary, dark fantasy, science fiction…

If you’re more of a novel reader than a short story reader (hi! I know that feeling!), I’d go for Among the Glimmering Flowers or A Promise Broken. Both stand on their own perfectly fine.

If you like your fantasy with fae and a ton of social commentary and just a touch of snark, I’d recommend Among the Glimmering Flowers the strangers-to-friends beginnings of a friends-to-lovers tale that I’m aiming to release in 2019 or 2020.

If you like your fantasy deliciously subtle and immersive as well as very very queer, I’d recommend A Promise Broken. Featuring my tiny child protagonist and her trans aroace uncle deuteragonist. With political machinations and child shenanigans, it focuses on family and community. Be warned of a potential cute overload!

If you like verse novels and poetry instead, Rapunzel, Rapunzel is a delightful short introduction to my verse novels. It is, technically, not part of the Fairytale Verses series, but it does retell a fairytale. As you probably gathered from the title already.

Again, happy holidays! May you find something wonderful and delightful to read!

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December 2018 Goals

Posted December 2, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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This Month's Goals

  • Get ready for 2019
  • Livereact to Lost Song
  • Livereact to Regal Academy
I Want to Read:
  • 2 books
I Want to Write
  • At least 1 chapter of DemiPrincess per week and keep the momentum going

Look! December goals. I don’t really have anything much to say about them. It’s December. December is always the month in which everything wraps up, so that’s my main focus. Wrap up the things I’ve promised to do in this year and keep up the momentum I had going with some other things. And that’s it!

Some December-specific notes: Because it IS now December and we’re ramping up to the end of the year, I’ve got more sporadic posts than I usually do to wrap the year up. Like the newsletters and weekly round-ups, I’m revamping how I tackle these completely, so I expect to take some time to sort that out. Point in case: We were gifted a paper 2019 calendar and I promptly assigned it “Keep my posting schedule sorted out” duty. And wow do I want to make changes.
That means December is going to be quite busy with regular posts. I aim to watch 4 episodes of Lost Song every Monday evening and a whopping 8 of Regal Academy every Wednesday. That way I can wrap up this year’s livereacts before the Christmas holidays arrive. On top of that, the Thief Let’s Play will continue in its Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday slots until it concludes and then… Either we’ll have more clarity on Article 13 and how the EU proposes to undo its ridiculously stringent copyright laws that basically do unspeakable things to creativity in the EU and I… won’t be able to do more LPs – which is a shame, I enjoy sharing how horrible I am at games – or I need to drastically revamp the schedule to make it work better. (I’m thinking 1.5-2 hour recordings on Saturday as that lets me keep the speed of going through the game.)
And beyond that… Well, I’m still working on that. Just as December is “Let’s reflect on the past year” month, January is “Let’s look forward to this year” month and you can look forward to some January-specific posts. The new posting schedule won’t properly start until around February or mid-March, depending on whether you want to count the start as being when the Let’s Play concludes or earlier.
I’ll chat more about the plans for 2019 when it’s nearer the end of the month, though. These are mainly the ones that affect posting in December specifically.
Alas, that life remains much the same. I got news on the essay on aces in fiction that I sold! As I’m writing this there is, sadly, a good chance it won’t appear until 2019. Which is sad and disappointing, but everyone working on it is committed to making it the best essay it can be, so I promise it will be worth the wait.
Although if between now and then so much happens that the conclusions are now fundamentally skewed (not happening unless we get dropped into a version of earth where asexuality was known and celebrated since medieval times without noticing), I will be over the moon.
Beyond that life continues apace. The big BIG thing that happened is that I’ve finally officially set up shop as a freelance editor and sensitivity reader. :O (This is terrifying. The only thing I genuinely like about freelancing is the flexibility, but the hunt for office hours that pay me enough to, idk, live continues. Well, and the work itself. I love the work itself.)
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November 2018 Round-up

Posted December 1, 2018 by Lynn E. O'Connacht in Miscellaneous / 0 Comments

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Goals

News

Patreon

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Culture Consumption

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