Hey awesome,

We have recently left the Georgia mountains for a campground outside of Atlanta, and there is a ten degree difference in temperature…plus more humidity. Whew, I am not at all meant for muggy weather. Excuse me while I turn into a pool of melted human for the next two weeks.

At least there is plenty to keep me cheerful. For one – and you all are the first to see – I have this beautiful new logo, designed by the incredible Lee Dunning.

It’s a wolf paw blended with a fleur de lis. The wolf for…I mean, my name, and the fleur de lis for my fabulous South Louisianan (Louisianian?) husband and the amazing family I married into. What do you think?

I can't wait to put it on...everything.

In other exciting news – DragonCon is next week! It’s a wild year, and will be a wild experience as we all work through that wildness in the best way we can. If you are there, or are catching the virtual sessions, here’s where I’ll be.

Friday:

• 1:00 pm: My First Science Fiction Book, Embassy AB - Hyatt
• 2:30 pm: Deep Meanings in Fantasy and the Challenging Moments We Connect With, Embassy CD - Hyatt
• 5:00 pm: STREAMING - (Virtual) One True Pairing - Improv Shipping!, STRM_CH2
• 10:00 pm: Sinful Sci-Fi: An Improv Comedy After-Dark Special, Galleria 7 - Hilton

Saturday:

• 11:30 am: Crazy about Pern, Embassy AB - Hyatt
• 2:30 pm: One True Pairing! Ridiculous Ships at Their Best!, M302-M303 - Marriott
• 4:00 pm: It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)…, Chastain F-H - Westin
• 8:30 pm: Aliens vs. Zombies: The Return, Chastain F-H – Westin

Sunday:

• 2:30 pm: Dames, Damsels, & Dynamite: Blowing the Lid Off the Patriarchy, Embassy CD - Hyatt hearts.
• 4:00 pm: Science Fantasy: Because Space is the Place, Embassy CD - Hyatt

If you're at DragonCon, I hope to see you at one or ten of them, and if it's not in the cards this year, I'll be sharing with you how it all went next time!

In continuing exciting news -

That's right, September 13th this beauty hits the world - the first of two (2!!) Salvage Title anthologies this year. Both will be chockfull of rollicking stories about the many aliens that populate this incredibly fun universe, brought to you by some of my favorite authors. This first one also has a story by me - bar fights are involved. Are you...surprised? ;)

After my next two short stories are done this month, I'm all novels, all the time. Including the kick-off of Hit World: Valkyries. Look at this gorgeous, very Valkyrie appropriate art universe creator Bill Web sent me:

Bill and Larry Hoy created and built out this out-of-control-awesome universe, and are entrusting me with a corner to play in. We've done some plotting, some conspiring, and can confirm: we're going to have a lot of fun with this. Also, stay tuned, because I already have an idea of some of the authors joining us on this adventure and...yeah. Shenanigans will most definitely ensure.

I'm off to do nothing else but finish my short stories, so hope you're staying cool and safe out there.

Til next time,

Marisa