purplerabbit

RIP, M.Christian

This is a heartbreaker of a post to write. I don’t remember when I first met Chris online, but we were all part of a fairly large community of erotica writers who also crossed over into other genres from the late 1980s to the early 2010s, by which point the literary erotica markets largely disintegrated. Everyone knew everyone else to some extent or another. We all shared TOCs, appeared in each other’s publications and socialized in person, if we lived close enough. Since I am in the Midwest, I didn’t get to do much socializing in person, but I did meet Chris and a bunch of other folks at an erotica writers conference in Vegas in the mid2000s.

In my experience, Chris was kind and genial, loved to write, wrote very well and enjoyed supporting other writers. Their body of work, between erotica, horror, science fiction and nonfiction, was enormous and well worth reading. I appeared in at least 3 of the anthologies that they edited and they sent me a great lesbian ghost for one of mine. I also had a short essay in Chris’s nonfiction book about writing and selling erotica. I have no idea how many TOCs we shared, but it was a lot. I blurbed a couple of his/their books along the way, as well. Most recently, I released a new edition of Chris’s terrific gay vampire novel, Running Dry through Queen of Swords Press.

Chris’s fiction ranged from the smoking hot to the atmospheric and suspenseful. While they finaled for multiple awards, they never really got the wins and recognition outside the erotica writing community that they deserved, which is a damn shame. I was reaching out to Chris to tell them that I had just nominated Running Dry for the SSBA Awards in the Horror category when I got the bad news. 😢

As I’ve posted elsewhere, I’m trying to track down an estate contact. In the meantime, I plan to keep their book in print until I hear otherwise. Author royalties will be set aside until I have a designee or will be donated to some of the organizations they cared deeply about. In the meantime, remember them for their work. Read it, enjoy it and pass it along to your friends. Chris would like that.

https://books2read.com/runningdry

And their website: http://www.mchristian.com

UPDATE: I have spoken with Chris's brother and have gotten permission to keep Running Dry in print and to pay him the royalties. In the meantime, Samuel needs help getting to Eugene, covering associated expenses, etc. If you're in a position to help, his Venmo is @Samuel-AddisonMuncy

catherineldf

This was going to be a cheerful post, but then Minneapolis got invaded and a member of my community was murdered and a bunch of others were kidnapped, including local high school students. "Rage" is such a little word, it doesn't begin to cover it. And yes, as with 2020, I'm living blocks away from the epicenter.

But for those worried about me personally, I am living alone, unemployed and taking care of a sick cat who requires regular medical attention. Add into that a bum leg and ice-covered streets and I'm not out much at night except for planned activities where I am meeting with or being driven by friends. Am I going into areas where folks have been targeted? Yes. I was at the Mercado Central yesterday for lunch after a post office run. It was largely deserted because people are justifiably terrified, but I got lunch from the lady making pupusas (one of the very few places that was open) and toiling away to feed the 10 or so people who were there. The front door was locked and building security was much in evidence. This is a reminder to support local immigrant-owned businesses.They need all the help they can get right now. I am also planning on going to the rally this Saturday, but will skip the march. Other than that, I am supporting my good electeds and local organizations, writing emails and will be doing some volunteering on related things (online, etc.) as time permits.

What else is going on? Well, today I'm "auditioning" for a part-time gig at a nearby local bookstore. A long time staffer is leaving and they're hoping I'll be a good fill in option. Not the week I would pick to start a retail gig in Minneapolis, but that fault lies neither with the bookstore or me. It's close enough, I think I can work out the med and event schedule with the store's needs, but we'll see how it goes. Shu is still hanging on, albeit with a few more periodic bad days (no more seizures so far, at least) - he still wants loves and cuddles and food and brushing so I'll try and keep him going until he wants to go. A friend just sent me a Reedsy invite so I need to get my editing info together and post out there as the bookstore gig will not cover all of my expenses. I did get some good financial news recently so not desperate, just want to make sure I don't become so and I need to avoid going on Social Security for a while longer or life will get even more problematic.

Other news:

Queen of Swords Press is celebrating its 9th birthday this month! Also known as "Holy Shit! We Made it!" Huge thank you shoutout to everyone who's helped along the way! We are having a birthday sale this week - use code BIRTHDAY at check out to get a discount when buying direct from us through 1/11 and you'll get entered in our prize drawing!
Jennie Goloboy and I are co-teaching "To Market, To Market" at The Loft Literary Center on 2/28. Get help from a prominent literary agent and an award-winning small press publisher on getting your book submitted and potentially published and all that good stuff.
I just added some things to my Ko-fi store, including a couple of signed copies of an out of print award-winning collection.
I have a Patreon where I post fiction, nonfiction, Queen of Swords Press news and more. This supports me in the sense of paying me for my publishing work.
You can hire me to edit, teach, write and all that good stuff! Check out my Professional Editor's Network page here.
Blue Moon (the next werewolf book) has cleared 18k words, I'm working on a queer Arthurian story for an anthology invite, I'm starting on a nonfiction piece for a successful pitch and I have a novella and a short story in progress. Working on building my nonfiction portfolio and helping people remember that I used to be a pretty well known fiction author so definitely open to more projects!

More bulletins as we go along. Please stay as safe as possible out there and do good work!
EDITED: Looks like the bookstore gig will work out once we get schedules and stuff sorted. Which means you'll be able to see me at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis more often!

catherineldf

Updates as we have them!

January:

Tomes and Treats - The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe, St. Paul, MN. January 18th, 12-5PM. Queen of Swords Press will have a book table.
#SmallPitch - Online small press pitching event January 19th - 26th. Got a manuscript and a pitch ready to submit? Queen of Swords Press is one of the participating presses.

February:

"To Market, To Market" - The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis. February 28th, 9AM-12:00. Join Jennie Goloboy (a successful literary agent) and Catherine Lundoff (an award-winning small press publisher) for a workshop on their perspectives on what makes a manuscript marketable.

March:

MarsCon - March 6-8, Minneapolis, MN. Queen of Swords Press will be there with a book table and Michael Merriam and Catherine will be on programming.

April:

13 Gears Steampunk Festival - placeholder
Minicon - April 2nd - 5th. The Hotel Formerly Known as the Radishtree, Bloomington, MN. Queen of Swords Press has applied for a table.
Rewind Book Fair - placeholder. St. Paul, MN. April 18-19.

May:

Rochester Pride - May 16th, 12-5PM. Rochester, MN. Queen of Swords Press will have a booth.
WisCon - May 21-25th. Online.
Balticon 60 - May 22-25, Baltimore, MD. Melissa Scott may be there - placeholder

June:

Pride Month StoryBundle - Kicks off end of May and runs through end of June, placeholder. Lots of books by amazing queer authors and we're raising funds for Rainbow Railroad again!
4th Street Fantasy - placeholder
Twin Cities Pride - June 27th-28th, Minneapolis, MN. Queen of Swords Press will back in the Queer Writes Tent, near Harmon Place this year.

July

Inbound Brewing Book Fair for Grown Ups - July 11th, 12-7PM, Education Building, MN State Fair Grounds, St. Paul. There is an admission fee with this one, but it comes with a drink ticket. Queen of Swords Press will be there with books. (pending)

August:

September:

Pagan Pride Fall Festival – September 7th. Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis. Placeholder
Columbia Heights Pride - September 13th, Columbia Heights, MN. Queen of Swords Press will have a book table. Placeholder
St. Cloud Pride in the Park - September 19th, 11AM-4PM. Queen of Swords Press will have a book table! Placeholder

October:

November:

Twin Cities Book Festival - November 7th, 9:30-5PM. Union Depot, St. Paul. Queen of Swords Press will have a table.
Fables & Flames Romantasy Gala - placeholder

December: