The Ground Shifted – kirabug's idea files

December 30, 2018

What I wrote in 2018

It’s yes, I should write an eligibility post season again.

Short stories published in 2018

“The Ground Shifted”, published by Dreaming Robot Press in Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide Volume 5. Each year the publishers collect science fiction stories appropriate to middle-grade readers regarding exploring. They emphasize diversity in characters and situations.

“You know about this?” Rosetta replied. “It’s a half a cat.”

“Well, technically it’s a holographic presentation of half a cat. The house’s AI sends her in when there’s something it can’t do and needs the inhabitants to take over.” Auntie replied. “I wonder if the ventilation system is clogged again.”

“WHY IS IT ONLY HALF A CAT?” Rosetta stabbed into the keyboard.

“You’ve only got a half a house, so she’s only half a cat,” Auntie replied.

Poetry published in 2018

“Food Shopping”, published by Lycan Valley Press in Darkling’s Beasts and Brews: Poetry with a Drink on the Side.

The parking lot’s dimples retained last night’s storm
each wheel well shimmering with rainbows
when the Cadillac rolled in, heavy.

You threw open the door and clambered out.
First sandals, then navy blue cotton pants
festooned with smiling crescent moons
then a linen shirt,
puffy sleeves stained with potions and charms
a beard that covered eyelet and drawstring close at the collar
A practiced motion tucked the point on the hat of a wizard point under the door frame

You were muttering even before you had the door closed.

Other stuff

If you’re more of the User Experience or Design wonk, you may be interested in my list of posts on The Interconnected, where I’ve published numerous articles on UX, Design, and being a human in the internet age.

December 19, 2018

The Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide Volume 5 edited by Corie Weaver and Sean Weaver

Impressions

Not quite reviews, I talk about books I read and enjoyed.

Disclaimer: as y’all know, I’m one of the 24 authors. So let me tell you a little about the other 23 stories, because damn this is a good book.

First of all, many science fiction subgenres are represented here. There’s steampunk (and wild west steampunk), battles, space ships, hard sci-fi (Main Character against their environment mostly), soft sci-fi (learning to learn, learning to trust, etc.), space dragons, LOTS of robots, and terraforming, just to name a few.

There’s a story based on Oliver Twist in here, people. Middle-grades sci-fi Oliver Twist.

Lest you think it’s all light fun and games, know that while these stories are written for middle-grade readers and up, the collection tackles some universal topics. There are stories that will make you think about long-term effects of racism or ableism. There are stories that will make you think about loneliness, about death of a family member, about working together in the depth of tragedy.

And there’s also a story of a mechanical monkey stealing a valise, so it’s also not a book I’d call gloomy or too heavy.

In fact, one of the things I love about this book is that pretty much every story ends on an up note. There are plenty of things to think about, yes, but our heroes and heroines succeed. (Well maybe not Pluto.) (It’s not a spoiler when the planet was demoted in 2006!)

As always I am honored to be included around such wonderful stories, but believe you me I’d be reading this thing even if I wasn’t published in it. The Young Explorers Adventure Guides are so good a friend’s non-sci-fi kid devours them every year. I took a copy into work and it disappeared off the swap shelf immediately. This is a good book.

December 14, 2018

Young Explorers Adventure Guide Volume 5 now available in stores!

Publications

Do you like half-cat home security systems? Rogue physics experiments? Rebellious teenagers? If so, you should be reading, “The Ground Shifted”, the latest story I’ve published. You can find it in the Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, Volume 5, now available in stores.

The anthology contains 24 science-fiction stories for middle-grade readers (and up—and don’t tell me that doesn’t include you because it totally does) that will take you on adventures all over the universe.

October 16, 2018

Good news!

One Among the Dead•Publications

Sometimes you need a project that’s just for, y’know, goofing around. This is the ongoing saga of my Minecraft character. For lack of a better title, we’re going with “One Among the Dead”.

After much hemming and hawing, I have purchased a new laptop. So our adventures for One Among the Dead will be resuming shortly! Sometime after I actually, like, remember what the heck I was doing.

It’s almost tempting to start a new world… might give her a complex though.

Meanwhile a reminder that if you haven’t looked at the Kickstarter for The Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide Volume Five, it’s open for only eight more days. They’re about $500 short of funding so your $5 pledge gets you a DRM-free e-book and gets a bunch of kids closer to awesome reading material. (And it gets you one of my stories!)

September 25, 2018

Young Explorers Adventure Guide Volume 5

Publications

You might remember that last year, my story “The Smell of Home,” about an old dog who turned out to be more than he seemed, was published in the 2018 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide.

This year, my story “The Ground Shifted”, about a teen with a vestibular disorder discovering the source of her problems, was accepted for publishing in the Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide Volume 5.

The Young Explorers Adventure Guide series is middle-grade/young adult science fiction aimed to represent a diverse range of characters and situations. I’ve enjoyed writing for it, and as far as I know all the kids who’ve read it have enjoyed reading from it.

The kickstarter for this year’s volume launched recently and you can preorder/pledge for a copy now.