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⤝❖⤞The Monday Missive ⤝❖⤞
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January 26, 2026
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Hello, friends. It's been a brutal weekend as Cleveland has been pelted with over 8 inches (20 cm) of snow in about a day. I actually got stuck driving up a hill in my little Nissan Versa, as the roads had not been plowed.
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As I tried my damndest to churn up the hill, the car started smoking, so I called the fire department. A nice gentleman even offered to tow me up the hill and seemed quite excited by the prospect, but fortunately I was able to get going after the roads were plowed. While I felt a bit silly getting so many people involved in my car trouble, I figured it was better safe than sorry.
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I also found out that squirrels had been stashing random things and acorns in my engine block. Lovely.
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Speaking of squirrels, let's take a look at a poem by Emily Dickinson that mentions the very same creatures.
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"Doom Is the House Without the Door"
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Doom is the House without the Door—
'Tis entered from the Sun—
And then the Ladder's thrown away,
Because Escape—is done—
'Tis varied by the Dream
Of what they do outside—
Where Squirrels play—and Berries die—
And Hemlocks—bow—to God—
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About the Eirenic Verses
The final passthrough and KDP conversion of Absent All Light is complete, and the cover should be done sometime next week! I still have to write the short and long blurbs (my least favorite part of publishing) and set up the review campaigns, but other than that, we are locked in for the June release.
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To get you interested, here's a poem from the book. Can you guess who wrote this? It's likely not who you expect.
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I am nothing but
the balance
of failure and flaw.
Add up aches,
subtract stupidity.
Perfect zero.
Emptiness howling,
baring ones like fangs.
Every word eats another.
I am left with none.
To end infernal equation,
I fall,
I fall, I fall—
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Weekly Writing Tip
White Room Syndrome is a common issue amongst writers, who often "front-load" a scene with all the imagery they want to include, then drop it all, assuming a reader will remember and envision it. However, this makes the location feel like a set piece rather than a true, embodied place.
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You don't need to go overboard or constantly stop to add location details. Instead, check each page and ensure that it has at least one of these:
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- An object (vase, candle, laptop)
- Scent or taste (usually more scents than tastes)
- Texture or physical sensation (soft fabric, wind, etc)
- A sound (another character's voice, a noise outside, etc)
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Just including one of these on each page can make a huge difference in how readers interact with your book.
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Reading Rec of the Week
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I was extremely disappointed by The Poet Empress, having waited over a year for its release. This is one of the only other books I have found that uses poetry magic ... and it doesn't use poetry magic at all.
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By that, I mean Shen Tao never actually shares the lines of a magical poem. Even when the main character uses a powerful magic poem to perform stunning feats, the actual lines themselves are never included.
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I had many other quibbles with this book, which certainly reads as a debut novel, but foremost was the unwillingness (or inability) to actually write the poems that are supposedly so important to the plot.
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Last Week's Posts
First, we have my discussion of why art is still important, no matter how dire the political circumstances have become. I find writing therapeutic for its own sake, but I also know that it is a way to help others feel as we do throughout circumstances in our life and that certain books can become era-defining because of their deep attachment to current events.
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Next, I talk about how to build a readership. As I mention there, I have a small but devoted readership, and it's primarily because I respect their intelligence. I do not overexplain, I offer value beyond the price point, and I show my gratitude. Your work doesn't have to appeal to everyone, but it can appeal to more people if you show respect for those who support you.
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What Makes Good Queer Representation in Fiction?
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Bring pride to the LGBTQ community through nuanced and thoughtful representation, including the unique aspects of queer community.
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Read My Authoriview Interview!
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Learn more about Cameron Sidhe, author of the LGBTQ literary fantasy series The Eirenic Verses. Explore her past, inspirations, and everyday life.
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Weekly Quote
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"Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it."
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⤝❖⤞
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Thanks for checking in with me today. If you're in the way of the enormous US storm, then please stay safe and avoid the roads if at all possible. For those elsewhere, I hope you are staying warm (or cool) and comfortable. I'll see you again next week.
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