It is a universal truth among academics that when Aug. 1 rolls around, the panic hits.
We all begin the summer with the best of intentions. We will finally have time to read that giant backlog sitting on the TBR pile. We will unearth the surface of our desks and sort out the chaos that piled up during the previous year. We will reorganize our lesson plans and readings, update our assignments, and everything will be orderly and make sense by the time the fall semester hits.
And sometimes we will also publish a new novel and go on a mini-tour for it, teach two summer school classes, move offices, work on the next novel and generally keep spinning at nearly the same rate as a full academic semester.
August 1 has arrived, and suddenly my calendar is filling up with mandatory conferences and meetings and seminars and luncheons, which is definitely going to impact that whole “sort out the chaos” concept. As I write this, I am three weeks away from launching seven classes at three colleges, and one week of the three has been cleared for family, so…
Yeah.
Be nice to the professors. We are in panic mode.
Publicity/Appearances
It’s an honor just to be… yup, once again I did not win the screenplay award, this time for Grow Old With Me. Seriously, it’s always a thrill to make the finalist list, even if I am now the Susan Lucci of the Imadjinns. While at Imaginarium – which was a total blast, awards notwithstanding – I was interviewed by VampChat, a fun podcast centered on… you guessed it… vampires. It was delightful to chat about the toothy ones, even if I had to out myself not only as Team Louis but also Team Angel. And if you have any idea what I’m talking about, you should definitely check out the podcast here.
Up next is the big ‘un: Dragoncon! I’m boggling that we’re already at Dragoncon time, and wrangling my logistics for another solo trip to Atlanta for me and 100,000 of my closest friends. Watch the website for my full schedule, which will include extra signings this year. Due to Southwest’s changing policies regarding checked luggage, I will be bringing/shipping a limited number of books, so if you are definitely planning to get something from me, be sure to preorder it so I set aside a copy for you. You can do that on the store website or by emailing my assistant at kyates@ donaldmedia.com.
2025 calendar:
- Books and Brews, Alton, Ill. Jan. 18
- Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 21-23
- International Women’s Day, Second Life March 7-9 [POSTPONED]
- Weird STL release party/signing, St. Louis, March 7
- Writers of the Riverbend, Alton, Ill. March 8
- Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. March 21-23
- AWP Los Angeles, March 26-30
- Live author chat/book release, April 7
- Afterwords Books, Edwardsville, Ill. April 26
- Boozy Book Fair, St. Charles, Mo. May 10
- Prairie Fox LitFest, Ottawa, Ill. May 17
- Pagan Picnic, St. Louis, Mo. May 31
- Books and Brunch, Alton, Ill. June 21
- West County Barnes and Noble, St. Louis, Mo. June 28
- Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 18-20
- VampChat, online, July 19
- Nerd Market, Alton, Ill. Aug. 16 (CANCELED)
- Dragoncon, Atlanta, Ga. Aug. 28-Sept. 2
- Melting Pot, Granite City, Ill. Sept. 6
- SPJ Boot Camp, Edwardsville, Ill. Sept. 20 (tent.)
- Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 3-5
- SPJ Conference, Washington, D.C. Oct. 15-18 (Tent. canceled)
- Contra KC, Kansas City, Mo. TBA (tent.)
2026 calendar:
- Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. TBA
- AWP, Baltimore, Md. March 4-7
- Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. TBA (tent.)
Journalism
One of my big summer projects has been shifting my nonfiction portfolio from Contently to a new portfolio site. For some reason MuckRack no longer pulls my articles, and Contently has decided not to verify me (no explanation given). I’ll let you all know when that process is done. Sadly, a number of my better articles since going freelance have now disappeared off the internets, which is one of those annoying side effects of the modern age. It’s been a long, long time since I kept a stringbook… and it’s probably around here in this hazmat site of an office. Right next to Jimmy Hoffa.
• Democrats, Labor leaders sound alarm over cuts to social safety net (Labor Tribune)
• Illinois teachers’ unions protest withholding of federal funds (Labor Tribune)
• Webb steps down as Madison County Dems elect new chair (Labor Tribune)
• SIBA awards record number of grants for vocational education (Labor Tribune)
• Budzinski, United Steelworkers demand voice for Granite City in Nippon deal (Labor Tribune)
Note: Not all articles are available online, and some may be behind paywalls.
Fiction
Did you figure out I have a new book out? Have I been too subtle? Dying to buy this book? Of course you are! Here’s where it’s currently shambling:
Direct from Elizabeth Donald, signed
Literary Underworld, signed
If you’d like the book signed and aren’t going to be in my general vicinity soon, order directly from me or Literary Underworld and indicate in your order that you’d like it signed. And if you love this book, please feel free to return to its Goodreads page and/or the bookseller of your choice to do a review! We love reviews, because we writers are needy insecure creatures. Also, Amazon will only start recommending your book to other customers once you have at least 15 reviews, or so I am told.
Meanwhile, I have been cranking away at the next book, Banshee’s Run. It’s space opera and so far I’m enjoying the hell out of it. It’s an idea I’ve been playing with for a long time, and I’m so glad it’s finally going to see print… probably next year.
Patreon/Medium/Blogs
• Freedom Day 2025 (Patreon)
• Kentucky Book Conventions (Patreon)
• Imaginarium ahoy! (Patreon)
• WIP: Banshee’s Run (Patreon)
• The Chicago Guy (Patreon)
• Independence Day (Patreon)
• Poem: Aurora (Patreon)
Check out the Patreon index here. It needs updating, but most of the entries are listed there by category.
Did you know that Patreon subscribers not only get at least one free ebook a year, but you get a 10 percent discount from me and The Literary Underworld? For the latter, that applies to all books, not just mine! For a dollar a month, you really can’t beat it. Just be sure to remind us at the booth as we do not have the subscriber list memorized. If you’re not a subscriber, the base level is $1 a month! You should totally join.
Currently on the nightstand: A Low Country Heart by Pat Conroy, one of my favorite lyrical Southern writers. On the iPad is Wilderness Tips, a collection of short stories by Margaret Atwood. And I finally found my copy of Nasty Women, a collection of feminist essays, which had gotten buried in the magazine pile over the last few months. This month’s reading included Never Flinch by Stephen King, the latest of his Holly Gibney series; and a re-read of The Stand, because apparently I must re-read early King for life.
Photography
Shoots this month included a trip to the Gateway Arch, which has been renovated for ten years and we finally got around to seeing it. I also did some practice shooting at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which is always photogenic. I collected the best moments there in this TikTok vid.
Also on TikTok: Kentucky authors strumming the chords at Imaginarium, and an Independence Day celebration of a different sort.
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