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October-November Linkspam

October was a blast, or at least it must have been, because I hardly remember it! Somehow each year there’s a month that just sort of disappears in a melee of overbookedness, and it’s usually October. That’s why you’re getting two months’ worth of schtuff at once!

This is my favorite time of the year. I used to delight in Halloween and then jump impatiently to Christmas, but as I grow older, Thanksgiving is growing on me. Not the colonialism and problematic history of it, but the quietness of it. The leaves turning and falling to crunch under my feet. Baking things with cinnamon and brown sugar. Cool breezes in sunshiny days that have yet to turn bitter cold and hurt my face. Preparation to spend time with my family, to snuggle in for a winter’s nap. I’ve said several times that I always feel cheated never to have a big crowd to cook for at Thanksgiving. My husband, the seventh of ten children, says I am insane for this wish. Someday I hope to prove him wrong, and have an excuse for the good china.

However you celebrate, or don’t, I hope your November is filled with cinnamon and good cheer.
 

Publicity/Appearances

SPJ Boot Camp was next up when last we spoke, and once again we survived. Each year my co-chair Tammy Merrett and I have several panic attacks as we try to get students to sign up, preferably more than 48 hours before the event; acquire enough bagels and pizza and soda to keep everyone fed and hydrated; deal with the inevitable Disappearing Guest Speaker; and actually wrangle our way through the event. My topic this year was freelancing for fun and profit, which is always one of my favorite presentations. 

Next up was Archon! This is always one of the highlights of our year, and this one might have been the one to beat for all time. We had something like seven or eight Underlords at the show, which always makes things more fun. We also had a plethora of minions working the booth – so many that I don’t think I worked a single shift! It was also our highest take ever for Archon, and maybe there’s a connection there… I should stay away from the booth more often! Seriously, we had an absolute blast, and our team was fantastic. As a bonus: I must have been in Activist Professor Mode when I filled out my form, because my panels were all about writing as resistance and how to fight book banning and why we need diverse literature and other such topics – a far cry from the usual “why vampires are sexy”! (They are, but I’m doing other things now.) Rawr! 

I’m quoted in this piece about Archon from the Alton (Ill.) Telegraph. Me famous.

Our crew for Archon! Photo by Keith R.A. DeCandido. If you’re wondering, my T-shirt says “What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.” What. It’s Shakespeare.


Following that was MediaFest, which is a joint conference between the Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press. Taking place this year in Washington D.C., I attended on a fellowship from the SPJ Freelance Community and SPJ Foundation, and I am very grateful for the honor. It’s hard times for those of us in the news biz, but when is it not?

While there, my chapter (St. Louis Pro) was honored as the outstanding small chapter in Region 7, which encompasses four Midwestern states. I realized that I have now been president of St. Louis Pro for ten years, since no one will depose me despite my best efforts. Jokes aside, it is an honor and privilege to serve the journalism community of St. Louis in this way. Here is the lovely press release SPJ sent out about the fellowship.

Also, I was there for the DC No Kings rally, and got some fun pictures of the march. I’ve covered plenty of protests, of course – I am a journalist in St. Louis – but this was by far the biggest. I also was able to hit a couple of museums – not the ones I wanted, mind you, as the National Museum of African American History was closed for the shut down. But I was able to visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and see more than 80 First Folios of the Bard’s work, and also spent a lunch break at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Yeah, I’m a nerd. Raise your hand if you’re shocked.)

The day after I flew home: Leclaire Parkfest. Many of you know that I am a team captain for Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. Parkfest is our team’s kickoff for our annual fundraising, selling used books from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s Book Fair to raise money for ACS. We had a great crew of volunteers and mostly lovely weather once the previous day’s rainstorms dried up, and got a healthy start to our fundraising for 2026.

There’s actually not much left for the year! Unfortunately I had to cancel my appearance at Contra in Kansas City next weekend due to a schedule conflict. Other than a quick weekend sojourn to Hannibal and Marceline Mo. – for fun, not signing anything – and a holiday signing in December, I’m done! I might even unpack. 

Next year is booking quickly, however! I’m pleased to add a guest lecture at the Ethical Society of St. Louis in January, updating on the epidemic of book banning and literary censorship in the U.S. If you are interesting in having me speak to your group on this or other issues in my areas of expertise, contact 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 
  • Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 3-5 
  • SPJ Conference, Washington, D.C. Oct. 15-18
  • Contra KC, Kansas City, Mo. TBA (canceled.)
  • Books, Booze and Baubles Fair, St. Charles, Mo. Dec. 13 

2026 calendar:

  • “Barbarians at the Gate: Book Banning in the U.S.,” Ethical Society of St. Louis, Jan. 4
  • Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 20-22 
  • AWP, Baltimore, Md. March 4-7
  • Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. March 20-22 
  • SPJ Region 7 Conference, Milwaukee, Wis. April 10-11
  • ConCarolinas, Charlotte, N.C. May 29-31
  • Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 17-19 
  • Dragoncon, Atlanta, Ga. Sept. 3-7 (tent.)
  • Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 2-4


Journalism


I’m sorry to report that Feast Magazine was shut down by its owner, Lee Enterprises. This was a surprise to me and to the editor, and I was sad to lose my only food-writing client. Granted, I have more than enough work to keep me busy, but I’m going to miss those tasty assignments. This month’s journo list is light as much of the work came toward the end of the month, and some of them haven’t run yet. 

• U.S. Steel to shut down production in Granite City (Labor Tribune)
• U.S. Steel reverses plan to scrap Granite City mill (Labor Tribune)
• Hoffman plan for fairer wages signed (Labor Tribune)

Note: Not all articles are available online, and some may be behind paywalls. 


Fiction

One incomplete draft this month: Mirror, Mirror (Patreon)

Here’s where Blackfire Rising is currently shambling:


If you’d like a 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. 
 

Patreon/Blogs


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 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: The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead, an amazing writer that always reminds me how much I have yet to learn. The nonfiction book is Glitch, a feminist ideology book I picked up at the women in the arts museum. Recently finished includes Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood; and Scream With Me by Eleanor Johnson, an examination of 1970s horror movies through a feminist lens. Riding around in the bag is Ursula K. LeGuin’s writing text, as I keep cribbing ideas from it for my students; and a recent acquisition, Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Azar Nafisi. Now if only I could find more time to actually read them…
 

Photography

Shoots included Washington D.C. and the No Kings march, of course. I also took plenty of shots at the Folger Shakespeare Library and National Museum of Women in the Arts, plus some pretty country roads, a haunted Halloween trail, Archon and more. All of it is pending on Patreon, when I get my act together! 

Almost all of the images in the galleries are available for purchase, so if you see something you like that isn’t in the store, email kyates@donaldmedia.com and we’ll get you a quote. A few might not be available for purchase due to copyright issues. 

That’s it for this month! See you in December! Remember, Elizabeth Donald books make an amazing holiday gift. *subtle

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Fellowship of the… Freelancers

Now that it’s really officially official, I am honored to share that I am one of the three SPJ Freelance Fellowship recipients this year, as detailed in this press release.

“These three outstanding journalists embody the spirit of freelance work. They’re resourceful, resilient and deeply committed to telling important stories,” said SPJ Freelance Community Chair Stacie Overton Johnson. “We’re thrilled to support them as they bring their talents and perspectives to MediaFest25.” 

I have to remember to buy Stacie a drink in D.C. I’m uncharacteristically speechless.

“But Donald, I thought you were a professor!”

I am a professor, and I love teaching. I am an author, and I love writing. I am a journalist, and I love reporting. I never said a life of words was easy, uncomplicated, or single-minded. It’s more like spinning plates while riding a unicycle.

I left full-time reporting in 2018, but I never left journalism. My work has continued, writing news and features and even doing photojournalism for newspapers, websites and magazines over the past seven years, not to mention the nonfiction segments of this Patreon. I’ve reported for McClatchy, Hearst and Lee publications; for magazines like Inside Higher Ed, Current and Feast; and I’ve done regular beat reporting for my former newspaper and for the St. Louis Labor Tribune, which has employed me for the past several years as their chief Illinois correspondent on labor issues. This has enabled me to keep reporting on politics, as labor and the political sphere are never far apart in Illinois.

This is not some side gig to keep me alive in between professorial paychecks (though it fills that role nicely). I believe that if we are to teach journalism, we should keep practicing it in some form. The profession and practice keep changing, faster for journalism than in most fields, and it’s really important that we keep pace with the current state of the industry as we guide the young people who will take over for us.

That, and I really love it.

Those of you who’ve followed me for a long time know what a hard and scary decision it was to leave my newspaper and dive into academia. I likened it to jumping off the high dive without knowing whether there would be water in the pool below. Part of that trepidation was the sadness at giving up a profession I loved, using my words to inform, investigate and maybe make some small difference in the world.

Freelancing allowed me to keep the parts that I loved, to choose the assignments I wanted to write, and jettison the parts I didn’t want, like chasing ambulances, calling bereaved families, and work hours and situations that my defective body frankly couldn’t manage anymore.

MediaFest (or the SPJ National Conference or whatever we’ve called it over the years) has always been high tide for this journo-love, and I’ve never come away from the conference without a pile of new ideas, both for my own work and for my teaching. If you are a journalist and were on the fence about attending, I can’t recommend it enough. I was very sad at the possibility of having to miss it this year for financial reasons, and delighted that the fellowship will now make it possible for me to attend.

While there, I hope I can sneak over to some of the museums I’ve never seen, like the National Museum of African American History and the Holocaust Memorial. I’ve hit all the usual sites, like Ford’s Theater and the major memorials, which I’ve detailed on this Patreon and photographed. If anyone has any suggestions of new sites I should visit, please let me know! I won’t have much spare time around the conference, but I love D.C., and sightseeing – learning – is always a priority.

Once again, thank you to the good folks of the SPJ Freelance Community for their generous support, and thank you to all you Patrons who continue to make my mad career possible.

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February 2025 Linkspam: Are ya feeling WEIRD?

You know what’s fun? Spending an hour writing your newsletter copy, only for a glitch to eat the whole thing. That kind of fits with how things are going these days, doesn’t it? Pretty WEIRD…

I know the world is burning down and reading your Facebook feed is enough to leave you hyperventilating into a paper bag, but… okay, there really isn’t a “but” there. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

Suffice to say that here at Donald Media Towers, the semester has begun without too much trauma, things are starting to pick up on the fiction front, and at the moment I am still breathing and ambulatory, which is about all that one can expect these days. Here’s to better news next month?

One thing already underway: I am participating in the easiest fundraiser ever. The American Cancer Society is hosting Read Every Day in February, and what do you know? I already read every day! I’ll be posting updates on ElizabethDonald.com, and you can donate to my fundraiser here.

Also note that I had a free article on the Patreon this week, as I have about twice as many free followers as paid on Patreon. You get SO much more content for only $1 a month, and I hope you’ll consider subscribing! Here’s the free photo essay: what’s with the gargoyles?
 

Publicity/Appearances

Usually I take January off for public appearances, for a tiny little breath of sanity before I start living out of a suitcase again. I broke precedent to add the Books and Brews Market in January, and it was probably the best one-day signing I’ve had in a decade. Many thanks to the Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton, Ill. for hosting me and the other authors for a terrific day of bookselling and beer drinking. 

Coming up this month is Conflation, which is always one of my favorite cons and cozy enough that it’s pretty much a family reunion. I’ve been asked to speak on the topic of book banning, which is not only very timely, but one of my favorite soapboxes. Following in March is Writers of the Riverbend, followed by Midsouthcon in Memphis and then AWP in Los Angeles, all in one month! So if I look a little frazzled by April, you know why. What time zone am I in anyway?

As you can see below, bookings for 2025 are starting to swarm. I am open to speaking engagements and conventions, but I book well in advance, so if you want me to come to your library, book club, literary festival or convention, contact kyates@donaldmedia.com. 

2025 calendar:
• Books and Brews, Alton, Ill. Jan. 18
• Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 21-23
• Writers of the Riverbend, Alton, Ill. March 8 (tent.)
• Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. March 21-23 
• AWP Los Angeles, March 26-30 
• SPJ Regional Conference, Milwaukee, April 11-13 (tent.)
• ConCarolinas, Charlotte, N.C. May 30-June 1 (tent.)
• Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 18-20 
• Dragoncon, Atlanta, Ga. Aug. 28-Sept. 2
• Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 3-5
• SPJ Conference, Washington, D.C. Oct. 15-18 (tent.)


Journalism


• Nippon acquisition of U.S. Steel sent to Biden to decide (Labor Tribune)
• President Biden blocks sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon (Labor Tribune)
• Illinois completes minimum wage increase and other pro-worker laws taking effect (Labor Tribune)
• Illinois unions call for Day of Action on pensions (Labor Tribune)
• Daughter of union activist honored with MLK award (Labor Tribune)
• Illinois task force releases recommendations on warehouse safety (Labor Tribune)
• Hoffman pushes pro-Labor bills aimed at securing higher worker wages (Labor Tribune)
• Madison County Federation of Labor elects new board for 2025 (Labor Tribune)
• DNC national chair candidates make their case to Labor (Labor Tribune)
• Nippon, U.S. Steel file suit over blocked sale (Labor Tribune)
• Union bellringers raise $8,000 for Salvation Army (Labor Tribune)
• Madison County Federation of Labor, SWIL Labor Council celebrate holidays (Labor Tribune)


Note: Not all articles are available online, and some may be behind paywalls. 
Fiction

I’m happy to announce that one of my creepy short stories is being reprinted in Weird STL, an anthology coming out later this month from the St. Louis Writers Guild. (You knew there was a reason for all the WEIRD, right?) This story has only appeared in River Bluff Review, and I’m looking forward to seeing it in print again. Hopefully by the next newsletter, I should have copies in hand and will be able to offer them on the online store and through Literary Underworld.

Elsewhere, work is proceeding on Blackfire Rising, and I think you guys are really going to enjoy returning to the Blackfire world. It certainly was a lot of fun for me, and I’m looking forward to my first release with Falstaff Books. More will be posted on the blog and social media once I have a cover. So far we seem to be on track to release at Midsouthcon, with preorders launching in advance. 

Also, I participated in Authors Against Book Bans’ #UniteAgainstBookBans, reading a banned book in a bookstore. I wore my T-shirt that reads, “I survived reading banned books and all I got was smarter,” in a Barnes and Noble while reading Little Women.
 

Patreon/Medium/Blogs

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: Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance and Revolution in Trump’s America is currently riding around in the office bag. At home it’s Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison, and on the Kindle is An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott. Recently finished is Out There Screaming, which was the Jordan Peele anthology of new Black horror; as well as reviewing some excerpts from Carl Phillips’ excellent My Trade Is Mystery, which I’m using for my composition students this semester. 

• Photography: Illinois winter fields (Patreon)
• The Bernays House (Patreon)
• Photography: Winter fields, again (Patreon)
• Review: Leave the World Behind (Patreon)
• Review: Out There Screaming (Patreon)
• Dance with the page (Patreon)
• Review: Nosferatu (Patreon)

Note: Patreon entries are indexed going back to its launch in 2018. I wanted new Patrons to be able to easily find the work that they’ve missed, and hopefully seeing how much work is on the Patreon might encourage some good folks to subscribe. Check out the index here.


Photography

Snow. Lots and lots of snow. What. I live in the Midwest, people. And my new commute has me driving through picturesque plains twice a week, so buckle in for snow, then spring fields, then amber waves of grain. This month’s pics are on Patreon at the links above, as well as a photo essay on a funky house in the town of my new employer.

Almost all of the images in the galleries are available for purchase, so if you see something you like that isn’t in the store, email kyates@donaldmedia.com and we’ll get you a quote. A few might not be available for purchase due to copyright issues. 

Did you see this newsletter on my blog or Patreon and not in your inbox? Are you not subscribed to my monthly newsletter? For shame! You’re missing discounts and Photo of the Month and more! Sign up here, it’s free and I am way too disorganized to spam you.

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October 2024: This newsletter was not created by AI

It seems everywhere I go, I’m plagued with AI. 

Cribbing term papers is not a new invention; since the first teacher scratched out the first assignment on a stone tablet, Krog and Ug were sneaking peeks at each other’s slate. But AI has taken avoiding the work of writing to a new, shiny level, and for the first time we are seeing fellow academics hopping on board with enthusiasm because no one wants to get caught behind the 8-ball like we all were with, um, practically everything involving the internet. 

Because this newsletter is again stupid late, I am fresh back from Archon, where I was on not one but two panels about AI and the creative arts, which also delved into AI and journalism and AI in academia and the Terminator is stalking me through the mall as we speak. Quite often I feel like the lone voice crying in the wilderness about the dangers of AI, not just in terms of its ethics but what it portends for critical thinking skills and the linguistic arts. But then I spend some time with fellow writers, the majority of whom walk on my side of the street. 

I think I will be writing more about this as I move forward. It’s an odd feeling to be able to take a stand on divisive issues, after spending most of my professional life compartmentalizing my opinions to avoid the appearance of bias. But there are some subjects on which I can and should speak, including AI and book banning, which was the other topic on which I ran my mouth in Archon panels. 

I wore my T-shirt that reads “I survived reading banned books and all I got was smarter.” I think I need an equivalent shirt for AI. 
 

Publicity/Appearances

Of course, Archon is the big one this month, but it just ended! And it was a barrel of monkeys, folks. We had so much fun. We had seven Literary Underlords on site – almost eight, but one had a family emergency and couldn’t join us. Between the Underlords and our assorted Minions, the booth was well-staffed and did brisk business. In fact, it was the best-selling Archon we’ve had since I started keeping detailed records a decade ago. 

Of course, we also brought the Literary Underworld Traveling Bar. “But wait, I thought you couldn’t get a hotel room??” Yes, as of a week before the event we didn’t have a room, but thanks to the intervention of Important People, we were able to get a room and bring the bar. We are very grateful to the concom and to the other room party people who made multiple efforts to help us out.

The Traveling Bar is always a popular feature, and our fans were asking about it at the booth from the moment we opened up shop on Friday afternoon. On Friday night, we opened our doors at 9 p,m, and I began serving drinks. My poor arm did not stop moving until 12:30, when I declared a five-minute union break and rested… so that I could get back to work and pour more drinks. One visitor said, “You’re the hardest-working person at Archon,” and this is demonstrably not true as the concom does far, far more work than me. But I appreciated the sentiment (and the tips). 

Also: When I did the pre-con shopping for the very best in bottom-shelf Wal-mart liquor, I discovered this abomination:




I just took a picture of it because I thought it was funny. But 70-odd Facebook comments later, I dispatched The Man back to buy it (under his vehement protest) and stocked it on the bar.

They drank the whole bloody thing, folks. There was a succession of “dare you to” and lineups of people bolting shots with revolted expressions, but they drank it. Videos will be forthcoming when I catch up on my sleep (so, November?). 

Also this past month: We hosted the Society of Professional Journalists Boot Camp, where I spoke on the practical application of the SPJ Code of Ethics and on freelancing for fun and profit. It was a highly successful Boot Camp with a great batch of young journos meeting with our terrific pros. 

Coming up later in October: I’ll be speaking at The Bewitching Hours in Granite City, Ill. on Oct. 12, hosted by the Friends of Six-Mile Library. I’ll be doing a short reading and Q&A along with a handful of other spooooky authors, and we’ll all have our books for sale. I still haven’t figured out what I will read that is safe for all ages, as there possibly will be youngsters in the room and I do not wish to be responsible for their therapy bills. 
 

(Now am I mystery, mayhem or mischief? Don’t answer that.)


Finally: Contra in Kansas City will be Oct. 25-27. I’m a tad nervous about this one as I am minion-less, and books are heavy. But Contra is always a great time, the people are friendly, and I get to run my mouth about book banning and the First Amendment. Rawr.

Added to the schedule: I’m delighted that the proposal for a caucus panel on adjunct teaching was accepted for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference for next spring. This will be my third AWP and my first as a presenter, and I am so glad to be able to participate. It also means a trip to Los Angeles in March, which is always a fun time and a healthy dose of nostalgia for me, as many of my family lived there when I was young. 

As you can see, bookings for 2025 are starting to swarm. I am open to speaking engagements and conventions, but I book well in advance, so if you want me to come to your library, book club, literary festival or convention, contact kyates@donaldmedia.com. 

2024 calendar:
• The Mill, Granite City, Ill. Oct. 12
• ContraKC, Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 25-27



2025 calendar:
• Writers of the Riverbend, Alton, Ill. Feb. 8 (tent.)
• Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 21-23
• Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. March 21-23 
• AWP Los Angeles, March 26-30 
• SPJ Regional Conference, Milwaukee, April 11-13 (tent.)
• ConCarolinas, Charlotte, N.C. May 30-June 1 (tent.)
• Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 18-20 


Journalism

This section is thinner while I’m in the teaching marathon, but it looks like spring will be lighter and I’ll be able to do more nonfiction after the new year.

• The Cookie Box brings family tradition to St. Charles County (Feast Magazine)
• Steelworkers remain adamant against U.S. Steel acquisition (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Illinois town halls to focus on reforming Tier 2 pensions (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Biden prepares to block Nippon acquisition of U.S. Steel (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Good times and high spirits at Wood River Labor Day parade (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Local leader honored for political activism (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Illinois eliminated grocery tax, but local city may bring it back (Belleville News-Democrat)

Note: Not all articles are available online, and some may be behind paywalls. 


Fiction

We have a tentative release date for Blackfire Rising, which is the compendium of all the Blackfire stories to date and some new ones as we relaunch the series with Falstaff Books! I’m delighted to be part of the Falstaff Misfits, as our Fearless Leader likes to call us, and I am looking forward to inflicting Major Sara Harvey and her band of miscreants on new readers. Blackfire Rising compiles all the previously published novels, novellas and short stories in the series into one volume, including The Cold Ones, Blackfire, Yanaguana and more. Think of it as the author’s preferred edition, and I can’t wait for you to meet the new characters joining Sara on her misadventures. It looks like Blackfire Rising will hit the shelves in March, so more on this one as we confirm dates, get cover art and begin preorders! 

The ebook for Dreadmire was a freebie for paid Patreon subscribers, and I recently found that some folks didn’t get their ebook. All Patreon subscribers should have received a message from me, but just in case: if you are a Patreon subscriber and didn’t get your ebook, message me ASAP and I’ll get it to you. Dreadmire is, of course, available on Amazon and Literary Underworld in ebook and dead-tree versions, the latter of which is especially apropos if you’ve read it. 

I also have a limited supply of the 2024 St. Louis Writers Guild Member Anthology and the December 2023 edition of parABnormal Magazine, both of which have pieces by me, so snag them while you can!



Patreon/Medium/Blogs

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. 

• Archon ahoy! and all the others (Elizabeth Donald)
• Old home week (Patreon)
• A hero’s shoes (Patreon)
• Magic carpet ride (Patreon)
• Butt in chair, hands on keyboard (Patreon)
• Bookworm (Medium)

Note: Patreon entries are indexed going back to its launch in 2018. I wanted new Patrons to be able to easily find the work that they’ve missed, and hopefully seeing how much work is on the Patreon might encourage some good folks to subscribe. (Hint, hint.) Seriously, subscriptions start at $1 a month, and I truly believe some of the best work I’ve ever done is on the Patreon. Check out the index here.


Photography

News photography was mostly the Labor Day parade slated above, and the cosplay at Archon that will be featured on the Literary Underworld and Elizabeth Donald blogs when I get my act together. 

Almost all of the images in the galleries are available for purchase, so if you see something you like that isn’t in the store, email kyates@donaldmedia.com and we’ll get you a quote. A few might not be available for purchase due to copyright issues. 

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September Linkspam: It’s in the syllabus

Holy late newsletters, Batman! Remember when I told you folks that I was a tad overcommitted for the fall? I wasn’t kidding. I ended up with nine classes at three universities for the fall, and that’s at least three to four more classes than any sane person should try to teach and four to five more than a full-time professor would teach.

Thus I am now deeply embroiled in 12-14-hour days, seven days a week, spinning plates to keep up all my classes and do right by my students. I’m also still freelancing, running my volunteer programs and doing fiction in the wee hours, though they’ve kind of taken a back seat to this glut of work. I’m hopeful that next spring, I’ll be able to achieve a bit more equilibrium. 

Also, buy stock in coffee. 

Publicity/Appearances

The big event was Dragoncon, which was a blast and chronicled on the Patreon. The most popular cosplays were Beetlejuice and Deadpool/Wolverine, but there were still plenty of Barbies, a startling number of Indiana Jones and even Olympics cosplay, which I found hysterical. The nonchalant shooting Olympian was the most popular among those, and kudos to the guy who used a banana instead of a fake gun. 



(The Jedi Musketeers)


My panels included “Igniting the Horror Muse,” where horror authors reveal how we get in the right mindset to scare you pantsless; an urban-fantasy panel on vampire fun; “The Adventure Begins,” a writing craft panel on developing ideas and getting started; “101 Fascinating Ways to Kill Off a Character” (no idea how I ended up on that one… *halo*); another horror panel, this time focused on craft; a panel on writing from myths and legends; and of course a reading and a signing. The reading was unintentionally hilarious as I had about five people and then in the last five minutes, this huge legion of people came in. No, they were not there to hear the end of “Azrael“; I was apparently the warmup act for John Scalzi. Dangit.

Coming up: We have still been unable to snag a hotel room for Archon. A dozen attempts and pleas to the management and the convention have been unsuccessful. (We know there is construction going on, there’s no blame, to be clear. According to the hotel management, the room block sold out in two hours.) We will be there and the Literary Underworld will have our usual booth, so drop by there if you’d like to see us. Alas, no room party with the Traveling Bar unless a miracle happens. 

Also pending: The Society of Professional Journalists Boot Camp, where I’ll be presenting on the SPJ Code of Ethics. That’ll happen on Sept. 21, and it’s always a highlight of the year for St. Louis SPJ. 

Added to the schedule: I’ll be speaking at The Bewitching Hours in Granite City, Ill. on Oct. 12, hosted by the Friends of Six-Mile Library. I’ll be doing a short reading and Q&A along with a handful of other spooooky authors, and we’ll all have our books for sale. Now I have to think of something to read that is safe for all ages… something about bunnies and unicorns…


(Now am I mystery, mayhem or mischief? Don’t answer that.)


Also note that Contra in Kansas City has changed weekends and hotels. This actually makes it slightly more convenient for me, as I have a lot going on in early November. Follow their Facebook page for further details. 

As you can see, bookings for 2025 are starting to fill. I am open to speaking engagements and conventions, but I book well in advance, so if you want me to come speak, contact kyates@donaldmedia.com. 

2024 calendar:
• SPJ Boot Camp, Edwardsville, Ill. Sept. 21
• Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 4-6 
• The Mill, Granite City, Ill. Oct. 12
• ContraKC, Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 25-27

2025 calendar:
• Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 21-23
• Midsouthcon, Memphis, Tenn. March 21-23 
• AWP Los Angeles, March 26-30 (tent.)
• ConCarolinas, Charlotte, N.C. May 30-June 1 (tent.)
• Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 18-20 


Journalism

Note that after this month, this section may get thinner while I’m in the teaching marathon. 

• Illinois town may reinstate grocery tax (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland customers may see sewer rate increase (Highland News-Leader)
• Korte Rec Center under construction (Highland News-Leader)
• Four students win scholarships from SOAR (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Boil order in effect in Highland (Highland News-Leader)
• New Illinois law requires timely processing of grievances (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Illinois representatives introduce MINES Act (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Skilled trades summer camp trains high school potentials (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• SIUE Staff Senate offers scholarships for union families (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Steelworker legend David Dowling remembered (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Tech training coming to Red Bud (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Union calls out Western Illinois University for “reckless” layoffs (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Illinois and Missouri have vastly different approaches to child labor (St. Louis Labor Tribune)

Note: Not all articles are available online, and some may be behind paywalls. 

Blogs

• BookNotes: Anything gay is labeled (Donald Media)
• Dragoncon schedule announced (Donald Media and Elizabeth Donald)


Fiction

Dreadmire is live and roaming the earth! Click the image to buy the book, and if you’re interested in a free sample from my dark romp through the swamp, click here! 

It’s also available on Amazon, of course. 

The ebook for Dreadmire was a freebie for paid Patreon subscribers, and I recently found that some folks didn’t get their ebook. All Patreon subscribers should have received a message from me, but just in case: if you are a Patreon subscriber and didn’t get your ebook, message me ASAP and I’ll get it to you. 

I also have a limited supply of the 2024 St. Louis Writers Guild Member Anthology and the December edition of parABnormal Magazine, both of which have pieces by me, so snag them while you can!

• “Run Rabbit Run,” a short story on Patreon
• “Azrael,” a short story on Patreon

I will have something else to announce shortly, but until it’s confirmed, mum’s the word. #vaguenewslettering #isthataword #itisnow #hashtagsoutofcontrol



Patreon/Medium

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. 

• Recovering Journalist (Medium)
• Bookworm (Medium)
• Labor Day (Patreon)
• Review: You Like It Darker by Stephen King (Patreon)
• Reading: Adults only, and only what we say (Patreon)
• The second shift (Patreon)
• Dragoncon Day 1 (Patreon)
• Dragoncon Day 2 (Patreon)
• Dragoncon Day 3 (Patreon)
• Draggin-con Day 4 (Patreon)

Note: Patreon entries are indexed going back to its launch in 2018. I wanted new Patrons to be able to easily find the work that they’ve missed, and hopefully seeing how much work is on the Patreon might encourage some good folks to subscribe. (Hint, hint.) Seriously, subscriptions start at $1 a month, and I truly believe some of the best work I’ve ever done is on the Patreon. Check out the index here.


Photography

This month’s photography was mostly cosplay at Dragoncon! It was quite a challenge to catch people with a cell phone camera while driving a scooter, as chronicled on Patreon. 

Almost all of the images in the galleries are available for purchase, so if you see something you like that isn’t in the store, email kyates@donaldmedia.com and we’ll get you a quote. A few might not be available for purchase due to copyright issues. 

That’s it for this month! Tune in next time, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.

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Dragoncon schedule announced

Below is the schedule set for me at Dragoncon this year. I am deep in the creepy-crawlies this time, with lots of fun among the horror writers. Friday is my busiest day, spending most of the day at the Westin hotel, then the author Gather that evening. Meetups will probably be on Saturday, as I apparently have much of the daytime free! That never happens… 

I will have books with me at my reading, signing and Gather. I am also happy to meet up with folks, but advance notice helps! I am flying to Dragoncon and can only bring a limited supply, so if you want to get something in particular from me, contact me in advance and I’ll reserve it for you. 

See you in Atlanta!

 

Title: Igniting the Horror Muse
Description: Authors are always asked where they get their ideas from. Join us as we pick the brains of our horror author panelists to learn how they get in the right mind to craft their fiction and unleash their chilling tales.
Panelists: Jessi Ann York(M), Darrell Z. Grizzle, Elizabeth Donald, Brent Abell, Trisha J. Wooldridge
Time: Fri 10:00 am
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Creatures of the Night or Your Next Door Neighbors? Vampires in Urban Fantasy
Description: Vampire characters in urban fantasy vary from those that seek to blend in with human society to the scary monsters everyone fears. Our panel of authors will discuss the depictions they use in their work and why they chose that type over another.
Panelists: J.D. Monroe, Elizabeth Donald, Clay Shepard Griffith, Jeaniene Frost, Drew Hayes, Jennifer Morris(M)
Time: Fri 01:00 pm
Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Author Signing
Authors: Z W Taylor, D.R. Perry, Kim Harrison, Drew Hayes, Elizabeth Donald
Time: Fri 04:00 pm
Location: Overlook Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Authors Gather!

Hyatt International Ballroom

Time: Fri 08:00 pm to midnight

Title: The Adventure Begins
Description: New writers always ask “Where do you get your ideas?” Or “How do I get started writing a book or story?” The years of experience racked up by our panel discussion will answer some of these questions–and more.
Panelists: Bill Fawcett(M), D.B. Jackson, Elizabeth Donald, Richard Fierce, James Palmer, Todd McCaffrey
Time: Sat 05:30 pm
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: 101 Fascinating Ways to Kill off a Character.
Description: Readers love a good killin’–if it’s done in an interesting way. Panelists discuss some not-so-common ways they’ve killed characters or favorite authors have killed characters.
Panelists: John Robinson(M), L. Marie Wood, Darin Kennedy, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Bob McGough, Elizabeth Donald
Time: Sat 10:00 pm
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Thrills and Chills Just Keep on Comin’
Description: Everybody (almost) loves a good scare. What can writers do to make their thriller and horror novels more scary? Are readers tired of the same old stuff? Where does your inspiration come from? How do you get it written down?
Panelists: Nancy Knight(M), Ernest Dempsey, Richard Lee Byers, Rachel A. Brune, James A. Hunter, Elizabeth Donald
Time: Sun 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Reading Session
Description: Hmmm, what shall I read…
Panelists: Elizabeth Donald
Time: Sun 01:00 pm
Location: Marietta Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: From Myth to Magic in Fiction
Description: Where do your novels/stories come from? Many come from myths or legends. Explore how tapping into this rich source can elevate your fiction.
Panelists: DL Wainright, Jody Lynn Nye, Elizabeth Donald, Nancy Northcott, Bill Fawcett(M), Kaitlin Bevis
Time: Mon 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 

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Imaginarium ahoy!

This weekend, Jim and I will be heading to Louisville, Ky. for Imaginarium. We are looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new folks, talking up the craft and hopefully selling some books.

Jim is booth babe this time around, plus or minus a crop top. I, however, have a solid schedule, listed below:

  • The Art of Legal Prostitution: Selling Your Stuff at Cons and Festivals (solo workshop, 12p Friday)
  • AI and Ethics in Every Medium (panel, 8p Friday)
  • Death, Taxes and Freelancing: Managing Money for Working Writers (solo workshop, 11:30a Saturday)
  • Nevermore: Edgar Allan Poe and The Raven (solo lecture, 4p Saturday)
  • Literary Fiction (panel, 11:30a Sunday)

In addition, my screenplay based on “The Train” is one of 15 finalists for the Imadjinn Film Festival Awards. We opted not to get banquet tickets since we are flat broke this year, but will definitely attend the awards part of the ceremony to see if I win.

I promise to behave myself on the AI panel.

Seriously, I’m looking forward to chatting about these topics, and excited that I get to give the MFA a workout with some of these presentations.

Of course, we are bringing the Literary Underworld Traveling Bar. We’ll be open Friday and Saturday nights, with me on the bar and Jim as the bouncer. He’s tough, so behave yourselves. I mean, as much as you ever do. Weirdos.

After the convention, we’re taking a side trip up to Cincinnati to meet our new grandbaby, so don’t expect too much in the way of intelligent posting for the next several days. Don’t burn down the internet while we’re gone or I will turn this van around so help me.

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Dragoncon schedule 2023

I’m delighted to be returning to Dragoncon after a long time away! Below is my schedule, where I get to meet up with some old friends and new faces as well. It’s a fairly light schedule, so I may have free time (!) to meet up and chat!

I will have a limited quantity of in-print books for sale at my reading and signing. If you want a book, you might message me in advance to reserve it. As I am flying, I can only bring so many. 

See you in Atlanta!

 

FRIDAY

2:30 p.m. Signing with Timothy Zahn (Overlook, Westin) 

SATURDAY

11:30 a.m. Vampire variety in urban fantasy (Chastain 1-2, Westin)

3:30 p.m. Reading (Marietta, Hyatt)

10 p.m. 101 Interesting ways to kill off a character (Embassy EF, Hyatt)

SUNDAY

10 a.m. Writing effective short horror fiction (Peachtree 1-2, Westin)

MONDAY

2:30 p.m. Forecasting the future of fantastic fiction (Embassy EF, Hyatt) 

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Archon ahoy!

This weekend is Archon, our local con and a delightful return after last year’s cancellation. Many of our familiar faces won’t be there, unfortunately, but I understand the concerns. We share them, of course, but I made the decision a while ago to return to the con circuit and I am very pleased that Archon will be requiring vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours before the show. Masks will be required as well, and we will be taking extra precautions for our room party.


The Literary Underworld will be set up in our usual spot by the door of the dealer’s room, and I hope folks will come by and say hello!


Here’s my schedule, at least as of now:


“That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen!” When your story goes in a different direction than you had planned.
Friday 17:00 – 18:00, Marquette A (Gateway Center)

“The Once and Future Kings” What are some of the best retellings or reimaginings of the King Arthur legends?
Friday 20:00 – 21:00, Marquette B (Gateway Center)

Author Reading with Elizabeth Donald, Sela Carsen, and Ryan Dalton
Saturday 11:00 – 12:00, Cahokian (Authorquarium) (Gateway Center)

“Editing: My Way or the Highway” You’ve scored a book contract with a major publisher, but they want changes. Editors can’t always be right, can they? Is there a ‘line in the sand’ you just won’t cross?
Saturday 14:00 – 15:00, Marquette A (Gateway Center)

Autograph Session with Sela Carsen and Elizabeth Donald
Saturday 16:00 – 17:00, Cahokian (Authorquarium) (Gateway Center)

“Social Media and You: How to Make It Work For You” Want to utilize social media more to promote yourself or business but don’t know how to? Well, let’s help you!
Saturday 17:00 – 18:00, Salon 4 (Gateway Center)

“Virtual Pros and Cons” During the shutdown, both individual authors and artists, vendors, and conventions attempted to operate virtually. Who did it well, and what flopped?
Saturday 20:00 – 21:00, Salon 2 (Gateway Center)

Sunday I have no panels, so you can find me at the booth! We are starting a new benefit, by the way: all Patreon subscribers get 10 percent off at the booth. So if you happen to be there, please do visit!

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Finally: The Edwardsville Author Fair

I’m delighted to finally attend the Edwardsville Author Fair in person!

They’ve been holding this festival of the written word for a few years now, and each year it has conflicted with another major event: Dragoncon, the Society of Professional Journalists, etc. Then last year the event was virtual, of course, because the Voldevirus required all such things to be in Zoomland. Thus I was actually able to participate after a fashion!

I thought I was going to have to bow out this year again, because I am president of the St. Louis chapter of SPJ and will be representing them as delegate at the annual conference next weekend…. which was supposed to be in New Orleans. Sadly, the Voldevirus strikes again and I will not be chowing down on beignets at Cafe Du Monde. The SPJ conference will be entirely virtual. (Of course, it’s likely it would have struck a landmine anyway, since Hurricane Ida is aiming at the Gulf Coast with a fury.)

But that leaves me home and free-ish to finally participate in my hometown’s book festival! I’ll be stepping in and out of the festival to participate as needed in the SPJ conference events, but my husband will be on our booth selling our books and my art throughout the day. Look for us in the author section of City Park 9am-2pm Saturday, Sept. 4.

 (Crossposted with elizabethdonald.com)