Revised and updated And the Angels Sang

Sometimes balls drop

Yeah, yeah, I know, I really probably shouldn’t have used that header. But it got your attention, didn’t it?

Seriously, though, I honestly did drop the things I was juggling. Well, not for the first time, but apparently I had completely forgotten a year and a half ago I was going to go with a updated and new shiny revision of And the Angels SangBut, well, you know–life. It happens to you. It happens to other people you bring in on your journey. And you get so tied up in the getting on with getting on, that you forget you planted the seeds of something which might have been marvelous. But alas.

So, it wasn’t until R. Graeme Cameron reviewed And the Angels Sang for Amazing Stories, that I realized there was all this splatter and ooopness in a big eggy mess around me. And I really needed to do something about that, because, oh-my-goodness his review of my collection of speculative short stories was really quite, well, wow.

Ta-da! New and improved!

And the Angels Sang

Which means I now have finally finished the revision of And the Angels Sang. Proper accreditation has been given to my genius friend, Jeff Minkevics, for the stunning cover. The interior is sleeker and better presented, I think. And there’s bonus reading material in there for you by way of a preview of my speculative fiction novel, CalibanI think you might enjoy it. And I’m hoping it might lead you to purchase either a copy of the trade paperback or an ebook. Both are available, by the way, through this website and your favourite online bookseller, even elibraries.

What else have you got?

Well, I’ve actually started working on short stories again, along with poking at the historical novel, Hekja’s Lament. I was quite surprised yesterday when I was sorting through marketable shorts and found a story I had no idea I’d written. Huh. Imagine that. Apparently I drop things all the time. Anyway, found story and another have gone sailing out to potential markets, and so I begin that oh-so-inspiring exercise of submission and rejection.

You thought when you submitted to me at Five Rivers, when I was publishing other authors, it was hard? Yeah, every time I rejected one of you I felt your pain, cause I’ve been on that side of the desk, and apparently have returned. Why on earth do we do this?

In between all that…

…I’ve been deep into the COVID summer of 2020. I’ve quite enjoyed my time mucking about either in the perennial or vegetable gardens, being sweaty, enjoying my year-old knees which are absolutely wonderful. Gary’s been deep into construction of the new back terrace. Gee, wowzers, it’s going to be gorgeous. Got to finally see my dearest son and daughter-in-law after six months COVID absence, hugs and everything, so that was wonderful, and then got to see my amazing sister and brother-in-law, hugs and everything. So, that’s our safe circle, which suits me quite fine.

The only hitch in all this new-found retirement, and freedom from the nightmare that had been elder-care, is a wee concern over health issues not related to COVID. Seems I’ve had another TIA, and that’s resulted in a battery of tests. As I’m writing this I’m sitting here with a Holter monitor slung around my neck, counting down the minutes until I can remove the inconvenient thing. But, truly, I am grateful for all the medical tech and science that keeps us functioning. Tomorrow I go for a CT scan and carotid doppler test, and the week after that for an eye exam to determine if there’s been damage to my right eye. And just think, all those tests, all that remarkable, high-quality medical care costs me absolutely nothing. I am so grateful to be living in a country that values people and a social conscience.

But about that collection of short stories

Sure would love it if you went and got yourself a copy of And the Angels SangEnjoy reading it or not, why not review it? Put it up on FB, Twitter, Goodreads, LibraryThing. Write a review on Amazon or Kobo or Indigo. Let people know what you thought. Either way, would be great to create a discussion about the merits or smell of the collection.