The Corner of Madness

It woke me up three times to tell me it was no longer contacting my skin. Bullshit. I couldn't even peel it up to reposition it. It survived water aerobics and in the shower it begins to peel. I have to call them tomorrow. Because this won't last tonight. I'm going to have to have more electrodes. I might even have to call the cardiologist office to see if they have more. there's absolutely going to be a time period I have no coverage.

thanks to those who took time to look over my original stuff last night (If you want to see the dieselpunk/mystery look at last night.) I always appreciate the input.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is # 19 A Song from the 00s

( I put in a few. It is a decade to cover after allCollapse )





here's the whole prompt list

( It's under hereCollapse )

I don't have a lot of thoughts today. I have a question. If you self publish, what is your biggest tip? What resources do you use? Do you mind sharing?

It's not easy to find good reliable articles on that. A quick search will, however, bring up a lot of predatory sites offering to publish for you. So you need to be careful out there.

I'm thinking about it for an anthology (down the road, so much to consider) of historic horror. I was turned down for the Stephen King Overlook thing. I expected that of course and appreciate it was quick. What took me by surprise was not the generic 'this isn't right for this anthology' spiel. They said 'we decided to go in another direction.' Huh? Away from me obviously. But they changed the perimeters of this anthology so many times I wonder if they decided to NOT do historical stories and just revolve around the 70-80s where we were told not to write because it was covered. Anyhow, it was a no and on I roll. I did send one out today.

And since people asked to see chapter two of my new novel, I will tuck it in at the end.

OPEN CALL


Revenants Anthology Spirits, ghosts, and revenants ( I plan to submit some small story to this)

KIRBY Fantasy Fiction Magazine Issue 1 Reborn Genre: Second-world fantasy only (I had to look that term up!)

WAXEN Theme: Weird, experimental, and literary horror Genre: Horror with an emphasis on surreal, occult, and experimental work

Ruadán Books is Open For Novellas In April 2026! Theme: Dark speculative fiction exploring the darker aspects of humanity
Genre: Speculative fiction including horror, science fiction, and fantasy (I have to finish that novella. I HAVE to!)


Tales from the Cryptids Theme: Cryptids with agency, transformation, and liminal storytelling

Open submission calls for writers: March 2026

Notes from The Editor’s Desk (March 2026)

Cahava: Now Seeking Submissions

42 Publishers that Accept Direct Submissions of Speculative Fiction



From Around the Web


I'm starting this with some youtubes about self pubbing








Finding The Heart of the Story

Is Your Story Cohesive? What You Should Know

How to Create a Consistent Story Tone (And Why It Matters)

Pacing as Moral Choice

3 Common Mistakes Committed by Self-Published Novelists (And How to Avoid Them).


From Betty

Five Underplayed Commodities for Kingdoms to Fight Over

Should You Give Non-Human Groups Marginalized Traits?

Is It Romance If It Doesn’t End Happily? (I come down on the no it's not if it's not got a HEA)

What Is Subtext? How Does It Work?

How to Identify & Avoid Author Scams Betty unknowingly added right to the self pub question here with this one

Focus on Finishing And this one is coming right for me

Truncating Phrases

Five Tips to Keep Track of Characters Behind the Scenes.

Free Workshop: How to Write Fear That Feels Real

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Seeking Therapy

How to Raise Stakes in Your Story: Why Your Hero Must Face Death (and Why It Matters)

Tolkien Reading Day: 4 Writing Lessons from J.R.R. Tolkien Every Author Should Know

A Lesson in Perseverance from Walt Disney


And as promised here's chapter two of the novel. If you want to see chapter one it's
here. I am curious as to what you think if you read them (I will probably be locking both of these soon)

( this one is three points of viewCollapse )

I had to be up before the sun to get to the SE Ohio prelims for the State Science Fair. I don't actually mind. It's good to see kids excited for science rather than what I usually get. I teamed up with my coworker DM and we had three teams of kids, two from 8th grade and one from 5th.

One group of 8th grade girls was experimenting with the molding of clarinet/sax reeds and the other set did one we're going to steal (as did they) and modify, the effect of musical genres on heart rate. That's right up my alley. The 10 year old boys did one entitled 'the effect of rollercoasters on 10 year old boys.' Their parents took them on park hopper passes to Disney/Epicot/Isles of Adventure and they tested their heart rates before and after the rides, making predictions on which would get their hearts pumping more. they came armed with specs on drop heights and speed and talked to us for vagal tone and heart rate.

Who wants to bet my students miss the vagus nerve in two weeks? We were impressed with all of them. A couple of them will go on to state.


After that I went to my coffee shop near campus to write and have a rose/lavender macha latte (I had this and three cups of coffee in about 3 hours. bet that gave the Holter monitor something to talk about). From there I went to point pleasant. I wanted to try the ice cream place. I did. I got the Indira Cold (go research him, it's interesting) chocolate peanut butter ice cream with recees' cups jammed in, a chocolate peanut butter moonpie kinda cookie and recees pieces with whipped cream. So much sweets but after this week I deserved a treat.

Look at it. NOTHING about this helps my blood sugar or weight loss but I figure I'm not going to be there every week.




From there I hit the Mason Jar the antique store in PP. They had a surprisingly large collection of uranium glass this time. They had a few sets I didn't want to pay the price for but they were lovely (and I didn't want to break up the set by getting just one) These aren't owned by the store which basically has multiple vendors and there were 3 vendors for the various bits of Ur glass I wanted and it felt like too much trouble contacting them to see if they'd haggle. I did get two Ur glass sherbet cups that were pretty.

I also finally tried Ichiban2 the Japanese restaurant in PP that I mistakenly thought was the dinner and a show type but wasn't. Then had a two roll lunch that was affordable and for the first time I tried sweet potato roll and it was delicious. i must have that again





It was a good, tiring day and now I have a cat chin on my elbow as I type because that's not awkward.



And we can't have science day without science links


What Do Blue Crabs, Spotted Salamanders, And Birds Have In Common? They’ve Got Some Of Nature’s Weirdest Eggs

Sperm Loses Its Sense Of Direction In Microgravity – No Space Babies For Us Just Yet

After Hopes Of Eradication, The World's Deadliest Infection Is Creeping Back In The US With A Vengeance (It's TB and it's back and nastier yet)

The Landscape of Skin and Wounds: Exploring the Role of the Microbiome in Podiatric Health and Chronic Wound Healing again if you're not reading on gut biome stuff, you should.

Repair Workers Accidentally Stumble Upon Lost Remains of Legendary ‘Fourth Musketeer’ From Betty

Fossil with well-preserved soft tissue seems to prove Darwin was right all along From JK

Massive Iron Age hoards discovered in England may be from funeral of powerful Celtic queen

Drought could fuel the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs as climate change worsens, new research suggests

I was at ground zero for the AIDS epidemic. RFK's cuts could fuel a new pandemic, just when elimination seemed within reach.

A gene carried by 99% of humanity raises Alzheimer's risk dramatically. Could gene therapy correct it?

You know I'll defend medicine/doctors tooth and nail EXCEPT when they exhibit asshole behavior. Once I get through my testing I'm finding a different new cardiologist. the one I met today didn't listen to me. rolled his eyes at me and then berated me and my other doctors.

So why are you here? I explain that I've been coughing and while I think I'm coughing down the hiatal hernia, my GP suggested it might be me internally massaging aFib into rhythm. He literally rolled his eyes and I knew it was on. He then basically went on attack WHY are you still on blood thinner 5 years after your accident. You should have been taken off these years ago.

Well I have a stent.

yes but that's old school giving plavix for it. Yes I guess it's been a while since I wrote for that drug for MY patients (i.e. you're talking to another doctor in case you didn't bother to look) I had to say several times that I will ask my vascular surgeon about it in a few weeks. i.e. I'm not switch my care to you but yes I'll take that drug name and ask him (seriously if I could be off the blood thinners I'd be thrilled).

So again why are you here? Because of what I already told you and I'm tachycardic (my heart rate it too high) and has been for years because we thought it was compensation for my very low blood pressure. And in the last year I've gained 10 pounds (for no real reason) and my pressure has gone high 140-150. I thought it was the wellbutrin but going off hasn't helped.

You're diabetic WHY aren't you on statins and ace inhibitors. Ace inhibitors save kidneys! (said in an affronted tone like he'd like to throw down with my endocrinologist)

Did you NOT hear me? I have had low blood pressure. If you put me on an ace inhibitor I'd pass out. (We are trying one now because he wouldn't shut up and my pressure has been high)

You need to be on a statin. No, my family doesn't tolerate them. I've tried. muscle pain, fuck that. I'd rather try adjusting my diet/exercise. He scoffs you're at 110. So? Well the NEW number is 70. (Don't get me started on the fact that the only ones doing drug research are pharm companies with a vested interest in lower numbers to sell more pills).

Finally he stops harping on my other doctors and my unwillingness to try a battery of new meds (one, dude, let's start with one) and decided I need an echocardiogram. Agreed. Your last one was 2017 (said in a tone that said he was shocked I had one because he hasn't been fucking listening to me about the tachycardia, low pressure and heart zoomies in the middle of the night) and I'm like really and holy hell how is that nearly a decade ago and not last year?

You need to take your blood pressure 3 times a day and we'll give you a log.

And you need to be on a Holter monitor which is what I was hoping for. He fucks off to go be a ray of sunshine with someone else and the nurse comes in with the Holter monitor and tells me I need to return in two months (which I bargain down to about 6 weeks because I'll be traveling by then). I'm used to Holter monitors being 72 hours. Not this time. 1 month. ONE month! 'it gives us more info' True. 'if nothing is happening we'll call you in 2 weeks and you can take it off then but if something is wrong' Sounds great.

She shows me two placements (straight between the boobs, across the left boob) she goes left and now the fucking monitor jabs me in the tit every time I move my left arm. I don't have enough glue pads to take it off just yet. Also it has its own little phone that records and sends it to the hospital too but now I have to carry my phone, this phone AND the dexcom reader. I need a wee purse for all this crap.

So once all this is done and if it finds anything seriously wrong (according to him my heart beat was irregular via ascultation) I will find someone else. I can not imagine staying in this dude's care. And that is something I highly encourage everyone to do. If you can (not everyone can) if you don't like your doc get a second opinion. There is never a need to stay with someone you don't like (within reason like my insurance, I don't know if it'll pay for Marshal U's docs in WV but I am going to look into it. I have found teaching hospital doctors to be a bit nicer).


No story from me this week (been working on meta) but have the fannish 50 fandom recs


Unexpected Treasure Torchwood

Finding Carol FAKE

it’s not easy being green. Merlin

Enter the Sixth Ranger Hazbin Hotel

Home No More Torchwood

warm all over Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Wolf and Seasons Ookami to Koushinryou | Spice and Wolf

Rain, Games, and Ferrets Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three HousesFire Emblem Musou: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

the little bird that got away 陈情令 | The Untamed

Being Green Torchwood

The Most Important, Bejeweled, Gold Tipped Cog Hazbin Hotel

pinned and mounted (wings) Hazbin Hotel


Better than Tons of Gold and Cases of Diamonds
Le Comte de Monte-Cristo | Count of Monte Cristo


the Love Songs of the Urban Borahae Bird 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS


Secrets in the Shadows Hazbin Hotel

My knee is warming up for its replacement. I'm not sure if it's the new shoes, the constantly changing weather, the yoga or the water aerobics but the knee hurts like a broken tooth.

More sad news at work for a work friend almost 5 years cancer free who can no longer say that.

The more I thought about last night's question the more I realize you can't possibly answer without seeing the story in the first place. I'll have to hold that until I get an alpha reader.

I think it was spurred on by the arc I was given for book 8 in the series (note to self next time publishers contact you, look over the author's list. No one wants to come in on book 8) This book so far is 10 pages of info dump of every fact the author learned about the Underground Railroad. Way too much info too quick.

I am conflicted about tonight's community rec wipbigbang I love this group. My conflict is I have no idea what to share. I don't want my only 2 actual wips to wait until sept/oct to fully share them. Do I find another ancient Buffy story I might be able to finish? I just don't know. I guess I'm a bit burned out and I have so much work to do this summer. I still want to do this and I DO rec it to all of you.


And for women's history month how about this one? The Church of England gets its first woman leader, happening right now. That is cool

That's what we're being driven to. Nursing is probably pissed at me because I refuse to do one of my classes online. It's for the freshman. No, we're not. So far these online classes are a nightmare of failing software.

We had a pointless all-school meeting (we do every month) and I'm like why are we voting on this? It's mandated by the state. We have to do it.

Sigh. And again no one but me cares.

Maybe others might have thoughts/suggestions. I'm thinking I'm revealing one character's backstory too much too soon. I think I would like it to remain hidden a little longer but the problem is Asha (a detective) knows his secrets. Lilian (her new partner) would ask about this guy. His employee is the sex worker/dancer who is killed in chapter 1. She would ask. So I'm like great now everyone knows his secret and we're only in chapter 4.

I'm not sure I see a good way around it other than maybe his history isn't as well known as I thought but really that makes no sense either. He was taken by a m ajor sex trafficker as a child. Asha knows what Goren did to children. He was one of those they couldn't make things stick to (rich buddies buying him out of trouble) so not sure how to write my way out of this hole. Maybe it's not as disappointing as I think it is.

Yoga went really well tonight. She modified it so I could do 90% of it but one thing I did (and easily) was one that it was easy to move past my natural joint movement into bad zones (which I often can't tell because of my condition) and I think that elevated butterfly move pulled my groin. Rolls eyes.

What I Just Finished Reading:

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee


What I am Currently Reading:


Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more so far, I really like this one

Back to Zombie Day Care just to get it over with and tick off a few challenge boxes


What I Plan to Read Next: The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail) and The Book woman of troublesome creek for the book club

Because not a lot of interesting things happened today.

Let's talk fannish 50 and this time it's all about the last episode of The Amazing Digital Circus.

( hjsakldfhl, and yes there will be spoilersCollapse )

This time the blood sugar stayed over 400 most of the day and crashed out just before water aerobics. That went much the same except I think I hurt my shoulder this time (she has two exercises I've never done in any water aerobics and it's easy to do them wrong)

Today was my writing zoom meet up. went well. I've pretty much pushed the new novel almost to the 10K mark (I'm like 230 words short). So I'm 1/8 of the way there in just a couple weeks. Yay.

I also owe seta_suzume an apology. There was a name change in Easy's sister's name but when I ran the find a word thing it didn't pick up on it. Side eyes word.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is 18 a song that makes you smile Share your faves too.

( I put in a few. I'm sure there are 100 moreCollapse )





here's the whole prompt list

( It's under hereCollapse )

It's late somehow. I spent the day on the diabetes rollercoaster starting out at 350 and staying there until suddenly I was 80 at 5 pm. So I'm tired. I'm groggy. I'm not going to have much energy for writing thoughts today but can we talk about call backs.

Do you do them? Do you like them? I have not used many and I like them well enough. This is front of mind for two reasons. At my book club thing, one of the ladies was talking about what she hated about the indie book she had was it was forced call backs done badly. She said she liked call backs but this one went on and on. And without spoilers, The Amazing Digital Circus had a massive and wonderful call back. Everyone was praising the foreshadowing of that.

But I'm also thinking...was it? What if they just simply rewatching/reread earlier stuff and thought hey, you know what... ha. (that would be how I'd end up doing it)

Open Calls


The Cookout Anthology Science fiction and fantasy stories by Black authors from the African Diaspora, centering on the beloved traditions of the cookout: the joy, drama, and delicious food! - Fantastic pay on this one my friends if you're in the target group.

Sinister Scales Anthology Reptiles featured prominently in the story Genre: Science fiction and fantasy

BloodClot!Zine Revolution including personal, social, technological, and spiritual upheaval Genre: Speculative fiction, literary fiction, poetry, and personal essays - Also only open to people of color

WERE-2 Creative stories centered on were-creatures other than werewolves Genre: Primarily urban fantasy, but science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, and other speculative genres are welcome - Another pro rate pay. This one I hope to try for (look at the anchor authors)

Goblins & Galaxies Magazine Adventure driven stories featuring sword and sorcery, dark fantasy, or science fiction elements

84 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (March 2026)



From Around the Web

9 Tips for How to Write Dark Stories Responsibly (And Make Hope Feel Earned)

Genre as Delight, Not Dictator: How Learning About Genres Helps You Write Better

The Most Important Lesson I Learned After a Decade of Writing



From Betty


What Is a Throughline in Writing?

Seven Ways to Clarify Critical Information

Is Your Subconscious Messing with Your Writing Identity?

Awaken Your Creativity

We Become the Stories We Tell Ourselves

The Greatest Feeling

From Idea to Page: The Journey of a Romance Novel.

How Fear Shrinks Your Character’s World Over Time

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Catastrophizing

YouTube for Writers, Part 7: Why Captions Matter and How to Use Them

here.

Before You Share That Post: A Writer’s Guide to Verifying Information and Building Trust Online (Part 2).

The Facebook Copyright Hoax Is Back: Why Writers Must Verify Before They Share (Part 1)

The Power of Goal Setting for Writers: How Clear Goals Help You Finish Your Book

Why Author Newsletter Replies Matter (and How to Get More Reader Responses)

Finding The Heart of the Story

Stuck: Further thoughts on Pride and Prejudice.

I wanted so much to go for a hike but I couldn't because a) no one I usually hike with could b) my bad knee is being stupid.

So instead I was going to go shopping in Chillicothe but also I wanted to write. So I stopped at my usual coffee house for a Marshmallow Chick latte (meh, not very strong flavors ah well) got a lot written. Got to Chillicothe, still wanted to write so I went to that new coffee shop in the place where I was going for years. It was bad last time when they were just first starting but they did pick it up and it was much better this time.

I got some crosstrainers! I needed new sneakers in the worst way and I I hate shopping for shoes especially with my weird feet. I am very happy.

Got stuff at Aldi's and I must face the fact my fridge is nothing but cheese, salami and prosciutto so what shall I do about this? Eat a lot of cheese.

Got a few things at TJ Maxx including a few things for Rocket.

Also I went to Ollie's and did something I've never done before. I dropped something and broke it. That was embarrassing. It was cute solar power light (which I ended up not buying any because that would be all I thought about).

No science this Saturday other than this entry for Women's history. I didn't learn this theory in school but I HAVE taught it since I came to my university. I had no idea it was a woman's theory that had been ignored and belittled for years and now it's science canon (at least for now since science does evolve) But DNA has proven her right about mitochondria being bacterial. Anyhow meet Lynn Margulis


Watching something on Hallmark Mystery that is just plain awful. I was excited for something new Nelly Knows Mystery. The acting is bad, the plot ludicrous, good lord. The detective barely knows what he's doing and a uniformed officer seems to be in command (unless she's the sheriff? I have no idea because it's too dumb to pay attention to