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Point of View: What a Real Man Is

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smug man with crown on head - deposit photos

This week a new word popped into my awareness, one that’s probably been circulating for a while, and one that comes from a worldview that has become almost omnipresent in its injection into our daily lives. See, it’s the straight white men who are oppressed. Women, gays, democrats and trans folk have been telling them for far too long that they can’t just be men and do manly things, like oppressing women, gays, democrats and trans folk. It’s really unfair. And now the combination of our hyper-masculine co-presidents, the crypto bros, the Andrew Tates of the world and all the … Read more

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Author Spotlight: A. Catherine Noon

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A. Catherine Noon

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: For author and textile artist A. Catherine Noon, it’s all about the yarn, both metaphorical and literal – spinning a yarn, knitting with yarn, weaving, sewing, painting, sharing stories and good times over a cup of coffee with dark chocolate. She teaches creative writing, creative expression and textile arts. Thanks so much, Catherine, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: Have you ever taken a trip to research a story? Tell me about … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Forty-Two

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Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Ben meets the Stranger, and finds out he’s been stalked… < Read Chapter 41 Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter Forty-TwoI’m Not Alice Ben hustled through the evening, making sure his staff had things well in … Read more

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Point Of View: Let the Rain Wash Me Clean

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teen in the rain - deposit photos

I was sitting at my desk about half an hour ago, when I heard something outside. I opened the blinds and peered out, and a decent rain was falling out of the sky. Within a couple minutes it built into a thunderous crescendo, pummeling the roof above, like a hundred drummers beating on tautly stretched hides. It was mesmerizing. The rain has passed, and now there are patches of blue sky outside. And while we know the rain will come again, maybe as soon as this afternoon, for now the air is crisp and clean, and the world feels new … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Richard Thomas

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Richard Thomas

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: Richard Thomas is the award-winning author of nine books: four novels—Incarnate (Podium), Disintegration and Breaker (Penguin Random House Alibi), and Transubstantiate (Otherworld Publications); four short story collections—Spontaneous Human Combustion (Turner Publishing—Bram Stoker finalist), Tribulations (Cemetery Dance), Staring Into the Abyss (Kraken Press), and Herniated Roots (Snubnose Press); as well as one novella of The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). His over 175 stories in print include The Best Horror of the Year (Volume Eleven), Cemetery Dance (twice),Behold!: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders (Bram Stoker Award winner), The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors (Shirley Jackson … Read more

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Double Review: Romance is a Drag Anthology

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Romance is a Drag Anthology

Just got a couple great reviews for the new Own Voices anthology I am a part of: Genre: Contemporary, Magical Realism, Drag LGBTQ+ Category: Gay Reviewers: Ulysses at Paranormal Romance Guild; Maryann Universal Buy Link About The Book A queer Anthology that embraces the romantic life and happy ever afters of drag queens navigating the LGBT landscape. All stories are written by Own Voice gay authors! From small towns to big cities, drag queens are the heart of the gayborhoods they belong to. Stories by Shane K Morton, Blake Allwood, Jole Cannon, Kelvin Young, J. Scott Coatsworth, Kristian Parker, Brent … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Forty-One

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Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Carmelina and Daniele (finally) make it to the wedding after a series of Italian misadventures… < Read Chapter 40 | Read Chapter 42 > Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter Forty-OneNot Nero’s Tomb Carmelina ran her … Read more

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Point of View: Selling Books at a Time of Existential Threats

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This is Fine

We’ve all seen the meme. In a world that seems to be burning down around us, it captures that horrible frozen feeling many of us have that the forces moving around us are just too large to comprehend, let alone combat. Have you seen the whole original comic strip this came from? It’s by artist KC Green, and there’s a great interview and explanation here at The Verge. This is the world we as authors are living in. Lately a new version has been making the rounds, where “This is fine” is replaced with “Buy my book”: And here’s a … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Riley Odell

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Riley Odell

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: Riley Odell is an autistic writer and neurodiversity activist. He writes horror, comedy, and bizarro, and is the creator of Divergnt Realms, an anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories about neurodivergence by neurodivergent authors. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife Jamie, and their two pet children. Find out more rileyodellwriter.com. Thanks so much, Riley, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: When did you know you wanted to write, and when … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Forty

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Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Marcos finally spills his big secret to Dave, and hopes for the best… < Read Chapter 39 | Read Chapter 41 > Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter FortyBalloon Marcos dropped his head and pulled on … Read more