Dreamtime

Pictorial Sneak Peek - Path of the Huntress

2011-08-06T17:59:41Z

As some of you know I am writing a YA LGBT fantasy series, and the setting is a fantasy version of precolonial Africa. I recently got a copy of Campaign Cartographer 3 and using that created a map of that continent, names Njoziakti. Here's hoping the pic comes out okay for y'all.

comments

Honoring Heros!

2011-08-01T14:00:46Z

I just got passed this great story and I had to share it...

Married Lesbian Couple Rescued 40 Teens from Norway Massacre

If, as I insisted, you'd read Tove Jansson's elliptical, elegant Fair Play or her marvelous The Summer Book, you could perfectly envision the Norwegian island chain where married lesbians Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen [adidas] were eating at their campsite when they heard shots and screams across the water. Did they run and hide? No, they're lesbians, so they jumped in their boat and sped toward the slaughter....

(See the rest of the story here)

comments

Awesome short film!

2011-07-30T12:43:57Z

Robots of Brixton from Kibwe Tavares on Vimeo.

comments

Help Samuel Holiday rebuild

2011-07-19T21:20:53Z

Please help Samuel Holiday, an 87-year-old Navajo code talker and military veteran. Mr. Holiday has lost his home to arson, not long after having lost his wife. He gave a lot for the country, so let's see if we can give a little bit back.

Read the story Mr. Holiday's story in the Navajo Times.

Please repost this ChipIn widget and the story.

Mr. Holiday's website and a video Here is Mr. Holiday's website, Navajo Code Talker - Samuel Tom Holiday.

comments

Racial Microaggressions 101

2011-06-29T18:13:55Z

Thanks to afro_dyte for this video link!

comments

Two Spirit Documentary - Must see!!!

2011-06-16T14:43:32Z

Watch the full episode. See more Independent Lens.

comments

A Call Out for Clarion West Write-a-thon Sponsors!

2011-06-16T13:26:16Z

It’s time once again for the Clarion West Write-a-thon, a benefit event to support Clarion West, a nonprofit literary educational organization whose goal is to educate new writers in the field of speculative fiction. “Although there are fine science fiction and fantasy writers of all ethnicities, races, and genders, historically the field has reflected the same prejudices found in the culture around it, leading to proportionately fewer successful writers of color and women writers than white male writers. Within the limitations of the workshop, Clarion West is dedicated to improving those proportions.”

I am calling out to my friends to sponsor me in the Clarion West Write-a-thon this year. Think of a Write-a-thon like a Walk-a-thon, but instead of miles walked writers set a writing goal to complete each week for the six-weeks. My goal this year is to revise 3 chapters or more from Shadow Magic, the sequel to Ancestral Magic. At the end of each week I will post a small excerpt from the section revised at my blog and updates on how the work is progressing.

You can sponsor me for the Write-a-thon at any amount per week ($1/week, $5/week, $10/week, $20/week and so on…) or a flat amount for the whole six weeks. At the end of the six weeks I will have a drawing for all those who sponsored me, and the wiinner to receive a copy of one of my novels of their choice, including the soon to be released Worlds Collide. You can sponsor me here, and also please comment on my blog post on live journal or dreamwidth so I have a list of sponsors for the drawing. Thank you very much for supporting such a great program.

comments

Food Magic - Quesadillas and Veggie Sliders

2011-06-12T13:44:20Z

Yesterday I finally got around to give the kitchen a though post semester cleaning now that we’ve had a couple cooler days, so spent some time experimenting with some new food choices for our mixed family’s needs (mixed as in meat eaters, a vegetarian, and a mom with IBS thrown in just to complicate things further). I had forgotten how much fun making scratch meals was for me, like doing magic spells in the form of healthy and tasty food for my family…messy spells. Might explain why food is mentioned so much in my stories. :)

( Read more... )( Read more... )

comments

Nativepunk outfit sneak peek

2011-06-05T14:14:06Z

For those of you who have been wondering about the progress of my Weird West Steampunk Nativepunk outfit I’ve been working on here is a sneak peek. Feedback is always welcome, but remember this is a work in progress.

( Read more... )

comments

Wiscon 35 Update – Friday

2011-06-04T15:30:32Z

Today I'm here to present the first of the promised Wiscon updates, namely the one for Friday, May 27th. I admit I was uncertain whether we ere going to make it Friday morning in time for my writers workshop at all, with two kids in tow and a third adult to pick up on the way (my sis xakara ), but I managed to get there okay. And hence, where the ongoing fun begins…

(note: you will notice a lack of names and lj links, because after an evening of working into the weehours on my Nativepunk (as in Steampunk) outfit I can't remember who I wanted to mention who has an lj/dw, just toooooo many faces from Friday floating in my brain all at one. Feel free to poke me lj/dw Wiscon friends and I will add when more coherent ;) Same if you see typos I need to fix :P )

( Read more... )

comments

The worst self promoter ever!

2011-06-01T23:21:31Z

While I was working on revamping my website I realized I failed to mention my e-book novella released this past March. Duh! Even over the entire weekend of Wiscon, I can’t recall a single time I even brought the novella up. Super duh! Just proves how much I suck at self-promotion. The novella is called “Seeking Light in the Shadows”, and it’s the first time, I believe, I have focused on the Fae folk of my world as a central character. Is just over 10k, and at $2.99 in e-book format it’s a great chance for new readers of my work to get a taste of my style of writing. Here’s some information on the story…

( Read more... )

comments

Wiscon 35 - Short preupdate

2011-06-01T01:47:34Z

My heart is full today, but at the same time it is heavy. Wiscon 35 was an amazing experience, with even the minor fail leading to amazing conversations and much win. I miss everyone terribly, especially the sister of my deepest heart xakara who I was fortunate enough to spend a few last moments with today before she has to head back home tomorrow. This is not the first year I wish Wiscon was a week long or more rather than just a few days, but I felt that desire even stronger this year than I have in the past. Going to Wiscon is like coming home, my feelings of family there is strong in many ways stronger than among most of my blood relations, and when I’m away from them I feel as if an important part of my spirit is missing too. Now I know that I have been very quiet within the blog world since I’ve returned to college, and yes, I do plan to tell you all more about my experiences at Wiscon this year, but for now as I prepare to put the little ones to bed I felt the need to send my love out to my special Wiscon family. Safe travels, sweet dreams, and know as always I got your back.

comments

Catching up

2010-07-07T15:17:14Z

Right in the midst of the mad dash to complete National Rebirth I was hit with several days of extreme exhaustion followed by several more days of back and abdomen pain. Needless to say this not only interfered with my writing but also my blogging. Doing my best to catch up.

( Read more... )

comments

One more look at "Writing the Other"

2010-06-21T16:21:46Z

Once again I got the increasingly common question from a white writer about how to write non-white characters (in this particular case how to write Cherokee characters) without getting it wrong and offending someone.

There's always a risk of "getting it wrong" when you're dealing with writing about anybody outside of your own experiences. I worry about it all the time as someone who writes characters of different cultures, nationalities, even characters who live with disabilities that are beyond my personal experiences. The best you can do is research, talk to as many people as possible within that group, and when someone from that group tells you said or did something offensive or problemsome, listen and learn. Another important thing to remember is to respect when someone from that group says "No." It is not their responsibility to educate you, but if you are respectful and open, your chances are pretty good at finding someone more than happy to talk to you.

As far as how and where to gather your research outside of the obvious talking to people from that group and asking respectful questions ( and honestly listen to the answers), go to the experts. Not just a random person from that particular group, but one of their scholars, educators, community outreach folks, etc… For example, every tribe, in my experience, will have departments dedicated to historical and cultural information.

One very important thing to remember is do not assume if you know about one nation's traditions, that information will suffice for all Native American traditions you write about. It won't. This may sound like a "duh!" statement, but I have lost count of the amount of times I've had a writer send me something that was a mismatch of tribal tradition, region, housing, food details, etc… When I told them Native Americans were not hive minds and the author had to "choose a tribe" they didn't understand what the big deal was. It's a huge deal.

For me personally, if you want to write Cherokee, or any contemporary Native American character ( please are plenty of poorly done historical depictions, unless you must do history fiction to keep your muse happy, please set your native character in a contemporary or even futuristic setting) hit up the website of the Cherokee group you want to center the character in, and not only talk to the cultural department, and see what books on the website or by e-mail they recommend to learn more about their traditions, stories, and history. There is a lot of crap out there. The experts within the tribes themselves can help guide you through the minefield of garbage to where the the gems lay.

Many contemporary Native Americans feel invisible in the eyes of the average American, only remembered as seasonal trimming during the thanksgiving holidays or as the mystical advisor for some white hero in movies or books. We need the faces of contemporary Native Americans in the stories read, as well as TV movies or any other sort of popular entertainment. Realistic examples of contemporary of Americans, not caricatures or unrealistic idealizations no one could ever live up to. It’s not as hard as some people think it is. The “Others” in a lot of ways we’re not so very different. It's important that people remember that we can be heroes too, we can have romances, we can fly spaceships.

Authors do not have to be afraid to write POV characters who are not like them, as long as they're willing to do the work it takes to do the best they can, and be willing to listen and continue to learn even if they do get something wrong.

comments

Update :)

2010-06-19T17:43:17Z

Now that Shadow Magic is off to the publisher, I've been really cranking on National Rebirth (debating on changing the name), in the past week or so I've gone from 14K to...

47947 / 100000

It's like an early Nanowrimo. I set my internal editor on vacation, not to return until it's time for revisions. Hopefully, when it's time to read over the thing, I will not find that it's a lot of crap and have to redue a bunch of it. Just for the fun of it, I'm posting the first page or so of Chapter 1 (unedited mind you) just to give folks a sneak peek.

( Read more... )

comments

Hmmmm

2010-06-08T19:26:49Z

I’ve been thinking…

Since food so often makes its way into my stories, I’ve considered for a time creating a cookbook based on recipes in my novels and maybe even short stories. I was working on revisions today on Shadow Magic (the sequel to Ancestral Magic) and thought it might be fun to post recipes on my blog, with explanations from the characters that create these yummy dishes, as a regular thing. Maybe if folks like these, I will put them later in a free ebook or something…this sound interesting to folks?

comments

A request :)

2010-05-27T06:33:27Z

With the new book bein' out, even though I hate doin' the marketing thang in general, I figure this would be the time to update my website, something I have not done in a loooong time. Would folks mind hittin' up www.moondancerdrake.com to let me know if they notice anything off, or something they think might look better format wise or anything? Also, I've been contimplating the free fic section....I have this Ultima Online game/Drow/DnD story I've been doing on a UO RP board, and it's coming out really well. I know I can't do anything with it publishing wise since the Drow are copyrighted, but I thought it might be fun as a free fic thing. What do ya'll think of fanfic posted on an pro author site as freebies?

comments

It's finally here!

2010-05-25T21:03:23Z

Natural Order

by Moondancer Drake

ISBN: 978-1-933720-67-8

Trade paperback cover price = $19.99 USD

Available through your favorite bookstore!

Genre: Lesbian / Romance / Paranormal

Read an Excerpt!

Reviews:
“Moondancer Drake has created a fantasy which harmoniously plucks elements from many different cultural and spiritual dishes to mix up a delectable fusion feast. Few other authors offer a multicultural, multi-spiritual world as a given, both of which lend strength to the story.” ~ K. Tempest Bradford

Synopsis:
An evening at the movies turns into a living nightmare for Elizabeth Crew as her lover Dusty battles for their lives and the unborn baby Elizabeth is carrying. Dusty’s dying request is that Elizabeth go live with Dusty’s family, where she and the baby will be safe.

Dusty’s family takes Elizabeth into their home with open arms and a bit of concern. What will happen if Elizabeth learns that her new family includes shape-shifters? For Elizabeth, the family secrets are not all that awaits her in the darkness..

comments

Just cause I gotta

2010-05-22T00:13:09Z

Some songs don't get near enough radio play. This one is golden!

comments

It’s over and it has begun

2010-05-21T00:29:01Z

Okay, I just finished my last exam, portfolio, the whole lot for this semester at least. My first grade even came in… an A- in Play Analysis, thank you very much, which was one of the classes I struggled in. I am working on my first part of my “teach Miss Moon to draw” summer project and I thought I’d share the most recent rendering with you all. Keep in mind until a month or so ago I couldn’t draw stick figures well, so I’m feeling better about how far I have come since then.

( Read more... )

comments

This week - Ups and Downs

2010-05-20T17:57:34Z

This has been a … ummm … interesting week. Now with me gearing up for finals I’m finding my blogging time limited to about once a week. Hopefully this summer will give me more time to talk to ya’ll. Okay, onto the news…

( Read more... )

comments

Squee!!!

2010-05-02T22:23:05Z

I just got the news….Natural Order just went to print, so will be having it’s release at Wiscon. Since it’s the first book I wrote after the infamous conversation at Wiscon that led to me becoming a writer (even thought it’s the second novel published) it feels right to be having it debut at the convention that helped birth it.I'll keep people posted when it officially goes on sale in case folks can't wait until them to get it *wink*

comments

Update as promised

2010-05-01T05:29:33Z

Here’s the update like I promised. It’s kinda long so being nice and potting it under the cut. The timeline for this will likely not be at all liner, so bear with me. My brain is very overworked so if I missed typos I apologize now. Thanks to everyone who popped in to say hello. I will try to not be such a stranger. :)
( Read more... )

The 2009-2010 school year has been beyond exciting, even though I have done little to no fiction writing since fall began. I did take a creative writing course this semester and got to explore doing poetry again. I might post some of the work I have done in there if folks are interested. College has been a lot of work, frustrating and draining at times, but also very transformational.

comments

Very bad blogger lady

2010-04-30T14:42:23Z

Okay. I admit it. I have not nurtured my blog as one should. I am ashamed. *hangs head* Every time I thought to post I considered all I’d have to write to update everyone and the task felt overwhelming. So much has happened and I worried I’d bore people just rambling on and on about it all. I decided if I didn’t find a way past this concern I’d trap myself by it.

Here’s what I intend to do. I will give a condensed update from when I started school last fall until now. If people have question or what to hear more about anything, just poke me and say so. With the semester coming to a close in a few weeks I should have more time to keep up with blogging, plus share with ya’ll some of the things I am planning for this summer.

Yes, in a way this is a teasing post. I have some homework to do right now, and the update will be coming later tonight (I promise!). There’s some big stuff in it, so keep an eyes out. This has been an amazing two semesters for me.

comments

Just cause...

2009-11-24T14:15:38Z

And here is something fun to share while I enjoy my new "...and then Buffy staked Edward. The End." shirt

and now that I have your attention...

Chase Community Giving is donating $5,000,000 to charities around the USA. Facebook users are voting for the recipients! Moondancer voted for a charity called Growing Power Inc.

Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing h...ands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner. You can also read more at our BLOG

Please support the work that Growing Power does and VOTE for them for the the Chase grant money

comments