2. how to explain deadlines to a pictures of a hare

it was a deadline week

Happy Easter!

THE SCORPIO ROOM

• Agenda

• Greetings

• Statement of intent

• New business

• Call to action

• Oh, right, I write books

• POTPOURRI

• Closing 

GREETINGS

Hi again. Hope you didn’t think I was leaving you hanging. Busy week. (See header.) 

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Just the weekly newsletter to try and catch folks up. I said we were going to talk about my meditation habit, yeah? 

Usually when I mention meditation, people say one of two things - ‘it is the best thing ever, I do [insert school of thought] here, changed my life’ or ‘yeah, I can’t do that.’ 

I’m neither type. I’m not really good at meditation and I wished I was. And upon interrogation realized that ‘wishing i was good at meditation’ was the wrong reason to meditate. That what I wanted was freedom from that constant need to feel like I’m improving things somehow. I feel the most at peace when my body is on autopilot - washing dishes, doing yoga, on a hike, chopping veggies. Rollerskating is really good for clearing my head, but it doesn’t count as meditation, as it defeats the point a bit to be working toward something. 

It’s the only thing in my life that I resist labeling ‘a work in progress.’ I’m perfectly capable of it now. And I don’t need to get any better at it. I simply need to make the time to do nothing, and appreciate that for what it is. 

Be Here Now, yeah? We’re working on it. Occasionally with wheels on our feet.

NEW BUSINESS

Anyway, as mentioned above, it was a deadline week last week, hence the slightly late newsletter now. I’ll pack it extra full for you. 

OH RIGHT, I WRITE BOOKS

Out this week: VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE: WINTER’S TEETH #7 and EXCALIBUR #20.

If you’re curious about Vampire: the Masquerade, or are already a fan, you can pick up the first trade here - we’re just now getting into the meat of the second arc, and there’s big stuff on the horizon. 

I get to work with such an incredible team on that book - Dev and Nathan on art duties, Mr. Hack/Slash himself Tim Seeley on the lead story, and the backups, Anarch Tales, which are my favorite part. The lead writer on Anarch Tales is Blake Howard, who you might know from storytelling the LA By Night/Worldbuilders livestream, or from being married to me for 11 years. I play backup for him on those, as this series was his first time writing comics, but it’s the easiest job I’ve ever had.  He’s an absolute master of this setting, and just too damn good at weaving a narrative.

Blake is also a killer comic book writer, which I knew was possible, but not that he would start out that way. (Reader, I’m jealous.) On top of that, he writes all of the canon game data in the books, which is pretty cool - if you’re looking for new fun flavor rules for your V5 campaign, look no further. 

(Last bit of business - the store’s going well enough. All orders should be fulfilled. If you’ve got an issue, comment below and let me know and we’ll work it out for you. I’ll probably add some Winter’s Teeth trades and issues in there soon.) 

CALL TO ACTION

I’m so glad you’re enjoying the newsletter. Keep enjoying it. 

Are you reading anything good right now? I’m tearing through books lately. Tell me about what you’re enjoying. Not the cool answer, the real answer.

POTPOURRI

• I watched the new Eric Andre movie on Netflix, Bad Trip, and I found myself quite taken with the way people fall into necessary ‘narrative’ roles in a situation, even when there’s no script. Also, I love the parts where he acts fucking foolish. 

• It’s National Poetry Month and my dear friend and editor Annalise has been sharing daily poems with her friends. This one is one of my very favorites she’s shared with us, so I’ll share it with you. (“Willing to convert reverence to deed” gave me chills.) 

• I’m 13 issues into reading Paper Girls for the first time, no one say a THING no one SPOIL IT

• I have a personal favorite Los Angeles-area mutual aid/charity fund that I really believe in and support with regular donations  - Hydrate-LA.  They deliver tons of water and supplies to unhoused people and political demonstrators in Los Angeles, and they’re organized by a local Black woman. Please consider adding them to your donation lists - as little as $5 on Venmo is a lot of direct action for them.

CLOSING

Late but worth the wait. Talk to y’all real soon, okay?

TH 

09:03 4.5.21