One of my favorite stories about Linda, who was Krissy’s aunt and who passed away earlier this month, was how she welcomed me when we moved to Ohio, 24 years ago now. When I arrived at our new house, Linda was there with the rest of the family, and when she saw me, she came […] | Continue reading
Joui Wine is a chic wine bar in Dayton that I adore, but have not frequented, and I find that to be a downright shame. In an attempt to remedy this, I signed up for a cocktail class they were hosting that doubled as a book launch event for, wouldn’t you know it, a cocktail […] | Continue reading
For fuck’s sake, 2025, ease off the pedal, already. Beyond that, Blue Velvet was one of the very few handful of films that I came out of going “what the fuck did I just watch?!?”, and knowing that whatever answer I eventually came up with, I had seen a masterpiece. The film scare … | Continue reading
Lucy Dacus is one third of boygenius, whose album The Record is my favorite of the last couple of years, and she has a solo album, Forever is a Feeling, coming in March, of which this song, with its utterly charming video, is the first single. I can’t imagine I won’t be getting t … | Continue reading
If you want to know when I pretty much drew a line though my friendship with Neil Gaiman, it was when Neil acknowledged that he made moves on his early-20s nanny on her first day of employment. This meant that the absolute best case scenario of this whole situation was that he di … | Continue reading
Strange Horizons, for those of you who don’t know, is the magazine where I had my very first science fiction short story published (well, the very first I ever submitted for publication, and which also turned out to be the last I ever submitted for publication, but I’m getting ah … | Continue reading
Yesterday, I had a nice event to attend, and less time than I would’ve preferred to get ready for said event. I really needed to wash my hair, but I was out of conditioner. I knew I didn’t have time to go all the way to the closest Sephora, buy my conditioner, come all the […] | Continue reading
Overall it feels like we get less snow here in Bradford than we used to when we first moved in, but if the snowfall averages I’m looking at are correct, in the last few days we’ve gotten more snow (6+ inches) than we usually do for the entire month (4.9 inches). So, well done, Ja … | Continue reading
Last April, I posted about my favorite restaurant, Salar, and covered one of their monthly wine dinners. As much as I love their monthly wine dinners, I wasn’t able to make it to any others in 2024. Thankfully I managed to kick 2025 off with their January wine dinner. If you didn … | Continue reading
Author Kristina W. Kelly is here today to entice your senses. Specifically your olfactory sense! Follow along in the Big Idea for her newest novel, Tavern Tale, as she introduces you to an aspect of magic you may have never previously considered. KRISTINA W. KELLY: People don’t o … | Continue reading
When I went to see Nosferatu last week, there was a trailer for a movie about boxing. I really didn’t pay it too much mind because I can’t stand trailers and was more focused on my Sour Patch Kids. Two days ago, I wanted to go see a movie, so I looked up what was currently showin … | Continue reading
There’s a lot of a to-do about Mark Zuckerberg announcing that moderation teams on Meta’s social media properties are being largely phased out and replaced by a system similar to X’s “community notes,” and that Meta will now basically allow people to be particularly awful to LGBT … | Continue reading
I have been waiting so long to share with y’all a piece of media that I am absolutely obsessed with. Over the summer, I came across some strange songs on Tik Tok that were seemingly about the Odyssey. Upon further investigation I found that yes, they were in fact songs from a mus … | Continue reading
It’s Constituent Service, which is eligible in the Best Novella category, and, via Amber Benson’s terrific narration performance, in the Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form category as well. Constituent Service is currently still an Audible exclusive, so you will need an Audibl … | Continue reading
Hello, everyone! If you saw my father’s post yesterday, then you know that some changes that have been in the works for a while now are finally here. Mainly, I have been passed the torch that is Whatever, and I plan to carry it proudly. For a few years now, I have been contributi … | Continue reading
On Saturday Smudge suddenly gave every indication of developing a urinary blockage, and several phone calls and one trip to an emergency vet clinic later, it was confirmed that, indeed, Smudge had gotten himself blocked (he does have a regular vet; they were booked up). Thus bega … | Continue reading
Tomorrow, January 6, 2025, marks the beginning of the first full business week of the year, and with it, Scalzi Enterprises also begins its public incarnation as a full-time family business. Krissy, as you probably know by now, is the CEO and will handle the financial and executi … | Continue reading
Someone, and I am not saying who, may have dropped his phone in a manner that rather spectacularly shattered his screen into a jillion pieces (and also apparently jostled the camera module in a ruinous way), necessitating the need to send the phone off to be repaired. Those rough … | Continue reading
You don’t have to, of course; I know some people prefer to go into books without any major hints or spoilers to the plot. But if that’s not you, here’s an excerpt from Chapter Two in the book (why Chapter Two? because it lends itself to excerpt-y-ness more than Chapter One). In o … | Continue reading
In retrospect, Tor Books officially releasing Old Man’s War on January 1, 2005, doesn’t seem like a huge vote of confidence in the novel. One, the holiday season is over and all the spending has been done save for a stray, occasional gift card. Two, even if one wanted to buy Old … | Continue reading
So what happened for and/or to me in 2024? * Visited Iceland, Norway, Brazil, Scotland and France, the first three of which were first time experiences for me; * Was nominated for the Hugo and Locus awards and was given the Dragon, Seiun and Skylark awards; * Starter Villain went … | Continue reading
Several times a month I get an email or social media message from someone who wants to know what the “best” way to buy my work is so that I, the writer, get as much of their money as possible. I think this is lovely! Thank you for thinking about me, and also, in a […] | Continue reading
There’s a local nature preserve nearby and Charlie looks forward to her walks there; when doesn’t get one for whatever reason she gets mopey. Today was not a mopey day. Weather here has been unseasonably warm (it’s currently 54 degrees), but it’s going to dip again with the turn … | Continue reading
And now, the last stack of New Books and ARCs of 2024, featuring quite a few snazzy limited editions by the always fabulous Subterranean Press. What here would you like to take into the new year? — JS | Continue reading
I know. But look, I like a good pun, and also, some really bad ones. — JS | Continue reading
We here in the Scalzi household don’t typically give too many gifts to each other at Christmas — we have enough stuff — although we’re happy to give them to others, because it’s fun and shows an appreciation for having them in your life. One of the people that we give gifts to is … | Continue reading
We had family over to the church for Christmas Eve, and it was a evening of food and togetherness and very large inflatable snowmen possibly menacing a very small Santa and his eight electrified reindeer. It’s fun to have your own church sometimes. I hope you’re having a lovely e … | Continue reading
Another year, another instance of Krissy and I waking up our daughter with a cake on her birthday. It’s nice to have little traditions like this. This is also where I reiterate that my kid is the best and that I’m really glad I get to be her dad. That, too, is tradition. I believ … | Continue reading
As the year winds down, at least we’re getting some good sunsets to see us off. — JS | Continue reading
When I first saw a trailer for the newest Lord of the Rings movie, I was incredibly excited because it was an animated movie. I could hardly believe they were making an animated LOTR movie. I had never even seen The Lord of the Rings trilogy until this year, starting with the ext … | Continue reading
Today is a big day in the Scalzi household: After 22 years, Krissy is retiring from her job as claims adjuster at the Buckeye Insurance Group. This had been a move that was some time in coming; Krissy originally thought to retire a few years ago, but the pandemic and a few other … | Continue reading
I had big plans for holiday cards this year but then the book I’m currently writing wanted to fight me, and here we are on December 19th and I’m still writing it. So for 2024, please accept this virtual card, which, although made only of electrons, is still heartfelt in its inten … | Continue reading
I posted this over at Bluesky and I thought it was worth asking here as well, because it was a real thing that happened to me: One day I disdained the idea of socks as a gift, and then it feels like literally the next I was all “Oh Hell YEAH socks” whenever new ones […] | Continue reading
A parental request embarked author Chris Gerrib on a new literary adventure, one without spaceships or flights of fantasy. How did that adventure turn out? The author explains all in this Big Idea for his latest novel, Strawberry Gold. CHRIS GERRIB: I blame my dad for this novel. … | Continue reading
It’s 10am and I am reading the newsAnd the dog comes into my officeShe makes a noise that meansI know the world is on fireAnd you have a hard time looking awayBut if you don’t take me outside right nowI am going to drop a massive shit in the dining roomAnd neither of us wants […] | Continue reading
Back in October I went to Vegas for the first time, and overall I had a really good time and definitely want to go back again sometime. But there’s a reason I haven’t posted about it. I had one bad experience amidst my weekend of fun and good times, and up until now I wasn’t […] | Continue reading
Can’t share the full review yet — it comes out in about three weeks — but here’s a nifty quote I can share: “When the Moon Hits Your Eye does what science fiction does best: offers a mirror up to society and explores how humanity might respond to sudden and seemingly impossible t … | Continue reading
Last year, Tor and Humble Bundle ran a deal where you could get a whole bunch of my books for cheap, and some of the proceeds would go to First Book, a terrific literacy charity whose goals (give books to kids!) I fully support. It did extremely well. So well, in fact, that Tor a … | Continue reading
I am the infant in this picture. The toddler is my sister Heather, and the woman holding both of us is my great-grandmother Kay, who I don’t think I have any real memories of. My mom posted this photo on Facebook and I went into Photoshop to clean it up a bit. Regardless, 55 year … | Continue reading
Change will always happen, but how we deal with change — well, for Fiona Moore, that’s the interesting part. In this big idea for Rabbit in the Moon, Moore looks at change, and our responses to it, and whether there is space for hope in an increasingly unsettled world. FIONA MOOR … | Continue reading
It’s very pleasant drum n’ bass electronica with ethereal vocals, what’s not to love? For more of Boxplot, here is their Bandcamp page (which also features this single). For Honeycrush (the vocalist), here’s her Bancamp page. And now back to novel writing for me. Hello! Hope you’ … | Continue reading
If you hear or see any rumors about a possibly good or at least interesting thing involving me, maybe wait for confirmation by me (or a reputable news source) about it, please. It would be something I would not be shy about. This has been your deeply oblique Friday evening commen … | Continue reading
Just in time for the holiday season — a stack of new books and ARCs at the Scalzi Compound! What here would you like to find at the seasonal holiday gift-giving opportunity of your choice? Share in the comments! — JS | Continue reading
For the last four days, the 2024 Whatever Gift Guide has been about helping you find the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones. But today I’d like to remind folks that the season is also about helping those in need. So this final day is for charities. If you’re looking for a p … | Continue reading
For the first three days of the Whatever Gift Guide this year, We’ve had authors and creators tell you about their work. Today is different: Today is Fan Favorites day, in which fans, admirers and satisfied customers share with you a few of their favorite things — and you can sha … | Continue reading
The Whatever Holiday Gift Guide 2024 continues, and today we move away from books and focus on other gifts and crafts — which you can take to mean just about any other sort of thing a creative person might make: Music, art, knitting, jewelry, artisan foodstuffs and so on. These c … | Continue reading
Sometimes, inspiration for new stories can come from the past. Such was the case for author Sharon Short, who has woven together snippets of the past to bring you to Trouble Island. Come along in her Big Idea to see where the seed for this idea came from. SHARON SHORT: Forty-one … | Continue reading
Today is Day Two of the Whatever Holiday Gift Guide 2024, and today the focus is on Non-Traditionally Published Books: Self-published works, electronically-exclusive books, books from micro presses, books released outside the usual environs of the publishing world, and so on. Hey … | Continue reading