Author: Madeline Crane

Fantasy writer, tabletop gamer, wearer of hats.

Scorpio Market Tomorrow!

I’ll be at the Wisconsin Masonic Center in downtown Madison from noon until 4! In addition to plenty of cool writers, artists, and craftspeople, there will be some fundraising raffles and sales for Palestine. Be aware: this is a fully masked event, so don’t forget your mask. Here’s more information.

It’s been a hell of a week, but Journey to the Water has reached 121,618 words, and I’m about to start on Eske’s last voyage (Chapter LXIII in the serial version, chapter XXIX in the rewrite). I have four more chapters (three chapters and one interlude) to go. Wish me luck!

Song of the Week

All Them Witches, “L’Hotel Serein”

Good morning!

On Saturday, I’ll be at the Scorpio Market in Madison! The market runs from 12-4 and will take place at the Masonic Center downtown. Here’s some more information. It is a fully masked event!

In the meantime, I’ll be working on Journey to the Water. I’m trying to get through the election tomorrow (I’m working a full shift at a polling place), but after that I should be able to finish the rewrites and have a release date for you all.

On that note, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE. Don’t give up what little agency you have over your government. If you’re in Wisconsin, myvote.wi.gov has all the information you need in regards to checking your registration and finding your polling place. Wisconsin, among some other states, lets you register the same day at your polling place. If you’re elsewhere in the States (and its territories), here’s information on how, when, and where to vote and checking your registration.

If you’re not in the US, wish us luck, tomorrow and beyond.

Have an excellent week.

Quick Journey Update

117,345 words, 194 pages–though the page count will change once it’s formatted for the book. I’ve finished four interludes (of five) and 27 chapters (of about 31-32, depending on how closely I end up sticking to my outline. Sometimes chapters get a little too long and I need to split them up). Thank you so much for being patient with me! I am getting there.

My next arc is going to be The Empty Tower (chapter LXI in the serial version), and then we’re on to the last voyage.

(Edited to check my math)

Song of the Week

Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer, “Tam Lin” (Child Ballad 39)

Good morning! Today’s my birthday. I hope you’re having a good day.

I met so many cool people at the Fall Fon du Lac Spirit Fair! I get a small break this week, and then it’s off to the Scorpio Market in Madison on November 9th. Then I think I’m done for the rest of the year.

If you backed the Figuratively Speaking Mermaid Tarot Kickstarter, I am happy to report that the decks have been ordered. I’ll let you know as soon as I get any updates.

The newsletter will come out on Thursday the 31st, so if that’s something you’re interested in, put your email address in the box at this link. Then be sure to check your inbox for a confirmation.

I appreciate your patience as I work to finish Journey to the Water. I’ll be back on Friday with an update for you.

Petitions I’ve collected this week:

Via No Business With Genocide: Pressure Congress to help end the civil war in Sudan

Via USCPR: Block $20 billion in weapons to Israel

Via Action Network: Protect journalists & press in Gaza

That’s it for today. As always, I appreciate you. Have an excellent week.

Fall Fon du Lac Spirit Fair Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, I’ll be packing up my books and heading to The Hive, W4786 County Highway 23, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin for the Fall Spirit Fair! Admission is one non-perishable food item or cash donation to the Sheboygan County Food Bank. The market opens at 10AM, but you should come at 9 if you want to book an appointment with a reader. For more information, here’s Spyral Events’ website, and here’s the Facebook event.

I am plugging along on Journey to the Water, and I’m currently rewriting what was Chapter LIX in the serial version (now chapter XXVII). Current word count is 112,850.

Song of the Week

Peter Gundry, “The Last Dance”

Hello!

I had a lovely time at both Milwaukee ParaCon and What the Hex, but now I am exhausted. Hello to everyone I met this past weekend! I’m happy you’re here. If you signed up for the newsletter, I’ll be adding your email to my mailing list as soon as I can move the cat off my box of convention things, and the newsletter will go out on the 31st.

I’ll be heading out to Fon du Lac, WI on Saturday for the Fall Spirit Fair! (Link takes you to the Facebook event). In the meantime, I’m working on Journey to the Water. I’m hoping for a November release (probably end of November), and I’ll have a release date for you soonish. Stop back later this week for more updates.

A couple of petitions for today:

Via Rep. Rashida Tlaib: End the occupation, begin the path to peace

Via USCPR: Block $20 billion in weapons to Israel

Via Our Revolution: Tell Biden to stop fueling Israel’s wars

May you have peace and comfort this week.

Song of the Week

Anonymouz, “River” (from Vinland Saga)

Good morning! Happy Indigenous People’s Day!

This week, I’ll be working on the Ring-Fort arc of Journey to the Water, which will put me in the home stretch. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that I really appreciate your patience.

I’ll be at two different events this weekend: Milwaukee ParaCon on Saturday the 19th, and What the Hex: Season of the Witch on Sunday the 20th. I hope I have enough books! ParaCon is free to enter, but you’ll need to register on their website. There will be speakers (on all sorts of paranormal and spooky happenings around Wisconsin) and a bingo game with lots of cool prizes. What the Hex has a nominal entrance fee (last time it was $3) that includes workshops and a drag show. There will also be henna, tattooing, nail charms, food, and drinks. I hope I can see you at one or both events!

Petitions for this week:

Via Eko: Tell bankers not to do business with companies supplying arms to Israel

Via Democracy for America: Tell Congress to return to DC and pass additional hurricane disaster funding NOW

Via Justice Democrats: Arms embargo now

Via Win Without War: Block billions worth of weapons bound for the Israeli government

As always, I appreciate you. Have an excellent week.

Milwaukee ParaCon (+quick Journey update)

I completely forgot about an event! Brooke and I will be heading to the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference on Saturday, October 19. This will take place at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center in downtown Milwaukee, and opens at 10AM. Thanks to American Ghost Walks, tickets are free, but you do have to register. You can do that and find more information on their website here.

In other news, I’m plugging along on Journey to the Water. I’m about the start the arc that begins with Chapter LIV: The Ring-Fort (though it will be chapter XXIV in the new draft). I like this arc, but I wasn’t happy with how it turned out in the serial version, so I’m looking forward to making it better. I think right now we’re looking at a mid- to late-November release. I should be able to finish this draft by the end of the month, and after that comes formatting, designing the cover, and a few minor revisions (there’s still one arc I’m not pleased with). I appreciate your patience!

Song of the Week

Hozier, “Francesca”

Good morning! I’m back!

The Figuratively Speaking Mermaid Tarot Kickstarter was a smashing success. Thank you so much to everyone who pledged. As soon as I hear from Brooke, I will let you know when you can expect your decks in the mail.

I will be working on Journey to the Water until it’s finally done, so you won’t hear much from me. I’ll stop by on Friday for an update.

This month, I’ll be attending What the Hex: Season of the Witch on October 20 in Cudahy, WI, and the Fall Fon du Lac Spirit Fair on October 26. Links lead to their respective Facebook events. I hope to see you there!

It’s October 7 again, and the bombs are still falling and the hostages still haven’t been returned. Tens of thousands are needlessly dead.

Via USCPR: Tell Congress to stop arming Israel

Via Win Without War: Urge President Biden to de-escalate this crisis

Via AFSC: Tell Congress to prevent regional war

That’s all I’ve got for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Journey to the Water Update, plus some other things

Pages: 152 Words 92,362

I’d say I’m close to three-quarters of the way through my rewrites. I appreciate your patience as I’m working to get them done! I know it’s taken me forever and a half to come up with a release date, but I should be able to give you one soon.

I’ll be absent from the blog and my social media for a week, as I’m going on vacation. I will return Monday, October 7, and get back to regular posting as well as finishing this book.

The Figuratively Speaking Mermaid Tarot Kickstarter has reached ALL its stretch goals! There are still a couple of days left to back: it will close at the end of the day (midnight) on Monday, September 30. Thank you so much to everyone who has pledged so far and made this beautiful project a reality.

The newsletter will be going out tomorrow at noon my time (CDT), so if you haven’t yet and would like to, put your email address in the box at this link to sign up. You’ll then need to check your inbox for a confirmation.

I’ll see you on October 7. Until then, take care!