LJ Cohen

Science Fiction. Fantasy. Assorted Weirdness.
 
 

Bluemusings: Readercon Edition
07.14.2025
 
 
Readercon
 

I'm thrilled to be participating at Readercon. Writing is often such a solitary persuit, so it's a joy to have an excuse to immerse myself in the company of my community of readers and writers. You can find me at any of the panels/events in the schedule above and at the Broad Universe table in the Book Shop.

And speaking of Broad Universe --  One of Readercon's Guests of Honor is a member. Congratulations, Cecilia Tan! 

P.S. I'll have copies of LITANY FOR A BROKEN WORLD available and am happy to sign them. 

P.P.S. If you've read and enjoyed LITANY, I would be most appreciative if you would write a short review. In addition, word of mouth recommendations are the life blood of any book. Many thanks!
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Writing Update
 

I'm working steadily on EVERY SKY A STRANGER, book 2 in the Entangled Realities series. I'm close to the halfway mark with a solid roadmap to where book 2 needs to end. 

The challenge of a middle book in a series is to make it a complete story in its own right, as well as a bridge between the opening and the concluding volumes. Sometimes the former goal is at odds with the latter. 

Many Western modern storytellers lean into the three act structure as the model for their art. And, admittedly, it is this common for a reason: it works to fulfill our expectations. And in that vein, a trilogy can be looked at as a larger three act structure. Book one=act one, aka the set up, book two=act two, aka the mushy middle/complications, book three = act three, aka the resolution.

But within each act are chapters and within each chapter are scenes and within each of these small segments of story, are echoes of a full story. Wheels within wheels within wheels. 

When I write, I strive to make each part of the story echo the whole in some way. Sometimes that's with themes, sometimes with parallels and echoes between different characters' experiences. The trick is to make all of these feel seemless and natural to the reader. Add the fact that the sandbox I'm playing in has multiple worlds and multiple storylines with multiple characters so it's no wonder that the writing is moving more slowly than I had hoped. 

But I'm making solid progress and I'm pleased with the shape of the story so far. 
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Reading Recommendations
 
The newest release by Chris Howard!

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Chris Howard's work - both his writing and the artwork that has adorned the covers of most of my novels. 

I had the good fortune to beta read THORNFALL for Chris and it's a wonderful story. Full of magic and heart and that just-right touch of weirdness I've come to associate with his writing.

Aside from writing compelling characters, one of his (many) strengths is in the magic systems and worlds he creates. Enjoy!

 

The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan

Eight years ago, I moved from my suburban existance outside of Boston to a tiny town in Central Massachusetts, trading a small backyard and houses up and down a tree lined street for 54 acres and several tractors. 

In a town of under 2,500 people, you don't expect to meet a lot of spec fic writers. 

But you'd be wrong. Chrysler works locally in town and when I discovered she wrote this book with magic and magicians and family secrets that takes place locally (ish - when you live in a rural place, everything is at least  20 minutes away. So something 40 minutes is only really 20 minutes...), I had to read it.

And I'm glad I did. Spooky houses, abandoned villages, magic - these are catnip to me. I raced through it in two days, neatly avoiding weeding in the 90+ degree heat, so a double win. :)

Now to convince her to continue with the saga in another book...
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Statement on "AI" use

 I do not and will not employ so called "AI" (e.g. Large Language Models/LLMs) in any part of my writing process. All of my work - poetry, fiction, and non fiction - is 100% human generated.  The tools I use in writing either do not have AI integrated or I have disabled it. I commission cover art from human artists. 

I love to hear from readers! Let me know what you're reading and recommending or if you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see in future newsletters. 

Thanks!

LJ (lisa@ljcohen.net)