Blog

Conference Recap Cleveland Concoction 2026

Conference Recap Cleveland Concoction 2026

Introduction

I attended the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio. They held it at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 6 to 8, 2026. I also attended Cleveland Concoction in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. (2020, 2021, and 2022 were canceled because of COVID-19).I attended the opening ceremony and three panels. This year’s theme was The Ragnarok of the Rings. Celebrating the Vikings and the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie.

Concoction 2026 Banner

Cleveland Concoction 2026 Program Guide Cover

Concoction 2026 Badge

The link to the Concoction website.

http://www.clevelandconcoction.org/

Summary

Friday, March 6 at 5 PM

The Opening Ceremonies.

[Insert Summary]

They held the ceremonies in the Pegasus Room with 31 attendees.

Saturday, March 7 at 4 PM

Is time spent writing short stories worthwhile? A panel with Robert Moore, E. C. Wolfe, J. D. Blackrose, and Marcus Calvert.

[Insert Summary]

They held the panel in the Hayes B Room with 8 attendees.

Saturday, March 7 at 6 PM

Reading like a writer, a panel with H. T. Brady, E. C. Wolfe, J. D. Blackrose, and Clif Flynt

[Insert Summary]

They held the panel in the Hayes B Room with 7 attendees.

Saturday, March 7 at 7 PM

How much is too much? A panel with Marie Vibbert, Barbara Doran, Addie J. King, Clif Flynt, and Weston Kincade.

[Insert Summary]

They held the panel in the Hayes B Room with 10 attendees.

Recommendation – Conclusion

Conference Recap Cleveland Concoction 2026 was wonderful. The Bertram Conference Center is nice. My star of the con was Ashley Berry. She was the Con Chair for 2026, gave an impressive performance at the opening ceremonies, and wrote an interesting word from our Con Chair in the 2026 program. It was a bummer that they changed the time for the Confused Greenies improv of What went down in goblin town, so I had to miss it. Maybe next year. The con returns in March 2027 with the theme of A Star Noir.

Links

I attended the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio. They held it at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 7 to 9, 2025. I attended 11 activities. My star of the con was Marie Vibbert. The con returns in March 2026.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2025

I attended the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio. They held it at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 8 to 10, 2024. I attended the opening ceremony, eight panels, two author showcases, and the closing ceremony. This year’s theme was the Neverending dungeon. My star of the con was Becca Lynn Mathis. The con returns from March 7 to March 9, 2025.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2024

Links – Continued

I attended the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction 2019, at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio. They held it at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 1 to 3, 2019. I attended the opening ceremony, four panels, and the closing ceremony. This is a link to my conference recap.

I also volunteered in the Programming Department for four hours and in the ConSuite for four hours.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2019

I attended the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio. They held it at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 9, 2018, to March 11, 2018. The 2019 convention was from March 1 to 3, 2019, and I realized that as I was writing a recap for that conference, I had not posted a recap for the 2018 conference. This is a recap of last year’s conference. I attended the opening ceremony, five panels, two author showcases, a performance, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the ConSuite for eight hours.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2018

This is my recap for the SF conference, Cleveland Concoction from 2017. They held it from March 10, 2017, to March 12, 2017. I attended nine activities and volunteered in the Con Suite for twelve hours.

Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2017

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson

Introduction

This collection has ten stories that are not part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere, connects the author’s works. The author set the stories of the cosmere on a group of worlds that people travel to through magical means. These are science fiction and fantasy stories not set in the cosmere. They previously published nine of these stories, while publishing the story Moment Zero here for the first time. All the stories in this collection are excellent, but I will comment on each, starting with the one I like most.

Summary

Moment Zero Summary and Recommendation

  1. Moment Zero is a science fiction novella involving two detective partners at work and in life. A time travel incident occurs, and they must work together to avoid an apocalyptic future.

Moment Zero is the longest story in this collection, and it was published here for the first and only time. The author writes in the postscript that he wanted to tell a story about two people fighting through time to avoid the apocalypse and to show the end of a failed relationship. I thought it was the best story in the collection.

Snapshot Summary and Recommendation

  1. Snapshot is a science fiction novella about two detective partners sent into a simulation of the previous day to determine the circumstances of a crime that was committed that day.

This was a nice serial killer thriller. The twist comes at the end, revealing an interesting secret about the relationship between the main character detectives. The author writes in the postscript that he worried it was too on the nose, but I think that’s what makes it good.

Perfect State Summary and Recommendation

  1. Perfect State is a science fiction novel about a simulation where real-born people inhabit a fantasy land surrounded by machine-born NPCs. Real born are the masters of their simulation, but there are other simulations where other real born people are located. What happens when they put two real-born people together?

The author writes in the postscript that he wanted to write about a reverse Matrix, where the real born have reasons to be happy inside the simulation. I felt like he accomplished that goal in the story. He debated whether to include or delete the final scene. At one time, he did, but he felt that without the final scene, the story is incomplete, so the final scene is in this collection. I think his reasons are valid, and I am glad that he chose to include them here.

I Hate Dragons Summary and Recommendation

  1. I Hate Dragons is a humorous fantasy short story. Skip’s special talent is that he smells good to dragons. Also, he can understand spoken words as written to the annoyance of his employer, Master Johnston. Skip is the dragon bait and Master Johnston’s crew are dragon killers. The story follows from that setup.

It’s a great, funny story. The author writes in the postscript that he wrote this story in response to a prompt from his podcast, Writing Excuses, in January 2011. The prompt was to write a story with dialogue only. No dialogue tags or descriptions are allowed.

This is a link to the story on his website. Extended versions of the story are also found at that link.

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/i-hate-dragons

Defending Elysium Summary and Recommendation

  1. Defending Elysium is a science fiction novelette. Jason comes to the orbital station Evensong to find a missing operative sent by his company. An extraterrestrial being is murdered, and things get more complicated. How are these two events connected?

This story is set in the same universe as the author’s Skyward series. It’s one of his earliest written stories.

This is a link to the story on his website

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/defending-elysium

Mitosis Summary and Recommendation

  1. Mitosis is a superhero science fiction novelette. David is a Reckoner, a group that defeated Epics, strong supervillains. Another Epic surfaces and David must defeat it, or it will kill many citizens of David’s city.

This story is set in the same universe as the author’s Reckoners series.

Firstborn Summary and Reccomendation

  1. Firstborn is a science fiction short story. Dennison is overshadowed by the accomplishments of his older brother Varion. Varion is an experienced space fleet commander, who has never lost an engagement. Dennison always fails in his attempts. Dennison studies Varion’s record. What will Dennison do with his knowledge?

This story was originally published on Tor.com which is called reactor now. It’s one of his earliest written stories. The author writes in his postscript that he wanted to explore the topic of nature versus nurture in this story.

This is a link to the story on reactor.

Firstborn

Dreamer Summary and Recommendation

  1. Dreamer is a phycological horror short story. Dreamer and Phi both want to find Longshot first. Who is going to win this battle and what that means is the subject of the story.

This story was first published in the Games Creatures Play anthology. It’s a short story that tells the message and finishes quickly. It’s hard to care for these characters because of what they are.

Brain Dump Summary and Recommendation

  1. Brain Dump is a short story about genetic engineering. People can choose the brain that they want for their children. A couple wants a child and finds out the downside of the choice. There is always a negative consequence for any positive trait. They choose their own path.

This story gives a different take on designer brains.

Probability Approaching Zero Summary and Recommendation

  1. Probability Approaching Zero is short flash science fiction story.

Not much there.

Recommendation

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson. is a great anthology. I liked Moment Zro and Snpshot the most.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222035715-tailored-realities

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson. Sixth of the Dusk is a trapper that has magical birds that help him. Dusk must travel to the dangerous Emberdark and discover a necessary secret or his people would lose their freedom to those who want to take it away.

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson. They published the original novella named Sixth of the Dusk in this anthology.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595941-arcanum-unbounded

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. Dalinar Kholin’s forces fight the forces of the god, Odium. The fight ends with a contest of champions. Who will prevail in the contest of champions?

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson. Wax and Wayne must foil a plot started by the terrorist group called the Set to destroy their home and people.

Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson. In book 3.5 of the Stormlight Archive, Rysn and Lopen must uncover the secrets of the lost island of Akinah, or it will doom Roshar.

Links Continued

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. In book four of the Stormlight Archive, the war between humans and Voidbringers intensifies.

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere interrelated many of the author’s works. He set six stories on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

Writing Progress Report March 2026

This is my Writing Progress Report March 2026.

On February 14, 2026, we went to the Fourteenth annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival and Parade. It’s a celebration of all things Slovenian and includes a parade on St. Clair Street in front of the Slovenian National Home as pictured above.

Writing Progress from February 2026.

I wrote four blog posts for my website, garydavidgillen.com. Including my writing progress report for February 2026, which I linked below.

Writing Progress Report February 2026

In February 2025, I presented the short story named Bounty Hunter Jupiter to the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call.

I will write new short stories in January, February, and March. Last year I completed the novelette version of Chemithurgy. My plan is to expand the story to novella length in 2026.

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in February 2026.

Events from February 2026.

No events attended in February

Writing Goals for March 2026.

In March 2026, I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my Writing Progress Report for March 2026.

I plan to work on a story for the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call in March 2026.

In March 2026, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

In the past, I sent the stories, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I sent out in 2020 and 2021 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submissions for 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.

I plan to submit short stories in 2026.

Planned Events for March 2026.

The next conference I plan to attend is the Cleveland Concoction, from March 6, 2026, to March 8, 2026. They will hold the conference at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio.

This is a link to the ConCoction website.

http://www.clevelandconcoction.org/

Another event I plan to attend is the 41st Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Lyndhurst, Ohio on March 28, 2026.

This is a link to the Cuyahoga County Library website.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org

ConFusion Detroit 2026 Conference Recap

ConFusion Detroit 2026 Conference Recap

Introduction

I attended the ConFusion Detroit 2026 Conference at the Sheraton Detroit Novi at 21111 Haggerty Road, Novi, Michigan, from January 30, 2026, to February 1, 2025. I also attended ConFusion Detroit in 2019, 2020, (2021 was canceled due to COVID-19), 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsored the conference. I attended the opening ceremonies, the guests of honor’s dessert reception, four panels, the guest of honor’s interview, and one author’s reading. This year’s theme was Magical Confusion.

This is a link to the ConFusion website.

http://confusionsf.org/

The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association sponsors Detroit ConFusion.

This is my badge for ConFusion Detroit 2026.

The Theme for 2026 was Magical ConFusion

This year’s Writing Guest of Honor was Maurice Braddus.

Home

This is my plate from the guest of honor’s dessert reception held on Friday evening. Yum!

Summary

ConFusion Detroit 2026 Conference Recap

[insert summary here]

Recommendation – Conclusion

[insert recommendation here.]

Links

This is my post about the ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference from January 24 to 26, 2025. The theme was Monumental ConFusion for the 50th time they held the event. My stars of the con were John Scalzi and Marie Vibbert.

ConFusion Detroit 2025 Conference

This is my post about the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan from January 19 to 21, 2024. The theme was the Labyrinth of ConFusion. My star of the con was Author John Scalzi.

ConFusion Detroit 2024 Conference Recap

In January 2023, I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan. I still want to write a post about that.

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan, from January 21 to 23, 2022. The theme was Rising ConFusion. My stars of the con were Guest of Honor author Jim C. Hines and Science Guest of Honor Dr. Jordan Steckloff.

Links – Continued

ConFusion Detroit 2022 Conference Recap

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan, from January 16 to 19, 2020. I attended four panels, two readings, and one interview. The theme of the con was How to Train Your ConFusion, based on the movie, How to Train Your Dragon. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading of Chapter Two of his upcoming book, The Last Emperox. My other highlights were Kameron Hurley’s interview and the lecture on Edible Insects and Human Evolution. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2020

I attended the SF conference ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan, from January 18 to 20, 2019. The theme of the con was Storming the ConFusion, so they chose the areas with names related to the movie The Princess Bride. I had a great drive to Detroit just before the snowstorm came. My star of the con was John Scalzi. He gave an excellent reading and was engaging in the panel I attended. My other highlights were Ada Palmer’s interview and watching The Princess Bride at the Con. I’ll be back next year.

Conference Recap ConFusion Detroit 2019

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham (Book #4 of The Long Price Quartet)

Introduction

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham is the fourth and final book in the Long Price Quartet. The magic of the beings called the andat protects the cities of Khaiem. Their Empire and their magic have receded, so the non-magical Empire of Galt tries to overthrow them. The best Galt general takes away their andat. The former poet Maati seeks to bring back the andat and fix his mistakes. The Emperor of the Khaiem, Otah, seeks to make peace with the Galts. Will Maati or Otah prevail, or will the andat destroy the cities of the Khaiem?

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

Summary – Background

The cities of the Khaiem are connected by the use of sentient magical creatures called the andat. Each city has one andat controlled by a person called a poet who binds them with a series of words. They name andat by the special task they can perform. Seedless, the andat of the city Saraykeht can magically pick seeds from cotton, functioning just like a magical cotton gin. The andat of the city of Machi called Stone-Made-Soft can help with the mining of ores. The andat also protect the cities by having the power to destroy enemies of the Khaiem. No one has defeated the cities since they obtained their andats. The Old Empire before them used the andat but was destroyed, serving as a warning to them of what could go wrong.

Summary

The Empire of Galt defeated the Khaiem. Balasar Gice was their best general. In winning, he lost for his people.

Maati Vaupathai is a scholar, an apprentice poet who missed his chance to control the andat called Seedless. His actions caused the loss to the Galt’s in the war. He wants to start a school for women to bind andat. In this way, he hopes to atone for his mistakes.

Otah Machi is the sixth son of the Khai Machi. He became the ruler of the city of Machi after his father died. He became a poet apprentice, where he met Maati, and later, Otah was exiled as a laborer. Maati is his old friend, but they have a complicated relationship. The Galts destroy all of the Khaiem except Machi. Otah becomes the Emperor of the Khaiem. He wants to make peace with Galt.

Cehmai held but lost the binding on the andat named Stone-Made-Soft. He considers Maati a mentor. He disappeared after his loss.

Kiyan is Otah’s wife, and she recently passed. She is the mother of their daughter Eiah and their son Danat, Otah’s heir.

Sinja Ajutani is a mercenary captain from Machi. He is the former lover of Kiyan. He is Otah’s best friend and bodyguard.

Recommendation

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham is a great finale for this fantasy series. The fantasy elements in the series were subtle, focusing more on the political and business spheres, until the ending of the previous novel. The use of the andat in that novel created catastrophic consequences. Maati seeks to bring back the andat to defeat Galt and fix his mistakes. Otah wants to make peace with Galt. The ending of this novel is bittersweet and appropriate.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11550699-the-price-of-spring

In An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham, the magic of the andat protects Otah Machi’s country. The best Galt general learns how to take away their andat. Will Otah Machi defeat the Galts, or will they destroy him and all the cities of Khaiem?

An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham

In A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham, the Khai Machi is dying, and his sons must fight to the death to follow him. His youngest son, Otah was exiled and presumed dead. Otah still wants to be hidden but is drawn into their conflict. If he doesn’t win, his city will be sacked by the Galts.

Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham

In A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham, the poet-magician Heshai must keep control of the magical creature Seedless, or the Summer Cities will fall to the Empire of Galt.

Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Book Fourteen of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the fourteenth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows seven main plot arcs featuring Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene, Aviendha, and Nynaeve. All seven characters face difficult choices and must grow to get closer to their goals. Will the forces of Light be ready for the Last Battle or will the Dark One win?

Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

Summary – Prologue

The prologue has twelve point-of-view characters, and each point of view sets up a plot arc.

[Insert Summary Here]

Summary–Main Plot Arcs

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson has seven main arcs.

[Insert Summary Here]

Summary–Best Chapters

Two Chapters stand out in A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the last novel of the series. Rand gets everyone to the Field of Merrilor for the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don. Rand, Perrin, Mat, Elayne, Aviendha, Gawyn, and Egwene must overcome challenges. The Final Battle occurs and creates unforeseen consequences.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60508036-a-memory-of-light

Review of Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Egwene, Gawyn, and Aviendha get closer to their goals in this novel.

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

Review of Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Gawyn get closer to their goals in this novel.

Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan

Review of Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, and Egwene get closer to their goals in this novel.

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

Review of Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan. Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Egwene get closer to their goals in this novel.

Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

Winters Heart by Robert Jordan has some brilliant scenes but misses conclusions to the plot arcs explored

Winters Heart by Robert Jordan

Review of Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan. When Rand fights the Seanchan, will they defeat him, or will he win across the Path of Daggers?

Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

Links Continued

This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him, or will he earn a Crown of Swords?

Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time.

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.

Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book Three of the Wheel of Time.

Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book Two of the Wheel of Time.

Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book One of the Wheel of Time.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Writing Progress Report February 2026

This is my Writing Progress Report February 2026.

I attended ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 30, 2026, to February 1, 2025. The conference is located at the Novi Sheraton. This is my plate from the guest of honor dessert reception held on Friday evening. Yum!

Writing Progress from January 2026.

I wrote four blog posts for my website, garydavidgillen.com. Including my writing progress report for January 2026, which I linked below.

Writing Progress Report January 2026

In January 2025, I presented the short story named Pinky Swear to the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call.

I will write new short stories in January, February, and March. Last year I completed the novelette version of Chemithurgy. My plan is to expand the story to novella length in 2026.

I made five posts on my Goodreads account in December 2025.

Events from January 2026.

I attended ConFusion in Novi, Michigan, from January 30, 2026, to February 1, 2025. The conference is located at the Novi Sheraton. The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association Sponsors ConFusion.

https://2026.confusionsf.org/

The con theme this year is Magical ConFusion.

Here’s the registration details.

https://2026.confusionsf.org/registration/

This year’s Writing Guest of Honor was Maurice Braddus.

Home

Writing Goals for February 2026.

In February 2026, I plan to write four blog posts for garydavidgillen.com, including my Writing Progress Report for February 2026.

I plan to work on a story for the Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop on a Zoom call in February 2026.

In February 2026, I plan to make five posts on my Goodreads account.

In the past, I sent the stories, Four Humors, Space Station Sunyata, and Grognard to magazines.

The seven Flash Fiction Stories I sent out in 2020 and 2021 were Space-Dog Confession, Sleeping Sickness, Caliburnus, Popular Mechanics Re-brewed, Wormhole Generator, Runs with Scissors, and Principled Rogue.

Magazine submissions for 2021 were 4 unique stories submitted 4 times, with 0 accepted, 0 pending, and 4 rejections. No submissions for 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.

I plan to submit short stories in 2026.

Planned Events for February 2026.

The next conference I plan to attend is the Cleveland Concoction, from March 6, 2026, to March 8, 2026. They will hold the conference at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center at 600 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio.

This is a link to the ConCoction website.

http://www.clevelandconcoction.org/

Another event I plan to attend is the 41st Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Lyndhurst, Ohio on March 28, 2026.

This is a link to the Cuyahoga County Library website.

https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

Introduction

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders follows the relationship between a witch, Patricia, and a techno-geek, Laurence. They were friends as children, but have been separated for ten years. Patrica lives in a world of magic, and Laurence lives in a world of science. They meet again when the world unravels. Can magic and science come together and save the world?

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25372807-all-the-birds-in-the-sky

I think the following two novels I have read are similar to All the Birds in the Sky in terms of the setting and the handling of the romantic interests.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab is a fantasy novel. Will the powerful token that Kell found result in the destruction of the four cities named London? 

Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Tress’s close friend Charlie goes missing. Will Tress rescue him or perish herself?  

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Starter Villain by John Scalzi.

Introduction

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a stand-alone novel but uses a high-concept premise like two of the author’s other novels: The Kaiju Preservation Society and When the Moon Hits Your Eye. The concept for this novel is what if a supervillain passes away and leaves his evil empire to his simple drifter relative. The evil genius’s relative is his nephew, Charlie. What will Charlie do with the evil empire his uncle has left him?

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Starter Villain by John Scalzi.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62326571-starter-villain

Shattering Peace by John Scalzi is the seventh book in the Old Man’s War series. The Colonial Union, the Earth, and the Conclave are in an uneasy 10-year truce, but something goes wrong with their shared secret Colony of Unity. Gretchen Trujillo, as a Colonial Union ambassador, must find out what happened at the colony. Will Gretchen save the colony, or will the colony perish, leading to the extermination of humanity?

Shattering Peace by John Scalzi

End of All Things by John Scalzi is the sixth book in the Old Man’s War series. Can the Colonial Union save humanity from extinction?

End of All Things by John Scalzi

Human Division by John Scalzi is the fifth book in the Old Man’s War series. The book is a series of 15 interrelated stories mainly about Lieutenant Harry Wilson of the Colonial Union’s B Team. Harry was a friend of John Perry, the hero of the previous novels in the series. Can the team avoid a war with the Conclave and save humanity?

Human Division by John Scalzi

Links continued

Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi is the fourth book in the Old Man’s War series. This novel tells the events from the previous story, The Last Colony, from the point of view of Zoe Boutin Perry.

Zoes Tale by John Scalzi

Last Colony by John Scalzi is the third book in the Old Man’s War series. John Perry and his family colonized a new planet. Can he protect the colony, or will the colony perish, leading to the extermination of humanity?

Last Colony by John Scalzi

Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi is the second book in the Old Man’s War series. Jared Dirac is a clone with another man’s memories. He must save humanity from three allied alien races determined to destroy humanity.

Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

Old Man’s War is the first novel in the Old Man’s War series. This is the link to my review.

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

Female Man by Joanna Russ

Introduction

The Female Man by Joanna Russ was released in 1975, fifty years ago. Four identical women, separated by chance, come together for a reason revealed only at the end of the novel. The novel explores how their different upbringing shapes each of these women. It was disturbing and thought-provoking.

The Female Man by Joanna Russ

Summary

[Insert Summary Here]

Recommendation

[Insert Recommendation Here]

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Female Man by Joanna Russ.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845529.The_Female_Man

The following novel was published in 1974, one year before The Female Man, and covers a similar theme.

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem. Will Kris Kelvin understand the Solaris entity before it is too late, and all the researchers are dead?

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem