The Week in Review – February 15, 2025

I know I've been preaching my five-point plan for surviving and (hopefully) thriving in current climes. I look at what our world leaders are doing and I feel as if my head is going to implode. I'm also painfully reminded of what's termed the false consensus effect where a person suffers the cognitive bias where they overestimate how many people might share their beliefs. Working from home like I do, often the only people I speak to are my husband, one or two friends online, and a business partner. Most of my clients and fellow creatives are also very similarly aligned ideologically speaking, so it's always somewhat of a shock when I encounter people whose thoughts are ... let's put it simply: vastly different from mine.

Now this is not going to turn into a rant about who's right and who's wrong. As the old saying goes: I don't have to explain myself to idiots. I'm not the fuckface whisperer. 

But I am going to talk briefly about kindness. It costs very little. It can be as simple as giving the domestic worker on the side of the road a ride or taking food to your neighbour who's just broken their arm. Finding opportunities to practise a little good, old-fashioned ubuntu goes a long way to make things a little better in the world. One small act of kindness a day is not only good for others, but also cracks a little light into your heart.

And that's it. That's all I'm going to say.

Mini Book Review

I realise I'm woefully behind on all my book reviews, but I recently finished reading In the City by the Lake by Taylor Saracen, which is one of those slow-burn books that creep under your skin and linger there. Set during the Prohibition in Chicago, we see the life and times of Russian mobster Viktor as he navigates the city's underbelly. Viktor can't be open with his family about who he really is, and he certainly doesn't expect the depth of his fascination with Cal. This is a sensitively crafted tale of queer love during turbulent times that rewards patient readers. Don't expect fireworks, but rather slowly unfolding revelations. 

Mirari Call for Submissions

I'm so excited to see my publisher Mirari Press has a new, exciting submissions call for Cyberpunk and Solarpunk short stories out in their UTOPIA/HAVOC anthology. I've enjoyed my collaboration with Mirari Press immensely – not only as author but also editor, and I've got a story I want to tell, so I'm definitely going to get crafting. Submissions close June 30, so there's plenty of time to get writing! 

Drabble

This week's drabble is once again from the Dragon Age universe, and features two of my favourite characters – Emmrich Volkarin and Dorian Pavus. There's been some debate of possible lore inconsistencies between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, but I'm totally headcanoning that Dorian would have been sent to study at Nevarra for at least a term and that he would have encountered a youthful Emmrich as one of his professors. Timeline-wise there is possibly a 10-15-year age difference between the two (yes, I've checked because I'm a bit OCD that way).

A Term in Nevarra

The apprentice slunk from Emmrich’s study as if he expected a lightning bolt to bite his backside. Emmrich sighed. That would not be the last he saw of the precocious Tevinter lad before his term in Nevarra was up. Such a brilliant young mind, if one looked past his propensity for involving himself in drama.

“Oh, one more thing,” Emmrich called, trying not to smile.

The lad froze, shoulders hunched.

“I anticipate great things from you, young Pavus. Now, get out of here, and for the love of Andraste, not every apprentice is as gifted at tugging the dragon’s tail.”

 

The Company of Birds

We're *so* close to release. Marius over at Mirari was gloating over the delivery of an entire box of The Company of Birds and sent me this wonderful photo. My own copies are arriving some time next week, so for now all I can do is salivate over this photo. I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to bring The Company of Birds to my South Africa readers, and looking at the novel now, I realise its message is even more important now than it was when I wrote it a decade ago.

I think we can agree that the amazeballs Stephen Embleton outdid himself on the cover design for this very beautiful book. Now, excuse me, I think I'm getting all choked up again.

I will always be grateful to my editor Storm Constantine who worked with me on the first edition. May she forever walk in graciousness in the Field of Reeds.

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