The three of us sat in the concrete bunker. Our living situation since the nukes fell a year ago. One year of sitting in a dark, concrete room under the ground, lit with a fluorescent tube that started flickering two months ago. Shelves stuffed with cans of beans and spam and bottles of water from a begone era where taps existed. The closet of a toilet, which began reeking about six months ago, being the only reprieve from having multiple sets of eyes staring at me, and us. T

Hello Dreamers. AI generated image. I promise there is a point to it Let me start by saying, unlike a lot of individuals in my profession as starving self-published author, that I do not hate AI. AI, like any computational technology or paradigm, is an extension of the mind. Just as early computing helped make math easier and less prone to error, AI can be leveraged to assist in many tasks. Yes, I am aware it isn't without growing pains, such as programming jobs disappeari

Hello Dreamers. The campaign will end in 3 days. If you have pledged already, thank you. But if you haven't, you might want to consider it. Either way, if you can share the campaign link to anyone you think would be interested in backing Guide From Madness, that would be great as well. Much of the merch wouldn't be worth ordering if it fails. Thank you for your time and attention. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shannonfrancessmith/guide-from-madness

The Dilemma of Choices The other day, my mother approached me with a simple request: "Could you find me a solar-powered fountain for a bird bath?" Before you roll your eyes, thinking Yet another old crone who can't work a computer , let me share her reasoning. "I can get them on Amazon," she said, "but I would rather not. You have an account on Temu, can you check?" This same woman has often warned me against buying from platforms like Wish, Shein, and Temu. Her reasons are w

Hello Dreamers, Below is chapter 1 of Guide from Madness, if you wish to get an idea about the quality, pacing, and overall style of the writing, feel free to give it a read. Now, quick disclaimer this chapter is pending another editing pass and will have some differences in the final work. Enjoy. Chapter 1: Helen watered the garden in Lord Baxter’s estate, staring at all the pretty flowers beading water from the iron watering can designed for this very purpose. From forge

Hello Dreamers. It's Live!!! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shannonfrancessmith/guide-from-madness Take this opportunity to reserve a copy of Guide From Madness, signed and bookplated by me! Great if you live outside the GTA and wouldn't be able to attend its launch party. I get money might be tight for some of you, so if you can't back it the least you can do is share it on your own socials and spread the word, especially with anyone you think would be into this sto

Hello Dreamers. As some of you might be aware I am experimenting with crowdfunding again! This time its on Kickstarter. While their funding model is all or nothing, they also have a higher success rate overall than Indiegogo. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shannonfrancessmith/guide-from-madness Due to a few setbacks I'm aiming to have the book on Amazon by September 21st. Might be later depending on what's going on. Feel a little sad that it won't be ready til the en

Hello Dreamers. There is nothing more cringe than finding an error in your book once its been published, and is out there for the world to see. Its why recording the audiobook version of my books can be a sad experience - any spelling, grammar, punctuation or formatting errors missed are found right as I am articulating the words on the page. The Error Course, its one thing to misspell a word, or forget to italicise a thought. In writing "Beakening from the Stars" I found a

Hello Dreamers. July 8th, 1988, would be the day I came into this world. And it hasn't been the same since! Its a weird day for me. Too old to get excited about it, too young to complain about the passage of time. This year will be quiet. I hope next year I can have the capital to have a party. One thing at a time. In the interim I do have ko-fi if you want to throw money at me. I also have a PO box and a Throne account for physical items. Of course, the really big thi

Hello Dreamers! Happy Canada Day Its July 1st. Pride Month is over. Autism Awareness month has begun. Its also the day the British North American Act was signed into law in 1867, making official the confederation of colonies known today as Canada. The world is in a scary place right now. I don't need to tell you the hows and whys, the news is doing a fine job explaining that. While I'm no politician and have no real power, what I can do is create to entertain. I have a

Photo by Binyamin Mellish: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-and-gray-concrete-house-with-attic-during-twilight-186077/ Earl and Betty sat in their livingroom when it happened. “How was work?” Betty asked Earl. “Blagh, the usual.” Earl replied. “You know how them city-folk get about their lawnmowers.” “Its good money at least!” “That is true.” From the window of the old home they shared for thirty years they saw a strange car drive down the cracked pavement of the street. A s

Hello Dreamers. Some updates on current projects that are up in the air. Been a while since I posted as I feel like the thumbnail....

Hello Dreamers. Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-metal-frame-4744773/ The offical Space Whale Dreams PO...

Hello Dreamers Photo taken by Peter. Sorry, that's all I have. So June 1st starts off pride month. A time to promote the rights and...

Following deals with suicide Catherine sat on the milkcrate within her apartment, furnished with nothing but milkcrates and a mat on the...

Hello Dreamers. Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/judgement-scale-and-gavel-in-judge-office-5669602/ So I got...

Hello Dreamers Just a happy reminder that, if your mother is still around and you're on good terms with her, that its Mother's Day. Give...

The tent is cold. I am alone. I hate it here. If only I could go home. Except home is no more. What didn’t burn got looted. Whom wasn’t...

Hello Dreamers. The next story in the Anataya Chronicals is out! The new Story, Weight of the Tithe , takes place in the same world as...

Hello Dreamers Below is Chapter 1 of Quantum Songstress. Give it a read if you like. Consider buying the book when it comes out if you...