What I'm Up To

A Re-introduction.

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I realized it’s been a while since I gave a proper introduction of myself, so here goes:

Not actually me, but an image that I like to think of as me-ish.,

I’m Jen Dantes, a trans woman living in the United States Greater Northeast (what William Gibson referred to as the BAMA or the Sprawl) while writing books and looking for a job.

I’ve written one book, The Ballad of the Grey Swan, and my second book, Fiendblood, is in its final stages of preparation as I take a few moments to write this. My books are romantic fantasy adventures, with queer heroes, magic, and swordplay in an idealistic fantasy empire that’s being threatened from within and needs heroes to save it – the kind of books I want to read, and I hope they resonate with you if you choose to read them. I currently have two more books in the Chronicles of Taeliana planned, tentatively entitled Shadeborn and Scarlet Bard, and ideas for a couple more beyond those.

Whether you’ve been here a while or just joined, I’m glad you’re here. It’s a weird world out there, and it’s good to have some friends hanging out and talking.

I’ll make this one also an “Ask Me Anything”, so if you have a question, drop it below and I’ll answer it as best I can. (Note: Anything does not include my ID number, bank account info, credit card number, or any passwords. I’m a little smarter than that…)

Books, Taeliana, Writing

The Joy of Text, or, An Interest In Bookbinding

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“Wait,” you say, “Bookbinding? You mostly have e-books, isn’t that kind of old-school for that?”

Yes… but.

Everyone who’s read my blog (or knows me) knows that I have written one novel, am working on a second, and have plans for a couple more. But eventually, one of my hopes is to be able to go to a convention and have a table and sell copies. (I also have ideas for buttons and pins, but that’s for later.)

I’ve also had some interest in bookbinding lying dormant for a while. And so, these things collide.

Click to continue reading.

What I'm Up To, Writing

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

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Today is Independent Bookstore Day! It’s a day to celebrate booksellers outside of the corporate ranks, the little place in your town, the used bookstore on the side street, places like that.

It’s also a place to celebrate online independent stores, like those on itch.io, selling you books that you might not be able to find in the big stores.

For example, if you go to the Taeliana Books itch.io store you can buy my independently created book The Ballad of the Grey Swan in DRM-free epub and PDF formats.

And if you go to the top level of itch.io, there’s a lot of other authors there selling their books. Mine might not be your cup of tea, but maybe someone else’s book could be!

Keep the indy bookstores alive!

Do not quote the deep magic to me. I was there when it was written.