Adorable pets and terrifying AI

Hello, and happy week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year’s!

I hope you’re spending this time in some culturally appropriate way, whether that’s watching LOTR extended editions (apparently this is big amongst a certain set? I wish I’d known so I could have joined in. I normally view them in October because I consider them to have an October vibe, what with the falling golden leaves in Rivendell and Lorien), binging on holiday rom-coms (my current tradition), or, I don’t know, getting out and hiking off those Christmas calories.

I myself am working on yet another semi-secret collaboration project. Yes, I know, I know–I now have two collaborations in the works, neither of which has seen in the light of day. I swear that one of these days, both of them will get published.

This new one has just gotten started and involves a terrifying AI chatbot, which is based on an actual AI chatbot, who has written the chatbot’s lines. The good news is that I don’t have to interact with the chatbot at all, and I’m planning to keep it that way. I’m currently about 10k words in and coming up with ever more ways to amp up the emotional intensity. Stay tuned for more AI fear and horror. 

Meanwhile, I wanted to drop a couple quick pieces of news. First of all, a reminder that my Kickstarter for personally signed copies of all the Rowena Halley books (digital as well as physical–we can now sign ebooks!) is currently in prelaunch and prelaunch followers get access to exclusive short stories. You can check it out and follow the campaign here. The bonus stories are in the updates.

Second of all, I’ve started new social media channels on Instagram and Threads. They’re both @sid.stark.author, and they both mainly feature the lives and times of my rather extensive collection of rescue animals. There is also stuff about what I’m reading, and occasional updates about any of my own work that’s being released, but it’s mainly pets. So if you’d like a little more about adorable (if I say so myself) rescue pets, come join me there!

I will be sure to keep you updated about the Kickstarter and any or all of the secret joint projects, but in the meantime, a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!