Bittersweetness, Light, and Love

        Back in January I launched a Kickstarter campaign for Bittersweetness & Light, a collection of stories, poems, and art.  One common theme of the work is that it’s all various flavors and genres of speculative fiction (sci fi and fantasy), and the other common theme is that it’s all about looking for the best in others and the world, affirming joy, and finding reasons for hope.  As I’ve been putting this book together over the course of the year, the clouds of anxiety have continued to gather, so that it has indeed been bittersweet to be bringing out a book about hope just when I and so many people I know have been feeling such a desperate need for it.  And as I’ve been shipping out the finished books to my Kickstarter backers over the past week, my heart has been torn in two.  Half of me feels like it’s petty and pathetic to be talking about a mere book in such desperate times, but the other half of me truly believes that sharing our stories of hope and love is actually one of the most important things we can be doing right now.  Only if we can build up our connections with each other, only if  we can reach out to each other with our stories, and only if we can encourage each other to keep looking for the good all around and never stop loving… only then can we survive.

        Already I’ve heard from a few people that receiving the book this week was exactly what they needed, and that gives me hope that this whole project is indeed worthwhile.  Whenever I feel helpless and it all seems pointless, I keep reminding myself of the words of Joey Hartmann-Dow: Art changes people, and people change the world.

        If you backed my Kickstarter and haven’t yet received your book, I'm taking the last batch to the post office tomorrow, so you should look for it in your mailbox soon!  If you didn’t get in on the Kickstarter campaign but are curious about the book, you still have to wait a little while.  The Kickstarter backers are all getting advance copies, and the official release is not until January 6, 2025.  However, I am hoping to figure out how to make it available for pre-order by the end of this month or December, so I’ll be sure to let the world know if I can make that happen.  In the meanwhile, don't forget to look for instances of love and kindness, and whenever you find joy and hope, be sure to share it!

        To help with this desperate need for us to send each other love, I’ve made a new set of notecards based on a bunch of my block prints that focus on messages of love.  I send emails all the time, and texting certainly has its value, but a handwritten card is still something special.  What do you think?  What’s your favorite way to reach out to friends and family?

[Bittersweetness & Light, by AEGNydam, info at NydamPrints.com;

Love cards, designs by AEGNydam, at NydamPrints.com.]

Keep Loving

         I can’t say much right now, so I’ll just share one of my recent rubber block prints.  The idea came from vintage seed packets and, of course, the fact that we need to plant these seeds more than ever right now.  Spread them far and wide, tend them carefully when you can, but sow them wildly into the wilderness when that’s all you can manage.  They just might be an invasive species - in the best possible way.  Whatever happens, don’t ever let anyone stop you from feeling love and sharing it.  Love your neighbors; love the Earth; love honesty, integrity, and truth; love those who are most vulnerable.  Love is probably the only thing that can save us.

[Picture: Seeds of Love, rubber block print by AEGNydam, 2024 (Image from NydamPrints.com).]

National Author's Day

         November 1 is officially National Author’s Day here in the USA.  I had naturally assumed that this was some recent gimmick along with the other near-infinite “official” days promoted by people trying to sell things, but it actually turns out to have a longer history than I’d suspected.  The idea began during World War I, by avid reader Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, who wanted to thank and appreciate the authors whose work had given her so much pleasure.  The Department of Commerce made it official in 1949.  But regardless of the history, I’m all in on author appreciation!  So, what should you do to celebrate National Author’s Day?

  • Read a book, of course!

  • Share your favorite books on social media. #NationalAuthorsDay

  • For less-well-known books in particular, post reviews, suggest your local library add it to their collection, and spread the word directly to everyone else you know who might like it.

  • Dress up as your favorite character.  (Explain to everyone that you’re not just late for Hallowe’en.)

  • Write a story or poem.

  • Send a thank-you note to your favorite (living) author.

        Right now I’m reading Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner.  So far I’m really enjoying the world-building - both the interesting structure of the world and the masterful way the details about it are woven into the telling of the story.  However, I’m not very far into the book yet, so only time and more pages will tell whether this becomes a favorite.

        As for my own Author’s Day activities, here’s my unboxing photograph (because I don’t like videos) of Bittersweetness & Light!  Today I’m putting together the first round of packages to be sent out to Kickstarter backers.  Great excitement and much jubilation!

[Pictures: Photo by AEGN, 2024;

Graphic that was shared around on social media without attribution, so unfortunately I don’t know who designed it.]