Skyla Dawn Cameron

Oct 28 2015

Spells & Spirits, Deals & Freebies

Behind, busy, stuff and things, blah blah. Anyway!

So I guess it’s time to tell you I’m going to be in a little urban fantasy boxset. It will be for sale November 5, and you get seven stories for 99c. There are some writers you may know (including Charles de Lint! Dude!) and some may be new to you, but regardless I hope you check it out. My contribution is Bloodlines, which you probably already have because you’re awesome, but you could still get it with six other stories for 99c and that is insanely inexpensive. I’ll post again about it next week.

Today I am also part of the Kobo Daily Deal with the Demons of Oblivion Bundle–that’s the first three books in the series in one release. Normally $9.99, you can get it on Kobo in the US and Canadian store for just $3.99. That’s the price of one of the books usually, and here’s three. So. Y’know, if you’re missing those books for your library, REALLY GOOD TIME TO GRAB THEM RIGHT HERE.

AND I am part of another Kobo promo, River will be just 99c tomorrow (I think it’s up today, too, in case you want to grab it now). I believe this is good for all countries. You’ll find it here.

Many of my Kobo books are all eligible right now for 50% off, too. This only lasts a few days. Here’s the breakdown with coupon codes:

Canada
October 28th – October 31st
Promo Code: CA50SALE

United States/Australia/New Zealand
October 27th – October 30th
Promo Code: GET50SALE

United Kingdom
October 30th – November 2nd
Promo Code: UK50SALE

Finally, my friend Dina is much nicer than me as she’s offering a Halloween short story for readers of her Stranger Things series. You can read Treat Me Right here, and don’t forget to check out Dina on Payhip for a complete list of freebies (and a short story collection she has for sale).

Oct 09 2015

Fire Walk with Skyla: The Twin Peaks Re-Watch

So if you know me at all, you likely know that Twin Peaks is one of my favourite things in the world.

Twin Peaks first aired in spring 1990 when I was seven. We got started a few episodes in–my memory is foggy but I know Aunt Judy had told Mum about it and when a couple of episodes were on (I swear we were staying at a hotel with Dad at the time because I remember it on the TV there to this day) and the immortal words were uttered: “Who killed Laura Palmer?” I was supposed to be asleep, probably, but I watched it. Later I think we borrowed the show on tape from Judy, and when they re-aired the first season prior to the second, we faithfully recorded each one. I remember Mum and Aunt Judy talking endlessly about the wtf of it and who killed Laura Palmer, trying to piece together Cooper’s dream (when, really, this is David Lynch we’re talking about–there is no piecing it together).

I was obsessed.

With everything about it.

Granted, yeah, it had lots of mature subject matter for a seven-year-old. Molestation/rape, a serial killer, prostitution, etc. Most of that I didn’t fully grasp at that age.

But Agent Cooper.

AGENT COOPER, YOU GUYS.

Special Agent Dale Cooper was the perfect man (still is, as far as I’m concerned). My first TV crush, predating Jonathan Brandis by several years. He was my hero. Brilliant, kind, honorable, funny, handsome, and one of the most unique, best written characters on TV, breathed to life perfectly by the one and only Kyle MacLachlan (WHO WISHED ME HAPPY BIRTHDAY–yes, because I asked him to, shut up). For years I was determined I was going to be an FBI agent, not realizing, um, that’s not a Canada thing.

Only Agent Cooper could make me endure the killer Bob week to week, who terrifies me to this day.

giphy (17) — Cooper really is perfect, you guys.

When y’all eventually get to read Solomon’s Seal and meet West, true fact: he was named after Cooper (Dale West).

Twin Peaks was also my first early-cancellation heartbreak, long before Wonderfalls, Firefly, Miracles, Hannibal, etc. I’ll talk a little more about my memories of the last episode airing when I get to it during my re-watch.

Re-watch, you say? Oh yes.

Also have obtained the #TwinPeaks Blu-Ray set thanks to birthday money from my brothers, so there’s that. pic.twitter.com/qfevlvpPqw

— Skyla Dawn Cameron (@skyladawn) September 29, 2015

I got a PS3 at last, and next to a couple of games I immediately wanted the Twin Peaks Entire Mystery set because MANY DELETED SCENES from Fire Walk with Me, despite already having the DVD boxset. Look, it’s this and Buffy, okay? These are my things. Since I very rarely have blog content anymore (Oblivion is kicking my ass, so no book updates, and I just don’t care about anything enough to rant or whatever), I might blog recaps/reviews and you can play along at home if you like. Netflix US has the complete Twin Peaks series if you don’t have it. If you don’t want to play along, that’s cool too. But there’s a broader thing I want to talk about here. Everything’s getting rebooted/new seasons/etc. Nostalgia reigns. It’s making a lot of people happy to get more X-Files (David Duchovny, why don’t you love me?), and Heroes, and whatever else is coming. And then there’s the usual bunch of snarky people quipping in with, “Who cares? I don’t care about this thing that you like so now I’m going to loudly shit on it.” Hey, you know how I’m a raging bitch and yet you never catch me bitching when people get excited about sports championship things, even though I don’t like sports? That’s because their enjoyment doesn’t cause me any harm. It’s a thing that makes them excited and a lot of people have shitty lives, so if this is something that brings them joy, I am happy for them. Last year, I was really sick. Really. Sick. This-could-be-cancer-or-something-else-terminal sick that took six months to be diagnosed. Six months of growing to believe I was dying. Six months of thinking they would never figure it out and I’d feel like that forever. I was in bed most of the time without the energy to walk, rapidly losing weight, and nothing brought me joy (although binge-watching Scandal helped). And then this happened:

Dear Twitter Friends: That gum you like is going to come back in style! #damngoodcoffee — David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH) October 3, 2014

Followed by this confirmation:

Dear Twitter Friends… it is happening again. http://t.co/r0l9rhK4eB #damngoodcoffee

— David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH) October 6, 2014

I kid you not, my immediate reaction was: I NEED TO LIVE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX ME SO I CAN LIVE TO SEE THIS. COOPER IS STILL IN THE BLACK LODGE, WE NEED TO GET HIM OUT.

This is the power of fiction and art, whether television or books or whatever. When things are really dark for someone, it can be the one spark of hope that keeps them going and gives them something to look forward to. Twin Peaks S3 is still a thing I look forward to. Sometimes it’s that “By god, I will LIVE to see Agent Cooper and Audrey again” that gives me the extra push when I need it.

So find the thing you love and keep loving it.

If this is a thing you love, or might want to love with me, you can watch along at home. I’m doing a few online courses at the moment (Forensic Psychology! Egypt! Living with Psychosis! Why did I think three at the same time was a good idea?), plus there’s work and stuff, so I don’t have a real schedule here but I’ve got thirty episodes to watch, plus the movie, and for an added bonus I’ll do the Dual Spires episode of Psych as well. (If I’m up to the nightmares, I could re-read The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer while I’m at it.) Barring a disaster, I’ll try to watch an episode or two a week on Friday nights (EST). If you want to watch too, whenever, tweet me your reactions for the lulz. I’ll hashtag #FireWalkwithSkyla.

I was going to start “when things quiet down” around here, but, you know, that’s never going to happen. So I’ve got some (decaf) coffee and cherry pie and fuck it, I’m starting this evening. I’ll be on Twitter, and I’m not the type who tweets every three seconds, so hopefully it won’t be annoying as fuck. Then I’ll post a review/recap on the blog sometime before the next episode.

For now I leave you with my favourite Julee Cruise song.

Oct 04 2015

Writers for a Fighter Auction

Cancer fucking sucks.

We all know this, of course. It’s hit those I care about recently, though, so I’m especially sore about it at present. My very good friend Danni has a friend battling cancer for the second time right now, Kandace Milostan. She has supported the book work for years, and now they’re supporting her back with a charity auction to help her and her family during their time of need.

The auction starts today. There are a bazillion books and book-related things available so bid now, and bid often. www.charityauctionorganizer.com/auction/writersforafighter Please share the link around, if you’re so inclined.

Some of my books are up for grabs if you’re interested, items #10 and #11 respectively; you’ll find the first four Demons of Oblivion books bundled here and River here. Paperbacks, international shipping, signed and personalized. Bidding starts at $10 and closes October 10.

Sep 16 2015

Quick Oblivion Update

So as FB and Twitter followers know, I’ve been poking at Oblivion. I’m about a quarter of the way through. Sometimes pages fly by, other times I have to pluck each and every word from my brain (it’s as painful as it sounds). The structure’s worked out, though, and the big tent pole moments have mostly been figured out, and I know how it ends. I’m also ensuring even Ryann and Zara get small sections, so everyone gets their moment with the reader, and a solid epilogue.*

A couple of brief teasers have been posted at Alchemy Red–it’s a closed group but anyone’s free to join, so please check it out if you’re so inclined and would like to connect with other readers.

I’ve also just posted a couple of chapters (about fourteen pages) for Patrons of Snark, if you want to catch up with Mishka and get a peek at Oblivion. I’ll look at posting more snippets there as I can (in lieu of working on Amends right now).

There is also the ZaraLain.com domain I finally have running as a series hub. It’s still in progress and I’ll be adding some desktop wallpaper featuring the cover art and that. If you think of anything else I should add, just let me know.

I know some of you have been waiting for this book for three years now. I’m sorry for the delay but I’m hoping the kinks are worked out and this will happen tentatively next spring. Once a draft is complete and I’ve worked out a schedule with my beta and my copyeditor, I’ll set a date and get the book up for pre-order. I’m also looking at finishing Heaven’s Choice and releasing that a little ahead of time to lead into Oblivion.

I appreciate your patience and understanding, and for not yelling at me, and hope to hell I can pull this damn book off.

* I was going to warn that I am not even trying to make this book easy to follow if you’ve skipped the other books, but I’m pretty sure anyone who skipped Hunter/Lineage isn’t reading for the plot and won’t bother with the series conclusion anyway. For loyal readers, though, I’m hoping Zara and Nate will have at least a single moment appropriate for them and the story as thanks for sticking with the series.

Sep 10 2015

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay: Reaching Out and Saving Lives

I haven’t posted in a couple of months, but it’s World Suicide Prevention Day, and given that half y’all come here to read about me being crazy, that seemed a thing to post about.

The theme this year is reaching out and saving lives, and there are a variety of ways to join in and learn how you can help here. And of course my own post is going to center around mental illness.

I have probably talked about this ad nauseum before, but it bears reminding:

Depression lies.

I know what it’s like to hear the voice in your head, that deceptive, clever little voice that sounds like your own and tells you it’ll never get better. That everyone would be better off without you. That you’re a burden and though they’d be sad when you’re gone, they’d also be relieved. That you don’t matter. That you are not worth saving.

I know what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning and to not want to swim for shore let alone be able to see it.

It’s okay if you’re not okay right now. Mental illness is just illness. It’s no different from cancer or a broken bone. You are not a bad person for having thoughts of self-harm. You are not selfish. You haven’t failed. You’re not evil. You’re not weak. Suicide is morally neutral–it is what happens when your pain exceeds your resources for coping with pain (read that link–might save your life).

I have not been okay these past several months. I have been pretty fucking far from okay. I know what it’s like to fall asleep praying you won’t have to wake up again, to see your future as this big black pit you’re never going to escape from, and to feel like the weight of your mental illness is pulling your loved ones down with you.

But I’m still here.

Let me repeat that: after having major depressive episodes several times a year since I was thirteen years old, I am still here, motherfuckers. I am surviving, every day. I matter. I am worth saving.

And so are you.

This year’s theme, as I said, is reaching out and saving lives. I’ve often said that for those of us dealing with episodic mental illness–meaning we have periods of wellness and periods of illness–we have to treat our episodes like a natural disaster to prepare for. You don’t wait until a tornado is tearing your roof off before you put together a survival kit; likewise, if you know your illness presents as episodes, you don’t wait until you’re in a death spiral of despair to prepare yourself. Go to your doctor for help. Put together a list of all the reasons you want to live and keep it somewhere safe to reflect on.

Then talk to your trusted loved ones while you’re well. I know it’s scary and that you have to be prepared for their bad reactions, but teach them now what you’ll need when you’re ill. Give them resources for how to talk to you. Speaking up is how we break down the stigma for everyone. Let them know that their support is important to you. Remembering times when my friends have told me how much value I bring to their lives helps me enormously when things are grim.

And whether you know someone who deals with mental illness/self harm or not, reach out to your friends and family right now. Take just a few moments to tell them how glad you are to have them in your life. They might be struggling right this moment but are unsure of how to ask for help. They might just need to hear, in this moment, this very day, that they contribute to the world and have value.

Just a few minutes of honest appreciation for those you love–just everyday kindness–could save a life.

If it’s bad for you right now, try to remember that no one–not even you–can predict what the ending to your story will be. There are so many things that could be waiting on your path for you…but you have to be here to see it. People have survived, and so can you.

I’ll be lighting a candle at 8pm to support the survivors and the lost, and I hope you do too.