Category: Random

Jacob Goes 16-Bit in 2026

Welcome to 2026… which means, to me apparently, that we’re going back in time. Behold Jacob Orange in his 16-bit video game form, ready to engage in magical espionage on a moment’s notice.

Would that I love there be a video game version of his adventures, that’s unfortunately not the case. While I did add another chapter to his manuscript, I know… I’m late! I promised several things for 2025, but balance has been a tricksy thing to obtain. As such, I’ll be pushing back some deadlines…

For Freewoman, we can expect a 2026 release as long as my life stabilizes a little bit more. That goes the same for Jacob’s novel. The Janet Project, perhaps some of my prettiest prose, is moving to TBD. I want to treat Tam Lin with the care he deserves and create something beautifully queer and above all, well-written.

ON a really big aside, I’ve started a memoir, something I swore I’d never do as it is likely to piss many, many people off. But before my memory goes fuzzy, I want people to get a glimpse into my frequently crazy (and sometimes thoroughly bonkers) life. There will be love, death, substances, and brutal exposés for you all to gobble up. When it comes out, though, that I can’t yet decide. I’ll keep you posted, and promise a snippet of some lit now and again. Cheers to 2026!!

Happy Fall (I’m Not Dead)

Masquerade — a million paper faces on parade!

Well, it’s been many months since I’ve updated. Life has been a bit topsy-turvy, but the good thing to know is that Freewoman, Jacob, and The Janet Project are all near completion. Huzzah!

Halloween is coming, and we’ve still yet to decide on our costumes/plans, but the beautiful Autumn air and promise of pumpkins have my spirits uplifted. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of it all, shall we?

Freewoman has about one more chapter to go (sorry for making you wait almost ten years!) and then goes through the rigorous red-pen-editing process. After that it’s time to focus on my sexy magical spy, Jacob Orange, and the conclusion of his first adventure. There will be more.

I was blessed enough to get to see the limited run of Masquerade, an immersive play that takes the beloved Phantom of the Opera right into your inner thighs. It was gobsmackingly amazing. It felt like every song was there just for me and Sanjiv. I’m obssessed.

I’m going to give you a little treat; a tidbit from Freewoman!

“Thank you,” he whispered. “I love you.”

“Don’t thank me for this,” Lenna replied. Her voice was stronger than it should have been. Where were her trembles and warbles? Where was the kicking in her stomach? I’ll cry later, she told herself. “I love you too. Bastard.”

Raif beamed, a little color peeking out of his clouded face. “And promise me one more thing?”

The knife was about an inch from the knot of hair Lenna had balled into her fist. She halted. “Name it.”

All the happiness melted away from Raif’s eyes as he fixed the steeliest of gazes on Lenna. “No more ghran.”

Uh-oh!

Shazbot! (A Minor Update)

It’s been forever and a day. I wish I had more to share, but writer’s block got me all sorts of backed up. Here’s a lil’ snippet of my current work (yes, Freewoman and The Posh Tales of Jacob Orange are still being worked on… sort of).

Anywhoozles, I wrote a sonnet; I like form, and everyone has to get their inner Shakespeare wiggling now and again, am I right?

Sonnet #3

Beneath the moon, where hearts as one do beat,
Two souls entwine, though worlds apart they stand.
One dark as night, the other fair as sweet,
In love’s embrace, they touch with tender hand.

The heavens weep for joy at their embrace,
While whispers rise like winds in quiet groves.
No fear of race or shade their hearts erase,
For love transcends what mortal mind behooves.

The starry sky does bow to their accord,
No more does shade define the heart’s pure flame.
In every kiss, they bind their spirits toward
A future bright, beyond the bounds of name.

Let not the world cast stones nor words condemn,
For love, as true, defies the hearts of men.

Meta is Down and Music Abounds

So, one of my clients is Meta (that means you, everyone — Facebook, IG, Threads, Whatsapp), is down and I have nothing to do but wiggle my mouse. In the meantime, I put my chapbook to music courtesy of AI. Some might not approve, and certainly a live band would be better, but some of the songs aren’t so bad. All the lyrics are my own, and technically I own the rights to the music as well. Check it out!

https://suno.com/playlist/2599ac7c-aaf0-4a32-8abb-9073579f6b70

Artwork, Music, and Lyrics © Brian Fence 2024

An Author’s Update


It’s that time of year again… spooky time! As I get ready for a great night with friends, I have a couple of issues to address.

Some people have been trying to reach me on Facebook, but my account was hacked and then suspended. I’ve reached out to Meta and hopefully they’ll resolve the issue. I am alive and can be reached here or on Instagram.

Next, hubby got very very ill this month and was in the ICU for over a week, which made me start going grey with nerves. Erp. He’s out now and on the mend, so thanks to all of those who sent well-wishes and prayers. He’ll be okay. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In short, Jacob’s launch has been pushed back by a bit due to how insanely busy I’ve been this October. I promise to get some new content up to keep the momentum going come November, so I ask for your patience and continued support!

xoxo

Brian

PS — I haven’t forgotten about her, either:

Artwork “Chibi-Halloween Brian” and “Lenna Faircloth” © 2024 Brian Fence

36 Hours of Puking & 217 Nopon

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written here, not since the release of the great cover art for Freewoman.
Freewoman TeaserIsn’t it lovely? We can thank the truly wonderful Marissa Morris for her creativity and consistency across all three novels. Speaking of Freewoman, I’m chopping away and editing it together bit by bit. Winter is coming.

I’ve been away from the blog because I’ve been away from my computer, mostly. I got seriously ill a few weeks ago and didn’t eat for two weeks or sleep for a week, and I vomited (sorry, I know that’s yucky) for almost 36 hours straight. Not fun at all. The upside of that was that it gave me time to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which is a Very Very Good Game indeed. And of course, it features nopon:

Nopon!!I just can’t get enough of these cute little buggers.

In further news (and it will be updated on my media page), Librarian is book of the month for August at PrideParade.net, down in DC! Yay! I’m glad to represent the LGBTQA+ community in my capacity as a novelist.

Never let anypon tell you can’t reach your dreams, team! Pon! Pon!

Back From Ol’ Blighty

Well, hello there! I know it’s been awhile, but after a Tremendous Trip in Orlando (never fly a certain airway company…), Chris and I scurried off to England. It was his first time across the pond, and he only suffered mild trauma from driving in London and then in Cornwall.

Cornwall Coastline

That pic was from Tintagel Castle, where supposedly King Arthur was born! Needless to say, the landscape alone provided plenty of inspiration. We had a lovely time, especially meeting up with my fellow Oxonian, Laura, and figuring out how not to die in a motor vehicle accident.

We also saw Les Mis on the West End; I ugly-cried only four times.

On the writing front, I honestly didn’t get much done as we wandered the countryside. I re-read some Orson Scott Card, whom I can’t decide if he is a misogynist or not; the jury is still out, but his writing is very good for sci-fi and anthropology-likers. I just wish every other sentence wasn’t in a foreign language. I speak enough as it is! Still, his concept of the Speaker for the Dead is very appealing to me; something I hope someone would have the balls to do at my funeral.

Tomorrow, though, I’m heading to our local dive to crank out some more Freewoman. Got that deadline to meet, y’know? And I tend to work better when (1) there are libations and (2) when I’m not covered in cats.

Also, please check out the updated Media page; I’ve included several interviews and even a YouTube interview about my works, style, and writing process. I touch on some issues likes gender fluidity and what it means to be marginalized, so I hope everything checks the links out!

About Diana Wynne Jones and Me

I knew of Diana Wynne Jones ever since my friend John introduced me to Howl’s Moving Castle (which, if you haven’t read, shame on you; if you’re banking on the Ghibli movie, double shame!) back in middle-school, and was a devout fan ever since. I’ve read every book she’d published and was mesmerized by each. We unfortunately lost her to illness several years ago.

When I was still a lad in my teens, I reached out to her, desperately searching for a copy of a then out-of-print novel called Fire and Hemlock, and the only one she could provide me with was in Japanese. Heh. See how it all connects? I was not only learning Japanese at the time, but my favorite author had just become a penpal.

Her nuance of tropes — eliminating the Mary Sue — and turning the mundane into magic tempered my style, which, while I’m still a huge D&D player, was a little too Vancian for my liking where witchery was concerned, so her lessons became invaluable.

What can I say, Diana? I dedicated my thesis at FDU to writing about your life, as much as I could glean, but I feel like I have to do more for you. Write more. Make my female protagonists even stronger, more independent…

…and, as my father once suggested, perhaps a little less drunk. But if you know Lenna or Jacob (read my works, darn it!), that not might be happening any time soon!

PS — if you want to read my essay, just leave me a note and I’ll either post it or send it! I thought twenty-some pages my be a bit much for a blog post…