I’m sad to report that author Michaelene Pendleton passed away on January 21, 2019 in Moab. I am told by one of her close friends that she passed away quickly. She was 72.
My first memories of Michaelene were at Life, the Universe, & Everything, an annual science fiction and fantasy symposium held in Provo, Utah. I met her in the early 1990s there, and I remember her always having a smile for anyone. I found out later she was a writer and editor at the Moab Sun News in Moab, Utah. She wrote a number of science fiction short stories from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, and they were all well written and interesting. She was smart, articulate, and a great storyteller.
If you’d like to leave a tribute for her family and friends, you can do so at the Spanish Valley Mortuary.
If your library uses Overdrive, you can request it be ordered so you can borrow it. If you are outside the States, the ebook is available at all Amazon stores and other ebook stores that are served by Tolino (mostly in Europe, I believe). It should be available shortly through Scribd, 24Symbols, and Playster, too.
The print version will be available soon on Amazon, and shortly after that at any bookstore that can order through Ingram. I’ll post more here once I have the final details.
EDIT: The print version is now available for order!.
LTUE’s snazzy new logo.
Looks like I’ll be moderating three panels at Life, the Universe, & Everything in February 2019 (here’s my schedule). I’ll also be at the Trace the Stars anthology launch event on Thursday (February 14) afternoon and the mass author signing on Friday (February 15) evening. At the anthology launch, we’ll be unveiling the cover for A Dragon and Her Girl and announcing who will be in the anthology (provided we get all the contracts back in time).
LTUE is my favorite convention every year. I get to see friends I only see once or twice a year, I get to meet new people, and I get to learn a lot from a wide variety of other authors, editors, artists, and others. If you haven’t ever attended, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re an author, editor, or artist. Maybe attendance will break 2000 this year? They reached over 1700 last year, so it’s a possibility.
As a bonus (and incentive to attend), anyone who buys Trace the Stars at the symposium will get one of the matching limited edition bookmarks, while supplies last. So, come by and pick up a copy! See you there!
UPDATE!
We’re climbing the charts on Amazon! As of 13:41 on November 27, 2018, we are at #3 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list for Steampunk, #22 in Kindle Science Fiction Anthologies & Short Stories, #24 in Science Fiction Steampunk (for all books), and #60 in Kindle Steampunk. Not bad!
Yeah, not really a depiction of Thanksgiving in “Star Trek”, but it’s a big feast!This is the one time in the year where we, as a country, formally take time to focus on the things we’re thankful for. Sometimes, it might seem that you have nothing to be thankful for, but if you take the time to reflect, seriously reflect, you will be surprised at just how many blessings you have in your life.
I have much to be thankful for this year.
I finally finished up my degree. It took a while, but I’m thankful to have that done and behind me.
I have two amazing children and an even more amazing wife. My life has changed significantly since I got married (more than two decades ago!) and since our two bundles of joy finally decided it was time to make an appearance. Despite moments of frustration and helplessness that pepper life with children, I have experienced more joy since they came along than I ever thought possible.
I live in relative peace and comfort, thanks to the efforts of those who choose to serve to protect our freedoms, and those whose scientific minds are immeasurably greater than mine.
I sold my first story, and it will be published this year, too! Next week!
I work with some amazing people.
I have many friends and family who support me in my eccentricities and share my interests.
I have a loving Father in Heaven who has provided a way for me to return to live with him someday.
I live in an amazingly beautiful world, filled with more wonders than I could possibly see or experience in my lifetime.
I live in a country that affords me the freedom to make my own choices regarding my life.
I am truly blessed in innumerable ways, far more than I probably realize, and I am thankful for all of them.
I hope all of you take a few moments (or longer) to seriously consider all of the ways you are blessed. Focusing on the positive things in your life can be life-changing. It has been, for me.
May all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it, and regardless of with whom you celebrate it.
The ebook for 
