A website is never done, but http://emprazeman.com is a lot closer to being complete than it has been in a long time. I'm still looking for fan art or fanfic. Don't be shy! If you're proud of it and I like it, I'll put it up on the website with credits and links to your page if you have one (or three.) There's no way for anyone to comment on these things, so you don't have to worry about haters or trolls.
Rant warning.
Where I was born, it's just assumed that you're going to play an instrument (or sing) and be able to do at least some basic art. People make their own stencils for their walls, guitars come out for family gatherings and everyone sings, everyone tries their hand at painting now and then, and writes songs, and poetry. Everyone (health permitting) dances. There's no shame associated with rudimentary work/play. There is still pride (of course!) when someone excels. But there's no toxic idea like there seems to be in the United States that you have to be at a certain level to do anything. There's also no automatic assumption that if you're really good, you deserve super-stardom and more money than you can spend at a mall in one day. I hope that this idea that doing art because it's fun, that it doesn't have to be 'professional' to be beautiful and worth celebrating and sharing, and that if you have talent you don't have to exploit to make millions or consider yourself a failure if you don't, will catch on. Especially the dancing part. Refusing to dance when you're a teenager and you feel awkward and self-conscious is natural. But continuing to deprive yourself of that joyful movement throughout the rest of your life because you're not good enough or don't know how … that's sad. That's a recipe for living life only halfway. There is no reason to live life halfway. Trust me. Our ancestors have danced and sang and painted on walls since before the written word existed. It's in your blood. You'll love it if you give it half a chance.
Rant over.
In other news, Oubliette, book one of The Poisoned Past trilogy, is live and available for purchase in Kindle format here. Thank you to those of you who've already gotten a copy. I hope you enjoy it! I'm working hard on the second book, Penumbra. I was hoping to have it out by now, but as it happens, I got behind schedule. All three books will (most likely) come out by the end of the year. So you won't have too long to wait.
Thanks for reading!