What are you working on now?
My next book is called As You Wake, Break the Shell, and it will be out in October 2026. It’s the first of a pair, and I am currently working on the other half.
Are you going to write more Wayfarers books?
No, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within was the last book in the series. I loved my time in the Galactic Commons, but I’m exploring other universes now.
Are you going to write more Monk & Robot books?
I’ll leave the door open for them, but at present, Dex and Mosscap are exactly where they need to be.
Can I draw fanart based on your work?
Absolutely. Go nuts.
Can I write fanfic based on your work?
Heck yes. As long as you’re not making money off it, you have two enthusiastic thumbs up from me.
HOWEVER, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT: Please, please, please do not send me links to your fic or tell me any details about it. That goes for homebrew tabletop campaigns, too. There are some gnarly legal issues that can arise from people sending me their spins on my stories, and it can cause me serious problems. (This article has a great explanation of how this kind of situation can go south real fast). Have fun and keep it to yourself.
Can I do a school project based off of your work?
That’s totally fine. I’ve heard from folks who have done graphic design projects, rendered 3D environments, written music, and so on. As long as it’s not for profit, that’s a-okay.
Can I get a tattoo of a quote or a character from one of your books?
One hundred percent yes. If you’re comfy sharing a picture with me, I’d love to see it. We can also roll up sleeves and compare ink if you come to a book signing.
Where would you like readers to buy your books?
Are you asking this because you want me to get the best cut of the cover price? If so, you’re a wonderful human being and I hope you have a fantastic day. My royalty percentage is set in stone no matter what, so go with whichever vendor you like best. I recommend your local indie bookstore or Bookshop.
Are your books available in languages other than English?
Yes, many! There are a lot of different translations out there and more on the way. Have a chat with your local bookseller. As titles vary from language to language, ask them to search by my name, and they’ll take it from there.
I read a pirated copy of your book. How can I square up after the fact?
You're not the first to ask, and honestly, I’m just happy that you enjoyed the read.
Back when The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was self-published, folks like yourself would pay me retroactively via PayPal, which was cool by me. But the versions available now weren’t made by me alone. They exist thanks to the hard work of legions of great people at my publishing houses: editors, publicists, proofreaders, cover artists, and so on. I’d like them to keep buying groceries, too. So, I present the following options for your consideration:
Buy a copy for your shelf.
Buy a copy for a friend.
Buy a copy to donate to your local library (the noblest option).
Buy the next one.
The only thing I require is that you loop this during the entirety of the time it takes you to complete this transaction.
What's the best way to get in touch with you?
Depends on what’s up. If you just want to send some fanmail (which is lovely of you), fill out the contact form, and my wonderful assistant will get your message where it needs to go. I unfortunately don’t have the time it would take to respond to everyone, but please know that your notes are hugely appreciated.
If you want to schedule an event, an interview, or inquire about a creative project, please contact my agent Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company: sfishman@thegernertco.com.
Why aren't you on social media?
Social media is super not good for me. I love chatting with readers, but man, that junk eats up my brain. I’m also kind of camera shy, so suffice it to say, that aspect of the internet is not my speed. If you want updates on new books and events, feel free to sign up for my newsletter. If you’d just like to say hi, drop me an email. Otherwise, I’ll be outside.
Wait, are you not on social media? I got a DM from someone who said they were you.
That’s definitely not me! That’s a scam, and believe me, I’m as grossed out by it as you are.
Can I ask you some questions for my book report/thesis paper/school project?
I’m sorry to say it, but no. Those kinds of nitty-gritty questions take a lot of time to answer, and if I said yes to everybody who asked this, that’s many hours spent not finishing books. I've done lots of interviews and podcasts that are available online, so a bit of web searching might get you the answers you're looking for.
What are your pronouns?
She/her only, please.
Why “Other Scribbles”?
I’ve had this domain name since…I dunno, time immemorial. Back in day, I was a freelance writer who did all sorts of work, and this was where I kept bits and pieces that I wasn’t writing for a paycheck. As somebody has been camping on my actual name dot com for years, Other Scribbles has come along with me as my ol’ reliable.
Hey, you’ve written a lot about sentient robots! How do you feel about AI?
We’re talking about generative LLMs, right? They can fuck off into the sun eternally. The other thing is still fiction.
What’s something on your bucket list that you want to put out into the world just in case the right person sees it?
This is definitely a real question that I get asked frequently, and I did not make it up for the sake of ending this list with something funny. But also, it’s not funny. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I want to meet a giant Pacific octopus. Like, I want to go behind the scenes at an aquarium and stick my arm in the tank and say hello. I promise I’ll be so well behaved and will respect the animal’s needs above all else. Please let me meet a giant Pacific octopus.