Alexandra Penn's Blog: The Scratch Library

Hello, everyone! It's been a while without an update, so I thought I'd send one out.

First things first, I haven't forgotten about you. Graduate school is demanding, so the hiatus is going to last for a while longer while I get my degree--which I will be finished with as of next August, although I'm considering a PhD as well. You can follow that journey on or Twitter, and I'll post more regular updates on here now that I'm settled in and not actively dealing with visa hell.

Second,...

The Letter Mage: Fourth Quarto is now available for pre-order!

In my daydreams of a Letter Mage animated series, this is the end of Season One: the College of the Gear is definitely worthy of the final-few-episodes budget, we see Esp’s trial, and… well, the big ending is one I’ll leave as a surprise for everyone else. That’s not something you want spoiled. It’s good. It’s REALLY good. It’s made-the-author-cry-in-a-coffee-shop-while-writing good.

I’m currently looking for ARC readers (advance re...

One of the cooler forms of magic in The Letter Mage is one we haven't gotten to yet (and won't for a little while--it's still about four installments away). The psychologists of the College of the Human Experience practice runecasting: a form of fortune-telling that focuses the subconscious and predicts likely behavior. 

The Adlerian Oracles use a form of runecasting that's slightly altered from the real thing: I incorporated elements of Tarot, and of course they use Foundation letters, not No...

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

If you’ve finished reading the latest installment, you’re likely having about the same reaction as I had when I wrote it. That ending was not pre-planned. I have about 80% of the story figured out ahead of time—a full outline, the backstory, most of the worldbuilding. But that ending? It hit me about as hard as you did.

I did not have that ending planned out. Every once in a while, things build toward an inevitable end without the author’s say. Or permission. Or n...

With the Book Tour in full swing, October in the air, and Halloween on the way… we all know what comes next. NaNoWrimo season is approaching fast. This year I’ll be reworking an idea from middle school that is far too good to let go of (portal fantasy that turns post-apocalyptic).

I’m also taking the GRE on December 1st.

Because apparently I’m insane, my friends.

I’m looking to apply for a PhD in English with a creative track, which means Antikythera (or a few other projects I have on the backbu...

I live in the Midwest, which means winter is awful. Snow plummets to the ground like wet concrete, the temperatures dive below zero, the wind (which has been lazy through the heat of summer) decides now is the perfect time to pick up. 

So naturally, I've decided this is a great time for a book tour.

I currently have several signing/selling/reading engagements lined up--check the calendar for more information--but I'm looking for more! I'm looking primarily for engagements with small-town librar...

If you're unaware, the Third Quarto made its debut yesterday at the I.O.W.A signing!

It was an excellent event--we were located in the (extremely nice and wonderful) Cedar Rapids Knights of Columbus hall, which was a beautiful and comfortable location that offered a certain palpable irony to my reading of some very gay meet-cute scenes. Our local author scene here in Iowa is top-notch, and I had a blast.

But I've gotta say, I was nervous about this release. The Third Quarto is pretty love-it-or...

I've been waiting a long time to release this one. Warning: mild spoilers for The Letter Mage no. 12 below.

The Forge and the Fire got a mixed response from beta readers, and for a good reason. This Installment ended with what felt to some like a big twist in Aleph's character, and it makes him decidedly less likable. Not that Aleph's ever been cagey about where this story is eventually going, but it's one thing to hear someone talk about how terrible they are and another to see it happen.

This...

Writing this installment was like chewing rocks for some reason.

Listen, I love this story.  I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the messages and themes and world. Aleph and Alexander are an adorable couple. Herschel is every validation I needed as a kid. Esp is the parent I hope to be one day. They're my absolute darlings.

But writing a book is sort of like having a kid. You love them when they're being wonderful and sweet and you just know they'll change the world one day.  But som...

I'm lucky enough to say I love my day job.

When I'm not writing, I'm a substitute teacher. I work mostly in elementary schools, with some days in middle and high schools. It's hard work. I find myself facing everything from snot zombies to impromptu Lovecraftian cults to that one kid who brings raw eggs to class. That's the job, though. Sometimes the teacher doesn't leave lesson plans, sometimes one of your first graders decides to get a little stabby with a pencil, sometimes three different k...