Catherine Fitzsimmons's Blog: Jinxed

I don’t usually participate in art challenges, but two of my friends each made a prompt list for October. Both had some pretty interesting suggestions.

While I wanted to participate more than I ultimately did, I didn’t put any pressure on myself to draw all of these prompts, and allowed myself to stop working on some drawings even when I might have enjoyed taking longer and refining them more.

In the end, I finished eight drawings and put over eighteen hours into that art last month, along with a handful of incomplete sketches I wouldn’t mind finishing later. Time constraints may have made some things more challenging, but it was also refreshing to be given a limited amount of time for each piece and being able to call it done and walk away.

Now maybe I should join a challenge to finish some of many incomplete projects.

All art done in Clip Studio Paint. It had been a long time since I did pixel art.

So, I’ve been reading a bit more this year.

I honestly don’t know what’s happened. Granted, half of those books are graphic novels, which are much quicker to get through. But that still puts me only two books short of my reading goal for the entire year. This isn’t exactly precedented for me, either.

I’m going to blame the health issues.

Anyway, given the number of books I’ve read in the first half of this year, I thought it might help me to sort through my recollections of them to highlight my top reads so far. I’ll start with the graphic novels, which I’ve been delving fervently into this year. Particularly, I’ve discovered books through my library’s ebook app, which has a fantastic selection of indie and smaller press titles (non DC and Marvel, anyway, although I’ve enjoyed some of those this year as well). Essentially exactly what I’ve been searching for with graphic novels, and I’ve been very pleased with them so far.

Black Cloak by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClaren

Between The Cull, which I read at the end of 2024, and this, Kelly Thompson is rapidly becoming one of my favourite graphic novel authors. Wonderfully realized fantasy world, interesting and very down-to-earth characters, a tense story with great twists and turns, and overall an excellently portrayed graphic story. And, of course, the art is lovely. This collection is a complete standalone story, but I’m pleased to see that there is another volume coming.

Skyward by Joe Henderson, Lee Garbett et al

A bizarre concept again brought beautifully to life by a deft writer and skilled art team. It’s a story of Earth in which gravity suddenly and inexplicably dropped to a fraction of a G when the main character was a baby, and people have simply had to adapt. A more traditional comic art style with very fun and refreshingly diverse characters, conspiracy, terror, and beauty. This story is now complete in three instalments, but the writer mentioned at the end that there are future stories percolating.

Wynd by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas

This one didn’t sink its hooks in quite as firmly as the others, but it was definitely compelling enough to read all three current volumes, and get me excited that the final one is already half released. It’s a rather typical story, and the title character is the least interesting of the cast, but it is cute and rather on the nose, and keeps the tension high throughout. The art, however, is stunning. It’s a more cartoony style, very expressive of course, but the inking, lighting, and texturing are amazing. I cannot get enough of it. I’m still debating whether I should seek out the individual issues of the final volume or wait to buy it when it’s collected.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Of the non-graphic books I’ve read this year, this is my favourite. Jordan Ifueko has been on my radar since I read Cool. Awkward. Black. last year, and I ended up placing a hold on this book after reading her run of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. While the different countries in the empire of Aritsar are a little too obvious homages to specific peoples on Earth, I loved the Afro-centric nature of this world, and especially that there are multiple Black societies of equal complexity and power. It was a refreshingly different and yet perfectly normal fantasy world, well developed in an excellent story with a flawed but very relatable and honest star who is caught in a very difficult place. The second part of the duology was also good, but this was an extremely strong debut and an immediate five-star read for me. And I’m so happy to see more Black creators and diverse stories. (And how gorgeous is that cover art?)

Survival by Julie E. Czerneda

It was more a coincidence of circumstance that got me to start this book, which I’d picked up as an ebook only a year or two ago, but I immediately devoured the entire Species Imperative trilogy. Even though this first book released over twenty years ago, the first thing that grabbed me was the delightfully normal science fiction-ness of it: all the little bits of everyday advanced technology that make a complete picture of this future version of Earth. The three books all follow the same general plotline, but they each make a fascinating and fun tale that all contribute to a compelling complete narrative, although I wouldn’t recommend waiting long between reading each book, as they do build off each other quite closely. Some great alien concepts, surprises, and charming character interactions.

Trafficking in Magic, Magicking in Traffic edited by David Sklar and Sarah Avery

This is one of several anthologies I picked up at NASFiC last year, from the publisher’s table in the dealers’ room. I love a good blending of reality/the mundane with fantasy, so despite the somewhat busy cover design, this book seemed right up my alley. And indeed, it delivers exactly what it advertises: half the book is centred on stories about illegal transport of magic and/or magic goods, and the second half on stories about magic involved with travel/transit, each half broken down into sections grouping stories together along similar sub-themes. As an anthology, this is fantastic. The story selection and arrangement are top-notch, giving a wonderful variety of tales within the somewhat rigid theme presented, and each story is solid and entertaining. It’s definitely enough to make me curious about other Fantastic Books anthologies.

Whew. While I haven’t read many books this year that I’d give a full five stars to, I have read a lot that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly and would be glad for more. Had I not spent so much time writing this post already, I might also add some honourable mentions that I feel a little guilty for not including. But then, for those who might be interested, you can always look at my reading log on Goodreads.

Undine the water elemental from Visions of Mana. Watercolour, completed 7 June 2025.

I started this feature several years ago to highlight some of the (largely obscure) music I love, posted a handful of times, and then, in my typical fashion, let it drop off. But, perhaps because of new inspiration, I’ve decided to restart it (though I make no guarantees about regularity).

Music has always been serious business for me. My collection is carefully curated and meticulously organized, with nothing being added until it has been thoroughly vetted.

However, that takes a lot of time, particularly since thorough vetting, for me, means listening to new music (preferably multiple times) while basically doing nothing else. I’m not really taking in the music if I’m writing, reading, chatting, or even working on art. As a result, my new music tends to pile up until I have dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of new songs to go through. This is especially true following any given Bandcamp Friday (when I’m likelier to be freer with my money, as Bandcamp waives its own fees and all proceeds go to the creators).

For this week’s post, since I’ve spent a fair bit of time this month vetting my latest batch of new(ly acquired) music, I figured I’d highlight some of the albums I’ve been going through.

Austin Wintory – ABZÛ

I’ve known of ABZÛ for years, and the game itself is in my backlog, though while I’ve bought a few other of the composer’s albums, I didn’t get around to this one until a recent sale on his Bandcamp. And the hype was right. At once atmospheric, stirring, and melodic, this gorgeous orchestral soundtrack makes perfect background or meditation music.

The album is also available on Apple Music (and you can probably also search it up on Spotify, but seriously, don’t use Spotify. It’s terrible for musicians).

Pokérus Project – Critical Hit

The Chilean vgm musician/rock band’s latest full studio album contains a mixture of mainly classic tunes from games like the original Castlevania, Mario Kart 64, a few Legend of Zelda titles, and Undertale, as well as a charming performance of “Peaches” from the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie. Features their signature heavy riffs, big backing sound, and instrumentation that provides a fresh take on well-loved tunes, in a range of styles from piano-forward ballads to pounding shredfests, without ever getting particularly heavy.

Aside from Bandcamp, you can find the album on Apple Music, streaming services, and other stores.

Super Guitar Bros – Breath of the Wild

I’ve loved this acoustic/classical guitar duo since I first heard their music over ten years ago. And a Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild album by said duo? Say no more. These selections feature most of the most memorable music from the game, in their usual straight cover style. As usual, the translation to guitar duet does an excellent job of both encompassing the depth and the character of the originals, impressively so in the case of those tracks like “Riding” and “Labyrinth” in which the original was heavily reliant on, if not entirely comprised of, solo piano. A great way to relax with calming tunes, revisit the soundtrack, or both.

Find it also on Apple Music.

The OneUps – Songs for the Recently Deceased

An older album from one of the original vgm live bands, this is a testament to how long it takes me to go through music, as it was recommended to me for last Halloween. (Oops.) I likely passed over this album previously among their discography because I’m not usually as big on horror-type songs. However, while this album highlights plenty of horror-themed sources, the tracks lean more towards the jazzy side of The OneUps’ offerings, with flavours of latin, funk, and lounge as smooth as butter. Of course, both the performance and the production of largely acoustic instruments—including saxophone, solo violin, upright bass, and vibraphone—is top-notch. This is a fantastic jazz album for any collection, and any time of year.

Find it also on Apple Music.

That’s all for this week. Anything you’d like me to highlight next Monday?

The band is growing.

Clip Studio Paint, completed 19 April 2025.

I ended up making my “Insomnia” drawing into a series.

Clip Studio Paint, completed between February 8 and 25, 2025. These designs are also available on T-shirts, buttons, mugs, and more at https://singingcatdesigns.square.site/.

A bit late; this was supposed to be a quick piece that I started just before the lunar new year, but though I felt the lineart looked good alone, once I started putting down colour, more and more issues with it bothered me and I spent a long time tweaking it and overall getting frustrated with it. Eventually, I decided to just give up and finish it. There are still things I would change were I to do it over again, but in the end, I’m satisfied with this picture.

Clip Studio Paint, completed 17 February 2025.

When one is a self-published author, it’s easy to forget the struggle most writers have finding publishers for their work. You can read the stats, that only 1% of book submissions get published, that even bestselling authors received dozens of rejections, and one of the books I published with Brain Lag was rejected over 125 times before it came to my desk. But it’s not the same as understanding what receiving that many rejections actually feels like.

Well, for various reasons, I’ve decided to dive into the world of submissions and rejections, with short fiction. I have a few unpublished stories I’ve been shopping around, along with other stories formerly available in any of a handful of websites I used to use that are suitable for reprints.

Nobody likes rejection, of course, especially with something as personal as one’s creative output, which may have lots of untold meaning or suffering behind it. However, I’ve developed a thicker skin for rejections due to some recent(ish) experiences. First, when speaking with someone who was an editor for a major fiction magazine, I was given some eye-opening information: of 100 story submissions that he would receive, he would absolutely love 15-18 of them. The magazine would have room for 3. So, even stories he dearly loved—most of those, in fact—had to be rejected.

The first stories I submitted for publication consideration after learning this were rejected quite late in the selection process, which led me to believe that they may have been the victim of similar circumstances. So, that in mind, I vowed not to be discouraged by rejection of stories I truly believe have merit and have sent out various submissions in the past month.

But, again, it’s one thing to believe in something and another entirely to experience it. Especially when one receives rejections that are not generic “we cannot accept this at this time” or what have you, but instead say something more personal like I’m afraid this didn’t land with us.

And between the submissions I have out already, the waiting period on getting responses, the fact that I only have a handful of unpublished stories to shop out, and general discouragement from the rejections I’ve received already, my idea to start each business day by sending out two new submissions didn’t last very long.

But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean I shouldn’t keep trying. I wouldn’t have written novels if that were the case. And yes, there may be a lot of writers out there striving for the same space that I’m reaching for, but there’s also a lot more venues for submitting one’s work than one might think. As has been said by people who have achieved much more financial success than me, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

You just have to keep shooting.

Clip Studio Paint, finished (and started) 8 February 2025.

A4, Clip Studio Paint, completed 25 January 2025.