Kicking off Summer 2020... From Home

It's summer!... and there's currently only so much we can do about that.

In our respective homes in Virginia and Illinois, things are still in a semi-state of lockdown. Ginger's back in the office, and Kara — well, works from home so technically she hasn't ever left the office. But even though we're currently not able to do our usual summer stuff, we're looking for the next best thing. Here's a handful that might work for you, too.

Catch the Solstice on the Rebound

There was no gathering at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice this year, but the English Heritage YouTube channel livestreamed the iconic structure at both sunrise and sunset. (The latter is slightly more picturesque thanks to a clearer sky late in the day.)

Note that these are real-time rather than time lapse, but that means they're nice to put on in the background for a bit of indoor outdoor scenery.

Get Ready for Some Baseball

Wrestling fans and viewers of late-night comedy have been getting accustomed to enjoying their pastimes without a live audience on site. Next up is sports — including baseball. The good news is, there will be baseball.

The season is expected to start on July 23 and 24. If you don't usually watch, it might be a good summer to start... and if you don't have a team to root for, consider throwing your support behind Ginger's hometown Cubs.

Make a Virtual Theme Park Visit

One of our favorite places to go in the summer is Busch Gardens in Williamsburg — which is, unsurprisingly, functioning on a somewhat different schedule now. While the park will be largely open, park capacity will be carefully monitored and not everything will be open. And if you're out of town, it'll be difficult to get there anyway.

In the meantime, the Busch Gardens YouTube channel has virtual rides and behind-the-scenes videos to enjoy — including a 360 POV ride on the wooden coaster InvadR!

When it becomes feasible, of course, we encourage you to get to BGW in person. It's absolutely beautiful and full of great rides.

Enjoy a Book Outdoors

We are slightly biased as this is the website for a book series — but even if you're not picking up one of the Owl's Flower books (which you should, especially considering the first one's free), it's definitely worth it to take a book outside and soak up some vitamin D.

If you've got an apartment with a balcony, why not set up a reading nook out there? Just take a citronella candle or three as summer wears on.

Travel may be off the books for now, but we've got a few summery things to keep us going in the meantime! What about you? How are you making some summer fun for yourself this year?

A New Podcast from the Creators!

As we endure lockdown, we've been looking for ways to lift our spirits. Writing and art are happening, as they always do, but we sometimes need a break from the world and the news cycle and what have you. The two of us decided to show each other some of our favorite shows—with Kara watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for the first time and Ginger taking on both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes. And then we got weird and turned it into a podcast.

We called our evening watches our "sin and violence block" (with the Elrics' taboo alchemy and Gene Hunt's fighting coming to mind), and that's what we've ended up naming the podcast, too. It's a chance for us to talk about the shows we love and what we love about them—from the writing and psychology to our theories as we encounter stories and characters for the first time, to (of course) the quality ships.

The series will have a finite length: once both shows are done, this is done. It'll be long... but it'll be finite. If you're a fan of Owl's Flower, it might even give you some insight into why we do things the way we do, from both a story and art perspective.

At the time of this writing, four episodes are currently available; though more will be coming out quickly and often.

Listen to the Sin & Violence Podcast on YouTube.

So does this take precedence over book work? Of course not. This is a side project. We're looking forward to showing off more book stuff before long. Thanks for your patience!

Problem-Solvers: Talking it Out in Fiction (And Reality)

When we first started putting Owl's Flower together, we decided on a handful of ground rules — or, more accurately, those "ground rules" were part of the reason we wanted to write Owl's Flower in the first place. We've talked about them a lot here, at conventions, and on podcasts, because they're so important to the making of our stories. We have certain things we want to put forward, and in many ways those things make Herne and Iris's relationship what it is on the most basic of levels.

One of our first (and most talked-about) choices was to never ever use misunderstandings or a lack of communication to build drama or conflict. Humor? Sure. Addressing a lack of willingness to broach certain topics? Sure. (There are a handful of things they just aren't ready to tell each other — but they will.) But fiction has plenty of examples of how not to resolve conflict. It was important to us to offer an alternative.

Spring Clean Like a Nature God

When it comes to spring cleaning, no one knows how to get it done like the guy in charge of bringing in spring! (Okay, fine, nature gods are slightly more concerned with natural issues than closets and vacuuming, but it still stands.)

Just as Owl's Flower owner Iris Faulkner has to freshen up her shop and home after a long winter, Herne has an entire forest to get in shape. The city of William's Grove knows Herne as a legendary folklore figure, but he's working away season after season to keep things ticking over. Smaller scale local deities don't get a lot of notice — but they still have a lot of work.

Herne and Iris may be freshening up very different locales in very different ways, but some rules apply across both:

There's nothing wrong with going slow.

Spring comes 'round a little at a time. A few flowers bloom. A few trees start to get green. Allergies ramp up a bit at a time... The point is, even in the most ludicrous of climate zones, you don't close your eyes on snow and wake up to a fully green, blossoming world.

Just as the seasons roll out in stages, it's fine to freshen up your house in stages, too. If you really thrive on setting aside an entire weekend to do nothing but clean, go for it! But if the idea of getting an entire house, apartment, or shop cleaned for spring fills you with anxiety, do like nature... go in stages.

Friendly > Tidy

We've all seen those supremely sterile, supremely organized homes in films or TV shows, or even on social media. There's something appealing about them, sure... but could you live comfortably in something that pristine?

"Clean" doesn't have to mean "pristine." As in nature, there's something comforting about a lived-in-feeling place with just a tiny bit of unpredictability. You don't have to have your shelves cleared of everything but a succulent and three books, just as a forest doesn't have to have trees lined up tidily and stripped bare of ivy.

Hold yourself to a level of tidiness that both keeps you organized and makes you feel at home.

Let the Sun Shine in

Shed a little light on the subject. Not only will you get a better sense of what needs cleaning (and how many dust particles are floating around), light is sometimes the last little touch you need to make a room feel warmer and more open.

Better yet — and if your allergies don't object — open the windows and let some actual sunlight in. The clouds are (hopefully) finally starting to clear, and you'll be able to get some natural Vitamin D for the first time in months to power your cleaning!

Don't Forget to Look Low and Out of Sight

As you're taking care of high-up shelves or things in your eyeline, remember to look underfoot. Just as a lot of things happen on the forest floor, things have a habit of ending up covered up down low. In nature, this will eventually turn into mulch to help new things grow — but clutter doesn't recycle itself indoors. You'll have to check under tables and sofas yourself.

Similarly, things can accumulate out of sight. Last time you cleaned, did you stow a lot of stray items in a trunk for lack of a better place to put them? Now is as good a time as any to do something about that.

Keep Growing

Just as spring doesn't come all at once, nature never just stops. Things are always in motion, always blooming and changing. And just as it's just fine to go slow, it's good to make tiny maintenance a habit.

A spring clean feels good because you're shaking winter off your shoes and welcoming in new life and warm weather. But when it comes to the "clean" part, your best bet is to set up a space you can comfortably maintain a little at a time, rather than something that looks good for a hot minute before falling into disrepair before the next big clean. After all, you're the local life form: you should be able to exist comfortably within the space!

For more on forest maintenance, dating nature gods, and other grown-up responsibilities, dive into the Owl's Flower light novel series. You can download the first book free on the website, and name your price on the second!

Five Ways to Say "I Love You"

One of our favorite things about working on Owl's Flower is creating the kind of love story we'd like to see more of. Herne and Iris's story has conflict and trouble, as any new romance will. But we work hard to offer alternative methods to dealing with those conflicts. It's a way to keep our stories from having lazy conflict, but also hopefully a way to show people that there are other ways to deal with issues in relationships.

Our next book will be Valentine's Day themed. As you may have noticed, we're both working through a lot of projects — but we look forward to showing you more progress soon. In the meantime, we're celebrating with five ways to say "I love you," albeit not in so many words:

Respecting Requests

Sometimes you see someone you care about doing something self-destructive, something you know there's no good way out of. And if that time comes, it's right of you to say something. But other times, you aren't the expert. And those are the times when you show love not by ignoring your partner's request, but by respecting it.

This is a difficult distinction to draw, because it obligates us to separate facts from biases. Are you worried because you recognize a genuine problem? Or because you think you're smarter and they can't make an educated choice without you? We knew, for example, that Herne would never be objectively "wiser" than Iris just because he's a demigod and she's a human. And that's a conflict that comes up in their relationship. They learn that, while it's understandable to be protective of each other, that's only worthwhile if the concern isn't colored by bias.

Thinking About Your Arguments

After a fight, all we want to do is forget that fight happened and go back to normal. Tempers were high, something set us off, but now it's over and we've apologized and we can just go back to business as usual. Right?

Sometimes that's true. We've all had some pretty ridiculous fights. But sometimes, the things that come out when we're heated tap into very real issues. And as nice as it would be to just smooth over it, it might be a sign that we've touched on something that needs addressing. Not in another fight, no — in personal reflection.

Ideally, we raise concerns maturely, especially with people we love. But boiling points can happen for a reason. If something good can come out of those moments, rather than just bottling it back up, all the better.

Trusting First

One of the first things we agreed on when writing Owl's Flower was that there would be no conflict or drama through misunderstanding. You know the kind: overhearing a piece of conversation, or seeing your SO standing next to someone else, and using those incomplete puzzle pieces to assume they're cheating or don't love you anymore. (Misunderstanding for the sake of comedy? Completely acceptable.)

Herne and Iris trust each other on that most basic of levels: that they won't be unfaithful, and that if ever one of them begins to fall out of love (though don't expect that), they'll be honest about it. So Iris catching the back half of a sentence, or Herne seeing her chatting with a cute guy, won't drive them into the depths of despair.

If your partner is the sort you need to suspect, there's a bigger problem at play. Give them the gift of trust; and if you can't, then you need to find out why.

Asking Questions

Speaking of trust, and assumptions, there's basically one solid way to communicate when you have a question: ask the question.

Don't understand why they react to something the way they do? Ask. Or at least ask if there's anything they want to talk about. Confused about something they said? Ask. And, as before... if you feel you can't, or if you really can't, then there's a bigger problem at play.

Iris, naturally, has a lot of questions about Herne. They're not necessarily following our advice at every turn here. But in this case, they will. Or they'll try. After all, there are still a lot of things about Herne, and his past, that he hasn't put out there yet.

Saying Nothing

We've all had times when a problem couldn't be solved with quick thinking, advice, action, or anything short of a magic wand. In those times, all we wanted was someone with us. The knowledge that we're not alone, that there's someone there for us, who can just be present. In those moments, sometimes saying nothing is the best way to say "I love you."

It's also one of the hardest things on this list to do.

We feel the need to fix things, especially for people we love. We want that answer. We want to have that magic wand. Admitting we don't, that some things aren't in our power, is important — as well as noting that that doesn't make us any less valuable to the people we care about. If we're only in their lives because they think we can engineer solutions to all their problems, that's... you know, a problem.

It's all right to not know. It's brave to admit you can't necessarily be your partner's complete hero at all times in all ways. You can still be what they need in the moment.

Here's hoping all our readers have a fantastic day. Spend it with your loved ones, your families, your friends, or a good book or favorite movie. Dumb Baby also recommends cookies... but he always does.

Five Ways We Stay Productive

As creators, we've got a lot on. In addition to working on Owl's Flower, we both have day jobs and passion projects — and in each of our cases, they're connected to what you already see us do. Ginger is a designer by day, and Kara does news and features around the web.

With all these different pieces floating around, it can be hard to stay focused and grounded. This book needs doing, but so does this shirt design. These articles are due next week, but so is a rough draft for this anthology. And sometimes, thanks to events in our lives or mood or just the weather, we don't want to do anything. So how do we keep rolling?

We each have our individual ways of focusing up at home, the office, or the home office. But here are a few methods we share in different ways. They aren't miracle cures, but they get the job done.

Take a Nap

Seriously. If you're procrastinating because you're tired and you have the freedom to lie down, do it. Even dropping down for ten minutes of shuteye will yield better results than attempting to push through. Just make sure you set an alarm and put it somewhere where you can't turn it off in your sleep!

Kara takes a cat nap during the work day if she starts to feel drowsy, and just those few minutes makes a difference.

Online Accountability

When you have someone to answer to, tasks can go a lot faster. If you're an artist or do something else that an audience might like to see, do like Ginger: set up a stream! Whether it's one friend watching or 100 fans, you now have people waiting to see what you do. Plus, if you're working on book illustrations or con merch, it's a great way to give people a sneak peek of what's to come!

Rewards, Not Prewards

Give yourself something to look forward to... and then don't move it up. Seriously. Leave it where it is: at the end of the day, or the end of the task, or wherever it's meant to be.

Maybe it's a snack. Maybe it's an episode of your favorite show. For Ginger and Kara, it's sometimes a round of Elder Scrolls Online. Either way, stick to whatever it is. Put a little note somewhere where you'll see it, reminding you what you're getting to. Even if it's just a cup of coffee.

Have a Killer Playlist

You know those songs that really make you feel awake and alive and good? Like you want to do something? Like you want to kick the sun? (Don't kick the sun, but you get the idea.) Put those in a playlist. Really narrow it down to the stuff that makes you feel on top of the world... or at least as close as you can manage.

Ginger's aforementioned streams will give you an idea of her taste in music — maybe you'll get some ideas during her next one! And if you're like Kara and can't work while listening to music with lyrics in it, Spotify has plenty of instrumental-only playlists just for the occasion.

Baby Steps and Forgiveness

One of the hardest things about getting your productivity on is dropping the ball. You make your tidy to-do list, you have your pretty hand-written planner, and your day is all planned out perfectly. But you oversleep, or something comes up, or you fall into your usual habits. That's okay — start smaller.

Pick one thing to make over in your day. Maybe there's one thing you always put off: cleaning, or a certain task at work. Spend a week getting that in check. Don't worry about the rest. Let it slide. Get this straight first. Then pick another thing.

And if you mess it up? That's okay. If you could just be organized or keep your schedule tamed after one go, setting goals wouldn't be a thing. We all have to try. Even the people who seem to be doing a whole lot. Heck, especially them.

Fix one thing about your schedule at a time, and try again if you mess it up. It sounds basic, but it's how Kara tames her writing deadlines, and it's how Ginger stays on track to make her merch and zines happen. And it's the step a lot of self-improvement sorts tend to skip in favor of magical solutions. 

Speaking of accountability, keep your eyes on us over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We've got more coming this year!

CREATOR WEEKLY WRAP-UP: Who Goodies from Our Creators!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic start to 2020! We're already hitting the ground running with personal projects and writing/illustrating work. Thanks for sticking with us into the new year!

For starters, Ginger has a new shirt in her shop. Inspired by Pip Madeley on Twitter, it's perfect gear for those of you who tried to go home and found that, once again, it's all gone to hell. Get your shirt now from her shop:

Plus, Kara's new book Vanishing Tales of the City is out in print! You've likely seen us mention this a fair bit over the previous weeks. It's part of Obverse Books' Anniversary Sextet, taking place in the City of the Saved and featuring Iris Wildthyme, Señor 105, members of Faction Paradox, and more. Get your copy now!

If you want to see more from both of us, be sure to follow Ginger @Kataoi and Kara @RubyCosmos on Twitter. We've always got something on, and will definitely have things of interest to our readers!

New Year's Resolutions from Owl's Flower

A new year — and a new decade! — starts next week. And with new beginnings on the calendar come an attempt at new beginnings for each of us. You don't have to wait until January 1 to make resolutions, but something about the feeling of a fresh start makes it easier to set your mind to it.

With that, Owl's Flower is making its own sets of resolutions! Here's how the characters are hoping to kick off the 2020s in a good way:

Herne

"I've never made resolutions myself until this year, but I've had time to see what works and what doesn't. It seems like big changes don't do as well as clear, personal ones. So in my case, I'm going to try and improve communication. Say things before they need to be said, so they're easier to talk about. That's a lot of ground to cover when I've had 400 years of life, but I can make a start."

Iris

"Better business! I've been researching trends to improve the company, and I'm making two major changes. For one, I'm going with American-made coffee. I've found a great company that I'm hoping to work with exclusively. And I'm trying to be more sustainable and eco-friendly, so look for us to use 100% recycled cups. (I swear that isn't because I'm dating a nature god. I came by it honestly.)"

Stormy

"New year's resolutions don't work. But if they did, I'd resolve to cut my spending on Domo Octi GachaGacha Matsuri. Not entirely. I'd still drop real money for major events and collabs, but not weekly deals."

-----

Speaking of the new year, both Ginger and Kara have good things coming... including the next Owl's Flower book! Keep your eyes on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and sneak peeks of what's to come!

RECIPES: Hot Cocoa a la Owl's Flower

It is really cold right now.

Kara's in Virginia, Ginger's in Illinois, and neither is warm. While we have our own preferences when it comes to warm-up drinks (Ginger prefers coffee, Kara prefers tea), we do agree on one thing: hot cocoa. As Ginger pointed out, it's sort of the happy medium between the two.

So while we're trying to regain some body heat, here are a few suggestions for hot cocoa variants you might find at Owl's Flower on cold days.

Herne's Honey Hot Cocoa

We already know from the first book that Herne loves Owl's Flower's specialty honey cookies. Mix in a spoonful of honey and a few drops of vanilla for a sweet variant. Bonus points if you use local honey: save a little for spring to help fight off allergies when the flowers start blooming again!

Gingerbread Hot Cocoa

After baking up sheets of gingerbread cookies for the shop, Iris gets a bit of a craving. There are a couple ways to go about this, the easiest being to use store-bought gingerbread spice. Mix a tablespoon per cup into your favorite hot cocoa mix. Alternatively, you can mix up equal parts cinnamon, ginger, and allspice for a do-it-yourself version. A little maple syrup or molasses really makes it work.

Peppermint Mocha

For the nights when you want something seasonal but also want to stay awake a little longer. Instead of water or milk, mix your cocoa of choice with coffee and a dash of milk. Then drop in a mini candy cane and let it melt for an extra dose of Christmas flavor.

Will you be trying any of these? What's your favorite stay-warm drink? You can always chat with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Herne and Iris's Guide to the Perfect Christmas

Christmas is just a couple weeks away! We're all scrambling to be prepared, find gifts for family and friends, and be good to ourselves in between errands. So how does William's Grove's favorite paranormal romantic couple keep their heads on straight during the holidays? Here are a few tips from Herne and Iris... they may not be applicable for more standard families, but you'll probably find some points of commonality in there somewhere.

1. Always defrost your nature god in the morning. If you're in a region where winters are especially cold, don't fret if your local nature-connected deity is a little chilly first thing. Blankets, heating pads, and a hot beverage of their choice will help thaw them out.

2. You don't have to make Every Cookie. It feels good to bring variety to the table, and baking is super fun. But if you're going to a cookie party, regular party, or just having a friend over, it's okay to stick to one or two types if you're already short on time. Iris has some sweet honey cookies that go over really well with Herne — the recipe is in our first book!

3. Consumable gifts are great gifts. It's nice to give things that last a lifetime, but things you can use up are just as appreciated! Consider gifting a favorite coffee or tea blend, a gift card to their favorite restaurant or shop, or tickets to a show they'd like. (Have we mentioned how great cookies are?)

4. Start a new tradition. Are you accustomed to taking trips out of town on the holidays, but currently dating an immortal demigod who needs to stay close to home to ensure the smooth change of seasons? Try a festive event closer to home! As fun as traditions are, times and people change; and integrating new festivities in with the usual can be just as fun.

5. Take time for yourself. And your loved ones, of course. If getting everything Absolutely Perfect is cutting into the time you actually get to spend with family and friends, it might be time to take a few hours off. Watch some movies, eat some cookies. Eat a lot of cookies.

6. Ghost stories are totally festive. No, really. It used to be much more of a thing. When you're looking for something to do on a dark and chilly evening, share your favorite scary stories with a friend!

7. Remember what comes first. You don't want to be exhausted, angry, or stressed when the big day rolls around; you want to be able to enjoy it. If that means sitting at home with your SO watching Hallmark movies and drinking hot cocoa instead of having an elaborately decorated tree, so be it. If that means buying ready-made dinners instead of working in the kitchen, go for it. What matters is being together in the darkest part of winter and making it a happy time!

An old Christmas story... and things to come?

When we were first kicking off Owl's Flower, we wanted to give readers a little extra something between the first and second book. Christmas was incoming, so over the course of that December, we did a three-part story about Herne and Iris's first Christmas together.

If you missed it, no worries! You can still read it here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

As we move toward Book 3 (and there will be more news on that soon — follow our Twitter for potential sneak peeks!), we're also looking at the future of the site, the shop, and how we do things in general. The first book will always be free to download, and future ebooks will always be at pay-what-you-want pricing (albeit more conveniently before long!).

Eventually we'd like to do more in-between short stories (as in short-short, like what you see above). If that's the kind of thing you'd like to see on our blog for special occasions, be sure to let us know! In the meantime, we're looking forward to Christmas and hope all of you are, too. Stay warm and toasty!

BONUS RECIPE: Potato Stuffing

If you've read our first two books, you know that they come with recipes in the back. (And if you haven't read them... they come with recipes in the back!) The first two feature custom-made dishes by Angela Pritchett, but our third will will have something a bit different: a recipe that, in the story, comes from Iris's cat-having neighbor Ms. Waters.

In reality, the recipe comes from a Lebanese cookbook made by the women of St. George's Orthodox Church in Charleston, WV — in other words, the church built by Kara's family! We're looking forward to giving this family recipe (and perhaps others) a new life with new people. And today, with Thanksgiving around the corner, we thought we'd share another recipe from Kara's family.

This is an old favorite: a mashed potato-based stuffing whose recipe was passed down from Kara's great-grandmother. Does that mean it's a traditional Lebanese dish? Not quite... that's the impression we got at first, but it turned out great-grandma got it from a New England cookbook. Regardless... it's a family recipe, it's delicious, and you should all get to try it.

Here you go!

Ingredients
- 4 lbs. potatoes, peeled and mashed
- 3 cups cracker crumbs*
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 chopped white onion
- 1 egg
- Dash nutmeg
- Salt to taste

Directions

1. Add cracker crumbs a bit at a time to mashed potatoes in a large pot.

2. Add butter, celery, onion, and egg. Mix well.

3. Add nutmeg and salt to taste.

4. Divide the mixture. You should have enough to stuff a decent-sized turkey and to bake in a casserole dish.

* If you're crushing up the cracker crumbs yourself, use unsalted crackers.

Short Story Deities and Where to Find Them

We've made no secret of the fact that there will be new deities from all around the world coming into our future books. Book 3 (in progress), for example, will be pulling from Mediterranean and Far East traditions... and there may already be some lurking around under the radar!

But if you're looking for a little variety now, we've got a couple of young upstarts in the Owl's Flower universe. We've talked about them before on the blog, but if you're new here, this is your chance to catch up!

Each of the two stories in question is in a different publication, so you'll need to travel past our site to find them. And in one case — at least for now — you'll need to be quick!

Clare ("Clarity," Relics)

Clare was our first venture outside Herne and Iris's circle for an Owl's Flower universe story. She's also our first look at how deities are born, following her beginning as she comes into being and attempts to search out her purpose.

Like other new and inexperienced deities, Clare looks like a youngster. But, as we learn in her story (and as Herne has told Iris), a deity's physical age is generally relative to their experience and knowledge. Also, not everyone who runs around in this pantheon is benevolent; and the idea of nabbing a fresh deity with no idea what her purpose is would be appealing to some.

You can read Clare's story in Relics from Red Ted Books.

Masudah ("Kill the Cat," Unearthed)

There are two ways deities can come into being in the Owl's Flower universe. Like Clare, they can pop into existence when a need for them arises. Or, like, Masudah, they can be ascended mortals. Masudah was a seemingly unimportant boy in Ancient Egypt who, through an unfortunate accident and surprising circumstances, was elevated to the position of a god of curiosity.

Masudah's story also brings into play something the main series of books will be addressing before long: red tape. We all deal with it, and deities are no exception. Masudah's problems are exacerbated by his willingness to not play along when offered an opportunity to protect his position. Who makes that offer?... They'll be coming around in a later book.

Masudah's story is currently available in the charity anthology Unearthed from Altrix Books... but only for a little while! Unearthed will soon be going out of print to make way for Altrix's next charity title. However, we might (read: probably will) include Masudah's story in a later publication.

Will there be any further look-ins from gods on the fringe? We'll let you know as soon as we do!

OUTSIDE OWL'S FLOWER: A New Doctor Who Zine!

Unsurprisingly, our readers are a bit into Doctor Who — in large part because both of our creators are! So you can expect to see us in charity anthologies, zines, and the occasional official/spinoff release. At the moment, sales for Ginger's third solo-run zine (fourth she's staffed) are underway, and a few friends of Owl's Flower (and the other creator) are involved!

A Pile of Good Things is raising funds for the Cancer Research Institute with a shiny new zine and merch bundle dedicated to Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. 28 artists (including Ginger) and nine writers (including Kara) brought their interpretations of the Time Lord to the page.

So what will you find inside? Ginger's piece remembers everyone's favorite Impossible Girl in multiple forms. Kara's story introduces the Doctor and Clara to a suspicious cult that specialized in magical light. Altrix Books co-owner Paul Driscoll imagines a lonely post-Pond 11 as a Victorian bird fancier, and Sophie Iles contributes art of the same time frame. Managlitch City Underground creator Michael O'Brien mixes some Trek-ish tones with temporal confusion. And our friend William J. Martin is all about the eyebrows.

You can get the zine alone, or with a merch bundle that includes charms, a patch, a pin, prints, a bookmark, and a lanyard. Or you can get just the merch bundle, or you can get just the pin. Lots of options.

Long-time followers of our work will remember that Ginger's last two zines raised approximately $4,000 combined for various charities. Why not help us make it three? If you're a fan of Owl's Flower you'll be getting Kara's writing and Ginger's art in an exclusive new venue. You'll also get to discover new artists and writers along the way!

Zines are on sale for a limited time at rathzem.com — then they're gone. Don't miss out!

A Nature God's Guide to Changing Seasons

Art by Ginger Hoesly from Owl's Flower Book 2: Ghost Fall.

When we first designed Herne, we pulled from a variety of sources —not just in terms of his general appearance, but also when it came to how he "dresses." He had to wear something when he was gallivanting around in the forest because we wanted to, you know, depict him. We knew it would likely be very leafy, whatever it was... one of Kara's early suggestions resembled the Night Elf Druid starter outfit from World of Warcraft (fortunately for us all it didn't remain that way):

Readers will know that Herne ended up with a leafy green toga-style deal that grows up around him as necessary. But the leaves change. So what happens when the leaves aren't green?

Simple: autumn toga.

If you've read Ghost Fall (and if you haven't, you can pay what you want for a digital copy or pick it up in print!), you'll have seen the first example of Herne's look changing with the seasons. When the leaves turn, so does his getup. But that's not where it stops.

Our upcoming third book takes place in winter — right around Valentine's Day to be exact. Iris learns, as do we all, that even Herne's day-to-day look is affected by changes in season. Well, it makes sense; nature is his domain, so he'll reflect it and vice-versa. How exactly that manifests, you'll get to see when book 3 comes out. We're both pretty fond of it.

For now, get caught up on our first two books so you'll be ready when the third lands! And enjoy the changing leaves!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Ineffable Charms and Upcoming Conventions!

This week, Ginger is releasing some heavenly merch in her store, and Kara's making some 2020 plans!

First up, Good Omens fans will want to check out Ginger's store today as she's putting out new designs inspired by Crowley and Aziraphale (and their love of sushi!). Prints are available for order, and charms are available for pre-order (provided minimum orders are met).

Meanwhile, keep your options open in 2020, as Kara has plans to be present at two conventions so far! More information will be forthcoming on which and when, and hopefully there will be some good Owl's Flower rep at both. Stay tuned!

BEHIND THE SCENES: New Pins and... We're Okay!

Hello again, readers!

First off, just a quick note to let everyone know that Hurricane Dorian has come as close as it's going to come to Kara's place in Hampton Roads. There was some wind and a bit of flooding, but otherwise it wasn't much cause for concern. If you or your loved ones are anywhere in the path of Dorian, please stay safe and look after yourselves.

Ginger has turned her "Thank God and Scotland" shirt design into a pin! A limited number are available, so if you're interested, be sure to grab one now. They turned out looking great, and they have two pins and nice safe backs so you can display it on a jacket or bag without fear of losing it.

She's got lots of other pins, shirts, prints, and more in her shop, so be sure to check it out! It's a great way to get your hands on some Ginger originals if you're an Owl's Flower fan; plus, as it's her own shop and not hosted through a third party, you know exactly where your money is going.

There's more on the horizon, including an upcoming charity anthology and some other cool stuff. So keep an eye on our blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Books, Podcasts, and More to Come!

Applications have closed for Ginger's next zine, and now she gets to lurk in the darkness of her inbox as she chooses who will be working on A Pile of Good Things. As she does that, here are a few other things to keep an eye on.

Kara has made an appearance on You and Who Talking to chat with J.R. Southall! You can hear a reading of one of her essays, along with a chat that covers everything from British TV to Doctor Who fandom to, of course, Owl's Flower.

Listen here!

Plus, Kara's in a new anthology! Sockhops & Seances comes from 18th Wall, and features spooky stories set in the 1950s. Kara leads off the collection with "Son of the Wolf," a tale of seaside amusement parks, haunted roller coasters, and a girl named Heck. You'll see other familiar authors in the book, too!

Buy Sockhops & Seances

More continues under the radar. Thanks as always for your support! We're looking to move our shop to a different layout before long, and we'll make sure to warn everyone when that happens.

BEHIND THE SCENES: A Birthday, a Shop, and Last Call for Zine Applications!

Kind of terrifyingly, it's a new month already! Both of us are surviving the summer, working away on the next book and other projects we're looking forward to sharing. Thanks as always for keeping an eye on what we're up to!

This weekend is Ginger's birthday, so feel free to embarrass her online if you happen to see this. They'll kill time while her gifts get shipped to her.

Speaking of Ginger, she's moved her shop over to a personal page. Things are still being put together there, but you can browse her goods, including brand new shirts for those days when you've 'bout had it with social media.

Finally, you have until August 5 to apply to A Pile of Good Things, the next charity zine from RaThZEm! (It's fun typing those random capitals.) Writers and artists are being accepted - writers, you don't have to have a pitch ready, just have a link to some previous work! Apply here!

We'd tell you what Kara's up to, but she's still not allowed to go into it yet. Soon. Eventually. Hopefully.