January 9, 2026
Lots of dark nights for the characters in the various short stories here. That’s not always a bad thing. Grab your copy of Permission to Enter and see what I mean.
In fact, over here, it’s a darn GOOD one.
My neighbors have turned off their Christmas lights, which means their lights aren’t illuminating my bedroom!
Always a day for celebration. My dark nights have returned.
Hopefully there will be more celebrating today, as I took Lucy Cat to the vet for a check of her bloodwork, to see if we need to adjust her medicines. It’s a tough dance that we’re doing with Lucy Cat. I continue to call her Most Systems Fail. Jake Cat and Freya Cat are continuing to get to know each other. Jake and Lucy? Already done, and hilariously so. Lucy Cat is the QUEEN. That’s all there is to that. Jake doesn’t seem to mind.
I did finish the first read-through yesterday and, as always, am in heaven. Love this author. Love these books.
I’ll be typing in my notes and then starting the second read-through today.
Only one other manuscript in the queue! Send me your work to be edited! I need it! I want it!
I forgot to look at the actual word count yesterday, but I’m still working on that difficult scene, and it’s going well. I know I met my goal, which was to flip to 27,000 and change and I know I got up to 27,400 and change, but I do not know what I started at.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m writing and working. I’m finding Eden to be a difficult character because she is so scarred by her upbringing and her marriage. She’s got plenty of her own dark nights, compounded by the way she’s compentent and strong one minute and submissive and retiring the next. The good news is that the people around her see it and some call her on it.
The tigers, of course, don’t care.
Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley
Yep, those are affiliate links, so use ’em with wanton abandon. Kind of like the way I’ve been sleeping.
Oh, give me those sweet, sweet dark nights.
January 8, 2026
Yep, Trevor’s whiny. This should not surprise anyone. Grab a copy of Trevor’s Song — there’s only one left in print, so ask me for it! — and see what I mean. Dude takes some warming up to.
So why am I whiny?
It’s not because this morning, Freya Cat hissed at Jake Break Cat, who wants to make friends with her. She’d like you to think that’s what’s behind my mood, in the hopes you’ll feel sorry for her, but nope. I was expecting her to need time.
It’s my interfaith class. Whenever we’re put into small groups and asked to discuss how the issues of the day affect Pittsburgh specifically, the people in my group talk about the national situation — and it’s clear where they get their information from, and that they only know to wring their hands and cry passionately about wanting someone to do something.
I’ve worked really hard to curate social media feeds that show me the people who are doing things — and who are succeeding. Yes, things still suck. Yes, problems exist. But what would happen if more people were armed with, “Yes, but did you see THIS win? And this one?” (Note: I am particularly bad at thinking of those wins — or anything — on the fly.)
So long as we keep talking about the shit, the bad guys keep winning. But once we flip the narrative and focus on their failures, our victories will mount.
Look at any fantasy novel and tell me the heroes don’t gain empowerment from their victories. The blueprint’s right there: You keep going, keep fighting, keep finding the victories no matter how small.
So, yeah. I’m whiny this morning. I need some time lost in a good edit. You know: Where things seem bleak but the heroes know they’ve got this because look at what they’ve done up to now.
I had a kick-ass day yesterday. Pages melted away. Now, I expect that from this author; their developmental editor is one of the best in the business.
I might finish this read-through today. We’ll see.
I have one after it in the queue, so this is me putting it out into the universe that I am ready for more work!
Because I had class last night — and got home SUPER late, and Freya Cat ate too fast and puked it all back up, which was FUN (I warned you I’m whiny!) — I didn’t get a lot of writing in. Just a couple hundred words, but the characters are having an interesting, thoughtful discussion and it’s that thoughtfulness that has me going slowly.
Lucy Cat has a vet appointment tonight, so we’ll see how much writing I get done.
I was invited to another local book event. This one’s in April, so stay tuned for more details about that. There’s lots coming down the pike, starting with:
* I’m teaching a class at Blythe Books on January 18. It sold out or I’d encourage you to help me meet a 2026 goal of selling out the classes I teach. (Okay, it’s full, since it’s a free class. But whatever. All the seats are full.)
* February 7 is the next Plot Twist event at Velum Fermentation.
* March 22 is DelaConn. Yep, Sooz is headed to Delaware! There are only sixteen of us authors, so come on out and plan to hang and chat. I’m told this is a show that’s a lot of fun for both author and reader, because of its small size.
* April 12 is the release party for Stray! It’ll be held at Blythe Books, of course (reminder that you can order my books online these days; they’re not on the shelves anymore). More details to come and again, a 2026 goal of mine is to sell it out.
Gabriela and His Grace, by Liana De la Rosa
Those two are affiliate links, and your use of them will help me meet another 2026 goal!
With all these 2026 goals I’m mentioning today, why am I so whiny again?
Meh. Doesn’t matter. Like a fantasy novel, the only thing that matters is the wins and how you build on them to the eventual triumph.
January 7, 2026
Everyone loves Sir Ginger!
He bites more than throws a good hiss, though. Just one of the things that makes him loveable.
As for me, I was awakened half an hour early this morning by a hiss from Freya Cat. She and New Cat Jake Break were playing footsie under the door, I guess, and something scared her. I got up to make sure everything was okay and Freya, that goofball, went right back to interacting with Jake through the door.
Believe it or not, this is a fantastic sign. Another few days of this — like, four — hopefully without the hisses and I’ll be able to introduce them through a crack in the door. Since they are going to be lifelong friends, I’m taking this as slow as I can stand it, and slower now that they’re interacting.
Monday’s migraine hadn’t fully left me alone yesterday, so I maybe wasn’t as productive as I’d wanted to be. I’m honestly not tracking page numbers or progress, so I couldn’t tell you for certain. I am more than halfway through, which is perfect.
I have one more in the queue, and then nothing, so now is a REALLY good time to reach out and get yourself an edit by me.
I keep writing myself into the same corner, which should be telling me about something rattling around my subconscious. Hmm.
But I think I’ve figured it out, so onward. I didn’t quite get a thousand words in last night, but I did have adventures with Lucy Cat and Jake Break last night, and then more fun with the cats at dinnertime. I was laughing hard by the time I went to bed. The cats are going to keep me busy for a bit yet.
I don’t think my next shipment of books will be here by January 18, which is when I’m teaching at Blythe Books. The deal was I’d bring some to sell to any interested class participants, but… they haven’t even started printing yet, and I use media mail, so… Now I have to sweat their arrival for the next event, The Plot Twist held at Velum Fermentation. That’s February 7, though, so we should be good.
If you’re in Pittsburgh, be sure to stop by! I will have a special goodie for anyone who buys the first two Tales from the Sheep Farm books.
Snoopers and Sneakers, by Cristina Rouvalis and Lydia Wayman
Yes, these are affiliate links. Yes, Cristina and Lydia are members of the West of Mars Author Collective and are my friends. But I needed a cat book that fit the criteria and it’s the obvious answer. Not sure why or how? Go grab a copy and see for yourself!
Don’t hiss at anyone today. It’s not polite.
January 6, 2026
Trevor can induce some migraines; he was such a fun character to write. He didn’t, however, induce mine yesterday.
It was about 3:30 or so and I got HIT. It started off in my right eyebrow, that general area, and arced down into my cheek, occupying both sinus cavities around my eye. Is this a Body Remembers moment, since ten years ago, I was dealing with the bike accident, or was the weather changing, or… both? Something else?
I don’t know, and I’m not sure it matters.
But I was in the middle of a takeover for DelaConn, the book convention I’ll be attending March 22, and had to make apologies for not finishing what I was doing. And, sadly, I’m not much better today.
I got in a full day of editing before the migraine hit; I was pushing for extra pages since I was putting off going to the bank. This edit isn’t tricky! Not in the usual ways, anyway. This is a straightforward proofread and of course the danger with those is that you can lull yourself into complacency. Clean proofreads can be their own kind of tricky.
I’m telling you… calling it a tricky proofread means I have to make sure I’m on my game. And it demands that I give it my best and not get complacent with it.
I am, however, a bit concerned about my head and how much I’ll get done today. Having a migraine sucks.
I have another one waiting for me after this one, and then… my schedule is clear? This is not good.
Mostly, I wasn’t able to write last night. My head hurt too badly.
Interestingly, when I was sitting with Jake Cat — he had his first meet and greet with Lucy Cat, and it went exactly as expected, with noses meeting and then Lucy growling to establish that she’s the queen and Jake not caring and then him watching Lucy investigate his room and his new banana, which she really liked — I was better able to write although the migraine by that point was squeezing my entire brain. So I’ve now crossed the 25k mark (again) in the sanctuary book and I think it’s coming together better.
I’m waiting on my restocking order and worried it won’t show up in time for the class I’m teaching at Blythe Books this month. The class is sold out, so if you thought you’d like to take a class from me, you’ll have to wait for the next one. If you’d like me to come to you and teach, reach out. I’m glad to see what we can work out.
Summer in the City, by Alex Aster
Like usual, these are affiliate links, so use them as you will. I’d love to see affiliate links help me reach my financial goal this year. Help a girl out?
January 5, 2026
Go back and visit some of my oldest short stories (I suppose Demo Tapes 1 would be the oldest), why don’t you? I keep singling out Broken and Undaunted, but Mannequin is in there, and The Taste of Pink Snow, and the Ghost of the Dresser, and…
I hope your break was restful and re-energizing!
Mine was… and wasn’t.
I adopted a cat.
I adopted a formerly feral cat. Again. Only, this one is more feral than Freya was, and he didn’t have my daughter helping smooth the introductions. I think we’re going to see him make friends with Lucy and Freya Cats before he makes friends with me. And that’s okay! He is here to be Freya’s friend, to play with her so she will hopefully stop jumping on Lucy so much.
Otherwise, it was a good break. I didn’t write enough, but I also didn’t push myself. I cleaned the house–especially the room Jake Cat is now in. I baked. I slept in, I worked out, I just took it easy.
And then my new edit showed up and I’m already deep into it. Can’t keep this editor down!
I have GOALS for 2026. I do. Unfortunately, they’re the sort of goals that’ll only get met if I have help… by expanding my client base and working harder and better, especially at that task of spreading my name far and wide.
Let’s do this.
Anyway, like I said, the edit arrived on Friday and I got to work. As usual, the first day back was scattered, but Saturday, I got a few good, focused chapters in.
We’ll see how today goes, but I’m also doing an author takeover at Facebook, in conjunction with the DelaConn multi-author signing.
I wish I could tell you I made serious tracks and wrote tens of thousands of words over my break. But… I mean, it was a break for a reason. Yes, I take my laptop with me when I go sit with Jake and let him get used to the idea that I’m his new human.
I am definitely more limping along with the writing right now. I’m trying to tell myself that’s okay, even as I gear up for the cover release of Stray. Once the cover’s out, the preorders will follow!
However, it’s time for my writing to come back. I decree it.
My next in-person event is February 11, The Plot Twist will return to Velum Fermentation, and I will have a fun goodie for the first ten people who buy the Bird and Populated together!
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, by Jen Ferguson Also, the end of January will mark the end of the first year of The Book of the Day Project. Why not stroll back through the archives and find a new-to-you book that’s all but guaranteed to piss off the idiots in charge?
This is your usual reminder that these two links are affiliates, and I get a few pennies from your use of them. It’s so easy to support a fellow creative! What are you waiting for?
December 23, 2025
Can’t sleep? Me, either. Keep yourself amused all night with a nice collection of short stories. Broken but Undaunted.
Maybe it was because I got home late from my dinner group. Maybe it was just frustration with one member who, when she shows up, dominates the conversation to the point that most of the rest of us can’t open our mouths. But I am sore and achy today and tried a new tea blend and it tasted like grass and so now I have tea to rehome.
And I have to finish this edit already. I’ve been working on it most of the month.
I’m at the point where I’m begging you to not use AI in your books. This manuscript is a MESS. Instead of making life easier for me and the author, I’m growing increasingly concerned they’re going to have to scrap the whole thing and start over.
I have 75 pages left and it’s just been a nightmare. I’m sputtering in despair.
Between the need to finish this edit, cook for dinner group, and clean the house before I left — and then getting home basically in time to feed the cats — there wasn’t any writing happening. It’s important to get out of the house, but on mornings like this, I have regrets.
All my stuff’s still on sale at Smashwords, and the Tales from the Sheep Farm books are for sale across all retailers. Go get ’em.
Looking for Smoke, by KA Cobell
As usual, those last two are affiliate links, but any link on this page will take you to a good way to support me if you think about it. And stretch your imagination a little bit.
I will probably take off between now and the new year. I need the break, although I have more editing to do before I can take a full break. No more sputtering spurts of sleep for me.
December 22, 2025
I definitely said, “Time to finish this baby up” about the Complete Demo Tapes. I’m saying it now about Stray, too; I can’t wait to see what my designer does with the cover, and I can’t wait to start the presale hype.
And… I am definitely saying that this week, as I long for a bit of a break, but have to finish up this project and then edit a short story first.
It doesn’t help that I went out both Saturday and Sunday, both times for things literary. (I thought I was done with deductible expenses, but apparently not!) It was just nice to… be. To explore. To meet new people and think things that aren’t book-related. And even when they were book-related, I wasn’t doing them alone. It makes a difference.
I’d really like to finish this edit that wasn’t nearly as straightforward as it first appeared. I have 110 pages left, so a good day today and tomorrow (although I do have to either quit a bit early or take some longer breaks to cook for my dinner group tonight) and I should be able to get it back to the author, hopefully in a workable shape.
Not all experiments go well or produce the desired outcomes.
And then I have a short story to edit, and I am DONE. That one will be a quick proofread. No shenanigans.
The sales on my books continue! Use the link above. Smashwords still has the best sales and prices.
If you want/need print copies of my books, hit up Blythe Books, as always. They’re my OG store, and while I expect to be expanding into other stores in 2026, the Blythe team remains kind of my home base.
Speaking of Blythe, don’t forget, you Pittsburgh people, that I’ll be teaching a class there on January 18. It’s aimed at beginning writers, and it’s all about four steps to take to begin to get yourself established. It’ll be fun. And last I checked, the three spots for private consultation with me are still available. They’re $20 each, and it’s the only payment the store or I am getting for the time involved–unless you buy books while you’re there–so have at it.
Marisol Acts the Part, by Elle Gonzalez Rose
Like usual, those are both affiliate links, so use ’em and know you’re supporting a bunch of small businesses. That’s how it ought to be. Finish your dealings with the billionaires where and how you can!
December 19, 2025
A weekend is probably all you need to get through the stories in Broken but Undaunted.
I don’t need the weekend so much as I need the gift of being able to sleep in. I’ll be working through a lot of this upcoming weekend, trying to get this edit done and fix all its issues. I was going to take the rest of the year off, but a client sent on a short story, so I’ll work on that and then take the rest of the year off.
I’ve had to do a LOT of unexpected work with this one. I’m okay with assistive AI, but this crossed lines and erased authorial voices, among other problems.
And I marvel at how BAD a lot of books must be for the AI to think this is good writing. Sheesh, people. Hire an editor. Work on your craft. Good enough isn’t a thing in fiction writing. It really isn’t.
As I said, I have a short story waiting for me if I ever get done with this. All the cross-referencing to make sure I’ve got details straight and am fixing the narrative voices. (And yes, em-dashes are a HUGE problem and again, WORK ON YOUR CRAFT.)
I’m breaking into new areas of thought with the sanctuary book, and liking it.
Related: My notes are an absolute mess. I need to fix that.
My books are still on sale! Go get ’em at your favorite retailer, but again, the best deals are at Smashwords. Maybe think about shopping at Smashwords more often? You can get all the ebook formats you’d like, and you’re supporting small businesses while you’re there.
Of course, don’t forget about Bookshop.org. Still not good enough? Go to Blythe Books and order yourself an autographed copy of the Sheep Farm books.
One last writing note: My cover designer was in touch and although I had asked for the cover for Stray in enough time and by following the rules for once, emergencies forced my designer to run late and I told her to take her planned vacation and get the cover done in the new year. Yes, I’m disappointed. Yes, I’m angry that people who made bad decisions about their own designers and then ran to mine for help in an emergency caused me to get shoved aside (again; I swear, if anyone ever gets shoved aside, it’s me). Yes, I’m dying to have this cover so I can get my promotions in gear and include the cover on my new materials. Yes, I won’t get the presale up until I have the cover. Yes, yes, yes, and I’m FRUSTRATED.
Gonna chill over the weekend. I swear it.
In between all this editing work.
All Roads Lead to Rome, by Yamile Saied Mendez
As usual, those two above links are affiliate links, so thanks for using them. Every bit helps.
December 18, 2025
As I sit here and think about it (and eat Saltines), I’m realizing that the concept of home plays a big role in all of my books. Mack wants to return to his ancestral home. Delia wants a new home, away from the one she was raised in. Taylor of course is locked in a home for a number of weeks. And Chad… Chad needs a lot of homes, in a lot of different ways.
And then there’s Sima.
The interesting thing is that Saving Sima isn’t actually Sima’s book. (Hers is Stray, coming in April) It’s Vassily’s, and he doesn’t even know he’s searching for a home. Well, once his apartment building burns, he knows. But deep down? That’s what he’s seeking the most: the stability of home, the appreciation and unconditional love that he never thought he deserved.
So there you go. Five books. Five different looks at the concept of home.
Home is on my mind this morning because yesterday, I spent the day away from my desk and had lunch and a work session with my buddy, author Cori Wamsley — and to retrieve my fountain pen (TWSBI Eco in smoke gray/rose gold trim, F) after it took a swan dive out of my bag. (From now on, it rides in my cash bag. Who’s not nauseatingly careful with their cash bag?)
It’s good to have my pen back here with me, and not just because it was a gift from my kids. I acquire my pens slowly, and each has meaning. Color, nib size, writing experience and more all come into play when I make a purchase, but so does the reason. That’s the pen I bought to celebrate this milestone.
I may not be here anymore one day, but I hope my kids will take my pen collection and use them as a way to remember and celebrate me.
“A day away from my desk” means that I got little to no editing done yesterday. I’ll be at my desk over the weekend (around the rescheduled cat event at a local bookstore) to make up for it and get this back to its author.
Honestly, I’d thought I’d be done by now, but oof, the interruptions this month!
Just plodding along… I had plenty of time last night, but was distracted beyond belief.
One thing I’ve noticed is that I’ve been able to sit and read for longer periods without reaching for my phone. (It helps that I was reading The Book Thief, which was excellent.) I think maybe I need to turn social media off on my laptop again and see if that makes the difference in my writing attention span, too. Getting lost in what I’m writing has become a scarce phenomenon.
I did set up a book signing! It’s for May 9, the day before Mother’s Day, and it’s at All About Books with TLC in Canonsburg. I’ll send out plenty of reminders, but I’ll also be skewing the day’s marketing toward the idea of mothers. Mack, Tess, Delia, and the Shaikovsky clan all have strong mothers and good relationships with them. Chad loves his mother, possibly more than he loves anyone else (but once Sir Ginger arrives, anything goes).
So, yes. I write good mother-child relationships. And in the case of Delia, mother-daughter-in-law relationships.
I’m sure my therapists would tell you it’s because I’m trying to give my characters things I did not have in my own life.
The House of Broken Angels, by Luis Alberto Urrea
As per usual, those last two links are affiliate links, so have at ’em and help a girl out.
Talk to you tomorrow! My goal is 50 edited pages today… let’s see if I can do it!
December 17, 2025
I’m meeting an author buddy today for a variety of reasons, and all of them are work related. I’m giving up a day at my desk to hopefully help her further her career.
I have other meetings this week, too, but I’m probably skipping tomorrow’s — again — because there’s still an edit on my desk and it still needs to get done and back to its author. I’ve spent too long on it already.
But this edit turned very tricky, and I’m not saying that because it’s a good catch-all for a project that has a few unexpected twists and turns. In this case, the author tried a new tool and it backfired in a major way and I’ve got to put it all back together.
If you think about it, though, approaching every edit as being tricky means not only do I take it seriously and do my best to be absolutely thorough, but I stay on guard for things I hadn’t picked up on in the earlier going.
I have a LOT of notes so far. There will be more.
The nice thing about taking a break from direct selling is that I can stoke some of the other irons I’ve got in the fire. I’m holding meetings to help others? This is also my time to help myself!
Stay tuned for word of those changes. Improvements. Expansions.
I’m also still working on my own fiction. Y’all need new stuff to read. I swear, I used to be more productive than I have been lately, and I don’t know what the problem is, unless it’s simply burnout. It could be.
And since I haven’t mentioned it in a bit, here’s a reminder that I’m part of a multi-author giveaway. ONE lucky reader will win 15 print books, all women’s fiction. To enter, you just have to sign up for author newsletters… and this is the perfect time to sign up for mine, as you’ll get this year’s newsletter subscriber-only free short story, “Origins: Delia and Meter”… and then in two weeks (not even!), you’ll get the NEW for 2026 short story, too!
Here’s the link again. Go enter.
Last, if you’ve missed it, ALL my books are on sale at Smashwords, and there are better deals here than at the other retailers, including my own direct store! But if you’d rather support the big guys, you can. I’m trying very hard to respect that choice.
Man Made Monsters, by Andrea L. Rogers
Per usual, those are affiliate links, and your use of them benefits me with a few pennies, for which I thank you. Every bit in our pockets and not the pockets of billionaires is always a good thing.
Have a good day, and if you’re stuck in meetings, may they be worth your time.
December 16, 2025
Trevor’s life definitely comes to a hard stop. Grab a copy; it’s in ebook only form (I do have one print copy left!) and free for the Smashwords End of Year Sale!
Ouch. If yesterday’s intent had only materialized…
It was a lousy work day, interrupted by a trip with Freya Cat to see the vet — and although I’d asked to see my usual vet, somehow I was told I was going to, but was scheduled with another? Still, she was a wonderful vet and for Freya, who doesn’t have the issues the Lucy does, it was fine. Always good to get to know another vet on the team, too, just in case.
And apparently the usual vet speaks well of me!
(I’m just thrilled he knows who I am!)
One other whine: in all that, I didn’t make a plan for dinner and was frustrated when it came time to actually cook and eat something. Go figure! I do have a plan for today, so there’s that.
So, yeah. It wasn’t a great day for working. My cleaning help was also here, and that’s another distraction… Some days are like that.
(Today is going to have a slow start, as it’s massage day. And tomorrow, I have a work meeting and won’t be at my desk much, either.)
This is where the REAL hard stop hit. My laptop rebooted and even though I am a compulsive saver, it reverted my sanctuary book file to an earlier version and I lost like 3k words. For real?
For real.
Yeah.
Like I said. Hard stop.
But I’ve had thoughts about the overall story and where I want it to go and what I want it to be, and so I just went back to the beginning and am going to work on incorporating those changes. But still.
ALL the books are still on sale. Every retailer, but the best deals are at Smashwords.
Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy and Tortillas, by Eliza Kinkz (author and illustrator)
I picked an open tab at random, and this book is what showed up and if it’s not absolutely perfect after yesterday, I don’t know what is!
Reminder that these two links are affiliates, so go and help me earn a few pennies.
December 15, 2025
SO much to do this week, and a million interruptions every day, too. I’m trying to cross stuff off my various lists, but when I do, it just spawns new stuff. Just… aargh.
Plus I’m trying to get this edit done. I had meant to work over the weekend, but honestly, I needed the break. So I took it.
I’m still thinking of taking a break when I finish this one and until the one set to arrive around January 1 arrives, even though I have one here. I’d have to put it down when the Jan. 1 edit arrives because that one’s on a tight deadline, so maybe I should take the bulk of the week to sleep late, be a slug, and get some stuff done around the house. I could use some forward motion in that regard, too.
Got lots of words in, but not on the sanctuary book. On some other things. I needed it and it felt good, so that’s a win. Sometimes, I need to play with something else. And I spent yesterday on a deep dive into the story that will be my freebie in 2027 for newsletter subscribers. I worked on the standalone a bit, getting deeper into Priscilla’s character and her trauma. (that wasn’t easy) And I played with this piece I’ve been flirting with, that may be another book in the Delia and the Shaikovskys track of the Sheep Farm stories. AND I got words in on the Sanctuary book.
Lots of wins there.
I also had an okay ad return… not even close to earning what it (or any of the ads) cost me, which is a bummer. My goal remains to earn $100 through this sale, once royalties are paid out, and I am regrettably FAR away from that. I could use some help, friends!
The Book of Candles, by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Leanne Hatch
As usual, these last two links are affiliate links. While using them won’t go directly toward recouping the cost of the ads I’ve been running, it still helps out. And, of course, I appreciate the help right now.
Onward. Forward. To a better day, to good books, and to just good forward motion.
December 12, 2025
Lunch today probably won’t change my life so drastically. I’m meeting Beck Grey and Doug Solter, who are both names you should recognize if you hang out here for any length of time. They’re part of the West of Mars Author Collective and we’ve become good friends. Lunch happens fairly often for the three of us.
Otherwise, it’s going to be a hopefully quiet weekend around here.
I didn’t get as far yesterday as I’d wanted to, falling 18 pages short of my goal, so I’ll be finishing this first read-through on Saturday. It turned very tricky on me, with an author’s aid that went feral and now I have to fix that mess. The story, though, is fantastic and reminds me of books I’ve worked on for other clients, and that’s actually a compliment!
Depending on when I finish this and get it back to the author, I may take a break until the new year. Or I may not, since I have a manuscript here and waiting for me. I am expecting something around the first of the year, though, so the timing is everything. And frankly, I could use a break where I don’t even pretend to be employed. I could be a slug between Christmas and New Year’s for the first time in years.
The November Apple Books royalty report showed up this morning, and yay for those who read all five books in the series! I’m seeing more and more of that, and it’s so gratifying. If you haven’t done the same, what’s stopping you?
I got more words in on the sanctuary book. Always a good thing.
Doug, Aaron Sher, and Carol Silvis (writing as Bethany Barker) will be at the Greensburg Vintage + Holiday Market tomorrow. Look for my West of Mars banner and you’ll find them. Aaron writes urban fantasy, Bethany writes cozy mystery, and Doug has three series, ranging from a fun werewolf romp to a Formula One series to a spy series.
It’s all good stuff. I love the authors in the Collective, as one of us named us. (I can’t and won’t take credit for the name! I’ll just use the hell out of it.)
Reminder: My books remain on sale across platforms, with the best deals at Smashwords, including the Trevolution for FREE. Poke around, help yourself — and remember that leaving reviews online is one of the best ways to say thanks for a sale or a free book. You can tell friends, send them to me at in-person events, and buy copies for those friends, too. Anything to help spread the word!
Valley of Shadows, by Rudy Ruiz
As usual, those are affiliate links. Every bit helps out, so go and help out! (plus, you’re keeping money out of billionaire pockets and putting it back in small business owners. Mega bonus, right there.)
December 11, 2025
I wasn’t going to post today because yesterday just SUCKED and I could use the day off.
But here I am.
Yesterday was all kinds of bad: I ran an ad in a book deal newsletter, and it resulted in… zero sales and 3 downloads of Populated. The last ad only got 3 sales, but 50-some downloads. The goal when you run an ad is to recoup what you spent. Unless a miracle happened at Apple, so far, I’ve failed. Utterly and spectacularly. But looking at my dashboards at the ‘zon, B&N, Google, and Kobo…
Yeah.
Giving up entirely feels like a good option right now. I do always say I’d choose being an editor over being a writer if I had to choose.
That’s not all… I was invited to a holiday party celebrating a group of authors. That turned into date night and I really have zero interest in standing around and, instead of celebrating us, watching my friends and colleagues fuss over their partners, every one of whom is an introvert. So I unRSVPed. I don’t need that energy. “Oh, let me check to make sure he’s okay…”
Friend. He’s not a toddler. You deserve to focus on you, not him.
FedEx tried to make off with Freya Cat’s new carrier, but it magically appeared and is out for delivery today. At least that has a good ending.
There were a couple other things, too.
Seriously. I need a day off from this dumpster fire that is my life. (This is the exact reason why I write the Sheep Farm books…)
This got interesting. My client uses a dictation app (and more power to him for that; I could not) and they said they’re using a different service and while yes, there are fewer errors, there are also new problems. I doubt anyone else would notice it, but their voice is subtly different and the story beats are just a touch too pat.
It’s fascinating. But it’s also a tool I hope the author discards.
More work on the sanctuary book — 1400 words, to be exact. I keep saying this will be my breakout book because it’s set in a tiger sanctuary and who doesn’t like tigers?
But we’ll see. I mean, apparently, I can’t even give away free copies of Populated…
Anyway, let’s get to the reason I decided today’s not a day off from posting.
Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer, by A H Cunningham
Why that one? Because a cold front came through last night and I need another layer or two.
And as usual, using the two affiliate links just above will give me a few pennies. Not enough to make back what I spent on those damn ads — let alone the hope and confidence I wasted — but it’s something. Every bit helps.
December 10, 2025
This week, I’m trying to get stuff done, and so I made a mini to-do list and Monday went great. Yesterday, not so much as I got halfway through a newsletter construction and… deleted it all. Sigh.
And maybe I’m too busy overall, because I woke up this morning to an ad I’d placed last month and… huge typo in it. Just AARGH.
I was also double-booked last night, with my monthly online group losing out to an in-person favor for the friend who organizese my cooking groups. People want to join. My friend is creating new ones instead because let’s face it: Dinner groups are limited by the size of peoples’ dining room tables.
Today is also the first day I feel less exhausted. This break is going to be very good for me.
I got a lot done yesterday. There’s still a lot of worldbuilding to address and make note of — I’m going through ink like nothing doing — but wow, is this story fun.
I really have the best clients.
There’s always room to add more to my roster! I am not so busy that I can’t take on new clients who are willing to do the hard work.
There are times when I wonder if I’m just done writing. But putting the computer down and living life is essential for good fiction. So I’m in living life mode right now, even though that means I’m busy.
It is hard when you shift from unpublished and stockpiling books for release to having to write and work to your schedule, rather than ahead of it. There’s an added pressure to keep to your schedule, the knowledge that books sell best when you have new releases, and more. It’s easy to be a new face on the scene. It’s harder to establish yourself as a permanent resident first, and a leader second.
Reminder to my Pittsburgh friends that my books are leaving the shelves at Blythe Books at the end of the year, but a reminder to everyone to buy your print copies via the Blythe website. I may make a little less, but I’m okay with that when it’s supporting another local business–and one that’s been very kind to me.
Temple of Swoon, by Jo Segura
As usual, those are affiliate links, and every bit helps out these days, no?
Remember to shop local!
December 9, 2025
There’s not a lot to say, really. I’m super busy, handling various parts of the Author Collective. I started a new edit yesterday. And yes, my poor arthritic foot is sore. Really sore. Worse this morning than it has been.
And I got more bad Lucy Cat news: Now she’s in Stage 2 Kidney Disease or Failure… doesn’t matter. Poor Lucy is doing an All Systems Faltering thing right now and I love her terribly and fiercely and yet I know that her life is coming to an end. I hope I was able to love her as best as I could.
I am having so much FUN with this edit. I’m 50+ pages in and it’s flying by, but at the same time, I’m making a TON of notes about the worldbuilding and magic system. It’s the second in the series, but the world is expanding really nicely, and in a logical sense.
However, a few characters have changed their hair and eye color since the first book.
This is what I get paid for!
I have one waiting here for me after this one, and one that’s due to arrive around January 1, with a tight turnaround time. It’s all going to shake out as it will; it always does.
I didn’t get a lot of new words down last night, and then I got sucked into the adoptable cats at a local rescue and there are some contenders to be Freya Cat’s new friend. Yes, I’m getting a cat for the cat who was adopted to be a cat for my cat.
Since my foot is sore, I was trying to stay off it — not an easy task! — but it was amusing to watch my Amazon sales dashboard.
Yesterday, I took out an ad featuring Maybe the Bird Will Rise, which is 99c this month. But I also added a link to Populated, which is free this month. Just the link. No description, no nothing. And… I sold one Bird for every 5 Populateds, I think it came out to be. Cracked me up.
So… ummm… yeah. If you didn’t know, ALL the Sheep Farm books are on sale, and yesterday started the Smashwords End of Year sale, where everything is at least half off and the Trevolution, like always during Smashwords sales, is free.
Want a print copy of Maybe the Bird Will Rise? I’ve got that for you, too — in the form of a contest. Fifteen books. One winner. The catch? You have to sign up for newsletters from us participating authors. But you know me; I write good newsletters. I sent out a newsletter about it yesterday and a lot of my readers went for it. (I’m flattered.)
If you win and you have a copy of the Bird and would rather have the next in the series, holler.
The Others, by Cheryl Isaacs
As usual, those are affiliate links.
Have a great day and feel free to yell at me to get off my sore foot. (Yes, I am standing at my desk already this morning.)
December 8, 2025
I did it! I sold out of a title at a book show! (And then had a request for it.)
It was Maybe the Bird Will Rise, of course.
It also probably helped that we had a heater in our tent, so people were inclined to linger. And, of course, there was a lot to look at, with three of us authors.
That means I am officially out of copies of Maybe the Bird Will Rise until I place my next order, which I’ll be doing in early January. Author achievement unlocked!
I got the manuscript I was working on back to the author. And… I’m going to break my own protocol and talk about it for a minute, because I’m upset about what happened.
This author and I had parted ways a few years back, but they reached out, asking if I’d work on a return to the series we had worked on together.
It’s been a few years. I knew they had shifted to being a full-time writer. I was excited to see how they had grown and developed as a writer.
Writing is a craft. It’s something we should be working on, constantly striving to improve, striving to tell better stories, to grow with craft and knowledge of the industry. Frankly, if you’re not that kind of writer, you are not my kind of client.
Writing is also VERY hard work, and a lot of people needlessly pooh-pooh the romance genre… and can I tell you it’s one of the hardest genres to write? Romance is all about the two (or more) people in the romantic relationship. That is HARD to write, with a focus that tight on the interpersonal connection.
I love to work with writers at all stages in their careers, but I am a task master and I want my clients to push themselves, too. I’ve watched other clients and friends have success this way. I want it for every author I interact with.
Let’s move on. I’m about to start something new today.
Thursday night, while under the influence of eye dilation and the resultant migraine, I started a Christmukkah story that started at a party at Meter and Delia’s and blossomed into a One Crazy Night story for a different set of characters. I got 2100 words in. It was going great.
And then I had to spend the next two nights in a tent, selling books. (Had to? Well, I’d committed, so yeah.)
I tried yesterday to get back into it and… I couldn’t write worth anything, other than a long email to the Author Collective I head up.
Sigh.
If you want a print copy of Maybe the Bird Will Rise, hit up Blythe Books and/or Bookshop.org. (You can ask Bookshop to divert a part of the profits to Blythe, and did you know Bookshop.org does that? If not, you’re not paying attention to why we love them so much!)
I’m done with in-person shows (she says now) until February and the Plot Twist at Velum Fermentation, where not only will I have copies of The Bird, but a special something if you buy both the Bird and Populated, since the event’s all about love, and those are the two strongest love storylines I’ve got. (The other would be Saving Sima, where a relationship gets started, and of course Legacy, which continues the love story of Mack and Tess and has one of my favorite scenes of women empowerment, thanks to Delia. And Safe House? We’ve got newlyweds Mack and Tess and Taylor learning how to love themself, which is also super important.)
The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses, by Malka Older
As usual, those two links are affiliate links. Thanks for the few pennies your use of them will net me.
Talk to you tomorrow! I have a new edit to dive into!
December 4, 2025
Since this isn’t a romance, he doesn’t kiss her and she magically is warm all over.
Sorry about that.
But yes! We have a cold front about to pass through (my sinuses are well aware, thanks) and we’re supposed to be getting some SUPER cold temperatures. Gettin’ cold doesn’t begin to describe it; we’re talking about record lows.
And I’m set to do a two-day outdoor festival with authors Mary Walsh and Cori Wamsley.
It took me an hour to get through ten pages of edits yesterday, mostly because I was working on constructing the edit letter. In case you ever wondered why I charge by the word.
Also of note: the one manuscript that I was expecting to arrive on Monday… didn’t. Another reason why I work on Send When Ready: If your book needs more time, you should take it. Not rush through it to get it to me, where I’ll only spend my time pointing out the things you probably would have caught if you’d had more time to work on it. When you send me your best work, I can get in and deal with the bigger issues.
Not much to say here. I wrote words.
Not sure what today is going to bring, as I’m at the ophthalmologist this afternoon and that usually means dilating so she can check my reconstructed retina. Cori and Mary will be setting up for tomorrow and I’m over here, feeling guilty about not being with them…
But this is my last in-person event until February and March already has two events and… the time off is going to be very good and very needed (and hopefully, once I get past this weekend, not very cold).
We Can Never Leave, by H.E. Edgmon
These are affiliate links, of course, so have at ’em and I thank you in advance.
I’m not sure what tomorrow is going to bring; if I can’t get down there today to set up, I can get in tomorrow at noon for restocking, as they call it. I may or may not have a Book of the Day… we’ll have to see how it all shakes out.
Stay warm! It’s gettin’ cold and I’m not sure I’m ready for 12 hours of that!
December 3, 2025
I know it’s not on sale and the rest of the books are, but… it’s still a great value, and if you’re a box set lover, it was made just for you.
The week’s flying by, isn’t it? I mean… how’d it get to be Wednesday already? Between the day off school on Monday and yesterday was a snow day, there’s just been a lot going on outside my window — namely, neighborhood kids. And my across-the-street neighbors were kind enough to shovel my sidewalk and driveway, which was a blessing because the snow was heavy and wet. Talk about a fantastic reason to appreciate someone.
Inside, I’ve been editing away and working hard. No wonder I don’t know what day it is. I never got to the notes yesterday; I took one look at the file and started working on the edit. Speaking of which…
This edit has proved to be very tricky, which surprised me. I’m composing the edit letter as I go, and I have a feeling it’s going to wind up being very long, which I never like to see.
Still, I don’t get hired to be a yes woman. I get hired to help authors make better books. And it pays off because my clients are selling books.
A good editor makes all the difference. If it’s not me you hire, find someone who’s equally as good as I am.
I wound up introducing a new POV character into the sanctuary book, and it’s zipping along. This book is definitely evolving and coming alive. It’s a ton of fun… when I’m not petrified about the accuracy part.
If you haven’t heard by now, all the books are on sale. Populated is currently free, because Amazon makes you lose income in order to be part of things like the original Stuff Your Kindle Day (which, I’m allowed to say, is coming up this month). Maybe the Bird Will Rise and Saving Sima are on sale for 99c and Safe House and Legacy are on sale for $1.99.
Next week is the Smashwords End of Year sale, and the Trevolution books will be free and the short story twins will be discounted. This is the season for buying all the ebooks!
Also, how’d it get to be Wednesday, and how is the Smashwords sale starting in five days?
Know what’s happening in TWO days? The Canonsburg Old-Fashioned Christmas. Come get your hands on one of the last two copies of Legacy until I restock in January.
Seriously. Two days from now? Ugh. I am not ready even though the books are all packed and the car’s gassed up.
The Interpreter, by Olivia Abtahi, and Monica Arnaldo (illustrator)
As usual, these last two links are affilates. Use them to buy something and I’ll get a few pennies. I appreciate them as much as I appreciate my neighbors who shoveled for me, which is to say A LOT. I even baked for my neighbors and I will run it over to them in a bit.
Seriously. I’m going to be asking this all day. How’d it get to be Wednesday?
December 2, 2025
There were a bunch of ways I could have approached the idea of FIRST. The first book I published (Demo Tapes 1). The first book I published after a hiatus (Permission to Enter). But I went with the first in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series because perhaps it — and the rest of the series — is on sale this month, although next week, everything will be on sale at Smashwords for the annual end of year sale.
It’s also our first accumulating snow of the season, and for the local kids… the first snow day. It came down fast and hard and the road crews couldn’t keep up, which means the busses can’t get through safely and I am HERE for snow days for our kids. Snow days, not these flexible instruction days that are apparently a joke. Make ’em fun! Make ’em meaningful!
I know. Our teachers are (largely; not in my district but in most others) underpaid and have more than enough to do as it is. I can and do dream. And will probably write it into the Sheep Farm books.
I did it! I finished the first read-through of the current manuscript. It took longer than I’d anticipated, so I didn’t get my notes typed in. I’ll do that first thing this morning, and then dive back in.
As always, if you want to work with me, now’s the time to open the discussion. We’re looking at mid- to late January at the moment.
Not much to say here. I got my words in last night, but I also have a lot of administrative things to do. A graphic to send to members of the Collective. A featured IG post to collect pieces of. And a long To Do list.
The books (digital only) are now all on sale through the first of the year, so have at ’em and tell your friends. And the last chance this year to buy print copies directly from me is this weekend, at the Canonsburg Old-Fashioned Christmas event. Otherwise, feel free to order print copies via Bookshop.org or Blythe Books.
The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino
These last two links are affiliate links, so you know.
That’s it. Remember to stay off the roads if you can and let the crews do their thing first. That makes it safer for all of us, and mutual aid isn’t only about helping each other financially. It’s about making sure each other is okay, too. First and foremost, we have to take care of each other.
