Second Sunday to the Left

Just got back from Between the Pages Conference. It was a good conference but tiring. 5 sessions in a day make for a very loong day. Friday we arrived at 1p.m. and set up our tables, those of us authors who had requested one. Then we had the Welcome and a workshop late afternoon before the meet and greet. Saturday started early with breakfast and the Keynote before launching into the first sessions. A little over an hour for lunch of our choosing from the surrounding restaurants then the next set of sessions. The conference bookstore was open all day and after the last session we had an hour for signing there before we broke down our tables and got ready for the dinner. After the dinner they announced the winners of the door prizes(I didn’t win this year as I didn’t buy a lot of tickets this time) and launched into the evening’s entertainment. I watched the magic show but left soon after the music started. My brain was tired but brainless TV watching was not in the cards, the cable was out for my room. But I was also too tired to fall asleep right away. Rain pounding on my window woke me early and I couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up and wandered down to the lobby. Another goer had been awaken as well and we spent some time talking before I went up to get ready for breakfast. We had one last workshop after breakfast and they announced the winners of the conference contests. My parents were waiting for me when I left the conference room. They had driven me up and were picking me up to go home.

Now the conference is a two hour drive one way from home so I stayed at the hotel. I don’t mind the extra expense of staying there. It’s nice to get away completely from your normal routine and not have your normal worries or any worries for that matter bothering you. I just wished it was a longer stay, like another night or two–that is if I didn’t have to pay more per night for those nights. The conference stayers get special rates(about a little over 1/2 price). I can handle that on my limited budget but not full price. Not to mention Dad would have a cow. For different reasons.

Anywho. I’m back now. I’ll have to get on those ‘projects’ Dad wants me to do for the trailer. Some things need to be taken care of and he ain’t going to do them any more. He’s getting older and Mom says they can’t do things like they used to. He does his ‘projects’ and I help him some with some of them but a lot of them he has to do himself cause he knows what he’s doing and I don’t so I can do some of my own ‘projects’ since I’m a responsible adult. Guess I’ll have to whether I want to or not.

Should get my new glasses next week. These old ones are causing eye strain but that’s way better than being blind. At least I can drive with them and see things clearer with them on. Big blurs can be dangerous.

Need to finish Emergent, the Time-Lost book. It needs to be done before the 20th so I can get it out by August. And I need to update my Vellas. I’ve been slacking cause of the conference. But now that it’s over I need to knuckle down.

Have you read A Playground of Bones yet? It is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an woman in her late 30’s, early 40’s with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

What are good names for a pair of female ravens? I have placeholder names for now for the ravens in my Bone Whisperer series. I still haven’t figured out names for them. I need to before this second book comes out.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. My Muse is as I said being fickle and only giving me bits and pieces right now. Which is going in the book bible. I am looking for inspiration into their personalities through names. Are they pompous, pretentious, practical or precocious? My muse is givin’ me some vague ideas right now. I’d like to flesh them out a bit. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate whichever you choose as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one. One writer gave me some names at the conference and I may use one for one of the characters but I still need some more names.

Stay tuned for the next installment.

June 2024

6 months into the year already. Another 6 months and this year will be gone.
Hopefully this summer will be fair but with the hot days we’ve been having between the rains that may just be a dream. Global Warming has sure messed with Earth’s weather a lot. But I guess we’re stuck with the consequences of our ‘Free Will’ decisions that others have made for all of us.

Still working on Emergent. But getting closer to finish. About 5 chapters/episodes should see it done. Bone Whisperer 2 is coming along too. However it will probably be July when it’s finished. If I can squeeze it in between the ‘projects’ Dad wants me to do on my trailer. Summer is not a prime writing time for me but I need to get these two stories done for Hootin an Hollarin and the Hardenville event.

Friday I head for the Between the Pages Conference in Springfield, MO.

My new glasses had to be sent back. So it will be mid-June when I get them. I guess I’m stuck with these old things until then.

Have you read A Playground of Bones yet? It is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an woman in her late 30’s, early 40’s with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

What are good names for a pair of female ravens? I have placeholder names for now for the ravens in my Bone Whisperer series. But they don’t fit them at all.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. My Muse is as I said being fickle and only giving me bits and pieces right now. Which is going in the book bible. I am looking for inspiration into their personalities through names. Are they pompous, pretentious, practical or precocious? My muse is givin’ me some vague ideas right now. I’d like to flesh them out a bit. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate whichever you choose as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment.

Last of May

This month is almost gone. Another week and it’s a new month.

I’m almost finished with Emergent, a book in the Time-Lost series. I hope to get it done before June but it may be a little into the month when I do finish. Then I have to wait 30 days before I can publish it as an ebook/book on Kindle. I’m also moving along on book 2 of Bone Whisperer. Book 1 of OF Curses and Gods is coming along too. IF nothing else Vella helps me write more on a timeline than just winging it.

Speaking of Vella my bonus was not so good for April. Of course I didn’t have a lot of reads nor it seems a lot of reader participation so I’m hoping I get more this month. But as I said before whatever I get is gravy. I’m getting paid as I write so that’s a good thing. Am I disappointed? Yes, but at least I’ve gotten something.

Two weeks and I’ll be at Between The Pages Writer’s Conference in Springfield, MO. Can’t wait.

Hopefully I’ll get my new glasses this week. They said two weeks and Tuesday the 28th will be 2 weeks. My normal pair broke. I’m wearin’ an old pair right now. I’d be nearly blind without them. I can read without glasses but anything past my nose starts to blur. I can’t even see the chart on the wall, much less that big E without glasses. The frame is pretty but it was hard for me to tell if they really looked good on me since I can’t SEE. Mom liked them so I guess they will do.

I’m gonna have ta see about a new author photo. Can you believe my old one is over 20 years old? And with new glasses coming I think I should do a new one. I may get one at the BTP conference.

Have you read A Playground of Bones yet? It is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an woman in her late 30’s, early 40’s with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. My Muse is as I said being fickle and only giving me bits and pieces right now. Which is going in the book bible. I am looking for inspiration into their personalities through names. Are they pompous, pretentious, practical or precocious? My muse is givin’ me some vague ideas right now. I’d like to flesh them out a bit. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate whichever you choose as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment.

Mid-May Update

My large order of books shipped so I should get them any day now. We took up a few books to the indie bookstore in Springfield, MO to replace the ones she sold and added a few extra. But not more than two each of my mains. I want to ensure I have books for the June Conference and if an emergency sale happens. 🙂 I also left a few of my key metal bookmarks at the bookstore to see if such would sell. My beaded ones didn’t sell well so I want to see if these would. The book order should shore me up and I won’t need to order too much for Hootin an Hollarin in September and the Triple Treasure event in November.

I got my hardcover and softcover of my volume 1 omnibus. Looks good I think. The hardcover is more than the softcover of course, about $4 more. They have books 1-3 in them. Volume 2 omnibus will have books 4 & 5 and maybe a little novella. I don’t know yet as I haven’t written book 5 and don’t know what the characters have in store for me and my readers. I will also have an omnibus with the three companion novellas in it. After I have finished the third novella. Kindle Vella has messed up my plans for this series and my Ghostwolf series. My muse is being fickle.

Speaking of KV, I’m working on my Vellas, especially Emergent and Book 2 of Bone Whisperer. You can blame my muse for this. She’s stuck on Emergent and Bone Whisperer 2 for some reason. I want to get book 3 of Ghostwolf out but she won’t even look at it. So Vellas it is, for now. One of these Vellas might be out by August or September as ebooks/books. We shall see.

Have you read A Playground of Bones yet? It is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an woman in her late 30’s, early 40’s with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. My Muse is as I said being fickle and only giving me bits and pieces right now. Which is going in the book bible. I am looking for inspiration into their personalities through names. Are they pompous, pretentious, practical or precocious? If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate whichever you choose as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

May’s In-person Event

This last Saturday I went to Triple Treasure MarketPlace in Hardenville, MO. TTMP had over 60+ vendors selling a multitude of items. The morning was fair but we were tornado’d out in the afternoon. A tornado warning came and we all cleared out I sold 14 books(4 of which were my new book) which covered my table fee and gave me a little profit. I have a table reserved for the November event. We shall see how that goes before I commit to next year.

Ordered some more books and am waiting. I’d rather have too many than not enough. Besides I have to take a few books to the ABC Bookstore in Springfield, MO so they have more books to sell for me. Dad will probably want me to wait til June for the Conference about going up there though.

Concerning my writing, I’m working on my Vellas. I’ll be finding out my bonus for April this month. April is the first full month of the changes the Zon did. I also had low reads during April so I’m not expecting a big bonus. Actually going forward I don’t expect any more BIG bonuses. However any money I get is gravy, though I may b*tch a bit. Who doesn’t when they’re disappointed? Anyway I’m hopping around my Vellas and most of them are coming up to speed.

Have you read my newest book yet? My book, A Playground of Bones, is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an older woman with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

May 2024

All set for the Triple Treasure Marketplace event. At least I think so. Got my books packed anyway. My big sign is set up too. It will be the first time I’ve used it. I’m a bit nervous as this will be the first time I’ve gone to this as a vendor. I usually go to support. So a new experience.

More on the event after.

Not going to write much this time as there isn’t much to write about yet. Just the usual speel.

Have you read my book yet? My book, A Playground of Bones, is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an older woman with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

Another Tat

Went to the Author Expo in Nixa. Several of my ex-writing group buddies were there so when I see them in June at the Conference I can ask how it went for them. I left my card with the library. Hopefully I’ll be able to get in next year.

While I was up there we went into Springfield and stopped at the ABC Bookstore and dropped off a few books. By the time we got home (2 hr. drive) the store had sold 6 of the 14 books I had left. 4 of which were the Elememtal Voice main books. I will have to order more books to take there again sometime soon. Maybe in May.

I got my receipt from Triple Treasures MarketPlace in Hardenville, MO for a spot so I’m good to go for May 4th. At least I think so. I got all but the last 6 of my books I ordered. They should be here before the 4th. I’ll have to reorder some more books for June if I sell some, just to be sure I have enough. With Conferences you never know how much or how little you will sell. And the TTMP is new to me so that too is an unsure sell.

I have also received the ledgers I ordered. My books will be inventoried and expenses will be kept track of. In the not too distant future I will have to be doing taxes. Right now I’m not earning enough to bother with. But if I continue with Vella and they get their act together I may.

AS to my writing, I have put aside book 3 of Ghostwolf and am concentrating on Vellas. However with the changes I didn’t do so well for March. I am trying to bring up all my Vellas to at least 11 episodes, now that the free episodes are at 10. I have a lot to do for 3 Vellas to do that but the others are coming up nicely. I need to get my readers to engage more with my stories so I may have to try polls and questions in the author notes. Reader participation figures prominently in the bonus I found out, especially after the changes. I have decided to stay and work on the ones I already have up. However I will not be adding new stories. 4 of them will be ongoing and not for book publication so there will be plenty to read for readers.

Have you read my book yet? My book, A Playground of Bones, is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an older woman with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

A ‘Little’ Note

My muse is still being fickle about Book 3 of Ghostwolf. She just wants to hop around my Vellas. So I’ve put aside Ghostwolf. Maybe reverse psychology will work on her. I’m just concentrating on the Vellas, especially the ones I’m going to turn into books. See what happens.

In my last blog I mentioned I was looking at new in-person venues. I found a few and added one to my roster this year.

I’m going to be at the Triple Treasure Marketplace in Hardenville, MO, on May 4th. I just filled out the app and I’ll be mailing it out as soon as I get the money order so I can reserve my space. Besides my books, I will have metal bookmarks and keychains on my table. I may even have a surprise on my table. Just depends on how energetic I am before the Fest. See how this goes and maybe make it a yearly thing.

Then in June I’m going to the Between The Pages Writer’s Conference in Springfield, MO. I’ll have a table there with the other authors. That Saturday the book room will be open to the public as well in the afternoon for a few hours. Hopefully I’ll get some readers. And September 20th and 21st I will be at Hootin An Hollarin in Gainesville, MO. And I’ll round out the year at Triple Treasure Marketplace again on November 9th for the ‘Christmas’ Fest. I may do the local Christmas parade fest in December if it is not too cold.

I am also going to check out an authors expo this month to see if I want to go there next year. A lot of local authors I know will be participating so will ask them how they did when I see some of them in June at the Conference.

Have you read my book yet? My book, A Playground of Bones, is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an older woman with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

April 2024

Unlike the saying March didn’t go out like a lion. It came in springy and went out springy. No windy or terrible days. Though it did seem to pass awfully fast.

I got the free Square card reader and I’m going to be trying it out this September for Hootin An Hollarin. Also I’ve been looking up new in-person venues to try. I need to do more for my books. There aren’t many venues near me but I found a few that I may try next year. This year I may go to them and scoop them out. If I can get my Dad on board with taking me there, as I do not have a car myself. The offer of gas money and a meal may sweeten that. We shall see.

My muse is still ignoring Book 3 of Ghostwolf. She much rather work on book 2 of Bone Whisperer and my vellas. I’ve got 3 vellas that will be on-going and 4 vellas that are T.L. books including book 2 of BW. But Book 3 of Ghostwolf and book 5 of Elemental Voice are the next ones up in my writer’s queue. However with my muse being fickle like she is I may not get to them til next year. But I plan to have at least another book out this year. Which is however up in limbo right now.

Speaking of Vella. I had a lot of reads this month. However with the changes I don’t know what’s happening with things. I have to wait til next month’s announcement of bonuses to see. So it’s still wait and see with Vella.

Have you read my book yet? My book, A Playground of Bones, is a mix of paranormal murder mystery and paranormal women’s fiction. She is not a 20 something nor is she in her 60’s but she is an older woman with some life experience behind her. I added a bit of local history to the mix of folklore I used for this book. If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

A Tat for March

Well, it doesn’t seem like March is going to be going out like a lion. At least not yet. Weather is still springy.

The changes are now in effect for Vella. Like I said next month will tell me if I continue to add new stories or just go with the three ongoing ones that I have. I did however get a large bonus for February, surprisingly. It had a low read rate, but I did finish one of the stories. And it was the one that garnished the highest piece of the bonus. So…. But I still don’t know what to expect from the changes. Wait and see is all I can do.

My muse is still ignoring book 3 of Ghostwolf and hopping around the Vellas. I’m thinking of pulling out book 3 of the Elemental Voice Companion series and working on it. Book 5 of Elemental Voice is not quite ready yet to get into; names still need to be found, plot needs some work. But book 3 of EVC has the first chapter done. We shall see what my muse says. She may want to finish book 2 of the Time-Lost series since it’s up on Vella or even book 2 of Bone Whisperer as it too is on Vella. My muse can be soo fickle.

Have you checked out my new paranormal murder mystery yet? A Playground of Bones is on both Kindle Vella and Kindle Unlimited. Or you can buy the ebook for $2.99 right now.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. If you got a good name for a vampire matriarch, her vampire PA, her vampire head of security, a human villain, or a morally grey vampire assassin give it a try. You may win a signed book or a signed bookplate as well as being mentioned in the author notes. So put your email and the name(s) in a comment if you think of one.

Stay tuned for the next installment

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