January 2025

It’s the new year already. 2024 seemed to fly on by. Now we get to see what the new year brings.

The Time-Lost book is out on Amazon. I’m moving on to the next book in the queue, novella 3 of the Elemental Voice Companion series. Book 3 of Ghostwolf is the writer’s block book this time instead of Bone Whisperer 2. I need to get Ghostwolf out as well. I have a feeling though that I’ll be working on all three of them. My muse never does exactly what I want.

When I say writer’s block book, I mean a book I work on when I get stuck on the main book. If my muse decides she doesn’t want to work on the main book I open the block book and see if she’ll work on it. Usually she does, at least a bit.

I only did the one cover this last month. I wasn’t settled on which cover I wanted to do next. I need to figure that out and get it done this month. Staying ahead is nice. Hopefully the company that does them for me will still be there in the new year. Ukraine is still up in the air.

The evenings and mornings have been chilly and the ferals have been cuddling in cat piles, either in a leaf pile or in a cat house. I’ve been feeding them extra on the boards in the mornings and evenings. During the day the young ones romp around while the older ones lay in the sun.

Joined a book club. My book is slated for either March or April. I can’t remember. I’ll look up the schedule later. Already started on this month’s book, a coming of age set in the 1960’s. Has a soda fountain area mentioned in it. Our local pharmacy had an old time soda fountain in it when I was a kid and this book brought about some good memories of ice cream and chats at the counter. I was sad when they reneuvated the pharmacy and took out the foutain when I was a teen. Not many places to go in a small town to hang out. But that was probably why they took it, too many kids hanging around. And it probably wasn’t profitable enough.

Just finished my glass of tea so I think I’ll wrap this up here. One more check of my email then I think I’ll go outside and check on the ferals, about time for a feeding since I feed them early. Stay tuned for the next installment

January 1, 2025 0

October 2

Halloween is almost here. As I said before if I was living in a house I’d be having a party. Decorations indoors and out. Candy for kids and adults. I’d be dressed up either as a werewolf or a vampire or maybe even alternate. I love Halloween. But alas I am not my own master, none of us really are anymore.

I got the skirting up around my trailer, part of Winterizing the place. I’ll have to check it periodically to insure it’s as air tight as possible to keep most of the cold out from underneath my trailer, from freezing my pipes/water. We still got things to do though before the really cold weather sets in. We may have a semi-warm fall like we did last year before the cold snap.

The ferals are being frisky with the cooler weather. We got a batch of kittens running around plus the ones born this past summer. While the younger ones play around the older ones look on with what looks like a jaded eye. They know what the cooler weather means.

My newsletter went out yesterday. It was just a short and sweet one as it was the first. I glanced at the numbers and it looks okay so far. Thirty some percent opened and only 3 unsubscribed so far. I’m told that’s not bad.

Just got the proof for the cover of book 2 of the Elemental Voice companion series. Looks good. I plan to have them up soon. Almost done with revamping my covers. I got the cover for the Time-Lost book and for the next book, Book 2 of Bone Whisperer. Book 3 of EV companion series, Book 3 of Ghostwolf, and Book 1 of Of Gods and Curses is next up for covers as they are next in the queue. But my muse is fickle. So who knows what’s next really.

Speaking of my books–Have you checked out any of my books or Vellas? If you have not, Give them a try. My Elemental Voice books are in Kindle Unlimited and I have several Vellas to chose from. This Winter I should catch up with all my Vellas and get some book writing done. All that indoor time should do something, don’t you think? 🙂

Stay tuned for my next installment on the 1st of November

October 22, 2024 0

October 2024

October is here and Halloween will soon be upon us. There is something in us that likes the thrill of horror in movies and books, that jolt of fear and anticipation–As long as it is only in movies or books.

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. We can let ourselves go. Let that creature inside us out for a bit. And the candy isn’t bad either. 🙂 As an adult I don’t get to indulge as much any more, except in books and movies. There’s no Halloween parties for adults here. That doesn’t mean there aren’t spectacular Halloween decorated houses around but no parties–unless it is for children. If I ever get a house, large enough to host, I’m going to have a Halloween party, even if no one else shows up, every year. For both adults and kids.

Time to Winterize my trailer and get things situated before the cold gets here. The cool mornings are nice change from the Summer heat and humidity. But Winter in the Ozarks is not very nice at all. The old adage about waiting 5 minutes if you don’t like the weather is very true here. Morning can start out nice but by afternoon you can have harsh conditions. The opposite can happen but rarely. Usually if the day starts harsh it stays harsh, sun shining or not. However we don’t get the snow fall that the Northern states get which I’m happy about. I’m hoping for a mild Winter this year. While I like the time indoors to get writing done I do get cabin fever. Winter is not the best time to go for a spontaneous walk.

Speaking of my books–Have you checked out any of my books or Vellas? If you have not, Give them a try. My Elemental Voice books are in Kindle Unlimited and I have several Vellas to chose from.

This month is also the start of my newsletter. With some help it is actually going to be reality. I had put it off because I am such a Luddite. Computers are still mostly a mystery to me and the internet is like magic. Hopefully everything goes well.

Cover for book 2 of Bone Whisperer is getting worked on. That’s the next book after the Time-Lost book as well as Book 3 of the Elemental Voice Companion series to be worked on. I need to redo the covers for the EV companion series. The ones on now don’t match the EV ones. So that’s next on my author agenda.

Vella has seemed to fallen by the wayside. I’m still working on some of the stories there but they are not priority. Since the changes Vella has not been very good to me. Of course I haven’t been promoting it much either or updating it much so that could be why. But there are still good stories on there that I want to get out and I will. Just not as urgently.

Stay tuned for the next installment

October 1, 2024 0

August 2024

The Time-Lost book is still not done. My muse is just not cooperating. She is interested in other things. They may or may not make an appearance on my Hootin An Hollarin table.

And the ravens are still nameless.

As are characters in book 5 of Elemental Voice. Have any good names for centuries-old vampires? This book and book 3 of Ghostwolf are slated to be next. I plan to pub them by the end of 2025.

Book 2 of the Bone Whisperer series is stalled as well. However I will get it and the Time-Lost book pubbed this year. One way or another.

I need to also update my Vellas. They’ve been sitting for over a month at least. At last count I had 12, I think anyway. I’ll sit down and open my Vella page and let my fingers do some walking. That is if my muse is in the mood to do some writing on them. I’ve been trying to concentrate on the Time-Lost book and ignoring my other Vellas.

September is coming up fast. I will be going to my local festival the third Friday and Saturday to hawk my books and maybe other things. If you’re in the neighborhood of Gainesville Missouri the third Friday and Saturday of September stop on by Hootin An Hollarin and enjoy the craftmanship of many local crafts persons.

Have you checked out any of my books or Vellas? Give them a try.

That’s it for now.

Stay tuned for the next installment

August 1, 2024 0

Sit a spell

Or take a load off. Both mean let’s sit together and talk.

Each part of the country has it’s own terms for things and sayings. I’m in the middle of Hillbilly country. Now I wasn’t born here, I was a kid when we moved here from Florida. I sounded strange to the natives here and they sounded strange to me. I lost one accent and gained a bit of another. Reason I’m mentioning this is ’cause I set my newest book, A Playground of Bones, in a small town in Missouri. The names are all made up of course but while I was writing words from both areas snuck in here and there. I didn’t notice and my proofreader didn’t either until after I published. Also my parents are Northerners. So a lot of different sayings mingled. I’m a conglomerate. A lot of people are here in the USA. And we sure got a lot of opinions. On everything.

I still haven’t finished the Time-Lost book. Sitting on two chapters to go yet. I did get my muse to write a few sentences. But I don’t know if she’ll keep it up. I’ll see later when I sit for writing time.

The ravens are still not named.

I’m still looking for names for centuries-old vampires. I have decided not run the contest anymore since no one seems to be interested so I’m just going to ask if you have a vampire name for me. I’m not afraid to use silly/odd names. If I think it fits the character, he/she will get that name. As I said I’m terrible at naming my characters and use a baby book most times. Don’t have phonebooks anymore so I can’t use them like I used to.

September is coming up fast. I will be going to my local festival the third Friday and Saturday to hawk my books. I also will have a few other things for sale like metal bookmarks and some other things. If you’re in the neighborhood of Gainesville Missouri the third Friday and Saturday of September stop on by Hootin An Hollarin and enjoy the craftmanship of many local crafts persons.

Have you checked out any of my books or Vellas? Give them a try.

Stay tuned for the next installment

July 24, 2024 0

Mid July

Still hot as Hades here. It’s ‘cool’ for about an hour or so early in the morning but the humidity and heat ramp up quickly. But Dad still expects me to do those ‘projects’ he wants me to do. I suppose I’m supposed to get up early and do them before it gets hot. Who wants to do that though?

Anyway, I still haven’t finished Emergent, the Time-Lost book. My muse is messing around with two other stories instead of working on it. I’m going to try and get it finished this weekend, Monday by the latest. I need to get it done. I had a deadline and I blew past it. My muse is just so fickle.

I still haven’t figured out ‘human’ names for the ravens. What are good names for a pair of supernatural female ravens? The ravens of course have names but humans can’t pronounce them right and they are mighty particular about that. My FMC would name them something pronounceable anyway, hence the need for ‘human’ names. I could use what their names mean I guess. But Sly and Clever, don’t seem to do them justice. Not to mention those aren’t really feminine names.

I haven’t updated any of my Vellas as I’ve been trying to finish Emergent. But as I’ve said that ain’t happening. I did put up some episodes in the new Romance Vella I started. My muse has been going through it a bit. The other Vellas are suffering though. Once I finish Emergent, I definitely doing some updating. At least one episode for each Vella before I work on my next WIP Vella.

Still running the naming contest for book 5 of Elemental Voice series. So 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. There will be more than one ‘winner’.

As you can tell I’m terrible at coming up with names. I usually resort to a baby name book if I don’t get ‘inspiration’. I pick a random letter and flip through the names until one jumps out. I also have a book with common last names from around the world. Those books are life savors, let me tell you. Because my muse only likes to give me names of my MCs and sometimes the villain. The others she just refers to by a letter or description. My first book I used a phone book. As soon as the character showed up I’d flipped through and a name would jump out. From then on that would be the name my brain used. So please help me. LOL. I need names.

If you’re looking for your next read, try out my book, A Playground of Bones. Book 1 of Bone Whisperer. Or one of my other fifteen books I have out. My Elemental Voice Series has 4 out of the 5 books out plus 2 novellas or the first book in my Ghostwolf series, Raven Manor.

Stay tuned for the next installment…

July 13, 2024 0

July 2024

I’m welcoming the month but not the heat. It’s been cooking here. Only time we’ve had any ‘cooler’ temps have been when it rained. And the humidity has been horrendous.

I have not finished Emergent, the Time-Lost book. My muse has jumped to a new Vella. Well, it’s an old first draft of a Romantasy actually. The first 7 episodes are up. My muse has been adding bits to it as I post but nothing big so it’s raw. But that’s what she wants to do. However I have 2 more episodes to go on Emergent that I need to finish so I can publish it beginning of August like planned. I’m gonna finish even if I have to torture my muse. She’s is being her fickle self.

What are good names for a pair of supernatural female ravens? I have placeholder names for now for the ravens in my Bone Whisperer series. I still haven’t figured out ‘human’ names for them. I need to before this second book comes out. The closest thing to them is Odin’s ravens but one they’re male and two, they’re male. The ravens of course have names but humans can’t pronounce or spell them and they are mighty particular. Raven 1 & Raven 2 just don’t sit well with them. 🙂

I still haven’t updated my other Vellas. And my May bonus shows how little reader participation I got for that month. I’m hoping June will be better. I’ll see come the 20ish of this month when they announce June’s bonuses.

Speaking of Vella, the Zon has launched Vallys. Which is a Vella contest that started the 25th of June, the day after I started my new Vella. So not eligible. Anyway. It’s sort of set up like the bonus, depends on reader participation. I’m going to see how this goes for the others I think. I don’t know if I want to enter. There’s enough on my plate right now, I think.

Stay tuned for the next installment…

July 1, 2024 0

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 9, 2024 0

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

April 26, 2024 0

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.

Stay tuned for the next installment