August is here, which means it’s time for me to summarize July and then what’s coming next. (Spolier: A poetry book!) It’s also a IWSG Wednesday (what’s that? read on!) and the question posed this month is about AI.
This month I am:
- Reading: Fugitive Telemetry on audio| Can’t Spell Tea Without Treason in physical | Superficial on ebook
- Drinking: making various boba teas at home
- Watching: various 90s rom coms
- Playing: DragonAge Inquisition
Poetry Preorders Have Launched!
Share the word! I’m launching a preorder campaign with goodies for people who support Imaginari.
Preorders for Imaginari in physical will be through backerkit! It launches next week but people can follow now.
Backers who pledge in the first 48 hours of the launch will get the ebook of The Lady’s Crownbearer and an exclusive sticker not available in the pledge levels.
My favorite level has an 8×10 print of my favorite fall photo taken in Brown County Indiana, the paperback and ebook of Imaginary, a sticker, and bookmark. There’s options to gift a copy so I can gift it to libraries, options to get all of my books or add on a book of your choice. Lots of combos!
Here’s a preview page – photo is from this year’s total solar eclipse paired with an eclipse poem.
Writing Progress and Updates
I made so many maps in July! I had a lot of fun attempting to draw maps of the continents in my world of Trelvania, which is the main area that Tavern Tale takes place in. Though, that story is super zoomed in on the province of Iramont and the surrounding areas. Here’s a preview of what I’ve been working on drawing and labeling.
I just received word this week that three of my poems related to mythical creatures will be in a digital magazine this month! I’ll post about it on my blog once I have the link to the issue.
I’ve been working on formatting the photos and poems for Imaginari and will be finishing that up in the next few weeks so that I can send out my ARCs by September! I can’t want for people to read my poetry! Related, I’ve been working on designing those bonus stickers and bookmarks to go along with the preorders.
And of course, I’m still working on book 2 of the Etherea Cycle. We just announced our new POV for book two, the scoundrel, spy, and singer – Ansgar! Read more here.
Busy busy!
How’s Life?
July was hot. And I don’t do hot. I like sweater weather, not sweaty weather. But my family and I hit the waterparks and playgrounds when the heatwave wasn’t so wavy. The children had a blast and I liked watching them (from the shade). As usual, here’s a photo dump of some of my July activities, including the Dahli installation at the Newfields museum. Photos to follow.
I also just got accepted to be an author at another local Author Fair! I loved the last one and super excited to do another.
Carmel Clay Library Local Author FairAugust 24 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
FREE
For all ages. Meet local authors and talk about their work at this drop-in event. Dozens of authors represented a variety of genres and age groups will be present
Insecure Writer’s Support Group August 2024 Author Question
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group post on the first Wednesday of the month. “Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance.” You can find my previous posts here. The group poses a monthly question to answer as well.
The co-hosts this month are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen! Be sure to visit them to say thanks for their work.
IWSG Question of the Month
Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?
Nope, nope, nope and nope. Right now, with it not being ethically trained and harming my fellow creatives, I can’t morally justify using it. Were that to change, I might use it to help me make more blog posts as trying to get my posts SEO’d and findable by people is a chore. But writing is human, creativity is human, so I’d like to keep it that way. More on my opinions here.
So if you made it this far, let me know what resonated with you from my post today.
Imaginari is looking absolutely stunning! And so are the other goodies in the pack! You’re so talented, I spent far too much time just engrossed in going through your map. And congratulations on your poems being featured in the magazine! Sounds like your July was an exciting month.
Thanks so much! I really like doing these monthly summaries as it gives me a chance to see how much I have accomplished when everything else is going on.