Hello December. I have several publishing updates and writerly things to share from last month / coming next month. It’s also a IWSG Wednesday (what’s that? read on!) and the question posed this month is about x.
This month I am:
Reading:
- Drinking: Gingerbread Chai Latte
- Watching: Star Trek Discovery + Hallmark Christmas
- Playing: DragonAge Veilguard
Writing Progress and Publishing Updates
Tavern Tale is one month from release! I revealed the cover here. Set to release on 1/7/2025 from Space Wizard Science Fantasy publishing.
For more on Tavern Tale and preorder links, see my latest blog post.
I had an interview posted in the newspaper of where I grew up! Check out the Brown County Democrat Nashville Native’s New Book Weaves Fantasy Sci-fi Poetry
My poem “When Words Fall, Does Anyone Hear Them?” was published in Last Leaves Issue 9: Feral. (Free download)
I’m still working on the Etherea Cycle book 2 with my coauthor. I’m also putting together a collection of short stories to maybe release 2025 or 2026 – they are fantasy and scifi retellings of fairytales and such.
And I need to write book 2 of the Tales of Trelvania, which is the series Tavern Tale starts.
I’ve been going to a writing workshop and that’s going to finish up by the end of December.
Recent Events
Imaginari Poetry Book Signing and Reading
I was at Gal’s Guide Library in Noblesville, Indiana on Small Business Saturday November 30th (Did you know they are the first women’s history lending library in the United States?) Sold a couple books.
I was at the Holiday Gift and Hobby Show at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds where I had a booth with other local authors. Sold one book (lol)
How’s Life?
I got to see one of my besties (and my coauthor) Jonathan! We hung out, had boba tea, and exchanged gifts early for Christmas. I took in the fall weather and scenes with my family, and did a charity run/walk on Thanksgiving (“turkey trot” haha). Abnormally warm weather had my roses blooming into the end of the month. And my youngest child is still obsessed with the skeletons from Halloween.
We went to Library Con at our local library which made me nostalgic for the days I used to go to DragonCon. We took home a craft kit to make our own dragon eggs from push pins! My oldest loved the craft (and so did I). Our house inside and out is now decorated for Christmas. And we’ve begun the holiday events like Winter Fair at the Children’s Museum and this really awesome train display at the Eitel Jorg museum. Pictures below!
Insecure Writer’s Support Group December 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 awesome co-hosts for today are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
IWSG Question of the Month
Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
Because I like to write series, my books have a To Be Continued feel. The major plot point /climax of the books has occurred but there are still other parts of the larger story that need to happen or mysteries that need to be solved. I’m not a fan of actual cliffhangers, reading or writing them. I’ve read a couple recently where it felt like the main story was finished and then in the last chapter or two a twist was thrown in and it ended. I wanted to throw the book. But that’s one way I suppose to get people to read book two!