I’ve been remiss in mentioning that I have a new release out. My story “Rules of Engagement” is part of Our Best War Stories: Prize-winning Poetry & Prose from the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Awards, Vol. 2.
My story placed second in the veterans’ division of the 2023 awards.
The book is available on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can read for free.
And the dogs are having none of it. NONE. They do not appreciate the fact that I have shoveled a path for them or have loaded them up with fleecy dog beds and blankets.
In writing related things, I backed Ines Johnson’s Page Turner Planning Kickstarter. The system is a quarterly breakdown of writing, marketing, branding, and business tips that’s delivered on a week-by-week basis. Or rather, it’s a book that you read one section at a time.
While I don’t need much help with the writing—I’ve been doing that—I could stand to pay a little more attention to business and marketing.
I decided to start the system on December 1st rather than January 1st just to get a head start on 2026.
The system is probably geared more to newer writers. One of the first assignments is to write your author bio. Well, I have one of those. Actually? I probably have a dozen.
What I’m going to do with that task is to locate them all, get them into one document, and refine as needed.
When you’re just starting out with a handful of short stories or a single novel, one bio works just fine. After a while, though? I’ve found I need different lengths, anything from 50 to 100 words, or a different slant, such as one for short speculative fiction, one for young adult, and so on.
The other business task is to start looking at branding. I’m giving that a bit of a side-eye, but it’s something I can and should do.
I’ll let you know how it all goes next week.
So technically, it isn’t winter, not yet. It’s sure doing a good imitation of it:
Brrr. It’s cold out there today. And tomorrow? We’re getting three to six inches of snow, which I think means winter has officially arrived, no matter what the calendar says.
This made visiting the Giardino delle Rose even more enjoyable. Just for fun, I used a free Photoshop template and pulled together some of my favorite sights from the Rose Garden.
I also made a utilitarian one of images that directly related to the scenes I’m writing. That’s been helpful to place myself there as I write. Of course, I also have to put myself there when it’s dark, and the garden is closed. There’s not much I can do but make up that part of it. I did not sneak into the Giardino delle Rose after dark; I have no desire to cause an international incident.
Honestly, I doubt there’s a bad view from the Giardino delle Rose, but this is one of my favorites:
So I was working at my desk and happened to glance out the window in time to see this:
So … is she visiting? Volunteering as tribute? I’m not sure, except she’s part of the gaggle that’s been wandering around the neighborhood and in and out of the woods this week. I suspect they sense what my weather app is currently predicting: cold rain, snow, and dropping temperatures.
I took what might be my last morning walk of the season this morning. I had to get at least one more in (and frankly, the afternoon is so lovely, I may take another).
In writing news, I get to visit the Giardino delle Rose in Florence this week!
Well, virtually, that is. I’m setting a couple of scenes there. This means scrolling through my Italy photos and creating a collage. The pain of it all!
I don’t suppose I actually need to do that, but I took pictures in part because I had a notion of setting at least one scene there.
In any event, it will be a nice counterpoint to the cold and snow coming my way.
I’m happy to report that, a week later, kitty is so much better. I’m relieved. I’m also relieved that it’s the last day of antibiotics as well. Because, yes, there’s nothing like giving a cat some medicine.
So, I’m hoping for a much quieter Sunday. Knock on wood.
Some fun things from the past week (or so)
This last bloom of the year:
This view on this morning’s walk:
This hockey game (my son, playing for the Frost Giants):
I also started, in earnest, work on The Marigold Miracle. Mainly notes and thinking on paper, but that’s all part of the process.
Today’s goal, I hope, is to finish Possession. I’m not behind in the reading, but I’d like to finally finish the book.
I meant to post this yesterday (and managed to send it to my email list), but then … the carpet installers showed up. They were awesome! The basement looks great! But! Chaos reigned for the rest of the day.
So, I’m sending you over to my interview on Long and Short Reviews. I think the contest to win a $25 bookstore gift card is still open. So comment and enter to win!
First, how is it almost November? Seriously? How?
Second, I am looking forward to November. I want to take stock, look ahead to the upcoming year, and consider what I want to write in the coming months. Obviously, more Pansy. That goes without saying.
Now that I’m no longer in burnout from the day job, I’m trying to figure out how much writing I can tackle.
Full-time writing isn’t something I have experience with. I’m so used to squeezing in my fiction writing in the margins of my life. I want to be more expansive without burning out on the writing itself. I suspect this will take experimentation and balance.
In other news, my daughter and I have cleared out the basement and pulled up the carpet and the tack strips. Y’all, we did this Friday, and I’m still sore and achy. But hopefully this week, we’ll have the new carpet installed (this is not a task we’re performing—we’re not that masochistic).
In a week or two, this should be the cozy space we’ve been wanting for a while. Perfect for pondering plans (or possibly world domination, but I’m feeling a little too sore for that).
Here’s to November! (I think.)
Quick news! The Pansy Paradox has not one, but two giveaways happening right now:
And if you haven’t grabbed it yet, don’t miss the extended novella-length preview. You can download it here.
No, seriously. How is it almost October? I don’t understand. Granted, I’ve been heads down, wrapping up everything for the release of The Pansy Paradox in two weeks. Two weeks! Again, how did that happen?
This week, I attended a book release/launch deep-dive sponsored by Becca Syme and The Better-Faster Academy. One thing I learned is that the number of “touchpoints” required to make a sale has increased from seven to twenty-one. (And a quick search tells me it could be even more, depending.)
Y’all, I feel like I’m annoying people if I mention a release more than once.
On the other hand, I don’t mind hearing news about releases from authors. In fact, I’m always happy to discover a new release.
The other takeaway was to experiment, learn, and do things that sound like fun (or are relatively easy), and don’t sweat it.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
Also, what I’m going to do, at least today, is get out of the house and away from screens. It’s gorgeous out (see the photo above), and I’m not sure how many more days like this are left in 2025.
Oh, look! The Pansy Paradox has a cover!
You know what else it has? An extended preview. A large extended preview, as in 35,000 words worth of previewing. That’s a novella, for those playing at home.
So, what is it all about? You can click through to read the full description (and even start reading in your browser), but essentially:
The Pansy Paradox is a slow-burn, opposites-attract, contemporary romantasy filled with adventure, humor, and, of course, sentient umbrellas.
I hope you enjoy the preview, and if you do, the ebook is already on pre-order.