The first book I published back in 2005

This was the only title I've ever sat down and took time to parse out. I wanted something different than I saw. I wanted something with a draw to it.

Luckily for me, my parents believed in Reader's Digest. Man, do I love a Reader's Digest. I'd read it cover to cover. First, usually my interests. Then the funny pages as I came across them. Then the big story in the middle. And then the dregs of whatever I had left which was often better than what came previously.

I learned so much. And a lot of it stuck.

I read about the wonders of Virtual Reality and how it could help patients with a variety of ills. 

And it came to me...a virtual reality romance. 🥳🎉 

"Virtually Yours" published in 2005 with Whiskey Creek Press (now defunct, I believe). Start Publishing bought it and possibly two more ePublishers July 2014. 

But let's zip back to 2005 when the first book of what would become Inman Books LLC was published.

All the kudos to my cover artist, Jinger Hollowell who I still love dearly to this day. Talented woman still working in the arts. 

Being social aka do you want me to sharpen those bamboo to a point to shove under my fingernails?

I can be social. Sometimes, I even enjoy it. Especially in relation to writing and all its foibles. I'm there. But being social? On socials??? Every fucking day? 😕

In that wide world of TikTok, Insta, Threads, and FB? HAVING to post? 

meh

However, in lieu of me buying that fantastic weekly planner, my short ass filled in the days of the week with how many times I should post on which social. It's...daunting. 

I'm the one who will buck up to societal expectations. And this planner feels like one. So I need to get around that first. I want this to be another labor of love. Something I anticipate and enjoy doing. If I become bored, woe to my weekly planner. Woe, I tell ye.

It's having to come up with videos, I think, that is the most taxing. That's quite a bit of time for me. Making the graphics. Even using the ones I have. Setting the reel. Adding music. And to do that three times a week? 

When am I supposed to write? Which is priority one around here.

This, as all other things I've done as an author, will require time and patience to get into a rhythm. Maybe I can make all the reels on one day and load them on the specified day. Or something else will come to my not-quite-awake grey matter.

The Morrigan is going through edits. She will be available for ARCs the last week of June or possibly the first week of July. She will be available 8/1/26.

FFS. I'm off to figure out this incredibly annoying part of being an Indie Author/Publisher. 

Idiocy update

Ah, yes. When last I left you, I was on my way to Sam's. On a Saturday. In record-breaking heat. 😑

Imagine sweating through every pore you own whilst maneuvering in and out of five thousand people with shopping and flat carts. 

This sucked harder than I thought it would. Which is saying a fuck of a lot.

Misery. Pure misery. 

Came home, and the rest of the day is a blur. Don't want to point fingers, but this was ALL my fault.

Fridays, it is. FFS

Bought this AMAZING weekly planner. 

She is beautiful. Took her out of the plastic. 

You may cackle along with me.

Listen. I have a planner I put appts in and oftentimes check. 😬

But I needed something where I could write in my socials and when to post. Because ya girl is not on top of any of that. 

Oh. Is that the Insta icon? Guess I should post today. 

For another fuck's sake.

My ADHD ass does not have routines. I've attempted to do the same thing for a month and a half. STILL forget sometimes.

Antyway, I'm off to write on The Gordons and check to see if I want to alter any book covers. Do my little Canva check-in.

It's dreary and wonderful here. Hopefully a productive day.

The last week has worn me slick

Like. I see the appts in my planner. I acknowledge their existence. I gaze upon the ink I've spilled on different dates. But the doing is a large-ass commitment.

Told middle daughter I would take her to Sam's yesterday.

I. Forgot. 

Yeah. 

So guess who's going to Sam's today? In 96 degree heat? Instead of yesterday's 83?

Yes. My idiotic ass.

I kept thinking Thursday was Friday and Friday was Thursday, and I don't even remember Wednesday.
FFS

And it's mid-June? What the fuck of all fucks? Wasn't it March? For like two months? Now, it'll be August when I blink. Crazy shit.

Had to get that out there. Feel a bit better now.

Murphy the Great decided to wake up me up at 2:30 this morning and share my pillow. Cool beans. Frigid beans.

But...when Ginger Spice is comfy, he makes biscuits. Which will wake anybody out of a dead sleep, even when they're dreaming, and alert them of the issue. Thrice, this little shit got me. Mainly my neck. So sleep was spotty, at best.

Up at six, I fed the heathen at five, and straightaway to my office to put some shit in order. 

Because I thought I had all day, today, to focus on the writing. But I didn't. And guess what?

That worked out supremely well for me.

Inventoried my author copies. Checked on my new order. Made sure I had enough books, I think, for July 25th, August 1st, and August 15th.

Cleaned out my desk and one of my many bookshelves.

And who's merry ass was in the middle of all my papery goodness? 

Ah, yes. The Murph. 

I'll leave you with this picture of boy child.

While I get ready to leave for Sam's.

The Gordons

Have I told you I overextend myself? That, perhaps, I don't think things through far enough to actually realize my few (lmao) limitations?

Sure I have.

And nothing brings that shit home more than releasing a book every two months. Like, seriously, what the fuck was I thinking? Manic thoughts, most likely. And then there's my delightful way to book three events in less than a month, because why the fuck not? 🤯

I saw another author book like a dozen events between now and the end of the year. She was going to add a few more.

Travel expenses. Table expenses. Book expenses. That shit adds up quick. 

Toll on the body...more than.

After an event, it is sheer willpower that gets me to pack my stuff up and put it in the car. 

Because it's a necessity. And some authors have this down to an art. I'm kinda in-between. Have a system. Depends on how many books sold. 

Either either. 

What I've circumvented but didn't address, yet, is the fact I haven't written on The Gordons in about a week. I needed to restock my books for the upcoming events. Edit. Make reels. Put myself out there. 😑

When can I put myself back? 🤣

That's my cluster on a Thursday morning. Trying to find a balance when that's not my usual SOP. 

Let's all have a moment of silence for my peace and sanity, please.

Indie publishing

I've been doing this so long, sometimes I forget what starting out looks like. Several people on both Threads and Facebook who are going to write their first book ask questions. Lots of questions. Keep in mind I can forget a sentence while I'm speaking it, but here are some things I believe will help.

1. Everybody is against AI. Everybody loves AI. 

To be honest, it's a witch hunt out there right now. I believe AI can be used as research. I don't believe, however, it should be used to write a story. Any story. AI lacks soul. That's why it will never, ever, be able to produce art. Art needs passion. Art needs soul. AI lacks both.

2. YOU'RE it. Like...all of it. Some of us, with prior control issues, embrace this craziness. I like being the one in charge of writing, editing, creating a book cover, I loathe marketing--but who doesn't? Be prepared to wear every hat necessary to make this dream come true. There will be LOTS.

3. Even if you're multi-genre: Create a logo. Have a phrase or catch-line. Pick two or three colors you will use throughout your writing career (unless you decide to rebrand). Consistency is key. When people see these things over and over and over, they start to relate them to you.

4. USE the same name on all socials. I fucked this one right up. Probably because I started to do socials and then burnt myself the hell out. Needed to start fresh. 

5. Authors are in a big snit if someone has the same title as their current WIP. Okay. Yes. I usually check. But, I'm also open to using the title, especially if it's nothing like the other book with the same title. This is an option you need to think about. Something fresh? Something with the same name but completely different identity?

6. DO NOT mention celebrities, movies, or other things such as these by name. I'm incredibly careful not to do this unless said objects are in the public domain. A lot of people were excited that Sherlock fell into the public domain a few years back. Here's a link to go see what's PD now, and what will be PD. You can, however, make pointed references and many will read between the lines.

7. ISBNs. You can only buy them from Bowker Publishing Services. They are expensive. And you'll need one for each format you dive into i.e. paperback, digital, and audiobook. You CAN use Amazon's ISBN provider, but then they'll be the only seller for that book. 

8. Don't pay someone else for something you can do. I can't draw a straight line with a pencil. No joke. But I've played around enough on Canva (which I recommend), that I feel fairly comfortable. I'm still learning new shit. And there's a lot to learn. I had a huge curve to get around. But Canva premium is $15 a month. I went on a binge the other day and created four new reels for my books. The more you play, the less you'll pay.

9. ARC readers are hard to find. The world is inundated in books, unfortunately some are AI or put together so poorly, it's nearly inconceivable. But even the good ones are often looked over and dismissed. 

TAKE HEART. Keep at it. Keep pushing. Keep advocating. You can do this!

10. Prolific. I'm out here writing a book in a month and a half. I could not imagine piecing them out over the next six or seven years. I'd be so backed-up, I'd most likely lose my shit. I need to be able to publish as I'M ready. Not wait a year and a half for someone else.

Alrighty, guys! Going to pop off here and go look at see what I can do. 

Heavy med day so that may not be much. My eyes are already irritated. 

Book 6 Plot Series

Hi-ho! If that doesn't remind you of Kermit, I'm sorry. 

Antyway...I made five reels the other day. And I've learned I must do these in groups. It's easier for me to plug and go than reinvent the damn wheel every other month. All my arrows are the same size. Layouts I'm trying to make as similar as possible. And whilst doing that, I came up with the idea for my Book 6. Because of course I did. Chinese Mythology. I'm so excited! 

Joined threads. You can find me at crystal_inman_author. Had my first run-in with someone who tried to twist my words to suit their narrative. The bloom is now off the rose. Blockity block block. But I do enjoy the site as a whole. Lots of nice folks trying to live their lives. 

Going to be a hot bitch here today. I know it's summer, but my body is unamused. I leave the house once a week, if at all possible. And that's only because we need to eat. 😑

Started my day with this wonderful blog and will now write on "The Gordons." I've neglected the wee babe for days. 

Multicultural mythology is a trip

I use multicultural mythology in my Plot Twist series. There are quite a few parallels, and I love the challenge. I may G the "deity of rocks" one day and have eight different gods in varied parts of the world. Makes it different and interesting.

Having said that...

...I try to get it right. Came across an issue the other day with a character, Rade, who is actually the Slavic deity Radegast. I'm trying to figure out how to describe his ethnicity. Slovakian? Belgian? Chechens? 

So my short ass does a DEEP dive into this god's origins. I needed scuba gear.

Come to find out, he is primarily from a particular part of geography. This guy is a Czech from Czechia. 

*cue panic mode*

But I need to know these things. That's what I get for attempting to bring in a geographical deity without further research. I mean...I know ABOUT him, but I needed to know OF him.

Completely different.

Once again, saving sister/wives and brother/husbands for a significantly fucked-up discussion at a later date. 

The avocados and my latest menty b have arrived!

Had a doc appt the other day. Happened to be by a Costco. 👀 I must partake.

Swung in and grabbed lots of raw chicken strips, my Fajitas Rajas, and stuff for the Honey.

Wore me out.

And Murphy was beside himself when I finally got home. Little shit didn't even want lunch. It was right on time. So I played with him on the carpet, and he finally calmed down. Poor guy. I felt awful.

And, in the everchanging world of social media, I now have another insta (author-driven) and threads. I love threads, but they've nearly suspended my account twice since I "liked" too many things in a short period of time. 🙄

Also, of course, I'm struggling to keep up. Like...having to put the struggle bus together before I even get behind the wheel. 

It's a labor of love, but fuck if it isn't a labor. 

And on that lovely note, I need to check my ARC signups. I have 20! 🥳🎉

Not bad for an indie author on the first go. 💖

I need a PA

Unfortunately, that's not in the cards right now. 😔

I'm gearing up for my "end of the year" frenzy. Funny, ironic, thing being...I used to never book anything past September. I liked my fall and winter months for writing. 

But me, being me, is warp speed ahead over my Plot Twist series releases, three events in July/August, two anthologies, and a Murphy in the TP. Who needs a partridge? 

Releasing the series two months apart means I'll need to have my ARC ready every other month. Stick with me.

June-Apollo and Hyacinthus

July-The Morrigan ARC readers and Event in Guthrie

August-Release The Morrigan. Red Dirt Romance Book Event. Book Me Romance book event.

September-Ace ARC readers

October-Release Ace

November-Macaria ARC readers

December-Release Macaria

January 2027-The Gordons ARC readers

February-Release The Gordons

*******

The highly wonderful news is that most of my A&H ARC readers are in for the full ride.

After this ridiculous frenzy I'll whip myself into, I'll release a book in the series every three-four months. I'll need to add back in some other works I need to finish. Lots of visitors at the Mind Cabin. Everyone's enjoying s'mores right now. I envy them.

A PA...bless them...would deal with my socials such as TikTok, Insta, Threads, and FB. I would make the reels; they would post the reels. And take care of my newsletter. And try to form a street team for me.

Do you have any idea how excited I would be to have a street team? OMF! 

Sounds so badass. 😎

But for now, I'm off to send more ARCs and edit The Morrigan. 

If I had a PA, they could make me an avocado/bacon/something or other. Craving those damn avocados. Probably because I didn't pick any up. 😣🥑

The Morrigan

I'm twitchy as hell today. 

Awesome. 😬

With all the ados...Here's the Morrigan:

When the Celtic warrior goddess the Morrigan appears in LA's yard accompanied by her unkindness of ravens, neither of them understands why she's there or why she can’t leave. The goddess's stubborn refusal to discuss her situation quickly tests LA's patience. As LA investigates, she learns that the Morrigan's fractured nature has split her into three distinct aspects, each embodying different facets of war, fate, and death. The last memory linking all of them is a young girl keening across a blood-soaked battlefield. With the help of the three aspects, LA must uncover the mystery behind the goddess's arrival and find a way to send the Morrigan home.

AVAILABLE 8/1/26

In my day...

...I've already belabored this point. Doesn't mean I won't touch on it again. Because...me. AND...I started the release of my Plot Twist series books.

In 2005, I had at least four different sites which would gladly read and review my books. I had two reviewers who asked for my books specifically. It was great. 

Fast forward 😵to today's authors, and it's like locating a grain of sand in a deluge of landmines.

Know what I'm doing today? Figuring out how in the hell to make an ARC application. ARC. Application.

😣

Instead of marketing or editing or writing...I'm conjuring up a fucking ARC application for those who likely won't even read the work. Pessimistic? Yeah. A bit. But realistically? Many books do not get read by those who sign up. 

MOOD

I am NOT about exercises in futility. If it doesn't move me forward, then I don't want it. 

Wish me well as I navigate this new and bumpy terrain.

sigh...

EDIT: Reason 6,598 I can't stand myself. 

I already made an ARC form last October. FFS

https://forms.gle/aBX1n6mn2RtgBVrs9

GUESS WHAT? I already have half a dozen ARC readers signed up! OMF! 

ME.

AF.

Plot Twist series book covers

I am a horrible impatient person. I've been working on my other book covers for this series roughly forever. Easier for me to do a bunch at once as I forget basic things like what size font and spacing and EVERYTHING. I swear, it's a whole new day and not in a good way.

And a note: I made these book covers. Well, me and Canva. But mostly me. NO AI. 

Also, subject to change at my whimsy up until the day they're locked and loaded. 

Antyway...I will release a book in this series every two months. And here we gooooooooo...

 AVAILABLE JUNE 1, 2026

AVAILABLE AUGUST 1, 2026

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 1, 2026

AVAILABLE DECEMBER 1, 2026

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 1, 2026.

It is not pretty in the House of Crystal at this moment

Because my ADHD ass was like...Hey! Heeeeeeeyyyyyy! We can put "Apollo and Hyacinthus" out in, like, five days. Edited twice. I'll zip back through twice more.

But that's not the business.

The business is...filling in ISBN paperwork things. Adding the titles on Amazon. I make my own covers so had to shrink those bastards down to 300 dpi. I have 29 tabs open in my browser, and the air turned a dark shade of blue. Cobalt, if you must know. I'm giving manic an entirely new definition.

AND...the boys are playing tonight. Going to punch our ticket to the NBA Finals. Thunder Up! Woot!

Okay. Back to losing my shit. 

I forgot. Not surprising, really. Have the fucking memory of a goldfish. 🙄

Not a fan.

Antyway...I was so intent on polishing this mfer up to spotless, when the reality of being an indie publisher bit me on the ass. As it do.

It's ME. (cue Taylor and Brendan...because we need matching earworms)

Current situation:

locked in at my desk

Murphy sleeping behind me

70,000 words to eyeball for the 9,756th time

Do I feel pressure?

*Bowie and Mercury play me out*

Apollo and Hyacinthus

"Apollo and Hyacinthus."

First book in my Plot Twist series.

Available June 1, 2026.

****

Forty-year-old LA Bennett lives alone on her rural acreage, determined to keep the world at bay after her mother’s death years earlier. That isolation ends when Hyacinthus, an ancient Spartan prince, appears in her driveway, drawing LA into the investigation of a centuries-old murder rooted in myth. To survive the chaos, and herself, LA must uncover the truth behind the crime she never asked to inherit.

****

Set against a deceptively ordinary town filled with disguised gods, fates, and legends, the story follows LA as she is forced out of isolation and into purpose. Each visitor reveals not only their own pain, but fragments of LA herself—her power, her past, and her responsibility. As myths from Greek traditions expand to include Nordic, Egyptian, Celtic, and Asian beings, LA must decide whether she can continue hiding from who she is, or finally step into her destiny—even if it means she can never return to the quiet life she craves.

****

                                                                                                    Beventi Order Form 

Keeping it real

 Went to Sam's today.

Came home and ate a third of the rotisserie chicken while it was still toasty.

Then "cleaned" strawberries over the sink. Hulled and ate probably a third of those. Over the sink. Like a hedonistic creature never schooled in manners.

It was fucking great.

There's no bigger excitement than a new release

I love what I do. Editing still sucks all the butt, but I enjoy the rest. Even banging my head on the keyboard occasionally when creating book covers. It's exhilarating. Kind of like giving birth, but over a period of a month or two, not a day or two. With no drugs. No doctor. You're free-balling this bitch. 

But that's part of the magic. 

You.

You created something no one else did. You brought a story into existence with only your mind. It's sounds all Science Fictiony when you break it down. And yes, there are growing pains. Bad-tempered characters. Bad-tempered you. Hardships. (Now I want to quote Labyrinth again.) But you did it.

You. Fucking. Did. It.

I used to take three or so days to bask, wallow?, in my finished works. But there's no time for that these days. I usually finish one book and start another, or continue with one, immediately. It's shifting gears but in a different car.

And I love the view.

Are there days I turn the air blue with all my aggravation? Of course. Murphy would agree. Are there days I laugh aloud at what I've written? Yep. Have I made myself cry? Well, fuck. I have. But it's all part of the process, and writers need to embrace every bit of it. 

It's magical and maddening in the same second. Exhilarating and exhausting. 

And I will do this until I draw my last breath.

I've set my release schedule for my Plot Twist series.

Apollo and Hyacinthus   JUNE 2026

The Morrigan   AUGUST 2026

Ace   OCTOBER 2026

Macaria   DECEMBER 2026

The Gordons  FEBRUARY 2027

The first four are finished, and I'm a third of the way through The Gordons. 

I'd like to squeeze in at least one or two erotic and maybe a contemporary romance, but we'll see. 

OH!

And, I can't remember if I already posted this or not, but you can order through me, autographed and I pay shipping, through my Beventi Order Form.

Prices are listed, but I'll run deals several times a year for followers.

Thanks!

Crystal*

Begets begets begets

I like knowing what I have to do the following day. Kudos if I actually put in Notes on my iphone. A lot of times I'll leave my OneNote and manuscript up that shows exactly my next step. I should be killing it on the daily.

Yesterday damn near killed me.

I started out only needing to edit A&H. Doing 100 pages or so at a time and then recombing a couple more times. It's nearly 400 pages.

But I realize I needed to research the tiniest bit on one part. Give myself some more credibility. Then I needed to grab from a later book in the series to make sure I described a character fluently throughout.

Please explain why I have fourteen tabs open in G and am glaring at OneNote like it did me dirty. Then, take into account I actually had 4 fucking manuscripts open at the same time. 

And my short forgetful self often puts tabs on the wrong stories. 

That's a hoot. 😒  

It was like some horrible magician pulling colorful fabric after colorful fabric out of their pocket. 

Stop! STOP!!!

Quit before I wanted, but it was heavy med day, and I was done. 

Told myself I would take it up again today.

🥳🎉

The fun, or some twisted version of it, never ends. 

You guessed it...

...I'm indie publishing my mythological retelling series. I was going to pitch at Romancelahoma this year, but I don't want to wait that long. I feel strongly that the mythological retelling trope is in its infancy. I have 4 1/2 books ready. 

I'm not waiting. 🤷

Worked on book cover. NOT AI. You should have seen my ass discovering new things on Canva. There's a fucking "style" button that can recreate the style from an element to another element. 

I nearly cried.

It was 🥹.

Going for a countdown to cover reveal. 

Available June 1, 2026.

Apollo and Hyacinthus

Plot Twist Book 1

Stay tuned!

Big reveal and availability June 1st! 🥳🎉

Stranger things have happened in the unlikeliest of places

The Honey and I go and drop her car off at the butt crack of dawn for oil change, etc. I offer to have breakfast with her. This is a rare occasion. I loathe mornings. Catch me at 10.

We go to Black Bear Diner. I have this amazing egg scramble something or other with avocado, spinach, peppers, and onion. Pass the tic-tacs. She always gets the pancakes.

We're checking out, and she has one box of leftovers but wants something from the dessert case. The lovely cashier asks if we'd like a bag. 

WE would. 

Honey says "no" at the same time.

I ask who will be carrying, and she says we'll take a bag. 🤨

That's what I thought.

And I make some remark about carrying the bag whilst the Honey does something.

The cashier looks at me and says she's never heard anyone use the actual word "whilst" in a sentence. 

I don't have time to describe the multiplicity of my oddities, but the Honey chimes in that I'm a writer.

😊

This woman is a reader. A fantasy reader. 🥳

She asks for my name; I give her my card. 

She said, "Are you my girl?" 

And I respond, "I might be."

We grin at each other. 💖

A rolling stone gathers no moss

I did it. Took me two days and found another setting on Canva that I love. But I mocked up a book cover for book one in my mythological retelling series.

Because, of course I did. 

I can either wait, or I can plunge my ass directly into the fire. 

Flames, here I come. 🔥

I should be able to have two books of the series in print before I hit Romancelahoma and the Red Dirt Book Sale.

THIS...makes me happy.

Because I can turn around and take them to Book Me Romance 2026 a couple weeks later.

All the woots!

This series will be a new take on old mythologies with an irascible protagonist finding her own way through the absolute chaos.

I love mayhem.

Sorry, LA.

🤣

It's the time of the season for...

 ...awards programs, graduations, and birthday sleepovers. Ya girl hasn't sat her ass in this chair for a long minute. I've missed it.

But too busy being a Mimi, which is one of my favorite labors of love.

Back to the writing. Woot! 🥳

Left off at a place in book 5 that could go two different ways. Well, similar but different. And this has given me time to think about where I would like to go.

Trajectory is key. And with a series, you like your sequences to line up with the other books. Are there breakout and breakthrough moments? Of course there are. There HAS TO BE. But you need to keep some items in sync.

My protagonist, LA, is irascible. Is she cranky all the time? Again, of course not. I'd yeet her ass to the sky. But I need her to be a bit cranky. It's how she's developed the self-preservation she was denied when she was younger. It's her knee-jerk from fear and change.

But you need balance if you're going to have a blunt bitch with childhood PTSD be the main character. I've surrounded her with a blend of people who accept, understand, and challenge her. Because no one is going to let LA crumble into depression/anxiety/PTSD dust. Not happening. These characters provide growth assistance. Sometimes they offer. Sometimes they push the fuck out of her. Both work, in her situation. 

Lean into the characters. If you've empathy, use it. If you're symmetrical, use it. If you love the fucking chaos...Hey! HEEEEEEEY! *waving*...then use that. Each of these provides potential for great storylines. 

Don't doubt yourself.

You're the first to introduce this literary idea?

YES! 

You're the hundredth to introduce this literary idea? But you have a majorly different spin? 

YES!

A couple of the biggest killers of writing motivation are: comparison, lack of confidence, and questioning if you're writing for yourself or readers.

Don't compare yourself. As has been said: those are their highlight reels compared to your struggles. Unfair.

Lack of confidence. Should I? What if I can't sell it? What if my writing is trash???

Let me be blunt. It's my wheelhouse.

If you want to write, then write. Not writing is akin to trying to stop a bullet wound with a band-aid. Thanks, Taylor! 😘

Who am I writing for?

First and foremost, you're writing for yourself. 

Writing gives me the dopamine I literally cannot scrape from the meds I take. One is supposed to hit my dopamine receptors, I believe.

Oh. Is it?

Because, nice try. I don't even think the med is in the same body, at this point. 🙄

Writing, like all the best shit, is a passion. It comes from the soul. And if you're blessed to share your words with the world? Great! And if you only write the stories because you'd be in a padded room with a nifty jacket that buckles in the back...also great!

You don't need the questions. You need the doing.

Get to doing.

Simba 4/29/11-5/10/25

 

Ah, Canva. It's been a minute.

My mind scattered yesterday morning as I thought about possibly indie publishing my PT series. First thought? 

Book covers.

Because they need to tie-in to one another. Some theme I can use for each. I immediately opened Canva, where I make all my book covers, and started.

😑

Mythological art is extremely monochromatic. Lots of vanilla and black in there. While, in fact, these beings are the liveliest bunch to grace a page in a hot minute. These fuckers make Caligula look like an altar boy. They are EXTREME.

I need bold colors and striking themes. Seems I'll have to do more editing than normal on these.

Because of course I will.

In the throes of...

I struggle with forgetfulness and being easily distracted. On the other side of the coin, I struggle with hyperactivity and impulsivity. 

I can taste the second one.

I told myself I would query the first six months of the year, or so. Then I would take my PT series and indie publish. I finished book 4 yesterday. But now realize, after 75,000 words, I need to split it into books 4 and 5. 

Here's the disconnect I have.

Mythological stories are on the verge of being the next big thing on the market. 

I am writing a series about mythological cultures and their problematic beings.

Why am I having such a problem finding an agent???

I plan on pitching at Romancelahoma 2026. That's in early August. If I do not receive any bites for my work, that's my limit. 

Finishing a book every month in a half already has me at a backlog. I have a four-part paranormal romance series I received the rights back to that I need to polish up and publish the 2nd edition. I have a time travel romance from the same origins. 

I now have FOUR of these mythological retellings under my belt, and I'm starting on book 5 today.

I can't wait any longer than that. By the time August rolls around, I'll have at least five books finished, if not more. 

I can release every three months or so and hopefully fill in some of the rest with previous works or finished works-in-progress.

Need to set aside another day, probably on the weekend to query. 

Exhausting, but potentially lucrative. 

We shall see.

On the look back...

...I am weird. And that's perfectly fine. It's my wheelhouse. But I start to question my quirks when I put Fibonacci in my last book of my Urban Paranormal. Because, guys, it made sense at the time. Still does, to be honest. And, well, *avoids eye contact*, his butterfly pattern. 😶

And I feel froggy about it because I've read plenty of books with extraneous material that made my retina ache. I was looking for psychological thrillers, eBooks, at the two libraries I belong. I started a series by a well-known author. And book 2 is about plantations. In depth. With historical names being bandied about. And reenactments. I struggled, people. I only kept with it since it had a paranormal bent. Honestly? I skipped over a lot of the places I didn't find relevant. I liked the first in the series. Not a fan of the second. 

Do writers feel as though they must add all that depth? Or are they like me and stumble down a rabbit hole, make friends, and find oxygen again with a multitude of wacky ideas???

My most recent research finds me G'ing flash methods of cameras. Flash. Methods. Of. Cameras. 🙄

I've looked up expensive cars and their specs. Insects that glow. Foliage. How long to build a certain structure. Ethnic foods. And so many other things to add a little more reality to the scene(s).

The flash method doesn't even NEED to be a part of the story, but I need to understand how it works. 

To sum up...what I'm telling myself is that I'm panning for gold and only giving you the good parts. None of that silt bullshit.

Don't ask me how many tabs I have on my OneNote Notebook for my fourth book. 🫢

 

Back to the mythological party

I will never not take a moment when I read about mother/sons turning to mother/husbands. Like my wee brain simply cannot accept the words in front of me. Gods procreating with clouds and making centaurs. Like...just the schematics alone. The mind boggles.

But what I do enjoy is looking up obscure mythological names and finding interesting stories. And the funniest thing to me? As soon as I "G" one of these names, the first thing to usually pop is a car or electronic device. We have used the hell out of these guys' names.

Today...I'm touring Tartarus. 

👀

It's been everything I hoped for. And more. So. Much. More. 😑

Going to bip back to my book 4. It'll be the longest in the series, thus far. I'm at 68,868 words. I'll need at least 10,000 more words. 

That's me and my Mythological Monday. 

Simba

Today would have been Simba's 15th birthday.

And that's all I have to say about that. 😭

When characters take over. Yeah. I said it.

I am at the mercy of my characters. You would think it would be the other way around. And it is...to an extent. But when they get a hold of the story? *sigh* 

Significant things happen.

I purposely set out for book 4 of my PT series to be about the Gorgons, medusa and her ilk. But it seems my characters had another idea entirely. Not only are we delving more into LA's story but also trying to figure out who would want to kidnap a certain deity's daughter. For leverage, of course. 

I branched off into creating two characters that could have existed in mythology but weren't written about. 

Fiery characters. Both damaged by their father. Each seeking to prove and find a way for themselves. 

Easier said than done.

Medusa, Riley, and Drew will have to wait for book 5 now. Because once the characters are adamant about something, I listen. Sometimes it's reasonable, and sometimes they want to throw a trope in that doesn't even fit. 

Assholes.

But the work continues. I think I'm near 60,000 words on book 4. Going to have to change the working title.

Because of course I am. 🙄😑 

Oklahoma weather

Supposed to be ugly today. Ramping up around three or four in the afternoon. And it's something we Okies sense. You can smell it in the wind. See it in the sky. 

There were tornado warnings when my kids were small. If they were at daycare, they went into a closet. If they were home, I'd put them in the bathtub with a mattress over them (when needed). Not suffocating my kids here. 😄

And let me tell you, I had the only four year-old that could point out our county on a map. They were saying meteorologists name before they formed whole sentences.

Serious business.

And now? Only have two in the state. Middle child is hyper aware of storms, especially since she now has to kids of her own. She downloaded a weather app on her phone. Has a weather radio. 

But the real question is: Does she actually use these? 🤔

I don't believe so.

Yesterday, there were tornadoes south of her, but in the same county. I sent a screenshot of the radar and explicitly said: these are south of you. Conveying assurance, or so I thought.

Apparently, her weather radio goes off, and I get the squinty-eye. 😑 It's a family thing, and it's hilarious. Anyway, I receive that. And a picture of her weather radio, because of course I did. 

I send another screenshot and reiterate..."It's bad. But it's all to the south of you."

MC: So we are good?

Me: For now. If it keeps tracking the same way. You can check your radar app and push the play button and it will show you what direction it's going.

MC: I rather you tell me lol Your weather eyes are better than mine lol

Are they??? LMAO

"Weather eyes" 🙄

This. Child.

Who is thirty, by the way.

So I will, once again, be the meteorological Mama. 

Patience

Patience is a virtue. But it's not one of mine.

Waiting makes my ADHD brain twitchy. 

I'm batting zero, for however many I sent to agents, for Plot Twist. Horrid sentence grammatically. Too tired to fix this morning.

Thanks, Murphy.

It's one of the many reasons I indie publish. I'm in control of the entire timeframe. 

I'm in control of...everything.

Well, and responsible for it, too.

Querying, while necessary if you want to trad publish, exhausts me. The doing. The waiting. The...rejections. 😣

But I can't make myself pull and indie publish this series. I'll reevaluate in early June. I won't let my work languish about.

This morning? I wavered between The Gordons, Book 4 of the series, or continuing on a contemporary romance I started. 

So. What is Crystal doing? 

Well, hellllllllllllllloooooo Medusa. 🐍🪮

Would you change anything?

It's a common question. People are curious if you'd go back and change anything in your history.

I've thought about it.

I wouldn't.

I would keep half a century of trauma so that I may have the life I have now.

Does my life suck on the daily?

Physically? YES. Mentally? On most occasions.

But I wouldn't change my children. Or my grandchildren. Or my wife.

These are fixed points for me. 

Professionally? If it wouldn't affect my personal life?

Sometimes, I envy, yes I said it, those who published in the mid-2000's. I believe my works were published 2005-2009. Then...well, life.

House fire. Break-up. New job.

I couldn't get on my feet because I couldn't find the bastards.

Let's simply say, I wish I could have kept my foot in the door.

The "book of my heart"...what everyone calls the first book you write...was written long hand in several spiral notebooks. 

I didn't use ANY dialogue tags.

I was greener than Kermit.

Twenty years later, I can write a book in a month and a half. Design the cover. Have it published in two months. Have it in my hot little hands a week or so after that.

Because I accumulated knowledge when I wasn't publishing. Conferences and conventions. Book signings and author talks.

I crave information.

And what I tell everyone I've ever spoken to during an appearance: take what you can use, and leave the rest.

Because it's overwhelming. 

Which part, Crystal?

ALL. OF. IT.

😬

Now?

Blessed to work on my craft six days a week. Able to breathe and let things come to me. Instead of grabbing the flow with outstretched, tired hands, I'm now riding those waves and letting them take me where they will.

Regrets?

You already know...

Speaking of Medusa...

...my fourth book in my current series is all about her and her sisters.

Also, just broke over 40,000 words. 

Brad Pitt...you know the drill.

Medusa

She seems to be all the rage as a symbol of women retaking their power. I'm all about that life. For decades, I grew up with the one-sided knowledge that this evil serpentine chick was turning people into stone. re: Clash of the Titans circa 1981.

No CGI. More of a stop motion animation for the creatures depicted.

Then we had a little Queen of Hearts action--"OFF WITH HER HEAD" type business. Because we can't have this monster floating around turning others to stone.

But who turned her to stone first?

Poseidon? Who raped her in Athena's temple as Medusa was a handmaiden to the goddess?

Athena? Who, instead of kicking Poseidon's ass, cursed Medusa with the headful of snakes?

Both.

Fucking both.

There's a reason I love mythology, all cultures. 

It's intense. Sister-wives. Father-husbands. And oh so many variations of this.

Great storytelling. 

These fuckers are icons.

We've named days of the week, months of the year, planets, and companies after them. 

Take Nike. 

Amazon.

Pandora.

And so many more.

These tales have stood the test of time and then some.

They've thrived.

But they're like Grimm's Faery Tales. 

Most endings are traumatic as fuck all.

People polish them. Take off the rough edges. Parse down the cutting of organs and flesh from bodies. Highlight the good shit.

Medusa is having her hey day again. If ever there were a woman who encapsulated femininity, female rage, and woman power...it is she.

But let's remember.

She was once a simple handmaiden that a man wouldn't leave alone. And servant to a woman who punished her for existing.

Raped. Body and soul.

She deserves her flowers.

And a happy ending.

Smoothing the edges. Filing the corners.

Many, many times, I will come up with an idea for a book and then need to backfill to the tune I'm G'ing "Augmented Reality" because I needed the specs to explain a situation. Vague, yes. It's for my erotic romance book. Immersion level, hardware, and environment. Plus, I needed a few additional items. For, perhaps, a paragraph of dialogue. 

And this morning, as my mind decides to whir around a bit:

In an older post, I couldn't remember the name of the app where you could control two Twitter accounts at once. That's TweetDeck, folks. Courtesy of my shit finally kicking in this morning.

Also, I don't think I can smooth out the edges of my erotic romance to my satisfaction. Translation: I'll have to introduce "alternate means".

sigh

I love it when the premise fits my other information, and we rock on with our bad self. When, as is sometimes the case, it does not jibe, I need to bring in the circular saw, sandpaper, and the patience God never gave me.

It may mean I change the trope. Or, perhaps the genre or subgenre. Add a character or two. 

Stories are malleable. Don't get locked up in your head that it has to be a certain way. Books are living documents until you publish. And, EVEN THEN, they may be torqued.

In the case of my erotic romance, I'm looking at changing the genre from Contemporary to Paranormal. 

Do I like it?

Ehhhh...not sure yet. I don't want it to change the dynamic between the two main characters. I'll ponder this over the next few days.

In other other news, if you're in the Midwest, batten down your fucking hatches. Shit is rallying again today. 

Then again, Oz doesn't sound so bad right now.

I love the OKC Thunder

Our boys are amazing. The team's leadership and tutelage second to none. Brilliant staff and roster.

Having said that, my creativity is like hey! HEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Let's make a rap.

Yeah.

Not a "wrap". Think Dre and Eminem. RAP

Did I?

Fuck yes, I did.

My fifty-four year old ass has got the flow, people. 

bahahahahahaha

anyway...ahem

Here it be.

This links to my personal FB. 

Chrys' OKC Thunder rap

I've put this post to public.

Ah...sweet relief. 

Now...back to The Gordons.

Why, yes. I'm on the G searches

Thought it would mostly be a writing day. ALAS, my short ass has to rewrite a minor character. This minor character has beef with my Gordon sisters. So kiss my short butt. I've found another deity to fit, but now I'm wondering if I want to make this new deity the owner and leave the other character? Either way, this new deity is too big for my story. Will probably be mentioned in passing. I'll have to research another minor deity. Or make one up, at this point. *shrug*

Also, it's damn early. And these are my G searches thus far:

black gloves with button

EngelMuller snap

black iron

what's a good metal snap?

Then I went DOWN a deity hole about four layers deep. Had to get the jaws of life to pry me out.

whew

Almost forgot!

I use OneNote, as I've stated. And I LOVE the tabs and whatnot. Except, you know, when I have like sixty and can't remember where I put shit. I've got them descending alphabetically because that's at least in some semblance of an order. 

But I've found that I like to put the deity name, the pronunciation, and occupation. Except sometimes, ya girl likes to put the occupation or place first.

Yeah. I can't stand myself.

Thanks for asking.

FUCKING HELL. 

Just published this. Went back to my OneNote. I put two tabs in "The Morrigan" notebook instead of "The Gordons"!

*kicks everything*