Actual writing

Yes. I do still indulge in it. 🤣

Wrote on "The Gordons" yesterday, and I'm a bit over 37,000 words. Today is much of the same after I throw together a couple of reels. 

I'm at that in-between spot of still pushing out information about "Apollo and Hyacinthus", but will turn the corner the first of July and focus on "The Morrigan" and its impending publication. And for my darlings that preordered the second book, I love you with my soul. 

A bit about "The Morrigan." 

It's important to remember these deities are plucked from their lives and deposited in LA's yard. They are as put out as LA. Okay. Edit that. NO ONE is as put out as LA.

And the Morrigan is a death goddess. A Celtic warrior. A revered legend.

LA doesn't give a damn. She just rid herself of one deity to somehow be cursed with another?

The book is an unfolding. Two extremely stubborn and independent women who need to learn to work together to unravel the Morrigan's arrival and, LA hopes, her imminent departure.

It's rather like trying to stick two pieces of Velcro together that is all hooks. 

You're not getting anyfuckingwhere. And it's annoying as hell. 

LA Bennett is forty and completely over the interruptions and unapologetic jaunts through her life. 

Fortunately for me, she has a long road ahead of her.

I did it. Or...didn't do it...

I feel better about life in general when I have a purpose. A focus.

Thursday and Friday?

Instead of being steadfast in my social media posting, I spent two days basically with my cat, Murphy.

I have no regrets. 

He's happiest when I'm posted up in my rocker recliner, and he lays, like a toddler, over me.

Everyone needs a break.

Everyone. Needs. A. Break.

For maybe fifty or so years of my life, I didn't subscribe to that. I totally dismissed it.

Because the harder I worked, the better I felt about myself. 

I had purpose.

Thanks for those across the years that paid into telling me that, at every turn. 

I would finish writing a book.

Immediately start another. 

I would start cleaning and do so until

I felt as though I would throw up.

But...the PROGRESS...🖕

Progress is brilliant, don't get me wrong. But at what price? How much are you actually giving for that perception of yourself?

Too much, my darlings, too much.

I'm on Threads and understand, but am appalled at, all the authors overwhelmed and treading water. 

I see you.

I know you.

I AM you.

I suggest we all take a little break for mental health. Spend time alone. Spend time with your favorite person or people. Spend time with family. But spend time. Because you don't get to take that shit with you.

I'm also a DJ and sound mixer

Yes. You read that right. Because I should not be on my computer unsupervised. 

I'm making reels yesterday of my earlier works with first covers and updated ones. And I use Adobe Premiere Elements 2023. We bought that and Adobe Photoshop something or other at the same time at a big discount. Which is brilliant. That's where I put together my reels and add sound. Except, the audio catalog leaves a lot to be desired. It's, shall we say, limited.

Which, of course, sent my short ass on a digital road trip of where I could find royalty free music and use. Because I need much more than what was available.

I find myself in YouTube audioland. Epidemic Sound, to be exact. 

Being me, I start immediately cruising through genres and moods. Find one I like. Then, the kicker, ah...yes. Subscription land. $120 a year? Exsqueeze me? Baking powder?

The Honey is not going to go for that AT ALL. 

We're frugal here. I mean...frugal. 

Which puts me on the search for a code, deal, or godly intervention.

Finally found 1/2 off for a year! 🥳🎉Hell. Yes.

Shopped that to the Honey. And now I have Epidemic Sound at my fingertips.

Is it overwhelming? 

Fuck yes, it is. There are thousands of songs. But I can mix or snip or download the entire damn song. And that's exactly what I needed. Then save and import into my Adobe Video stuff.

Feeling pretty frosty yesterday. 

Until I wanted to pluck my eyes out and shove cotton in my ears. Stopped at that overstimulated feeling. 

Going to add these titles to my mental list of Crystal of all trades. Master of none. 😁

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.