Canary covers

Oh me oh my.

Sometimes, one forgets what they are doing. I am that one.

I designed the cover for "Out of the Shadows" before I'd written most of it.

Now, I'm excited to put this entire project together.

But, if you hadn't seen them, here are the three covers. Designed by me and Canva.

Dreams come true

It happened. 

I now have an 8 year-old grandson, and 5,4,3, and 2 year-old granddaughters. Wasn't I just 25? With a 1,2, and 3 year-old of my own???

In my early fifties now. I've lived over half a century. It's not off-putting. It's fucking marvelous.

Sure, my body is in a bit of disarray, but I'm still here. And I'm living my dream.

How many people can actually say that?

Started publishing in 2005 and hit it HARD. Several books published from then until 2009, I believe. Then, you know, several life traumas killed the creative life, and my family came first. Large hiatus from then until I began writing again.

I ramped back up in 2016. Still hard to truly immerse when I'm working forty hours a week and commuting ten more. But weekends were purely writing.

Able to retire early in July 2021.

THAT began my real journey.

I'm what I will term a "floodgate" author. Once I open my mind to writing and let ideas flow, I'm inundated with them. Stop and start writing was nearly painful for me. I didn't know what I was shutting out, and it was awful.

Now? I write six out of seven days, full-time. I'm going to at least four or five author/book festivals a year. I am WRITING. Jotting any and all notes for current and future books.

THIS is my dream. I want to continue to grow and develop my skill. Write books that make people think, feel, love, and dream. Because that's what writing them does for me.

Dreams come true.

Always writing*

...finishing up Dark Descent... 

Author events and book signings!

Author events I will be attending with my merch:

October 15, 2023   Books & Brew Author Festival  Lawton, Oklahoma

November 11-12, 2023  The Big Christmas Expo-El Reno El Reno, Oklahoma

November 18, 2023  Oklahoma Author Showcase  Sapulpa, Oklahoma

May 25, 2024  Authors on the Riverwalk  Des Moines, Iowa

August 17, 2024  Book Me Romance  Ft. Smith, Arkansas

*******

There are other venues I've contacted for information and haven't received anything back yet. Some won't post until spring 2024. I hope to add dates in February, March, another August, and October 2024. Those sites include Kansas City, MO, Arlington, TX, Cedar Falls, IA, and Waco, TX.

I'm also looking into 2025 because it's so much better to have your year lined out at the beginning. There's a more than good possibility I'll be in Minneapolis in late June. 😄 

If you'd like me to attend your showcase/festival/signing...please go to my website:  Inman Books and contact me through there.

Have a wonderful week!

Always writing*

...I'm looking at YOU, Canary:  Dark Descent...

 

Canary: Dark Descent

Giving myself about three more weeks to finish Canary:  Dark Descent. Then off to my editor. Hope to publish a bit after Thanksgiving for holiday sales.

It's dark.

Canary isn't a walk in the park, but we see sides being drawn in Dark Descent. We see characters evolve into harder beings because they have to. We see loss. We see sacrifice. Love. There's always love. Like an undercurrent. But there's a darkness, a pall, that hangs over our characters. They thought one quick strike would finish the war, but the battle has only begun.

This series has given me an opportunity to explore and go deeper with my characters. I love Ray, my mercenary girl. She has her own set of rules and morals. No one else has to like them. But they keep her sane and alive. 

Good isn't always good, and bad isn't always bad. It's not a black and white world. Some would like to believe it is. Easier for them to think less if we were all carbon copies of either angels or devils. No comment on my placement.

Authors give characters attributes they need for the story, and those are not always pretty. We often walk the fine line between anti-hero and asshole. Readers want to punch this character in one scene and hug them in another. That's talent. 

I'm reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King on weekend evenings. What I'm enjoying, more than anything in the narrative right now, is the duality of Charlie Reade, the main character. And Charlie Reade is aware of his duality. Yes, he's done some pretty awesome things lately, but he's also capable of incredibly dark ones. And he doesn't let you forget it.  

Ray and I have miles to go before we rest. We're both committed or should be committed.  😶

See you in the story.

Always writing*

My dance card is full

Mid-July through mid-August has been quite hectic.  Watching grandbabies.  Having everyone up for a BBQ (except the oldest 😞).  Attending the awesome RomanceLahoma conference.  Appointments and all the like.  Tomorrow, my baby child is having a same-day procedure that's not really simple.  And fibro.  

I'm ready to exhale.  

Except...I've about one week I can before September ramps up, and I'm spinning again.

We have three of the five granddaughter bdays in September.  And the Honey's.  October is all my kid's bdays--3.  Thanksgiving.  Christmas.  🤯

What the what?

I'm squeezing in Canary:  Dark Descent, second book in the Canary series, and I'd like to either finish Incantation, 4th book in the Rivers Sisters series, or my Erotic Romance.

That's what's happening here.  Will I still be writing?  Did Eminem give Elton John cock rings for a wedding present?

Yes and yes.  😁

Always writing*

...and sharing weird factoids...don't get me started on the carnivorous caterpillar...it's like a bad Grimm Bros fairytale...