2026 Goals

If you're not familiar with 

the Insecure Writers Support 

Group, check it out here 

and find links to all the 

other participating writers. 

Well now, that year flew by fast! Looking at my schedule, I'm guessing this one will too. And as usual, I'm going to attempt to be productive while I'm at it. Since this happens to be the topic of this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop, I'm feeling totally on theme for once. Woohoo!

What's on the agenda for the new year?

Edit and publish Siphon (I wrapped up the first draft last week. Hooray!)

Finish my secret project (that I'm starting this week). NAUR is for all of you who have been after me to write another parody. The synopsis is complete, blurb is written, and cover concept is complete.  I'm never this prepared before I even start writing, but it's going to be a fun one and I'm looking forward to it.

Finish the draft of EITHER Godmother or Interface. I'm hoping this stipulation will allow me to not fail this one yet again.

Write and publish Nugget the Space Chicken Book 3. I'd hoped to have an outline and plan in place for this one by now but  I don't, so that's also on my list.

Continue progress on reclaiming the flower hill. I made good progress in 2025 so I have to be out there to at least maintain that and hopefully continue onward while I'm at it.

Work on the veggie garden concrete project. I dry poured several large blocks last year to see how they'd hold up in the Michigan winter, and I'm not impressed so I'm glad I didn't dive into all of them that way. Back to good old wet cement mixing it is.

Read two books a month. I was semi-successful with this in 2025 so I think its possible. I also need to keep better track because maybe I did make it and my crappy reading record keeping just didn't record it. LOL

Didn't make it to everything on your list from 2025? It's not a fail, it's a second...err third...okay fifth chance to get to it this year. :)

How were 2025 Sales? Most events I returned to were down because: economy.  However, I did more events than ever before and that made up for a lot. There were a few events that performed really well, one even far exceeded my expectations. You bet I'm doing Funky Ferndale again! There were also a handful of events that were at no cost to me (either as a guest or tables were free) so that negated low sales at a few of the others in terms of expenses. In 2025 I sold 400+ more books than 2024, ending up at 1,731 books sold. Given that spring events were all pretty dismal sales-wise, I'm pleased with how the year turned out. 

I've updated my event schedule with everything that is currently booked or applied for (that I'm fairly sure I'm good for). There are several more to add that applications are not live yet and there are, as usual, a couple new to me events I haven't heard back on yet.

How was Galaxy Con Columbus you ask? HUGE. I traveled with author pal TL Shively (YA fantasy), and we had a good time. There were lots of celebrities to run by and gawk at but we didn't have time to wait in the massive lines. And so many artists! I sold enough to cover all my expenses which was saying something considering how many hundreds of vendors and artists there for people to buy from. I would maybe do it again in a few years when the economy is better, but this was a pricey event to be at and I kinda gotta do shows that allow me to pay daily life bills AND cover event expenses. #priorities

This is a quarter of the celebrity zone

I was one of over 200 artist alley booths

I have no idea how many vendor booths there were 
but they went on and on and on

There was even a full size wresting ring.

Starbase Indy, another new to me event, was also fun, but in a much more relaxing and productive way. The event table was free so all I had to do was cover my gas and hotel room - which I did do with sales. I travel with my own food. Foot traffic was slow (as is usually the case with hotel cons), but the people were great and unlike a busy show, I didn't feel bad about getting some reading and writing done at my table. I also got a good deal done after show hours. So as far as a weekend writing retreat goes, it paid for itself and I slept great. I would maybe do this one again if I could take another author along to share the hotel expenses with the intent of making it a writing weekend.

Laya traveled with me and was much loved
by everyone. She got to meet the
celebrity guest, Lisa Wilcox

May you have a fantastic and productive new year! 

 

End of Year Writing Check In

Here were are with another year almost behind us. Whew, what a ride!

I'll be heading off to Galaxy Con Columbus tomorrow for a long weekend of peopling. My last weekend away until February. Woohoo! I'm looking forward to my hibernating months.

Before we get to this month's IWSG post, we have a few follow up items to attend to.

First up: How did November writing month go? I did manage to get in 52K new words on Siphon, which is now sitting at 71K and probably has another 10-15K to go. I'm enjoying this story and it and a conversation with a friend inspired yet another writing project that I need to get a jump on before mid-January for reasons related to a certain book club meeting. *rubs hands together, grinning madly*

Then let's check in with this year's writing goals:

Publish Nugget the Space Chicken - DONE and a second book in the series! Bonus points!

Publish I9 - DONE!

Finish writing Godmother - Total fail. I haven't even touched it. There go those bonus points. :(

Finish writing Interface (Shaking my head at this one. Poor Interface) - I did a few chapters of this cleaned up and through my local critique group and I sort of know where it needs to go now. But finished? Nope. FAIL

Successfully juggle enough book stock for all those events - It was tight and I did run out of a few different titles at various events but the benefits of having so many titles, I plenty of other books in stock. So will go with win.

Read two books a month - I got close to accomplishing this, but not every month. I did read at least one every month so not a total fail.

Keep working on the overgrown flower garden - I did make continued progress on the flower hill. Much effort is still required but it's looking not so wild out there anymore so I'll call it a win.

And now this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group Question:

If you're not familiar with 

the Insecure Writers Support 

Group, check it out here 

and find links to all the 

other participating writers.

As a writer what is the best gift you've ever received?

Conversations with readers who have enjoyed my books. Followed closely by posted reviews.  Personally, I love the conversations, but in terms of helping me sell books, reviews are a wonderful gift to give an author. 

What has been your favorite writer gift?

Tune in next month for my 2026 writing goals. 

Which means I should start thinking about those. LOL

Falling into Writing Season

I9 will be released into the world on November 14, which also just happens to be the opening day of Grand Rapids Comic Con where I'll be a guest author. Weird. 

Ok, yes, I totally planned it that way. 😏

I have my last three book signings for the year coming up, all comic cons, and I'm excited for a little quiet down time. Hard to believe I'd be ready for that, isn't it? LOL But first, I'll be in Grand Rapids, MI Nov. 14-16, then in Indianapolis, IN for Starbase Indy and then off to Columbus, OH for Galaxy Con. Those last two are new to me so we'll see how they go. Fingers crossed!

Mid-October through February is my writing season so I'll be busy making words go. There are four projects on my list this year. We'll see how many I get through. 

1. Siphon (Adult vampire stand-alone. It might be a paranormal romance, I haven't decided.)

2. Nugget the Space Chicken #3 (Early reader chapter book)

3. Interface (YA sci-fi. Yep, this one is STILL on my list. Year 8 I think. OMG)

4. Godmother (Ya fantasy. Another lingering project that's on year 3 of hellllooooo?!?)

Since we have a release day on the horizon, I'm gonna tell you all about I9 and how you can get your hands on it. 

I9 is currently on pre-order in paperback and ebook at all your favorite retailers! Here's the obligatory Amazon link, but it's everywhere and you can also get signed copies by clicking on that tab at the top of this page. Will there be an audio book? Perhaps. We'll see how my January and February go.

If you'd like to see me stumble through an interview, (I had about an hour to prepare this for while at work because that's how life works out,) I was briefly on the news the other day.

The short blurb: A deathbed promise to a thief lands a precious treasure in Senior Security Officer Rita Stabinov’s lap. Empaetor Iradio VIII will do anything in his heavy-handed power to recover what was stolen. Torn between reward and duty, Rita must solve a generations-old mystery to bring about a new era of peace and prosperity for the empire.

The first page:

I stared out the window at two more ships docking on the outer ring of the station, wondering what fresh hell these idiots would bring. A discordant mash of music blasted around me from the three clubs that were in full swing despite it only being midafternoon. Two women in short dresses screamed at each other. A slap-fest erupted with all the coordination of drunken fish. One of their high heels tipped sideways, spilling her onto the sticky social district floor. The other one laughed and turned to walk away. Then she caught sight of the impromptu orgy happening in the sofa-filled lounge and wandered over to poke the nearest naked ass with a pointy orange fingernail. When the man didn’t seem to notice, she shook her head and moved on. I really hated the burning season on Anduvea.

With so many people flooding the station, attempting to enforce the rules was a pointless endeavor, but I figured I ought to help a fellow woman out. I straightened my security uniform and descended the stairs from my post. Weaving through the milling crowds, I made it to the fallen woman and helped her to her feet. Fights, I could let go. Trampled bodies meant paperwork. No one wanted that. 

Once she found her balance on her ridiculous heels, she shook me off and then squinted to read the nameplate on my uniform. With a scorn-filled glare, she yelled over the music, “Don’t touch me, Officer Stabinov. She started it. You can’t charge me.”

“You go on and have a really nice day then.” After making sure she was steady enough to be on her way, I returned to my elevated platform where I could monitor the sea of spoiled, rich assholes.

What are ARC reviews saying?

Want to check out the first chapter? You can download it here.

There's still time to get an ARC copy if you're interested in joining the review team. Sign up here.

And now it's time for the monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group question!

If you're not familiar with 

the Insecure Writers Support 

Group, check it out here 

and find links to all the 

other participating writers.

When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

When I began writing I was barely in my double digits so I really didn't think about the future much. By the time I was in high school I hoped I'd find a publisher for my masterpiece, get some $ and get to stay in my quiet people-free place and write my little heart out. 

When I started writing seriously for publication in my early thirties, I was still under most of that not all at accurate impression of how author-life worked.  After talking to a lot of aspiring writers over the years, I feel justified in saying this is a common misperception.  And hey, it IS probably true for some writers. 

Current day: I'm here to tell you, I'm not "some writers". I'm writing, I'm reading, I'm editing, designing covers, formatting, publishing, managing inventory, booking events, organizing author alleys, networking the hell out of everything, marketing all the things on a tight budget, and out signing books on the weekends.

Did I opt out of finding an agent and publisher? Yep. I spent a few years getting short stories published while sending out queries to agents and then to small publishers.  I've dipped my foot in the small press publisher pool twice and hopped back out. 

Do I make a profit on my books? Yes. I am I Scrooge McDucking it over here? Not by a long shot.

Do I get to plant my ass in comfy chair and write away? For three(ish) months out of the year, yes. Otherwise, nope.

As it turns out, as with most things in life, you get out of it what you put in. I could just sit home and write and cross my fingers for someone to publish it for me or I can get out there, meet readers, and sell books without having to give a large percentage of my profits to a middleman. Never say never, but at this moment, right now, I'm happy where I am. 

I've got another new release on the horizon!

Hallelujah, it's finally October. Another 11 week spree of events is over! 

I do want to highlight the glory that was the Funky Ferndale Art Festival and my record sales of 140 books that weekend. If only all weekends were that wonderful, but hey, I'll revel in that one for a while.

My plan was to relax this month, to not do anything book sales related. But guess what? There's a local silkie chicken event and it's close to home and you know what they say, "Go where your readers are". So yep. I'll be there with my children's chicken books, dragging my 11 week spree right on into 12. #crazy

I'll also be doing a virtual interview with Canadian author J.M. Frey at a local bookstore on the 16th and signing my own books while I'm there. I am relaxing this month, really, I swear.

Oh, and formatting I9 as soon as that comes back from my proofreader so I can get it out to ARC readers. That's not technically going out to sell books though so...

Want to be an ARC reader for my upcoming space opera stand-alone novel? You can sign up for your free review copy here.

I also just sent off the last of the edits to the narrator for the audiobook of Sahmara so that will be out soon too.

Yep, crossing off projects left and right. Woohoo!

So what's ahead for the rest of the year? Three fairly big comic cons and a little local(ish) holiday art and craft show. Oh, and writing new material so I'll have a new book or three next year. So yeah, some stuff.

If you're not familiar with 

the Insecure Writers Support 

Group, check it out here 

and find links to all the 

other participating writers.

Now that I've made you all as tired as I feel, let's get to this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group question.

What is your most favorite thing you've written, whether it's published or not?

I get this question ALL THE TIME when I'm out signing books. The most favorite thing I've written is Book 5 of the Narvan Series, Tears of the Tyrant. That one sucked my soul onto the pages. Writing the end of a series, man, it's hard to let go of those characters. I did my best to make every bit and piece come together, to go for the gut punches and balance them with a few good laughs, to make readers cry. 

I cried. Others have reported they cried. Mission accomplished.

That might be considered a spoiler, but really, if you've read any of the books in the series, you know I do not go easy on my characters even in a happy ending.

This revelation inevitably annoys new-to-me readers because they want the answer to be a stand alone book, or at least the first book in the series for goodness sake. Sorry folks, I'm difficult. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it.

On the road again. And again. And again

Normally September is a slow month for me in terms of book signings, a warm up for the upcoming writing months (usually Oct & Nov). Normally. This year? Yeah, not so much. I'm rolling through September with four weekends of signings. The good news is books are selling. Hooray!

Let's see, where was I since the last post? It's all a blur.

My local writing group did a joint booth at Art in the Park. Eight authors enjoyed beautiful weather and signed many books. The Marvelous Mr. Millie happily served as my flock representative. He basks in all the attention and often gets so relaxed with all the petting that he falls asleep on my table. I have to wake him up so people can take his picture. Some day, maybe he'll have his own book.

Mid August, author pal Joan H. Young and I took our annual road trip to Paradise, MI in the upper peninsula. It's a 5 hour drive for me but 6 hours when I detour to pick up Joan. Having the company for the long drive and weekend is well worth the extra hour. 

Joan writes mysteries for adults and a series for kids as well as books about her hikes on the North Country Trail. Check out her blog here.

She's also crafty and surprised me with this stuffed chicken she made. The chicken has been named Eggatha. She keeps me company on my writing chair.

What does it look like when you cram two authors' outdoor setups in one car for a road trip? It does not look like daylight inside and there's zero rear view mirror. LOL However, we did manage to fit a chicken and didn't have anything under our feet or on our laps, so we'll call it a Tetris victory. 

This was the view out the back of my booth all weekend. we were on the shores of Lake Superior. Amazingly, for the first time in three years of being at this festival, we had gorgeous weather. 

Next up was my last renaissance festival of the year in South Bend, Indiana. Peep and Dottie got all the love the first day and then Millie and Elsa switched out for day two. The chickens are very popular at this event every year and I sold out of my children's books that weekend! Thankfully, I had more books on order because my schedule is full for a month yet. 

Most recently, I did a children's book signing at Gilbert and Ivy, a small indie bookstore in Vicksburg, MI. Peep got lots of attention by sitting on the table by the window.

 

In writing news, Nugget the Space Chicken and the Haunted Cave of Korabumba, is live for pre-order at all of your favorite online retailers and will be released into the world on September 8. And hey, that means I can now show you the cover!

i9 is still in edits. Why? See above. I've been busy. ;)

If you're not familiar with 

the Insecure Writers Support 

Group, check it out here 

and find links to all the 

other participating writers.

This brings us to our regularly scheduled Insecure Writer's Support Group section of my monthly post.

This month's question is about your thoughts on using AI in your writing. 

I feel like we've covered this from a couple angles recently so I will say the only thing I've toyed with using AI for in a writing capacity is to brainstorm tag lines for the i9 blurb. There were a couple good starting points there but they needed a fair amount of tweaking to be accurate for my book and work with my blurb. 

Using it for brainstorming, eh, maybe. That's my current opinion.