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.

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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.