I wanted to take the time to share some beauty this week. I think we all could use it. Enjoy!

National Capitol Columns at the National Arboretum

An orchid at the National Portrait Gallery

Spring blooms

Split-Rocker by Jeff Koons - Glenstone Museum

Gardens at the Hillwood Estate, Washington, D.C.

Staying on the path and moving forward. Or something like that.

Well, I was supposed to get this blog post up last week, but between the day job and family obligations, I just didn’t get to it. 
 
So… BONUS! You get a blog post from me in the middle of this week!
 
When I do get free time, I’m continuing to edit, edit, edit on this latest WIP. As I’ve said before, I love both of these main characters so much. Romance is shaping up to be a genre I adore writing!
 
I’ve fixed most of the glaring errors my wonderful critique partners found, so now I have to concentrate on the nitty-gritty, which can be difficult for me. 
 
I’m aiming to have this edit done by the end of next month, but my calendar remains packed, so I’m going to have to be disciplined. 
 
As always, we’ll see…
 
What Are You Watching?
 
Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I sometimes post about the shows I watch. Below are a few I’ve enjoyed so far this summer. 
 
Atlanta (FX/Hulu) – Season Three is more surreal than the past two season, but well worth it. This show consistently hits it out of the park.
 
Love, Death, and Robots (Netflix) – The third season of this anthology was a bit hit or miss for me, but I still really enjoyed seeing different animation styles in each episode. The brevity of the episodes helps, as well. I still want to see more from this series!
 
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – While I’m still very much enjoying this one, it is starting to lose a bit of steam. I think they’re doing one more season and then ending the show, which, in my opinion, is a good choice 
 
The Twilight Zone (Paramount Plus) – I’m a die-hard fan of the original and really enjoyed the first season of this reboot. The stories in Season Two are not as strong as those in the first in my opinion, but I still really liked this and have my fingers crossed they’ll do another one.
 
We Own This City (HBO) – Based on actual events, this was a fascinating look into wide-spread corruption throughout the Baltimore City police department. Some of the time jumps were a bit confusing, and the subject matter can make it a tough watch, but overall this limited series is worth the time. 
 
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​

From The Dreamkeepers Tarot

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know by now that May was a whirlwind of a month for me. We left town on vacation and then moved into a new apartment right when we got back. Needless to say, my routine was completely thrown. Even though we’ve been in our new place for a week now, I’m struggling to adapt. I’m still feeling very ungrounded, which I suppose is normal after such chaos, but I’m ready for everything to settle and it hasn’t yet!
 
I’m hoping to get back to writing today. 
 
Earlier this year, I put the finishing touches on the first draft of my second romance, which I was very excited about. I sent it out to critique partners and, unfortunately, got some rather unkind feedback from one of them. I know, I know – writers need to have thick skin! And this is what I told myself, but doubt creeped in. Honestly, y’all… I lost confidence not only in the draft but in myself as a writer. Back in April I said I was taking a break, but really I couldn’t write. Every time I sat down at the keyboard, negativity overwhelmed me. I felt so lost. I cried more than once about it, not gonna lie.
 
Then, well… life happened. I left town. Had wonderful experiences in a different place. Relaxed. Uprooted my family and prepared for the next adventure. 
 
And now I’m back at the keyboard. And I’m ready to write again.
 
A special thanks to those of you who keep coming back here, sign up for my newsletter, and interact on social media. The Serrulata Squad isn’t large, but it is very dear to me. I appreciate every one of you!
 
Alright, enough from me. Y’all have a great weekend!   
 
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Peaceful path on the National Mall.

Hello Squad! 
 
I don’t have much in the way of updates this week. I’m going to be taking a short hiatus here, but I’ll be back in June.
 
In the meantime, stay safe and well…and maybe read and indie book or two!
 
Bennett’s Books – April Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Untouched – Jayme Bean
Hotel Fen (Nine Book 1) – Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan
The Unwanted Prophet – Carolina Cruz
Shattered Magic – Emily Huffman
Avis Aurea - The Golden Bird (Omnia Vincit Amor #2) – Maxime Jaz (ARC copy)
Mighty Quill – Emmaline Strange (ARC copy)
The Dandy Medium – Dez Schwartz
Campaign of Wood: Book One of the Against the Thorns Series – Payne Sillavan
Out of Due Season: The First Transit – Benjamin X. Wretlind
 
Reminder: Vote for Yours and Mine in the Picky Bookworm Awards!
 
As I told you last time, voting is open for the Picky Bookworm Awards. Yours and Mine has been nominated in two categories: Best Romance and Best Hetero Couple. Please head on over to the site to vote—and check out the other categories where more great indie books have been nominated. Voting is open until May 31st.
 
Also, be sure to catch The Picky Bookworm Podcast every week. 
 
See you in June, y’all!
 
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(Image used with permission.)

Well, hello Serrulata Saga Squad! 
 
Spring has certainly sprung here in the DMV, though it has been unseasonably cold, and I feel like I haven’t had a chance to rest since I last blogged. 
 
I haven’t written much this month, since I’ve been sorting out some personal stuff (nothing bad—but it’s been a lot of adulting) and next month is shaping up to be fantastically busy, so I don’t think I’ll be back at my keyboard until this summer. (Reminder: I’m taking a break from my newsletter in May, so the next one will come in June.)
 
My biggest news at the moment involves the Picky Bookworm Awards. Yours and Mine has been nominated in two categories: Best Romance and Best Hetero Couple. I’d love it if you’d head on over to the site to vote—and I’m sure Octavia and Gerald would like it, too. There are a lot of fantastic indie books nominated in every category, so please be sure to check out each one!
 
Also, be sure to catch The Picky Bookworm Podcast every week. 
 
Catch y’all later!
 
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Cover reveal!

Well, I’ve gone and done it, Serrulata Squad. 
 
I’ve sent Test of the Four off to my editor. 
 
I know there is still a great deal more to do with this one before I feel comfortable releasing it into the world, but during my last few writing sessions I found myself spinning my wheels instead of making actual progress. So, goodbye for now, dear book. We’ll meet again later this year. 
 
In other writing news, I’ve received lots of feedback from my critique partners about my second romance. I think this is going to be a powerful story once I’m done with it, but the work is going to be challenging. I’m also not sure when I’m going to be able to actually sit down with this one again in the near future; life, it seems, is intent on getting in the way of my writing this spring. 
 
Now for some more positive news…
 
My #PeakBloom contest was a success! I got a lot of sign-ups, both in the U.S. and abroad. A huge thank you to everyone who trusts me with their email! (If you haven’t yet signed up, you can do so here.) A reminder that I will be taking a month off from my newsletter next month, so you won’t hear from me again in your inbox until June. 
 
Also, my social media posts for my cover reveal yesterday got a lot of likes and shares, which always feels good. (Thanks for those serotonin boosts, y’all!)
 
Until next time, pals! 
 
Bennett’s Books – March Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
The Old Love and the New - Alistair Caradec
Fear and Fury (Adventures of a Villain-Leaning Humanoid #1) - Jamie Jackson
 Donum - The Gift -  Maxime Jaz (ARC copy)
 Shake Things Up (Love at Knockdown #2) – Skye Kilaen
 Hidden Magic: The Eldritch of Hallows - Elana McDougall
 The Fox Returns - Cherry Pickett
 Monstroddities - various
 Carillon's Curse - Sionnach Wintergreen
 
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​Peak Bloom is next week. I’m also celebrating the first anniversary of Gathering of the Four, so I’m doing a giveaway!
 
The winner will get free copies of both Gathering of the Four and Yours and Mine, as well as a shoutout in next month’s newsletter.
 
All you have to do to enter is sign up for my newsletter. 
 
The winner will be chosen at random. 
 
(Note: If the winner is in the U.S., they’ll get paperbacks; an international winner will get digital copies. Alas, international shipping costs are out of my budget.)
 
Good luck, Serrulata Saga Squad… and please spread the word. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram and share my posts!
 
Oh! And please make sure you whitelist me when you do sign up. Next month’s newsletter is going to be one you won’t want to miss… 
 

So many words. So little time. 

It’s early March, and here in the District we’re getting excited for Peak Bloom. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is returning this year and, needless to say, this gal is excited. 
 
In other prunus serrulata news…
 
I’ve made progress on the editing front. As of now, I have all chapters pertaining to side characters ready for my editor. I had to rework several scenes, but I think I have all of these characters doing exactly what I want them to do (for now).
 
Now it’s on to take another look at all of the scenes with The Four. These are going to take a lot of work. The Four have a lot to do (as you might imagine) and a lot of growth to achieve, and they’re not all there yet. 
 
Wish me luck!
 
Bennett’s Books – February Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Immortal Whispers (The Legend of Hereward Book 1) – Kon Blacke
Dust and Lightening – Rebecca Crunden
Haven (The Fae Queen's Court, #1) – Ceril N. Domace
Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm (Servants of the Moon and Sun Book 1) – Joel Flanagan-Grannemann
Fall – Maxime Jaz
Selenium Night (ShadowShifters #1) – Kharma Kelley
Bride to the Fiend Prince (Dark Rulers, #1) – Rebecca Kenney
Captive of the Pirate King (Dark Rulers #2) – Rebecca Kenney
Fall Into You – Georgina Kiersten
The Future Bride – J.G. MacLeod
Winter's Dawn (Flos Magicae, #3) – Arden Powell
 
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Snip, snip.

It’s halfway through the month of February and I’m about halfway through gathering all of the feedback I’ve received so far from my critique partners.

​I’m really grateful for these folks. 
 
In some instances, they’ve boosted me with much-needed praise. They’ve also each pointed out where improvements could be made, or where scenes should be cut.
 
Cutting scenes.
 
This is the hardest part for me because I want my readers to know everything about all of my characters! 
 
My brain knows this just isn’t possible, but my heart aches knowing that I’m going to have to chop and chop some more. 
 
But I want Test of the Four to be a great second book in The Serrulata Saga. And, who knows? Maybe some of the scenes that wind up on the chopping block will reappear somewhere else…
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
Yoga! Or, well, my new commitment to it. 
 
I’ve gained weight since everything shut down around the DMV in March 2020. This has been hard for me, like I know it’s been hard for a lot of folks, and last year I sank into a deep depression over it. Though I’ve been running more, I’m still not happy with the way I look. Honestly, I’m not sure I ever will be again. I’m older and it’s not as easy for me to lose weight as it once was. But I’m tired of being sad about it all of the time.
 
In an effort to improve my mental health, I challenged myself to complete a 30-day yoga program last month. All in all, it did wonders for my mental state. I’m happy to say that I’ve remained committed to keeping this as part of my daily routine. I’m still larger than I’d like to be, but that dark cloud that used to hang over my head all of the time isn’t there as often.
 
Until next time – stay safe and well, y’all!
 
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Thinking of spring...

It’s February, Serrulata Squad! 
 
I’m not sure about you, but January 2022 felt incredibly long but also somehow flew by for me.  
 
It’s been bitterly cold here in the DMV and I yearn for spring. I will be taking some time away from social media and writing this coming weekend for a much-needed recharge.  
 
I sent my second romance off to critique partners yesterday. I’m really hoping folks like it; these two characters grew on me like you wouldn’t believe. 
 
When I return from my mini-break, I’ll begin the process of first edits to Book Two of the Serrulata Saga. I’m also going to be doing the title reveal this month. As always, newsletter subscribers will hear it first – so sign up if you haven’t already!
 
Bennett’s Books – January Wrap-Up
 
A list of the indie books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Sweet & Dark: A Collection of Gay Erotic Stories - Grayson Bell
Afterlands: After the Harrowing – Boots
Magic in Autumn Springs - K.B. Davenport
Saving the Stray - Darlane L. Evans
A Bitter Drink - Azalea Forrest
Stormbringer - Erinn Harper
Flowers for Fara - Amara Lynn (ARC copy)
The Savior’s Rise - Talli L. Morgan (ARC copy)
Toad! And the Glass Eye - W. Payne Sillavan 
Bloody Spade - Brittany M. Willows
 
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