Sunset.

Halloween. All Hallows' Eve. Samhain. Or just another day of the week.

Whether you plan to celebrate this Sunday or not, I wish you peace. 

Have a great weekend!

Storm's comin'.

I did it, y’all!

Last Friday I finished the first draft of Book Two. It took a lot of effort to buckle down and get that final chapter out, but I did it. I might wind up changing it, because I’m not sure I really like what I did to a few characters at the end there, but at least I have something to work with. 
 
After celebrating over the weekend with too much wine and some trashy TV, I am committed to taking a break from everything writing for the next two weeks. Sure, I’m still getting ideas for my next book and jotting them down in my notebook, but I have vowed there will be no editing sessions until November.
 
Despite feeling fantastic all weekend, I woke up in a yucky mental place on Monday. I got very down on myself and could only focus on my failures. It was as though my successes didn’t even exist. There was a storm in my brain.
 
I’m not sure what caused it. I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to figure out why my mind whirrs and my emotions spiral. I do know, however, that when this happens it’s often a sign I need to take a step back. Slow down. Give myself a break. 
 
And there you have it!
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
Those of you who follow me on Insta know that every Friday I listen to a podcast called The Last Action Critics. (Disclosure: I went to high school with one of the hosts, Ian. He and I have been friends for approximately 11,000 years. I also sponsored one of their recent episodes.)
 
Ian and co-host Will focus on action movies both good and bad. If you want a refreshingly hilarious take on the genre, I suggest listening. Over the course of an hour they discuss TV shows they’re currently watching, bad action movies that need improvement, and the latest action movies to hit the theaters (and/or streaming). 
 
If you need many laughs, head to your favorite audio streaming service and search for The Last Action Critics. You won’t be disappointed. 

The struggle is real. 

Argh. It’s true. I have one more chapter to write and I’m at a loss. 

I started the draft of Book Two earlier this year with great ideas about where I wanted to take my characters. I crafted a detailed outline, which I’ve mostly stuck to. Now I find myself at a loss. My MCs are where they need to be, for sure, but I’m struggling with wrapping their story up for now. 
 
I don’t think it helps that, according to my plan for the Serrulata Saga, I might not write about my MCs much in 2022. I know that sounds strange but I have two side novellas I want to start. Plus, I think I need a break from my MCs. Maybe that’s why I’m wrestling so hard with how to end Book Two. 
 
Are my MCs sick of me? Am I tired of them?
 
I have a writing session planned tonight. I think I’m going to just start typing and see where we all wind up. It probably won’t be pretty, but at least it will be words on the page. I can always change everything after I do my initial read-through next month. 
 
(That’s one of the great things about being a self-published author, by the way. I make my own rules!)
 
Fingers crossed I come up with something I like later today!
 
Reminders!

• ARCs for Yours and Mine are available!
• Sign up for my newsletter! It’s a great way to get Serrulata Saga news before anyone else!

 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
My hold on A Thousand Ships at my local library became available this week and I devoured the book in two days. Folks who know me well know I’m very interested in Ancient Mediterranean history and myths. This book does not disappoint! Told from a variety of perspectives, this book puts the women and goddesses of the Trojan War in the center of the story. Highly recommend!

​Hi all! 
 
I’m posting a day early this week because tomorrow is a Day of Errands and Adulting for me. (Ugh, I know.)
 
In case you missed it, I had some pretty big news this week.
 
‘Yours and Mine: A Serrulata Saga Romance Novella’ has an absolutely gorgeous cover that everyone can now see! (I got the final files for this one in mid-September and—trust me—it was very hard waiting until earlier this week to show it to y’all.)
 
‘Yours and Mine’ will be available on December 1, but if you’re as excited about it as I am, there are a few ARCs left. Hurry and get yours now! You can, of course, pre-order, too.
 
In other Serrulata Saga news, Gathering of the Four is now available in hardcover. I think it’s neat KDP is now offering this option and, of course, picked one up for my own bookshelf.
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
The MCU isn’t always my cup of tea, but I decided to give What If a shot and I have to say, I liked it overall. A few of the episodes were a bit of a ‘miss’ for me, but others were unpredictable, which I found refreshing. The animation style was neat, too! If you’re looking for something fun to watch, I’d say this is a good fit. 

Cover design by Sarah Waites

​In case you missed it, the Serrulata Saga looks a bit different than it used to.
 
If you follow me on social (Twitter and Insta), you’ll see some updates there and, more importantly, Gathering of the Four has a new cover!
 
These changes align with what I have in store for my cover reveal for Yours and Mine, happening next week. A reminder: newsletter subscribers will get to see this brand new romance novella cover first, so you should sign up. 
 
In other news, I’m happy to report that I am almost there—and I mean really almost there—when it comes to completing the first draft of Book Two. I only have three more chapters to complete. If I stay on schedule, I should be done with this first draft before the end of October. 
 
I’m incredibly proud of myself! 
 
If you had asked me where I would be with this project at this time last year, I would have laughed in your face about being so close to the finish line with the second book in this series. 
 
Now the Serrulata Saga is, well, closer to being an actual saga. 
 
There is, of course, a lot more work to get Book Two out into the world. First, I have to sit down and—oof!—actually read what I wrote. Then I’ll need to polish a bit before sending it to my betas. Then I’ll need to incorporate their feedback. After that it will go off to my editor for their first look. 
 
Much more to do…and I’m trying to take it one step at a time and not get ahead of myself, but it is hard for me sometimes. Blogging here about what I’ve achieved and what I still have to do really does help keep my anxious brain from darting from one thing to the next without taking time to process or plan. 
 
With that said, three more writing sessions to go. Only three!
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
I’m incredibly lucky to live a pleasant walk away from my local library. Lately it seems that every book I’ve ever requested put on hold has become available, so I’ve walked to and from the library more often and it has been a real joy. 
 
With the autumnal equinox happening, I’ve been mindful about taking time to express gratitude. Being able to travel to and from a place where I can pick up free books is fantastic the more I think about it. 
 
Support your local library if you can!