 Stretching is a good idea! I’m all done with revisions to what will be my first self-published work in the horror genre. This project was born out of a need to step out of my comfort zone and stretch myself a bit.
Working on this project for the past few months has not only allowed me to explore a side of myself I normally keep hidden, but it gave me the opportunity to make new connections in the indie writing community, too. As I’ve told y’all before, I’ve enjoyed reading horror since I picked up my first book in the genre (Needful Things) when I was way too young. Now I’ve got the courage to contribute to the genre myself and I have the confidence to do it again. After this weekend, I’ll be switching back to The Serrulata Saga. I’m still not moving at the pace I’d like, but my goal is to complete this next novella by the end of the summer. Oh, and one more thing… I’m probably going to do a few giveaways this summer, so make sure you’re following me on Insta and Twitter! Thank you, as always, for stopping by. Exclusive Newsletter Content - Favorite Indie Book of the Month Just a reminder about this new feature that you can only get if you’re subscribed to my monthly newsletter. Sign up if you haven’t already and make sure to whitelist me! Bennett’s Books – May Wrap-Up A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodread reviews: Skylark in the Fog – Helyna L. Clove The Lion and the Dahlia (Orchid and the Lion, #2) – Gabriel Hargrave Of Knights and Books and Falling In Love – Rita A. Rubin Daylight Chasers – Rue Sparks Dress the Neck Becomingly (Sanguis et Fauna #2) – Emmaline Strange The Hex Next Door (Witches of Moondale, #1) – Lou Wilham Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!
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I had so many goals at the start of this year and now that 2023 is almost halfway done I find that I’ve only accomplished about half of them.
Y’all, I am Not Ok! Though the flood damage in our place has been fixed, I’m still grappling with getting a good night’s sleep for a variety of reasons. Exhaustion has led me to neglect my exercise routine, which, in turn, has affected my writing sessions. One thing cascades into another and then I look at the calendar and realize I haven’t accomplished anywhere near what I wanted to this month. So. Frustrating! I’ve reworked some projects on my calendar and it appears that now this summer is going to involve me completely immersing myself in the horror genre, with a slight break for a bit of romance. I don’t want to say much about that last bit – you’ll have to subscribe to my newsletter for more details there. By the end of July, however, I’m hoping to have finalized one horror WIP completely and to have completed the initial draft of my second horror WIP. But if that doesn’t happen and I need to take more breaks, so be it. Fingers crossed that the rest of this month is smoother! And we’ll talk next week.  What can I say? April has been a ridiculous month.
A little update from my personal life, though y’all know I don’t talk much about that here. Last week, our apartment was flooded by water from the unit above us due to a faulty appliance. It was a mess! Though all of the damage has been fixed, our lives were upended and I’m just now starting to feel normal again. I know it could have been a lot worse – believe me – but I’m very glad it’s over. Despite the chaos, I was able to make my deadline and my third Serrulata Saga romance is now with my editor. I had a wonderful, cathartic experience writing this one. Several side characters are now also demanding their own stories, so there’s plenty more to come from me as far as romance is concerned. Title and cover reveal are imminent, so make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter. Now that this latest romance is done, it’s time for me to pivot back to the genre that’s newest to me: horror. Those of you who visit the blog regularly know that I started a Serrulata Saga horror story earlier this year. I’m eager to get back to this one and I really have only one word to say about it so far: zombies! And finally, I’m incredibly excited about Second Glance’s launch on May 2. Main characters Patrick and Iseul are near and dear to my heart and I’ve already gotten three fantastic reviews! There’s still time to pre-order, so don’t miss out! Time to wrap up this post… and hope for a quiet May, haha! Bennett’s Books – April Wrap-Up A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodread reviews: Boneless – Coyote J.M. Edwards Hunt the Wood: An MM Red Riding Hood Retelling (Beautiful Nightmares) – Anna Fury & Amy Pennza The King's Delight (Tales of Lilleforth, #1) – Sarah Honey Truthseeker (The Peacebringer Trilogy, #1) – Talli L. Morgan Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!  Not sure about you, but the first quarter of this year simultaneously dragged and flew by for me. I am a warm weather person, so now that spring has sprung here in DC, I’m feeling more energized.
I’m still working on initial edits to my yet-to-be-named Serrulata Saga romance. And, of course, I’m anticipating the release of Second Glance on May 2. Not much more to share at the moment but believe me, the rest of this year is going to be packed! Exclusive Newsletter Content - Favorite Indie Book of the Month Just a reminder about this new feature that you can only get if you’re subscribed to my monthly newsletter. Sign up if you haven’t already and make sure to whitelist me! Bennett’s Books – March Wrap-Up A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodread reviews: Hopeless, Breathless – M.E. Aster Suddenly, Omega – Grayson Bell Flatrock – Luke Harrower The Heart of the Sea – Chesney Infalt The Way It Would Become – Amena Jamali Flowers and Flourishing and Other Tales From the Paranormal Society (A Paranormal Society Romance #0.5) – Kara Jorgensen Khirion – Maxime Jaz (ARC) Oh, How the Music Soars – W. Payne Sillavan Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!  Washington, DC is known for many things, one of them being the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which kicks off annually to coincide with Peak Bloom.
Peak Bloom is a grand time here and I look forward to it every year. For me, it’s an unofficial goodbye to the gloom of winter and a way to welcome warmer weather. The city comes alive again and I find myself feeling as though emerging from a chrysalis. All this is to say I’m doing a Peak Bloom Sale again this year. Newsletter subscribers will get the details first, as always, so be sure you’re subscribed. Woke up in a panic and turned it into art I’m not a heavy sleeper. In fact, I rarely sleep at all some nights. I’ve struggled with insomnia most of my adult life. Sometimes it is manageable, but other times I can barely get enough rest to function. I can’t explain why I can’t sleep. I’ve tried meditation. Medication. Therapy. For the past twenty years, I’ve sought answers, but they have eluded me. My insomnia is now a part of me whether I like it or not. When I do manage to sleep nowadays, I tend to fall into very deep sleep—the kind where you are dead to the world and, if woken, find yourself confused as to where you are or even when you are. I don’t want to get into a whole Thing—I have a therapist for that—but most of my deep dreams are nightmares. Bone-chilling, spine-tingling dreams full of horrors I didn’t even know I could imagine. It’s odd because, while I wake up panting and sweating and fearful for my life, I also find that I’ve gotten the rest I need to make it through the day. I’m not going to even speculate what that means, but I have to admit I do find it fascinating. A few weeks ago, after a particularly horrendous nightmare, I got an idea. Why not write down what I experience? I loathed to take a break from my current horror project, which is Serrulata Saga-related, but this dream was so powerful I felt compelled to share. So, for the past two weeks, I turned my most vivid, recurring nightmares into a 10,000 word short story. I have no idea when I’m going to share this with y’all—or if it’s even worthy of being shared—but the experience was cathartic. Back to…unnamed romance number three I’m turning back to romance for the next month and a half. I’ve collected all alpha feedback on my yet-to-be-named third Serrulata Saga romance. Once I incorporate it, it’s time to revise and edit. If all goes according to plan, I’ll have this ready to go to my editor by mid-May. I am working with my cover artist now on the cover and I am getting very excited for this one, y’all. I’m planning to do the title and cover reveal at the same time and—yep, you know it—newsletter subscribers are going to get that info first. Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe. Ok this post was longer than I intended. Thanks for bearing with me. Until next time…  My fourth book is now available for pre-order and… y’all… I never thought I would get to this place. I’ve dreamed about it since I was a kid but I am actually sitting here typing the words ‘my fourth book is coming out this year’ and I’m near tears.
I am so excited to share the story of Lord Patrick and Commandant Iseul—a proper gentleman and a stoic solider who have a chance encounter at a tavern that blossoms into true love. Like Yours and Mine, this is a love-at-first sight story and I really, really hope y’all enjoy. Also… ARCs! This info will be available in my next monthly newsletter, which is coming out on March 7. So make sure you’re subscribed! I’m going to keep this post kinda short, so I’ll just add that I am starting to incorporate feedback from my alpha readers on my yet-to-be-named third romance, which will be out this fall. I’ve also started work on my first horror novella. I can’t wait to see where this story goes! Hope everyone had a fantastic month and you can always see what I’m up to on Insta and Twitter. Cheers! Exclusive Newsletter Content - Favorite Indie Book of the Month Just a reminder about this new feature that you can only get if you’re subscribed to my monthly newsletter. Sign up if you haven’t already and make sure to whitelist me! Bennett’s Books – February Wrap-Up A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodread reviews: Prince in Disguise (Perilous Courts, #2) – Tavia Lark Catch and Release – Isabel Murray Angels Before Man – rafael nicolás The Melody of Trees: 10 Tales from the Forest – Helen Whistberry Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!  Looking up from the Hirshhorn Museum courtyard. It’s been a pretty chill year so far and I’m not complaining! Not only have I taken a break from writing, but I took a few Fridays off and away from the day job, too. (Side note: I think we should all work four-day weeks, but that’s a topic for another type of blog, I think…)
I was able to get down to the National Mall twice and popped in to some of my favorite museums. It was like visiting old friends wearing new clothes – the buildings themselves never change, but exhibits that aren’t part of permanent collections do. I spent a particularly icy day wandering around the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, where I relished in quiet contemplation. Art! It’s good for the mind, body, and soul! In terms of writing, I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things. I’m planning to put the finishing touches on Second Glance in February. (Fun news! I’ve got a release date for Second Glance, which I’ll be announcing in my monthly newsletter! Subscribe, subscribe!) I’ve also started outlining my first horror novella. Later this spring, I’ll begin revising work on my third, yet-to-be-named romance. Lots to come, but I also made a promise to myself to take it easy and take breaks if I need to. I do not want to burn out again… Fingers crossed February will be productive but not overwhelming! Exclusive Newsletter Content - Favorite Indie Book of the Month Just a reminder about this new feature that you can only get if you’re subscribed to my monthly newsletter. Sign up if you haven’t already and make sure to whitelist me! Bennett’s Books – January Wrap-Up A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodread reviews: Sagittarius Moon: a poetry collection – K.B. Davenport The Alpha's Warlock (Mismatched Mates #1) – Eliot Grayson The Errant Earl: An Ingenious Mechanical Devices Short Story (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices #0.5) – Kara Jorgensen The Reanimator's Heart (The Reanimator Mysteries #1) – Kara Jorgensen Imperfect Illusions – Vanora Lawless Trapped – Ruby Moone Sweet Sorrow – T.L. Morgan The Pantomime Prince – Samantha SoRelle Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!  Well, hello Serrulata Squad and happy 2023!
I hope everyone had a great holiday. Mine was hectic and not at all restful, which is why I’m taking time away from writing this month. I’m using January to reset and rest up. I have a lot of work ahead of me this year with regard to writing and publishing. One of the mistakes I made in 2022 was pushing myself to the brink. I was completely burned out by the time December rolled around and I’m determined to not make that mistake again. So, onward and upward – but more slowly. Since we’re on the subject, here are my goals:
Social Media Snafu If you follow me on social, you know I’m fairly active. You might have also noticed that my Twitter account has been quiet for almost a month now. That’s because I’ve been locked out. It was nothing nefarious – I went to reset my password and didn’t realize that the phone number I had listed was an old one I no longer have access to – but since Twitter Support doesn’t exist anymore, I don’t think I’m going to be able to login anytime soon. The good news is, I’ve noticed an overall improvement in my mental health since being banned from the bird app. So, you know, silver linings and all. More Insta Content Coming I’ve been putting more energy into Instagram this month, which has been fun. I’m improving my skills in Canva and am going to attempt to make more reels. (Please don’t laugh – haha!) So look for more book reviews, book tour stops, and Serrulata Saga news at @aebennettwrites! New! Favorite Indie Book of the Month This is a new feature I’ll be rolling out this year. While I am working to read and review more books of all sorts, I still want to make sure I’m propping up my fellow indies. Each month I’ll select my favorite indie book that I’ve read and feature it in my newsletter. This is exclusive content, so you’ll want to make sure you’re subscribed. (Don’t forget to whitelist me!) Alrighty, that’s all I’ve got for now. Thanks, as always, to each and every one of you for following, liking, and sharing. 2023 is gonna be great! Here it is – my 2022 wrap-up post.
It’s been quite a year and as the weather continues to get colder, my body and mind are begging me to turn on hibernation mode, so that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of this month. I’m still aiming to have the first draft of my third romance novel completed before 2023 rolls around. Also, a reminder there will be no monthly newsletter next month. And while I will be taking a break from writing, my mind can’t seem to stop giving me ideas for Book Three! Brain, it is time for rest! (Don’t worry – I’m using the notes app frequently…) Finally, thank you to everyone who support my books. I don’t check KDP often, but I do see that I’ve made some sales this month and the pages read in KU is the highest it’s ever been. Thank you! I’m grateful to everyone in the Serrulata Squad – y’all make this all worth it. Stay safe out there and happy new year! Bennett’s Books – December Wrap-Up A list of the indie books I read with links to my Goodreads reviews: Between Desire and Satisfaction: Erotic Tales and Poems – Gabriel Hargrave The Sparrow and the Oak Tree – Jamie Jackson (ARC copy) Sinclaire Silver – Rien Nadie, C.J. Twining Death of the Moon (Secrets of the Moon, #1) – S.A. Pavlik Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me!  Well, hey y’all!
It’s getting to be that time of year when things are super busy and time flies. The last quarter of 2022 has been incredibly busy and I haven’t had the time to blog as much as I’ve wanted. I have a few quick updates to share:
Bennett’s Books – October & November Wrap-Up A list of the indie books I read with links to my Goodreads reviews: After the Return (Afterlands #2) – Boots @ LookingLand Rebellion is Due (Ruarnon Trilogy, #0) – Elise Carlson Home for Halloween: Accursed Edition – K.B. Davenport (ARC copy) Unbury the Bones – Coyote J.M. Edwards (ARC copy) The Delve – Dan Fitzgerald (ARC copy) Apotheosis (The Fifth Yanai, #2) – Juniper Lake Fitzgerald Perils of Sea and Sky – Lilian Horn Home – Maxime Jaz (ARC copy) Kinship and Kindness (A Paranormal Society Romance #1) – Kara Jorgensen Alpha (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters, #4) – Kat Kinney Picking – Samantha Marchand Mortal Consequences: Bool I of the Immortal Consequences – Rien Nadie and C.J. Twining Structural Strain (Structural Integrity, #2) – Tabitha O’Connell Roam (Roam, #1) – Dez Schwartz Suspiciously Sweet – Samantha SoRelle R.I.P. Viola Winkle – E.P. Stavs Carillon’s Corpus (Men of the Shadows #2) – Sionnach Wintergreen Are you signed up for my newsletter? Make sure you whitelist me! |
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