This is going to be a short post. 
 
We had a death in the family earlier this month. It was rather unexpected and has thrown me. My emotions have been all over the place, and I haven’t felt much like writing, let alone blogging. 
 
I do want to take the time to shout-out my August indie reads, however. I’ve always found solace in books and really appreciated the ability to get lost in other worlds during the past few weeks.
 
See you back here in September. Stay safe and well, y’all.
 
Bennett’s Books – August Wrap-Up
 
A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
The Murder Next Door (Louisa & Ada, #1) – Sarah Bell
Far Removed (The Apidecca Duology Book 1) – C.B. Lansdell (ARC copy)
His Lordship's Blood (His Lordship’s Mysteries # 4) – Samantha SoRelle
Night Black: Book II of the Shadows of Chicago – C.J. Twining and Rien Nadie  
 
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I know it’s only the beginning of August and I am not trying to wish summer away but I’m really excited about my first horror story so, yeah – I’ve put it out there.
 
I would absolutely love it if you grabbed an ARC and let me know what you think! You can also pre-order it, if that’s your jam. 
 
Here and There goes live October 1. 
 
(Note: Here and There is not part of The Serrulata Saga. There will be a Serrulata Saga horror novel coming in 2024!)
 
I’ll be back with a longer blog post in two weeks. For now…
 
Be seeing y’all!
 
Bennett’s Books – July Wrap-Up
 
A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Prince of the Sorrows (Rowan Blood, #1) – Kellen Graves
Light My Pyre (Everwood Falls #1) – Kat Kinney
Sea and Sky: MM Fantasy Romance – Morgan Lysand
The Red Pen of Fate – Alley Rose
 
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​During the course of a meditation session earlier this week, I received what initially struck me as a strange reading from Tarot. In the three-card spread before me, I saw heartbreak, upheaval, and the suggestion to examine existing beliefs. The few days prior had been productive and positive, so I was quite taken aback by the cards.
 
But I trust Tarot. 
 
And, of course, it hit me during my meditation. 
 
These are themes prevalent throughout The Serrulata Saga!
 
Gathering of the Four begins when Leora discovers her adoptive family only wants to keep her around to hopefully turn a profit. The upheaval stars the moment she decides to run away from home. And as she races away, she is forced to examine what she believes deep down and has to reject feelings of worthlessness as she learns to survive outside of her home village of Mae. 
 
My other three main characters come face to face with heartbreak, upheaval, and the rearrangement of their core beliefs, as well. It’s how The Four become, well…The Four. 
 
As loyal fans of this blog may know, I wrote the first version of GOTF many, many years ago when I was a teenager. I joke about scribbling my angst onto the page (back then I didn’t have a computer and wrote by hand in a notebook) but there is something to be said about dealing with complex themes at such a young age. Has America as a whole ever taken teens seriously? I certainly didn’t feel heard when I was fifteen, and I wonder if The Serrulata Saga would exist if I had. Or maybe it would be a comedy instead of dystopian fiction. I have never had a desire to re-live my teen years or to return to high school (shudder) but I think perhaps Tarot wanted to remind me of where this story came from. 
 
Since the pandemic, I have gotten into what I now think might be a rather dangerous habit. I forced myself to fill silence and focused on anything and everything that would distract me from sitting with my thoughts. At the time, it was an excellent coping mechanism. But I worry I have gone too far the other way. Now I struggle to be still. While I often yearn for quiet, it terrifies me when I do find solitude. But separating myself from media and people allowed me to create Leora and Roland and Aurora and Leopold. Embracing heartbreak, affecting dramatic change, and questioning my core beliefs set me on the path to becoming the writer I am today.
 
So as I look ahead to planning Book Three, I aim to find a balance. No, I don’t plan on wallowing or shutting myself away from the world (as much as I sometimes wish I could) but I will strive to remember where I was mentally all of those years ago. I do not at all wish to revive my dark teenage mind, but forcing uncomfortable memories away isn’t the answer for me, either. 
 
And I have Tarot to thank for that.
 
A new sci-fi genre? Intriguing!
 
I subscribe to The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It’s one of my favorite publications and I love receiving the physical copy and clutching it in my hands as I read. I’m exposed to new writers from diverse backgrounds, and I was very pleasantly surprised to learn about a new sci-fi genre in the July/August issue. One of the stories, The Pet of Olodumare by Joshua Uchenna Omenga and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, is part of Afropantheology—a new genre created by Ekpeki. According to the blurb before the story, Ekpeki announced this at the ICFA 44, where he was a guest of honor. I both enjoyed the story and am excited to learn more about this new genre!
 
Tagging reviews on Insta
 
No, I’m not going to rehash what has been said over and over about tagging authors – especially indie authors – in negative reviews. 
 
Those of you who follow me on Insta know I’m all about positivity, promotion, and fun. What I am going to start doing is tagging authors in my Stories who get 4 or 5 stars from me. I’m elated when people do this with my books and I want others to feel that joy, as well. 
 
I had been holding off because I wasn’t certain others would appreciate it, but I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback when I have tagged, so that will be my default from now on. 
 
So, look out fellow indies! You might just wind up in my Stories. (And if you have any suggestions for indie books I might like, you can of course email me. Yes, you can hype your own work!)
 
Be seeing y’all!

Last time I blogged, I said there would be changes to this space and, well…now it’s time to make them!
 
During the Summer Solstice last week, I explored what the words ‘meaningful change’ mean to me. 
 
This is a blog about my writing process, so I don’t want to delve too much into my personal life, but suffice to say this year has been a struggle so far. 
 
I haven’t done a great job of maintaining behaviors that are good for my mental and physical health and my writing has suffered because of that. I’ve felt stagnant when sitting down at the keyboard. The words haven’t flowed as they did in the past. I’ve been able to meet my goals but I haven’t felt any joy about my progress – and the whole point of writing, for me, is the joy!
 
So, I created a new self-care regimen. I’m an urban witch, so first I consulted my trusty Tarot deck. After a Body/Mind/Spirit reading, I took a brief walk to tune in to the space around me. (I will say that I have struggled to connect with this area. I appreciate where we live, but we’ve been here for a year and a half now and I’ve never felt settled. I have a few theories as to why, but I’m not going to explore those here at this time.) When I returned home, I came up with a new exercise schedule that I promised myself I would try to maintain until the autumn equinox. I am hoping to form better habits in the coming months, but—and you are reading this right now—I promise I will forgive myself if things don’t go according to plan. 
 
What does this mean for my writing? Well, I am hoping purposeful daily exercise will clear the fog a bit and allow my creativity to flow again. I would love to finish my current Serrulata Saga WIP by the end of the summer while reminding myself that I cannot force the words to come. I think I am also going to try to sit down and free-write like this every Wednesday. I can’t promise the fodder from these evenings will become blogs that y’all see, but I think writing more for the pure sake of writing will do my mind some good. Tarot advised me to build and solidify a solid foundation in that area, so I’ll take its advice. 
 
There you have it. A new self-care regimen for Bennett! I’m excited for the rest of this summer and, as always, thanks for being here with me.
 
Bennett’s Books – June Wrap-Up
 
A list of books I read this past month with links to my Goodreads reviews:
 
Three Meant To Be (Branches of Past and Future Book One) – M.N. Bennet
No Light from the Fires (Sands of Theia #3) – A.E. Bross
The Orc and Her Bride (The Sapphic Orcs of Torden, #1) – Lila Gwynn
Hyacinth – Elle Porter
Death by Silver (Julian Lynes and Ned Mathey, #1) – Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold
The Private Vault of Aleister Crowley – edited by Nicholas Wilkinson
​
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Hey y’all and happy Friday! Thanks once again for stopping by.

As the title of this post indicates, I’m going to start doing things a bit differently with this space starting next month.
 
You’ll still get updates and a list of my reads & reviews, but I want to be more meaningful with my posts. I might also change the frequency, but I’m still mulling that over. Long story short, I’m going through a transitional period in my personal life and some of these changes are going to affect my writing life. Nothing dramatic (or so I hope) but, you know, I’m technically middle aged now and am starting to realize I don’t see things the same way as I used to.
 
So, stay tuned. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t already. I’m doing a cover reveal next month that I’m super excited about!
 
Have a great weekend!

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
 
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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
 
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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
 
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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
 
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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
 
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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…