August's Newsletter

How many of y'all are parents?

Look, I don't know about you... but maybe I do. Maybe you're exactly like me and counting down the days to the first Day of School the way our kiddos treat the countdown to birthdays and other gift giving holidays. Paper chains we tear off every night? That forceful check mark on the calendar prominent on our fridges? The constant reminder "XX sleeps and a wake up. I can do XX more sleeps and a wake up."

I can't be the only one.

I love my kids. I do. They are literally part of my body walking around this world separate from me.

Or, you'd think that.

For some reason, my daughter has turned into a clinger this summer. She will play Fortnite or read or be in her room for as long as she wants, and not a second more. After that, she claims to be bored and requires attention and entertainment. According to her, this is to be provided by myself. Occasionally her dad when he's not working. But, mostly me.

She's none to pleased when I tell her it's okay to be bored. Even worse when I tell her it's not my job to entertain her. Goes over like a fart in church. (Sorry. My Southern showed.)

Anyways. While I've been able to do a lot more writing lately, it's been way less than I think it could be. Take last night for example. I was in the groove man. Words were wording. Scenes were playing like my favorite comfort movie. I'd nearly gotten the "finger cramps" that come from just nonstop typing...

And then my daughter showed up. She plopped down right beside me. So close, in fact, that we were literally attached at the hip. She was burrowed in my side, scrunched up between me and the couch cushions. Her head on my shoulder. If I were a more claustrophobic person, I would have had a panic attack. As it was, my heart did start to race and I felt like bolting as it was.

I did manage to get her to head to bed since it was late, but the damage was done. All those scenes were ... blegh. Done. Gone. No more words. I went from The Flow to "The FUGH?!" so fast.

And that's pretty much what it has been like all summer. Between the doctor appointments for everyone, birthdays, family vacations, my night job (not like that! I work at a warehouse!) and still trying to be present ... well my writing has been the thing I just set aside.

Oh. And Social Media. Although I did up my game in July!

I reached out to a friend and asked what they were doing to balance writing and socials--the posts with aesthetics and quotes and snippets... and in reels and interacting. I was not on it. So they said they'd help me with the reels part. We figured if they helped me figure out the best ways to get general ideas that I can modify, I won't be as overwhelmed by the idea of reels.

So that's what we did. I worked on my posts, making sure I shared nearly every day. I wrote when I could. I did a raffle for the release of Power Play on Audible and contacted the winner.

All that because I wasn't constantly spending mental energy on the thing I wasn't doing that everyone said I should be doing. And now? Now I have a TON of ideas and options that will work for me now and in the future!

Work Smarter, not harder!

But like... anything book-related to share?

Oh yeah. about that.

Trading Tinsel, Book 3 in the Dropped Puck Series

is currently in the process of getting put on Audible! I am working with an incredible narrator to bring us Nick and Eve's story. This should be out by the end of August (as long as the Zon cooperates!) so look on my socials, the Zon, and Audible for more information.

Power Play

got amazing reviews the first week it hit Audible! Honestly, I've always loved this story, but I think it got buried in the heap of everything around its release back in 2022. Seeing people discover this book all over again? God, it's filled my cup in a way that I hadn't expected. Working with Alex Raby was truly a dream experience. She has me contemplating writing a single female POV book just so I can work with her again!

Book 2 in the 6th Man Series

is getting closer every day. I'm so happy with the progress. And I will say this: Beau & Becky's story has taken the biggest leap from original concept of any of my stories. Including the character's names! From the moment I wrote Beau in Full Court Press, it was like he spoke up and demanded he get the girl. So while I had originally planned (when I severely rough drafted/plotted the general ideas for each of the books in this series back in February 2023) to have Becky experience an entirely different plot line and MMC, I'm loving where these two are taking me.

This book is still currently untitled! Which is so not like me. But it feels poetic considering. The Title, blurb, and cover reveals will hit my socials in the next week or two so be on the lookout. I'm hoping to have BB2's (Beau & Becky) story out on the Zon in Kindle, KU, and paperback at the end of this month. But I refuse to rush their book.

Anything else?

Well, I am already thinking about my goals for 2025. I realized that a lot of the goals I set for this year, but personally and professionally, won't be met.

Part of this is because life happened. I started working overnights and didn't know how that would impact a few things. Getting the dreaded C-19 (twice) means that I kept getting sidetracked on my workouts.

The other reason is that I thought I did a good job of creating goals that were manageable and attainable; but they were also highly dependent on others. One goal was to reach a certain newsletter subscriber count. Well, I mean, I can share and post and remind until I'm blue in the face, but I can't force people to join. I can only be true to myself, write the books I would want to read, share the content I'm proud of and comfortable with, interact with genuine people, avoid bots and scammers. If I continue to do those things, then the interaction I do get with be authentic. Which is way more important. No matter what some people will try to tell you, the numbers aren't going to determine your happiness or success in your field.

So, right now I'm in planning mode. I am talking to my husband about what's reasonable expectations for our family (attending Wild & Windy in the City: Chicago? Sure. Vegas? Not possible).

I think I have a handle on my WOTY (Word of the Year) which is leading me to better find my QOTY (Question of the Year) and COTY (Color of the Year). And those things will help me create my "25 for 2025 List."

As a mood reader, I don't do a lot of TBR lists. And I am way less likely to do a monthly one for some reason. But I do think I will listen to Gretchen Rubin's Happier At Home starting September 1st. She likes to say "September is the new January" and I'm looking forward to having monthly goals to focus on, expound and compound upon.

Alright. Well I am going to see what shenanigans Becky & Beau are trying to get into next! I can't wait to share more with you this month!

Happy Reading!