Better Late than Never 2023 Round Up

Happy New Year! Normally I do a December wind up and talk about where I am and where I’d like to be, the short of it is the last four months have been really emotionally draining for personal reasons. I keep on keeping on, and even was able to use my stat time to take some time off end of November/early December, but my body decided it had enough so I’ve been fighting off something for almost two weeks now. I was feeling better last week but it’s not all coughs and sniffles.

I got my thinking brain back and I’m attacking my cramping legs with nutrition and every trick I have, so let’s update about the writing.

Magus Gambit galleys are in my grubby paws so it will launch later this month. Stay tuned I will let you know here as well as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Yes, I am using Instagram Sevannah made me some pretty promo material. The artist I hired for Fable made me some for that cover too, and I have like, posted a pie and a spider.

I failed my Goodreads reading challenge for the first time I think ever – whatever, I am half-done a bunch of stuff and could have read more or at least listened to audiobooks while I was down and out, but que seras. I remain well-read and have a bunch of stuff to get to around here, plus I had a book come in I’m probably picking up either tomorrow or Wednesday.

I did not finish Book 2 of Puppeteers nor have I properly edited book 1. Book 2 is going fantastic so far, if I pushed I could do the rough draft for my vacation but I doubt that’ll happen; right now I’m concerned for health and wellness not for a project that’ll take another year to edit and have ready for the market. Yes, I’m slow, but my process takes time so I get it right. I have a beautiful cover for book 1, need to find an editor but that’s all possible unless I get sick or work myself so I’m burnt out again. The goal is to get book 1 ready for an editor, finish book 2 and the prequel and then go work on something else completely while book 2 percolates.

I did not write three shorts for three different markets last year. I did do most of a prequel and did do a few shorts, but seriously I have a few stories from probably 2022 or 2021 that need editing. So if I need something to do, I have two longer projects to edit during my holiday.

I did not have a book out last year. I did not revise a project like Chimera last year. I didn’t even start a project for Cassie when I asked her what her wish list was; I have ideas and still haven’t really solidified much, but let’s just say I rather enjoy swashbuckling tales.

I have two books with Champagne Books that are probably both going to be 2024 titles that I’m proud of, and I still really like this YA duology I’m working on. So in theory, I’m looking at 3 books that I think are strong for 2024, with a very solid follow-up (at least at this point) for 2025.

So goals:

Write 3 shorts, send them to different markets.

Market the books better. We’ve been working on the brand and have material, now let people know they exist.

Write that Swashbuckling Novel. Keep it short, no big epic 100k+ nonsense. Preferably in the 80-90k range. Send to Champagne.

Revise a project. Probably Chimera. Send to Champagne. If they like it, finish book 2.

Get Fable out. Hopefully, Cooks Creek Medieval Fest will happen, I have been wanting to sell books in costume for years. If not, maybe I’ll make up a costume and head west to Alberta or south to the states just for the fun of it.

Fix Puppeteers 2, get it ready for 2025. See Work on developing Derelict Knights or something else in the meantime. Maybe write more than what I have sitting on my harddrive with the sequel to The Mermaid and the Unicorns. Keep the word count down. Seriously though, 2-3 titles in a year is plenty for someone who works as much as me. I see other people being way more prolific, to that I say, Good for you! No sarcasm; just my things are loooong and I want to kayak.

Do some oil painting and get good at something else creative. I spent way too much money at The Artist’s Emporium last week. Did I say too much money? I mean I haven’t had a chance to dabble with my new toys.

Basically keep on but improve. It’s funny that part of what the College of Paramedics tells us is to indulge in hobbies for mental health, meanwhile I’m running circles trying to keep up requirements and figure out how to do stuff. Little nibbles as opposed to big bites’ll do, though.