Unfortunately, the last couple of months have been fraught with surprises from a publishing platform and a newsletter service, which means I've wasted more time than I care to think about on those issues.
I did a complete redesign of my website so I could have nice landing pages and stop using Books2Read (and to make the site more flexible with many browser sizes). A hefty time sink... And I now no longer have my titles available at any of the small retailers because I pulled them from Draft2Digital.
The newsletter problem isn't too bad (yet), but I had to deal with streamlining forms and welcome automations. It completely disrupted my flow last week.
Oh, and trying to focus on writing with kids home for the summer is always a trial. Especially when I'm attempting to prepare one of those kids for college in fall. I spent all day yesterday making a list of dorm items and shopping Amazon Prime Day for many of them. Writing time? Hahahahaha.
Anyway, I've complained enough. Before the tribulations above, I actually had a greatly productive year. So let's see where I'm at, shall we? And if you want to revisit my goals, you can check them out at 2026 - A Novel In A Year!
2026 Publications
❦ Hell Of An Unlife (Devil Made Me, 4) - Published on May 27, 2026
Yay! Moira's story arc is finally complete. Now go look at the Hell Of An Unlife landing page on my shiny redesigned website. While you're there, maybe buy a copy?
❦ Once Gorgon Bitten, Twice Shy (Magic Morsel, 2) - Late Fall/Early Winter 2026
I'm still on track to complete and publish the novel in a year. Kind of. The first draft is DONE! Quite an accomplishment writing that in five months. Though my revision notes exploded on me, unfortunately. I've started the revision, but I'm currently about two weeks behind schedule. And I now have an unexpected vacation planned in October, so we'll see if I can get everything in order before then (eek!).
2026 Writing Progress
❦ Drafted 78,145 words of Once Gorgon Bitten, Twice Shy (and revised 3,225 words so far).
❦ Edited & Published 17,095 words of Hell Of An Unlife.
❦ Dead As Dreams (Saga of Souls & Dreams) audiobook. Didn't expect this one, did you? Well, it's super early stages. I'm taking narrator auditions on ACX for it right now. Aiming for royalty share because I don't currently have a lot of startup cash. I figured it was time to dip my toes in the audiobook waters.
❦ Okay, I missed March for blog posts, and I'm skipping June for my newsletter. Life happens.
❦ Capricon was awesome this year! Hey, I sold books (actually sold out of Fairies - Fractured and Uncut). And I'm going to register for next year this week! ;)
❦ Social Media - I was posting more often... But my patience and exhaustion level for dealing with social media has dwindled. It's taking a backseat due to all the other stuff that's more important.
❦ Marketing - I've actually been experimenting with Bookbub ads for the Devil Made Me series. Planning a Facebook ad soon.
❦ SPFBO XI - Sadly, Leave No Dragon Stone Unturned didn't squeak into the semi-finals. Alas, I write on! And all 10 finalists will be announced by the end of this month - I plan to highlight them in my next newsletter.
See, it's not all doom and gloom. Just recent doom and gloom. Hopefully the Universe is done throwing speed bumps in my path and I can get back on track with the revisions of Gorgon Bitten. If not, then I'll push the publication to 2027 if need be. Must be flexible. Let's see how the second half of 2026 actually treats me...
