Hello Bloglandia!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve bothered to share a writing update with you, so, whether you like it or not, I figured now was as good a time as any for a little news.

Plus, I need your thoughts on something…namely, my next project.

That’s right, YOU could help me decide what words I will next squeeze out of my beleaguered brain.

But First, The Writing Update

Okay, so August didn’t start out very astounding since I nabbed myself a nice case of COVID at the end of July and was still pushing the rest of the spiky little bastard out of my body during the first week of August.

Unfortunately, having an icky virus didn’t stop me from working on the third draft edits of Fangs A Million (The Circus of Unusual Creatures, Book 3).

Even though I should have. Stopped, that is.

Because once I was fully recovered, as I did the read-through of those chapters, I realized the edits were so terrible they were utterly pointless.

Sigh.

Anyway, a few bad edits or not, I’ve just wrapped up the fourth draft of Fangs a Million, I’ve submitted the paperback files, and I’ve ordered myself a shiny new proof copy.

My plan right now is to release Fangs in December, but I might push that out to January if any clunky bits refuse to play nicely.

Also during August, in between drafts of Fangs, I read through and did a full second-draft edit of a novella with a magical realism twist.

I’ve yet to come up with a title for this one, but it centers around a couple of brothers who inherit a bookstore…a rather unusual bookstore.

It’s been really fun to work on and focuses on the magic of books and a love of reading, so I imagine it will appeal to all the book lovers out there.

I actually think this novella will be pretty quick and simple to cobble together, but since I’m doing a major push to get Fangs finished, I probably won’t have time to get it ready for publication this year, so you can look forward to that next year.

I also started working on editing and preparing a short story collection in August.

And then, about the time I wanted to tear my hair out, I realized working on three books at one time does not make for a happy brain.

So, I’ve set that project aside for the time being…which yes, means that’s another release that’ll be coming some time next year.

So Many Ideas Bubbling Around in My Brain

So, you might be curious about what other projects are in store.

And if you’re not, too bad, I’m gonna tell you anyway….also, this bit’s important for that opinion poll which is coming up soon.

Okay…project ideas…. Where to begin?

  • I have an idea for a new trilogy featuring Cassie Black and Company
  • I’ve also got plans for a full-length novel that brings back Mrs. Morris and Mort (who you met in Mrs Morris Meets Death)
  • I’ve got a brief outline for a fantasy version of the shanghaiing problem we had in Portland in the early 1900s that also combines aspects of a Jewish folk tale. This story features our heroine’s fiancé getting shanghaied, her parents assuming he’s just done a runner, and her sailing off to save the day. So yeah, loads of fun and adventure.
  • There’s another full-length novel waiting in the wings about time traveling pirates (that I actually started a couple years ago but couldn’t get the plot to behave) and a woman who’ll do anything to keep her ex-husband from getting her ship as part of the divorce proceedings.
  • And of course, there’s more Circus of Unusual Creatures cozy mysteries featuring Duncan the Detecting Dragon ready to be written.

Needless to say, there’s a lot of decisions to make about my next projects. 

So, if you want to help me decide or if you have any thoughts regarding which you’d like to see, please pop into the link below where you can make your pick anonymously at this quick and easy…

 PROJECT PONDERING POLL.

Thanks!

 

Not Familiar with Some of the Characters Mentioned Above?

That’s okay, because now is THE perfect (and cheapest) time to meet them!

You’ll find Cassie Black and a load of other quirky characters in The Undead Mr Tenpenny, which is only 99c at most retailers, including my Payhip Bookstore through the end of September.

You can meet Duncan the Detecting Dragon for FREE in his first book, Hoard It All Before, at Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and many other retailers for the rest of the month.

 

And you can introduce yourself to Mrs Morris & Mort in my FREE short story Mrs Morris Meets Death

 

I’ll Be Back!

You probably won’t hear from me until next month…more on why that is soon (ooh, cliffhanger!).

In the meantime, please be sure to grab yourself one (or all) of those books above and please please please help out my indecisive mind by taking that opinion poll.

Have a great rest of September and I will type at you in October!

 

Note: Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking the link, i get a teeny tiny commission to keep this site running, but it costs you NOTHING extra. What a deal, right?