Good afternoon, Readers!

Things are much the same as the last time I blogged - I'm getting manic trying to get the gifts done for Xmas, but I have most of the things I need to get them all done. Tonight, I've decided to do the majority of one of the bigger gifts - I can get most of it done quickly. The longest part will be the maille. I think I can get everything else needed for that particular one done in an evening, though. I do need to take a trip to Michael's to pick up some silk rope.

I have some air-drying modelling clay, which will be fun to play with. I'm making all kinds of things with that, and I have some really fun ideas for it. I bought a lot, so I'll be able to do more and even make casts for other things unrelated to Xmas. I'm really looking forward to getting started on that group of things. But first, all the Xmas gifts I need to do.

I have bought some metallic paints, which will be used on the dry clay, and perhaps other projects. It came as a set, with some really gorgeous shades; just the usual metal shades, though, not anything funky like metallic green or teal. I'll be keeping an eye out for those, too, though.

I do have writing news! For those of you who couldn't make it to CanCon to the book launch, never fear! There is a virtual book launch happening this weekend. December 4th at 3pm on the interwebs! There will be readings, and possibly give-aways... I don't know. I haven't been able to make a virtual launch due to my scheduled. I figured I should clear my schedule for this Sunday, though, as my book is one of the ones being launched.

For those of you who are first time readers, I'm re-launching Human or, rather, Renaissance Press is launching the second edition. I'm really thrilled that they've agreed to take this book on. I'm biased, since I wrote it, but I reckon it's a really good read, and I desperately want it to do well. I'm hoping with Renaissance's reach, which exceeds mine by a lot (they at least have a distributor), I'll see some movement.

Speaking of, Evan May wrote some lovely words about Human:

I'm not sure about the romantic soul bit, but it did make me smile! Thank you, Evan, for your lovely words.

But I'm not the only one who is launching this weekend, Evan himself is, with a fantastic book (Easter Pinkerton and the Case of the Heretic Blood). It's a bloody good read. Highly recommended.

Jen and Eric Desmarais' combined effort Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is also a ripping good read. I'm not keen on Romance in and of itself, but there is enough awesome action and fun surrounding this romance plot that I found I really enjoyed this read. If cosy is your thing, this is the very definition of it.

The Ground That Grows Roses by Elizabeth Hirst is also on the list. I haven't yet read it, but I'm keen to get my hands on it. Elizabeth is one of the warmest people you'll meet... which makes her incredibly creepy horror stories all the more surprising. I'm keen to read it... though I have to say that unless I'm writing it, horror and I don't mix. I get nightmares easily.

Renaissance is also launching Nothing Without Us Too, the second anthology of stories by authors who are disabled, d/Deaf, Blind or visually impaired, neurodivergent, Spoonie, and/or who manage mental illness. It's a spectacular anthology and super worth the read.

So far the event is listed on Facebook, but I'm certain that there will be a link available for folks who aren't on that particular platform. For now, the details are here. When there is a link for those not on Facebook available, I'll post that, likely via my newsletter. So be sure to sign up so as not to miss the announcement.

Alright, that's all I have for you today. I have a lot of stuff to do today. Have yourselves a lovely rest of the day.

Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

I hope you're all well!

I don't have all that much to report this week. I'm still trying to get a handle on my Christmas gift project. I have not yet bought the air-dry clay.

Lawd help me.

I'm thinking I might give the writing a break until the new year... largely to give myself the space and time to complete my other creative projects. Then I have to make a plan. As it stands, I'm going to edit the second Avalon book, so I can forward the manuscript to the second beta reader - when I figure out who that will be - then I'm going to try and finish out the series before I go on to writing the other partly-finished projects I have; including the rewrite of the next book in The Great Man series.

Cai has been on my mind a great deal of late. His story has been with me since I was a young teen. I really need to see it done right. The first book, Soldier, is in submission limbo. I won't know until March of next year, and I fully expect that I won't hear from the publisher (or perhaps, as in the case of Skylark, I'll get a lovely rejection letter from them some six months after the reply deadline. I'm not being sarcastic. It really was a lovely letter!). I really believe in this series, in Cai and his story. I'm ever hopeful, but trying very hard to manage expectations. The disappointment will be very real if the manuscript is rejected this time around.

Particularly since I read an email today that is very intriguing, and it would probably serve my interests to have my future books published elsewhere... probably? I don't know. A meeting is planned and I have so many questions.

I being very deliberately vague about this. Very. Deliberately.

I promise, as soon as I know, I'll tell you... Though I might announce it in my newsletter first. You know, I do have to offer some perks for those who signed up. Yeah... I think I'll make any new announcements in my newsletter first.

Awkward segue: if you want in on that, click here to sign up for the newsletter. It might be the easiest way to keep up with me if Twitter does go the way of the dodo.

Is there other news? I feel like I'm forgetting something...

Oh well, if it's important, I'll put it in the next blog post. For now, I have to go and prepare for the next painting I must do, and then make a proper list and plan for making sure I can do it all in time.

I have three things to make (that aren't paintings) before the 11th. Wish me luck. I might die.

Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

I was supposed to get this written and up Tuesday. I took Monday off, for... reasons, and so wanted to get this post up the next day.

As it turns out, there's a lot of work that needed doing and I didn't get a chance to do it Tuesday. Wednesday I forgot about it entirely.

My bad.

There isn't all that much to report. I'm still not writing anything, nor have I made any serious attempts at going through the edits for the second Avalon book. Title for the book and series are still pending. I have no idea what to title anything in this series.

I haven't received anything for The Lioness of Shara Mountain, which is just as well, as I don't seem to have the time for editing it at the moment.

No, I'm too busy trying to plan all my gifts for this year. For some inexplicable reason, I decided that I'm going to make all my gifts and... I'm an idiot. Hoy boy. There is just too much for me to do. I'm a twit. Why did I make the decision to do that? I have more eight... nine? Eight? (something like that) paintings to do... then several more repetitive things after that in order to finish the master of a gift that I'm giving to several people... and then I have to do more things to it to make the things usable. I'm being deliberately vague. Some of the gifts' recipients read this blog.

Happily, there are other things I can make from the same set of things, which are much more manageable to do, which takes care of a number of other gifts.

Then there's the gift that I've been meaning to make for someone for a couple of years now... first for a birthday, then Christmas, then a birthday... and now Christmas. I'm terrible.

Then there are more gifts which will require colourful air-dry clay and some other things. I don't have the things I need in order to make the gifts, but I better go find them quick-smart, because I am so far behind, I think I'm going to pull a muscle trying to catch up with it all. Which begs the question...

WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF?!

So that's the state of things. I'm frantically painting... sometimes very roughly (though there is one I'm particularly proud of. When the gifts are given, I'll post more about it). But whatever. I don't have time for perfectionism. I've got to get this done.

A good lesson, I think. And a good exercise to help me fight through a trait (perfectionism) that can be quite debilitating at times.

Alright, I have to go. I hope you're all well.

Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

I hope you are all well! I haven't much to report, but no doubt I'll be able to pull an entire essay out of nothing. University taught me well.

First order of business, the November birthday wish to make my reforestation contribution with Trees for Life something wonderful. I haven't calculated the monies coming in from book sales (if there are any... I've not yet checked with my publisher), but the grove boasts five whole trees as of this morning. Five! I know it doesn't seem like much, in the grand scheme of things, but it's not nothing, and I'm really grateful for every tree planted. You're all fantastic for helping make the already beautiful Caledonia a little wilder and more magical.

If you don't want a whole-arse book but would like to buy a tree for my grove to help out all the same, you can do so through this link.

In writing news, I've not written a word in months, but I did receive the edits from Beta Reader One on the second book of the Avalon series. Most of them were very encouraging. I made her cry which... I mean... That's a good thing, in context. It was supposed to be a heart-wrenching scene. I am still working on the Secret Project, which requires a lot of time, so I'm not expecting to be able to start working on those edits until maybe the New Year.

Speaking of the Secret Project, I'm very far behind. I really need to get my butt into gear and get it done. I'm not sure I'll have it done in time to be the Xmas gifts I wanted it to be at this rate, and I'm annoyed at myself. I have been rather slack of an evening, and have been zoning out watching videos when I ought to be working. New resolution: Evenings are for painting, in addition to my lunch hour.

Maybe if I manage to make it a habit, I can re-devote my lunch hour to writing/editing and spend my evenings painting. I have more hours in the evening than I do at lunch, so I could get a lot more done. The trouble is making it a habit. I find that at the end of the workday, I have very little will or brain power to get things done.

Dear Universe,

Please make it so I can write full time so that I might have a little more control over how I spend my limited daily hours, so I can get things done... and sometimes treat myself to a leisurely lunch.

Kind regards,

Me, burnt-out and frustrated.

How's that for an essay out of nothing? I haven't lost the skill. Thank you, Uni. Alright, I have to dash.

Thank you again for supporting my rewilding efforts, and for being generally awesome humans. Love you!

​Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

Well, it's both Monday and Samhain, so, a very happy Hallowe'en and blessed Samhain in whichever way you celebrate the occasion.

Today marks the Celtic New Year, and there are many traditions surrounded this day. One of my favourites, which others might find terribly macabre but I find incredibly sweet, is the returning of dead loved ones. They are welcomed into the home with a place set at the table so that they can eat the Samhain meal with their living families. This is the time of year they check in on their living descendants to make sure everything in the home is well and good.

So, I would like to offer a very warm welcome to my grandmother, who I miss terribly. I hope she does check in on me... and is understanding of the organised mess that is my house. I am looking forward to her company, even if only briefly. She has many descendants to check in on.

If I have other ancestors who'd like to pop by, I welcome them too, and I'm very sorry I don't recall you at all.

Because ghosts, as we all know, read blogs.  Hell, blogs are so old and out of fashion that I'm pretty sure they're the only ones who do.

In other news, I have other news!

During a lovely chat with my mum last night, I was reminded that the second book of The Avalon Wars series (working title... I'm not enamoured with it) exists and is a thing. Not only that, but I sent it to her and she has finished editing it. I should be receiving the edits soon. I look forward to reading what I've written, because I've forgotten it all, and I'm excited to read her comments. She did say that she loved it, so I'm anxious to sink my teeth into it.

Then I have to figure out a second beta reader. My usual second beta reader is having issues that are limiting his time on the computer, so I don't want to add to his computer-related workload. Another person I would ask still has The Lioness of Shara Mountain, and is quite busy, so I don't want to ask her and add to her workload. I have some time to think of someone to ask to be my second beta reader. I haven't yet received the edits, and I won't have to worry too much about it until I've gone through all those edits in any case.

Speaking of The Lioness of Shara Mountain, I really need to start thinking about the book cover. This one is going to be a web novel, but even that requires an eye-catching cover. I have an idea of what I want, but I should muck around in my drawing software for a bit. I have so much art stuff to do. Ugh. Why do I do this to myself?!

There need to be more hours in the day. Or rather, I need to spend less time in an office, and more time doing my own thing.

Alright, the last bit of news I have:

November is my birth month. I'm not fussed about birthdays. I tend not to celebrate. But I would like this month to be something special. So, if you are inclined to want to offer me a gift, don't. Instead, consider supporting a charity I am championing - Trees for Life.

How? Well, half of all my royalties of Daughters of Britain are going towards a grove in Caledonia (Scotland), so you can help me celebrate my birthday by buying a copy (purchase links here) OR please buy a tree to plant directly (here). Each tree is just £6, I think.

My birthday wish is to end November with a big, beautiful grove of trees in the place in which I set Daughters of Britain.

Alright my loves, that is all I have. Sort of. I created a mailing/enewsletter thingy. If you want to receive monthly updates on my writing and art and (eventually, but not yet) exclusives, do sign up. You can do so here, if you want.

Now I'm done.

Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

So, I haven't written anything in a long while. I don't mean this blog. I did have a WIP that I was trying to get done by the end of this month, but then wonderful news of family from Australia visiting for Christmas hit, and I panicked, seeking a decent set of gifts for those who are coming. I struck on an idea for a hand-made gift, but it is a lengthy project, and it's quite involved, and it is taking all of my energy at the moment.

That is what I'm working on. It is currently my entire focus.

It involves a whole lot of planning and painting. You might have seen some of it on my Facebook page.

I can't talk more about it because it is secret, and I don't want to give it away for any of my family reading this. I will say, however, it is stressing me TF out. I'm not sure I'll get it done in time, and that is a scary thought. Of the 13 paintings I have to do, I have finished exactly two. Hopefully the third one will be done today. The paintings are not large, but I'm incapable of choosing easy subjects, it seems.

As I'm working on this gift, though, I feel like it might be a useful thing for others, so I'm contemplating creating a version that will be available for sale. No one really knows who I am, and I doubt I could sell very many units of this thing because (as my book sales prove) getting the word out about my stuff is near impossible, but maybe, if I finish it soon enough, I might be able to shift a couple units before the new year.

It is entirely dependent on timing, though, which is why it's so stressful.

The version I'm working on now will be my own, but I can make copies, which should be easier to deal with for those receiving it (I chose very thick paper), and will be quite easy for me to personalise. But I need to get these paintings done first. Then I need to fill in the rest of the pages with... uh... the rest of the stuff that makes up this gift, but aren't really full-fledged paintings.

If I finish in time, I'll be posting about it everywhere, but likely TikTok and Instagram first.

Maybe I'll hold off on making the thing available for sale until next year, largely because I don't want to spoil the Xmas gift for any of my family who might actually watch those.

I don't know. I'm feeling a little disheartened by things in my creative career at the moment, and it's hard to find the motivation and confidence to continue to try. This, however, is for family, so it's a little easier to find the will to get it done.

The project won't be secret forever, so keep an eye out. I'll be positing about it to my socials. And if I decide to make it more widely available, I'll let you know.

Right, it's time to go. I have work to do and whatnot.

​Ciao!

Good afternoon, Readers!

What, two blog posts in a week? EVERYONE PANIC!

Okay, but in all seriousness, this is the actual report on Can*Con, starting with a little bit of backstory. I shall try to keep the gushing to a minimum.

Also, a warning, it's a long post today.

This is about when I realised that Can*Con was imminent and I have nothing with which to display my art pieces, I don't have what I need to take payments. I panic. I research those display grids you see all the time for art displays at conventions/open-air fairs. They are only available online, will not ship in time, and are hovering around $200.00. Well... fuck. I have an idea and check out the Ikea website and *heavenly choir* find a room divider that will both work, will look great AND will have a function outside of convention season. I put out a call for anyone who may be available to take me to Ikea and home again after I purchase said last minute thing. Luckily, my friend Bruce answered the call.

THANK YOU, BRUCE. You are a bloody legend! Have fun in Winnipeg.

Then I get a call that my ride to the hotel is unable to do it. I panic. I call my dad, who very kindly agrees to be my wheels; at least to the convention. He can't drive me back. That's alright. I'll find a way.

Once the rides were sorted, I realise that I don't really have the right hardware for taking payments. Well... shit. So, I ordered the Square tap/chip reader blue-tooth machine. I left it kinda late, because of course I did. It arrived Thursday - the day before the convention began.

I am so organised.

Nevertheless, it's done. I have a way to display my art, and to take payments. I'm all set. Sort of.

Never mind that I didn't make the three styles of leather dice bags I wanted to bring, and there was a painting I wanted to bring, but hadn't yet finished despite having begun it three months ago.

Whatever. Too late now! With one night left to go, I slept incredibly poorly.

Alright, everything was pulled together last minute Thursday night, but was ready to go in the morning. My apartment is an old building, and doesn't have an elevator. So, I made several trips up and down the four floors carrying my boxes, paintings and room divider down so my dad didn't have to. I was all ready when he arrived.

We loaded the car, and off we went.

We arrived at the hotel just a few minutes after the dealer's room opened for set up. I forgot what floor it was on at first, so I took us to the wrong floor before I figured it out. The elevators opened to reveal Brandon and Marie, and suddenly I was home.

I got a hug from both before unpacking the carts and seeing my dad off for a well-deserved weekend at the cottage. Then I returned to the room to unpack my stuff.

This is when I learnt that I had not restocked my books... and so of my self-published titles, I had only a few copies of The Seraphimé Saga, Ethan Cadfael and a few copies of The Dying God & Other Stories. I had nothing of Sky Road Walker. Uh... Oops. I also discovered that I had just one bookmark, when I was certain I had four. I still don't know where the other three went. FFS. Whatever. I set up my table as well as I could regardless. I was done pretty quick, and so I spent some time entering a lot of the things I didn't have in my Square, then went out for some breakfast; which I hadn't yet gotten.

That didn't take long and, adequately fed, the rush of getting everything together fading, I had a small breakdown. It wasn't overwhelm so much as the sudden lifting of overwhelm. Suddenly, in a safe, supportive space, there was a lifting of two years worth of stress and frustration. Needing a bit of space to process, I vanished into the quiet room (Can*Con had a quiet room! SUCH A GOOD IDEA) for a few hours and just let myself be. It was so nice.

Realising I hadn't eaten in a bit, I went out for lunch, stopping at Kyoto Sushi on Bank St, which has become something of a tradition for me when I go to Can*Con. Ate my fill, returned to the quiet room for a while until registration opened. I collected my tag and swag bag, managed to get a hug from Derek - and a book! - and then returned to the vendor's room to wait for crowds.

Friday was lovely. Seeing old friends again and meeting new ones was so much fun. I even made a sale that surprised the hell out of me. Now I have to make another leather dust jacket. Oh, the hardship. Exhausted by the crowds (I never really do well with crowds), I raced home in the evening to eat a late dinner, then collapse into bed.

With no one available to teach for me, I spent the morning and early afternoon teaching martial arts. I am not sad about this (I love teaching martial arts), though I did miss being at the convention. Once the classes were done, I raced downtown to the hotel, set up my table, got changed and collapsed in a heap behind my table. There I stayed for the rest of the time the vendor's room was open.

I had a lovely time chatting with everyone, got a number of hugs from friends, and made a couple of book sales, which is always lovely.

The evening had two parties I really wanted to attend. First, the book launch party for Brandon Crilly and Evan May, both of whom are top blokes, and I wanted to support them. It was Brandon's first book and Evan's third. As it turned out, Evan was unwell and couldn't make it all weekend, which was quite sad. But, Marie very sweetly called in so he could still be part of the proceedings. It was hilarious and sweet, and I'm very glad I was there for it. Nathan from Renaissance Press read from Evan's book (Easter Pinkerton and the Case of the Heretic Blood), and it was great. I've previously read the book, and it is by far my favourite of Evan's. Similarly, Brandon called in... to his grandparents, whom he had dedicated the book to. It was so very sweet, and my heart felt like it was going to explode. I haven't yet read Brandon's book (Catalyst), but I am absolutely looking forward to it.

Following that was mingle time and... I quickly became overwhelmed. There were too many people too close and too much noise for me. I don't do well in crowds normally, and I am three years out of practice. I started disassociating and that's when I knew it was time to go.

I missed the second party I wanted to attend - the 30 year anniversary party. I did plan to go, but I was about three seconds away from a panic attack, so I said some quick goodbyes and ran away. Almost quite literally.

Once home, I ate a quick dinner, cuddled with the cat, and collapsed into bed.

The last day. It was too soon for it to be over!

In any case, I arrived in the vendor's room on time, stuffing my face with a hastily bought breakfast, when I received a text from Nathan at Renaissance. They were waiting patiently for me to arrive so they could begin the book launch for my, Evan's and Elizabeth Hirst's books. I stared at my phone for a second, before fleeing the vendor's room, spilling hot coffee on my hand, as I rushed to the launch.

I thought it started half an hour later than it actually started.

I am a twit.

But I got there... not too late, and the launch went really well. Oh, did I mention that I hadn't chosen a reading until I arrived in the vendor's room?

I am organised.

In any case, I think it went alright, for having been chosen literally three minutes prior. Evan still unwell, Nathan read for him again. And then it was mingle time.

As I usually do when feeling stressed, I stuck to chatting with the folks I know and trust, and it was really lovely. It helps that I'm not a huge name in writing, so not a lot of people were there for me specifically, and I didn't have to deal with a tonne of people. I managed to not have a panic attack before I had to bounce - a little early - to make it to my one and only panel for the convention.

It was a great panel, with fellow panellists who offered brilliant insight into the knotty issue of niche genres and it was really fun to be on the panel. I hope I didn't blubber like an idiot in trying to answer, but I felt pretty good about it when it ended. I'm very glad I only had one panel. Any more and I might have a complete breakdown.

Back to the vendor's room after my panel for me, and there I stayed until it was the end of the convention. I sold more books (completely out of The Summer Bird now), a poster, and my last remaining bookmark. I was very happy to have sold those books. It made dragging my boxes up four floors back to my apartment so much easier at the end of the day (so, thanks, everyone!).

I was also gratified to learn that the silent auction of my art piece Stormbringer broke the $100.00 mark and wasn't a complete flop. I was worried that it would achieve a total of zero bids. I was very happy to be able to help the con in any way.

Pack up went rather smoothly, considering all the crap I brought, and soon, Nathan had me in an uber and before I had time to process anything at all, I was home.

I dragged my nonsense up to my apartment, fed the cat, ate some delivery, and collapsed into bed.

The whole weekend feels like it went by in a flash. I'm still reeling a little bit.

I forgot to take Monday off work, so I haven't had the recovery time I need, and I am still absolutely exhausted. I haven't processed it all yet. All I know is that I had a brilliant time, overwhelm and all, and I missed the Ottawa SFF community terribly. It was so good to see everyone, even if I didn't get to everyone I wanted, and I am already anxious to go again.

​Thank you again to everyone for making this Can*Con such a wonderful time.

Now I'm going to go home and collapse into bed.

​Ciao!