SamiJo McQuiston's Blog

A New Chapter

Greetings, Earthlings!

Life can change quickly. I’m recovering and getting better each day. All of 2024 and early 2025 affected my health. Life has ups and downs, and I hit a long down patch. Recently, I started a hormone treatment meant to help with my PCOS, which has had a big hand in all my recent problems. Now, I’m losing weight and feel more energetic. I hadn’t realized how bad I felt until I started to improve. It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter for me.

Sick had become my new normal. It’s hard to explain wanting to get up and do things after years of blaming myself for being lazy, depressed, and useless. This treatment has lifted a huge boulder off my soul, and for the first time in a long time, anything and everything feels possible.

Reflecting on the year, I thought my focus would be only on getting healthy, but life often has different plans. As my health improved, I was fortunate to meet others who shared my passion for books and art, and a long-time pet project of mine finally started to come to fruition.  

That brings me to something exciting: we’re hosting a book and arts festival with no booth charges for our artists and authors, and the doors are open and free for all to attend. Sometimes things feel so bleak, and I feel beyond privileged to be a part of the group of people putting this all together.

If you’re in the area on September 20, join us at the North Dakota Book and Arts Festival at the Reiland Fine Arts Auditorium, UJ campus, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate creativity, meet artists and authors, and enjoy our vibrant community! Don’t miss out—bring a friend, connect, and make memories!

PS

To continue on this positive note, my short story, One Samhain Night, took 4th place in Writer’s Digest’s esteemed writing competition in the Inspirational and Spiritual category. I can now say I am an award-winning author. How about that?

The post A New Chapter first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

Time Out

Dear Friends,
It’s been a hard decision and it’s breaking my heart, but I have to announce that I will be taking the rest of the year off from writing and Dueling Pens. My health started to take a bad turn last year. I had two surgeries, and unfortunately, I can’t seem to stay well. I will focus on improving my health so that, in the future, I can continue pursuing my writing career. I will still be appearing at Imagicon and a few other prior commitments. This will also affect the release of the next Abney Kelly and Hecate Grimm novels and the audio versions of the current books. I am deeply sorry for that.
I hope to beat whatever this is, but until then, I need to take care of myself and not spread myself so thin. I look forward to speaking with you all in 2026.

XOXO,
SamiJo

The post Time Out first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

The Most Depressing Christmas Ever…

Good Morning, Earthlings!
Let’s jump right into the nitty-gritty, shall we? As per life and the gods laughing at all your plans, ours have gone awry. In November, we had to work many extra hours, Sparking, because Andy’s new job pays once a month. So, we were an entire month without his pay and got no audiobook recording, Dueling Pens recording, or writing accomplished.
First thing in December, I got a bronchial infection that landed me in the ER, and I had to rest for a bit. Then things started getting back on track. I made a snow globe for the door decorating contest, pictured below. I probably didn’t win, but it wasn’t too shabby.

Then we got our vacation, our 12 days, which was supposed to catch us up on our goals. Andy came down with the creeping crud Saturday, the second vacation day. Then our dog Enzo, who has Epilepsy, started seizing Tuesday morning. He has cluster seizures, and he’s a 160-pound Mastiff, so he was still seizing through all the meds they could give him. He took several days to get them under control, and we were at the vet every day for the rest of the week. Big shout out to Dr. Dawn’s Pet Stop for seeing and taking care of our boy nearly every day the week before Christmas.
I came down with the creeping crud on Wednesday of that same week. So, we were both sick, running in and out of the vet while consuming Zicam, Airbourne, and Dayquil in mass. Enzo sometimes goes temporarily blind with his seizures, and with the amount of meds we had him on, we had to kennel him in the living room. Andy slept on the couch to keep an eye on him all night because the stairs weren’t doable for Enzo. So, also, a massive shout out to my husband for always being our family’s MVP and caring for us all.
Enzo started getting better around Sunday, but Andy and I were getting worse. This year was the most depressing Christmas we’ve ever had. I didn’t get anything wrapped and didn’t finish 1/10 of my projects, so people will still be getting gifts in mid-January. We were so sick. I handed Andy everything I got him unwrapped, and our family left food for us on the porch because we couldn’t go out and spread the disease.
I was supposed to return to work on the 26th but had to leave and go to the doctor instead. I was not improving, and my breathing sounded like a Rice Krispies commercial. They gave me cough syrup with Codine, Predisone, and antibiotics, which I’m still on but am considerably more functional. I had to take the rest of the week off, and even though I was well and truly sick, calling in when you’re supposed to be coming off vacation feels like a dick move or at least like no one is going to believe you’re carrying the plague.
I should have gone to the doctor sooner, but the vet also wants Enzo on extra medication and new food, which puts us at almost $400 a month for his care alone. Thirty bucks is thirty bucks when you’re counting your pennies. I hoped to save the copay and put it in the Enzo fund, but my dad would have said, “Want in one hand, s* in the other, see what fills up faster. ”

The Humane Society is looking into doing some fundraising for us since we got him from them last December. They didn’t know he was sick, and we’d barely had him three weeks when this started. You can contact The James River Humane Society in Jamestown, ND, if you need a spare dime. All funds will go directly to our vet and be held in an account there so we can pick up what he needs.

In theory, Dueling Pens will restart this week, and I will pull my short story entry for The Plainsong out of my a** right before the deadline on the 31st. We’re starting out this year behind, but we have a plan and a schedule, so hopefully, life will find a way to help us stay on track.
Stay tuned, and expect more from Andy and me in the coming year!

XOXO,

SamiJo

The post The Most Depressing Christmas Ever… first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

Keep Truckin’

Good morning, Earthlings!
First, good news: The tour went well, book sales have been steady, and the reviews have been great!
No one entered the coloring contest, so no one won. I am not disheartened, though; I still like this idea and plan to revamp it for future use!
Congratulations to Laura T. for winning the Rafflecopter associated with my tour! Your prize is being mailed off today! People like you make the dream a reality, so know that you and your participation are deeply appreciated.
Now, the bad news: Andy switched jobs, so we have more time to devote to Hats Off Imaginarium. Yay! However, the job pays monthly, and thus, we have to go without a paycheck from him for a whole month. Boo! We planned to use part of his 401k from his previous job to cover us until the other paycheck came in. But his last employer will only allow us access to said funds 30 days after his employment has been terminated, which we found out a little late in the game.
The Audible recording of The Haunt and the resumption of Dueling Pens are going to be pushed back to the end of December because we have to have a roof over our heads. So, we’re going to be Sparking after work until mid-December.
This is a little disheartening for us both because we know without a doubt that this is what we want to be doing full-time, and we will get there, just not tomorrow or the next day. We will keep fighting, and in case we don’t check in soon enough due to exhaustion, Happy Holidays, everyone!

The post Keep Truckin’ first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

Color and Caption Contest!

To celebrate the release of The Haunt on October 8th, we are having a color and caption contest. Color the illustration of Hecate and the talking skulls and give it a caption. The winner will receive a signed copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card.

Entries will be judged by the talented illustrator L.K. Kaphengst. Please email all entries to samijo.mcquiston@hatsoffimaginarium.org by 10/25/2024.

We can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!

XOXO,

SamiJo

The post Color and Caption Contest! first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

Welcome L.K. Kaphengst!

Greetings, fellow humans!

   We have a lot to cover, so let’s get to it. First and most importantly, we have the talented L.K. Kaphengst joining our team! Her unique skills will not only enhance our process but also expand our services. With her on board, we can now produce your audiobooks, provide cover design, and create illustrations, all in one place. This is a significant enhancement to our services, and we’re excited to see the creative collaborations that will come from it.  

  For those of you who are unaware, L.K. Kaphengst is my dearest friend and platonic life partner. She is a fantastic artist, and you may recognize her as the illustrator from my first book, Abney Kelly & the Yuletide Shenanigans. Please give her a warm welcome, and if you’re in the market for a book cover or illustrations, check out her page, which is located on this website under book services.

   Next, I’m thrilled to announce that the cover and trailer reveal for The Haunt is now live! The book is scheduled to be released on October 8th, and I’m eagerly counting down the days until I can share this adventure with you. I can’t wait for you to meet Hecate and the wild, fun world she inhabits. It’s just around the corner, so hang on to your hats!

  Lastly, I want to acknowledge and appreciate your patience and understanding during these challenging times. Dueling Pens is still up in the air. My health got in the way, and then taxes and insurance went up on our house to the tune of $500 a month. We had already cut out all the fun stuff to pay for the meds I need that are not covered by insurance, so Andy and I both have two jobs right now, plus this. We are working hard and hope to be back on schedule soon!

XOXO,

SamiJo

The post Welcome L.K. Kaphengst! first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

One Surgery Down, one to go

Hello Friends!
I’m checking in with everyone to let them know the hysteroscopy went off without a hitch. I won’t know the results for a week or so yet, but I remain optimistic that if issues are found, they will be minor.
I have started a new Facebook group for indie writers and aspiring indie writers. All the groups I’m a part of have one problem: writers trying to sell their work to other writers. Writers are undoubtedly readers, but we need a different audience. By networking with some like-minded individuals, I hope to get something unique and profitable going.
I also want to provide free self-publishing resources to other writers. There are lots of places you can pay to learn a thing or two, and I have, but the information wasn’t that valuable. Spreading the word and making this art form more accessible will help us all see a great many wonderful authors emerge without the literary world’s gatekeepers giving them the nod.
I invite you to join us if you’re one of those people. We can achieve a lot if we put our minds together.
Here’s the link for the group.
https://www.facebook.com/share/HfLmsKcu1Er2UyYE/

More is coming for those watching Dueling Pens, and your patience is appreciated. All this medical stuff surprised us, but we hope to return to normal soon.

XOXO,
SamiJo

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Temporary Delays

Good Morning, fellow Earthlings:

These next few weeks are going to be a little off. I have a surgical procedure and a surgery coming up. One is to hopefully get some answers on some stuff that’s been going on with me, and the other is to have my gallbladder removed because all the things always happen at once. The show should be temporarily back to normal next week, but with everything happening, please be patient with delays. We’ll get back up and on schedule once we get through these few life hurdles.

XOXO:

SamiJo

The post Temporary Delays first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

Dueling Pens

Hello Fellow Earthlings!

   My husband and I have been working on a project together and I’m so excited to share it with you! Dueling Pens is a weekly show that will feature Andy and I competing to control the narrative of one story. For our first go we have chosen to do Lovecraftian Noir. We’re calling it, The Labyrinth of Minos. There should be about a chapter every week. So far, it’s been fun to make and I hope you find it fun to listen to.

 You can watch the latest three episodes on this website if you use the navigation bar at the top to navigate to the Dueling Pens page. 

We will also be posting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DuelingPens-dt6tc

Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-6307653

Spotify:

And TikTok: @samijo.mcquiston

   You can also find links on our Facebook and X (twitter). We are working on an Instagram friendly format, but we’ll have to get back to you on that. We hope you like and subscribe. Every little bit helps, and your support means the world.

XOXO,

SamiJo

The post Dueling Pens first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.

One Samhain Night

   Everything smells like magic, and magic smells like decaying grass, campfire smoke, and cinnamon. The wind blows the leaves around like tiny dancers pirouetting, twirling, and leaping to the tune of their swan song. There’s a manic fizzle to the air that keeps me right on the edge of contentment and despair. One false step, one wrong breath, and over I’ll go to be swept up or drug down, so I fling out my arms and step ever so lightly.

   A fuzzy face rubs against my leg, and I reach down to stroke the aging salt and pepper fur. My gaze drifts from the window down to those brown eyes that sparkle even through those milky irises. My wise old friend, I often wonder what I have done that makes me so deserving of your love and endless patience. In my eyes, I fall short in every category, but you stick by my side always and without complaint. In my heart, I know the gods got it wrong. Dogs should be in charge, and we should be the pets. The world would be a much kinder place if Bo-dog were in charge.

   Puck comes in and nudges my other hand. I laugh and tell him he’s right. I have two hands, so why would I not pet two goofy mutts? I’m sure it’s my age, but at moments like this, I look at their faces and think about how, of all the moments in my life, these are perfect and will never be regretted. This is time I spend wisely.  

   “Sami,” Andy’s voice calls from the kitchen, “how long do I stir this gravy?”

   “Just keep going,” I say. “I’ll be there in a minute.” I rub their heads one more time and go back to lighting the candles. I’d spent an hour ironing the festively orange and black tablecloth this morning and did my best to arrange my decorative plastic pumpkins in my dollar store candy bowl to make the centerpiece. Every surface had been dusted and cleaned twice for good measure. I want everything to be just right. I want you to be proud of me.

    After a final sweep of the room, I return to the kitchen to relieve my grateful husband and continue my preparations. Dinner needs to be on time. It can’t be late. You hate it when things run late.    

   It’s been a year since I’ve seen your face, heard your voice, or felt the comfort that comes from knowing you are here in the same room as me. There’s a pep in my step as I call out to Andy to set the table. I’ve made all your favorite foods and a few extra treats that you’ll pretend you don’t like but you’ll eat them. You always do.

   Bo is lying in the corner of the kitchen now, watching me cook contentedly. Poor dog has gotten a bit pudgy in his old age, but at nearly a hundred years old, I find it hard to deny him anything. I slip him a piece of meat, and he smiles at me with his goofy-semi-toothless grin. I pat his head and return to loading the serving dishes.

   “It smells wonderful,” Andy says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “He’ll love it.” The weight of his arms calms me, and I relax into him for the briefest moment before I break free, pass him a serving dish with mashed potatoes, and follow behind him, carrying a plate of roast beef in one hand and the gravy boat in the other.

   The dining room is glowing with the candles and jack-o’-lanterns I’d lit before. Everything is perfect, or as close as that gets for me. I pour water into our three glasses and take my seat to the right of the head of the table.

   Andy sits down beside me, and I start to feel the anxiety and worry that had plagued me on and off all day. I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t show up. I’ve worked so hard, you have to come, don’t you?

   “Sami, breathe,” Andy says and grabs my hand. “He’ll be here.” I inhale deeply and shake my head bravely, willing myself to trust in those words. Bo meanders in and takes his place on his bed so that he can watch the goings on, and Puck loyally lays down next to his friend.

   I hear the bells first, those sweet, tingling notes that ring out every time the door is opened. The door creaks ever so slightly as it shuts. My heart is railing against my chest, beating against my skin, begging to break free, to fly. Each step is like a hundred years or the blink of an eye. Time seems to be disjointed, speeding up and crawling to a near stop at random.

   You look just like I remember you, but your hair is all white now, and there are a few more wrinkles around your eyes, but you look happy. Some people smile with their teeth, some with their lips, and some with their eyes, but you… you always smile with your whole being. It’s an emotion that radiates with the warmth of the summer sun, and I let it wash over me. I know in an instant that whatever happens, I’ll be ok. I suddenly remember to breathe, and all of that anxiety drains from me, evaporating in your comforting light.  

   “I have so much to tell you,” I say as you sit across from me, and Andy dishes you up a plate. “What do you think of the house? I know it’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but we’re working on it little by little. And look, did you see I’ve got great-grandpa’s buffet in just the right place? Bo isn’t looking too shabby for an old man, huh? The vet says he’s got a tumor, but I’m sure you know that…”

   I ramble on and on, hardly letting Andy get a word in. I want to tell you, I need to tell you everything that’s been happening, everything that’s changed, and it’s nothing you don’t know, but it’s different because you’re here, because I’m here telling you now. Every small thing feels like the biggest news, and one story bleeds into the next endlessly as the meal progresses.

   I’ve missed you so much. How has it been so long, and yet now, it’s like no time has passed. I push soul cakes onto your plate, and you shake your head at first, but you eat them. I knew you would. You love raisins.

   I know you’re done eating when you slouch a little in your chair and put your hand on your stomach. You always do that when you’re full. There is comfort in every familiar movement, even as you push away from the table to look at Bo. He tries to stand so that he can come to you, but he falls over. That happens sometimes now; the arthritis has gotten pretty bad. I get up and run to help him, but you beat me there.

  It makes me happy to see the two of you together again. I remember when I bought him for you. You didn’t know if you were ready for another dog, but we drove 3 hours one way just to look and see if there’d be the right friend for you there.

      I can still see how green the fields were that foggy May afternoon. Kaitie is with us as we walk towards an old decaying barn. The air is wet and heavy with the scent of alfalfa and sheep. Hidden in the tall grass is a litter of black and white border collie puppies. They’re all excited to see us. Kaitie and I kneel down to play with all the little expectant faces, but you hang back a bit, watching instead of getting in the middle of the fray.

  “What do you think?” I ask you, holding up one squirming puppy for you to see.

   “I don’t know yet,” you say. That’s when one of the puppies leaves the others to sit in front of you to look up at you with the biggest puppy smile I’d ever seen. You reached down, picked him up, and said, “Hello there, Bo-dog.” And that was it.

   I proudly paid the farmer for the dog. It was the first time in my life I’d been able to buy you something other than a cheap bobble, and it felt amazing like I was a real grown-up and not just playing make-believe.

   I watch as you pet the old man’s head. He’s so happy to see you. I kneel too, and look at you. I can feel the rivers running down my cheeks. “I knew you would come, Daddy. I knew you would,” I manage to choke out.

   You look at me, but I can’t look back anymore. I close my eyes tight, and I feel your hand on my cheek. “It’s going to be okay, Sami-o,” your voice says. I try to hold on, but I know that you’re here to help me let go. What feels like a gust of wind rips through the room, and when I open my eyes again, the candles are all blown out, and you’re gone, you’re both gone.

   Bo’s head is heavy and lifeless in my lap. Puck is whining and nosing his friend, begging him to wake up. I feel Andy walk past me to comfort our boy. I want to help, but I can’t just yet. My heart feels sharp, jagged, raw, like barbed wire in my chest.

   The bells on the door jingle lightly, and I’m on my feet running after you. I have to stop you, you can’t go, you can’t leave me again. I rip open the door and run into the middle of the dark street.

   I can see you walking away from me, “Daddy, please,” I manage to whisper. You turn back, and Bo runs up to me. He looks better than he has in years. I know he’s well again; he doesn’t hurt anymore, and I know I’m selfish.

   “I was so worried when you left us,” I tell you. “I didn’t think Bo understood. I’m glad you came to get him. I’m glad he’s not alone. I love you both.”

   You smile, and I feel Andy’s hand on my back. I reach down and grasp his free hand. I know I’m squeezing way too hard, but he doesn’t say a word. Bo is running back to you, and when he reaches you, you turn your back to me, and I watch as you disappear into the darkness.

   It’s a night for love, it’s a night for pain, and it’s a night for ghosts. I hurt because I love, and that is an agony worth facing again and again. If my heart weren’t broken, I wouldn’t have experienced anything worth remembering, I remind myself as I breathe in shakily.

   “Come on, honey,” Andy says. “We need to pull up the welcome mat.” Welcome mats are tricky things. They’re an open invitation to whatever is out there, and there’s a lot that I wouldn’t welcome in my home. Ours comes out once a year, and it very specifically invites friends and family only. We’ve had our visitor, so it’s time to roll it up.  

   When Samhain comes around again, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, we’ll roll out our mat, and I’ll set you a plate and make your favorite foods. We’ll put out a bowl for Bo and invite you both back into our lives and our home. We’ll tell your stories, update you on everything happening here, introduce you to new family members, and enjoy your presence while we may. This is how I keep you alive. This is how I hold you in my heart when I can no longer reach out for your hand.

As promised, this is my short story that was published in the UJ Plainsong. I hope you all enjoy. You can see the digital version here:

Plainsong 2024 by University of Jamestown – Issuu

The post One Samhain Night first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.