SamiJo McQuiston's Blog, page 2
April 6, 2024
It’s Just Life
Good Morning!
It’s been a hot minute, so let me catch you up. After my last post, the Gods laughed right in my silly, planning face. I have written and rewritten paragraphs about this and decided it’s really easier just to sum up:
My mom was diagnosed with early onset dementia.My mom got a nasty dog bite trying to stop a fight between her dogs.My little sister moved to Florida to be with the love of her life, which is great, but she was also the live-in care for my mom, which meant we had to step up.My mom’s gallbladder went bad, and she needed emergency surgery.We’ve been trying to have a baby for 2 years, and I’ve struggled with every treatment so far.I had to change jobs because a box of garbage bags was more than I could make in an hour.The new job lied about being full-time– it was a whole thing–they ended up having to cut me a separate check two months after I quit because it turns out legally, they owed me that money because I had proof, they’d offered me full-time from the start.Bo died, and we racked up a ton in emergency vet bills. He was 15 years-old, and had a good life, but it was still really hard to let go of him and that part of my dad.I got a new job working for the state.We got a new dog from the shelter who ended up having epilepsy no one knew about. Over 20 grand mal seizures and another bunch of emergency vet bills later, Enzo is still with us. Gods be praised.We foster failed and adopted another pup, Bailey.After writing all that up, I realize it’s just life—this crazy rollercoaster ride that everyone is on. I work a full-time job and am trying to do all this in the moments I can spare. I think from now on, I’m not going to give myself any deadlines. It’ll be done when it’s done, and that’s what it is.
On a higher note, my next book is finished, and I’m shopping it around a bit. If no one is interested, I’ll self-publish again. I learned a lot my last go, so there’s a ton I’ll be doing myself, and I think you might be impressed with what I’ve come up with.
I also have a short story being published in the UJ Plainsong (University of Jamestown’s literary journal) on 04/23/2024. I’ll post a link once it’s out.
Please enjoy the pictures of Enzo and Bailey, our new family members who are completely smitten with each other. For more cuteness, check out my Instagram for Lady and the Tramp-esque shenanigans from them.
XOXO,
SamiJo
The post It’s Just Life first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.
March 18, 2023
It’s Been a Long Break.
Hello My Fellow Humans!
It’s been a good long while. So, let’s catch up. In the last year and a half, I bought a house, my dad passed away, I went through a nasty bout of depression regarding that, went to therapy, started picking myself back up, and am really trying hard to get back on track.
(Pictured: my dad, Robert E. McQuiston)
To that end, I have a couple of new projects! One, Abney Kelly and the Yuletide Shenanigans, will (finally) be available on Audible April 9th. If Audiobooks are more your style, please check it out!
Next, starting April 15th, you’ll want to tune into Murder A La Mode on Rumble and YouTube. I will be reviewing books and baking things. Participation is valued and encouraged, so make sure to stop by. I will be posting links to the show on my blog and on my social media sites.
This is the only political statement I plan to make at this time, and only due to the idea that these platforms lean one way or the other. I am a writer. My preferred world is one made up in my head. I am sick of divides and sides. I think if we don’t start reaching out and having conversations, we’re ultimately doomed. Everything I create is for anyone and everyone, regardless of politics, race, sex, sexual orientation, or any other affiliations, who digs what I’m putting down. If you are interested in these things I am creating, welcome, I’m utterly delighted to interact with you. If you’re not interested awesome, I wish you peace and happiness in the things you do enjoy.
As far as social media goes. I’ve had a good break from it since January, and I’m really enjoying that quiet in my soul, so I will not be spending as much time on those places going forward.
Facebook will be limited to ads and updates. I received a warning from them over a funny medieval meme that I shared saying that I was condoning suicide. I looked at this picture every way I could, and I found this was pretty much bullshit. I only share updates, ads, things I find beautiful, or things I find funny or interesting. I did try to appeal, but apparently, they found this to be the correct decision.
Facebook is becoming a bit too Fascist for my liking, and so I’m looking into alternatives that I may genuinely interact with. Not to mention, it’s such a negative place, and it hurts my wellbeing to be on there. If it weren’t the only place I could reach some of you, I’d just delete it and be done.
Now that we got the bad-tasting business out of the way, when my dad passed, I inherited two new friends, Bo and Snow Kitty. I now live with six males, and it’s wildly unfair. On a high note, I am a few steps closer to becoming the crazy animal woman in the woods.
(Pictured top, left to right: Puck, Bo, Puck and Bo. Pictured bottom, left to right: Anubis, Horus, and King Snow Kitty)
On the front of a second Abney Kelly book, all I can say is it’s taken a back burner for the moment. I don’t really understand it, but since my dad died, that particular story just doesn’t want to come out. I’ve tried and tried, and that well has run dry. I do plan to pick it back up; I just have to work through some things first.
However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing. A new heroine has emerged, and her name is Hecate Grimm. I hope to be introducing her to you all in January 2024.
And lastly here are a few photos of my new writing space, which I love, and my make-do closet recording studio.
XOXO,
SamiJo
The post It’s Been a Long Break. first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.
June 16, 2021
Peace
My dear fellow humans:
Hello! It’s been ages, so let’s catch up. You will not believe all I have been up to.
First, my house is gone, huzzah! The ex is out of my life and I finally have some healthy closure that I was badly in need of.
Second, due to pandemic and flight restrictions, I was unable to bring my animals from Hawaii, this is devastating to me. They are being cared for but it isn’t ideal for me. I was very upset for quite a while and pictures steal bring on sobbing fits, but there’s only so much I can do. I console myself with the fact that there was nothing else within my financial means that I could do. I have to find my peace with that.
Third, Andy and I have adopted a Great Pyrénées puppy, named Puck and two cats, Anubis and Horus. They keep us very busy. Especially the naughty puppy, but life is finally calming down a bit and I’m getting ready for business as usual, so I’ll be getting back to my writing, blogging, and my hobbies in general shortly.
Fourth, I got engaged at the end of October and then in April, I married the love of my life. There is a peace in our relationship that I have never found before. Nothing is ever perfect, we disagree at times (especially about politics) but at these times there are never raised voices. There is an effort to understand the other’s point of view, there is love, and there are agreements to disagree. There is also plenty we do agree upon. I’ve found my partner and my person. We both had to grow up quite a bit for it to work, but I’ll be forever grateful that we gave us just one more chance.
He is patient with me and helps me get out of the house when I had locked myself away for almost 6 years. We go to DnD, a vampire role-playing game, we have dinner with his brother’s family weekly. Sometimes it’s all very overwhelming to me, but he helps me through and I’m starting to meld my old self with my new self in a most pleasing way. I’m grateful for him holding my hand through my personal journey and the journey we take together.
Fifth, Abney Kelly didn’t do great, but it didn’t do bad either. It was good enough that I’ve found it on a couple of sites that pirate novels. This means while I likely won’t get rich, people are at least reading my book.
Things have been crazy, hectic, and everything I thought would be is completely different than I imagined. I am happy though, genuinely happy.
Stay safe out there.
XOXO,
SamiJo
The post Peace first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.
October 8, 2020
Oh My God, Oh My God, OHMYGOD!
So…I’m about to be a giant girl.
Oh my god, oh my god, ohmygod!
How am I even going to sleep tonight? It’s here, people, my book is available for purchase tomorrow. I’ve been in the midst of a mini-breakdown all week. Like I’m excited, but I would also like to toss my freaking cookies. I did it. Add that to my list of things that I’ve done that felt impossible. 1. I moved to Hawaii and bought a house on garage sale money. 2. I fell in love when I thought I was too broken to feel that way ever again. 3. I wrote a book and published it. Anything is possible—one challenge at a time.
And yes, I am aware that my book could bomb, but that doesn’t change that I did it. Succeed or fail, I did it, and that’s something.
Right now, I’m working on getting the audiobook out, probably another month on that, and I’m chipping away at the second book. It’s crazy to think I’ll hopefully be doing this again next year. Holy cow, what have I started? I’m terrified.
So along the lines of distracting myself, guess what? My house is in escrow! I bet you never thought I’d get out of that situation (me either). Closing is November 9th. Over two years later, I’m finally going to be closing that chapter, and it feels so good.
On the nerd front, I’m now living three separate lives. First, as you know, just me, and that’s a trip all in itself. I’ve also taken role-playing a tarot-reading vampire in Vampire the Masquerade, and here soon, I’ll be participating in Wallace family Dungeons and Dragons as a dark elf bard. Don’t lie; you know you’re impressed.
That’s all I’ve got for the moment. Please send all the good vibes my way. I’m going to be a wreck!
XOXO,
SamiJo
PS
Check out the Abney Kelly book trailer!
The post Oh My God, Oh My God, OHMYGOD! first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.
July 25, 2020
Now, This Is a Story All About How…
My People of the Internet!
I have returned! I’m about to go Fresh Prince on you, so I’d like to take a minute, just sit on down and I’ll tell you how ended up in this place called Jamestown.
I suppose I’ll start at the beginning of this wild adventure, at the end of May my life got flip turned upside down, Miramont, who I’d been with for five years, fired me. A patient canceled their appointment, and I’m told that I was to have notified the owner of this particular cancelation (even though we had never reported to anyone when a patient cancels. This was a special case. A special case that like one person knew about and that person wasn’t me.) He fired me on the spot. Other providers and staff fought for me, but it was no use. I’d never had so much as a write-up, I was employee of the year last year, but there you have it. I thought I’d be with Miramont for years to come, and it crushed me. Thankfully the other doctors and my co-workers had my back. They gave me some of the most phenomenal recommendations I have ever received. And one of them said something that stuck with me, “Maybe it’s time to do something brave.”
My boyfriend had been asking me to move to North Dakota to be with him, and I was hesitant. I still haven’t sold my house. Pretty much my entire income is tied up in Hawaii. I didn’t want to become his burden, and I was afraid of ending up in another situation and relationship like my last one. However, I swallowed my fear and said, ok. Which scared the hell out of both of us, I think. He also just got out of a bad relationship, and I think he thought I’d never say yes. SURPRISE!
A few days later, I was on a plane. I said I’d stay if I found a job, but only if I could do that. Thanks to my sweet/wonderful Miramont family, I found a great job and quickly. I’m working in Accounts Receivable at the hospital here. It’s amazing. I was feeling so down, and this was such a blessing.
And shockingly, I’m in a healthy relationship with a man who cares for me as much as I do for him. He’s pretty much supporting us until my house sells and I’m continuously grateful for his love, kindness, and support. It’s something I never thought to have from anyone.
We stayed in his brother’s basement for a little over a month. His family, by the way, has been so amazing. I love his sister-law. I feel like I made a friend. His niece and nephew have been a lot of fun too. Andy and I are starting over with very little, and I’m pretty much a handicap until my house sells. But they let us stay while we looked for an apartment, which we have huzzah (New office pictures to come!) Still no car, so they are borrowing us that for now too. You have no idea the gratitude I feel for these people who barely know me. They have been such a huge part of this being successful, and I don’t know if there’s a big enough thank you out there.
Now time for one of my downs. In the middle of all this change, two of my family members and my fish have passed, and that’s made this time very bitter-sweet. It’s been so much all at once, and many of my emotions continue to be conflicting. I’m all over the map, I don’t know how to feel, and that seems fair at the moment. I haven’t had much time to process it, so I’m not ready to talk about that much yet.
And to end on a high note (screeches loudly and hopes you all have seen, History of the World Part 1). My cover reveal went down yesterday, so I can finally share it with all of you!!! I will also share all the blogs that covered it! That’s all I have for now. I hope to get back to making this a regular thing, now that things are settling a bit.
XOXO,
SamiJo
YA Bound Book Tours
https://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2020/07/cover-reveal-abney-kelly-yuletide.html?spref=tw
JB The Book Addict
The Avid Reader
Cover Reveal: Abney Kelly and the Yuletide Shenanigans by Samijo Mcquiston @SJMcQuiston @yaboundtourspr
Crossroad Reviews
Haddie’s Haven
https://haddieshaven.blogspot.com/2020/07/cover-reveal-abney-kelly-yuletide.html
The post Now, This Is a Story All About How… first appeared on Hats Off Imaginarium.
