Christiane Knight's Blog, page 6

Fierce and Fragile

I am, in turn, fierce and fragile.

My left hand is smooth. On my right, the skin is rougher, from hard work. Because of this, I wear my jumbled pile of black rubber and sterling silver bracelets on my left arm, so they do not get in the way when I Do Things. I make it up to my right arm by the permanent adornment of a black skeleton key tattoo.

Smooth or rough, my hands are strong. I use them to grasp and pull and lift, and then I work with the most sensitive part of my fingers – the tips – and shape and draw wool into yarn with great control and skill. I am capable of extremes.

“What about this thing that you gave
What if it weren’t quite perfect
What if there was something bad about it?
Wouldn’t you still love it just the same?
Wouldn’t you still care about it?”

Victoria Williams, Lights

When I am “up” I am often deliriously happy, in love with the world. No color escapes my sight, no touch from my lover taken for granted. I revel in the cool breezes, the look and feel of my clothing, the way my body moves. I am never more alive than in those moments.

When depression creeps in – sneaky, unnoticed until I am full in the throes – I feel heavy, pained. I notice the same things, but the delight I get from them is muffled, no matter how I try to break free from the web of grey that wraps around me. I am still the same girl, but I am covered in a shroud of melancholy.

And writing that, I feel melodramatic… but it’s true, as much of a truth as my two hands which are part of the same body yet so different. Knowing this, accepting this – it helps. Each hand has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own adornments and looks. That is the way that it is. I can’t reject that. I don’t have to wallow in the weaknesses of my left hand to appreciate that it looks less aged, less haggard. And I don’t have to feel bad about my right hand looking rougher, marked by time; I recognize that it has worked hard and created many beautiful things. Together, they work to write this blog entry and share my words.

I love them both, because they are mine.

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It’s that time again – NaNoWriMo!

Do you think you can write a novel in a month?

That seems like a big task, doesn’t it? But there’s an entire group of writers who will be joining forces as we write 50,000 words in the month of November, and have been doing it for years! If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you may be aware that I’ve taken part in NaNoWriMo for a long time, and even wrote parts of all my books during NaNo and Camp NaNo.

My books all run around 120,000 words, so I usually manage about half a book[ish] during the event. That equals out to 1667 words daily, though I often write more on some days so that I can write less on others, or skip some days entirely. Time management is the key to staving off burnout, though the first part of any story is when I tend to crank out the most words quickly because I’m excited and into it.

But… why?

I love writing with a goal. I’m a very goal-driven person, and I also respond well to gamification – and you can earn badges on the NaNo site for your profile! I also love watching that number count rise. Staying focused can be difficult but the structure of NaNoWriMo really sets me up for success, and I love that.

I also love the idea of writing in community, even though writing itself is rather solitary. There are so many group sprints, discords, and groups on the NaNo community board that I can join. I also host sprints and offer encouragement on my Discord for those who want my special brand of cheerleading.

How I do it.

Generally, I’m a plantser. This is known. But this year, I’m working – at least this is the plan – on a short story, rather than a full-fledged novel, and that means that I’ve changed my usual ways.

My process has been this:

Start with writing down the basic story idea. [I’ll give you that at the end of this post]Create character sheets for the MCs and antagonist that includes things like motivations and goals.Write an opening paragraph or two that establishes the start and feel of the story.*new this year!* Write a basic outline that includes the major beats.Research, note taking, details that will show up in the story.Photos for inspiration, to be added to mood board or mock cover art.

Getting all those steps out of the way before I start writing makes for much smoother sailing. Adding the outline step feels weird but honestly, I’m more ready this year than I possibly ever have been! It’s a map that I can use or ignore at will, but it at least gives me the basic path for where I think the tale will lead me. And it allows my brain to work in the background on the storyline without fancifully taking it places that I know I won’t actually be using.

My brain likes to do that a lot.

I write in Scrivener, and for NaNo I use the NaNoWriMo template, which will auto-update my daily wordcounts to my account on the NaNo site. I’ve already got my chapter structure set up, too, with basic notes in each folder to remind me where I should be, beat-wise. My character sheets live there along with the outline and a page for links and resources from my research that I’ll be drawing on as I write. I picked up Scrivener after my first NaNo “win” because they offered 50% off to winners, and it was the best decision ever. The organization and customization it offers is right up my alley.

Other folks use programs like Plottr or Atticus or even Word, and they all have pros and cons but do the job. I think trying out different ones is a good way to find the one that matches up best with your needs.

I still recommend Caveday for a focused writing space, but right now I’ve been doing a lot of sprints on my Discord, The House of Three Ravens, as well as some other writing community Discords. I don’t need a camera open or mic on for that and I can run one any time I like!

Another thing that I do is send each finished chapter – unedited – to my #1 alpha reader, my partner Christopher. I let him read through and get his general first impressions of where the story is going and if everything makes sense and is keeping him interested. I take note of any plot points or details that he’s got questions about or isn’t clear on, and use that for my first edits and adjustments. When I’m writing fast and loose having that grounding but supportive read through is essential! I also find that his questions can help me go more in depth in character arcs or find places to add details that he’s suggested.

It’s the ritual, dummy.

That’s what I tell myself when marvel at how much I get accomplished during NaNo. Ritual, and structure.

My usual plan is this: have lunch, and make sure all my distractions are managed for the next few hours. I get a snack and brew a mug of tea, then put in my earbuds and select some music suited to what I’m writing. Usually that’s the soundtrack I’ve put together for the story, though not always. Then I minimize everything but Scrivener and start writing, usually at 3pm. I’ll write for about 1.5 – 2 hours and in that time hopefully hit my word goal.

I like to reward myself by getting up and doing a stupid dance. You can use your imagination for that, I’m not making a video.

Probably.

If you’re interested at trying your hand at NaNo, let me know! I’m ready to offer advice or just cheer you on loudly.

Now… do you wanna see what I’ll be writing?

Two lonely people meet through an online bulletin board and send each other longing emails filled with stories and poetry. Slowly one begins to sense that something’s not quite as they assumed…

And now I’m off to make last minute adjustments to my outline! I’ll give you the next update in the upcoming episode of Magic All Around podcast, coming soon!

When you purchase the highly curated products that I mention through my links, I may earn a commission. It’s a nice way to support your favorite struggling artist weirdo!

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In Sleep You Know, Chapter One

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Never, Always

We’re in a field of flowers, yellow and purple and blue. You’re the prettiest thing there, dressed in soft grey clothes, cloudlike and serene.

You spin in a circle, arms outstretched, joyful in that moment. I can’t take my eyes off of you. Your laugh is my favorite sound.

We’re in a tearoom, with dark wood walls and furnishings, straw mats on the floor. I sit, cross-legged, and you lay back with your head in my lap, dark hair spilling across your face. I need to comfort you, though I don’t understand why. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be here for you, like you have been for me.

I touch your face to wipe away your tears, and the look you give me makes my heart ache. You’ll never be mine. I’ll always be yours.

“Not in this timeline, dearest one. But somewhere else, we are together,” you promise me.

I have no choice but to believe you.

For more about my Oneiromantic series, start here: Oneiromantic

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In Sleep You Know Chapter by Chapter Intro

If you’ve been around lately, you know that I’ve been teasing this for a bit! This podcast is a readthrough of In Sleep You Know, one chapter at a time, by me in my cozy and magical bedroom/workspace. I’ve got a short intro to check out before the chapters start, if you’re interested.

This podcast, like Magic All Around, is available on both YouTube and Spotify.

Transcript:

Welcome to In Sleep You Know, chapter by chapter! I’ll be reading aloud one chapter per episode with the goal to eventually compile as a self-released audiobook in the future.

I’m Christiane Knight, the author and creator of the urban fantasy slash contemporary fantasy series Stories of the Eleriannan. In Sleep You Know is the first book, followed by Cast a Shadow of Doubt, which is a sequel but can work as a standalone. A Third Kind of Madness, the third book in the series and also a standalone, will be out in 2024. The books are set in a version of Baltimore MD USA – my hometown – where there are a few divergences from the one I live in. A few of the streets have different names, and there are places in one version that aren’t in the other. They both share some of the same quirky aspects and serious challenges.

Oh, and the city in the books has magical beings living amongst us.

I should clarify that with “as far as I know” because who knows what actually hides in the unexamined corners of the Baltimore where I live? Of course, that’s the premise I worked from when writing In Sleep You Know. Our main guy Merrick is an unfocused musician with no real drive to do anything with his life. He’s got imagination and wits but no vision – not until he stumbles into a party, uninvited. That’s a poor choice when it’s thrown by Fae and on Halloween.

He quickly makes friends and enemies, and finds himself swept up by this small Fae court – The Eleriannan – as their hope to revive their house and reconnect with the world of mortals. Only one problem: they have to convince a recalcitrant Merrick to fully get with the plan. And if they can manage to bring him into their fold, there will be even more challenges to face, including magical foes that no one thought to warn him about.

This story features references -both subtle and not – to classic stories about Faerie, faerie lore, and Child Ballads. I also create some of my own Fae creatures, like the delightful dancing trees called the Ffyn, the much more unpleasant ArDonnath, and the downright creepy trio of sisters known as The Ladies, always seen together and ready to dig around inside your brain to see what makes you tick.

Music is very important in the Eleriannan world and in my stories, too. It builds atmosphere, brings people together, and sets scenes. It’s a specific kind of magic in both my tales and in my life and I make it obvious! Each chapter has a song for chapter title and they’re compiled together in a Spotify soundtrack for you. I’ll make sure to include each song through a snippet when possible and a link to the track. Studying the lyrics will give clues about why that particular song is connected with that chapter.

I don’t want to give away too much before I start reading, because I think the beauty in reading or listening to a story is discovering it as it progresses, but I do want to tell you that there’s something I call the Fae Directory available on my website – it’s under the books dropdown at christianeknight.com and it lists characters, places, and magical objects with a little background and pronunciation guide as needed.

I’ll also have a discussion going on discord with anyone who is interested in talking about inspiration, references, and so on in the story. If you’d like to join – it’s just getting going, so you’d be one of the founding members! – you can get the link at bio dot link slash xiane. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that url is available in comments for you.

Chapter readings will start in October, which is appropriate as that’s when In Sleep You Know also starts! I hope you join me for Chapter One and all the chapters to come!

You can also subscribe/listen on Spotify and take the podcast on the go – find all episodes [this one and future ‘casts] at:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/insleepyouknow

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Magic All Around Podcast: Intro!

Magic All Around is one of TWO things I’ve been brewing up behind the scenes – the other is the chapter reads from In Sleep You Know, which will be coming soooooon.

Here’s my teaser text for the podcast:

Magic All Around brings all the pieces of me – DJ and music lover, artist, and writer – together in a podcast. Episodes will feature discussions about where I find inspiration in music, art, crafting, and writing, and how all those aspects blend together to convey the mystery of what I call Magic Seeking. I’ll also be talking about updates and giving excerpts from what I’m writing and working on, as well as news about other writers, artists, and musicians – especially indies – all in a casual and fun style! I focus on hopepunk, classic & contemporary SFF, post-punk, fae and mythology, & more.

I’ve also got a new radio show in the works, keep a lookout for when that drops! I’ll make sure to update here, of course.

Magic All Around Episode 1: an introTRANSCRIPT

I’m Christiane Knight. I sometimes go by Xiane or Xi, and you can call me any of those. I’ve written two books – soon to be a third – in a series that focuses on Fae magic, subculture, politics, and music, set in my hometown of Baltimore MD USA. I’m an old-school punk with a deep dip into goth, and I’ve been involved on-and-off with DJing, running goth spaces, being in bands, and writing for and publishing ‘zines since the 90s.

I’m an artist, and I do two different arts for a living. One is blending highly textured fibers and making yarns from those fibers using ancient techniques turned modern, then sometimes creating finished objects from those yarns. The other is crafting fantasy stories filled with hope, [mostly] set in modern times. They’re obviously nothing alike.

Or are they?

The joke I like to tell is that I spin tunes, fibers, and tales.

Did you know that you can tell a tale through a mixtape or playlist? And making a yarn can be a way of telling a story, too, if that’s how you approach it.

A good DJ can invoke a multitude of emotions through song choices and can work the room through experiencing them in a transformative way. It’s why going to a club can feel so cathartic – your whole being gets involved in the process when it’s done correctly.

And storytelling has specific rules and skills that come together, just like the steps to creating a yarn, to build a story that works and can weave itself into your being.

These three pastimes require patience and work put in before the actual product or performance. A good DJ will often curate a list of potential songs before their gig, and they spend time practicing and reviewing new tracks. A spinner needs to procure or process their fiber, with a mind to colors and textures they want to bring together in the finished product, and how that product will come together to create another object. Writers spend a lot of time researching, plotting, developing characters, and more before they ever delve deeply into actually writing the story.

All of them create magic! They take their materials and transform them into something greater than the parts.

It gives me great joy to bring all the pieces of me – DJ and music lover, artist, and writer – together in this podcast. You’ll get to see and hear how all those aspects blend together to help me create my art and convey the mystery of what I call Magic Seeking.

What’s Magic Seeking? At the surface it’s just as advertised: looking for magic hidden in plain sight, lost in the everyday hustle and bustle. It’s a way of seeing the world by Paying Attention – not letting oneself tune out with devices or other distractions and being there in the moment, looking at all the bits of life that we often disregard.

Want an example?

My partner lives in DC, an hour away from me. I would spend a lot of time on MARC trains and the Metro because of that, and I decided that instead of focusing on my phone, I would pay attention to the world whizzing by the window.

Things I saw included:

large groups of deer, eagles, herons and cranes

several camps of unhouse folk that were well hidden unless you knew where to look

amazing graffiti

and a volunteer tomato plant growing right at the tunnel exit of the Union Station Metro like a tiny miracle

Magical moments don’t need to be grand to be profound. They just need to knock you out of your normal day-to-day and give you a sense of whimsy or joy.

There’s a magical moment that Lucee and Cullen share in Cast a Shadow of Doubt that comes directly from an experience that I had. I won’t tell it here but you’ll know if you’ve read the book, because it’s a perfect example of what I’m talking about.

So this intro has already covered some of the things I’ll be talking about, as well as telling you a little about me, the weirdo who does the writing and now the talking.  I’ll also be talking more about the music that shapes me and is reflected in the stories I tell, including pulling out a track from different indie bands to highlight on the regular. By the way, did you know that I have an online streaming radio station at xiane.org? I’ll be doing a show there that does the same but with less chatter from me. Keep tuned for when that’ll start up.

And of course I’ll be speaking about my journey as a writer and author, and talking about In Sleep You Know, Cast a Shadow of Doubt, and the upcoming book A Third Kind of Madness. One of the things I’m most excited about is that I’ll be doing a serial chapter read from In Sleep You Know, something that’s been requested repeatedly! Those will be starting soon and I’ll have them available in video and audio form.

A quick note before I go: today’s little intro is scripted, because having a script is great for getting comfortable. And I didn’t plan much for background, etc, because I wanted to not be precious about it – getting it done is better than fussing over every detail, at least when getting started. As I go along things will get more professional. I GUESS. But expect the feel of this cast to be exactly what it is – me chatting with you from my little bedroom studio, probably with an unmade bed and definitely with a mess beyond the camera that you can’t see. We’re being REAL here, and that means you and I are just hanging out and having a chat where I’m going to be dominating the conversation.

Tune in for my first real episode in about 2 weeks, and then expect to get my first chapter read from In Sleep You Know soon after that. Until then, keep seeking magic!

You can also subscribe/listen on Spotify and take the podcast on the go – find all episodes [this one and future ‘casts] at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christiane-knight

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September 2023 – full of hidden magic

I’ve been busy enough to keep me from updating here until now, which is great for me but leaves you a bit in the dark, doesn’t it?

What’s been happening?

A quick recap from August:

I finished the first draft of ATKOM and then did several rounds of revisions. It’s off with the editor right now, then I’ll get it back and revise some more. In Sleep You Know was cut from SPFBO. I’m extremely glad to have had the experience and to have met so many excellent indie authors and book reviewers through the process. As a reader, I can say with all confidence that there’s no better place to look for your next reads than from the 300 contestants. I’ve filled up my own library with titles from SPFBO and I can’t wait to see who is chosen as the ultimate winner!I applied for a couple of opportunities but I can’t say more until I know more. Oooh, secrets.I added new merch to the Ko-Fi in the form of Fae Baubles – hand made jewelry from me!In the interim while I wait on edits/revisions, I came up with another idea that I can’t wait to share with you…

Introducing the Magic All Around podcast/vlog!

I played around a little bit with this idea when I first published In Sleep You Know, looking for various ways to converse about writing, books, and other related topics. You might have seen those couple of videos on my YouTube channel! Because of life considerations getting in the way, I didn’t get very far with the experiment that time, but as I’m in the editing/revising phase of book #3 and I have more time and energy to spare, I devised this plan to bring together a handful of things that I love and that I think are relevant to my creative world… plus…

I’m going to be doing chapter reads from In Sleep You Know!

So many people have asked for this, how could I say no? I enjoy reading aloud anyway, so this will be a treat for me to do, and I’m hoping that it’s entertaining for YOU!

I haven’t set a schedule yet, but I’ll have readings as both a video and audio option. If you’re a Ko-fi supporter, I’ll make the chapters downloadable for you as a supporter perk! If this project goes well, I’ll be able to create an audiobook type of experience, which is one of my dreams for my series. And if it doesn’t… well, I’ll have a good time!

Here’s some of the other things that Magic All Around will cover:

In the Music @ The Maithe segment I’ll talk about tracks/bands that’ve recently caught my interest, and I might go on a bit about how they fit into my overall literary world, too. Art & Mystique will be about the inspiration and influence I find in the arts, expressed in a variety of ways. I’m pretty excited about these two because they’re the backbone of my inspirations.

Crafty Charms will encompass all the different things I’m working on and how they tie into my literary world, too. Expect everything from Fae-inspired fiber arts to the character dolls and miniature world of the Eleriannan I’m slowly working on creating!

Magic Seeking is a peek into the philosophy of my life: finding magic in unexpected places, often ones you pass by every day. That’s both in a physical and metaphorical sense! And of course, Words & Writing is when I talk about what stories I’m working on, and other writerly updates.

I’m hoping to start recording these very soon, along with bringing back radio shows over at Radio Xiane and some other creative offerings, so keep tuned. I’ll announce here, on Ko-fi, and via my newsletter. Expect episodes to be full of me being my ridiculous self, which is either an issue or a selling point, depending on who you are!

That’s all I’ve got for updates for now! I wanted to mention that if you’re interested in being an advance reader/reviewer for the upcoming book, make sure to sign up on the ARCs page to get on the list!

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First Draft DONE! Hello, Revisions.

122,939 words over eight months of writing.

I can now happily announce the the first draft of A Third Kind of Madness is finished! *throws confetti*

If you’re unfamiliar with the writing process, you may not know what this means. Next up comes revision, including several rounds of editing from me. I’ll make as many passes over the manuscript as I feel is necessary in order to make the tightest version I can craft on my own.

Somewhere in that process, I’ll get a few trusted beta readers to look it over and give me feedback. Does everything flow well? Does it make sense? Any questions or concerns about plot, characters, details? I’ve already had my #1 alpha reader reading through as I’ve written the chapters; he’s pretty good about catching egregious errors or letting me know if something got lost, but I’ll want fresher eyes for the revision process.

Once I get through that, it’ll go off to a professional editor, who will watch for spelling, syntax, and grammar issues. They’ll also keep an eye on my style and pacing. Basically, they’ll help me polish up my story so that it’s fine tuned. It’s definitely one of the most important parts of the process!

Once the editor and I have gone back and forth about changes and I’ve implemented all the ones I want to keep – which is usually most of them – then I do another pass, looking for anything I might have missed. If you’re thinking “wow, you’ve read this story a lot of times by now,” you’d be right. And I’ll read it many more times, or at least scan it, as it moves through the steps of layout and design, then when I get the proofs.

…good thing I really like the stories that I write!

A few fun stats.Word count by months for ATKOM: columns are month, days that I wrote in that month, words by month, average words per day.

You might note that the total doesn’t quite match the end word count. That’s because I had actually started writing this story in a different form a while ago, then abandoned it to work on Cast a Shadow of Doubt. I revisited what I’d written after I finished CASOD and gave it a complete overhaul, with changes to some of the concepts and characters. It’s vastly different from where it began!

I don’t write every day. That shows in my daily averages, and that’s okay. I’ve talked before about how even when I’m not physically typing in my manuscript, I’m always writing. A lot of that is mental or supportive work: thinking through scenes, doing research, even doing things like making mood boards or character sketches. I also do things like write blog posts and content for my Ko-ki supporters, and post/interact on social media. Oh, and do live readings and interviews.

Speaking of – my interview at Sue L. Bavey’s Sue’s Musings went up this week! I talk about why I decided to self publish, the genres and media that I enjoy, my advice for aspiring writers and more. You can read it here: https://suelbavey.wordpress.com/2023/07/13/indie-spotlight-christiane-knight/

On July 22nd I’ll be a guest on Melinda Kucsera‘s Fantasy, Lore, & More podcast. She’s one of the 300 authors in SPFBO and decided to take some time to interview other entrants in the contest, like me! In the meantime, you can enjoy the 24 other interviews she’s conducted so far – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrxjkyxsLI1YL8-K_qvcew7YqirEssHd- is the link! I’ll make sure to post the interview directly when it’s up, as well. I’m looking forward to this a lot!

That’s all the big news I’ve got for now. As of today I’m still a viable contestant in SPFBO, so keep your fingers crossed for me. There are SO MANY great books that In Sleep You Know is up against, which honestly is excellent…except for my TBR pile, which is growing exponentially.

What a terrible problem to have!

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Good vs. Evil? Nah.

My stories aren’t for everyone.

Some people want it dark, and my books are not that. They have dark moments, and people who do bad things, but the overall atmosphere is hopeful, built on the idea that we are strongest when we work together.

I don’t write the kind of fantasy that has obviously evil villains. I don’t believe that there’s that many purely evil people out there, so what are the chances that our everyday fae-befriending main characters would be running into Big Evil?

Even the Camlin, the Big Bad from In Sleep You Know turns out later to have a much more complex history than “I hate everything and especially you.” [You’ll have to read Cast a Shadow of Doubt to see how that goes!] The Arswyd and the other Grimshaw, too – they have their own motivations for why they act like they do.

Rather than focusing on evil as a motivator for a storyline, I’d rather explore the traumas and misunderstandings that lead people to the choices they’ve made. I talk about broken and dysfunctional families, social pressure, being without a house or a community, feeling inadequate and powerless – and how all these things shape how we move in the world. The magic parts of my stories are more than just the powers that the Fae bring. They’re all entwined in the decisions that the characters make.

You might ask, then why even have magic in these books? Why are they fantasy and not just books with “regular” characters? What a great question!

Having magical characters serves a couple of functions.

It demonstrates possibility. The magic is a way to shine a light in the darkest times, a beacon for what good can exist even in the midst of struggle.

It offers balance and perspective. Even the mightiest of the Fae struggle with everyday issues, ones that magic can’t solve, like relationships. And when the mortals get magic, it doesn’t change their flaws either. Merrick and Lucee both still have to learn how to believe in themselves and what they are capable of, with or without the use of magic.

And honestly, one of my favorite things about my characters is watching them learn how alike they all are, Fae or mortal, despite their obvious differences. The creepy, uncanny Ladies have internal power struggles. The Ffyn are happy-go-lucky dancing trees until it’s time to defend their friends. Merrick leans on his companions whenever he’s unsure what he should do, and that includes the Fae once he’s decided that he’s with them.

As the stories progress, the characters begin to work through their assumptions and prejudices as they discover their commonality. And I’d argue that’s another kind of magic.

Every protagonist needs a foil, but that doesn’t mean that we need to always have the divisions be starkly divided. And don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing wrong with cartoonish villains or implacably evil characters or whatever other types of villains you enjoy reading or writing! They’re just not what I write, and they’re not the kind of fantasy novels I’m interested in bringing into the world.

I crave hopeful stories with plots that address issues I see in this world, and that’s what I write. Which is why I can confidently say that my books aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay – but I think you might be surprised how much you can relate to what happens in the Baltimore of the Eleriannan.

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Nothing Happened, the End.

“I had big plans. I did one of those things on the list. Now I’m paying for it.


Oops.”

– Me, usually

So what happened is this: as previously mentioned, I went to Balticon. There was a live reading! It was great! There were lots of interesting panels! I got fairy hair!

I didn’t even go all four days, y’all. I didn’t stay for any later-night shenanigans. I was at con from about 10:30a – 6p for two days. The con is literally about a 20 minute drive from my house.

But my body? It didn’t like that much, I guess.

ENTER NEW CHALLENGER: STRANGE NEW TYPE OF CROHN’S FLARE

I almost thought I escaped unscathed, y’all. I felt great during the con and got to talk to new people and enjoy readings and panels. It’s the first time I’ve been out socially in so long! And even though nothing ever felt taxing and I didn’t even have issues while I was there, my body reacted. Saturday night, I was feeling “tight” in my middle, like my clothes were restricting.

By Sunday, I knew what was up.

The reason I call it a new type of flare is because it was in a new area for me – lucky me! – and was behaving a lot more aggressively than usual. By aggressive, I mean extremely painful and crampy.

And two weeks later, I’m better, but not great.

This is why things don’t get done. Again, oops!

So basically I’ve been in a state where I’ve done a whole lot of nothing, and that’s terribly frustrating and I hate it. I was so excited to finally be healthy enough to do things! With people! And now my health’s regressed because I dared to try to live, which I guess was a stupid thought.

I’m not letting it stop me, though.

I’ve taken a break, but I’m back to working on A Third Kind of Madness. I’m at the end of the book, y’all! The first draft is almost done! Once I get that wrapped, I’ll go back in and start revising, but revising is a lot easier in some ways so it’ll be refreshing work.

And while that’s going on, I’ll be working on cover concepts some more, plus getting together my promotional ideas, which are going to be FUN and you won’t want to miss out on them. I’ll also be showing you some of my personal projects related to the books, which I do to amuse myself when I can’t do anything else. One of the big ones I’ve been working on is an 11 inch fashion doll restyled to be our Lucee Fearney.

She’s so cute. But next time say something before I write a character with a million little green and black braids all over her head, okay? Because trying to make her hair is taking a time, y’all.

Anyway, that’s been about it, but I wanted to update everyone and keep you in the loop with my plans, progress, and all that. Don’t think that this setback will keep me away from getting out more often! I’m very determined to stay social and visible. I just need to maybe do it differently next time – live and learn!

Before I go, I wanted to mention that I’m, as far as I know, still in the running in the SPFBO, and if you’d like to check out some of the other books that are in the competition, you can easily do that here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/spfbo9collectthemall/xzujgxbn9f

The contest is full of SO many different types of fantasy! You will be able to fill your TBR list to overflowing! [Don’t ask about my TBR list, oh jeez] If you’re interested in learning about more fantastic indie authors, this is a great way to do so.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll check back in soon!

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