S.J. Pajonas's Blog

I Fixed the Comments on My Website… Finally

I've been doing a lot of work around here lately, trying to get this place up and running like a well-oiled machine. Last week, I was working on an automation for blog posts using N8N and Claude that went a little haywire. It published 8 nonsense blog posts here that then sent out emails and posted to social media and bombed my server all at once. Lol. It never rains but it pours! I spent a few days cleaning up that mess, but I think everything there is running smoothly.

Then I got an idea for a huge website enhancement for next year, and really, comments have to be back on my website in order for that to happen. So I went down the rabbit hole yesterday and today, using Claude to help me go through my website and debug it. Well, the good news is that the commenting is working (try it out!) but we have no idea how or why it happened. It appears to be a problem with the theme I use here on my website. I could probably reinstall the theme (and I might at some point) but considering that it's working now, I don't really care.

So yay! I got it working with a massive debug session. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program of blog posts and what not. Pets in Space 10 is out on Oct 7, so I have lots of blog posts about Rosa's New Game set up for next month. And I'm looking forward to all the updates I'm going to do to the site before the new year.

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Official Pets in Space 10 Playlist

While you're looking forward to Pets in Space 10 (so am I), I thought you might like to listen to the official playlist the authors put together. See below for the authors' notes on the songs they chose.

Check Out the Playlist on YouTube

Hunted by EG Manetti
“Run Through the Jungle” (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

The heroes of “Hunted,” my story in Pets In Space 10, are running through mountains, not jungles, to escape their pursuers, but it’s totally the right vibe for the challenge facing Lochan and Adele.

Kinetic Effect by Carol Van Natta
“Collide” (Howie Day)

In “Kinetic Effect,” coworkers Gaerynx and Amalena are trying to save their careers, and maybe the entire company, from an executive's corrupt ambitions. Their unexpected attraction seems like a distraction, but maybe it's exactly what they need. Howie Day's “Collide” beautifully captures the rising tension and anticipation between them.

Bad Deal by Michelle Howard
“The Way I Fiddle” (Clejan)

This is a song I listened to a lot to get me hype and motivated while I wrote. Clejan (Trapviolinist) is also hot to look at while he plays the violin. LOL

Rosa's New Game by S. J. Pajonas
“Lost in Yesterday” (Tame Impala)

My playlist song for “Rosa's New Game” is “Lost in Yesterday” by Tame Impala, as its lyrics perfectly mirror the story's core themes. Both Rosa and Rhys are trapped by their pasts, struggling with the hurt and regret that this song so beautifully describes. Their journey is about learning the truth in the lyrics: that you have to “let it go someday” and “face” what haunts you. Ultimately, the song captures the emotional heart of the book — a story about healing, forgiveness, and finding a new path forward together.

High Noon Cyborg by Honey Phillips
“Underground” (David Bowie)

I chose it for two reasons. First, part of my story takes place underground. Second, I thought the theme of loneliness worked very well for my hero. I especially like these lines –
“But down in the underground
You'll find someone true.”

My Big Grumpy Alien Dragon by Skye MacKinnon
“Bird Set Free” (Sia)

In “My Big Grumpy Alien Dragon,” cyborg dragon Tyvaron has been under the control of his masters for so long that he's become more beast than man, forgetting his past and even his name. Only when he meets his mate does he remember who he really is and who he is meant to be. The line, “Clipped wings, I was a broken thing,” in this song resonates with Tyvaron's story and how he has to rediscover his voice and reclaim his life.

Echoes Beneath by Pauline Baird Jones
“Roar” (Katy Perry)

I listen to this song when I get stuck, and I like that the Ft. Mom Bloggers United, who appear in the video, are real women with real bodies.

Star Cruise: Lucky Charm by Veronica Scott
“A Good Run of Bad Luck” (Clint Black)

Gambling and belief in luck play important parts in “Star Cruise Lucky Charm,” my story in Pets in Space 10. “Good Run of Bad Luck” is all about taking a gambler’s chance on love.

The Lost Ring by S.E. Smith
“The Power of Love” (Gabrielle Aplin)

This song's first tentative chords belie the power that builds in the emotional lyrics, “The power of love, a force from above…”

Don't forget to secure your copy of Pets in Space 10!

In this tenth-anniversary edition of PETS IN SPACE®, you’ll find smart-mouthed birds, cyber armadillos, tiny dragons, and alien creatures who steal the show — and sometimes save it. Across distant planets, space stations, and magical realms, unlikely heroes and heroines are drawn together by danger, fate… and the meddling of their pet sidekicks. These stories blend swoon-worthy romance with thrilling sci-fi adventure in a way only PETS IN SPACE can deliver.

Purchase Pets in Space 10 Today!

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Autumn’s End Promotion: A Harvest of Free Books!

I have some very exciting news to share with you today! I've teamed up with over 50 other incredible Science Fiction and Fantasy authors to bring you the “Autumn's End: A Harvest of Sci-Fi & Fantasy” promotion with over 100 books available!

As the season changes and the nights grow longer, it's the perfect time to stock your e-reader with new adventures. For the entire month of September, you can browse a huge, curated library of books and download any of them completely free.

The concept is simple: it's a “newsletter builder” promotion. When you find a book that catches your eye, you get it for free in exchange for signing up for that author's mailing list. It is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to discover a new author you'll love.

Of course, I couldn't host a party without joining in! My own books, Removed and First Flyght, are included in the promotion, so it's a great chance to grab it if you haven't already, and to find dozens more stories from a fantastic group of writers.

The promotion runs for the entire month of September. Click the below to start exploring the harvest and find your next adventure!

Happy reading!

Browse the Free Books in the Autumn's End Promotion

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The Name Game: How I Choose Names for My Characters, Planets, and Cities

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “Where do you get the names for your characters?” And the honest answer is… it’s a process! It’s not always easy, and my methods have definitely evolved over the years.

When I first started writing, I had a little list of names I’d collected that I loved and wanted to use. As you can probably guess, I burned through that list pretty quickly. Some characters walk into my head fully formed with their names already attached—Sanaa from the Nogiku Series and Vivian from the Flyght Series were like that. They just were. Other times, I borrow from real life, like how Skylar from the Amagi Series was named after a good friend of mine.

But once the easy ones are gone, the real work begins. I did what I think most writers do: I went to those baby name websites. And I kept seeing the same names over and over again. So, I tried a few fantasy name generators, but the results were always just… so-so.

The Soccer Solution

Then, one weekend, I was watching a soccer match and had a total “aha!” moment. Sports teams have tons of names from all over the world. I immediately looked up rosters for Olympic teams, and a whole new world of naming possibilities opened up. It's a trick I still use to this day! Just mix and match first and last names until you have something unique and inspiring! Usually once I have a name I like, I research it to find out its origin and other people who have used similar names. It helps me get into the character.

I thought maybe AI would be a good shortcut for names, but honestly? It's not there yet. I’ll ask for a list of character names, and every single time it suggests Elara, Marcus, Chen, or Henderson. Lol. Nope.

From Planets to Ships

When it comes to naming cities and planets, my method is a little different but rooted in the same love of research. Since my series are all based on the idea that humans left Earth to settle a galactic diaspora, it makes sense that they would bring their place names with them.

This is where I get to indulge my love of maps. I can spend hours on Google Maps, just zooming in on different parts of the world and looking at the names of towns, cities, rivers, restaurants, and even streets. Everything is fair game! When I created the Californikus System in The Flyght Series, I spent a huge amount of time exploring maps of California and drawing inspiration from them.

And for naming things like ships, I turn to my old pal Wikipedia. It’s a treasure trove for historical deep dives. For example, all the ships in Skylar's mother's fleet in the Amagi Series were named after Japanese maritime ships from the 1900s. The flagship Amagi itself was named for the real-life Amagi-class battlecruisers of the 1920s.

So that’s the secret! My inspiration comes from all over the place. It's a mix of personal history, a love for maps, a dash of sports, and a lot of happy hours spent falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. It's a game, but it's one that helps me ground my worlds and make them feel real.

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A Romantic Summer with a Book

There’s nothing better than sinking into a great book during the lazy days of summer, is there? Especially when that book is a romance, and it’s FREE.

If your summer reading list is looking a little empty, I’ve got you covered. I’ve teamed up with dozens of other fantastic authors for two different Bookfunnel promotions this month, and they are packed with free books for you to discover.

This is my absolute favorite way to find new authors to fall in love with. You get to browse through tons of great stories, and all you have to do is sign up for an author's newsletter to get their book for free. It’s that simple!

Here are the two promotions you can check out right now:

First up is the Endless Summer of Romance promotion. It's packed with contemporary, paranormal, and sci-fi romance to keep your summer sizzling.

Browse the Endless Summer of Romance Books

Next, we have the Romance of All Kinds: Love is in the Air – Aug 2025 promotion. Just like the title says, you'll find a huge variety of romance genres here, so there’s truly something for everyone.

Find Your Next Romance Read

I hope you discover a new favorite author and get to enjoy a romantic escape this summer.

Happy reading!

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It’s Rosa’s Turn! Announcing My New Book in Pets in Space 10!

It’s that time of year again! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that the annual Pets in Space®️ anthology holds a very special place in my heart. It’s a project I absolutely adore being a part of, and not just because it lets me indulge in writing about animals, which, as my dog Lulu can attest, is one of my favorite things to do.

For me, Pets in Space®️ has also become the traditional home for my Kimura Sisters series. I’ve launched nearly every book in this series into this amazing anthology, and I'm so excited to continue that tradition this year.

This time, it's Rosa's turn.

My new novella, Rosa's New Game, is my contribution to Pets in Space 10, and it focuses on the second-youngest Kimura sister. When I first started writing this series, Rosa was just a teenager, and I honestly didn't realize how central soccer was to her identity. Getting to explore her journey now that she’s an adult — and dealing with a possible career-ending knee injury — was such a compelling challenge. Who is she when her biggest dream is taken away?

Shining a Light on the Support Staff

One of the things I really wanted to dig into with this story was the role of the support staff in a big sci-fi world. We all love the heroic astronauts and their daring missions, but we often forget about the massive team of people who make those missions possible. Rosa is a counselor (a therapist, really) for the Interstellar Agency, helping astronauts cope with the immense stress of deep space travel.

I feel like these essential people — the therapists, the techs, the administrators — are often overlooked, not just in stories but by the very organizations they work for. In the book, the agency is facing budget cuts, and it's the support staff who are first on the chopping block. It felt important to show that side of the story.

And Then He Ghosted Her…

Of course, it wouldn't be one of my books without a romance, and this time I got to explore a theme I've been thinking about for a while: what happens when you have one amazing, perfect date… and then you get ghosted? The anxiety, the self-doubt, the confusion — it's all there. And then, a year later, Rosa walks into her new physical therapy yoga class and guess who the instructor is? Yup. Him. The awkwardness is immediate and, for me, so much fun to write.

Okay, enough of my rambling. Here’s the official blurb so you can see how it all comes together:

She thought he was gone for good. Turns out, he was just waiting for the right pose…

Rosa Kimura's life is falling apart at the seams. With a career-ending soccer injury and whispers of budget cuts at the Interstellar Agency where she counsels astronauts, she's desperate for any distraction. When her physical therapist suggests yoga to help her recovery, Rosa reluctantly agrees… only to discover her instructor is the same man who ghosted her after one perfect date a year ago.

Rhys never meant to disappear from Rosa's life. Caught between a manipulative ex and Rosa's overprotective sister, he made the cowardly choice to vanish. Now fate has given him a second chance, but winning back Rosa's trust won't be easy, especially when he’s doubting his yoga business, her job security crumbles, and family drama threatens to suffocate them both.

With a crumbling family estate, a snarky dog best friend, a meddling sister, and their undeniable chemistry pulling them together, Rosa and Rhys must learn to communicate — on and off the mat — if they want to find their balance in love.

Pets in Space 10 is full of amazing stories by a whole host of wonderful sci-fi romance authors, and it’s now available for preorder!

Preorder Pets in Space 10 today!

I can’t wait for you to read Rosa and Rhys's story!

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The Best Place to Hang Out With Me

So, I’ve been talking a lot lately about stepping back from the noise. I’ve been consciously choosing to trade the endless, often frustrating, scroll of social media for quieter, more joyful things like reading, puzzles, and playing with new creative tools.

It’s been absolutely fantastic for my mental health and my Oura ring agrees.

But it does create a bit of a challenge. If I’m not hanging out on Facebook or Instagram, where can we connect? How can you get the latest news about my books, see what I’m working on, or just generally catch up?

Well, I have an answer for that. My newsletter.

Honestly, putting together my newsletter 1-2 times a month is one of my favorite things to do. It feels like writing a real letter to friends, sharing all the exciting things that are happening behind the scenes. It’s where I can be my most authentic self, away from the pressure of algorithms and outrage-bait.

And because you’re my favorite people, I love to pack it with goodies (like the Starter Library pictured above). I’m not kidding when I say I give away a lot of free stuff to my subscribers. When you sign up, you get access to:

A whole library of free books. A perfect way to dive into my worlds or try a new series!Exclusive bonus content. Think deleted scenes, alternate endings, and character interviews you won’t find anywhere else.The first look at new covers, projects, and book announcements. You’ll always hear it there first.

But here’s the most important part, especially since I famously (and accidentally) broke the comments on my own website: you can actually talk back to me.

Every newsletter I send is a real email from one of my many actual inboxes. When you hit “reply,” it comes directly to me. It’s the single best way to have a conversation, ask a question, or just share what’s on your mind. I read every single reply, and it’s a source of so much joy for me, unless you want to shame me about writing romance or using AI tools. In that case, you're just going to get ignored. (Sorry, not sorry.)

So, if you want to stay in the loop and have a direct line to me, my newsletter is the place to be. It’s the cozy, fun, and troll-free hangout I’ve been looking for all along.

Sign-up For My Newsletter

Thanks for being here. I can’t wait to see you in your inbox!

P.S. If you are subscribed to this blog via email, you can also hit reply on those emails to talk to me. But you don't get all the newsletter goodies if you're not signed to the main list. So come on over if you're not there already!

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Choosing Joy Over Outrage

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, only to look up and realize you feel… worse? Lately, that’s been me. A lot. I’d log on to Facebook or Instagram, hoping for connection or a bit of inspiration, and instead, I’d find a wall of noise.

It feels like the whole online world is running on outrage. People seem to be intentionally posting controversial things just to get clicks, to stir the pot, to make everyone angry. And I realized it was working on me. It was causing me stress and a deep sense of unhappiness. My shoulders were constantly tense, and I’d walk away from my screen feeling bewildered that people could be so awful to each other. Even my Oura ring was noticing the tension. Every day ended with it telling me I had been stressed.

It was affecting everything. My work. My home life. My sleep.

And that’s not what I want my life to be about.

All I really want is to find joy and peace in my day. I want to create things, to learn, to relax, and to feel good about how I spend my precious time. So, I’ve made a conscious decision to step back. You might have noticed I’m not as active or engaged on social media anymore, and this is why. I’ve traded the endless scroll for something much more fulfilling.

Instead of getting sucked into arguments, I’m pouring my energy into things that actually bring me joy. I’ve been having an absolute blast playing with the creative tools I love. I'm diving deep into AI text generators, exploring what they can do for my writing process, and just having fun with them. I'm creating AI images and videos, not for any grand purpose, but for the sheer delight of making something new. It feels like play. It feels like magic.

And when I’m not doing that, I’m rediscovering simpler pleasures. I'm knitting and watching all the TV shows I can. I’m spending my evenings working on a puzzle or getting lost in a good book, things I used to say I “didn't have time for.” Sudoku has become my newest obsession. Really. Turns out, I have a lot more time when I’m not donating it to the outrage machine.

This whole experience has made me think about what we’re all getting from social media. Is it genuine connection? Is it inspiration? Or is it just a habit that leaves us feeling drained, frustrated, or baffled by humanity?

For me, the answer became clear. I'm choosing joy. I'm choosing peace. I'm choosing to spend my time creating, not consuming negativity.

I’d ask you to share your own thoughts on this, but as you might know from a previous misadventure… my website comments are still broken. Thanks to yours truly. Just something to think about, I guess!

As you were.

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The Blender’s Bargain is Now Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!

“It's been a long time coming…” I have the opening of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie stuck in my head for this announcement. The Blender's Bargain is now available as an ebook! I have put it on Amazon and into Kindle Unlimited, and I plan on it being in Kindle Unlimited for about 3-6 months before I move it to other stores.

I have been working on this book since October 2023. Yes, more than 18 months. Why, you ask? You've probably heard that I'm one of those authors that uses AI to just press a button and get a book? (Cries a little with laughter.)

Well, that couldn't be further from the truth. I really love to tell stories and getting those stories out of my head and into a book has always been challenging. Even adding in some AI tools to my workflow didn't make that faster, though it did make the process marginally easier. AI helped me refine my ideas, write my first drafts, and edit the parts I hated. I was in complete control the whole time, and I loved the fact that I never had to face the blank page. The story stuck with me over the months, and I came back to it over and over.

But I'm also a busy person, running more than one business at a time… and I seem to start a new business every quarter. Ugh. I am chin-deep in work! I wanted to finish this story and publish it in 2024, but that didn't happen. I was only able to work on this book in drips and drabs when I had time and then 2024 became 2025.

I also tried an experiment earlier this year where I started putting the chapters up on YouTube as audio, to see if that was a way people wanted to consume my stories. Spoiler alert: It wasn't! And that's fine. It was way too much work for someone who has limited time. Lol.

Anyway, this is all to say, that the book is here, and it's on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited. If people love it, I have two other stories to tell in the same universe. If people don't love it, that's fine. It stands alone on its own too.

She's a kind-hearted teacher nursing a freshly broken heart; he's her loyal colleague secretly nursing a crush. Their biggest worry? Surviving the last week of school. (Famous last words, am I right?)

Archie Sapnu just wants to get through the end of the school year and maybe, just maybe, forget her ex, Lex (who, by the way, was as deep as a puddle). Garrick Elliott, her fellow teacher and all-around good guy, is mostly trying to pluck up the courage to tell Archie how he really feels. Life on their planet, Latara, is pretty predictable, or so they thought. Then BAM! A cosmic syzygy lights up the sky, and suddenly, Archie’s trusty blender is spouting ancient wisdom (and a fair bit of grumbling) from a trapped magician named Ysroth, while Garrick’s toaster starts dispensing surprisingly calm advice from another wizard, Arvid.

Turns out, ancient magicians are now stuck in household appliances all over the planet, and it’s up to these two unsuspecting teachers to reunite them on sacred ground. Easy peasy, right? (Spoiler: Not even a little bit.) Guided by a gruff wizard in a blender and a serene sage in a toaster, Archie and Garrick must journey across a magically awakening Latara, from the familiar streets of Stellura to the distant, ominous mines of Rumblestone. Along the way, they'll discover their own latent magical abilities, dodge possessed bicycles, and navigate their complicated feelings for each other — all while Garrick's alluring ex, Marlo, and her magical mixer, Branwen, threaten to derail everything.

To save the magicians, restore balance to their world, and maybe, find their own happily ever after, Archie and Garrick will need more than just their teaching skills; they’ll need courage, friendship, and a whole lot of magic.

The Blender's Bargain is the electrifying first adventure in the Appliance Uprising Series. If you love quirky urban fantasy, a dash of Arthurian legend reimagined, laugh-out-loud moments, and romances that simmer amidst chaos, then you’ll be utterly charmed by S. J. Pajonas’s latest enchanting tale.

Buy or Borrow The Blender's Bargain on Amazon

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Listen to Mamachari Matchmaker on Spoken!

This month, you all are getting Mamachari Matchmaker on Spoken. This was such a fun little romantic story. It was fun to listen to this again and remember all that happened.

Listen to Mamachari Matchmaker on Spoken

Go check it out now! People are already listening and loving it.

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