As we approach Christmas....

 Hey everyone!

Again, I know it's been a hot minute since I last wrote anything here, given any kind of update, or anything. It's been.... a rough few months for me and my family.

I did want to let you know that I am still writing. I am still trying to figure out how to draw mice for another children's book I wrote back when I was a teenager. (Thanks to my mom for finding the manuscript before she passed.) I want to do it justice.  I am also still trying to edit my first, technically second, screenplay. Hopefully this one will be the first to actually be produced and put out there in movie format.

It is also the end of another year, or close enough to count. Definitely been a roller coaster of a ride. Had to move. My husband has had to change jobs more times than I care to count. He and I have both started podcasts, mine about writing and publishing, his about current events and Star Wars. But it's awesome how supportive he has been of me, and I try to be supportive of him.

There are still a lot of things up in the air, and  I'm not honestly sure how they'll land. Definitely had my fair share of heartache and not so awesomeness this past year and I'm seriously hoping 2023 treats us all better, a little kinder, a little less harshly.

There are many things in the works that I hope will go into fruition sooner than later. My screenplay being one, another book being another, among the mentioned illustrations of mice. Why am I so bad at drawing mice?! I'm also hoping to present some classes/panels at different writing conferences this year. I know I did last year, one in the digital library and one live, but I'd love to do so much more. Definitely going to be interesting to see how many I will actually get.

I hope to be able to get back into the grocery stores, selling my books in person. I miss doing that. I've published a few books since doing that as well, so hopefully will have something new to offer everyone who may remember me from a few years back.  Lots of plans, hopes, and dreams. Here's hoping they come true.

I hope your dreams and plans and wishes come true too.

And in case I don't write again until next year Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (And Happy Holidays too!)

I know it's been a while.....

 Hey ya'll, I know it's been a while. And I do feel bad about that.

The truth of the matter is we had to move. It's been a real struggle to get everything set up and going again, especially since we had to go for a smaller location than we had previously. It's been a bit of a logistical nightmare, with half of everything currently in boxes in a storage unit.

Now that I've given the reason for silence (this time), here's some fun stuff.

Since my last post, I somehow sold 26 copies of Moving the Zoo without really doing anything. So, if you are one of those people who bought a copy, thank you a ton. The whole moving thing got me pretty down, and seeing those sales brightened my day.

Apparently a few were even sold overseas, which definitely surprised me. So, shout out to whoever bought a copy in Germany. You definitely rocked my world. I didn't realize I had a fan or two over there so thank you.

I have been working on my podcast about Self Publishing, and I know I've really been bad about updating links on the appropriate page for that. Thank you if you've managed to follow along anyway, because I've somehow managed to keep putting up an episode a week, occasionally two. It's not been easy, and I'm more than open to discuss anything you think I may have missed so far, so feel free to let me know in either comment or email form. I'd appreciate it. After all, I'm only one person trying to remember everything pertinent in a really vast world.

Now, knowing that some will consider it early, I do want to let you know what I'm currently focusing on, because I've tried to get that out there (when I remember). Yeah, I feel scatter-brained a lot lately.

1. So, still working on turning my Tarragon Trilogy into movie scripts. They're in the form but need to be trimmed down. Alas, the movie industry is not interested in making a three to four hour movie so... I need to trim them down.
2. I've dusted off several different manuscripts I've worked on over the years and am trying to find the accompanying notes so I can actually finish them. Some need more work than others, so here's hoping I can get at least one of them closer to publication in 2023.
3. I am still trying to teach myself how to draw mice for my next children's illustrated book, a process I'm finding more difficult than I care to admit. Drawing the correct mice is important to me. I don't want to just imitate someone else and I don't want to make them look too cartoony either so it's interesting to try and find that balance where I can consistently draw in the same style. You know I've used several different styles over the years so it's been more than a little interesting.
4. I am still working on editing another author's works that will hopefully be ready for publication starting some time next year (by other author, I mean my husband, who is writing high fantasy). The story is compelling and spans something like five or six books, so it's definitely something to look forward to, because I'm not just a writer but a publisher.
5. I'm getting ready to start working on a new podcast, when I feel like I've run out of material for the Self Publishing one. This one will focus on the writing craft, so feel free to let me know if there are anything specific things you wish someone would cover and I'll see what I can do.

And yeah... that's what I'm trying to get done. Things are going a bit slower than I'd like in some ways. There are practically only two months left in the year. Man, it's coming fast. And I hope to get back into selling books in person next year as well. Lots of plans in the works and I'm hoping I can manage them all. After all, I am only one person, but we shall see. I am determined, and I have a really supportive hubby, who I can hopefully persuade to work on his edits too. ;- )

New book

 Hey y'all. I know it's been a while, and I've gone a bit backwards on releasing my newest book, but it's here!

Strange noises ensue when the neighbors move out, sounding like an assortment of animals heading to the zoo. Come explore the different sounds and what animals might be making them in this imaginative book from the perspective of one child's imagination.

 

 

This title will be available on Amazon soon, and in hardcover. Currently only available in paperback. Please see the books page for current available links to online sellers.

New podcast stuff

 Hey y'all! I just thought I'd share that I've started posting my podcast on self-publishing. I will try to remember to update the new page (found here) each week with the newest episode.

In other news: I am so much closer to publishing my newest book, Moving The Zoo, which is a young children's illustrated book about, well... moving and a child imagining all the sounds the movers make are animals being moved to the zoo.  I'm not ready to give you a sneak peek yet, but probably will soon, so keep an eye out for that.

And in final news, for this post at any rate, I will be presenting a class on Fan Fiction and how it can be used as a writing tool July 28-30 at Kanab Writer's Conference in Kanab, UT, so if you're in the area, feel free to join us there.

Some exciting news

 As many of you may know, I haven't written a post here for a hot minute. I've been busy working on various projects so here's a reminder of this year's goals, with an update on them.

Goals/Plans for 2022

1 - Finish formatting the Tarragon Trilogy for screenplay (hoping I get the chance to shop it around to producers in the next few years)

 I have two of the three finished and ready to shop around, and am working on the third.

2 - Complete and publish one new children's illustrated work

I am close to finishing all of the line art for my newest children's book, Moving the Zoo, which will be released this summer. Dates to be announced.

3 - Participate in at least one writer's conference 

I will be doing a virtual class for the Storymaker's Conference held in Provo, UT for their digital catalogue - held May 12-14th

New booking as a conference presenter for the Kanab Writer's Conference in Kanab, UT - July 28-30th

4 - Hopefully get a new book written, or at least get a good start on it. There are several ideas percolating in my brain that want out.

Still working on this one.

5 - Prepare, and hopefully publish, my husband's first book. 

Still working on this one.

6 - Start a podcast on self-publishing and everything I wish I'd known about it before I started the venture.

I have recorded the first few episodes and am doing research on a few more before I release so that I have a "buffer" of episodes ready to go.

7 - Complete at least one audio book of my currently published works, and release it in podcast form (probably on Spotify)

I am working on this and have a few chapters recorded but not yet edited.

 

 With all that said, I will soon give more information on Moving the Zoo, its release date, a sneak peek at the artwork, and maybe a few other surprises.

So far, I think I can say it's been a productive year. I can't wait to see how the rest goes. And how many more of my goals I can finish!

Happy New Year! 2022 Edition

 

 

 

 

Well, it's a new year again, 2022 and all that. I know I haven't been the most active in posting updates and the like. It's been a difficult past month as I remember my mom, who passed in July. It was our first Christmas without her. And a few other things came up we weren't happy about but can work around.

 

Last time I updated you guys, it was to let you know I am working on some screenwriting projects. I am still working on one, but did finish another, and entered that one into a contest, so we'll see what happens there. Who knows, it might even end up being made into a movie.

 

All that aside, I did want to let you know the general plan I have for this coming year. Everything is, of course, subject to change as circumstances change.

 

Goals/Plans for 2022

1 - Finish formatting the Tarragon Trilogy for screenplay (hoping I get the chance to shop it around to producers in the next few years)

2 - Complete and publish one new children's illustrated work

3 - Participate in at least one writer's conference (I will be doing a virtual class for the Storymaker's Conference held in Provo, UT for their digital catalogue)

4 - Hopefully get a new book written, or at least get a good start on it. There are several ideas percolating in my brain that want out.

5 - Prepare, and hopefully publish, my husband's first book. 

6 - Start a podcast on self-publishing and everything I wish I'd known about it before I started the venture.

7 - Complete at least one audio book of my currently published works, and release it in podcast form (probably on Spotify)

 

Everything else is up in the air, but things can always change.

 

 

 

A Change in the Wind

 Hey guys,

I thought I'd best give you the update on things. I was going to do an event in Irving, Texas last weekend, but if any of you showed, you know it didn't happen. The store manager canceled on me and it is what it is. Hopefully I will see you in December in Little Elm, TX instead.

Now, on to the bigger news, I am going to turn my focus onto turning the Tarragon Trilogy into a series of screenplays that I hope to find a producer for. I know I'm at a huge disadvantage, as I don't have an agent, and I don't really have any contacts in the industry, but I feel compelled to go this direction right now.

This will likely put my newest children's book, Moving the Zoo, on hold, but I do promise I will be working on it intermittently. It just probably won't be out in time for Christmas.

I do have some experience with screenplays, though nothing produced. I was a semi-finalist in a screenwriting contest last year, and I was an intern with an independent film company back in 2006, so not completely new to me, but I have never pitched to any Hollywood big producers, but that is the goal. If I'm being honest, never actually pitched it to any kind of big wigs, unless you count sending query letters when I tried to get traditionally published.

All that aside, if you have read any of the books in my Tarragon Trilogy, and liked them, please spread the word. Write a review. The more online presence I have, the better. And, maybe, someday in the not too distant future, you will see either those books, or something else I've written, on the big screen. That is my hope.

Thanks, y'all, for being great fans. I hope to improve my craft and make y'all proud.