April 20, 2025
It’s Sunday! Time to curl up with a good book.
And take a walk. Or go for a bike ride. Whatever you choose, get your body moving.
Here’s more Books of the Day you may have missed. It’s the last set, too! Now I need more weekend content. Or do I?
Ginny Myers Sain, When the Bones Sing
Vanessa Le, The Last Bloodcarver
Judy I Lin, A Magic Steeped in Poison
Zoraida Cordova, The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina
Synithia Williams, Frenemies with Benefits
April 19, 2025
We’re just trucking through April. I hope your weather’s been good and you’ve been able to get out and breathe some fresh air. It’s good for the body and the mind. And the soul.
We’re almost, but not quite, caught up with the Book of the Day that I’d posted at Facebook before doing it over here (with working links! I’m still aggravated about that).
Here’s our next group of five:
Abby Collette, Body and Soul Food
Nalo Hopkinson, The New Moon’s Arms
Aiden Thomas, The Sunbearer Trials
Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Be sure to tell me if you’re reading any of these books, and if you are, what you think of them!
April 18, 2025
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I am STOKED about today. (I’m also considering pre-napping.)
Lunch with a couple of good author friends, and then I’m hitting the road to Ashtabula, Ohio for the Indie Author Bash, hosted by author Chelsea Banning and Pretty Good Books. I was a late addition to the roster of 50 authors, and grateful they had room to include me. And I get to meet Chelsea! We’ve been buddies on Threads for a bit now, and if you open a copy of her Of Crowns and Legends, you might see my name in it, depending on which edition you get. Might. Maybe. Go look for yourself.
So that brings us to the daily updates:
Not much to report. I’m talking to other editors, and we’re all agreeing that right now requires flexibility in our pricing and billing practices. The times are what they are, so let’s survive them together.
(And remember: Editors deserve living wages, just like every other person out there.)
I’m still waiting on those seven manuscripts… three have been promised imminently, so let’s see which arrives first. My money’s on the longest one.
Not much to say here, either. I got a bit of work done, but also was fighting a migraine. Spring allergies? The lovely scent of mushroom manure left by the landscapers as they correct the damage done by the contractors? I’m not sure, but it did go away quickly.
Safe House is still on sale! Grab your copy, and remember there’s a further discount if you buy it at my shop.
Island Queen, by Vanessa Riley
As always, links to Bookshop.org are affiliate links, and any pennies earn there go to operational expenses here at West of Mars.
If you like what you see and want to be more directly involved in that “editors deserve living wages” part, here’s my ko-fi. Or send a friend over for an edit.
And if you’re at the Indie Author Bash tonight, be sure to say hi!
April 17, 2025
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It’s just a Thursday over here. I’m not a fan of Thursdays; they are always my hardest day of the week. And as we inch closer to the end of my renovations, an issue has cropped up, making me officially cranky.
Didn’t get a lot of work done yesterday; it was one of those nights. Might be contributing to my construction crankiness, or it might be the other way around.
Safe House is still on sale! $1.99 across all retailers. For those of you who’ve picked it up, I’m excited to hear what you think. It’s the most different book in the series so far.
I know the economics of the moment are catching up to a lot of us. I had a discussion yesterday with a long-time client, and if there was ever a moment for flexibility and grace, this is it, even though I’ve always tried to be flexible for my clients. I’m just needing to be extra bendy right now, but I think it’s the right thing to do. So I’m doing it.
Reach out if you need me.
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
(Affiliate link… you buy, I get a few pennies to put toward operational expenses.)
That’s it. Like I said, just a Thursday. Not very exciting.
Escape into a good book. We all need that!
April 16, 2025
Let’s just dive in.
Shortened work day for me today, as I’ve got a meeting in the city. It’ll be a fabulous meeting of the minds, I’m sure, but I’d still rather be at my desk, editing away. Lots to do… and yes, still waiting on that pile of manuscripts.
Worked on a couple different first drafts last night, one that shouldn’t be a first draft. It even has a title! For you who are keeping score, it’ll be Tales from the Sheep Farm 7, and hopefully a good entry point to the series. It’ll also feature a female protagonist again, and it’s someone you’ve already met (again).
Today’s the last day for the $1.99 sale of Populated at Kobo. Grab that before it’s gone!
Safe House remains $1.99 across all platforms except my store, where it’s cheaper. The link at the start of the line here will take you to the UBL; look for the Payhip logo, a blue background with a white heart with some designs on it.
The Collected Demo Tapes is still available only at my store! Grab your copy and experience all the stories, in order, uninterrupted.
Love in Bloom, by Lucy Eden
(This is an affiliate link, so your purchase will earn me a few pennies, all of which go to operating expenses around here.)
That’s it!
If you’re having a good time with the book of the day or the rest of these posts, buy my books, support my editing endeavors, or simply donate to my Ko-fi. Be sure to check out the guides at my shop, too. One’s the Beta Readers Guide, for authors and readers, and the other is the Writer’s Guide to Library Events. Pay what you will for those; even free is fine!
Now, excuse me while I go enjoy today’s meeting of the minds. It’s good to step away from one’s desk every now and then. Just wish it didn’t have to happen in the middle of a great edit!
April 15, 2025
Who expected to wake up to a stealth book publication? Not me!
But things came together yesterday — at last! — and I couldn’t see a reason to not put the Complete Demo Tapes out into the world, making it my 14th book publication. This completes the Trevolution series, although plenty of you actually have asked me what happens next in Trevor’s world. Sorry, gang. Time to close that chapter and move ahead. I will always love the covers Lakota Phillips made me for the Demo Tapes books, and watching her soar in her own painting career has been amazing, so I turned to the wonderful Rachel Bowdler for her help.
As a result, The Complete Demo Tapes will only be available at my online store. If I sell out the rest of the Trevolution print copies (right now, there’s one six-book set, one four-book set, and random numbers of Demo Tapes 1, Demo Tapes 2, and Trevor’s Song left) and y’all ask, I’ll put it into print and sell it in person.
Wasn’t a stealth book publication enough?
Populated is still on sale at Kobo! Tomorrow’s the last day, so get on that, if you haven’t already.
Safe House is also still on sale. All month long, as part of this promotion. (That’s two individual links, so click ’em both!)
Nothing new here. Waiting on seven different manuscripts. I take first in, first served but always save space if a client has a hard deadline.
The Scarlet Alchemist, by Kylie Lee Baker
(This is an affiliate link, so if you use it, I’ll get a few pennies.)
Reminder that if you’re having fun here, fill my ko-fi, hire me as your editor, buy and read (and, if you like, review) my books. I even gave you a stealth book publication to entice you! (No, that’s not why I did it; I did it to close out the project.)
April 14, 2025
Cover for Populated, written by Susan Helene Gottfried
This is why, as an editor, I don’t work on books that glorify abuse.
It’s a dream I’m living. Good times.
In situations like this, you learn to look for silver linings. An online friend taking a selfie with the copy of Maybe the Bird Will Rise, which they were about to go buy while at Blythe Books. A Sunday spent on my new back deck, sitting on my new porch furniture, debating opening the louvers on my new louvered roof.
Purring cats.
Reaching the end of one of my manuscripts in progress (the standalone!) and putting it aside to sit some more as I work on something else.
But also!
Populated is still on sale at Kobo for another two days. Grab it while it’s cheap!
Safe House is still on sale across all retailers. Grab that one while it’s cheap, too.
Not much new to say here… The number of manuscripts I’m waiting on hasn’t changed.
If you need me, I’m here. Come prepared to do the hard work. Or come already having done the hard work!
The Three Little Tardigrades, by Sandra Fay
That’s all I’ve got. Hope your weekend was better than mine, Chag Passover Sameach to those who aren’t sickened by matzah, and check back tomorrow for another book of the day.
Remember, if you’re jamming this series I’m doing, filling my ko-fi jar is always a great way to say thanks, if you don’t simply pick up one of my books. Anything you contribute to the jar goes to operational costs around here.
April 13, 2025
Ahh, let’s get right to the books. I’ve got nothing to say that’s boring, let alone interesting!
Arden Powell, Of Socialites and Prizefights
Penelope Leslye, Daughter of the Merciful Deep
Kristina Forest, The Love Lyric
Chinelo Okparanta, Under the Udala Trees
April 12, 2025
First off, I forgot to mention this, but it’s my birthday month and I have gifties for my newsletter subscribers! Be sure to get on the Susan Helene Gottfried newsletter; the other is my editorial newsletter.
Of course, if you need an editor who sends out a newsletter about her availability and not much else, well, go for that one too. I’m always glad to welcome new friends into my worlds.
Happy Passover to my fellow Jewish friends! May your seders not be boring and the wine good. I’m writing this post in advance, but I’m about 100% certain there’s no seder for me again this year.
Let’s get to the backlog of Books of the Day!
Camryn Garrett, The Forgotten Summer of Seneca
The Global Fund for Children, Global Babies
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Frances Gilbert, Allison Black (Illustrator), Go, Girls, Go
There you go!
Five more books, previously posted at my Facebook business page, but now with working links — I can’t believe I hadn’t realized the links weren’t live. Ugh — and to Bookshop.org, too, so you’re supporting either the independent bookshop you identify OR you’re benefiting ALL the independent bookstores. Either way, you can’t lose.
Remember that money spent in your local community tends to remain there, so support your local indie bookshops where you can. And if you can’t? That’s the beauty of Bookshop.org. I’m not kidding when I say they put the affiliate money into a pot and pay it out to ALL the stores in its network. Now you’re supporting more than one, including the stores in struggling communities you may not have heard of yet. Now THAT is a good deed!
April 11, 2025
It’s the day before I released this short story… fourteen years ago. If you know why I used to release books on April 12, 412 day here in Pittsburgh, then you know today is the day before something most people view as significant.
On to the fun.
While you can’t buy Broken, featured in the image above, as a standalone story anymore, you CAN buy it in the Broken but Undaunted collection. See how it’s right there in the collection name? (Reminder: It’s cheaper at my direct store!)
I was deep in it last night, working on the standalone, when… my youngest called with a DOOZY of a story for me. That ended my writing for the night.
Yesterday, I wrote the back cover copy for the standalone… and for Book Six in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series. I’m pretty sure you can start the series with it, but if you want the fullest experience, get on my mailing list! That’s a hint.
Populated is still on sale at Kobo! Get your copy while you can.
And Safe House is also still on sale, across all platforms. And still a tiny bit cheaper at my own store.
Oh, wow. SO busy right now y’all. Lots to do, but of course room for new clients. Come prepared to work hard! I don’t work with clients who phone it in. Why? Because I don’t phone it in.
Rainbow Islands, by Devin Harnois
Look for me to be adding an affiliate link to Bookshop.org! Just telling you now…
So that’s it. I’m headed back to doing more Day Before stuff, not that there’s a lot to do. Instead of a cake this year, I’ll probably just make a mug cookie or brownie and call it good. (Nope, no Passover observations here. Something about Passover food makes me deathly ill. Leading theory is the short time matzah is baked, leaving the flour partially uncooked.)
April 10, 2025
My most overlooked collection of short stories is the PERFECT image for all the writing report I have for you!
I got a ton done yesterday; all the writing indeed! From touch-ups on a short story for the Books Books Books Event anthology to more fun with the standalone, yesterday was productive.
Thanks to the gang who stepped up when I put out a call for beta readers. I hope you’ll stick around and beta or ARC read for me in the future!
Populated is still on sale on Kobo for another week, so get it while you can!
Safe House is still on sale across all platforms, including my own store for even less. Buy it there and own it. I love Taylor’s story. It’s about hiding who you are until you can’t anymore; we’ve all been there.
I was working on a couple short stories for folks, and that’s what kicked me into gear with all the writing you saw above. Short work is always fun.
I do still have room this year for new clients! Make sure you have your newsletter magnets edited!
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
I’ve been handing out my Beta Reader’s Guide to my new beta readers… It’s designed to be for both authors, to know what to ask of their betas, and for betas (current or future) who’d like some guidance, so if you’re not using it, why not? Pay what you will; I just want it used. And while you’re there, grab a copy of A Writer’s Guide to Library Events. Again, pay what you will. Or just drop me a present in the form of cash. That works too and helps support operating expenses, including on the author side.
April 9, 2025
The week leading up to your birthday’s supposed to be nice and fun and full of expectation, right?
Yeah. This year seems to have yeeted that memo. Yesterday and this morning have been full of mounting frustrations.
Anyway… Time to brush it off and get busy.
Not much to say. I had a meeting last night, so only got a short bit of work done. Still, even a few paragraphs are… a few paragraphs. I’m in tonight, so I should get more done.
Populated is still on sale at Kobo for $1.99 until the 17th.
Safe House is still on sale across all retailers for $1.99 until the end of the month.
Well, it’s actually cheaper at my store.
Lots to do! Clients are starting to realize I won’t be around much in the back half of May. We’re gonna have logjams in about ten minutes.
I also have to finish up my short story for the Books Books Books event anthology. Books cubed, as I often call it, is held every September in Lancaster. This will be my third year there, so be sure to come out and say hi and pick up autographed books — my own, or belonging to any of the other authors there. This show is HUGE. Over 120 of us, so I’m thrilled to have been included in the first-ever anthology. It’ll be given to VIP ticket holders, and proceeds from the event will be directed to the Making Headway Foundation, in honor of Josh Cappello, who is related to one of the event’s anchor authors.
Want to avoid some of your own mounting frustrations? I’ve got a new guide up at my ko-fi! This one was written in conjunction with the program director at my local library, and it’s all about working with your local library. Like with my beta reader’s guide, it’s pay what you will, and zero shame in not paying anything. It’s about making us all better, savvier writers and beta readers and members of our library communities, not making me rich. But, of course, if you don’t want either guide but do want to support a small business, I take donations, too.
April 8, 2025
It’s Tuesday. My editor self actually really likes Tuesdays because Mondays are always so hard to focus. But Tuesdays? Tuesday are the day when it clicks and it’s a day of plugging along, getting pages done and all the editing stuff. (Reminder: editing isn’t only looking for typos!)
Despite how tired I still was from the weekend — and sore. What’s that about? — I had a fantastic writing session last night, working on the standalone.
Populated is still on sale at Kobo!
Safe House is still on sale all month, at all retailers.
Plugging along here too! Now up to seven manuscripts that I’m waiting on. Seven!
Echoes and Embers, by Pedro Iniguez
I’m still having fun with this daily check-in and Book of the Day. If you are too, why not say thanks? Pick up a copy of one of my books. Check them out from your local library, even! (Ebooks only) Or buy me a figurative bottle of fountain pen ink via my Ko-fi.
In the meantime, keep on plugging along!
April 7, 2025
I’m back from my very long drive to see the youngest. She’s great, and I was privileged to be granted a tour of an otherwise not-open-to-the-public facility. It gave me a lot of food for thought, especially as (spoiler alert!) I’m working on a book set in a sanctuary. No idea when I’ll even do more than gather ideas and play with the character and actually write the story, so don’t be all frothy at the mouth in anticipation.
Anyway, I’m tired today, as one is when they’ve spent a few days in the middle of tornado watches and floods and deluges of rain (and you forgot your raincoat), and drove 10 hours each way. Even Sheetz surprisingly didn’t make it easy, holding me up for an unwanted and unappreciated 20-minute break while the very slow and understaffed folk made me a smoothie. And then they gave me the wrong size, but at least it was a large instead of a small. Of course, being too large, it made me sick by the time I got home.
Just more to add to the files for research and future books, I suppose… I mean, “You gave me more food than I asked for” is hardly something to burn Sheetz down for, right?
Writing: I got next to nothing done over the four-day weekend, and I’m 100% fine with that. I was there to soak up what I could learn, to enjoy the road trip and explore the small town she’s living in, to be with my kid — and my cousin, who came down to join us. I don’t spend nearly enough time with my cousins.
Safe House is still on sale for $1.99
Populated is on sale at Kobo through the 17th.
Grab the sales while you can!
Editing: Much to do today, although I’m still waiting on those five manuscripts! Actually, looking over my queue, it’s now up to six. And a dear friend reached out to ask if I’d do my How to Work with a Freelance Editor workshop for her group. Yay!
Book of the Day: These are chosen randomly, so I don’t have anything related to the road trip, but here you go:
Felicia Grossman, Marry Me by Midnight
Reminder that if you’re enjoying these updates, buy one of my books, borrow it via Hoopla or Libby (or the other library apps)–although Hoopla STILL refuses to restore Saving Sima, Broken but Undaunted, and Permission to Enter, and they won’t list Legacy at all.
And, of course, buy me a virtual bottle of fountain pen ink via my Ko-fi. Book royalties and my ko-fi go to support operational costs here at West of Mars (including book production expenses), not my addiction to road trips, even when I come home with new, rich material.
Mule races, anyone? I went to mule races! You KNOW that’s gotta appear in a book at some point!
April 6, 2025
Good morning friends and book lovers!
I’m headed home today; it’s a ten-hour drive, and there’s also a time change to take into account. Worth it to spend time not only with my kid but my cousins, too.
On to former books of the day!
Elise Kova, A Duel with the Vampire Lord
Gina L Carroll, The Grandest Garden
Myah Ariel, When I Think of You
Kristina Forest, The Love Lyric
Nora Nguyen, Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour
Five more books for you to check out… I hope you’re learning as much as I am about the amazing books out there, and how easy it is to overlook… just so many.
Have a great week, everyone!
April 5, 2025
Good morning, friends!
You’re reading this, but I’m off visiting my youngest and the cat/house sitter is manning the fort. Yes, it’s weird to think of strangers in my home. Have you ever used a cat/house sitter who’s been someone you don’t know?
Let’s catch up on the former books of the day, shall we?
K O’Neill, A Song for You and I
Alex Willan, Unicorns are the Worst
Nick Butterworth, Trixie the Witch’s Cat
That’s it! Fun stuff to check out, so get busy reading!
April 4, 2025
Hey, friends! I’m writing this early, as I’m with my youngest today and we are probably offline, doing stuff together.
Writing: I may have worked on something last night, after I got to my temporary digs. I may not have; it’s a long drive from home to kid! But it’s also great for thinking, and I come up with a lot of plot points and ideas as I drive. I love road trips.
Editing: Nope. Spent the day in the car. I love my clients, but I get to come first a couple times a year, and a good road trip is my method of choice. I am thankful I live in an area where I can road trip so easily.
Book of the Day: You know there is one!
Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retoldby Bolu Babalola
Not gonna lie. You fill my ko-fi today, I’ll put it into my belly or my gas tank!
Reminder that if you’re an author struggling with Beta Readers, or you’re a Beta Reader, my Guide to Beta Reading is at my ko-fi, and you can name your price. Seriously. I just want it to help people, so don’t feel guilty about not making a donation. If I wanted to make it generate income, I’d have put a charge on it. Instead, pay what you’d like and I really don’t care. (Just know that PayPal takes the first 50c in fees, so maybe don’t pick that amount? You’re just paying a billionaire at that point.)
Tomorrow and Wednesday are for catching up on books that so far have only been listed on Facebook, so be sure to check those titles out.
April 3, 2025
Yes! Populated is being featured at Kobo for the next two weeks. Go grab a copy while the price is low. (This is ebook form only, of course. I WISH I could sell print copies this cheaply!)
I’m headed out to see my youngest, so it’s a long day behind the wheel for me. And last I checked, it was looking like a rainy spring weekend.
Ask me if I care. I don’t. I’m gonna see my kid and spend time with her at this temporary stop on her path. Plus animals!
As always, I have a house sitter, so give up THOSE thoughts. Besides, I don’t have anything of value. I just spent it all on my renovation!
Writing: Still working on the standalone! Yinz and y’all are going to love it. I love Priscilla and Errick and what’s this? I’m giving up details?
Editing: On hold, of course, until Monday, when I’m back from my road trip adventures. Whee!
Book of the Day: Love is a War Song, by Danica Nava
That’s all I got, since I’m not here and scheduled this out. As always, if you appreciate me and the Book of the Day, feel free to buy me a Ko-fi.
And if you’re new around here, join my mailing list! Do it for the freebies.
April 2, 2025
I’m getting ready for the housesitter, which means focused, intense work on my To Do List today, including a short edit. And at some point, I’ve got to pack, since I’m leaving the house early, early, early tomorrow. Like, before breakfast early.
I should probably do more than give the route a cursory look.
Writing: More progress on the standalone. I had just hit a groove last night when a family member called. Like… aaah! NOW??? We hung up with ten minutes left in my nightly writing time. Needless to say, I didn’t get much done in those final ten minutes.
Oh! Hey! Safe House is on sale this month. Ebook only, and across all retailers.
Editing: As I mentioned, I’ve got a short editing project. Yes, I’ll edit your newsletters and their magnets. Of course! I take care of my clients, which to me means including back cover copy in the cost of your overall edit. Hell, yesterday one of my clients texted me for help with verbage for her website… her non-writing website.
I take care of my clients.
Book of the Day: Does Blake Keep the Secret, by Lindsay Anne Priest, Tacom Creative Studio, and Amanda Boyers
Still digging the Book of the Day? Just appreciate me in general? Buy me a figurative bottle of fountain pen ink!
April 1, 2025
It’s my birthday month! And like always, I only want one thing… book royalties! Be they from Hoopla or Libby or online sales or in-person sales, I don’t care. Buy my books.
Okay, I won’t say no to Umber Chocolates, either.
Editing: Still waiting on five manuscripts, still working on other stuff. But I found out yesterday in a pretty unprofessional way that a job I’d been asked to do was yanked out from under me. That was hurtful and sad, and please don’t treat others this way.
I’m writing it off as “when people show you who they are, believe them” moment and moving forward with a reminder that this is why editing samples are VITAL to a good author-editor relationship.
Writing: Still focused on the standalone! I hit a moment yesterday that I hadn’t seen coming — just one of those small one-liners that make me laugh, not a huge plot point. It was pretty glorious.
And now, the moment you’re all waiting for… The Book of the Day.
No one’s chimed in yet and said, “Hey, I know what the common theme is!” so keep thinking, and keep checking back for every day’s book of the day, with weekends continuing to be catch-up from when I was posting exclusively at Facebook.
Out on a Limb, by Hannah Bonam-Young
Having fun with this new series? Want to wish me a happy birthday and some chocolate of my own choosing? I have a ko-fi for that and I appreciate everyone for everything they contribute to it. Be sure to check out my Beta Readers Guide, too! Pay what you will… seriously.
