April 23, 2025
It’s just after eight in the morning and my house is 63 degrees right now. I left select windows and the skylights open all night, so all that nice cold air could flood in. It’s called cold trapping, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The windows and skylights are closed and the house’s improved insulation should retain the cool, easing demand on my AC.
The next door neighbors really ought to learn this trick. I swear, they keep their house at 63, if not colder, all summer.
Their AC unit is right outside my bedroom window. So I get to listen to it all night long.
I worked outside yesterday afternoon again. More on Absolutely Alyssa, Book Seven in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series. Better use that link in the header and catch up! I’m on Book Seven and you’re on book… Which one again?
Speaking of catching up, I switched how my book is distributed to Kobo and get a report from the old distributor for Kobo Plus reads and… well, that was a year’s worth of reads. Thanks to everyone who’s been reading my books via Kobo Plus! That’s a nice chunk of change.
It’s a nice way to warm up after this cold trapping! 63 is a bit chilly!
Safe House is, yes, still on sale! Only seven more days, so you’re running out of time to take advantage of the sale price. As (almost) always, there’s a discount at my direct store!
Since the end of the month is in sight, it’s time to remind you to max out your loans at Libby and/or Hoopla. I know a number of indie writers who’d love for you to borrow their books from the library. I’m one of them.
But it’s a win-win-win. You get to try a new author for free, although I’m not a new author to you.
The author gets paid for the borrow. (Not every author!)
The library gets to brag about their circulation numbers. With libraries under fire by the government, it’s up to us to use them and protect them.
Hey! One of those eight manuscripts arrived!
Now to finish up what I’m working on and start that one… it’s nice to see these manuscripts arriving.
The Body in the Paddy Field by Nadishka Aloysius
(As always, this is an affiliate link)
Not cold trapping your house? Not one of those wonderful people reading my books via Kobo Plus? Maxed out your library loans? You can still support me by donating directly to my ko-fi. Easier than a monthly Patreon (or not, since you can’t set it and forget it), and all money goes to operational costs here at West of Mars. Lots of us small businesses are hurting right now, and I hate to say it, but I’m not immune.
April 22, 2025
It’s boring around here, and I’m struggling to bring you something pithy.
I ain’t got nothin’. Let’s get to it.
I guess I broke my writing into three sessions yesterday; it wasn’t intentional. The first, done on the back deck (I love the back deck), focused on a short I was challenged to write a year ago. I’ve been not struggling with it, but not giving it the time it needs and deserves, either.
The second and third writing sessions, one done on the back deck and the last inside, went back to what’ll be Tales from the Sheep Farm 7.
Safe House is still on sale! Grab it before the end of the month; you’ll see Taylor in future books. They also make appearances in the first two; they’re pretty important to things in my world, so spend some time with them.
Nothing new here, either. I’ve been keeping busy and, as always, learning new things that should make me a better editor.
I wasn’t kidding when I told you things around here were boring!
I Need a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan and illustrated by Ross Kinnaird
(Affiliate link)
Talk to yinz and y’all tomorrow. Maybe I’ll have something to say; there’s plenty to look forward to: the Bad Bitch Bazaar opens for the year on Sunday, and I’ll be there with the tent and authors Mary Walsh and Paige Staudt. If you’re local, stop in to see us!
And as always, if you’ve maxed out your book buying budget AND your loans at Hoopla, Libby, or whatever library app but still want to support the cause, buy me a bottle of fountain pen ink.
April 21, 2025
The Monday after the Bash…
The whole weekend adventure to Ashtabula was a lot of fun. From lunch with two author buddies to jumping in the car and heading up, picking a spot in the crowded room (I love crowded rooms because it means lots of authors and lots of readers), to getting to know some really awesome writers, and then driving home afterward… The Indie Author Bash was a fantastic time.
This was also the second time now I’ve had a tie for bestselling book, which means… time to set my sights on a three-way tie.
This weekend, I’ll be at the Bad Bitch Bazaar in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. C’mon out and do your part! Three-way tie!
I’m still doing bits and pieces here and there. Part of it is because the long day Friday and then going out on Saturday with a different group of friends wiped me out.
Safe House is still on sale! Nine days left, and thanks to everyone who’s picked up a copy. I can’t wait to hear what you think. Do you agree with the review that “this is a book for our times” or not?
We’re now up to eight manuscripts I’m waiting on, and I’ve already had my first projected arrival date of the time when I’ll be moving my youngest.
If you’d like to stay abreast of my openings and anticipated bottlenecks, be sure to get on my editing newsletter. That’s about all I use it for. You’ll want the “West of Mars” newsletter, not the author one… for this purpose, anyway. I think I write great author newsletters. I give a lot of stuff away!
Something Cheeky, by Thien-Kim Lam
(affiliate link)
I’m glad to have a quiet week of editing work ahead of me. I’ll tell ya that; Monday after the Bash… I’m too young to be this tired!
Like what you see? Go and fill my ko-fi and help me cover operational expenses here at West of Mars. Be sure to pick up your copies of the Beta Readers Guides and the Writer’s Guide to Libraries!
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!
