June 10, 2025
There’s a lot of settling in that needs to happen in Saving Sima. Not sure what that means? Pick up a copy! It’s best read after Populated, just so you know people and their histories, but if you’re willing to go with it until it all becomes clear, then… read it first! It’s one of my favorites in the series, but I’m biased and will say that about all of them.
It’s weird. Tomorrow will mark a week since I got home from the big trip, and I still haven’t regained all my rhythms. Partly that’s because I’ve had a million interruptions and things to get done, and today’s no exception (it’s monthly massage day).
I kind of miss my quiet. And at the same time, it’s time to set a new normal, one with a few more disruptions. Just not this many!
Wow, did I exceed expectations yesterday! The second read-through always goes faster than the first, but this was beyond. This book is going to light so many of you up. It’s so damn good.
This means I’ll be able to start the next one this week. The question is which day. I’m betting on Friday, because Thursday is full of interruptions. What was that about settling in? Never gonna happen.
Another spot I’m struggling with settling in. I only wrote 900 words last night of Authentically Alyssa, and they’re kind of deranged words but sometimes, you gotta puke on the page — and the first draft is the place for that. This book has been so damn hard already that yeah, I’m going with it, so long as I end up where I want to go. This is why writing’s a craft, after all. Get the basic story down. Craft it, sculpt it into the proper shape once you have something concrete to work with.
Things are quiet on the bookselling front, but I’ll be with my buddy Doug Solter this Thursday at the Block Northway Farmer’s Market. If you’re local, come out and at least shoot the breeze with us. The market runs from 3-7, so we hope to see you there!
Love in Focus, by Lyla Lee
As always, this is an affiliate link! Your purchase via this link, along with the royalties from any books you buy and a chunk of my editing fees all go to operational expenses around here at West of Mars. That’s three easy ways to support the cause over here, or, if you’re so inclined, my Ko-fi is always open and glad to be there for your support-showing needs.
That’s all I’ve got. Got a Book of the Day suggestion? Just want to say hi? Need a review copy of any of my 14 books? Reach out. I’m still settling in, but I’m here.
May 26, 2025
Cover for Populated, written by Susan Helene Gottfried
Populated was my bestseller this Memorial Day weekend, up at the Butler City Farmer’s Market
It’s Memorial Day here in the States, and yes, the political situation we’re in gives it an entirely new feel.
I’m actually at my desk today; I took yesterday off (yay!) and had dinner with friends, but Friday’s coming, and on Friday, I am moving my youngest over a thousand miles away from home, to her new job. Excited, proud, nervous, terrified… that’s both of us right now.
Like I said, I’m at my desk today. The goal this week is to finish this first readthrough of this manuscript, which won’t be hard. The question will be if I start the second readthrough or let it sit until I get back. We’ll have to see how much packing the kid gets done and how much I’m needed to help, as we decide what goes in the car with us and what gets shipped.
Another longtime client was in touch, also, so the queue is beginning to fill again. Yay!
Remember if you’re an author and you need me, now’s the perfect time to reach out. I try to make the onboarding and paying and all the business stuff as easy as possible because edits can be hard, especially if you are new to working with an editor, or have had a bad editor (or more than one bad one) in the past. I’m here to help, in whatever way you need.
I’ve been hitting and exceeding my word goals every day for a number of days now. It feels great and I’m having fun. Messy lives are so much fun to write!
A group of four of us will be at the Greensburg Night Market this upcoming Thursday night (Yes, mere hours before I hit the road!). It’ll be me, Mary Walsh, Doug Solter, and Maryann Parfitt. Come say hi and empty out my stock… I have one copy of Permission to Enter and one copy of Legacy left until I restock.
The Pomegranate Gate, by Ariel Kaplan
(affiliate link)
As always, thanks to those of you who’ve been filling my ko-fi, even a little bit! It adds up and helps; there are always things a business needs. Two goals I have my eyes on: an overhaul of this here website (it’s overdue!) and getting the books into audio. I’m itching to get them both in motion, and I have a list of smaller things (city of Pittsburgh-approved shopping bags!) as well.
Pick up one of my books; max out your Hoopla or Libby borrows with my books — and request the rest of my catalog be added back to Hoopla! It all helps me reach the goals that much faster.
If you’ve read something good this Memorial Day or otherwise, always drop into my comments and tell me about it!
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.
March 26, 2025
I truly hate being between edits. Y’all can fix that, I’m sure.
Writing: I had a meeting last night at the temple, so I only got a bit of writing in, but I worked on a short piece that’ll be available only at my direct store.
Book of the Day: Pardon my Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
That’s it! No real plans for the day — I need a good tea ball and some ice trays, so if you have recs, I’m all ears! — and am hoping for some serious writing today/tonight.
