Ever think about the difference between “I apologize” and “I’m sorry?”

It’s been on my mind for the past few days. I think there is a difference, and it’s an important one. You’re totally free to share your thoughts on this!

writing

More work last night on Sheep Farm 7. And I woke up this morning with some real clarity on where to take the storyline that’ll be an absolute scream.

Combining serious societal issues with a light touch and great characters… that’s me.

Tomorrow is the last day for the sale on Safe House!

Editing

I finished up a project yesterday and got it back to its author, and am about to start something new today. A new series from an established author I’ve been working with for over a decade. Yes, a decade.

I am loyal to my people. What can I say? Other than I do good work.

Book of the Day

Nightbloom, by Peace Adzo Medie

That’s our day! I feel like I need to apologize for being so uninteresting today, but I’ve been not sleeping well, so I’m tired.

But here’s something for you. If you have a minute, say thanks to my contractors, who went above and beyond this morning and changed a tire for me so now I’m not stuck in the unlikely event that I need to not be stuck. My mechanic can’t change out my tires until next Monday. (!)

And since it’s the end of the month, remember to max out your Hoopla borrows by checking out a new-to-you author, preferably indie. Did you know indie authors get paid when you read our books via Hoopla or Libby? We do! Of course, I encourage you to check out my books, and if you’re a Hoopla user, please speak up and ask them to go back to carrying my entire catalog, so you can read the whole Tales from the Sheep Farm series. Right now, only Maybe the Bird Will Rise, Populated, and Safe House are available to borrow. I apologize for that, but it’s out of my hands… although it can be in yours. If enough people request the return of Saving Sima and Legacy, at a minimum…

Or, you know, fill my ko-fi. All monies go to operational costs here at West of Mars. I have a low overhead, but that doesn’t mean I have no overhead!

It’s my turn to step into the spotlight! Do you know stoked I am to do this?

Here’s the story, if you missed it a few weeks ago: One of my son’s friends told me about a prompt on their English final. One word: Puddles.

And after years of not writing a heck of a lot, just like that, I started writing again.

I still don’t know what motivated me, but something did. Maybe I was possessed, maybe I just loved this story and had that much faith in it.

But… I submitted it, it was accepted, and now, today, I’m here to tell you about the song that makes me think of my story, Undaunted.

This is embarrassing as hell, because I’ve come to realize this is actually a horrible song, but here it is anyway: It Can’t Rain All the Time, from the Crow Soundtrack, performed by Jane Siberry. The link will take you to a fan-made tribute video, and I think it does the song and movie justice. But… yeah. It’s not the sort of thing I listen to… ever. But there’s a longing in it, a sense of what true love must be like, and even a promise — and those elements are what I tried to key into when creating Carrie and this story of her loss of her husband, Dante. And, of course, the rain is a theme in both song and story — in Undaunted, though, it’s more an element of the safe harbor of love, and in the end, it’s all about redemption and freedom.

The description isn’t much, as it shouldn’t be in an anthology such as this, but here it is:

Over twenty stories that will make your heart race, make you joyful, fearful, thrilled, inspired, and horrified.
These are stories that will make your imagination run wild featuring Gemma L. Brook, Lorna Walsh, Jasmine Wade,
Laura Nelson Selinsky, Carol Dowd-Forte, Tone Milazzo, Julie Doherty, Tori Eldridge, Ken MacGregor, Nick Mazzuca, Andrew Adams, Susan Helene Gottfried, Amelia Kibbie, Lexis Parker, Rebecca House, Elan Barnehama, Gary Zenker, Suzanne Grieco Mattaboni, Joe Nasta, Cindy Cavett

Need some buy links? It’s still a pre-order for three more days. But go and pre-order. Don’t wait, to make sure you don’t forget!
Amazon
B&N
Rakuten/Kobo
iTunes

And… you don’t really need my connect links… they’re all over this here site.

Just remember that if you pick up a copy (and you should!), my fellow authors and I would LOVE a review.