Delia Ford doesn’t give a damn about weekends, except as time to party. But Meter? Meter’s always glad it’s Friday, and not just because he might get to see Delia.

Grab your copy of Populated from all the usual retailers, Kobo Plus, Hoopla, Libby… and of course from my direct store (link is to ebook, but you can get it in print, too). Bundles in my store let you have more books for your buck!

Nothing to say, other than I’m glad it’s Friday. I know… I own the business. I can set my own hours. But it’s easier if I maintain more traditional office hours… the idea is that my friends and family know when I’m working and are hopefully less inclined to call and text, wanting to chat.

I should get over that, I know. I’m in my fourteenth year of business and…

Sigh.

editing

I started the second read-through yesterday and got through 80 pages, which wasn’t bad. I was hoping for closer to 100, but stuff kept pulling at me. As it does.

writing

Got 1200 words in on this new draft… I guess I was just overall distracted yesterday, come to think of it. Glad it’s Friday; I only have to get through today and then I can sleep in a bit.

I’ll be donating swag to the tote bags that will be part of Authors and Dancers Against Cancer in Perrysburg, OH in 2026, so that was a nice request to get. I’m always glad to donate things… be it postcards and/or bookmarks, a charity edit, or even write a story for a charity anthology! I love doing these sorts of things.

And now, the sales… they’re the same as they’ve been all month, but here are the links again!
Maybe the Bird Will Rise is for sale at Kobo (US and Canada only) for 99c.
The Tales from the Sheep Farm series and the short story twins are half price at Smashwords this month!
And finally but definitely not last, the Trevolution is FREE this month at Smashwords, for all you rockers at heart. Reminder that this time capsule look at the music biz is based on my own years working in it.

While I’m at it, and since I’m glad it’s Friday, here are this month’s group promotions. Not gonna lie; the clicks you make are counted, and I could use some clicks to all these! They’re WAY below my usual averages.
July women’s fiction
Poolside Picks and Hot Deals: Dive into this Summer Sale!
Sun, Sand, and FREE Summer Reads Await!

And finally… The thing you’re all actually here for:

the Book of the Day

Strength Check, by Katherine McIntyre
*Affiliate link

Now, I usually don’t say much, if anything, about the Book of the Day, but I want to let yinz and y’all know that I met Katherine McIntyre last year at Books Books Books in Lancaster; our tables were almost back to back. And can I tell you what a lovely, delightful person Katherine is??? So when this crossed my radar, you bet I was eager to stick it in the queue for a Book of the Day.

That’s it this Friday morning. Like always, the best way to say thanks for the daily work that goes into these posts is to book my editing skills, buy my books and/or simply talk them up online or to friends, and of course, stuff my ko-fi, whether or not you pick up the Beta Reader’s Guide and/or the Writer’s Guide to Library Events.

See ya on Monday.

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.

What? More about Populated??? AGAIN????

Well, first of all, this might be my favorite book of the three published so far. MIGHT BE. I’m not going to swear one way or the other. Maybe the Bird Will Rise and Safe House hold huge chunks of my heart, as well. Don’t miss either one.

Secondly, read on and you’ll see why it’s our feature picture of the day.

You see, when I decided to return to publishing, my thought wasn’t far off from what it had been when I started with the Trevolution books: I’d put them out and not think too much about it.

Except in the decade since I put the Trevolution books out, publishing got expensive, yo. And at the same time, it also got a hell of a lot more fun, although maybe that’s just because I’m in a better mental place.

It’s also allowed me to meet a lot of neat people, and to develop friendships. It’s been a gift (again, my life is a lot like Delia Ford’s, so grab Populated and you can see what I mean. Reach out directly if you want an autographed print copy.)

When I got an email from my friend Mary Walsh that she was going to be in town, turning the Other Shadyside Arts Festival into a book show with fine art, I told her I’d go hang with her for a few hours. Somehow, that turned into “Hey, meet me at seven and we’ll set up” and then that turned into “Hey, clear off a corner of the table and throw your books on it.”

Let me tell you, it was a ton of fun to learn about Mary’s books and handsell them to people we (usually me; I can extrovert pretty well, but it does take a toll) enticed to come under Mary’s tent. It was fun to people watch in a neighborhood I used to hang out in and drop a ton of money in, almost always on clothing. (Sigh. I miss those days, I say as I look down at my sweatshirt and joggers. Or maybe not; I’m comfy.)

Now, one thing among the authors on the book show circuit that I’ve noticed is that we tend to talk about the success of the day based on whether or not we earn out our table fees. And for this show, the fees were STEEP.

It took work. Not gonna lie.

But we did it! We earned back Mary’s table fee! And let me tell you, I’m a fan of her books, not just her, now. She’s got a unique vision and puts in the hard work to bring her fictional visions to life. I know a bunch of my friends would love her books.

So… what’s this got to do with Populated?

Well, see up above, where I say that on Sunday, Mary encouraged me to set up the three Sheep Farm books? Populated was the day’s hit and top seller. I shouldn’t have been surprised. People really respond to, “When someone breaks into the Woolslayer Gallery and steals ALL and ONLY the art by street photographer Delia Ford…” A lot of times, that’s all it takes.

I’m thrilled. I’m over the moon, really. As you know, I’m so proud of this project and these books. I believe in the message I’m putting out into the world with them — People are treasures too.

So grab some books.

And if you’re in the Pittsburgh area, keep an eye out for me. I’m hoping to pop up in odd places with an impromptu book show, with authors and books and books and books. You’re going to want to keep an eye out for me.

Two weeks to go.

I know I’m throwing books at you fast. That’s the idea: The faster I get ’em to you, the happier the people who like to see most, if not all of a series up for sale before they start reading. And it makes for better promotions when there’s a long backlist. Readers like those, and Populated will be my tenth release.

Now, if you picked up Maybe the Bird Will Rise (and over a thousand of you did! Thank you!), you may think you know what to expect.

If you’re expecting a tale set in the fictional city of Port Kenneth, TN, you’re right.

If you’re expecting something like Maybe the Bird Will Rise, which gets into heavy territory with Mack’s family history, well, think again.

Populated is the story of Delia Ford, street photographer and Port Kenneth social media darling, and what happens when someone breaks into the Woolslayer Gallery and steals all her art. And only her art.

We’re not kidding when we say all. Delia is suitably impressed.

Add in a slow-burn romance with a man early readers said is their new book boyfriend, an across-the-hall neighbor who is retired from the Bank of Port Kenneth, a family you love to hate (or hate to love), and oops, the ire of one of the less savory families in town, and you’ve got a story that expands the world of Port Kenneth into directions you may not have seen coming.

Grab your copy ASAP. I’m not doing any price drops until after the new year, so once the price goes back up after release day on the 21st, it’s going to stay there.