Silly things make me smile.
I’m not much for seasonal decorating but I did pull out Garlicula and put him on display for the month of October.
I found him while researching the Psychic Consignment Mystery series.
Garlicula!
psychic consignment mystery
Last Quarter of 2020
Wow!
Can you believe that we’re already entering the last three months of 2020? I still have soooo much I want to accomplish this year. What about you?
My top goals for this month include publishing 2 Spells Too Many at the end of the month and finishing Cursed Chicks 3.
I’m also in desperate need of some “unplugged” time so that’s a priority for this last quarter. This whole combination of pandemic and election season has been stressing me out, so I’ve been throwing myself into my work, but I need a break.
As for the rest of the quarter, I want to write Hitwoman 25 (OMG TWENTY-FIVE!!!!) and finish my passion project…and at least start Psychic Consignment 4. (Is it any wonder I need a break?!?!)
Closing in on The End
I’ve posted through Chapter 36 of 1 FLEW OVER THE RAVEN’S NEST, the first of my Cursed Chicks series and it will end with Chapter 44.
I’ve enjoyed writing this story and sharing it. (Plus, it’s been fun to see the comments and to know others are enjoying the ride.)
You may think your mother-in-law is a witch, but RV’s really was.
And now there’s a very real chance she’ll be haunted by Mildred Bloodworth for eternity.
The only way to free herself from the curse that binds them, is for RV to make amends for Millie’s misdeeds.
Accompanied by a possessed Siamese cat, RV embarks, in her mother-in-law’s pink camper van, on a journey to right wrongs. But plans, like spells, can backfire.
RV drives right into a crime scene and quickly becomes the chief suspect in a mysterious murder.
Determined to prove her innocence, RV investigates with the help of a lucky penny, a wise owl, a reclusive turtle, and a magician whose agenda is unknown.
So what’s next for me?
I’ll be publishing the next CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN book and I’ve got two more books featuring RV mapped out to write (okay, don’t tell anyone, but I’ve already started working on book 2!).
I’m also spending a little time each day working on a passion project. It’s a much darker book than my Hitwoman, Cursed Chicks, or Psychic Consignment Mysteries (btw, the first book in that series is currently free!). I don’t know whether I’ll ever publish it, but it’s a good outlet for my dark moods, lol.
I’m also spending time watching birds and developing my photography hobby. I just got a tripod and am hopeful this will help me get better shots.
Free Psychic Consignment Mystery
Just an FYI that the first book in the Psychic Consignment Mysteries series is currently free for a limited time. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s a good time to meet the Concordia sisters.
Letty wanted her ashes scattered under a full moon at the beach, but she couldn’t have known about the lightning strike….or did she?
When their beloved godmother dies suddenly, the Concordia sisters converge on the beach town of Sarasota, Florida to mourn the passing of the woman who raised them. While there, they must scatter her ashes as instructed and decide what to do with her consignment shop, One Woman’s Junk.
Navigating her relationships with her older sisters is hard enough for Beatrice, but after they’re all struck by lightning, things get more complicated in the land of sun and sand. With the power of a newly inherited crystal ring, Bea is suddenly assailed by psychic visions when she touches certain objects.
When her godmother is posthumously accused of having stolen a designer purse (which Bea knows darn well is a knock-off – thank you very much), Bea becomes obsessed with proving her innocence.
Contending with a physical injury, challenging family dynamics, and business headaches, Bea struggles to harness and understand her visions.
With the help of an unusual new “friend” and the sexy carpenter next door, she’s determined to clear Letty’s good name.
But doing so may be a bad decision.
One that could cost her not only her relationship with her sisters…but her life.
Death Smurf!!!!
This is Death Smurf.
Note his killer scythe and the fact he’s carrying Smurfette’s scalp.
Now I know some will try to convince me that this is Farmer Smurf and he’s carrying a sheaf of wheat or something, but you’re wrong. This is Death Smurf and you will never convince me otherwise. Have you ever looked in his eyes and seen the crazy evil there????
But don’t worry, Death Smurf is not out in the world. I keep him in my terrarium.
And yes, if you think you see a pair of smooching dinosaurs in the background, they’re in there too.
But don’t worry, I make Death Smurf maintain social distance from Tyrone and Rex…cuz you know, extinction and all.
And if you wonder why I write about a hitwoman with a heart of gold who talks to animals, psychic sisters who inherit a consignment shop and a woman who is being haunted by her witchy ex-mother-in-law….it’s because I’ve got Death Smurf smirking at me.
So many books, so little time
A reader recently asked how I manage to write so many books, so I’m going to try to write a series of posts explaining my process.
My answer to her was, “I started dictating”…which is true, but it’s not the whole answer. Sure, dictating has streamlined my process. Staying in “flow” instead of fixing spelling and punctuation errors definitely makes it easier to maintain my creativity. And yes, I have a great team working with me, and that alleviates a lot of pressure. But honestly, one of the reasons I write so many books is that I’ve got so many rattling around in my head….ALL THE TIME.
This week I started a book, a spinoff of the Neurotic Hitwoman series, that I first conceived of more than three and a half years ago. I wrote a blurb. I worked on character sheets. I did some plotting.
But the timing wasn’t right. So for years I let it roll around in the back of my head like a rabid dust bunny picking up bits and pieces, here and there. Then, while writing THE HITWOMAN GOES TO PRISON, the time for this new series suddenly felt right. So I dug a hole and planted a seed.
And in Hitwoman 23, I did the necessary watering and weeding. Now it’s a seedling of a story…with a complete plot sketched out and the first chapter done.
I’m doing this while working on the Psychic Consignment Mysteries.
If you’re keeping count…that means I’m actively working on three series at the moment: Hitwoman, Consignment and the Hitwoman spinoff. (We won’t even talk about the passion project I’m working on…which will probably never see the light of day.)
Each one is at a different level of development. I’m writing the spinoff, preparing Hitwoman for my story editor and working on the story edits I’ve gotten back for Consignment 3. Each takes a different kind of thinking.
And don’t even ask about the stories still inside my head!!!
Week 5 of 2020 recap
Smudge and I both had a stomach bug over the weekend. We’re both on the mend and she gave me quite the chuckle when I caught her in the laundry basket. That’s what I get for putting it down and answering the phone instead of taking it straight to the washer, lol.
I’m gearing up for the release of GENTLY USED, STILL WORKS. That means there’s a bunch of administrative work to do (which isn’t my favorite kind of work). That said, I can’t wait for everyone to read the second Psychic Consignment Mystery. And I’m happy to report that like ONE WOMAN’S JUNK it will be available in print on Amazon.
I’m also working on the story edits for the next book in that series AND the manuscript for Hitwoman 23….cuz I’m a busy writer like that.
I’ve also started a two month class. I LOVE LEARNING STUFF!!!! Once I’ve finished it, I’ll be telling you all about it.
Today I learned that I really like a salad dressing made with greek yogurt, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, and grated ginger with a salad of arugula, poached salmon, and orange sections. I know the picture is terrible, but it tasted good!
Have you learned anything good recently? Or eaten anything good? 😉
Writing Talismans
Do you believe in talismans?
Here’s the definition according to Merriam-Webster:
I love calling the objects I use “talismans” not because I believe they’re magical, but because they connect me to the magic of writing. They serve as a constant reminder of what I’m trying to achieve.
So what are my writing talismans?
For the first few years my talisman for my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series was a lizard necklace. Now it’s this guy, given to me by an amazing friend to celebrate the sale (or maybe it was the release? Can’t remember it was a long time ago, lol) of the first book in the series. Godzilla hangs in my kitchen so that I see him every day.
For the Psychic Consignment Mystery series, I wore these crystal bracelets (that represent items that figure heavily in the books) and this little fella who is the inspiration for one of the characters was my constant writing companion.
I had to search for quite a while to find the perfect talisman for the upcoming spinoff series of the Hitwoman books. It’s too early to show you that, I don’t want to jinx it, lol.
I believe that a physical reminder of what you’re trying to achieve (it doesn’t have to be writing related!!!) can be a potent tool for achieving your goals.
Do you use talismans?
Week 4 of 2020 recap
I had a cold and have been battling the lingering cough and I forgot to post a Week 3 progress report, but I’m back on track.
I played Florida tourist and went to see manatees. It was the perfect time for us to go…the water was cool so there were HUNDREDS of manatees, but the day was gorgeous.
Do you do “tourist” stuff where you live?
I’ve completed the copy edits for GENTLY USED, STILL WORKS. The second installment of the Psychic Consignment Mysteries is available for preorder and will out on February 27th. If you’re not signed up for my newsletter and want to see a sneak peek of one of my favorite scenes next week, sign up now.
I’m working on the story edits of the third book in the series.
I’m working on Hitwoman 23.
I’m rolling along on my passion project. Chances are it will never see the light of day, but I’m having fun with it.
Also…I’m developing my brand new series. (It’s a spinoff of the Hitwoman series and I am soooo excited about it. I’ve got the preliminary blurb done and I’ve had the first cover made. And I’ve got my talisman which I’m ridiculously thrilled about. (I’ll explain more about the importance of writing talisman’s in a future blog post.)
I didn’t like the recipe I tried, so I’m not sharing that. And so far my craft project is a dud.
So I’m making progress on some goals, not so much on others. But I’ll keep trying!