Meet me at Barnes and Noble

As mentioned in my last blog post, I will be participating in an author-signing signing later this month with several other awesome fantasy writers. Let’s get into things in a little more detail.

When and where?

This event will take place on Saturday, May 25th, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Barnes and Noble in Wareham, Massachusetts.

Leaing Maine, I see.

Yes! Although I’m trying to set up an event here in Maine for this upcoming summer. So if this doesn’t work for you, maybe you can come to that one.

Who will these other author fantasy authors be?

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This event is specifically focused on Midnight Tide Publishing, so all of the authors will be from Midnight Tide. Next to me, you also have Lou Wilham, Elle Beaumont, Whitney L. Spradling, Kristen Jacques, and Meg Daily. Check out their websites!

What is Midnight Tide Publishing anyway? Aren’t you indie?

Yes! And proud of it! But the self-publishing life can be a lonely one. Midnight Tide is a self-publishing co-op where the various members help each other out. Like a regular publisher, you have to query your work. Unlike a regular publisher, you don’t have to give anyone a portion of your royalties. This allows you to remain indie while still having a support group and opportunities to promote your books.

What books will you be bringing?

Since this is a Midnight Tide-focused event, I will bring my Midnight Tide titles: The Twin Kingdoms Series and The Mirror Guardian.

So, no Red and Black series? What about The Lady and the Watchtower?

Those aren’t Midnight Tide, so we’ll leave those books for another event, such as the summer one I mentioned earlier. This will give me fewer books to haul down to Massachusetts.

What am I hearing about this being a romantasy event? You’re not a romantasy author.

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It’s true. While you could arguably put The Twin Kingdoms series under fantasy romance, I do not write the spicy romantasy books that so many people are falling in love with right now. At the same time, plenty of the books sold here will fall into that category. I actually think the event has a lot to offer for fantasy fans in general. For example, Lou writes a wide variety of books with a queer focus. Elle has Greek mythology and fairy tale-esque titles. If you like portal fantasies, there’s my book, The Mirror Guardian, and Whitney Spradling’s Of Flames and Curses. Plus, collections of short fiction written by the authors present there and more. So, if you love romantasy, come on down. We’d love to see you. But if you’re into other types of fantasy books, you won’t leave empty-handed.

Will you be doing a preorder like with Getting Witchy?

Not for this event, as it is being run by Barnes and Noble. And that’s really exciting! I remember being a teenager and staying at my local Barnes and Noble until they closed at 11PM. Getting to do a signing at one is definitely a dream come true.

If you’re in the area, please consider checking out the event, whether it’s to see me or any of the authors present.

Where have I been?

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been very active since the publication of The Mirror Guardian in February. Technically, regarding this blog, I haven’t been active at all. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been busy. In fact, I have a couple of announcements as a result. Let’s review the past couple of months and see what we’ve gained.

Social Media Hiatus

It wasn’t just this blog that took a breather. For the month of March, I basically didn’t touch my Instagram. Part of this was to allow myself more time to concentrate on writing. As crazy as it is to think about, sometimes the marketing side of an author’s career takes just as much time as putting down words on the page. The second reason I took a step back was that I found the app genuinely upsetting. The algorithm got in the habit of recommending some really weird stuff. For example, there were a few weeks when I was fed video after video of car crashes. Not to mention all of the rage-bait content.

Listen, I know how algorithms work. You watch certain types of videos, so the app feeds you more of that. But it seemed like no matter how many videos I liked or commented on about books or cats, the app would choose to latch onto the most random things I stumbled across and decided to turn on the content fire hose. And even when it did recommend the book and cat video content I desired, the comments would be an extra level of toxic. I’ll never forget the day I watched a cat video and scrolled down to the second comment to witness a man going on a tirade about how women shouldn’t vote. Clearly, it was not the wholesome cat-focused content I had come for.

Fortunately, my time away has done wonders for refreshing those algorithms. Now, I’m getting more people than I’d prefer trying to sell me stuff, but nothing terrible. I’ve also set up some rules to make my experience on the app more enjoyable, which involves more time interacting with folks I’ve chosen to follow and less time being led astray by terrible videos. If you want to check out my Instagram, I am back there now and posting several times a week.

During this time, I’ve also gone from using my Twitter sporadically for announcements to basically abandoning it. This has caused some problems with readers contacting me through the app. If you want to tell me something or have a question, Twitter/X really isn’t the best space for that anymore. If you’re looking for a better way to contact me, I suggest Instagram, commenting on this blog, or responding to my newsletter. You’ll get a much quicker response that way.

Hitting new milestones with the Red and Black Series

If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’ve struggled with the final book in the Red and Black series. Trust me, I’ve been able to get plenty of words down, but a lot of them haven’t been particularly good words, which is really upsetting considering the level of pre-writing I put into it. This led to me getting toward the end and realizing that I had to delete most of what I’d written and start over again.

Fortunately, the second round went much better, meaning I now have a completed draft of the seventh and final Red and Black book.

This is such a big milestone for this very important book! I am so excited to finally be here. At the same time, it’s important to let you know that a draft being done is different than a book being done. Considering the first reader, I told this to asked me if this meant he was going to get to read the book this summer, I think I need to explain my writing process in a little more detail.

Here’s my game plan for Red and Black 7. First, I’ll be taking a few weeks off to focus on the marketing I have neglected while writing. That includes things like prepping for events (more on that later), creating online content (including this blog entry), and more. Once I’ve caught up on that, I will begin my first round of revisions of Red and Black 7. I’ll take a few more weeks off, then complete a second round. Then, the book will be sent off to beta readers, who will take months to read and provide feedback. Once that feedback is incorporated into the draft, the book will go off to my editor.

If you read many indie books, you might be used to folks who can do this process in a matter of weeks or a few short months. Unfortuantely, I am not one of those people. On top of writing, I work a full-time job (which has become much more mentally demanding this year), and marketing is very time-consuming, giving me even less time to write. On top of that, I also function best when living a balanced life, meaning time spent with loved ones, relaxing with a good book, getting good sleep on occasion, and taking time to do that necessary life stuff like cleaning my house and going to appointments.

Writing a novel is time-consuming. And seeing that Red and Black 7 is the most difficult book I’ve ever written (not to mention one of the longest), it will take even longer than normal. And I’m going to be straightforward with you; this means that there will be no Red and Black book in 2024. I’m really sorry about this, but I genuinely believe that it is necessary to put out a quality book. You’ve seen my track record. You know I am perfectly capable of finishing a series. This one will require a little more patience. I hope this doesn’t cause any frustration.

More in-person events

As you may have heard, with the pandemic behind us, I really want to focus on more in-person events. Back in January, I attended the Grown Up Book Fair. In just a few weeks, I will be attending my second in-person event, and it’s going to be a really special one.

As you may know, I released my fantasy book in partnership with Midnight Tide Publishing, a self-publishing co-op. This May, I and several other midnight tide authors will be coming together for a signing in Wareham, Massachusetts, at Barnes and Noble on May 25th, from 1 to 5PM. So, if you come to this event, you will get to see not only me but Lou Wilham, Elle Beaumont, Whitney L. Spradling, Kristen Jacques, and Meg Daily.

The store is billing this as a romantasy event, which amuses me. Obviously, I’m not a romantasy author, and this will likely be the first and last time I will be referred to as such, but some of the books being sold there fall under that umbrella, so I get why the marketing is leaning in the direction. That’s what excites people right now. But truth be told, even though the event is fantasy-focused, a wide variety of stories will be available for you to check out, from dark tales to sweet and romantic ones. I will be selling copies of The Twin Kingdoms series and The Mirror Guardian and am really looking forward to meeting new readers.

If you can’t attend this event, that’s okay. I’m currently working out another one for later in the summer here in Maine. Hopefully, I’ll have good news about that soon!

Where I’m going next

From reading the blog entry above, you might have a pretty good idea about what the rest of my year looks like. I’ll be spending plenty of time working on the Red and Black series and attending more author events. I also have a spooky little side project that I’d love to be able to dedicate more time to, but until I get some stuff off of my plate, it will have to be regulated to notes and research.

In addition, I hope to update you all more frequently to give you a better idea of where I am. Expect to see more blog entries from me in the future!

The Mirror Guardian, a dark portal fantasy, is out in ebook, print and on KU!

Are you ready to travel to another world?

One year ago, Eden Harrington’s perfect life fell apart.

After the shocking disappearance of her husband, Mal, Eden has lived a life of isolation. Encouraged to give up and move on, she still yearns for answers. Did Mal drown in the lake by their house? Or did he leave her for another woman?

Then, a monster appears in her kitchen, and Eden is pushed into another world—Saren.

A thousand years before, Saren suffered an apocalypse that destroyed the entire ecosystem. Civilization has died out, leaving nothing but silent ruins. All animal life is gone, and every scrap of vegetation has been destroyed by a toxic miasma that saturates the atmosphere. Only a year ago, Mal set foot on Saren, searching for a mysterious object said to grant its wielder immense luck.

It is impossible to survive a year on Saren, but Eden cannot give up hope that Mal is still out there, waiting for her to find him. To discover the truth, she must travel through strange lands, ally herself with men potentially responsible for Mal’s disappearance, and come face to face with Saren’s remaining inhabitants: the gods.

And they are not happy to see her.

I am so pleased to announce that The Mirror Guardian is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardback formats and as part of your Kindle unlimited subscription! This book is very meaningful for me and was truly a passion project. I am so pleased that some of the excitement and emotion I felt while writing it is being felt by readers as well. Check out what people have said so far on Goodreads.

“I don’t read perfect books often, and I can confidently say this book is a piece of art.” – McKayla on Goodreads

“Nancy O’Toole has woven a compelling and adventurous story replete with strong characters and a fully developed world in its death-throes. There’s a solid mystery surrounding Mal’s disappearance and what led to the planet Seren’s ongoing demise. It unfolds at a pace sure to draw the reader along to its satisfying and intriguing climax.” – Allison Williams, author of The Witch’s Foundling

“The Mirror Guardian is an interesting and engaging portal fantasy that kept me turning pages long into the night!” Lou Wilham, author of The Hex Next Door

“It had a great epic fantasy feel. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed getting to explore this world and characters.”- Kim on Goodreads

“Overall, I loved this book, I did not want to put it down, and I was so sad when it ended. Nancy created a world unlike what I have read before, and I would LOVE to revisit the world in another novel (sequel, prequel? Maybe if we are lucky…). If you like fantasy, dystopian, and even mystery novels, you need to check this book out when it releases.” – HannahsHardcovers on Goodreads

Please consider picking up The Mirror Guardian today!

Last Minute Reminder: Safe Voices Grown-Up Book Fair

Do you live in the Lewiston-Auburn area in Maine? Do you like books? How about supporting local talent and a fantastic organization?

Then why not come to the Safe Voices Grown Up Book Fair this Thursday, February 1st? The event will take place at The Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn, Maine, from 5 to 8 PM. I, alongside other local authors, vendors, bookstores, and libraries, will be there selling a lot of fun stuff. I will be signing copies of my Red and Black and Twin Kingdoms series, and you can even pick up a bookmark for The Mirror Guardian. Special discounts will be given to folks who take part in my new bundle deals, which allow you to buy multiple books for a slightly lower price. I will accept both cash and Venmo. If you’d like to come, you can purchase tickets right now. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Writing + Day Job + Personal Life: January in Review

Hello all! As I’m writing this, we are currently getting several more inches of snow, which is perfectly appropriate for January in Maine, even if it’s not my favorite type of weather. There’s been a lot going on in the life of Nancy over the past 30 days, and as a result, I’m going to break format a little bit. Usually, I mention any personal updates I add to this little intro and keep “What I’ve Been Working On” focused on writing. But this past month, the two realms have blended together. As a result, you’re going to get more of a personal update than usual, but will still get information on how things have been progressing. Because when you’re a writer, life doesn’t always fall in easily to separate chunks. Sometimes, your personal life and your day job bleed into things, and all you can do is handle the results as best as you can. I’m also going to skip the “What I’ve been loving” section this time around, as this entry is going to be long enough as is.

Let’s jump into things.

What I’ve Been Working On

To start off, let’s go back a little in time. In late 2023, I noticed that my cat Coraline was acting differently. Mainly the fact that she was drinking a lot more water than usual. Normally, this would be something to celebrate because I honestly felt like her hydration intake was on the low side. Still, it was such a diversion from her normal state that I was concerned. When she went for her annual check-up at the end of December, I mentioned this to the staff. They took my feedback seriously and also noted that she had lost some weight. After extracting some blood, I gave them a urine sample from her little box. A couple days later, we had our answer: Coraline has diabetes.

I’m not going to lie, this was kind of shocking to me. When I think about diabetic cats, I think about the ones that we foster at the library where I work: cats so large that they look like they swallowed a basketball and can have trouble maneuvering. And while Coraline was clearly overweight, she had never gotten that big, and she ate pretty good cat food. Unfortunately, the results were confirmed by further lab work, and I was immediately plunged into a brand new world of information.

After a very in-depth conversation with my vet, Dr. Lane, we decided to eschew the traditional insulin shot treatment plan for a new oral medication called Senvelgo. There were a lot of reasons behind this. Not only was Senvelgo a once-a-day medication, rather than a twice-a-day injection, but monitoring it would be much easier and not require me to take blood samples from my cat (instead, it involves urine samples similar to what I had already taken to help diagnose her). In addition, a cat cannot go on Senvelgo once they have been on insulin, meaning that insulin could be a backup plan, but once we had gone down that path, we could not use Senvelgo. We had a plan, and following up on said plan required a lot of time and energy.

In the past month, Coraline has been to the vet a grand total of four times, a process that gets more and more difficult with each repetition. I placed her medicine in her food, and at first, that worked fine, but over time, she became wise to the situation and refused to eat the cat food. As a result, I had to learn how to administer the oral medication directly, a process that she is admittedly not fond of. Coraline has been given new food, which she loves, but hasn’t been as pleased about other shifts in her diet (no more treats). The process of monitoring her urine in her litter box has gone through multiple iterations.

And that was tough. There were times when it felt like I was just finding new ways to fail and traumatize my cat, despite the reassurances from my vet that everything was as it should be. It was also impossible to ignore the monetary cost. Senvelgo costs $275 a bottle, and each one only lasts 85 days. Her new food is more expensive, as are the additional vet appointments. Sprinkle on things like new litter boxes, ketone strips, and special plastic litter, and the resulting price tag has more or less tanked the budget I had so carefully set up for myself at the beginning of the year. Fortunately, insurance is going to cover a lot of this, but figuring that out has resulted in an additional layer of stress. As a singleton, while I can lean on family and friends emotionally, everything ultimately falls on my shoulders and my shoulders alone. I am the only one who can make decisions that will impact my cat’s help. I am the only one who can administer Coraline’s medication and monitor her ketone levels. I am the only one who can schedule and bring her to these vet appointments, which require me to take time off of work. I must make all the phone calls and emails. Do all the research. Because there is no one else to do so.

Dealing with difficult situations like this is obviously part of being an adult, but I’m not going to lie and say that it hasn’t taken an emotional toll. But I honestly feel like it would have been easier to manage had it not been for my day job, which has been going through a transformation almost just as dramatic. After multiple key staff members moved on, the organization changed fundamentally on every level, many of which have impacted me directly. Much like the situation with Coraline, I know that once I find my footing, things are going to be fine, but finding that footing is the difficult part. It involves meetings, shifting things around, and not always getting answers when it’s convenient for you. It’s going from a situation where your day-to-day has been predictable and manageable to a situation where it is anything but.

There was a big stretch of time this month when I would wake up and stress out about Coraline not taking her medicine. Then I would go to work and stress out about all of the changes there. And somehow, I was expected to be able to concentrate on writing in the middle of that. You likely understand why these are terrible conditions for creativity, especially for a book that’s caused me so many problems. So, you may ask, how has the writing gone?

Honestly? Not ideal, but not poorly either.

In my 2024 Publishing Roadmap post, I mentioned that I was going to have to throw away at least half of Red and Black 7 and start the draft over again. Now that I’m knee-deep into it, I’ve had to discard a bit more. But while I haven’t started out of the gate quite as strong as I wanted, I still managed to get a good 36k down (as of 01/26), and I do think what I have here is stronger than what existed before, with a better handle on character arcs and telling a more interesting story. It’s not the most ideal writing situation, and given what’s going on with Coraline and work, it will continue in that direction, but progress has been made.

On top of that, I’ve been in marketing mode for two events next month. One is the Safe Voices Grown Up Book Fair, an author signing I will be participating in on February 1st. The other is the publication of my next book, The Mirror Guardian, which will be coming out on February 7th. So far, the reviews for The Mirror Guardian haven’t been just good, but shockingly so. Honestly, posting excerpts from some of these reviews on social media can feel a little like bragging! This portal fantasy is a bit of an odd duck, but I always felt that if it could find the right type of readers, those people would connect with it. So far, that seems to be happening.

January has been an overwhelming start to the year, but it’s also a reminder that progress is worth celebrating, even if you don’t manage to tick off all the boxes.

What’s next?

As mentioned above, I have the author singing and the publication of The Mirror Guardian at the beginning of next month. The rest of February will be spent working on Red and Black 7 and getting all those frustrating tax documents together. The latter always seems to involve more work than I planned on, but, as someone who gets a refund most years, it’s worth my time and effort.

Let’s hope that things are a little calmer on the cat and day job front.

2024 Publishing Road Map

In my recent post, 2023 in Review, I posted about my highs and lows for the year 2023. Now that I’ve reflected on last year, let’s see what that means for 2024. These are not exactly New Year’s Resolutions, although I do have those privately. Instead, it’s more meant to be an idea of what I’d like to do in 2024 as far as writing and publishing. As always, nothing is set in stone.

Project #1- The Mirror Guardian

Besides a few issues involving the cover on the hardback version, my upcoming portal fantasy is more or less teed up for an early 2024 release. All I have to worry about is marketing. At the same time, marketing is often more time-consuming than I’d expect! For 2024, my focus with The Mirror Guardian is all about shepherding it past the finish line with minimal hiccups. Have you preordered your copy yet?

Project #2- Red and Black 7

Here’s the big one. My efforts on Red and Black 7 weren’t a complete failure in 2023, but things were decidedly rough. So much so that when I took a look at what I had written at the end of the year, I realized that I had to throw more than half of the book out.

Things could be worse. I remember having a similarly sobering experience with Black and Blue, where I had to throw out the back half, and then the back quarter. Even worse, I had to throw out an entire draft of Fun and Games and start from scratch. While the majority of the Red and Black series were written pretty smoothly, it hasn’t been the case for all of them, and it certainly hasn’t been the case for the final volume. And while that’s frustrating, it’s also okay. Because both Black and Blue and Fun and Games made it to the finish line, so Red and Black 7 can make it there, too.

Unfortunately, this also means that the chances of Red and Black 7 coming out in 2024 are quite slim. And that’s frustrating. So far, I’ve managed to get a Red and Black book out every year. Not getting one out in 2024 feels like I’ve let my readers down. But ultimately, I know that folks will prefer a book that’s a better quality than a book that’s not up to snuff. That’s especially true, given this is the final book in the series.

I hope you’ll forgive me on this one. I really want to give the series a good send-off, and I think that this is the best way possible.

Project #3- The Wraithkeeper Trilogy

Last year, I drafted a new book that mixes horror and traditional fantasy elements. By the time I got about halfway through the draft, I realized that it was the first book in a trilogy, which I know I’ll be working more on in 2024. What I’m less sure of is what the publication plan for said trilogy will be.

During my author career, I’ve published two series, with each having a publication schedule tailored to their specific needs. The Red and Black series puts out one novel a year (more or less), much like the urban fantasy series I was reading at the time that I started to write Red and Black. The Twin Kingdoms, being shorter novellas, were released more rapidly, with one book coming out every other month until all four books were released. This required me to sit on the books until I knew I was ready to publish everything.

What works best for Wraithkeeper?

We’re dealing with full-length novels this time around, so releasing them as quickly as I did The Twin Kingdoms doesn’t seem like a good call. At the same time, I can see the value of holding back on them and maybe releasing a book, let’s say, every six months.

I’m honestly not sure at this point, and I don’t think I will know until I get into revisions. Regardless, this likely means I will only publish one book in 2024. This is perfectly normal by trad standards, but not in the indie world where you’re expected to release a lot more content. And this leaves me feeling complicated. Clearly, 2024 is going to be a very writing-focused year, but what will people think when comparing my low output to my peers? It’s an uncomfortable feeling.

Project #4- More in-person events

2024 may be a very writing-focused year, but it’s not the only thing that I’m doing. Now that COVID has receded a little more, I’m finally going to do more of those in-person events that I’ve been eager to take part in for months now. So what does that mean for 2024?

As recently announced, I will be attending the Safe Voices Grown Up Book Fair in February of 2024. On top of that, I’m eyeing two more author events in the second half of the year, and I’ve been waitlisted for Getting Witchy With It in September. Once I have more solid information, I’ll be sure to yet you know.

That’s my 2024 Publishing Road Map! I am certainly eager to see what this year brings. Keep an eye on this blog for any updates on my writing projects and any author events that I will be attending.

Here’s hoping for a great 2024.

2023 In Review

Once again, we have reached the end of another year. And while 2023 was not the worst year I have ever had, it had its ups and downs. So, I’d like to take a moment, as I always do, to pull back the curtain and give everyone a glimpse of what my year was like as a writer and published author.

Highs and Lows with the Red and Black Series

In July, I published Fun and Games, the sixth book in my Red and Black Series. And let me tell you, this one felt like a victory. Fun and Games was, up until that point, the most challenging book I’ve ever read. I had to make some tough decisions, including throwing out a completed first draft and starting entirely from scratch. Managing to get this one published with only minor delays felt like a real victory.

It’s too bad I couldn’t bring that victory to book seven.

I put a lot of hours into the seventh and final Red and Black book in 2023, and the fact that I couldn’t finish a draft feels like an absolute failure. In fact, it wasn’t until I had put it aside for a couple months to work on a completely different project that I came to another tough decision. I’m going to need to throw away more than half of what I’ve already written.

I’m not just a writer but a reader as well. I hate delayed books as much as the next person. At the same time, I don’t want to put out a book I’m not proud of. While the first Red and Black book came out five years ago, I’ve actually been working on this series for a decade now. I know what a Red and Black book should look like. And this book, in its current iteration, just doesn’t fit that bill. So I’m going to take the time to fix it. As for what that means, I’ll talk about it a little more in my 2024 Publishing Road Map post.

Visiting Another World with The Mirror Guardian

Back to the good stuff! In 2022, I drafted this weird portal fantasy known as The Mirror Guardian. In 2023, I managed to successfully revise it and get it ready for publication. Which is set to happen in February of 2024. Have you preordered your copy yet?

Usually, my writing process is pretty predictable. I sit down for an hour or two, work on my latest project, and then go about my day. It’s a “slow and steady wins the race” approach, and it’s served me well, for the most part. The Mirror Guardian was not like that at all. It was all-consuming. I  found it difficult to tear myself away from the computer in the morning so I could go to work, and I looked forward to returning to it in the evenings. In truth, it got to a point where the amount of time I put into The Mirror Guardian bordered on unhealthy. I’m not a full-time writer. I have a 40-hour-a-week day job and other responsibilities, including marketing my own books! At the same time, if a fraction of this excitement comes across in the final product, I imagine it would make for a rather engrossing read.

I hope you’ll consider checking it out.

Stepping Into Dark Fantasy

Remember how I managed to clear my head about Red and Black 7 by working on another project? That was the first book in what I’m currently calling The Wraithkeeper Trilogy, a series that blends fantasy and horror elements. While not quite as all-consuming as The Mirror Guardian, I really enjoyed creating this new world and characters. In fact, diving into it was almost therapeutic. After my issues with Red and Black 7, it felt like I had forgotten how to write. This book reassured me of my abilities and energized me to face the challenges surrounding Red and Black 7 head-on.

As for the future of this series, that’s something I’ll dive into a little more in my 2024 Publishing Road map post.

Shifting Gears with Social Media and In-Person Events

For years, I’ve marketed my books more or less in that same way. I have this blog and my monthly newsletter. I post on Twitter and Instagram. I also spend a little money on ads. 2023 saw a shift in every area except for this blog.

Some of those shifts were small, such as reformatting my monthly newsletter and updating the design of my website. Some of those shifts were big, such as stepping back from Twitter/X, which, on top of being a good decision for my mental health, wasn’t proving to be a great place to market my books. Admittedly, I haven’t found that good of a replacement for it yet.

Instagram is proving to be a real source of frustration. Over the years, the platform has put more and more emphasis on reels, which aren’t my thing. In addition, content from authors has shifted more to trope-based marketing and memes, which also doesn’t suit me. It’s a strange experience, feeling as if the world has passed you by because you haven’t included the latest Pedro Pascal meme in your book promo, but that’s pretty much where I am. In addition, while tropes can be a powerful tool, I’m beginning to find the constant emphasis on them to be creatively stifling. It’s a strange experience, to put so much time into making a complex and emotionally satisfying book, and then have to market it by boiling it down to a series of standard labels that make it look just like any other book on the shelf.

I’m sorry if this section comes off as overly negative. It’s not my intention to judge people in any way. If you’re a reader who likes meme-based reels, that’s honestly great. If you’re a writer who thrives in this type of marketing, then I’m happy for your success. My complaints have less to do with the tools themselves than the fact that they don’t fit my style. And I think this would be true even if I wrote in completely different genres. I don’t have a marketing background. I don’t write books for optimal cash flow. I write them because I love stories and want to share mine with like-minded folk. As a result, a lot of the recommended paths in the indie spaces, whether it be high-volume publishing or Booktok, don’t feel relevant to me.

The one bit of marketing that did go well for me in 2023 was my first author fair. I attended Getting Witchy With It in September, and doing so brought back the more human touch that I have desired from my book marketing. This has inspired me to do more in-person events going forward. Check out my publishing roadmap post for that one as well.

In Conclusion

When looking back on a year, the negatives tend to stand out more than the positives, and it can be tempting to write the entire thing off. But if I were to honestly go back and look at 2023, the year was actually pretty varied. Yes, 2023 had its fair share of failures and frustrations, but it was also filled with exciting projects and promising beginnings. The only thing I can do is take the lessons I’ve learned here and build a stronger 2024.

How was your 2023?

Finishing off the Year: December in Review

Hello everyone, and welcome to the end of 2023. It’s been an interesting year, which I will be reflecting on as a whole in my next blog post. But for now, let’s just stick with December. In my personal life, we had quite a big storm here in Maine. The very rainy, very windy, rather lengthy storm knocked out my power for over a day. Once that was restored, I had to worry about the nearby river rising to “unprecedented” levels. I’ve been told by folks out of state that the massive power outages and resulting flooding put Lewiston on the national news. Honestly, between this and the recent mass shooting, I am eager for my city to stop making headlines.

But beyond crazy weather events that make you think big thoughts about climate change, I did get a bunch of writing done as well. Let’s talk about that.

What I’ve Been Working On

On the public-facing side of things, December was all about promoting The Mirror Guardian. That included cover reveals, ARC distribution, and advertising the preorder. A few reviews have even started tricking in on GoodReads, and they have all been very positive! Let’s hope that’s a good sign of things to come. Beyond The Mirror Guardian, I also officially announced my participation in the Safe Voices Grown Up book fair this February. Check out this blog post if you’re interested in getting signed copies of my book.

On the less public side of things, it was all about Red and Black 7. And unfortunately, I had to make a really hard decision.

Before I want to get into that, I do want to emphasize that all of the times I have said that I have been working on Red and Black 7, I have been waking up and putting in the hours. Sometimes, when you see an author saying that they’re working on a book, but no book to show for it, it can be easy to assume that they’re lying. But that’s not the case for me. It’s really important that I finish this book, but it’s even more important that I get it right.

Reading over Red and Black 7 made me realize that a lot of it just isn’t working, which is probably why I’m having so many problems. Yes, I do plot out my books in advance, but sometimes, what seems like a great idea in the plotting side stage just doesn’t work in practice. This is mainly impacting just one of the perspectives, so I don’t have to throw out the entire draft like I did with Fun and Games, but I am going to have to toss more than half of it and rewrite it.

I had really hoped that I would end the year with news that Red and Black 7 was ready for revisions, but the truth is, it’s not. As a reader, this is never news that makes me happy, especially when the previous book ended on a cliffhanger. But as a writer, I can see that a lot of what I have right now really isn’t working. And if I’m going to give the series a worthy ending, then I’m going to have to address that.

What I’ve Been Loving

Haven’t done one of these in a little bit! So it’s appropriate to talk about a format I haven’t shown love to in a little while: television. I’m currently loving season two of What If…? To be honest, I think I liked season 1 more than most people, so it’s not that surprising, but as someone who was pretty lukewarm on both Secret Invasion and The Marvels, it’s nice to have something MCU-related that I’ve loved wholeheartedly. The animation this time around is especially gorgeous, and the alternate reality storylines allow Marvel to go to some truly daring places. As of the writing of this entry, I still have a few episodes left to watch, and I’m really looking forward to them.

Shifting over to books, I want to share my love for a fantastic horror graphic novel, A Guest in the House, by Emily Carroll. This creepy story is all about a woman who marries an older man and struggles to find her place in his family. This is complicated when she begins to see signs that her new home is haunted by the ghost of his first wife. Featuring an ambiguous ending that’s admittedly not for everyone, A Guest in the House worked wonderfully for me. The artwork is super creative and gorey. Plus, I like the fact that the book left me with so many questions.

Let’s shift the attention to a lovely little anime that I watched this month. My Happy Marriage is a great fit for people who like gentle romance and a protagonist with a compelling character arc. The powerless product of a failed first marriage, Miyo has always been treated like a servant in her own household and is emotionally abused by her stepmother and stepsister. This Cinderella story may prove to have a happy ending, when she’s sent off to marry the mysterious Kyoka Kudo, but only if Miyo can grow to face her own trauma and embrace the magic that lives inside of her. While it has issues when it comes to the story’s more magical/villainous elements, My Happy Marriage totally nails the important emotional bits. Definitely check this out the next time you’re on Netflix looking for a love story. It’s 12 episodes long, so it makes for a fast watch.

Finally, let’s highlight a good song. If you had told me a year ago that one of my favorite K-pop songs of the year would be an NMIXX track, I wouldn’t have believed you, but their music has really grown on me. “Sonar (Breaker)” may return to their original MIXPOP concept, but the transition between sections is so much smoother than before. This gives me a lot of hope for the new EP coming out next month.

What’s Next?

Right now, I’m replotting Red and Black 7. After that, I will begin a new draft that will include the stuff from the old draft that worked, but a majority of it will be new material. Wish me luck! On top of that, I will be getting ready for The Mirror Guardian‘s upcoming release, and the Save Voices book signing.

Clearly, it’s going to be a busy month!

I Will be Attending the Safe Voices Grown Up Book Fair this February

One thing I want to try more of in 2024 is to attend more author events. We’re starting things off with the SafeVoices Grown-Up Book Fair.

For those of you who aren’t local, SafeVoices is a fantastic local organization dedicated to addressing domestic violence. They’ve recently started an annual tradition of holding what they call a Grown Up Book Fair. So think of the Scholastic Book Fair or something similar that you looked forward to as a kid but for adults. The result is a fun time when you can meet local authors and other vendors while supporting a good cause.

The Safe Voices Grown Up Book Fair will take place on Thursday, February 1st, from 5 to 8PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn, Maine. Tickets are already on sale. I will be selling copies of The Twin Kingdoms series, The Red and Black series, and The Lady of the Watchtower. Unfortunately, it is a little too soon for me to sell copies of The Mirror Guardian. But if you’d like a signed copy of any of my other books, feel free to drop by. I’m looking forward to meeting some local readers!

Top 10 Books of 2023 (Part 2)

In July, I assembled a list of the top 10 books I read in the first six months of the year. And there were a lot of great reads. Fortunately, I also read many great books in the second half of the year! Below, you will find all ten, counting down to my favorite read of the second half of the year. Like the first list, not all of these books were published in 2023, but they’re all books I read for the first time this year. That means no re-reads. Also, when it comes to manga/manwha series, I included the whole series rather than highlighting a specific volume. Hopefully, this will give you some great reads to add to your 2024 TBR!

10. The Remarried Empress by Alphatart (vol 1-4)- This one is a bit of a cheat as I started the series in the first half of the year, but it wasn’t until the second half that I really fell in love with it. This Korean manwha is an intriguing court drama with a dash of fantasy and romance. The focus here is on Navier, a poised and regal empress who finds herself replaced by a younger woman in her marriage, and powerless to do anything about it. We know from the title and first scene that she eventually finds a way to reclaim that power, and the manhwa shows her journey to that point. This mainly plays out in struggles between Navier and the younger woman, who is more complex than she first appears. The Remarried Empress starts out well and quickly gets great thanks to its gorgeous gowns and intriguing, slow-burn plot. I eagerly await the next volume.

9. Yellowface by RF Kuang- One of the biggest and most controversial books of 2023, Yellowface shows RF Kuang leaving her epic fantasy roots behind for a fast-paced and scratching criticism of the publishing industry. The focus here is on June, a struggling author who’s frenemies with Athena, a rockstar of the publishing industry. When Athena dies, June does the unthinkable: stealing her unfinished manuscript and deciding to pass it off as her own. However, Athena was a Chinese-American writer who wrote about Chinese topics. And Athena is white.

Starring aggressively unlikable characters making consistently terrible decisions, Yellowface is a car crash of a novel: horrific to witness but impossible to look away from. I was a little nervous when I saw that Kunag wasn’t writing fantasy, but as long as the books continue to be anywhere near this good, I will show up again and again.

8. A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll- The initial plot of A Guest in the House may look familiar, but its execution is what really makes it stand out. In this graphic novel, Abby has recently married an older man and struggles to find her place in her new role as wife and stepmother, especially with the memory of her husband’s late wife, Sheila, looming over them. Abby was told that Sheild died of cancer. Then, her new home shows signs of being haunted, and she begins to have her doubts.

A Guest in the House is a reality-bending tale featuring stunning black and white and full-color artwork. Its depictions of gore won’t be for everyone. The same goes for the somewhat ambiguous ending. But if you enjoy horror that doesn’t feed you all the answers, then you need to pick this one up right away.

7. Tombs by Junji Ito– 2023 was the year of Junji Ito. I ended up reading eleven of his works, ranging from completed series to collections of short stories. If you’re interested in getting into his short fiction, from what I’ve seen, Tombs is his best by far. Tombs contains nine eerie and disturbing works illustrated in Ito’s signature art style. My favorite of them all would have to be “The Strange Tale of the Tunnel,” a gem of a tale that escalates the horror elements perfectly. That one is going to live with me for a long time. Make sure you pick up Tombs.

6. Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher- Welcome to the T. Kingfisher section of this list. I read several books by this fantastic fantasy/horror author over the past six months, and two really stood out. The first is Clockwork Boys, a perfect selection for people who like fast-paced, quest-focused fantasy with a nice side of romance and a sprinkle of horror. The focus is on Slate, a woman who must assemble a team of misfits and miscreants to gather intel on the dangerous clockwork boys. Too bad they’ll probably all die in the process. Clockwork Boys is a super fun first book in a duology with plenty left to resolve in the final volume, The Wonder Engine, which I will be picking up in 2024.

5. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher- This is my second T. Kingfisher book to make this list and a great selection for fans of quirky fairy tale retellings! Thornhedge is a perfect example of how sometimes the most satisfying reads are also the simplest. This retelling of the “Sleeping Beauty” myth twists our expectations by wondering if the fairy had a good reason for cursing Briar Rose. Featuring perhaps my favorite protagonist of the year with Toadling and a sweet dash of romance, Thornhedge is a lovely little book that is impossible to put down. Usually, I get grumpy at the trend of expensive hardcover novellas, but this one was worth every penny.

4. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson- Tress of the Emerald Sea was part of my first list, so I suppose it’s only fitting that my second list should include another one of Sanderson’s Secret Projects. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is the story of two people from different worlds: Yumi, a young priestess who lives a highly structured existence, and Painter, a monster hunter who does as little work as possible to get by. Against all odds, a connection forms between them, forcing them to adjust to each other’s different lives. But as they try to fix what’s happened to them, a deeper bond arises.

While I have enjoyed some of Sanderson’s pairings in the past, I wouldn’t call romance a strength of his. But Yumi and the Nightmare Painter manages to pull it off really well. It’s a fantastic standalone novel with excellent worldbuilding, top-tier characterization, and nice twists. A great read for fans of The Cosmere.

3. Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital By Elise Hu- Given that I’m including a manhwa series on this list, you may have picked up on the fact that I enjoy South Korean culture. But one thing that has stood out to me in my love of Kpop and Kdramas is their sky-high beauty standards. NPR journalist Elise Hu dives wholeheartedly into this topic in this fascinating nonfiction work. Examining everything from the history of Korean beauty standards to the large companies that profit off them to the pressures faced by everyday women living in Soeul, Flawless is a book that frequently left my jaw on the floor. If you enjoy Korean culture, you need to check this out, as it will give you some much-needed context.

2. Kaiju no. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto (vol 1-7)- I think this might be my favorite manga series of the year!

In the world of Kaiju no. 8, the world is overrun with dangerous kaiju. Japan is protected by the brave heroes of the JDF, who are idolized by the public. You can see why someone would want to be one of them. But not our hero, Kafka. He gave up on those dreams when he was young. Now in his 30s, he spends his days cleaning up the corpses of kaiju left over from battles. Until the day that everything changes.

On paper, Kaiju no. 8 sounds like your typical shonen like My Hero Academia and Solo Leveling. But honestly, I really love those types of series. Having something like Kaiju no. 8, which tackles those elements perfectly while placing its own spin on things, made for an absolutely addicting read. Kaiju no. 8 isn’t a story about a young character with their entire life ahead of them, but an older character making up for lost time. Plus, the side characters are all fantastic and the women get to have their own journies where they kick ass too! I plowed through all seven volumes of this manga in just a few days. I am super excited to read more of this series and look forward to the new anime adaptation coming out this spring.

1. Starter Villian by John Scalzi- Starter Villian tells the story of Charlie, a former journalist and recently divorced substitute teacher with little money and even fewer opportunities. Determined to turn his life around, he stumbles upon something new when his estranged uncle dies. The twist? His uncle ran a supervillain empire and wants Charlie to take the reigns. Did I mention that said supervillain empire involves sentient cats?

Honestly, is there anyone out there who can write a book as entertaining as John Scalzi? Starter Villian is everything I love from a Scalzi book. It’s fast-paced, super creative, features a competent protagonist in over their heads, and has plenty of laughs. I didn’t even mind that this book is lighter on science than his other works. Also, the audiobook, narrated by Wil Wheaton, is perfect. If you’re feeling down, pick up this book. Trust me, it’s fantastic.

 

And that’s it for 2024! Have you read any of the books on this list? What were some of your favorites?