The title of this post was supposed to be “Working on my Shhh”, but I had no idea how to work that into the SEO, so I’m going with the mediocre “Busiest Time of the Year” title instead. Dull? Yes. Pragmatic? Maybe. Either way … *wave* … Hey! How’s it going? Miss me? 🙂
Sorry for not updating sooner, but I do have a reason, which I’ll talk about right now.
Busiest Time of the Year
NaNoWriMo2019
So, if you don’t know already, I may have bit off more than I can chew with the whole NaNoWriMo thing. I mean, it went really well for a week, before the creativity well kinda dried up. Long story short, I can’t write like that. LOL
Kudos to the people who can actually finish a 50K manuscript in 30 days, but that’s not me. I did make a bit of a dent, don’t get me wrong, but I was just writing down random “highlight scenes” for the novel.
So, I’m scratching the whole NaNoWriMo thing, because 1.) too much stress makes Monique a grumpy-grump, 2.) I owe you, the readers, so much more than a rushed novel, and, 3.) suddenly, I have a lot of stuff needing my attention.
The Night Weaver #3
Just because I cut the NaNoWriMo thing short doesn’t mean The Night Weaver #3 is on the back-burner or anything like that. I am still writing every day, just not as much as what is suggested one needs to write for the NaNoWriMo goal thingy. In other words, I’m still on track for my deadline. No worries. 🙂 Busiest time of the year or not, this baby is going to be done on time. Period.
Soul’s Day Boxed Set
I was recently invited to participate in Fire Quill Publishing‘s Soul’s Day Boxed Set, which is slated for a release in the Fall of 2020! So, if you’re waiting for some brand-spanking-new tales that is sure to creep the living hell out of you, you won’t have to wait too long.
Also, there will be a lot of freebies going along with the release of this boxed-set, from almost all the authors who’re involved in the project. More news as it becomes available … I just wanted to give y’all a head’s up on this one.
And if you’re wondering … Yes, I am cooking up something absolutely terrifying. Muhahaha I’m sure you’ll love it.
More Writing Stuff
I was also invited to write a short story for another anthology (title to be determined later) for a rising star small press. I think that anthology is slated for a 2021 release, but I’m already busy smoothing out wrinkles in the story that I’m going to submit. 🙂
Look at me being all overachieving and stuff.
Editing
Of course I don’t just sit around and write creepy stories the whole day. Sometimes, I like to edit other authors’ creepy stories, too. And seeing as December is quickly heading this way, it’s time for me to make a bit of a dent in Crystal Lake Publishing’s books that are slated for a 2020 release. They’re excellent, by the way. I should know, I picked some of them. *super grin*
If I owe you edits, don’t worry, I’ll send them over in no time. Pinky promise.
Obsessions
Now, onto the stuff I’m pretty sure you’re here to read about (no, no, it’s no use denying the truth, I know how it is). 😉
Books
I’ve complained about how I can’t get enough time to read the books that are already on my TBR shelf, yet I continue adding them. *sigh* Might as well just admit I have a book hoarding problem and get it over with, right? Anywho, so I bought some new books on Kindle, even though this is the busiest time of the year for me, that I’ll probably get to at some point in my life. I needed to share them anyway, because they simply sound wonderful.
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge was released ages ago (around the same time I graduated high school, actually), and I never got around to reading it for some inexplicable reason. Maybe I just wasn’t ready for it until now, who knows? Seeing as I’m having some Halloween withdrawal symptoms, though, I think this one might be a good fit.
The Hunger by Alma Katsu was a recent discovery that revolves around the Donner Party, which—as we all know—didn’t end up too well. I’ve always found it a fascinating tale of survival, gory as it is, so this one is definitely speaking to the historian in me. I’d also like to see the twists …
The Hidden People by Alison Littlewood is another folk horror that kind of just made me go “oooooh” when I read the synopsis. What made it doubly cool to me is that this book seems to have some Fae folklore added into the mix, which is kinda my thing if you haven’t noticed yet. So, I’m mighty intrigued.
TV Shows
Season 2 of Carter (Jerry O’Connell is a funny bloke and this satire just gets all the smiles).
For All Mankind is a new show from Apple TV, which is more of an alternate historical fiction show that revolves around the question of “What if Russia won the Space Race?” and I have to admit it makes you wonder.
Then there’s See, another Apple TV show, which we haven’t watched yet (we’ll get to it tonight or tomorrow, probably) that just looks cool. A bit more fantasy/dystopian-ish, but watchable nonetheless.
Buy a Bale, Save a Sheep
I did an entire post yesterday on the Karoo’s seven year Drought, but I thought I’d reiterate: It’s bad out there, seriously bad, and the people (and animals) are suffering as a result of this natural disaster. That being said, I am overwhelmed by the amount of support by you. I’ve had some readers make donations, reviewers, writers, publishers … YOU are helping to fill up a truck full of bales for animals halfway across the world. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity, truly. I can try, but words sometimes do fail me, believe it or not. 🙂
I’m now trying to persuade some farmers (maybe a business or two) on this side of the country to match every donation you’ve made so that we can help the Karoo even more. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
These are merely some of the International Friends of the Karoo:
Publishers:
Reviewers:
Authors:
Readers/Other Supporters:
Thank you again so very much for your support. I’ll keep you all updated on what’s happening.
And that’s all she wrote this week. A lot happened, huh? LOL
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
*super hugs* Monique
