Just got home from @DragonSteel Nexus 2025 ... and now my TBR is even longer, with several new exciting books from indie authors and folks I hadn't heard of before. And several authors who I had heard of, but hadn't yet read, have moved up on said TBR after seeing their panels. So much to read, ah!

Somehow the game Dispatch wasn't on my radar at all. I'm three episodes in now, and absolutely loving it - feels kind of Life Is Strange meets superheroes(/villains), which is not a combination I imagined working so well.

For anyone interested in weird sci-fi cinematic prog rock, New Origins' second album, Stolen Fire From Jealous Stars, is out now! Check it out at www.neworiginsproject.com or wherever you stream music!

After many years, and a whole lot of learning how to use all those fancy dials, New Origins is finally gearing up to release our second album! If you've any interest in weird cinematic prog rock, check out our album announcement at www.neworiginsproject.com/post/new-ori...!

Started writing book 9! I'm one chapter in, and it's going shockingly smoothly - writing the last two books felt like pulling teeth most of the time, but this one's just flowing out so far.

Maybe the 20,000-word 'outline' is helpful ...

While rejection is never a great feeling, I've got to say, I appreciate how kind publishing agents' rejections tend to be. Sure, they're largely form letters, but the difference a "please keep at this" or "I encourage you to keep querying" makes really goes a long way.

Going back to the query trenches after parting ways with an agency is weird ... when I queried Book 1, I told myself I'd be happy with a single request - any interest at all would be an unexpected win. Rejections hit harder with Book 2.

But writing Book 8 is going well! So that helps.

Took a break from struggling over my new book to transfer some notes from my phone to my computer for my other books. And in the process, remembered just how much I love my other books.

So that was a nice little injection of "maybe I don't entirely suck at this" energy. I needed that.

Once more into the breach! I'm headed back into the query trenches this month with a new book. Excited to share it with agents and see who's interested!

After months of feeling unable to get up the energy to start writing my next book, I've finally completed a scene. It's not much, but it's something.

The book's about the end of the world, and feeling powerless to do anything about it.

I can't imagine where I got the inspiration.

Me: I could start writing my next book tonight.
My brain: But have you considered this OTHER book idea?
Me: Good point, brain, let's start outlining that -
My brain: Now, hear me out here, but what about this OTHER other book idea?

Repeat ad nauseum. Nothing gets done.
Grumble, grumble, grumble.