June 2023: Projects and Tentative Summer Reads

For the past two months, I've been hard at work world building the Doors of Annwyn series, revising After Wendy, and drafting a sci-fi short story. I'm hoping to have the prologue for The Secrets of Annwyn finished by the end of July, the sci-fi story, "A Message from Beyond", complete and ready for submissions by mid August, and the After Wendy revisions nearly complete by the beginning of September.


Favorite read: Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney

Favorite watch: The OA (a rewatch)


Summer Tenative TBR:

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt (Tor Nightfire ARC)

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

It by Stephen King

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang (Tor ARC)

April 2023: Revising, WIPs, and Upcoming Writing Conferences

This month has been a bit of a mess. I began with a couple short stories and ended with the goal of penning 126,000 words (or so) of The Secrets of Annwyn by mid-August.

Despite my reluctance to begin my epic fantasy series too early, I've since backpedaled, realizing I would much rather write about Cassilyn, Fenwick, and Marlowe than anyone else. I have set a goal of 8,400 words written a week and believe that's manageable—even with the looming summer break at the end of May.

Apart from Annwyn, I've been reading through After Wendy and making notes for new scenes. Fingers crossed I have it revised, polished, and ready to go by September, when I pitch to an agent in person.

I will be attending the Nebula conference from the comfort of my home in a couple weeks and will be attending—and running a workshop—at the Colorado Gold Conference in September.


Favorite Watch: Nope

Favorite Read: The Gemarine Chronicles by JP McDonald


May TBR:

Fractal Noise (ARC) by Christopher Paolini

Demon Riding Shotgun by LR Braden

Conscious Designs by Nathanial White

Wistful Ascending by JCM Berne

The First Bright Thing (ARC) by JR Dawson

March 2023: Works In Progress and Upcoming Projects

This month has been interesting. After pushing off Annwyn's first draft, I've focused my creative efforts on smaller works of fiction. I'm currently writing a climate-focused story for an upcoming anthology and will move onto a piece about a clairvoyant soon after.

In April, I plan on revising and adding to After Wendy, polishing my short story, working on Annwyn's cultures, and outlining a vampire apocalypse novel.


Favorite read: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Favorite listen: The Publishing Rodeo Podcast


April TBR:

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

Fractal Noise (ARC) by Christopher Paolini

Witch King (ARC) by Martha Wells

Looking Glass Sound (ARC) by Catriona Ward

Schrader's Chord (ARC) by Scott Leeds

New Project: High Fantasy Series

As After Wendy marinates for another week, I've taken up my high fantasy series and hope to write in-world short stories starting Monday.

Though it's currently untitled, it will include:

  • A magic system
  • Rips in reality
  • A plague
  • Kingdom politics
  • Portals to other worlds
  • A wizard inspired by Merlin

Quick Update: After Wendy

Since releasing Lipstick Covered Magnet, I've been working on a YA Peter Pan sequel called After Wendy. I am currently 32,000 words deep and expect to have something ready for beta readers by the end of July. Stay tuned for more details.

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