Today I was scrolling Facebook. It was a bad idea. Not because it's a) too distracting (it is. It fully is. Thanks Josh & Jase for traveling Michigan in the winter. I love all of the updates.), b) full of political stuff (it's not; my algorithm is carefully trained on bookish things), or c) people ... just people. No, no, the problem with my Facebook scrolling is that people post things about their own books. Or pages provide writing prompts. Read that again... Writing PROMP

"You know you're old when..." I'm in my thirties, y'all. Remember when little kids used to think being in your thirties meant you were old? Then when you got mid-to-late twenties, you were offended? I'm in my mid-thirties. I'm not offended. I'm old. I like my pjs on by 6 o'clock, dinner done by eight, and snuggled up with my cats, dog, computer, and a comfy blanket from then til I go to bed. Leaving the house is anathema (especially this time of year), and you really learn wh

This is probably the number one question all authors get asked: what tips do you have for new writers? For so long, I was the new writer. I didn't have tips or tricks or advice to give. How should I know? Even now, I hesitate giving any kind of sales related advice, because I don't have the numbers to back up my own nonsense. As I've been thinking about it lately, I realized there were some things I did right and a lot I did wrong, but mostly what I would do over if I got th

I have one of those personalities where, if I like something, I'm going to spend a lot of time on it. Sims is a perfect example of this, since I spent pretty much two years almost exclusively playing Sims2 when I was 16 and 17. I mean, it was to the point that I was getting roughly 5 hours of sleep before I would wake up and jump right back on the game. It was strangely the most focused and hyperfixated I've ever been. I can also get like this with books. I once read a 4-book

I am so tired, and it's all my fault. So, the bf was gone for a pool tournament this weekend. (He took first place in the upper bracket in the 9 Ball tournament, if that means anything to anyone.) While he was away, my mental health was not ... well. Alas, the mask is back in place and I'm pushing through on sheer lie-ability. Turns out, this is how I survive. Anyway, I decided that, on top of my writing challenge and playing sims, I wasn't quite entertained enough. One of my

Not gonna lie, I remembered to write a post from Christmas to Saturday. By Sunday night, I'd completely forgotten. Again. However, this is the last post of 2025! This also means, I've successfully posted at least once a week for a whole year! So what does life look like going into next year? Well, I'm going to try to write a little bit every single day. I have the TrackBear app that lets me see what I've done and what progress I've made. I hope there's at least a little blue

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LITTLE LOVE!! Ori posing for this annual birthday portrait Okay, realistically, this post is several days after the fact. (Ori turned four on Dec. 19.) That said, I can't believe I have a four-year-old already! As expected, we celebrated with ice cream cake (his favorite) and toys. But not until about 10pm. You see, Mom (me) had to work job 1 from 7:40am-2pm. Then she had to stop in at job 4 for about 30 mins. Immediately after that, Dad whisked her away do

As I was reading a blog post by the wonderful Mod R (who moderates the Ilona Andrews site/FB/etc), I realized that I'd forgotten to write one of my own. Or, rather, I forgot to finish the one that I started. (A MASSIVE rant involving AI being nothing short of absolute theft is in your future.) Honestly, I'm not in much shape to write this one. I'm feeling very blah with ... everything. I want to be inspired. I want to find joy in my writing. I'd like to find some interest in

First off: THEY'RE HERE!! My hardcovers have finally arrived and I am absolutely in love with them. I, of course, took a lot of pictures, so those will be forthcoming. Not that I've had time yet to do the kind of photo shoot I wish to. As always, my wife is a complete ROCKSTAR and created a wonderful bunch of books for me. (Though that 2 not lining up even a little bit with the other numbers is messing with her. lol) Now, of course, when I do get time, I'll have to sign, box

Every year, for Halloween and Christmas, I get super involved in my town. What this actually means is that, about four years ago, I decided that I had to be the change I wanted to see. Growing up in this small town, there was never anything fun to do in the immediate area. I grew up hating this town because of it. Then it dawned on me that I was a part of the problem, because I wasn't doing anything to change it, either. In a case like this, there's a beautiful quote I heard