Status Updates:

A slow start is still a start. I feel like I'm making some progress even if I find the pace frustratingly slow.

What's Next:

The Wizard's Cat​
Still not there, but I'm making slow progress. I'm having to re-learn how to write, it seems.

The SC Marva Collins (no change):​
Book 1: School Days - Published in ebook, paper, and audio. ​
Book 2: Working Class - Published in ebook, paper, and audio. Some problems exist in chapter 4's encoding. Podium knows and is looking into it.​
Book 3: Hard Knocks - Published in ebook and paper. Podium has the book in production for release later this year.

What I'm Reading:

I've read a lot recently. Like full-time-job a lot. I think that's a symptom of an impending writing binge, but I'm trying not to get too excited.

I read a lot of samples - most of which didn't get me to the "buy" link at the end - and have over a dozen left in the queue. Mostly I caught up on series I already had in progress. I read through a couple of series that I can't recommend without content warnings. I'm not sure why I read through them other than to note that the characters pulled me past the cringe-y bits.

What I can recommend is J R Mathews's latest volume in Jake's Magical Market.

I read book one back at the end of 2021 while riding out the grip of post-chemo fog. LitRPG, apocalypse based on collecting cards and shards. It's a mechanic I've enjoyed elsewhere and Mathews does a great job with Jake and his travails.

Lots of typical dungeon diving tropes. Lots of crazy beasts and problems. Really nice levels of humor, really good character development across both volumes. Only mild annoyance with the cliffs at the end.

Here's the link to Book 1. Maybe grab a sample and see what you think.

This month's honorable mention goes to Osiris and Beryll Brackhaus for the Sir Yaden series. A kind of coming of age story involving found families, some adorable (sometimes vicious) main characters, and enough variety in problems and solutions to avoid the "just add more enemies to the battle" pitfall.

Content warning: The universe has a slavery problem that serves the plot in one way or another in most of the books. It was enough to make me squint uncomfortably in a couple of places but not enough to make me put the book down. I'm not sure if that's a comment on me or the story.

Looking Ahead:

The year is not exactly off to a roaring start, but I'm working on it. I suspect I've been fighting a low-grade burnout abetted by the Christmas COVID.

Mostly I'm trying to find a more engaging approach to the writing. Less formulaic. More exploratory. Less Hero. More Fun. Less filling. Tastes great.

It's going slow. I'm moderately frustrated but trying to use that frustration as a guide to help me find the path from where I am to where I think might be a better mindset to carry me through this year and into next.

Like I've said before. I'm a WIP until I'm RIP. As long as I can stave off the latter, I'll have to be content with the former.

Anyway, until next month, safe voyage.

-NL

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Remember ​
I update the blog every month on the first so if you're wondering what's happening, you can check there to get an interim report until the next one shows up in your inbox.

Beta Readers:

Every so often, I put out a call for beta readers. These are people who are willing to read the work in progress in a short period of time with only the briefest of notices.

I'm going to be fine tuning this process going forward but if you'd like to be considered for future works, then click this link.
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​It puts a tag on your address in the email list. You don't have to check anything. The ConvertKit people (who store the addresses) will handle it and then take you to a page to tell you that your preferences have been set. By clicking that link you're done.

And thanks.

Fine Tuning:

Would you prefer to get ONLY new release notices? YES, PLEASE​

Note: Newsletter people will get New Release notices, too, but
I've had several people say they preferred to only hear from me when I
release a new book so I'm trying to accommodate them.
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