I am writing this on my laptop, which is perched precariously on the rounded back of my half-Maine Coon, Shadow, who insisted upon being in my lap even after I told him he couldn’t be there. Alas, he does not take ‘no’ for an answer and doesn’t mind being uncomfortable as long as it means he is not denied the snuggles he demands. I suppose I shall have to abide the floof.

Insistent cats aside (of which we have 5) I have been having a ton of dreams lately, including one where I finally updated this website. So, here I am, also abiding the whims of my unconscious mind.

I’m in a weird place for an author: IN BETWEEN PROJECTS. The final edits for the last Doomsday book, Doomsday Changes Everything, are complete and I have been working with the amazing Ana Maria at Mint in Box Press to get the cover ready to go. It’s taken a bit longer than expected, but then again it always does at the end and I don’t know why I never account for it. I think I have a fear of endings. This ending, in particular, means saying goodbye to characters I’ve known for a long time. I discussed that in my last post, so I won’t go into it again, but it’s SO WEIRD.

I’ve written all of my stories and all of my commentary for the Mint in Box Press author anthology. (This project was also delayed by the end of year celebrations and should be out soon).

Now I stand at the precipice of a new project. I have 41 chapters outlined. I have the name picked for my main character (and I hate choosing names). I have done some of the required research but I don’t doubt that more will be required as I move forward, given this story takes place in a part of the world I’ve never visited, with a main character whose profession I know little about. I am ready to Start writing . . .

Then again, why don’t I just get distracted by inane videos for a while or doomscroll for hours because the world is literally on fire and I don’t want to be caught off guard when the revolution happens. Let me do ANYTHING except actually start writing because, honestly, the digital blank page with its blinking cursor is fucking terrifying. The analog bank page with lines and a fresh pen is also terrifying. What if I can’t do it? What if my character sucks? What if she’s not relatable? What if my prose falls flat? What if I can’t write another book from beginning to end because it’s been so long since I’ve had to?

These are the voices and doubts I’m trying to ignore as I get ready to start over yet again. And this is the cat I’m trying (and failing) to ignore as I get ready to start again (cat tax incoming):

Cheers to a new year full of new projects, new excitements, new adventures and fluffy snuggles!