The First Monday of October

I have a pretty extensive to-do list for today. However, I was up until 6 a.m., finalizing an audiobook that was a stretch goal reward for the Soccer Moms of the Apocalypse Kickstarter campaign from 2022. I'm seriously late, but darn it! My backers will get everything they were promised.

The Soccer Moms experience is why I made the Millersburg Magick Mysteries a very small and limited campaign. I didn't want to get in over my head, though four family deaths in one year was rather exceptional circumstances.

But I'll get notices and links out later tonight while watching Stephen Colbert! I'm glad the WGA strike is done, but I don't blame them or SAG-AFTRA one bit. After the experience of recording my own audio book, I believe the SAG-AFTRA folks deserve every penny they are asking for, if not more.

Just recording a novella did a number on my voice. I can't imagine recording a whole novel. I understand why it's so expensive to hire a narrator.

But it's done! Life is good, and I'll move on to the next project on my calendar.

Roofers and Audio Recording Don't Mix

DH has been looking at solar panels for sometime, and since we needed to replace the roof (from sheer age, not any natural disaster), he deemed it time to get them, However, the shingles and vents needed to be replaced prior to installing the panels. That happened yesterday.

The roofers finished the whole project in one day, but they were cleaning up in the dark. In fear of potential missed nails, I carried Princess Bella from the house to a safe spot where she could relieve herself. DH wanted desperately to move my car back into the driveway. I even more insistently said not until daylight because I want to double-check the drive.

It's not that I didn't trust the roofers. Bless them, they were out there with metal detectors and flashlights trying to find both trash and their equipment after sundown. But being human myself, I know you miss things when you're exhausted as f*ck after a long day.

And sure enough, DH found quite a few nails on the driveway. In all fairness, a majority would have been underneath the roofers' pickup last night. Very easy to miss.

Not to mention, DH and the princess also found tin shears and an air hose for their nail guns in the back yard. He called the project coordinator about the equipment and the full pack of leftover shingles this morning.

But the dang roof is done, which means I can complete recording a bonus audiobook from the Soccer Moms Kickstarter. It's the very last thing I need to deliver, and hopefully I can finish it this weekend!

Weird Week for Narrating

I'm doing something sort of new for me. I'm narrating and recording one of my own stories as an audiobook for the Soccer Moms Kickstarter backers.

It's not like I've never read aloud before. But it's a little different reading a story to my son and reading a story to my backers.

Some professional narrators act out the parts, but I'm not a SAG/AFTRA member. And I know my acting abilities suck. But I do enjoy reading to kids, and that's how I'm looking at this project.

I'm a little nervous because I don't like the sound of my own voice. But then, I don' think anyone does. But I do like the story. I hope the backers like it, too.

Back to Writing (and Recording?)

I've been writing my butt off over the weekend in an effort to finish Demons Run at Halloween. It's the last bonus story to complete from my Soccer Moms Kickstarter campaign. It's also the only bonus story that will be available to the general public. Yep, y'all will have the opportunity to buy and read at, well, Halloween. LOL The preorder for the e-book will be available as soon as it's finished, edited, and formatted.

I also promised to do audiobooks of the three bonus stories. Unfortunately, the gentleman I wanted to read Analyze Me had to drop out due to personal issues. So, I'll use the opportunity to test a text-to-speech tool I recently purchased.

That doesn't mean I'm not mindful of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. In fact, I thought long and hard about using an AI tool for one of the audiobooks. It comes down to the fact that I cannot currently afford quality voice talent. I'm doing the voice work for Demons Run at Halloween, and I bartered with a friend to do the voice work for Apocalypse? Not Now!

What I am paying for is an artist I like and respect for a HUGE job. She agreed to tackle a special project for the tenth anniversary of the Justice series. I can't say much more than that at this point. I'm hoping everything will come together as planned.

Besides, I think the Universe seriously owes me one after the cards she dealt me in 2022.

Crazy Week and It's Only Monday

I spent the weekend filling boxes with loot from last year's Kickstarter. It will be a relief to have my living room and office back. DH asked why I wasn't sitting on the floor, which has been SOP for years when I was mailing Christmas presents to out-of-state nieces and nephews.

Needless to say, I dared him to sit on the floor. He quickly learned that if a human is on the floor, it's a signal to Princess Bella to drag all her toys over to you and place them in the open boxes. Some of my backers almost ended up with Kongs.

I'm still putting together the paperback for Queer Eye for the Super Guy. The re-write of Spells and Sleuths is finished and edits have started. And I need to finish the two short stories that were the part of the Kickstarter stretch goals so the audiobooks can be recorded.

There are surprises in the works for the Justice series' tenth anniversary. I really, really hope the readers of that series love the things in the works. My artist is doing some wonderful artwork for the projects.

Best of all, I had my annual mammogram this morning. For the last five years, it's been like sitting on a grenade. Has the cancer taken hold in the other breast? I've already had a lumpectomy, several needle biopsies, and a core sample. 

To my relief, the radiologist said everything looked good. Which means I'll be off tamoxifen at the end of June and I can drink during a writers' retreat I'm going to in July in Oregon. Like I told a few friends, it's not that I'm a huge drinker. I just don't like choices being taken away from me.

Actually, it's the second best thing. Genius Kid and the Grandpuppy are on their way here. Which means it'll be a Cincinnati chili and Long Johns week, too.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone Is a Good Thing!

That Kickstarter campaign for the Soccer Moms of the Apocalypse series was me stepping outside of my comfort zone to try a new avenue for getting my stories out to the public.

Honestly, all I wanted was to make enough to pay my cover artist, my formatter, and my editor for helping me get me get the four books out this year.

And then everything blew up last Friday with Brandon Sanderson promoting a bunch of campaigns, including mine. Because of that attention, Kickstarter has blessed me with the "Projects We Love" label.

Once again, I find myself outside of my comfort zone. In a good way though. I'm jumping into audiobooks now rather than 2024 (which was the original date on my business plan). Darling Husband and I were considering driving out to see Genius Kid and Adorable Spawn this fall. If we do go, I'll be in the back seat, typing away on the extra projects.

It's not a question of getting everything done. I'm nervous that all these new people won't like my stuff. Yes, we writers are an anxiety-prone lot, and I am no exception.

Everything is thrilling and scary and glorious at the same time. I'm just hoping I and my work live up to expectations.

(She says while in the middle of a scene where the twelve-year-olds are trying to gross each other out.)