An end-of-the-month look back at the last…however many days it’s been.

What? Math’s not my strength.

I Review Books Because Throwing Them at People is Frowned Upon
My second batch of book reviews for 2022 highlights a fantastic yet disturbing entry from Halo Scot, an entertaining, if forgettable, read from V.E. Schwab, and a re-read of one of the new Stephen King books I’ve read.

Progress! I’m Making Actual Progress!
Hey! I’m doing the writing thing again! No, really. I sent one of my manuscripts to an editor and hired a cover artist and everything. Plus, the other stuff I’m working on. Read about them here (warning: lesbians and assassins and lesbian assassins await).

Nikki Heat? That’s a Stripper Name!
From the “never underestimate the motivational power of spite” files, I detail how the television show Castle gave me the final push I needed to become a published author. And it’s not the way you might think.

There’s a Country Song in Here Somewhere
Last week, I re-posted an older essay I had written for Medium, in which I detailed the five things I wish I had known when I started this indie author journey. I’m glad I know these things now, but they would’ve saved me a lot of grief back then.

Remembering Kobe
Yes, I know this was posted in January. It still counts, and the message still resonates. Even for this decidedly unathletic author who has all the basketball skills of a sea urchin.

To Apologize or Not to Apologize?

Wares for Sale
I didn’t do any real heavy promotional work in February. Partly to study what I did in January and partly because the main focus was getting the manuscript for Bitter End (Jill Andersen #6) ready to be sent off. I’ll pick things up again in March.

Come On, Don’t You Guys Read? Redux
I pledged to read 35 books in 2022, and while I haven’t finished any books yet in February (how can a month with only 28 days be so freaking long?!), I am currently invested in two books:

Echoes of Blood by Halo Scot
A Dangerous Game by Madeline Dyer

Fresh Off the Press!
Congratulations to two of my author friends who had new releases in February: Halo Scot with the sci-fi/superhero novella The Heartbeat of a Million Dreams and S.E. Anderson with Dreadknot, the eighth entry in her hilarious Starstruck sci-fi series. I highly recommend picking up these new releases.

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