Despite how busy and strange this month has been, I still managed to cross the Camp NaNoWriMo finish line for the fourth straight year in a row!  It's hard to believe I've been at this, in a constant and dedicated fashion, long enough for it to theoretically be a college degree.  This is, by no means, to say that I feel like I know everything about How To Be A Self-Published Author: that'd be impossible.  I will say that there are probably a few secrets lurking in the practice of surrounding yourself with people and experiences which make you happy and/or inspired.    (For the curious: those current experiences, for me, include watching the entirety of Twin Peaks, attending a community theatre performance of The Hound of the Baskervilles, helping a friend move, picking blueberries while there's still dew on them, and stepping up my artistic noodling away from the written word.)

Those of you with a sharp eye may notice that I've changed the Arts & Crafts section of my website and removed my link to my DeviantArt gallery, replacing it with an onsite one.  Not only does it make it easier for you all to see my art, but it helps pave the way for my secondary creative venture: an arts and crafts storefront called Gifts of Awen. Some of it is related to Aviario, but a good deal of it will be more inspirational and metaphysical in nature, focusing on the intent of creating magical and/or peaceful art for small spaces.  My first project for Gifts of Awen is a series of artist cards dedicated to the seven chakras.  Here's a peek at the first two, which I completed last night:

My goal is to also create postcards and other prints of these, along with other small art designed to help people find insight, inspiration, and a moment of peace in a busy, cluttered world.  Commisssions will also be available through the site: I have several slots currently open.   If you would like to see what else I have up at the moment, I'd be honored if you'd join me over at the storefront.   Those of you who follow me on Instagram will also see pictures of new pieces as they're completed and posted!   This may also mean the return of The Author's Oracle ... only time will tell.   For now, I'm headed back to my creative corner to chip away at The Proper Bearing and work on some more illustrations.   I hope you all have a lovely week!

Life is like a hurricane around here.  (Blame all the D23 Expo stuff this Disney girl has been seeing online.) I'm juggling a lot of great stuff: a short story and graphic novel project with fellow author and artist Julianne Black, the two novellas Nature & Nurture, and of course, my release preparation for The Proper Bearing.  I'm also knee-deep in great books right now, so you'll have more reviews from me soon, too. 

This is that funny little quiet lull in between all of it where I don't have a Big Thing to share, but I have a lot of Little Things.   Mostly, though, I want to get you all excited about The Proper Bearing, which is coming out in just shy of two months!  

My beta readers (or CPs, depending on which author lingo you prefer) have it in hand, but I could still use one more.   If you're seriously interested in helping me make this a better book, please shoot me an email or direct message through the internet grapevine of your choice.  I would ideally need it back with your comments by August 15th.

I have a front cover prepared, and will soon be working on the back.  Cover reveal will be going down a month prior to release, on August 18th, so that'll be exciting.  I have to say, this is my favorite cover so far, and I can't wait to share it with you all!   Special thanks to my friend and fellow author Tim Savage for scoring me a photo for its creation during his recent trip to the UK.  

I'll also be giving away a couple of prizes on the week of the release: my protagonist, the wonderfully bookish Nicholas Forsythe, has helped me brainstorm a few of his favorite things to give away to my readers, so that their escape into my world can be just that little bit more complete.  I'll be sharing more details about that as time draws closer.  In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at part of that amazing cover ... 

If the suspense is absolutely killing you, and you can't wait ... you can always go and pledge your support to me on Patreon!  Patrons get to see the full front cover TODAY!  I hope you all have a wonderful week, stretch those imaginations, and I'll see you all next Wednesday!