HAPPY NEW YEAR! (But I wrote this before the New Year, and I hope I'm sleeping as this goes out)

We didn't travel anywhere over the break this year--apparently, having kids in high school can root you in place over the holidays. I know it's just a season, and will be over before we know it.

On the bright side, my wife took on baking, much to my family's delight. We get a new loaf of sourdough about once a week, and she usually gives one away. She's learning all about feeding "the mother", keeping the temperature right, and I get to reap the benefits. Plus, she made homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas day--YUM!

family photo on Christmas morning. dogos would not coorperate

My oldest daughter was gifted about twelve books this year... all fantasy I think. And as I write this, I know I'd better go sneak out for a morning run, because she thinks Barnes and Nobles is going to have a hardback sale today, so she wants to be at the doors when it opens. When I was her age, most of my books came from the library... which required ten miles of walking uphill, in the snow, both ways. (Violin background. I know my mother reads this and will roll her eyes, since, in reality, she drove me to said library.)

My youngest and I are working our holiday jigsaw. I picked something simpler than our usual.

went for a winter fantasy theme this year

Middle daughter has made multiple rounds of cookies, and she’s sneaking in her first parent-led drives around the neighborhood. 👍😬

I've gotta share a couple of neat, unique gifts I received this year.

click to see the IG reel explaining this cool gift

I love this painting by Jo Edwards that my wife gifted me - called Guardian III

What are your special memories from this holiday?

Mother of Trees is set to release on February 3. I still have work to do on the blurb and ads, but I think the interior content is finalized (until another ARC reader points out an issue). Thank you to all the ARC readers! I really appreciate the help getting the word out.

The bones of the story for book 2 of the series are solid (ooo, that's gonna be funny... two books down the road), but the pacing is wrong. I’ve been thinking about how to rewrite it over the holiday, but I find it hard to put (virtual) pen to paper with the release of book 1 looming. In its current incarnation, Elliah visits the High Elves, the Alluvium, and the Salts all in book 2. I think that gets split. That would make this series 4 books. Deja vu? We shall see.

My first copy without the “not for resale” banner!

I finally came up with a way to split the map

Indie Author Showcase

I'm trying out something new in partnership with other indie authors. Let me kick it off with a couple of links to YouTube author panels that Katherine Graham hosted in the last few days. I was in the first one, and my good friend Edith was in the second. And you can find your way to more from YouTube.