Release Day!

[Edit to Add: Google Play is now live!]

Finally! A Cup of Conflict is live on every ebook retailer except Google Play! (It shouldn't take too much longer if you prefer that store.) It took nearly two years to write this tome, but I guess it needed to cook a little longer in the back of my mind.

And no, I haven't forgotten those of you who prefer print. The trade paperback should be available in two-three weeks.

But it's done, it's here, and I hope you enjoy it as much as my alpha reader!

BLURB
Chief Justice Anthea chose her party carefully when Queen Teodora charged her with escorting Crown Prince Quan Po home. However, more betrayals await her in the ancient capital of Jing as she dances between diplomatic niceties and saving the human race from extinction.

But her most dangerous opponent plots from within the city to destroy the last scion of the imperial family. An enemy who blames both her and the prince for everything he’s lost. Someone who would feed the entire World to the demons in order to win.

Magic and mayhem have never been devious. Or this shocking.

Amazon
Apple
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How Embarrassing!

Since I left corporate world, I've been able to make my own schedule. If one of the dogs needs a trip to the vet's, I don't have bosses or clients getting bitchy about me taking an hour or two to make sure the pup is treated for whatever needs to be dealt with.

On the other hand, I don't really pay enough attention to the calendar since I'm not counting days until a break in my schedule.

This is my long-winded way of saying, I forget yesterday was Labor Day until DH said something about sleeping in.

WHOOPS!

It also meant my support contractors had plans for the holiday.

DOUBLE WHOOPS!

So, I needed to  to move the release date for the ebook back three days to September 8th.

*FACEPALM*

The paperback may be a couple of days later. I want to make sure my cover artist has fully covered from another round of COVID-19 before I harass her.

And yes, folks. No matter what the government is trying to pretend, COVID-19 is still an issue. Infection rates from two new variants, Stratus and Nimbus, are climbing.

Stay safe out there! And next Monday, you can curl up with a hot beverage, a furry pet on your lap, and plow through A Cup of Conflict.

It's ALIVE!!

Okay, maybe A Cup of Conflict is not shambling across the countryside and terrorizing the villagers. But damn it! It is finally done and edited!

That's the good news.

The bad news is I'm going to push the release back another week. In updating the Glossary many of you have requested, it's now 25 pages all on it's own. So, I will spend tomorrow paring it down to the relevant information for this particular novel.

Why? This book in paperback will be roughly 400+ pages all by its lonesome without any of the front or back matter. I'm not adding another 25 pages because some of us already suffer from arthritis, and I'm not causing further pain to anyone who prefers the paperback version. And that doesn't even get into the paperback costs!

Seriously, the heft of a massive book is why I love having the ebook edition of The Lord of the Rings.

So a copy has been sent to my alpha reader. I'll spend this morning paring down the Glossary, and I'll send the appropriate files to my formatter this afternoon.

We're getting there, my readers! We're getting there!

A Justice Update

I didn't put up any pre-orders for A Cup of Conflict yet because I'm still editing. Damn, this is a long book!

I wish I could blame my slowness on Genius Kid being home on leave, but I can't. However, I can blame part of it on Darling Husband and the puppies because as soon as I put in my earbuds, one of them wants something.

At least the hubby doesn't need to be walked, though it's good to wear him out so he's not too rambunctious.

Anyway, this books may not have a pre-order after all, but I will have it uploaded to retailers by August 29th. 

First Draft Is Done!

Yes, that's right! I finished the first draft of A Cup of Conflict Saturday afternoon while my Cincinnati chili quietly bubbled in the crock pot.

I should have finished it on Friday. GK got home from his deployment a little after two p.m., but with the jet lag, he was curled up in bed by four p.m. after consuming a couple of slices of leftover homemade pizza.

Instead of joining him, the Grandpuppy curled up on the living room couch and napped. The Attack Tribble did the same on my lap at I sat on my recliner. And DH headed out to the high school soccer stadium. (The season had started the night before.)

I thought, "Awesome, I can finish the book while it's quiet!"

It must have been too quiet though. I fell asleep as I was reading through the chapters I'd written on Thursday. Apparently, between getting up early for the last three weeks to get this book completed and the Friday morning hot yoga class, my poor old body said, "Enough!" I was out cold until DH came home.

But I made up for it on Saturday and finished the first draft. The initial version came in at 117K+-words. But the time edits are done, it will probably be over 120K.

Yesterday, I diddled a bit with A Barrel of Vintner. (Please don't ask me when it'll be released!) But today and until further notice, edits will happen.

I hope to have a bit of time to start setting up pre-orders later this evening.

All-in-all, I've relaxed a bit with the first draft completion. The rest as they say is a piece of cake.

The official release date is AUGUST 29,2025! 

Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale!

To celebrate ALMOST completing A Cup of Conflict, the tenth novel in the Justice series, the previous nine novels are half-price at the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale. Just remember to apply the code (on the book page) at checkout!

If you like epic fantasy, kickass heroines, and a lot of action and adventure, and you haven't checked these books out, go see what you're missing. SALE ENDS JULY 31st! 

In the meantime, I'll be editing and setting up pre-orders for the latest book!

A QUESTION OF BALANCE

A MODICUM  OF TRUTH

A MATTER OF DEATH

A TOUCH OF MOTHER

A TWIST OF LOVE

A VIRTUE OF CHILD

A HAND OF FATHER

A  MEASURE OF KNOWLEDGE

A HINT OF THIEF

 

July 2025 Update

I admit I've been extremely distracted lately. Anyone with a loved one in the middle of a war zone will understand what I mean. I'm slowly closing in on the 80K mark for A Cup of Conflict.  Or I was until Israel and Iran started lobbing missiles and other weapons at each other.

Yes, GK is alive. Yes, we spoke with him yesterday by video call. Yes, he's getting a combat badge for his uniform.

But I don't have to like it.

Anymore than DH likes talking to a coworker in Kyiv and hearing shelling in the background.

DH: Coworker, do you need to get to a shelter?

Coworker: Let me check. *short pause while he steps out on his balcony* No, the shelling is five miles away. We can finish this call.

Anyway...

Needless to say, A Cup of  Conflict is not done yet, though I'm on the downhill race to the end. Which is the only reason I've managed to get words in over the last three weeks. So, no, it will not be released next week as I had hoped.

When will it be done? I don't know yet. But it may not be until GK is safely back in the States on August 9th. Sometimes, being a parent sucks.