This tale is set in the Solar System Services, Inc., universe a few centuries after Alone is Not Lonely on the planet Onizuka. Because the planet's tilt is greater than that of Earth and has a slower rotation, it experiences longer days and nights depending on the season. Most colonists live in the equatorial band, but some hardier souls live north or south. Travel during Onizuka's winters are next to impossible.
As a result, the colonists have found some of Earth's historical stories and culture provides them with the means to survive an Onizukan night. Some whimsy remains though. The colonists won't waste edible pumpkins and turnips as Jack O' Lanterns, so they carve native pink-fleshed tubers for their Halloween tradition.
And if the name is familiar, I wrote a college paper about the cultural contributions of Japanese-Americans, including NASA Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka prior to the Challenger disaster. He'll always have a place at my table.
In the tiny city of Willowbrook, Tabitha and Everleigh run The Enchanted Bakery. But trouble comes to town when a major, and very famous, corporation opens a coffee and tea cafe across the street from the ladies' shop. Can Tabitha and Everleigh's business survive on its own, or will they use magic and risk major karmic retaliation?
To read this free short story, Click Here!
In October, a Halloween short story I wrote for an anthology will be published. November's release will be the next Justice novel, A Cup of Conflict. And December's release will be the Millersburg Magick Mystery Christmas tale I meant to have out last year before I had to have cataract surgery.
This is been a very weird year, but I'm looking forward to finish writing everything on my plate and getting those stories to you!
I know it's been two weeks since I posted. Things have been super busy.
Genius Kid flew out to his next assignment last week. We spent last week getting the things he needed and seeing family since he'll be overseas for a year. Unfortunately, the Grandpuppy misses his hoomun terribly, so he needs extra love and attention.
Which, of course, made Princess Pup jealous. That has meant extra carpet cleaning with her displeasure.
I had the opportunity to be the announcer for our town's semi-pro football team for a couple of games over the summer. So, Darling Husband volunteered me to do some announcing for the high school soccer teams this fall. The school's regular announcer had to drop a few sports because of some health issues. However, the jobs are being split among several people, so I"m not saddled with everything. I don't mind helping out, but I get the most writing done when DH running the time for the lacrosse teams in the spring and the soccer teams in the fall.
I also need to make some changes to my business in preparation for opening an online store and update my estate plan since I now have a lot of IP. So there's been a lot of phone calls, e-mails, and meetings with my new attorney.
Is any writing getting done? Yes, but just not at my usual pace. The new plan is to leave the house in the morning and turn off my phone. There's a new French-style cafe that just opened near our house I want to try. Sounds like a perfect hidey-hole for the rest of August and September.
To everyone out there, new books are coming.
And school has started in a lot of places already, so please watch out for buses and kids!
