Friday, September 20, 2024

Halloween Story on Preorder

I've started setting up the pre-orders for October's release, A Place at the Table. It's a short story originally published in WMG's 2021 Holiday Spectacular and reprinted in Halloween Harvest in 2022.

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.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

A New Free Short Story Is Up!

I wasn't going to post "Cakes, Cookies and Conjuring" until Sunday, but I thought you folks could use a little pick-me-up as we head into the (American) holiday weekend.

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!

Friday, August 23, 2024

Some Good News for the Rest of the Year

Today, I updated the Release Schedule on my website for the rest of the year. I tried to write a sequel short for a short story I did back in 2021, and this one wants to become a novel. So, I'm going to post the original to see what you folks think.

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!

Thursday, August 15, 2024

What's Happening in the Angry Sheep World

Greetings to my patient readers!

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!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

A Cup of Conflict - Chapter 13

Hey Everyone! Yes, I'm alive! It's been two weeks and a day since the first symptoms knocked me over, and I still don't have all my spoons back. The worst effect of my COVID-19 infection has been the fatigue.

I don't have the energy to return to yoga class. I barely have the energy to write and do some basic chores, like taking the Princess Pup outside for her constitutionals. Both she and the Grandpuppy are desperate for walks, but I can barely make it to the mailbox right now.

I'd hoped to have A Cup of Conflict done by the end of July, but it isn't going to happen. So here's another tidbit for you to chew on while I go make myself some more tea.

-------------------

A year and a half ago, I didn’t trust the former Jing ambassador by even a fingertip. The Siege of Tandor had changed our relationship, but had he counted on our nation’s mutual needs in order to eliminate two of the few clergy Queen Teodora trusted? Part of me wished I had my own distance speaker in order to ask the queen for more information.

Jonata took the night watch despite being on horseback since dawn yesterday and woke us in plenty of time before we met the royal couple for the morning meal. I didn’t like leaving her in our suite alone, but the poor woman needed the sleep. She asked me to put a protective charm on her nose ring before we departed. I also warded her sleeping chamber before we left as an extra precaution.

The same steward who guided us to last night’s banquet led us to a different section of the palace. From the number of imperial guards, this was a section foreigners wouldn’t normally be allowed.

We followed him out to a shaded outdoor patio. It reminded me of the garden gazebo at the Jing Embassy back in Orrin. The only difference was the types of plants. Plum trees were starting to bloom, lending a delicious scent to the morning air. While the slight breeze was cool, it had a hint of a warmer day to come.

Like at the banquet, Po and Shi Hua were already seated, nor did they rise. Huizhong and Mateqai stood behind their respective charges.

The steward bade us to stop. The imperial guards on the patio checked Luc and I for weapons.

I was loathe to leave our swords and knives with Jonata. I had to remind myself this was a diplomatic assignment. However, the demons had already breached the palace once to the former emperor’s detriment. I couldn’t fault the guards for trying to keep the new emperor alive.

But were we going to pay for the imperial guards’ caution?

The guards checked Long Feather and Yar’s weapons before they instructed our wardens to remain at least fifty paces from the edge of the patio.

“And how are you and we supposed to protect our charges if we are standing that far away?” Yar protested.

Captain Huizhong stalked up to us. The imperial guards snapped to attention.

“The crown prince wishes the two wardens to accompany his guests,” Huizhong said.

“But Captain, we cannot allow weapons near the prince and his lady,” the lieutenant complained.

“Use some of Balance’s logic,” Huizhong said. “If Wardens Long Feather or Yar wished to harm Crown Prince Po or Lady Shi Hua, they could have more easily done so during our voyage home and dumped their bodies overboard.”

The guards nervously eyed Luc, me, and our wardens. I chewed on the tip of my tongue to keep from making a snide comment that steel wasn’t the only way to kill a human. I didn’t count on my love to do something worse.

“If we raise a hand against the crown prince, you would be well within your rights to kill us and collect the bounty on the chief justice,” Luc said. “The problem will be collecting the reward from the Assassins Guild or the demons.”

Huizhong chuckled. “Well, Lieutenant, which side do you choose? Though I will point out from experience, both the Assassins Guild, the demons, and their renegade allies have tried more times than I have fingers and toes to kill Chief Justice Anthea.”

The poor lieutenant looked and felt thoroughly confused. “B-but she’s unarmed?”

“And that’s when she’s the most dangerous,” Huizhong murmued.

The lieutenant turned to me, his gleaming a brilliant reddish orange beneath his helmet. A yellow bead of perspiration trickled from his forehead to his nose. He executed a formal bow. The rest of the nearby imperial guards followed suit.

“I beg your forgiveness, Lady Justice,” he said in a conciliatory tone. “Our new emperor chooses his allies well.”

“Apology accepted.” I bowed in return. “I have no taste for killing simply for the sake of killing.”

Huizhong gestured for us to accompany him.

As we followed his brisk stride across the patio, I silently asked, Are you trying to get me killed, Captain?

Not at all, Lady Justice. Huizhong grinned. I need the people under my command alive to fight the demons, not stupidly throwing away their lives attempting to kill you.

As irritated as I was with him, I had to laugh along Po’s captain.

Both Po and Shi Hua were also smiling when we greeted them. “Are you upsetting my guards, Chief Justice?” he teased.

“It wasn’t me,” I said as I took my seat. “I’m afraid it was the high brother and Captain Huizhong who used me as a cudgel to knock some sense into your guards.”

“I sincerely doubt either man threatened the guards,” Shi Hua murmured as she poured tea for us. She glanced at Mateqai with a mischievous expression. “And do not worry, my own captain tested all the food and drink.”

Luc raised his right eyebrow. “That’s a good way to lose your own captain of the empress’s guard.”

Po handed the platter of sausages to me. The grilled meats smelled of cinnamon, cloves, and…licorice?

“Really, Chief Justice?” His lips twitched, which sent the gold bead at the ends of moustache swinging. “I’ve been eating Issuran fare for seven years, and you dare to turn up your nose at my culture’s cuisine?”

“Considering Issuran cooking is an amalgam of several different cultures. I was surprised to smell something familiar.” I placed two of the sausages on my plate before passing them to Luc. “I don’t believe we’ve used Briton licorice to flavor our meats.”

“It’s anise,” Shi Hua said. “The taste is similar to Briton licorice, but anise is originally from Kemet.”

If I thought last night’s banquet was delicious, the simple fare of sausage, rice, and stewed dried fruit was even more delicious. To my surprise, Po spooned portions into bowls for the four men guarding us.

“My personal thanks to you, Captains and Wardens, for returning my lady wife and me home safely.” Po sat, and Huizhong raised his bowl.

Those actions were the only reason the crossbow bolt that whizzed over my head didn’t kill either man.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

My Luck Ran Out

I've managed not to contract COVID-19 for the last four years, but my luck ran out this week. DH brought it home with him from the Buick Nationals.

And now I have it.

COVID-19 brain is making any thoughts a little fuzzy. So, any writing done for the rest of this week will be a major accomplishment.

I hope everyone else is staying healthy this week!

Friday, July 5, 2024

The Return of the Writer

Our convoy arrived at Casa Harden approximately ten p.m. last Sunday. Except for a couple of annoyances, the trip was uneventful, though hot as f**k. Daytime temps were 100 degrees through Texas and Arkansas and in the nineties until we hit northern Kentucky.

Between the stress of the heat and the heavy holiday traffic, my barely-hanging-together endocrine system rebelled. It's bad when the pain lasts for longer than three days and prevents me from attending yoga classes or writing coherently.

In a few years, I won't be able to drive or ride on long roadtrips, which disappoints me greatly. There's something about traveling the open road in the U.S. Each state has it's own personality to experience. New sights. Different plants and critters. Different environments.

Frankly, I've learned to appreciate my home state more by seeing and experiencing different places. (In fact, I had to take this picture to prove that yes, Ohio does have trees. LOL)

Hopefully, I can get back on track with A Cup of Conflict. if not this weekend, then next week. The pain just needs to lighten enough that I can ignore it.