Front and back of my new business cards. What do you think?

It’s been awhile. Whenever that happens, stuff stacks up in a teetering pile until it threatens to topple over and bury us all in all sorts of news. So, this is an extra long post.

First, let’s get this out of the way. I’m never quite comfortable talking about personal stuff, but so many of you have been there for/with me over the last year, so I think you deserve to hear how it turned out. After a very hard year, my dad passed away last week. I had high hopes that he’d improve, but the opposite proved true.

I don’t really want to dwell on it, but I thought you should know. There’s a hole in my heart where he’s missing, but my heart is also lighter now that I don’t have to be worried and on call. It was heartbreaking to watch, but he doesn’t have to fight any more. He’s okay now. And I’ll be okay, too. Eventually.

So. That happened. Let’s move on to more cheerful news.

I’m going to be at ConQuest (science fiction and fantasy convention in Kansas City) next week from May 22-24. Three days. I will be all over the hotel getting into trouble. I’ll also be speaking on three different panels, plus I’ll be reading the first chapter of Unfinished Muse. Here’s my schedule:

Saturday 3:00 PM Who owes what to whom?
Sunday 10:00 AM How to navigate the “Amazon”
Sunday 11:30 AM Reading
Sunday 1:00 PM Authors (and Readers) Behaving Badly

So, if you’re in the area and you’re so inclined, come out and see me. If you’re there but can’t make it to where I’m speaking/reading, send me a message on my Facebook page or an email letting me know where you are. I’d love to see you. I hear there will be shenanigans, and I intend to be right in the middle of them.

And speaking of Unfinished Muse, what’s going on with that?

Well. Because of events I’ve already mentioned but don’t want to talk about anymore, I got a bit behind. But that’s okay. Sometimes you have to re-prioritize, especially when family needs you. But I should be done with the first draft before I go to ConQuesT (fingers crossed). Then it gets edited and formatted. I expect it to be out late-July or earlier.

Seriously. Late-July. How awesome is that? That’s practically tomorrow!

And guess what! I have a cover for it. It’s beautiful. And the following two books in the series, Unamused Muse (coming roughly late September) and Uninspired Muse (coming in December if all goes well) also have finished covers that go so well with the first one, I want to blow them up and hang them on my wall together. Seriously. My cover artist is amazing. You can check out some of her work here: Yocla Designs

So, where is this gorgeous cover? That’s news for another day. Because I am a tease. And the other two will have to wait even longer. Let me write those books first before I show you their covers. I don’t want to give too much away.

But I will leave you with this. Here’s the back cover copy for Unfinished Muse:

Wynter Greene is a chronic quitter—in work, in life, and in love. When she quits a job, a boyfriend, and a seemingly minor craft project all in one day, the dormant deity blood in her veins triggers a Welcome Package from the gods. A talking—and singing—houseplant named Phyllis bullies Wynter into taking a job at the Mt. Olympus Employment Agency.

Stuck with a job in the Muse department, Wynter discovers that helping others finish what they start isn’t easy, especially for someone who can’t seem to finish anything of her own. And how is Wynter supposed to focus on anything when that guy from the Dreams and Nightmares department keeps distracting her with his rippling muscles and magnetic stare?

Wynter needs to figure her job out soon. Each failure is a tick mark on her record, and if she continues to miss her deadlines, she’ll be reassigned to Hades as a dog walker.

And scooping poop for a giant three-headed dog is nobody’s ideal career.

I hope you’re as excited as I am. I’ll be back next week, and maybe I’ll be ready for a cover reveal. You never know.

See you real soon!