a-writers-life-is-never-dull

Feb

2026

Beating My Head Against Code

This weekend, there was time spent beating my head against code. This is otherwise known as updating my website. There was a WordPress plugin that I used on my book pages that had a major security flaw. The creators of that plugin appear to have abandoned it, so I needed to update my plugins and pull all my books over to the new database, then get the database to display the published works and the series pages.

Beating my head against code.

I will admit that once I got the hang of it, things went very smoothly. The largest part of the job was getting the books moved over. The old plugin data didn’t download cleanly, so I couldn’t upload it to the new plugin no matter how I tried. So I had to enter each book individually. Now, this let me fix some broken links that I didn’t know were broken, so I’m not going to complain too much. (Which doesn’t mean I won’t complain at all.)

Now? I’m really pleased with the results. Here’s the published work page, and if you go to the menu at the top, you’ll find all the series pages in the dropdown menu, as well as a new page that amuses me.

See, when I set up my books at events, I have the Schechter Scoville Scale, where the books get hotter as you go across the table. Since I added the tags “mild,” “medium,” “spicy,” and “extra spicy/dark” to the metadata, I can now sort by those tags… and display them with the new plugin. So behold! The Schechter Scoville Scale!

I am all sorts of ridiculously pleased with how it turned out.

Now it’s time to stop beating my head against code and time to start beating my head against keyboard. Back to words!

Promotions

Preorder now!

The Imperial Navy has been destroyed. Now Tarjiaan must save his kingdom. With his beloved Nika by his side and their consort Daanir at his back, he must gather his allies and defeat the traitor hiding beneath the waves. To save his people, Tarjiaan must master his newfound magic, defeat the traitors, and conquer his deepest fears.

The end of the war is in sight, but treachery runs as deep as the ocean.

Ebook preorders are coming, and paperback preorders are coming. Release date is February 24th, 2026!

Preorders open now!

Work in Progress

Tales from the Arena: King of Swords
(Tales from the Arena, book 4)

39965 / 100000 (39.97%)

Appearances

Enchanted Knights Fairytales and Fables
March 14-15th, 2026
Oviedo, FL

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ICFA
March 18-21th, 2026
Orlando, FL

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Storyteller Summit
April 11th, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Oviedo, FL.

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The Great Geek Gathering
May 2nd, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Oviedo, FL

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Summer Lovin’ Book Festival
June 6th, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Oviedo, FL.

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Summer Creatives Market
July 18th, 2026
10:00Am – 3:00PM
Sanford, FL

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Tanoshii Con
August 22nd – 23rd, 2026
Ocean Center Arena, Daytona Beach.

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Smut Lovers Conference
September 16th – 20th, 2026
Orlando, FL

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Page and Pen Festival
October 3rd, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Jan

2026

Happy New Year? I Think?

Boy, 2026 started off…

I think that’s all we can say, isn’t it. 2026 started off. Happy New Year? I think?

Today is my first day back from a much-needed break. Today, I get started on the sensitivity edits on The Coral Throne, which I hope won’t take more than a week or two. Once they’re done, I’ll be able to get the cover started for the book (I have the stock images already picked out. It’s Daanir on the cover and I can’t wait for you to see him!)

And while we’re talking about The Coral Throne universe, I get to announce that The Sea Prince made it through the lottery for SPFBO 11! It will be read by a blog with which I am unfamiliar (The Fantasy Hive). I hope they like it!

In other news, Have Yourself a Merry Little Witchmas came out on December 23rd, and you can find it on Kindle Unlimited. I’m currently thinking about the next book in the Coven Tree series (tentative title — Six More Weeks of Witches), and planning out the series as a whole. I might start actually writing it if things stay quiet at the tents at the Highland Games. We’ll see how that goes.

The Highland Games are why I’m not jumping right into working on King of Swords. I’m going to be distracted by prep for the Games, and I know it, so I’m going to work on something shorter and easier to transition away from if I need to go do something else. If you come by the Games, you’ll find me at Bairn Care, near the clan tents. Stop in and say hi!

The other project I’m pulling out of mothballs is Holy Orders, which is the sequel to Heart’s Master. 2026 marks ten years since Heart’s Master first came out, and I really should get the next book done. Especially since Coven Tree is set in the same universe, and we might be seeing some familiar faces in the later Coven Tree books. I just need to see where I broke the manuscript (which is why I put it aside the first time.)

In person events are lining up in the schedule. I have at least one a month for every month except May (and I might be traveling in May, so I may leave that month open.) The schedule is below, so check it out and come find me at an event!