Best laid plans

Jul

2026

Little Things

It’s the little things that really drive it home when you’re not running at full capacity. Things like… picking up something you’ve dropped when you’re not allowed to BEND, for example.

I had my first post-surgical followup with the neurosurgeon last week, and she’s pleased with how I’m doing. I’m still on restrictions — no bending, twisting or lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk for another two weeks. No pool for another two weeks. But I’m tapering off the medication (can’t stop it abruptly. Bad Things Happen.), and I’m being referred out for physical and occupational therapy. I’m planning on waiting to start those until I can drive myself, which will happen once I’m no longer on the fuzzy-making medication three times a day.

Right now, my return to work date is set for the last week of July/first week of August, and will start with my newsletter coming out. That doesn’t mean that I’m not currently doing SOME business related things. Just… they’re all little things. I’m planning a new series (slowly, because fuzzy brains). I did my quarterly taxes today. I closed up my shop at Native Home Marketplace at the end of our contract in June. I love the shop and the people there, but there wasn’t enough of a return on investment to warrant another year. However, if you’re in the area, you should head to the Volusia Mall and check them out! Today, Darling Editor and I are working on a mid-year inventory. And later this week, when I have more of a brain, I need to do my mid-year business plan review.

Yes, I have a business plan. I couldn’t tell you what was on it at the moment, but I have a plan.

Is it a clever plan? Ehhhh…..

Ask me again when I’m not fuzzy.

Promotions

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What books of mine will you find on Yearn?

The entire Heir to the Firstborn series.
The Coral Throne series
Chains of Light
The Chronicles of John Zebedee

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Download the Android app here
International users? Sign up here to be notified!

New Cover!

Time for a new look on an older book.

When Delan stumbled into the Temple, he wasn’t expecting to be welcomed as a Temple servant. He wasn’t expecting his only duty to be to serve Lyander, cloistered son of the High Priestess. He wasn’t expecting to fall in love.

And he wasn’t expecting that he was going to have to choose: save his love, or save the world.

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Work in Progress

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

81571 / 100000 (81.57%)

Six More Weeks of Witches
(Coven Tree, book 2)

13478 / 20000 (67.39%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

Enchanted Knights Medieval Magic Renaissance Faire
August 29-30, 2026
12PM – 6PM
Volusia Mall
Daytona Beach, FL

***

Florida Authors Book Fest
September 11-13, 2026
Brannon Center
New Smyrna Beach, FL

***

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

***

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

***

Deck the Mall
Saturday, December 5, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Oviedo Mall, Oviedo, FL

May

2026

And Now… We Wait.

And now… we wait. What are we waiting for?

Last week, I sat down with the neurosurgeon. She walked into the room and asked, “Do you have your phone?”

Me: “Yes.”

Her: “Good. Take a picture of this. I want you to see what we’re talking about.”

So I have a photo on my phone of my spine, and of the disc that has breached containment. (Surgeon: “See that bulge? It should NOT look like that.”) I was ordered to stop PT immediately, to start walking in the pool to keep my activity up, and to wait.

Again, what are we waiting for? For our insurance to decide that we’ve sacrificed the right amount of goats and chickens, and can be allowed to proceed with surgery. When that happens, the surgical coordinator will call me and we can set up a date to take care of things. It could happen as soon as this week, or it could take a month. Ask the Magic Eight Ball, because I certainly don’t know.

(There is a safety net built in to this process. If the pain increases, or if anything changes for the worse, I am to report IMMEDIATELY to the ER.)

Given the fact that I have no idea when that call is coming in, I’ve cancelled both of my June shows. So if you were looking forward to seeing me at Summer Lovin’ at the Oviedo Mall or at the Enchanted Knights Renaissance Faire in Sanford, I’m sorry to say I will not be there. Last week, I thought I’d be able to make it work. Now? I know I’m not up for it.

I’m also putting the blog on hiatus starting now. This will be the last post until recovery. I’ll still be posting to my social media, so you’ll be able to keep up with me there. But for now? Take care of each other, and I’ll see you on the other side.

Promotions

Yearning for a New Way to Read Fantasy Romance?

Check out Yearn! Newly launched, women-owned, and backed by luminaries in the romance world. Combines the best of Booktok, KU and Goodreads, without the toxic messes. And now available on Android!

You can find my work there — the entire Heir to the Firstborn series. The Coral Throne, Chains of Light, and The Chronicles of John Zebedee are all part of the catalog. And if you use my referral code, you’ll get 50% off your first month!

Referral Code: Schechter50
Download the iOS app here.
Download the Android app here
International users? Sign up here to be notified!