public displays of geekery

Clever Headline Goes Here.

Clever Headline Goes Here.

“Clever Headline Goes Here.” Otherwise known as “this is your brain on sciatica pain.”

I thought I pulled a muscle exercising. So I did what you usually do when you pull a muscle — anti-inflammatory medication, heat and ice, gentle stretching. Then the pins-and-needles started, and I hied myself off to the orthopaedist. Ortho set me up with six weeks of physical therapy and sent me to see a pain management doctor.

I know I’ve mentioned this in the blog before, back in March when I was just about to start PT, and I was going in for an MRI. The MRI showed that my L5 disc is sitting on the sciatic nerve. To fix it? Well, a week from today, I’ll be getting an epidural injection of steroids and painkillers into my lower back.

(Yes, this is my way of telling you that there won’t be a blog post next week.)

If the injection works? Great! I can get back to being exercising, sitting comfortably, and able to sleep through the night. If it doesn’t work?

Surgery.

Between now and then? I’m going to be a guest on Good Day Orlando on Thursday the 30th! (7AM call! Eep!) Then on Saturday the 2nd, we’ll be at the Great Geek Gathering at the Oviedo Mall!

As for next Monday? Think some good thoughts for me, will you?

Promotions

Coming this Summer!

Looking for something for your older teens to do this summer? Are they interested in writing? Send them to write with me! I’ll be leading a Summer writing camp on Tuesday afternoons in June, hosted by the Native Home Marketplace at the Volusia Mall. The program runs for 6 weeks, and is limited to 12 participants.


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, 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!


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

69017 / 100000 (69.02%)

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

3476 / 20000 (17.38%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

Enchanted Knights Summer Solstice Faire
June 20th, 2026
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Downtown Sanford, FL

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, appearances, Coven Tree, Healthy writer, happy writer, I really want some dull, public displays of geekery, Tales from the Arena, why-the-writing-is-slow, WIP, wordcount, 0 comments
Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

I took a class last week, and now I have homework. I need to redo a lot of what goes on behind the scenes for my self-published titles. So over the next few weeks, I’ll be redoing many things that you probably will never notice, and one thing you might. The many things you probably won’t notice are the metadata and keywords, which help people find my books when they search online.

The one thing you might? In addition to the metadata and keywords, I’m also redoing the cover for Chains of Light, and I’m changing the form factor a little (going from a 6×9 paperback to a 5×8, which will make it more in line with the sizes of the rest of my books.)

I’m probably not going to do most of this until I finish up writing King of Swords. It’s going to take me time to get into each book and change everything, and I have to do it on two platforms. So this is my summertime project, in addition to leading a six week teen writing class and reading submissions for the Ruthven Literary Bulletin.

The what now?

I will be taking my first turn as an editor for the rebirth of the Ruthven Literary Bulletin. The Call for Submissions is below, and more information can be found at the Journal for the Fantastic in the Arts website. The call is open until June 2026.

In preparation of the relaunch the Ruthven Literary Bulletin. the Lord Ruthven Assembly welcomes papers that explore and expound on the appearance and mythology of vampires and revenants in world literature and media, including fiction/nonfiction/mass media/periodicals, as well as reviews of both academic works and fiction. Interdisciplinary approaches are welcome and encouraged, including but not limited to explorations of the vampire in non-Eurocentric settings, African/Diaspora Studies, anthropology, area studies, critical game studies, disability studies, future studies, gender studies, history, Indigenous studies, music, philosophy, political science, postcolonial studies, psychology, queer studies, religious studies, science and technology studies, and sociology.

Promotions

Kobo World Book Day!

Kobo World Book Day is coming! On April 23rd, you’ll be able to grab a copy of The Sea Prince for $1.99.

Coming this Summer!

Looking for something for your older teens to do this summer? Are they interested in writing? Send them to write with me! I’ll be leading a Summer writing camp on Tuesday afternoons in June, hosted by the Native Home Marketplace at the Volusia Mall. The program runs for 6 weeks, and is limited to 12 participants.


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, 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! (But you can only use that code for the next NINE DAYS!!!)

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


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

66034 / 100000 (66.03%)

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

1598 / 20000 (7.99%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, cover art, Lord Ruthven Assembly, promotions, public displays of geekery, Tales from the Arena, to-dos, upcoming books, upcoming work, WIP, wordcount, writer on writing, 0 comments
Well, That Certainly Took Off…

Well, That Certainly Took Off…

Friday night, we went out to dinner, and I made SURE that we were home in time to watch Artemis come home. And once she was down and safe, I posted something to my social media. And… it certainly took off.

I’ve never had a post ever that gained the traction this one did. Friends have been tagging me when they see it, so I know how far it’s gone. And I’ve tripped on one person who stole the post and claimed it for their own, which… I suppose that means I’m a real writer? (a real annoyed writer…)

Funny thing, though — I got part of the details wrong. The pieces of Challenger and Columbia were part of the heritage parts used to build the boosters, and were not carried aboard Integrity on her mission. But, as someone on Threads put it when I clarified my misunderstanding, they were still part of it. The sentiment holds even if their seats changed. Which I think is true. I also think that this mission healed the hearts of a lot of people who were watching in school and saw the moment when Challenger touched the face of God.

The other part that I got wrong? I had NO idea that there’s another piece of the Wright brothers’ plane further out in space. It’s on Mars, and it’s inside of Ingenuity, the tiny helicopter that went to space with her big sister Perseverance. The spirit of the first powered flight in human history lifted the first powered flight on another planet. That’s kinda cool.

Yes, I am a space geek. What’s your point?

Promotions

Coming this Summer!

Looking for something for your older teens to do this summer? Are they interested in writing? Send them to write with me! I’ll be leading a Summer writing camp on Tuesday afternoons in June, hosted by the Native Home Marketplace in Volusia Mall. The program runs for 6 weeks, and is limited to 12.


Ends today!!!

From April 11th to the 13th, check out the Narratess Indie Book sale! Find the best of current indie books, all at reduced prices. That includes The Sea Prince, which will be available for $0.99!


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, 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! (But you can only use that code for the next NINE DAYS!!!)

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


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

63480 / 100000 (63.48%)

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

 
0 / 30000 (0.00%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, accountability, appearances, deep thoughts, forthcoming works, happy-happy- joy- joy, kvelling, progress, promotions, public displays of geekery, SQUEEE, upcoming books, upcoming work, Updatey things, wordcount, 0 comments
And Now… The Back Side of Luna!

And Now… The Back Side of Luna!

I’m writing this up while I watch the Artemis II flyby of the Moon, and I really, REALLY need someone to say “And now… the back side of Luna!” I doubt anyone will (or if they did, I missed it.)

Screenshot from my other monitor.

I keep saying I’m tired of living in unprecedented times, but for this unprecedented time? I’ll take it. The last time we went to the Moon, I was eight months old.

And I just found out about the message that Jim Lovell (Commander of Apollo 13) recorded before he died, and that NASA played just before the Moon flyby started, welcoming the Artemis team to his old neighborhood. Sniffle. Snorfle. Moon dust in my eyes.

It’s a little hard to focus on what I’m doing, because I keep stopping to look at the other screen.

This weekend I’ll be at the Storyteller Summit, a reader event at the Oviedo Mall, and in a change of my usual day, I’ll be presenting a panel entitled Book Events for Fun and (Hopefully) Profit. We’ll be covering table display dos and don’ts, table behavior dos and don’ts, and effective selling techniques. I’ve never done this panel before, and I really hope it goes well! (If you’re going to be at the Storyteller Summit, the panel will be at 2PM.)

Enough time has passed that the feed is starting to show footage of the side of the moon we don’t usually see. So. Much. Texture. And they’re saying there’s COLOR. The far side of the moon is green and brown!

And now… the back side of Luna.

Promotions

This Weekend Only!

From April 11th to the 13th, check out the Narratess Indie Book sale! Find the best of current indie books, all at reduced prices. That includes The Sea Prince, which will be available for $0.99!


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. 

You can find my work there — the entire Heir to the Firstborn series. The Coral Throne, 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! That’s good even if you have to wait for the Android release — put the code in when you join the waitlist, and you’ll still get 50% off your first month. 

Referral Code: Schechter50
Download the iOS app here.
Android users (like me?) Sign up for the waitlist here.


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

 
60918 / 100000 (60.92%)

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

 
0 / 30000 (0.00%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in appearances, kvelling, mind blown, progress, promotions, public displays of geekery, SQUEEE, wordcount, 0 comments
Fun. Weird. Slightly Random. That’s Me.

Fun. Weird. Slightly Random. That’s Me.

I was writing up the description for my appearance on SFF News and Interviews this Thursday, and described it as fun, weird and slightly random. Which, I realize now, is me in a nutshell.

Not that I mind. It makes things more interesting and far more entertaining. For me, anyway.

Last week was a lot of catching up, although not nearly as much as I’d have liked. Some interesting bits in an “I could have done without this!” sort of way (No, I do not WANT to have to put a new roof on the house, thank you!) This week will be still more catching up — I’ve already made two important phone calls. There was also one very confusing call asking why my dentist thinks we have a time machine:

Dentist: “You are confirmed for this appointment that happened today, two hours ago! See you then!”
Me; “Ah… your scheduling software appears to be having a stroke. What is this?”
Dentist: “Oh… umm… oops?”

This is the second to last thing on my to-do list before I can focus completely on King of Swords. The last thing is physical therapy intake. Yes, again. Apparently the degenerating disc in my back got on some nerve’s last nerve, and what I initially thought was a pulled muscle is actually sciatica. So i start PT today, and tomorrow I get an MRI. I go back to pain management in two weeks, and we’ll see where things go from there. Which means I really do need to get this book DONE, just in case things go in weird and not-fun directions.

I very much prefer the weird and fun directions, don’t you?

Promotions

Live on SFF News and Interviews!

This Thursday night, I’ll be appearing on the SFF News and Interviews video podcast with JB Caine! Tune in and watch what’s probably going to be a fun, weird, slightly random evening!


Free with Newsletter Sign-up!

Tomorrow is the last day to download any of the Spells and Spaceships books for free (newsletter sign up required). That includes The Sea Prince! You can also enter to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!


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. 

You’ll be able to find my work there — the entire Heir to the Firstborn series. The Coral Throne, 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! That’s good even if you have to wait for the Android release — put the code in when you join the waitlist, and you’ll still get 50% off your first month. 

Referral Code: Schechter50
Download the iOS app here.
Android users (like me?) Sign up for the waitlist here.


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

56437 / 100000 (56.44%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, appearances, author chat, I really want some dull, promotions, public displays of geekery, Tales from the Arena, upcoming books, upcoming work, why-the-writing-is-slow, WIP, wordcount, 0 comments
I Am Not To Be Trusted With a Bubble Shooter

I Am Not To Be Trusted With a Bubble Shooter

I got home from ICFA yesterday, and promptly fell over. The afterparty was amazing, there was unfiltered sake, and I learned a thing — I am not to be trusted with a bubble shooter.

I have NO idea who handed this to me — it was dark on the pool deck, for all that everyone was wearing glowy flower crowns. But I reverted to the relative age of five, and there was much giggling and many, MANY bubbles.

It was a good conference. And not just because of the bubbles. I got some amazing news on Wednesady, had an excellent reading on Thursday, moderated a panel on Friday that featured some amazing stories. Friday night was the Lord Ruthven Assembly meeting, where I got to share my amazing news. Then Saturday night was the banquet, where I got to give out the 2025 Lord Ruthven Awards. They were:

Fiction: Hungerstone, by Kat Dunn (Zando)

Media: Sinners. Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler (Warner Brothers, Proximity Media)

Non-Fiction: Killing the Dead: Vampire Epidemics from Mesopotamia to the New World, by John Blair (Princeton University Press)

Periodicals: Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue 7: Mina Harker. Tucker Christine(editor), Tyler Kitchenman, Mark Oxbrow, Vince Stadon, Henry Herz, Bill Cozza, R.S. Tiemstra, Dennis K. Crosby, Macoy Greco, Doris V. Sutherland, Lindy Ryan, Gwendolyn Kiste, Cynthia Ward, James S. Dorr (DBS Press)

I’ll be contacting the winners later this week so I can arrange for delivery of awards (and checking in with past winners to see if they ever got THEIR awards. There was some question about if previous awards went out…)

Then came the afterparty and bubbles. Oh, and for the record? Bubble happened BEFORE sake did. I was that giddy and giggly all on my own, thank you very much.

I always say I’m going to get work done in my downtime at ICFA, completely forgetting that I rarely have downtime at ICFA. There’s so much to do and so many people to talk with. I did have the best of intentions, though, taking my laptop out to poolside to try and write, only to almost fall asleep in the sun. I decided a nap was the better course of action.

Now I’m home, back to work, and trying to catch up.

Promotions

Free with Newsletter Sign-up!

You only have a short time left to download any of the Spells and Spaceships books for free (newsletter sign up required). That includes The Sea Prince! You can also enter to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!


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. 

You’ll be able to find my work there — the entire Heir to the Firstborn series. The Coral Throne, and The Chronicles of John Zebedee will all be part of the catalog. And if you use my referral code, you’ll get 50% off your first month! That’s good even if you have to wait for the Android release — put the code in when you join the waitlist, and you’ll still get 50% off your first month. 

Referral Code: Schechter50
Download the iOS app here.
Android users (like me?) Sign up for the waitlist here.


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

54214 / 100000 (54.21%)

Appearances

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, appearances, conventions, heeheeheehee, ICFA, public displays of geekery, why-the-writing-is-slow, WIP, wordcount, 0 comments
Caffeine Levels Insufficient

Caffeine Levels Insufficient

My brain, right now: “Event complete. Commence prep for ICFA. Warning. Caffeine levels insufficient.”

We just finished our weekend Renaissance Faire at the Oviedo Mall, and now I have two days to do everything that needs to be done in order to pack for ICFA, then a morning to actually PACK and get on the road. Now, it’s not far from my house to ICFA, so getting there isn’t a problem. My problem is getting ready so I can leave to get there.

I did my show wrap up, and ordered things I’m low on from stock and swag. I’m almost done with laundry. I’ve printed off everything that needs printing off (I think). I’m updating and charging my tablet so I’m ready for my reading (I’ll be reading from Have Yourself a Merry Little Witchmas.) I still have to pull books for the book room, and I have to pack my laptop. I’m not doing that today — I haven’t put any words into King of Swords since Friday, and that needs to happen. I did do some notebook writing at the Faire, and that needs to get moved into the manuscript.

And it doesn’t help that we’re right now having a ridiculous storm, and there’s a chance at any moment that I might have to go run and hide in a closet because tornadoes. Ah, springtime in Florida.

Okay. Off to keep on keeping on.

Promotions

Free with Newsletter Sign-up!

For the entire month of March, you can download any of the Spells and Spaceships books for free (newsletter sign up required). That includes The Sea Prince! You can also enter to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!


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. 

You’ll be able to find my work there — the entire Heir to the Firstborn series. The Coral Throne, and The Chronicles of John Zebedee will all be part of the catalog. And if you use my referral code, you’ll get 50% off your first month! That’s good even if you have to wait for the Android release — put the code in when you join the waitlist, and you’ll still get 50% off your first month. 

Referral Code: Schechter50
Download the iOS app here.
Android users (like me?) Sign up for the waitlist here.


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

53550 / 100000 (53.55%)

Appearances

ICFA
March 18-21th, 2026
Orlando, FL

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, Coven Tree, ICFA, progress, public displays of geekery, Ta-da, Tales from the Arena, to-dos, WIP, Witchmas, wordcount, Writer on the Go!, 0 comments
Busy Rabbit…

Busy Rabbit…

I was originally thinking of having the title of this post be “Rabbit Rabbit,” because it’s the first post of the month. Then I was thinking of having it be “Busy, Busy,” because I AM. So I compromised and now it’s Busy Rabbit. Which honestly sounds like a cereal commercial — “Busy rabbit! Naps are for kids!”

Naps, by the way, are wasted on the young.

March is going to be one of those “Why did I schedule two things back to back?” months. I have the first of the 2026 Oviedo Mall Renn Faires on March 14th and 15th, then I can take two days to breathe, do laundry, bake and pack before I head out to ICFA. In and around all of that, there must be writing and planning. And putting together a syllabus.

What, what?

A syllabus. The co-op that carries my books would like me to do a writing camp for high school students over the summer, and asked me to put together a syllabus. I have a bare outline, but I need to put together something more. I also just applied to teach a class on selling on book events, covering display, table behavior, and how to interact with your readers.

Busy rabbit, naps are for kids!

They are not!

Promotions

Free with Newsletter Sign-up!

For the entire month of March, you can download any of the Spells and Spaceships books for free (newsletter sign up required). You can also enter to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!


Read an Ebook Week!

It’s the Smashwords Annual Read an Ebook Week! EVERYTHING of mine is 50% off (which means that some of the shorter things that aren’t usually free are now free to download! Check it out!


Now Available!

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.


Work in Progress

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

47409 / 100000 (47.41%)

Appearances

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

***

ICFA
March 18-21th, 2026
Orlando, FL

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, appearances, ICFA, promotions, public displays of geekery, upcoming books, upcoming work, why-the-writing-is-slow, wordcount, Writer on the Go!, 0 comments
Beating My Head Against Code

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!


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

***

ICFA
March 18-21th, 2026
Orlando, FL

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, a-writers-life-is-never-dull, accountability, happy-happy- joy- joy, progress, public displays of geekery, The Coral Throne, upcoming work, WIP, wordcount, 0 comments
Insert Phantom Bagpipes Here.

Insert Phantom Bagpipes Here.

It is once again time for the annual aural hallucinations. Yes, it’s the day after the Highland Games. Insert phantom bagpipes here. Although I’m not hearing them this year as much as I usually do. I blame the weather shift yesterday that meant the entire games shut down for a couple of hours because of torrential rains that led to a 20 degree temperature drop that NO ONE was prepared for. Also, some truly evil winds. Tents went walkies. It was a whole mess. I did pick up a nice fluffy replica of Claire’s cowl from Outlander, but that was a necessary purchase. It was COLD.

(How cold was it? Salting the bridges in Magic Kingdom to prevent freezing cold. Falling Iguana cold. And yes, falling iguanas can be part of the weather forecasts in Florida.)

Now that the Games are over, I’m taking today as recovery, and then it’s time to get back to work. There will be one more pass at The Coral Throne, because I missed some things that were pointed out by a beta reader over the weekend. That will happen at the same time that I get back into King of Swords, because I need to reread the initial chapters I’d already written. I’m thinking late February for a release for The Coral Throne. Stay tuned.

Promotions

Now Available!

Merlina Sherbourne was ready to close her magical shop for the holidays—until a charming stranger appears at her door carrying a curse and a quiet kind of desperation.

Camber Kincaid never meant to fall under a spell, but one enchanted ring leaves him with no choice but to seek help from a witch he’s never met. With Christmas fast approaching and magic misbehaving, Merlina agrees to help him break the curse… even if it means changing her holiday plans entirely.

What begins as a practical arrangement quickly turns into something warmer. Late-night conversations, gentle magic, and shared meals by the fire draw them closer, and soon Merlina and Camber discover that some connections feel impossibly natural—like they’ve always belonged together. As family secrets surface and old magic stirs, they’ll have to trust not only their spells, but their hearts.

Sweet, tender, and wrapped in holiday charm, Have Yourself a Merry Little Witchmas is a cozy paranormal romance about found family, soft magic, and falling in love when you least expect it.

Perfect for readers who love low-stakes romance, witchy coziness, and comforting seasonal reads to return to year after year.


Work in Progress

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

 
35962 / 90000 (39.96%)

Appearances

Galentine’s Day Sip and Shop
Native Home Marketplace

February 5th, 2026
6:00pm – 9:00 pm

***

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

***

ICFA
March 18-21th, 2026
Orlando, FL

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

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

***

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2026-Signing-Author-1024x1024.png

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

***

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

Posted by EASchechter in 2026 plans, forthcoming works, promotions, public displays of geekery, publishing, Tales from the Arena, The Coral Throne, upcoming books, upcoming work, Updatey things, WIP, 0 comments