I’m hurriedly writing this update with 20 minutes to spare before my online Japanese language class starts. Sorry that writing updates have been sporadic but I do have a good reason. I returned to college after an almost 20 year absence. Finishing my degree(s) has been challenging while I juggle all of the other aspects of adult life but also proving to be extremely rewarding already. I’m exhausted but there’s also a high sense of accomplishment every time I make it through another week of intense studying. I’m hoping to develop a rhythm soon that enables me to have writing time but for now I’m just trying to keep my head above water!

Now onward to the publishing updates.

I have two pieces of poetry that are coming to you within the next couple of months. The first, is in the #SPIRIT anthology from White Stag Publishing, releasing at the end of the month. White Stag has made some gorgeous trailers on Instagram for this book. This is their most ambitious collection of poetry yet and I’m honored to have my little poem Aromatica included alongside so many talented poets. There’s even a ritual candle made by Marvel and Moon and inspired by this collection to help set the mood for a cozy autumn night’s read. You can get both the book and candles at the link above. I was surprised and delighted to see Aromatica listed along with the candle’s scent description. It’s such an honor when my words can help to inspire something to take shape in the physical world. That may be the greatest honor for a poet and definitely the best compliment I’ve received yet. It really pushes me to continue to make time for myself and my writing.

I’ve also been doing a few things to help with promoting Under Her Eye, Black Spot Books’ 2nd charity anthology of horror poetry by women. I did an on camera reading of my poem cured to be played by The Pixel Project at events/conferences that they hold. The Pixel Project is a non-profit whose mission is “to raise awareness, funds and volunteer power for the cause to end violence against women using the power of the internet, social media, new technologies and popular culture/the arts.” This book may not be an easy read but it’s an important one, with many of the authors being survivors of domestic violence themselves and the proceeds going to support the work of The Pixel Project.

The link will take you to Amazon to pre-order but as always, you can request from your local bookstore. The same for #SPIRIT! Feel free to help small indie authors like me and independent publishers get on the shelves! I don’t have a marketing budget so word of mouth and reviews are always super appreciated and helpful.

So here’s the thing. I did not make it in time to post this before class so now I am multitasking which is not good for writing or for speaking Japanese when called on. BUT I have a few non-publishing things I want to tell you about as well.

My partner and I have a new foster cat! Kipper (Kip, Kippy Fish) is adorable but the timing could not be worse for me (see opening paragraph re: exhaustion). Kippy had a terrible cold when my partner first found him but with the support of the Jefferson County Humane Society we got him to their veterinarian right away for antibiotics. He’s now healthy and will be ready for adoption in just a couple more weeks.

My partner has discovered and is embracing Goblincore and I could not be happier. Seeing him in the kitchen all day chopping veggies from our garden, learning how to preserve/pickle, and whipping up homemade salsa and gazpacho. I’m in heaven. Especially since I don’t have the time to cook or even think about food lately. It’s good to be taken care of and know that everything that we have, we cultivated ourselves. It’s been a very rewarding experience to have our own garden, both for our mental and physical health. Now if I could just grow pumpkins next year, I’ll feel like a real plant witch!

Because of my class schedule and my partner’s insane work hours we’ve really limited our October fun to just a couple of events. Looking forward to seeing the live version of Welcome to Night Vale again with a new story. I ordered the tickets so early that we have front row seats instead of the bleeders we were in last year so it should be even more fun this time!

We’re also hoping to get out to Kansas City’s Screenland Armour for Shocktober. We’re having a hard time deciding on which movie night to attend though. We’re trapped between some great J-Horror that we love (Hausu one night, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse on another) or seeing the restored/4k versions of The Doom Generation and Nowhere. They have an anime once a month as well and this month is Perfect Blue. Can you imagine the colors on a big screen? I may have to see them all. At home we always watch The Addams Family movie for October followed by Addams Family Values in November. I’ve also been on a giallo and extreme French cinema kick lately. Do you have any specific movies that you always watch during spooky season? Do you watch lighter seasonal fare or do you go dark like me?

As for reading, I just finished both Our Hideous Progeny (it broke my heart), and followed that up by devouring Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (it restored it). Both books are perfect October reads depending on your mood. The first is a fresh take on the Frankenstein story, the latter a story with characters from both Dracula and Jane Eyre.

My TBR pile is huge but feel free to send along any recommendations. Academia may be tying this writer’s hands at the moment but I couldn’t survive without a constant supply of wonderful words to absorb and be inspired by.

As always, if you pick up any of my work please drop me a note, a review, a comment on my socials, carrier bat, whatever. It means more than you could know. Thank you for your support!