In December, I made the big decision to leave my job of nine years and dive into the world of writing novels and creating crafting content. Now that it’s February, I thought it would be a good time for a little update on how this adventure is going.
It turns out, I’m the strictest boss I’ve ever had! I’m working harder than I ever did for anyone else. The silver lining? I actually enjoy most of the work, so I’m not filing any complaints with HR. My partner, however, has taken to making jokes about “sleeping with your boss,” which I find utterly hilarious.
As for the free time I thought I’d have for exercise, learning piano, trying my hand at crochet, and all my other crafting projects—well, it’s been a bit of a myth. Despite waking up at 6 a.m. every day, time always seems to slip away. I’ve come to suspect that this is just part of the whole adulting experience.
Advertising is also a bit out of my budget at the moment, so I’m trying to grow a following through social media—TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The results are… mixed. Some platforms are doing okay, but many of my author accounts have fewer than 10 followers as I write this. (If you’d like to help me fix that… hint, hint TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. ❤️)
When I do find a bit of time to craft, I’ve been focused on making bookmarks for my upcoming Kickstarter campaign. They include a hidden Easter egg related to The Ghost of Midormere—the first 10 people who find it will have their names listed in the dedication of the sequel!
Speaking of The Ghost of Midormere, it’s consuming most of my thoughts right now. I’ve even started building a book nook themed around the novel. It’s coming along nicely! I did run into a slight scaling issue that will probably require a new container, but other than that, my tiny furniture pieces are almost ready.
I’m also loving the process of working with my audiobook narrator and good friend, Reverend Rebecca Yeo. Their voice is just perfect for bringing my characters to life, and I’m thrilled with how it’s turning out. Plus, Rebecca leaves in some adorable bloopers, which always give me a good laugh during the editing process.
In other news, my free novel The Grimm and the Reaper is now releasing two chapters a week. Each new chapter is available either in written form or read aloud by yours truly. If you prefer a physical copy, it’s available for purchase on Amazon as well.
As for my current writing projects, I’m juggling two works: The Sister and the Sea (Book 3 of The Last Eclipse series) and a shorter prequel focusing on the main antagonist of The Ghost of Midormere. I’ve committed to writing at least 5,000 words a week, so both projects are moving along at a good pace. It’s been amazing to see how my writing has evolved, bouncing back and forth between The Ghost of Midormere and these new works. In fact, I actually made myself cry while writing an emotional scene in the prequel—not something I expected!
All in all, I’m feeling pretty good about my progress. There’s a lot of learning involved and plenty of back-and-forth with contacts as I work out Kickstarter details, but it’s all part of the journey, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.