Greetings readers, friends, and family!
I regrettably had to downsize my mailing list and do some pruning due to poor statistics that could hurt my newsletter reputation (whatever that means) and I agonized over who to chop. But, chopped I have, and you are now my core readership. Thank you for sticking with me for all of this time!
In the meantime, March was certainly the month of madness. We had insane weather in Ohio, from 65-degree days to destructive wind storms to meteors to snow and fog. The commute to work has been wearing me down considerably, so I was grateful for the days I could switch to online classes because of bad weather and save the 2-hr trip to the college (yup, that's four hours of driving every workday).
Right now I'm writing this at the end of Spring Break for Zane State. Tomorrow I have some grading to do, but I've been taking it easy all week for my health and well being. I hope I am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for work on Monday after this seven-day break.
What I'm Reading
I'm zipping through manga again but interspersed with that is The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan, a great YA Chinese fantasy about one of the last nine-tailed foxes out there who is captured by a prince-soldier and sent to hell, and in a fit of rage, she drags him and his two companions down with her. It's a race against time to get out, and it's full of great relationship building, myth interspersed with the story, and very vivid descriptions. I'm enjoying it.
What I'm Watching
I am working through the English dub of The Summer When Hikaru Died at a snail's pace...and watching YouTube videos about AI leaking into the writing and publishing spaces. Just Google Coral Hart and the New York Times and get ready to be disgusted. Due to a paywall I couldn't read the original article, but plenty of YouTubers discussed it.
What I'm Doing
I have been obsessing over my money, from buying stuff I've been meaning to for a while (books that have been on my wishlist for months), or spending money on stuff for The Name and the Key. I just ordered the chibi stickers for those signing up for the ARC crew to be printed, and I added another editorial review to the list. I'm also spending money on the last art commission to be done for the book, and this one is a more serious, realistic painting of Lily and Andresh. It's going to be a romantic one, so prepare to swoon! This one will take a few months to make as I have to pay for it in installments, but it will be worth it! Those who signed up for ARC reviews will get a free copy of it as a 4x6 postcard.
I've been blessed with being able to work extra hours for extra money, but I've not been careful with my first few paychecks and have spoiled myself a lot. I'm trying to pay for as much stuff for The Name and the Key as I can before the summer hits (when employment is very, very precarious) but I'm not helping myself by buying books and clothes, even though I can justify these purchases to myself.
I hope I can get some willpower back.
This Month on the Blog
I've got some TOKYOPOP manga previews, a post about National Reading Month that shares some scary reading stats, lots of stuff from AnimEigo, MediaOCD, and TOKYOPOP, including a review of the forthcoming April release The Dagger of Kamui (1985 anime film). I also complain about the huge uptick in scammer emails I've been getting, share an earworm with you, and more. Check out the March archive here. Even though I'm sharing it now, be sure to come back to it again, as I'll likely have added even more before the month is over.
Publishing News
Son of the Siren has been available wide for a few months but not much has happened in the way of news or sales. I keep praying for this little baby's success...but the live sales stats from NPD/BookScan are abysmal.
The big newsmaker is The Name and the Key, probably because it's shiny and new! The first editorial review for the book has been posted by Readers Favorite, and it's a 5-star review. I was so elated (and relieved) to get it! I have more reviews coming from American Writing Awards, Literary Titan, and Independent Book Review, but those won't come in for several weeks still. I hope I don't get a three or below on any of them. Fours and fives, please!
I sent this out in a separate email to all of you, but I'm looking for ARC reviewers for The Name and the Key. Here's where you can find more information and sign up. My goal is for 100 (I can't have more because I can't blow tons of money on the printing and shipping of the sign-up goodies). We're already at 51 sign-ups! Reviewing is optional, even for people who willingly sign up to do it, so just because I may make my signup goal doesn't guarantee 100 reviews. But it's worth a shot.
Thank you for reading!
I hope April is a more balanced, healthier month than March was. My substitute teaching will be at an end and maybe that will help with my energy and mood, among other things. If March was crazy or bad for you, I hope that April will be an improvement for you, too.
See you then!
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See you next month!
To find me on the web, check out my linktree. Be sure to read a copy of my debut Son of the Siren, and preorder the eBook of The Name and the Key today!
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