May...umm...JUNE Updates!

Where has all the time (and rum) gone?

I wish I could tell you I've been on some amazing adventure, kidnapped by time traveling voles who knew I could save their kingdom with my amazing, but latent, vole powers.

None of that has happened. Life just...got on top of me. There are many things changing or needing to be changed right now and, like all other mortals, I have limited resources when it comes to my 'hobbies'.

I HATE calling my writing a hobby but it doesn't contribute to my income, so some days it needs to take a backseat. That's what happened in May. I offer no apologizes or excuses, just a heartfelt plea that you will stick with  me while I get this whole thing worked out. 

On to good news! All previous S4 subscribers should have received a special mailing with a note on what to expect in 2020 and a custom sticker, created by the talented Tanager Haemmerle of Fairies and Finds fame. S4 is going to be soooo much fun in 2020! If you haven't signed up, send me an email to let me know you're interested! I hope to grow the Secret Short Story Society and bring new readers to my worlds. I would love for you to join us!

Since I have been focusing on the S4 lately, most of my short stories are going into the bank for them. My goal is to have an entire year of short stories done before October of this year so there won't be issues with printers like the last incarnation of the S4. I'm nearly at my goal!

I do feel like I've been neglecting the FoW readers and that saddens me. FoW came about after a head injury that resulted in mild TBI. Mild though it was, it basically snatched away whatever weird quirk in my head allowed me to create fiction stories. I was essentially alone in my head for the first time in my life and it scared me.

Doctors told me there was no telling if it would come back or not. Higher brain functions, such as creative writing, could be gone forever. I was not ready to believe that. 

I took up knitting as a way to create, learn patience and rebuild my concentration. I was such a mess but knitting really helped me refocus and brought me a measure of peace when I needed it. 

Slowly, the urge to write came back. I won't say I was ever 'good' at writing, but I felt it was a part of me. FastorWrite came about because I wanted to push myself to write again. The less time I had to think about the words, the more likely I was to actually write something.

Now I'm back in a good rhythm and looking towards my writing future. There are so many projects I'm working on behind the scenes that I don't have time to sit and pen a story for the website like I used to. Even when I do create a story, it's usually for another project. 

My original goal was to put one story a month on this website. That goal doesn't seem as doable as before. Many of my stories, as I already mentioned, are going into the S4 bank. Some are...going into other banks I can't talk about right now. I have limited time to write and FoW is, unfortunately, my last priority. 

I'm looking into how I can still get my stories to you. I considered posting chapters from novels each month, but many of my novels are old and need some serious revising before they see the light of day.

I considered pulling from my archive, but you guys have gotten most of the stuff that worth putting out there (and some that was not worth it, but I ran out of options). I will still honor any prompts that come my way, but I'm just not getting them. 

My only option is to try and write new fiction for you each month. Doing this means I have one story I can no longer offer to magazines or other short fiction markets. I won't say this is all about the money, but I do want writing to be my full time job. Posting my work for free takes away from that goal.

This is my crossroads and I hope, no matter which path I choose, you'll be willing to follow me down. No matter what, I appreciate the support you've given me thus far and hope to create more for you in the future.