Six-Point Hayes

As I announced on Facebook, I am pleased to announce that a short story of mine got picked for Pixie Forest Publishing’s debut anthology, “Love Dust”.

If you don’t know how anthologies work, it’s basically a bunch of short stories, all by different authors, together under a common theme. This theme was a love story. And since I am a big sports fan, I decided to step out of my YA shoes and enter a cheesy sports romance. There were a ton of entries and I feel honored to have Lexi and Logan’s story picked. There is such a vast difference in stories under the theme, it’ll be fun to see it all come together. A little double dipping in all the different subgenres.

When I started writing my submission for this, I wasn’t sure I was going to submit it because, well, I’m used to writing monster novels, and this was BARELY within the guidelines for their submission. I had to cut and cut and cut. But it’s such a great story. Tugs on the ol’ heartstrings. So I cannot wait for you all to read it! It will be out this September. It’s very different than the stuff you are used to from me, but I think you’ll still enjoy it. Here’s a teaser for ya:

Now, as The Fracturing gets its final polishes and gets ready to go, I know some of you will be anxiously awaiting the third book and wondering when it will be out. I’m aiming for Spring 2019. I don’t want to even give a specific date yet, because about the time I do, life throws me a curveball and then I’ll have to change it. SO… I don’t know yet. But know that as soon as the second book is out, I’ll be attacking that third book. I’m also going to change up the way I edit a bit. I’m trying to be more productive and efficient, because I don’t have an editor, so that’s all on me. And because when you’ve edited something more than nine times and still find things wrong, its beyooooond frustrating. So I don’t know how long that will take. If I push it just as hard as I have been, it’ll take six months or so. Give or take a month or two.

By the way, since there have been a lot of new people both to the blog and to the Facebook page, first of all, WELCOME! (Waves like a lunatic.) Secondly, I should interject here with a gentle reminder that I am not yet a full-time writer. I would love to give you 2-3 books a year and be able to have an editor. I have never wanted to write just one series and be done. I have story upon story upon story just lying in wait up there, brewing until I can get to them.

I would love nothing more than to be able to write full-time, but right now I am a stay at home mom to two boys that mean the world to me. Someday, they will go to school… though sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. My goal was always to work my butt off while they were little so that by the time they went to school, I would have replaced my income by writing so that I could write full-time. So hopefully some day I can give you more, and at a faster pace. Right now, this is the best I can do. Believe me, I already get not enough sleep as it is!

Ugh. Sleep. Who needs it when we have caffeine and dreams, right?? Ha!

Sooooo, what comes after the third book is edited?! What will I do next?

That, ladies and gents, is what is so damn exciting to me. I don’t know! I have two different ideas and they are both pulling at me hardcore. Without giving you a ton of details and getting you excited for something that is years down the line, I will just say now that The Culling Series may not be done with three books. Reagan’s story will be done after three books. After that… well…

Now, something that is closer to being publish ready that I was waiting to hear back on before I could post this blog… in January I wrote and submitted a little cheesy Christmas story. It is regular book sized, not a short story. The beautiful thing about it not being accepted (probs too much kissing for the publisher), is that I can spruce it up and do whatever I want with it and then self-publish it right along with my other work. I actually feel relieved I don’t have to follow all the rules. (Chucks handbook out window.) I think it’ll take a month, maybe two, to get it publish ready since it is already pretty far in my editing process. I just don’t have the extra month or two to work on it right now.

I want to say this November I could swing it. The Fracturing is out in August and I could switch gears and get it ready to go immediately after, BUT, then I lose two months on productivity for the third Culling book. See my dilemma?! So I am thinking NEXT November is probably best. That way I can get all three books to you as quick as possible, then you can have a cheesy romance to hold you over while I write more new stuff.

If you have any opinions on this, let me know. What are you just dying to read?!

And thank you for all your reviews! When I am stuck in this editing trudge, and feeling nothing but exhaustion, I read my reviews and remember that I have some pretty awesome people waiting on me. These recent ones literally leave me just sobbing at my computer. I am grateful for you people. So grateful.

Peeps, I just want to wriiiite. Editing is necessary. It’s where you fix the plot and iron out the issues. Editing is beautiful, tedious as hell, but beautiful. But writing… SIGH …writing is art. Writing is freeing. I’m getting antsy for that. For a blinking cursor. For a new beginning. For a new end. To test myself and my craft and not stop until we are all gasping for air.

Did you really think I’d be done at three books? I hope not. You are stuck with me for the long haul, mah peeps.

Here’s to an exciting fall, and an even more exciting future. Cheers! (With my unsweet tea, of course.)