THE LOST BOYS by Craig Shaw Gardner

The Lost Boys by Craig Shaw Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's no secret that The Lost Boys is one of my all-time favourite movies. I was a teenager when I first experienced this fantastic movie and have been enthralled with everything about it ever since.

But you know what I hadn't done yet? I'd never read the novelisation. And since 80s novelisations are so much fun, I finally read this very cool book.

Lucy Emerson recently got divorced and decides to move back to Santa Carla with her teenage boys. Lucy gets a new job and fancies her boss. Michael falls for a mysterious girl who leads him down a dark path. Sam makes new friends who help when comic books come true. While Grandpa watches everything from his taxidermy room...

Amazing. Awesome. Enjoyed every minute of this great novelisation.

Not only did this book totally capture the atmosphere of the movie, but it also complements and enhances everything about it. The location, the characters, the mystery, everything!

Several deleted scenes (which we watched not long ago because they were included in the 4k ultra HD+ Blu-ray) are part of this story. And we also get multiple POVs, plus a little more about each Lost Boy. Which was a nice addition. The vamps are still intriguing and cool, but several unexpected tidbits are added to the narrative.

Anyway, I read the whole thing in one night because I didn't want to put it down. Glad it didn't disappoint. I had a blast!!

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A Week Full of Stories!

Hey, how are you today? I hope you're having a great week.

As you know, I finished an extensive (3-week) novel revision last Thursday night and when I woke up on Good Friday, I was mentally exhausted. Seriously drained. So I really enjoyed the four-day break with my husband. Lots of relaxing, nice food, walking, a little shopping, and even some naps. It was awesome!

I felt recharged and ready to take a few weeks off between projects.

Yeah, that was the original plan. But then I decided it was time to complete the final read-thru of the short story I finished a few weeks ago. So I did that on Tuesday.

The final word count is: 3,173.

Very happy with this story now. I changed the ending during the second draft, but by the time the third draft was done, it ended up being more like a complete rewrite. Sometimes I do that. 😅

In the meantime, I wrote a new story on Sunday night. On my phone. See, after our nap on Saturday, I woke up with the first line of the story in my head, and when I typed it out so I wouldn't forget, I didn't stop until the whole first draft was done.

This violent little tale is actually a prequel to VampNovel1/VampNovel2. Yeah, this is the world that keeps on expanding. Just when I think I'm done, another story pops up. LOL.

Anyway, I worked on the second and third drafts on my phone, and read the final read-thru tonight. And now—after marking all the problems, deleting some excess, taking care of rep words, making the changes on Word, and doing a spell check—it's done.

The final word count is: 2,966.

I'm super excited about this story because it came out of nowhere. 

So, that means I've completed six short stories this year. That's 18,720 words worth of shorties. Not bad. 😊

What else did I do? I read the first Murderbot novella and the latest Grady Hendrix short story release. I also went for daily walks, even though it rained a few times. Oh, yeah. We watched and hated the second episode of The Last of Us. Decided we're not watching anymore. After wasting our time on 10 shitty Yellowjackets S3 episodes (this season was seriously bad), we're done watching mediocre shows.

Well, that's it for today. I'm going to enjoy another long weekend with my husband. Three days this time. Nice.

Have a good one!

THE BLANKS by Grady Hendrix

The Blanks by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I found out Grady Hendrix released a new short story, I had to check it out. And I'm glad I did because this is creepy af.

Rachel and Steven take their children to Jeckle Island every summer. It's a way for the kids to roam wild, have a great time, and relax away from the city. But there are rules to follow. Rules that have devastating results...

Yikes! Wow. This is such a terrific story.

I love stories that start from a very chill and fun place. When you get caught up in the atmosphere of the season and can feel/see the location in your mind. Then something dark sneaks up on you and the rest of the tale takes a dive into the terrifying.

And the concept of The Blanks is exactly that. Eerie. Scary. Impossibly heartbreaking. I can't get over that shocking ending.

Also, the writing style is as engrossing as Rachel's voice.

Love this! It's another awesome Hendrix story.

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ALL SYSTEMS RED & COMPULSORY by Martha Wells

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I've had this novella for a while and decided to read it now because the show starts next month. 😁

A group of scientists are conducting tests on an uninhabited planet, and with them is a robot supplied by the Company. But Murderbot isn't just any old droid, this guy hacked its own module and doesn't like humans much. But when things go wrong, Murderbot might just be the best guy for the job...

I really enjoyed this fun SF novella, and Murderbot is an awesome character. This droid is witty, sarcastic, and doesn't like humans much. At least, that's what it claims, but actions speak louder than words.

Murderbot is also awkward, clever, is addicted to trashy shows, and certainly turned out to be a great narrator. LOL.

Also, the thing about this novella is that it's quite simple. Gets to the point and has plenty of action. The solution to the mystery was satisfying, and I loved the ending.

Yeah, this is a great story and I definitely want to read more stories in this series.

ALSO, READ THE PREQUEL SHORT STORY ON APRIL 16:

  Compulsory by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this short story before the first book, and I'm glad I did.

Murderbot is trying to enjoy one of his favourite shows when something goes wrong with a miner. And that's when he has to decide: help or watch?

I really enjoyed this! Murderbot's voice is so snarky, yet very informational. He's robotic, yet so much more. I was also surprised by his bravery and look forward to reading more.

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This Revision is Done!

Hey! How are you today? I hope you're all having a nice week.

I know the world is in a terrible state right now, but I'm trying to lose myself in stories. And when I'm not writing, I love spending time with my husband. 😍

This week I got stuck into the final read-thru of my current revision, which is VampNovel1. I know that's not what I said I would do in last week's post, but after chatting to my husband last Sunday about my change of plans, I realised that completing this project before starting VampNovel2 just felt... right.

That means that after my daily afternoon walks, I sat down with my Paperwhite and read the story from start to finish. At this stage I usually find weird sentences, repeated words, and awkward phrasing. I also cut a lot of excess, and add new details. It's pretty much all about the nitty-gritty.

And I reached The End tonight! I even made all the changes, formatted the doc, did a spell check, and made a few final-final tweaks.

The final word count is: 90,075.

I'm super excited about this story because this character has been with me for about a year. It's a dark vampire story set in the 80s and deals with a lot of issues. Some I added to the plot, and other things that popped up during the revision process. It's also a horrormance novel because I can't stay away from hot vampires. 😅

And there's still VampNovel2 to revise. But that's a story for another day.

Now that my current revision is done, I'm mentally exhausted so I need a break. Good thing it's the Easter long weekend. Yay.

Well, have an awesome break! 

The Revision Continues...

How are you today?

I hope this week turned out to be a good one for you! 

Here, in Sydney, the days got a lot shorter but I'm trying to stay positive. The fact I hung out with my husband every morning, that I went for my daily walks during the day (mostly sunny) and listened to my 80s Playlist (awesome) certainly helped. Not to mention that I spent every afternoon and night working on the third draft of my WIP, VampNovel1.

And I really lost myself in these words.

Seriously, I'm enjoying the hell out of this story and every time I sit down to work on it, I love it a little more. From the start, something about these characters and their world totally drew me in. Even when it was a small idea, slowly gaining momentum in my brain, I knew it would turn out to be a lot of wicked fun.

Vampires are just awesome. 😁

Anyway, this is my progress:

• Monday: 51/228pgs (90,436w)
• Tuesday: 103/230pgs (90,268w) 
• Wednesday: 154/234pgs (90,868w)
• Thursday: 196/235pgs (90,451w) 
• Friday: 236pgs / 90,042w

Yay! The third draft is DONE and I'm super excited. I worked really hard on this draft. 

As you can see, the word count went up and down every single day. I actually cut a lot of excess, but also added quite a few words. All things that strengthen the story and make sure everything ties up nicely.

Usually, after this stage, I'd do one final read-thru on my Paperwhite. But I'm doing things different this time.

And there are two reasons for that:

1. My husband is having three long weekends in a row this month (fantastic!)
2. I have VampNovel2 to consider...

So, I'm looking forward to spending some extra time with my husband during all these days off. And because there are two weeks when he'll work only three days, I've allocated those six days (ends up being two weeks) to work on VampNovel2.

Then I'll work on the third draft during the last week of April. So when that's all done, I can read one book after the other on my Paperwhite and make sure everything makes sense, pans out, and I can catch any last-minute typos, inconsistencies, etc.

Oh, and I also completed the third draft of the short story I mentioned last week. There were some plot issues I had to fix, several rep words that stood out, and have added it to my Paperwhite. Not sure when I'll do the read-thru, but the word count is now: 3,255.

It turned out to be quite a story-heavy week.

Okay, that's about it. I'm going to enjoy a nice mental break now

Have an awesome weekend!

Time to Revise!

Hey! How are you today? How's April treating you?

Daylight savings ends this weekend, which always bugs me because I prefer the longer daylight hours. Oh well, we're already in autumn and I've been dealing with it okay. I'm one of those people who's prone to seasonal mood swings during colder months, so I have to try and go with the flow.

I also wish the world was in a better state at the moment because there's just too much going on. Every single day there are about a thousand new shit things happening. Ugh.

Anyway, my goal this week was to complete the second draft of what I'm tentatively calling: VampNovel1. You know, because I wrote two and therefore have to revise both of them. LOL.

So, here's my progress:

• Monday: 46/230pgs (90,168w)
• Tuesday: 71/229pgs (89,888w) 
• Wednesday: 125/228pgs (89,840w)
• Thursday: 186/228pgs (90,225w) 
• Friday: 231pgs / 91,226w

I'm so happy that I managed to get to the end of the second draft tonight. The word count went up and down as much as my progress. That's not surprising since some areas always need more work than others.

Now that it's done, I'm mentally exhausted. That's why I'm glad that the weekend is finally here. I really need a break between drafts. That's right, next week I'll be working on the third draft because I want to have that done before our first long weekend. This month we have three! Yay. 😁

Before I got stuck into VampNovel1, I worked on the second draft of a short story I wrote in 2022 but put aside because I didn't like the ending. So, last weekend I read it, cleaned it up, and rewrote the end. I'm much happier now that I fixed all the problems.

The new word count is: 2,943. I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to work on the third draft, but that's cool. I'm taking my time with this project. 

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to veg out on the couch tonight while trying not to think (emphasis on try) about VampNovel1 until Monday.

Have an awesome weekend!

CICADA by Shaun Tan

Cicada by Shaun Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

•28 March, 2025

Every time I sort through my books or reorganise my bookshelves, I end up reading this beautiful book. I just can't move this book without reading it.

Cicada's story is sad and lonely, heartbreaking and lovely. It's also very bleak, yet hopeful, and the ending is uplifting. Not to mention that the artwork is absolutely stunning.

Shaun Tan is a great storyteller and artist.

•20 October, 2023

I was sorting through some books while adding them to my Keeper Shelf when this one caught my eye. And before I knew it, I was reading it.

This simple, lovely, hopeful and heartbreaking story never fails to make me feel so many emotions. I love this book. There's a reason why it's a Keeper. 😊

•28 May, 2018

I just received this lovely book, and the cover is so adorable I just had to read it right away. Well, I read it to my hubby. :)

Cicada works in a building, and is an overworked, unappreciated data entry clerk. Cicada works and works. No matter how he's treated or ignored or doesn't fit in.

Until one day it's time to retire...

OMG. This book is beautiful. Not just because the artwork is absolutely stunning, but because the simple story is one that hooked me in from the very beginning. I kept reading and went through so many emotions.

By the end, I had tears in my eyes and they weren't entirely from heartbreak.

It's amazing how such a wonderful story unfolds with minimal—but totally gripping—details. A lot of it also has to do with the amazing and eerie art.

I loved this. It's so cute.

Cicada rocks.

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THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I've gone out of my way to avoid this book since it was released a while ago. I mean, who wants to read a whole book about young Snow? Yeah, you know what I mean. Still, when I found a cheap copy in a local thrift store, I picked it up and haven't looked at it since.

Not until I read, and absolutely loved, SUNRISE ON THE REAPING and had to find out what happened to Lucy Gray.

It's time for the tenth annual Hunger Games in the Capitol and Coriolanus Snow is preparing to become a mentor to a tribute. He has personal goals. Plans that will strengthen his family and make their name great again. But when he gets stuck with the District 12 tribute, he realises there's a lot more at stake than he originally thought...

Well, that was disappointing, drab and way too freaking long. Yeah, I found some sections of this book unbearably boring and had to skip ahead several times because I thought I might fall asleep.

I went into this story with an open mind, but also couldn't shake the intense hatred I have for Snow. Still, I tried to push all of my personal feelings aside to concentrate on the teenage version of a disgusting and vile villain. And you know what? Even though he shows traces of humanity throughout the story—especially at the beginning—he's still an arrogant, privileged, asshole who's determined to prove how much smarter and better he is than everyone else. 🙄

What he does to his supposed good friend, Sejanus, is such a betrayal. And how he treats Lucy Gray is pretty gross, too. He convinces himself that he cares about her, but she's just a science experiment. A possession he becomes obsessed with until he decides to throw her away.

Yeah, even the Lucy Gray story was meh. And she's the reason why I wanted to read this! Oh, and by the way, having others watch and narrate what happens during the Hunger Games is definitely not as suspenseful and heartbreaking as when the characters are in the actual arena.

I'm glad I gave this a go because it did answer a few things about the origins of this violent 'game', and at least sorta explains Snow's hatred for District 12. He's just an elitist dickhead with a superiority complex.

Now I can donate it or put it in the bin. Haven't decided yet.


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SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE The Hunger Games trilogy, and when I found out this was Haymitch's story, I had to read it. As soon as it arrived.

Haymitch Abernathy's sixteenth birthday also marks the reaping. And this year, it's the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, so there'll be two girls and two boys picked as tributes. When things go wrong in District 12, Haymitch ends up on a train and on his way to the Capitol...

Wow. OMG. Even though I loved every minute of this book, my heart is broken. 😫

You'd think that knowing how things turn out for Haymitch would make this story redundant. You'd think that knowing his future would make it easier to bear the pain. Well, that wasn't the case. Everything I already knew didn't ruin anything. Actually, it made the experience more interesting, and a lot sadder. I mean, who doesn't want to meet Katniss's parents when they were teens? Or catch a glimpse of so many other familiar characters, situations, and places that take place years before. Or find out how a hardworking, passionate man with so much love in his heart becomes a drunk loner.

I couldn't stop reading this amazing story because I was hooked from the beginning and wanted to know how everything would end. I mean, I knew it was bad because poor Haymitch was never in a good place, but reading his tale shed a lot of light on who he was before the awful Hunger Games ruined him. Before the Capitol edited his role, and the importance of everything he did. And why Snow targets him.

This book is brilliant and I loved every minute of it.


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SAGA #72 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Saga #72 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been looking forward to reading this installment for ages, but have to admit that I was a little worried because Ghüs is on the cover and... well, you know how Saga can be sometimes.

Anyway, this is the season finale and starts off with a shocking announcement that sends serious ripples and consequences everywhere. And that leads to a bunch of characters, scattered all over the place, making an appearance.

I really enjoyed it, but I'm a little worried about where this is going to lead. 😫


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SEVERANCE - The Lexington Letter by Anonymous

Severance - The Lexington Letter by Anonymous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the show Severance and watched the season two finale this weekend, so I decided to check out this short story and really enjoyed it!

In Severance: The Lexington Letter we meet Peg Kincaid, a former bus driver who decides to get severed. She likes not knowing what happens during work hours and enjoys the pay, but when her innie communicates with her, Peg starts to wonder what's really going on at Lumon...

This is such a great story! I like how Peg/Peggy's story fits perfectly into the Severance world, and I can totally see this taking place somewhere else while the TV show characters are going about their business. Great characterisation. In such a short tale, Peg becomes a fully formed person, and I was very sympathetic towards her.

Sometimes, less is more. And that is certainly the case in this mysterious and tragic vignette with a nice surprise at the end.

Also like The Macrodata Refiner’s Orientation Booklet.


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Doing Stuff...

Hey! How you doing today?

Here in Oz, summer is over and in a few weekends it'll be time to turn the clocks back, which I really don't like. I prefer the long days of summer. The shorter days are too depressing and oppressive. Ugh. Not looking forward to it, but I have to stay positive about the season change because there are enough crappy things going on in the world right now.

I'm not going to bother going into how hard I'm finding it to accept that because of selfishness, racism, misogyny, and hate, the world is in such chaos. Really wish people would show a little fucking empathy and mind their own business.

Anyway, this week I wasn't planning on working on anything, but ended up revising/rewriting another short story. This one is actually part of a novel I shelved but felt that this particular section would make a great shortie. And after a little tweaking and additions, I was right!

The final word count for this one is: 3,410. And I'm really happy with the results. ☺️

So, I now have another complete short story. That's four this year.

We also got our flu shots on Wednesday and felt pretty shit for about twenty-four hours. It doesn't hit as hard or as long as the Covid shot, but we were pretty lethargic and achy that afternoon, plus the next day. Feeling better now and glad we keep up with our vaccines.

I also read a book that took me most of the week because the subject matter was just... It's called My Dark Vanessa, and I found it so frustrating. The main character got on my nerves but the writing kept me reading. Although, I do think it could've been at least fifty pages shorter.

Did you guys watch the SEVERANCE S2 finale? We really enjoyed it. Love how it raised so many (more) ethical questions, answered a few, and presented so many new possibilities. Can't wait to see what they do with the next season.

Well, that's about it... Oh, I did start revising another short story first draft I found on my phone. Also got a whole bunch of dusting, sorting, and donating done. I even started going through photos/pics on my phone and have already deleted hundreds.

Yeah. I'm spring cleaning in autumn again.

Have an awesome weekend!

MY DARK VANESSA by Kate Elizabeth Russell

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't plan to read this next, but it caught my eye while I was going through my Paperwhite TBR pile.

Vanessa Wye is fifteen and attending boarding school when she gets caught in the web of her English teacher. Convinced that they're in love and he cares about her, she doesn't consider herself a victim. But in her thirties, when the world is full of accusations and allegations against abusers, she finds herself examining her affair...

This was a hard book to read and I kept pausing because Vanessa is so damn frustrating. I understand how easy it was for this predator to use, manipulate and groom his student while she's a teenager, but that she keeps protecting her abuser and romanticising their 'relationship' every chance she gets grated on my nerves. Mainly because she's very judgy and critical about the girls and women who are actually brave enough to speak out against their abusers.

Yet, in spite of how much this story pissed me off because of Vanessa's fucking attitude and Strane's despicable grooming, I couldn't stop reading. The writing is great, which made it hard to turn away from this trainwreck.

The story unravels in dual timelines, both in Vanessa's POV. One in her teens, when she's in the thick of things. The other in her thirties, when she's forced to confront the truth while still being in contact with Strane.

Vanessa sure made it hard to like her manipulative and awful ways, but realising that we're dealing with a woman who insists on ignoring the trauma she's still suffering from because she's convinced herself she's not a victim, makes it easier to understand what's really going on. She's suffering untreated PTSD and refuses to see what's right in front of her.

I have to admit that reading about how she stayed in touch and kept seeing the man who ruined her life really infuriated me. Also, the constant mention of Lolita, a book I've purposely avoided for years, got a bit much.

Anyway, I'm glad I read it.


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Checking In!

Hey! How are you?

Can you believe we're almost halfway through March? Yikes.

So, my husband went back to work this week, which is the worst after we had such a great break together. It's always hard to get back into the swing of things and I intended to take it easy. Of course, for me, that means tackling smaller projects.

The other night, while sorting and deleting things off my phone, I found a short story I started last year but didn't finish. It's the prequel short story for one of my completed novels. Okay, it's technically a prequel/sequel because it fits in between the two timelines in the novel, but the main thing is that I finished writing it last weekend and even revised it the next day.

When my husband went back to work, I completed the final read-thru, and made all the changes. It's a story that flows very well and complements the book.

The final word count is: 3,255.

Actually, after I finished this tale, I went back to the completed novel and changed/tweaked a few details that came about because of this short story. Nothing big, but enough that I'm even happier with the novel now. 

BTW, this is the third short story I've completed this year, and I just started tweaking another one. ☺️

Asides from that, I read two books this week. One that I really enjoyed because it was so quirky, Hard Copy by Fien Veldman, and one that was okay but too bleak in the worst way possible, Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor.

The other thing I've been doing is sorting through a bunch of my collectibles and books. We want to cut down our Funko Pops collection, so that means going through the shelves and getting rid of anything that we're no longer excited about having. There's no space for meh. I'm surprised, but glad, that we've already put quite a few aside (30+ so far).

I love sorting through stuff and figuring out what to keep, but it's really exhausting. And mentally draining. Still, it's always worth the work/effort. Especially when you have limited bookshelf space. Oh, and another cool thing about all the moving around I did last night is that my author copies are all in one place and on display. Cool. 😁

That's it for now. It's been a long week and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my husband.

Have a great day!

HURRICANE SEASON by Fernanda Melchor

Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm not sure why I picked this up. It could be because I read a translated book earlier this week and really enjoyed it, so I decided to give this one a go. Or maybe it's just because I found it while looking through my Kindle books. Either way, I finished it tonight.

In a small town in Mexico, the 'Witch' is dead and we're about to find out who did it...

Yikes. This sure turned out to be quite the bleak and woeful ride through the miserable lives of some pretty fucked-up individuals with loose morals. A penchant for violence. No future ambitions to speak of. Absolutely no fucking hope in sight.

The book is broken up into several chapters that introduce the POV of a different character to not only fill in the blanks about who killed the Witch, but also so we can get a very thorough peek into just how awful everyone's life happens to be. Some POVs a better than others, but they all share one quality: suffering, in the worst way possible.

While I liked how the story seemed to start at one point and expanded with each growing chapter, the blocky paragraphs and sentences that went on forever started to weigh me down and got on my nerves because you really do need a pause every now and then. Am I right?

Yeah, this isn't a terrible book but the subject matter and the shitty characters got to be too much. And it's not even a long story! It's just an uncomfortable read.


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HARD COPY by Fien Veldman

Hard Copy by Fien Veldman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I stumbled on this book, while checking out a different one on Amazon, it grabbed my attention instantly. I couldn't go past a woman who has a deep connection with her printer.

Working inside a small, stuffy office at a company full of people she can't relate to, in a city full of tourists, a single woman finds a comfortable companionship with her printer. But when she's forced to take leave, she wonders how she'll survive without him...

I love checking out books that are a little strange. Odd and quirky tales that drag me into the heart of the narrative and keep me turning the pages.

Well, that's exactly what happened with this novel.

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and actually read the whole thing tonight. It's quite the deep and meaningful tale about one working woman's existence. It's about being just another cog in a random company. About how people are treated when they're a bit different, or socially awkward enough to become a target without being aware of it.

Most of the characters in this story are nameless and are referred to by their positions. Or the status in the narrator's life.

She's a lonely woman with only one friend and a lot of memories to crowd her mind. She also thinks about her place in the world, and enjoys Greek mythology. She loves to tell stories and shares details about herself with the printer in her office. The printer who listens and doesn't judge. And even he turns out to be interesting.

I also really like the garbage man because he's such a genuine person. The only one who truly listens without judgement. He's such a lovely man.

This is one of those stories that manages to make everyday work/chores/ponderings interesting. It certainly raises a lot of valid points and introduces a character that seems so weak and small on the outside, but is strong and intriguing on the inside.

Great book!!


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It's March!

How are you today?

It's Saturday here in Oz and we're enjoying hubby's annual leave break. I love staycations. They're awesome and very relaxing. We stay up late almost every night and sleep in. It feels a bit like the vampire lifestyle. 🦇 And I have to admit that some days, it's easy to lose track of time. 😅

I can't believe so many awful things are happening in the world right now. Ugh. If only people paid attention to what's really going on and voted with empathy in mind instead of greed and selfishness.

We've been watching SEVERANCE and YELLOWJACKETS, which are both fantastic shows. SEVERANCE blows my mind and we end up having long discussions about what's going on.

Oh, and we watched COMPANION. What an awesome movie! Really enjoyed this one.

I'm currently taking a break from writing and reading, but I did revise the short story I mentioned in my last post. I actually completed the final read-thru on my Paperwhite this afternoon and just made all the changes. The final word count is: 3,191.

I'm really happy with the result. This is a post-apocalyptic story that has changed direction during every single draft, which is always an awesome surprise.

Also very excited that I've already written and revised/completed two short stories this year. Seriously, last year, I collated and revised two short story collections and even started a few shorties, but I didn't complete any new ones.

BTW, have you checked out my debut short story collection yet? It's called MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS and I'm super excited that it's out in the world. Not to mention that I'm very proud of the 17 tales included in this volume.

You already know that I still play ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS daily, but I've also been playing HELLO KITTY HAPPINESS PARADE on my Switch Lite. I absolutely LOVE this adorable game and finally unlocked all 12 characters. It took me WEEKS to get Kuromi, who happens to be my fave. Now I'm working my way through all the challenges. Very cool.

Well, that's it for now. I just wanted to drop in to post an update at the beginning of the new month.

Have a great weekend!

IN THE PALM OF HER HAND by Lauren Carter

In The Palm Of Her Hand by Lauren Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this story on my phone for a bit and decided to read it tonight.

Brennan and Sophie are siblings who recently lost their mother and suspect she was killed...

This is a great short story told entirely via text messages. I love tales written in this way because telling a story through messages really introduces a great sense of tension. It kept my attention from beginning to end, and when the twist hit: 😳!!

Great fun, but it's also a lovely book. Between how the text messages are accurately shown on the page, to the lovely illustrations, I really enjoyed this eBook.


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Halfway Through Feb!

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

Hey, how are you today? I hope you're staying sane in this unstable world of ours. Self-care and enjoying the things you love is always very important, but right now it's absolutely essential. So I hope you're all taking care of yourselves and each other.

I've spent most of this month reading. I have a pretty big TBR pile (it's really piles), but during February I've been finding myself going through my Paperwhite and randomly starting whatever catches my fancy. So I've now read a bunch of cool books that I'd forgotten I had and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them. If you're interested, you can read my reviews below.

So, asides from that I've been going for a lot of walks, have been hanging out with my husband, and we're enjoying the hell out of SEVERANCE. It's such a great show! Very cerebral. I always love watching movies and shows that make me think and encourage me to formulate theories. 

Do you remember the short story first draft (2,400w) I mentioned in my last post? Well, I actually worked on the final read-thru last night. The word count is now: 2,747.

I'm really happy with the finished product. The subject matter isn't fun, and at its core this is definitely a horror tale, but it's also a sharp slice of feminine rage. A violent dystopian that came out of nowhere but makes sense because of certain shitty things that are going on in the world right now.

That's not all I worked on last night. I also finished writing another short story that I started on my phone earlier this week. It's an idea that came out of nowhere and I managed to write the beginning, but then had to put it aside because it was missing something... So I couldn't move on until the answer came to me in the form of Joey Tempest.

After this missing piece of the puzzle landed in my head via a dream, and then came together during my afternoon walk, I was able to complete the first draft. That's 2,528 words. Who would've thought that a little Joey Tempest would help me complete this story? Well, teenage me might have. Or that I would write another apocalyptic shortie this week? Well, the state of the world could be responsible for that. 😁

Speaking of short stories, if you'd like a sample of the kinds of tales that I've written through the years, you can check out my very first short story collection HERE.

MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS already has some cool reviews on Goodreads.

OMG, another thing I've been doing is playing HELLO KITTY HAPPINESS PARADE on my Switch Lite. It's SO MUCH FUN and the songs are very catchy. Not to mention that the game is absolutely adorable. I love it!!

Well, that's it for now. I just wanted to drop in to post an update about what I've been doing lately. My husband is going to have a three-week break for the rest of the month, so I'm looking forward to hanging out with him.

Have an awesome weekend!

INK VINE by Elizabeth Broadbent

Ink Vine: A Gothic Sapphic Novella by Elizabeth Broadbent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The weekend is almost here and I wanted to start a novella that I could read in one sitting. I'm glad that I picked this one.

Emmy Joiner lives in a trailer with her family in Lower Congaree. She works as a stripper and because of that, people like to make assumptions and throw out labels that don't apply. Besides, they don't know anything about her ambitions or what's in her heart. The day she meets Zara, her life takes an unexpected turn...

I really enjoyed this! The writing is as lush as the vegetation, and throws the reader into the middle of Emmy's life. The swampy landscape is inspiring and almost as dangerous as the people.

Emmy is such a great character with a very strong voice. A young woman who's only ever known poverty and the cruel words her mother continually spews her way. Still, she keeps going and aspires to become so much more. Yet, everyone is willing to judge her every action and call her names. But she doesn't let their opinions define her.

Another thing that I loved about this novella is the descriptions. Whether inside the strip club, in the deepest part of the swamp, or trapped within the tight walls of the trailer she calls home, I really got a sense of location and could picture everything vividly.

In many ways, this is a sad story about a woman trying to survive in a place where everyone pushes against her desire to grow. Only to find that the one part of herself she's kept secret is her real salvation.

I found the romance to be sweet and hopeful, even a little scary at times because of its intensity. The last bit is only because I suspected something otherworldly was going on, which was later confirmed.

This is a great Southern gothic tale.


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PUNK 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was checking out the books on my Paperwhite yesterday and this one caught my eye. So, I started reading... and couldn't put it down.

Misha and Ryen have been penpals since they were kids. Maybe even best friends. Now they're both about to finish high school and when Misha decides he wants to break their self-imposed rule of not meeting in person, tragedy strikes and turns everything upside down...

Well, this book sure is awesome!

I honestly didn't expect to like this story as much as I did because I'd heard a little about the toxicity, and I don't usually like toxic assholes. But there was a lot more to Misha than being a total douche. The guy's dealing with a personal tragedy, and is still mourning a loss that made him so angry at the world that he took it out on those closest to him: friends, Ryen, his dad.

This is a peculiar tale because it's friends to lovers, but also enemies to lovers. It's also a contemporary YA crossed with NA about two young people who are trying their best to survive while prepping for the future. It's hard to condense all the inner workings of the relationship between Misha and Ryen because there's a lot going on. And I mean a LOT.

I really enjoyed the characterisation of the two main characters. Sure, there are a few tropey/cardboardish characters—Lyla and Trey, I'm looking at you—but because they were mostly bully background noise, it didn't really matter. Misha is one of those characters who acts the opposite to how he feels, and that can be frustrating at times. But then again, Ryen is the kind of person who acts like she belongs with the popular bullies, which is at odds with who she really is.

I think both of these characters have a great character arc that is fun, interesting, and even heartbreaking.

And another thing, this book is raunchy. Yikes! The chemistry between these two is:🔥! I also didn't expect the final Misha twist at the end. 😫

Anyway, I loved this!


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CYNDI LAUPER: A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cyndi Lauper is an artist that I loved when I was a kid. I never forgot the first time I heard/saw the music video for Girls Just Want to Have Fun, because I loved the catchy tune and cool video. I loved her style and how different she was to other singers. And of course she was involved with wrestling, so it mixed two of my favourite things. Not to mention that she also did the song for The Goonies.

So yeah, she was a big part of my childhood in the 80s, and I still listen to her now.

I wanted to read her memoir because she's always seemed interesting. Plus, I wanted to hear all about her life directly from her. Cyndi's voice shines through every experience she shares. She doesn't hold back.

Another thing I really enjoyed was how her story follows a linear timeline, but at the same time goes off in little tangents that reveal insightful, inspirational, funny, and even sad experiences.

She's quirky and zany, and very creative. I love how much she appreciates art, music and fashion, how she's always combined all of these to make beautiful music and fun, bright visuals. In everything she does.

Her narrative voice is also very interesting and kept me glued all the way through. I remembered a lot of the stuff she covered, but was also surprised by so much of what she revealed. I would've liked to know more about Kinky Boots, but I guess she ran out of room. It's quite a hefty book already. ☺️

Anyway, if you're a Cyndi Lauper fan, you'll definitely enjoy this memoir. It's inspiring because of her creative process and activism, full of surprises, and includes some of the sadder things in her life.

 

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FIGHT CLUB by Chuck Palahniuk

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My introduction to Tyler Durden was back in 1999 when we went to the movies to watch Fight Club but had to leave because the fire alarm went off halfway through and had to go back to watch it from scratch. 😳

Anyway, I've always wanted to read the book, and decided to check it out this week.

We all know the deal. The first rule of fight club is: you don't talk about fight club. It's a place where men who want to prove something to themselves, through violence, go to hang out with other men. But at the root of this little shindig is a lot more. An insomniac who wants to find meaning in his life soon starts a pathway to anarchy...

Well. Okay. I expected it to be dark and feature an unstable narrator, but... there are a lot of things about this story that bug me.

Let's start with the cool stuff. I actually really enjoyed the repetitive writing style, and how the story moves forward and back, only to return to the present. It established a sense of disorientation throughout, and fits the voice of someone who is slowly radicalising himself into anarchy via missed sleep.

I found the first half of the book quite interesting because watching a disillusioned man begin a personal quest to get some sleep soon morphs into an anti-capitalist agenda via underground violent—and let's be honest, juvenile—fights. It seemed like he was just trying to fill a void and found it in other men, which is fine.

But then, Project Mayhem enters the story and takes over everything. Now we've got a bunch of bruised and brazen guys who want to destroy civilization and co-ordinate acts of vandalism all over the place just because they're not fulfilled in their own lives, while still fighting like idiots. *yawn*

I read somewhere that this is an allegory for homosexuality. Well, I don't agree. I think it's an allegory about toxic masculinity and how mediocre white men always think they're owed shit and when they don't get it, cause mayhem. It's pretty much the equivalent of a toddler tantrum, which we see in society all the time.

And don't even get me started on the fact that in a book packed full of dudes, there was only space for one woman. And she happens to be a flaky cardboard cutout who's also a liar. Or that being raised by single mothers is apparently bad and makes men miss the father/man who left them and they spend their whole lives chasing a father figure. 🙄

Anyway, like I said, the first half was cool but the story got progressively worse as it neared the end. So much that when the twist reveal happened I didn't even care. And it wasn't because I already knew from the movie.

I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm older. Or maybe it's because white male tears don't impress me. It could even be that in a world where men are already so ridiculously violent, we don't need a story crying about how hard it is for them to find their way in the world.


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BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for ages, but kept putting off. I'm glad I finally got stuck into it because I really enjoyed it.

In the World State, from the moment of creation, everything and everyone is engineered, controlled, and psychologically manipulated in every way imaginable. Everyone has a job and a purpose, and share everything—including each other. The conditioning to conform is introduced from the beginning of life via sleep-learning and other techniques. Yet, there's always going to be someone who starts to question everything and longs for more...

Okay. Yikes. That was quite a ride.

I love how this story starts from a very technical POV to introduce a cold, dystopian world in an almost text-book style. This introduction not only sets the stage for the antiseptic ways of the world, but also explains everything in great and clinical detail so the reader understands exactly how these people exist. Then, before you realise it, several characters insert themselves into the narrative and their intertwined stories take over.

Bernard is a psychiatrist and outwardly appears to have the same attitude as the people around him, but his height and frame have always set him apart from the others. And now he starts to wonder about things. Lenina is devoted to her work in the Hatchery, but has a tendency to hook up with one guy more than once.

When these two go on a holiday together, they get swept up by what they discover in the Reservation. And then return to their city with unexpected guests that cause quite a bit of trouble to this 'stable' world.

And that brings me to John (or Savage). A character that I initially felt sorry for but then found myself not liking much. It's strange how the workings of the story end up affecting how you feel about the characters and their motivations, interactions, and attitudes.

So much about this tale is awful and uncomfortable to read, even rage-inducing. It's a clinical glimpse at a possible future where the rights of people are stripped before they're even born. A society that keeps people busy with work and then rewards them with drugs (soma) and casual sex. It's also a well written captivating story about what control and forced conformity can do to society. No matter what, human curiousity eventually prevails in some way.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I thought I would. It's thought-provoking, certainly highlights a lot of issues within our own society, and ends in a way I didn't expect, but wasn't surprising. Tragic.


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February is here!

Can you believe that January is finally over?! Yikes. I mean, didn't January feel like it went on forever? One week felt like one month, and for a while there it felt like it would last the whole year. 😳

How are you? I hope you're still finding some happiness in this terrible world. I can't believe that this year has started in such an awful way, but I suppose that's what happens when people vote against their best interest. Or don't bother to really listen when someone tells them they're a fucking asshole. Or can't be bothered voting. Or maybe, just maybe, they let their hate and racism win over common-fucking-sense.

I could go on and on about this, but with every theory we'll all get angrier and depressed about the fact that our society is getting dumber by the moment.

So, let's move on.

Since I finished my latest WIP a few weeks ago, I've been catching up on a few things. I read and blurbed two very cool upcoming books. They were awesome, and I enjoyed the hell out of both. I also updated my domain name because having my own website is very important to me. And started sorting out several clustered areas around the apartment that are starting to weigh on me mentally.

Does that happen to you? I can usually function just fine with piles of small clutter, but eventually it starts to bug me. I'm nowhere near done, but the only way to do this is to tackle one bit at a time. I actually like sorting through stuff, but it's mentally exhausting.

I've also read a few books:

SHOCKAHOLIC by Carrie Fisher

CATS LIKE CREAM by Renee Miller: 

WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by Grady Hendrix

And I'm halfway through BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. I'm also totally addicted to HELLO KITTY HAPPINESS PARADE. My husband found this game on special the other day, and I've been playing it ever since. 😅

Oh, and the coolest thing that happened this week is that my debut short story collection was released on Tuesday!!! OMG. I'm SO excited.

I mean, look at this beautiful book:

I absolutely adore this cover because it captures the vibes of my tales perfectly. Luke Spooner/Carrion House did such a fantastic job! 😍

Here's the summary: A dark gathering of 17 melancholy horror tales where mothers, lovers, friends and monsters intersect with disastrous and tragic consequences.

These are horror stories that I've written and rewritten several times through the years until they became the best versions, which is what you'll find within these pages. 😊

There are already quite a few reviews on Goodreads and I love finding out which story each reader prefers. It makes me very happy.

If you're interested in grabbing a copy, it's available on Kindle, paperback and KU.

Asides from reading and celebrating a new release, I wrote a 2,400-word short story on my phone the other night. It's a slice of rage. A violent dystopian horror tale that came out of nowhere. I'd like to revise it sometime this week. I didn't plan to write anything because I'm supposed to be taking a mental break, but I don't question when the words strike. 😁

We also watched a few movies: NOSFERATU (aesthetically stunning, dark and Lily-Rose Depp was amazing, but it was just okay), SMILE 2 (cool horror story that makes you question everything that's happening), and THE LOST BOYS (to celebrate finishing another vampire first draft). And we started watching SEVERANCE, which is fantastic. Can't wait to see more.

Anyway, that's about it. Just thought I'd post a bit of an update.

Hope you have an awesome week! ☺️

SHOCKAHOLIC by Carrie Fisher

Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While going through my Kindle books this afternoon, this one caught my eye. Then I started reading, and kept going until I reached the end.

Carrie Fisher never fails to capture my attention. She was quite the storyteller. She had such an eventful, and sometimes hard life, but it's impossible not to listen when she talks. Her words are like a spell that captivates the reader. So much that sometimes you forget you're actually reading about someone's real life.

In this book, she talks very honestly about her decision to have ECT to help cure her depression and soften her erratic thoughts. It was fascinating to read about what it involves and the side effect of memory loss. I was also shocked (pardon the pun!) to find out she had this procedure done quite a few times.

I enjoyed how easily she flowed from one thing to another. Nothing is off limits: her parents, step-parents, her drug use, the friendships that hurt the most, her daughter, her connection to Michael Jackson, Star Wars, being a celebrity, her weight... everything and anything.

It's entertaining, hopeful, and sad as well. She was a deeply troubled person who struggled with a lot, but she was also hopeful and interesting. Engaging, cared about people. She was larger than life, and absolutely hilarious.

This is the second Carrie Fisher book I've read but it won't be the last.


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MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS is now available!!

 Happy Release Day to my debut short story collection!

Yay. ☺️🎉

I'd like to thank Cemetery Gates Media for taking a chance on my first collection. Also for publishing and putting together such a lovely book. The end result is amazing! I'm SO excited and proud of this book.

Also, check out the beautiful cover, made by Luke Spooner/Carrion House, which captures the essence and melancholy vibes packed into these pages.

A dark gathering of 17 melancholy horror tales where mothers, lovers, friends and monsters intersect with disastrous and tragic consequences.

1. ALL MY PRETTIES

2. LOST IN TIME

3. GOLDSMITH’S ODDITY 

4. CLARA’S PHONE

5. SOMEWHERE TO BELONG

6. OTHER SIDE OF ME 

7. THE GIRLS DEVOURED BY THE WOODS 

8. SHORELINE

9. THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT 

10. OF YOU, THE END 

11. A PORTRAIT OF DEATH 

12. FADE INTO NIGHTMARE 

13. LADY OF THE HOUSE 

14. SLIPPING INTO 

15. ALLURE

16. STALKING THE SHADOWS 

17. FINDING SURVIVAL 

You can grab a copy right now:

Kindle | Paperback

 Bookshop.org

ADD TO GOODREADS

This collection includes stories that have been with me for many years. Some were previously published, others are new to the world, but all of them have been through several evolutions.

I really hope you'll give these tales a go.

Thanks for reading!

CATS LIKE CREAM by Renee Miller

Cats Like Cream by Renee Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was going through my Paperwhite today and randomly opened this book. Before I knew it, I was 25% in, so I kept going.

Elwin is a realtor and he has a bad habit of watching people as they go about their lives via hidden cameras he installed in their houses. But watching isn't enough sometimes and when he touches, things fall apart very quickly...

OMFG. This book is in the POV of a despicable and very gross man. A serial killer who likes to watch from afar. He also enjoys the taste of hair a little too much. I pretty much hated him the moment he appears on the first page, as he goes about his murderous ways, and all the way to that bittersweet ending.

He's one fucked-up individual.

Yet, as much as I hated this asshole, I also couldn't stop reading his story because this disturbing book hooked me in and everything moved at a good pace. I ended up reading this novella in one sitting.

I really liked the storytelling style too, and how brutal it is. No sugarcoating here.


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WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by Grady Hendrix

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always look forward to reading the latest Grady Hendrix book. He's an auto-buy. Not just that, I also read it as soon as I get it. And his latest one is as awesome as I expected.

In Wellwood House, Florida, young pregnant girls are hidden away from their lives. Here, they spend their days cleaning and doing whatever it takes to keep their babies healthy and secret. Until it's time to have them ripped away and handed over to someone else. But in the summer of 1970, Fern arrives, and brings a witchy storm with her...

I loved everything about this book! The characters and location, the time period. All the awesome friendships these girls forge. How hard their lives are when everything they do is controlled and heavily supervised. The witchcraft that starts out so intriguing and fun but slowly reveals a corrupt heart in the centre of everything.

There are a lot of creepy scenes in this tale about girls who are made to feel like sinners who should be blamed for the situation they got themselves in, when in fact, they happen to be victims of circumstance. Of a society that takes advantage of girls and woman, then spits insults in their faces when things go wrong. And for the teenagers at Wellwood, a lot goes wrong. Putting their trust in someone who doesn't deserve it, is a mistake that drives much of the story all the way into an unimaginable darkness.

I have to mention that Hendrix did a great job with the uncertainty of pregnancy. He captured the highs and many lows. The birth scenes were graphic and portrayed the true horror of going into labour, as well as the hormonal and physical side effects.

The true horror in this book isn't the witches, although their actions certainly are, it's the real life aspects that are terrifying. What these poor girls endure from the adults who should be compassionate instead judgemental assholes. How their choices are stolen by using guilt against them, until they feel like they're garbage. It's quite sad.

I loved Fern, Zinnia, Holly and Rose. As well as Hagar and Miriam.

This is also an interesting cautionary tale about being careful that you don't become as bad as your oppressors.

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My Debut Collection...

Hey!

How are you today?

If you follow me on Bluesky, then you might have caught a glimpse of the 17 daily posts I've been adding this month. That's one for each of the stories in my upcoming debut short story collection...

MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS.

If you missed them, these are the graphics that I created for each tale:

 

And here's the 

Table of Contents:

1. ALL MY PRETTIES

2. LOST IN TIME

3. GOLDSMITH’S ODDITY

4. CLARA’S PHONE

5. SOMEWHERE TO BELONG

6. OTHER SIDE OF ME

7. THE GIRLS DEVOURED BY THE WOODS

8. SHORELINE

9. THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT

10. OF YOU, THE END

11. A PORTRAIT OF DEATH

12. FADE INTO NIGHTMARE

13. LADY OF THE HOUSE

14. SLIPPING INTO

15. ALLURE

16. STALKING THE SHADOWS

17. FINDING SURVIVAL

Plus, here's the blurb:

A dark gathering of 17 melancholy horror tales where mothers, lovers, friends and monsters intersect with disastrous and tragic consequences.

This beautiful cover was made by Luke Spooner/Carrion House and it's absolutely perfect.

I mean, look at the full paperback cover:

You can now pre-order an eBook copy, and the paperback will be available on release day, which is January 28.

A few very cool reviews have been added on Goodreads already.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll check it out!!

☺️

DAUGHTERS OF THE BLUE MOON by Millie Abecassis

Daughters of the Blue Moon by Millie Abecassis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'd like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this lovely novella with such a beautiful cover.

Just like her husband, Carmine is one of the village hunters. The day she goes searching for a wolf, that's been attacking the local sheep, by herself, she ends up getting badly hurt. As Carmine heals, she starts to remember long forgotten fragments that will change her life forever...

I started reading this book the other day to get a taste for it, and then picked it up again today and couldn't put it down. It's such a fantastical story that takes the reader into the heart of the woods, where the lives of wolves and humans collide in violence.

Carmine is such a great main character. She's strong, stubborn, caring, and determined. I really enjoyed getting to know her as she uncovers several long-buried family secrets that resurface after the trauma she suffers from her injuries. How she deals with everything intrigued me at every step.

I also think that the sense of location was lush, and I could feel the cold climate the characters found themselves in, and got lost in the dark woods with them, too.

Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favourite fairy tales, so I always love reading retellings... and this one didn't disappoint!

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My latest WIP is done!

Hey! How are you? What's new? How's this unstable world treating you?

I have a lot of issues about the many things going on at the moment, and this week I decided to focus on one that's been bugging me lately. Although I'm just one person, I've decided to leave Threads and Instagram. I want to distance myself from Meta because I don't agree with all the bullshit/changes the disgusting owner is making. They're no longer going to do fact-checking, and are allowing users to call other people slurs with no consequences. Meta thinks misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and racism is okay. That's before you consider the Al bullshit, or how he's sucking up to Trump. It's disgusting and I don't agree with any of it, so I decided to do something about it.

I've already deactivated Threads and will delete Instagram this weekend. Sometimes you have to take a personal stand.

That means that Bluesky is now my only social media. I'm still on Goodreads and will keep blogging, but I refuse to stay in a place that is so invested in destroying others. Especially now that the Orange Turd is back.

Asides from making the above decision, I spent the week adding more words to my WIP.

Here's how it went:

• Monday: 84,164 (+4,941w)
• Tuesday: 90,554 (+6,390w)
• Wednesday: 92,542 (+1,988w)
• Thursday: 92,907 (+365w)

Well... the first draft is done! Yay. ☺️🎉

I'm super excited to have reached the end because in November I wrote a vampire horrormance first draft that sparked this book! It was a tale that I didn't plan or expected to write, but like the main character in that story, this one wouldn't leave me alone. So much that I ended up taking a one week break at the beginning of December and then got stuck into this one right away.

Not even public holidays stopped the momentum. I ended the year with this story and kept going into the new year. Something I don't usually do. But like my husband always says: if your muse is speaking, listen. ☺️

And I'm glad I did.

After spending most of last year revising and editing without writing a new story, I managed to write 182,016 words between November and mid-January. Very happy with that.

When I finished the last WIP, we watched the 4K Ultra HD version of The Lost Boys to celebrate, and had a blast. And will be doing the same this weekend!!

Anyway, that's it for now. Just wanted to post an update.

Have a great day!!

Word Count Update!

Well. It's Friday, and I thought I'd post an update.

No, wait a sec! It's past midnight here in Sydney, so I suppose it's technically Saturday. LMAO.

Either way, it's time to weekend. 😁

So, how are ya? What have you been doing this week? How's the new year treating you? I've been busy writing, but the world is such a fucking mess right now. Between people idolizing loser billionaires who have no fucking clue, greedy haters who can't mind their own business, and intense climate change events... I just don't know where the fuck we're going. Or WTF we're doing.

I really wish we paid more attention to history, instead of repeating the shitty parts over and over. Ugh.

Let me get back to the writing. I'm working on my current WIP and still having a blast.

Here's my progress:

• Monday: 58,120 (+4,521w)
• Tuesday: 62,584 (+4,464w)
• Wednesday: 69,251 (+6,667w)
• Thursday: 73,961 (+4,710w)
• Friday: 79,223 (+5,262w) 

Not bad, right? This was actually the first full week of writing I've had for a while after so many cool public holidays. And because I'm so caught up in what's happening, during every session this week I churned out high word count additions.

I stopped at a good spot tonight. The downward spiral to the end is going to be intense and very bloody. I can't wait to write it, but won't go back until Monday.

Also, if you follow me on social media, you might have noticed that this week I started posting graphics & small quotes from my upcoming short story collection. I'm having a great time sharing bits and pieces about each individual tale. There are 17 of them, and I've already shared five.

Oh! The first Goodreads review for MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS has been posted and it's fantastic! Check it out HERE! I absolutely LOVE it! Thank you, Rose Devours Books. 

One last thing, since a lot of crap has been going on with Meta—ranging from AI bullshit, removal of fact checking, allowing hate speech—I'm seriously thinking about signing out of the two social media accounts I have with them. I haven't decided yet, but I'm certainly getting sick and tired of fucking asshole tech-bros.

In the past two years I deactivated accounts at NaNoWriMo (gross behaviour with minors), Substack (gave nazis a platform), Twitter (destroyed by a dickhead) and Discord (nothing related to the actual app, more a bad association because of assholes). 

No matter what, you can find me on Bluesky, which is where I post the most. ☺️

Okay, that's it for today. Have a great weekend!!