End of Summer Break Update

Image from chenspec on Pixabay.com

It's been a while since I've said hello and checked in. I've been in that summer break haze. There was no vacation for us this year as we got a new roof, but my adventures consisted of teaching my son to drive and exploring the county with him. I have new inspiration for stories and several more gray hairs.

Most of my writing energy goes to my pen name, Alora James. I've been writing a cozy contemporary romance and enjoying a northern Ontario setting. I hope to finish the novel I'm working on before the end of August and get started on a spooky season romance with ghost hunting.

I've been good this year in keeping up with my short story submissions. I've submitted at least three a month, and so far, I've had five acceptances. It's a nice break from writing novels to play around with short fiction and try different things. Plus, sometimes my ego needs the boost. I'm lucky enough to write for a living, but I'm a tough boss at times.

I've also tentatively started a new series, The Dreadful Host. As many of you know, I'm a big fan of dark fantasy, romance, horror, and LitRPG. I want them all together in one story. Since I'm very restricted by the genre when writing for my pen name (and it has to stay on trope to sell), I want to break free and write a story that I want for me. The story has been building in my head, and I've placeholder cover to motivate me.

First book of The Dreadful Host, The Hunting Grounds

Away from the writing desk, I've had an up and down year. We lost our beloved cat, Thunder to stomach cancer. He grew up with my son, and I miss his comforting purrs. Our cat, Grim, is handling being a lone cat well, but he's always been more of a solitary panther and not as reliant on human interaction as Thunder had been. My son is driving, he had his braces removed, and got his first adult passport. This school year, he has an internship at a vet clinic. I'm very proud of him.

I'm keeping up my 100 book reading challenge, playing too much Mewgenics, and staying out of this terrible heat. All my excitement and drama happens in my stories.

I hope you're all safe, happy, and healthy. Take care and keep reading.