being helpless.

In fact I've been accused of being overly competent, ruthlessly pragmatic, and too independent. All of that being said I detest having my mother sick and I have zero idea what is the right thing to do. Most people's default answer is "Go to the ER." If you've ever sat in an ER you know how stressful and exhausting they are. Most of the time she is more agitated and upset because of that place than staying at home. I'm at the point where if I'm not calling an ambulance, it probably isn't worth the ER.

Either way I hate not knowing the right thing to do. Deep breaths.

In other news - I gave my notice at my day job. January 13th 2023 will be my last day. Then I become a full time writer. Hopefully with your support I'll make a living at this, so yes tell your friends I'm crazy.

Speaking of giving up day jobs, Robert Ross, a friend and author who has been telling me for years to quit, has the final audiobook out for his sci-fi series. I've read the first two and loved them. This is Star Trek meets X-men and if you haven't grabbed the series yet, you totally should. Check it out on audio or in ebook/print.

So between mom, day job panicking, and trying to write, the last quarter of the year will be swamped. While you wait here are some more things to keep you busy and out of trouble.

The Blood Queen is a free reader magnet that gives you the back story of Ashlanna and Grayson. If you like dark gritty Games of Thrones writing with a strong woman in the lead, give this a try. After all, the sample is free.

Then if you want a much more meta fantasy, check out The Canticle Kingdom where the main character discovers his homeland exists in a music box. Can he get friends from his world and the outside world to save everything he has ever known? Available now for only .99 at Amazon.

And now back to chores, fretting over my mother, and maybe another few hundred words on Unbalanced Luck. Trying to deal with a kraken. It's harder than I thought.

More

Pounces from Shadows felt her heart slowing and the cold snow settling around her like a mantle. The creak of the trees, rustling of the snow falling past pine branches, and the scent of ozone high in the air was the send off to the other side.

Death was part of the cycle of life and Pounce didn't fear it. She had lived a long life, had many mates, many kits, and been a great hunter. It had been a good life. The small spark of "i want more" was examined. It didn't matter now, there was no more, why not look at it.

The spark blossomed and all the things she had wanted to do as a young kit washed through her. Silly things no fox did, like ride the big ballons that drifted through the sky in bright colors, see the other side of the great ocean, go into the sparkling trees with their noise and humans. No, she had stayed and did what every good fox did, hunted the rodents, sang to the moon, raised kits, and kept to her place.

It had been a good life and she was ready to leave it.

"Are you sure?"

The voice sounded inside and outside and held snow, summer, fresh water, and laughter in it. Pounces opened her eyes to see a woman sitting next to her, staring at the small fox. Her long ears were tufted like Pounces, and there was a hint of multiple fluffy tails behind her in all colors.

Pounces flicked an ear.

"Are you sure you are ready to leave this world, to go to the next or no where?"

This got both ears flicking forward. Eyes brightened as an odd hope washed through her.

"Ah, then you are. Then listen to me. I have need of a scout, a friend, a companion, a guardian. My powers are waning over the years as the new gods tempt away those who understood the harmony of life. Will you be that being? Help me regain followers who do not shun the beauty of nature in favor of the mechanical?"

Here was more. A more Pounces from Shadows could never have imagined. It was a good more. She yipped, the tiniest sound, all the strength she had from her old body.

The woman smiled, showing sharp canines. "Good. Come with me Shadow. Welcome my priestess."

Blinks. I hate my mind. Now I have a fox priestess with powers, off to convince the sparkly cities that mechanical answers aren't everything. If you haven't read Shattered, don't forget to grab it.

BTW - this will be the last week that the Kaylid Chronicles in a bundle is available. If you want it now, grab it. Next year it is going wide, so I'm pulling the bundle soon.

Mel

Schedule 2022:

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