I can sit and write words.

I swear I was worried about it. I've had to do a few hundred words here, a few hundred words there for years and then try to squeeze in more pn the weekends. So, part of me was terrified that I wouldn't be able to sit and actually write.

I am glad to say I no longer have to worry about that. In the last 2 weeks (starting on Monday Jan 16th) I have written 27,768 words. Look at that again, in two weeks I did more than I did in the month of December! So needless to say what this means for you is more stories! I finished the rough draft of Puppet Master on Friday. Now I need to edit and get it to my beta readers, but then I'm back to Unbalanced Luck. It is sitting at 60k, so my hope is if (and I really am hoping I can do more) I can write almost 30k in two weeks, I can easily get 50k in a month. After that I'll slow down and write on lots of projects: Carelian shorts, my fanfiction, a nonfiction book. I get to write!

This is the cover for Puppet Master and I swear the end of it had me wondering how they would survive, which sounds ridiculous but swear I wasn't sure how to get them out alive. This is up for preorder now, though we are still trying to link it to the rest of the series.

And in that realm, book one in this world - The Improbable Pair is still available for .99, but hurry. I'm not sure when the price changes.

Plus book 2 is out also. Hunter's Curse by Kat Healy is out and is also .99! Absolutely grab them now.

All in all, I think 2023 is off to a good start. I have a LOT of work to do, but I'm hoping to get you more stories faster here in the next year. If you are looking for physical books, my store is fully updated and I can now ship out signed copies. Hopefully by next newsletter I'll have more information to share.

Chosen

I stood at the edge of the water, the wave spiraled towards me. Either water god would accept me, or my worries would be over. At least once I quit worrying about breathing. 

Water hung above me, assessing, judging, weighing my worth. My shoulders sagged. I wasn't worthy. Then just kill me. I could hear the crowd talking. Who wouldn't want to watch a stupid street orphan sacrificed to Axyian through her own stupidity. Free entertainment, and no one would be held liable.

I laughed at my own thoughts. What street rat used words like that?

Understood that death was preferable to so many things? It didn't matter, my gamble had failed, spectacularly.

No. I will not go to my death a street orphan. I will die a scholar.

My shoulders straightened, I lifted my chin and stood up straight, proud. A daughter my father declared his greatest achievement and joy. I dared Axyian to take me, to end me. To destroy the line of Scolmi. 

Wind raced around me and I heard the crowd behind me murmur, but I didn't turn to look. I kept my focus on the water, home of Axyian, our water god. It chose its acolytes, and any harbor city made sure it kept its water god happy.

"I will take you," a voice said rippling through my mind, my soul, and the crowd.

Horrified I turned to see Zeryx, the god of air, floating there. 

I was saved. By the god my people cursed.

~*~

This is one of those shorts that I think hints at a full novel, maybe a new world. I have about 5 of them that I think could be full blown books. For now though, I leave for Cancun in 4 days!!! I need the break, and I promise to relax.

Mel

Schedule 2023: (so far)

Mexico (VACATION!): Feb 2-7

JordanCon: April 21-24

LibertyCon: June 22-26

Greece (OMG!): July 17- August 1

Dragoncon: August 30 - Sep 4

20BooksVegas: Nov 6-10

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