I'm Free

Jan 15, 2023 5:51 pm

To fly and touch the sky!

I have zero desire to be Icarus, but my last day at work was Friday the 13th. It's done. I'm both elated and terrified, but mostly I'm drowning in work to do and so many things are changing so fast that I'm overwhelmed. Mom died, my brother and sister-in-law moved into mom's apartment (they all lived with me, mom just had her own apartment downstairs), I quit my full time job, and I bought a truck.

I bought a truck!!! Gah! Yes, that is mine. Now I'm going to put a wrap on it, and make some mods, but I'm both excited and ACK. But still... oooh.

My tattoo was a no go, just I need the art to be PERFECT and it wasn't, so I'm going to think on it. For now, Monday I hit the ground running and I can't wait. I hope I live up to your faith in me and there should be lots of stories coming out soon.

That being said, two things - the series that I'm writing in? The shared UF world? Well book one by Sarah Noffke is out! Check it out! The Improbable Pair. And... if you wait until Jan 20, it'll be on sale for .99. Or if you want to help our ratings and drive buzz, you can grab it now for 4.99. Either way, you know this book will rock.

The other book is a collection of short stories I thought you might enjoy. I'm working on a collection too that I hope to have done in a few weeks, but until then see if this soothes your entertainment needs. Sapience.

You might have also noticed some changes. I'm going to rebrand this newsletter to be the Mel Todd newsletter and later this year I'll come out with a Bad Ash Publishing newsletter. I'm working on figuring out the differences between them, so I'll let you know more once my brain has it all figured out.

I'll probably only manage to publish two of them next year for various reasons, but I'm hoping to have a bunch ready to go near the end of the year. My social media presence should increase as I'll have more time. But mostly I'm going to write and do cons - I'll update my con schedule below.

This story maybe a bit MarySue, though I don't have a mountain, but from me to you here is to a wonderful start to 2023. May it be full of joy and prosperity for everyone.

Magic Inside

The book called to me and finally I gave in and pulled it off the shelf. The bookstore I was in smelled of paper, chocolate, a hint of cinnamon, and sandalwood. It felt like being wrapped your a sweater carrying a loved one scent. I'd wandered in, not because I needed something to read—trust me my "to be read" pile was taller than I was. But because it was a bookstore and there was just something magical about them in general.

I was wandering up and down aisles, not really looking for anything, just looking. And it called to me. The section was labeled self help, but the book binding was purple, with faded silver letters and at least three inches thick and double my age. Putting it well before "self help" was a market.

The attraction remained as I lifted it up and took a look at the cover. "Magic Inside". A laugh slipped out. At least the author had no issues with self esteem. I really didn't need another book. I'd put it back and get a notebook to help support the store.

Walking out in the street toward my hotel room, I couldn't remember how much it had cost. But there it was in my bag. The notebook had been $11.99, but how much had the book been? I sighed and shook my head. It was a used bookstore, it probably had been about ten dollars.

After my walk around the new city, traveling was just the best, I settled down in the hotel room, a cup of tea and a package of cookies, and picked up the book. A trick of the light through the windows made it sparkle as I opened it.

"Magic is in the words, the images, and the meanings the author gives you, but also in what you add to the story. Read and be prepared for magic."

I smiled at the words, but I was more prepared for boredom, but I turned and page and read the title and my little hotel room disappeared and I was fighting to save a kingdom.

The End

Suddenly I could breath and I looked around frantically. My tea sat cold, the cookies unopened, and I was exhausted. With sudden wariness and need I looked at the book.

I wanted to go again. So I turned the next page.

~*~

And yes I'll probably use that as the intro to my short story collection.

Mel

Schedule 2023: (so far)

Middle GA Comic Convention: January 21 (I'm a vendor)

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