Hi ,

My first tattoo!

I wanted to get a piece of permanent artwork that was connected to the 3 members of my immediate family who have/had cancer—and the beauty to be found in the caregiving journey.

• Periwinkle for stomach (my husband, Jason)
• Blue for prostate (Jason and my dad)
• Pink for breast (my mom)
• Burgundy for multiple myeloma (my mom)

The flowers are birth-month flowers: morning glory (September, Mom), cosmos (October, Dad), narcissus (December, Jason).

I love it!! My thanks to Summer from Nsink tattoos in San Antonio, TX!

Also, for those who happen to live in or near Austin, TX, I have a book signing coming up this weekend, and I'd love to see you there.

I have a story in a new anthology called GATHERING MOONDUST, edited by Libby Belle. My tale is about a dying man who has a spell cast on him to live his next life as a dog. He learns more about love and life as a pet than he ever did as a human.

This Saturday from 5 to 7, seven of the anthology authors will be at Austin Art Garage, 2200 S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704. We'll be reading bits from our stories, and books will be available for sale and signing. There will be giveaways too, plus live music and plenty of cool art to look at.

You're invited! Please bring your own chair.

One more thing before we move on to this week's book recs: I'll be out of the country with my family for the next two weeks! I'll send you an email with some great pics 3 weeks from now.

Check out this week's book recs!

This Week's Affordable Read

Now this is a cool one ... an anthology of fresh, fierce fairytale retellings by diverse authors! Grab Once Upon a Realm from your favorite retailer.

Get Once Upon a Realm!

This Week's Free Read

When you get Daughter of Orpheus, a free ancient-Greece-inspired fantasy, the author will send you a second book for free too!

Download Daughter of Orpheus Free

This Week's 20-Second Story

Every week, I share a super-short story or poem with you. Hope you enjoy this week's.

Enjoy stories like this? I have an entire book of them! Check out The Curio Cabinet on Amazon and other retailers!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

-Beth

You can always check out my books at this link! Or download your free copies of these short stories: Faerie Flight (romantic fantasy) and Straw into Gold (gender-swapped Rumpelstiltskin retelling)