Hey awesome,

So...confession. I apparently jinxed all of New England. Last time I talked about how lovely the weather's been up here, barely any 90 degree days...and mother nature apparently said #challengeaccepted, because then it's been supes hot since then.

WHEW.

Yesterday we were supposed to get heat-breaking thunderstorms, and since we didn't, my sister and I went out and picked oodles of blueberries with the cool breeze that came in (y'all, it's a lot of blueberries. Like an absurd amount. But yet I might go pick more next week...). Also, there were baby turkeys and it was all very adorable:

After that, we got the first non-90s-and-absurdly-humid-day in what feels like forever, I cooked all sorts of things. Blueberry muffins (obvs), and a very experimental phyllo dough chocolate tart situation that came out surprisingly tasty!

I say surprising because I am not what one would call a talented cook or baker (thank goodness for Jeremy), but I made all the things this week, meaning I likely won't cook again for...months.

Which is fine, because it's time to get back to writing - I'm over 100,000 words since June 22 (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA), which includes two -count em, two!! - completed novels with the fabulous Chris Kennedy (Lyon's Pride, coming August 12, and World Enders, coming September 23!), one completed short story, one short story nearly done, and part of a novella.

If I can keep this up, I may just be caught up on projects this calendar year. Cross your fingers for me?

In the meantime, if you're staying inside and avoiding the heat, I have some recommendations:

Ally is now available in audio!

If you prefer stories directly to your earholes, you can click here and catch the end of Kacey's and my planned Depik trilogy - and find out what happens to the Hunters after they were nearly wiped out.

If you're waiting on Valkyries, you can watch the latest author interview with the absolutely fabulous Melissa Olthoff right here. You'll be seeing a lot more of Melissa, because she is not only a delight as a person, she's a phenomenal author as well!

This Friday, you can join the livestream on the CKP youtube page and check out Mike Wyant Jr's latest launch - book 3 of the Anisian Convergence is out this week!

And then, of course, there are so many free reads! Check them out and let me know your favorites:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/summerfantasyescapes/4tpb0q0bn4

https://books.bookfunnel.com/fantasy-authors-unite_summer-edition/kft4er2on5

https://books.bookfunnel.com/beyondimagination3/9id6llpc8k

https://books.bookfunnel.com/coolsummernight/huf6i52n61

https://books.bookfunnel.com/decsff001a/rvckuj8vua

Hopefully that's enough to keep you busy until the weather gets a little more friendly. As for me? I might run away to the beach...(and write. All the writing!).

Til next time,

Marisa