The short version of 2018- My family welcomed a new little one in April. He is turning out to be a quirky child. Needless to say, he is fitting right in.
I published my first book ‘Eden’s Outcast’. The initial release saw it hit the Amazon bestseller list. There are also 5 other stories set in that universe written by other authors. Book 2 is well underway.
I Left a job I adored and became the Gatekeeper (CEO) of Heads & Tails Publishing. Heads & Tails focuses on short reads, written by multiple authors in a shared universe. Our car got totaled. Also Nekodemus joined our family.
That’s a lot to pack into one year.

Eden’s Outcast
The book itself is currently available on Amazon. It’s .99 cents until the end of the year and Kindle Unlimited.
With all the wonderful things that have come from this book, I made one big mistake. I rage published it. It’s hard to admit when you’ve made a mistake. I’d planned a release in April of this year. Jack Attack (my son) showed up early. Completely throwing off my production schedule. I skipped steps in the publishing process, that in hindsight I know are important.
For the last little bit, everything has felt fuzzy. I’d been spending my time doing everything, but writing. September I broke, for a variety of reasons.
I’ve learned to ask for help, though to be honest, that’s hard for me to do and I’ve built a team. Here’s to those blasted wereslugs.
Now that I’m working with a team, they have kindly pointed out a few things in the book that need to be sorted. Eden’s Outcast is currently going through another round of copy and line edits. The updated version should be live before 2019 is through. If not I will have to do something embarrassing and post it on social media.

Heads & Tails Publishing
Is a new venture that I’m involved in that launched this year. I love creating worlds and working with other writers. I’ve never had a problem sharing. So for Heads and Tails first series, I invited five authors to write stories in my world. They are shorter reads, take about an hour. They are all available on Kindle Unlimited or for purchase through Amazon. The upcoming series has been announced ‘Rise of the Bayou Queen’ and I get to write in that universe I’m excited because I get to work on the cephalopod clan. Any other news about H&T you’ll have to check www.headsandtailspublishing.com

‘The Fridge of Unspeakable Horrors’
Mari did an amazing Lovecraftian take on what could have been considered a throwaway line in ‘Eden’s Outcast’.
I’ve known Mari since my university days. I’ve admired her ability to craft a tale and engage in a story. She does beautiful work. When we were talking over possibilities for the story and geeking out over monsters she could include I was so happy I got to work with someone I admired.
Easter Egg for those of you that are interested. During the editing process, we needed to change the shirt Lilith was wearing so it became a shirt with “The Kills” a band that Mari loves.

‘How to Train your Hodag’
Maku and I caught back up at a Comic-Con it had been years since we had talked. He’d always wanted to be a writer. He started writing while at that show. I bugged him to keep writing.
In my initial conversation with Maku he asked me some really interesting questions about hodag physiology. Especially about folklore creature fecal matter. There are some interesting things about the journals hidden in this one, along with a little more about the fey.

‘Angel on the Rocks’
I met Amryn in a writing workshop. I felt like a complete imposter, I’d barely started writing again. She was brash, loud and unapologetic. I loved her for it. She took me under her wing. Eventually, we ended up in the same critique group.
When she first read Eden’s Outcast she had one thing to say, “Tell me the child is still alive.” Nessie and Connor have had some incredible trials.
Amryn’s story covers the first half of how the child disappeared and how Gabe ended up on a iceberg, naked. She did a fantastic retelling of the Emperor’s New Clothes in Angel of the Rocks.

‘The Leviathan’s Waltz’
Jon Adam Jenkins is the pseudonym for Jon Marler. Jon decided on that name for his love of the poet L. Abraham Jenkins.
The title for this one went through a couple of different dance-themed titles. Zech and Lilith don’t do traditional relationship when they try it fails miserably. But when they follow their own beat it works.

‘Ranger Eli Needs a Holiday’
Dallan always looks at every possible angle. He catches things that I don’t consider and I really appreciate it. Also Dallan is always willing to crack jokes and proudly wears the moniker of Wereslug.
When Dallan and I first started talking about his story we both fell in love with the idea of someone who did their job. They just happen to be a member of the holy legion.
Dallan also took on the challenge of a neuro-atypical character. Being true to a character that doesn’t process the world as you do is a challenge and one I think Dallan handles admirably in the piece.

Projects:
Eden’s Outcast: Currently under edits, considering a new cover.
Eden’s Outcast’s Novella: Goodnight Bones- First draft done. Working on edits.
Eden’s Outcast Book 2: In the first draft stages. Hoping to release it before the end of 2019.
Rise of the Bayou Queen Novella: I’m really excited for this one. I’ve worked with the universal overlord on the general plot and can’t wait to get started.
Not so Secret Project 1: This one involves Dragons. Draft one is done and needs a second pass.
Not so Secret Project 2: This one is my string theory mixed with Greek mythology stand alone.

Shows:
Along with my regular duties at Bard’s Tower I also had a chance to take ‘Eden’s Outcast’ to a couple of conventions.
Phoenix Comic Fest (now Fan Fusion) Phoenix does an impressive job of bringing out a variety of authors. There programming is amazing and I was honored to be able to moderate a couple of panels at this one.
San Francisco Comic Con Imaginarium runs a wonderful show. I’ve always been impressed with how they handle multiple venues across the country.
Connecticon: I love this show. The panels are always fantastic, the cosplay is amazing and Connecticon makes sure to include as much of fandom as they can. I sold out of ‘Eden’s Outcast’ at this show.
DragonCon This is a behemoth of a show and I spent the majority of it running the booth. I really only saw the booth and my room. However, I did get to go to the Baen Bar and I met Larry Niven which in all honesty was surreal. Got to help out at Sherrilyn Kenyon’s release party. They know how to throw a shindig! There were a lot of amazing authors at Bard’s Tower and also a lot of folks came by and visited.
FanX I got home from DragonCon and went straight to FanX. This show is my hometown show. I saw so many familiar faces and for the first time ever got to moderate panels in Salt Lake. A huge thank you to programming for letting me do so!

In 2019 I am hoping to attend shows I’ve never been to before as long as being at a few of my favorite shows from 2018.

Looking forward to 2019.