Friday morning

Morning darklings,

It hit me this morning that I hadn't written a newsletter.

There's a 10 year old cat with an ulcer on his tongue in our bathroom right now. He's healing, getting strong, working on going from no food to sloshy food. There's also been pain in my body and swelling from a food flare and shave biopsy (I'm okay, it's a weird thing but not cancer) that got infected because I dared to leave the house for a few hours. I've also done a lot of fun things with the local authors of Clocks. When the cover artist came in from California, we went to a proper speakeasy. A few days later, we met up again for an escape room and dinner. It was my first escape room, and it was delightful (the company, the room, the whole deal). We were given 5 extra minutes, and when time was up, Katherine was on her way to adding in the last set of numbers. Pretty good, I think. And to top all of that off, I finally started painting my coffin. It's green now. I've also started working on the floral murals. One side is a reimagined wisteria tree (done). Another is lavender and dandelions (done), and star jasmine will be growing down from the top like ivy (up next). Both the back and front will have a collection of wildflowers and ivy and other. There hasn't been much writing during these last few weeks, but a novel that feels stickier and chewier than the rest popped into my head yesterday. Her toothsomeness makes me think she's the one to focus on after my nonfiction is done (moved the goal to October because life has been really happening). Then I woke up, and it was Friday. I knew that I would be leaving for the beach in a few hours to celebrate a friend's nuptials with my offerings of homemade challah, vanilla pudding, macarons, and garaetteok, my card game, glasses I decorated, and a penis-shaped charcuterie board. The weekend should be filled with laughter, sleeping, walking on the beach, stories, writing, and a lot of fun. So I thought instead of trying to finish one of the two exciting blog posts I'm in the middle of, I'd just tell you that life's been happening.

I hope it has been for you too.

I'd love to hear about it. Here in the comments or in my inbox, as you all do sometimes. I love that a lot. <3

And before I head out, I must tell you that a Little Key Press author has a new book. A.P. Howell was in Animal Noir, which you should buy and read. And then, you should buy and read her new book, Corners of the Deep Dark. And don't forget to share your thoughts about them, review them, tell friends and family, you know the deal! <3

Until next time, harness the Little darknesses and embrace the Little things.