Welcome back! It’s been a bit, hasn’t it?
When I stepped away from the blog back in August 2021, I had no idea it would take this long to get my ass back in gear. Regardless of the state of the world or the insanity within this very house, the delay was on me, and me alone.
But I’m back. Right here, right now, this is the new beginning for this site and for all the new books that will be coming your way in the future.
So what happened?
Between teaching my kids and then welcoming a third to the mix, I realized I was burning out on all ends. Work was becoming strained, jammed in between lessons and naps and bedtimes without a clear thought left in my brain from all the different priorities raging through the house.
So I took the blog off the table. I stopped my monthly newsletter. I walked away from the business of being an author to keep the focus on creating content to eventually pass along to you.
That’s what I’ve been doing between poopy diapers and softball games and, what was that other thing again? Oh yeah, sleep.
Stockpiling content
When I started back in 2016–ah, the glory days–I made a promise that I would always stay ahead of schedule. There would be no crunch time, no stress in getting out a quality product for you to enjoy.
DSA Season One pretty much killed that plan. The rapid release, while exciting and a great method of delivery for the avid reader, left me drained and straining to get out another book in a timely manner. Greystone-in-Training, while some of my favorite books in the end were a struggle to finish in the aftermath of the DSA’s rapid release strategy.
I never want to put out a rushed book. Worse, a bad one. Every book needs to meet my own strict standards first and foremost. I want to be able to enjoy them just as much as you.
So I took the time I needed to get back on track.
2022
I was aimless for a bit. I’ll gladly admit that. Having the schedule of the blog and the newsletter always put me at my desk for a specific task and without them there were days I just spun my wheels.
Doesn’t mean I wasn’t busy!
In the last fourteen months I have outlined over a dozen new projects, scripted ten more, and drafted half of them. (Not tooting my own horn. Just don’t want you to think I’ve been binging on shows the entire time… I miss television…)
But I had no plan still. And it showed, because in April of last year I tried to restart the newsletter and couldn’t keep it up. I had no idea what I was promoting, and without a new book in the pipeline for release I didn’t see the point in stringing along my readers.
That failure marked a turning point for me. I spent weeks developing a plan for the future. I gave myself the time I needed to make it a reality and here we are.
DSA Season Two
That become the heart of the plan. DSA was always meant to come out at a regular pace to keep readers interested in the ongoing mystery of the series.
A three year gap was not ideal, to say the least.
I took that need, that drive, and dedicated myself to completing the long-gestating second season. All six books are set and ready for release. I’m using them to give me the lead time to bring more content your way in a timely manner. They set the schedule for the next two years, and by doing that, I am back to being ahead of schedule.
What’s to come this year?
First and foremost, the blog is back…FOR GOOD. Some weeks there will be two installments like it was in the beginning. I have author commentaries lined up for DSA Season One to help build excitement for the new season as well as some other cool deals to share in the coming weeks.
The newsletter starts up next week.
The DSA returns this fall. That’s right, two new books are coming your way later this year with the rest of the season planned for next year. You’ll find out more about them on Thursday.
Final thoughts
Walking away was the right move at the time. My family needed me, and they are my light and my joy. But every month it continued it became that much easier to stay away, and getting back to work became that much harder.
This won’t be the easiest endeavor. It never has been, and to think otherwise is ludicrous. I have three kids, two cats, and an aging family. There are going to be mistakes made, deadlines missed, and opportunities lost because of the other priorities vying for my time.
But you are a priority for me. Your readership means the world to me and I hope you’ll come back and enjoy the projects coming your way this year. They have been an absolute dream to build. Sharing them with you is one of the biggest pleasures I get in this world.
So, welcome back. Thank you for sticking with me.
Happy Reading!
