January’s theme: Self-care is protecting your time and your snacks.
Hey babes! Glad you’re here.
I hope the start of the week has been kind to you. These last few days of January have been especially good, and I wanted to share some of the updates from the first month of 2023.
This month in book world….
I did the unthinkable this month—and it’s something I plan to do more often. I blocked out space in my editing calendar just for *me*.
*GASP*
I know!
What was I able to accomplish? Well… I did heavy revisions and finished proofreading the second edition of my first published novel, Bune (pre-order here). I’m just waiting for the paperback proof, and she’ll be live on March 31. I also finished the second revision pass on what will be my second solo work, Defiance.
Defiance is now in capable hands giving her the treatment she deserves, and I hope to have her back for a final editing/revision pass and published in a matter of weeks. I am truly overwhelmed with love for this book, and I’m so grateful for the support. If you want to pre-order Nikki and Adam’s shifter romance/urban fantasy crossover story (standalone), you can do so here ←
This month in life…
Can we just talk about parenthood for a second? I mean, holy guacamole. My kid is four, and she’s literally the coolest. For real, though. She’s insanely funny, creative, and a little too smart for her own good. She’s also very into sharing. As much as I love sharing with her, I’m still a human being, and I need to have things that are just for me to enjoy. I can’t parent from an empty cup (well, I can, and we all have—but stars above, I’m trying to leave that part of my life behind).
One absolutely critical component of being successful at this single mom thing (or even fully partnered parent thing) is learning to hold on to something that’s just for you. Which I will tell you up front I’ve historically sucked at. While writing is absolutely one of those just-for-me things, so is my gym time.
This time has become so ingrained for my kiddo that when I mention the gym she now screams, “AAAAH, WE GOTTA GO SO MOMMY DOESN’T TURN INTO A CRAZY LADY!” if I mention that we are running late. And I really, really do.
The other thing that I have been trying to save just for me is my freaking snacks. But I have been radically unsuccessful in picking things she won’t eat (unless they’re too minty or spicy). I recently fell in love with the protein bars from Small Seed Bar (check them out here). Of course they’re delicious, and of course I can’t keep my kid out of them. I’m glad she’s asking for the healthy snack. Her go-to is “mini starvurst” or every single dairy product in the fridge all at once and I’d rather not be stuffing her full of taffy candies. But like… come on!
January Book Recommendations
Between December and January I’ve had the opportunity to look over some really spectacular debut novels, comebacks, and continuations of ongoing series. First I want to talk about the darling of my heart, my beloved Kiwi girl… PINS.
The Trouble With Pins is the third book in author Miri Stone’s Phoenix Crew series. And let me tell you as her editor, it was a long, hard struggle for my best girl… but so, SO worth the wait. Pins is the hedgehog shifter with heart, and Miri wrote our favorite badass tattoo artist/super-assassin with such pluck and soul. This book came in at 125k words long, babes… it’s a chonker. Not a word of that 125k was wasted. The prose is beautiful, the characters are gorgeously flawed, and the plot is riveting. I could not be more proud of the work Miri put into giving Pins life. You should pick up your copy here ←
What’s next?
Next month we’re going live with a limited Valentine’s Day anthology which will be FREE. Eleven authors bringing you the steamy and sassy, with a giveaway to sweeten the deal. I’ll send out an update next week with more details.
I’m moving on to write my next full-length solo novel, Unsound, and a super-extra-secret co-write with a book bestie I’m raring to collaborate with. Unsound is a dark urban fantasy with dystopian vibes and vampires, and you can pre-order it here ←
Thanks for coming along for this ride, babes. Feel free to comment or reply with your latest PNR or UF read (bonus points if it’s MC), or share your strategy for keeping your sanity as a parent. Catch you next week for another update!
XOXO,
Mariah
You are rocking it!