Positive Fun Vibes – ARPIP Releases Friday!

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Guess who’s back from Reggae Rise Up?

You’re so smart. That’s right—me. And yes, it was frigging awesome! If I didn’t mention it (I think I did?) RRU is an annual outdoor festival cloaked in an herbal cloud with groovy music by some amazing artists. Oh yeah. Definitely the recharge I needed.

Batman and I headed down Thursday night, but we didn’t start the festival fun until Friday afternoon, a few hours before Sublime and Rebelution came on (our highlights). Getting ready to go:

I did try to take photos, but the sun was blinding and I couldn’t see anything on my phone. I ended up taking a lot of tiktoks that are still in my drafts (due to their super poor quality) so we’ll see what becomes of them, which is likely nothing. Perhaps. I might post one here or there when I get bored. Or desperate for content…

The food at the festival was great! Especially the fried Oreos, which I tried multiple times, just to make sure. No, I did not use the porta pottys because I have a reoccurring nightmare about disgusting bathrooms, so I watched my water intake and let the music and fog take me away…

And then Summer fell into my life.

Literally. Actually, she laid down on the blanket in front of me and Batman in the middle of Rebelution’s performance. Now, who’s Summer? Great fucking question, because I still don’t know. But she was drunk as a skunk and definitely on something stronger than I ever want to try. Because, after discovering *quite quickly* that she couldn’t really stand, she fell into the guard rail—hard. Like really hard. Summer was having quite the night, though I doubt she remembers any of it. Like me. Or hanging with us until her brother and his livid girlfriend arrived to collect her. Or my bruised, scraped thumb I have as a souvenir. But that’s how festival-going goes.

The entire weekend was awesome, even though our hotel room had the world’s longest walk and this angry meth head freaked out on us while we were waiting for an Uber—still a GREAT weekend! If you like reggae music (Rebelution, Sublime, Collie Buddz, Koffee, ect.), being outside with cool people (except you, Summer. Get your shit together) then I highly suggest Reggae Rise Up if you get the chance. 😊

WRITING STUFF

Okay, guys. This is it. It’s this week. This motherfucking week. You know what that means:

  1. Celebratory dinner.

With each novella/novel release, I’ve decided I’m treating myself and Batman to an “occasion” meal which is a fancy way of saying an expensive restaurant we have no reason going to. But we do! For I am releasing another book baby into the world which super calls for extravagant dining in a fancy restaurant we’d not normally go to. (Mind you, when I say extravagant, I mean a level or two above Chilis. We’re not going crazy here—we’re still low middleclass as long as middleclass is still a thing) For In The Moment Before, Batman and I went to the Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine. It was December, required a reservation, and other than being guilted that we were just a party of two (and not four or more, like our server wanted) it was lovely. It’s time for our next outing, hopefully without an opinionated server. Current choice options include:

  • Coopers Hawk
  • Cheesecake Factory
  • Maggiano’s

I’m stuck and need more options. This is where you come in. Please either vote on one of the below OR add your own for a new possibility. Come on, guys. You can help Batman and me feel like one of the wealthy for a night! Help send us in our pumpkin carriage to a ball with better than awesome food. That’s all I ask.

2) Celebratory Giveaway

That’s never been a thing I’ve done—BUT I’M STARTING IT. That’s right. Once I figure out how, I’m hosting a raffle giveaway for a signed paperback edition of A Royal Pairing in Perish, a new tradition for each coming release. The raffle giveaway will likely be in next week’s post, so keep an eye out for that if you’re into free awesome stuff.

Alright, I feel like I’ve taken enough of your time even though I could ramble on for another few hours so I’m going to end it here. Quick recap of all the stuff:

A Royal Pairing in Perish releases this Friday. Woot!

Help me decide where to celebrate with Batman. Please.

Keep an eye out for the signed paperback giveaway. Another woot!

Keep an eye out for Summer. (Seriously)

Have a fab-fab-FABULOUS week. I’m sending you all the happy, positive, fun vibes! 😊

~ LC

Deadpool Shoulder

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You know how I don’t take great care of myself? Right. Well, after living in Florida my entire life, you’d think I’d remember to apply generous amounts of sunscreen whilst out at the beach. You’d be wrong. We’d both be wrong.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my Deadpool shoulder:

I know—gross. Yuck. Ick.

But this is who I am and currently, what I look like. I knew an impromptu trip to the beach would require some protection, but the gentle mist of the low-level sun spray lotion (whatever it was) didn’t do shit. Or I didn’t apply enough. Or the wind took it away from my skin—I don’t know. But I came out looking like this and sadly, I am still not fully healed.

It’s all good. Some part of me is always in pain or in danger of being in pain, like my nail that tried to break in the pink part (Batman thinks that is the funniest thing. ‘In the pink part’ but, like, how else do you say it? It’s literally THE PINK PART). Thank God I reinforced it with homemade technology (I’m resourceful like that) so it broke off right where it needed to—at the precipice of safety.

Before that, my mouth was under attack by my teeth, and their throbbing bullshit about too much caffeine and sugar passing through. I don’t know. I also had this thing growing on my elbow—this hard bump thing that started as a bug bite, but, due to constant irritation (continual pressure on the table) it hardened and got mean and that was its whole own thing.

One day I’ll be wealthy enough to afford the drugs to make it all go away.

Until then, it’s chewing on the correct side of my mouth and maybe wearing gloves and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD applying sunscreen so I don’t develop Deadpool shoulder again. As much as I crush on the anti-superhero, once is enough.

GOOD NEWS—I’m going to Reggae Rise Up later this week! It’s an outdoor music festival featuring the best of Reggae and similar chill vibes. Batman and I are stoked to see Sublime, but I’m also looking forward to Rebelution as well. Definitely what I need after the year I’ve had at work this month, and an epically scary sunburn I’ve been hiding for a week.

But good times are coming. Good, relaxing times, chill and fun times.

Just got to remember the sunscreen.

God, I hope I remember the sunscreen…

~LC

Last minute info! I’m participating in the Luck of the Irish week-long book event where readers can win a Kindle, paperbacks or ebooks! I’m just going to leave this right here…

Burnt, Slim, and Writing

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I’m burnt.

I think that covers everything—my mental state and definitely my red, red skin which still hasn’t faded to an attractive brown tan. Give it a couple of days. I’ll be looking good.

I’ve been wanting to discuss the surprise party we’ve been planning for my wonderful sister’s birthday this past weekend. Coordinating something so large with people flying in, a restaurant catering manager with poor communication skills, and wishing items from Etsy weren’t so expensive…it’s been…a lot. But so, so worth it, and everything came together beautifully! Even these lovely red shoulders I got from an impromptu trip to the beach:

Work has also been crazy. And not the good crazy. The crazy-crazy that causes anxiety and stress and contributes to the BEST diet ever—the corporate America diet. Screw Slim Fast (I’ve tried) Jenny Craig (haven’t tried) and whatever new fad diet is popular. Want to shed some pounds? Get yourself a seat in corporate America and the weight will literally fall off. Tip from me to you 😉

Amidst the party and forced dieting—yes—I am still writing and yes—I’m wobbling along trying to keep to my schedule. Does it work? Eh. Half the time. But half the time is better than zero percent of the time…so I got that going for me.

If you haven’t heard me shouting it from the rooftops, A Royal Pairing in Perish is now available as an ARC! All I ask is an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, the blimp outside your house—wherever. I’m also accepting beta responses for In The Moment During. I just need those back rather quickly as I need to get it over to the editor by 3/20.

That’s my news, folks. I’m burnt, slim, and writing.

Living the good life.

What about you?

~ LC

As Surprised As You

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Today’s post was definitely not going to happen, so I’m as surprised as you.

Last week was HECTIC with unnecessary drama (which I don’t do well with) and working toward finishing my ARC, so most of my measly marketing efforts took a backseat. By marketing efforts, I mean tiktock of course. And posting to my FB group. Because that is literally all I do.

For now…

So, note to alternate-universe Caitlin—don’t LEARN the business WHILE releasing multiple books in one year. It’s a lot. Maybe have the books already written (or something) so time isn’t divided between writing AND trying to learn ads, distributors, and that AI is trying to take over every creative endeavor.

Good stuff?

  • A Royal Pairing in Perish is available for ARC! Grab your FREE copy here for an exchange of an honest review. (Please. Pretty please.)
  • I’m off Thursday and Friday for a much-needed vacation to celebrate my sister’s birthday. Woot!
  • Bought two new dresses for said much-needed vacation!
  • I keep selling free books. I might not be getting any royalties, but people are buying. Possibly reading. Hopefully that leads to a sale tomorrow or next week. As Batman keeps saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Who knows? Maybe it takes a month.

Also (and this is important) we are at THREAT LEVEL MIDNIGHT, folks. My nail is about to break and it’s in the PINK PART. Prayers, positive vibes, spells, hexes—whatever works. I’ll take them all.

Onward and upward! The other direction is too depressing.

~LC

Only Asking Because of Desperation

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I’ve only got two things on today’s agenda:

I need BETA readers (In The Moment During)

I need ARC readers (A Royal Pairing in Perish)

I need Chris Pratt (figured I’d slip this one in there too…)

Only asking because of desperation. That’s all 😊

(Since my newsletter is out today with all the other updates…)

~ LC

P.S. Hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day. Batman and I had sandwiches and relaxed on the couch. Only way to celebrate.

Lemme Direct Your Attention – BETA READERS NEEDED

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I know I say this every week, but I’m keeping today’s post short. Well, shorter. There are several reasons for this:

  • I write my blogs at work and my boss is almost back from lunch
  • Not a lot happened since last week (the whole no news is good news thing)
  • I’m still deep in the writing cavern which fills up all my free time
  • Four reasons sound better than three

I did think about skipping today’s post (as I don’t have much to share) but I’ve been stood up TWICE in my life, and I just won’t do that to you, kind folks. Also, there is one thing I have to talk about:

BETA READERS NEEDED for In The Moment During

Did you read In The Moment Before and simply *must* continue the journey with Robin & Grayson? If so, lemme direct your attention here:

BETA form for ITMD

I’m doing a final sweep through the manuscript, but I’ll have it ready by this Friday, 2/10. If you’re interested in giving feedback, please let me know! (I need it to make the story better 😊) And if you’re interested but haven’t read In The Moment Before (and want to!) I’ll throw you a free copy to get you up to speed. Just need feedback by March 3rd in order to get to the editor in time.

Working blurb:

After an unexpected hookup, I end up dating Grayson Knight—my former mortal enemy. We still argue constantly, and I’m sure we’ll break up at some point, but after a family dinner goes well with Dad—the city’s Police Sergeant—I have hope.

Then I start noticing things. Like how Grayson gets called away at odd times, or how skilled he is with gymnastics. Then there was the fight at school—the one where he dominated his opponent. None of it seems relevant until we’re attacked by a monstrous creature—and Grayson springs into action. It’s almost like he knows what to do…like he’s done it before.

Knowing something is off, I confront him about his odd departures and accurate physical skills, but he brushes it off. Not satisfied, I decide to discover the truth for myself. Because Grayson has a secret—and I’m going to find out what.

Lastly, I’ll have the ARC available for A Royal Pairing in Perish on 2/24. If you want to be one of the VIPers who receives their Batman/Catwoman inspired adventure-romance early, lemme direct your attention here:

ARC form for ARPIP

That’s all folks. Keep rocking it!

~ LC

For Anyone Wondering

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I write my blogs on Monday in time for Wednesday. Except today (Monday) I started the day by setting off the alarm at work. Things are off to a great start.

Probably going to keep today’s post short since we’re coming off a fresh newsletter with any recent updates and all the things you should/probably/may not want to know have already been addressed. I’m pretty boring over here. Other than a super-charged game of punch-buggie over the weekend, it’s been chill. But the game has gotten serious, for anyone wondering. Word of advice: don’t challenge Batman to the punch-buggie game. He takes that shit seriously.

Well, it’s February. Things on my mind this week/month:

  • Finish final edits of A Royal Pairing in Perish
  • Make A Royal Pairing in Perish available for ARCs
  • Establish brilliant plan of marketing
  • Sleep

Besides all my writing deadlines & duties, February is an exciting month for Batman as well! We’re working his second toy show and this time, I’ll be healthy and not sneezing on potential customers. Already an improvement! I’ll be sure to include pictures when that newsletter/blog rolls around.

Oh! And I totally neglected to mention this in my last newsletter and blog (because I’m a horrible, horrible wife) but I’ve been feeling a little stressed lately, and one day last week I came home to flowers from Batman. They’re pretty much dead now, but try to envision them lively and fresh:

Another thing? (why have I forgotten to include this gem?!) Batman won Christmas. There. I said it. I think I did pretty well this year, but I can’t get over my BIG present that just arrived due to holiday delays. Y’all ready for this?

I can’t. I just can’t. LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AAAATTTTT IIIIITTTT!!!!!!!!!!!! We’re royal and wonderful and just as it feels we should be, puffy pants and all.

He wins. Batman wins. I concede defeat.

Anyway, happy Wednesday.

See you on the ‘tock, here, or on my fb page. Pretty much the only places you’ll find me outside my writing cave. For now.

~ LC

I’m Already Off Schedule

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I’m already off schedule. (Go figure)

Am I surprised? Nah. I think the word is expected. I should’ve expected to get bumped off my own schedule. It was only a matter of time. So what happened? Well, the goal is to have the ARC of A Royal Pairing in Perish done in time for its February 17th date. Of course, that date is arbitrary (no one is banging down my door asking for it) so I can push it back if need be. But stiiillllllll. I wanted to keep to my schedule. And no, it’s not Yellowstone this time. It’s the actual writing.

I’d just finished going through In The Moment During, and can’t decide if I’m missing the last chapter/a bonus chapter/something. So, I started writing it…which led to outlining In The Moment After which NEEDS TO HAPPEN, but I’d designated this time (officially the start of this week) to focusing on A Royal Pairing in Perish since it’s releasing right around the corner. I still need to:

  • Implement final edits
  • Work on backmatter (info at the end of book)
  • Finish up my Reader Magnet (part of backmatter)
  • Set up pre-order for In The Moment During (part of back matter)

Things. There are so many things to be done. And this is just the writing part. Not to mention any kind of advertising for any of the series/learning to do Facebook ads which I’M STILL GOING TO LEARN.

All I need is more time. Anywhere we can buy that? (Please let me know if you know).

…Maybe I will push the ARC date back to 2.24. That would be a solid month prior to the book’s actual release, and again, no one is holding me to it. I’m holding myself to these deadlines, but I also don’t want to rush and provide a subpar product. That simply won’t do either.

There. I feel better having talked it out. Thank you guys – you’re the best! 😊

Other than writing-stuff, life is good. Appa is still acting weird. He’s had a few accidents in the house, and is now starting to shake like he’s got Parkinson’s. I have no idea what’s going on with him, but hopefully it corrects itself. Or the drugs we’re buying him corrects it. Something has to give.

Batman is doing well. He’s working on his own stuff and it seems to be making him happy. Which makes me happy.

Alright…seems to be everything I’ve got. Recap: I’m:

  • Already behind schedule
  • Will update schedule
  • Still going to crush this year

At the end of the day, I’m still going to write you stories. Top priority. Feel safe and loved knowing that.

Second newsletter goes out on Monday (still need to write that…) and then I’m back here next Wednesday. Have a lovely, lovely day, guys.

Make that week.

Actually, make it month.

Ah, screw it. Life.

Have a lovely, lovely life, guys.

😊

~LC

It’s All Perspective, Right?

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Here we are, half way through the first month of the year. Ready for Christmas yet?

I’m kidding and not kidding because it’ll be here tomorrow and I like planning for things in advance. I kind of have to with what I’ve got going this year.

I have my four books I’ll be releasing—one in March, June, September, and December. I have these release dates memorized (if you receive my newsletter, you probably do too. If not, there’s a handy link on the website, so check out that bad-boy.) This entire time I was operating on the March/June/September/December timeframe even though I planned on providing ARCS for each.

ARCs! Advanced Reader Copies! That’s right!! That means March/June/September/December just became February/May/September/November. The kicker? I haven’t even written the one for November, which I plan to make available for Beta in August. We’re half way through January and I don’t even have a panster outline for this one. Thank God it’s the last novella so it shouldn’t take me too long. Let’s not even get started on the final TCATC book due in March 2024 which I still haven’t written.

Still. Haven’t. Written.

At all. Any of it. Not outline. NOTHING.

Yes, a huge part of me is internally freaking out (and always will) but I’ve listened to that part for too long. Not no more. I’m just going to turn up my Bob Marley and focus on what needs to get done instead of worrying about it. It’s all perspective, right?

 But enough about writing.

YELLOWSTONE.

Batman and I have been binging it for—*thinks to myself*—two weeks now? We just finished season four, and before we get into the fifth season, we’re tackling 1883 and then 1923. Because clearly, we think we don’t have day jobs, doggies to love, or side hustles to be hustled. All that exists is binging Yellowstone and its spinoffs, which I’m fine with. It’s very refreshing to escape my own reality (and the ones I come up with) to go into someone else’s.

And yes, Rip is hot in a way. I guess. Still not *quite* my type, but I see what you guys see. And I definitely see what my mom saw years ago in Kevin Costner.

That’s all for today. I’m either off:

  1. Doing something writing-related.
  2. Watching 1883
  3. Playing with Appa and/or Regis
  4. Possibly all four because I’m a multitasking motherfucker

I could also use a nap at some point. Maybe one day.

Until next week 😊

~LC

Check Those Details

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Last week was…interesting.

Mostly due to the exorbitant amounts of slobber, and the unintentional slip-n-slide we had going in the kitchen. But I like to think that kept us on our toes. And maybe…in some weird way…mopping the tile floor as well? No? Guess I still have to do that, then.

Appa went to the neurologist on Wednesday. According to the doctor, he didn’t see signs that pointed to anything “nefarious” (actually used the word nefarious) so I’m taking that as a win. He’s still having trouble closing his mouth, but we’re giving him anti-inflammatory medicine to combat that, so he doesn’t continue through life as a slack-jaw motherfuker. It seems to be getting a little better, but he’s still follows me around like a canine Darth Vadar, reminding me of his medical issues. At least he’s not one with the dark-side, unless you count his flatulence, which kills us all daily.

Our washing machine is still broken. The attendant came out—tried to schedule the legit same time as Appa’s appointment, so that was fun—and when he finally did arrive, he wasn’t able to fix it. He was missing a part and it would have to be this week. So…we still have giant piles of absolutely everything needing to be cleaned since, again, I made the intelligent, executive decision to put it all off until the last moment last weekend. This is the kind of CEO brain working behind writing and selling books, guys. MUAHAHA. Welcome to the funny farm, bitches.

That brings us to the writing updates—and the mistake I made because I didn’t check the details. (Guys—check the details. Just do it. It may take only a moment but it’s worth it. Trust me.) So, what didn’t I check the details on and basically, created a huge clusterfuck for myself? It was my last scheduled advertising for In The Moment Before—a paid, promotional newsletter that went out on Sunday. How did I screw it up? Well…without getting too into it, there are two basic ways to sell books:

  1. Through Amazon ONLY. You enroll in KU (Kindle Unlimited) which is a program that readers pay to be a part of, and they get every book in the program. Kind of like signing up for a streaming service.
  2. Through Amazon AND OTHER RETAILERS. This is called going “wide.” Readers are able to buy through Amazon (but must pay) and they can also buy through other retailers as well like Barnes & Noble, Apple, Google Play, ect.

Because I want absolutely anyone able to read my stuff (and I don’t believe in putting all my eggs in one basket) I’m a WIDE author. However, someone forgot to check her details and the promo listed In The Moment Before available as being in KU (it’s not.) Why is this such a big deal/goof up:

  1. I paid $115. You have to spend money to make money, right? (If you find a way around this, please tell me)
  2. All readers in KU who went looking for ITMB probably got pissed that it’s actually 2.99
  3. All WIDE readers saw it was in KU and probably didn’t think about it again.

This is what we call an *epic fail*. But we also call it—and repeat after me—a learning experience. Check those details. They could be really frigging important.

I also discovered that my scheduled blog posts aren’t posting as should be (hence the last two weeks they’ve gone up in the afternoon when I discovered they never posted in the morning). I contacted their help service who advised my website theme/appearance has been retired. Of course it has. Now that I’m working on my website and got it to the way I like. Of course.

All I can say is I’m tired, but at least these are champagne problems. Everyone is still here, healthy, and happy. That’s literally the only thing that matters.

I have another promotion running this Friday (the 13th – MUAHAHAHA!) for Escape from Harrizel, and you best believe me I’m checking the details. Last month I featured my BTT series and put it on sale. This month I’m focusing on promoting Arizal Wars, so…let’s see how this goes.

One last thing…it dawned on me that this is my tenth year of publishing. Yeah. I officially published Escape from Harrizel in 2013…a whole decade ago. Clearly, I’ve barely made any progress, but I wouldn’t change a thing. This is my journey, and I may be taking the real business steps a decade later, but I’m doing it. And I’m proud of myself for not quitting. And I’m proud of you too.

Okay, that’s all I got. I hope you have a fabulous week and weekend. First official 2023 Newsletter is going out on Sunday to the VIPers 😊

~ LC