Lisa Shearin's Blog

I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I’ve sent a newsletter — six months. Wow! Sorry about that!

I’ve been busy living life and writing.

The short list: the book grew beyond a novella, the plot got extra twisty, I planted a big garden (by hand, no machines), started all the plants in February from seeds under grow lights, did many crochet projects (I really need to post pics, don’t I?), fostered Jack Russell Terriers through Russell Rescue Carolinas (a fabulous organization), helped to care for my elderly in-laws, church deacon chair duties, tried not to let our six-acre farm get totally out of control and look abandoned, and “graduated” from therapy in March.

Don’t worry, I now carve out time for rest during the week, and I no longer feel guilty about it. Yay me!  Plus, we spent a week at our family cabin in the NC mountains, and will be going back for another week soon. We have wildlife cameras, and discovered that while I was taking one of our Jacks to potty, there was a teenage bear a couple of feet away in the woods. Ellie knew, and in typical JRT fashion, wanted that bear desperately. She probably could’ve taken him. We have a bear family of four, a coyote family of five, a racoon family of four, turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, rabbits, etc. etc.  

Basically I’ve been just living life.

You’d think posting a newsletter would be quick. It might be for most folks, but for me, it takes most of a day. The composition, editing, posting on my blog, sending the newsletter on MailChimp, then posting on all of my social media sites. Time consuming.

To expand on a few of the above items, the book is a full length SPI Files. It still centers around Mac and Rake going back to Weird Sisters for an engagement party thrown by the town. After that, the simple plot started taking the usual twists, turns, and trips down multiple rabbit holes. In other words, the usual for my books. I think you’re gonna love it. I’ve determined that I’m incapable of writing simple plots. They’re boring to me. The new title is The Enigma Key, and I really want to have it out by next spring. I’m using The Solstice Countdown art for my newsletter banner until I can get the cover from my amazing artist Elizabeth Peiro. I’m about a month away from deciding the details of what I want, and sending it to her.  

I’m starting to work on my panels for MarsCon 2026. I’ve been invited to be the Author Guest of Honor, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! It’s in Virginia Beach, VA, January 16-18, 2026. If you can make it, I’d love to meet you! I have a few ideas for panel topics, but if there’s something you’d be interested in hearing about from me, drop me an email and let me know. I’ll be leaving plenty of time to chat with readers.

And speaking of emails I need from you, our fig trees are having a banner year. I can’t find the family recipe for fig preserves. If you have a good family recipe, I’d love it if you could send it to me. 

An update on audio books. I haven’t gotten back in the booth. I know, I’m a bad author. But now that I’ve got the book momentum going–and my entire garden died from heat and torrential rain (except the sunflowers, sunflowers can survive anything)–I now have a wee bit of time to carve out some recording sessions. Derek (the hubby) is doing the production. We’re about four chapters shy of finishing The Entity Game, and then we need to knock out The Gorgon Agenda. I really want to have Entity out by November, and Gorgon by the end of the year. Thank you for your continued patience!    

I think that’s it for now. Back to work.
L.     

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There wasn’t any time for book work last week. This week, I’m compiling all the notes for the SPI Files novella (or novel) with the working title The Leprechaun Legacy. For a sneak peek at the villain, see the novella “Lucky Charms” in the Night Shift anthology about Mac’s first night on the job at SPI — and also the night she met Rake. This one’s gonna be fun!  

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I was going to wait a few days to send this, but I thought we could all use some good news today. (The banner art on this newsletter is a clue.) 

During the wee hours of last night (election night here in the US), I came to a decision and had an epiphany. Yep, I was awake all night and not by choice. The decision involved my screen time on social media. For the foreseeable future, I will be limiting social media to book business. Too distracting, and quite frankly, too depressing. Why take negativity into your life that you don’t need to? Rest assured, I’ll still post links to all my newsletters on my social media accounts, but any and all news doomscrolling stops. Life is not lived online. It’s lived with people you love and who love you, as well as doing the things that make you happy. 

And speaking of things that make me happy — and will make you happy — I’ve had an epiphany. I realized last night that I need to set The Fear Syndrome aside, at least for the next two years. I say “two years” because I’m going back to the SPI Files and Raine Benares right now, hopefully one book a year, but my writer brain and mental health will have the last say on that schedule. (A book a year was my old schedule.) By the way, therapy is going great! I’m learning a lot about myself and have been able to actually fix some things.

The Fear Syndrome was supposed to be out two years ago this month. Two years. It’s never taken me that long to write a book. I’ve been unable to get past the first third of the book. Part of my exhaustion was from the US political and world situation. Last night, I finally realized that my writer brain and burned out/exhausted self was refusing to go any further on a book featuring all the same things that had gotten me into this situation. Duh! Yeah, it can take me a while to realize the obvious. I’m stubborn that way.    

So, I’m in the process of packing up all my notes and setting the entire project aside. After giving myself a week to be outside on our farm, prepping it for winter, I’ll re-read both the SPI Files and Raine Benares series. For now, I’ll be rotating between the two. The Aurora Donati books will come back, but only after I’m ready,

I have to write what makes me happy, and so many of you have told me how my Raine Benares and SPI Files books have gotten you through rough times in your lives, that they’re your comfort books. There is no bigger compliment you could ever give me than that.

I can’t promise which series gets a new book first. My writer brain will let me know. Whichever series sparks my joy right now gets to be first in line. It’s all about the joy. I need it, and the resulting book will be better for it. However, while I was outside blowing leaves this morning, a potential first project popped into my head. 

A SPI Files novella where Mac and Rake go back to Weird Sisters, NC, for a couples bridal shower. Friends from SPI will go with them. I don’t know what goes wrong when they get there that’ll require SPI agents to team with townsfolk and Mac’s family to save the day, but it’ll come to me. Being a novella (a length between a short story and a novel) will be a nice way to ease me back into writing AND get y’all something fun and comforting to read. Plus, in theory, I should be able to write it faster. And yes, I’ll record an audio book to go with it. What do you think? Let me know.  

Love you all, you’re the best fans a writer can have! 
Lisa

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First, a personal update: I had my first therapy session Monday morning. Wow! I really like my therapist and think we’re going to get a lot of good work done together.

Even in the first session, I got some incredible insights about myself. I put others before myself and feel incredible guilt if I don’t take care of others instead of myself. Instead of myself. Usually, that phrase is before myself. I take care of others to the exclusion of myself, meaning I don’t take care of myself. I never have. I feel like I’m lazy or selfish if I try to take time for myself. For me, true self-care doesn’t happen. And I feel like I’m being judged and found lacking if I try to say no. It’s no wonder I’m exhausted and can’t concentrate. A bubble bath with a book doesn’t count as self-care. It goes so much further than that. At least I think it does. Though to tell you the truth, it occurred to me that I don’t know what self-care actually is, because I’ve never done it. And I can’t relax because there’s always something I think I should be doing, and I feel guilty if I’m not doing it. All this guilt and I’m not even Jewish or Catholic. ; ) Combine that with being a control freak. It’s very difficult for me to give up a task once I’ve taken it on. Recipe for emotional and physical exhaustion, isn’t it? 

Not a half bad result for a first session. I’ve come up with a few solutions to those issues, but I won’t go into them right now. Later. Therapy is going to be so good for me. I’m looking forward to next Monday. Folks, if you’re going through some things, get yourself some therapy. It’s good stuff! 

Next is a cause near and dear to my heart — The Franklin All-Nighter for Mental Health. This is our third time doing this. Our, meaning University Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC, right on the corner of the famous Franklin Street and Columbia Street. Our pastor started this event three years ago in an effort to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment. Health is health, whether physical or mental, both should be talked about the same way, without shame. 

The All-Nighter is what it says. Participants walk or run all night, from sundown on Saturday, October 27 until sunrise Sunday, October 28. All donations benefit student mental health services on campus as well as meeting the mental health needs of Orange County’s homeless community. 

The first year I ran the support services offered in our MLK Jr. community room: medical, rest, drinks, keeping the food tables full (local restaurants donate goodies throughout the night), and the trash cans empty. Hmmm, taking care of people. I’m starting to see a trend. ; ) Seriously, I loved doing it. What can I say, I’m a helper. That first year I did that all night, dusk til dawn.

Last year, I participated and walked 20 miles. I wanted to do 26 to have a marathon distance, but two ingrown toenails and an arthritic knee had other goals. This year, I really wanted to do that 26, or better yet, 30 miles. But I’m just getting over a nasty cold and am pretty worn out. So, I’ll do as much as I can for as long as I can and be perfectly happy with it. BTW, that 30-mile goal came from our deacon chair for the first All-Nighter. She did 30 miles. (She’s also probably half my age, but that’s never stopped me.) Now that I’m deacon chair, I want to do 30. Yeah, I’m also incredibly competitive, something else to address in therapy. ; ) 

If any of you would like to make a donation in my name, HERE’S THE LINK. Even a couple of dollars would be welcome, but don’t feel like you have to. I know how tight money is for all of us right now. I’ve set a goal of $500. 

AND if any of you live close to Chapel Hill, we’d love to have you register and join us! USE THIS LINK this link for more information and to sign up. You could walk a couple of laps with me, and we can talk about books! If you do register, please send me an email so I know you’re gonna be there. On Sunday morning, all participants are treated to an incredible breakfast in our church’s Great Hall. That right there is worth staying up all night! I’d do it just for the biscuits and gravy. 

That’s it for now!
Lisa 

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My apologies for not updating you sooner, but I’ve had a lot on my plate. But first, I want to thank each and every one of you for your emails, posts, and messages! Just when I think I have the best fans in the world, you guys raise the bar even further. : ) You wrote to me, telling the stories of your own struggles, encouraging me and lifting me up. I simply cannot thank you enough! You’re my rocks and have helped me SO MUCH.

I contacted my doctor, and she recommended a therapy practice. I read all the bios, and at least three of the therapists would be a good fit for me. I haven’t contacted them yet for the same reason I haven’t updated you all.

For the first time in two years, Derek and I had planned a trip in early September to our family cabin in the NC mountains. And for the very first time, we took Ruby (our greyhound) and Benny & Ellie (our Jack Russells). The Jacks did great. Ruby, not so much. What was supposed to be eight days of relaxation and wrapping my head back around my book, turned into four days of trying to get Ruby to pee and poo somewhere other than inside the cabin. In her defense, there is a really large black bear on the mountain, and Ruby wasn’t about to potty anywhere that bear had been.

Also, I had poison ivy, which Benny had given to me just before we left. My doc prescribed prednisone, and as a result, sleeping was pretty much impossible. Between the pred and googling at 3 AM how to get a Lake Superior volume of pee out of an especially thick Oriental rug, sleep was an aspiration not obtained. By the way, an entire box of baking soda does the trick on rug pee. At least temporarily. We had to roll up the rug, throw it in the back of the truck, and bring it home with us to clean with our machine. The patient lived, stain free. Huzzah!

So, we left after four days to come home. The day after we got back, I was hit with what I thought was covid. The test said negative, but it sure as heck felt like covid. After a little over a week, I called my doc again, and she prescribed some antibiotics. Since I hadn’t gotten better on my own, she thought it’d gone into a sinus infection. I just finished the antibiotics yesterday. (Antibiotics make me feel crappy, too.) I still feel bad. I’ll give it a few more days, then I’ll go see the doc rather than doing a video call.

Though I might be tired from yesterday. Derek and I drove to Salisbury, NC, (outside Charlotte) to pick up a foster Jack Russell. I took the attached photo of Bandit this morning. Rescues don’t happen on people schedules. There was a dog in need, so we went. (I’ll tell you all about us getting involved in JRT rescue in another newsletter. And how there’s not much need for greyhound rescue any more. Which is a great thing!) 

So, long story not really short, (I am a novelist, after all), that’s a little of why I haven’t updated you. But I didn’t want you to worry that you haven’t heard from me. It was just life happening. Which beats the heck out of life not happening. ; ) 

I’ll send out another newsletter next week (at least I’ll try).
I love you all so much!
Lisa   

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I’ve been getting emails checking on me and my work. I’ve been putting off writing a newsletter to you all in hopes that the situation would’ve improved, and I’d be able to tell you that the next book release was right around the corner. I can’t say that.
 
As you all have noticed, I haven’t released The Fear Syndrome yet. It hasn’t been for lack of trying. I’m working every day. Since 2007, when Magic Lost, Trouble Found was released, I’ve released 20 books. That’s 20 books in 17 years. Between books, I always tell myself that I’ll take a little break, but I end up starting the next book within days of finishing the previous one. I know I’m a workaholic. Writing is also my job, how I make money to pay the bills. When I don’t release books, I don’t make money. It’s as simple as that. It’s a hell of a motivator.     

Like most of you, the past six to eight years have taken their toll. Between political upheaval, COVID, and deaths of loved ones, we’re all emotionally and physically exhausted. We’re worn down and worn out. I’ve added a major surgery two years ago to all of the above. Writing isn’t like a normal job that you can just push through on a day-to-day basis. Many authors I know are having similar problems. Our minds have to be in a good place (or at least a decent place) to even begin to produce quality work. We create worlds and characters, and need to put ourselves into both to weave a story that will not only entertain, but transport ourselves and our readers, giving us an escape into a place far away from where we are. Writers are also sensitive and empathetic, absorbing the emotions of those around us – both personal and up close, and far away through media of all kinds. The past few years were better left unabsorbed.     

But for those of us who can’t help but to absorb and assimilate, all the negativity – the anxiety, fear, sadness, depression — affects our lives and our work. I’ve battled anxiety and depression for most of my life. I’m on some great meds, but meds can’t fix everything. 

When I’m out and about, anyone who sees or meets me would think I was perfectly fine, cheerful, encouraging, hopeful even. And I am. On the surface. Underneath, I’m the walking wounded. Each of my past few books have taken longer to write. The Fear Syndrome was supposed to have been out last November. I’m only on Chapter 8. Deep down, I know that I’m simply burned out, that my writer brain is still there and still capable of doing the same level of work as always. But occasionally, doubt creeps in. That voice that tells me that I’ve lost my edge, the creative fire has burned out, and it’ll never come back. But then there are the days when I write part of a chapter and I realize the spark is still there, that I’ve still got it. Hope.
 
In the past two months, I’ve been able to start reading for enjoyment again, which is critical to being able to write. Some days, I don’t make progress on the book, but most days I do. It’s slower than I want, but I’m having to accept that it’s what I can do right now. Yes, I need the money, but I can only do what I can do. Accepting that isn’t easy and I’m still working on it, but I’m getting so much better at doing self-care, being kind to and patient with myself, reminding myself that my writer brain is fine, it can still do everything it could in the past, it’s just “on crutches” right now. Slow and steady gets the book written, not panic and beating myself up. Let me tell you, as a workaholic who needs the income, “Just relax!” is a hell of a lot easier said than even attempted, let alone done. But I’m trying and I’m getting there. I still believe I’ll get back up to my past production levels, I’m just going through one hell of a slump. Getting better takes time.   
 
On a more positive note, I am making progress on the audiobooks. The Solstice Countdown is out there for sale, and we’re seven chapters from the end of recording The Entity Game. As soon as Derek finishes the production on that one, we’ll start The Gorgon Agenda. Then the Raine books. We’re found our ideal recording time. During lunch. Have lunch, get in the recording booth. I’m doing two chapters a day. That’s an excellent pace. The equipment picks up the tiniest of outside sounds, and even though we live in the country, lunchtime has less cars going by the house. Also, by the end of the day, I’m tired and still need to make dinner. I need the evenings to relax, not record.
 
Which brings me to Derek. As of July, we’ve been married for 33 years. I could not have a more loving and supportive husband. Thankfully, he has a good job, so the loss to my income is manageable. I’m typing this, tears running down my face, and he’s rubbing my shoulders and reminding me that he loves me, it’s all good, and everything is going to be fine. I know this, but it’s beyond wonderful to have my strong, loving man reminding me whenever I need it.
 
Back to the audiobooks. I’m getting better as a narrator with each recording session, and I’m enjoying it. Back when it first came out, I read a few reviews of The Solstice Countdown. I probably shouldn’t have. Hoo boy, some of those were brutal. They want Johanna back as the narrator for my SPI Files books, and I’d love to be able to hire her, but I can’t afford it now, and probably not for the foreseeable future. They couldn’t know my situation, but I have to admit, it still hurt. Fortunately, I have a thick professional skin, so I’ve been able to, as Taylor says, “shake it off.”
 
I’ve been wanting to tell you all this for a long time, but I always wanted to “wait a little longer” to see if things improved. They have, but not enough to be able to give you a publication date on The Fear Syndrome. Right now, my focus is on progress, not a deadline. I’m hopeful to maybe be able to say next spring?? But I have to keep my focus on daily progress, taking my writer brain from crutches to a cane, to a hobble, a walk, then a run. I’m having to be patient with myself. Which is a hoot, because as those who know me would tell you, I’m one of the least patient people they know, especially with myself. But I’m working on it, I’m getting better at doing it, and I’m making writing progress. Do what you can and do it well. Making small progress is something I can do well, so I’m celebrating it.    
 
I hope telling you all this might help a few of you who are going through something similar. We have to lift each other up, encourage when we can, hug (even cyber hugs) when we can’t. Don’t isolate yourself. If you need help, please get it. I’ve been thinking about getting some therapy. However, my stress is largely financial. I don’t produce, I don’t make money. So, I didn’t see how therapy could help. But. . .talking to someone about forgiving myself for not being able to produce right now just might do me a world of good. Being able to forgive myself for what I view deep down as failure would be such a relief. There. I’ve admitted it. This girl needs to get herself some therapy. : ) I need it and I’m going to get help. Someone to help guide me through this. Because I know I can get through this and come out so much better on the other side. Please, if you’re suffering silently, reach out. It seems like half the world is in therapy right now. I’ll be adding myself to that number. If you need it, please do the same.
 
For those of you who still have it all together, or even mostly together, and want to share some positivity, I would love to hear from you. I could use some encouragement and lifting up – and cyber hugs are always welcome!
 
Love you all!
Lisa     

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I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to type those words! 

Derek & I submitted the audio files about two weeks ago, and I *just* got the notification that it’s available for sale on Audible, iTunes, and Amazon. You guys are the very first to know. Heck, my family doesn’t even know yet.

It took so long because my audio engineer/producer (aka Derek, the hubby) is a perfectionist. Also, we were learning, and had to build and equip a recording booth that ended up looking like a black-draped Tardis. He’d never run a recording board before, and I’d never recorded a book. After an incredible amount of work, we did a great job if I do say so myself. ; ) 

As to the accent you’ll hear, I’m a North Carolina girl born & bred and have never lived outside the state. However, NC is one of the most linguistically diverse states in the US. Pretty much, it’s go ten miles and the accent changes. I was born and grew up in the center of the state. 

Since I’m writing The Fear Syndrome (sequel to The Entity Game), we’ll be recording Entity next. The writing is FINALLY going great. I’m knocking out two chapters a week. After Entity, we’ll do The Gorgon Agenda, and then dive into the Raine Benares books that Audible didn’t buy the rights to.

Speaking of Raine, I know I told you I’d gift you a plot summary by the holidays. Long story short. . . I came up with something even better that needs to stew awhile. Plus, I’ve had a lot going on since the beginning of the year. I had a procedure, physical therapy, and have also been taking Derek’s mom to all her doctor appointments. His sister usually takes care of that, but she broke her ankle and won’t be able to drive until at least May.

I’m perfectly healthy (don’t worry)! I’m back in the gym and back on my weight loss goal of 30 lbs. I started nine weeks ago, and have lost 10.8 lbs as of this morning. Woo!

I’ll quit running my mouth and give you what you want — the sales links. Here they are:
Amazon 
Audible 
iTunes  

Amazon and Audible are available now. iTunes should be in the next day or two. The above link is to my iTunes audiobook page. 

I *really* hope you enjoy it! And if you do, please spread the word!

HAPPY LISTENING!!!      

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 Let’s get the not-so-great news out of the way. There’s been a delay with The Solstice Countdown audiobook. This is totally my fault, and I’m so sorry. To give you the best listening experience, we want to offer Whispersync for Voice with our audiobooks. This enables you to seamlessly switch between Audible and Kindle, to either listen or read–or both. To do that, the narration must EXACTLY match the print/ebook. (This is where my fault comes in.) While narrating The Solstice Countdown, I would occasionally delete or add a word. I didn’t know that was a problem until we’d finished recording. This is when Derek discovered the requirements for Whispersync. Yep, I made a boo-boo. Multiple boo-boos. In fact, only two chapters were without boo-boos.

So, Derek the Ever Patient, went through the recording while following along in the print book, marked the differences, then highlighted them on my tablet I use to record (I have to use an e-reader because the mic picks up everything, so page turning is a no-no.)

Long story at least shorter, we’ve finished re-recording the problem areas, and Derek is now flowing the replacement sections into the existing files, while tweaking the sound levels so the replacements are identical to the original. Just one smoothly flowing, perfect narration. Let’s give a round of applause to Derek, that man is amazing! He’s able to knock out a couple of chapters a day. When we submit it to Audible, I’ll let you know. Immediately. If not sooner.

The good part about all this is we will have gotten past the learning curve, and subsequent books will go MUCH, MUCH faster.  Next to be recorded is The Gorgon Agenda, then the first Aurora Donati book, The Entity Game, followed by the Raine Benares books not picked up by Audible. 

Update on The Fear Syndrome — I’m at 30K words now. When I reach 50K, that’s when I start putting everything together, flesh on the bones, so to speak. I’m shooting for release next summer.

Now for the good and really cool news! I’ve hit the story idea motherlode for new Raine Benares books! Big shoutout to Naomi here. She asked if I still had the snippet I published way back when on my blog where Raine meets Markus. I couldn’t find that, but I did find about 50 pages of unused dialog from the series, a file of short story ideas, and a couple of other files with ideas for three new Raine books, AND three new books in a spinoff series (The Young Guardian Chronicles), which would still feature the cast from the original series and would pick up where the Raine series and three Tam books left off.

And that doesn’t even include the ideas I’m sure I’ll get when I read through all the Raine books prior to starting. When will I be starting, you ask? As soon as I put The Fear Syndrome to bed. So, I will be going back to Raine’s world around the middle of next year! And after the Raine book will be the next SPI Files with Mac and Rake’s wedding! A three-series rotation. SPI Files, Aurora Donati, Raine Benares.   

In my next newsletter (before December 25), I’ll give you a holiday sneak peek present at that spinoff series. I’m excited about it, and I think you will be too!     

Take care and happy holidays!
Lisa

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The Fear Syndrome cover coming soon + jacket copy  The incredibly talented James Egan of Bookfly Design is now working on the cover for The Fear Syndrome (aka Aurora Donati #2). I am working on the jacket copy to go on the back. In the next two weeks, I should have a finished cover (and what the book is about) to show you! The banner above is a portion of his cover for Aurora’s first adventure, The Entity Game.   

Derek is finishing the production on The Solstice Countdown audiobook! Then I’ll need to re-record a few tiny sections here and there. We’re still shooting for release by the end of November via Audible.  

Ten days until the Second Annual Franklin All Nighter, October 28-29. We’re running/walking all night, dusk til dawn to raise money for mental health services on UNC’s campus and the Chapel Hill community. Last year, I volunteered; this year I’m running (well, walking really fast). I’d be honored if you’d sponsor me. Even a few dollars would be greatly appreciated and would go a long way — just like me (hopefully). I’d love to log 20 miles. 27 (26.2 is a marathon) would be great (and a miracle). Hey, a girl’s gotta have goals. You can make your tax-deductible donation here: https://tinyurl.com/ycyb2nmh

AND. . .If you’re local (or will be in the Chapel Hill area the last weekend in October), register to run with us! Music, food all night, great people (including yours truly), and you’ll get this one-of-a-kind race t-shirt!
Register to run here: www.runsignup.com/Race/NC/ChapelHill/FranklinAllNighter

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It’s been a while since my last newsletter, but as I’ve always said, I won’t clog your inbox unless I have something important to tell you. I have an update on The Fear Syndrome (Aurora Donati #2), the audiobook of The Solstice Countdown (the first of six books I’m recording myself for release through Audible), and a personal favor to ask.

First, The Fear Syndrome. I had hoped to have the book finished and ready to release by December, but that’s not going to happen. The reason? You know how you always hear that to write you need to read? A lot. For a writer, words are fuel. I’d been trying to run my writer brain on a dry tank. “I don’t have time to read,” I’d tell myself. Or “I’ve got to get this book written.” Well, girl, you ain’t gonna get far, are you? Plus, turns out I started the book wrong. I couldn’t figure out why my writer brain wouldn’t let me go forward (which it does if I’m trying to take a plot in the wrong direction). It’d be lovely if it’d tell me WHAT I was doing wrong, but apparently, that’s up to the stupid half of my brain to figure out.  

VERY long story short, I now know what I did wrong, I’m on the right track, it’s fabulous, and I’ve been reading like a maniac to fill up my creativity tank. All is well and moving along. The publication date? Probably late spring next year. Sorry! But know that I was working as hard as I could (probably too hard, which was another part of the problem). Everything’s now back on track.

Second, The Solstice Countdown audiobook (the SPI Files book in the banner of this newsletter). The one where Mac takes Rake home for the holidays to meet her family. I’ve finished recording that one and Derek is working on the production end. I chose that one as the first to do because I thought it’d be especially fun to narrate. It was. I could not be more pleased with how I sound and can’t wait for you all to hear it! If all goes according to plan, we’ll have it available to you through Audible/Amazon by Thanksgiving (that’s the end of November for you folks outside the US).

The reason why it’s taken so long? Derek and I had to learn everything about audiobook recording and production from the ground up. It took a little longer than we thought. I’ll have to send a photo of the booth Derek built. It’s impressive. Then it was getting the best equipment, getting the soundproofing just right, the right settings for our booth on the audio equipment, a boom sturdy enough to hold our microphone steady, a consultation with an audio engineer, etc. etc. Plus, we both have day jobs. Now that we’re up to speed, the other books will go MUCH faster. Next up for recording: The Gorgon Agenda. Then the Aurora Donati books, then the Raine Benares books that were previously unavailable in audiobook format.  

Lastly, I have a favor to ask of you all. I’m getting myself back into pre-COVID shape. On Saturday evening, October 28 and into Sunday morning, October 29, I will be participating in the second annual Franklin All Nighter, an overnight fun run/walk to raise money for mental health services on the UNC campus and in the Chapel Hill, NC, community.  

The Franklin All Nighter is an event that aims to help students dealing with mental illness, as well as others in our immediate community who may be particularly vulnerable. One of the ways we strive to achieve that goal is by raising money for three organizations that have a direct, positive impact on those seeking help for mental illness:

UNC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
UNC Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology program (MHPP)
The Street Outreach, Harm Reduction & Deflection Team (SOHRAD)

ALL money raised goes to those three organizations.

Last year I wasn’t in shape to participate, so I ran the runner support center. Local restaurants donate food for the runners through the night, there’s first aid available, and places to rest. Basically, my job was to take care of the participants, keep the food and drink tables from looking like a swarm of locusts had just flown through, keep the garbage emptied (it’s amazing how much trash 75 hungry runners can produce), bandage and/or ice boo-boos, and get runners what they needed to keep going, etc. I had the best time! But this year I want to get out there. We start around 6:30 (sundown) and go until sunrise (about 7:30) and walk/run a mile circuit through downtown Chapel Hill. 

13 hours.

I would love to do at least twenty miles (at a fast walk). Donations aren’t by the mile, merely what you would like to give. I would be thrilled and so honored if as many of you as possible would sponsor me. Any amount you would like to donate, even a few dollars would be greatly appreciated!     

If you would like to help me fundraise by offering a tax-deductible donation, please follow THIS LINK. Any support you are able to offer gets us closer to our event goal of $35,000, so thank you for considering this opportunity to help me and many more “Pull an All Nighter for Mental Health!”

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