Mercy Celeste's Blog

 As of this morning I've pulled all of the books with a female MC from sale on Amazon. 

The decision to do this wasn't made lightly.

I spent this week updating my record keeping focusing on the last two years specifically, and in the last two years those five books may as well never existed. Even on Kobo in Kobo plus, those five books have never sold a single copy... ever. 

Now, what I do with those books is still undecided. I've considered updating two or three of them and republishing them under ...

 I know I talk about my frustration with the writing and books and publishing world. A lot. Ad nauseum. And my place in it. And my inconsistent message is not lost on me. 

I do understand your frustration with me. I do. 

I don't understand how I got here, but that's not really a topic any of us have time to pick apart.

I know that writing a new book would cure some ills. But, again, the last ten new books I wrote had little to no sales. So, again, that's where I am. I've written new. I've offered t...

 I should really put publishing anniversary dates in my planner so I can keep up with it all. I missed a whole bunch in the last month. 

I discovered this particular missed anniversary while posting to my November set books social media mini-blitz.

Soo... Happy 10th Anniversary to the book that killed my career. At least on paper. 

Out of the Blues

November destination wedding. Brother of bride meets half brother of groom. A little forced proximity spiciness. A whole lot of family drama. 

Read free w...

 Technically one day late but since it didn't publish until the 12th, today is the official 14th anniversary of my debut self-published book In From the Cold.

I'd forgotten.

I usually do.

It's been a very long time since I've thought about that book and those characters. Sometimes I can't remember their names. Long Long time. 

No, I'm not going to write a book about the making of this book. Because I honestly can't remember much about the inspiration or why I wrote what I wrote. I remember the bulls...

 More like twenty-five years later but for the sake of this post, let's just say fifteen.

Okay, long story short, I started writing my first book when my third child was still in diapers. I finished it when she was still in diapers. She was a late potty trainer. The child just turned 30. I never published that book. I mean, it was terrible. It's still here, buried. But I still have it. It's not on the computer. I hand typed that thing. 

Skip a few years and I finally did sell my first two books to...

 I mean, not THAT turkey. It's still not Halloween yet, and I don't like the turkey holiday, or turkey. But, anyway, let's talk books and writing and what I'd like to do in the coming months.

First, let me say this once more, I have no plans to write any sequels to any current books, anytime soon. 

Why? You are asking, because I can hear you asking why why why when when when insert either series in here... 

Well, because the writing/publishing business is harsh. And the reality is, the second book ...

 Happy Halloween eve eve eve... or something like that.

Is it just me or has this been the longest shortest month in the history of long short months?

It feels like it was just August and now we're in the final week of October. It also feels like October has been here for three months.

I know I have time concept problems but this is a bit much.

Time for me is odd. I know exactly what time it is at any given moment, roughly, give or take ten minutes. I don't know why I know. I just know. I've always ...

 October is finally here. My favorite month. Any day now it will start to feel like fall. Right now it feels hot, dry, and crispy. Not crisp. Crispy. It's too dry. Everything looks and smells dead. Usually, by now, we have the inside fall and Halloween decorations up. We really don't do outside stuff. I tried when the kids were little, but honestly, we don't really go out front that much so it's just not something we do. I would like to do something on the front porch this year. I just can't fin...

 I mean I had intended to post yesterday but I ran out of time, soo... you're welcome?

Sooo.... what's happening? Anything good? Because I sure as hell don't want to talk about the bad (gesturing vaguely to everything). 

September has Septembered is best I can say. It's hot. The trees are all turning yellow or dying way too early. Did I mention it's hot? I think yesterday was the first time it's rained since mid-August. It's hot, dry, and wrong, atmospherically speaking.

I don't know what else to s...

 It's been a bit since I blogged last. I don't have much to say. I think I maintain the FB feed and the occasional blog post now as a form of proof of life.

I mean, I don't write anymore. In bits and starts. I decide what I'm writing is shit and I stop. Because it is... shit. I don't read anymore... because I can't find anything that isn't shit. Yes, I know, I'm too critical. Yes, I know, I should get over it. 

Here's the thing... I can't. I spent too many years reading shit stories with five star...