If you’ve been following me at all, you know I’ve been dealing with some personal issues lately, but I’m trying to get back into my stride with my writing. So, let me get you caught up on what I’ve accomplished recently.

First, I finished the first draft of my Nanowrimo novel. I haven’t settled on a title for it yet, but I’m looking forward to editing it and getting it ready soon. It’s the first novel I’ve written completely since losing my wife, and I’m hoping this is a sign that I’m getting back to normal. It’s a fun story, a fantasy set in an alternate world about a boy and his grandfather on an epic journey.

Second, I just finished editing the second book of my Valoria series, “The Demon’s Curse.” If all goes to plan, I should have it ready to publish in the next couple of months. I still need to get a few more eyes on it and do a final edit, and then create the cover and do the final formatting. But we’re almost there.

Third, I’m gearing up for this year’s Nanowrimo. I’ve already made some progress on the third Valoria book, so my plan is to use the 50,000 words in November to finish it. So, hopefully the wait for book three won’t be as long as the one for book two. I’m already about a third of the way into it, and the story’s coming out pretty well so far.

And, finally, I lost my original mascot, Kyrie, last year. But recently, I managed to find a couple of chinchillas for sale nearby. It will be a little while before they are calm enough to participate in photo shoots, but they have agreed to take on the mantle of being the new co-mascots of Chinchilla Press, and they already have the cuteness aspect down. So here, I introduce to you, Flurry and Misty, the next mascots of Chinchilla Press.

So, things are moving in the right direction. Feel free to offer me encouragement. You have no idea how much it helps.