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Life After Completing a Series

With the Saga of a Space Freighter Series (aka the Matilda Series) completed, I have been floating in a sea of ‘what to do now’. It’s weird to think about having closed a chapter of my life that has been part of me for close to a decade. So, I’ve been trying to figure out the next step. And by step, I mean the next Grand Step.

I’ve been catching up on other non-writing projects that have been cluttering my mind. I’ve gotten some reading done (which is really nice since my “to be read” pile was getting enormous), caught up on some tv shows, and been catching some new (to me) bands at different venues. It’s been a lot of fun, but none of it has helped me figure out the next thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been idle. I’ve been working on research for a couple of projects, and some of that research has given me the impetus to change tracks on at least one writing project. But all in all, I get the feeling those stories will either be big steps that end quickly or little steps that stay with me for a long while.

In other news, I’m working on getting the Saga of a Space Freighter up at other vendors, but nothing seems to be as simple as I try to make it. Setbacks are points of learning as frustrating as they can be sometimes. Audio versions are still on the horizon, and stepping back from the series for a bit is a good idea. Either way, I still have plenty to do.

Maybe I don’t have to find that Grand Step, though. Perhaps the smaller steps are what I need.

Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay

Waltzing Matilda is a Contender!

They say, don’t judge a book by its cove, but my book, Waltzing Matilda (Matilda Series Book 5), has been picked to be one of the contenders in the Cover of the Month contest – April 2023 on AllAuthor.com!

The contest has 4 rounds:

First, all the selected entries will contest for the next round. (Duration 1st – 7th)
Second, 100 top-voted covers will compete to enter the third round. (Duration 8th – 14th)
Third, top 50 book covers from the previous round. (Duration 15th – 21st)
Fourth, top 24 book covers will play the last round in the chase. (Duration 22nd – Month end)
The 3 winners will be announced on the last day of the month.

If you want to vote for Waltzing Matilda, click on this here link:
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/15246/

Waltzing Matilda Won the Literary Titan Gold Award!

I am beyond excited that Waltzing Matilda has done it! I can add another award to my series and to myself!

To be honest, I was trepidatious to think that the finale would bring home the gold. I mean, I had high hopes, (I believe Waltzing Matilda is my best work!) but I wasn’t sure if others felt the same about it. But boom! there it is, the Gold Award from Literary Titan!

If you wanted to know, the Gold Award is bestowed on books that we found to be perfect in their delivery of original content, meticulous development of unique characters in an organic and striking setting, innovative plot that supports a fresh theme, and elegant prose that transforms words into beautifully written books.

I had a blast working on this series and I already miss hanging out with the crew of the Matilda. This writing adventure has been one hell of a ride!

Interview With Literary Titan for Waltzing Matilda!

If you were interested in some of the challenges I faced while writing Waltzing Matilda and the entire series, today might be your lucky day!

You can read all about it in the Literary Titan’s Interview: Did I Accomplish Everything I Set Out To Do?

Editorial Review from Literary Titan for Waltzing Matilda!

2023 has been a weird year for me so far. I finished this li’l ole story I’d been working on for most of the last decade and I don’t know what to do with the time that has opened up. These characters have been a part of my life for quite a while, and with their story done, it feels like an empty house in my head.

Well, I have a few options to choose from, I’m just not sure which one I want to start with. So, I’ve been circling without making a decision. Then I begin to wonder, is this journey over for me too? (I don’t really believe that, but you know how it is with brains. They keep poking holes in your thoughts while filling others.)

And you know what? Sometimes you need that boost from an outside source that tells you flat-out what they think of your work and that is the impetus to get off your duff and get to work researching for the next project!

And I got one of those boosts right here! Editorial reviews are a very important part of the whole novel process and it sure feels good to have one on hand that made me smile. 5 golden stars! I’m just about dancing in my seat!

So, join me in the seat-bouncing category and check it out! Do eeet!

I’m gonna be busy over here as I got more books to write!

And it’s Out! The Fifth and Final Book in the Series!

I hope you’re ready because today is the day! Waltzing Matilda is now available at Amazon in both Kindle and Print!

Smuggler. Fugitive. Cyborg. Bounty Hunter. Ex-Freedom Fighter. Butcher.

Far off into the future in a distant part of the galaxy, the Consortium controls the human colonies held together by the jump gates. Where the Consortium doesn’t hold sway, crime flourishes. Through the use of a hellish engine that goes where no one should, the crew of the Matilda slips its way between the two. But now they’re stuck on a backwater asteroid and time is running out.

Rumors drift of jump gates falling to rebel forces while other systems succumb to the alien invasion. The crew knows where Galena is being held but have no way to get there. Making dark deals in the folds may get them a way out.

Will the terrors from outside space lay claim to more systems? Can the insurrection prevail? With the universe against them, can Jacquotte Delahaye rescue Galena from this war-torn galaxy?

Loosen that pistol in your holster and prepare yourself for the fifth and final book of the series, Waltzing Matilda.

2022 In Review

Oh 2022, what a strange year you have been.

I don’t know if it was the same for you, but I achieved a lot more than I thought I was capable of and I didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped. What did I do and not do, you ask?

As far as non-writing stuff goes, I’ve got more miles under my belt in my obstacle course pursuits, and I had to travel quite a bit to do it! If you do any of the Spartan races, you’ve probably heard of the Trifecta at least once. For everyone else, a Trifecta is when you complete three different race lengths in a calendar year: the Sprint (4+ miles), the Super (6+ miles), and the Beast (13+ miles).

Now, I’d completed one of these back in 2017 (I think) and the Beast alone broke me. I swore not to do another one and… that did not happen. Instead, I did three of these things this year! I even did all three in one weekend! On top of that, I even threw in a Tough Mudder for the first time and did a local one called the Big Dog Brag. All in all, I got pretty close to running 100 miles and completed over 300 obstacles (I didn’t beat them all… curse you rope climb, and Mount Olympus!) Considering that at the beginning of the year, walking a mile equaled a bucket of pain, I am pretty damned proud of this accomplishment.

And to get all these races done, I had to travel (which, to be honest after Covid was incredibly nice). Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Hawaii, Orlando, San Luis Obispo and Denver. For a full-on geek out, I got to go to Galaxy’s Edge! Spaceships and blasters and sabers, oh my! It exceeded my expectations, and I am still as giddy as a schoolchild.

On the writing side, I didn’t get as much done as I wanted, hoped, and dreamed. Overall, it was still a great year for me. I was able to be a part of a few conventions and talk about my book series to a whole slew of people. I am still figuring out my approach to getting the books done for Audible.com, but I’m closer to the next step.

And lastly, I couldn’t get the last book in the series, Waltzing Matilda, done in 2022, but I have an update! The book will be released on January 17^th, 2023!

Not too shabby, 2022. I’m looking forward to 2023 and the new adventures, both literary and life, that are just around the corner!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Holiday Greetings!

Hannukah is in full swing, and Christmas is just around the corner! I hope everyone is having a grand time with friends, and family and keeps warm as the snows roll in (it’s close to negative 30 out here!).

I do have a bit of bad news, though. With the holidays and crazy travel, Waltzing Matilda’s release will be delayed until mid-January 2023. The book is almost ready but the windows in time are a little too tight to get it out before the end of the year.

This isn’t the way I wanted to end the year, so I’ll take it as a grand beginning in 2023!

See you in the future!

Image by Jensen Art Co from Pixabay

Cover Reveal for Waltzing Matilda!

As the day for the release draws ever closer, how would you feel about a quick sneak peek of the shiny new cover of the Waltzing Matilda?

Oh? Do you want to see it? Here it is!

Isn’t she a beaut? Isn’t she?

Waltzing Matilda Playlist!

As the end of this adventure comes closer to completion, so too has the chapter list been completed… a playlist of songs that inspired me.

Has it been on your mind to know what Luli Qing has in her repertoire for the final book of the saga? If you’re a Spotify user, you can check out the Chapter List for Waltzing Matilda. You can even give it a listen.

Waltzing Matilda