I’ve been really bad about keeping up with these Friday check-ins, but I’m hoping to get back into the habit. It’s always nice to have a place where I can share what’s going on behind the scenes, both personally and professionally, so let’s jump into it.
Recovery Update
It’s been an interesting month.
Recovery hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. I managed to pull a muscle in my shoulder, and somehow that has turned into what feels like my entire right arm deciding it no longer wants to cooperate. My range of motion has been pretty limited, and because it’s my dominant arm, I keep accidentally doing things that tweak it all over again.
I had started physical therapy and was making progress, but I recently managed to re-injure it, which means I’m back to taking things slow. At the moment, walking is about the only exercise I can comfortably do, so that’s where my focus has been.
The upside is that I genuinely enjoy walking. I’m fortunate enough to have a walking pad in my office, which lets me write, answer emails, and work while getting my steps in. Depending on the day, I’m usually somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000 steps. Hopefully, with a little patience, the shoulder will calm down and I can get back to lifting again soon.
Current Pre-Orders
If you’ve been wanting to grab any of my books, there are still several pre-orders available.
Dirty Deeds #2 is still available for pre-order.
Twin Tricks is also available, but that pre-order window closes on August 7. If you’ve had your eye on any of the limited covers, now is the time to pick them up before they’re gone.
I’m also excited that Saoirse: Exclave #1 and Saoirse: Exclave #2 are still available for pre-order. I had an absolute blast writing Saoirse. Eric trusted me with the character, and after seeing some of what he was planning for Salvage, I wanted to take Saoirse in a direction that felt different while still keeping her fun and adventurous. I’m really proud of how those books turned out, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Fontano: Exclave is currently available through October 2. If you’re interested in any of those covers, I’d recommend picking them up while you can. Cover A is probably my favorite of the bunch.
Dirty Deeds: Jail Break
The novel is getting very close.
We’re almost finished with formatting Dirty Deeds: Jail Break, and once that’s complete, it’ll head off to the printer. The official release date is still September 29.
I know it’s taken longer than I originally hoped, but that’s simply part of working with a larger publishing partner like Hachette. There are production schedules and deadlines that everyone has to meet, and we’re working through that process now. I really appreciate everyone’s patience.
Smuggler’s Stitch Releases August 18
One thing I’m especially excited about is Smuggler’s Stitch, which releases on August 18.
Whether you pre-ordered it or plan to order it after release, I’m excited for everyone to finally be able to read it. Working with Igor on this project was a wonderful experience, and I think we created something really fun together.
Convention Weekend
If you’re reading this on Friday, there’s a good chance I’m currently at the convention in Bell County.
We attended this event last year, and everyone there was incredibly welcoming. The convention is hosted by the team at Iconic Comics, and they’re doing some genuinely exciting work. If you haven’t checked out their Common America universe yet, I’d definitely recommend giving it a look. It’s clear how much heart they’ve poured into building that world.
What’s Next
Next week, my biggest goal is finally wrapping up Carrow’s Craft, my writing craft book.
The entire manuscript is drafted. At this point, it’s simply a matter of sitting down, doing the final editing pass, and getting it ready for release. It’s been on my to-do list for far too long, and I’m determined to cross that finish line.
I’ve also wrapped up most of my editing clients, which has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been a privilege reading so many stories from talented writers, and every project has reminded me why I enjoy editing so much.
Because I’ve cleared out my current workload, I do have room to take on additional editing clients if you’re looking for an editor.
I’m also working on a new partnership that I’m not quite ready to talk about yet. I can say that it involves teaching some writing-related classes in the future, and I’m looking forward to sharing more details once everything is finalized.
Until Next Week
That’s about everything going on right now.
There are a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes. Some projects I can talk about, others still need to stay under wraps a little longer. As things become official, I’ll be sure to share them here.
Thank you, as always, for reading these updates and for supporting my work. Whether you’ve picked up one of my books, shared them with a friend, hired me as an editor, or simply stopped by to see what I’ve been working on, I truly appreciate it.
I’ll see you next Friday.