A late May check-in! Calmer waters So… I decided to actually give this a go—I’ll concentrate on my artwork and writing until my money runs out or I come up with a plan B that doesn’t involve going back to working in IT or anywhere near the job market in Wellington...

I always try something new for each release. This time I dabbled in a cover animation. No AI; just Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve. Not sure it will get much attention, but I learned a new skill \(^-^)/! 📚📘👀

Happy dance! The final files for The House paperback edition are all uploaded to KDP with just a few minutes to spare. \(^-^)/

Hmmm … it’s been one of those days. Hard not to get discouraged by the amount of copy edits from both the audiobook production and the paperback edition … Ah well … Onwards and upwards, I guess … P.S. How do you like my colour-coded editing system? #speculativefiction #amwriting #amrevising

Hmmm has anybody any experience with reddit? I can see the potential for readers and writers—there is actually some interesting self-published material on there ... but I stick to the rules and still just get one shadow ban / spam filter after another ... #Reddit

The first KDP proof arrived from Australia! Still a few kinks to iron out. First, the bathhouse map doesn't sit well next to the House maps. So this is a different approach—Eass' notebook page with her evac plan. \(^-^)/ 📚📘👀 #mapmaking #speculativefiction #nzauthor #bookillustrations

Things are finally coming together \(^-^)/! The House paperback files are all set up at KDP, the first proof is ordered, and the release date is set. I’m pretty happy with how far I’ve come. #bookcover #speculativefiction #fantasybooklist #nzauthor #paperback #bookdesign

#BadHaiku On my desk coffee The brittle taste of nuts The day approaches #Haiku #morninghaiku #badpoetry

#BadHaiku Warm bed on a winter's day What was I thinking getting up? Coffee in hand, the day before me #Haiku #morninghaiku #badpoetry

April Check-in \(^-^)/. March and April brought storms, floods, anxiety, money to be earned, poor decisions being made, contract work that drives me insane—a vicious circle of indecision keeping me stuck in place. A master of self-sabotage at work. ... #artistinthestudio #artstudio #lifeupdate

Here it is! The archives map, all set and ready to go. I’ll be adding more notebook sketches soon—one for the chandelier and another for how Tayl curves the passage in a spiral around the auditorium during the finale. But for now, the map is done. #fantasymap #worldbuilding #mapmaking #amwriting

Last map! The archives and the auditorium. I swear I had much better sketches somewhere ... but this is what I found, so this is what I'll be working with. More, as always, on my blog … 📚📘👀 minu.co.nz/release-update #paperbookinteriors #fantasymaps #mapmaking #nzauthor

Well, this wasn't exactly fun, but it looks almost convincing. And in case you are wondering why on earth I have been drawing a floor plan for an Art Deco-style bathhouse … minu.co.nz/writing-update #fantasymap #worldbuilding #mapdrawing #mapmaking #amwriting #speculativefiction 📚📘👀

Writing sprint \(^-^)/. One hour to work on the Book Three outline! #amwriting

Amidst all the art chaos—some writing got done \(^-^)/. Trying to make progress on the maps and illustrations for The House while working on Book Three and the audiobook edition for The Fragments sounds like a terrible idea—and it looks even worse ... [continue on blog] minu.co.nz/writing-upda...

Got stuck on the map for the abandoned bathhouse and ended up finishing the paperback cover jacket. Spent way too long on the wolf that nobody will see. Side quests included: ordering the ISBN and finally removing the last traces of TikTok and Twitter. ✨ \(^-^)/ #bookcover #paperback #bookdesign

Progress—Founders Square, the Archives, Lacier House, Rath's Hall… it's starting to look like somewhere you could actually get lost in. Still a work in progress, but I'm pretty happy with where this is heading. 🗺️ #fantasymap #worldbuilding #mapdrawing #mapmaking #amwriting 📚📘👀

I have been avoiding the maps and illustrations for 'The House' paperback edition for months… but now is the time. I've got this. Probably … I guess. 📚📘👀 #fantasymap #worldbuilding #bookillustration #mapdrawing #amwriting

I am still picking up all the loose threads I dropped to get ready for the Wellington Art Show, so this is a very late February check-in :). Everything not-art had to take a back... [continue on my blog] minu.co.nz/justchecking... #studiovisit #artistlife #artistinthestudio #artstudio #lifeupdate

Wishing you all a fantastic 2026! I hope you all have an amazing year, defined as whatever you want it to be! 📚💙 #booksky #newyearnewme #twentytwentysix #writinglife

Ha ha ... it's easy in New Zealand: "How are you?" → "Not too bad. Not too bad. You?" or "Fine. Fine. You?" or "Enjoying the sunshine. You?" ... though asking "You?" in return might trip people over ... #auswandern

December 18, 2025—Release Day ✨ The House is officially out in the world! You can grab your eBook from my website, Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, and more. There were countless days where I wanted to quit. That I made it this far feels more than amazing. 📚💙 Continued → minu.co.nz/writing-update

I wonder if I should print these on postcards and hand them out when people ask me "So what do you write" \(^-^)/ minu.co.nz/writing 📚💙 or #booksky

Okay ... KDP cut-off time for the last changes is here .. so I am done ... if I want to or not \(^-^)/! minu.co.nz/writing-update — It’s happening. The House, The Spheres Book Two December 18, 2025

One Week Out: The Final Push (；o_o) Seven days until The House launches, and I’m at the famous stage between “almost done” and “wait, there’s still SO much to do.” The eBook compile is finished. Reading The House in an eReader is a completely different... [continue at minu.co.nz/writing-update ] 📚💙

“So, what’s your book about?” I completely freeze when people ask me that question. I’m not a fan of elevator pitches—“it’s like this but without x and with y but not z”—but just gibbering won’t help. So, I’m making a few slides to show people what’s inside my book. Do you like this one? #books 📚💙

14 days to release! Parts 1 to 4 are with the ARC team. I know one person who started reading ... she is volunteered family (づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ♡ more on minu.co.nz/writing-update P.S. You can still get free review copies! Comment or email 📚💙 #bookrelease #arcreview #amwriting #writingupdate

I just zapped all my gremlins in #scrivener... 😈 ... little invisible pests ... ... Edit > Text Tidying > Zap Gremlins ... just in case I forget again 🤦‍♀️

So … I think this guy could be my perfect reader. What do you think? I actually don’t know him. I borrowed him from Nonsap Visuals on Unsplash who kindly makes his amazing work available for free and I am a starving writer so… 📚💙 #booksky #releaseupdate #bookrelease

Want to keep #LocusMag thriving? It can be as easy as following us on YouTube or join our Patreon! Your support helps us bring amazing SFF content to readers everywhere: linktr.ee/locusmagazine#LocusMag

ARC copies are ready!!! Let me know if you want to get involved 🎈🚪... Info is here: minu.co.nz/call-for-arc... #amwriting #amediting #amrevising 📚💙 #booksky

The best thing I can say about exporting/compiling ARC copies in #scrivener is ... ... at least this time, I am not crying ... yet ... 📚💙 #booksky #amwritting

129,545 words ✅ Capitalisation - PERFECT (100+ titles checked) ✅ World terms - PERFECT (echowell, etc.) ✅ Numbers - PERFECT (50+ instances checked) ✅ Hyphenation - PERFECT (30+ compounds checked) ⚠️ Line 3706 "nightturn" → "nightfall" ONE tiny fix left ... Thank the Skies 📚💙 #booksky #amwritting

CLUSTER 14 (Line 2360) - 7 CONSECUTIVE OPENINGS ⚠️ WORST OFFENDER ... I love it when you talk dirty in all caps, my love ... #amwriting #amediting #amrevising 📚💙 #booksky

Hunting down the 'then' ... come out little 'then' ... where are you hiding? ... I'll catch you eventually... you'll be a future 'and', 'before' or an elegant '.' I'll even let you choose ... #amwriting #amediting #amrevising 📚💙 #booksky

The day is set! The ebook edition for The House is going to be released on 18 December 2025! I can’t wait to see The House out in the world. If anyone is up for an ARC Review the form is at minu.co.nz/i-got-this-d... 📚📚📚 #amrevising #amwriting #SFF #arcreview #bookrelease

It's that time ... you know ... when you check for overused words ... #fun ... "Shook Head" edit recommendations Total instances: 171 Recommended to CUT: 93 (54%) Recommended to VARY: 46 (27%) Recommended to KEEP: 32 (19%) Minu.co.nz/books 📚📚📚 #amrevising #amwriting #SFF #arcreview

Monday WipSnip! We continue with Chapter 3 and Mitt’s and Eass’ first meeting … P.S. Now is a good time to join the ARC team! Link in the usual places or Minu.co.nz/books 📚📚📚 #wipsnips #releaseupdate #wipsnippet #wipquote #amwriting #bookrelease #SFF #arcreview #FreeChapter #FantasyBooks

The last review before the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) is at Chapter 40 of 48! And I wrangled the manuscript down to 136k words. ISBNs have arrived, the eBook cover is all set, and the release date will be announced next week! Almost there! Want to join the ARC team? minu.co.nz/i-got-this-d...

Last minute copy edits on wipsnips :). P.S. Now is a good time to join the ARC team! Link in the usual places or Minu.co.nz/books 📚📚📚 #wipsnips #releaseupdate #wipsnippet #wipquote #amwriting #bookrelease #bookreleasecomingsoon #SFF #arcreview #FreeChapter #FantasyBooks

July Check-in, Six Months Into 2025! At the beginning of each year, I create a wild mind map of what I want to accomplish. I exist in a state of restless chaos, balancing on a dark edge—imposing order is the only way to keep that balance ... minu.co.nz/justchecking...

Progress on the Audiobook Edition for The Fragments – The Spheres Book One has been made \(^-^)/ ! minu.co.nz/audiobook-sp...

And now #Tuesday #writingsprint Go, go, go ...

I am so excited to announce my first South Island Stockist—HAPA in Christchurch. I am happy to join their showcase of more than 300 local designers and artists! \(^-^)/ minu.co.nz/new-stockist...

#Monday #writingsprint 45 minutes and go ...

#WritingUpdate Chapters 24 to 28 were a total disaster. Aligning the timeline in three POV plot lines is like putting together a puzzle while the pieces are moving and changing colours ... #QuestioningLifeChoices #amwriting #ampublishing #amreading #specfic

Line edits for Chapters 21 and 22 are done. Chapter 23 is getting there … … feels … all a bit ... too everything today … #QuestioningLifeChoices #amwriting #ampublishing #amreading #specfic

Crawling through my revisions … I needed to remind myself that I actually do this for fun … Chapter 21 is ready for line edits … maybe … or not #scream #amwriting #amrevising

#WritingUpdate for The House! Status: ‘Final’ revision | Word count: 61,360 (6,228 since last update) Chapters 17, 18, and 19 are revised! Reshuffling my days worked and it’s go, go, go! Maybe I’ll actually finish this before 2026 rolls around! 🌟 #amwriting #ampublishing #amreading #specfic