Writing went much better today. I had to cut 2 days worth of pages because it’s too late in the edits to add new scenes that aren’t on the list my editor & I agreed on. Plus no adding 1st draft parts in a very final draft because my ADHD is bored with editing & wants new toys.

Morning view while I drank my second cup of caffeine.

I’ve recently rediscovered my long lost love for reading and Audibles, and not only do I remember how much @laurellkhamilton.bsky.social shaped my teenage self into the badass feminist I am today, I’m 40 y/o and still LOVE the Anita Blake series. ❤️

Mother’s Day gifts from my daughter this year are awesome. Then she & my husband gave me the gift I want & get every year possible to not have to take care of anybody else by myself for the rest of the day. All food ordered in, and I am off duty as mom for the rest of the day.

This beast of a book is the Merry Gentry book after A Glimmer of Death. My dyslexia doesn’t like editing on screen so I print out and write changes long hand before transferring back to the computer.

My husband’s ADHD has always been worse than mine. I was driven, focused until my hormones left now I’m struggling the way I’ve seen him do for years. I apologized to him for all the times I was impatient. We both had ADHD, why couldn’t he do what I did? Estrogen, that’s why.

Our kittens minutes after birth three years ago this week. Marshmallow, Smaug, Agatha, plus their brother Graham. He was adopted into another home with a kitten brother from another mother.

Happy Birthday to Marshmallow, Agatha, and Smaug! They were born in rescue three years ago today. It is also the birthday of my grandmother who raised me. I took it as a sign of love and healing, and that is exactly what it has been. Thanks to St. Louis Pet rescue for helping us find them.

The Lady garden survived the storms. The fountain which is the focal point of the garden was broken before hand. If I had been thinking, I would’ve taken the statue into the garage along with the potted plants, but the Goddess stood tall and firm in the face of all the weather.

Behold the snake.

Boonville, Arkansas you have an active tornado without a warning going off according to Max Velocity.

Went to bed early. Woke to tornado sirens. Now down in the basement with family and pets. It’s a warning, so everyone in St. Louis area stay safe.

A mug that makes me think of Anita and rereading Crimson Death to refresh myself on what character before I sit down to write the new Anita Black novel? Can you guess?

Magnus, Agatha, and Smaug enjoying my office view as I write new Anita Blake. The book is an a scene with Wedding prep and mother-in-law‘s from hell, but the short story idea is her armed to the teeth and hunting rogue monsters. Which should I write today?

First day back in my office since I got COVID. I’ve been writing on the couch, but today I’m at my desk with my view spread out before me. Magnus is enjoying the view along with me.

So rainy and gloomy that we turned on our Easter lights to try and bring some cheer into a strangely bleak spring day.

Read the last two Anita Blake books. Found a coffee mug that helps me channel Anita’s voice. Time to start writing the next adventure.

No, reread Smolder and Slay and currently reading one more before sitting down to write the next Anita Blake novel.

I just finished rereading Slay and immediately wanted to read the next part of the series, then realized I have to write it first. 😁 Good thing I was reading the book in prep to do exactly that.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We just finished watching the movie, Grabbers. The person who recommended it said it was the most Irish monster movie ever. No arguments from us. It was a lot of fun and I think we have a new tradition for the holiday.

Tornado warning here. Everyone in St.Louis, St. Charles, and the whole area be safe. We’re in basement with all the cats we could lure down. Magnus decided to okay stealth hide and seek.

I’ve now watched the extended versions of Lord of the Rings so much that I’m back to wanting a LOTR tattoo, but it’s totally different than the one I wanted years ago. That’s why I always wait so long before deciding on a tattoo.

Wolves are still being portrayed as villains in modern storytelling, despite the facts. These fear-based narratives fuel misinformation and public fear. It’s time to change the narrative. 🔗Read more on our blog from Board President, Martha Hunt Handler: nywolf.org/2026/01/how-...

First he installs a make up room at the Pentagon, now he’s whining about “unflattering photos.” Dear Pete—this is not the junior prom.

Thanks for all the suggestions for things to watch as I heal from COVID. Great minds because many suggestions I’m already caught up with. I’m marathoning Babylon 5 for first time & catching up on Next Level Chef, plus the podcast, Crime & Coffee Couple.

I can’t figure out how to add the link but I wanted you all to have a chance to win.

Thanks for all well wishes and healing vibes. I am getting better but still horribly tired so needing to find shows to marathon or new movies. I can’t seem to settle on anything so your ideas would be welcome.

Caught new covid varainat do not recommend. It’s my third time. Higher fever, worst cough. Caught it in time for big vacation. Friends I hadn’t seen in years & too sick to enjoy it. I tested negative so flew home and you bet I masked in the airport and on the plane.

Is anyone else find they have to hunt for people they follow on here? Is there a tagline or something I don’t know about so that people I’ve interacted with come up on my feed when I return here?

These people are painfully stupid and somehow this makes it all so much worse.

Another night in the dojo with swords! #FMA #Filipino #martialarts

Sunday’s theme was rest. Slept 12 hours & woke feeling better than I had in days. Read next Cat Who mystery with Smaug by my side. Watched Winter Olympics. Read, “The Reigate Puzzle,” one of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle that I somehow missed.

If you see this, post 4 of your favorite female characters 😊 Lady Amalthea - Peter S Beagle's The Last Unicorn. Sarah - JimHenson's Labyrinth Chise Hatori - The Ancient Magus Bride Anita Blake - @laurellkhamilton.bsky.social's Vampire Hunter novels.

I accidentally checked out a library book in large print. Having trouble reading it because it feels like the book is yelling at me.

You’ve waited twelve years, one book was not enough to contain the epic ending you deserve. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723061... Available November 3, 2026

Three weeks in a row of hitting the gym after over a year where long covid kept me out. 🤞🏻that I can keep going. #longcovid #Exercise

Our water garden is under there somewhere. This is St. Louis Missouri. How is everyone else doing?

Trying to catch up on all the shows I didn’t watch while writing the book, but I can’t settle to any of it. The only thing that works are shows I’ve already seen and enjoyed. I think I need more quiet time with just reading from my TBR pile.

Never run a gas generator indoors, don’t use a gas oven or stove to try to heat your house, and make sure you have working, battery-backed up carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your house (but especially the one where you sleep)!

Just finished A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge, now onto The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal by Lilian Jackson Braun. Can finally read without feeling guilty I’m not writing on my own book. Fireplace & cat for extra relaxation points.

My latest book is finally off to my editor. I’m exhausted but happy.

The new freezing temperatures has me bringing the Christmas carols back out. Trying to find some fun in all this cold. Really hoping the snow storm & ice storm predictions are wrong.

Writer’s notebook, my favorite equipment bag that all the Post-its, pens, & markers came out of, & a colorful file folder holding the last few pages I still need to edit. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;”

Dreamed about a crossover of Stranger Things and Harry Potter. They worked together in my dream surprisingly well.

I’m at the rewrite/edit point where it’s like stop and go traffic as I come closer to merging the new with the old. It’s my least favorite part of editing but worse yet I’m having to cut great scenes that just no longer work.

Spoiler for Stranger Things season 4: yes I’m behind. Always, always, always take the head. Shotgun close range forget those body shots. Decapitate the body. It’s not dead until it’s headless.

My mug, because we all need a little magic today. Thanks to our girlfriend who bought this for me years ago. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Long Covid has kept me out of gym for over a year, but today I lifted weights & did so much more that I had missed. Then went to Filipino martial arts which I’ve been able to keep up with. 🤞🏻that gym returns as a permanent fixture to my schedule.

Last night I asked myself the question: what one thing can I do tonight that will make waking up tomorrow better? Waking up with the chapter finished and a few pages started on the next meant I missed filipino martial arts but no regrets. Which means it was the right choice.

Happy feast of the kings, Dia de los Reyes! Feast of the epiphany! It marks the end of holiday season for my family. Today we’ll take down all the decorations & rest the holiday lights until Valentine’s Day.