Life update: Well, if you haven’t seen in my social media, I’m sick again. My autoimmune disease has once again—after four years—reared its ugly head and decided to chew up my lungs. So I’m back on a medicine (for three weeks, which is mercifully short) that I call “demon pills.” Those filthy demons are the one bit of trauma in my life that I still can’t really talk about, so please don’t ask what medicine it is and what it does. But it’s horrible.

Anyway, I thought I would write, this month, about how to deal with people who are suffering or going through trauma. Any kind of trauma. Because since I have about three decades of experience in that department (15.5 years of being sick, plus daily bullying from K–12), I thought I should put that to some good use and help others understand, if only just a little bit more.

​Hey, guys! Last month, I promised I’d show you what books I’ve been buying/reading, so here we go!

Hi, guys! Just wanted to do a quick update because there's been a lot going on and I've been sick - I'm still getting over a cold (yes, just a cold, not you-know-what again) and I've got work to catch up on!

So, here are the highlights of my month:

February is my least favorite month of the year. It’s cold, dreary, and winter has definitely overstayed its welcome. . . . Not that it’s welcome past New Year’s Day! ;P

But at least this February is not as bad as usual. Why, you ask? Well . . .

I was going to write another peppy post about what was great about last year and what I’m looking forward to this year...

But.

It wouldn’t be very authentic. Because I’m struggling. With health, with hope, with knowing what to do in ANY AREA of my life. I feel lost, floating in a dark place; I don’t know where I am, how big this place is, how to get out...

Well, if you didn't see on my or Thinklings' social media, the comic con was postponed till next July. I'm sure you can guess why. I should've seen that coming, but I have been so busy with all my job responsibilities that the possibility didn't cross my mind.

Fortunately, though, I was able to snag a table at my local mall, even though it was last-minute! I was on a waiting list, and a spot opened up. So I was able to sell Thinklings' books on Saturday, Dec 4th, and Sat, Dec 11th. It was so much fun, especially on the 4th, because it was Shop With Your Dog Day! Click Read More to see the pictures!!

Thinklings’ newest book (Sand to Glass, a dark literary fantasy) has got me thinking more than usual, lately, about mental health, personality types, and how everyone has their own way of coping with stress. . . . It’s a timely book—very timely, indeed!

Hey, everyone! Just a quick post to tell you that I'm going to be selling Thinklings' books at a (smallish) local comic con on December 4th and 5th! :) :)

I'm so excited!! I've never done this before, and I've got almost everything ready now - just waiting on the shipment of books! Got a beautiful banner, signs with QR codes, swag to give away . . . I've been doing some research, reading various articles by authors who have experience selling at cons. (And yes, I've arranged a house/dog sitter, lol.)

I promise I'll take lots of pictures and share them around! :)

I can never decide whether I love fall or spring more – but since it’s fall now, it’s my current favorite! ;)
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Despite some obnoxious setbacks that have happened this month, autumn is probably my most productive season. The invigorating chill in the crisp air energizes me; the oppressive heat of summer has fled, but bone-chilling winter won’t make its unwanted appearance for a while. Fall (like spring) is a reprieve between extremes . . . and I, for one, am not fond of extremes in temperature or weather; they’re hard for my body to handle. It’s also the beginning of hygge season – and it doesn’t get much better than curling under a soft blanket in the evening with a hot drink, some chocolate, and a great book!

I wondered if I should really do a post on this topic . . . I mean, I don't have the most interesting life ever. Unlike that guy from the memes. ;)

But my life sure is a whole lot more interesting now, with Thinklings, than it was back when I worked in customer service (*wince, grimace, flinch, internal screaming*) or just as a proofreader - which was way better, but I still felt that I wanted more. I just didn't know what it was until becoming COO for Thinklings Books!