Black Author Spotlight: K. Valerice

 

Welcome to the Black Author Spotlight!

This is Black History Month, and so I didn't want to wait until March for the next post! The goal of this segment is to highlight black authors who are often marginalized and ignored in the publishing industry. Black writers usually turn to self-publishing--an already densely populated industry--to have their stories seen, and it is said that we have to work twice as hard to get half of what our white counterparts have. Hopefully, shining a little light on these authors will help to signal boost the work they are putting out there.

This week, I am highlighting K. Valerice.

K. is a poet and short story author. She uses music and art to inspire her pieces, and she also does her own book artwork!

Heals, Feels & Pills, her collection of poetry, short stories, and musings, is available on Amazon. I'm patiently awaiting for it to appear in my mailbox! You can also purchase the book at Barnes & Noble and blurb.com.

You can follow K. on Instagram: @k.valerice.

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If you are a Black author who would like to be in the spotlight, email me the following information at debreneebyrd@gmail.com

Name or Pen Name

Genre

Website/Blog

Social Media handles

Book (if any) and where to buy

Permission to use photos

January Review and Quarterly Goals

I was sitting here thinking there are 5 Wednesdays in this month, but there are only 4. Then, I wondered how my last quarterly goals post was in the September but the next one isn't until March. Then, I remembered I take a break in December. Ooops. haha So here is a double dose of my monthly review and goals for the quarter.

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January went by in a blur. I'm happy to say this new year, I entered with a much better mindset than last year. I was super depressed and grieving at the end of 2020, so I was very miserable January 1, 2021. After that, I started writing letters to my mom, and that really helped with my grief, and I moved on to the stress of a parent publisher that wasn't giving me any type of attention or support (except for the publicist. She was amazing).

Having requested to be released in December, I'm currently waiting for the official documents that confirm that, so I can focus on the road to self-publishing again. If all goes as planned, I want to start promoting at this year's Dover Comic Con, then release again on my birthday like I did the first time. It would be a nice little present to myself.

My older sister started a  group with a book called "Designing Your Life". We discuss what our life could be and how we might be able to get there. Our last activity, we created three jobs based on what gives us the most energy and engagement in our day-to-day life. All three of mine were far more creative than what I'm doing now. If I can get to do one of them, I know I'll be happier. One of my plans after my mom passed was to not get stuck in a job that drains the life out of me and do more things that I want to do. I need to start working towards that. That said...

My goals for the remainder of this quarter are:

Read 24 books this year (I'm already a book behind at this rate, but if I can read another book in the next 5 days, I'll feel like a wizard). I've had a couple of books that made me love sitting for an hour or so with some music and just reading again. I'm going to try to get back into the habit.

Write more. The other day, I wrote about 500 words while recrafting a scene in my sequel to FP. I was so excited. I've been opening that document up more, and I started recrafting another scene that I think will help push Jonnie forward a little more. I've also figured out the biggest plot in the story, just have to get to it. I'm squeeing inside just thinking about it.

Apply for more jobs. If I get added to one more task because someone else is retiring, I might implode. I understand my boss trusts me with stuff, which is always appreciated, but the bad thing about working for the State is that they like to pile stuff onto you when people leave, and of course you don't get paid extra for it. At another department, I spent almost a year doing another administrative assistant's job for free after they decided not to refill the position (sideways bitter smile). The one thing I know for certain is that I no longer want to do anything that resembles office work. I hate it. So I have to constantly force myself not to look at those openings so I'm not in the same place every 3 years at a new job. I need something more creative, and if that means taking a chance and stepping out to do something new, then that's what I'll have to do.

So, to sum up my results from September Quarterly Goals post, I'll say, things are slowly starting to move, and I'll say that's okay for now.

November Review

 

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I honestly did not mean to take the month off, so let me provide an update at least!

November did fly by, in my defense. I attended Dover's First Friday on the 5th and was able to sell many of my books. I hope to sell the rest of the Downtown Dover Partnership at the December event. The publisher is currently in the process of changing the cover to try to gain more attention and buyers, so we'll see how that works out.

Since creating a Seller's Account on Fiverr, I've completed 2 bio editing gigs, and I've edited a bio and a letter for two band directors in Tennessee (those were free, because they were for my friend, but I'll take the exposure any day)! I may even be working with the second customer on her book in the next few months. I really love editing, so I'm hoping this is the start of switching my career. I've been applying to things a little more frequently and even applying to things I think I might not have the full qualifications for. You never know until you try.

So, my mom's house is trying to fall apart before my sister and I can leave it. On the bright side, the repairs will increase the value of the home. On the down side, we have to fix the stuff before we can leave! We wanted to move this September, but we weren't looking that hard. I haven't even started packing. We will see how that works out as well.

On a Thanksgiving note, while I do celebrate, I do it strictly for the fact that it has been the time my family gets together to eat and enjoy each other after my Pop-pops death in '98. This year, I want to acknowledge that for Indigenous Americans, it is a day of mourning. There was no "First Thanksgiving." There was a breach of a treaty and a massacre. It's sad that we've been taught differently, but the victor always gets to tell the history (have you ever asked someone from England why the Puritans came over here in the first place? The answer will surprise you). Please take some time to educate yourself this week on what really happened to the Indigenous people and how it continues to affect their throughout the country, and even the continent.

See you in December!

October Review

 

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There was a meme that I saw the other day that told October to slow down! It's already almost November?! Geez.

I haven't had too much happening. My last newsy interview went live 2 days after my September Review, so here that is: Arts Playlist: Debra Renee Byrd’s ‘Fractured Princess.

The National Black Book Festival occurred this weekend virtually, and my SF(F)or the Culture crew interviewed Saturday. We are probably in the last video, as they split the sessions up by AM/PM. It was so fun, and apparently, I have to go watch the original Terminator, or I can't come back. XD

November is a busy month outside of work for me, but it's also the month where we have the most State holidays, so that will balance out. If I do NaNoWriMo, I will be working on as many scenes for the Shattered Chronicles as I can. I have to figure out the conclusion. I see everything else but it!

I'm still looking to leave admin work. I applied for a Content Moderator job with a video game streaming company that I wasn't too sure I had the qualifications for, but my sister pushed me to do it, and I even wrote my first creative out-of-the-box cover letter to get noticed, but I got the rejection email today. It was worth a shot, and I'm proud of that cover letter. I also forwarded the job to my Black Girl Gamers, so I hope one of them applied and will get it.

Good luck to everyone who will do NaNoWriMo! DVPit is also happening right now, and I had the pleasure of mentoring two contest winners this past month, so I wish them and everyone else who pitches the best of luck!

September Review

 

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Oh, look, an on-time post!

September is almost over, and I can barely remember much of it! The WCP Edition of Fractured Princess is out now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and apparently where else books are sold! I have had 5 more interviews, 4 of which are live:

• Leaders & Learners podcast interview

• “Dover Fantasy Author Shattering Expectations”

• “Q&A with Debra Reneé Byrd: Fractured Princess

• The Word with Ty Brownlow

I've also been looking at my NA Fantasy. Probably more excited about that than ever. I still have a ways to go in the Shattered Chronicles, though, so I'm going to be patient. I plan to start an A-to-Z Series on Instagram discussing the Final Fantasy tropes I use in the Shattered Chronicles, so if you haven't followed me there yet, my IG link is to the right over there. I have nearly daily content there, mostly related to FP right now, but also some other fun stuff.

Being back in the office all 5 days is a bit nerve-wracking. A lot of people still don't believe the masks work, and having had to cover the front desk because of an outbreak in the office this past year, I wish they would shut up about it. Children are dying now. Someone has to care. Fortunately, I have an actual office, so I don't have to interact with too many people. I've also been keeping busy with an archiving project, so I'm super tired when I get home. I'll never get used to waking up before 7am. My mind doesn't work until about 9.

Speaking of work, I also started a gig on Fiverr for proofreading. Hopefully that takes off and can help me with some bills. I love to proofread, and I'd love to do work that I love. That's a lot of love. I'm also hoping this book takes off, but I know how publishing works.

 Anyway, wish me luck!

August Review - What A Month!

 

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This month has certainly been a whirlwind. There was a lot of stress leading up to Comic-Con, so once I realized what I had to work with and do to make my experience the best it could be, things turned out fine. I left the extension cord I had bought just that morning, and as I'm typing this I remember that I work with the people who collect all of the electrical equipment, so let me call them to see if they have it! If they do, that'll be one less stressor from that day. (They didn't have it. Ah well.)

My interview with Sand & Shores was moved to this Friday, so I will let you all know when that goes live. I had a great interview with @ShanGeeReads on Instagram Monday. It's funny how my very first interview I was so nervous that I coughed through most of it. I was scared that would happen Monday, but I made it! I have a radio interview with WDDE 91.1FM tomorrow. I'm excited about that. I've never been on radio! This is a very busy week for me! I was actually asked to fill in as an author last night on a book slam on Clubhouse, but I had physical therapy and two choir rehearsals, so I couldn't. I didn't even know Clubhouse had made it to Samsung, though, so maybe another Tuesday!

All things considered, this month has flown by! I'm semi-actively on a job hunt. We transitioned back to the office 3 days a week in July, and we'll be back to all 5 in September, and I just don't want to do that. I can't turn back time and do more writing-specific jobs, so I need to figure out how to transition to them from office-work. Also, I loved working from home. It's just so much more flexible, and a big saver on this $3+/gallon gas. I was also able to fit in other things, like waking up when my body is actually ready to wake up and exercising on my lunch breaks. If I can find a job where I'm not someone's secretary and where I can stay home and work, that would be ideal. But also, who knows where these books are going to take me?

How was your month?

July Review - Road to Release

 

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Whoo, things are moving so fast!

First off, I had the best vacation with my friends. I'm the only Summer birthday between the local ones, so sometimes that means I automatically get a beach vacation for it. We went to Ocean City, Maryland, and went to the beach on our three full days, partied, went to Jolly Roger. Word of advice: don't eat heavy BBQ and then get on a roller coaster, then get on a whirly ride. I don't know what I was thinking, but I was nauseated. Still had a blast. My girl friends also threw me a surprise Beychella-style photoshoot, and there's nothing funnier than hearing your friends whispering outside of your hotel room trying to be quiet just so they can burst into the room. But I love my Queen Bee hoodie.

Secondly, the book release is three weeks away! I have a couple of interviews in preparation for scheduling, and I may be doing a Twitch stream the day before the convention. I met my publicist yesterday. I have a PUBLICIST. Oh, my God. When I say everything happening right now is a dream come true, it's a total dream come true. I'm excited, nervous, super anxious, feeling fight-or-flighty, but I'm here. Dover Comic-Con is two-and-a-half weeks away now. It will be my first convention as an author, and I'm ready. I need to get a table, hopefully from my church, but I'm ready. I hope to reveal the new cover for my normal Wednesday Words post; I just need all the titles on put in place. It's so pretty. I can't wait for everyone to see it. Of course, that means I'll have to change the layout of the blog, which I'll probably do this weekend. One thing I didn't realize until my director asked yesterday was I don't have ARCs yet. There's still time, but here's to fast readers! I also hope to make more bookmarks for Comic-Con like I did for the self-published release party. I need to get that done this weekend.

I'm increasing activity on my Instagram as I get closer to August 18th. Speaking of, I will also be more active on my Twitter account. I had a personal account, so I was splitting my time between the two. On Twitter, it's time consuming and unnecessary, so I deleted my personal account in order to build up the presence for my author account. May my personal account rest in peace. I had so many random celebrities like my tweets; I will miss that for sure.

Anyway, I have so much to do! *screaming* Wish me luck!

FRACTURED PRINCESS RELEASE DATE (June Writing Update & Monthly Review)

Happy Wednesday!

I took a week off because I had a meeting with my publisher last Thursday, so I wanted to wait until I had news to share! I'm very excited, so here we go!

You will notice a release date has been added to my website description! The traditional release of FRACTURED PRINCESS will be August 18th! I'm so excited. I can't say enough how I wished a publisher would find my book in the Amazon piles but didn't think it would actually happen. And now, two years after I self-published FP, the dream is coming true. I will hopefully have a cover by the next Writing Update post. They're working on it now. I've already seen a preliminary image, and to see Jonnie illustrated again is so wonderfully weird. I love how talented artists are.

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On another note, my schedule will be changing again. This 18 months has been a bit of an eye-opener on a lot of things, and while I'm so grateful for the outlet I've had a chance to be a part of for the past 9 years, I have decided to stop participating in the Insecure Writer's Support Group. I had left the Facebook group in January, and I was trying to hold out, but I'll just say safe spaces are real and necessary, especially for black writers. I don't have the luxury of ignoring certain issues, and I can no longer remain in spaces that do.

So what that means for the 1st Wednesday of the month, I have some options. I might push my posts up and take a break the last Wednesday. This month, I have Quarterly Goals, and I already took a break last week! I already know there won't be a post on July 21st because I will be on my birthday vacation (update: I scheduled a post hahaha), but as I already said, August 18th is FP's release date, so I need to post something! I'll figure it out.

So that said, I will see you all next Wednesday for my Quarterly Goals!

May Review - Road to Re-Release

 

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It is the LAST Wednesday of May, and I can't believe it. We are almost halfway through 2021. I hope everyone is doing well, has been healthy, and has been able to get a good start on some goals!

Things are really starting to move for me. I meet with my publisher next Tuesday to discuss release dates. If anyone has any resources for reading book questions, I need to bring some to that meeting, and I don't know the first thing about it! I mean, I've obviously been reading books since I was 5, so I can come up with some. Just the thought that there would be a reading group discussing Fractured Princess blows my mind. I also have to choose my preferred audiobook narrative, and I definitely have imagined having an audiobook for FP, but wow!

I hope the people who already bought it are willing to buy the first half of the new version when it's re-released. That's a big worry of mine. I also made some pretty significant changes to it, so maybe that will reel them in.

I also need to prepare for more face-time and promotion up to and through publication. I have no idea what that will look like and what kind of time it will consume, but hopefully it will be smooth, especially because I have a full-time job. I don't expect to become a millionaire book 1, so yeah, I have to keep working while I'm . . . working.

So anyway, here's to what I expect to be an exciting Summer!

April Review

 

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It is already the last Wednesday of APRIL. This is wild.

This month has flown by. Things are steadily picking up a pace of sorts for me. I took a break in March, which was helpful. I also had my 3-month lab and doctor appointment, and my oncologist said I could get my port removed! So, this past Monday, that's exactly what I did, just 1 year and 2 days after my last chemo treatment! I got Thai-rolled ice cream and then later DQ ice cream to celebrate with my younger sister, who went with me. I can't wait to sleep on my left side and not feel that piece of plastic in my chest, or the cut healing, which feels very weird when a surge of slight pain hits.

I had started streaming my video game play, and I realize I don't really like to, so after I finish replaying the Final Fantasy VII Remake, I probably won't stream again for a long while. Maybe when I have a fanbase and someone to talk to besides a potential follower in the future, I'll pick it back up. N.K. Jemisin does it every now and then, and I'd like to do that, too one day.

While I don't want to keep on the secretary/admin track I've fallen into, my older sister said she recommended me to my brother-in-law to do his admin work when he gets his business up and running. That would be a little different from being a government secretary, and certainly a work-from-home gig, which I would highly appreciate. I'd also really like to do more proofreading, so I set up a profile for Upwork for freelance jobs. I have an alert for Writing jobs set up through Linkedin, but I realized I don't want to do a writing job that isn't me writing my books. That's enough pressure as it is. Proofing is something I can almost do in my sleep, and I used to have a business in it that didn't really take off past a few clients I already knew, so that's what I would like to lean towards.

Writing-wise, I looked at both my NA Fantasies this month. I need to get back to those, but as I've figured out my next step in the Fractured Princess sequel, I need to work on that more. I honestly don't know what the future holds for me being a signed author versus an independent author, but I do know I'm going to keep writing that series.

I hope everyone has had a prosperous April. Just three more days, and you know the drill:

January Review

 

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Well, here I was thinking it was the 3rd Wednesday in January and contemplating if I wanted to put in a blog every other week instead of weekly, aaaand it's the 4th Wednesday. I've failed. But that's okay! Now I get to review the month, what I read, what I wrote, what this month has been like.

This week, I read "Emergency Skin" by N.K. Jemisin, It is Book #3 in the Forward Collection, and I forgot that it wasn't a collection by itself but part of one. That said, I need to go back and at least preview the other stories.

This one is in kind of in 2nd person? It's more like dialogue. Someone's talking to "you" as you're moving along, but then real dialogue starts. You never hear what you're saying, just the responses. It was very interesting, and in this day and age, when I realized what was actually happening in the story, it was very timely. I especially love the last few lines. Please read it.

I started writing in one of my romances. I can't remember if I've mentioned it before, but I do remember saying once that I want to revamp fan fictions I wrote but into standard contemporary fictions. I'm really excited about this one. It's emotionally charged, and I get to play with writing songs for it, which I did the first time, too.

I also started looking over my NA urban fantasy. There are some things I need to change, and it might be shorter than I expect it to be. I'll see how it goes. As for my sequel to Fractured Princess, I need to look through that again, too. FP itself is next in line for editing, so that will have to come first. I've already talked to the editor about a few things, so while the book won't totally change, there will be a couple of significant tweaks in the re-release. I'm excited about it.

This weekend, DVPit is having a virtual convention. Registration might still be open, so if you are a marginalized writer, I suggest peeking over there if you have time. The website is: https://www.dvpit.com/dvcon.

Enjoy the rest of January!

Monthly Review & Wednesday Words: Masque of Red Death by Kenya Wright

 

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It is the last Wednesday in October! I can't believe it. But to be honest, October felt long when I look back at it. Strange how that goes. On the 4th Wednesday of the month, I review , but as promised last week, I will also slip in Wednesday Words, since I had big news to share on the 2nd Wednesday!

I still get excited when I think about being an agented author. What a difference a month makes! It had been a secret wish of mine this past year to have an agent find Fractured Princess, read it, love it, and contact me, and that is exactly what happened! I will be under the imprint SFF For the Culture, and if you happen to peek over at Wahida Clark's Instagram, I'm listed as one of their newest authors! That was unreal. It's really happening.

NaNoWriMo is...still around the corner, and I've done nothing to prepare. It's fight or flight at this point. I have to pick a story and work on it. Every day. All month. God help me. I know which one I can work on, though. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to---this will be hard. haha

All righty, onto Wednesday Words!

For the next several weeks, my friends and I are reading Kenya Wright's Masque of Red Death, not to be confused with Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of the Red Death, but part of the story is based on it. We're reading 3 chapters every 2 weeks, though we're a week behind (we're just so busy), and we're not completely sure about the book yet, but it's intriguing nonetheless. Also, that cover! So amazing. Here is the blurb:

In a Florida city plagued by race riots, a murderer has come to play. He calls himself Poe, and he invites only the most corrupt to his game.

The invitations arrive with masks made of human skin. Participants must dress for a masquerade ball and go to a specific nightclub where a riddle is given. Each hour, a guest will die, if the riddle isn’t solved. No one can contact the police.

However, Poe makes a grave mistake by inviting two people—Shadow and Lyric.

Shadow towers over most, wields power like the devil, and holds the city in his hands. Wanting to be steps ahead of this killer, Shadow joins forces with the one person he believes can discover Poe’s identity—Lyric Blue. Once, she was Shadow’s lover and the brain of his operations. But then Lyric chose her morality and pushed him away. Still, there’s an enduring attraction that weaves them together. United, they attend the ball, ready to beat the game.

Secrets are revealed. Bodies pile up. Every death from an unsolved riddle comes with a clue. And a story unravels, exposing victims and betrayal that no one could have ever imagined.

Super intriguing to me. So far, we're dealing with the protests and riots, mental illness, and political corruption. My friends and I meet this Sunday to talk about our next 3 chapters, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

What have you read this month? Planning on doing NaNoWriMo? Good luck!

Monthly Review

 

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September is already almost over, guys. It's wild.

I gained momentum this month. I had to be back in the office many days, but I didn't completely mind. It also helped me write more. I'm actually used to writing at work, so . . . I need to break that habit. haha BUT last Tuesday, I wrote 1,156 words and a 200-word query. Last Wednesday I wrote 1,698 words! That felt super good. So now, I'm actively writing in THREE works in progress. We'll see where they take me.

Reading is still slow, but I'll just start over in 2021. I didn't even set a goal on Goodreads. I think I've read maybe 5 books, and fortunately some comics.

Last Tuesday, my younger sister and I became owners of our mom's house. We'll be selling it and moving soon. It'll be bittersweet. Our mom bought that house for us to have our friends over, and we were introverts and didn't like drama, so we never brought them over. We've been in the house for 21 years, the longest we've ever lived anywhere. But it's also time to be in our own space. My sister started a Pinterest board for interior designs. At first I didn't care, but I realize, we have two different styles, so I might want to, so we can meet in the middle somewhere. I'm also interested in the style of the house as a whole. I hate the style of our current house. I need to look up house types.

As for work, I'm not unhappy about being back in the office, as I said, but I do realize I'm unhappy still being in an office period. I've always wanted to just be a writer, and the publishing industry, though it's trying to change, is really hard to break into as a black writer, let alone a speculative fiction writer. That said, two of the three projects I'm working on are romance novels, which I haven't done in YEARS, but I do want to give it a go. Romance was my wheelhouse when I was a fan fiction writer. I know I can do it.

I have two more quarterly posts for the year to see if I've reached any goals. December will be unique, because I'll get to set some for 2021. Not that I want time to keep moving as quickly as it is, but I could stand waking up and it no longer being 2020.

Catching Up: Monthly Review, Writing Update, & Quarterly Goals

 

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September is around the corner, and I have accomplished very little. I don't think I even read the entire month of August, except for web comics and a book for my Praise & Worship Team at church. This weekend, I did start writing again, so that is a positive. I'm working on a new beginning scene for my new adult fantasy. I also took a peek at the last scene I wrote for Fractured Princess's sequel, so I need to get back into that as well. I know where the story is going, but I need to know why. That's something I may need to flesh out.

I've gotten a lot of TV watching in for sure. I binge watched both seasons of The Umbrella Academy at  the beginning of the month. A great series, and I'm always jealous to see someone successfully execute the "mutant school" trope. That was what I first started writing when I was little. Maybe I'll be able to get it right, too, one day. I'm now on the last season of Avatar: Legend of Korra. I saw the first season and the first few episodes of the second when it first came out, but according to fans, Nickelodeon moved the show's time slot often, so no one could really watch it like they wanted; and so I've watched the rest of Season 2 and Seasons 3 and 4 for the very first time. It's amazing to see how the world has evolved, especially without Aang in it.

What I've done the most this month is play video games, mainly Apex Legends, but I'm also replaying the FFVII Remake, and I started a few new games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Fall Guys. They've been pretty therapeutic when they're not stressing me out. I've been part of the Black Girl Gamers group for a couple of months now, and it's been nice having a safe space to just enjoy myself and talk with others like me. Some of us are even going through the same things, like recently losing a parent, and that's very comforting.

I just realized I missed my quarterly goals post for July, but that's okay. My goal this quarter is to get back in the swing of things. I'd also like to try to pursue a job I really want to do. Being home since March, you realize what you're looking forward to when the world opens back up, and being at a job that I'm doing just to have a job is not one of those things. I joined a startup production's Discord this week, and I don't know how far that will take me, but we will see. I've also been asked to be on a panel for the Asexuality Visibility & Education Network in September, so I'm very excited and nervous to discuss ace visibility in fiction. I need to go ahead and move some of the ace books I have on my To-Read list up to #1.

Lastly, I started a new Instagram for my writing, gaming, and tv habits, so if you would like to follow me, please do! My handle is DebReneeByrd.

I hope everyone else has had a good August. I will see you next week for the monthly IWSG Post!

Monthly Review

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I came into July expecting to be posting. I got my IWSG post up on the 1st. On the 3rd, my mom told the family she was stopping her chemo treatments while we were all together at my older sister's where she was taking care of her. On the 7th, my older sister called my younger sister frantic because some of the things mom was saying was scaring her, so we went back up to her house. On the 10th, we watched our mom die.

Fortunately, we were "prepared" generally, if not emotionally. She had been battling Stage 4 lung cancer for 18 months, which is more than what our local doctors predicted, and thankfully my older sister set her up with Fox Chase, who took great care of her. She had a tumor wrapped around her bronchus. After her first 6 months of chemo, it was gone, but the metastases weren't changing, and her body was starting to shut down on the new chemo. She did not want to be incapacitated. She used to tell us that even when she was healthy. Emotionally, we're pretty wrecked. The deterioration happened so fast. At the end of June, she was walking around. Two weeks later, she was gone.

My younger sister and I stayed at our older sister's from the 7th through my birthday on the 19th. We mostly sat in mom's in-law suite and every now and then looked over at her recliner where she sat and slept the last few days before my sister ordered her a hospice bed. My older sister, brother-in-law, and niece had been living with mom for about a year. They bought their home specifically so she could move in with them. We had all hoped for more time for her, especially for her to do more than just be sick and get treatment.

I haven't recovered from that night. Thursday morning to Friday evening, aside from maybe 2 hours of sleep, was one long day. My younger sister and I don't really leave our rooms except to work. If I could've, I would have taken the whole month off. I went back to work last Wednesday, and I plan to return to my part time this week. I had just started reading a new book, but I haven't really touched it since the beginning of July. I had also just started writing again, so I'm trying to pick it back up. Trying to "get back to normal" isn't really something I want to do without it involving calling or seeing my mom. But this is where I am.

I wish I had a more positive update, but unfortunately, I don't.

Monthly Review

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Happy Wednesday!

It's the last Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for a review of May. Not much has happened really. Most of us are stuck in the house. I'm currently typing this in my office because my laptop wouldn't let me go one move without freezing. Ick.

Last Friday marked 4 weeks since my last chemo treatment. I had my PET scan Tuesday, and I go back on June 5th to see if I'm cancer free. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is highly curable, so my hopes are high.

The movie The Lovebirds hit Netflix this weekend, so my sister and I watched it. It's hilarious! A great mystery/rom-com that I recommend.

I'm currently playing the Final Fantasy VII remake, and I LOVE it. I said this on Twitter, but it definitely succeeds where FFXV failed. It also gives us more fleshed out locations, stories, and side quests. The only complaint I've had so far is Barrett's VO actor is pretty bad, and they straightened his hair for some reason. But those are minor details in the grand scheme of things. I can't wait to keep playing.

I hope to finish the book I've been struggling through before the month is up. I think I have close to 100 pages left. At this point, I think it's the book, as I said the last time.

I have some more writing ideas floating in my head, so I plan to put them into Word soon. That will help my word count for the quarter. Ha.

How is everyone else doing?

April Writing Update and Monthly Review

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Last Thursday, I realized I forgot to post a writing update, and fortunately I saw my post about it last week and remembered what today is before I could completely forget my monthly review. I need to do better. Here's both at the same time!

It has been 5 weeks since COVID-19 really started hitting the scene, and I think 3 weeks since I have been telecommuting. I have done a little writing, but I may have read and rearranged more words than I've written. I plan to do a little more writing today, and certainly more reading this week. I do know what needs to be written, so it's just a matter of actually doing so.

At the beginning of the month, a group of writers I'm in had an Instagram Hop and gave away our books to one winner. It was fun and gave us a little more exposure. I need to do more marketing and promotions. I use Facebook's ad campaign every now and then, but I know I can do more. I joined a promotional group this week, so we'll see how it goes.

This Friday is my last chemo treatment! It's been a long 6 months, but I'm glad that it's almost over. My last scans looked great, so I expect the next one to be great, too. I can't wait for my life to go back to normal, current situation notwithstanding. Feeling sick every other week hasn't been a good time. I just pray the lymphoma stays away and I can be in the number of survivors!

How has everyone's month been going? Please continue to stay indoors, especially per the CDC guidelines. We are all experiencing a new normal right now, and guess what? That's actually okay! This will pass, but we have to actually let it.

Monthly Review

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What a difference a month makes.

A month ago, I started Door Dashing to make some extra money. 2 weeks later, the corona virus hit my state, and yesterday, I heard there was a case in one of the local school districts, so with my compromised immune system, I am officially home for 5 of 7 days. I still have to come into the office 2 days because of my timekeeping duties, but when I receive a laptop with remote access, I will be home each day. Last week, just being home 4 days drove me a little crazy. I just have to find things to do, and I'm not without things to do!

Here is a list I posted to my personal Facebook:

Read more than 5 page at a time.

Finally get some artwork started.

Catch up on anime I never finished.

Watch more Chinese dramas and dònghuà (Chinese version of anime).

Get back on Duolingo.

See if I can still tell the BTS members apart.

Clean.

What are you doing while you're being safe and staying home as much as possible?

Monthly Review

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IT IS THE END OF FEBRUARY! That's crazy. That also means it's time for my monthly review, so here we go!

Most of the good things have happened in the past week. I wrote about 1400 more words in Divided Princess since last Wednesday. I'm really moving on that, and I'm excited. I think I've also figured out a piece of the reason for the plot that's been missing, so fleshing that out will be fun. I might actually do a brainstorming session on that.

That said, my church had their Black History Month program last Saturday, which included an exhibition, so I had my first author table!

It was so exciting. All but 2 books were sold; I donated one to a free library outside of the church; and someone may buy the other Sunday. I definitely kept my name tag and ripped the one on the wall off when I left. I have to buy more business cards! I'm so happy. I created two recipes from the story, so I passed those out as well. I'm in the process of getting the key ingredients so I can actually make them myself. My sister gave me ground deer meat, and she's ordering goat's milk for me. That's as close to elk and sheep's milk as I can get.

Health-wise, I'm fat, haha (only to me, I know), but my pulmonary function test went well this past Monday. My last PET scan showed I was responding well to chemo, so things are looking on the up and up! My hair is getting a little thin in the front, so we'll see if I have to shave my head. I wear wigs sometimes anyway, so if so, I'm ready; not emotionally, but provisionally anyway. They gave me a new medicine to combat nausea because the original one wasn't working. Big difference in how I feel afterwards now. I did a lot more than I usually do the days after treatment, so that's really good. Chemotherapy has come a long way from even when my pop-pop was sick 20 years ago. If anyone of you gets sick with a specific cancer, I recommend going to a place like Fox Chase, which is where I'm going. I have a doctor who specializes in Hodgkin's lymphoma, and that makes all the difference than what my local hospitals have.

Work is going well, too. We have a few job duty shifts to ease the load of our Admin II; and I don't mind a couple more tasks. We're also interviewing, and I'll be on my first interview panel! Fortunately, the questions are already laid out. I'll probably feel as nervous as the interviewees. Wish my luck! haha

I started Door Dashing this week to make a few extra dollars on days I'm free and feeling well. Hopefully that helps ease some of the costs I have. Last year I tried transcription work, which is okay if you have the time, and I just don't, not the kind that transcription takes up anyway. You spend half the time just looking for audio with good sound quality, and you don't get paid for that! The money I did make certainly came in handy, though. So if you do want to try it, Rev.com is the place to go.

(All this free advertising. *shaking my head*)

I hope you had a great February. If you participate in Lent, which starts today, I hope you get something spiritually fulfilling out of this season. I will see you all in MARCH.

Monthly Review & Quarterly Goals

I just realized my Wednesdays are off a week because IWSG happened on the 2nd Wednesday this month. AH, well! I'm not going back and editing those posts (I'm totally going back and editing those posts).

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I'm not going to ignore it: there's been a lot of death this season. I'm sure the death toll doesn't ramp up November through January (heck, maybe it does), but that's certainly what it feels like. I hope everyone is taking care of themselves and hugging loved ones if you hug.

On the 31st, I will be halfway through my rounds of chemotherapy, thank God. I would love for the remaining three months to go by quickly on the days I  need them to go by quickly (i.e.: when I'm nauseated by the chemo and the medicine they give me doesn't work, or when my body aches like I have the flu and I just want to lay in bed until it stops) and slowly on the days I need them to go by slowly (i.e.: when none of the above is happening). However, that doesn't always happen, so I will just take things a day at a time and keep it pushing.

I reworked a whole chapter in Divided Princess this past weekend, which helped add some more action to the story, and I'm happy with it. Now, I think I can push forward with the story again. I looked over my NA fantasy I mentioned was at a full stop last week, and I put some notes on what I'll be changing in that one, also. Hopefully, I will be picking back up with it soon.

Sadly, I'm still on the same book from the beginning of the month, so I hope to be reading something new by February's Wednesday Words.

Some goals I have for this quarter are:

1) to eat better. I'm on the Daniel fast this month, and having stuck to it most of the 21 days felt like a big step in the right direction;

2) to exercise a little more on the days I feel good. With fasting comes losing water and muscle weight, so I need to get in the habit of toning that back into shape when I'm eating meat and bread again;

3) to cook more, or at least grocery shop food to eat more. The amount of fast food we usually eat is probably appalling; and

4) to read and write more. It's been a little slow for at least a year, due to circumstances obviously, but I think I can try to do a little better regardless.

I hope everyone has had a good start to 2020. What are some goals you have this quarter?