2021 in Writing

This is usually a post where I sum up what I accomplished writing during the year.

This is going to be a short post. Kidding (not really).

Self Publishing for Canadians

My biggest accomplishment this year was turning Self Publishing for Canadians into an audio book. It was a lot of learning, and I’m happy with the final product. I have decided not to do my fiction books at this time. I just don’t have the energy.

Sin City series

I have two books written years ago that are set in the ’70s (ten years post Bayou Bound), but there’s one that needs to come before, and I have a plot hole/issue I need to solve in it before I move forward since I’m sure it’ll cause rewrites if I don’t.

Sin City is co-written. MB Miller has written accompanying pieces and four characters (Ray, Jimmy, Adam and Carl) are her creations. Since Ray is the Big Bad, it’s hard for me to feel like I can write the series alone since I use her characters. MB Miller has been busy with other projects so this series hasn’t been worked on in years. I’d like to get back to it, but I just haven’t felt like focusing on it.

Billie and Diana series

This is also co written with MB Miller and pretty much stuck. We have a second book that is 3/4 done, but there’s a few changes I want to make with Billie’s character that I’m excited about. We each write one character so it’s a series that needs us both working on it at the same time, and I don’t see that happening, so I’m not sure when it’ll get done.

YA Series/Joy Morrison series

I did work on this series this year. I finished the first book.

I still need to write the second, but I need to figure out some stuff in books 3-6 before I can do that. But there was a little bit of progress on this project.

I’m thinking I’ll probably just call it the Joy Morrison series since she’s the main character and focus of all the books.

Other Projects

I had joked I wanted to write a traditional romance, but I’ve realized I really don’t like romance novels (I’m likely greyromantic, which probably explains it). I prefer it as a subplot, and I prefer realism with messy endings, messy people and things that don’t go over well in the romance community lol.

The pandemic has really killed my creativity this year. I haven’t crafted, haven’t written much new stuff (just edited), haven’t done any photography or anything. I feel kind of dead inside creatively. I’ve thought about giving it up completely, but I feel like I’ll still work on the Joy Morrison stuff because I do like what I have planned, I just don’t have the mojo to do it right now. But someday.

Bayou Bound is out now!

Bayou Bound, the third book in the Sin City saga, is now out everywhere in digital and print.

Jake Wheeler is back in town and he needs Tim Kelly’s help. Against his better judgement, Tim ends up on a cross-country road trip with his least favourite person. When they get pinched by a crooked sheriff in a crooked Louisiana parish, it’s five years hard labor in a prison camp. No one knows where they are, and no one’s going to come looking.

Escape is the only thing on their minds.

Buy it now in digital or print format.

Neon and Tinsel (Sin City, #3.5) for Christmas

If you love novellas set at Christmas, be sure to pick up a digital copy of Neon and Tinsel, book 2.5 in the Sin City series.

Neon and Tinsel takes place at Christmas 1966, with visits to Tim Kelly’s strained family Christmas, Darla Redmond’s holiday back home in Ohio, Jake Wheeler’s cold Christmas in North Dakota, and Ruby’s attempt at Christmas-ifying Rett’s bar in Las Vegas.

Digital Versions:

Amazon Kindle US
Amazon Kindle Canada
Amazon Kindle UK
Amazon Kindle Australia
Amazon Kindle France
Apple iBookstore
Google Play
Barnes and Noble Nook
Indigo.ca
Kobo
Playster
24 Symbols
Scribd

If you’d like early release notifications, exclusive book discounts and free books, sign up for my newsletter.

Piece of Work – FREE prequel to Sin City

Piece of Work, a free prequel short to the Sin City series, is available for FREE if you subscribe to my newsletter – click here.

When it was released to sales outlets, it peaked at number 2 on the free Kindle Short Reads for Mystery, Thriller and Suspense.

Piece of Work free prequel on Amazon
Tim Kelly has never been a fan of the Chicago Mob, and in 1965 Las Vegas, they’re the only game in town.

Tim’s latest venture has caught the attention of Sam Wyatt, a Fremont Street mobster with two casinos. Unfortunately, he’s also caught the attention of the Chicago Outfit’s most ruthless enforcer. Now Tim has a choice to make – play ball or stake his own claim – and his decision could have lasting effects.

 

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Sin City Promos Roundup

I had some great Sin City promos since the release, and I’m playing catch-up on the blog after a few busy weeks. Here’s a breakdown of some websites that featured Sin City over the last month.

 

Featured:

Oct 24 – ARC reviewer On Two Feet reviewed the book on their blog and at Goodreads. Thanks so much!

Nov 1 – I did a guest blog post at Urban Book Reviews on Research in Las Vegas and preparing to write Sin City. Thanks to Urban Book Reviews for the opportunity – I really enjoyed writing the article. Any chance to talk about Las Vegas!

Nov 7Sin City was reviewed by the Genre Minx. The reviews also appear on Goodreads, Amazon and LibraryThing. Thanks so much for your review!

Nov 7Sin City was a Weekly Featured read at Quiet Fury Books. We really appreciate it!

Dec 2 – I did an interview with The Writing Greyhound. Thank you for the interview.

Sin City also has a page on TVTropes. There are no plot spoilers visible. Also, sorry, you’re about to lose hours of your time on that site lol.

I have a few more things in the works, and I’ll post about them as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone who has purchase Sin City and reviewed it. If you have your copy, please think about leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

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Sin City available now in print and ebook

Sin City Available Now!

Find it on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, iTunes and more

Sin City available now in print and ebook, so check below for links to purchase or visit the Sin City book page.

Digital Versions:

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Print Versions:

Amazon Paperback ($14.95 USD)

Lulu Trade Paperback ($13.95 USD)
Lulu Hardcover ($23.95 USD)

Canadians can buy via Lulu, as Amazon’s KDP Print program does not yet publish to Amazon.ca. There are often great coupon codes on Lulu for free shipping or discounts on books, so don’t hesitate to contact me for the latest coupon code.

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Sin City Blurb

Read the Sin City blurb here!

Sin City is being released November 1st, I’ve shared the cover, and now it’s time for the “back of the book” blurb.

Las Vegas, 1966.

There are parts of Sin City the neon lights don’t reach, and only the desperate and dangerous venture into the city’s seedy backstreets, where gangsters rule, the floating poker games never stop, and people disappear without a trace.

Ruby Gordon is desperate. She has nowhere else to go when her brother opens his home to her. He runs an off-the-books juke joint, and she is fascinated by the most dangerous – and handsome – of his clientele.

Tim Kelly is dangerous. His father never achieved notoriety with the Chicago Outfit, but Tim has aspirations to strike out on his own. He has plans, and they don’t include a naive newcomer.

Jake Wheeler is both. The Airman-turned-rodeo-rider is as gorgeous as he is foul-tempered, and he’s Tim’s not-so-friendly rival. When he notices Tim’s interest in Ruby, he’s determined to derail Tim’s plans.

The three of them are on a collision course, but there’s only one rule in Vegas: The house always wins.

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Sin City Release Announcement and Cover Reveal

The Sin City release is coming soon!

Release Date

I shared this information with my newsletter a little while ago, so now it’s time to share with everyone else. Sin City will be released on November 1st, 2016!

It will be available in print and ebook format. The book is already listed on Goodreads, so please add it as a To Read.

Cover Reveal

Sin City Release

The cover was designed by J Caleb Design. It captures the feeling of the 1960s and Las Vegas.

My excitement is growing for everyone to read it. For more exclusive info on releases, discount codes and freebies, as well as contest announcements, join my mailing list. If you sign up now, you’ll receive a FREE ebook copy of Brookline University: Freshman Year.

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