The Experiment is Over (For Now)

Greetings readers,

I have mixed feelings about what I’m about to say.

Quickly after the release of Lessons in Love, I was all fired up and started work on a second book, and then a third book. And then the holidays came. Our home was only half put together and we were having company - which meant we had to get the place in shape. I spent most of December working on the house, getting it organized, buying some new furniture and planning the holiday. I was so tired after all that, I decided to take the Winter school session off. Refreshed and relaxed, I was ready to start school again in the Spring session. Within the first few weeks, it was clear I was over doing it. At the same time I decided to drop two of my three classes, people started getting sick. A few weeks after that, the campus closed.

To be honest, I have only thought of Melanie Brodie in small bits here and there. What with the world falling apart and all, it’s been hard to focus. Couple that with my “other” writing career, taking classes from home, and being responsible for cleaning my own house…well…

It’s hard to admit I can’t do it all, but I can’t.

Years ago, I created, wrote for, managed, edited, and did everything for an online music zine. I ran it for a decade, but the last couple of years were me not having enough time to work on it - making promises I couldn’t keep. Eventually, I had to shut it down. It was a tough decision, but I look back on those last years with regret: me thinking I’d find the time, that I’d find a way to make it work. My life had changed so much from the time I started to where the zine ended. I was a totally different person with new responsibilities. Those last few years were me prolonging the inevitable. When I closed it down, I cried, but I knew I couldn’t give it the love and attention it deserved.

And that’s how I feel about Melanie Brodie. I do not have the mental energy, the time, nor the desire to continue right now. I’m also spending money on the domain, mailing list software, and other business related stuff that’s just draining the old checking account. I know. It’s sad. Lessons in Love is a great little book and I had a blast making it. At the end of the day, I have the sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that I worked hard on something start to finish. I made a good thing and put it out into the world.

I prefer to never say never, because you never know. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll get a bug up my butt and release the stories I’ve already written. Until then, I have to face facts: Like is complicated and I want other things right now. My deep and sincere thanks to everyone that read Lessons in Love. You are all amazing. You made this whole thing worthwhile.

Work in Progress Update - Teen Angst

Greetings friends and readers,

The holidays are ramping up and although I’m busy getting the house ready, I’m also writing like a fiend. The moment Lessons in Love was published, I started working on the sequel. I finished a first draft and had my husband read it. But then he didn’t love the ending. Disappointment ensued. I tried to work with it, but I just wasn’t feeling it. One morning, I woke up thinking maybe I needed to do some writing exercises - just to get the juices flowing. I decided to pick two names out of baby naming book at random and see what I could do with the characters.

Enter Colby and Athena. I started writing and it took off from there. It’s quickly become a story I really love and I have finished the first draft. Will they? Won’t they? I’ve decided that I’m going to put the Lessons in Love sequel on the back burner for a bit and concentrate on Colby and Athena. At the moment, it doesn’t have a title, although I’m thinking “Moved Away.“ It’s around 25k words, which puts it in the novella category, like Lessons in Love. A novella is longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel.

This story takes place in Apple Creek and will feature some of the people you know and love from the town. The story is about two teens who are thrown together, but the story takes an interesting turn. I won’t give anything away, but it deals with some real issues and will not qualify as “clean“ exactly. There are no swear words, no graphic sex, but there is implied sex and a teensy bit more than kissing. I couldn’t write a teen story without discussing some real issues teens face and it’s not always pretty. I like to think my style is both amusing and thought provoking. I don’t write your standard issue romances. I just can’t. I’ve tried. I like to write the tropes, but with a twist. I can’t write cardboard characters. Colby and Athena will face some hard decisions, and I’m hoping you’ll love them as much as I do. I hope you’ll root for them because they’re worth rooting for.

As for the Lessons in Love sequel, I want to do it right. I’m going to beta test the current draft and see if can work out the kinks. If you’re interested in becoming a beta reader, click here and sign up. I will also be beta testing Moved Away as well very soon, so get on there.

We’re just a few weeks away from Christmas and it’s all hands on deck around the Brodie home. Updates will be infrequent, but steady until after the new year. Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Insta.