This Week in BATL: Chapter 5, New Story Bite, and Update
Second week in, and I feel like Iβm starting to get my feet under me with this new production schedule. And Iβm loving it. Read on to see what benefits dropped this week, plus shortcuts to a few other things that happened around here that you may enjoy.
Work-in-Progress
Last week, I spent most of a day hashing out some issues I was having with the plot and characters in Every Bell that Rings. As a result, I feel really good about going forward with it, but Iβm the type of writer who canβt just write forward if thereβs something major wrong with either the plot or characters. And my rehashing had clarified certain things in Noelβs back story for me that would matter early on in the book.
For the most part, these chapters hadnβt been released yet. However, if youβve been reading the early access version, you may want to go re-read the last few paragraphs of Chapter 4.
On the plus side, Iβm feeling much better about this story now. Itβs been difficult for me to write for more reasons than one, but now that Iβve got this work out, Iβm really getting comfortable in it, like these characters arenβt fighting me anymore and Iβm getting onto the same page with them.
Also, Chapter 5 dropped for Loyalists and above this week.
(If youβre at the Booklover tier, you can read the first three chapters.)
Story Bite: Overthinking Itβ¦
A chance meetup with the bossβs good-looking brother in the costume aisle at Walmart promises some interesting moments for socially awkward Chrissy at the office Halloween partyβ¦
This contemporary romance meet cute is available for Loyalists and above.
New Member Welcome
Iβm so thrilled to welcome Jossie, Laurel, and Michele to our community this week. Please say hi in the comments, if you feel comfortable. Iβm so excited youβre here!
In Other Newsβ¦
Something happened outside the Books and Tea League this week that you may be interested in:
A song I wrote to promote the release of the Prairie Witch Book horror anthology last October got released as a single this week. Jim Jackson, a folk-rock musician and the man behind Prairie Soul Press, both asked me to write the song in the first place, and has arranged and produced the new single. Calgary vocalist Nico Brenna provides the soul this song needs.
The song is called βDark Sideβ, a song about abused and silenced women finding their voice and power. If you want to listen to it, you can find it on your favourite platform as βDark Side (a Prairie Witch song)β, or get the short links to the song on major streaming platforms on the Prairie Soul website here.
Jim commissioned this amazing art to promote the single. How fantastic is this?
Image description: A spooky black-and-white illustration of a determined-looking woman with dark hair and dramatic makeup stands in the midst of fire and smoke. The title "Dark Side" is in orange gothic font along the bottom.
Also, I posted a short essay on my personal blog today inspired by the following quote. If you want to read the post, click here.
A quote card that reads βDarkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.β - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Coming Soon
I didnβt quite get to it today, but I will soon be setting the date for the first monthly video meetup for Luminaries and above. Iβll keep you posted about that!
Also, Iβm hoping to have the first audiobook chapter of Finding Heaven posted by next Friday.
Thatβs it for this week! I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of epic (if quiet) adventures, friend!
As always, Iβd love to hear what youβre reading in the comments. I just started the second book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Siege and Sorrow. Looking forward to this one!
