Back in November, I promised more updates. It took a little longer than anticipated, but here we go!

In my last post, I had mentioned that I was working to release a book by the end of 2020. Obviously, that didn't happen. Just a couple of days after I wrote that, I ended up in the ER with severe stomach pains. A couple of days after that, I was at the surgery center having my gallbladder removed. Recovery didn't quite go as quickly or smoothly as I had hoped, either.

The holidays were a study in chaos. Then, shortly after Christmas, my oldest son came home from work with muscle pains and a cough. I'm sure you already know where this is headed. He tested positive for Covid-19, and of course, that meant everyone else in the house contracted it as well. 

We were fortunate that our symptoms were fairly mild. In fact, my youngest had no symptoms at all. For me, it felt like a really bad cold with a lot of fatigue. The cold symptoms passed in about a week, but I'm still struggling with feeling exhausted all the time. 

Now, I could have a pity party. Especially when you add in our leaking roof (that is only 5 years old), a broken toilet, a sick dog, and what I worry is the beginning stages of early arthritis. When I look at it all, it does sometimes feel like I just can't catch a break.

​But, such is life.

So, I'm going to be optimistic. I'm going to believe that the bad times will fade, and good things will be waiting just around the corner. 

As for new books, I'm feeling better every day, but writing is still going pretty slowly at this point. For now, I can tell you that the next release will be the third book in the Blackhaven Manor series, and it will be a bit longer than the first two. I'm hoping to release it the first week of February, but it really depends on just how long it ends up being. As soon as I'm confident of a release date, though, I'll announce it. 

Beyond that, I'm just taking it one day at a time.

I do have plans for 2021, though. More books, a new series, a couple of joint projects, and another group giveaway with a brand new FREE story. All of which I'll provide more information for as I know it. 

So, 2020, am I right? It's been quite the rollercoaster, and I can't really say that I'm sorry it's coming to an end.

It hasn't been all bad, though. Back in July, after a lot of hemming, hawing, and hand wringing, I finally made the decision to homeschool my youngest. Not distance learning, but full-on homeschooling. It's been quite the adventure, and far more time consuming than I could have imagined, but it has also been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. After years of struggling through traditional school, my autistic child is finally thriving! I couldn't be prouder of him. 

Still, it is a lot of work, which has left very little time or energy for writing in recent months. I haven't stopped writing completely, but things are going to be a little slow going for a while.

​With that being said, let's get to the updates! 

Mr. Big Shot. *sigh*  I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that the book is temporarily on hold...again. I finally realized that the reason the story was giving me so many problems was that it just didn't fit into the +One series. The good news is that when it's finished, it should be more than double in length. I have a few other projects in the works right now, so I'm not sure when I'll get back to it, but probably later in 2021. 

Fearless. The third and final book of the Friction trilogy was originally scheduled to release in the summer. Then Covid happened, and it got pushed back to Fall. Then homeschooling (and life) happened, and it had to be pushed back again. As of this posting, I'm really not sure when it's going to be released. I'm tentatively hoping to have it out some time in the Spring, but that date is pretty fluid at the moment.

So, do I have anything concrete to tell you? Unfortunately, no. I'm still writing. I'm working on some different things, starting a couple of new series, and generally just following where the muse takes me. I'm going to try to have a new book out before the end of the year, but I don't know exactly when or even which book yet. (I have a couple that are close to being finished.)

I'll check in again in a couple of weeks, and hopefully, by then, I'll have something to actually tell you. So, hang in there, keep washing your hands, and stay safe.

​And to my American friends, I wish you all a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!

It's day five of the official lockdown in my city, day 20-something of #socialdistancing, and day... 9,000?? of my kids being home from school. We're also headed into week 3 of online distance learning, and let's just say I am not cut out to be a teacher.

But, otherwise, me and mine are safe, healthy, and doing our part to #flattenthecurve. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting to have everyone in my family constantly in and out of my office for the past 3 weeks. I also wasn't expecting to have to homeschool two teenage boys.

Finding time to write (without interruptions, distractions, or crippling anxiety) has been a challenge. I was supposed to have Mr. Big Shot, the second book of the +One series, finished and off to my editor by now. Well, guys, that hasn't happened. I'm still working on it, but it's not the book that has been calling to the muse. After two weeks of trying to fight it, I finally had to accept that it wasn't the story I wanted to be writing. 

Honestly, I think I just needed a major break from reality, and what better way than vampires, shifters, werewolves, and faeries to accomplish that?

So, Night and Fae: Blackhaven Manor, Book 2 will be releasing in April instead.  I know it's not the book you were expecting for April, but I hope you'll enjoy it just as much.

As for Mr. Big Shot...it's coming. I'm hoping to have it out in May, but I might have to push it back to a June release. It's really a wait-and-see game at this point, and like everyone else, I'm taking it one day at a time. As soon as I have a clearer idea of when I can have it ready, I'll be sure to post an update. 

Until then, wash your hands, stay inside if you can, and be safe!

If you're reading this, you're probably wondering where the hell "Fallout" is. Amiright? 

2018 was supposed to be THE year. You know the one. The year where everything goes right, I finally get my shit together, and well-laid plans fall perfectly into place. 

A death in the family, two emergency room visits, a sinus infection and two weeks of being down with a particularly nasty strain of the flu, and 2018 has been a freakin' hot mess. 

Several weeks after supposedly "getting over" the flu, I should have been recovered, but I still didn't feel right. I couldn't focus. I felt like I was in a constant fog. My memory was shit. 

Then my hair and eyebrows started to fall out, and my skin became so dry it cracked and bled. I couldn't sleep, but despite being awake, I couldn't seem to concentrate on even the most basic tasks. 

I was miserable.

Worse, my doctor couldn't find anything medically wrong with me, and eventually settled on a diagnosis of excessive stress. Considering everything that had been going on in my life since the beginning of the year, I was inclined to agree.

I can't tell you how disappointed I was to have to postpone the release of "Fallout." I'd promised it would release in March, and I really hate breaking promises. Physically and mentally, though, I just couldn't do it. 

I'm learning to rest when I need it and stop obsessing over the little things. I still have days where the brain fog gives me the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel, but mostly, I feel like me again. My eyebrows are even starting to grow back. Bonus!

With all that said, I know you're still waiting for the next part of Asher and Cameron's story, and I've been working hard to get it to you. 

​Again, I'm so sorry for the extended wait, and I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. 

Until Next Time,
Arden

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