It’s been too long since I’ve posted an article here! I’ve been quite busy. I wrote Books One and Two in my Allegiance Series for roughly a year (2024-5), and ever since have been editing them. Now, I’m editing Book Three to fit the series, as it was actually the first book I wrote in the series. I’ll write about that in a future article. For now, here’s an update on what I’ve been up to.
As I edit . . .
I plan to launch The Beauty of a Spiral on Kindle Unlimited.
The Beauty of a Spiral depicts a teenager with medical struggles, trying to keep promises while surviving treatments. As well, it shows how anyone at any given time is spiraling through something, and when we come together and help each other, we can harvest good from the bad. Adding some fun to the story, a teen’s first romance, as well as challenging friendships the main character, Madz, never expected to come into her life.
I’ve worked on Book Covers for the Allegiance Series.
While editing, I worked on book covers with my artist, directing her as we went along–poor girl; I’m very picky. (Fortunately, she’s very patient and talented.) The covers are finally done, and I love them! When the time comes for me to show you them, I hope you like them too:) I hope they relay that the Allegiance stories are YA, patriotic, take place in a near-future America–often in the woods–and the MC dreams of piloting. Each cover also hints at a unique story element.
I’ve tested Ai and fretted over it.
See my article on this. Despite what any person or industry thinks about it, decisions shouldn’t be made without proper–responsible–experimentation. AI can be used as a starting point for various task, not all writing. So as I’ve edited, I have tested AI by using it to perform certain editing tasks, such as pulling and listing items I request it to pull and list. I’ve also used it as I would a search engine. After experimenting with a variety of AIs, I decided to not let myself get lost in what it could do and focused more on what I need to get done.
The experience instilled fear in me after the fact, when the AI witch hunt started–did I do something terribly wrong? Will I be shunned as an author. But then I came to my senses. Let anyone form their own judgements, but I can live with myself and stand by my work, saying it truly is my own. Using AI for certain tasks doesn’t mean it has generated content.
I’ve lived LIFE.
All I’ll say to explain this one is I’m a wife, mother, sister, aunt, daughter (my Mom just turned 91!), and whenever possible, a friend. As well, I’m a long-time cancer survivor and only getting older, so sometimes medical appointments steal time from my writing and editing. But as you’ll see in my fiction, Life is the best teacher and muse.
In conclusion . . .
I’m glad to have finally put time aside to visit my website and post an update of what I’ve been up to. Many of us have a list of things to do, forcing us to multi-task. Some of us are better at it than others. Time management isn’t my strength, but I’m here today, getting two articles done–woohoo! Now, it’s to get back to editing. Take care:)