One of the good things about having a half-dozen projects in the air at one time is no matter what’s happening, there’s always something for me to do next. To do right now. For example, I’ve just put some work into improving my webpages.

The down side is it’s more things to worry about. Most of those things don’t have pressing deadlines … but that’s not always a good thing. You have to fight the tendency to put things off again and again, because other things are due sooner, until eventually you’ve left them alone for so long you’ve forgotten them.

Becka is doing the final copy editing for Book 1, “Blood Game,” right now. as soon as she finishes, I’ll begin the process of getting it to print. That’s buying the ISBNs, having it copyrighted, buying the cover(s), and the slow process of delivering to IngramSpark, the publishing platform I’ll be using. Submitting the book to the publisher will apparently involve some special software, so there’s that to learn too.

Only after all those steps will I be able I get the ARCs (advanced reader copies) into the hands of the two-dozen or so folks whom I’m hoping will help me out with good early online reviews. I’m looking at February 4, 2025 for a release date, so there’s time, but not unlimited time.

Meanwhile, today I should finish the “audio edit” of Book 2, “Crying Call,” which is the penultimate edit — only the copy edit comes after that. I’m thinking early August 2025 for that release, so oodles of time there.

I’m about 6,500 words into the first draft of Book 3, “Drawing Dead.” And I’ve begun the idea-log, brainstorming, and early research for Book 4, tentatively “Fearful Symmetry.” I have a good outline for Drawing Dead and some early ideas for Fearful Symmetry, but I’m very early in these processes. But those will be 2026 releases, so plenty of time with those too.

One more thing I need to work on is my social media presence. I also need to start talking to potential influencer-types who might be willing and able to help me promote the book to specific audiences, such as poker players, the neurodivergence communities, and book communities in general.

And finally, there’s the spicy romance I’m cowriting with Becka. That project has no timeline whatsoever — and that’s kind of the problem. With no pressure on us, we keep putting everything else first. That includes a personal writing project of hers which I look forward to alpha-reading. Of course, part of that is she’s slowed down by all the things she’s doing for me (and which I deeply appreciate), particularly editing and helping me figure out the publishing process. She also has a full-time job. But I’m on sabbatical, so I have no excuse. I should be plowing forward, on some project or another, at all times.

So I’m juggling quite a lot right now, but that’s the life of a writer. I’m getting used to it and enjoying it. I like being my own boss and I like setting my own schedules. But that’s the key — setting schedules. When you’re your own boss, you have to be hard on yourself now and then, as in setting schedules and making yourself meet them. Schedules can be flexible, but they must at least exist. That’s the difference between going somewhere and just spinning your wheels.