Mid-Summer Update & Short Story

I can’t believe Summer 2023 is half over!

To say this last month has been crazy is the understatement of the year for me. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

I had the opportunity to snag a short contract working to support a youth summer camp, which has interrupted my writing life quite a bit. I have been involved with one of Canada’s best youth programs for 18 years: The Canadian Cadet Organization. It is a worthy and important use of my time.

BUT!

I have some writing updates that I am excited to share.  Magic in Her Blood, the first novel in my series, is in the hands of my editor and I couldn’t be more thrilled. So far, Magic in Her Blood has received excellent feedback from Advanced Readers (thank you, I am so grateful to each of you). While in this editing phase, I have also entered the novel in the Page Turner Awards under the Unpublished Manuscript Writing Award Category. Fingers crossed that I will find Magic in Her Blood Longlisted on August 15^th!

I am also very excited to say that the first draft of book 2 in the series (currently without a title) currently sits at 39,603 words!  I haven’t written as much in July as I hoped, but August is looking better for me on the writing front.

Lastly, as a thank you for taking the time to read this blog and check in from time to time, I want to share my most recent 100-word microfiction short story that I wrote for another NYC Midnight Competition. The story didn’t place but I am still quite proud of it. Please enjoy!

Ten Million

Grace held the painful truth in her perfectly manicured fingers, her reality now the opposite of her dreams. Peter’s heartbreaking words “When I die…” echoed louder than the teller’s questions in her ears.

“Ma’am, to which account?” He waved the piece of paper like it wasn’t all she had left.

“Mine, please,” Grace whispered.

How could Peter think a one and seven zeros would make this okay?

“Have you thought about getting life insurance?” the too-helpful teller asked. “With this much money—”

Grace couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of it all as she stood and walked away.