The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, #IWSGPit, and In Darkness: The Werewolf

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question: Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? For instance, in 2021 my word of the year was Finish. I was determined to finish my first draft by the end of the year. In 2022, my word of the year is Ease. I want to get my process, systems, finances, and routines where life flows with ease and less chaos. What is your word for 2023? Why?

My word will be focus.
Focus on my own work.
Adjust the focus of Dancing Lemur Press.
Focus on health.
Focus on my family.


#IWSGPit is coming!

The next #IWSGPit will be January 25
9:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time

Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 25, 2023, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.
Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.

Get the full details here.


The IWSG Goodreads Book Club is reading Fractions of Existence (Existence #1) by J Lenni Dorner and The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass this month.

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Tales From the Valley is up for pre-order now.

In Darkness: The Vampire comes out February 7.


And I have a working cover for the third book in this series, The Werewolf!

(Due out Sept. 5.)


What is your word for this year?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and What Does a Publisher Do All Week?

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question: It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

I tend to catch up as Dancing Lemur Press business is slow the second half of the month and I use that time for my own work and to catch up on other projects.

I did manage to finish the fourth story in my In Darkness series, The Alien, last month. It will sit for a bit and then I will tackle revisions. Probably during the Christmas break.


I do want to share with you what my work week looks like. I have no typical work week as it all depends on what is in the pipeline and at what stage. So I will share some of what I did last week:

Edits on stories for Tales From the Valley (Due out March 7 next year. This is a special collaboration with Elizabeth Seckman.)

Review requests for In Darkness: The Shark

Royalty payments and statements for Q3 2022

Finished writing In Darkness: The Alien

Set two events for next year

Back cover for Tales From the Valley set

Formatted half of the stories for Tales From the Valley

Replied to numerous submissions

Completed November bookkeeping

Back cover synopsis for Blood Red Steel set. (The third in Damien Larkin’s Mars series!)

Worked with my illustrator on cover art for In Darkness: The Werewolf

And many other minor details that go along with being a publisher

My husband says I am the worst boss ever as I never give myself time off!

But I do have fun doing it.

As proof, my friend Ticia went with me to man the booth at Havelock Comic Con a couple weeks ago (instead of my poor husband) and we had a blast! Not to mention it was another stellar weekend of sales.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, The Shark, and Events

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question – November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

It has just never worked out that I had time in November to write that much. For that matter, I rarely have time in any month. I will be finishing the fourth novella in my In Darkness series, The Alien, this month, but I only need 6000 words or so to do that.

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Dancing Lemur Press has two events this month:

November 12, 9-1 pm
Goldsboro Holiday Market
New Hope Friends Church, Goldsboro, NC

November 19, 10-5 pm
Havelock Comicon
Havelock Tourism and Event Center, Havelock, NC


If you are in the area, stop by and see us!

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And I’m excited to show off the cover for my next novella:

In Darkness: The Shark

Souls shrouded in darkness…

Focused on her studies and duties at the aquarium, Jewels prefers her solitary life. Burned many times and short on trust, she has more in common with her aquatic friends than the people around her. But she never imagined coming face to face with a shark named Clarence…a shark who talks!

As their friendship grows, Jewels must overcome her deep set mistrust. There are dangers, both in the Australian ocean and on dry land. Can Jewels depend on the great white or will his animal nature betray her?

Release day – May 9, 2023
Fantasy – Romance / Fantasy – Paranormal / Paranormal – Romance
eBook ISBN 9781939844910

This is the second in the In Darkness novella series – The Werewolf will be next.

It’s available for pre-orders and for reviewers! So, if you are interested, please let me know.


Have you participated in NaNo?
And a paranormal romance story with a shark? You’ll have to read it to believe it!

Posting at IWSG Site

I am visiting the Insecure Writer’s Support Group site today with a piece I did the other night for a writer’s group - What Publishers and Agents Seek.