Birthdays and Bandwidth:
Not my cake; I had orange scones.
By Thio Isobel Moss
It’s been some time since I’ve posted anything, and that’s because my bandwidth has been maxed out. I’ve taken on some additional projects, which, while strategic, was probably a bit stupid, as I’ve also started training for a charity walk. I’m walking twice a day, using broad-spectrum sunscreen because I have a mild sun allergy.
Good times.
Actually, these are good times. My poor skin is starting to harden off—like with a plant, that is the technical term—and I’m already in much better shape.
I’m slowly learning not to put too much information about projects out there because things can change. Originally, Objects in the Mirror was next in the queue, but Blind Spot took two and a half years to write. I realized I wasn’t giving Objects the time it requires—or deserves.
However, something is coming down the pipeline later this year, so watch this space.
In other news, Bump: A Palmetto Predators Novel has been out just shy of a month, and I have been blown away by its reception. In this, my second time publishing as an indie author, I did things a little differently. Actually, I did remarkably little. I made a Bookbub ad with a custom graphic, A+ content to coordinate, and posted a few updates on Instagram, X, and, of course, my website.
The reason for this is that I am changing my marketing strategy—which is why both books have been $0.99 for the month following Bump’s release. I did not anticipate the response I got; while I certainly haven’t gone viral, I have had my best month of sales and Kindle Unlimited pages read. I even celebrated my first hardcover sale in Sweden.
I am so grateful to everyone who has taken a chance on my books!
I also just had a birthday, and Oz’s is right around the corner.
The last few years, we’ve kept things fairly minimal. Our friend, Ty, shared my birthday, and the second anniversary of his passing wasn’t that long ago, so he was very much in our thoughts. However, another family friend was able to join us unexpectedly.
Jerry is a university and motorcycling buddy of my dad’s, as well as an honorary uncle to my brother and me. He also has a colorful history and gave me the most unique gift I’ve ever received—prison art. It’s been many years since he was in prison (and he is now a law-abiding citizen), but while he was there, he embroidered a rose, unravelling red, pink, and green cloth to provide the embroidery floss and using the plastic lid of an ice cream pint to create the frame. It’s creative, resourceful, and I couldn’t love it more!
It may show up in a story someday!
For Oz, though, he had sourced something we all found intriguing: a wakizashi from the 1800s with a carved bone saya (scabbard), tsuka (handle), and kashira (pommel). It’s beautiful.
Oz has some Asian-inspired blades, but this is the first authentic addition to his collection.
All in all, it has been an excellent birthday, but I am on a very tight timeline, so I need to get back to it!
