I’m not going to lie, February has been the hardest month of my life. My dog died in my arms on February 6th from acute kidney failure. We found out she was sick in January and a month later she was gone. I’ve barely had the energy or strength to go to work, let alone write anything. 

That being said, one good thing happened this month. My friend’s @/EzraArndtWrites anthology My Say in the Matter was published this month. It includes many amazing stories, such as my short story “Firebird” and all proceeds go to Abortion Funds. You can read this post to learn more about the story and this post to learn more about the MC, Grigori Ignatenko.

Kingsley, my queer, anthro crocodile book is currently with beta readers and I’m not sure what is going on with the Demon book (what else is new haha) which is probably why I’m also experiencing a bit of a writing block. Can’t really do anything with Kingsley and the Demon book is just too big right now. I tried to take a crack at short stories and vignettes just to keeping the writing muscles warm to varying success. 

I resurrected an old story: “The Martyr and the Widow” and republished it for Valentine’s Day. It features three characters from Kingsley and is about Marcus, one of the most feared rebel leaders in the land, working up the courage to admit his feelings to his crush. 

I also wrote a short writing thing about Alex, one of the MC’s from Kingsley, and their wife, Christine. It’s the first time they have a one-on-one conversation when they were fifteen/sixteen. Not sure if it means anything canon wise, but it was nice to write about their younger selves, before they got tangled up in all the drama with Kingsley and the Demons. 

I started a short story that would take place a few weeks after Kingsley. It’s about Quentin, a journalist of questionable morals and tastes in partners, and Oisin, Kingsley’s (ex?) husband and one of Quentin’s old flames. I think it could be a story that bridges Kingsley with the Demon book, so I may add it as an extra to one of the editions of Kingsley (whenever I get it published). 

I attempted writing a story about a life in Lola (my dog) but it was too painful. I think I’ll try to pick it up in March, because I’d like to celebrate her life. She was a very special dog.

And I started a Wes Anderson inspired vignette about the House of Zook: my dysfunctional family of superheroes and their powers that range from completely useless to strangely world-altering. Don’t know where it’s going or if I’m going to return to the superhero story. I haven’t touched it in six years, but it was nice to step into that world again. It’s completely different from any other story I’ve ever written. 

So not much, just little pieces here and there as I deal with my grief. I would like to get more done in March because I have so many things I want to do this year, but I also have to be patient and understanding with myself.

I hope February has been kinder to you all.