Upcoming at The Lily Cafe #1

I just finished my 13th week-long blogging break (and, boy, was it needed! Getting in lots of reading and sleep was amazing.), but I still have the problem of not having any good idea of how to start back up again. I’ve tried just jumping back into my usual schedule and I’ve tried writing about any changes I’ve had to made. But they haven’t really worked out for me. I think I may have finally hit on something usable. Maybe.

Enter Upcoming at The Lily Cafe. A brief look into what I have planned until my next break, as well as any changes I might have made. Maybe this will be the only one, maybe not. At one time, I though the Digest wasn’t going to survive. So, we’ll see.

First of all, a few weeks ago I reposted something from last year. I talked about the coming changes to my blog. Most of those changes have held up. One of the things I mentioned, though, was I was so pleased with myself for not changing my theme.

If you’re a new reader, then you need to know I frequently make changes to my blog. It’s kind of my thing. The fact that the theme had lasted for over a year is kind of shocking.

But, never fear, my loyal readers! I am true to myself and have once again made changes. About a week ago, I dove into a new theme. I quite like it. For now. If you have a moment, I’d love for you to check it out, poke around, and let me know what you think. And what I still need to work on. I’m pretty sure the 6 featured posts at the top of the homepage never change. I’m still figuring it out. But, if it does change day to day for you, please let me know so I stop trying to figure it out!

Secondly, I’m actually really excited about the upcoming parts for Queen of the Garden of Girls. By the end of the year, I’ll have posted the ending to the second part of the story, and will then start posting the third and final part of it starting in January. The final scene of the second part had me in knots for a few days, and I’m still not quite happy with it, but, well, at least it’s just a first draft.

Thirdly, I have a couple of author guest posts coming up, at least. One is coming up on Friday and will be highlighting Bluette Matthey’s crime novel Two Murders Too Many. She also writes the Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery series, which sounds appealing right now since it’s been years since I last traveled.

There will be another at the end of November and will feature a dear and long-time blogging friend, Jennifer M. Zeiger. She’s spent years working on her fantasy novel Quaking Soul and it’ll finally be published November 30th. About a week before then, look out for a combination author interview and excerpt post.

Fourthly, I’ll be taking part in a book blog tour for Leads and Lynxes by Rebecca Chastain towards the end of November. There’s lots of magic and journalism going on. Right now, I’m reading the prequel, Deadlines and Dryads, to get a feel of the characters and world, and I can’t wait to get into the first book in the series!

I also take part in book blog tours for Harlequin (which still sometimes tickles me because I remember my mom getting story magazines or something from them when I was a kid and thinking Harlequin only published romance, but I’ve quickly learned that isn’t true). Again, at the end of November, I’ll be taking part in the book blog tour for Pretending by Holly Bourne.

Wow, the end of November is shaping up to be quite busy! Here’s to hoping December is more of a wind down month as I prepare to take 2 weeks off for the holidays.

Fifthly, there will be a lot more book reviews. Some of them are quite bloodthirsty (like Legacy of Steel by Matthew Ward). Others are sweet and light (like A Good Heart by Lisa Volz, who also blogs at Write Side of the Road). Some of them made my heart ache a bit (like The Existence of Amy by Lana Grace Riva). There are still others I haven’t read yet. And I can’t forget some mysteries, most of which I still have to read. But I really enjoyed the Agatha Christie-esque Kiss of Salt by Smita Bhattacharya. I’m also really looking forward to Murder at Mile Marker 18 by Denise Jaden (I did the cover reveal a few weeks ago!) because it has a mystery, food, and an antagonistic cat. I’m also looking forward to The Stars That Beckon by Kevin J. Simington. I reviewed his Someone Else’s Life a couple months ago and loved it. He kindly gifted me a copy of the first in his sci-fi series, and I can’t wait to dive back into his lovely, sarcastic writing.

Sixthly, the last three Mondays before my next blogging break for the holidays will see me talking about the fantasy and science fiction, women’s fiction, and mysteries and thrillers I’ve loved most this past year, as well as the one in each genre I enjoyed the most.

Seventhly, I’m pretty sure there will be more baking posts. I just haven’t gotten around to writing any yet, but I have been baking a lot. Like gingerbread men and pumpkin pie. I’m a little holiday confused. But, gosh, does my kitchen smell lovely! I also have plans to change up my baking posts, so we’ll see how writing them goes now.

Lastly, I’ll try to come up with a better layout for this. Sixthly and seventhly just don’t role off the tongue.

See you soon!

Sincerely, kat