In this post-Twitter reality (I know there are a lot of people still on the platform, but I'm not and I won't be back), I've come to realize I miss interacting with my readers. I miss having those one-off conversations with my readers, supporters, and fellow authors and talking about my work, writing, and generally anything. And though I'm on Mastodon, and quite comfortable on a wonderful server, the engagement there isn't the same as it was on Twitter. I have a Facebook profile, but I'm not sure what to do with it. Like my personal Facebook profile is a hotbed of memes and shitposting, which I enjoy, but that's not the tone I want to set with my author profile. Okay, maybe it is, but it'll be more on brand if you will.

So, whilst I was sitting on my sister's couch and compiling January's newsletter, I was like, "There is nothing saying I couldn't use my newsletter as a vehicle to interact with my readers and subscribers." Of course, I loved the idea so much, I decided to grab the bull by its horns and decided to go all in on that train of thought.

How do I plan to execute this? First, I plan to reserve a section of the newsletter to reader questions or comments, and I might call it The Discussion Corner or something kitschy like that. It won't start until March's newsletter, but starting this month, send me you questions!

For my inaugural discussion corner topic, I'm going to do a good old fashioned "Ask Me Anything." I would say no topic is off the table, but people be people'ing and I just don't have the mental bandwidth to deal with off the wall hate and tomfoolery. This leads me to say that all douchebag questions and comments will be ignored and deleted. Questions can be about my work, personal life (but nothing too crazy), and whatever else my readers and supporters might want to know about me, my work, thought processes, or what TV show I'm watching at the moment are fair game.

On the flip side, gentle readers, I'd like for you to introduce yourself to me and tell me your favorite movie or something. Right now, for me, it's the Barbie Movie. Wild I know, but Greta and the cast did a good job with it, especially when you consider all the pictures and rumors surrounding the movie were all over the place before it came out. I have to admit, the movie is all over the place, but it eventually comes together in a magical way.

Anyways, respond to this email and shoot me your questions and tell me a bit about yourself. I will be publishing my favorite questions in March's newsletter, but will send a response to all the ones I receive. If you want to remain anonymous, that is a-okay. Any questions I post will be published with no names attached to them. And, if you don't want to email, I have a contact form you can use on my website that you can also use to get your question to me.

People, the ways of getting in contact with me is endless. Let's crack this oyster open!

As you can tell, I'm trying to do a lot, and this isn't even including going back to school, which is for another newsletter, but I'm doing the most I can because someone's got to do it. I guess.

I am in the midst of finding an editor for Outside The Game, and I'm hoping to have one soon. As soon as that manuscript is with my editor, I'll be diving into Grisly Politics.

I am probably going to have to make some adjustments to my release schedule for the year because of the school thing, but we'll see how I handle everything. Just know that a book will be published this year, and if I have to go to a once a year schedule until I'm okay life wise, then so be it.

Now that I've rambled about that, who wants a peek into Outside The Game? This is an newsletter subscriber exclusive, so yay for you. If you're reading this on the archive, I'm sure the link has expired. I'm sorry you missed out, but if you sign up for the newsletter, you can get access to future sneak peeks of the book and anything else I'm working on.

This sneak peek will be of the book's first two chapters, which really set the tone for the rest of the novel. Before I toss out the link, all mistakes and grammatical errors are my own. Remember, I'm still on the hunt for an editor. Also, if you can do me a solid, there is a link on the main page you'll be sent to that will take you to a form on my website to leave me some feedback, if you would fill that out, you'd be my favorite person. Now, with all that being said, I present to you Outside The Game.

Hopefully, once you've read it, you'll let me know what you think. The  platform I'm using to share the teaser is a website I stumbled upon, and while I don't like how big it is (at least on my computer screen), it does the job. I'm hoping the developer puts some more work into it.

Last thing before I send you on your way, if you've read my blog post from the 5th, you'll know I've launched a goal on my Ko-Fi page for a copy editor. This is the result of me re-reading Reappearance of Summer, and finding a lot of issues that would have been resolved had I gotten a copy editor.

Unfortunately, in the self-publishing game unless you have a suga mama or daddy, you're paying out of pocket for a lot of things, and I'd rather get a good editor who does developmental editing and proofreading over a copy editor. I try to do my best on that front, but I also get tired of reading the same thing over and over, so time to get some fresh eyes on it.

Right now the goal is set for getting a copy editor for Outside The Game, but if the goal isn't met, then I'll change it to one of the books on my backlist because they're due for a refresher. I'm also thinking about doing some cover art updates for my older books as well, but we shall see. I'm very finicky about those.

If you're interested in donating to help me achieve my goal, just head to my Ko-Fi page the rest should be pretty easy.

This wraps up February's newsletter, but don't forget to send me your questions by replying to this email or by going to the contact page on my website. Looking forward to fielding the questions and comments I get!

Almost forgot, this month's Smashwords discount code is JG34T, which will get you 67% off my book Murderous Profession book 1 of the Detective Miller Series. It'll be valid until 12:59 (PST) on 02/23.