Toni

Whispers from the Writing Nook

Words are on the page, book 3 has been started! I’m not sure I’m happy with the first chapter, but it is done, along with a few others. Last week was a productive week, and I’m excited to continue working on the story.

Now that I have the date for the release of book 1, I’m super excited about it. I’m trying hard not to start a countdown for at least another couple of weeks. After that, it will be fair game. We still have much to do to get it into book form. It always amazes m...

Episode One Hundred and Sixty-Four: Fate Magic

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Eira, her big brown eyes staring at me while her ears twitched. “Fate magic can take the shape of dreams you cannot control. Some see what’s happening in other places, or what needs to happen. Others may see what has already happened, though they were not present.”

“It’s not like that.” I shook my head, sending my hair all over. 

The Cat’s attention focused on me.

I sighed, and tried to think about how to explai...

Episode One Hundred and Sixty-Three: Time for Magic

I tapped my pen on the pad of paper. So far, I had listed the Sphinx, the Nymph, and some of the book dragons as possible customers for my book club. Though, the more I studied the list, the worse I felt. I didn’t even have names for most of the people who came into the shop. Instead, I made guesses based on what they appeared to be, or asked the Cat.

Taking out a clean sheet of paper and pulling up a clipboard that appeared just as I thought about it, I created a sign-up list ...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

I finally feel normal again. It helps that last night I slept like one of those mattress commercials. Getting up and feeling rested is such a magical thing. If every night could go like this, then who knows what we all could accomplish!

I apologize for missing last week's update, but I was not feeling well at all. But now I’m finally recovered, and I have so much to chat about.

All good things - I swear!

Book 1 is done! Well, the words are done. It's been through fi...

Episode One Hundred and Sixty-Two: Squid People

The doorbell rang as the door flung open and several beings entered the shop. Each stood taller than me by at least a foot and had several arms. They walked on four arms, or, rather, legs, but they appeared just like the arms. Each was a deep blue color with suction cups covering them. Dark eyes glowed on either side of their heads.

I didn’t dare speak as I processed the sight of the octopus-like creatures walking around the shop. Finally, I just pretended this happened every d...

Episode One Hundred and Sixty-One: Plants?

I flipped the pancake with my spatula and it landed perfectly in the pan.

“Ten points,” said Indigo, with a chirp from her position on the counter on the other side of the stove. She tried again to stir the scrambled eggs, but her claws made it hard to hold onto the spatula. “Cooking hard.”

“It’ll be easier if I can find something for you to hold a little better,” I said with a smile. “You can totally make eggs by yourself once we find the correct utensil.�...

Episode One Hundred and Sixty: Hungry Sword

I felt awkward.

“How much?” asked Kyra without missing a beat. “I unfortunately cut it recently, but I can totally pay that as long as I have enough.”

“It says several strands.”

“Not an issue.” Within seconds, Kyra separated out the longest strands she had left and braided them, before using her knife to cut the bunch near her scalp.

I didn’t know what to say as I took the bundle. Her hair tingled in my hands, like I’d touched a battery to my tongue...

Episode One Hundred and Nine: Magical Mishaps

The steamer quickly turned off, and thankfully it didn’t get anywhere close to my skin. I’d burned myself in the past with the steamer wand, and this was a lucky break.

“Thanks, Betty,” I mumbled under my breath as I set the metal pitcher on the counter. 

Hot milk dribbled down the sides of the metal container and I cringed. It sunk down, vanishing from sight, and I forced myself to turn to look at Betty. The damage wasn’t bad-bad, just kinda bad. The steamer...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Eight: Unexpected Travels

I spit out my coffee for the first time in my life, my inside full of panic.

“That cost more than my salary?! It was three eggs, potatoes and toast!”

“Yes, almost double.” The Cat studied me with his bright green eyes. “I’m still uncertain what world we are currently on, but the currency conversion is terrible. At least we aren’t doing business here today.”

What the heck?

Indigo chirped twice, asking about the area.

“All I know is they ha...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Seven: Chef’s Kiss

The warm scent of coffee filled the air as I ground the beans to make the espresso.A nice normal day sounded great at the moment. First coffee, then breakfast. Everyone else still slept as far as I could tell.

Indigo snored from her cat tree as I got up and got ready for the day, and I didn’t see anything of the Cat. The shop felt quiet. Sunlight barley peeked in from the skylights, and the sound of the grinder felt muffled. Like Betty agreed with me on how things felt.

I...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Six: Call for Answers

Thinking of my family reminded me of the fudge I had stashed away. It’d go great with my mocha.

I closed my eyes and let my hands rest in my lap. Again I reached for the tiny star inside my chest and just let my thoughts rest on it, getting used to the new feel. Minutes passed that way, and at some point the Cat wandered off. Indigo floated in the hot tub, or at least it felt like that.

When everything felt solid, I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. 

Time ...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Five: Magical Moments

“Magic!” Indigo circled back in my direction, which I knew even though I couldn’t see her. Somehow, I could feel it.

“Yep, this is weird.” Feeling where people were was just crazy.

Indigo shimmered into view as she landed on the lounger next to the Cat. Now both stared at me.

“You guys aren’t helping…”

“What feels different?” asked the Cat.

“I know where you guys are, even with my eyes closed.” Even with my eyes open, I could some...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

Ya’ll must have had a chat with a certain Cat since everything has worked out!

I’ve paid a deposit on a cover artist, and we will have a new cover around the beginning of August. I’ll have the rights to it and will be able to blast it all over the place.

Even better news: I’ve finished the line edit. Book 1 is now off to proofing, the last step before formatting and going to the narrator.  I’m hoping to be able to set the release date and share that as soon as possi...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Four: Family Secrets

I’d slept great, and my blankets were nice and warm, making it hard to want to move. Soft snores came from Indigo who slept next to my head on a pillow. The light from above made her purple scales sparkle.

I smiled so hard my face hurt at the sight of her being back. I’d missed her more than I could explain. The soft green sweater lay folded on my end table next to the magical plant. Both reminded me of all that I wanted to get done today.

That forced me to slowly pull ...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Three: Surprises and Fun Times

It didn’t take long before everyone stuffed themselves full of food and candy from the stockings. It was in the post-meal lull that Lord Bennit pulled out the last surprise for him from his stocking. At first, he stared at it as my eyes flickered over to Indigo. She flew quickly in his direction, chirping. 

I hadn’t had a chance to warn her what ‘she’ got him as a present. The bright purple shirt had seemed like a great idea at the time, but now I worried. 

Whispers from the Writing Nook

I have so many things to talk about this week. Some are exciting, and one that worries me.

Good news first: Meow will have audio!

This is super exciting for me because I know several of you have been asking. It is happening and bigger-name company is producing it. I just need to get the final draft over to them. I’ll keep everyone updated on this as I can!

The second bit of good news is I got Book 1 back from the editor. My goal is to focus on this, and get it wrapp...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-Two: Gift for the Cat

“Of course, better than the coffee beans,” I said as she snuggled close, still wearing the space bag and the soft sweater.

“Good,” she chirped softly. Her head snuggled close to my neck, and it felt like a heated blanket before she pulled away. “Speaker awesome!”

“I’m glad you like the present.”

“I’ll be placing an order for several of those as well,” said Lady Twilight. “I’d like one for my library.”

Liluth nodded. “I know the wo...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty-One: Gifts

 “What is it?” I asked.

“A teacup with a leather case,” said Alas with a grin. “Pull it out for him.”

I found a flap and pulled out a beautiful teacup with a chip on the rim.

It was made of white porcelain, with pitch black paw prints along with some vines twisted about the edges. It didn’t have a saucer. 

It was beautiful. 

I twisted it in the light, and the black shimmered like a nebula. 

“Where did you get this?...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

Two more chapters this week and I received the six back from editing. My plan is to write two more and get those six edited plus scheduled.

I might even start on the scheduling this weekend but I planned a surprise for my partner. He loves trains, and I booked our small family group for a stream train ride through the mountains. Normally, I am very bad at keeping secrets. Like the worst. I love sharing news and good things but I have kept my mouth shut for like 6 weeks about this. My pa...

Episode One Hundred and Fifty: Surprises

I paused, listening to Indigo’s question, and realized she spoke better and in more complete sentences. The days away with the dragons had helped her language skills.

“Maybe…”

“Magic stirs magic,” answered Lady Twilight, at the same time as my response.

I glanced at her, wondering what she knew that she wasn’t telling. With a dragon, it could be quite a lot.

Instead of responding, she didn’t meet my eyes. I didn’t push the issue. One thing I ha...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Nine: Stockings

“Gifts?” I asked, as I sat on the same couch as Lord Bennit but nearer the tree.

“Yes, for the solstice exchange,” added Alas, glancing around but keeping pace with Liluth as she walked into the room.

“Your bag looks to be under the tree,” said Lady Twilight. “I should add my contributions as well.”

She marched over to the tree, and a few small boxes appeared under it.

I only had stockings for folks and not any gifts, except for the Cat and Indig...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

Two more chapters this week and I received the six back from editing. My plan is to write two more and get those six edited plus scheduled.

I might even start on the scheduling this weekend but I planned a surprise for my partner. He loves trains, and I booked our small family group for a stream train ride through the mountains. Normally, I am very bad at keeping secrets. Like the worst. I love sharing news and good things but I have kept my mouth shut for like 6 weeks about this. My pa...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Eight: Arrivals

“Yes, that's how Lady Twilight joined the clan and started our line.”

The door rattled as someone knocked on it. Lord Bennit twisted around to peer out, his shoulders relaxed.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

I lurched around the counter toward the door and found a delivery guy on the other side. It wasn’t our usual one, but he held up a cardboard box with lots of takeout containers inside.

“I have an order for Sable?” He asked after I opened the door, wi...

Episode One Hundred and Forty Seven: Fast food

I needed to think fast about food. The cookie situation was covered. I had enough frozen cookie dough to not have a problem for three Solstice celebrations. 

While I could order Chinese take-out, we’d eaten so much of that recently I felt I needed to come up with something else.

I slipped off the stool and headed to the register before tapping away on the screen. It didn’t take long for an option to come up that sounded tasty, and would be a new experience for us.&...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

This week passed by super quickly, and I wrote so many chapters. I'm sending SIX more chapters to my partner to edit so I can get them scheduled.

Also, Sable threw me a curveball and now I am very far off the outline I’m currently working from. So I have no idea where my writing will take us tomorrow morning when I pick up where I left off.

Sometimes this happens, and those moments are the ones that everyone loves, so I’m trusting the process. My overarching goal is to wrap th...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Six: Dragon Tastes

“This is good, it reminds me of when you roast an animal…” His voice trailed off as he realized he was about to say something probably impolite, and he changed his wording. “It’s very good, and an easy preparation.” 

He added a few more pieces of bacon to his plate, and Indigo nodded.

I smirked to myself, glad that I’d found another to convert to loving breakfast foods. I cut into my waffle again and crunched down on a perfect bite, with both butter and s...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Five: Morning Surprises

One second, I slept curled up in a ball, nice and cozy with a blanket wrapped around me. The next, something flung me into the air and I landed on my paws on the floor.

“It’s morning!” Sable’s voice cut through the strange dream, and I leaped back onto the end of her bed to find her smiling.

“Yes, that’s clear.” Stretching out felt good, as everything settled back into place. “Does that mean breakfast?”

“Of course,” she said, blinking a few times...

Whispers from the Writing Nook

I have so many ideas brewing of folks who visit the shop within the next couple of chapters. Warm weather is finally here, and my creativity is going into overdrive. I can’t write as fast as my brain had ideas so I’m keeping a list of various characters to weave into visits in the shop.

It’s a balance between interesting customers and how the story weaves together so we will see what ends up making the cut. Volume two is so far around 62 chapters. We are getting closer to the end ...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Four: Preparations

“That is all. Like I said, last time she was here for hours searching for three books to buy,” said the Cat.

“Guess I’m better at this job than the last guy.”

“Understatement,” muttered the Cat.

I turned to head toward the stairs, but paused, thinking about her payment.

“What does a small favor get the Shop?”

“It depends on what the Shop needs. I know we’ve traded one before to someone who needed to enter the portal they guarded.” T...

Episode One Hundred and Forty-Three: Book Club

“We have someone else coming in,” answered the Cat, as he continued to stare at the last section of roasted chicken sub.

I picked it up and put it on his plate.

“Alright, I’ll need to clean up from lunch and make myself a tea, but another customer should be good.”

Either way, it'd be a good distraction from the fact that I now needed to find some extra stockings, to ensure that everyone attending had one.

It didn’t take long for me to finish eating m...