Just realized I’ve been some what consistently inconsistent. I’ve managed ONE website post a month for the last few months. That’s at least making a step in the direction I intended? Maybe. And, yeah, though August feels like it’s trudging along, the summer has sped by. Am I anywhere I thought I’d be since May? Not really, but I’m working my way through it.

At the time of this writing, I’m staring down at the last Monday morning of August 2025 (in case someone stumbles on this down the road and doesn’t clock the date stamps). I’ve got the weekend email cleared – which meant filing away the short story rejection from Friday and the job rejection from this morning. I’ve already resubbed the story. I have some job application tabs open. And the cycle continues.

And the cycle DOES continue. Publishing and Job Hunting are cycles. Many rejections until you find “The One” – the one limited spot that hundreds are vying for. It’s a hit to the confidence, for sure, to be in the rejection cycle. But it’s temporary(ish). No matter what happens with the world or technology, there will always be a need for storytellers. And no matter what it feels like sometimes, I do know that I have the chops, dang it.

I’ve sent two “applications” for local author inclusion in a brand new bookstore coming to Arlington, TX. It’s Folklore Grove Books which shares a storefront with a bread-based store (bread, toast, sandwiches) called Smash Toast (same link). They’re doing it right, I think. The book side is a very small place until they get their feet under them. The bread side is bigger. If you don’t do bread, there’s a Lebanese restaurant next door and a Mexican place across the parking lot.

Good trouble awaits there! They’re looking at Sept. 20 as their opening date!

But before that, there is ArmadilloCon. I’ll be on programming and hanging out there. If you’re in Austin September 12-14, come hang out with us. I have friends debuting books there.

Now, I need to get back to the wash/rinse/repeat cycle of putting myself out there. Fingers crossed!