What 2026 Will Look Like on the Blog

HELLO, good people of the blogosphere! I know you're all wondering where the hell I've been, but it's just been crazy with the move. First, there was a rush to finish the house (contractors need a hand-holder here in FL for some reason). Second, we had a TON of company here. It was three months of straight visits from friends and family. Last, we've both struggled to get into a routine. I had surgery that caused other issues, and the hubs has several injuries he's nursing (car crash?). Anyway, now that you're caught up on the past, let's see what the future will look like, eh? Buckle up, grab a cocoa or a coffee, and let's roll on into it!

I'm not sure how many of you I'm friends with or who follow me on Facebook, but this month, I posted what my 2026 will look like. It's not resolutions, because I don't do those, but it IS a restructuring of my work/life I think will help in the long run.

Because of this, I'll be having a New Year Cleanout Sale on my artworks. There's no code required. Just go to my website here, and you'll see that everything is discounted.

I need room to store what I make!

I'll be 100% focused on doing something with my art from Jan 1 to June 31, and I'll be back here on the blog, posting writing shtuff from July 1 to Dec 31. I think I mixed that up on my FB post, but math isn't my strong suit anyway. HA!

So let's clear some shizzle out! 40% off everything. Storewide. Get on over there and help me clean out so I can create with love. :)

I'm hoping this sort of split year will provide me the freedom from construct to work on my art and the art of construct to work on my writing. If anyone tells you writing is as easy as sitting down and doing it, they're lying. It takes focus, planning, and discipline. Art creation is the antithesis of all that. I do plan my art loosely, but I travel alongside the medium when it bends me this way or that.

Let me tell you, a Type-A? Yeah... It's hard to let go.

That's half the beauty of it though. I need to create, and some of that includes ruining my clothes with paint. It is what it is. :D

Anyway, I'm not gonna go on and on. I'll see y'all again in July!

That's all for today, folks!

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Cover Reveal and New Release from the F5!

An awesome group of authors, the Ferocious 5, have been busy creating something new and amazing for your reading pleasure! The time has come to reveal all the things. Strap in and prepare yourself for something awesome.

As you can see from the banner above, the title is:

War and Pieces - Frayed Fairy Tales

It's a serial series, and there are ten seasons, so there are several covers to see. Stay with it!

Here's the blurb:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were zombies…

That’s how it all started. Authors have created a major problem with stories like Cinder, The Dark Queen, and Asleep, and it’s wreaking havoc here in Ever After. Our queens are fighting for their lives.

Rather like Mother Nature, keeper of the fine balance that’s life in your world, tales that begin with “Once upon a time” were never meant to be messed with.

Now, Ariel is underwater with all the defenses she’s been launching, Aurora hasn’t slept in weeks, and Rapunzel is tangled in… Well, I can’t even begin to tell you.

Rather than try, I’ll let you see for yourself. You and I will talk again afterward—if I survive long enough. So, as our fateful story begins:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

Book trailer!

Now, a coloring book.

Buy it here for just $7.99!

From the publication of the War and Pieces coloring book until April 14, 2017, color as many shoe pages as you like (name pages won’t count, nor will the design your own royal shoe), scan or photograph them, and post them on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. Be sure to tag your posts with:

#Frayed5 and #F5PinToWin

Each social media instance will count as one entry.

The Ferocious Five will review all entries and pick our three favorites for each cover.

On April 22, 2017, we’ll announce the finalists and share your images with the public.

From April 24, 2017 – April 30, 2017, the public will vote via social media likes and shares and select the winner for each cover.

Winners will be contacted by social media and will have one week to respond with their mailing address. If you don’t answer, the prize will go to the second place winner, and so on. Please add SevenAuthors@yahoo.com to your approved sender list.

Winners will receive a 5.5”x8.5” print of the book cover for their winning season, signed by all the F5 authors, permanent display of their artwork on frayedfairytales.com, and an exclusive War and Pieces swag pack.

Open internationally!

 
Be sure and join the Federation of the Ferocious 5 on Facebook for access to the release day event and other goodies no one else will get!

Now it's time to show you the covers for the Frayed Fairy Tales books. Release of Season 1: Episode 1 will be April 24, 2017. But you can pre-order it NOW right here. Just 99 cents! Episodes will release every two days with three episodes in each season.

 

Which is your favorite?

Best Book Covers of 2016 - All About that Art!

Happy Monday, everyone! I know I've been crazy absent, but November! Ya know? AND I've been working my fingers off on the new F5 project. These covers will be all about the art. They'll be sporting customized typography and hand-drawn images. It's all drawn, but it needs to be rendered and colored. I can't wait to share them with you.

Okay, in that vein, I'd like to do a roundup of YOUR favorite covers from this year. I'd love to see real artwork and/or unique fonts you've seen that you loved. This will be on a post sometime this week. Here's the link to the google form: https://goo.gl/forms/TumkpWFIsSMw2Xgh1

Drop in the link for the book on Amazon or Goodreads, the title, a note on why you loved it, and your FIRST name OR first initial and LAST name, like so: "I love this cover because..." ~ Susan OR "I love this cover because..." ~ S. Michaels.

Let's have some fun!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!