I know! It’s been ages! To tell you the truth, I found 2024 too stressful a year to write. And after the results of the US election, I might not have opened my laptop for the next four years if not for an author call from JMS Books for short-story contributors to an anthology benefiting the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
JMS Books brought together fifty-two authors, countless editors, and all those critical people behind the scenes that make publishing work, to create this anthology. Everyone donated their time, their skill, and their art so that 100% of the proceeds go to help fight our way through what is sure to be a four-year assault on the freedoms of this community, and beyond.
And the project has brought me back to my roots.
My first publisher release was back in 2014—11 years! Has it really been that long?!—for an anthology benefiting the Trevor Project. I was new to writing, and my story was undoubtedly crap, but it meant a lot to me to be able to contribute in a small way.
More than twenty books later, and it still means the world.
My contribution to Love Is Free is A Portrait in Blue. A short story about a house, a portrait, and an oddities shop. If you can grab the eBook or a paperback, I hope you like it. It was a joy to write.
You can pick up your copy using the JMS Books and Amazon buy links below, and through the Universal link as the book starts to appear at other online retailers.
Love is Free
190,790 Words
Buy Links: JMS Books • Amazon • Universal
Grab it for 20% Off at JMS Books
Authors included in this anthology are:
Adam Carpenter, Alexandra Caluen, Amy Spector, Anne Russo, Becky Black, Carol Holland March, Charles Payseur, D.J. Fronimos and Elke Lakey, David Connor and E.F. Mulder, Dianne Hartsock, Drew Hunt, E.M. Schenker, Ellie Thomas, Emery C. Walters, Eule Grey, Feral Sephrian, Gareth Vaughn, Gordon Phillips, Hannah Morse, Holly Day, J.D. Walker, J.M. Snyder, J.T. Marie, Jordan Demaine, Justin James, K.L. Noone, K.S. Murphy, Katey Hawthorne, Kim Davis, Kris T. Bethke, La Toya Hankins, Mere Rain, Michael P. Thomas, Mychael Black, Nell Iris, Ofelia Gränd, Pat Henshaw, Patrick Bryce Wright, Pelaam, Rafe Jadison, Ray Hatch, Red Haircrow, Sarah Hadley Brook, Scarlet Blackwell, Sean Cunningham, Shawn Bailey, Shawn Lane, T.J. Blackley, T.K. Dane, Teal H.S. Fields, Vivien Dean, and Warren Rochelle.
Aren't in a position to pick up the book, but would still like to help? Post about the anthology on social media. Tell your friends. Add it to your to-read shelf on Goodreads. And thank you! ♥♥♥
Updates and Future Plans
Sitting down and writing A Portrait in Blue for this anthology, I realized how much I missed writing. And I think the break did me good. I’m back to writing every day—and when I’m not, it’s pretty much all I’m thinking about—and beyond A Portrait in Blue, I’m trying to finally put book three in my House of Witches series to bed. (That’s old-school newspaper talk! LOL Have I ever mentioned that I used to work at a newspaper?) I also plan to take part in another group collection with the talented Holly Day, Nell Iris, A.L. Lester and K.L. Noone to release later this year.
The story for this new group project may or may not be connected to A Portrait in Blue.
And who knows, if I keep my current momentum up, there might just be something else in the cards for me as well.
