Well, we have a site down. MelvaandAnna.com has fallen through the cracks, and is no longer active. That’s fine. Melva and I are looking at this as a chance to start fresh, and in time to release Queen of Hearts, Heather and Rob’s story in the Love by the Book series. This is our friends to lovers story, with single mom Heather, Rob, the best friend who has been in love with her for as long as he can remember, a kid, a dog (full of other, smaller dogs) and maaaaybe glimpses of future protagonists for future books. Also holidays, as this book covers back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Phew. I absolutely do need a win right about now, and Melva and I love this story bunches, so that certainly counts.

Once I take care of a couple more things, I will get to launch my first independent historical romance, A Heart Most Errant. That’s a great carrot on the stick as I slog through the far less appealing things of setting up this new version of life. Many metric tons of thanks to all who have donated to or shared the link to the Go Fund Me, headed by the lovely and talented Debbie Jantzen VanSchaick. We are currently seventy percent of the way to goal. If we reach goal within two weeks, I will do a cover reveal on the GFM page for contributors to see first. Storm and I appreciate everything, be in contributions, shares, prayers, good wishes, or whatever it is you do. We’ll take it all.

I did not sit down to write this post with any real plan, other than to mention that MelvaandAnna.com is about to start its new incarnation. Melva and I each have our own individual pages, so we are not unrepresented. I’m still disappointed that we did fall through the cracks like this, but these things do happen. That this should happen now, in the middle of So Many Losses and changes, that they seem to be the norm these days, does not get past me unnoticed.

These days, I have set my taking care of business hours to the traditional nine to five, Monday through Friday. The rest of the time is taking care of myself, because good gracious, do I need it. The big focus on the apartment right now is to Get Stuff Out. I am selling what I can, donating what I can’t, and then the rest gets dumped. I don’t love filling landfills, but I am one person. Some local friends have offered help, which I greatly appreciate. My longer term goal is to clear out the second storage unit by October first, so I can turn in the keys (actually take back my lock) and be done with it. Ideally, I will be able to carry the other unit for the time being, to give myself some breathing room and deal with it over the winter. There is a lot going on right now, in many different locales, and I am but one person.

For the apartment, I plan to clear out Housemate’s room and then seek a roommate from among the local population. I definitely need more people around me on a daily basis, because otherwise, I must sing the song of the lonely extrovert, and nobody wants that. Today’s focus is trash, because it is trash day. If I can throw it out, I am throwing it out. I am talking obvious refuse. If it can be sold or donated, or recycled, I would prefer to do that. Friends near or far, virtually hanging with me via video chat while I declutter, is a great way to help, because companionship makes everything better.

That’s about it for right now. I have to make phone calls I don’t want to make, and it is okay to do it scared. Afterward, I get to work on some journal pages, because that is always good for my central nervous system. How is your week going?