Happy June 1st! I was originally optimistic for May but that ended up being a weird month for me with some emotional ups and downs, so now I’m transferring that optimism to June.

June has three major things going on for me: The Step and the Walk is due to my publisher; the swag gets mailed to my ARC signups mid-month; and I signed up for two physical fitness courses that start this week. Let’s take a quick glance at all three.

The Step and the Walk is due to my publisher

I have twenty-five days to get this final manuscript in tip-top shape.

I ran spelling and grammar check through it yesterday. I turn it off when I write the manuscript because so much of the time, the grammar is incorrect and the spelling requires me to add all the fancy fantasy names to the dictionary 900 times. This takes away from my drafting time, so I draft first, then go back and make corrections with the checker. And gosh, did I misspell a lot!

Anyway, there are a couple continuity issues I caught, and a few more details that need to be added…and I keep thinking about this one particular scene that requires content warnings…I keep doubting myself because it’s a tough scene, but necessary to trigger magic against one’s will…and I can’t figure out how to do it any other way than through a serious personal transgression. As it did with Son of the Siren, I’m sure it’ll turn some readers off here, too. The Name and the Key is a “safe” book, while The Step and the Walk goes into darker territory.

After I make some final tweaks, I’ll run everything through the spelling and grammar checks one last time, and hope that I’ve submitted the cleanest version of the manuscript to my publisher that I can. For this iteration of the trilogy, I didn’t have enough time or money to secure beta readers, which is really a big blow, to be honest. Especially because I’m writing outside of my wheelhouse for certain things, like sexuality. This book needed more eyes on it and I couldn’t get them in time. Therefore, I have to go over the manuscript with a fine-toothed comb and try to get it as clean as possible to spare my editor from doing extra, unnecessary work.

Please wish me luck, as I’m in the final stretch!

Mailing swag to my ARC signups

I got a total of 67 signups. It was originally 69 when I closed the signup form (I closed it early because I realized I couldn’t afford 100 stamps and 100 printings), but I had some duplicate signups.

I did the domestic ARC signups yesterday. I hand addressed each envelope, added a short handwritten note to the back of the art card with ARC instructions, and included the two chibi stickers that were printed as well. Not a lot of swag (art, stickers), but I made sure I got an artist who I know would make things look good.

I knocked through all of these quickly because the pieces and parts were taking up space in my room, and I’ve been antsy to get things done. However, as much as my impulses want me to drop this in the mail today, I can’t, because it’ll be too early and the readers might forget all about reading The Name and the Key by the time the Booksprout emails go out. I notified them at signup time that I would mail these mid-June or end of June. I’m settling on mid-June.

I had some international signups as well. I’m only allowed to mail the art card, not the stickers. If I try to mail both in a single envelope, they’ll count it as a package, and I’ll have to pay loads more on getting things out. I wanted to go the cheapest route, so I got international Forever stamps and will just mail out the card only. I made the mistake of not limiting the ARC signups to US readers. I would love to have international readers, but I forgot about shipping overseas and that hassle that is. Boo.

I hope I can stay patient until mid-June.

New fitness classes

I haven’t taken fitness classes in decades. The last time I did, I was in my twenties, taking ballet classes at Ballet Met in Columbus, and I quit very quickly because I was so out of shape. I want to rebuke myself for giving up so fast back then. I used to be a ballerina, so it was just a matter of waking up my old muscles, but I wasn’t determined enough to stick with it.

I’m hoping that’s not the case this time. I’m a member of the local fitness center, and my self-discipline when it comes to using machines and the track has a lot to be desired. But I usually thrive in structured classes.

I’m going to do two: Tai Chi for Beginners and Stretching with Yoga. Both are 45 minute classes that meet once a week. In terms of burning fat/calories, they aren’t as great as doing cardio, but I chose these courses because I use to be flexible and strong, and I’m not anymore. My muscles are stiff and unused. So I thought classes that focus on moving the body in different ways to strengthen and stretch it would be better for me.

I really need to take massive strides forward when it concerns my health. I got really healthy when I lived in Japan and was the best shape I’d been in for years (I lost 26kgs/57 pounds) until COVID hit…then I got scared and anxious and gained all the weight back. I was at my starting weight in Japan by the time I left it. And then I fell into a deeper depression when I came back to America, and drowned myself in sweets and emotional eating. I gained 56 more pounds, the worst weight I’ve ever been, and that introduced hypertension and sleep apnea problems. I’m lucky I haven’t had a heart attack in my sleep.

So, the pressure is on to get back in shape. If I want to be the shape I was in when I was in Japan circa the 2017/2018 year, I need to lose 123 pounds the old-fashioned way (my Medicaid doesn’t cover Wegovy or similar meds, and I can’t afford them anyway).

I know this is going to take a very long time. But I need to give it a serious start.