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What I’ve been up to

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Whatever you create, keep at it. Be kind to others even if you disagree with thier choices for tools. You don’t know behind the scenes.

Using ai from scratch is different than only using a prompt. That isn’t creating art assisted by ai. That is just ai. Draw enough to get your own style. Draw the layout. Use ai to polish.

I’m coming forward because other creatives have told me I should share.

I’ve been drawing and working on my own book covers. I liked hiring people more talented than me. But it has always been my dream to do my own. I’m going to take the leap.

I plan to keep drawing.
I plan to get better.

Some of my art over the years

All were first done by pencil. Then I had ai finish it.

The Little Writer that Could

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A little golden book I really liked was The Little Engine that Could.

Today, I’m that engine.

I thought I was done writing.

But today I finished writing my next book.

I started writing and posting the first (incomplete) version on Kindle Vella in ‘23. By ‘24 when Vella shut down, I set the story aside.

Today, on my son’s birthday, I finished writing it.

It has come a long way.

Over 3 years in the making.

This may be my last book. Or it might not.

This time, I like the beginning and the ending. I feel like it fits.

And I’m glad I didn’t give up.

Cherry Blossoms and Moonlight Kisses

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Elspeth has little patience for Donghae. The reserved elf seems proud, disapproving, and far too inclined to look her way.

As unexpected tenderness blossoms into love, they must confront more than their own mistaken judgments. Donghae’s royal family has expectations a fox bride cannot easily satisfy—and loving Elspeth may mean defying the very people whose acceptance he needs.

I started this novel back on Vella a couple of years ago and I’m really delighted with how it is shaping up. But I am wondering if any of my readers would be interested an opportunity to read the novel early? This advanced reader copy will be in blog form.

Get a behind the scenes look here.

Thank you, Holland Michigan

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Over the weekend, I had a wonderful time at the very first annual Holland Literary Festival. I got to meet some wonderful readers. It’s soo fun meeting Kdrama/Cdrama fans out in the wild. (Thank you for buying my books! I hope you enjoy them.) I also got to meet some fun authors. And I admit, I do want to check out that vampire dentist book I heard about.

If you missed the festival you can go here to see who was there and their books.

If you missed getting one of my signed books, you can check out my Etsy shop.

Tenth Anniversary, Eun Na and the Phantom

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On January 27, 2016 I hit publish on Eun Na and the Phantom.

It’s been a fun ten years. Thank you to the many readers who have found my humble little book.

Back then, there wasn’t many Asian inspired fantasy books. In fact, when I shopped the manuscript around, the general feedback was I needed to re-write it to market because Asian doesn’t sell. I said nope, it it meant to be told this way. Now there are plenty of others out there. Amazing talents crafting tales. I like to think that perhaps, I helped pave the way for those authors and those hits in some small way.

Eun Na and the Phantom is currently available to read in Kindle Unlimited, or to buy to own.

Book Review: Of Jade and Dragons

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I don’t review a lot of books here, but sometimes a book deserve a mention. Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen is one of those books. Plus, it has the added bonus of being similar to what I write–Asian inspired fantasy worlds.

Be warned, this book does have some minor swears in it.

My Review:

This story kept me hooked. It was like a Chinese fantasy drama mixed with steampunk technology, all in a book. The only drawback was that it had some minor language (a– being the main one).
This book had swoon worthy scenes that hinted at a budding romance between Ying and Yeyang. You know, those epic scenes where the girl is about to get hurt and the hero sweeps her into his arms and protects her. And don’t forget daring rescues. Add in that there is danger between them–both are harboring secrets. Will they still love each other when everything is revealed?

Then there is Yekan (second male lead syndrome!) one of Ying’s classmates who seems to have growing feelings for her too. (My growing preference was him. Can’t wait to see what’s in the next book.)
This is definitely an author to pay attention to. She’s a solid story teller, with characters that are unique and make a great ensemble. (I’d watch this is it was a drama for sure.)