Camp NaNoWriMo: July 2023 Edition

 

Happy Summer Solstice!

It's hot as a hellhound where I'm from (TX). Yesterday, we broke our record high for this time of year at 114 degrees! So, it looks like it's shaping up to be the perfect summer to STAY INSIDE! Which is fine because Camp NaNoWriMo is right around the corner.

Most of you probably know what Camp NaNoWriMo is by now, but if not, it's an offshoot of NaNoWriMo which stands for National Novel Writing Month (which takes place in November) where authors attempt to write a 50K word novel in one month. Camp NaNoWriMo is a bit different. It takes place twice a year (April & July) and the goal doesn't have to be to write an entire novel. It's more about making major headway in a specific area or knocking out goals on multiple projects.

My focus for this Camp NaNoWriMo is going to be getting through as much of the developmental edits on THE DAPPER DETECTIVE as possible. I'd LOVE to complete them by the end of July, but as long as I make some major progress then I'll be happy. I just finished the second draft this past week and while I'm happy with the story, I know it needs to be bulked up a bit. So, developmental edits will help with this by giving me the opportunity to see where I can add more scenes or get a little more descriptive.

If things go my way, universe willing, I'm hoping to have this book out by Autumn of this year. Fingers crossed! I know so many of you looking forward to this story and I'm eager to get it into your hands.

Since Camp NaNoWriMo is a more social event between writers, you'll probably see me back on social media a bit more during July. I'd love to have you join me there on my progress through writing this book! You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.

Have a great week, everyone! 

❤ Dez

Happy Bookiversary H2H!

 

Happy 2nd Bookiversary to
HOLLYWOOD TO HORSES!

Two years ago, NineStar Press published my first Contemporary Gay Rom-Com novel, Hollywood To Horses! This story was incredibly fun to work on and is one of my favorite books I've written.

🏇

Mateo Harris, a retired Olympic Show Jumper, achieved just about everything he could want in life. Rising from a nobody to becoming a beloved gold-medalist, co-owning H&H Riding Academy with his cousin—and best friend—Emily Hall, and he’s one of the most powerful and respected men in his hometown of Sweetspire, VA. Nothing can shake the foundations of the life he’s built for himself. That is until he hears his nemesis and former crush, Christopher Wright II, has moved back to town.

Christopher, a runaway movie star, has returned to Sweetspire to inherit the family business: Wright Stables, the only rival riding academy Mateo has ever had to worry about. With Christopher’s charm, talent, and fame taking charge, Mateo is faced with real competition both in and out of the arena. He’ll have to be at the top of his game to prove he’s still the number one equestrian in town, but every encounter with Christopher becomes as challenging as any obstacle he’s faced on horseback.

🏇

Hollywood To Horses is 50% off on NSP this month with code: PRIDE23

Happy Reading!

❤ Dez

Happy PRIDE Month!

 

All of my ebooks published by NineStar Press are 

50% OFF this month with code: PRIDE23

Happy Reading!

❤ Dez

Current Work In Progress

 

I've been hard at work on The Dapper Detective (the sequel to The Dandy Medium)! It's coming along, I assure you! Out of all the books I've written, this one has taken me the longest to write. Partly, because I had some health issues slow me down. And partly, because I just want to make sure everything about it is as close to perfect as possible. I know you can never make a story perfect, but I have a vision for this one and where it might possibly lead in the future and I just want to make sure I get it right.

I'm currently working through the second draft (over halfway through it) and I already know I'll probably add several scenes before I call it complete and begin the editing process. I hate to attach deadlines/timelines to creative projects, especially knowing how quickly a health issue can throw you off course; so I won't give any solid release date yet but I will say that I'd love to have this out to you by October/November. I am certainly working very hard to try and make that happen!

Here's what you can expect:

🎩 Alfie & Sebastian return for another murder mystery!

🦇 The Crimson Bat Society takes a leading role!

🌙 A deeper dive into the lore of the Nótt Haven world!

🍄 Woodland Magic!

Another thing in the works is SOMNISCOPE: A Dreampunk Convergence, the anthology sequel to MIRRORMAZE. I have a short story entitled, Looped, which will be featured. You can see the full list of contributing authors HERE. Release date is TBD, but hoping for a late 2023 / early 2024 publication.

If you'd like to catch up on this anthology series, you can read my short story Thatcher Maugden and the Dream Witch in MIRRORMAZE.

🔮🔮🔮

Future Projects

Once I complete The Dapper Detective, I have several other projects I'm considering. It'll depend on my mood at the time; but in the future, you can look forward to these projects:

- The Dead Oaks: Omnibus

- A new Dreampunk series

- A Nótt Haven Spin-Off

There are other, more abstract at the moment, stories I would love to write as well. I really want to get some other LGBTQ books out there that aren't just M/M. I have few series ideas for F/F stories and I'm also tempted to test the waters of releasing a Kindle Vella series as well.

So, as you can see, I'm not lacking in ideas! Just the time to execute them all. 😅

Until then, if you haven't had a chance to read The Dandy Medium, it's available on Amazon!

Happy Reading!

❤ Dez