What on earth have I been up to?

To recap: My book, Courageous Women of the Civil War: Soldiers, Spies, Medics, and More came out in August of last year. Shortly after, several things happened. I was at a local author's showcase with my one book on the table, and folks I knew and admired had a whole little stack of books that they'd self-published on the table. "Well, I need to have more than one book on the table to sell!" I thought.

About the same time, one of my writing buds, C. Dennis Moore (shoutout!), showed up and told me about how he'd been self-publishing books and doing pretty well at it. I was sold.

My first book was Angel in the Whirlwind, a collection of ten short stories. Then I came out with Don't Throw in the Trowel! Vegetable Gardening Month by Month, followed by Rose to the Occasion: An Easy-Growing Guide to Rose Gardening. My latest book is Butterfly Chaos, which I wrote as my creative thesis when I was getting my master's for writing for children at Hamline University.

Due to overtime at work, I have to cut back a bit. I also want to start learning more about marketing online -- which includes these newsletters. I do want to publish a Perennials book before spring, though.

So what is Butterfly Chaos about?

Three months after her cousin Toni died, Cassie is still reeling. Toni's best friend now ignores her in the halls. Cassie's cousin is dating the girl who torments her in gym. And Cassie has maybe a teeny-tiny crush on the boy who found Toni in the river.Then Toni's ghost visits Cassie and reveals that in two nights, a powerful EF3 tornado will rip into a dance hall, killing those three kids.Cassie sets out to keep everyone from going to the dance. As she argues and cajoles (and stockpiles minor munitions to clear the building, just in case) she uncovers stories about her friends' connections with Toni - and all the reasons they refuse to skip this awesome dance. Why does everyone have to be so bullheaded! Despite everything Cassie does to change their destiny, they find themselves directly in the killer tornado's path. In those last moments as the tornado bears down on them, Cassie must find a rock to cling to as the whole world is torn to pieces around her.

Thanks for joining me this early in the game. I hope to make it worth your while.