My town hasn’t been in the danger zone with the Ontario wildfires–I’ve been checking the maps, the danger area ended about twenty kilometers from here–but Monday and Tuesday in particular a haze of smoke hung over the area, and the air quality has been pretty bad. I’ve had errands to run but I wear an N95 the moment I leave the apartment anyway for any reason (I only take it off when walking late a night, because I won’t run into people and don’t need to go into stores), so I was spared a lot, though I really questioned seeing people early in the week hacking away while outside unmasked and complaining.

Three years of a plague (that’s still ongoing, folks), and they see smoke outside and ash on their patios and don’t think “Huh, maybe I should dig out that mask?”

I realize there’s pressure now–I get looks periodically, and I know some people think I’m over the top–but honestly I’m more embarrassed to be seen wearing a scrunchie (look, it’s mulberry silk and better for my hair) than a mask.

I was familiar with the Corsi-Rosenthal box air filter back when the pandemic started but never felt the need to make one because I never had people in my apartment and live alone so wasn’t worried about clearing the air. But even with the windows closed and the filter in the a/c taking care of a lot, I worried about what the cats were breathing, so I built one.

Shawn was delighted when he thought I was building him a fort; less so when I made him move, put the fan on, and turned it on.

I’ve since added a shroud to the fan with duct tape and moved it to the middle of the living room to get as much of the apartment as possible. It’s loud, but it’s had the added bonus of cooling the place a lot as well.

I’ve got a small air filter in my room, and though I put light dimmer stickers around the buttons, Shawn has figured out how to turn the overall light on. Thankfully he left it off while I was sleeping, but one of these nights I’m going to wake suddenly as he turns it on and think aliens are here.

Otherwise, I did my usual worst-case scenario prep (what if fire suddenly spreads and I have to evacuate–where are the carriers and supplies–or what if the power goes down, etc) and while I’m not as far with that as I wanted to be by this time this year due to finances (no prepper closet yet), I’m still in okay shape in terms of food,, water, etc.

Today I’m unexpectedly headachey, but I think it’s from things other than the air, which is much improved. I’m trying knock that back and get everything done I’d intended to this week. Although in April I’d planned to get money saved up in case I need some time off this summer for health stuff, with the rising living expenses and cost of groceries, it just hasn’t been possible. Patreon, though, is scheduled through much of the summer, so at least I don’t have to worry about that.

Yes, the final eBook for Soul Spell is up now. Right now everyone can download it; July 1st it’ll be $5+ folks. It’s not sold elsewhere.

A week and a half since release, and some folks who’ve read The Killing Beach have really liked it, so that’s good to hear–esp as they’ve connected (perhaps unexpectedly) with Waverly. I have complicated feelings about the idea of “likability”, as I’ve posted about before, especially as it’s used as a catch-all not only for female characters but to dismiss books entirely without examining why we like what we like or why certain behaviours get a pass and others don’t. The bar for likability is much, much lower for male characters than it is for female, and after all this time (that post is almost ten years old) the overall literary climate hasn’t seemed to change at all.

I’ve got a brief thread on Twitter about why I think we need to reexamine what we consider “likable” and how what seem to be character flaws can actually be virtues in other circumstances, and how that’s being intentionally done with Waverly’s series.

Anyway, if you’ve read that one, remember A Wild Kind of Darkness releases November 7 and you can read the first chapter at Patreon on July 1st.

I’ve got tomato confit chilling in the fridge now as I found some fresh burrata at the store the other day, and I’m looking forward to that for dinner with the tomatoes, some crostini I’m going to make up, and more fresh veggies on the side ahead. The world is burning and as a creative person I’m exhausted with the daily fight to build a readership amidst the capitalistic hellscape in my field, but at least I’ve got a good meal to look forward to for now. Sometimes that, and fresh air, is enough to keep going.

It’s only taken nearly six years, but she’s here!

Waverly Jones has been called misanthropic. Distant. Obsessive. Manipulative. And that’s without people knowing she talks to the hallucination of her dead sister.

She’s also a private investigator.

After a lengthy absence, she’s returned to Port Milton amidst the biggest homicide investigation her hometown has seen in over a decade. Bodies of middle-aged men have been washing ashore and the police have confirmed foul play but not much else—making it the perfect case for someone like her.

Particularly when she’s the one to find the latest body.

It’s not a coincidence Waverly happened across the newest victim. She’s been combing the beach because these men match the age and appearance of Detective-Sergeant Sebastian Kyle, missing these past eleven years after investigating the now-dormant serial killer who made Waverly’s sister his last victim.

Her familiarity with the murders has left her well-prepared when hired by the wife of one of the dead men, giving her a professional reason to dig deeper into these crimes. Have the police unintentionally fumbled this case in the wrong direction, or does the widow not know as much about her husband as she thought?

Port Milton has always had its secrets, and Waverly will drag every single one into the light to get to the bottom of this mystery. And maybe somewhere along the way, she’ll get another step closer to who killed her sister and what happened to Sebastian Kyle.

Kindle – Kobo – iBooks – Nook – Payhip – Paperback – Hardcover

Signed paperback on Etsy – Hardcover Gift Box (one left!)

A couple of people have already read it and reached out to say they love Waverly, which is extremely validating. Not only was she a tricky character to nail down when writing it but I had a few pretty big crises of faith and almost didn’t finish. Eventually I’ll hear about how unlikable she is because that’s par for the course with my writing, but my hope is always that the right readers find my stories. And I’m glad she’s there for the people who need someone like her.

BOOK TWO IS COMING! November 7, remember! Patreon supporters get to read the first chapter of it on July 1. (Third book is next April–starting revisions on that one now.)

I’ll have the full playlist for The Killing Beach up on Sunday, but for now:

“Black Sunday Afternoon“
“Masterpiece“
“Breathe (2AM)“

At present, there are three Waverly shorts from when she was a teenager, over at Patreon.

“Once Upon a Rainy Day” is when Det. Kyle first arrived.

“Bucket List” (part 1) is when Waverly first found a body.

“A Question and a Promise” (part 2) is afterward, when she approaches Det. Kyle about the case again.

There are more to come, hopefully a couple a year, to complement the novels for those who like bits and pieces of backstory.

I might yet do a livetweet of Twin Peaks tonight (the pilot ep) in “celebration”. I don’t expect anyone to watch along but Agent Cooper is my happy place.

I so, so hope you check this book out and enjoy it. Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy.