another glimpse of the blogger across the water

I really didn't intend to leave all of you hanging when I mentioned that "next big announcement" earlier. Really! I just haven't had much time or energy to post more this week, due to other commitments and that dang flu bug that's going around. But here's the announcement: Starting later this week (time permitting), I'll be serializing the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, on Wattpad! More details soon, and more after the cut.

Willow Wednesdays: By Lantern's Light

Welcome to Willow Wednesdays! Featuring art by Willow, the cover artist for the Monkey Queen series, with her kind permission! Read on after the cut for more!

where to now, St. Peter? if it's true, I'm in your blog

First, in case you missed it this week, a big announcement: After several months in Kindle Unlimited, the Monkey Queen series will be returning to wider distribution as of March 4 (except for Redblade, which will be March 17). This does mean that you won't be able to read the books for free in KU, but it also means that you'll be able to get them through places other than Amazon. (Kobo is all set, and I'll be getting listings ready to go at other stores on the 4th.) I'm hoping that the wider exposure will lead to more people discovering Michiko and Beth's books, and telling their friends. Let's get that word spread! More after the cut.

Goodbye Kindle Unlimited - Hello iTunes and Kobo!

If you haven't seen this elsewhere, here's an announcement of note: The Monkey Queen books will be leaving Kindle Unlimited when their current term expires - March 17 for Redblade, March 4 for the others. They'll still available to buy at Amazon, but they'll no longer be free to read for Kindle Unlimited members.

I've made this decision because I think that interest in Michiko and Beth has grown enough where I'd like to make the books widely available again. If you've been reading the books through Kindle Unlimited, I hope this isn't an inconvenience and you'll continue to follow the series. If you prefer other e-stores to Amazon, however, you'll soon be able to get the Monkey Queen's adventures at Kobo, iTunes, Barnes and Noble (for Nook), Drive-Thru Fiction and more! We'll update the "Where To Buy" links as the changeover takes place.

And stay tuned - we'll have more exciting news coming soon! Let's make 2016 the Year of...the Monkey Queen!

Willow Wednesdays: Into The Woods

Welcome to Willow Wednesdays! Featuring art by Willow, the cover artist for the Monkey Queen series, with her kind permission! Read on after the cut for more!

love is the opening door, love is what we blogged here for

One last reminder for this Sunday catchup: There's still time to read the new Valentine's Day Monkey Queen short story, "That's Amore!" (Well, there's still time to read it this Valentine's Day. And time to read it after Valentine's Day, since it won't be taken down soon. Or later. Or even after next Valentine's Day. You know what I mean. I hope you do. I'm not sure I do any more...) Anyway, more after the cut, including some spoilery fan art you'll want to see!

Good grief! More rejected Peanuts specials

After the cut...the shows THEY didn't want you to see!

Willow Wednesdays: Happy Birthday, Willow!

This installment of Willow Wednesdays is a bit different, and with good reason:

Today is Willow's birthday! (Well, according to DeviantArt. If it's wrong, blame them.) Here's hoping for the very best of birthdays and nothing less to a wonderful artist and equally wonderful person! If you want to wish her a happy birthday, click one of the links below and leave her a message! (Well, maybe not the Society6 link...then again, buying some of her goodies would be a nice birthday present!)

Art © 2016 by Willow. All rights reserved; used by permission. You can view Willow's extensive galleries on DeviantArt and Tumblr, see her updates and works in progress by liking her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter, and buy prints and much more at her Society6 webstore, including exclusive Monkey Queen items! And Willow, if you're reading this on February 10, Happy Birthday!

Tuesday catchup

Two things to get your Tuesday rolling. First, I forgot to mention that The Doubleclicks, our favorite sister geek-folk-rock-with-cat-keyboard duo, are holding a live streaming concert this coming Sunday, Valentine's Day! Well, technically it'll be at midnight GMT and 1:00 AM CET, but it's on Valentine's Day in the Western Hemisphere - 3:00 PM Pacific, 6:00 PM Eastern. There'll be songs about love, dinosaurs, geeky fun things, and more! It'll be on YouTube; click here to watch, or here to learn more about the band. See you there!

And a Happy Birthday to awesome pal Shei Darksbane! You know her as part of Darksbane Books and the main author of the Dakota Shepherd series, but she has also been a good friend in good times and bad, and one of my favorite people. Shei, I hope your birthday kicks butt! (In a good way!)

2016...the Year of the Monkey (Queen)!

Wishing of all you a Happy Chinese New Year! It's 4714...the Year of the Monkey.

Things are off to a slow start this year for Michiko and Beth, but it won't stay that way for long. Enemies are waiting for them. They'll greet old friends and new, and adventure in new and familiar places.

By the time this year is over, Michiko and Beth will have faced their greatest challenges, confronted their greatest dangers and fears, and will celebrate their greatest triumphs...if they survive.

In the end, 2016 will be the Year of...the Monkey Queen! Stay tuned!

Art © 2016 Willow; used with her kind permission. Designed by Robert Dahlen on Canva.com.

just the sweetest song my blog has ever known

We'll start this Sunday catchup with a quick reminder: Talk to me! If you have any comments about the Monkey Queen books, the short stories, the setting in general, Willow's art, penguins, what Disney Infinity figures should be next, or anything else I discuss here, feel free to leave a comment here! I really don't bite, and I'd love to hear from you! (You can also tweet me, or leave a comment on the Facebook page.) More after the cut.

big box set sale!

Have you finished reading all the Monkey Queen books? Need something new to fill your Kindle or e-reader or tablet? This weekend only, you can get 45 box sets and omnibuses for just 99 cents US each! Head here to check out what's available.

Willow Wednesdays: Summation

Welcome to Willow Wednesdays! Featuring art by Willow, the cover artist for the Monkey Queen series, with her kind permission! Read on after the cut for more!

Rejected Peanuts Specials

See what won't be coming to your TV...after the cut.