Guess Who’s Back?

Back again…

Yeah, this time I actually took a selfie. I mean, yes, I’m in my pajamas, but if you could work from home in your PJs, wouldn’t you? And yes, my hair is two different colors. If you could have two colors in your hair, wouldn’t you? Yes, that’s a dragon on my hat. It’s flying out of a book. If you could have a logo that’s made from two of your favorite things, wouldn’t you? Yeah. That’s what I thought.

So, I really had some dark times after November of 2024. I had to come to the startling realization that my faith in humanity was a bit overly idealistic when it came to many of our counterparts in this country.

Most of them, even neighbors and family members, they’d see you need help on the side of the road and they’d do what they could. As family members, some would give the shirt off their back to help you. But when it came to politics, they didn’t care who got hurt, so long as they won. They treated the entire situation like it was a game, and they won.

They won. And now we’re all losing.

So, yeah, I needed a moment to get over that. I also needed some time to deal with the remodeling happening in our home after flooding. It was more than just the floors that had to be dealt with. Then there was surgery for the hubs and a shift in my eye care, along with family drama. You know how it is…

LIFE HAPPENS! KEEP GOING!

So, anyway, I’m back and my goal is to get stories out as they come into my mind and my heart to get them out. This may mean a slow start or a burst of energy followed by an off-week or two. I’ve also got events coming up, so I have to work around those.

But, I want to get more out of my head and onto the digital paper that is the internet. It’s causing trouble in my head. I don’t feel like myself if I’m more anxious and depressed than I normally am.

I post it publicly, because I feel like I’m not the only one who feels some kind of way about things. I love seeing claps and comments. I love responding to them. And when I have time, I read other people’s stories and comment for them. That’s why both Medium and Substack have been lovely for me.

Now, on Substack, I mainly focus on my fiction and my writing advice. As a matter of fact, I’ve been transitioning my writing advice to that forum. Here, I’m keeping with personal opinions, insights, and political, social, and cultural commentary.

I’ve begun moving my old website content over to Medium as well. I found out a lot of folks here like music, and that’s what one of my websites was all about. So, yeah, I’m going to keep going on that topic here because at least in Medium, the changes in Google don’t affect content as much. I’m also not competing with AI as much (at least, I hope not).

I can dream! Or you could call it denial… whichever! Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

I’m considering writing more — especially fiction — after 2026. I prefer writing short pieces that all belong in one world. I suppose some of it could be considered serial and some of it could just be considered short stories in a combined world.

But, I’m not sure how well short fiction would do on Medium. If anyone has experience with that, let me know. I’ve not heard tales of a lucrative side income from this on this particular platform, but I’m curious.

Continuing the update, my coauthor and I plan on handling 3 more books this year and the first quarter of the next to complete our Dragon Tasker Series and the prequel series The Life & Loves of a Dragon. Yes — we’re insane.

I’m the marketer, and so I’ve branded everything to my website and socials. But Dawn is my partner in crime.

The cool thing is, I’ve been partnering up with my hubs to help him create web designs for creative people. He’s the technical expert and I’m the advisor and often the marketing front for that side business.

WTCCreatives.com has been going strong since inception. I am very proud to say between the publishing and the web design and my side gigs writing blurbs for people — we were not in the red this year!

Yes, I love working with graphics… can ya tell? My logos and the dragon character I have all over my merch. I described and sketched what I wanted and hired a real artist to make him.

However, that means we need to plan for taxes to get tough next year.

What is it with this world? You win…you lose! Ugh. But, the goal is to have enough residual and constant income that we can “retire” from the normal workforce and do what we love doing — what we’re passionate about.

He’s also a writer, he just has a different technique and style. As a matter of fact, we plan on collaborating by the end of 2025 for one of his projects! Look how pretty his art turned out —

“Waifu Material” two of my hubs’ characters from his stories.

Anyway, we have all but one cover art completed for the main two series of urban fantasy / historical fantasy books. We are slowly collecting the cover art for our paranormal romance series. We have events planned and April will be a very busy month for me because of events and apparently, because of marches — thanks to the goofballs in our federal government.

I’ve been joining Authortube events throughout this. It’s kept me social at least. So I haven’t become a full time hermit. That’s good, right? In case you didn’t know, I stream productivity sprints twice a week and during events. I’m big about promoting other authors and creatives in those. I want to get back into game streaming as well. I am totally addicted to Ark Survival Ascended, and play it weekly with friends. So I figure, why not stream it every once in a while?

As you can see, there’s plenty to do and plenty to get into… Real Life is kind of pleasant right now. Things are slowing down and health is good. I know the government is a dumpster fire and I’m doing what I can with what I have to try and elicit change. However, I don’t feel bad enjoying the good things in life when I can. I plan on writing an article about the notion and blending it with some of that good ole, self-care jazz.

Sprinkle that good shit around.

I hope you’re doing well and don’t mind my musing update. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster ride up til now. I wouldn’t have it any other way. First half is done…next level please!

Want to read more? I have a lot to say. I don’t hold back. Maybe that’s refreshing for you? I don’t know… https://racheldadams.medium.com/