I've been a published author since 2010.  I wrote my first book back then and recently sold oodles of it at a book fair.  I also had a book signing and sold oodles of it there, too.  Putting my book on Amazonh has never done much for my book, it seems to do much better in person for some reason.  I think that's mostly due to the fact that I am a very lazy with social media.  I don't like social media.  But I still put my original book on Kindle back then due to the fact that most people used (and still use) Kindle for their digital books and because I could make it cheaper for those who cannot afford a physical book.  But also there was the fact that once you bought your Amazon book, it was yours to keep.  It wasn't something anyone ever thought would change.  Because why would it?  

So, my plan was to keep it on Amazon forever.  That is, until now. 

Why would I use a platform that refuses to allow the reader who buys my book to keep it?  Why would I use a platform that is basically making other people pay them (with only a tiny bit going to me) to rent the book (that I took years to write) from them?  Why would I do that when I can offer my readers a PDF or some other format of their choosing and get paid for most of it myself?  That means I get to keep more of the money as the author (the person who actually wrote the damn thing) AND it means you, the reader, can actually keep the keep for yourself and read it on any reader (or computer) you want.  Yes, this also means people could pirate my book more easily, but people who pirate books aren't going to buy my book anyways. 

So, because of this, my new book, Fates Unwoven, will never touch the Amazon Kindle marketplace.  Yes, I will find a way to format it for the Kindle for you, if needed, but you will always have to buy the digital copy directly from me.  Maybe one day I'll put it on Kobo or something similar, too, but only if you're allowed to keep your file of my book as your property.  In a day and age when NOTHING is yours to keep anymore, I want to combat that by giving you something you're allowed to actually have.  And every single book I release from here on out will be the same.  Yes, I'll use KDP to print my books (unless something better comes along), but I'll never use Kindle again.  Not until they change their policy on property ownership with digital media back to normal.  Though I highly doubt that will ever happen.  

So, if you'd like a copy of my book, please use the QR code below to get your PDF.  And if you need it another format, please message me on my Ko-Fi page and request it with your email address (which I would never sell or use for nefarious purposes, other than maybe sending you pictures of my cat...though you have to opt-in for that part) and I will be sure to get it to you ASAP.  

So, what do you think about Amazon Kindle's new-ish policy?  Let me know below.  Because me?  I think it sucks.   And I no longer want to support a monopoly who is taking my creative work and telling the person who buys it what they can and cannot do with it.  My book should not be their property to do with as they see fit.  That's my job!  So, dear reader, if you want to print out the PDF and make paper airplanes out of it?  Have at it.  Maybe if you throw them into a crowd I'll get some new readers...oohh, that's a new way to market!  

If you're interested in purchasing my book, then follow the QR code below.  

You might be asking yourself, "But why would I want to create one?"  

Sigils are used as a form of symbolic magic, manifestation, and personal empowerment. They act as visual representations of an intention, energy, or concept, helping to focus the subconscious mind and direct energy toward a specific goal.  Also, they are a great way to get connected to ideas such as manifestation or magic, without getting too much into it, in case that's not your thing (or they can just be a part of your regular magic use).  And besides, they're just fun to make!  

Here are some ways in which sigils can be used:

1. Word Compression Method  
   
   Write an intention (e.g., “I am strong”).  Remove repeating letters (e.g., “IAMSTRONG” → “IAMSTRNG”).  Rearrange or stylize the remaining letters into an abstract design.  Here is a great example (click).  
   
   
2. Magic Square (Kamea) Method
   
   Assign numbers to the letters of your intention using numerology (A=1, B=2, etc.).  Plot these numbers on a planetary magic square (e.g., the Moon’s Kamea for lunar sigils).  Connect the dots to form a sigil.
   
   
3. Automatic Drawing / Intuitive Sigils 
   
   Meditate on your intention.  Let your hand freely sketch lines and shapes without thinking, allowing the subconscious to guide you.
   
   
4. Geometric Sigil Creation 
   
   Use sacred geometry as a base (e.g., circles, triangles, or hexagons).  Embed your intention into the shape through stylized lines and symbols.
   
   
5. Rune or Alphabet Fusion 
   
   Use existing runes (Elder Futhark, Ogham, or even your own alphabet).  Combine different runes/letters to form a unique sigil with blended meanings.
   
   
6. Mirror & Reflection Sigils 
   
   Write a word or symbol and mirror it horizontally, vertically, or both.  This creates balance, symmetry, and hidden depth in the sigil.
   
   
7. Layering Symbols Method 
   
   Use existing spiritual symbols (moon phases, elemental signs, personal glyphs).  Stack and intertwine them into a cohesive sigil.
   
   
8. Grid-Based Sigils 
   
   Draw a grid (3x3, 4x4, etc.).  Assign letters or symbols to different points.  Connect them with lines to create the sigil. 
   
   
9. Collapsing Letter Method  
   
   Write your phrase.  Gradually simplify it, merging letters into curves and abstract forms.  Keep simplifying until it feels right.
   
   
10. Astrological Sigils 
    
    Incorporate planetary glyphs or zodiac signs relevant to your intention.  Modify and merge them to create a unique sigil.
    
    
11. Dot & Line Sigils 
    
    Represent letters or words as dots, either on a grid or otherwise.  Connect the dots with curved or angular lines to form an elegant symbol.
    
    
12. Elemental Sigils
    
    Use elemental symbols (fire, water, air, earth) as a base.  Modify or add details to infuse the energy of the chosen element.
    
    
13. Labyrinth Sigils 
    
    Create a continuous line in a labyrinthine pattern.  Infuse the energy of a journey or transformation into it.
    
    
14. Stave Sigils (Bindrunes or Galdrastafir Style) 
    
    Create a vertical or horizontal staff.  Attach runic shapes or personal symbols along the staff to form a sigil infused staff.  Use this staff when meditating or performing magic (or create protection sigils to put on it and use it while hiking).
    
    
15. Solar/Lunar Sigils 
    
    Use sunbursts, crescent moons, or eclipse shapes as a sigil base.  Infuse them with hidden letters or symbols.
    
    
16. Knotwork & Weaving Sigils 
    
    Intertwine lines like Celtic knots to create sigils that represent unity, connection, or protection.
    
    
17. Color-Based Sigils 
    
    Draw sigils with specific colors that align with the intention (e.g., red for passion, blue for wisdom).
    
    
18. Water Ink & Dissolving Sigils 
    
    Write a sigil with ink or chalk on a surface and dissolve it in water to activate it.  Common for cleansing, emotional healing, or dreamwork. 
    
    
19. Negative Space Sigils 
    
    Draw around the sigil shape, letting the empty space form the symbol.  This works well with shadow work.
    
    
20. Stamped or Imprinted Sigils 
    
    Carve your sigil into an eraser or a stamp or clay or wood and press it into wax, clay, or sand to temporarily charge an object or space.

So, with all of that in mind, let's create one together! 

I want to create a sigil for lucid dreaming, because I am fascinated by dreams and how they are created AND I get a lot of my story ideas from dreams.  And the idea that we can be lucid (which happens rarely for me) during one, fascinates me even more, because that could mean I can change whatever I like so I could create a really excellent story!  So, I would like to see if this helps.  

So, I picked my phrase: "I am fully aware in my dreams".  

I M F L Y W R N D S  

• Merging lines and curves
• Simplifying shapes
• Rotating or mirroring elements
• Overlapping letters
• Deleting anything that is completely overlapped by another letter.  

If I clean up it up a little, turn it, and decorate it, it looks like this: 

 

So uhhhh, what just happened? 

Yesterday, I ran my laundry downstairs.  The basket is one of those tall, hefty ones.  And I grabbed it to take downstairs.  I opened the basement door, saw my packages of envelopes that I put on the top step to take down and grabbed them and put them on top of my clothes in my basket.  The colored envelopes were from my youngest son that he didn't need anymore, so he gifted them to me.  I, then, took the basket downstairs and put it on the floor in front of the washer, like I always do.  

I then looked up to see see my mother's basket on top of the washing machine and said "Oh yeah, I forgot her laundry was in the dryer" and so I pulled it down and filled up her basket from the dryer and placed it on the floor.  Here is the weird thing: I don't do that.  I don't close the washer lid for any reason after I use the washer.  I know that will lead to mold, and a stinky washing machine, but there it was, closed, with the basket on top.  In the moment, I didn't even think anything of it, as my son does that.  But I never put baskets on the top of the machine myself.   But I didn't think anything of it at the time, even though I was the one to put the clothes in the dryer the day before.  And I know this, because I remember being freaked out that evening, because every once in awhile, I get freaked out in my basement, thinking something is down there or watching me.  It's a weird feeling and I hate it. I don't always feel that way, just sometimes.  

So then, I opened the washing machine and poured in the soap, turned on the water, and stuck my head in the washing machine to get a big whiff (as I always do--this soap smells sooooo good LOL), then reached down, grabbed those envelopes out of my basket (they were in my way to get the laundry out), put them ON TOP of the dryer (as I always do when I carry something downstairs with the laundry--the dryer is my go-to place to put stuff), and filled the machine with my clothes and closed the lid.  I promptly forgot I put the envelopes ON TOP of the dryer, because I am ADHD and I always forget I put something on the dryer (usually it's my cell phone LOL).  I then walked over to my rack of clothes to see if there is room for my sweatshirts and winter coats (there was not) and went up upstairs.  

A few hours later, I remembered the laundry (as I wanted to sleep and my PJs were in the wash), and I went downstairs to switch over the laundry to the dryer (actually, I was just going to just put my PJs in there so they'd dry quicker, and then throw the rest of the laundry in after they were done, which is what we did).  

But, I get downstairs and there it was: my very large and tall laundry basket is ON TOP of the washer.  What?!  I left that sucker on the floor, what was going on??

I always keep baskets on the floor, though once in awhile I have put my mother's basket on the top of the washer while it was washing, but only so it doesn't get mixed up with other baskets and it's pretty small.  But very seldom have I ever done that.  But my big honking laundry basket?  I know for a fact I would not do that and did not do that.  But that wasn't even the weirdest part.  I then look on top of the dryer...and there's my envelopes...UNDER the box of dryer sheets.  Double what??!!  

A) I don't use dryer sheets.  Ever.  I only bought them because I was having an issue with static one time this past winter.  One time in FOUR YEARS.  But 99.99999% of the time, I do not use them.    

B) I am not certain where I placed those envelopes on my dryer but if it was anywhere related to the dryer sheets, it would have been on top of them.  But I never touched that box of sheets when I was down there.  To me, it looked as though someone knocked them both down off the dryer and then picked them up and placed them back on top, but the opposite way I had them.  But there is ZERO chance it was me.  There was also a set of bedsheets knocked down, too that fell between the washer and dryer that I don't remember seeing earlier when I loaded the washer, but maybe that happened at another time? But I really think I would have noticed it, as it's a package of brand new sheets and they are a different color from everything else (which is why I saw them when I did).  

C) Here's the lowdown on where my family members were when all this was going down: my hubby (Alex Hartwell) had a pretty bad migraine and was in bed all evening, so it wasn't him.  My youngest hasn't been in the basement in days.  And my oldest never goes in the basement, and if he had, he's the type to knock something over and leave it, not pick it back up and put it back.  But he hadn't been downstairs in at least a week.  And my mother was 1) sleeping and  2) she's disabled and doesn't go in the basement and hasn't been down there since last year's tornado scare.  So....it was just me...and my laundry.  And yet, none of these things were me.  So yeah.  What the heck?  How did these things happen and who did it? 

This shit makes me feel crazy!  And because of that, I have to keep second guessing myself "Did I do that? No...no way did I do any of that.  But maybe?  No...there's no freaking way!  But...what if...?"  

I will say, the laundry baskets being on top of the washer surprised me, but neither of them made me feel the way I felt when I saw my envelopes with a box of dryer sheets on top of them.  When I looked over to see that, my stomach just dropped to the floor and I started panicking.  Because putting a laundry basket where it doesn't belong is one thing, but to know for a 100% fact that there was NO way I put something on top of the item I just set down, let's just say it was more than just a little unsettling.  My mind never first goes to ghosts or the supernatural or to a glitch in the matrix.  No, my mind goes straight to: 

"WHO THE FUCK IS IN MY HOUSE??!!!"  The supernatural doesn't scare me, but people do.  And the idea of a person being in my basement with me?  Well, I think that's pretty much everyone's nightmare come true.  

So I quickly threw my PJ's in the dryer and ran upstairs and desperately interviewed everyone in the house to make sure it wasn't them.  They I sent my husband and my "vicious" dog to go check out the basement and nope, nobody was there (I use quotes because he's a love bug, but would definitely kill a stranger who got into our house).  So, if no strange human was in our basement, and no strange family members had been in the basement in many days (except for me), then what other explanation is there?  

Maybe it was me?  I don't know. I mean, I can get on board with maybe, just maybe, the laundry baskets.  But I never shut the washer after washing, because my washer gets stinky and mildewy.  But perhaps this one time, that's what I did.  I don't know why I would have as I've never done that before, but I will give in on this one thing.  Maybe.  BUT I REFUSE to give in on the fact that the envelopes were somehow placed UNDER the box of dryer sheets (that I never use) by me.  There is ZERO way that I would have done that, as I clearly remember putting them down and not touching them again, nor did I touch anything else on top of that dryer.    

So, what do you think?  A glitch in the matrix?  Or does this middle-aged woman need her memory checked?  Either way, let know what you think below.  

Oh, just so you know, I am so freaked out by this that I ordered another house camera to catch movement in the basement (it snaps pics when someone comes in view of the camera).  And if that doesn't sound like beginning of a horror movie, I don't know what does LOL  I will upload anything strange--or unusual--here.  Until then, my friends.  And please, tell me, has anything like this happened to you??  

 

So, you wrote a book, whoo hoo! But now you’re staring at a your finished work wondering what in the world formatting even means. Don’t worry, friend. You’re not alone, and you don’t need to be a wizard to get your book looking polished and professional.

Here’s a super basic, step-by-step guide to help you format your book, even if you’ve never done it before.

How to Format Your Book

First, we're going to choose your trim size.  This is the size your book will be when it's printed. The most common for fiction is 6”x9”. If you’re using a platform like Amazon KDP, they’ll give you size options. Pick one before you begin formatting, because changing it later is a headache.

• Indent the first line of each paragraph (except for the first paragraph in each chapter).  To indent: Highlight your text, right-click > Paragraph > First Line Indent (0.3–0.5 inches is typical).  Make sure it's 0.50, and not 0.05...which is what I did one time and it looked terrible.  

• Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs unless you're switching scenes (then I like to do 3, but you can do between 1-3).  

• Use left alignment, not justified, it’s easier to read.

Remember to save your work correctly.  If you're making an eBook, save your file as a .docx or convert it to .epub using free tools like Calibre.  If you’re going to print your book (like through Amazon KDP), save it as a PDF to keep all your formatting intact.

Fire and Ice Characters

FIRE: 

Does the reader:

• Fear for the character?
• Identify with them?
• Root for them?
• Empathize with them?

ICE: 

Create a character with: 

• Intensity
• Conflict
• Emotions

Give them a goal they desperately have to reach. Then spend the rest of the story having them trying to achieve that goal. The more desperate, the more intense they are. The more obstacles, the more conflict. The more desire, the more emotional.

And that's it!  The book is filled with tons more amazing writing advice and you should totally buy it if you're a writer yourself, which you can do right here (I will post a link when I can find the book!!): 

In my current story, my character's goal is the most important thing she's ever wanted or needed.  She is beyond desperate.  And she works relentlessly to get to her goal.  Even though she actually has zero control over it, that doesn't stop her.  I really hope readers will be able to identify with her, with her connection to her loss.  And I really hope readers will root for her to get there, even though, again, it's out of her control.  And if the reader is an actual human being, I am sure they'll be able to empathize with her feelings of loss and grief and love.  Because stories, at their core, are about being human.

So, what do you think?  Do your readers fear for your characters?  Identify with them?  Root for them?  Empathize with them?  If not, get the book and find out how to make that happen!!  

When I find the book, I will put a link to it below!  

Here is a great link about character creation that I absolutely adore: 

33 Ways to Write Stronger Characters — Well-Storied.

I will say, in that time, I've really changed the way I've read them.  When I started reading them in middle school, I thought they would predict my future, to tell me things in life would get better or how something amazing could happen.  It was exciting and fun!  But even though I used the "predictive" style to read the cards, my underlying way to use them was to see them for what they truly were: which is a tool of introspection and deep personal connection.  This means that every single card can be applied to every single person.  This why they work so well.   As I've aged, this has become the only way I use them, for both myself and my clients.  They aren't magical, they aren't supernatural, they are cards with archetypal images on them so you can see what you need to see in them in order to access your deep desires and feelings.  Answers always lie within you.  The tarot are just tools to help you see those answers.

But, if you want to gain story ideas from them, you have to work them a little different and pretend you're a little more like Miss Cleo (she was a great storyteller! LOL).

There are so many ways to generate random story ideas, but the tarot can give you so much more than just a online generator would (or other ways to get story ideas).  They give you pictures that you can draw from for your stories so you can details that you may haven't thought of.  Which make them the ultimate tool when creating the perfect story idea 💗

Here's how:

1. Pick a layout (see below).  You can just deal your cards and come up with a story idea or pick a detailed layout to give you a very detailed idea. 
2. Grab a tarot deck (or use a free app on your phone or tablet if you don't own a deck yourself). 
3. Shuffle the deck any way you wish. 
4. Lay out your cards (either in a layout or just deal as many cards as you like).
5. Read the cards either based upon the positions in the layout or just read the cards and get a story idea from the reading.  You can use a book to read the cards, with the traditional meanings or you can just "read the card", which means to look at the card and let it tell you a story.  I like doing both. 
6. Record your reading (on paper, audio, or video).
7. That's it!

 

Liam nudged her with his elbow. “Cass, wake up.” It seemed it was their nightly routine anymore.

Cass groaned as she picked her head up off her desk. “I'm just resting my eyes,” though her groggy voice gave her away.

“Boring assignment again?” Liam asked as he plunked down a chocolate doughnut and a coffee in front of her.

She grabbed them and shoved the baked confection into her mouth. “They're not even home, Li. Why do I always get these assignments when people aren't home?”

“People take their phones with them. Being at home doesn't matter anymore, you know that.”

She sipped her coffee and closed her eyes as the caffeine hit her bloodstream. “Yes, but I always get the people who leave home and then leave their phones at home. Who even does that?”

Her coworker smiled as he bit into his own doughnut. “You. Me. Everyone that works here.”

Cass rolled her eyes. “Yes. Duh. We work here. We know how this all works. And those that can't leave their phones have old flip phones. But these people,” she gestured to her screen, “don't work here. They have no idea. So why are they all leaving their phones laying around? It's 'dangerous',” she put air quotes on the last word.

Liam sighed and put his feet up on the chair next to her and shrugged. “Maybe they're elderly?”

Cass sighed again. “Maybe. Still boring as fuck.” But just as she said it, some voices came into her earpiece. “Yes!”

“Oh, they're back?”

She nodded as she pulled her headset onto her head and started popping the words she heard into her computer system. Finally, she thought. She'd been sitting with radio silence for at least a couple hours, with the past four before that with only muffled sounds. She figured someone must have dropped their phone in the couch cushions or put it in a drawer somewhere. But now the voices were clear and she was hearing all about the movie they had just went to see.

Joker, she mouthed to Liam. First of all, the title of the movie. Then the main character. Then the supporting characters. Then she cross referenced different questions people were asking online about the movie or the stars, and put those in, too. Most of the time people talked about stupid things, so it was literally only one thing at a time she'd enter into the program, but movies were full of all sorts of stuff she could use. It was like hitting her job's jackpot.

Liam always watched her work, as his seat was two seats away from hers. He never seemed to get bored like Cass did, but then again, Cass was complex and full of energy, where Liam was content to just be. He didn't enjoy the job as much as she did, but at the same time, he also didn't hate it as much as she did when there was too much downtime. Cass loved the snooping aspect of it all. Just not the boring parts.

“The next time they open their phone, they're gonna be bombarded with Joker material,” she giggled.

Liam sighed and put his hands behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. “And the next time they'll ask the same questions they always do.”

“Yup,” she grinned and started speaking in a old man masculine voice. “These confangled contraptions are listening to our every move, Martha! Those wiretap memes are actually right!”

He looked wistfully at his screen. “But, also as usual, they will put their phone back down and forget all about it until the next time we plug some info in there for them. Doesn't this bother you, Cass? That we're doing something that's not so on the up and up?”

She sipped her coffee and smiled. “Like what do you even mean? We're not doing anything illegal. And most people realize their phones are listening to them, but they love them so much that they don't care. Today, with the way the world works, they can't live without them, so what are you and I supposed to do about it?”

He shrugged again. “I dunno, tell the world?”

“Oh shush. What will that even do? A) nobody would believe us and B) we'd get fined up the ass. We signed confidentiality agreements. We can't do that even if we wanted to.”

Liam looked down at his feet and mumbled.

“What was that?”

He quickly sat and shot over to her and yanked her chair close to him and moved close to her ear. “I am not stupid enough to say things in a place where we eavesdrop on people, but what if I told you my name isn't even Liam and the name I gave this company doesn't even exist? What if I told you I was an investigative reporter who's prepared to blow this entire thing wide open?”

The feeling of his hot breath in her ear gave her goosebumps. Sure, she had a crush on him, but not really. Not one she wanted to act on in real life. At least not yet. She reached her arms out and shoved his chair away. “I'd say you're fucking with me because you know I'm bored.”

For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker across Liam's eyes. Something that looked akin to regret. But it was only for a moment, because in the next moment, a huge grin took over his entire face. “You know me too well, Cassidy Hollis. I'm just trying to keep you from falling asleep and getting fired. Again.”

Yep. He was fucking with her. Thank goodness. “I wasn't fired last time. I was...let go for a day. But then they said if I didn't sleep on the job anymore I could come back. So technically I just got an unpaid day off,” she winked.

More voices came through her earpiece, so she threw her headset back on. Her job was wonderful. Liam was a perfect coworker, as he kept her in line. Eventually, she'll ask him out. But for now, he's exactly what she needs in her life, someone to keep her company in the dull moments.

“Be right back,” he whispered to her as he trotted off to the bathroom.

Liam checked all the stalls, even though he knew that he and Cass were alone on the night shift, and opened up his phone. He clicked the center arrows until he got to the contact screen. He scrolled to a number labeled “Jack” and clicked OK and hit the send button on his phone. It rang once and a man's voice picked up.

“So, did you get her?”

Liam's let out a sigh. “Nope, just as I thought. She loves it here. She enjoys her work too much. She doesn't see it as illegal.”

“She will be collateral damage, you know this, right?”

He traced his finger on the bolt around the swinging door to the stall, his mind drifting to the idea of a now abandoned future. “I know.”

“If you're prepared for that, I will run the story in tomorrow's edition. And Liam?”

“Yes?”

“You didn't lose anything. If she loves what she does, you two were not meant for each other. She's not who you wanted her to be.”

He was right. Cass was nothing like him. And if she were anyone else, he'd almost hate her. “I know. And yes, run the story. I am completely done here.”

“Okay man. Hey, don't forget I'm proud of you. One year in that place and you've gathered enough evidence to bring the entire operation to its knees. Good work, Li.”

This brought a smile to his face. His boss was right. He spent an entire year working in a place just to expose it's juicy innards. It was good work. And it will go down in history as the biggest story of pf the year. He peered out the door to take a peek at Cass who was happily typing away and laughing like a wild hyena, loving every minute of invading someone else's privacy. It turned his stomach to watch her be so gleeful about it all. “Thanks, Jack. Let's do this.”

“Okay man, get back here and we'll get to work.”

He flipped his phone shut, slipped out of the bathroom as quiet as he could, crept down the hall to grab his jacket, and walked out the front door into the night. His job there was done. Yes, he would come to regret not warning Cass of what was going to happen next, even though she was part of the problem. But it was small in comparison to what was coming to the large corporations who developed smartphones. Once the news broke, he was sure that every single person in the world would chuck theirs in the garbage. Or maybe they wouldn't. People were forgiving. Too forgiving of those who fed their addictions. So maybe nothing would happen at all. But Liam would at least be able to sleep at night knowing he was doing the right thing.

And now it was time to go see a man about a news story.