Over the years I have had the pleasure of taking care of our Pen and Paw books on Amazon. With the closure of Belle Vie, we have decided to give Salem’s Community Cats all rights to the anthologies in 2027. This cuts out the “middle man” (me) and allows SCC to take in all proceeds directly! Over the course of the next year I will continue to work with SCC in helping sell physical copies and advertise, but will no longer be directly involved with Amazon sales or own the selling rights to the anthologies. This changes nothing for our authors, who already own the rights to their donated stories! I look forward to seeing our books continue to help save animals, and in a more direct and streamlined fashion. Thank you to all who have helped Pen and Paw become a presence of good in the world!
Category: Uncategorized
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With kitten season in full swing, I was gifted with some very sweet fosters who entered my life about a month ago! Sugar, Ganache, and Nibsy have already found homes! It won’t be long before Cocoa and Meringue are scooped up. I will be sad to see them go, but I know there are others out there waiting.
I’ve been toying with starting another anthology – possibly one for children. I haven’t talked with my international friends yet. I know we all have so little time lately!After nearly 6 years I have returned to dance. I thought I was done. I didn’t want the “stress” of dancing in front of people. Yet, in my heart, I always missed dancing with other women. There’s something so amazing about dancing alongside others. So, I have joined a new troupe and have been attending regular practices again. It’s been wonderful! I’m glad I did it.
Work on my own WIP has been insanely slow. I’ve put a hold on edits of the trilogy to work on nailing down the world building and rearranging notes. I have a tendency of letting my info documents become unruly. With all 3 books drafted and the first nearly done in revisions, strong organization is required. It is nearly comical how often I forget I’ve already answered a question that pops into my revising brain… Wasting time finding an answer, only to discover later I’ve already had that same thought and pieced together how to solve it and written it down in one of my chaotic note files. So, here I am, spending weeks on fixing my files and notes and forcing myself to make some decisions.
To my pantser writer friends not far into a series, may I suggest to you the following to avoid my mistakes:
1. Make notes AS YOU GO. Make it a rule. To make it easier on yourself, open a notepad (paper or computer/phone program) whenever you sit down to write. Jot stuff down as you are writing. At the end of your session, move those items into their intended documents (see below). If for whatever reason you run out of time to move them at the end, make sure it is the first thing you do upon your next writing session!
2. Make documents for:
(1) chapter summaries/notes by chapter (each document should be one book and all its chapters)
(2) characters (as big as yours MCs and as small as a briefly mentioned servant who was given a name)
(3) places (as big as an entire continent, down to the description of a room)
(4) general planning, ideas, and notes – these will be for the big overall encompassing ideas. If it’s chapter or book specific, move it to that spot!
(5) an encyclopedia of fauna, flora, in-world items, in-world terms, food, religions/philosophies, and so forth
(6) Magic systems& magical items (if needed)3. Do not, for the love of all the gods and goddesses, DO NOT believe yourself when you say you’ll do it later. When you are pantsing – things get crazy and fast! Future you will love current you if you keep the mess of your brain organized!
And that’s all I got for today. Have anything to add? Tips or tricks? Let me know!
Remember: adopt don’t shop, dance whenever you feel like it, and write with reckless abandon.
Love ya’ll!
-Holly -
It has been a rough week. My father has been in and out of the hospital. I feel helpless and tired. My depression has come for it’s mid-winter visit. It is so cold. At least the sun shines…
I have been slowly working through beta read documents. Making slow but steady progress in my WIP.
I stumbled across this poem while searching my Google Docs for more feedback Docs. It was written several years ago. I took a break from my story to make some edits to it today. It still seems relevant to me, especially in these days.
“You’re the nicest person I know.”An easy mistake to make.
Fear is not kindness.
A bottomless well of hatred
spends its time breaking fingers,
pours out of me in great fat tears until I beg,
keeps me captive at night.And, love
that bulges and stretches skin,
sharpens the sticks,
makes mountains that I can’t climbLove for people I’ve never met
Places never seen
Ideals more painful than hungerEverything can be a weapon
when I chain myself to the rocks.
Too heavy,
I seldom stand up.Nice is the blanket I hold in trembling hands, hiding
Not my virtue -
Every year I set goals for myself. Typically, I have ideas in January, but I add and edit my goals as the year goes on. They are less of a list, and more of a nonverbal agreement I have with myself. The “new” part of new year never really held much weight for me. I like to use the date more to reflect on the previous year than mark it as a beginning. Why would I want to start at the beginning? No thank you, I’ll stay right where I am on this hike of life! (But I can see how that mindset can be beneficial to some!)
So, I am taking this moment to consider what I got done this year in my writing, and the things I want to keep working on.
During 2025, I set out to:
- Find beta readers for Daughter of the Blade (done!)
- Collect all critiques by January 2026 (not done, but a bit out of my control)
- Finish revisions for book two, Shadows of Dragons (done!)
In 2026, I plan on continuing and would like to add some “fun” into my writing life again. I love my Dreamer’s Blade series, but I am getting a bit fatigued with it lately. There’s only so many times I can read about Parisia mourning, Dekca sulking, and Trios’s confusion. I think I might try blogging more often. It is sort of nice to just speak into the void and see who hears it, and even when it falls into silence, there is always the benefit of getting it out of your head and onto paper.
I also had some surprise ideas for revisions at the end of this year, but it would mean a LOT of changes to all three books, and I am trying to decide if that will truly be the best of ideas. You know how it goes; you fix one thing, and it has a lovely butterfly effect that essentially ruins all the rest of your work. I’ve had a missing piece for some time now. And then, bam, the obvious solution popped into my head after I’d done SO much work on books one and two. Thank goodness I haven’t jumped fully into the mess that is book three… I really need to stop having ideas.
Well, life calls. If you are reading this, thank you. I hope you have an amazing year, and a big thank you to all who step up to support rescues, Pen and Paw, and the arts!
-Holly
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Every year, I dread Christmas. Maybe it all started when I worked retail and I knew it would be the season of angry customers and messes to endlessly clean. Perhaps it was when I realized that it’s just everything I despise about capitalism rolled into a sugar coated pill of cookies and wrapping paper. Maybe I was just always doomed to experience an episode of depression around this year. It is dark and cold, and there’s so much to do…
I don’t know what it was this year that made Christmas so especially depressing for me. I even tried hard to get into the “spirit.” I bought a silly sweater. Dressed up like an elf when Santa came to visit our library. Tried to listen to Christmas music. Put up more decorations than I normally do. Bought my daughter an advent calendar. None of it did anything for me.On Christmas Eve, I sat in my basement and cried. I’d just read a letter that our claim was denied again and the insurance company wants up to pay the 15,000 dollar medical bills from my daughter’s mystery illness in September. It was just the last straw. I cried until I gave myself a headache, and then I wiped the tears away and got my kid’s Christmas presents ready for the next day.
I woke up on Christmas feeling exhausted. I didn’t even want to get out of bed. My kid came in and tried to get me up. I didn’t leave my room until an hour later. I watched her open her presents, remembering when she was little and how she used to open them with such delight. Now it’s just a reserved joy. She opens them slowly, and then pauses and inspects it. She smiles and says thank you and moves on to the next. The urgency and excitement is gone.
It wasn’t until I went to my husband’s family’s celebration that some of the clouds finally moved, and it was long after the presents were open and food was eaten. His mother had bought all the family’s plastic totes for storage and as she passed them up, the first child hopped in like a cat with a box. They all started climbing in. The bins turned into cars. One of them discovered they could flip it over on top of them and then move around like a little plastic tank. My daughter sat next to me watching and laughing. Then she climbed in and called her father over. He pushed her around like she was one of the little kids. Seeing them genuinely smiling and being silly finally let some sun back into my life.
These are the moments that bring true happiness. It’s not the THINGS. It’s not tradition. It’s the joy of seeing others happy. Often times, I think I need to change my mind or attitude, but I keep forgetting that I don’t always need to. Other’s emotions can brighten mine and I don’t have to do everything on my own.I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays this year. And if you were sad for the majority, that’s okay, and you weren’t alone.
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Life has been crazy hectic lately.
I took in an additional 4 foster kittens on top of my remaining 3 “hobbits.” They new babies are adorable, but they are also only about 4-6 weeks old. It is a challenge specifically when they are so young, because my usual treatments for parasites can’t be used until they are at least 2 lbs. This means I have to be very diligent with them, trying to control fleas and dealing with the loose stools that come with intestinal parasites… Oh, and they all have long thick coats… Let’s just say, it’s not the most enjoyable job to have.
Between trying to spend time with my 7 fosters – along with the care and cleaning constantly needed that goes along with them, staying on top of Kyra’s school stuff and her crazy schedule, trying to keep up my writing routine, squeezing in an exercise schedule, keeping up the house, and of course, work… I have found very little time to just relax.
I keep my sanity by reminding myself that I am lucky to have all these wonderful opportunities to do these things I love. But even though I do love them, I must admit sometimes I get tired.
Last week I finished the extended version of LOTR because I was sick and it FORCED me to take an entire day off. It felt amazing to just sit and do nothing. (Okay, so maybe not AMAZING. I was wracked with guilt every moment my mind drifted from the movies.) But I healed so much faster than usual, and I felt recharged for the remainder of the week.
I have been doing a better job listening to my body and mind, checking in to understand just how I am feeling at all times. I don’t always remember to do so. But I can’t believe how much I have been missing all these years…
Today I have set the my next goal for myself: RELAX. Every week. Even when I am healthy!
Relaxing doesn’t mean completing beta reads/critiques. It doesn’t mean sitting and going through emails and social media or updating this page. It doesn’t mean multitasking watching a show while I walk on the treadmill or fold laundry or try to catch up on clothes that need mending. It doesn’t even mean sitting and petting cats (I know, blasphemy!!) Relaxing means: doing absolutely nothing but maybe watching a show or movie that makes me feel good, or listening to music. I have to define this, because I have a way of sneaking in more chores even during my “me time.” And I vow to relax WITHOUT guilt.
Even my husband, who is chronically doing things, finds time to sit and watch his anime or play his video games. I need to start doing this for myself.
So, yes my writing has definitely taken the back seat these last several months. But I am still making progress, no matter how slow. It is good for me to remember that most of my deadlines and demands of myself are self made and I am allowed to say no, even to myself!
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So, because I update a lot on fosters, but not a whole lot on my writing – thought for once I would make an update on writing!
It has been SLOW going, but I am making progress on edits of Shadows of Dragons and am nearly towards the end. There’s been so much happening this year that I have had some days and weeks were I didn’t even so much as look at it…
Beta reads have slowly trickled in over the summer for Daughter of the Blade. I was happy to see some of the readers loved it, but it was in the minority I believe. Many people didn’t finish reading. I know a lot of it has to do with the slow pacing. And though I am aware I can fix that, I am not sure I want to yet.
My plan of attack is to finish edits on Shadows of Dragons and Silent Sovereigns, THEN return to book one and look over all the feedback I have gotten. I will probably look for more betas in the meantime for book one, because I have heard back from less than half of the betas I last found, and the more feedback I have to work off of, the better.
I am also trying to make it a habit to post once a week about my writing, so that when the time comes to send things to agents, I can at least show I have attempted to market/reach an audience with my book.
Or maybe I will just decide to self-publish. I guess I am still undecided on that front.
So, in short, I hope to be better about book updates but will continue to share kittens more than anything. Because they need homes NOW and my book can wait!
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Long time, no write. Sorry! It has been a busy few months.
FOSTER NEWS: I’ve flown through several foster litters since fall. My final litter (Ren, Chloe, and Zen) moved on -mostly- within two weeks of being at my home! Ren is my leftover. He’s taken well to Willie and the two spend a lot of time together. I am hoping to find his home soon! He is on the older side (about 6 months) so he is quickly outgrowing cute-kitten stage and entering sweet cat baby stage. You can find more info about Ren (or Remy LeBeau as I call him) here.
WRITING NEWS: I am finishing up edits this month on book one of the Dreamer’s Blade series. Daughter of the Blade will be available to beta readers soon! If you are interested, please consider reading for me and helping me improve the story! You can fill out this form here to be added to my list. I believe I will have beta copies ready by early March. If you’d like a sample before you sign up, you can check out the first 5 chapters here. You can find more info about the book at the end of this post.
PEN AND PAW INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Pen and Paw sales have remained low but steady. As always, you can check out our sales and donations anytime, here, on our webpage.Beta reader info:
Title: Daughter of the BladeApprox. word count: 175K
Content Rating: PG-13 [no spice]
Genre: Adult Epic High Fantasy
Comp Titles: Stormlight Archives, The Priory of the Orange Tree, Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Mists of Avalon
Content Warnings: character deaths, in-world racism, moderate violence
Deadline: By the end of summer 2025 is appreciated but not required. The latest I can take feedback is December 2025
Working Blurb:
“The blade that bled the world is free.
Parisia, the reluctant twelfth Daughter of a line of priestesses tasked with imprisoning the blade, must face her worst fears when the blade awakens in her care.
Trios, a slave without a past, Misuchi and Saria, haunted by their history of slaughter, and Huru, a Moon Eater, the eyes and ears of the silent Sovereigns, find their lives colliding as the line between the past and present clash.
But even while new threats continuously arise, old ones strike dangerously closer. A long-forgotten prince has awaited the return of his brother-blade. Redemption is finally within reach.”
*Picture below not the actual cover, but there for attention.
If you are not a fantasy reader, but know some, feel free to share this with them. The more readers I have: the better!
Fill out this form here to grab your copy in March!
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Foster news:
Wasabi, Miso, Sushi, and Mochi have all found their forever homes! I miss them, but I am so happy they have found such fantastic homes! There’s never a shortage on kittens, however. New fosters will be arriving this weekend, so check back soon!Personal News:
It is Thanksgiving today in the states. I am feeling particularly thankful this year. As the snow comes down outside, I am grateful for my warm, safe, and cozy home. As my daughter and husband still peacefully sleep, I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends. And, as my foster-fail Willie rubs against my leg, I am grateful that I have been blessed with the a life that allows me to help my furry friends. There is in fact so much for me to be thankful for that I don’t know I could do any justice to go on. I have been incredibly lucky in life, and there isn’t a moment I don’t appreciate the cards that have been handed to me.
To all my USA friends, Happy Thanksgiving!
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Fosters: My foster kitties have been doing fantastic and growing too fast! I love that my kittens are healthy enough to develop into the cats they’ll become, but at the same time it brings me some sadness. As kittens age, their likelihood of adoption begins to diminish. I still have hope these three will find homes. (Thankfully, Sushi found his loving home the beginning of October!) Wasabi is the one I worry about most, because he will need someone patient and willing to work with him. Though he’s come a LONG way, he still is very shy. Miso and Mochi are just huge loves, who just want to play and cuddle. As we come upon month 3 of my fostering, I begin to worry… Will these sweeties find a home so I can save more?
Pen and Paw Books: Our sales have been steady but small. October we sold more at the expo in NY than we did online. But the holiday season has begun and I hope some will purchase them as gifts and get our sales up a bit. I will be doing another expo in November and hopefully raise some more funds for Salem’s Community Cats!
Personal life: This time of year has had its sorrows in the past. Today I was reminded of one of those when I stumbled upon this poem I wrote in 2021. This year, I am a little more prepared for my seasonal sadness. However, I thought I would share the poem here because it is still relevant to me today, as it always will be.
Bystanders:
How do I smile
When the world is on fire
When the world is filled with hurt
How do I sing
How do I dance
When songs are stolen
When the silence of dread hangs over an empty hospital room
When the creaks of a full house come to rest
How do I eat
How do I drink
When the world is filled with bloated hungry bellies
When thirst sucks dry the world,
leaving cracked husks that we hope to forget
How do I hold my loved ones?
When love has been held from so many?
When death hangs waiting
or finished and full
like a heavy line in the sand
How do I sleep in my bed?
When not even the ground is safe for some
When the earth becomes hungry
swallows them home
Things come and go
But it is no comfort to me
We are all the bystanders
Waiting for heroes that aren’t us
Watching without doing
Because there is too much
And we are stuck on our own lonely tracks
forced forever forward
and apart
