No Frills, No Curlicues

I've been thinking about simplicity a lot lately. I've been planning my dream house, and I've been growing my publishing house. The tendency with both is to add the frills, the decorations, the little curlicues around the edges. What are those called, again?
In any case, I've come to believe that, while nice, they aren't necessary. What is necessary is figuring out exactly what you need to take care of yourself in the present, and plan for growth in the future. In the case of my dream house, that means an adequate number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen, a space where the kids can play, a place where those who need alone time can get that,  and a place where we can all gather, and not much else.
In the case of the publishing house, it means I tried something new. Stocking for big shows is financially difficult, transportation is tricky, keeping them protected from the elements is worse, and if it doesn't go well, you have way more stock than what you may need for a good long while. So, I attended a show where I brought display copies, backups, a well-established paperwork and electronic system, and that's all. We decided to ship all orders.
We launched the system today, and it went incredibly well. I was surprised at how many compliments we got for being so conscientious of our customers, and how many other booksellers complimented us on our business-savvy. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm excited about what this may mean for the future of our house, and how it can help us grow without overstretching.

No frills, no decoration, no little curlicues. Just what we need to grow.

My Queue

I've been stuck. I have all of these ideas, but I'm having a hard time getting them down on paper. So, I've decided to do something fun! The next in the Hauseman Guild series HAS to come out next, but I am letting YOU decided which book in queue I work on next. It's an election year after all, so we might as well get in the spirit. And these are candidates that you can unashamedly support. No misogyny, no potential indictments, no party lines, just good, quality fiction. That's right, YOU get to determine my fate. The power! The control! YOUR NAME IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS! You can have it all, just comment below on which book you think I should write next! Nothing like a little pressure to prime the pump, right?

Brink
This is a collection of short stories about a planet stuck on an event horizon. A frame story, this follows the lives of all who inhabit it and must dance around the timelines or face the consequences. A single misstep could take you 100 years into the future, or the past.

Armored
This is a new idea I just started kicking around today about a young woman who gets superpowers, but told from a distinctly Christian perspective. Fun idea.

The Skater Girls of Afghanistan
This is a story told from five different points of view. Set in Afghanistan, it follows the lives of five young women from childhood through adulthood.

Hungry
Middle grade fiction about a young woman who is struggling with identity issues. Feeling her life is out of control and struggling to come to terms with her parents' divorce, she makes a wish to become a mermaid. She does, but she is a shark/human hybrid. As such, she has to find her peace in a way she never imagined.

The Last Faerie
A sweet story about the very last faerie who is forced to Become before her time to battle the forces of evil. This story started as a bedtime story I told my kiddos.

Danny Daimiano
Another book set in the same world as Charlotte and Daisy, this one starts right after Unification and tells the story of a young soldier turned boxer who is involved in the mob. The mob, on the other hand, is involved in a tech race. What happens when he runs afoul of their plans?

The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal
Don't. Please just don't. This is my opus. I'm not good enough yet.

Ready, set, VOTE!!