Both Fair and Foul. Listen on…

And here’s the transcription:

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…

Yes, David Bowie was a hero of mine in my teens, and as the song says… turn and face the strange. I’ve been doing just that for a while now, and thought it was time to catch all of you, the lovely readers of the Wode in particular, up to speed with those changes. Some are fair and some are foul; the last several months have been interesting, to say the least, and more changes are coming. The thing is, these coming ones are certainly more fair than foul! So please forgive the lengthiness of this update, if you would. The Patreon peeps have already seen some of this (You did know I have a Patreon, right?), but there is other important info as well, so stay with me!

Of course, if you’re used to reading my books, you’re used to length, right? 😉

PART THE FIRST:
The not-so-fun bits.

As a few of you might already know, this past November I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A whirlwind of appointments and like disruption followed, including surgery. The good news: they got it all. I’m on the final weeks of radiation treatments which, unfortunately, are seriously messing with my energy and productivity.

Still, I’m one of the lucky ones; I have decent insurance (Of course, being self-employed, it’s out of the question to afford my own; Amazing Spouse has a more ‘normal’ occupation and the sheer luck of working with a company who actually gives a damn about the health of their employees. So because I could keep up with regular mammograms, they caught the tumour very early. It could have been much worse.

Now, here’s the part where I’d like to be able to come out and say that I’m an example of the necessity of having regular mammograms, and thusly encourage people to do likewise.

However.

The reality is, for most of my life I haven’t had the resources to afford mammograms, or to be so proactive in seeing to my health. The reality is, if it wasn’t for my husband’s employer, I’d likely be another statistic to my birth-country’s lack of concern for debilitating illness and, in particular, women’s health. We need a system of health care that doesn’t put a price on people’s lives and doesn’t hike up treatment and drug prices so that a few filthy sods can turn a buck. Moreover, we need to support places (like Planned Parenthood) where all women can go and make informed choices about their health. Considering the present idiots in charge, and the knee jerk reactions of the few who want to stay on top and continue to openly wave their bigotry and lack of empathy like a banner? Well. We need to stay angry, my friends. This genie ain’t going back into the bottle.

And THAT is the end of that rant, I promise.

Unfortunately, surgery and radiation, have meant low energy and lower productivity. My brain, she is mush. The end is in sight, at least. But it means my winter deadlines are as turned to mush as my grey matter… and most especially Wyldingwode, which I know many of you are waiting for. I’m bulling my way through best as I can. I also refuse to put out a substandard work. Still, there’s hope I’ll have the final Wode book out by the end of 2019.

How, you might ask, can I possibly do that?

Well, that’s where the other changes come in.

(cue David Bowie)

PART THE SECOND

So, just before the Diagnosis happened, I was contemplating a very big change: that of publishers. The Dreamspinner Press team, well, they’re excellent with category romance—which, unfortunately, I don’t write—so when I agreed to join in at the beginning of the DSP Publications imprint, it was with the hopes of getting in on the ground floor of a new, queer-focused, SF/Fantasy imprint. That didn’t happen the way I’d hoped. Now, the DsP team have told me more than once they love my books. I think they’re some of the nicer people I’ve met in publishing. But love isn’t enough when the marketing/branding is not working out the way I feel it should. We’ve agreed to an amicable parting of ways, and I wish them all the best.
But wait! you ask, How will Wyldingwode release without a publisher? What about the rest of the books?

It’s all good. By spring my reversion of rights will be complete, which means a new and different world of options for the Wode Books—and for many future projects. I’m working on those options as we speak, and promise to have more details for you next month. So stay tuned, join the newsletter, do whatever you need to stay in touch. Some fun things are coming down the pipe. Particularly when I’m done with the bloody radiation and can focus better)

With all that said, I’d like to share a few wee hints of what’s coming:

*This summer, there will be brand new releases of The Wode Books, complete with:
+Re-editing and formatting (nothing over-the-top, just some corrections and tightening)
+A re-vamped cover for Shirewode
(and Bob’s covers are STAYING, no worries there! I can’t wait for all of you to see what she’s done for Wyldingwode.)
+Special editions in several formats

*MORE AUDIO – Did you know there’s an audio version of Winterwode being serialised on Patreon right now? (You did know I’ve a Patreon, right? 😉 ) There’s a level of support that will snag you two episodes a month, as well as your own copy of the completed audio when it releases to major audiobook distributors. Check it out!

*More Retro Recs—for those of you who don’t know (and hey, it’s been a while) this is where I take older books that meant a lot to me, give them another spin, and share them with you. Thinking about this as a podcast-y sort of thing.

So, rounding up this bit is a question for YOU. What would you like to see?
And before you say it: YES, finishing Wyldingwode is most definitely at the very top of this list!

PART THE THIRD

Keeping up on the latest, as in I want you to know what’s up, and hope you feel the same. So, let’s talk social media for just a few.

Because honestly? Social media is hard for me on several levels. I don’t visit very often, because it flat wears me out. I will never be on social media every day. Just letting you know that up front.

However.

I do have a new Instagram account, where I hope to share some pictures from my own archives as well as some from Pinterest. I’m a visual sort. I am on Twitter, which I find a bit less abrasive than the barrage that is Facebook… maybe because it’s shorter and easier to scan past? Facebook is… well, its verrrry hard. I used to friend everyone who friended me… big mistake. Lots of spamming. So now I only friend those I’ve met. If it wasn’t for those friends, and those of you I’ve corresponded with, I’d be saying buh-bye to Facebook. Having a page is a joke these days, because they no longer get any play on the timeline. What to expect froma free service that wants nothing but to mine your info so they can sell you something? *sigh* At least groups are still viable. If you join and follow a group, and sign up for notifications, you get them. And all of you who haven’t yet?—you’re welcome to join The Wode Books group. It would be great to see more interaction and discussion there… and I do try to visit it as I can.

And there are also a few ways to contact me other than social media.

FIRST: The JTH Newsletter, available for sign up on my website at www.jtulloshennig.net. This will also sign you up for the Musings blog, which goes out through RSS via the newsletter aggregator.

Just FYI, one of my resolutions for the new year is to be a bit less of a writer-hermit, and do more reaching out in 2019 and onward—but neither will you see me hanging out in your mailbox overmuch. No more than once or twice a month; less during a writing jag. Of course, releases might be a leetle more expressionistic… 😉

SECOND: Patreon at www.patreon.com/jtulloshennig . Join our community for the price of a good hot cup of chai per month (less or more, as you choose), and in exchange you get monthly goodies, along with the added benefit of endorsing art you love. You can indeed help support the experience you’ve come expect from me: immersive fiction, told with craft and care.

THIRD: Email me! It takes me time to respond, but I will respond best I can.

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I have so much respect and gratitude for all of you. I appreciate your presence, and please accept my since thanks for supporting and sharing this writing journey.

Regards,
Jeanine