Once again, I am wondering where the hell the last month has gone.

Let me be up front: the only words I have written in the past month are well, these, and writing longhand in a journal while working on a small (free) course about writing flash fiction. So. Writing continues to not go well. Sighs. I’ll get there. I will. There is recovery in my future, there has to be.

In the meantime, I’ve received my first stickers and greeting cards, and have ordered more of the latter. I’ve also finally ordered a small banner to use at conventions and while vending to help me look more professional.

I am continuing to work on finalizing art for my one remaining order (washi tape, stickers, notebooks). I am also working on re-opening my RedBubble store properly so if anyone wants something on a T-shirt, they can order it there (I so cannot afford to stock those).

I have not yet updated my website—that’s on the list to do. I’m also working on all the bits and pieces required for running a business, and I really need to get that done (again, I have a deadline of my first market end of June!). But I’m getting there. Business stuff takes a lot of time, I’m realizing. And the business side of things is like editing… it makes my brain hurt.

Except when I find an excuse for an Excel spreadsheet to manage things. Apparently I still find great comfort in working on automation via Excel. Those of you who have used my word tracking spreadsheet will not be surprised by that statement.

Curious to see what I have so far for merch? Please realize these are not proper sales photos, simply candids shot in my sunroom…

What I’m working on…

Nothing new has been published in the last month. If there were a brain to text processing app I would’ve drafted several blogs, but well, by the time I could sit down at a keyboard, my brain and body were drained dry and I was exhausted and then… I forgot what I meant to say. Or how to say it. You know how it is.

The bookcases in my basement are fully in place (final bolts were completed over the weekend) and I have started organizing the book collection. I’m waiting on the installation of a carpet (so I can move the couch easily) before I’ll be able to finish the project, but it feels really good to get it started. I’m rotating pieces of collection (books, comics, puzzles, games) between my office, the exercise room, the craft space, and well, the rest of the house. When I’m done, things that go together will be together. Doesn’t that sound nice?

My very first attempt at soldering has been holding up SO WELL. I soldered the charm on my bullet journal, which is how I plan to customize the journals I’m ordering to sell. It keeps getting caught—in my backpack, under my laptop, trapped in random places—and it hasn’t pulled off, which it used to do often before the soldering. So. I have a new skill! The soldering station will be heading to camp later this month so I can do it outdoors, after my son (while teaching me) gave me a long lecture on the fact that I shouldn’t be inhaling the gases from the flux. I mean. I could also put in a proper fan for ventilation in the sunroom, I suppose. That’ll be a fall project.

I’m excited for the good weather coming (I hope!). I want to do some photography walks. While editing photos, I’ve been learning more about how I should’ve framed certain things.

Yes, all of life is a learning process. No matter how good you get at something, there is always something new to learn.

I’m rambling…

Where’s Tris…?

My next convention will be Balticon, down in Baltimore, Maryland over Memorial Day weekend! My schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, but I’ll post on social media when it is. I’ve been peeking at the scheduling software and so far it looks like it’s going to be a fantastic weekend. I’m very excited by what it looks like I’ll be doing for panels!

I will have my books with me at Balticon, of course. I probably won’t have the new merch (stickers, etc.) as we are heading out on a cruise (our first!) on our way home from the convention, and I don’t want to leave stickers in a parked car in the potential heat all week. That sounds like a recipe for them not being particularly stickery afterward.

If you’re local, come see me at Troy Pride Night Out on June 26th where I will be vending for the very first time. I should be located near Duck Prints Press. I am also hoping to sign up for some other local markets, but haven’t gotten that done yet. My goal is 1, maybe 2, per month, depending on how they go.

Other than markets, summer should be quiet, and there aren’t any more conventions for me until my first Philcon in decades.

In the meantime… please chat with me on social media (help me remember to POST to social media!) and I’ll likely talk about life, writing, kicking things, and fandom. I’m tryslora everywhere!