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Creating, because I can’t not.


Latest news:

Newest blog posts:

Posting Reviews of Posts

Done! A Celebration of Spite

The Stillness of Grief

Garden or Write?

The Writing Journey of An Odd Little Lion

The first novel of the sequel series to Children of the Desert is in beta read. (SO EXCITING!!!) This will be a self-published project, as will most of my work going forward for various reasons. I’m still considering whether to release it in installments or as an entire book in one go. The former has potential for a Patreon approach to help pay for the process.

I also have a science fiction story finished and in need of beta readers. That story is designed to be the first in a series of novella-sized installments, and I want to get the next novella done before releasing the first, so that will take some time as well. Please let me know if you want to be part of the beta readers on this project!

I’m also deeply invested in studying horticulture; I’m taking classes through the local community college towards a degree AND studying with the local Master Gardeners as well (update: all I have left on the latter is to get my volunteer hours in. Also, THANK YOU to the CVNLA for their wonderful help with a scholarship towards my fall classes! Some truly cool folks in that organization.)

I’m finding that I really enjoy researching for academic papers, which is heckin’ surprising, since it used to be torturous for me.

I am OPEN to a limited amount of editing, copy editing, and typeset work at this time.


I AM CURRENTLY OPEN to EDITING OR COPY EDITING JOBS. Please do take a look at my previous projects, and keep me in mind for a February/March job!

Look at my editing page for more details: leonawisoker.com/editing

I have edited (and, in some cases typeset), these books, among others:

Four books by Angela P Wade: Cloak of Obscurity, Queen Isabeau's Book, The Mermaid & the Monster, Lord Cailean's Tower

I have consulted on or proofread, among others, these books:

(The above is not a comprehensive list, just an illustration.)

At this point in time I am not holding any special deals. I will take on editing jobs, but it will be at regular rates, which are based on EFA suggested numbers. I do prefer flat rate over hourly, which is admittedly better for the client but which I feel is more fair.

Take a look at my client testimonials. Standard rate and procedure information is on the same page, further down. Contact me about editing jobs at [editor at leonawisoker dot com].


UPCOMING EVENTS TO WATCH

I’m beginning to look for online events to get involved with.


CURRENTLY READING

Lots of stuff about plants and ecology. Zooming through various cozy mysteries. Also rereading a lot of recent favorites: KJ Charles, T Kingfisher.


OLDER NEWS

I am compiling a series “Bible” focusing on the sequel series to Children of the Desert. I may start posting excerpts from that soon, as I’m having an extraordinary amount of fun with it. I’m also working on the first book in said series, tentatively titled Kingdom of Salt. It’s off the rails from earlier versions and headed into entirely new territory, so I’m getting very engaged with the work!

I am SUPER EXCITED to announce the reissue of Servants of the Sands, now formatted as two books (in print). The new version is available through ReAnimus Press or Amazon. The eBook is still one volume, but either way it’s been edited and has an additional chapter at the end! (It’s a really good chapter. You want to read it, I promise.)

I have notes and sketches for a lot of short pieces that I would like to flesh out and submit. I have a couple stories slogging around through various publications, so wish me luck! I intend to get at least a couple new things out, self published or professionally, in 2021.

Update as of 4/2021: My short story, The Silver Tree, has been accepted at ABYSS & APEX and will be out in … October 2023 (oddly long time frame for short work, but hey).

I have also just finished a very strange and dark short story that is making the rounds. I think it has a reasonable chance of placement, but it is very very strange and very very dark. So. 🙂

Update as of 8/2/21: The series Bible is on hold as I work through overhauling an old story involving lycanthropy, revenge, and Florida. I’m also playing around with mashing up two original Grimms Brothers tales with a snarky avian narrator. I still don’t have a home for that strange little tale I started submitting back in April, but I have hopes. I’m also realizing, much to my frustration, that there is still at least one more closing chapter that really should have been added to Servants of the Sands, so I need to get that knocked out and sent out to anyone who wants that bit of closure. So. There’s that.

Update as of 10/25/21: I’ve given up on overhauling the lycanthropy story; it’s got too many issues baked into the structure. I might be able to take another run at it after a break. Still no home on that strange little story, so that might just go into the collection of short work I’m pulling together for a self-pub project.

Update as of 11/22/21: I’m taking a sharp left turn into a new area: I’ve gotten accepted into the Henrico Master Gardener’s program, and I’ve signed up for classes towards a Horticulture degree! I’m very excited and more than a little surprised at myself. I am still writing, that will never change, but I’m feeling the need for a career focus shift. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis? I dunno. But I’m excited, and I’m happy, and that means I’m writing more than ever. So that’s a win to me.

Update as of 1/1/23: I’m still in Horticulture classes, still very excited about what I’m learning, but admittedly I’ve been battling to get back to writing. A lot happened in 2022; I’m emerging from the chaos and taking a run at this new year with refreshed determination and hope.


…Hey, have you signed up for The Irregular Update yet? I talk about books, mostly, and book related stuff. No politics in the newsletter any more, I promise! Well. Unless you count political books and genre-related news… but I keep that to a minimum. The form is to the right….or it might be in the footer, if you’re reading this on mobile.


Read on, & stay safe out there!