Books, Bipolar, and the “Professional Patient” Life
I am thrilled to finally share that my latest book, A Haunting Before I Do, is officially live! It’s been a labor of love, and you can now find it on both Amazon and via Draft2Digital (which means it’s available on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more).
A Harlo Malone Paranormal Mystery
“Always and forever” is a long time—especially when the ghosts won’t let you get to the altar.
Dani is about to marry Bex, the love of her life, in a beautiful beachside ceremony in the South Carolina Lowcountry. It should be the happiest weekend of her life. There’s just one problem: Dani’s “menagerie” of friends isn’t exactly normal, and the beach house they’ve rented for the bachelorette party has a permanent resident who isn’t on the guest list.
When a pre-wedding bathroom break leads to a literal run-in with a spectral witch named Sadie, Dani finds herself with a “helluva shiner” and a supernatural mystery to solve before the “I dos.” With a clumsy witch, a secret-keeping vampire, and a werewolf hiding in plain sight, the “Preternatural Welcome Wagon” has officially arrived.
As the moon rises over the ocean and her witch mark begins to buzz, Dani must navigate a ghostly ultimatum that threatens to derail her wedding day. Will she make it to the beach by 9:00 AM, or will a century-old curse prove that some vows are meant to be broken?
In this book, you’ll find:
Queer Paranormal Romance: A heartwarming (and heart-pounding) central relationship.
Found-Family Chaos: A cast of supernatural misfits you’ll wish you were friends with.
Atmospheric Hauntings: The spooky, salt-air vibes of a haunted Charleston coast.
Buy it now!
Launching a book is a whirlwind, and I’m so grateful for the support this community has shown me.
What’s Next? (Back to the Drafts)
While I’ll still be posting here, my primary focus is shifting back to the “writer’s chair.” I’ve dusted off a manuscript that has been sitting in my drafts for a while. I’m currently deep in the trenches of chapter three, working through developmental edits. It’s a different energy—more quiet and analytical—but I’m excited to breathe life into these characters again.
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A Quick Life Catch-up (The “Interview” Edition)
To keep things interesting, I decided to interview myself about how life is going outside of the word processor.
Q: So, how’s the “glamorous” life of a published author going? A: Honestly? It’s less “champagne at book signings” and more “remembering to put on pants for my therapist appointment.” My life is currently a beautiful, chaotic mess. I know everyone says their life is a mess at some point, but for me, it’s a lifestyle choice sponsored by Bipolar Disorder.
Q: How are you managing the workload and the brain-load? A: By making “Professional Patient” my new side-hustle. My calendar is currently a high-stakes game of Tetris involving my GP, my psychiatrist, and my therapist. If there were a loyalty card for doctor’s offices, I’d have earned a free sandwich by now.
Q: Is it hard to balance the “Drafts” with the “Doctors”? A: Sometimes. But I’ve realized that I can’t edit Chapter 3 if I’m not editing my own brain chemistry first. Taking care of my mental health is the “developmental edit” of my life—sometimes you have to cut the parts that aren’t working so the protagonist (me) actually makes it to the end of the story.
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I know I’m not the only one currently juggling a project and a brain that refuses to cooperate. Whether it’s a mental health struggle, a chaotic house, or just a Tuesday that felt like a marathon—drop a comment and tell me one way your life is “beautifully messy” right now. Let’s make the comment section a judgment-free zone.
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