I hate deadlines, Nothing ruins television binge-watching or summers worth of procrastination like a solid deadline. That, and maybe writer's block. But deadline do give way to the most amazing type of day, almost akin to Christmas morning. I'm talking about Book Birthdays!!!!

Only The Guilty Sleep if officially available on Friday, January 26th. 

I am looking forward to sleep tonight....and yes, I'm aware only a few of you will fully understand the meaning of that sentence. I have been told by numerous people that my conversations are quite non sequitur. I understand it's not very polite and a bit juvenile....but its here....another book birthday. And I can take a break!

I am so enjoying all my travels this season. Last week I visited with numerous educators at Region III's Author Round-Up, and also some awesome students at Hallettsville Middle School. This weekend I am headed down to the valley for some more bookfest fun. Looking forward to meeting the students of Morris MIddle School. I'll be a featured author at the McAllen Library's Book festival on Saturday.

Meanwhile, I am finishing up the final touches on Only the Guilty Sleep. 

​I'm exhausted....

The Garcia Sisters have added my cover reveal to their website. On it, a short summary of of my newest novel. Check it out, as well as the other books they have reviewed in their website:

http://garciasistersbookblog.com/2017/07/29/cover-reveal-only-the-guilty-sleep-by-ashley-lynn-dotson/

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Last week I took two of my crew to Peter Piper Pizza for the afternoon. Now, I am not a big fan of that pizza, but the kids like it. They always seem to come back stained up from using their shirts as napkins, and pizza grease is hard to wash out. But despite my complaints, they like going there. They spend stupid amounts of my pay check on the games in record time. When they get within twenty feet of our booth I grab them and force them to eat the exorbitant cardboard pizza. It's either that, or the wander back sad-faced when they're out of tokens.

Now I am on a new low-carb craze, hoping I can jumpstart my weight loss, and pizza is NOT on the menu. So I opted for hot wings. I go and grab a seat by myself with my magazine, drink, and cell in hand, trying to enjoy the little bit of alone time amidst the blinking lights and constant threat that one of my children might be abducted at any moment. The magazine is a must for any mom to carry. A book can be too engaging, and a magazine allows one to glance up when needed. It's hard to get too lost in a magazine article on recovering an old sofa.

Once the food arrived I decide to eat all by my lonesome and let the molten pizza cool off some. It didn't take me long to realize that hot wings wasn't the most glamorous thing to eat, and should probably not be eaten by yourself if you are the self-conscious sort. With every digit covered in spicy sauce, I waved to a friend of mine who walked through the door- a classy moment for sure. It was only after she and her family walked by that I noticed the large drip mark on my white shirt. I rubbed good and hard, but it only got worse as I was using a dirty napkin covered in my own hot wing goo. I totally deserved my seven-year-old's censure when he ran over to the table. His look was one of disgust as he handed me a napkin saying, "You need this more than I do."

I nixed the rest of my errands, and it was a good thing too. Liam completely forgot to mention I still had hot wing sauce on my face. Thanks, dude. I wouldn't have left him like that. But that's what happens when you hang out with little kids. You end up wearing food.

So what did I learn: First of all, no eating hot wings unless I have a drop cloth. Secondly, wearing white when doing so is never a good combination for one so messy. Most importantly, kids will always point out the irony of a situation, but they won't always tell you when you are wearing your lunch like clown make-up.

I finally got a release date for Black Bayou Road- August 28th!!

This book has been over three years in the making. From the first day the idea took shape until now it has been a complicated work in progress. I'm very excited for all of you to finally be able to read it. Stay tuned for a cover reveal later this summer.

It's NaNoWriMo time again, and I'm exhausted at the thought. 50,000 words in one month is a daunting task. Last year was the closest I have ever come to making that goal. I reached 28,000 words between two different projects. I know, I know- that was dumb. I have a hard time picking something and seeing it though til the end. To top it all off, I lost all but 6,ooo words on the manuscripts when my zip drive broke. I had been so wrapped up in writing, when I really should have been wrapped up in SAVING!!

Surprisingly, I wasn't too upset at the loss of so much work. I don't think it was really great stuff. I have been working on Black Bayou Road for so long now, and have changed to story so much, it will probably amount to something vastly different than I had planned. I didn't like the direction I forced myself to go and am starting (almost) fresh. I have done this with the book twice now. It's gotta be a sign. Either this book will flop like my sad Sunday pancakes or soar like I wish it would.

Whatever the outcome I have decided to think of NaNoWriMo  like a moderately loud peanut gallery, occasionally throwing popcorn or raucously clapping when I decide to forego The Voice for the evening and write. I don't think I will make my 50,000-word goal, but you never know. It is November 5th, I have 8,000 words. I have 25 more days to possibly surprise myself.