A few months back, I wrote up a post about filling the well. Or was it the garden? o.O 

So I took time off to do just that, by reading, binging shows, movies and gaming. Miiiiight have gone a bit overboard on the gaming. I’m a Final Fantasy fan and can’t help myself with that game, or anything in the franchise. 

What I learned in that time was…I hadn’t learned BALANCE. You know… mitigating out time for both without over-indulging on one. Before, in 2015, it’d been all writing. And it was successful. Until I burned out. In the time running up to restarting getting more Eldritch Files finished, I’ve had to learn to BALANCE the garden grooming with the producing. 

Not saying it’s been easy. 

Newp. Mostly because I over-filled it. Meaning I have a whole bunch of ideas (popcorn kittens) jumping about and yelling “Pick Me! Pick Me!”

But, to that later. 

Elemental Dreams, the Finale. 

It’s taking me a bit longer to finish this than I’d hoped. Not because of gaming too much, but because I wanted to be careful. I wanted to make sure that everyone reading it would have a sense of completion, and a sense of happy. Gotta have the happy (especially after book 8). 

My hope is to have the book published and in your hands this month, but I’m taking my time to give the readers, and those who have enjoyed the series, something enjoyable. 

And now…for a Pen Name…

Getting back to the “Pick Me!” I needed to write something a bit different before getting the last books finished for The Eldritch Files. 

And out of that need came a new idea, coupled with an old idea I’d been stoking. Part of that idea was brain stormed with the help of a fellow writer. And we created a new series, gave it a pen name and published it. After the first book was finished, and the second one almost done, the partnership dissolved (in a nice and legal fashion) and I kept the pen name and books. And since I love the character and the series idea, I decided to keep writing them. 

Originally I published them in Kindle Unlimited, and quickly discovered I wasn’t that happy about it. I prefer to have my books wide, meaning if you read on Kobo, you can buy it on Kobo, Or if you like iBooks, you can read it there. 

Sooo… the first book in this series is finally wide and available for .99¢ in several places. If you can’t find it on your favorite platform, let old A J Brahms know: 

Yep. That’s me. 

Book 2, Something In The Water, will be wide at the end of June, but it is available at Amazon for now. Book 3, Smoke And Mirrors, will go wide from the start. 

Here is a link to the Author Site, A J Brahms. There is a separate Newsletter, and a separate website. Cause, pen name. But it’s me. 

I hope you enjoy. And I’ll be keeping you up to date!  :)  Any questions just post them and I’ll get to them soon as I can. In between writing sessions. 

UPDATE: The Cast In Shadow series has now been updated to reflect my name only. Long sad story. Don’t wanna repeat it. 

Elemental Tears

When I started The Eldritch Files in 2015, I set out to begin a new adventure that would both entertain myself, and readers. On the advice of a writer friend, I sat down with a ledger pad and wrote down all the things I loved to read. What I looked for in stories. I put in my Reader Cookies. 

Once I had a clear picture of what I wanted the story to be about, I created the characters. Sam was the first of course. Then Kyle. They were almost simultaneous, since Kyle is inspired by a real life friend. 

Ivan was next. Crwys appeared once I had my Series arc in place. I knew there would be a love for Sam, something unexpected and something that should last forever. 

So I knew the beginning, I knew that swampy middle (taken from Jim Butcher), and I kinda, sorta, not really knew the ending. But I trusted my process to show it to me when the time came. 

That time came while writing Elemental Storm. The ending seemed perfectly clear to me. But…how in the hell was I going to make THAT happen?! I could see it…but jinkies! 

At first I saw eight books, but realized there had to be a ninth book, because I had to include so much to get to the inevitable for Sam. So Elemental Tears became the book that would pave the way for the final book, Elemental Dreams. (Another beautiful cover by Lou Harper)   

So those of you who have sent me not so nice emails—I understand your frustration. And I’m not mad. If you’ve chosen not to read anything else, I would ask you to consider the final book once it’s released. 

And ask yourself…could it have happened any other way? :)

And here’s why….

Christmas. Plain and simple. Publishing in December is always a feat of coordination and cooperation. And this year…I missed both instances. During December, editors and publishers, especially independents, take time off for the holiday. Even such places as Nook, Kobo, and Kindle have days and weeks where new books can be uploaded, but will likely not be approved until after vacation is over. 

Such is the case of Elemental Tears, Book 8.