Writing

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a Loch POV snippet!

/ Polaris Rising, Snippet, Writing
Loch POV Snippet! Happy Valentine's Day! with a picture of the POLARIS RISING cover.

I know many of you have been yearning for a little peek into Loch’s head, so because this is the month of love, I decided to deliver. Happy early Valentine’s Day!

And if it also helps me procrastinate on the projects that I’m supposed to be working on, well, win, win. 😘

If you haven’t read Polaris Rising yet, then this snippet probably won’t make much sense. But you’re in luck! PR is on sale for just $1.99 this month (international pricing will vary), so if you want a copy of your very own (or if you know someone who would enjoy it), now is an excellent time to pick it up.

Get your copy!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play

This snippet is from early on, when they are first escaping from the mercs and Rockhurst, in chapter three and four. Happy reading!

The princess was having a nightmare—again. I intentionally banged my hand against the console, which had been enough to rouse her out of her dreams before, but she just whimpered and continued to shift in the cot.

“Ada, wake up.”

She ignored me. I tried to return the favor, but she made another small, hurt sound, and it was all I could take. I might be a monster, but I wasn’t the kind who let others suffer when I could prevent it.

I unclipped from the captain’s chair and cautiously approached the cot. I didn’t think she was faking, but I’d been burned too many times to lower my guard now.

The blankets were twisted around her body and she clutched a sheathed knife in one hand, her knuckles white around the handle. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who slept with a blade close, but I wondered what had happened to make the daughter of a High House so cautious.

…

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a Loch POV snippet!Read More »

New Shiny (aka HUNTED) Snippet!

/ Author News, Writing

This morning, I sent my latest book to my editor! By the end, New Shiny wasn’t exactly an accurate description anymore (more like Die, Book, Die STAB STAB STAB), but now it’s done and sent off! 🎉

I did the world’s fastest reread and edit, since I wrote until Christmas, but I have to say—I love this book. Writing it was really difficult, what with 2020 being *waves hands,* but I think it turned out pretty good! And Mr. M said it was his favorite book so far (replacing Aurora Blazing, lest you think every book is his favorite, lol).

Before I get to the promised snippet, I have more good news: both Chaos Reigning and The Queen’s Triumph are in the semi-final round of the inaugural Swoon Awards!

As you can see from the tweet above, the SFR category is rife with fantastic books, but thankfully, in this round you can vote for up to five books! If you feel so inclined, I would love for you to vote for mine. :)

And now, the snippet. The usual disclaimer applies: rough draft, subject to change, etc, etc. If you haven’t read any of the other snippets, then you might want to do that first just to get a little context.

The proximity chime cut off whatever Eli was going to say. “Show me,” I said, moving to the nearest screen.

Torran Fletcher had arrived without so much as a message of warning. As I watched, he climbed the cargo ramp, three Valoffs in full armor behind him, each of them pushing a levcart piled with supplies.

I growled under my breath.

…

New Shiny (aka HUNTED) Snippet!Read More »

Merry Christmas!

/ Life, Writing
Our gas-log fireplace with a fire burning for the first time. A tile hearth and the very edge of our lit Christmas tree.
Our fireplace works! Who knew?

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! This year has been a little rough (massive understatement), but I hope you are enjoying some peace and happiness as the year draws to a close.

This is the first year we’re not visiting our family for the holidays, and I think it would be a lot rougher if I hadn’t been on deadline this month. But I’ve worked for 25+ days straight, so time sort of lost all meaning.

BUT…

THE BOOK IS DONE!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

Well, the rough draft is done, as of about 8:30 last night. It still needs some pretty serious edits, but at least I made it to the end. Everything else can be fixed, so huge weight lifted. If you’ve been around for a while, then you know that writing this year has been super difficult for me. At the beginning of December, I wasn’t sure I would hit my early January deadline because I needed to write so much.

But I did it!

I wrote nearly 44k words this month. For comparison, in November, when I was also super worried about the deadline, I wrote 12k. (You can see why I was worried.)

I’m chalking it up as a Christmas miracle.

We don’t have any big plans today, since it’s just Mr. M and me, but we bought some nice steaks for dinner, and now that the book is done, I’m going to enjoy a day off. Edits can wait until tomorrow.

I hope you and yours have a good day, and if you’re not seeing family this year to keep others safe, know that your kindness and generosity is appreciated. 💕

Happy holidays, and I wish you all the best in 2021!

The Queen’s Triumph Serial is Complete!

/ Serial Fiction, Writing

Part of the serial story The Queen’s Triumph

The Queen's Triumph. A space opera serial. www.jessiemihalik.com

Thank you so much for following along as I posted the third and final part of Samara and Valentin’s story. I hope it brought you a little bit of joy in this very difficult year. :)

The whole serial is now available for binge reading, but don’t wait too long because it’ll disappear into the vault in a week or so.

If you’d like a copy to keep, the edited book is out now:

The Queens Triumph Cover. Queen Samara in battle armor, looking at the viewer, holding a gun in front of a planet with rings.

When the Quint Confederacy’s biggest traitor threatens everything Queen Samara Rani holds dear, she vows to show him exactly how she earned her deadly reputation—and why one should never cross the Rogue Queen.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Bookshop

There weren’t a huge number of changes during edits, just some tightening up of scenes, a bit of additional information, and a short bonus epilogue.

And, of course, all of the redacted scenes. 😏😘

Now I have to disappear into the writing cave because New Shiny is due at the beginning of January. I won’t be posting too much for the next few weeks while I’m on deadline, so I hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday season!

The Queen’s Triumph is Here!!

/ Author News, Books, Writing
Don't cross a rebel queen… The Queen's Triumph, available now! www.jessiemihalik.com Image is the book cover on a blue and pink illustrated sky filled with stars.

Happy book birthday to The Queen’s Triumph! The edited ebook is now available for purchase from your retailer of choice. Print books are available from independent bookstores (via special order, ISBN: 9781641971645), B&N, and Amazon.

In addition to the edits, which tightened up the story and added a few more details, the edited book also includes a short epilogue that will not be posted to the blog, so if you want a little peek into the future, grab yourself a copy. :)

Get your copy!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Bookshop

The Queens Triumph Cover. Queen Samara in battle armor, looking at the viewer, holding a gun in front of a planet with rings.

Queen Samara Rani knows she’s likely walking into a trap, but agreeing to meet with Commander Adams is the fastest way to get within striking distance of the Quint Confederacy’s biggest traitor and her sworn enemy. Adams attacked her home and destroyed her ship, and if he’s not stopped, he will ruin the tentative peace between the Kos Empire and the Quint Confederacy—and Samara’s chance at future with Emperor Valentin Kos.

Samara is determined to serve up some well-deserved payback, but she is no longer a lone assassin, and despite her protests, her friends and allies refuse to let her undertake such a perilous mission without them. Even Valentin, usually the voice of reason, refuses to stay behind. Samara is loath to put her friends in danger, and taking a team carries its own risks, so she makes plans to keep them safe, no matter what the cost.

When Adams threatens that safety, and everything she holds dear, Samara vows to show him exactly how she earned her deadly reputation—and why one should never cross the Rogue Queen.

Get your copy!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play

And for everyone following along with the serial, never fear, it wraps up later this week. Once finished, it will stay up for about at week to give everyone time to read, then it’ll disappear into the vault, so don’t wait too long. :)

Edit: For those asking, an audiobook is not planned at this time. It might happen eventually, but I don’t have time to manage it right now, so don’t expect anything soon. Sorry, audiobook fans! :(