Time keeps slipping away from me. Every time I think I should update my blog, something distracts me, and the next thing I know, another week, month or even three months have gone by.
My last official update was 9 months ago, right after Honestly (Feathered Tartan 3) received the Editor’s Choice Seal from Extasy Books. A lot has happened in that time.
Home Life…
My son wrapped up his high school courses at the end of last year’s first semester in January. Since he was pretty much done, we decided it was best for him to move on to a transition school for special young adults like him. At this special school, or “house” as we call it, the students learn about more life skills like cooking, cleaning, recycling, and more – stuff that although I’ve tried teaching my son, he has refused to listen to me, expecting me to do it all for him – and things like sex education, healthy relationships, job skills and budgeting. They do volunteer work around the community like visit senior/nursing homes to entertain and talk with the residents, help out at the local animal shelter, and learn that it’s okay to be yourself and more.
He started going full time in February, and although we hit more than a few speed bumps – he’s always hated change – he has now adjusted and cannot wait to go back in September. This transition house is attached to our school board, and run by them, so we’re on their schedule, despite son no longer attending regular school.
The big news… Son is now a high school graduate! PVEC Class of 2023! And the best news of all?
He graduated with honors!
My precious boy… When his name was called, the rest of his graduating class – 259 students – all screamed in joy for him, and his teachers were clapping a mile a minute. It was a huge moment of triumph for him, and me, knowing that despite the odds of special kids not doing well in school and not being popular, he was one of the most loved and top academic students of the 2023 class.
I am so proud of him. He’s staying at the transition school for another year to two years, then off to community college for something that reinforces what they teach at the transition house, and beyond. That will happen in 2025, I think.
After that, Son hopes to take computer courses, and maybe become a computer tech… That’s if he hasn’t found something else he’d like to do, like maybe work at the local bowling alley or work in a grocery store like his father.
I know whatever he chooses to do, he will succeed and more. The sky is the limit!
Back to School…
This past semester, as son was starting his new adventures at his transition house, I made a decision that would see me putting “student” as my current “employment status” for a few months.
Back when I was attending high school, things like computer skills were not considered part of the regular curriculum. They were classed as “college” level courses, so I took a couple of years off after graduation and went to trade school to get my Business Tech course.
Nowadays, it’s all considered essential for high schoolers to get those skills, due to computers being used in so many industries. It’s classed as a Grade 12 course in Nova Scotia, but my son took it in Grade 10, so he’d have it and he could focus on other things like World History and more in his last two years.
I decided to go back and update my certifications. My course was from 1997, and I learned stuff like DOS 6 and Windows 95. My stuff was so far out of date, no one wanted to hire me as a graphics artist or even a data entry clerk.
I went back, and although I knew most of what Jeff, our instructor was teaching, I realized I lacked in a lot of areas. I have never used a Mac computer, and using one made my eyes cross, although I can use one a bit now, once I get my bearings.
However, the main thing I wanted to learn – and what most people demand in a graphics artist – is how to use Photoshop. I had been using Affinity Photo for eons, and for a while before that, GIMP, which is okay but not nearly as good as Affinity or PS. It’s only Photoshop Elements but most of what you use in regular PS is there, and it’s a great program. I learned a few things on it, like cloning, and it’s really fun. My computer isn’t fond of it though, being an old Windows 7 system upgraded/refurbished to Windows 10, but that’s okay. As long as I’m able to design covers for clients and do other things like book promos in it, I’m happy.
The course wrapped up in June, and I’m happy to say that although I wasn’t able to make the graduation ceremony for some of my classmates at the Adult High School in town, I’m glad I went. I now have the qualifications needed to do graphics and other art on the side while writing and more.
Business Name Changes…
Veridian Rose has been shut down. I made the decision this past spring, after a local client and I parted ways. I can’t go into details, but I can say I learned a hard lesson from it, notably about contracts, setting boundaries and more.
But out of the ashes of Veridian Rose rises a phoenix…
A couple of months ago, I thought others are creating art using Photoshop, Canva and other spots… So why not try it myself, and then combine things into one business, so I didn't have to jump from one business name to the other? I started V.J. Allison Art on TeePublic, and although I only have a few designs up, people like my ideas. Or seem to. I even had a sale on my first day. You can check out my page here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/art-by-author-v-j-allison and my Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/VJAllisonArt/
Like I said, it’s pretty bare compared to my fellow artists like TJD and Veya, but it’s something. It’s not all t-shirts either, you can get masks, mugs and more there. I do my designs in Affinity or PSE, and then upload them after converting to the proper files.
Author Page Update…
Earlier in August, I reached a goal I thought I’d never see: 500 followers on my Facebook author page! Thanks to a lot of friends – fellow authors, a lot of people in the LGBT+ community and others I’ve met in my travels – I reached that goal and more before my birthday last week.
I did a live read, and let the fans choose which book to read from. They picked Eternity’s Gamble… And only 3 people showed up, all friends of mine. *head desk* Anyway, thank you Xek, Peapod and KD for showing up and giving me the support I needed. I was floundering, big time!!! I’m pretty awkward in real life and going live was nerve wracking at best for me. However, I was told once I got into reading from the story, I got into a rhythm, and sounded more comfortable on camera.
My next goal is 750 followers by the long weekend in October. I’m closing in on 600… Will I make it?
If so, I’m doing a live read from an unfinished work in progress. Which one has not been decided yet… Unfinished could mean drafted but not edited, or just submitted to Extasy Books (the WIPs in my docs folder are all for Ex at this time).
Anyway, if there’s a live read, I’m only expecting two people to show up this time. If more than 3 do, I’m going to faint!
Works In Progress…
I’m still plugging away at Feathered Tartan Book 4. It’s been slow going due to school, taking on that local client for a few weeks this spring, homework, driving all over the county (until the car died for good in April) and remote clients for graphics and more. It’s been insane, and I’m hoping things settle down once we’re back into the school year routine, this time without me going to classes too. I just have to park my butt in the chair, and write. That’s it.
After that’s done, I hope to get on to part 2 of the story, which will wrap up what started in Book 4. Yes, this will be a duology within the Feathered Tartan Series. Unless the two books combined are within word count specifications at Extasy Books. Then I’ll be combining them into Book 4.
I also have Super-Secret Project the Second in progress, and I’m hoping to get a paranormal-horror story written sometime – that one is still forming in my head, but I have the main characters set up and the premise of the story finalized. I just have to finish the Feathered Tartan stories I have on the go before I go near that one though…
I hope all of you are well, and having a great summer so far. Although things are insane here, it’s been an awesome vacation for us. Take care everyone, and stay safe.
I
leave you with one of my favorite songs of all time… My Immortal (band version)
by Evanescence.
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