I will be at the Leipzig Book Fair on the 29th of March 2025.

Maybe something will come of it. Maybe not. 

I am excited.

I held my phone in front of my face and I knew it was not good for me, but I was really addicted to it and just could not not look at my feed. So in a desperate attempt to free myself I deleted Instagram from my phone. I still have my author as well as my personal account, but they are currently dormant.

I will use my author account for promotion at some point, but only over the desktop app. Because I have observed the following in my now 1,5 month hiatus from Instagram. I read more, I use my phone more for communication rather than consumption, I try to actually text my friends instead of just sending memes. 

I do not judge anyone for using Social Media, it is a part of modern life, but I would encourage everyone to take a step back from these rigged dopamine machines we surround ourselves with. I think they have their uses, but they have side effects.

Of course this break was not as restful as I wanted it to be. But instead of prolonging my break, I wanted to push on and finish my manuscript. Well I hardly made any progress, got mad at myself and then I halted that endeavor. In my regular job, I took on a few more responsibilities and the first two months of this year have been a very busy blur.

I was glad that I could get home and play some video games or read a book. I did not write at all. Currently I try to get back into it. I still burn for both my unfinished manuscripts and writing in general. I just have to be careful not to burn out.

I have participated last year and that novel is still unfinished, but I did not let that stop me to write a new project. While writing and documenting my progress on Instagram, I noticed that I neglected this site and my blog. So now you can see my IG feed right here.

After 12 days of writing I also noticed that 50k words in a month is too much for me while I work. I do not want to burn out on writing so I made some changes to the challenge. Since there is no one dragging me to writer jail if I do not finish on the 30th of November, I gave myself an extension until the 15th of December.

The short story that you can find in the zine was written last October and was posted to my tumblr at the time. You can download the zine and print it out at home at the bottom of the page!

I also received three zines in the exchange.

I wonder when the feeling of euphoria will subside whenever I see someone else with my book. It sure is strong stuff.

As you have heard I had a cold and a persistent one at that. Now I am almost back to health. A couple of setbacks have delayed me in coming back to my socials. For example not making the longlist of the Young Storytellers Award. Or other rejections.

I will not do the daily writing challenge again this October. I do not want to burn out. I will post something though and in November I have planned the daily project updates again.

Take care of youreselves!

Today’s prompt is: Write a short story with a dog as the narrator.

Three times I had to survive the cold times. The streets were covered with dirt and snow. The people were unkind, some kicked me. I was hunting rats and mice. When no small game could be found I dug through the trash, the scraps the people threw away were my sustenance. Not all were bad, though. There was an old woman giving me some sausage and some children came and petted me. 

I was scrawny and bony when they scooped me off the street and got me into one of those loud boxes. I was afraid. Barking and shaking in that little cage. The men talking to me were talking with calm voices and they gave me some food, so I laid down on the blanket they gave me. Although I did not dare to sleep.

I was carried out in the cage along with a couple of other dogs. The smell of the city was gone but I could smell the others. They were all afraid, just like I was. We were prodded and probed by people in white coats. We received baths and food. We were put into other cages again, but it was warm.

We got cared for, the people in the white coats were nice to us, but they always put us into small cages. The cages got smaller, but the people were so happy when I stayed calm and then gave me food. So I stayed calm. The other dogs who did not like the cages were gone after a while. 

We were not always in the cages. I went on walks and I visited several different buildings and people. I got put in a small room that moved a lot, but I was brave. Later the people put something on me, it was a bit uncomfortable, but the people were so nice to me when I did not make a fuss. One day one of the nice people in the white coats took me to his home. I know it was his home, because it smelled like him. There were children and a woman. They played with me and I got to sleep on a soft bed.

Then I got back to the other building. Another man gave me a poke and I fell asleep. I was sore when I woke up and I was wearing the uncomfortable thing again. They put me into a small cage and then I was moved to a tall building. Two people waited with me, they gave me a kiss and then I was alone in the small room.

I felt a little bit afraid, but it had always been fine in the end, so I layed down and waited. Then it got so loud and I felt so heavy. There was a pounding inside of me, like I was bursting out of my own chest. The noise got quieter but I was getting hot.

Now I am alone and it is very warm. I hope the people will come soon and get me out and tell me I am a good girl again. That would be nice. Maybe I will lie down and sleep a bit. When I wake up they will get me out.

Today’s prompt is: Write a short story set in a celebrity mansion

Crag hid behind a decorative stone statue sitting on the outside of the mansion. Getting pelted by the downpour from the sky. From up here they could survey the entire estate. Such opulence just for one person. Crag waited for the signal from their team.

Burns was currently organizing a distraction that was to happen at the entrance to the property, so the security would be drawn there. While the shovel heads were busy there were already two people who successfully infiltrated the mansion. Crag was still sitting in the rain behind the gargoyle and Fingers broke into the basement. 

Their intel, and their intel was usually good, promised them a security nexus and some central wiring for the mansion there. Fingers was a tech specialist. He was to go in there and make the way for Crag much more possible. They had climbed up here carefully avoiding security cameras and other sensors, so they had as much time as possible for their task. Crag was shifting from foot to foot, they had to remain limber, but Fingers was taking his sweet time.

A crash was barely audible through the rain. Burns’ excited voice came over the comm, “I have crashed the van through the gate. Our protester buddies are storming through as we speak. I’ll wait at the getaway for you. Break a leg.” 

“Fingers, now we are really on a time limit. How is it going down there?” Crag asked with a whining tone, yet as silent as possible.

“Sorry, I had to take out the single guard. The power inside the mansion should be gone right about… now,” Fingers loved his theatrics and with the word now the light on the interior was indeed off. “Cameras are also off. We are good for about eight minutes.”

Crag began their work. With little effort the window was open, usually this opening would have triggered an alarm but without power the sensors could not be triggered. They tiptoed through the dark hallway and entered the master bedroom. The mark was sleeping on a large bed. Crag was no killer though. They were here for biometric information.

Crag checked if the mark was alone and then they jammed a syringe into his thigh. A fast acting sedative so that they could work in peace. Crag counted down so they could be sure that he was out cold. Then they got the scanner and scanned each finger print, they pried open both eyes and took a detailed scan of the iris. Then they had to get some other information. There was a computer on the desk and a smartphone on the nightstand. Crag connected with both and put a trojan horse on either device.

They checked the clock and had two minutes left. Leaving through the same window they came from, Crag saw the commotion at the front gate. Burns really gave the security something to chew on. They met Fingers and rushed to the private beach where Burns was waiting in a speed boat. Tomorrow their mark would have considerably less money in all his accounts and a lot of dirty laundry of his would be aired out. Crag really loved their job.