March 26th, 2025
Riding Along this Desert Road
Good afternoon, my fair & just readers!
It’s been a while since I’ve written another post to add to my blog. I apologize, things have been a little…chaotic to say the least. These past few years have been challenging and harrowing, and I feel like I’ve just been riding along on a desert road that stretches for miles in either direction.
I’ve lost some family, gained some friends, and dealt with family concerns of health issues. I aim to continue writing and publishing to the absolute best of my abilities long as I’m fully and able to do it. In the upcoming months, I’ve got multiple releases that are back-to-back in case in the near future I have to take a break and step away from writing. My father’s health is slowly on the down spiral and while he’s stable right now, who knows what can happen in the days ahead? Only God knows.
In 2023, I was surprisingly invited to spend a week with one of my best friends in New York City, New York. An opportunity that has never happened before, thus, I decided to go. We’ve been friends for almost a decade now, and I’d never seen the city life until I went to NYC. Now, in 2025, a few of our friends and I will be staying in NYC again with her for a week. Hard to believe that I’d ever imagine myself going not once, but twice to NYC is crazy!
And then in 2023, I ended up going with one of my best guy friend’s down to Tennessee. We had an absolute blast being able to explore the major cities; Nashville, Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Fort Knoxville. An experience everyone should try at least once.
Unfortunately, however, after my back-to-back trips in April & May of 2023, I was fired from my job and was on the prowl for a new one. During those next few months, I really struggled to find something that fit my needs, especially with my health not being the greatest.
I did manage to hold a job; and then got a surprise invite to join another best friend in Illinois and together, her and I went to see a Vampire Diaries Convention in Chicago. We got to meet some of the big celebrities of the show, and while there was a few more I would’ve enjoyed to meet in person, it was a great time!
I got to meet: Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore), Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore), Candice King (Caroline Forbes-Salvatore), Joseph Morgan (Klaus Mikaelson), Daniel Gillies (Elijah Mikaelson), Nathaniel Buzolic (Kol Mikaelson), and Michael Marlarkey (Enzo)
The rest of 2023 past in the blink of an eye, and then 2024 hit me like a slap to the face. A friend of my and my husband’s got ready to join the Air Force, so we spent a week with a group of friends; one flying in from Canada, (There was 7 of us, mind you.) And we enjoyed what time we could in May 2024. And in that same week, was my wedding anniversary. Five years already. Was hard to wrap my head around!
The remainder of 2024 was uneventful until August when my husband and I journeyed to the Upper Peninsula for the first time together and got to explore the vast unknown. (Cell reception is not the greatest up there, let me tell you!) We did get to have an experience of being near a black grizzly bear cub, and learn more about their animal nature. It was a pleasant time.
And finally, we’re here…to 2025. I casually forgot to tell you all that I hit the 30 mark in December 2024. Now that’s hard to believe.
Anyways, 2025 thus far has been hit and miss with things going on. My father’s health got a little worse in January and February. He was admitted into the hospital for a few days to recover and got well enough to come home, but things have a way of not always working out.
Beginning of this month, I journeyed to Kentucky with my best friend from NYC and we stayed with a bunch of friends we’ve met only through audio and video calls through Discord, except this time in person! 10 of us roped together into an Airbnb about five minutes away from the Ark Encounter. (Check out the Ark, it’s interesting for Christian and non-Christians alike!) The 10 of us; 1 from Michigan, 1 from NYC, 1 stationed in Georgia (originally from Michigan), 2 from Kentucky, 3 from California, 1 from Canada, and 1 from England. We were spread out across the globe, but that didn’t stop us from meeting in person! A few of them, like the friends from Georgia, NYC and Canada I’d met before and spent time with, but not the rest. It was…chaotic, laughable, hilarious, and above all, a blessing to meet so many gamer friends in person. (Always make sure to bring someone you’ve known for a few years before attempting something like this!)
After us meeting and journeying back home after spending 5 days together; we promised to do another meet-up in the summer of 2026 in my home state!
And a few of us have decided to take an unexpected trip as I mentioned above, to NYC in July. Me, my friend from NYC (obviously), one of the friends from Kentucky, and the friend from England. Already my best friend has plans that’ll result in probably the death of me, but that’s all right long as I get to spend time with her when we live far apart is worth the risk.
In June, I get to do what I did last year, which was being a camp counselor at my Christian camp. A rewarding experience getting to witness young teens before they get ready to enter the world of adulthood and into society, the witnessing of just how God can transform their lives for the better.
Well, enough about what I’ve been up to in the last few years. You’ve been anxiously waiting for the good stuff. Upcoming releases!
February 1st, 2025: “Evil Hearts: A Monster Romance Anthology”
February 26th, 2025: “Evil Hearts: A Monster Romance Anthology: Volume 3”
March 1st, 2025: “Uncharmed” (Dark Tales #1)
April 8th, 2025: “Bethlehem’s Angel” (An Angels’ Realm Novella)
May 6th, 2025: “Starling Dream” (Starling #4)
June 3rd, 2025: “Beloved of Land & Sea” (Ocean Turmoil #1)
July 1st, 2025: “Midnight Strikes” (Dark Tales #2)
July 31st, 2025: “The Golden Chance” (Angels’ Realm: Fairy Tales #2)
August 1st, 2025: “Starling Alien Collection” (Books 1-4)
November 1st, 2025: “Song of the Wolf”
I might have a couple more releases, but those will be a “we’ll see’ type of deal. I’m not sure if I’ll have Midnight Strikes and The Golden Chance done in time for release, so I might not be able to put up preorders for a year, but guess we’ll find out the hard way!
Until next time, my fair & just readers!
– E.J. Powell