I can’t put into words just how excited I am for the start of March! The temperatures are rising, the snow is melting, and Spring is just around the corner. I’m just biting at the bit to start going on my morning walks, getting back into my gardening, and enjoying the sunshine. Ending this winter season definitely has me feeling a bit cooped up, but thankfully I have some projects to keep me focused going into March!

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The biggest project I am working on this month is…A PODCAST!

Oh yes, I have teased you endlessly about this podcast and I finally feel like it’s a good time to give you a bit more information. I’m working on an audio drama podcast with a friend. I am the writer and director; she is the editor and producer.

We have been working on this project for months. We hoped to release it by now, but COVID had other plans. This month, I will be putting the final edits on our script! It’s such a different writing style then I’m used to, but it has been so much fun.

I hope I will have more information in the coming months about this new audio drama… C.R.E.A.T.U.R.E. Control!

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My other big “project” is to get caught up on my reading. I’ll tell you what, it was a slippery slope teaching me how to use interlibrary loan through the public library. I have so many amazing books to read, but only a couple weeks to read each one. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem…but I may have checked out too many books… I had to make a “Due Date” list to keep them in order!

Here’s a sneak peek at what I will be reading — in priority order (a couple of these reviewed on this blog!):

• “Witch’s Wheel of the Year” by Jason Mankey
• “Seasons of the Witch” by Gail Duff
• Herodotus “The Histories” — I’m auditing an Ancient Greek History Class for novel research!
• “Reclaiming the Wild Soul” by Mary Reynolds Thompson (Book Club Book)
• “Kingdom of Flesh and Fire” by Jennifer Armentrout
• “Worth the Risk” by Kate Hawthorne
• “The Ex Talk” by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Book Club Book)
• “Prose Edda” and “Poetic Edda” — I’m also taking an Ancient Runes Course!
• “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang
• “Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady” by Nancy Springer
• “Barbarian Lover” by Ruby Dixon
• “Tomb Raider” Omnibus, Volume 2

My record number of books read in one moth is 12… this is 13. Wish me luck!

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Those are the two biggest challenges I have this month. I will also be continuing my social media presence, doing tarot readings through my business, and waiting for my editor comments on the last few chapters of “A Second Chance”.

I hope I have more exciting news to come soon. Be sure to follow me on my different social media platforms for special content!

Instagram — great for pictures of my day-to-day life, writing process, and writing buddies (my cats).

Twitter — great for updates on blog posts and other oddball content.

Pinterest — check it out to see links to book reviews, additional pins I create, as well as boards and saved pins that are inspiration for my novels.

Tumblr — welcome to my nerd side! I use tumblr for fanfiction, fandoms, and additional posts about writing and tarot.

Facebook — this is for my tarot business, as a few people messaged to ask about it.

I also release a monthly newsletter with unique content! I give a monthly update, blog and social media highlights, reading challenge updates, book recommendations, and sometimes…sneak peeks for my novel!

Lastly, you can subscribe to this blog. Doing so means you will receive an email each time I post on the blog (about once a week) with updates, writings, giveaways, and more!

Thank you for all of your amazing support! I can’t wait to share my next story with you. Until then, Happy Reading!

~Shanna Pikora

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I still can’t believe it’s already February! As I dive into the month I have so many projects and to-dos to get started on, I don’t even know where to start. Let’s see…

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My biggest project for February (and March) is to edit “A Second Chance”. I’m so excited to be working on this story again. This contemporary romance has been put on the backburners for other projects the last couple months and I’m elated to be able to spend time with my characters again.

I received my manuscript back from RoseLark Publishing, where two amazing editors went through and left so many notes. I was a bit intimidated at first, but I am incredibly grateful to RoseLark. My novel is really coming together thanks to their amazing work! If you’re an author and are looking for a professional editor, give them a look!

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The next big project I have is promoting my debut tarot book, “Fae Spreads: 2020”. You may recall seeing my post from last week about its publication! I will be doing a giveaway this coming weekend for those who participated. There is still time to enter if you want to win a free copy! Click here to learn how to enter!

In addition to this exciting time of indie publishing, I was also welcomed as a writer for a local store’s newsletter! I will be doing monthly tarot card reviews and sharing some of my new tarot spreads. If you’re interested in seeing these articles and reviews, you can sign up for the newsletter from Kae Apothecary!

You can also check out Kae Apothecary’s workshops for writing (Magical Writers Night) and tarot (Tarot Talk). You will see me there, especially for the next Tarot Talk, as I am the guest speaker this month talking on how to make your own tarot spreads!

Below is a sneak peek at my introductory article in this month’s edition! As a note, I am writing the articles under my pagan name, Fae Lynn!

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My final projects in February are more personal.

I’m auditing a course and taking another one offered privately this season. I’ve always enjoyed learning new things, so I’m really excited to dive into these two topics: Ancient Greek History and Advance Runic Studies. It has allowed me to broaden my mind and reach for new heights in my creativity and understanding of the ancient world. I’ve had such joy, even though the reading lists have taken over my life!

February is also a preparatory period for a few projects I have planned for later in the year: drafting a new novel (or two), working on a podcast, and a few creative projects for friends and family.

As you can see, I have a lot going on this month, but my excitement far outweighs the workload. I’m sure I will have more updates in the future, but for now, we shall leave it here.

I hope you’re staying safe, warm, and healthy! Until next time, happy reading!

~Shanna Pikora

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I know I’m a couple days late, but please accept my happy wishes for you in this new year! I don’t know about you all but I am SO EXCITED 2020 is over…it was a rough year, y’all. But I’m going to put the past behind me, take the lessons I learned from 2020, and charge forward into 2021.

I have so many plans for the coming year, both in my writing career and personal life. I’m not one to make endless New Year’s Resolutions as I typically do my yearly reflection and intention setting during Samhain (October 31st), but this year I felt inspired to push my boundaries a bit and set new goals. I must say I did this in true “Shanna fashion” and organized my goals by month and task–for those of you who haven’t picked up on it yet I tend to be a bit overly inclined towards organization.

Doing this means that I can give you some sneak peeks into what I have planned for 2021!

Month	Project/Plans
January	Edit “Fae Spreads: 2020” (Tarot)
February	Edit “A Second Chance” (Contemporary Romance)
March	Edit “C.R.E.A.T.U.R.E. Control” (More info to come!!!)
April	Edit “Scottish Savior” (Contemporary Romance)
May	Draft Novel (New Novel — Still debating between two ideas!)
June	TBD — Let’s see how well I stick with the first 5 months of projects…
July	Edit “Justice” (Book 1) — This was my NaNoWriMo Project for 2020!
August	Edit “Scottish Savior” after Beta Reads
September	TBD
October	Edit “Scottish Savior” after Editor
November	NaNoWriMo
December	Finalize “Fae Spreads” (2021 Edition)

I bet you thought I was joking when I said I organized it by month…I wasn’t!

As you can see I have a number of novels I’m hoping to work on this year. If all goes well, I am hoping to have 3-4 new books published by the end of 2021. I know that sounds like a lot, but I have been working on a couple of these novels for some time. The books I’m hoping to get published are:

“Fae Spreads: 2020” (Tarot)

“A Second Chance” (Contemporary Romance)

“Fae Spreads” (2021 Edition) (Tarot)

Hopefuls for the Future: “Rhys of Novia” (Fantasy Romance) & “Scottish Savior” (Contemporary Romance)

I will be sure to release more information about release dates, covers, and the like as these dates get closer and I have more information to offer. As you can see, I will be having a busy 2021 — and this is just my writing goals! I have a few personal goals as well:

Read 100 books (You can follow my progress on Goodreads)

Participate in writing events

Create positive habits of daily meditation and yoga

Craft daily spiritual practices — especially for New/Full Moons and Sabbats

FINALLY finish the garden at the front of my house

All-in-all, I’m hoping to make the most of 2021. Thank you to all of you for following, supporting, and reading my stories through 2020 and continuing into 2021. I hope I have many new adventures to take you on!

Until then, Happy New Year! I look forward to hearing what your 2021 goals are as well!

~Shanna Pikora

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