Emailing is an Art form

The screen dimmed, forcing me to type a few extra words. Keeping the page up wasn't my top priority, but just looking at it might give me the energy to work again. I still had multiple tasks to today, and getting stopped at the first roadblock for hours, was awful.

It was a simple, short writing time I had done for hours in my life. Write an email back to XYZ, and that was all. As an author, it was easy to write, but this seemed like a much more daunting and formal time.

I cursed to myself, letting my inbox pile up until the last moment failed me once more. I hated doing this, I felt my skills did not lend to taking back and forth with someone. If this had been a text conversation, I may have felt laid back. But for now, the Only laying I would do would be on my bed. Staring at my laptop screen, and the near blank screen.

The screen dimmed once more, and I simply shut the screen. I turned around, and pet Foxer, "how about we get some fresh air, buddy?"

The hound perked up right away, his tail thumbing against the sheets. A lopsided smile appeared on my face, "of course you do, come on, lets go. We can get something to drink, and find some inspiration out in the wild!"

Even more, he got excited. We both hopped off the bed, but he ran to the door. A soft laugh fell from my lips. It took me a moment to get ready to leave, and Foxer was getting more and more restless by the second. I could barely get his rope leash on, his paws were doing a dance on the hardwood floor.

"calm down, Foxer, or we'll never get to leave," as if he understood my words completely, he stayed still until we left the building. Leaving the hallway, and walking down the street about ten steps brought me back inside. I found myself waiting in line at the Bakery, trying to control Foxer from sniffing around, or at people. Dogs were allowed, as long as they are well behaved. Foxer was just calm enough to not bother anyone, but I knew the longer we stayed, the more inpatient the mutt would become.

As soon as my order was handed over, I rushed back outside. The smell of my french fries made Foxer go buck wild. I was regretting the decision to give him some last time. On the way to Hollister park, I made the same mistakes, and tossed him a few as we walked along. Remembering the vet visit, I slowed down how much I gave him. But with his fluffy face, and the smile he had, I just had to give him one or two more.

---

Everything can be avoided, even if it is only temporary. At some point I had to return home. My laptop sat right were I left it. The pages were still there when I opened it. Very few words had stayed typed out.

With a cleared mind, I was able to finish up two of my messages, and start of a third. One to my internet publisher, one to Abby talking about rent. The unfinished one was to Smith.

After blocking her number, and all her socials, she took up to the last place she knew. For a minute I was temped to send something back, but I stopped midway through. This was business time, and I didn't have any reason to respond to something like that. This needless snapping back and forth was put to a stop, with one more blocked email.

Even as I hit the final button to get her out of my life, I had regrets. There might be some of my stuff she had, but even so, I had left it behind, and I didn't want it. I had everything I want right in this block. I went over the list once more in my head, counting every little thing I had enjoyed in these last few months.

---

'This will hopefully be a short and simple note, but I do have some important information I want to get across. Yes, all my novels will be moving to a different cite, but they will still be here. I have partnered with Light Reading. If you read my stories on there, you will be supporting me more. This is a big change, for both me and you as the reader, but hopefully this will be the next step. The end goal is to have a physically published book, and right now, we are getting there. None of my short stories will be up on LR, but Fallen, Birds, and Angels will all be on there. Plus, if you support me there, you will get my stories a day in advance! It's a win win for everyone involved, even Foxer!

Since signing with them, I will have a bit more help, I have an editor now! This means I get to have more time with Foxer, and hopefully, more time to write instead of editing. So really it's a win win win! I write more, and you guys get more and better content.

As you might have seen, I made a message on the Fallen board about how chapters will have a bi-weekly schedule, so what I said last time is out the door. Other than that, everything will be the same on both here and LR.

I hate making this so often without good updates, but Foxer time. His energy levels are out of the park, and he is getting massive. You guys agreed with me thinking he was some wolfhound, and some of you suggested a newfie too. Looking into it, seems really likely. That is terrifying since both of those are massive breeds and I have a tiny studio apartment. Also,,, I might get a friend for him. Awful idea I know, I know, but hear me out.

I can't spend every moment I'm home with Foxer, so a buddy could be nice! Plus I go out without him a lot, so he could get lonely.

Your favorite author who is nearly outnumbered by dogs, Eden Blair Thomas'

I posted the note and closed the tab. A different page popped up, the face of a dog showing up. The old mutt looked so lovely, and remembering meeting him before Foxer brought a smile to my face.

But I knew I had no room for another pet. So I did the next best thing. Set the link to Honey. She had been wanted a dog ever since we met, so maybe this pup would be perfect. Small enough to not upset Scott, but still a dog for Honey. Nearly all of her conversations centered around Foxer, and how much she loved him. As much as I loved hearing her talk about my hound, I was getting tired of her complaining about now having one of her own.

Plus, we could go on walks together, and spend time bonding without others. Whenever I tried to get a moment with her, it was interrupted by someone walking in the shop, or Scott needing something.

He was devoted to the shop, and whenever we distracted him, he did get a bit snappy, but I couldn't blame him. Maybe at Some Point, we could all relax, just Hone, me and our dogs, Scott with Devon.

I knew I was falling down the slippery slope of Love, but maybe I could open my heart back up a little bit. I had everything I need here, and loving those around me might not be aw awful as I thought. Had you told me the day I moved in, that I would love it hear, I might be skeptical. This tiny mess of a home, a far too large puppy, and a new group of friends. Everything that was made possible by packing my bags and leaving my former world behind.