I'm a writer. I also bake. And knit. A lot. My novels are available anywhere ebooks/paperbacks/audiobooks are sold online. Find more info on my blog: http://www.madebymeghan.ca
I’m working through the midpoint of Archivist 2 this week (the first draft is sitting at 48k right now), tackling a scene that my notes tell me I started envisioning all the way back in March 2021.
I often collect little touchstones connected to various series/characters, including stickers and decals that I put in my notebooks. And I thought I’d share a glimpse of my inspiration for the midpoint of Archivist 2. I adore this image so much I haven’t actually stuck it in my notebook yet.
But … I can’t explain it at all because, you know – spoilers.
Octopus and Raven sticker, by Michelle Stoney Art, resting on a page of MCD’s notebook for Archivist 2.
This is duplicate news if you got my newsletter last week (which has more info) but, just FYI, Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1) has been selected as an Amazon Monthly Deal (for Canada and the USA only) – eBook $0.99.
I pretty much never discount the second book in a series, so I doubt it will ever be available at this price again. So, if you’ve been hesitating to dig into the series, and you read on Kindle (or via the Kindle app) from Canada or the USA, here is your chance!
*Just to reiterate.* I have no control over the price or the retailer or the countries included. Amazon asked if they could featureInvoking Infinity, and I said yes to try it out. They then set the parameters. It is disheartening that I have to explain that, and even sadder that I have to ask people to be kind about the choices I make for my career and to hopefully grow my readership. Please try to refrain from sending me nasty comments. But also, please share if you think your friends/family might be interested! Thank you! – MCD
Words, magical creatures, and items of power might be my thing, but math most certainly wasn’t.
– Archivist 2, chapter 3, first draft
I’m rewriting chapter three of Archivist 2 today, and this line (above) made me laugh. ‘Know thyself,’ Dusk. And … in case you ever wondered, math is definitely not my thing either. LOL
Michael is picking up sushi for lunch! So I’ll have to finished up the rest of chapter this afternoon.
Well … just in case you were wondering how my day is going, my menopause specialist just informed she’s tapped out, and referred me to the Chronic Disease Clinic in Vancouver – which is a rather crazy scary name BTW. It will only take 18-24 months to get an appointment – so much YAY!
Yep, 6+ months of hormone therapy (not including the 4 months of birth control before that) and it only makes the constant headache consistently worse. Sigh.
My headache specialist is likewise tapped out, waiting on a new class of drug to be approved in Canada. Three rounds of the botox (spaced three months apart) has not helped.
So – about to roll into my twenty-fourth month of daily constant pain – all that leaves me with is eating well, exercising as much as possible, and possibly trying to cultivate a daily mediation practice. For the foreseeable future.
Maybe the Goddess of Menopause will decide I’ve suffered for long enough and ease off on the headache (and the other symptoms while she’s at it).
I’m also emailing the massage therapist after I publish this update, because as of next Wednesday I’m fully vaccinated!
In other nicer news, my house is getting cleaned for me today. 🙂 I added 1300 words to Archivist 2 before lunch and my appointment (which isn’t a lot but I’ll take it). And here is a pretty picture of my desk buddy:
Leo the Silver Shaded Persian curled up on MCD’s treadmill/standing desk (tucked behind the treadmill control thingamajig).
I just remembered that a reader asked me (weeks ago) to post the playlist I listen to when brainstorming books/scenes/ideas for the Archivist series (see Awakening Infinity, etc). I finally grabbed a screenshot. My apologies for the delay.
Please note: I make separate playlists for all my series. But not all the songs are meant to be taken literally, sometimes it’s simply the feel of the music, the energy, the mood, that beguiles the muse and allows the ideas to flow.
A little snippet of Archivist 2 (title TBA) to get all of us through the weekend.
“There is comfort in believing that there is one person who is perfect for you,” Prince murmured in that oddly intimate tone. “… a fated mate.”
“Is there? What if you never find them?”
“But fate is destined to bring you together. As the tales go …”
“What about fated enemies?” I asked blithely, forcing myself to look back at the historian instead of watching Kellan as he watched me. “Is that a thing?”
“Well …” Prince snorted, amused. “Logically, magic demands a balance, doesn’t it? Energy can be harnessed but only transformed, not destroyed.”
I met his violet gaze, raising an eyebrow. “So that’s a yes.”
Some sweet peas from Hey Day Farm to add a bit of colour to my other Archivist ‘touchstones’ – my version of Infinity and a brass dragon (see the page breaks in the books).
I’m all geared up to work full time, hopefully with no other distractions, on the second book in the Archivist series for the entire week. Though I’m slightly apprehensive about my second Covid19 shot on Wednesday. The first shot pushed my Chronic Daily Headache into (at least) six weeks of ramped up pain during which very little writing was accomplished, putting me far, far behind my schedule for 2021. But, as I understand it, many people react differently to their second shots and I hope that is the case for me as well.
Other than that, there has been a tiny bit of knitting, and an even tinier bit of gardening. And a ton of other books/stories thrashing around in my head (don’t worry I’m making notes) such as a couple of more Kandy shorts (and an Audrey short), leading up to Misfits 1. As well as more brainstorming for the new Multiverse series (long term project, urban fantasy). If the headache would just give me some peace, I have a ton of books aching to get out of my head!
The first three Moments of the Adept Universe shorts (previously released in my newsletter) are with the editor for story editing. I’ve finished the first draft of what was supposed to be Burgundy’s second story (the first is outlined but not written) but I’m a little torn about ‘releasing’ it next because it falls forward in the timeline (after Misfits 1 but before Archivist 0) and therefore might be a bit confusing. So I might need to hold it back for a bit. Memo is taking break from the sketches for the Adept Universe bible until September, because she is crazy busy, but there are more coming – yay!
I’ve been reading the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh finally (Amazon USA link, for ease of sharing). I just finished book nine and am still really enjoying the sexy, sexy series. I would call it paranormal romance because each book ends in a HEA (Happily Ever After) EXCEPT there is a ton of world building, and a larger overall plot threading through the background of each book, which makes it more of an urban fantasy series.
Okay, wish me luck with the second Covid19 shot, and I should get back to writing Archivist 2!
A brief addendum that I can’t believe I needed to write: I’m not interested in being sent anti-vaccine propaganda. I believe in science and that my medical system/government is interested in keeping me alive, even if only for the taxes I pay. And I cannot believe that anyone would suggest that so-called ‘lifestyle’ changes (rather than a doctor or ‘pill’) would be all it would take to cure my headaches. Do you actually think that anyone would be in this much pain, for almost two years, and not have tried EVERYTHING, including diet and massage? No one with a chronic illness sits around hoping a ‘pill’ will cure them. But! Amazingly enough, because science is cool like that, sometimes the right ‘pill’ actually works.
I’m donating an ‘Adept Universe Swag Box’ to the 2021 Book Bonanza Raffle. The prizes are insane! And all the $$ goes to charity. If I understand it correctly, you buy raffle tickets for certain items to enter to win that particular item. And yeah, I’m about to drop some serious cash myself …
ADEPT UNIVERSE SWAG BOX
Donated by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Items included:
From the Dowser series: six audiobook CDs, nine recipe cards, and Cake in a Cup stickers.
From the Amplifier series: two autographed paperbacks, six oracle cards, and a sticker.
From the Archivist series: two autographed paperbacks and five bookplates.
From the Misfits series: one autographed paperback and a cashmere/merino/silk hat (adult size small/med) knit by the author.
I just bought raffle tickets for four items I’d probably never buy for myself: the Louis Vuitton Purse, Dyson Airwrap, Bose Sleepbuds, and an absolutely gorgeous quilt!
Fun! Fun!
Edited to add more pictures of the raffle items (they are a little blurred on the main page right now):
Treadmill desk, Archivist 0 uploaded on iPad, updated desktop picture, napping Persian cat, and hot chocolate – check! Commencing reread in 3 … 2 … 1 …
Apologies to the illustrator Nicole Deal for the red blush on my desktop. Sisu is definitely NOT pink skinned. I’m having trouble with my eyes/new prescription so I’m trying different filters.
I don’t normally reread my books after they’ve been published … almost never. But I’m (hopefully) coming out from under the oppressive headache that set in after my first Covid shot (Aka back to my regular level of constant pain. Sigh), and find – likely because of the break – that I’m still struggling to hold the entirety of Archivist 2 in my head. I have the linchpins of the entire structure and the first act (aka 28k words) written, but the writing isn’t flowing. I’m hoping a reread of the prequel and book one will envelop me in Dusk’s voice, and I’ll pick up where I left off easier.
I know I haven’t been as engaged with promoting and chatting about (etc) my newest release, Invoking Infinity (Archivist 1) as I usually am – I thought the headache was bad before my Covid shot, but boy, was I sadly wrong (and I have my second shot booked on July 21. Ugh.) – so I’m even more overwhelmed and excited by how my lovely readers have embraced the newest offshoot of the Adept Universe. Your support – reviews, retweets, shares, photos, etc – means so much, and never more than when I’m still seriously struggling (it’s been a ridiculously hard 18 months for the world at large)!
On Amazon USA alone, Invoking Infinity already has more reviews/ratings in the month and half that it has been available than the bulk of my other books. Yes, the bulk. And word of mouth is everything. Everything!
