TLDR: I’m writing a new novel +
I’ll be sending out 3-4 newsletters a month from now on +
there is a LibraryThing ebook giveaway for We Used to Be Different
Hey everypony,
I used to share a lot during my writing process. I’d tell everyone where I was in the story or how many words I’d managed during that day/week.
Then I stopped working on something. For me, putting that project down was hard but for the best. I was happy about it, ready to pick something else up. The thing is: people wanted to know why, what was I going to work on next, would I ever pick it back up, etc.
That was a few years ago, so I slowed how much I shared and when. Still, it seemed I was constantly needing to explain myself. The need to know was never malicious, but it felt invasive and upsetting.
So now, I often talk about my writing in vague terms, sharing images that could (honestly) be about many different types of stories.
I’m a spoonie (person with invisible illness), and I don’t want to ever feel like I have to justify myself for what I’m doing.
I’m sure you’ve all felt this about something with someone, holding back a bit of information so you can not hear it.
I was in that place most of this year.
I’ve picked up multiple books, only to set them aside after a month or three of working on them. They just haven’t fit what I needed. They are all ready, and I know what happens in them, but they just aren’t exciting.
Without that excitement, I’m not driven to the keyboard day after day. I don’t write for money or because someone is telling me I have to. I write because I have to get the stories out, because it brings me joy and keeps me sane. So I don’t want to waste time or energy if the books aren’t putting a spring in my step.
Instead, I’ve written a collection of short stories based in Janes (coming out sometime next year—probably fall), some short stories and more flash fiction for the next miniature project book (coming out whenever I have another 50-60 stories & miniatures—so, a while), and a lot of essays (which have been published, are being published, or I’ve done nothing with them just yet).
Which is all to say, I haven’t stopped writing. Honestly, I don’t think I can at this point. I’m learning speech-to-text so I won’t have to, even.
But in terms of novels, I’ve just been jumping from one to the other. Nothing’s been sparkly enough to hold my attention. ADHD can be really frustrating sometimes.
Finally, I’ve settled into something lovely and dark and uncomfortable and a bit twisted with magic crackling around the edges.
At the moment, I think of it as dark magical realism.
I don’t know what genre the story technically falls under. If you’ve been with me long, then you know I care zero percent about genres and make my alpha and beta readers tell me what my book is. I’ve been wrong before.
I can’t wait to share more, but at the moment, it’s still in such early days that I don’t want to pop the bubble.
I guess this was my last explanation of why I don’t talk about it as much and why I never will. But also, I’m just so thrilled to be in the throes of crafting a full length novel again that I couldn’t keep it contained.
When will said novel be out?
Yes.
Will you give us more than that?
Eventually.
Increasing the frequency of my newsletter

Depending on how long you’ve been with me, you may have noticed that each newsletter gets a little longer than before. I’m adding sections until the day of publication, trying to make sure I get you all the good stuff.
That’s growing wearing on me and my OCD. All the mental illnesses coming in today.
Instead of tinkering, I want to be able to put a pretty checkmark by something. So, I’ll send the letters out as they make sense instead of on a time schedule.
One of the things I love most about self-publishing is that it allows me to make my own schedule, gives me the ability to take my many illnesses (mental and physical) into consideration.
Who knows why I haven’t been doing that for other parts of my life.
Maybe you. Do you know? Enlighten me if so.
LibraryThing Giveaway!
Just like with Another Elizabeth, I’ve decided to giveaway 20 copies of We Used to Be Different on LibraryThing. The giveaway runs from now until Sept 25th.
Sixty-two eclectic stories with sixty-two miniatures to match.
Dive into a provocative mixed-media collection from the creative and twisted mind of dark fiction author and multidisciplinary artist Elle Mitchell.
Enter stories where urban legends are real and love can be beautiful or violent, where ghosts are both figurative and literal, where bunny aliens are totally normal, and where darkness means drug addiction, zombie apocalypse, grief, cannibalism, and a hitman with OCD. Within the pages of this genre-defying collection, you’ll find an array of short stories, poems, and photographs that plumb the depths of what it means to be human. Each piece has an accompanying miniature or assemblage that brings another fascinating layer to this already unique collection.
Take a journey through the unexpected in We Used to Be Different. It’s more than just another collection of stories, it’s an experience.
