Color Me Shocked

Hi there and welcome!

After a sudden influx of readers visiting That Rebel with a Blog, I decided I should write a post and investigate. I don't know what is sending you here. My website (ojbarre dot com) is bye-bye (since May-ish) because Wix kept jacking up the prices, then charged my account several weeks in advance. 

Then:

1. I lost access to my olivia at ojbarre gmail because, you guessed it, I purchased it through Wix.
2. That meant I couldn't access Mailerlite because, yep, no access to gmail.
3. I sat in a quandary for weeks because... ADHD, HSP, Neurodivergent here.
4. Then, a few days ago, finally able to face it again, I emailed Mailerlite. After a couple days of back and forth and answering beaucoup questions, they let me in to change my email address.
5. But, hahaha, I can't get any further because now my domain is pointing to Patreon (which has no record of your signup), and I have to unsnarl that. (Hopefully, that won't take as long as #3.)
6. I was able to download my subscribers, and I am grateful.
7. In doing so, I noticed that in the last month, since July 5, 2025, twenty-four of you signed up to my mailing list after... well, basically crickets forever.

Don't get me wrong. I'm ECSTATIC you're here, welcome! But, can you help me understand? How did you find That Rebel with a Blog? From whence did you click over? Please be merciful—leave a comment and let me know.

Also, you probably haven't gotten your onboard (welcome) emails. And since I didn't receive a notification that you joined my mailing list, you haven't received your free copy of The Druids of Marduk, Part I. Am I right? Because, somehow or another, your sign up bypassed the site that delivers your book. So, so, soooo weird. Can you understand my puzzlement?

I am looking forward to hearing from you and solving this mystery. Then, we'll go forth together, and I'll make sure you get that book, even if I have to personally email it to you!

That Rebel, Olivia/O.J. Barré

By the way, you can find me at Awen's Porch on Substack. I'll soon be importing my Mailerlite mailing list for a new monthly newsletter.

Retired? Me? Nah...

Wow. Has it really been three months since I last saw your shining faces? I've been up to big things since then. 

For one, I pulled my ebooks out of Kindle Unlimited at the end of May. Why? Because I kept seeing posts on Instagram about pirated books and author accounts being closed by Amazon with no warning. Etcetera. Enough to make me goosey.

Then, I kept putting off "going wide", which is a fancy phrase that means selling my books through many distributors rather than exclusively through one. In my case, Amazon. So this week, I finally got the cyber presses rolling.

The little icons below the titles are my new ebook distributors

I uploaded Awen Rising and Awen Storm to the book aggregator, Draft2Digital (D2D). They are now in the process of distributing them to the major online booksellers (for a %). Now my ebooks will be available at Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, Scribd, Baker & Taylor, several overseas and other miscellaneous sites, and OverDrive. (See above pic.)

A few of the sites are for libraries, so you'll soon be able to read my ebooks through your local library account. To be honest, I don't really know how that works. You may need to request the library to get it for you, the same as you do for my paperbacks. (And add this to the list of stuff I need to find out.) Then, once the two ebooks have gone live and the kinks are worked out, I'll upload the prequels.

Am I excited? You betcha. Will my sales take off? One can hope.

The other major thing I'm doing—besides writing Awen Tide, of course—is selling and signing my paperbacks face to face. This means that on top of writing, marketing, accounting, etc, I now have a new hat to wear. Salesperson. Oh, glory. Does anyone love selling?

OJ at King Soopers in Cheyenne, WY, June 2023

But I'm showing up AND having fun meeting new readers and writers, plus discussing my books with returning fans. I've had moderate success at the local craft fairs, and now I am an official vendor.

This meant I had to apply for a Wyoming sales tax license and start collecting and paying sales tax. I filed my first quarterly return on July 14th, remitting a whopping $23, woohoo!

On April 21st, I also began setting up a table and banner in the lobby of nearby King Soopers. Through Kroger's National Authors in Grocery Stores program, I get to meet readers and sell books to their grocery shoppers. There was a fee to join and another to have my books added to their system, but it was reasonable. So far, my best sales weekend was here in Cheyenne, when 37 books found new homes in 2 days over Father's Day weekend.

Bottom line? Since April 1st, I've sold 112 paperback books face-to-face—80 copies of Awen Rising and 32 of Awen Storm. Of those, 71 were sold at King Soopers.

Another benefit is getting to meet my readers and fans in person. What a blast! As Calvin used to say, it beats a poke in the eye. Any day.

You'll be happy to hear that the nasty brain fog that was keeping me from writing (or doing much of anything) is mostly gone. What'd I tell you? That failed crown with titanium posts was the culprit. Since getting it extracted on June 2nd, Awen Tide is finally approaching THE END.

I am determined and committed to completing this trilogy and having it in your hands by Thanksgiving. This year!

I'm going to whisper this last little tidbit 'cause I don't want you to be alarmed. I'm moving again. This time into my own place. It'll be happening fairly soon, and though I'm not sure when I am excited about this new chapter in my life.

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré.

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2024 release.

Craft Fairs, Book Signings, and Other Fun Stuff

Good gosh, a'mighty! Three months? It's been three months since I last posted? Boy, did I miss a LOT!

In a nutshell:

• I'm still alive;
• I'm still writing Awen Tide and am very near THE END (for the whole trilogy, woohoo!);
• Spring has sprung in most parts of the US. We're seeing signs and having some warmer days here in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but winter still has us in its grips. There's another storm rolling in, with, yes, another one-two punch. The first hits tonight, the second tomorrow, and we'll get somewhere between 3 to 12 inches of wet snow. Right now, our landscape is dead grass. By this time tomorrow, it'll likely be white again;
• I signed a contract with the Authors in Grocery Stores Program. I will soon begin doing book signings at our local King Soopers in May, down in Aurora, CO, on the weekend of April 21-22, and later in May, down in Fort Collins, CO, then off and on through the rest of the year. I will post the dates/times in advance on Facebook and Instagram, so make sure you're following me there for the most up-to-date news;
• This past Saturday, I did my first book sale/signing of the year at the Spring Business Fair at the Cheyenne Ice & Events Center. I felt like whale poo but managed to show up, and I'm so glad I did! I met lots of new people - other vendors, browsers, and readers with wide eyes that made a beeline for my table when they saw the book covers of Awen Rising and Awen Storm. It was so rewarding to see their excitement and to chat with them about the Awen Trilogy. Here's an after-show video if you're interested;

  @ojbarreauthor #Prequel ♬ original sound - Olivia

• From now through the end of the year, I will be appearing at craft fairs at least once a month, mostly in Cheyenne. Barnes & Noble is reopening (supposedly this summer), and when they do, I plan to arrange a book signing there. Keep an eye on Facebook & Instagram;
• I've yet to make plans, and it may not happen this year, but I want to book a trip to Atlanta and schedule book signings at the Villa Rica Library, hopefully in conjunction with the launch of Awen Tide and their Book Club Meeting, Underground Books in Carrollton, and a couple of other book stores in Atlanta and Decatur;
• Hmm, what else? OH YEAH! My paperback books will soon be available at 307 Made, a store in downtown Cheyenne that carries crafts, artwork, oils, and many works made by local artisans. We'll also be doing a book signing there in the next few months. Again, keep an eye on my social media (FB & Insta) for the most current news.

As for recreation, I mostly stay home but do indulge occasionally:

• I regularly visit the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Lions Park to get my nature fix. There's a small lake (Sloan Lake) and willows, firs, and pines where the crows congregate to sing a serenade. I posted a video to FB a week or so ago of me walking the labyrinth, though it cut off the ending;
• We have one movie theatre in all of Cheyenne, but over the last few weeks, I have enjoyed Champions, 80 for Brady, Jesus Revolution, and most recently, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. If you're interested in my reviews, browse my Instagram or FB page;
• Last week, the kids were on Spring Break, so we went down to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Planetarium for a fun day with the dinosaurs, rocks, gems, and outer space. Oh yes, they have much more than that, but we oldsters like to take longer to look at and admire the displays, so we went our separate ways.

Th-th-th-tha-tha-tha-that's all, folks! Hopefully, I'll be back here at least once a month. I'm sorry for the huge delay!

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré.

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2023 release.

Feeling Fragile

I'm tired of being fragile.

And when, pray tell, did this happen? One day I'm a hellion carving my way through the world, the next, I'm this ephemeral... thing.

And just how did this happen? Is it a function of aging, compounded by letting go of my day job and relying on Social Security to pay my way? Or is it the breaking down of my body compounded by my shitty diet and lack of exercise these days? Thank God for the healthy smoothie packed with fifty fruits and vegetables I consume daily.

I'm trying to do better. I am, I promise. But the truth is, I'm fragile, y'all. And it ain't a laughing matter. 

As I free write, I seem to be reverting to my native Southern. I'll likely leave it here. I hope you don't mind.

As usual, today I woke early and had my shot of cacao, followed by my tall cup of White Peony Tea, while checking my KDP dashboard to see if the ads I'm paying for are bringing in sales. Then, perusing social media, there's a tickler message on Facebook about two books I keep forgetting to mail. Dang.

So, rather than dressing right away for the library, I trudged downstairs and looked at/around/into every box in the basement, trying to locate the large box of envelopes I special ordered from Uline to mail my signed books to readers. Y'all, we have a lot of boxes. But these two books need to go out, don'tcha know. I found nada. The envelopes refused to be found, and I'm wondering if they made it here from Idaho.

So, now I'm frustrated. Plus, there's a weather alert beeping on my phone (they're like amber alerts, y'all, and my first EVER!). A snowsquall's coming.

Huh. Really? It's sunny and beautiful outside, so I decide it'll likely pass us by, and I'm about to change for the library where I plan to write, and SHIT!!! There's that freaking snowsquall! A minute earlier, the sun was shining. Literally. 

I wished I'd taken a picture. For ten minutes, maybe longer, the wind howled, howled, I tell you. HOWLED. And it was white outside. Not solid white. That would be crazy scary. But sideways white—fine ice crystals mixed with snow, blowing and blowing and blowing—white air blowing twenty-five miles per hour. Then it petered out and stopped. Then, the sun came back out. But my plans to go to the library didn't.

See, y'all. I told ya I'm fragile. And it ain't no laughing matter. It's keeping me from writing. From living. From having a life.

Oh, poor baby. People would kill to have your life. Sitting at home day after day watching movies and eating ham sandwiches and watching tv and drinking Coca-Cola and Perrier and loving on Rambo.

Most days, the only exercise I get is letting the dogs and cat out and in, out and in. Oh. And trekking to the bathroom and back. And the kitchen, 'cause Lord knows I need to keep pushing food and drink into my mouth. Why is that, y'all? Why? Why?

Because it's comforting, baby. And when you're fragile, comfort is the thing you seek.

Just ask me. I know. I'm fragile.

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré.

P. S. With any luck at all, I'll toughen up. But wait. Why? After sixty-five years of kicking and screaming and bucking the odds, did I not earn the right to be fragile?

P.P.S. David at Davissa Ranch (Northeast of Cheyenne) caught the snowsquall on film and posted the video to Instagram.

P.P.S.S. Check out this really cool inspirational website I found called "I'm Fragile."

P.P.P.S.S. Ooo, when I entered the labels for this post, "I'm Tore Down" popped up. Yeah. That fits too. And here's my old flame Calvin B. Streets performing Tore Down.

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in late 2022 or early 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

November News - Words, Snow, Review, & a $300 Gift Card

It is getting colder in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but my writing has heated up. So far, during the month of November, I've added 12,000 words (representing several chapters) to Awen Tide, bringing it to 90K out of what will end up being around 120K. Or so.

Then, last Friday, November 6, we had our first significant snowfall of the year, getting 6 inches in 6 hours. The next day, the winds screamed in and blew it all away. Or mostly. But it sure was pretty while it lasted.

I also read a book. That might sound funny, but I rarely indulge my fiction fetish because I'm supposed to be either writing, researching, or chilling out watching streaming services. But while doing category research for Awen Rising ads on Amazon, I ran across Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House and, after reading the blurb, had to buy the darn thing. Then it took me a whole month to finish it, but dang, what a ride!

I was struck by Ms. Bardugo's writing style, which is very much like mine. Here is the review I left on Amazon, Book Bub, and Goodreads:

And in case that's too small to read, here it is:

"While researching comps for my Urban Fantasy books, I read the blurb for each of the top 50 in my categories to ascertain similarities. Out of these, the one description that reeled me in was Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House. As a Gilmore Girls fan, I was intrigued by the references to [Yale's] Skull and Bones. Ninth House is all over that... and the other societies as well.

In the beginning, I was a bit confused with the non-linear POV changes between Alex and Darlington... and with the occasional inclusion of a page from Lethe House's manual. But Bardugo's easy, loping writing style kept me reading. Like Alex, I got caught up in drugs and that lifestyle as a teen. And though I was lucky enough to avoid any fatal consequences, I could totally relate to her and loved her as the main character. She is flawed, imperfect, stubborn, persevering, determined, and a total badass with heart and common sense.

I also appreciated the third-person POV, the fabulous insights into New Haven, Yale, and the societies, the moral dilemmas, the slow friendship between Pammie and Alex, the flashbacks, the twisted ending, and the setup for Book 2. Kudos, Ms. Bardugo!"

So, if you enjoy my books, and I'm guessing that if you're here, you do, you'll likely enjoy Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House. By the way, I haven't yet read her other books, but I'll soon plunge into Shadow and Bones on Netflix, the adaptation of her Grishaverse novels, and if I like that, will probably be buying those books as well.

OH, I almost forgot. If you would like to find new Fantasy and Sci-Fi authors to read and follow, you can do that while entering to win a $300 Amazon Gift Card AND support me at the same time. Here's the contest info. Just click to enter.

Click Here to Enter to Win a $300 Amazon Gift Card

I am looking forward to the next twenty days of November. Why? I will finish writing the first partially-edited draft of Awen Tide, and that's a big deal for me. Plus, for the first time ever as an author, I have a booth at a craft fair. It'll be in downtown Cheyenne on November 26th - the day after Black Friday - and I'll be selling and signing paperbacks. If you live in the area, please stop by. I hope to connect with many new readers.

How is your November shaping up?

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in late 2022 or early 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

Wild Wyoming & Online Fantasy/Sci Book Fair

Hopefully, you’ve had a fantastic summer. And now that we’re coasting into the colorful Fall Season, temperatures are cooler in much of the Northern Hemisphere, including my new home in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

First, let me tell you about C. L. Cannon’s (Online) Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fall Book Fair. It is in full swing, and there are over 150 Sci-Fi and Fantasy books listed. Some are free to buy, some are available at reduced prices (such as $.99!), and many, like Awen Rising, can be read for free on Kindle Unlimited. (Did you know it only costs $9.99 a month - less than the price of some ebooks?!)

While you're browsing the Book Fair, make sure to register for the prize - a Kindle Fire, a 1-month Owlcrate gift subscription, and a $10 Starbucks gift card!

If you’re in the market for great new books (and as readers, aren't we always?), click here to shop at the Book Fair. A few are featured at the top but keep scrolling. Some of the juiciest nuggets will be found lower down!

Rambo - Contemplating the Day

This past spring, when my sister informed me of her decision to move to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to be near her grandbabies, I was thrilled for her. And since I was beyond ready to get out of Idaho, I chose to move too. Yes, it was hard to leave my Idaho friends and patients, but I never thrived in Idaho.

Somewhere in the middle of the moving insanity - packing, yard sales, goodbye lunches, and more packing, all while still working - I lost three pounds, and Rambo lost two! My 24-pound cat needed to lose weight. Me? Not so much. But it’s all good.

Thankfully, it's been much cooler in Cheyenne than in Nampa. Now fall is here, and our temps are dropping. We had rain yesterday with a high of 61, and today will be similar. Tomorrow, the warmth will return for a bit. 

Glen Dome, Vedauwoo, WY

A huge side benefit of moving? For the first time in six years, I am beginning to feel like myself again.

Two weekends ago, I took a short class on developing intuition through art and photos, mainly to meet like-minded people in my new town. Mission accomplished. There were only three of us, but we gave each other goosebumps via eerily accurate drawings and messages and then agreed to continue meeting monthly.

I also attended a fabulous, life-affirming 2-day Vocal Empowerment for Women retreat this past weekend in Fort Collins, Colorado - a fun city only 45 minutes south of Cheyenne and an hour north of Denver. After hearing an NPR segment about it this past summer, I've been itching to experience vocal freedom, not only as a woman but as a writer.

If you're interested in hearing more about it, let me know. I'll be happy to share my experience in the next blog. In the meantime, I can post about it on my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. And who knows, maybe I'll dust off my LinkedIn account.

Me, Michelle, Havilah, & Donovan

We also made it to Vedauwoo. And the Greek Festival at Frontier Park. None of this would have happened had I stayed in Idaho.

Oh, I almost forgot about the Laramie County Library! It is in downtown Cheyenne, has a café with yummy food on the first floor, and the third floor is – yep, you guessed it – a SILENT FLOOR! Nampa had an amazing library, but it was too noisy to write unless I scored a private room. Plus, there are nearby coffee shops and restaurants - all within a 10-15 minute drive from my home.

Greek Dancers

I have missed having varied places to write, and my productivity has suffered from it. In addition to the above spots, our new townhome has a partially-finished basement. I have my desk set up with a new, comfy office chair and am writing this newsletter down here. Even before Covid, I was stuck writing in one spot in our home in Idaho - my semi-comfortable chair in my bedroom!

Now, hopefully, all these new writing venues, classes, getting out in nature, and making new friends will translate into many, many more completed manuscripts, beginning with AWEN TIDE!

HEY, what a great segue! The third book in the Awen Trilogy, Awen Tide, is about 75% complete, and boy, is it a doozy. I am stumbling along, but the motion is forward, and I plan to kick it into high gear once the women’s retreat is over. The manuscript will likely be available for beta readers in a couple of months. If you would like to beta-read this trilogy finale, please let me know.*

*Beta reading entails reading the lightly edited, mostly-finished version of the unpublished manuscript and providing feedback. My betas usually get a free copy of the book once it’s published, so you will also get the end product. Just reply to this newsletter, and I’ll add you to the beta-reader list.

And in case you missed it, Awen Rising received a fabulous review from Kirkus Reviews! You can read about it here!

That's all, folks!

May this Fall season be a time of giving thanks as well as a time of going within and letting go of all that no longer serves you and/or anything that is keeping you stuck.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, Olivia/O. J. Barré

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in late 2022 or early 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

I'm Walking on Sunshine, Whoa!

Yesterday, I received the link to the Kirkus Review for Awen Rising and have been smiling ever since. I had prayed that the person assigned the review would 'get' Awen Rising. Why? Because there are a few out there who don't.

My prayer was answered. Not only did the reviewer 'get' Awen Rising, they were obviously delighted and gave it a glowing review. I'm pretty sure they left a 5-star rating on Amazon, too. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, dear Reader/Reviewer!

The link at the end of the review will take you to my book's page on the Kirkus site. Please take a moment to click over and give Awen Rising a thumbs up. You will make my day, AND you'll be helping to forward my new marketing efforts. And yes, I need all the help I can get, so thank you!

Now, without further ado, here is the review. 

KIRKUS REVIEW FOR AWEN RISING:

"When the end of the world is drawing near, an ancient soul must be reawakened and take control of her power to save the world in this trilogy opener.

It’s 2042, and Emily Mayhall is living in Venice Beach, California, and mourning the death of her fiance, Trey, and getting fired by a boss who had blacklisted her in her industry and made sure she’d have trouble getting another job. Then her long-lost, Atlanta-based druid family finds her and brings shocking news: Her mother kidnapped her when she was 4, and her father has been searching for her ever since. Now Emily discovers that she is not only the heir to a long line of druid princesses but destined to save the world. Shalane Carpenter is an evangelical shaman who has hordes of adoring fans and magnificent magical powers but is unhappy. She’s troubled by her friendship with Emily, whom she once had a secret romantic interest in, and is determined not to lose her. Worse, Shalane descends from a magical race of reptilian creatures living below the earth, who seek to destroy all that lives above them in order to conquer Earth, with the sinister General Nergal in command. In order to survive, Emily may need help from a sexy druid priest, his nephew, and their animal Elders. From this setup Barré creates a great fantasy with a memorable cast, a fast-paced plot, and a lot of fun twists and turns, supported by careful and interesting character development. Emily is dealt shock after shock, but her flexibility and perseverance shine in an engaging narrative. At the same time, the story inspires empathy for Shalane and others who have their own trials. This character complexity befits the detailed worldbuilding that gives varied perspectives on the setting. Yet, if the worldbuilding is extensive, it’s woven so carefully into the plot that it never slows the pace of this entertaining fantasy.

A marvelously fun and intriguing first installment of promising series." ~ Kirkus Reviews Click here to give Awen Rising a thumbs-up! 

It's Labor Day weekend in the U.S. If you are wondering what I'll be up to, you will likely find me in my writing cave plugging away at Awen Tide, Book Three of the Awen Trilogy.

What are your plans for this fine, late-summer weekend?

Until next time, 

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, will release in late 2022 or early 2023. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available soon.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

Moving & Retirement Anxiety

This time last week, the movers were done unloading us at our new place in Cheyenne. I was making our beds, exhausted and on my last ounce of strength. The thought of climbing between the sheets was all that kept me going.

Since then, we have unpacked most of the kitchen and our bed and bath stuff, though much is still in boxes in the garage. We're slowly pulling out what is needed and relegating the rest to longer-term storage - down in the partially-finished basement. Soon we will need to tuck our cars in from the weather. But for now, the skies are clear, and the temps are fabulous, topping out at around 80F, with lows in the 50s. I'm grateful to have escaped the extreme heat that continues to plague the Nampa/Boise area, and I pray relief comes to them soon.

On Saturday, feeling the need for brighter and more color in my life, I ventured to the nearby TJ Maxx, arriving as they opened. Though intent on finding orange bathroom towels, I detoured down a clothes aisle and scored! Six new colorful and desperately needed tops came home with me. Plus the towels I mentioned and a few other things. Now today, I've settled on a fabulous (and even more colorful) shower curtain courtesy of Amazon.

My New Shower Curtain

I also left a message for Dr. Dierenfield's Cheyenne office. He's the one Activator chiropractor showing on their website, and I'm in dire need of an adjustment. Plus, who knows, he might be in the market for a part-time chiropractor.

Because the thing is - it feels weird not "having a job." And stranger still not knowing there's a paycheck coming in every other week. I could live on my Social Security check - if I had to. But I'd rather not. And I don't want to deplete my limited savings. Especially with the way prices are skyrocketing.

And that brings me to the main reason for this post.

There's this fluttery, nervy feeling I keep getting in my gut,  a mini/micro freakout. I'm sure you've experienced something similar. Like when an airplane hits an air pocket and for those few moments there's no support beneath you. It could also be described as... a big gulp, butterflies, a sense of foreboding or impending doom, waiting for the other shoe to drop, or the shit's about to hit the fan. (Click the gif below to hear Lucy.)

For those who have taken the "retirement" leap with or without a safety net, is this normal? Please tell me it is. I felt it a few times before leaving Idaho and assumed it was related to the immensity of the move. But we arrived at our new place on Saturday (the 13th), and our stuff showed up last Monday. Then as the week ticked by, I began feeling it again throughout the day. Over the weekend, it eased. Now it's Monday again, and the gut-grab is back in full force.

What the hay?

Curious, I googled "is it normal to get moments of panic after retiring?", and found a website called Sixty & Me. This article says YES. It's a real thing. So does Forbes.

From the Forbes website:

Retirement planning expert Sally Hurme, JD, says, “it can be kind of scary shifting from earning a regular paycheck to living off of your hard-earned savings month after month.”  ...You suddenly need to arrange your own cash flow instead of having it provided by your employer. Can you blame a person for feeling some panic? 

So, yes, retirement anxiety, and even panic, is a real thing—one I am bumping up against. I guess the real challenge is to not freak out to the point that I jump back into chiropractic rather than putting myself on a writing schedule. If I stay the course, finish and publish Awen Tide, then advertise the heck out of the trilogy, hopefully, I'll have money streaming in rather than gushing out.

Can I do it? We shall see. Wish me luck!

Until next time,

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

P.S. I could not keep the appointment with the neurosurgeon on the 11th. There was too much to do on that last critical day of the move. But I AM hoping to get a Zoom visit with Dr. Martinez to discuss what I should do about the benign mediastinal tumor.

P.P.S. As it turns out, Dr. Martinez does not make telehealth appointments, so it's time to punt. That means I will investigate my options here in Wyoming over the coming months.

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, is on preorder and will release in 2022. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available in 2022.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella also available on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

Three Weeks and Counting

It's official! The Idaho house is under contract, closing on Friday, August 12th, and the Wyoming townhouse closes soon after - on Monday, August 15th.

That means we have three weeks to line up a mover, get packed, out of this house, and on to Cheyenne.

Gulp.

There's much left to do. Including, for me, having a benign (but large-ish) tumor removed from my chest. I started the process over a month ago, had the MRI yesterday, and will hopefully see the cardiothoracic surgeon in the next week, then have the tumor removed prior to our move. It's all in God's hands.

Meanwhile, I am taking an unofficial break from writing, not because I want to, but there are only so many hours in a day. In addition to packing, I am still seeing chiropractic patients, plus I need a haircut, and my Mazda 3 will get some shop-time before her 12-hour trip to Cheyenne.

We're hanging in there but could use your prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy.

Until next time,

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, is on preorder and will release in 2022. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available in 2022.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella also available on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.

Another Day, Another... MOVE?!

My life is in turmoil again. But, hell's bells. When is it not? Especially these last few years?

I am moving again. This time to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Yes, you read that right. This Georgia girl is moving to Wyoming. 

Why? My sister, the reason I moved to Idaho in the first place, has decided she wants to be close to her grandbabies. Havilah is nine. Donovan is five. And they grow up so fast.

I 🖤Vedauwoo Wyoming

I have a choice. I could stay in Nampa. But the truth is, I've never warmed up to Idaho. Yes, it's beautiful in a desert-y sort of way, and I love my writing partner, coworkers, and patients. But the summers can be brutal - much hotter, believe it or not, than my hometown of Villa Rica, near Atlanta, Georgia.

Vedauwoo - 30 Miles West of Cheyenne

Plus, people are flocking here to the Treasure Valley and have been for years. In DROVES. From California, Oregon, and all over - bringing the traffic and sprawl with them. Sayonara, y'all. I'm outta here. Cheyenne's population is seventy thousand tops and its growth rate is 1-2% annually versus half a million live bodies and 40 - 90% growth here in the Valley, depending on the city.

Yeah. I like Cheyenne's stats.

Vedauwoo Wyoming

But won't I freeze to death in Wyoming? Isn't that why no one wants to move there? 

Yeah, well. Maybe. But, I'll deal. Since moving to Idaho, I've learned that I'm made of tougher stuff than I'd long believed. I would be willing to bet that you are, too. But as I said earlier, it's the lack of humidity that gets me. The weather, I can dress for, but I don't own a personal portable sauna. Hmm, maybe I should. Would someone invent one for me?!

Flowers Everywhere - July 2, 2016 Vedauwoo

And, oh, how I miss the rain - the thunderstorms, the proliferation of green, the blessed humidity that provides an opaque canopy that shields us puny mortals from the sun. The sky is deep blue out west for a reason—there's no moisture here. Or precious little. 

The Meadows Ablaze with Color

But, Cheyenne's climate is similar to Boise's, and I've adapted to that over the last six years. Other than the first crazy winter when I arrived - 2016 Snowmageddon - the snowfall has been minimal. Especially considering how far north we are. On the other hand, winter does start earlier and it lasts longer in Cheyenne. And they have more wind. But it's windy here too.

And Ladybugs!

Anyway, it's all in motion. The house is listed. We've had two moving/garage sales with one (two?) more to come. There is an agent at the house doing a FaceTime showing to someone from out of town. And I'm at The Habit writing this post and getting my Santa Barbara Charburger fix on.

Brooding Wyoming Sky at Vedauwoo

Now my belly is full and my bucket of hopes and dreams is too.

Until next time,

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

P.S. The upcoming move has me pondering all sorts of possibilities. Including, but not limited to, retiring from chiropractic altogether and pursuing a couple of less mentally, physically, and emotionally-draining activities. Both pastimes intrigue me, though one is intended to provide a source of spending money, the other will challenge me in all sorts of ways - including getting me out of the house and into nature! What's not to love about that?

P.P.S. I took the above pictures at Vedauwoo (pronounced VEE-duh-voo) near Cheyenne on July 2, 2016. It's a vast and impressive monument to God's creative nature with a sense of spirit and timelessness that is nearly breathtaking. I'm looking forward to becoming friends with the rocks, forests, and streams there. 

P.P.S.S. From the Cheyenne.org website: 

Located 10 minutes west of Curt Gowdy State Park is Medicine Bow National Forest and the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. Named by the indigenous people who called the area home it means “Land of the Earthborn Spirit”. Here you will find world-class rock climbing and bouldering opportunities on breathtaking rock formations made of pink feldspar, white quartz, and black specs of hornblende. Forged by fire, ice, and wind, climbing opportunities for all levels can be found. At a starting point of 8200 feet, it won’t take long to enjoy the amazing vistas of the Rocky Mountains and the vast expanse of the high plains. Staying closer to the ground, explore miles and miles of dirt roads for ATVing, hiking trails, and backcountry camping opportunities. Moose, elk, mule deer, and countless other birds and animals call this special place home.

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen Trilogy, a fun, fast, and epic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising, debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, is on preorder and will release in 2022. All are (or will be) available in both paperback and ebook, and the hardback versions will be available in 2022.

Free For Subscribers

O. J.'s Awen Prequel novelette, The Druids of Marduk, Part I, is also available as an ebook - for purchase on Amazon (or free by signing up for her newsletter). The second installment, The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth, is an ebook novella also available on Amazon. Part III: AboveEarth, is scheduled for a 2022 release.