Everyone says that March is the longest month of the school year for students and teachers. But I actually think April is. After spring break, there are no more holidays or teacher work days. My kids also have a million end of the year performances – though I do love attending those and watching my little performers. 

What do you think? Is March or April the “longest” month of the school year?

Writing News

A couple of months ago, I finished writing my first short story. It took me two years! Short stories are hard because you have to write a complete story with fewer words. And everything I attempt always turns into a full length novel. And I finished just in time to submit it to an anthology whose theme matches my story’s. A few days ago, I received an email from the publisher that they want to include my story in their anthology! As details get hammered out, I will be sharing them here in the newsletter.

The Wolf Whisperer and the Warrior won the Fiction from the Heartland contest put on by Mid-America Romance Authors! I know in the last newsletter I said being a finalist was exciting enough, but I am so thrilled to have won. It really helped with some imposter syndrome I’ve been feeling recently. A literary agent was the judge for the final three stories, and so, this makes me think that maybe I could get this traditionally published. I haven’t made any concrete decisions yet. I still think that because it’s a fated mates werewolf romance it has the potential to do well on a reading app. Plus, having some stories available for free is nice for readers. *sigh* Decisions. Decisions. (In Dakota Fanning’s Jane voice in the Twilight series.)

Book Reviews

I’ve been rereading a lot of favorites, but here are the new ones for the month:

Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem Massachusetts by Bill O’Reilly is unfortunately not what it’s advertised. There are three sections: 1. The Salem Witch Trials, 2. A short biography of Benjamin Franklin, 3. The event that inspired the movie The Exorcist. Each section on its own was an interesting read. But from cover to cover as a comprehensive claim? The sections don’t connect. I would have loved if the author fleshed out the Afterward and made that part of the book instead of the Revolutionary War stuff and The Exorcist stuff. 3 stars.

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn is the first of the Bridgerton prequels. Billie Bridgerton, the FMC, is the oldest Bridgerton of Edmund’s generation, making her the aunt of the OG Bridgertons. She helps run Aubrey Hall and is jealous that Edmund will one day inherit it instead of her. George Rokesby and his siblings have grown up with the Bridgertons, and he’s always seen Billie as too free spirited, until one day, he realizes he loves her free spirit. This is one of the slowest slow burns I’ve ever read. And the payoff was so worth it. Billie’s version of “not like other girls” is refreshing and it’s more about going after her dreams than trying to be different. George is a better heir than Anthony, hands down.

Dear reader, be patient. It takes a while to get to their first kiss, but I promise, after that, it’s amazing. 5 stars.

I’m chugging along on my ACOTAR series reread reviews on TikTok. My latest is Ch. 22-28 of A Court of Mist and Fury.

@chelseym.ortega

ACOMAF Ch. 22-28. Sorry for the long video, but these chapters have to go together! #booktok #acomaf #archeronsisters

♬ original sound – Chelsey M. Ortega

Hang in there. It’s almost summer.

Sincerely,

Chelsey M. Ortega