TLDR: I’m postponing Passion, Purrs, & Punk.
To meet the Amazon pre-order deadline, I need to upload it by 9/26/2026. I could meet that deadline. I could upload it as-is, wash my hands of this story, and move on with my life.
But…I can’t do that to these characters.
I could do what I’ve done with every release I’ve had this year: push myself past the limits of what could reasonably be called “work-life balance” to get the book to a place I’m happy with; burn the fuck out; then bring out the broom and sweep my remains into a pile in front of my laptop to finish Drew next month.
But…I can’t do that to myself.
Not again.
My mental health is worth more than the monetary benefit of such sacrifice.
So, while I sit here, staring at this manuscript, mouse hovering over the “compile” button, mouth curling around the words “fuck it,” I’m realizing these characters mean too much to me not to give them more time…and I can’t give them that in the next few days and preserve my sanity.
I tried to push through this feeling, tried to tell myself it was sufficient, tried to tell myself I could just release an imperfect book. The threat of Amazon canceling all my preorders and blocking me from setting any new preorders for a year looms heavily over my head.
But…I just can’t do it.
I am an indie author specifically because I want–no, need–the freedom to choose what happens with my work. Forcing myself to burn out to meet a deadline so Big-Daddy Amazon doesn’t punish me is going against the exact spirit of why I do what I do. So, I could cave to Amazon’s “demands” of me. I could put out the subpar version of this book. I could work myself to the bone the next few days to make it marginally better.
But…I won’t.
So, here’s what’s going to happen: I’m canceling the Amazon preorders, closing out Scrivener, and taking a much-needed break. When I’ve rested, I’ll open the manuscript back up with fresh, less emotionally-duressed eyes, and release it.
When? I can’t make any promises. Let’s just say, “the beginning of 2027.” Maybe earlier. Maybe later. We’ll see.
What does this mean for Drew? I’m not sure. Drew is shorter–in a state I’m much happier with–but, my mental health isn’t going to miraculously repair overnight. So…we’ll see…
Whispers, Whiskers, & Wine had all its preorders canceled by Amazon. The world didn’t end. My career didn’t end. And neither did the Cozy Clowder Chronicles. So, even though this is unfortunate, it does not mean the end for Crystal, Sebastian, and Cornelius.
