Charleston – Jennifer Lane Books

Writers, join our monthly blog **hop**, started by author **Alex Cavanaugh**.

Thank you to this month’s gracious cohosts: Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

January 7 question – Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

At the moment, I’m feeling rather discouraged about writing due to anemic reader response to my latest novel. Sales have been pathetic despite the wonderful support of this group. I wish reader response didn’t affect my motivation as much as it does, but that’s my reality.

I am enjoying a break from writing including the freedom to travel, entertain, and catch up on streaming TV over the weekends.

First was a drive to Orlando to meet my friends’ poodle Franklin, then to Key Largo to join my bestie on her college swim team’s training trip, where we swam with manatees.

Then my sister, niece, and I traveled to nearby Charleston, SC to visit the aquarium.

Back home, I always have fun assembling breakfast for my niece!

Finally, I’ll host book club to discuss Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, a story about female astronauts, and I found this hilarious Space Cats wine from a book club guide:

Here’s to a great 2026, writers!

What fun it was to attend a young adult book festival in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday: The YALL Fest 2012!

Omnific Publishing sponsored an exhibitor table and provided tons of YA books to give away to our readers. Lovely author Trisha Wolfe signed copies of her steampunk-futuristic-sci-fi Destiny’s Fire, and I signed copies of my swimming-romance-military-murder-mystery Streamline.

Here I am wearing a fake Navy hat, posing with Trisha Wolfe. Yes, I am twice her size. 😉

We also had the pleasure of introducing readers to our pub sisters’ creations:

Embrace by Cherie Colyber

Life, Liberty & Pursuit by Susan Kaye Quinn

Ember and Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates

Breaking Point by Jessica Bowen

(Too bad Iridescent by Carol Oates and Reaping Me Softly by Kate Evangelista were too hot off the presses to make it to this festival.)

Here are readers holding their signed copies of Streamline!

Kristen and Sharanna

Marie works at a library on a Naval Base

Morgan and Briana–aren’t they cute?

And here’s cool YA book blogger Briana from The Book Pixie

Happy reading to all who attended! I definitely encourage you to attend next year’s YALL Fest if you can make it. It’s a great place to interact with enthusiastic readers.