For those who don't know, my working title for this book is Hip Replacement at Any Age:
Complicated hips and unexpected problems
​My idea is to write a book about hip replacement and the issues surrounding it that will be a little different from the books that are already out there. My focus is on the experiences of being a patient, especially for those who have an ongoing hip problem. 
It's a big project writing a book like this, but I like to write and I feel better about tackling this subject than I did years ago, so my goal is to finish a complete manuscript with illustrations that will ultimately get published.
I recently got legal permission from the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to use three of their illustrations, which is great! One image turned out to be too low resolution to be suitable for print reproduction, but the other two will look good.  
So, that's my update for today!
Happy writing to all my writing friends. 📝

The Publishing Professionals Network (PPN) Conference is 
Friday, April 25, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm in Berkeley. Here's the link: pubpronetwork.org/con2025-main/

If you're going to the conference, check out Panel 1A: Audacious and Subversive: Impact Strategies from Indie Publishers.

​I'll be there talking about crowdfunding and other ideas for small publishers to try besides selling in traditional bookstores. Liza Olmsted from Thinking Ink Press will be sharing thoughts and experiences on neurodiversity, and there will be other indie publishers on this panel as well. 

Thank you, Johanna Vondeling, for inviting me to be a part of this panel!

I'm looking forward to connecting with other indie publishers! 💖📚💖


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I circled back to this nonfiction book idea, and I'm really happy with how the writing is going!

The working title for my book is:
Hip Replacement at Any Age: Complicated Hips and Unexpected Problems

​In the past, I've been asked to write a book about hip replacement by a publisher and also by a nonprofit. I soon discovered that trying to write this book made me feel sad and sometimes angry about my own hip issues. I couldn't get enough distance and I struggled with the tone. So, I set it aside to write other things. For years. 

There already are books and info about hip replacement that focus on the best-case outcome for retired people. I get it, those are useful books. But they made me feel worse. My situation is complicated due to residual hip dysplasia. I waited 15 years to get a hip replacement and when I finally did, the recovery was hard, and I still have lingering issues that can't be completely solved due to my bone structure. 

My book will be different because my perspective is different. I'm not an MD. I'm not a person who got a hip replacement and hiked to the top of a mountain. I'm writing the book I wish had existed when I was feeling like the only person in the world who didn't fit the mainstream narrative about hip replacement. 

And best of all, I feel happy as I'm writing it!

When I'm writing a book, I sometimes create a detailed table of contents, print it out, and then mark it up. Here's a page from my outline with notes in case anyone's curious. ​Yes, I write with a purple pen! 💜

A new sci fi anthology is now available from Thinking Ink Press. It's a fun read with a variety of short stories, plus some poems and even some art. ​

​The Neurodiversiverse is a diverse, hopeful anthology of neurodiversity-themed science fiction short stories, poetry and art for anyone who loves science fiction, who cares about neurodiversity, or who wants to see optimistic visions of the future.

You can get The Neurodiversiverse in the format of your choice directly from Thinking Ink Press or at your retailer of choice. 

Check it out--I hope you enjoy it!

Here’s a link to July Issue 89 of Kaleidoscope Magazine, Ebbs and Flows. You can download it for free and read my flash fiction short story "Bees" along with many other stories and essays. https://www.udsakron.org/ebbs-and-flows/
I'm happy to know that "Bees" is reaching new readers. It's about OCD in teens.

A story acceptance is always exciting--especially when the story was published previously because that means it still has appeal. I love the idea of new readers enjoying "Bees." It will be published in Kaleidoscope Magazine in July 2024. I'll post again with a link when that issue goes live.

​"Bees" was originally published in Obsession--a small  literary magazine that no longer exists. It's also available as a limited-edition instant book designed and created by Keiko O'Leary at Thinking Ink Press. 

Check out the Kickstarter from Thinking Ink Press for a new sci fi anthology The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters!

It's a hopeful, empowering sci-fi collection of short stories, poetry, and art. This anthology offers many different answers to the question: Would neurodiversity be an advantage in an encounter with aliens?

It's full of great stories and poetry and even some art. 

Featured authors include:

• Jody Lynn Nye
• Cat Rambo
• Tobias S. Buckell
• M.D. Cooper
• Ada Hoffmann

Edited by Anthony Francis and Liza Olmsted.

With stories, poetry, and art about:

• Autism
• ADHD
• PTSD
• OCD
• Synesthesia
• Anxiety of various flavors
• Avoidant attachment disorder
• Dissociative disorder
• And more

Click to go to The Neurodiversiverse Kickstarter

I'm a guest on a podcast!

It's the Help for Hip Dysplasia podcast hosted by the wonderful Laura Rutterford. She interviewed me along with a number of other guests.

Laura is a physical therapist in the UK who has hip dysplasia. She does an amazing job on her podcast, and she is also on Instagram, where she shares advice and videos with helpful hip stretches and exercises.

I haven't posted about hip dysplasia for a long time, but it does still affect me on a daily basis. As some of you know, the first book I wrote is The Parents' Guide to Hip Dysplasia.

Whether or not you have hip dysplasia, you might find the episode interesting, as there are quite a few guests and we talk about the practical aspects of using a mobility aid and the emotions and social aspects--how it feels to be in that situation and how others tend to perceive you.

I'm on Season 4, Episode 8 - Hip Dysplasia and Mobility Aids 🩼