I’ve spent most of my days recently head down and writing. I haven’t even seen the new Star Wars. What has been occupying my time of late… my sparse spare time has been an episode or two of Miss Fisher’s Mysteries on NETFLIX. What have you all been up to?

At this moment today, I was informed it was time to stop writing.

I am sitting here in the quiet house drinking coffee and about to head into the word document for Kai 2.

The coffee is great. The year has been ups and downs but so damned interesting.

I’ve been to Chennai, India to see Ree and to the UK to see the Five. Been to a few conventions including GRL and have met a ton of people—way too many to list but oh God, sooooo many people. Spent time with my dearest sisters Lisa, Skippy, and Mary and had the wonderful opportunity to strengthen my friendship with Greg Tremblay. We lost Neko but she carries on in the Cole McGinnis series and I’ve written the last book in that arc. You’ve let me experiment with different genres, supporting me as I hop through mysteries, thrillers, paranormal suspense and urban fantasy.

Ending the year writing Absinthe of Malice, the transition book between Sloe Ride and the final Sinners book and delving into Kai 2 which already has a title—yay—but I’m going to hold out to see if it remains that title. Next year will be pretty busy, I’ve somehow got to shove in a few novels in twelve months and there’s so much to write and so damned little time to do so. I’m looking at Hellsingers, Rook & Dante, expanding Dim Sum Asylum out and another Half Moon Bay. So, I’ve got that on the shelf to be done.

So before I dip down into Kai’s San Diego, I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a fantastic holidays and to please be sure to take care of yourselves. Take some time to breathe. Have that cup of coffee or tea. Nibble a little bit of sweet and/or savoury. Cuddle a kitten or a puppy. Go to a museum. Go stare at the stars.

Love to you all.
Rhys Ford

A long time ago, I learned the meaning of trust and integrity.

Oddly enough, it was over a donut. An éclair, to be precise.

I was about 12 or so and we’d just moved to a place called Waianae, which at the time, was kind of the Compton of Hawai’i. Worse still, home life wasn’t exactly roses and sunflowers and I was an awkward, fucked up kid. We’ll leave that right there for now. Suffice it to say, life wasn’t great.

My younger sister went to the elementary and I used to walk with her from the bus stop. On the way to the house there was a bakery and if I had money on me, I’d grab us both something to snack on. I didn’t always have money and she was 8 so she never had any. But that doesn’t matter, older sibling always pays. Just like the eldest at the table pays when its sibs and/or family. It’s what you do.

It wasn’t often and certainly we couldn’t have been considered regulars but one day we’d picked a couple of things out and I was a quarter or thirty-five cents short. There were two women behind the counter…one said which donut do you want to put back? I was about to tell her to put the eclair back because… you know, younger sister but then…

The other one said; bring it tomorrow.

They argued about it right in front of me. First lady was of the opinion they’d never see us again. Second lady said; Sometimes you have to have faith in people. You have to trust.

I wasn’t a good kid. Hell, I wasn’t a good person. I wasn’t even a viable human being but in that moment, I was going to be fucking damned if I proved that first woman right. So I returned the next day with the coins and said thank you.

Second woman said thank you and you’re welcome then turned to the first and said; See?

It was a small step toward being human for me. I’d lost my rudders a few years before. Both of my grandfathers who I only saw periodically but whom I depended on so much passed away within a year of one another and then the dog I’d had since birth died of cancer. Life after those events were just so much hell and they wouldn’t get better until I was nearly in my mid-twenties.

But in that moment, someone I didn’t know was proud of me.

And I’ve carried that moment ever since.

It helps shape me. It helps me remember who I need to be in the darkest of times. It helps me remember who I should be when there is a fork in the road when I can choose my path.

Not to say I’m brilliant and fantastic and saintly. God hell no. There are plenty of times when I just say fuck it, let someone else light the goddamned candle. But I try. That’s all I can do is try.

That’s all any of us can do.

So in this holiday season—and beyond as well—be the kid who returns with the quarter… or be the woman who says bring it tomorrow. Have faith. Use good judgment but have faith.

Or restore it. I think that’s the greatest gift you can give to someone who’s placed their trust in you.

So I hurt my back something fierce. Like cursing, crying and begging pain when I moved kind of hurt. This was a few weeks ago but it lingers. Dunno if I popped something or something tore or something did something but it’s slowly healing. I have hours of no pain now or some pulling and then terrible aches.

And writing has been… difficult.

But today I am off to work where there is a potluck. I made kalua pig… which is kind of like a pulled pork. I also brought BBQ sauce so I just might make it BBQ pork when I heat it up.

See how exciting my days are?

Finishing up Absinthe of Malice. Have to go over it with a fine toothed comb and look over the songs I’m including. I apparently can’t get rid of the standard blues rhythm. Go figure.

Whatcha all got planned for this week?

I am sorry to tell you all that today was the day we said goodbye and forever loves to Neko.

Most of you see Yoshi, the cat I use as my avatar but many of you have gotten to know Neko through the Cole McGinnis Mysteries. Jae’s Neko was based off of a wee little black cat we found at a shelter one day. She was sickly, which we found out later, and once her respiratory problems were driven back by antibiotics and exorcism rituals, we discovered we’d somehow brought home a six pound ball of atttiude and terror.

She was the ultimate cat…who was named… Cat. She was imperious, entitled and oddly maternal, caring for nearly every single one of the older animals around her and sadly, because our furry Buick named Tam can’t get off his arse to groom himself, she took it upon herself to take care of him as well.

Neko entered into this world with a clear vision of what was hers and what she required in life. What was hers was hers and what was someone else’s was hers if it looked even remotely more interesting or comfortable than what she already had. I have a picture (which I will share) of her screaming at me because her brother Tam is taking up the ONE spot on a queen sized bed…the ONE SPOT she felt she deserved. She was staunce believer in Truth, Justice and the Neko Way and defended anyone’s right to paying her homage.

Aloof, a bit shy and disdainful, she would periodically turn us into liars and love someone up a storm right after we told them she wasn’t fond of people she didn’t know. In her later years, she gained a minion, my blond cairn, and took his worship of her as her due.

Unfortunately, even the greatest furry despot cannot win over Death. Neko entered into her battle with cancer a few weeks ago and the time came when it would have been cruel to let her suffer with her increasing pain. Today was a good day.

No matter what, we have to remember that today was a good day. She nibbled on ham and fried chicken, basked in sunbeams and had hours of cuddling and affection. The room where she would say goodbye to us was filled with sunshine and she was surrounded by people who loved her and held her as she slipped off to another world to conquer.

Neko will live on in Cole and Jae’s home. She will rule that roost forever and I am grateful you all are here with me to share in her antics and her rare affection. Thank you for being here with me as I say goodbye to a very old friend but one I know I will see again.

So long as I bring her a packet of salmon. Or tuna and cheese because you know, love is all well and good but true friends bring tasty tasty salmon.