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Author, Editor, Media Tie-In Writer

Forced Idleness

June 14th I had surgery. It was expected and everything is going according to plan.

I am recovering at a good rate for my age and health. Which is to say, like the last surgery, not fast enough for my wants. This time, I really have to take a full week off of working. Actually, 9 days off.

Several reasons for this. For the first 4 days, I was on medicine that gave me blurry vision. It also mucked with my coordination. So computer work (which is 98% of my work) was out. Also, the meds make me sleepy. Sleeping is good for healing. I’ve found myself back in bed several times a day for a rest.  Also, my focus and attention span is shot. It has taken me about four times as long as normal to write this.

So, really, editing is right out. Writing, not very coherent either. I can manage twitter and FB but everything else is touch and go.

Ya’ll have no idea how hard this is on me. I have contracts waiting. I have an anthology to finish edits on, an anthology to start edits on, Battletech edits. Battletech writing. Gruntz writing. It is all hanging over me like a messed up freelancer’s Pen of Damocles.

And yet, I know it is better for me to “just rest” and “just heal” so when I do get back to work, it will be up to my normal good work. Thus, I am idle.

And the effort it has taken to write this post has proven to me that forced idleness is the best thing I can do for my career right now.

Meet Jennifer Brozek

Jennifer Brozek is a multi-talented, award-winning author, editor, and media tie-in writer. She is the author of Never Let Me Sleep and The Last Days of Salton Academy, both of which were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. Her YA tie-in novels, BattleTech: The Nellus Academy Incident and Shadowrun: Auditions, have both won Scribe Awards. Her editing work has earned her nominations for the British Fantasy Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the Hugo Award. She won the Australian Shadows Award for the Grants Pass anthology, co-edited with Amanda Pillar. Jennifer’s short form work has appeared in Apex Publications, Uncanny Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, and in anthologies set in the worlds of Valdemar, Shadowrun, V-Wars, Masters of Orion, Well World, and Predator.

Jennifer has been a full-time freelance author and editor for over seventeen years, and she has never been happier. She keeps a tight schedule on her writing and editing projects and somehow manages to find time to teach writing classes and volunteer for several professional writing organizations such as SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. She shares her husband, Jeff, with several cats and often uses him as a sounding board for her story ideas. Visit Jennifer’s worlds at jenniferbrozek.com or her social media accounts on LinkTree.

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May was more about finishing the novel than writing it. That, and going to StokerCon. This month, I will finish Makeda Red and turn it in. Then plot out the Battletech novel. I’m currently calling it The Gienah Incident. I don’t know if the title will stick. Also, there’s Origins Game Fair which will kill about a week’s worth of writing. Year-to-date stats:Fiction words written: 118,410 Article words written: 10,219My novels/collections edited: 3My short stories proofed: 2Other novels/anthologies edited: 6Events attended: 5 Also, I was interviewed on SFFWorld about my story in the Decision Points anthology.

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It’s that time again. Here’s what I’ve produced in 2022 that is eligible for awards consideration. Thank you much for taking a look. Hugo noms close on April 30. Editing… The Reinvented Heart anthology is my favorite of the year. I believe Cat Rambo and I showcase our skills as editors with this first in our Reinvented Anthology series. The Reinvented Detective comes out in 2023. When voting for short form editors, please think about us as a duo! “Jennifer Brozek and Cat Rambo.”   Writing… Novel – Shadowrun: Elfin Black. High adventure Shadowrun tie-in novel set in the PNW. Novella – Truumeel’s Light. High adventure space opera set in the FiveFold Universe. A story of love, family, and sacrifice. Novella – Shadowrun: Unrepairable. Shadowrun tie-in novella. Vexing megacorps for fun and profit. A pair of twins have a rough day in the shadows. Short story – “The Necessity of...

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