Just A Girl and Her Laptop

Volume 6, Issue 2

Feb 26, 2025

Hi Loves!

Let me start by saying I’m happy to be here—because it’s been rough. Anxiety and a heavy, huge case of the sads has sapped all my energy, and this new administration makes every day a bad news day and I’ve been in doom mode. I feel… mired in my emotions, stuck in a rut. I’m exhausted and I know moving my body more is the answer, but I’m too tired to move. My sleeping pattern is back to being bullshit and I’ve resorted to simply being happy when I get to sleep at all, which shows you how low my expectations for it have become. I only have a month to shake out of this before I travel, and I’m afraid of that too. I know what you’re thinking— “Shameka, you’re bringing the entire newsletter down,” and while that’s definitely a concern, where else can I tell the truth but here—with you, and this laptop?

Performance reviews are coming up at work and I find myself being more scrutinized than I usually am—or at least, feeling that way. I hate that the unemployment anxiety persists when I’ve had this job nearly four years, and I hate having to “exceed expectations,” and “identify areas to grow” when I just want to do my job in peace and keep my apartment. Sigh.

Anyway, I’m still escaping into books when at all possible and writing whatever I can whenever the words come. As always, thank you for being here. If I haven’t scared you off, let’s get to the fun stuff.

In Shameka The Writer News…

Hearts Afire is my latest release, a journey back to Luna Lake in the form of four short stories. It’s out and on KU now! I’d love it if you’d read it. Hearts Afire

I am still hard at work on the last of the Elements Series, and I think I’m going to be able to tie it in to a dark romance idea I have, so yay me. The last book in The Elements Series, His Fire and His Ice, will be released soon.

My latest idea is a dark, poly romance, featuring one woman and three men. And you know I love when the boyfriends are all boyfriends, so yes, everyone will partake in each other. I have a basic overview and some main character profiles, but this is a new lane for me, and I want to take my time. I want it to be good. It feels like a nice stretch for me.

Where You Can See Me

In this year’s news… Shameka the Writer will be posted up and selling books at:

I’ve been invited to Krewe of Lit! Krewe of Lit is a Black Author Showcase in New Orleans! You can come see me April 4-6, 2025 in one of the greatest cities in the world! More details to come.

Krewe of Lit tickets are on sale! Tickets

The Black Romance Book Fest is happening May 31- June 1, 2025 in Atlanta and promises to be one of the year’s best, with authors from all over the Black Romance galaxy, including yours truly.

BRBF tickets are closed, but my preorders are open! Preorder for BRBF

The Write Women Book Fest is back next year, July 19th and 20th, 2025, and your girl will be posted up to table and kick it with you in Bowie, MD. Write Women Book Fest

Tickets for the Write Women Book Fest are on sale! Tickets

The Boozy Book Tour is making its way to my neck of the woods in 2025, and I will be exhibiting there July 26th, 2025. Boozy Book Tour

Tickets for the Boozy Book Tour Arlington are on sale! Tickets

I will also be an attending author at the Curvy Hearts Book Club Virtual Signing, September 12-14th. Details in their Facebook group and on their IG Curvy Hearts FB group Curvy Hearts IG

My Latest and Greatest, aka What I’m Reading, Writing, and Listening To

Books

A Rehearsal for Love- Alexandra Warren
An Encore for Love- Alexandra Warren
Everything and More- K. Lashaun

Words

I am working on an outline for a new dark romance idea, The Hijacked Wife, and I hope to start writing within the next week or so. I am reading a lot, so I’m letting my brain do what it needs to do and trusting that the words will come.