As I lay awake listening to the sounds of Sacramento at 4 AM (yelling, doors slamming, trucks rumbling), I had the urge to get back in my car, slam the door, rumble down the road, and yell “good-bye.” And that’s just what I did.
My travels thus far on the two-week trip had been decent bordering on great, but this one experience changed my life. I love the open road. I love seeing all Mother Nature has to offer. I even love finding functioning payphones at random rest stops across the country. But who can afford pricey hotel rooms? Better yet, who can afford to lay awake at 4 AM waiting for the other shoe to drop?
While exploring Northern California, I saw a lot of RVs traveling up and down Route 1. I’ve never camped. I’ve worked in the same place for 20 years. I’ve taken three vacations in my adult life. But on that trip, something clicked. Traveling the continent would be perfect if I could do it in my own clean and quiet space!
I wrote those paragraphs almost two years ago. Today, I am in my own clean and quiet space, a 2024 Leisure Travel Van. I have been on the open road. I have seen only a fraction of what Mother Nature has to offer. I have yet to find any functioning payphones on this trip. So far, it has been worth all the blood, sweat, tears, allergies, and trips to the mechanic (definitely get the extended warranties).
I told many people that I won’t be blogging about my adventures, and that is mostly true. A girl does have to hold her cards close to her vest. I am taking this time to finally get back to writing and publishing, so I thought I would share a little about what’s going on just so that my very few fans would know that I haven’t died. Just be grateful I don’t write series (yet) and haven’t left you hanging with the fates of well-beloved characters.
I can’t provide ETAs, but here are three projects in the works that will hopefully hit shelves sometime in 2026:
–Full Circle by Kathryn Wilson I know, that’s not me. Nope, not a pen name. Guess you’ll just have to wait and see. Here’s the elevator pitch for you: the world is dying, resources are limited, and the fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of a plucky group still trying to figure out what’s happening.
–Crazy in Love by yes, me This collection of short stories examines all the ways love makes us mad.
–E.M. Sanchez and the Empty Eggs That’s right, E.M. and Web will return!
So, off I go to make good on my promises. I’ll leave you with a few morsels of my travels. Enjoy!
Autumn Siders 