What is goody in the hoody, demons! It’s my birthday month! Yes, I am a double Leo Aquarius moon. Yes, I celebrate all month long. Yes, I get anxiety every year thinking about what I did or didn’t learn so I can out do my previous year. And, finally, yes, I’m about to tell you exactly what I want for my birthday (it is not a big booty ho as the song states).

My gifts to myself were a beginner drone (which I already had to dip, dodge, duck, and dodge again) and a trip to Jamaica. I am super excited to go to Sunset at The Palms in Negril despite originally conceptualizing this trip for two. I really thought I’d scrap the whole thing, but then I remembered who the heck I am and pushed that booking button like my life depended on it. Dramatically, it kinda did. I’m not going to miss out on great experiences because someone fumbled me. That’d be so insanely out of character that I don’t even want to acknowledge that the thought crossed my mind. Anyway, be on the look out for that collaboration (more on this later), I’m so stoked. PLEASE ask questions because I want to make sure I show y’all everything I can.

If you, my gorgeous demons, want to get me anything, please just keep pushing my book (The Inevitability Of) to anyone who might like it and/or love it. I know I’m taking forever with the sequel (see previous newsletter for insight as to why), but I’ve been working on not one, but THREE other books plus the outline for the sequel. I may not have published between my last birthday and this one, but I have been tapping away on the keys. Stay with me a bit longer, my loves!

The second thing I’d adore, should you for whatever reason not love to read, is if you simply said a kind word to someone today in the spirit of uplifting others. Let’s not beat around the bush, the world is kind of a mess to put it lightly. I am not the one who is going eloquently lay out the political climate but, I can remind y’all to keep love in mind. If you want to leave me a comment on my birthday (August 7th), fantastic. If you want to tag me in a video on Tiktok talking about what a great day you had or in a funny story time, I’d love that.

Third thing, literally book your next trip with me. I’m a whole travel agent. My specialties are All-Inclusive Resorts and Cruises but I can get you where you want and need to be no matter what. I also am not charging at the moment (because I get commission when you book with me, duh) so, take advantage of this before that has to change. As long as your ground is under 10 people, I’m free of charge, baby! Girls trip, honeymoon, family vacays, and more!

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ONE MORE THING! Kelsey Brownlee, someone who I had the pleasure of meeting through the most unusual circumstances along with soon-to-be-published Rebecca Dunn, is releasing her adult contemporary romance debut and it is EVERYTHING. I swear to you, this is going to become part of your top 10 fall reads of 2025. I’m not saying that because we’re friends, I’m saying that because Kelsey just laid down a challenge to both me and Becca and we gotta step our games up. I’m so obscenely proud of her and this book that I know you’ll love it, demons.

Should we maybe convince her to give an exclusive interview? Hm?

The next newsletter will have way more internal thoughts about aging, love, and other typical birthday blue and pink thoughts. Perhaps some red thoughts as well? A splash of yellow for some zest! Until then, demons.

I love you. Be good to each other.

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Oh, I’m a ambassador for Wyluxe now as well. Get some cute footware at an amazing discount with code NEKAMARIE (that’s me).

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Happy Summer Solstice, my lovely demons.

Two years ago, on the June 21st, 2023, I released The Inevitability Of: Death’s Gate. What a joyous and momentous occasion that was for me. I admit that the impostor syndrome took hold quickly and hasn’t let me go for, well, two years. I’m here to tell you why the entire next book was massively delayed and I started working on the Western-Scifi (one of them at least) of my dreams instead.

First and foremost, if you could suggest The Inevitability Of to a friend, that’d be amazing. I’m a believer in word of mouth being the most superior advertising method. Secondly, I made a huge mistake trying to go against the planned order of The Gatekeeper Saga. Originally, it was supposed to be heavily focused on the Hobbs family and Rika for book one, followed by a heavy focus on The Carnelian Family, then The Makoto’s, and finally The Al Bassi’s. Due to the love Joseph Makoto was getting, panic set in and I tried to move the third book up. Now, before anyone panics more, this doesn’t make or break the series, but as a neurospicy girlie, it did kinda break me.

Every time I tried to work on the second book, I’d break out into a cold sweat. It was like my body was involuntarily stopping itself from daring to write. Wild, right. So, instead of beating a dead Horeseman’s horse, I decided to focus on another book.

Enter Across the Split Book #1. Not too much on my Firefly-esque spicy girl with saloons, a mad scientists, no good guys, and blasters butttttt, I think you’ll love it, demons. All I can say is that it will be independently published and I am actively in rewrites at the moment. No cold sweats! My writing partners, who have been with me since The Inevitability Of was just a twinkle in my eye, are staying on my ass as well.

So, that is the writing update and I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off of my chest. Phew! This has been so dramatic and I’m not sure it needed to be!

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I cannot believe I forgot to write about my cruise with Virgin Voyages! That’s wild considering I will be sailing with them again this year (probably) and sailing with Carnival (I don’t know how to feel about this) in just a few days! If you are completely confused, you can view vlog 1 and vlog 2 here. Vlogs 3 and 4 got super corrupted and I am in the process of fixing that so you, and anyone interested, can have all the information needed about how that trip went and how you can have the same amount of fun. Always remember that I am an all-inclusive vacationing expert travel agent bestie in my spare time so, let’s get you booked for your next main character adventure, yeah?

Back to Virgin Voyages, I loved it. That was a life and brain chemistry altering trip for me as someone who legitimately had never gone on a solo vacation before and is an anxious introvert. I don’t have any major cons from the experience, I genuinely re-discovered the joy of throwing myself into a situation with no filler person, and ate everything in sight.

But let’s start with the cons just to get them out of the way.

First and foremost, I booked like 35 days before the embarkation day which meant boarding times had already been up on the Virgin Voyages app. All the good times were taken and I was forced into a 4:30 PM slot. My plane landed in Miami at 9 AM… do the math on how long I was waiting outside of Terminal V in my giant Majinn Boo sweater. Even in the dead of winter, Miami was far hotter than I ever could have imagined. I even tried to fill the time by taking the trolley over to Bayside. I had a lovely breakfast at this healthy food place, walked around, got hit on by a man older than my father, and then decided to find a place to catch a trolley back.

Enter con two: The trolley was nowhere to be seen. There were no designated spots for pickup nor a way to see when it would even be in the area. It really did just run on vibes. I called Terminal V and the customer service people tried to help but the spot they told me to wait in was void of any trolley pickup for an hour. I ended up calling an uber to take me back.

Those were pretty much the only cons of this trip for me and, luckily, both happened before I even got onboard. After that it was smooth sailing… I had to say it.

• Boarding was extremely fast, especially because I completed all my pre-board paperwork in the app weeks prior.

• While there was a minor hiccup with my cabin’s wifi, it was quickly fixed.

• The Solo Sailor program is top tier with Virgin Voyages. I simply cannot sing their praises enough for this because I was so anxious about being alone on this cruise and after that Solo Sailor meetup, I had to schedule alone time. Your girl was booked and busy because we solo sailors were suddenly not so solo no mo.

• All of the food onboard is included in your fare. Meaning all 20+ eateries, the Galley food court, the ice cream, the pizza, all of it was available to you at no extra cost. As you can assume, I ate everything in sight with no reservations. I ate two dinners the first night. That trend was not isolated to the first night. I would literally book another cruise with them just to eat all the food again.

• The cabins were so cute and the staff kept them spotless! Gratuity is included in your fare so you don’t need to feel pressured to tip while on board, but most people slip the cabin staff a tip on the way out. You don’t have to! I’m just saying!

• The Happenings Crew is the equivalent to your on staff hype-men/gworls/people! I loved them!

• Finally, my favorite pro, everyone was there to have a good time and an amazing time was had. Maybe it was just that sailing, or maybe there is something pumping out of the vents on Virgin Voyages boats, but everyone was there to just rock out and it was amazing. Was there a spot of drama here and there, oh yeah. I met a man who’s wife initiated a divorce the night they boarded… in the same cabin… and then had him kicked out of the cabin. There were hookups, breakups, kisses, misses, and drunk people doing unholy semblances of dances. But it was all so fun and exactly what I, personally, wanted to experience.

So, would I recommend a Virgin Voyages trip for you, your friends, and your adult family members? Absolutely. I am a Gold Tier First Mate, which means that I not only aced their Virgin Voyages travel agent course but now know more about their Ladyships than most do. I went on this solo trip for personal growth reasons, yes, but also business reasons. I needed to know what value this would bring to my travel clients and now I can confidently say: A lot.

This should summarize my general thoughts about the cruise line so, if there is anything else you want to know, let me know in a comment!

You don’t have to book with me, but if you do, I’ll make sure you know exactly what bang you’re getting for your buck. Use the client intake form here to get started!

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What are we doing for wellness, demons?

I recently had a not great check in with my trainer. It’s not about the number on the scale for me, but I did one workout for the week and wow, I felt crummy. So, wellness for me this week means doing my normal three workouts per week (at least) and not punishing myself for the other week.

I’m also eliminating a massive source of stress from my life (more on that later). I’m not trying to edge anyone but, I love this new chapter I’m embarking on and don’t want some loser people getting in the way. Tea shall be spilled on why I never stay where I’m not appreciated later.

With grit, grace, and a packed suitcase,

Neka Marie

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I always thought my story would begin and end with books. But somewhere between catching flights, lifting weights, and healing wounds I didn’t know I was carrying, I realized my story wasn’t just something I wrote — it was something I lived.

Oh, it’s a cheesy one, folks. Strap in.

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I used to think I had to choose: be an author, or be something else. Be serious about my writing, or serious about some other part of myself. Always identify as one thing. Stay consistent, or stay curious. But lately, I've come to terms with something that changed everything:

I don’t have to break into pieces when every facet of myself makes a whole.

I’m a woman who writes books. I’m a woman who lifts weights. I’m a woman who boards planes with an open heart and a half-baked plot on her mind. This blog is for every version of me — and every version of you that’s still becoming.

I needed a place where my voice could be full-bodied. Where I could write the way I talk, reflect on what travel is teaching me, celebrate my body’s strength, and remind myself why I started writing in the first place.

This isn’t just a space for travel tips or workout logs (though there’ll be some of that, too). This is a living, breathing chronicle of my becoming. A personal journal I’m choosing to make public — because maybe you need a reminder that your story doesn’t have to fit neatly into a box either.

Maybe you, my sweet demon, need a reminder that the pieces of you make the whole.

What You Can Expect:

• Author Life – Updates on what I’m writing, where I’m writing it from, and the inspiration behind the stories.

• Travel Diaries – Not just where I went, but what I experienced there. Bookstores, culture, and beauty.

• Fitness Reflections – Strength training, solo walks, the mental muscle that shows up in both the gym and on the page.

I’ll be posting regularly — not to be perfect, but to stay present. I hope you’ll meet me here when you need a nudge, a spark, or just something real.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to pick one dream and bury the rest, I see you.

If you’re writing your own comeback story, I’m rooting for you.

If you just want to wander and wonder with someone who’s figuring it out too, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to this chapter.

I don’t know where it ends, but I know it’s going to be beautiful.

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With grit, grace, and a packed suitcase,

Neka

PS – If you want a little magic in your inbox, subscribe. I’ll send this newsletter full of fun content and moments that don’t make it to IG or tiktok.

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Apparently, you cannot include downloadable content here so, join the discord!

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Boo! Halloween has come and gone but it’s time for a fright. Today I bring you the scariest tale that I could possibly think of as a writer: Talking About Failure.

Pause for terrified screaming.

The first thing people always ask me when I say I’m now a published author is, “Oh, who are you published with?” Me, bitch. I’m self-published and while I fully understand that many still have this preconceived notion that means I failed, trust me when I say blood, sweat, and tears went into my book just like any traditionally publish author. But that’s the scary part, those people with those ideas still don’t believe that. They’ll never believe that I worked hard or that I spent my last dime on editing and a cover. They’ll never believe that my book, despite a few typos, is good. That’s their failure.

I documented a lot my writing journey on Tiktok. Some of those videos are private now (most likely because I was crying or just saying way too much). The point is that I can look back on every triumph and perceived failure and say that it was all worth it to be sitting here now with my book connecting with readers worldwide. Because the failures were never failures, just new paths popping up. The triumphs were indeed triumphs and new paths popping up. All of it led me to this moment and I will find my way to more beautiful moments from here.

So, in a long-winded way, I’m telling you that failure is perceived and only made persistent when you give up. Don’t give up and there is no failure.

I think many need this small lesson before tackling the challenge of NanoWriMo. Good luck, scribes!

October Reading Round Up!

Click the links and read the books! I highly recommend all of them.

A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

The Vanquishers: Secret of the Reaping by Kalynn Bayron

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

BINGED SHOWS LAST MONTH

One Piece (Live Action) - Netflix

One Piece (anime)(episodes 1-74) - Netflix

Fright Krewe - Hulu

October Wins

Hit that 300 copies sold mark! Thank you so, so much! Can we hit 400? I know we can!

Have a GREAT November, friends. I know we are in a tumultuous time but it is so important to avoid fatigue by taking a few minutes to appreciate what you have and then get back to fighting for a better world.

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