The Hounds of Bakerville

Éric’s 2026 New Year’s Resolutions

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Hello my friends, Family, and Fans;

Last year was good for my resolutions and pretty catastrophic for the world. Let’s look to the future and make goals for what we can control. Yeah, that sounds healthy.

1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville

I copy pasted this one from last year. I managed 4 ish chapters so at this rate I should be done in… 8 to 10 years. I’d like to finish this book this year.

2. Write a serial story

I’m not sure what I’m writing this year, but I will try to get a 1000 word chapter out each month. This is going to be the thirteenth year I do it.

3. Record Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers audiobook

Jen recorded her chapters a long time ago and it’s time I do my parts.

4. Read at least 15 books

Last year I almost doubled my reading goal, so I’m upping it to 15.

5. Finish my Starry Night Lego

I got an epic Van Gogh’s Starry Night LEGO set. It has a lot of pieces and I managed to get half way done before life got in the way.

6. Update the look of JenEric Designs

We’ve been using the same wordpress template and look for almost ten years and it’s time to update the way it works. I have big plans for how to organize things. Hopefully it’ll make it more user friendly. (Jen updated the newsletter already!)

7. Pitch/Submit Speakers of The Rebel Sun

This book is a lot of fun and deserves an epic cover. I need to find a home for it. I’ll probably submit to River City and maybe try with an agent.

8. Take the kids on an some adventures

It could be the January blues but I feel the kids could use some excitement. Nothing wild, I’m thinking museums, outdoor kids stuff, and maybe going to the cinema.

9. Give myself permission not to feel well

Between the migraines and other issues, sometimes I feel terrible. If I try to force myself to get things done I feel worse, and if I don’t, I beat myself up for being lazy. I know this is a terrible attitude, but knowing and doing isn’t always the same thing. Let’s hope I can give myself grace.

10. Keep fighting to make my life better

I’m still learning about myself and how my body and mind work. I need to keep figuring out what triggers my migraines, try to increase my physical activity, and keep advocating for myself.

I hope that everyone has a productive, healthy, and good 2026.

Éric

Éric’s 2025 Resolutions Review

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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

It has been a year… Lots of good and lots of bad. Let’s get on with this review and see if I succeeded at my goals.

1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville (Failed)

I’ve written the first three and a half chapters along with the prologue. I need to step up my game this coming year. I kinda lost steam on writing the novel with some behind the scenes drama that’s been stressing me out.

2. Write a serial story (Succeeded)

I really enjoyed last year’s serial story and I can’t wait to find out what I do for this year. Go read it now: The Scarlet Thread Irregulars

3. Master 1 song on the ukulele and record it. (Failed)

The shoulder injury really put a dent in my playing and then life happened. I’ve still been practicing but didn’t manage to record or master the song.

4. Read at least 12 books (Succeeded)

I read 19 books this year, which is pretty good considering I’m not commuting or waiting long hours in doctors’ offices as much.

5. Build my new book nook and Lego (Partially Succeeded)

I built the book nook and loved it. I started the Lego but got distracted by other things and kinda stopped half way. I’ll try to finish it this year.

6. Feel less guilty (Succeeded)

I’m giving myself more grace and letting myself enjoy things to relax. I think it’s going well. Yay me.

7. Design and deploy a new coffee flavour for Ottawa Comic Con in September (Succeeded)

Second breakfast brew is a delightful medium roast with English toffee flavouring.

8. Plan and plot out the first in a cozy mystery series (Succeeded)

I’ve planned the series, I’ve planned the setting, and I have a basic template outline for each book. I’m still super excited for this one.

9. Organize a massive birthday party and book release (Succeeded)

This happened during the summer. If you want to watch our Q&A, here it is on YouTube:

10. Keep fighting to learn more about myself and how to make my life easier (Succeeded)

Oh my goodness! I didn’t realize what a Gordian Knot of interconnectedness it is. The best example I can give is that as I work toward unmasking my ADHD and Autism (letting myself be myself without stressing about being “normal”), I’m starting to notice and be affected more by certain sense sensitivities (especially to light and smell) and it feels like they are triggering my migraines more. Or I just didn’t notice before.

Anyway, I’m learning a lot about myself, and even going to therapy. It’s obviously going to be a lifelong discovery and that’s okay.

Wow, that’s 7.5/10. I think that might be one of the highest success scores I’ve had. Now does this mean I worked my ass off and succeeded or that I didn’t give myself enough challenge?

I’ll take the win. This coming year will have new goals and challenges. I hate to say it, but we live in interesting times.

Stay safe and be kind,

Éric

Editing… Arg

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Hello Readers,

I received the edits for The Copper Tarnish and it reminded me how much I loathe editing.

Footage of me editing.

It’s not the editor’s fault. They’re fantastic and doing their best to make my book even better. I’m just very emotional about the story.

While editing, I go through 4 phases (To be clear this is just me talking to myself. I don’t harass my editors):

1. NO!

At first I alternate between hubris, “How dare someone want to change my perfect words. They just don’t understand my genius.” and despair, “This is such a mess how can I possibly fix all the horribleness in this typo ridden mess.”

2. Why?

Then comes the confused indignant questions of, “Why is this important? You obviously don’t understand.” and, “Why the hell did I forget this or write it this way?”

3. Fine

I finally get to acceptance where I realize that it’s fixable and agree to change it. I don’t always use their suggestions but I try to fix what they’ve pointed out as a problem.

One of the most useful pieces of writing advice I ever got was that if an editor points out that something is wrong, they’re probably right; if they tell you how to fix it they’re probably wrong. (It’s a generalization but gives you permission to fix it your way.)

4. Okay, that’s better

In the end, in my experience, a good editor will be right the majority of the time. Again, an editors goal is to make the book better.

So the last stage is to recheck the edits and go, “Damn this is good.”

I should go back to editing. The faster I finish, the faster I can get back to writing The Hounds of Bakerville.

The Copper Tarnish by Éric Desmarais available June 3rd, 2025.
eBook
Paperback link to come

Be kind and stay safe,

Éric

Éric’s 2025 New Year’s Resolutions

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Hello my friends, Family, and Fans;

Typing in 2025 feels like I’m writting some far off date not the actual year. Not sure I’m in love with the future as it is but let’s concentrate on the things that we can control.

This year, I’m going to be extra ambitious with my resolutions. (Quick reminder, my resolutions are goals that are meant to push me.)

A kids slide with a web across the bottom and two spiders on it. The caption reads, "If we pull this off, we'll eat like kings."

1. Write The Hounds of Bakerville

I have a basic outline and I’m going to start re-reading the first four to get back into it. It’s kind of exciting to be working on the penultimate book in the series.

2. Write a serial story

I’m not sure what I’m writing this year, but I will try to get a 1000 word chapter out each month. This is going to be the twelfth year I do it.

3. Master 1 song on the ukulele and record it.

I wrote a song for Elizabeth 4 and set up the chords, but between the colds and the medical issues, I didn’t get really good at it. I’m going to do my best to get good enough to record it.

4. Read at least 12 books

Last year I crushed my reading challenge and I’m hoping I can do the same this year. 12 might not sound ambitious but it is.

5. Build my new book nook and lego

Three years ago for Christmas I got a Magical Cafe book nook. Over the three years I’ve made it to page 17 of 40ish I think. There’s so much painting and gluing and it’s really hard. This year, my sister in-law took pity and got me another one that doesn’t need the paint or the glue. Maybe this will help build my confidence.

I also got an epic Van Gogh’s Starry Night LEGO set. It has a lot of pieces.

6. Feel less guilty

2024 was a busy year and now that I’m feeling better, I have more time that isn’t just for recovering. I’m having trouble taking that time for me and not feeling bad about it. It’s not selfish to read, it’s not selfish to watch a show on my own, it’s not selfish to do things for me. I know that, but I’m having trouble shutting up the little voice in my head.

7. Design and deploy a new coffee flavour for Ottawa Comic Con in September

I have an idea what it’s going to be, so this should be easy.

8. Plan and plot out the first in a cozy mystery series

I have this idea for a series of short cozy mysteries. The hope is to make them around 40 thousand words and just have fun. It would also give me the chance to play around with self-publishing. The idea would be to write this after Elizabeth 5 before I jump right into the final book.

9. Organize a massive birthday party and book release

This one scares me, but I want to do a joint book release* with Jen this summer. (By the way you should totally check out her cover reveal for Winging It!)

*More details in a future post.

10. Keep fighting to learn more about myself and how to make my life easier

I have learned a lot about my body and mind this year, and I know I have a lot of work, both to improve my health and to accept what and who I am. More details in a future post.

I hope that everyone has a productive, healthy, and good 2025.

Éric

What’s Éric Been Up To?

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Hello My Imaginary Friends,

It’s been a crazy few months. (Yeah I’ve said it before but it’s always true.) Since September, I’ve been posting a lot of pre-written posts, stories, and rants. Mostly what I haven’t been writing as much are updates. So here’s an update.

Baby Dragon

She’s been a joy. Face meltingly cute. I’m sure all parents say that, but I genuinely mean it. She’s also, so far, very mellow and loves to sleep. Recently she’s been babbling a lot, which is cute.

I’m off of my government job and being off work gives me the chance to hang out with her and watch her grow. It’ll be really hard to go back to work.

Coffee

Speaking of being off work. I might be off for my day job but JenEric Coffee is still going strong. (Check out the new store and get yourself a little present.)

We’ll be at two different events in two weeks.

The always amazing

November 26 – Creative Ottawa Nerds Craft Fair

CON-CreativeOttawaNerds

and

November 26-27 – Ottawa Comic Con Holiday Edition

occ-holiday_edition-_2016v3

We’ll have the following flavours at both events:

Yes, those are both on the same weekend.

Books

Reminder that A Study In Aether is available from both Amazon and directly from the Publisher. There will be copies for sale at the two above events also.

I’ve been extremely busy editing during September and October; both Parasomnia and Elizabeth Investigates: The Sign of Faust have been sent to the publisher and we’ll start work on them in the new year.

In January, I’ll get started editing Everdome in order to send it to my beta-readers along with working on the edits on Elizabeth Investigates: A Case of Synchronicity.

Currently I’m writing a new novel for NaNoWriMo. It’s moving well but the writing is slow between the baby, freelance work, and coffee roasting. I’m hoping to be done by mid-December but who knows.

Next year is the year of sequels. I’m going to finally, after over three years, return to writing Elizabeth Investigates with the next novel in the series Elizabeth Investigates: The Hounds of Bakerville. If I get through that fast enough I might start work on Paracosm which would be an indirect sequel to both Everdome and Parasomnia.

Serial Story

Wargrave Island is coming to an end, which means we’ll be voting on a new Serial Story in January. Expect a few options to pop up in the next month and a half.

 

Well that’s all the excitement on my end.

Later Days,

Éric