surrealist pencil drawing of an old man with a glass skull and a rocket flying out of his eye

Art as Inspiration

November 6, 2023

Fantastic surrealist piece by @tyler.dryden.official.


Outline of cat with skeleton and face painted in Day of the Dead decorations

Honor the Dead

November 1, 2023

Feliz día de los muertos!


cell phone and headphones with The Before and The After bookcover

Audiobook Now Available

October 31, 2023

I am happy to share that the audiobook narrated by the fantastic James Woodrich is now live on multiple platforms! Order links available here.


Picture of smiling woman from the 1970s

Hug the Ones You Love

October 25, 2023

Don’t forget to take the time to hug the people you love and let them know you care. You never know how much time you have left. Marilyn Sequeira Sept 28, 1952 - Oct 25, 1996.


butterfly with black and white, fuzzy checkered wings

Enjoy Nature

October 23, 2023

Take a moment to stop and enjoy the small things in life. This white checkered skipper is a relatively rare butterfly in Sacramento but is a helpful pollinator.


white rhinoceros resting on ground at zoo

Halloween Help

October 12, 2023

Buying Halloween candy made with sustainable palm oil helps a wide variety of animals. Click here for current wildlife-friendly candies and other products containing palm oil.


Breast Cancer Awareness

October 6, 2023

Make sure to do your self-exams and annual screening, and encourage those around you to do the same. In honor of Marilyn Sequeira 1952-1996.


Breaded dragon dressed up as a fortune teller

What’s Your Favorite Holiday?

October 5, 2023

Annie has looked into the future and says that this year’s Halloween will be the best.


Example of website to recommend books to the library

Did You Know?

October 4, 2023

If you have a library card, you can recommend books. If you don't have one, you should get one! Libraries are a great way to read a ton of books without killing your bank account.


Bright pink bell-shaped flowers

Create Wildlife Habitat

October 3, 2023

Plant water-wise, flowering plants in your garden to encourage pollinators and create habitat for local species. Extra points if the plants are native to the region.


Farmers market with people buying and selling jicama, gourds, and other fresh food items

Buy Local

September 29, 2023

Excited for jicama season! Shop your local Farmers Market in the Farm-to Fork Capitol. Market at 5th and Broadway on Sundays.


Mural of a woman, a girl, and a panther

Art as Inspiration

September 27, 2023

This wrap-around mural captures the essence of Sacramento culture. Check out the other panels on 5th and Broadway. Mural by @pawnpaint.


Art Vallejo holding a talavera mug in his coffee shop

Best Cafe in Downtown

September 25, 2023

Bueno Cafe is a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy the beauty of downtown. Try their Delicioso Mocha for a hint of Mexican flavor. On 4th and T St.


mural of a woman watering her hair with blooming flowers

Art as Inspiration

September 20, 2023

Giving water to a garden is like reading a book for the mind. Mural by @didirock on 65th St and 14th Ave.


ceramic rooster that is painted with dots and hearts

Did You Know?

September 16, 2023

The Portuguese Barcelos rooster symbolizes honesty, integrity, trust, and honor. The symbol comes from the folktale Galo de Barcelos and is the inspiration for Barcelos Publishing, LLC.


Cat and bearded dragon sitting on a windowsill.

Moral Support

September 13, 2023

Annie the Beardie and Mrs. Mia Wallis are always by my side, soaking up the sun as I plug away on the keyboard.


Woman in a 1970s Navajo Police uniform in rural New Mexico.

Strong Female Characters

September 9, 2023

Bernadette Manuelito (from Dark Winds on AMC) is a darn-near-perfect female lead. She’s like the Ripley or the Leia of the 2020s!


A smiley face and the words "be happy" written on a wall in chalk

Random ART of Kindness

September 6, 2023

It can be as easy as leaving a note to put some good out into the world.


Happy, relaxed cat curled up on a bed

Fall is Coming

September 1, 2023

The cooler weather in Sacramento makes me want to curl up with Mrs. Mia Wallis and sleep in today.


Futuristic map of Northern California with extensive flooding

Nor Cal in the After

August 30, 2023

After decades of extreme weather and rising sea levels, Trader’s Nor Cal is very different from the one we know and love. Visit one possible future in The Before and The After.


Gray bird eating aphids on tree leaves

Enjoy Nature

August 28, 2023

This little bushtit is eating aphids from the bottom of Crape Myrtle leaves. Nature always finds balance.


Mural of kids reading a book with quote "I'll help you practice your roar and find your own voice".

Art as Inspiration

August 25, 2023

Find your ROAR. Mural by Herakut located on 68th Ave at Rosa Parks Elementary.


eBook of The Before and The After on an ipad

Release Date: Oct 10th

August 20, 2023

The Before and The After will be available in eBook and paperback formats on October 10th!


Bearded dragon looking at a notebook

Book Critic: Annie the Beardie

August 17, 2023

Ran through story notes for my second book with Annie today. After this pic, she slid down and pooped on them. Constructive feedback makes a better end-product, I guess?


Ripley and Jonesy from the movie Alien

Character Inspiration

August 11, 2023

Can you name the feline hero? This furry badass is the namesake for Earl’s cat in The Before and The After.


Mural of skeletons with calavara makeup surrounded by carnations.

Art as Inspiration

August 7, 2023

Mural by 2Hermano on 28th and Q was inspiration for Malikai’s art in The Before and The After.


Pride mural

Celebrate Diversity

August 4, 2023

No one wants to live on the planet Camazotz or don a red robe with a white bonnet.


Three books in a stack. The Gunslinger, The Galaxy and the Ground Within, and the Last Cuentista

Guest Appearance

August 2, 2023

What do these three books have in common? It’s more than just a guest appearance in The Before and The After.


Cat and bearded dragon sitting on a windowsill.

Take a Chance

July 28, 2023

Be open to meeting people who are different from you. Your next friend may surprise you.


Mural of a mesoamerican skull and flowers.

Oak Park

July 24, 2023

Sacramento loves its murals. This one is in Oak Park, where it all starts in The Before and The After. Mural by Aizik Brown. Located at 3400 3rd Ave. 


YouTube homepage for LofiGirl

The Best Music To Write To

July 19, 2023

LoFi Girl is my go-to for music when I am writing.


Goodreads page for The Before and The After book.

Show Your Support

July 17, 2023

Click “Want To Read” on Goodreads and support the launch of The Before and The After.


Art as Inspiration

July 14, 2023

Sacramento is known for murals secreted around the city. This striking mural by John Pugh makes an appearance in The Before and the After. Located on 6th St at J.


Author in front of the library with stack of books.

Read and Read Some More

July 12, 2023

There are so many great stories out there! Check out your local library for your next great read. If they don’t have what you are looking for, request it through your library. 


Empty lot with dry grass and trees bordered by fence with Oak Park in graffiti.

Oak Park: Where It All Starts

July 10, 2023

This picture of Oak Park in the Before looks a lot like the After. This east Sacramento neighborhood is where Trader starts his journey on the Nor Cal circuit.


Short-haired cat sitting in window.

Character Inspiration

July 8, 2023

Hoodie was the inspiration for the character Sasha. He was my writing co-pilot for every word of The Before and The After. We lost him to kidney disease in May.


Cult symbol in ash and blood on ground.

Watch for the Signs

July 6, 2023

Through blood and ash, they will rise.


Wall mural that says Sacramento City of Trees.

City of Trees

July 4, 2023

Excited to have The Before and The After set in the beautiful City of Trees. Mural by @cannedpineappleco. Located on X and 15th in sunny Sacramento, CA, USA.