Reflections #AtoZChallenge and June IWSG

Reflections

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J's REFLECTIONS

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

"I believe that if someone wants to, they will, because when I wanted to, I did. I showed up even when I was drained and tired. I found time, even on my busiest days. I reprioritized instead of making excuses. There is time for what matters most to an individual." - Unknown

As I left a list of questions to be prompts on the A to Z blog, I felt I should answer them here on my blog.

• How do you feel about the Theme Reveal?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I love it. It's a great way to preview what blogs will offer, and it increases participation and planning!
• In what ways does the reflection post help you?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I like to look back over the month and see if I've met my goals and review how well my blog has done.
• What experiences have you had in the past, or hope to have this year, with the Road Trip?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I get a few visits now and then because of it. With fewer challenge participants, it isn't as necessary as it once was.
• Does the HTML on the badges/ graphics page help you?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I find it helpful. I do a lot in HTML code.
• Did you meet your blogging goals in April?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I did!
• One goal was to comment on every blog on the Master List in April. I have done that. (With the exception to blogs that lacked an A to Z post or a way to comment: Personal Growth & Wellness, The English Explorer, Visits With Mary, Writing all along , The Madlab Post, Belles-Lettres, bneil.me, The Story Factory, CANDID CANINE: MINIS & BOOKS, Books Reviews and more - Cai) 
• https://obliqview.blogspot.com/  I B Arora - Put the wrong website in the masterlist, but I got the right one from a comment. (The link in the Masterlist went to the blogger dashboard instead of a blog.)
  
• I LOVE the x posts. Those are my favorites to visit.
• What were your top five favorite blogs from the challenge to visit in April this year?
1. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I left lots of comments on the myths and books posts of Ronel at https://www.ronelthemythmaker.com
2. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I enjoyed half a dozen of these https://crackerberries.wordpress.com/
3. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I commented on a lot of these random posts https://lawsofgravity.blogspot.com/
4. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - The most adorable 🥰 blog in the challenge https://georgesgpworld.uk/
5. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I like books https://jannghi.blogspot.com
6. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I really like books https://www.erinpenn.com/blog/
7. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - Janet usually has cheerful posts, but she went strong political this year, and I enjoyed it https://scr4pl80.com/
8. 😎🐢🦃🐺 - There were some great visuals here https://linzebrandon.blogspot.com
• Did a co-host (J Lenni Dorner, Arlee Bird, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente, or Ronel Janse van Vuuren) comment on your blog during the challenge?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I received at least 27 from Ronel. 
• Is there a comment you received on your blog in April that is your favorite?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I had several! 

• Who were your top comment-leavers this challenge, and did they do the challenge?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - In addition to Ronel's 💖... at least 24 from Liz A., at least 9 from Barbie of Crackerberries -- and both did the challenge
• Are there any other blog hops you regularly take part in?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - IWSG
• Did you discover anything interesting because of the Challenge?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I learned about a virtue that I would consider to be the opposite (corrupt) https://titli15081977.blogspot.com/2026/04/v-for-virtues.html
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I also found another blogger who is grateful for the blogging community, as I am. https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafteragain.blogspot.com/2026/04/have-mercy-this-has-been-longest-26.html
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I learned why celebrities are also called stars. https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2026/04/wishing-for-wing-zings-atozchallenge.html
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I learned of "Dendromancy (tree divination)" https://loribossert.com/2026/04/28/a-z-challenge-2026-x/
• Will you plan to do the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge in 2027, and why (or why not)?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I am the team captain, so you better believe I will!
• Will you recommend this blog hop to others?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I always do.
• If RoadTrippers only visit one of your Challenge posts, which would you suggest and why?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I would start with A. It sets the posts up and has an interesting question. https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-hearts-desire-atozchallenge-2026.html
• Do you plan to visit the A to Z site every month?
• 😎🐢🦃🐺 - I always do! I write some of those posts. 😏

MAP VISUAL of how the Challenge did for my blog this year:

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InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSG13

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

May 6 question -

What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

There are several reviews I am grateful for, and here are highlights of two that were turned into images by AllAuthor during my Proof of Existence promo. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36273731-fractions-of-existence#CommunityReviews

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65150644-proof-of-existence?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_25#CommunityReviews

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43684969-writing-book-reviews-as-an-author#CommunityReviews

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53137131-lumber-of-the-kuweakunks#CommunityReviews

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241082039-jewels-of-darterra#CommunityReviews
 - Ronel is the only person to review Jewels of Darterra on Goodreads. 

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📚📖📗📘📙🛒🛍️🎉📲📔📕📗📘📚📦

https://www.theindieauthorhive.com/2026-stuff-your-kindle-event-calender

Stuff Your Kindle (SYKD) = connect readers with free and discounted Kindle books

May 13th–18th

Buzzfest SYKD (All Genres)

Multi-genre indie author promotion event featuring romance, fantasy, thriller, horror, contemporary fiction, and more.

📚📚📚

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~🐢🦃🐺 Lenni Lenape ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features!

Reflections #AtoZChallenge 2023 Proof of Existence #UrbanFantasy #Book

Theme:
A behind-the-scenes look at and inside scoop on PROOF OF EXISTENCE, Book Two of the Existence series.
📚 Proof of Existence - Published April 4, 2023

Thank you SO MUCH for the 150 comments I received this month! 💗

I hoped to visit more blogs. I had a solid plan for April. 
But you know what they say about making plans...

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." — Woody Allen

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" — John Lennon

A dear family member of my spouse went from "stable" to "we're making her comfortable," and finally to passing on. Her last breath was followed by the aurora borealis appearing. (To be clear-- this does NOT happen. Pennsylvania, USA is too far south for the Northern Lights. Except they came this month.) It's the sort of awful and awe-inspiring moment that gives one great pause.

Otherwise, the challenge went fairly well. It was fun to find so many ways to work my book into the alphabet. Ronel, you especially made this challenge fun for me.

Facebook tried to mess with our initial link-up, but John quickly solved that. Jayden came up with a way to share the Master List on the blog itself. Thanks to Arlee for covering when my "N" (Never Give Up) post vanished from the A to Z blog. Zalka did an amazing job of pulling the team out of hibernation this year. A big thanks to our anonymous graphics person for stepping up.

Twitter ... 🤦🏽‍♂️ is testing everyone's patience. And some reports are that Rafflecopter was having international issues, or that the Facebook login feature has stopped working. I know some bloggers ""went rogue"" and opted to post a month of alphabet posts without joining the challenge, without becoming part of the community. They didn't wish to hop to each others' blogs, or support one another, or whatever the reason. You can invite everyone to dinner, it doesn't mean they'll opt to come. 

The A to Z Team is just a handful of volunteers giving what we can to keep people inspired and connected through blogging. We have decades of experience (plus Zalka has a doctorate degree, and a little birdie told me that Jayden will soon have one as well). Our team is diverse in age, origin, gender, country, and culture. We do the very best that we can with what resources we have, and I am proud to be part of this team. 

I hope my fellow bloggers will join us monthly, as we have posts planned for the whole year. And keep hopping with the Road Trip! (Posting next week.) Your blogging community is as strong as you make it. I'll be posting on the A to Z blog in January for the New Year, so get your blogging resolutions ready!

March 10, 2024, will be the next #AtoZChallenge Theme Reveal. 📅 Put it on your calendar. 

QUESTION — What did you enjoy most and least about this year's challenge?


💻📚🛒📦😃📖
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fa90ac752 Rafflecopter
WIN Custom Proof of Existence Blanket (US only) or Name a Character (International)
(Facebook Log In might not work due to a Rafflecopter error.)

What's next for me?

https://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/bout-of-books-37-sign-up.html

#SFF #AtoZChallenge #Reflection 2022

 Another round of the A to Z Challenge is OVER! My theme was:

A speculative fiction short story from a dreamer

The story outline started with a dream I had. (I'm the dreamer.) It's a dystopian setting.  

Writing a short story on the fly sounded like a *good* idea. I would not do it again during A to Z. The first week went okay. I had time to write the story as well as comment on 50 blogs. 

But then things went wrong in my life. Regular followers know that, after L, I fell behind. My friend is doing much better. Thanks to everyone who cared and gave prayers, good vibes, and well wishes. 

We were sitting around waiting for him to get out of surgery number two. (We had food with us this time. Unlike surgery number one, where we scrounged a nearly empty vending machine and ate my supply of pocket jerky. Fun fact about J, I almost always have jerky stashed in my pocket.) 

He came out fine, and then we left. In the parking garage, I heard an engine rev. Hairs on my neck and arms stood up. I shoved my spouse to the side before getting grazed by the truck and slammed into a concrete post. 

Yes, they caught the driver. He claimed it didn't happen. And he doesn't know how some of my hair was hanging off his SUV. Oh, the security camera? Whoops. Didn't think about that, did you? 

Anyway. So I didn't die on April 30. But it was closer than I'd like. I'm a little injured but I will be fine. My spouse is fine, but is less than thrilled with the idea of my going on vacation (hiking alone in the woods) by myself in a few days. 

Hey, wanna see a funny? https://twitter.com/JLenniDorner/status/1520638145691324416 How I named the last character. 

Here's a review of all the prompts I was given (comments, tweets, dm, email, and WEP). 

• J's dystopian dream ✅
• wormhole ✅ (several)
• time/space travelers arrive on a planet that has been settled by space pioneers or an alien race ✅ (Letter Z) 
• time travel (x2) ✅ (May's students time traveled. It also comes up several times.)
• another species on Earth suddenly got the upper hand ✅ (The overlords put species on Earth, and they all have the upper hand now.)
• an alien who's on the run from an overlord race prepared to take over earth and who falls in love with a baker who just happens to be working undercover for the Dept of Homeland Security ✅ (O'tien and Piers)
• a storm system that isn't exactly weather ✅ (Hurricane wormhole travel)
• 'Implants'? Memory implants, for example. Or vitamin implants. ✅ (Language implants)
• something underwater for your setting ✅ (Humpback whale travel was underwater, in a hurricane wormhole thing.)
• pansexual couple hooking up for the first time ✅ (May and Jade)
• tardigrade ✅ (Overlord Shell and his kind)
• shapeshifting ✅ (Piers becomes a humpback whale. 🐋 )
• electricity isn't working, something crucial for the protagonist isn't working but something they never thought they needed, does? ✅ (Letter S. Even I didn't know they'd need the Jay-Aid until I got there. Ha ha ha.)
• girl's name: Jade ✅ (Love interest character.)
• dream of things like grass, and running through fields. ✅ (Jade dreams this while in the whale.)
• Guinea Pig World ruled by Biggles ✅ (Letter Z. Hinted in J, among other posts.)
• chimera hermaphrodite or sexual organ ambiguity main character ✅ (May Rose)
• An alien society (or character) that travels only within mind-space dimensions ✅ (O'tien and Az'es)
• Palio di Siena, in an alternative universe where the occupants of the Contrades are the animals after which each Contrade is named ✅ (J, K, L posts)
•  ✅ (Q post.)

Fun facts:

I did very little planning. I knew I wouldn't show the world as a setting until I made the WEP post. I did not know that Quintilis would be in the Q post. I came up with that the day I wrote and posted it.

The "catch up" posts that were posted a few hours apart? I wrote them, did two edit passes, and posted. That's "live" writing time.

May Rose, July Ice, and Quintilis Cave -- May is so named because I looked at the names of months. "After Caesar's death, the month Quintilis was renamed July in honor of Julius Caesar in 44 BC" 
And then I decided last names would be from vague descriptions of places. Rose is, of course, a joke, because the place has no roses and smells absolutely terrible. 

During the I post, May talking to the reddish stone was still going to just be an inside joke. As people are the pets now, they don't really have domestic pets, so... pet rocks are cool again! But later I figured out that I could use the stone to help with the alien in the mind-space travel prompt. 

I forgot about needing a shapeshifter. I didn't want to add another character at that point. None of the students could be shapeshifters because that would have come in the mind scans. So Piers got one more tool. He was already a baker who worked with the Dept of Homeland security thanks to a prompt. But what kind of shapeshifter could be useful? Well, I also needed an underwater scene yet. And then I found the story of a whale ingesting a guy and spitting him out elsewhere. But I also needed a storm that isn't weather, so yes, I added a hurricane that contains a wormhole. 

Biggles was always getting the happy world at the end of the story. I dropped foreshadowing all over the story, but was very careful not to say Biggles or mention guinea pigs until the final scenes. The Chavín people were real! And lived in the same place that guinea pigs are said to originate from, the Andes area of South America, around what's now Peru. 

I planned from the start that Jade would be Jade X, because that solved a title for a difficult letter. And I knew it would be "X" because May was to train an "alphabet worth" of classes-- because it's the A to Z Challenge and that amuses me. But, omg, using that as one last cliffhanger in the story by telling you that Jade X can't come to the new world... 😆

May starts off selfish in a way. She's grateful for what she has. She'll do anything to keep what she has. And if that means dozens of virgins from another timeline get turned into pets for alien overlords to breed, so be it. This could have easily been an erotic story if you consider the actual teaching that was going on. Anyway, by the end, May gives up everything for Jade. None of what she was so grateful for matters to her anymore. Does anyone notice the lack of a mention of plumbing on Biggles' planet Yeovil?  

🚽🛀🚰🚾🐹

There were a LOT of great comments on my blog this month. I'm going to share a few favorites:

(I LOVE how many of you could relate to being ignored by motion sensors for lights, faucets, and doors, by the way.)

Please follow J Lenni Dorner:

#atozchallenge Reflection 2021, Scavenger Hunt results, and Bout of Books

Another challenge down. I had visits from 28 countries in April.
(United States, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Hungary, United Kingdom, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Bahrain, Nigeria, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Myanmar, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan.)

I enjoyed the challenge. (I didn't enjoy the days this month where I didn't have power or wifi, thanks to the new neighbors who 🔥🚒🚓👮👩🏽‍🚒👨🏽‍🚒 shook up the lives of everyone in the area. It's fine, we made do.) 

I absolutely plan to host again next year. 

Considering that two people tried to sign up Instagram as a blog, yes, I think we need to add Instagram as a social media follow option (like we offer for Twitter and Facebook) on the Master List. 

I feel the option of an email verification on the Master List so people would have the option of fixing their own mistakes or even removing their blogs if they drop out before A. Having the sign-up open closer to April 1 this year meant not as many people dropped out before the first day. (See image below. This year, only 6% of people never posted for the challenge despite signing up.) Also, when the Theme Reveal and Master List were open at the same time, a lot of people didn't understand they had to sign up for both to be on both lists. I saw a reduction in complaints this year by not opening the Master List sign-up until the Theme Reveal closed.

"Are you interested in writing a guest post for the A to Z blog in the next few months (June thru February)? If so, please answer with a way to contact you (such as email or Twitter), the month you are interested in (if applicable), and your alphabet-themed post idea."
If you haven't taken the survey yet, please READ that whole thing. Two people said yes, but left no contact information, month, or idea. Six people left contact info, but no month or idea. 🤷

Speaking of the survey, currently 39 people remember being visited by me. 😁
Actually, if you read onward, you'll see that I visited every blog on the Master List this year.

💗😍 Right now, I'm the most visited co-host! Aww, thanks!

😲 Unexpected! My blog views actually dropped during the challenge. That is the first time I've experienced this. This was my tenth year doing the challenge. My theme reveal was popular. But my February and March IWSG posts both had more views than even my most popular A to Z. 🤯

Which Double Down on the #AtoZChallenge 2021 with these Bonus Challenges did I do?

• Ask the audience in March to give you prompts/ ideas for April - interaction challenge
• More comments on your blog - marketing challenge
• Check how many comments you've previously gotten during the A to Z Challenge
• I received 237 comments this year! 191 last year. 
• Take a gamble on lesser-known authors - marketing philanthropy challenge
• Mention one debut author for each letter day  -- I did this on my posts at Operation Awesome in April.
• Mix a second blog hop in during the A to Z Challenge - time management challenge
• WEP https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/p/challenges-2021.html 

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The A to Z Challenge 2021 Scavenger Hunt! Here's how I did:

No "Eye of the Tiger," or tiger fish, tiger biscuits, tiger fabric, or all these memory posts on the horrors of 2020 but no one mentioned "Tiger King"? 

I saw one T post with Tigger. Did anyone find a Tiger post?

Sometimes the posts I found mention the word, and sometimes it is just visible in a picture that day. And I used a Nutella post for nuts because none of the food bloggers used nuts on N day! (Am I alone in liking Nut Tossies?)

• A is for — Apple 🍎
https://inkonapage.com/2021/04/01/a-to-z-challenge-04-01-21-apple-art-from-japan/
• B is for — Bear 🧸
https://artmater.com/b-is-for-bear-a-to-z-challenge-april-2-2021-post-2/ (Not on Master List)
• C is for — Cobweb 🕸
https://alicesgrandadventures.blogspot.com/2021/04/c-is-for-cookie-cakes-and-maybe-cobweb.html
• D is for — Dragon 🐲
https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2021/04/atozchallenge2021-d-is-for-dragon-purple.html
• E is for — Evil 👿
https://deadmanstales.wordpress.com/2021/04/05/e-elves-of-mawveth/
• F is for — Flowers 💐
https://auntyamo.com/2021/04/07/f-is-for-flowers/
• G is for — Game 🎲
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2021/04/games-atozchallenge.html
• H is for — Hat 👒
https://theakilahbrown.com/2021/04/09/h-is-for-holes-atozchallenge-pandemicalphabet/
• I is for — Island 🏝
https://olgagodim.wordpress.com/2021/04/10/a-to-z-challenge-letter-i/
• J is for — Jewelry 💍
https://rose-the-storylady.com/jewelry-april-12/
• K is for — Key 🔑
https://www.sunitabiddu.com/keyword-research-best-blogging-tips/
• L is for — Leaves 🍂
https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2021/04/atozchallenge-l-is-for-joyous-living.html
• M is for — Men 👬
https://melaniecrousesblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/m-is-for-mark-and-jeff-and-darren.html
• N is for — Nuts 🥜
https://somethingiscooking.com/2021/04/16/nutella-truffles-recipe/
• O is for — Orange 🍊
https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/2021/04/17/oranges-olives-and-octopus/
• P is for — Pen 🖊
https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=2502
• Q is for — Questions ❓
http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2021/04/2021-atozchallenge-q-is-for-questions.html
• R is for — Rainbow 🌈
https://mary-mann.blogspot.com/2021/04/r-is-for-rainbow-pride.html
• S is for — Scissors ✂
https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/2021/04/s-scraps-chutes-de-tissu-atozchallenge.html
• T is for — *Tiger 🐯  (see update below) http://chasingmylife.com/2021/04/23/a-to-z-challenge-t-is-for-train-tamping-track-and-all-things-train/
• U is for — Uniform 💂
https://fictioncanbefun.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/a2z-challenge-u-for-uniform/ (Not on Master List)
• V is for — Velvet 🧶
https://galeriaredelius.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/velvet-roses/
• W is for — Whale 🐳
https://heavygators.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-to-z-challenge-w-is-for-western-gray.html
• X is for — X-ray 🦴
https://maggie-itselementary.blogspot.com/2021/04/x-rays-and-parents.html
• Y is for — Yellow 💛
https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2021/04/y-is-for-yohann-did-not-see-this-coming.html
• Z is for — Zipper 🤐
https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/2021/04/z-zipper-fermeture-eclair-atozchallenge.html

I am spending a few more hours trying to reach every #atoxchallenge blog on the master list.
I'm at 75% right now.

— J Lenni Dorner (@JLenniDorner) May 1, 2021

I finished visiting everyone at 6:35 AM · May 2, 2021 -- If you are on the Master List and didn't get a comment from me, please let me know. Be sure to check your spam folder.

***UPDATE***
Thank you to Lisa (scroll to comments). She found a TIGER on T day! And thanks to Tamy for posting a tiger painted on train cars. 

 

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"But J, what was wrong with my entry on the Master List? How can I avoid this mistake?"
There were fewer problems this year. But let us take a moment to REFLECT and learn from mistakes. Maybe even find a way to help the team prevent these issues in the future.

• The biggest problem is if there are no A to Z blog posts to comment on. (Or no posts from 2021 at all.)
• In one case, the comment area was closed.
• Instagram is a social media site, not a blog.
• 1MvCrorywrites.Wordpress.com —
• https://wordpress.com/view/olbigjim.com — Blogs do not start with wordpress. "WordPress.com is a platform for self-publishing that is popular for blogging and other works. It is owned and operated by Automattic, Inc." It's a company, not a blog. This is a link to a link that opens a dashboard for the blogger. It isn't the right link.
• https://awriterdarkly.com — I couldn't comment without having an account on that platform. Nope.

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GIVEAWAY:
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.

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QUESTIONS: 

• How far did you get in the challenge?
• Are you doing Bout of Books 31?
• Did you do the scavenger hunt? Should I create another for 2022?
• Did you take the survey?
  

    

Please consider getting a shirt.

J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author