It’s that time again—when my favorite form of procrastination kicks in and I start a whole new project while still in the middle of another. And yes, I’ve done it again. While I was deep into writing Under The Flamboyant Tree, I took a little detour into The Kids Are Gone. If you’re surprised, you shouldn’t be. This is classic Joa.

For example, when I was writing “Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring,” I took a detour into “The Alvarez Girls.” Two completely different books each under completely different pen name 🤣🤣

I’ve made it ridiculously easy for myself to bounce around. I have countless stories, novellas, and half-finished books stored away on my drive, just waiting for their moment to distract me. While this creative chaos has its perks—like expanding my catalog—it’s not without its downsides. Let’s just say the project I should be working on takes a little longer to complete when I’m hopping between worlds.

That said, The Kids Are Gone is turning into something incredible. I’ve pushed the boundaries of what started as a short story, and now it’s evolving into a novella with supernatural and sci-fi vibes. Carolina’s journey is getting deeper, darker, and more complex by the day. Shows like Evil have been a huge inspiration, showing me how to walk that fine line between supernatural, psychological, and scientific explanations, leaving the audience to decide for themselves what’s really going on. Also I have to say that the first episode of Agatha All Along was like a wake up call for me, because it showed me exactly the vision that I was going for—Carolina pulling herself away from her fragmented memories to reveal the truth she’s kept hidden from herself.

In The Kids Are Gone, readers will be left questioning Carolina’s reality: Is she losing her mind? Is this some divine punishment? Or is her mind simply playing cruel tricks on her? The ambiguity is what makes it so deliciously tense.

I can’t wait for you all to dive into it and see what you think!