Thank you!!

Thank you! Thank you!!   First of all, I really want to thank you for your support.  And I want to thank all of you who take the extra time to rate and review my books!!   Not only does it encourage me to keep writing, but it helps my books sell!

Second, I want to share some exciting news with you.  I recieved my information for the last quarter from Smashwords and it is very apparent that a lot of people are enjoying Ava's adventure in Taken!  I was looking through all the data that Smashwords keeps track of for me when I stumbled across some very exciting news that I was totally unaware of.  My book is not just selling here in the United States, but also in Australia, Europe, Canada, and Great Brittan!   Have I told you how blessed I am to have found Smashwords(they have given me the platform to make my dreams reach beyond what I thought my dreams could)!    I am just like a little kid at Christmas, I couldn't believe that not only is Taken doing so well, but it's doing well internationally.  Not like Stephanie Meyer well, but for a girl who took a chance and ran with her dream, not expecting much, I am quite ecstatic with the numbers!

Again, thank you!!  (I won't ever get sick of saying it)

“Some who have read the book, or at any rate reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer. But even from the points of view of many who have enjoyed my story, there is much that fails to please. It is perhaps not possible in a long tale to please everybody at all points, or to displease everybody at the same points; for I find from the letters that I have received that the passages or chapters that are to some a blemish are all by others specially approved.” J.R.R. Tolkien

I was sent this quote today, and it made me smile so I figured I would share it with you.  


I admit I'm guilty of checking for reviews/ratings on my book.   I'm still a young writer and I love to see what people think of my adventure stories.  As with anyone who is starting on a new endevour, I want to see if people like what I am doing, whether they've enjoyed my work. 


On the occasion that someone didn't  care for my book (and I'm happy to report it is in the minority).  I used to go through a cycle.  First I feel bad that they didn't, then I wondered what it was that they didn't like and could I have done something better, after those thoughts would sit for awhile I would start to question whether or not my writing skills were as good as I thought they were.   However, thankful for my simpleness, it only takes one person to give positive feedback and it sends my heart soaring (I love to read the comments and see the ratings that show someone really enjoyed the story I wrote), making it much easier to handle not pleasing whoever didn't like my story. 

With what I've learned in my life, I understand that not everyone is going to like what or how I write.  I love honesty and constructive critizism, and I respect other peoples opinions.  It helps me with my number one challenge: sitting back and remembering you cannot please everyone - I am still a work in progress.  Some days it is difficult to rationalize in my head that I can't make everyone happy, but slowly I'm getting there. 


So, for those of you whose path is similar to mine, you are the reason I copied this quote.  It sums up the truth about writing (as to be expected from such an infamous writer).  As for me, I'm going to stick the quote near my writing to use as a shield for the self-doubt that tries to sneak its way into my mind.

This is for my readers who want to publish too!

So I know I've said it before but I think that Mark Coker is a genius, and the more I read the more I wish all business people ran their business like he does.  I just finished reading a short and recent interview with Mark Coker and I once again find myself truly blessed to have found Smashwords!  To read the interview click here.  For those of you still debating whether or not to publish what you've written or don't know if you can do it.  Let me tell you from personal experience if the idea is there try it (just be prepared for the edit and revise cycle to be longer than you want it, but that it is worth it in the end).  And publishing is easy, especially if your working with Smashwords.  They set you up for success and they really are there to help you (which is totally awesome).  Just remember that high expectations are not met overnight well not for most people.  As far as success goes, that is all perspective.  My books have sold more each quarter and I am quite excited to see the results for this last quarter!  (Each quarter my books sold have almost doubled which to me is success.)  Like I've said before I didn't even intend to actually put one book out there, and then after I did, I didn't really expect much.  And today, for me, each book sold is a success because had I never put the books out there I never would have sold one and that would have been failure.  Now I'm addicted to writing, I've published four books, and the ideas continue to flow!  My success may not be that of Stephen King, or Tolkien, or JK Rowling, but wow I've had success!  Live your dreams, especially when you hear them calling in the back of your mind.  And if it's to publish a book, I believe that Smashwords is a great place to start, their honest, helpful, have all the tools you need to get your book out there (well they don't do covers, but they tell you where you can go that other Smashwords authors go), and they don't tell you what to do, they offer ideas and advise from what they've learned because they want you to be successful too.  Anyways, this was longer than I expected, but I hope you take a moment to read his interview!  Oh, and here's a link to the Smashwords site for those of you who want to read more about Smashwords!

It's a rainy day, and it's been a beautifully, peaceful day.  I woke up this morning with yet another set of characters in my head (I can't wait to unfold their adventure).  I watched a movie with the kids and we all read books.  My youngest son finished Solace.  I asked him what he wanted to read next and he said book two.  I told him it's close to done.  It was fun listening to him chuckling, hearing him make comments, and voicing what he thought might happen, or had better not happen, next.  The best part was not once did I have to tell him to go read.  He would grab the e-reader and curl up next to me as I worked on another book.  My oldest is reading Harry Potter.  Which he kept putting off because he didn't believe me that the books were better than the movies, but now that he's read all of my finished books (and just about everything else we have in the house) he's been sucked into the world of Harry Potter, saying I can't believe they didn't put that in the movie.  And I, being a good mom, just smiled and said I'm glad that you are enjoying it, while inside I'm saying I told you so.  My daughter has fallen in love with Henry and Mudge, and whatever she can read (and get a sticker for her accomplishments).   I've been revising story 8.  I had to put The Shadow Dragon book 3 aside because the ideas for story 8 were getting in the way.    Of course, I need to get back to Solace book 2 also.  Especially with readers like my sons who look forward to the next book.  This is all the incentive I need.  Which now means I should stop my babbling and get back to writing on this lovely, rainy day... after some fun with Legos that is.

"Anyone who says only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain." ~ anonymous

Just want to keep you posted.

All my books have shipped.  As of this morning I was extremely happy to see that all four of my books are at Smashwords, iTunes, Kobo, and Diesel!!   I am quite excited about that!  I didn't even think I'd publish one book a year ago!   Sony has only shelved Taken (both books), and Barnes&Nobles has shelved Taken (books one and two - book two you have to look up by its title but it is there) and Solace.   

The Shadow Dragon: Aleksertac has a release date which is at the top of this blog.  This story has really taken a life of its own.  When I began this book I only saw the one story but as it evolved it turned into two and now I've started a book three!  I love when my characters don't want me to be done with them yet!  (And people say voices in your head are bad!  Ha HA!)

My newest story which right now is titled Story 8 (It's the 8th story idea I had - which means new characters) is moving along quite well.  It is more than long enough to be a novel (which somebodies, some where decided that a novel is more than 60,000 words), but the story isn't done.

And yes, for those of you have read Solace and loved it as much as I did, I am currently working on book two for that one too!  

So, there is much to look forward too!    And that's not even getting into a few other stories that I just need to give a little more attention to (more time than I have at the moment).

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Saw this quote today and I just knew I had to share it!  I don't really have anything to add to it.  I think it says it all.  

On a side note, I have added a new countdown clock to my blog for the next book.  I was hoping to have added it before book one was published but life is busy.  Summer is such a hard time for me to write .  The outdoors call so loudly and more frequently that it's hard to concentrate, but I also can't go a day without writing.  It leaves my day incomplete, especially since I have so many things near completion and ideas constantly flowing through my mind.   

Anyways,   I guess I'd better stop babbling and get back to writing!

It has been delightful listening to my youngest son as he reads Solace.  He was a few chapters in and he comes up to me and asks if Jack dies.  I, of course, tell him to keep reading.  He walks away saying well he better not because Jack's cool.   Totally made me smile.

My oldest son finished the book he was reading and demands the next book.  I said, excuse me.  He says, there needs to be another one.  I smiled and argued that I didn't leave him hanging, and he goes on to list off several reasons why there needs to be another.  Lucky for me the next one is already started! 

The temps have been a bit unbearable here in Michigan, well the high temps with the high humidity, but it's been nice that everyone is reading/writing.  We have gone out and played soccer regardless of this extraordinarily hot week(yes that's how much I like to play) and the kids have gone swimming, but we have fallen back into enjoying the love of our imaginations.  I hope you all are staying cool and I am working hard to get the next books out! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!  It was a hot one, but after a soaking water war the temperature was manageable.  We played baseball, cooked dinner on a bonfire, kids played, adults socialized,  smores were consumed, and fireworks were watched!  All the great Traditions of living in America.   Our 4th of July is a bit of a tradition (54 years, my family has been getting together to celebrate America) we have things that are set (the baseball, the bonfire, the smores) and then things that change from year to year (the fireworks, sometimes we play soccer and/or volleyball, the water wars) but the one thing that I love most is every year, rain or shine, people gather and fun is had! 

I was even able to get a little writing in (the day is not complete without writing).  I've been a bit obsessive about this new story that I started.  It's already over 80,000 words.  I cannot wait to finish it! Not so I can start the revising process, which, happily, isn't as long as it was, but it'll be another adventure that I can share with you.  But I'll blog about this book another day - I just wanted to let you know that my ideas haven't run dry. 

I am also happy to report that my youngest boy is reading Solace: Uncharted Territory and loving it.  He read for two hours and still didn't want to put it down.  My oldest boy is reading a "not quite ready" version of the book I'm going to be releasing in October!  So far he is very satisfied with it.  This in itself makes me proud!  Proud because my boys are reading.  Proud that the books they're reading and enjoying are books that I've written! Proud because they are witnessing first hand that when focused amazing things can happen! 

Writing

So for my timeline, I have put out four books in under a year with another I'm hoping to have finished and released by October.  October being the month I published my first ebook!  So far, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo have all four of my books for sale.  Barnes&Nobles and Diesel have shelved both Taken books and Solace.  Sony has just the Taken books. 

6 stores with books written by me!  Even in my dreams, I didn't realize I was capable.  I thought one book, that's all I have.  But still the blessing of my Lord flows from me.  I have more stories than I have time to work on them, for that I will not complain, because writing is more amazing than I had ever thought.

I have to admit that this is so very exciting!  I know when my family and friends were encouraging me to epublish, I had no idea what a great experience this would be.  Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot of work and surprises that I've had to figure out, but amazing all the same.    Even when I wanted to be writer as a kid I had not thought about the exciting ride that would ensue.  I suppose as a kid the ride isn't what you dream about and maybe that's where I failed myself.  So even though it disappoints me to think that had I persevered through those nay-sayers, I could have been writing all along, I am not disappointed with where I am now.  Perhaps it all made me stronger in the long run.  I  now can take people's opinions and know that is all it is. 

Self-doubt is a horrible thing, but it keeps us humble.  With each book I write I wonder if it's as good as the first, but I don't allow that self-doubt to block me from continuing.  In everything that has happened in my life that is what I have learned, I'm my only obstical.  I control how I recieve what other say and put it in my heart.  There's a song by Evanescence called "Bring Me To Life."  I think that song is the theme to Taken.  I listened to that group a lot while I wrote it, amonst other songs.  But that song pulled hard at me with Ava and Gabriel.  In book 2, I listened to that song over and over as I wrote the scene where she wakes up from a dream and just can't take the life she is living anymore.  At the end she finds the one thing that makes her life compete.  Writing was a wake up call to the life I had lost touch with.  I love being able to pour all of me into an adventure.  It gives everything more meaning.  Writing Ava gave me self-confidents, strength, and inspired me to be more than I thought I was.  

My firend told me that they like that I continue to put myself out there and try new things all for the sake of my books.  But have I really put myself out there?  I sometimes think that I'm still letting myself down.  So, for the next month, I'm going to work on this blog more than I have (hopefully I will not stop in a month - but a month is a goal that I can work with).   Some of you might not like it, might get bored - feel free to tell me, some of you might love it, feel free to let me know, ask questions, whatever.  I have totally been lacking at the concept behind blogging. 

Thank you to those who read my posts, I've come a long way and your the ones that I have to thank.  It's inspirational to see that my blog is being looked at, that people are curious about the adventures that I'm writing/publishing.