Bouncing Back--July IWSG
First, thanks for all the happy thoughts after last month’s IWSG post. June is always full of emotional turmoil for me and last month hit harder than normal. I’m happy to say that my spirits are perking back up now that we’ve survived June. The writing is still slow, but more because I’ve had family visiting than because I don’t want to do it.
Today, I want to say how grateful I am for the wonderful subscribers from my newsletter. They rallied two weeks ago to pull me up from the bottom of the barrel. I sent them a note pretty much begging for people willing to beta read the 2/3 of a novel that they *hopefully* were waiting for me to finish. I was more honest and vulnerable than I’ve ever been and they showed up to support me.
There are no words to describe how good it feels when people you’ve never met, will probably never meet, sign up to read your words and encourage you to finish the story. Thanks to them, that’s what I’m doing. Now that my family has gone home and we’re back to “life as usual” I hope to knock CATCH ME IF I FALL out and get it to readers by the first of September.
I’ve also found my mind turning more often to a project I published in 2019 and let sit. Back then I knew I had taken the lazy route and that I would one day return and make that one book into a fleshed-out trilogy. Yep, THE HAND OF ATUA was a 100K word outline for what I really wanted to write. Last month when I didn’t feel like writing romance, I started working on the epic space opera again. And in order to keep myself moving forward, I’m giving Kindle Vella a shot.
The first four episodes of REBEL PRINCE are now live.
If you don’t know how Vella works, the first three episodes are always free. So, go check them out and come back to tell me what you think. If you do read episode 4, it unlocks comments on Vella for each episode.
I guess what I’m getting at is this. The weight and sadness of the past is moving to the background once again, and I’m finding that I want to explore worlds outside my own once more. It’s a good feeling. I’m also trying to learn new things in the hope of one day breaking into a world where people know my name. 😉
In other news, this week you can get A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS on kindle countdown sale.
If you're looking for other Christmas in July titles, check out this group of books. (click the image)
July 5 IWSG question - 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
Most of my sci-fi stories came from crazy dreams. The romance comes from being observant and from wanting to share stories about real people living real lives with real problems while finding where they fit in this world. I watch people around me and allow myself to ask questions about what they're going through, how that would affect existing relationships, or how a new relationship would affect the trial. And then stories unfold in my mind.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!