Helena Lancaster's Blog, page 3

Love in Flames has released!

I’m very excited to say that Love in Flames is now available! Rayna and I worked very hard on the writing of this book. It took its toll on us mentally and emotionally but proved to be well worth it in the end. For me, this was very hard to write at times due to how connected I tend to be with my character. Rayna and I seem to have excelled at bringing the characters that we write into ourselves as if we are them as we pen their story. Bringing this story to life has been a challenge for me as a writer. It has taught me a lot and I know it will continue to teach me. For example, up until I began writing this series with Rayna, I had a horrible time writing things in first person point of view and now it comes to me much easier. Everything in life is a learning process just as everything in writing is for a writer. I’m quite thankful to Rayna for continuing to push me to better myself as a writer and it is because of her that I have more confidence writing in a point of view that I had always struggled with. I do intend on writing a more in-depth blog about this soon. For now, head over to the website for The Passion of the Dragon Saga to view the latest news, check out the teasers, read a review of the book by fellow author Lola Blake, and even find links to where you can purchase Love in Flames: The Story of Vlad the Impaler and the Women He Loved.

-Helena

Review of Phoenix from the Ashes!

KCL Publishing‘s blogger Tom just posted his review of Phoenix from the Ashes: Poetry from Personal Struggle, Rebirth, and Triumph on the company’s blog! I am truly speechless at his thoughts on this collection. I am honored to read such wonderful thoughts about my writing. Thank you so much, Tom! Everyone check out Tom’s review here on KCL’s Official Blog!

 

-Helena

Party of One: How to Stand Strong in the Truth When No One Believes You

Source: Party of One: How to Stand Strong in the Truth When No One Believes You

This really touched my heart as a survivor of abuse from toxic parents. Thank you for posting! I will definitely be using it to help me.

Re-Post: Calling All Reviewers!!!

Rayna and I just announced that we are seeking reviewers to review The Passion of the Dragon Saga on the website (view post here)! This is your chance to get excerpts of your reviews featured on the back of the Hardcover Dust Jacket of Love in Flames: The Story of Vlad the Impaler and the Women He Loved! Email us at kingstonandlancasterbooks@gmail.com so we can send you review copies!

-Helena

From Le Fey Designs: Phoenix from the Ashes Teasers

Don’t miss the Teasers for Phoenix from the Ashes out November 12, 2015 in Paperback and for Kindle from KCL Publishing!

Source: Phoenix from the Ashes Teasers

From Le Fey Designs: Phoenix from the Ashes Cover

Phoenix from the Ashes: Poetry from Personal Struggle, Rebirth, and Triumph by Helena Lancaster will release from KCL Publishing on November 12, 2015! Check out the cover reveal on their blog!

Source: Phoenix from the Ashes Cover

Passion of the Dragon Saga News!

Rayna and I recently updated the website for The Passion of the Dragon Saga about our latest adventures and so much more! We have visited yet another former residence of Vlad himself, permanently lowered the price for Hearts on Fire Paperback and Kindle versions, and been getting Love in Flames prepared for publication on the 26th of this month! It’s been quite busy but for all the details please check out the latest post on the series website. The teasers for Love in Flames will be unveiled soon so stay tuned!

-Helena

Behind Phoenix from the Ashes: A bit about my own survival

In nine short days, my second collection of poetry will be released to the world. Behind the Mask was a showing of what someone truly hides behind their every day mask they present to the world. Phoenix from the Ashes is a story of survival. It is the story of my survival but I have learned that I am far from alone. There are many people in this world that suffer with the big bad demon of depression and just as many live with PTSD. All of us that live with those things every day are survivors. I am a survivor and despite my past I have in the end chosen to keep living in this world working towards something better for me. To the those of you out there struggling these issues, please remember you are far from alone.

I’ve struggled with depression for most of my life. I have since been diagnosed with PTSD due to the trauma of my past. What trauma do you ask? I grew up in the sheltered but fearsome home of a narcissistic mother. Finding my way out of that chaotic hell was a journey that I am grateful for today that I was too stubborn to give up on. I am away from my mother. In fact, I am 5,300 miles away from my mother and have not willingly s

poken to her in over three years. There are those that still tell me things like “she’s your mother” or “you only get one mother” but they are the same people who have no idea what life under the influence with a narcissist is like. After finding a multitude of support groups and pages on Facebook, I have discovered just how many have suffered in this same hell on earth that I did. It is wonderful to know that you aren’t crazy when you live in a world like that. It was something that showed me something was never wrong with me but wrong with my mother. It was relieving in a way to discover that though I had always been raised to believe I was the problem that I wasn’t.

I’ve been on a long journey of trying to find myself since walking away from my mother. I’ve learned about different things pertaining to what I had gone through. I’ve used it to help strengthen me. I’ve also written to release the feelings I had held inside for so long. There are so many of these poems that are rooted in living with a

narcissistic parent and the invisible scars it leaves behind. Why am I sharing this? I want people to know exactly where I’ve been so that maybe my writing just might help

them find their way out of a dark hole and into seeing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know how hard trying to live through this experience is first hand and I want to help others find their way to better days in their own lives. No one deserves to have live through that kind of pain.

I want Phoenix from the Ashes: Poetry from Personal Struggle, Rebirth, & Triumph to show my journey. I have separated it into three different sections naming them Fall to Darkness, Burning Day, and From the Ashes. These seventy-five poems let you see into my soul and my pain. I set it up to be metaphorical like that of a mythical phoenix to show that anyone can theoretically have a burning day and rise from the ashes someone reborn. Anyone has that power inside themselves and if there is anything I hope to come from my poetry it is that it helps lead others to that same discovery.

I’ve added a few resources on Narcissistic Mothers below. Phoenix from the Ashes: Poetry from Personal Struggle, Rebirth, & Triumph releases November 12, 2015 in Paperback and Kindle formats worldwide from KCL Publishing. For those of you out there struggling, please never hesitate to seek help and know you’re never alone.

-Helena

Cover artwork and teaser designs by Le Fey Designs

Resources on Narcissistic Mothers

http://www.narcissisticmother.com/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201311/the-narcissistic-mother
https://www.facebook.com/Narcissistic-Parent-Answers-140962406067146/
http://www.newkidscenter.com/Narcissistic-Mothers.html
http://goop.com/the-legacy-of-a-narcissistic-parent/
http://www.bandbacktogether.com/adult-children-of-Narcissistic-parents-resources/

UPDATES: Love in Flames, Phoenix from the Ashes, News, Historical Visits, and More!

Don’t miss out on mine and Rayna’s latest blog post on The Passion of the Dragon Saga website: Love in Flames: News, Historical Visits, and Kindle Promo! There is lots of big news there! Love in Flames releases in Paperback and for Kindle in just six more weeks! Save the date, November 26! For those interested in Hardcover, it will be releasing on December 1!

I have not forgotten about my poetry! Poetry is my personal therapy and something that I value deeply in my life. Phoenix from the Ashes is out on November 12, just about four more weeks from now. I’ll have some nice previews out within the next week or two for everyone to enjoy. I’m working hard on choosing the right poems to be included in this collection. For you poetry lovers, it will not be my last one. I already have ideas for the title of my third one but nothing definite yet. Phoenix from the Ashes will be in the hands of my wonderful editor, Ashley, at the end of this week. I’m nervous and excited at the same time for this release. Each and every time I share my poetry with the world, I am sharing a piece of my heart and a piece of my soul. I am sharing pieces of me in the hopes that someone out there who is feeling trapped in their own darkness will see that they’re not alone and never will be.

For those of you looking to read my first poetry release, Behind the Mask, or the first novel

in The Passion of the Dragon Saga, Hearts on Fire, they will both be undergoing a FREE promotion on Amazon Kindle from October 30 – November 3!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get both of these completely FREE!

There is a lot going on for me right now but it is all so exciting! More from Romania coming soon!

-Helena

Love in Flames: COVER REVEAL!!!!

Source: Love in Flames: COVER REVEAL!!!!