Eryn Scott's Blog, page 4

SUPER Tuesday

Not only is it a huge day in the presidential primary race, but it’s also my eighth book birthday!!!

Welcome to the world, Meet Me in the Middle!

This book was inspired by a good friend of mine, a self-proclaimed bleeding-heart liberal who is married to a very-right conservative. I always wondered how they made it work and so I decided to write about it. =) And I have to say, I totally get it now. I hope this book will be a good fit for all types of readers, political and non political alike. It’s written in dual POV because I really wanted it to feel balanced and I really thought we needed to be in Christopher’s head as well to make it equal.

Thank you so much to my critique group, my beta readers, and my editors for helping me make this book the best it can be. I’m one lucky girl!

If you enjoy the story, I’d love and appreciate it if you could leave a review on Amazon. =) Thank you and happy election year!

 

But seriously: A look at anxiety

If you’ve read my book A Chance for Sunny Skies you probably either loved or hated the main character, Sunny, and her crazy hermit-like tendencies.

Everyone’s different; we all have unique experiences which affect how we relate to the people we meet (in life or books). Throw an issue like anxiety in the mix and it divides us even more. For as many people who understand (on some level) what Sunny is feeling throughout the book, there are also people who have asked, “Really? Are there actual people out there like Sunny?” And even though Sunny’s anxiety is purposely a little over-the-top (as are many of the characters in the book), I really wanted to show an inside look at what it’s like to be in the mind of a person living with anxiety.

I’ve lived with mild anxiety my whole life, and while (like Sunny) I’ve found ways to work through the feelings, every once in a while I do find myself in a situation where I’m unable to cope. My mind won’t calm down, won’t let me think straight. It’s almost like my brain gets in the way of doing  the logical or rational thing. People tell me that I shouldn’t care so much, tell me to calm down, tell me it doesn’t matter, but it makes absolutely no difference. Sure, there are physical reactions to this anxiety. My heart races, my chest aches, I can’t breathe, and my face turns red, but the majority of the battle is happening inside my head. It’s hard.

And I get how hard it is to understand if you’ve never lived it.

Up until this year, I really never understood depression. I had friends and loved ones who’d gone through it or were still dealing with it, but still couldn’t figure out why they couldn’t “just get over it”. (See, we all do it to each other.) Then I read a series of blogs on the (fantastic) Hyperbole and a half. I began to understand. To hit things home even more, I recently found myself experiencing mild depression. I couldn’t feel happy. Yes, couldn’t. I was crying over everything, couldn’t sleep, didn’t want to do a thing but curl up in a ball under a blanket and never come out.

I got it. And wished so intensely that I had never thought those “why can’t they get over it?” thoughts.

And so, I hope that reading about anxiety through Sunny, reading about her red faced freak outs, her selfish-seeming solitude, her constant crippling worry, will make you less upset than understanding. I know it won’t be easy to read; it’s not easy to go through. But I hope it helps people understand just a little bit more.

Speaking of feeling anxious (but incredibly happy at the same time), I’ve got a book coming out on Tuesday! Can’t wait to see what you think of it. =) Thanks so much for stopping by and opening your heart to my stories and wonderfully damaged characters.

Eryn

 

To a new year and new releases!

2015 has been an amazing year.

I cannot express how much I’ve loved the experience of sharing my books with the world. I mean (don’t get me wrong) it’s scary as all get-out, but the lovely reviews and emails I’ve received make everything worth it. (Have I told you how awesome you are?) I can’t wait to see what 2016 will bring.

Anyway, to set this year up the right way, I’m starting out with some new releases!

The first is a short story that’s very near and dear to my heart. This released on New Year’s Day, so it’s available right now (link in picture). It’s a little tale about two high school sweethearts who hit a rough patch in their used-to-be-perfect marriage.

Being someone who married my own high school sweetheart, I know the amazing things that can come from finding the one so early in life. But at the same time, this type of relationship has its hardships, too. This is a short story that explores those difficulties and what happens when two people grow up and drift apart. (Don’t worry, Scott and I are doing just fine. This is definitely a fictional story.)

Here it is! If you enjoy it, I’d love it if you could leave a review.

My next release is coming in March, on Super Tuesday to be exact. Why the political release date? Why, because it’s a political themed romance! I’m beyond excited to share this story with you guys. It was such an amazing challenge for me as a writer. I did a lot of research to make sure I got it all right (we’re talking weeks of watching The West Wing, hours of reading political blogs, and becoming a frequenter of all campaign-related websites) and I loved how much I learned. In fact, I’m thinking this might not be my last political novel. =)

Similar to Like We Used To, this story is written in dual POV, so we get to see the story from both sides. This one is up for pre-order now (link in picture), so go get yourself a copy!

And to get you excited for my next work in progress. I’ll leave you with this teaser, the website that inspired my next women’s fiction.  http://offgridquest.com/seeking/remote-scottish-community-hiring-teacher More to come about this one in the next few months!

Thanks for stopping by! I wish nothing but the best for all of you in the new year. Cheers!!!

Eryn

When you know it’s real

I finished it! The first draft of that political romance I’ve been hinting at is officially done. And I love it! I’m most parts obsessed with both where the story went and how my main characters turned out.

You wanna know what’s funny though?

The first thing I did after writing — er — typing that very last word… I started a list of all the things I already knew I would have to go back and change, beef up, add, etc. And while (I’ll admit) that the list does take a teensie bit of the skip out of my step, slumps my shoulders forward slightly (because it’s a lot of work), it also put a huge smile on my face.

After wondering for a baby-second if it was possible that I’d gone crazy finishing this draft in the better part of a month, I realized what that smile really meant. That smile, the fact that it was there even in the face of so much work, reminded me that I love what I do. It’s real. I’m excited to do the hard work, to make this story the best it can be, to roll up my sleeves and get started.

So here I go. Again and again. Always.

 

Eryn

That’s so Pinteresting!

Hey there!

Thought I’d take a moment to share a really fun part (I think) of planning a book, being in the midst of that as we speak. Of course there’s always outlining. Oh, so much outlining! And turning points and goals and motivation and conflict.

All of that.

But one of the really fun things that always helps me get my mind in a story is creating a Pinterest board for the book. Eeeeeee! It’s sooooo much fun. Anyway, I thought I’d share them with you so you could see how I picture my characters, the setting, and some of the inspirational pictures I used to get my head in the story. A link for each story is below. Enjoy! =)

The Antiarch Trilogy

A Chance for Sunny Skies

In Her Way

New Untitled Political Romance

On My Shelf

Hello all! Between work, spending probably-not-enough-time-as-I-should at the gym, and writing my own books, sometimes I’m surprised I get time to read other peoples’ books at all.

But as an author I feel it’s so important to read. It makes me a better writer to surround myself with words, with stories, and with great characters. The reason I knew how to write when I sat down to put my first book on paper was because of all those countless days and nights with my nose in a book.

However, more importantly, even though reading makes me a better writer, it also makes me a better person. Reading doesn’t only relax me, let me take my mind off heavier things like life, but I just can’t get over that feeling of being deep in a great story or the smile that comes over my face when I finish the last page.

Any who, I’d love to share some of the stories I’ve been learning from and loving lately.

First up, my current read. I’m only about halfway through this book, but I’m liking it a lot. If anyone grew up watching Gilmore Girls like I did, you’ll know the name Lauren Graham. While her name is the reason I started the book, the witty writing style is why I continue to read. It’s a funny book about a girl in her twenties trying to make it as an actress in New York. Obviously my feelings could change as I finish it, but for now I’m enjoying it.

Next up, a YA read you cannot miss. I love fantasy and maybe that’s why I really liked this book, but the addition of the different versions of London kept the history-buff and want-to-be-traveler in me happy as well. The main character, Kell, is likable and his sidekick, Delilah, is a kick-butt chick worth rooting for. A sequel for this is coming out early next year, so pick it up soon!

This book by author Gemma Burgess has to be one of my favorite books from the past year or more. My love of all things British is no secret to those who know me and this novel, set in London, is no exception. The main character is fun and I felt like we were best friends by the first page. I’m a sucker for love interests that develop as deep friendship first, but I can’t say much more than that without giving everything away. GB has another book similar to this if, like me, you decide you cannot live without something more once you finish this one. By similar, I actually mean incredibly similar, almost identical. I like A Girl Like You much better, but appreciated something else written in the same kind of quirky London twenty-something voice.

I didn’t think I would like this one, actually. Even about half-way through, I was still seriously doubting my feelings about it. However, the main character is super likable and she pulled me through with her long enough to realize that there was a pretty good story there. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an unexpected romance and who likes to see the perpetual underdog get her day.

I’m a little bit obsessed with these Rusk University novels by Cora Carmack. Note, they are a bit more steamy than anything else I’ve listed here, being in the new adult category. But the relationships pull you in and the college setting makes one more than a little nostalgic. I recommend reading the other novels first, even though this one could stand alone.

That’s all for now. I have a long list of To Be Read and I hope to share those with you as soon as I can.

Thanks for stopping by!

Eryn

A Better Fate

Readers, I’ll be totally honest with you… I was sitting in my latest critique session this last week with my AMAZING group of writers and I was feeling somewhat sorry for myself. Neee Nuuurrr (that’s my terrible attempt at the downer-horn-sound – haha).

My group was bringing up some really great points about my current WIP and, while I was hearing them loud and crystal clear, I couldn’t help but think, but…but that means the 10,000 words I’ve written are mostly trash…

It’s hard! You get attached, you think things are going well, and when someone (or four) tell you otherwise, you need a minute to cope, to mourn. And that’s not even most of it. You see, I can rework those four or five chapters, no problem. I see what they’re talking about for sure. It’ll take me a weekend at most to fix this and HOW GREAT that they helped me realize my mis-steps at 10k instead of 50k….right?! The biggest stab to my ego came wrapped up in the package of, but this is my 7th book! I shouldn’t need help! How am I still making these mistakes? (For me it’s always tension tension conflict conflict.)

And in my cloudy party of pity, I remember something I once read in the acknowledgments of a Wendell Berry book. He said…

“Maybe I believed once that some day I would be able to write a novel by myself, and probably I thought I would be glad when that day came. It has never come. This novel, my seventh, has put me more in need of help than any of the previous six. And so my practice of this art has led, not to independence, but to debt and to gratitude — a better fate.”

That’s not all, but it’s the part that makes my soul take a moment to sigh, smile, and be okay with the fact that this art of ours is not a solitary endeavor.

The rest of my week has done nothing but remind me of this wonderful truth. SOOOO many people are in this writing thing with me. When I sat down and actually thought about it, about the number, the amount of support, it astounded me, humbled me, and shut those pity-party-vibes right down.

First, and this is super squeal-worthy, I currently have two books in production as audiobooks! Finding Axiom (and, eventually, the whole trilogy) as well as A Chance for Sunny Skies will soon be available for you to listen to. And, OMG, are they amazing! I can’t wait for obvious reasons, but along the lines of this post, it just proves that those are two more people who believe in my books and care about them. How cool is that?

The next awesome thing that happened was that my lovely friend, Andrea, over at thewholesky did a photoshoot for me this week and I will soon have real author photos!! Not only did we have a blast, but it meant so much to me to have her take time out of her busy, raising-two-awesome-humans schedule and spend it on me. I can’t wait for you to see her amazing work!

Lastly, EVERY TIME I see a new review up there about one of my books, I want to hug my computer. You guys! Your kind words. How you love these characters, too. All of it makes me feel like I might just melt. If you ever had a doubt that your review means something to the author, I’m here to tell you for-sure-yes-it-does and, also, THANK YOU!

So, yes, I do need help with my writing. I can’t do it alone. I suppose, now that I think about it, I wouldn’t want to. Mr. Berry was right; knowing people care about you and your art is definitely a better fate.

Whelp! I’m off to go fix those chapters on that new book and keep on writing because that’s the job and boy do I love it. =)

Eryn