Zena Wynn's Blog, page 4
July 11, 2022
Adulting is Hard!
My Author's Life
Anyone that tells you that being an adult is easy is lying. I'm 53 and you'd think life would be getting less complicated. That I'd learn to go with the flow, but that's not the way it is. I'm mature enough to realize I'm responsible for my own schedule. It's not the things that make it to my to-do list that adds pressure to my life. It's all those other things I know I should be doing and aren't.For instance, I'm a writer. That means readers expect me to produce books. From a business prospective, if I want to stay relevant in an already oversaturated market, I need to consistently publish something new. I also have to promote my books because, hey, these books don't sell themselves. That means time on social media, finding creative ways to attract potential readers attention. This is in addition to a fulltime day job, my family, and an active church life. There are days where there isn't enough of me to go around. I feel like Michael Keaton in the movie, Multiplicity. Where is the machine that let's me duplicate myself so I can accomplish more?Unfortunately, real life isn't a movie. I can't tweak the script to make things go the way I want. All I can do is take it one day at a time. Sometimes, that means stuff doesn't get done, and I have to be okay with that. Anyways, apologizes for being late with the newsletter. I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July.
I had 2 non-fiction projects that consumed my time, and I'm working on a 3rd. If you're an author, or considering becoming one, check these out. If you know any authors you think can uses these, please spread the word. Marketing romance books is hard. Spreading the word about non-fiction workbooks is even harder.
My next non-fiction project is a step-by-step, how to guide for writing romance novels. If anyone has any questions they've always wanted to ask, let me know.
https://www.amazon.com/Fiction-Writers.../dp/1958215112 (Romance Series Bible)
https://www.amazon.com/Fiction-Writers.../dp/1958215104 (All Fiction Genre Series Bible)
June 10, 2022
Happy Summer! Stay Cool!
My Author's Life
I will confess. I'm not sure, based upon the calendar, that's it's officially summertime. Here in Florida school is out and the weather is hot. In my book, that means it's summer. May was a tremendously busy month for me, filled with church events. June is shaping up much better. I'm taking a much needed "staycation." While home, I hope to catch up on some publishing things. I have several new projects in the works. I just need to focus mentally and make completing them my top priority in a world full of priorities. Anyone feeling me?In other news, my granddaughter (the one that lives with me) is getting married. This means by the end of the summer I'll finally have an empty nest. My son moved out of state to live with his grandparents. I'll be entering another phase of life. The one thing that seems to be constant in life is change. For the first time ever, my job is giving us Junteenth off. A few years ago, I hadn't even heard of it. I think it's very progressive of them. I certainly won't complain about another paid day off from work. Whatever you choose to do this summer, I pray God's protection over you and that you be safe. Pay attention to that little small voice or that hint of unease that pops up from time to time. Heeding it may save your life.
Mate Run: Cherise - https://www.amazon.com/Mate-Run-Cheri...
True Story: My teenage granddaughter has been asking for years to read one of my books. My answer has always been, "You're not old enough." When I put Mate Run: Cherise in print, I gave her a copy. It has the least sex of all of my books except one. We met yesterday for her birthday and she was excited to tell me she'd read the book.Then she complained that I'd ended the story on a cliffhanger. Say what?I asked her what she meant. She had questions. Did Cherise and Noah get married? Did her mother come back? What happened with the mom? Did Cherise meet Noah's clan and what happened when she did?Listening to her, I thought to myself, you sound just like those reader reviews on Amazon. At least she liked the story and wants to read more.
Now in Kindle Vella...
So I've been promising this book FOREVER. To motivate (pressure) myself to get it done, I decided to upload it to Kindle Vella. Basically, I'm treating Vella readers lik my beta readers. So far, I've uploaded two episodes. I'm expanding and revising the portion of the first draft already completed. If you decide to check it out, I hope you read the notes and answer the polls. When I'm finished with the entire story, I'll pull it down, clean it up, have it edited, and sell it in ebook, print, and eventually audiobook format.
I've only uploaded 2 episodes thus far but here is the link.I think the first 3 episodes are free. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3S163KN
I have news. My narrator just informed my that Claming Shayla is complete. I need to proof it but if all goes well, it will be available for purchase in August. I'm so excited.
April 15, 2022
It's Tax Day!
It's Tax Day! Originally I was going to pop in with a press release and keep it moving. Then I thought, I got stuff to say. Why not?
Speaking of taxes, I didn't do mine until this week. Believe it or not, I actually forgot. There was my trip to Jamaica, and life has been super busy since I got back. Due to me being self-employed (self-published), I always have to wait for all of my documents to come in. The days of being one of the first to file my taxes are long gone. Isn't adulting great?
It's always a shock to me when I go through my receipts and see how much I spent the previous year. Anyone else experience this? To give you an idea, in 2021 I spent $473 on books (purchased outright), Audible and Amazon subscriptions. Add in $3431 on conferences and travel expenses, and those are the receipts I found. I may have missed a few. Even though I can claim them as a business expenses, it's still a shock.
Then I get to thinking what else I could have done with the money had I been more focused. How many bills I could have paid off. My only solace is that those same business expenses I'm fretting over are what allowed me to get a tax refund instead of owing the IRS. The downside to the kids being grown is no more child tax credit.
In other news, my son who was living in my shed has moved. Now I'm left with a dilemma. Use the shed as a storage space or turn it into a home gym? I reclaimed my office inside of the house so there's no longer a need for it. Part of me fears doing anything. He's only been gone a month but he's like a boomerang. You know, no matter how hard you throw it, it always returns? I may have to put my foot down and say make it work where you are or live on the street. However, he's the youngest, the baby, and my only son. It's...so...hard to see your child in need and not help.
Last but not least, I'm looking forward to being in Daytona Beach the last weekend of this month. The authors and readers who've attended since the beginning have become like close family friends. It's great being able to talk books, or just sit in the shade on a deck, feeling the ocean breeze. I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures.
I can't end without mentioning that today is Good Friday, and Sunday is Easter. Whatever your faith or religious beliefs, I hope you enjoy the weekend. I'll be having family dinner with my mom, children, and grandchildren after church services Sunday. Be blessed.
January 25, 2022
New on TikTok
November 19, 2021
A Season for Thanks
Over the last few weeks and months, I've had much for which to be grateful. On October 30, 2018, I had surgery to remove a Stage 1 cancerous tumor in my breast. In April 2020, I suffered a thankfully mild case of Covid 19. Months later, God graciously allowed my son to survive a drug overdose. My granddaughter survived and got out of an abusive relationship. My middle child and her husband both survived car accidents that totaled their vehicles. In the midst of so much bad, God has shown himself to be good.
I've been learning and growing in my writing and publishing. With God's help, I created this website and have added a store, giving me more control over my product. I'm learning marketing and promotion, and book sales are increasing. Basically, when I look at my life, I have no complaints.
Well, maybe one. My weight. But that's a work in progress and I'm leaning heavily on God to help me bring it under control.
This month, I decided with the help of God to take my life back. I'm doing more things that I enjoy. I signed up for and am once again taking ballet lessons, despite sometimes feeling like that cartoon of a dancing elephant. If only I were as graceful...
I'm 52, soon to be 53. For the first time in my adult life, I'm only responsible for me. It's a season of change as well as a season of gratitude. As I enter this next chapter of my life, one goal I have is to pursue a deeper, more fulfilling intimacy with God than ever before. With Him on my side, I know everything will be all right.
October 15, 2021
October Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/36a1d12030b5/happy...
April 14, 2021
Writer's block - Mate Run: Cherise
After mulling it over a few days, I started again at the beginning of chapter 11, reading what I wrote. I deleted a few paragraphs. Rearranged the order of a few more. This morning, inspiration struck. I wrote two and a half pages of new material. I didn't delete what was there before. My hope is to integrate it in with the new. Waste not want not. With God's help, I'll meet my deadline to have Cherise's edited and released on 5/31.
For those curious, here is part of what got deleted:
(Noah's POV) The antiquated furnace needed more work than I normally had time to devote to it. I hadn’t gotten around to doing my yearly winter preparation and maintenance. It got bumped up on my to do list.
Fortunately, I chopped wood year round. There were more than enough cords to get us through this early snow. I just hoped this wasn’t an indicator of how the rest of winter would be. If so, January and February would be brutal.
At the back door, I paused to put on my jacket. There were two cords of wood situated on the back porch on either side of the door. I just needed to bring them inside. As soon as I opened the door, frigid air swept inside. I gritted my teeth as icy wind lashed my face. Damn, it wasn’t just snow. This was an ice storm. Mentally, I kissed my plans of heading into town later today goodbye. I’d hoped to introduce Cherice around and see if she and any of my men had an immediate spark. That would have to wait.
Before hauling in the wood, I pinned up the insulated tarps I used to minimize the amount of wind and snow that blew onto the porch during the winter season. Moving quickly, I filled the wood boxes in the kitchen, den, main bathroom and my bedroom, and started fires in each to knock the chill off the house.
When I finished, the battery operated clock told me it was almost six in the morning. I filled a kettle with water and put it on the woodstove to boil. I filled the water compartment on the heating attachment I’d built, making a mental note to also fill the one upstairs in the bathroom. Between the two we’d have more than enough hot water to bathe and complete household chores.
Another glance at the clock showed the morning was getting away from me. I jogged up the wooden stairs without even a carpet runner to soften it. This home was my retreat away from the world. I had another house I lived in during once the spring thaw set in. Living isolated away from the clan in town meant giving up many of the luxuries afforded to me as leader. It also afforded me the peace and quiet I couldn’t get in town. The phone didn’t ring. No one knocked on the door. There was no dispute to settle or laws to enforce.
Every winter the clan mothers urged me to take a woman. They couldn’t stand the idea of me being up here alone. Thought I needed a woman to take care of me, provide a touch of softness in my life, and comfort in my bed. However, I was more than capable of doing for myself and didn’t need some woman catering to my every need.
Some men were born to lead and thrived on the challenge. Others, like myself, were thrust into the role and took it because there was no one else. I led the clan and in return, they gave me winter to myself. Otherwise, I’d be a homicidal maniac. Despite our agreement, the women continued to push me to mate. I believe they thought without a woman to anchor me here, one day I’d up and leave. As if. Where would I go? For better or worse, this was home and had been for generations.
April 12, 2021
Rome's Pride in Audiobook
You can find it here: True Mates Rome's Pride Audiobook.
March 5, 2021
Mate Run is here!
With the Mate Run series, I've combined quite a few sub genres. It's futuristic, has genetically altered humans, and it features a heroine with brown skin. In my new world, the only thing that matters is if you're infected or non-infected.
I'm working on book two now, Mate Run: Cherise. Her story is challenging, which is great for me as an author because any writer who doesn't grow, stagnates. I always want to improve my craft.
If you haven't read Mate Run: Pia, please give it a chance.
If you read it, consider leaving a review. Mate Run: Pia: Mate Match 1
