Auryn Hadley's Blog

My Writing Process: Getting the words out

Previously, I discussed how to get ready to write. This time, I'm going to lay out what I do to get all the words down on the page without wasting any more time than is necessary. So many of you ask how I get so many books out in a year, and how I manage to get such impressive word counts. Well, I'm about to share the secret (hint: it's not that much of a secret).

But, I want to point out that how many words you can write in a day isn't something you can judge from person to person. The mom...

My Writing Process: planning it out

One of the questions I get most often is "How do you write?" Ok, it's usually some variation, but in the end, that's what it comes down to. Things like when I send my manuscript to beta readers, how I build my worlds, and if I'm a plotter or a pantster. Over the last five years of doing this, with three now as a full-time author, I've tweaked things to work well for ME. I'm also still tweaking them, but let me tell you how it works.

As my readers know, I'm an insanely prolific author. I lo...

And, we're live once again

So, as some of you may have noticed, there was a bit of a pause in blog posts. I know a few of you enjoyed these, so I figured I'd explain where they've been.

At some point last year, I decided that I hated my former webhost, because the site was horrible to update (took me all day to change one silly thing) and getting in to write a blog was a pain. So, we began researching where and how to move it. Easy, right?

Except that I got a wild hair and started writing more, and faster, and drop...

Everything will be delayed

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As you all know, I have been working on the 9th book in the Rise of the Iliri series.  I had planned to get it out in April.  Well, if you look at the calendar, you will see that’s not going to happen.  It definitely wasn’t intentional!

Two weeks ago, my father went in for a routine health test, and was immediately hospitalized.  It seemed he needed a quadruple bypass.  Multiple complete blockages, serious concerns about the risk of a “widowmaker” heart attack, and a very terrifying thing fo...

The Joy of Trolling!

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So, I have a facebook fan group.  Most authors do, but mine is a TON of fun.  One of their favorite things to do in there is theory craft about where Rise of the Iliri is going next.  And well, don’t judge, but I can’t help myself.

I poke.  I nudge.  Sometimes, I even give them the real answer, but they tend to overlook it in the midst of all the insanity going on.  Now, with the 9th book gearing up for production, it seems we’re all back at it.

I’ve dropped some hints about the future (noth...

Lies, Lust, and Love

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First, I’ll answer the question I get asked most.  The final book in the Dark Orchid Trilogy will be released on March 16th.  It’s almost done, and the 9th Rise of the Iliri book comes next.  Then Demons Muse #3.

This steamy little story is almost done.  I’ve had most of it sitting on my hard drive for a very long time.  When I realized that I needed to do some serious research to complete the next to last ROTI book, well, it made sense to give my readers something to occupy their time.  The...

I’m only slightly insane.

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Long ago, when I first started releasing books, I did it all wrong.  I didn’t know, and there was no one to teach me, so I made it up as I went along.  According to Google, I was advised to write the first book in a series, just in case the publisher didn’t want to contract the whole set, so I wouldn’t waste my time.  So that’s what I did.

Then, I found that traditional publishing isn’t for me.  I wanted to get paid for my work (yeah, I know, crazy stuff).  I wanted to have control over the...

He calls me an artist

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I remember the first time my husband called me an artist.  I was sitting in Pizza Hut, of all places, with my best friend and her husband, discussing the song “Take me to Church.”  And yes, I was discussing – they were looking at me as if I’d lost my mind.  To them, a song was just a song.  To me, it was a million pieces of effort that blended together to make something even bigger.

At the time, I was working for an internet service provider during the day, trying to sneak in time to ride ho...

Words, words everywhere

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Where I live, it’s winter.  That means the sun sets early, the days are cold and wet (doesn’t really snow here, but it is the rainy season) and outside fun grinds to a halt.  Luckily, I’m a night person, so this works out.  No more fighting to get up early enough.  No more struggling to maintain a decent schedule.  At this time of year, it’s just me and my words.

And, in 2018 I hired not just one assistant, but two.  I have people to do the things that I hate.  Wonderful, amazing people.  Ka...

Oh, lookey what I’m doing!

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The 8th book in the Rise of the series just released.  The reception has been amazing, and I’m still stunned at how many people have fallen in love with those pale beasts as hard as I have.  Currently, I’m on track to end the series in ten books.

But, Rise of the Iliri isn’t my only project on the go.  Currently, I’m enjoying the beaches of Vesdar, the forests of Tyrnigg, and trying to cope with the barrenness of Daemin.  In other words, I’m writing the second book in the Demons’ Muse series...