Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 23

The Reveries Redirection {Once Again}

[image error]

“The Reveries Redirection,” you say. “Once again,” you say. “What da heck is going on with Kell,” you say. You may say all these things, but if you want answers, read this post.

Okay, that was a dumb gimmick. Basically, I have some stuff to talk about – my blog is having a CONTENT makeover-ish … or rather I’m making myself think of it in a more focused way.

So let’s talk about what, for the sake of alliteration, I’m calling the Reveries Redirection.

[image error]

The Reveries Redirection

Basically, I’ve been thinking about blogging. I used to love it! And I think that’s because I used to have a lot more time.

Nowadays I’m super busy. So many businesses, so many social media profiles, so many email lists, so many books, so many jobs, so many … so many.

And I’m fine with that. I have a lot of projects, I like being busy, and yes, I’m sometimes stressed, but stress is part of the process for me.

So why the change?

I was reading a marketing book …

I honestly can’t remember which because I’ve read like 5 this year so far, but anyways, it was a good one.

What is said was this: pick your poison.

*ahem* Okay, it didn’t actually say that. But essentially, pick the things you are good at and stick to those things.

I’m good at blogging. At least, I used to be. And why over-focus on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and all the other things I really suck at … when my strength lies here?

That doesn’t mean quit posting on those sites – and I probably will pick a social media site I actually enjoy using & try to use it which is tough because I hate them all – but it means focus on my strengths.

So … I should be putting my main effort into THIS.

Also, email lists, because email lists are AWESOME. (Yes, I’m a recent convert.) (Yes, you should sign up now.)

What does that mean for Reveries? What is this dumb ol’ Reveries Redirection I’ve been talking about? Basically, I’m shifting this blog so I talk more about my Reveries!

By that I mean …

Talking about my books some (though not a ton – not boring you!).
Sharing thoughts on books & movies (in fun, exciting, new ways).
Life advice posts (e.g. “What I’d Tell 14-Year-Old Me”).
Random, goofy things (because being goofy is da best).
Occasionally some tips & tricks & advice ’cause I can’t resist (and they’re popular anyways).
Anything I think will work better formatted as a blog post (but I’m trying to hold back a bit on things like excerpts, etc.).
Of course alllll the blog tour stuff (because unavoidable).

However, not all my old content will be going here! For instance:

Most of my writing/blogging/authoring advice will be on an email list (which you can join through the newsletter).
Most of my Christian content will be on an email list (which you can join through my newsletter).
My excerpts, poetry, etc. will be on an email list (which EVENTUALLY you will be able to join through my newsletter).
My author updates will be on an email list (which EVENTUALLY you will be able to join through my newsletter).

Now, my plan for this is that you can eventually subscribe or unsubscribe from whatever of my lists you want to. It’ll make it a lot easier for you to just access the content you want.

TL;DR – I’m trying to divide my attention evenly between my email list and my blog with social media platforms playing second fiddle.

And yes, that is all I had to say! Never been good at ending things, so …

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

How’ve you been? What kinds of posts would you like to see on Reveries? What are your thoughts on what I’ve suggested hence far? Do you have a blog (and if so, what do you blog about)? If you’re an author, what’s your “specialty” and how do you use it?

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post The Reveries Redirection {Once Again} appeared first on Reveries.

The Kees & Colliers Blog Tour {Giveaway Included!}

Welcome to the blog tour and announcement and giveaway launch pad all rolled into one post! I’ve been “out of the office,” per se, but I had to pop on to make this post … and let you know what’s going on.

This isn’t your average blog tour, but it’s still gonna be a fun one. I’m so excited to see The Lady of the Vineyard, Flowers in Her Heart, and soon From Now ‘Til Forever released the world … and then the Kees & Colliers series will be launched (for now).

But I won’t keep you from the news any longer. Let’s talk books!

The Kees & Colliers Series

(Book 3 is coming in early August of this year!)

The Lady of the Vineyard (Book 1)

Is it too late for Adele to return to her daughter’s life?

When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?

Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?

Flowers in Her Heart (Book 2)

Can Adele change her entire lifestyle to be a mother to her babies?

When her husband goes off to war, Adele feels lost and confused. In a new, less-than-ideal place in a frightening, less-than-ideal time, she flees to the garden with her daughters, determined to make their new house a home, even if it is from the outside in.

Battered by her own inner turmoil and scoffed at by those close to her, Adele seeks to make something beautiful amidst chaos. But can even the most beautiful flowers cover the years of scars?

Souls Astray (Prequel Novel)

Adele has been lost for a long time now …

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in care of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

FIND THESE BOOKS ON AMAZON OR MY WEBSITE

[image error]

The Great Kees & Colliers Blog Tour Giveaway

(at least I think it’s a great giveaway)

Prize One:

THE LADY OF THE VINEYARD and FLOWERS IN HER HEART in paperback & a cool FLOWER NECKLACE.

Prize Two:

THE LADY OF THE VINEYARD in paperback & FLOWERS IN HER HEART and FROM NOW ’TIL FOREVER in ebook

Click Here to Join!

[image error]

Annddd … my favorite part! The posts!

Blog Tour Stops

Interview with Angela R. Watts

Aww, this interview is good for me heart! It’s very sweet. And Ang’s little “history lesson” is super sweet, too. LOVE THIS GIRL!

Also, I forgive you everything but only because of the GIF.

The Lady of the Vineyard Review with Andrea Cox

This review is one of my favorites! As always, Andrea gives me a concise, professional review while also managing to make me grin. Favorite quote:

That parent’s love he displayed and the lessons he taught his daughter were worth reading this book. These characters were messy with raw hearts and feelings, yet they learned so much about life and love and hope. Somehow they wriggled their way into my happy place and left me wanting more of their story.

Flowers in Her Heart Review with Andrea Cox

Awww, she called it emotional! Favorite quote:

Tension, war worries, and family issues enhanced this and, at times, made me want to weep. The further into the plot I got, the quicker I wanted to read—not to be done faster, but rather to see how things would turn out for the dear characters who had secured places in my reader heart.

The Lady of the Vineyard Review with Lily

THIS REVIEW IS LITERALLY THE BEST! I love how organized and neat it is while also giving me those fun little comments and whatnot that we all love.

(I don’t know what all the GIFs were about … except unconditional love for that movie.)

Thanks ladies!

Stay tuned for more amazing posts for the Kees & Colliers blog tour some time in the next couple weeks!

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM? Did you miss me? Did you enter the giveaway? Isn’t that necklace is pretty? (Roses are important to the story, sort of, in vase you didn’t know!) By the way, I’m working harder on keeping my WIP page updated, so that’s something to watch!

WANT MONTHLY UPDATES? CLICK TO JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

The post The Kees & Colliers Blog Tour {Giveaway Included!} appeared first on Reveries.

Meant to Thrive {semi-hiatus explanation}

[image error]

Hi everyone! Looks like I won’t be posting much except required scheduled posts (e.g. blog tours/etc. I agreed to do ahead of time).

In July and early August, I’ll be posting every Saturday to update you on the Kees & Colliers blog tour, but otherwise, this will probably be a very lean summer.

And here’s a brief explanation in this post. So here goes.

[image error]

How am I? Some days are better than others. I think that’s just human life in a nutshell!

Lately the balance between good days and bad days has seemed a bit screwed to me. I feel like I have a lot of bad days, like even my good days are pretty lowkey, and like I don’t want to be living in this awfulness.

I’m not a fan of living halfway, I don’t like waiting, and I would rather be hot or cold, alive or dead. I’m not an in-between kinda girl, and yet a lot of my life seems either in-between if it’s not cold/dead.

The goal is to be hot (figuratively and not in the “attractive” way though hey, that too–) and alive. That’s what we all want! (See one of the coolest songs ever.)

[image error]

To quote “Thrive” by Casting Crowns:

We know we were made for so much more

Than ordinary lives

It’s time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

When you aren’t thriving, you need to work toward it.

Like I said, I’m not mediocre girl. I want to be all in or not in at all. In my day-to-day life, I’ll often choose not to do something if I can’t be the best.

Is that realistic? No. Can I keep living like that? Nope. But what does that have to do with anything?

Well, I honestly don’t want to just live – I want to keep pushing through or drop everything. It’s not good for me to do either right now.

So I’m lightening my load and telling myself to not be AS amazing but to be KINDA amazing. (Not that I’m not always amazing, but you know.)

[image error]

Can you thrive even when you’re feeling bad or mediocre?

Sure! It’s about attitude not circumstance. You can be joyful even when you’re not happy or content.

Thriving is not about what’s happening around you but rather your attitude on the inside. 

One of my favorite lines from the chorus of “Thrive” is:

Just to know You and

To make You known

We lift Your name on High

Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide

[image error]

Joy and thriveation (… it’s a word) needs to be based on God not on us. I mean, if I’m coming up with my own happiness, it kinda sucks. But God offers real joy.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

That’s a command, and God has never commanded anyone to do something impossible. He knows our human limits … and still He tells us to rejoice in Him.

Happiness is not always possible. Joy is. Thriveation is.

How?

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

John 16:24 (NIV)

I’m no expert on the subject as of yet, but a reliable source (e.g. the Bible) tells me that God will give me joy.

[image error]
So what conclusion have I arrived at?

I need to give myself a little slack. I can be on fire for God even if my life isn’t perfect, even if I’m taking a hiatus, even if I feel depressed.

God’s goodness and power isn’t dependent on anything. It stands on its own.

So yes, I’m trying to cut back on things. After I’m finished with projects I’m devoted to, I’m not taking new ones. But I am keeping on keeping on with writing, etc.

I am struggling with patience – I’m rarely patient with myself, and I hate the fact that I have to be “mediocre” in my life as I learn not to be. But see, I don’t have to be mediocre as a person, and that’s perfectly all right!

Soooo … that’s it! I’ll be back full-force eventually, but if I’m slow to respond or whatever, that’s why!

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

Wellllllll … okay. That was kinda random. Did it make sense? What are your thoughts on happiness vs. joy? Do you agree that joy can be attained? And when do you think it’s important to take a break?

The post Meant to Thrive {semi-hiatus explanation} appeared first on Reveries.

Why Indie Authors Must Compartmentalize

[image error]

Hi there! It’s Kell, and I was on vacation at Gearhart, Oregon, so naturally this is a little late. I totally missed Wednesday as my computer wouldn’t function, and I was tired.

Now, while I was on that beach trip to Gearhart (check out my Instagram for pictures!), I realized something about myself. It’s something that may very well make all the difference in my life.

More specifically it’s a skill I need to be successful—the skill of compartmentalization*.

*AND NO NOT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WAY! DON’T DO THAT! And if you do find yourself shutting down everything but thought about a traumatic event, get help.

[image error]

LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY

Once upon a time there was a girl named Kell who was frankly very bad at getting things done. Well, not that she didn’t get things done—she did. It just seemed to take too long is all, and she wasn’t satisfied with the results.

Now, she was an author and a blogger and a writing teacher and goodness knows what else, and like many people she also had a life.

Between them, she felt like she was running ragged half the time, and the other time she was worrying about being run ragged.

This didn’t do.

Well, one day as she scrolled through Facebook, she saw a word: compartmentalize. She Googled some articles on it and was quickly engrossed (forgetting where she’d saw it originally in the first place, by the way).

Though apparently a pretty common term, Kell wasn’t very familiar with it or with the idea. Nor had she really put any thought into it.

But now she had to.

KELL’S LIFESTYLE NEEDED A CHANGE

(p.s. this is in past tense, but really I’m still working on it, sooo “Kell’s lifestyle NEEDS a change”!)

It all comes from not being able to do one thing because a thousand other things are in the way. It all comes from not being able to enjoy simple stuff because you feel like you should be doing something else.

One example that hit Kell pretty hard was when she was playing at the beach with her nieces, nephew, and brothers. Even as she frolicked in the waves (I’m super awkward, but what the heck, call it frolicking), she felt like she should be doing something else.

Writing, maybe? Working on a blog post? Not getting soaked by water? Shouldn’t she be taking pictures for her Instagram or asking someone else to?

And Kell slowly started to realize … it wasn’t just writing-related things that were making it hard to live life. It was also writing-related things bumping into each other, making it difficult for any one to get her full attention.

WHY INDIE AUTHORS MUST COMPARTMENTALIZE

Compartmentalize — divide into sections or categories.

The ability to separate each of your jobs as an author is an important but necessary distinction. After all, as an author you are …

The writer (outlining, drafting, editing)
The marketer (social media, email lists, launch teams, blog tours, ads)
The editor (whether you hire out or do it yourself)
The cover designer (whether you hire out or do it yourself)
The publisher

I myself added some extra jobs on to that:

Blogger
Book reviewer
Writing teacher
Manager of Reveries Co. (and all it involves)
Interior Formatter
Occasional Graphic Designer
Blog tour host

But it’s not like I live solely on the computer. I have (and this is just what comes to mind even though they overlap some):

Myself/my “mental health”/really just not dying
A family
Friends
Pets
A day job
Chores
Various volunteering thingys (AWANAs)
GOD!!!

Basically, I am pretty busy, and it feels like my list of duties is ever-expanding rather than shrinking.

Ideally, you work more so you, in the end, can work less—and ideally, you’ll feel better if you concentrate on the things that aren’t work-related more often.

So far that hasn’t proven true for me, though recently I’ve been seeing things from more of a business perspective. This helped me realize I need to slice production in half for the products I’m creating and the reward I’m receiving and the time I’m giving.

However, that’s a slow process, and when you, like me, are in the beginning stages and have a million things to do, it’s overwhelming.

QUESTIONS BEGIN TUGGING AT ME

Is being an author really all it’s cracked up to be? Should I go traditional so at least the editing, cover design, publishing dates/actual process, and some of the marketing is up to someone else?

Am I a good teacher? Should I give it up? Am I truly able to give my all to my students and give everything else up? Would I be insane to drop it so I can focus more seriously on the things that aren’t lending me a steady income?

What about my day job? What about volunteering? Do they need to be given up if I’m going to pour myself into being an author?

Can I manage Reveries Co. and still do everything else?

Should I abandon my family and live in a gutter?

Thoughts, definitely. Tempting thoughts. But I want to make a success of everything I’m going. I know I can do it. But I’m just getting too distracted by the things I have to do, by the different areas of my life.

And I’m trying to lump it all together into one mess.

So I’ve been learning to compartmentalize my life.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

A couple weeks back I made a to do list. It was over three pages long, things that needed done soon or that I was working on over time.

I eventually divided this list into 6 categories: Kellyn Roth, Reveries, Reveries Co., YWL, Coach Kell, and Life.

But the thing is, everything I associated with any one thing was overwhelming. That’s because I had it all lumped together. That’s because I couldn’t think of it as any less than one united whole pressing down on me.

This book, that book, edits round 1, talking to my cover designer, a thousand words to write every day, marketing for a blog tour, one responsibility after another.

I get overwhelmed in a hurry.

EVEN THAT MINOR BREAK DOWN WASN’T HELPING

After all, I was grouping all my time together.

“Right now I have three hours to do all these different writing things.” In that I’ll include finishing a student’s homework, writing a blog post, finishing a chapter of The Dressmaker’s Secret, and updating the WIP page on my blog.

… whoops? Can you say overwhelming?

So I hop from the homework to the editing to the blog post to the WIP page and get distracted plenty of times along the way.

I wasn’t compartmentalizing. I wasn’t telling myself these were different things even though I knew very well they were.

This is terribly basic, but I was struggling with it big time.

WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?

I want to isolate the problems – tackle one thing at a time. I want to be productive and get everything done that needs to be done—without worrying about the next item on the to-do list.

So I break it down into little sections. “Right now I have 20 minutes to write. Nothing else, not even answering important emails or chatting with my friends, will happen before then. After that I’ll—” and so on.

As I worked on figuring out how to compartmentalize, I looked it up and read some articles.

FANTASTIC ARTICLES

5 Steps to Becoming a Master at Compartmentalization, and a Calmer More Engaged Leader
11 Successful Women On How They Compartmentalize
How to Compartmentalize Time to Boost Productivity & Get More Done
Compartmentalize and Integrate: Five Ways to Handle It ‘All’

BUT … YOU CAN’T JUST SHOVE EVERYTHING UNDER THE RUG.

For instance, God doesn’t get put into a compartment. He’s gotta be in ‘em all and in the spaces in between.

Also, sometimes it is literally impossible to not let things like grief and depression interfere with everything. In that case, let’s not be pushing through—let’s be stopping and dealing.

However,

I STILL THINK IT’S HELPING

It’s good for me to not, for instance, stop everything every time I get an email to answer it. It’s good for me to let it sit for now.

In part because of the way my parents refer to it and in part because of the way I think of it, I have considered anything I do on a computer or device to be the same thing.

That means I think of writing and scrolling through Pinterest as “computer time.” That means it doesn’t matter if I’m formatting someone’s book for $300 or sending random messages to my friend for nothing.

And even if you don’t quite have it as bad as I do, you might think of marketing, writing, and editing as the same thing even though those put you in vastly different brain spaces.

But this has given me a fresh perspective, and though it’s basic, I feel a lot more inspired to conquer life with this outlook!

[image error]

Anywaysss, that’s something I’ve been working on lately! (Who knew that I really sucked at this whole authoring thing?

The Kees & Colliers Blog Tour Signups

[image error]

Hello, ladies and gents! Today I have an announcement which I already announced a while back but which I’m just now getting back on with edits and a bunch of other crap behind me …

Signups are now open for the Kees & Colliers blog tour! Which means you can now click here, sign up, and help me more than you know.

But I have more info than that, including a bunch of fun facts about the relaunch, so hang tight, ’cause I’m back (sorta) and bigger than ever (eh)!

[image error]

The Kees & Colliers Blog Tour

[image error]

The Kees & Colliers blog tour is running from July 1st through August 8th – and you can pick literally any week in that month and then some, post any time that week, and I’ll wrap it up at the end of the week! Yay for flexibility!

It will of course feature a giveaway, and all the blog tour hosts will be receiving ebook copies of each story in the series! It’s going to be a load of fun, and I hope you can join!

Sign up here!
But if you need more deets …

Click here to find out the basics about each of the books:

The Lady of the Vineyard (book 1) (majorly rewritten)

Flowers in Her Heart (book 2) (majorly rewritten)

From Now ‘Til Forever (book 3) (first release)

It’s going to be an awesome series, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!

And even more Kees & Colliers deets …

Unlike Souls Astray, these three books are quite clean/good for all ages, so no worries there. Some heavier subject matter, such as divorce and war, but I tried my best to handle them in a God-honoring light.

This series features:

Judy Kee, the cutest little kid you ever saw.

99 Summer Goals for Writers

[image error]

Are you ready for 99 summer goals for writers? I was trying to think of a great way to serve you as we enter the summer months, and I realized one of my biggest problems is … productivity.

Summer is often unproductive for me. Even though I still work, I feel lazier and more tired and … yeah. I just don’t get as much done as I’d like to!

Soooo … how about picking some awesome goals from a list of 99 I compiled? I’ll explain more below!

[image error]

How to Use the Goals for Writers

If you’re a writer who needs to be more productive this summer, you can pick one or more goals from this list and try to accomplish them over the summer!

A lot of them are little, bucket list kinds of things … while other are word count goals or along those lines! You’re sure to find one or ten that work for you no matter your stage.

Some of these goals were suggested by others (all credited as such).

You could also brainstorm your own goal – and maybe these will give you some inspiration to do so!

So without further ado …

99 Summer Goals for Writers

Don’t set a goal at all and relax.
Write a short story every week.
Write & edit a short story every week.
Write a novella (15,000-40,000 words) every month.
Write outside at a park or in your backyard.
Write 12,000 words over the summer (1,000 every week).
Participate in July Camp NaNoWriMo.
Read a blog post or listen to a podcast on writing technique every day.
Journal every day.
Write at least a few paragraphs while in a remote vacation location.
Participate in 50 word sprints.
Write about something you’ve never personally experienced.
Experiment with a new genre.
Spend some time figuring out what your author brand is.
Chat with an author about how they got published.
Read 5 books on the writing craft.
Follow 3 new blogs who posts frequent writing how-to posts.
Start a blog.
Get on a brand-new social media channel and join the writing community there.
Keep track of how you spend your days and see how productive you can be.
Get up super early to write.
Stay up super late to write.
Get feedback/critique from other writers.
Pinpoint one of your writing weaknesses and work on strengthening it.
Write some flash fiction every morning when you first get up.
Help a writer who is less experienced than you learn something new.
Join an author’s street team and participate in their book launch.
Don’t let that thing you always let slump in the summer slump.
Let one of your family members read your writing.
Give a piece of your writing to someone as a gift.
Tell 5 people you know you’re a writer & you’re rocking it.
Write a short story exaggerating one of your biggest writing weaknesses.
Create a bucket list of writerly things you want to do before you die.
Have someone take pictures of you writing and reading.
Write 100 words for every time you pick up your phone for no reason.
Write 100 words for every episode of a TV show you watch.
Get an accountability partner.
Create a playlist for your book and listen to it. All. The. Time.
Create a Pinterest board for your book so you’re properly inspired.
Finish your work-in-progress.
Start a new work-in-progress.
Write somewhere you’ve never written before.
Outline a brand-new story.
Try pantsering (writing without an outline) if you never have before.
See how much you can write in 5 minutes and try to improve on it.
Design a book cover for your work-in-progress.
Read that classic novel you’ve been putting off.
Open a random book at a random place and write a short story based off a line.
Write a character based on a good friend to practice real-feeling people.
Reach out to a favorite author of yours.
Support a fellow writer by leaving a review of their book.
Support a fellow writer by sending them an encouraging email, message, etc.
Organize the files in your computer. Somehow.
Write a story specifically for a friend.
Create a plan for your next year of writing.
Write a novel from start to finish over the summer.
Write 1,000 words every day.
Write 100 words every day.
Take a break from writing for at least part of the summer.
Write an hour a day.
Write an hour a day except on weekends.
Write a blog post/article every day.
Write a blog post/article every week.
Take a break from blogging.
Push yourself to write more than you ever have before in a day.
Push yourself to write more than you ever have before in a week.
Push yourself to write more than you ever have before in a month.
Try to write slightly less than the most you ever have before in a day.
Try to write slightly less than the most you ever have before in a week.
Try to write slightly less than the most you ever have before in a month.
Work on different projects on alternating weeks.
Work on different projects on alternating days.
Write 556 words every day (you’ll have a 50,000 word novel by September).
Experiment with a different type of outlining and see how it works for you.
Ask a question in a writing community of some sort every week.
Create in yourself a business mindset about writing/authoring.
Research traditional and indie publishing and decide what’s right for you.
Create a publishing plan for yourself if you’re going indie.
Create an email list and begin inviting people to join it.
Create a plotting toolbox: fill a file on your computer with things that get your creative juices flowing and turn to it whenever you need inspiration. (suggested by Rebekah Black )
Write something combining two very different genres. (suggested by Justin Kemp)
Submit to three writing competitions. (suggested by Justin Kemp)
Write three short stories set in the same universe. (suggested by Justin Kemp)
If there are any writing/writer-related places near you, go on a literary pilgrimage. (suggested by Jessie Bingham )
Write a complete short story, polish it up, and share it for critique. (suggested by AK)
Try co-authoring a story with someone. (suggested by Nina F.)
Write at the library once a week.
Write a poem for your mom about how much your love her.
Write a poem for your dad about how much you love him.
Write a poem for your grandfather or grandmother about how much you love them.
Write a poem or story for one of your siblings.
Make up a bedtime story for your little sister or brother.
Attend a writing class.
Attend a writing conference of any type.
Learn to use a graphic design program like Canva, GIMP, or PicMonkey.
Talk to someone in a service providing field you would eventually like to become experienced in.
Create a 5-year plan for your writing career.
Talk to your parents, spouse, or trusted friends about the direction your career is going.
Just enjoy the summer!

[image error]

What do you think?

Here are my summer writing-related goals:

Finish The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective‘s rewrites and round 1 edits.
Finish A Prayer Unanswered‘s draft one.
Set up my email list (it needs a reboot).
Finish publishing the Kees & Colliers series.
Launch a brand-new business.
Get caught up on reading ARCs.

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

What are your summer goals? Do you plan to use any of these? What is your favorite summery thing to do? What does summer look like for you (if it’s different from day-to-day at all)?

The post 99 Summer Goals for Writers appeared first on Reveries.

Because I’m All Right … Sorta

[image error]

Hey there! I … yeah. Been a while.

All About Only a Mother & An Excerpt

[image error]

Well, I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but I’m writing a little short story called Only a Mother. It’s set in 1888 Scotland, and it’s about Ivy’s struggles in motherhood.

Soooo … warning! There’s HUGE spoilers for Beyond Her Calling in this short story (if you don’t know how romances work). So just be wary of that. Those … spoilers.

But I don’t really read romances to see if couples will get together – but rather to see how they get together. So if you’re like me in that concern, you should be fine!

About Only a Mother

Ivy McAllen feels she’s a woman ill-fitted for the job she’s been given. That job happens to be the most difficult one in the world – motherhood. Struggling to manage her twin toddlers while preparing for her third child is more than she can handle. And it seems that her best is simply not enough.

Deets

Hoping to finish it: in the next couple days

Hoping to publish it: in autumn

Other details: it takes place between A Prayer Unanswered and Love Once Lost

An Excerpt of Only a Mother

Keefmore, Scotland

June 1888

Ivy McAllen stood, palms flat on the kitchen table and knees still shaking. There was a throbbing in her temples that just wouldn’t go away, and her throat was sore from sobbing.

Tired. That was it. She was tired and emotional because of the baby and the work and … everything. But she’d be fine. She just had to get through this day.

And the one after that, and after that, and on and on into the foreseeable future. Tears started again, but she dashed them away, stood from her seat at the kitchen table, and walked into the small nursery.

Molly was sobbing softly as she sat on the floor just inside the room. She hadn’t stayed in bed for long, probably. Which was good, in a way—an extra nap would just mean trouble at this point.

Letty, meanwhile, was quiet, but Ivy didn’t trust it. When Letty was quiet, it meant she was planning her next adventure, and Ivy was so tired of Letty’s adventures.

“It’s a’right, Molly mine!” She scooped up the toddler and cuddled her close, patting her back. She felt a little bad over disregarding Jordy’s advice, which had been to stop picking her daughters up until the new baby came, but she liked to hold them. And Molly plainly needed comfort. “I’ve got you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. What’s wrong, angel?”

“Mummy, Mummy,” Molly whimpered over and over again.

Ivy kissed the damp, red-tinged cheeks then shifted Molly to her hip and directed her attention to her second child, who was watching her emotional twin pensively.

“Letty, let’s get something to eat. Come with me, love.”

Letty instead picked up a somewhat limp stuffed rabbit and stuck its ear in her mouth. Then she grinned toothily. “Mum?” Her tone was questioning. “Mum, pway?”

“Not now, darling.”

Letty’s face set. “Wanna pway.”

“Violet Claire.” She made her voice sound firmer than she felt as she rubbed small circles on Molly’s back. “Time to eat.”

“Mowwy pway?”

“No. Molly’s sad. She doesn’t want to play.” Of course, Letty was just a baby, and babies weren’t known for their empathy, but Ivy had seen other toddlers express at least a minimal amount of concern over their playfellow’s tears. Or some of them. But Letty didn’t seem to notice or care. “Come and eat. It’s midday.”

Honestly, Ivy was guilty over the fact that she’d put them down this morning. She shouldn’t have. They hadn’t been taking naps in the morning for months now.

But everything that could go wrong that morning had, and at last putting them in their room and sobbing at the kitchen table for an hour had seemed the only option. At least they couldn’t hurt themselves too easily in the nursery.

She winced. Not too easily? What was she thinking! She shouldn’t even let the girls out of her sight. They both liked to explore everything in every way possible—and that led to so many dangerous possibilities. Things she wouldn’t have even considered.

Hating herself, she carried Molly back out into the kitchen, coaxing Letty to follow her. Not wanting to add the additional stress of forcing them to stay seated, she ended up letting them picnic on the kitchen floor.

Frankly, at this point, she didn’t care. She needed to stem off another panic attack, she needed to be calm and collected. This couldn’t keep happening. It had to stop … it just had to.

At the thought of her many, many failures as a mother, another lump rose in her throat and her vision blurred, but she took deep breaths, closed her eyes, tried to pray it away.

It’s going to be all right. Lord God, tell me it’s going to be all right. Oh, Lord, don’t let me fail at this … God, they need me …

Molly, now pacified with a mouth full of homemade bread, crawled into Ivy’s lap and gave her some crumby kisses. “Mummy?”

“Yes, Molly.”

“Time to eat.”

Ivy laughed softly at her own words mimicked back to her. “That’s right. Time to eat.”

After a pause, Molly presented her half-chewed slice of bread, obviously making a great sacrifice. “Dere.”

“No, thank you.”

Molly scowled and pressed her prize to her mother’s lips. “Time to eat!”

“No. You eat it. Mummy will get her own.”

After another long silence, Molly nodded and dropped her head against Ivy’s breast to finish chewing her food.

Letty, on the other hand, was quite focused on finishing her own meal, ignoring both her mother and her twin. Ivy leaned back slightly to watch her. She wasn’t sure what would be happening next, but it was sure to be something mind-wrecking.

Letty liked to drive her parents wild. Ivy was sure of it. Ivy loved her creativity and sense of adventure and hated the constant fear for her well-being.

“Mummy?”

“Mm, Molly mine?”

“Da?”

“Da’s at work. Making sick people better.” Yes, indeed, her husband made sick people better—and he worked hard at it, too, and provided for his three girls. Soon to be four in November—or three and a boy. She wasn’t sure which she wanted. Girls were hard, but she’d heard boys were harder.

Still, the new baby was going to be a blessing.  She shouldn’t whine so much, even in her mind. After all, Jordy’s job was the stressful one. Every day the lives of the villagers of Keefmore hinged on his cool thinking and skillful hands.

Why, just last week Jordy had stopped a farmer from bleeding out after a bad accident. A month ago, he’d probably saved a man’s leg from being amputated—and, in Keefmore where manual labor was so important, he probably had kept a family from starving that day.

Ivy? All she had to do was keep two toddlers out of trouble and try to get a decent amount of rest and nourishment so #3 would be healthy. Easy enough. Hardly worth troubling herself over.

Right?

She glanced up from Molly to find that Letty had disappeared again, leaving her bowl spinning in the middle of the kitchen floor. Ivy hurriedly rose and ran out of the room, calling her daughter’s name.

“Letty? Letty! Where are you?”

No response. But she managed to keep her wits about her, taking deep breaths again.

“Letty? Come here, darling. Time to finish your dinner …”

She swallowed hard when the nursery and front room had been searched and no Letty had appeared.

This was impossible. The doors were shut, and Letty couldn’t reach the handles. There was no place a little child could go, especially since she’d only glanced away for half a minute.

If Ivy panicked, she would never find her. More deep breaths, her hands pressed against her stomach to ease the rampant butterflies, and she continued on into her bedroom.

Holly, her tabby cat, was curled up in the middle of the counterpane, but there was no sight of her daughter. She peaked under the bed and into her closet then walked back out.

Molly was standing in the middle of the living her, her thumb in her mouth. Regarding her mother plaintively, she removed her thumb and said, “Reeree.”

“Letty. Yes, where is Letty, Molly? Did you see her?”

Molly’s blue eyes grew big, and she shook her head.

Ivy ran a hand over her eyes and ran into the kitchen. No sign of her. The cellar door was closed, and too heavy for such a tiny girl to open. Besides, Ivy had been watching it the whole time.

Then there was a loud clattering from behind her, and a low grunt of annoyance. She knew that grunt.

Whirling, she flung open the door of the cabinet near the door which held a variety of heavy cast-iron pots and pans. Somehow Letty had managed to crawl silently over them to the back of the cabinet where there was just the tiniest bit of space.

Letty’s gray-green eyes met hers unwaveringly over the pots. “Mum.” She scooted her body toward the back then toward the front. “Mum, up. Up.”

Letty was right. Cuddles were in order—though they would’ve happened whether Letty wanted them or not. Ivy sighed and held out her arms. “Come here.”

The scowl of her child’s face deepened. She made a jerking motion, then whimpered. Ivy’s heart stalled.

Letty was her quiet child. She’d been born silent, so much so that it had scared Jordy, and even now communicated primarily through grunts, glares, and occasional growls with succinct phrases tossed in.

Whimpering was not in Letty’s vocabulary.

Then Ivy saw it, and she hurried to removed each heavy pan. She felt Molly’s hand tugging at her hair from behind and pushed her away to keep moving the heavy iron death traps which she was going to destroy after this. Throw in a loch. Or something.

Then she lifted the last one, closest to Letty, and the two-year-old jerked back and clutched her hand to her chest. Panting, Ivy pulled her daughter in her arms and clutched her close. For the first time in the last eight months, Letty snuggled in and whimpered again.

[image error]

If you want to read the rest, consider signing up to beta-read this June! I’m expecting it to be about 6,000 words when I’m finished.

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

How was your Mother’s Day (e.g. yesterday)? Did you enjoy this little snippet? Have any thoughts? (Negative is actually welcome, too, at this stage!) Are you excited to see what happens next? Do you feel bad for poor little anxious Ivy? Do you think you’ll be able to beta read?

The post All About Only a Mother & An Excerpt appeared first on Reveries.

Giveaways & Wrapups & the Future, Oh My!

[image error]

Ready for the future? I’m not. *has no plans for anything past next month* But this post is about the plans for future books, publications, etc. – and it has signups for ARCs, blog tours, and all of that stuff!

Also, I want to talk about The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy – and what my plans are for it now that I’ve actually taken the plunge and removed it from Amazon!

So yep. Packed post, so let’s just dive in!

[image error]

A Reminder of What Souls Astray Is About

[image error]

Adele has been lost for a long time now …

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in care of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ A Special Review Defining the Content Level ~ My Website

Giveaway Wrapup

[image error]

And now, the winner of a signed paperback copy of Souls Astray and a $20 Amazon gift card is …

The Winner is … Kaylee!

By the way, Kaylee won by giving a hug. Wow! That makes me happy.

YAY! I’m so glad!

Future Plans for Kees & Colliers

[image error]

The future of the Kees & Colliers series isn’t very far into the future! The Lady of the Vineyard releases June 1st, Flowers in Her Heart releases July 6th, and From Now ‘Til Forever releases August 3rd.

Sign up to read The Lady of the Vineyard

Click here to receive an eARC for TLOTV in exchange for review!

Sign up for the Kees & Colliers Blog Tour

Join the blog tour for the Kees & Colliers series – July 1st through August 8th! Simply pick a week you could get your post out by and choose your own date. I’ll wrap up the posts of that week afterwards.

Click here to sign up!

Future Plans for The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy

[image error]

I removed all the books in the series from Amazon for a bit. I’m rewriting The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective, and the whole series is getting new covers!

I don’t want to give away it all at once, but I’m hoping to have them all back up this autumn and be able to release a couple short stories, too. And then we’re on to book 6!

By the way, the covers are AMAZING, and I’m so excited to share them with you! I’m working with a new designer who is just beyond amazing.

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

What are you working on? Tell me about your current projects! Are you excited for the Kees & Colliers series? What about the new version of The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy? How has your weekend been so far?

The post Giveaways & Wrapups & the Future, Oh My! appeared first on Reveries.

Souls Astray, Blog Tour Wrapup {But Giveaways Go On!}

[image error]

Are you ready for the blog tour wrapup? This post has all the details for the blog posts – as well as links to the continuing giveaways (the main one plus multiple on Facebook).

Also … wow. Thank you all for your support! It was really flattering. This has been my most lowkey blog tour as I’ve been quite busy and stressed, but y’all still made it a memorable one!

Please do comment below what kinds of posts and whatnot you would like to see in the future, as I’m trying to give back a bit in this way! Thanks!

[image error]

Blog Tour Wrapup
Saturday, May 4th

Intro // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Review & Interview with Troy and Harrington // Amie W. @ Crazy A

Another Review // Abigail McKenna @ Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors

Yet Another Review // Jes Drew @ Agency of Books and Spies

Interview // Angela R. Watts @ The Peculiar Messenger

Guest Post by Adele // Merie Shen @ Imperial Scribis

Review // Bella Putt

Sunday, May 5th

Interview with Adele // Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up In Writing

Review // Hannah Gridley @ The Heart of the Rose

Guest Post // Rose K. @ Adventurous Bookworm

Interview // Joshua Reid @ Take Up My Cross

Monday, May 6th

Character Takeover Day // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries

Guest Post by Troy // Liz Franklin @ Home with the Hummingbirds

Book Spotlight // Marianne Sciucco

Guest Post // Faith Blum

Tuesday, May 7th

Guest Post // Esther Jackson @ We’ve Got Pockets

Review // Jana T. @ Reviews from the Stacks

Review & Guest Post by Troy // A. Kaylee Harrison @ Kaylee’s Kind of Writes

Wednesday, May 8th

Wrapup // Kellyn Roth @ Reveries (you are here!)

Review & Guest Post by Troy // Dawn Dagger @ Rosy Dawns and Radiant Musings

Guest Post // Medomfo @ Writings from a God Girl

Book Spotlight // Ruth O’Neil @ Real Life is Better Than Fiction

Interview with Harrington // Isabel Olivetti @ Chasing Fantasia

Be sure to check out the Facebook party! (GIVEAWAY ENTRIES OPEN UNTIL SATURDAY!)


About Souls Astray

[image error]

Adele has been lost for a long time now …

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in care of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ A Special Review Defining the Content Level ~ My Website

Facebook Party

Minor giveaways, excerpts, links, and more will be posted throughout the week. You can still enter the giveaways, rewatch the live video, and more!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2222588961327506/

Giveaway

[image error]

Enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback copy of Souls Astray and a $20 Amazon gift card. Open to international entries.

Enter Now!

This giveaway will close for entries on the 11th of May.

[image error]

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

Goodreads · Facebook · Twitter

p.s.

How has your week been so far? Did you read any of the blog posts? Have you entered the giveaway (or the giveaways on Facebook)? What’s your favorite kind of flower?

The post Souls Astray, Blog Tour Wrapup {But Giveaways Go On!} appeared first on Reveries.