Selena Blake's Blog, page 7

Update on Reclaiming Isis

I mentioned this a while back but wanted to post an update.

Regarding Reclaiming Isis/Reclaiming Iris – sci fi romance

I’ve changed the name of the heroine in one of my books. When I originally named her Isis, the world was different and now, well, now she’s known as Iris. If you visit a digital book vendor in the coming days, you should see the new title, cover, blurb, and book.

If you have already purchased the book in the past and have the option of pulling down an updated copy, you can get the updated version. Nothing else about the book has changed, so if the name change doesn’t matter to you, you’re not missing anything.

A: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SU5Y6FM?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-space-encounters-1-selena-blake/1135863549?ean=2940149922604
K: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/deep-space-encounters-1-reclaiming-iris
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id962473805

Giveaway Alert: Paranormal Romance Series Starter

Start the series that has captivated paranormal romance fans around the world. Enter to win a copy of The Cajun’s Captive!

Do you have friends who read paranormal romance? Please share this giveaway with them and help Sebastian and Amanda find new years. Thanks and happy reading!

Happy New Year

Dear Reader,

I’m wishing you a happy, safe, wonderful new year. I hope 2020 is filled with amazing books and that your dreams come true.

Best,

Selena

Free Book – At Her SEAL’s Command

Just a quick note to say that for some reason Amazon is listing At Her SEAL’s Command for free right now. Go grab your copy! #contemporaryromance #SEALromance

I missed the HubBub…

I missed the initial hubbub when TV Anchor Lara Spencer made a rather insensitive comment about Prince George taking ballet classes.

This isn’t book-related, but it’s people related and people are at the center of my books. I’m impressed with her ability to admit she goofed, to apologize, to shine a positive light on a situation, and to give an under-served community a voice.

In my opinion, it takes strong character to admit you’re wrong. And at the end of the day, I’d like to think we’re all trying to be the best we can be, do the best we can.

This is a touching interview between Lara and three male dancers that I hope many people can learn from. https://www.fatherly.com/…/tv-anchor-apologies-after-publi…/

This is important to me because it’s not just ballet that gets mocked. It’s the way people dress or the books they read or the way they style their hair.

There are plenty of areas in my life where I’ll tell myself “toughen up. No one owes you anything.” And that makes me want to be kinder, more generous. I want good vibes in my life. High vibes. I want to surround myself with good people who are trying to live their best life and who have no time or energy to tear others down.

Lara made one comment.

And that one comment could have ruined a little boy’s dream.

Swap out ballet for something else. Does it matter what his dream is? Why would you want to squash it?

Anyway. Long story short. We all mess up from time to time. Make it right. Offer forgiveness. Give yourself grace.

Let’s build each other up.

Sample a Shifter This Summer ;)

I’ve teamed up with nineteen other authors to bring you twenty tempting Shifters this summer.

You know you want a nibble.

Check them out.

Author Anxiety Is Real

Photo by  Al Butler  from  Pexels

Dear Writer,

There’s going to come a point in your writing journey where you’ll look around at your peers and feel anxious. Maybe even jealous. It might disguise itself with a ‘hey, I can do that!’

But then the fear and doubt will set in.

It’s okay.

Let it come. Meet that anxiety head on.

Remind yourself to never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

I had a moment of that today. Watching a sweet author share her goals on YouTube left me in 1) awe 2) envy 3) serious anxiety.

And then I remembered… She has a plan. She has goals and regimen. For several years, goal was not in my vocabulary. I was too busy with other things to focus on writing goals.

While I was painting my office, she was writing her butt off.

While I was shoveling umpteen tons of mulch, she was marketing her books.

Jumpstarting a career is almost harder than starting in the first place. You’ve seen the holy land so to speak. You know what’s possible.

Wherever you are in your journey, stay calm. Move forward. Don’t compare yourself to those who are tossing out big numbers. Compare your today with your yesterday. How’d you do? Did you take a step forward? Good. That’s what counts. Keep moving.

The List of 20

Of all the tools in my writing toolbox, this is one of the most important.

If you’ve never heard of it, let me introduce you.

Meet the List of 20.

You know how sometimes you’ll be cruising along in your book and then all of a sudden you’re not sure what to do next?

Perhaps you’re at a pivotal scene and the hero needs to say something profound. Or perhaps it’s time for your bad guy to deliver a killer parting line. Or perhaps you need to figure out why your heroine doesn’t want to go home for the holidays.

Enter the list of 20.

The idea is to grab a scratch sheet of paper or open a new file and start listing all the possibilities.

I don’t remember where I learned this trick but I know that I use it frequently and feel like every writer should know about it. Whenever I hit a roadblock, this is the tool I reach for. I might still need to brainstorm with a buddy or do some research, but it’s frequently used because it works.

You see, your first ideas are predictable.

They’re boring.

They’re lazy.

They’re expected.

They’re the first ones that come to mind and maybe they’re right, but more often than not, you can do better.

For me, the sweet spot is somewhere north of number six. Past number fifteen you’re probably grasping for straws and writing any crazy idea that comes to mind.

That’s fine. Keep adding to your list. These ideas are what you need. Maybe the perfect idea presents itself at number seven. Maybe it’s number nineteen.

Maybe it’s a combination of two ideas.

The goal is to get as many ideas onto paper as you can so you’ll knock the perfect idea loose.

Have fun. Good luck. Happy Writing.

High Vibes Only

My motto for the day.

What does it mean to you?

Have you read The Cajun’s Captive?

“What are you doing?” she cried.

“Taking what’s mine.”

He knew the instant she comprehended his words. She squirmed and wiggled like a bunny in a trap, but it didn’t matter. He had her where he wanted her.

For now.

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I can’t believe this book has been available for eleven years. Eleven, y’all! And still there are readers who’ve never met Sebastian or experienced the depth of his love for Amanda.

If you haven’t read it, what’s stopping you?!

And if you have friends who haven’t read it, would you do me a favor and send them to this post so they can discover all the werewolfy goodness that is the Stormy Weather series? K. Thanks. Bye!