Erin R. Howard's Blog

Black Friday Sale!

Can you believe that it’s Thanksgiving week? We’ve already had one Thanksgiving dinner and have two more to go!

My publisher is having a HUGE #blackfriday #eBookSale! Over 150 titles will be marked down from November 22-26, 2023. These are great to use as virtual stocking stuffers! All my novels will be on sale for only 99 cents each, so now’s the perfect time to snag your copies.

https://scrivenings.link/theseer

https://scrivenings.link/thesoulsearcher

https://scrivenings.link/thesilencer

https://scrivenings.link/beyondthegates

https://scrivenings.link/theneardistant

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and please know that I’m thankful for every single one of you!

Hugs,
Erin

Diagnosis Day

Diagnoses Day.

12/29/16.

The most dreaded day of the year for me.

The dread starts about November and goes all the way through December. I avoid my FB memories leading up to Christmas because Gabriel was sick, and we thought it was just a normal virus. Now looking back at the pictures I can fully see just how sick he actually was, and that just triggers my PTSD.

There’s not a handbook on how to handle your thoughts, emotions, and life after you hear your child has cancer. There’s not a one size fits all approach to healing and getting back to a “normal” life after treatment is over. One statistic I read said nearly 40% of mothers and 33% of fathers experience symptoms of PTSD after their child has cancer. So if you’re experiencing the same, please know you’re not alone.

So now, each Diagnosis Day, I pick a new thing to focus on. One new blessing that I can hold onto and re-direct my thoughts toward any time I feel trauma rear its ugly head.

Dec 2020: I focused on thankfulness. We were so thankful to be finished with chemo and back at home full-time. Then came snapping out of survival mode (I lived in survival mode for three whole years) and trying to heal. And as a result, I was hit with anxiety and panic attacks. I was having them multiple times a week. I went on anxiety meds and started learning how to cope and recognize my triggers.

Dec 2021: I focused on rest and healing. I didn’t even make a post about Diagnosis Day on FB. I still have a long way to go. When you start to heal from trauma sometimes your brain reveals other stuff you’ve repressed/blocked out and this happened to me. This is still an ongoing progress.

Now for this Diagnosis Day, I’m choosing to focus on joy.

These are two of my favorite pictures of Gabriel at Christmas this year. This boy can light up a room like no one else. I look at what all he has endured and for him to have so much love, and so much joy, it’s humbling. He loves to make people laugh and he has such a sensitive heart.

I’m taking a page out of Gabriel’s book and making memories and joy the main focus this year.

Free Chapter!

A magical battle royale, a dying kingdom, and one girl who just wants to go home.

I have a brand new book coming out on Tuesday (12/6/22), and it’s now on Pre-Order! The Near Distant is a novella collection where a group of college students stumble upon a monolith and end up in different worlds.

In my novella, Under the Stars, Everly lands in the Kingdom of Lux, but she couldn’t have come at a worse time. There’s a magical royale, a king, and you’ve guessed it … romance.

I can’t wait for you to read this new adventure with Everly and Finn!

Want to read the first chapter of my new novella, Under the Stars? Here’s the link! https://scrivenings.link/theneardistantpreview

And don’t forget to Pre-order now and save. The price goes up Tuesday!

Hugs,

Erin

On a day trip into the wilderness around Lake Tahoe, college students Ned, Tyler, and Everly stumble upon a monolith. No one knows its origin or purpose, but structures like this one have popped up all over the world, making national headlines. While not the local legend the group hoped to find, they decide to investigate, only to be engulfed by a blinding, powerful pulse of light. Instantly, the three friends find themselves in separate and drastically different worlds. They must quickly adapt to their new surroundings or perish.

If they can survive, the mystery of how to return to Earth becomes entangled in another question fundamental to our humanity: Where do I belong?

Order Your Copy of The Near Distant

Surprise!

Hello, my dears!

I’ve been working on a surprise for all of you. As you know, my dystopian novel, Beyond the Gates released in May, and I have a portal novella about a magical kingdom coming out in December.

But, so many of you have asked when another short story was on the way, and I couldn’t leave you hanging, so guess what?!

Faint Again, book two in The Conflicted Tales is coming in October!

YAY!

And to celebrate, First Faint will be FREE on Kindle until the 21st!

If you love paranormal stories, I hope you will check out The Conflicted Tales. They are quirky, clean reads, and each one has twists and turns!

Here’s a little bit about the first story in the series, First Faint. 

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
But Kora’s living proof that everyone was wrong.

Kora Chambers was completely happy with her perfect, predictable life. But when her childhood best friend suddenly becomes a vampire and decides to force Kora along for the ride, her idyllic world starts to unravel. In fact, Kora can’t seem to get anything right in her new existence, and she has a massive pile of half-drained bodies to prove it.

Get your FREE copy here!

And don’t forget to preorder your copy of the sequel, Faint Again. It releases on 10/4/22.

Keep your friends close.
And your enemies closer?

Hunter Watts doesn’t know how he got nominated for the job of teaching a new vampire how to hunt, but here he is—trying to come up with a way to feed his new friend without her fainting every time she sees blood. With the full moon looming and his own set of problems hanging over his head, what’s a werewolf to do except drag the half-starved girl through his family’s forest?

Pre-Order your copy here!

Happy Reading!

Hugs,

Erin

Death awaits outside of the Gates

Another release day and another new series!

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my new YA dystopian novel, Beyond the Gates, which debuted on Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Christian Futuristic Fiction at #13!

I’m so proud of this story. It’s full of action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and romance. Reviews and comments are already coming in, and readers are saying this is my best book yet!

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Renna, Miles, and Gabbi’s story. Until then, happy reading!

Hugs,

Erin

Death awaits outside of the Gates.

If playing by the rules means it keeps you alive, then seventeen-year-old Renna James should know better. She is, after all, the one who broadcasts these rules to the Outpost. What lies beyond the gates had always lured her, but her venture outside wasn’t supposed to leave her locked out. Now, Renna’s one chance to survive the next seventy-two hours just ran into the forest she’s forbidden to enter.

“A riveting tale of finding truth and family against overwhelming odds. You’ll be swept away and captivated by this world where thinking for yourself could get you killed.”

– Tabitha Bouldin, author of Madness in Wonderland

“Filled with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, Beyond the Gates is evocative of Divergent and The Giver while maintaining a uniqueness that draws you in. Readers will devour the book while seeking a path back to the safety of the Outpost with Renna, Miles, and the rest of the likeable cast of characters. Packed with surprises, chills, and plenty of heart-wrenching moments, this story of deception within and without the walls of humanity’s last enclosures is well-worth reading for any fan of dystopian stories. Particularly those who thoroughly enjoy a thread of young love skillfully woven into its fabric.”

Brett Armstrong, award-winning author of the Quest of Fire series

Valentine’s Day Sale!

My publisher has nearly all of their books on sale for 99 cents each on Kindle until tomorrow, February 15th.

This sale includes my YA fantasy series, The Kalila Chronicles. Now is a great time to fill up your kindle and check out some great new authors.

The Seer The Soul Searcher The Silencer

Happy Reading,

Erin

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Five Years

There’s a part of me that wishes I could skip this day. Not even give it a second thought. To skip the anxiety, trauma, and PTSD, that has haunted me every day since. Jacob told me last night that he thinks about the best days, like Gabe’s last day of chemo, and when we got the call that Gabe was cancer-free instead of Diagnosis Day.

But there’s no parental handbook on how to deal with the aftermath. No charts or lists, or anything else that can tell you how to think, what to say, or how to heal.

You can’t put the puzzle pieces back the way they were. Because some pieces have grown, some are broken, and some have bandages covering wounds in various stages of healing. It will never be the same.

Time doesn’t make it easier. It just makes it easier for everyone else. Time just reminds you of who you were before and who you are after.

But you know what? It’s okay. I don’t want to be the same person I was then. I’m stronger now. More determined. I don’t let petty drama bother me. I know who loves me and wants to be in my life and who doesn’t.

I could make a list of ways that I’ve changed, how our family has changed. But God hasn’t. He’s still holding us all together. Still fighting for us, and still loving us.

I don’t know if the trauma, PTSD, and anxiety will ever go away for me. I don’t know if I can ever think of this day and not have all the emotions and memories flood my mind. But each time I tell someone Gabe’s story, and they say how much he inspires them, well, that helps me heal a little more. And that’s what I will focus on today. Even though I would rather hide in bed instead of packing up my store, I’m going to focus on the fact that it’s been FIVE years.

Five years since Diagnosis Day.

Five years of people hearing his story and being changed.

Five years of healing.

Hugs,
Erin

Hardcover news!

In case you didn’t see my TikTok video yesterday, (click here) I have exciting book news. The Kalila Chronicles will all be released in hardback! And the pages are absolutely gorgeous.

These pictures will be before each chapter and on each chapter page. The best part, The Seer is already available on Amazon! Book two and three will follow soon.

To say that I am excited would be an understatement. I would love to see pictures when you get your copy, so make sure to tag me.

Get your copy here!

Wisdom Wednesday: Amy R. Anguish

I’m very excited to have my good friend, Amy R. Anguish, with us today for Wisdom Wednesday. Amy is a fellow Scrivenings Press author and one of the co-founders of Once Upon a Page.

Welcome, Amy!

Name: Amy R. Anguish

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Latest Novel: No Place Like Home

Writing Tip: 

I don’t know that I have a favorite writing tip, per se, so I’m going to go with the one I’ve used the most over the last few months.

Don’t let yourself get burned out.

How can you get burned out when you’re doing something you love? Whew! Trust me, I love writing. Getting my stories out of my head and into the computer is a thrill. But this year, I had releases within only a few months of each other. That meant I was neck-deep in edits or marketing basically from July through December. And in my few down times, when I thought I could write, it was like dragging the bottom of the barrel. I had to stop and refill myself before I could grab on to those words and get them out. So, I stopped writing for a few days and worked on other craft projects. And it helped so much. Not only did I have some cute new fall decorations, but I also was able to sit down and finish a story before my next round of edits came through.

I obviously don’t recommend stopping to do something else every time you struggle. Sometimes, you just have to force yourself through a hard part. But, when you’ve been slammed nonstop for weeks on end, it’s okay to take a break and let your creativity flow in other ways.

Do you find this to be true? What’s one non-writing thing you do that’s also creative?

Can love secure Adrian’s wandering heart?

Roots are overrated, at least to someone like Adrian Stewart, preacher’s kid, who has never lived anywhere longer than six years. That’s why her job with MidUSLogIn is so perfect for her—lots of travel and staying nowhere long enough to have it feel like home. But when work takes her to Memphis, TN, closer to her family for the first time in years, and in the same small office as Grayson Roberts, she starts to question her job, her lack of home, and even her memories of her rocky past with the church.

Gray is intrigued by Adrian from the moment he sees her, and he’s determined to get to the bottom of why this girl who loves old movies and hums when she works won’t go to church with him. As they grow closer, he wants more, too, but how can he convince her to stay in Memphis when she doesn’t believe in home—or God? Can he use his own broken past to break through hers?

.

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://abitofanguish.weebly.com 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_r_anguish

Learn more about her books at https://www.pinterest.com/msguish/my-books/

And check out the YouTube channel she does with two other authors, Once Upon a Page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEiu-jq-KE-VMIjbtmGLbJA)

Thank you so much for joining us today! Please take a moment to check out Amy’s newest release, No Place Like Home, and connect with her on social media.

If you are a published author (of clean or Christian fiction), please sign up here to be highlighted on Wisdom Wednesday!

Wisdom Wednesday: Cindy Bonds

Are you letting excuses stop you from writing? Author Cindy Bonds is on Wisdom Wednesday.

Welcome, Cindy!

Name: Cindy Bonds

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Latest Novel: Fighter

Writing Tip: 

Just write.

That’s my tip. Don’t let the fact you’re blocked or that you don’t know anything about formatting/character evolution stop you from writing! I wrote non-stop for two years while I was a stay at home mom and had no idea what I was doing! Writing drives writing. The more I write, even if I’m not in the mood or have a thousand other things on my mind, the more the creativity flows on the page.

Writing Tip for New Writers:

Find an online source to learn how to write and educate yourself. Writing is so much more than a great idea and great characters. Those things are important, but there’s a deeper importance as you weave your storyline and those characters into a novel. You can join a critique group if you need more one on one help. But there are a lot of books and online materials that can help you funnel your ideas into a reasonable story.

Bexley Bowers has lost everything during her 30 years on earth. Struggling to find her path, she’s targeted and kidnapped by a crazed terrorist.

Evan Mitchell retired from the Navy only to find himself back at work, clinging to his job with the Tactical Response Team. He meets Bexley while on assignment, and a strange tug on his emotions leaves him scrambling. Bexley is too stubborn and too beautiful. He’ll never be able to get her out of his mind – especially now that he’s her protection.

When Bexley finds herself in trouble once more, can Evan and his team arrive in time?

Fighting the clock and their pride, Evan and Bexley must decide which is more important – their egos or their future.

Cindy Bonds lives in rural Arkansas where she works for an aviation insurance agency and spends her free time with her husband and children. In between her kid’s ball games and gymnastics, she loves to read and work on her crafting skills.

Writing has become an outlet for her creativity and she is excited for her novel Fighter, the beginning of a three book series.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CindyBondsAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcindybonds/

Thank you so much for joining us today! Please take a moment to check out Cindy’s newest release, Fighter, and connect with her on social media.

If you are a published author (of clean or Christian fiction), please sign up here to be highlighted on Wisdom Wednesday!