Cherie Reich's Blog, page 4

Hindsight Is... #IWSG | December's Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. December's co-hosts are Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner. Find the other IWSG participants here.

December's question: As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?
I can think of three distinct things I would have done differently, but the last two bleed over into what I would have done differently in 2016 too.Take a break. Thank you all for your kind comments on last month's IWSG post about my writing hiatus. It took a few weeks to settle into not writing/editing, but I am less anxious about not writing and editing. I've decided to take the rest of the month off so I can start the new year fresh.Read Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron much earlier than I did. I just finished this book, and it's amazing. True, I was doing some of these techniques subconsciously in my work, but the questions Cron has me asking my characters and scenes will make a difference (for the better, I hope!). It's given me so many ideas on how to take Forged and Destined to the next level.Work on one project at a time (i.e. The Fate Challenges). While I don't necessarily regret working on Soul Reaper series, I do wish I'd used that time to focus on finishing up Forged and Destined instead. If so, then they would be out in the world now. Or at least much closer to publication. It's looking like mid-2018 for Forged and early 2019 for Destined. Live and learn. *sighs*What would you do differently?

2018 Stats: 111,229 words written and 908,601 words edited
Changes are coming to my "Bookworm News" section.

Starting in January, Bookworm News will be in its separate post on the last day of the month. The post, if not including a guest post, will have its comments turned off. I'll still highlight what books I've read as well as what speculative fiction books were released. These posts are also available for cover reveals and guest posts, if anyone is interested.

But the biggest change is that I am no longer reviewing books I've read. I do not come to this decision lightly as I know how important reviews are, but they're causing me too much stress to write and are making reading not as enjoyable as it used to be. I will continue to rate what books I read on Goodreads and maybe even leave a sentence or two of what I loved, but I won't officially be reviewing books.

BOOKS READDark Winds Rising by Mark NoceWired for Story by Lisa Cron
BOOK REVIEWEDDark Winds Rising by Mark Noce All the kingdoms of Wales are threatened when the Picts arrive in Mark Noce's Dark Winds Rising. Set several years after Between Two Fires, this novel follows Queen Branwen as she seeks to keep peace within her kingdom and her surrounding neighbors. The cunning and passionate Branwen matures throughout this story as she faces Queen Sab's sinister plot, which kept me guessing until the end. Noce makes the late 600s Wales come to life. I do hope there will be another book because the Queen Branwen series keeps getting better. An enchanting and fast-paced historical novel, Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce is a must-read.

SPECULATIVE FICTIONRELEASING IN DECEMBERDark Winds Rising by Mark NoceSea of Strangers by Erica CameronHuntress Lost by A.A. ChamberlynnRebel Faerie by Rachel MorganGhouls by Lou KleinThe Young Queens by Kendare BlakeMIND: The Fracture by Jenn NixonDoom Sayer by Clara Coulson
As this is most likely my last post for this year, I hope everyone has a storybook ending for 2017. Happy Holidays!

A Writing Hiatus, or When Just Keep Swimming Isn't Enough #IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. November's co-hosts are Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton, MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass. Find the other IWSG participants here.

Okay, it's time to bring up some insecurities this month, and I apologize for a longer post than normal.
This year has been a much rougher one than I could have imagined or even talked about until now, and I must admit I'm reaching my physical and emotional limits. I don't do the best with change, and there have been too many changes this year that have taken their toil. To name a few:The whole political election and its aftermath. Sometimes I wonder if we're living in the backstory of a dystopian novel.All the natural and unnatural horrors happening within the world. It seems like a new one occurs every day.Overall, I do enjoy my quiet day job as a library assistant in a small academic library at a higher education center, but we've had ten staffing changes since December. At a place with around twenty employees, I've found it a lot to handle.My grandfather passed away in February. Logic brain acknowledges and accepts that not only are all four of my grandparents dead, but also that everyone I know will die. Unless we find a way to stream our consciousness to the internet or something, of course. Emotional brain didn't get that memo, and when my grandfather died, emotional brain suddenly realized all her grandparents were gone. It hit me harder than I expected.Chronic pain is draining my energy. After two back injuries and various other injuries throughout the years as well as not coping with emotions well and having a hard time even understanding them in myself (Alexithymia), I've developed chronic myofascial pain syndrome and chronic tendinitis. I take the bare minimum of pain pills and muscle relaxers I can get by with and still function (3 or 4 on the pain scale most "good" days), but pain is hard to live with day in and day out (since 2008). I'm just getting slower and slower.Number 5 doesn't help my generalized and social anxiety disorders. And I'm getting tired of having panic attacks every week when I go grocery shopping. Nor does #7 help with the anxiety either.I mentioned I don't like change, but I may have a neurological reason for it. Every so often, a very close relative would call out something I do as "autistic." I didn't pay much attention to it until April's Autism Awareness Acceptance month, and several of my autistic friends started posting symptoms and other information about autism in adults. I started to see myself in those posts. So I did some research and asked my relative why they said what they did. Well, it turns out their psychiatrist mentioned I sounded like I was autistic, and she does have a background in how autism presents itself in women. So I'm 98% certain I'm autistic and would consider myself self-diagnosed, although I do plan to seek a more official diagnosis once I have collected and compiled more data, have the funds, and find the courage (see #6) to find someone to diagnosis me. And if the government (see #1) doesn't make it harder for people with pre-existing conditions.My dad is remodeling the interior of our house. We've lived there since 1989, so it's time to replace the floors and paint and all, but my sanctuary is gone. Everything is different, and it's all just too much.I've been keeping my head down, blinders on, and swimming along, but now I've come to a Niagara Falls' high waterfall, I'm trying my best not to take the plunge. Something needs to change before I break down, either physically or emotionally. I've been cutting back on things, and I don't have much left that I do beyond the day job and writing. Since the day job pays the bills, I've decided to take a month off, maybe even two, from writing and editing my own work. I fear that if I don't take the time off now, then I won't have a choice later on. It has happened in the past.
After all, I've been working on my own manuscripts every single day since July 1, 2015 through October 24, 2017 (over 615,000 words written!). With being a writer part-time seven days a week, working at my full-time job 5-6 days a week, and everything else, I just desperately need a break. Even though I feel really guilty about it and it hurts not to stick to a routine.
What does that mean for The Fate Challenges and Soul Reaper series? Soul Reaper is on an indefinite hiatus, but I do plan to dive into Forged content edits when I come back to writing in a month or two.
During my hiatus, I plan to read more. More fiction. More nonfiction about writing. More about autism (seriously it's my new special interest). I plan to play video games, watch TV, and just rest up so I'll be in a better mind-space to get back to writing come December or January.
November 1 question - Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?NaNoWriMo 2009: Virtuoso - Finished (first draft), not publishedNaNoWriMo 2010: The Cassandra Project (originially titled Sarah's Nightmare and then Missing) - Finished (first draft), not publishedNaNoWriMo 2011: Starred - Finished (first draft), not published AND The Last Prophetess - Not finished, not publishedNaNoWriMo 2012 and Camp NaNoWriMo 2013: Reborn - (Rewrite) Finished, published 2014NaNoWriMo 2013: Forged - Eventually finished (first draft) in December 2015, will be published in 2018 AND Reigned - Not finished, not publishedFor all you NaNo participants this month, keep on writing and try writing an extra word or two for me too!
2017 Stats: 111,229 words written and 907,704 pages edited (my work and for others) BOOK READ AND REVIEWEDI Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Self-Discovery for Adults by Cynthia Kim
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN NOVEMBEROmega by Jus AccardoRosemarked by Livia BlackburneThe November Girl by Lydia KangMark of Fire by Richard PhillipsSacred Seas by Karen Amanda HooperVoid Wyrm by Chris FoxOathbringer by Brandon SandersonTwelve by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Spirits in the Water Blog Tour Schedule + Giveaway

The authors of Spirits in the Water are on tour, and we're giving away quite a few prizes. Please visit us at these participating blogs!
October 23The Silver Dagger ScriptoriumMythical BooksJazzy Book Reviews
October 24Blog of Author Jacey HolbrandfundinmentalAC Squared Book BlogBooks a Plenty Book Reviews
October 25Breaking GenreA Mama's Corner of the WorldLand of OyrLisa Book Blog @ LELYA Book Divas
October 26Books, Authors, BlogsjrsbookreviewsMomma Says: To Read or Not to ReadYah gotta read this
October 27Jamie Marchant, Fantasy Author3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!Girl with PenYearwood La Novela
October 28Book Crazy Scrapbook MamaLaurie's Paranormal Thoughts and ReviewsBooks Dreams LifeBound 2 Escape
October 29Susan Heim on WritingBook Bangers BlogLaurisa White Reyes, AuthorMello & June
October 30For Love of Books4Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & GiveawaysRamblings of a Coffee Addicted WriterSapphyria's Book Reviews
October 31Must Read FasterNatashareadsbooksSpunky N SassyThe Bookworm Chronicles
November 1T's Stuff Alex J. CavanaughCloe Michael's Reads BlogCircle of StalkersThe Blackwood BlogThe Book Town
November 2Rabid Readers Book BlogStormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'Sylv.netTeaser Addicts Book Blog
November 3Anna Del C DyeTales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero MomTeatime and BooksTurning Another Page
November 4FUONLYKNEWThe Authors BlogThe Pen and Muse Book Reviews
November 5Triple AIndie Wish ListYA & NA Bookshelf
There are also a number of prizes you can win through the Rafflecopter entry form.
I am also at the Parallel's blog this month where I'm talking about expanding a fictional world through short stories.lecopter.com/launch.jspt>

I'm also at the Parallel's blog this month where I'm talking about expanding a fictional world through short stories.

I Think I've Said Too Much #IWSG | October Goals | Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. October's co-hosts are Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan. Find the other IWSG participants here.

October's question: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose? The simple answer is yes.
I think it goes back to the guideline of "Write what you know." It would be nearly impossible to write without pulling on some sort of emotion, action, etc. that we've experienced in the past, even if we present it in a different way or from a different view. I think experience leads credence to our imagination.
That said, I have purposely written about events that happened to me. The best example is Once upon a December Nightmare from Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection. The main event that sets up the story actually happened to me in December 2002. I played off what occurred and expanded it into a horror story. Yes, even the dead deer were really in that clearing.
My unpublished YA contemporary novel Starred also features true incidents that happened while I participated in musical theater.

And I'm sure I'll find new things to insert into new stories too.
Don't forget about the IWSG Anthology contest! I had an idea in mind for a story, but I didn't know how to narrow it down to 3500-6000 words and didn't really have the time to write and edit it for the November 1st deadline. Plus, it took kept turning into a horror story in my head. So good news, I have a new horror story to write some day. Bad news, I have no story to submit for the next IWSG Anthology. Oh, well.
What are you insecure about this month? For the past couple months, I've created a Word document to keep track of important dates, overall things I need to do, and then daily goals. It's really made a world of difference. So I did quite well on my goals for September.

I formatted a manuscript for a client. I proofread, formatted, and published Spirits in the Water (Elements of Untethered Realms #4). I edited the outlines of A Soul to Reap, A Soul to Keep, and A Soul to Take as well as reached the midway point in my novel Destined. I even found time to update Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, the ebook and print versions.

I've also been thinking of my old Gravity series, and I have an idea of a new direction to take the characters. Now I don't know when I'll get back to it, but I'm excited about the new starting point.

As for October's goals, they include:
- Continue editing Destined. The third novel in The Fate Challenges series is over 92,000 words so far and will likely be as long as Reborn (around 95,000 words). I hope to be 75-85% finished with this edit by the end of the month.
- Update the print version of People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors with the new map and a few other minor tweaks.
- Write the outline for A Soul to Give (Soul Reaper #4).

And that's it. October is a lighter goals month than the previous ones.

What are your October goals?

2017 Stats: 105,864 words written and 885,566 words edited BOOK READ AND REVIEWEDSpirits in the Water by Untethered Realms' authors
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN OCTOBER Spirits in the Water by Untethered Realms’ authorsAmazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. DaoTool of War by Paolo BacigalupiDevils and Thieves by Jennifer RushPaper Butterflies by Lisa HeathfieldThe Goblins of Bellwater by Molly RingleBerserker by Emmy LaybourneAlly by Anna BanksNever Apart by Romily BernardSeize Today by Pintip Dunn27 Hours by Tristina WrightBlood in the Water by Angela RoquetThe Uncrossing by Melissa EastlakeFairday Morrow and the Talking Library by Jessica Haight and Stephanie RobinsonStrange Weather by Joe HillHarry Potter – A History of Magic: The Book of the Exhibition by J.K. RowlingCold Spectrum by Craig Schaefer Twisted Earths (Elements of Untethered Realms #1) is currently free.Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection is 99c for October.Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

Spirits in the Water Available for Preorder and Twisted Earths now Free on Retailers #anthologies #scifi #fantasy

Spirits in the Water is now available for preorder. The fourth Elements of Untethered Realms anthology will be released on October 3.
A haunted journey on a riverboat, water sprites borne of pennies, preternatural creatures, ancient serpents, and the Lady of the Lake lurk in dark waters. Raging storms and magical rainbow fountains. Water is spectacularly beautiful but also treacherous.
Gwen Gardner gives us Shake, Rattle and Row. Harlow Grayson has the chance to rid herself of a pesky ghost but she must first brave a haunted riverboat and recover a family heirloom. What she finds might be more than she can handle.
Jeff Chapman offers The Water Wight. When a drowned girl changes her mind about suicide, Merliss and her associates face a fearsome, preternatural creature.
M. Pax presents The Wallows. Evernee Weems wants to escape this world in the worst way. Her daughter needs everything, the rent is being raised, Evernee’s job barely pays minimum wage, and she has little hope for better. Inside a puddle is a different reality. She jumps in, happy to trade her problems for a life in which worries don’t exist. Or do they?
Angela Brown gives us Extraordinary. Puberty hits Angelique like a gut punch and brings about a change, forcing an unexpected revelation about her past. All seems well until a vicious storm tears through her Texas community, and Angelique learns there are worse things than a little change.
River Fairchild presents You Can’t Go Home Again. A young woman, filled with regret about the past, goes on a journey and discovers more than she bargained for.
Simon Kewin offers us The Waters, Dividing the Land. Hyrn the horned god of the woodlands is learning the meaning of fear. Death magic blights the land, threatening everyone and everything. To save what he can from spreading corruption, he turns to the ancient river serpents, but they’ve grown old and distant and may not hear his call at all.
Christine Rains gives us Frozen. A necromancer is on the frozen moon of Saturn where the dead do scream.
Meradeth Houston presents The Flood. Sometimes a flooded kitchen isn’t the unluckiest thing to happen to you.
Catherine Stine offers Maizy of Bellagio. April still searches for her mother who vanished nineteen years ago from the fountain at Hotel Bellagio in Vegas. Can Maizy, a water sprite who works the fountain’s pink colors, begin to help the three generations of eccentric women tortured by this tragedy?
M. Gerrick gives us The One Who Would Wield the Sword. Nikka is supposed to be nothing more than dragon bait so a real dragon hunter can do his job, but the Lady in the Lake has other plans for her.
Cherie Reich presents The Folding Point. Aimee’s fight against those who banned paper magics has begun.
From USA Today, Amazon bestselling, and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Spirits in the Water, a supernatural anthology of eleven thrilling tales. Spirits in the Water is the fourth, long-awaited Elements story collection from the dynamic and inventive Untethered Realms group.
Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
Add on Goodreads!
Read some excerpts from Spirits in the Water.
To celebrate the release for Spirits in the Water, the first Elements of Untethered Realms anthology Twisted Earths is now free on all major retailers. Pick up your copy today!
Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords

I Never Intended to Be a Writer #IWSG | September Goals | Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. September's co-hosts are Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure. Find the other IWSG participants here.

September's Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing?YES! All the time.
While growing up, I never intended to be a writer. Though I've always had a great imagination, I was rather dreadful when it came to writing papers in English classes. The main reason was because I missed learning how to write a paper in high school, and I didn't learn how to write one until a college English class. In high school, I went from regular English 9 to Advanced English 10. Advanced English 9 and College-Bound and regular English 10 learned to write papers. I missed that all so important step. *sighs*
So, as you can probably imagine, I hated writing. In fact, I even told my AP English 12 teacher that I was going to move to a foreign country so I'd never have to write in English again. *laughs* Because I thought I was inept when it came to writing, every time I read something I've written since I've become a writer, I'm surprised and amazed.
Has your writing surprised you? What are your insecurities this month? August was a surprisingly good month for completing my goals.

I finished editing Forged (The Fate Challenges #2), and it's now with my critique partners. I completed my outline edit of Destined (The Fate Challenges #3), formatted the manuscript, and have started editing it. I'm hoping to finish this edit by November 15, and I'm planning to work on Destined during weekdays.

I've been using weekends to work on Soul Reaper series, and I'm making progress on editing the outlines so I'll be ready to start edits and write books 3-5 eventually. I was hoping to start writing A Soul to Take (Soul Reaper #3) in October, but now I'm thinking I should finish the outlines and edit the books I've already written before writing A Soul to Take, especially if I want to have 1-2 Soul Reaper books published before the end of next year. We'll see how it goes.

A big shout out to Christine Rains for finishing her urban fantasy series Totem . All nine novellas are fantastic reads!

Untethered Realms is gearing up to publish the fourth Elements of Untethered Realms anthology. Spirits in the Water will be released in early October, and my story "The Folding Point" is in it. In August, I was busy reformatting the previous anthologies and getting some images ready for #4. Besides being one of the editors and having a story in the anthology, I am also the final proofreader and formatter. It's so much fun to see all of it come together.

Here are my September goals:
- Continue editing Destined. Ideally, I'd like to be at the midway point by the end of this month.
- Format, proofread, and publish (likely as a preorder for an October 2nd or 3rd release date) Spirits in the Water.
- Continue working on the outlines for Soul Reaper series.

What are your goals for September?

2017 Stats: 99,493 words written and 766,670 words edited BOOKS READ AND REVIEWEDTrue Shifter by Christine RainsThe Hook Up by Tawna Fenske
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN SEPTEMBERSleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen KingThe Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding: A Fiendish Arrangement by Alexandra BrackenNyxia by Scott ReintgenWarcross by Marie LuJane, Unlimited by Kristin CashoreThere’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie PerkinsThe Han Agent by Amy RogersFireblood by Elly BlakeInvictus by Ryan GraudinBlack Bird of the Gallows by Meg KasselSummoner by S.D. GrimmZero Point by Adam Quinn
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Werebiker by Paige Cuccaro

Become an Editor and Discover Your Pet Peeves #IWSG | Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. August's co-hosts are Christine Rains, Dolorah @ Book Lover, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Yvonne Ventresca, and LG Keltner. Find the other IWSG participants here.

August's question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing? As a reader, I didn't have many pet peeves beyond "too much description." I didn't really have any when I started writing, except head hopping and trying to figure out "show vs. tell." But when I became an editor, I'll admit certain grammar things quickly became my pet peeves. The one that irks me the most is one I am guilty of not using properly in the past until I read a manuscript where, I kid you not, the author had used that particular phrasing—and mostly improperly—nearly every single dang sentence.
That pet peeve is the overuse and improper use of participial phrases (verb+ing/ed + rest of phrase). The correct way to use them is for the participial phrase to be happening simultaneously as the independent clause (subject + verb) as well as for the participial phrase referring to the nearest noun. I used to be rather loose with my participial phrases, but man, editing that manuscript cured me. Now I cringe when I see one referencing the wrong noun or just being overused.
Of course, if the story is good, I can even overlook that particular pet peeve.
What is your pet peeve? Do you have any insecurities this month? As for my goals, July turned out to be a very good month. I helped my friend with formatting and proofreading two of her novellas and critiqued a third one. I also made a lot of progress in Forged and hope to finish my edits by the end of this weekend or early next week. I have realized I need to add a chapter, which will create ripples I'll need to fix in some chapters afterwards, but I still think I can get my edit finished and sent to my critique partners next week. *crosses fingers* I also updated my websites and social media with new banners and updated information. And I caught up on reviewing the books I've read.

I have quite a few goals I'd like to accomplish in August. These goals include:
- Finish editing Forged (The Fate Challenges #2) and send it to my critique partners.
- Add in proofreading changes to my short story "The Folding Point" forthcoming in Spirits in the Water (Elements of Untethered Realms #4) and design the headers for the eleven stories.
- Edit the outline for Destined (The Fate Challenges #3), format the manuscript, and start editing it.
- Edit the outlines for the Soul Reaper series (A Soul to Save, A Soul to Kill, A Soul to Reap, A Soul to Keep, and A Soul to Take). I need to finish this particular task by the end of September, so I can start writing A Soul to Take (Soul Reaper #3) in October.
- Format and proofread the last novella in my friend's fantastic nine-part novella series.

What are your goals for August?

On July 26, WildMind Creative published an interview of me. You can read the interview here.

I also discovered on August 1 that Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5) was selected for AllAuthor's Cover of the Month competition. You can vote for Marked here.

2017 Stats: 89,339 words written and 677,315 words edited BOOKS READ AND REVIEWEDShadows Fall (Totem #7) by Christine RainsDescending Moon (Totem #8) by Christine Rains
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN AUGUSTProject Pandora by Aden PolydorosReincarnation Blues by Michael PooreHalls of Law by V. M. EscaladaEkata: Fall of Darkness by Dominique LawBlood and Thunder by Angela RoquetSpellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-DoyleDescending Moon by Christine RainsTrue Shifter by Christine RainsThe Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-JonesThe Third Kiss by Kat Colmer

A Lesson Learned #IWSG | Writing Goals | Bookworm News | Smashwords Sale

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. July's co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan. Follow the other IWSG bloggers or sign up for the blog hop here.

July's question: What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?
Although many answers come to mind, the one that sticks out the most is that each writer's journey is different and valid. We may have many things in common, but we each find our own way to write and that way is just as valid as any other way. Too many times we get caught up in the "rules" of writing, but they are just guidelines. It's up to each of us to find what works best.
For example, I'm a plotter. I need an outline before I write the first page. I will also come up with ideas and not get around to writing them for months or even years. The outline is where I learn the story. Writing that first draft is where I learn the main characters. In edits, I expand upon the world and solidify who people are. That's my process.
Yours will most likely vary, and there's nothing wrong with that.
What are your insecurities this month? I'm writing up this post on June 27, even though it won't go live until July 5. Why? I'm off work from June 28-July 4, which means no access to unlimited internet and a fast internet connection.
After all I completed in May and early June, I've felt rather exhausted the past few weeks. I did catch up on blog comments and emails; however, I did not write any new reviews, edit the outline for Destined (The Fate Challenges #3), or update my websites/social media. I did finish editing the stories for Spirits in the Water, helped my friend with her fantastic novella series, and I made progress in editing Forged (The Fate Challenges #2).

My July goals include:
- Continue editing Forged.
- Continue helping my friend with her novella series.
- Catch up on writing reviews for books I've read.
- Update my websites/social media.

Oh, I also realized that July 1 is my two year anniversary of writing every single day. Since I'm editing a lot, the added words are much fewer than writing-writing days, but so far I've worked on a project and gotten new words down every single day since July 1, 2015.

What are your goals for July?

2017 Stats: 84,951 words written and 513,456 words edited(January 1-June 27)

In June, I read Sacrifice Moon by Julie Fortune. This is a Stargate SG-1 series book, and I loved it. If you're a fan of the show, you should enjoy it too.

SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN JULYThe Legion of Flame by Anthony RyanMIND: The Vision by Jenn NixonLost Boy by Christina HenryAsh and Quill by Rachel CaineCracked Open by Susan Kaye QuinnEnigma by Tonya KuperAge of Swords by Michael J. SullivanBannerless by Carrie VaughnHeroine Worship by Sarah KuhnShadows Fall by Christine RainsChildren of the Fifth Sun by Gareth WorthingtonGork, the Teenage Dragon by Gabe HudsonSmashwords is having its month-long sale from July 1-31. You can get the Untethered Realms' anthology Twisted Earths for free, my fantasy short story collect People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors for a dollar, and my paranormal horror collection Once upon a Nightmare for just 99c.

FREECoupon Code: SW100Twisted Earths on Smashwords
$1.00Coupon Code: SSW75People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors on Smashwords
$0.99Coupon Code: SSW50Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection on Smashwords

Science Fiction and Fantasy Sale July 1-2 Over 100 Books 99c

For July 1-2, my novel Reborn is one of the over 100 books on sale for 99c in this massive science fiction and fantasy sale. Either click the image or click here to fill you ereader!

The Month of All the Things or Keeping It Simple, Take 2 #IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. June's co-hosts are JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner. Follow the other IWSG bloggers or sign up for the blog hop here.

First of all, I owe everyone an apology. I completely and totally failed at visiting blogs in May, but I do have a good reason for being absent online. Or I hope you'll think it is a good enough reason. You see, a promotional opportunity came up for Reborn for mid-June. At first, I planned to just update the files for Reborn (second edition) and leave everything else as is, but since I haven't done any real promotion since, um, like 2015, I thought I should be like Alexander Hamilton and not throw away my shot. So I tossed Soul Reaper aside and pivoted toward The Fate Challenges and basically did all the things I'd originally planned to do January-April and didn't do in May. It was a pretty crazy four weeks, but I'm proud of the work I've done, even if it meant abandoning emails/social media/blogging.
So the lesson, children, is be like Alexander Hamilton and don't throw your shot away. *smiles*
That said, I am still striving for simplicity and hope to reach it one of these days.
June 7th IWSG Day Question: Did you ever say "I quit"? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing? I haven't said "I quit" to writing. Publishing, yes. Writing, no. Writing has become such an intrinsic part of who I am. I need writing. It's too cathartic to me to give up. At least at this time. Will there come a day where I'll say "I quit"? It's possible.
Have you quit writing? What are your insecurities? As above, I mentioned doing all the things the past four weeks. I did finish the outline for A Soul to Take (Soul Reaper #3), and I had started reading through A Soul to Save and creating my A-Z Glossary for the Soul Reaper series when my well-laid plans were tossed aside in favor of The Fate Challenges. So what all did I do? I'll tell you.
I designed new covers for The Fate Challenges. It wasn't my first time designing a cover, but it was my first time for doing more than adding fonts and other minor changes to it. I am pleased with how they turned out. As you can see, I went with symbolic images, and I do feel like the covers tell the stories.
I hand-drew (pen/pencil) new maps for The Fate Challenges and People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. I scanned the images and used paint.net to add the compass images and the fonts.
I formatted and designed the cover art for The Cherie Reich Sampler, which is available for free to newsletter subscribers. The Cherie Reich Sampler contains Part I of Reborn, Once upon a December Nightmare from Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, A to Z Flashes of Foxwick, and "Lady Death" from People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors.
I re-formatted and uploaded the e-versions of People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors and Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection.
I added in nearly 600 minor changes to Reborn, re-formatted the e-version of it, and uploaded it to retailers. Because of the changes, I have put Reborn on sale for 99c through the summer.
I line-edited and proofread Determined (a bonus novella set within The Fate Challenges) as well as formatted it. Determined is available for download for free from my website only.
I did content edits and line edits and proofread Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5) as well as formatted this novella. Marked is available through several retailers. Visit My Books to view links for Reborn, Determined, Marked, Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, and People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors.
Let's see. I also designed the chapter headings for The Fate Challenges and edited several stories for the upcoming Spirits in the Water anthology. There is an excerpt from my story "The Folding Point" on the Untethered Realms' blog. I have recently gone through the outline to Forged, so I can begin editing it this month too. I also updated my blog look (new banner, colors, etc.).
Hmm, I think that's all I did in May and early June. I might just fall over now.
My June goals are:- Start editing Forged (The Fate Challenges #2).- Revise the outline for Destined (The Fate Challenges #3).- Catch up on emails and social media, including blogging.- Edit the rest of the stories in Spirits in the Water.- Help my friend with her novella series.- Update my websites.- Catch up on reviewing books. I think I'm like seven or eight books behind right now. Maybe more.

What are your June goals?
2017 Stats: 81,641 words written and 474,634 words edited
The most recent book I finished reading (besides my own over and over again) is Rachel Morgan's Glass Faerie (Creepy Hollow #7). I loved, loved, loved this book and series. If you haven't read it, you should. Seriously.
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKSRELEASING IN JUNEThe Space Between the Stars by Anne CorlettExecuted by RR HaywoodThe Halloween Children by Brian James Freeman and Norman PrentissThe Waking Land by Callie BatesMarked by Sin by Jasmine Walt and Debbie CassidyBlood Vice by Angela RoquetThe Hundredth Queen by Emily R. KingKiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. HardestyAtlantis Reborn by Gloria CrawSecrets of Skin and Stone by Wendy LainePew! Pew! – Sex, Guns, Spaceships… Oh My! by Various AuthorsFata Morgana by Steven R. Boyett and Ken MitchroneyEscape Velocity by Jason M. HoughResurrection America by Jeff GunhusReborn by Cherie Reich (Second Edition)Determined by Cherie Reich (Author Website Only)Marked by Cherie Reich