Lizzy Ford's Blog, page 48
May 14, 2012
Book Feature: “The New Breed” by Danielle Kazemi
Please welcome to Lizzyland Danielle Kazemi, an author who puts her own spin on tales of mythology. She’s sharing her latest book, “New Breed (#1) (Dragon’s Fire)
” which is currently available free on Amazon for a limited time.
Dragons have been found in almost every culture throughout the world yet at almost the same time, they disappeared. What if they simply changed? In my novella series, Annabel Wells is mending a broken relationship when she is attacked by a creature made of darkness. As she prepares for the assault, a dark haired hero comes to her rescue – breathing fire.
The book shows how even though they may be creatures of myth, they still deal with the common problems humans suffer along with dodging attacks from zealous knights, convinced this dark creature called the Unseen is imaginary. They plan on ridding the world of the dragons through any means necessary.
Available at Amazon
About the Author:
Danielle Kazemi lives in southern Louisiana and within walking distance of a bayou with alligators. She spends most of her time coming up with creative new spins on mythology – old and new. If not doing that, she spends the rest of her time goofing off online with games and twitter.
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/DaniWrites
May 11, 2012
Book Feature: “A Game of Blood” by Julie Ann Dawson
Please welcome to Lizzyland, horror author Julie Ann Dawson. She’s sharing her novel, “A Game of Blood”. To get a free ecopy, you can Sign up for her monthly newsletter and get a free digital copy of A Game of Blood.
What would you do if a 300 year old vampire decided that you would make the perfect Van Helsing for his own twisted game?
A series of bizzare kidnappings leads detective Mitch Grogan to the home of the wealthy and eccentric Darius Hawthorne. What he discovers there unleashes a chain of events that not only threatens his life, but also his sanity. Grogan finds himself caught up in a deadly game with a three hundred year old vampire looking for a worthy adversary. But how can a burnt-out cop with a crumbling marriage compete against a centuries’ old immortal with unlimited resources and supernatural powers?
More than boredom drives the cunning Hawthorne, however. His attempts to push Grogan to the breaking point are more than cruel entertainment. They also serve as a test to see whether or not the mortal is ready to help him hunt an even more deadly foe: one that would see the whole world burn to remove the vampiric corruption from it.
Available at Amazon
About the Author:
Julie Ann Dawson’s love for the horror genre began at the age of thirteen, when she found a copy of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot in the Bridgeton High School library. She earned her B.A. degree in English, Liberal Arts from Rowan University in 1993. Her short stories, poems, and articles have appeared in a variety of both traditional and digital publications, including Gareth Blackmore’s Unusual Tales, Black Bough, The New Jersey Review of Literature, Lucidity, Happiness, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and others. Her other works include the dark fantasy The Doom Guardian and the horror short story collection September and Other Stories.
Website: www.bardsandsages.com
May 10, 2012
Book Feature and Guest Post on “How to Write A Romance Novel That Sells” by Adrienne DeWolfe
Please welcome to Lizzyland author Adrienne DeWolfe. She’s an author whose goal is to help new authors reach their full success potential. She’s also having a giveaway to enter visit this link: http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/may-raffle-story-critique/
How to Write Wildly Popular Romances gives you the insider knowledge you need to write novels that sell. Written by Adrienne deWolfe, a Romance writing instructor and winner of the Best Historical Romance of the Year Award, this ebook features descriptions of the genre’s 14 bestselling story archetypes and eight plot taboos that are prohibited in most Romance novels. Other releases in deWolfe’s four-book series include, How to Write Romance Heroes with Sex Appeal (June 2012), How to Write Sensual Love Scenes (Summer 2012), and How to Write Strong Heroines that Readers Can Admire (Autumn 2012). To learn more, visit deWolfe’s website, http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com
Available at Amazon
NEVER LET ANYONE CRUSH YOUR WRITING DREAM
By Adrienne deWolfe
As a college freshman, I was excited to make the cut in my first Creative Writing course. I was the youngest student in a class full of juniors and seniors. My goal, even then, was to write commercial book-length fiction – particularly Romance and Fantasy novels.
When my Creative Writing professor learned that I was planning to major in Journalism – and that my long-term career goal was to write Romance – his attitude toward me became coldly condescending. For the first time in my life, I earned grades other than an “A” on my writing assignments. After acing Advanced Placement English to get into a Creative Writing course, those C- grades were devastating.
I didn’t understand why my professor was singling me out as a journalist, and worse, as a fiction writer, by reading my assignments aloud and encouraging other students to deliver derisive critiques. Finally, I approached this professor after class. I demanded to know why he was treating my work differently than the work of other students.
My professor made it clear that he considered any journalist or writer of commercial fiction (Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Westerns, and Horror) inferior to writers of literary fiction. He sneered when he told me, “You write like a Romance novelist.”
I remember biting my tongue, taking a deep breath, and letting his comment sink in. Despite this man’s off-putting behavior, it occurred to me that he was paying me a compliment. After all, I wanted to write like a Romance novelist. I wanted to be published in commercial fiction!
So I asked him, “Is my writing style well-suited for Romance?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “Your writing style should get you published in Romance.”
“That’s all I need to know,” I told him.
I dropped that class the next day.
When Lizzy asked me why I’m so passionate about helping commercial fiction writers live their publishing dream, I found myself thinking about that Creative Writing professor. I wish I could tell you that he was a bad apple. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way that there is an enormous schism between commercial writers and the individuals who consider themselves “literary” writers – and the problem isn’t just at that school.
As recently as six months ago, a young woman from a college in Hawaii called me. She reads Romance novels and dreams of becoming published in that genre. She confided her hurt and confusion because a Creative Writing professor whom she respected and admired had disdained to become her advisor. When I asked why this professor had rejected her application, this aspiring commercial author told me, “My professor said she wanted to concentrate on serious writers.”
I reminded that young woman that commercial fiction writers – like J.K. Rowling, Nora Roberts, Tom Clancy, Janet Evanovich, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, and Orson Scott Card — have carved out respected careers, are read by millions of adoring fans, and are making more money writing “pop fiction” than some Creative Writing Departments, in some institutes of Higher Learning, are allotted for their annual budgets!
Success really is the best revenge.
On the bright side, I’ve received nothing but outpourings of kindness from published, commercial fiction writers. When I lived in Houston, Texas, I was blessed to meet great talents who took time away from their own writing projects to read my manuscripts, suggest improvements, and answer my questions. If you read Romance, you’ll recognize many of their names: Susan Wiggs, Barbara Dawson Smith, Christina Dodd, Jennifer Blake, Arnette Lamb, and Jackie Weger.
After I moved to Austin, I was invited to join a critique group that included Harlequin authors Patricia Wynn, Cara West, and Pamela Ingram.
I am absolutely certain that I would NOT be published today if these published authors had not given so generously of their time and knowledge – not just about writing, but about the business of writing: how to choose a literary agent, how to pitch a book to an editor, how to work with cover artists, how to promote a novel.
I vowed that I would someday give back to the writing community the way that my published mentors had given to me. That’s why I created my website, WritingNovelsThatSell.com. That’s why I developed commercial novel-writing courses for a local college. That’s why I teach online workshops, such as How to Pitch a Book Proposal to a Literary Agent and Editor. And that’s why I’m so passionate about educating commercial fiction writers to discern the difference between a story critique that is based on fundamental “Rules of Writing,” and a story critique that is based on personal bias or Urban Myth.
My mission is to help aspiring authors live their publishing dream. This month, I am celebrating the release of my ebook, How to Write Wildly Popular Romances, with a raffle for a free story critique. I am also teaching the 8-week, online course, How to Write a Romance Novel That Sells (beginning May 21.) Through August, I’ll be releasing several more ebooks (and holding several more raffles), so you’ll see a lot more of me on the web as I make guest blog appearances during my four-month book tour. I invite you to join me!
In the meantime, don’t ever let anyone crush your writing dream. In the words of Melvin Chapman, “What great feat has been accomplished by the one who told you it could not be done?”
Keep the faith, and keep writing!
About Adrienne deWolfe
Originally published by Bantam and Avon Books, Adrienne deWolfe’s five novels have won 9 awards, including the Best Historical Romance of the Year. She loves to mentor aspiring authors, which is why she offers professional story critiques, as well as online writing workshops and courses. Visit her online home, WritingNovelsThatSell.com, to download her free report, 20 Questions Editors Ask Before Buying a Book. You can also follow Adrienne on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.
LINKS FROM ARTICLE:
WritingNovelsThatSell.com: http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com
How to Write a Romance That Sells (online course): http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-a-romance-novel-that-sells/
How to Write Wildly Popular Romances (ebook page w/ trailer) http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-write-wildly-popular-romances/
Story Critiques (professional story critiques): http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/story-critiques-private-coaching-for-how-to-write-a-novel/
How to Pitch a Book Proposal to a Literary Agent and Editor (workshop) http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/how-to-pitch-a-book-to-a-literary-agent-or-book-editor/
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/AdriennedeWolfe
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/Writing.Novels
Google+ https://plus.google.com/109088666107201832076/posts
May 9, 2012
Book Feature: “Highway 90″ by Heather Ross
Please welcome to Lizzyland a new author, Heather Ross. She’s sharing her novellette today and has offered to give away free ecopies to the first 100 email subscribers at her website www.HeatherRoss.net
Brooke has a problem, she’s bored. Bored with the same way of life in a small border town. The way it can make a girl feel like she’s on a carousel. One that never stops, never has anything new to offer and definitely never grows up. Her best friend Paige is her only sanity in a sea of adolescent angst still rearing its ugly head cruising the boulevard and getting drunk in the desert.
To break up the monotony the friends plunge into the world of Mexican dance clubs. A decision that will change the way they view life, love and freedom.
Highway 90 is a 15,000 word Young Adult novelette. It contains one dramatic scene, but no explicit language.
Available at :
About the Author:
I’ve been writing “here and there” since I was in grade school. It wasn’t until I entered high school that I began to get serious about writing when an English teacher assigned a poetry/writing journal project, which I think I got high marks for since I scribbled drawings along the edge of the page each poem was written on.
I put creative writing aside to study communications in college and finally finished with a degree in PR (waste of money, but the school was cool). Last year I decided to go the “indie route” and self publish after reading endless discussions on Kindleboards. I only wish I’d started sooner.
Oh! About me? I probably have adult ADHD or maybe I’m just “scatter brained.” Hence, the solitary two titles under my name (and one is under a pen name!). Anyway, I live in SoCal (southern California) where it really is, “all about the beach.” Two kids and a dog control my life when I’m not at the computer, which is…never mind. **Read more on my website.
www.HeatherRoss.net
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/HeatherRossAuthor
Google – https://plus.google.com/u/0/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/WriterHeather
Pintrest – http://pinterest.com/heatherwrites/
May 7, 2012
Screenplay ‘treatment’ for Katie’s Hellion
I deliberated not posting this, but I feel like Rhyn and Katie belong as much to you all as they do to me! I’m posting a link to the rough draft screen treatment for “Katie’s Hellion” (Book I, Rhyn Trilogy) for you all to read. There are some awesome twists and turns added in! For my regular readers, you’ll remember that I recently announced that I’d begun working with veteran screenwriter Rick Natkin to adapt one of my books into a screenplay. For new readers, click here to read that post.
The book we chose: Katie’s Hellion. The primary reason: the characters are more layered and the story more intriguing.
Rick’s been working tirelessly on this and recently sent me the first draft of the screenplay treatment. I’m learning the lingo as I go, but basically, a treatment is a scene-by-scene breakdown of what the screenplay will look like. In order to fit into the traditional three-act movie format, Rick’s adjusting the storyline, to include, pulling in details from “Katie’s Hope” (Book II, Rhyn Trilogy) and adding depth to Katie and Rhyn’s relationship so that their story will convey better to the big screen, where people can’t really read background or prose on what people are thinking!
In short, I LOVE what he’s done. He’s managed to keep the original feel of the story intact while altering it where needed to fit a cinematic format. And he’s doing it while maintaining the characters and without turning this into a Twilight 2.0 series. Rick is doing an incredible job!
For anyone interested in seeing the treatment, click here. Keep in mind it’s a gritty first draft (with typos and ponderings included!), and chances are, some of it will change when Rick writes the screenplay.
May 6, 2012
Book Review: thriller “Portrait of A Spy” by Daniel Silva is an intriguing, disturbing read
My book review for May: “Portrait of A Spy” by Daniel Silva. Purchase from Amazon, Amazon UK, BN or iTunes!
I read the thriller “Portrait of A Spy” in a little over three days or so and ended up intrigued by Silva’s writing. This tome is about Gabriel, a ‘retired’ Israeli intelligence agent-assassin who’s moved to a secluded area of England with his wife and works in his retirement to restore famous paintings. When a rash of terrorist bombings occur in Europe, Gabriel finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses a horrific suicide bombing that makes him realize he can never truly retire from his past life. Gabriel is thrust into the middle of the fight against terrorists that takes him all over the world and forces him to deal with shady people from his past. I got the impression he knew going in that he’d get his butt kicked (and he does!) but did so because he ultimately believed that good must always triumph over the evils of this world.
The book is poignant and even more frightening by how realistic and plausible the fictional series of events seem. Actually, it was disturbing in that regard, which means it was a darn good thriller!
People who read my reviews probably notice I don’t always stick to commentary on the story lines. I love to read for the adventure – but also to learn. When an author does something well, I’m just as excited about that as the story itself!
That said, what struck me about this book was Silva’s gift with prose. I have to admit: not many people can write prose in a way that keeps my attention. I prefer shorter novels with less blocks of writing and more action or dialogue to carry the story forward. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Silva – who is a new author to me, even though he’s well established. I found myself intrigued by his writing style, which can be described as almost conversational in style. I think this is what made his prose so interesting to read. It wasn’t like a lecture, which is what most prosy books rely on to convey a great amount of background and description. Silva’s writing was more like a light-hearted tour guide who made some droll tour interesting. Silva’s writing made me want to read more about the complex – and realistic – world he’d created. Which is good, because I found out there’s a sequel to this book when I visited Silva’s website!
I also enjoyed Silva’s strong characters, though it took me awhile to like Gabriel. For reasons that are obvious, Gabriel’s character was reserved and distant, and I felt like I got to know everyone else around him before I truly understood Gabriel. I ended up admiring his dedication to a cause that he knew was likely to get him killed and involved him in a world he left behind. He ended up being the kind of guy I hope is protecting the world from its evils.
Purchase from Amazon, Amazon UK, BN or iTunes!
About Daniel Silva (taken from his website)
Silva knew from a very early age that he wanted to become a writer, but his first 
profession would be journalism. Born in Michigan, raised and educated in California, he was pursuing a master’s degree in international relations when he received a temporary job offer from United Press International to help cover the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. Later that year Silva abandoned his studies and joined UPI fulltime, working first in San Francisco, then on the foreign desk in Washington, and finally as Middle East correspondent in Cairo and the Persian Gulf. In 1987, while covering the Iran-Iraq war, he met NBC Today National Correspondent Jamie Gangel and they were married later that year. Silva returned to Washington and went to work for CNN and became Executive Producer of its talk show unit including shows like Crossfire, Capital Gang and Reliable Sources.
In 1995 he confessed to Jamie that his true ambition was to be a novelist. With her support and encouragement he secretly began work on the manuscript that would eventually become the instant bestseller The Unlikely Spy. He left CNN in 1997 after the book’s successful publication and began writing full time. Since then all of Silva’s books have been New York Times and international bestsellers. His books have been translated in to more than 30 languages and are published around the world. He is currently at work on a new novel and warmly thanks all those friends and loyal readers who have helped to make his books such an amazing success.
May 4, 2012
Book Feature: “The Origin” Series by Wilette Youkey
Please welcome to Lizzyland urban fantasy author, Wilette Youkey. She’s sharing her latest novel, “The Origin (An Urban Fantasy Novel) (The Origin Series, Book 1)
.
He may have super powers, but he is no hero’s story…
For someone who has no idea how he acquired his special abilities, all Daniel wants is to live a simple, emotionally detached life. He has a quiet day job, a solo night job and no social life to speak of, and that’s just the way he likes it.
That is until Olivia King, a woman from a past he’d rather leave behind, talks her way back into his life and he discovers that he is neither strong nor fast enough to fight off the attraction. Just as he finally accepts that she could be a permanent fixture in his life, Olivia disappears and he upends New York City to try and save the day.
But when being honorable doesn’t get him results, Daniel yields to the dark pull of his powers, committing unspeakable acts in order to rescue the only person he’s trusted with his secrets. And just when his life could not possibly get more complicated, a psychic delivers some damning news that will pit his own happiness against the safety of those around him.
Daniel has never considered himself a hero, but in the end, as he looks at the blood on his hands, he wonders if he isn’t the villain of the story after all.
Available at:
About the Author:
Wilette Youkey is a daydreamer who was born in the Philippines, raised in Australia, and now calls the United States home. At the age of ten she penned a short story inspired by a Judy Blume novel and has been unable to stop writing since.
She has lived on four different continents and most recently inhabited a 240-year-old castle in rural Germany owned by a Graf. She now resides in California with her husband, two daughters, and a mini schnauzer. Her stories are drawn from dreams, fantasies, music, and trips through airports.
Apart from her lifelong affair with words, she also loves graphic design, singing in the shower, Dunkin Donuts, and working out. If she were a comic book character, she would be called Shorty Smalls and would have the uncanny ability to grow several inches on command.
Links to your online stuff (website, FB, etc.):
Website: http://wiletteyoukey.com/
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/WriteWilette
Twitter: WriteWilette
May 2, 2012
Book Feature: “The Valley of Ten Crescents” Series by Tristan Tarwater
Please welcome to Lizzyland, fantasy author Tristan Tarwater, who’s here to share her “The Valley of Ten Crescents” series.
Thieves at Heart (The Valley of Ten Crescents #1)
Little Tavera is a half-elf child in a land of humans, an outsider dragged from bad situation to worse–until Derk whisks her away and adopts her as his own. Tavera soon finds out her new Pa is a master thief, a member of an elite group of professional scoundrels called the Cup of Cream. They make their money that way, sure, but thievery is as necessary as any other profession in the Valley of Ten Crescents; it balances society. To Derk’s–and her own–delight, Tavera grows into a natural thief and works her way toward membership in the Cup. Joining would finally give her some place where she belongs, and it would please the Pa she loves so much. But being a thief means being only one step ahead of the law. When the law finally catches up, Tavera must choose: go against her Pa’s wishes for the sake of loyalty and love; or obey him and survive.
“Thieves at Heart” is the first novel in the series “The Valley of Ten Crescents”.
Available at:
Little Girl Lost (The Valley of Ten Crescents)
Tavera is a child passed from hand to hand as a source of cheap labor in the underworld of the Valley. When she finds herself at the mercy of the vicious sausage maker, the elderly Madame Greswin, she discovers secrets from the woman’s past and the consequences leave Tavera fighting for her life.
“Little Girl Lost” is a short story and prequel to “Thieves at Heart”, the first novel in the series “The Valley of Ten Crescents”
Available at:
About the Author:
Tristan J Tarwater is the author of ‘The Valley of Ten Crescents’ series, as well as several weird fiction short stories. Born and raised in New York City she remembers reading a lot, visiting Museums and the Aquarium frequently and wanting to be a writer from a very early age. Her love of fantasy and sci-fi spills over into what she reads and watches in her free time as well as the collection of dice, books and small metal figurines that reside in her home.
Tristan is currently working on the final edits of her second novel ‘Self Made Scoundrel’, her work can also be found at the gaming blog Troll in the Corner where she writes the weekly column ‘Reality Makes the Best Fantasy’. She currently lives in Central California with her Admin, Small Boss, a cat that knows it’s a multipass and Azrael.
Website: www.backthatelfup.com
Twitter: @backthatelfup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tristan-J-Tarwater/296536627064808
May 1, 2012
Guest Post and Book Feature with Indie Chicks Anthology Author Melissa Smith
Please welcome to Lizzyland another awesome Indie Chicks author, Melissa Smith.
Writing Out the Grief
A common question people ask a writer is what made them decide to sit down and start writing in the first place. For me, it was grief.
While in high school, I wrote. I had taken journalism and the teacher loved my writings. Two pieces of my work had been published in two different school publications. I was also asked to join the staff for the school paper, but declined. I just didn’t like writing the things wanted for a paper. I liked creating stories to take you places. Inventing new worlds and people to live in them. I stopped writing after getting out of school and didn’t start again for several long years.
December 2008 had started like any other December before it. I was out shopping for those perfect gifts for each member of my family, and loving every minute of it. By my side was my shopping partner. My mom. My best friend. This year was a little different, as we made our rounds trying to get most of her shopping done earlier than her normal pace of slow (she was known to be out shopping as late as Christmas Eve), because she was set to have her final knee replacement surgery on the 19th. That day was also the last day of work I had before school let out for Christmas Break.
We had almost done everything she’d wanted to have done, done. But there were still a few things to gather, like stocking stuffers and things of that nature. She went in for her surgery and everything went great! The last time she’d been in the hospital, for the first knee 6 months prior, she’d contracted hospital-acquired pneumonia. Her doctor, wanting her to be healthy for the rigorous knee therapy that follows two days after surgery, released her the following day. The 20th.
Wanting to forgo giving you all the details, I received a phone call early on the 21st. A phone call no one wants to get. My father, who’d awoken to find his partner for the past 34 years gone, couldn’t make that call. The responding police officer had to do it for him. Pneumonia had taken her from us.
So started my decent into grief.
We were supposed to do some shopping before I took her to physical therapy that day. We were supposed to do a lot of things during my break, because she too had it off for recovery.
Instead, I had to help my dad organize a funeral.
During the year and a half that followed, I read over 230 books. All while working full time and tending to a family.
It was the start of summer vacation in 2010 when I’d run out of books to read. I dove into spending time with my boys and vegging at the pool daily. I thought it had been long enough, and maybe the grief wouldn’t be so sharp. I was wrong. Without having someplace for my mind to wander, to live in, I was a mess of tears.
It was then I’d woke up in the middle of the night, leaving a dream that made my brain buzz. I tried to shake it off, leave it where I found it. In my dreams. But it wanted to be let out. So I sat down in secret and started writing.
At first when my family noticed my switch from books to the computer and all my constant typing, they asked what I was doing. I lied. I told them I was writing to my sister who lives in Texas. At first they bought it, but as the typing went on, they were puzzled as to why I didn’t just call her and talk to her. Again, I lied. But this time I said she’d asked me to write down some things about our mom.
While they still were puzzled by all the clicking going on at the keyboard, they left me alone.
Three months later, I’d written and finished my first novel. Cloud Nine. During that time I also started on another story which I finished and released four months later.
While writing started out as therapy for a grieving soul, it is now something I must do to keep all the exciting characters quiet. I love it! I only wish it could have developed without such dark beginnings, but nonetheless, my mother would be proud.
******
This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the wonderfully low price of Free! To read all of the stories, grab your copy today!
Also included are sneak peeks into 25 great novels!
My young adult paranormal romance, Cloud Nine is one of the novels featured.
What happens when you receive a guardian angel?
What if you don’t believe you need one?
What if one wants you removed?
There are people out there that want either Sterling or Claire for themselves.
Someone who will stop at nothing to have Sterling.
Someone who will do anything to reclaim Claire’s affections.
Together, Sterling and Claire will dissuade them.
Someone will fall. Someone will hurt. And others will…
Want to find out more about Melissa and her books?
Guest Post and Book Feature with Indie Chicks Anthalogy Author Melissa Smith
Please welcome to Lizzyland another awesome Indie Chicks author, Melissa Smith.
Writing Out the Grief
A common question people ask a writer is what made them decide to sit down and start writing in the first place. For me, it was grief.
While in high school, I wrote. I had taken journalism and the teacher loved my writings. Two pieces of my work had been published in two different school publications. I was also asked to join the staff for the school paper, but declined. I just didn’t like writing the things wanted for a paper. I liked creating stories to take you places. Inventing new worlds and people to live in them. I stopped writing after getting out of school and didn’t start again for several long years.
December 2008 had started like any other December before it. I was out shopping for those perfect gifts for each member of my family, and loving every minute of it. By my side was my shopping partner. My mom. My best friend. This year was a little different, as we made our rounds trying to get most of her shopping done earlier than her normal pace of slow (she was known to be out shopping as late as Christmas Eve), because she was set to have her final knee replacement surgery on the 19th. That day was also the last day of work I had before school let out for Christmas Break.
We had almost done everything she’d wanted to have done, done. But there were still a few things to gather, like stocking stuffers and things of that nature. She went in for her surgery and everything went great! The last time she’d been in the hospital, for the first knee 6 months prior, she’d contracted hospital-acquired pneumonia. Her doctor, wanting her to be healthy for the rigorous knee therapy that follows two days after surgery, released her the following day. The 20th.
Wanting to forgo giving you all the details, I received a phone call early on the 21st. A phone call no one wants to get. My father, who’d awoken to find his partner for the past 34 years gone, couldn’t make that call. The responding police officer had to do it for him. Pneumonia had taken her from us.
So started my decent into grief.
We were supposed to do some shopping before I took her to physical therapy that day. We were supposed to do a lot of things during my break, because she too had it off for recovery.
Instead, I had to help my dad organize a funeral.
During the year and a half that followed, I read over 230 books. All while working full time and tending to a family.
It was the start of summer vacation in 2010 when I’d run out of books to read. I dove into spending time with my boys and vegging at the pool daily. I thought it had been long enough, and maybe the grief wouldn’t be so sharp. I was wrong. Without having someplace for my mind to wander, to live in, I was a mess of tears.
It was then I’d woke up in the middle of the night, leaving a dream that made my brain buzz. I tried to shake it off, leave it where I found it. In my dreams. But it wanted to be let out. So I sat down in secret and started writing.
At first when my family noticed my switch from books to the computer and all my constant typing, they asked what I was doing. I lied. I told them I was writing to my sister who lives in Texas. At first they bought it, but as the typing went on, they were puzzled as to why I didn’t just call her and talk to her. Again, I lied. But this time I said she’d asked me to write down some things about our mom.
While they still were puzzled by all the clicking going on at the keyboard, they left me alone.
Three months later, I’d written and finished my first novel. Cloud Nine. During that time I also started on another story which I finished and released four months later.
While writing started out as therapy for a grieving soul, it is now something I must do to keep all the exciting characters quiet. I love it! I only wish it could have developed without such dark beginnings, but nonetheless, my mother would be proud.
******
This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the wonderfully low price of Free! To read all of the stories, grab your copy today!
Also included are sneak peeks into 25 great novels!
My young adult paranormal romance, Cloud Nine is one of the novels featured.
What happens when you receive a guardian angel?
What if you don’t believe you need one?
What if one wants you removed?
There are people out there that want either Sterling or Claire for themselves.
Someone who will stop at nothing to have Sterling.
Someone who will do anything to reclaim Claire’s affections.
Together, Sterling and Claire will dissuade them.
Someone will fall. Someone will hurt. And others will…
Want to find out more about Melissa and her books?
Facebook Authors Page I love new visitors!
