Roxy Blake's Blog
July 15, 2025
#indieauthorexperiences
Trust is my second book, and the first book of my first series. Now that I’m working on my second series, I’m seeing my first series a little differently.
I think maybe Trust is actually a prequel. Jase & Laini are in every book. We learn more about them as the series progresses (and more still in my new series). In their own book, though, Jase & Laini spend most of their time in bed, or in front of the fireplace.
In Trust, we get glimpses of other characters, particularly Ghost, but the book is about how Laini & Jase learn to truly trust each other, and how Jase trusting Laini is different from Laini trusting Jase.
Jase & Laini share a special kind of magic. They're also essential to the strength of the found family in The Dive Shop.
Seeing Stars presents a broader picture, and has some of the best diving scenes in the series. Beneath the Bubbles can stand alone, but it’s the direct sequel to Seeing Stars. Bubbles sets the stage for Going Deep & Ascend, which share a timeline.
What do you think? Is Trust more of a prequel, or...?
Thanks for reading & pondering! God loves you + I appreciate you very, very much!
xoxo Roxy
I think maybe Trust is actually a prequel. Jase & Laini are in every book. We learn more about them as the series progresses (and more still in my new series). In their own book, though, Jase & Laini spend most of their time in bed, or in front of the fireplace.
In Trust, we get glimpses of other characters, particularly Ghost, but the book is about how Laini & Jase learn to truly trust each other, and how Jase trusting Laini is different from Laini trusting Jase.
Jase & Laini share a special kind of magic. They're also essential to the strength of the found family in The Dive Shop.
Seeing Stars presents a broader picture, and has some of the best diving scenes in the series. Beneath the Bubbles can stand alone, but it’s the direct sequel to Seeing Stars. Bubbles sets the stage for Going Deep & Ascend, which share a timeline.
What do you think? Is Trust more of a prequel, or...?
Thanks for reading & pondering! God loves you + I appreciate you very, very much!
xoxo Roxy
June 29, 2025
Authors Rating Their Own Books
Before rating all five books in my series The Dive Shop, I read a variety of discussions about authors rating their own books. Driven by curiosity about readers' thoughts on it, and wondering if authors get banned for doing it, I started searching.
While authors rating their own books on Amazon is not allowed, it is allowed on Goodreads. Here, it's absolutely a thing.
The most comprehensive discussions I found are on Reddit and Goodreads. Consensus seems mixed. It's a turnoff for some, while others are mystified about why an author wouldn't rate their own books when given the opportunity. Why would an author leave their creations languishing with no rating at all?
For me? I've poured so much into crafting and editing my books. I write things that I want to read but haven't found elsewhere. Yes, I dream of readers finding this blog post and actually reading it, and I definitely dream of readers finding my books and loving them as much as I do. (+ hopefully leaving some beautiful 5-star reviews!)
Will rating my own books help readers find me? I don't know. I do know that I keep praying about and polishing my work, and when I reread one of my books, and enjoy it all over again, I think, Wow...the angels definitely knew what they were doing when they nudged me down this path.
Full disclosure, sometimes I worry that there's too much spice, but...I'm a believer. I have faith that, yes, the spice level in The Dive Shop is just right.
Faith guides my work. Yesterday I started a marketing campaign for Trust. The paperback version of Beneath the Bubbles will be out soon. I'm eager to return to working on my new series, Broad Street Gym.
God did put this dream in my heart for a reason. I have absolute faith that, one day, readers are going to discover and fall in love with my books.
One day, I'll look back at this blog post and say, This aged well.
I love my books. Yes, I gave each of them a 5-star rating. I hope and pray that you love them, too. I hope and pray my books make you think, make you feel, and change your life. They’ve definitely changed mine in so many wonderful ways.
Thanks for reading!! xoxo Roxy
While authors rating their own books on Amazon is not allowed, it is allowed on Goodreads. Here, it's absolutely a thing.
The most comprehensive discussions I found are on Reddit and Goodreads. Consensus seems mixed. It's a turnoff for some, while others are mystified about why an author wouldn't rate their own books when given the opportunity. Why would an author leave their creations languishing with no rating at all?
For me? I've poured so much into crafting and editing my books. I write things that I want to read but haven't found elsewhere. Yes, I dream of readers finding this blog post and actually reading it, and I definitely dream of readers finding my books and loving them as much as I do. (+ hopefully leaving some beautiful 5-star reviews!)
Will rating my own books help readers find me? I don't know. I do know that I keep praying about and polishing my work, and when I reread one of my books, and enjoy it all over again, I think, Wow...the angels definitely knew what they were doing when they nudged me down this path.
Full disclosure, sometimes I worry that there's too much spice, but...I'm a believer. I have faith that, yes, the spice level in The Dive Shop is just right.
Faith guides my work. Yesterday I started a marketing campaign for Trust. The paperback version of Beneath the Bubbles will be out soon. I'm eager to return to working on my new series, Broad Street Gym.
God did put this dream in my heart for a reason. I have absolute faith that, one day, readers are going to discover and fall in love with my books.
One day, I'll look back at this blog post and say, This aged well.
I love my books. Yes, I gave each of them a 5-star rating. I hope and pray that you love them, too. I hope and pray my books make you think, make you feel, and change your life. They’ve definitely changed mine in so many wonderful ways.
Thanks for reading!! xoxo Roxy
June 22, 2025
Hello World ^^
Have you ever heard the saying, God put that dream in your heart for a reason? Writing has been my dream for my entire life. God has carried me through some stuff, especially when I didn't realize He was carrying me. Now, He's helping me chase my dream of being an author, and guiding me to share content that He wants others to find, read, and use to heal and grow.
Not all of God's lessons are easy ones. I’m incredibly grateful for, and humbled by, His blessings. God heals. 🪶
I want to express my gratitude to the people from tech support & customer service at Kindle Direct Publishing & Goodreads who've helped me the past couple of weeks. Appreciate you. THANK YOU + God please bless you. 🙏🏻🥰
Paperback versions of Trust and Seeing Stars are now available. 📚 This morning, I finished formatting the paperback of Beneath the Bubbles. Going Deep & Ascend will be quicker to format. Soon, all five books from The Dive Shop will be out in paperback.
The first three books in my new series, Broad Street Gym, are taking shape. I'm looking forward to finishing the paperback releases for The Dive Shop so I can pour my creative energy into Broad Street Gym. Mark, Dennis, and Gage have their own stories. Still figuring out the details on the rest. 🤍🪽
Thanks for visiting my page & for reading!
Got questions? Hit me up!! I'd love to hear from you.
xoxo Roxy 🫧✨
Not all of God's lessons are easy ones. I’m incredibly grateful for, and humbled by, His blessings. God heals. 🪶
I want to express my gratitude to the people from tech support & customer service at Kindle Direct Publishing & Goodreads who've helped me the past couple of weeks. Appreciate you. THANK YOU + God please bless you. 🙏🏻🥰
Paperback versions of Trust and Seeing Stars are now available. 📚 This morning, I finished formatting the paperback of Beneath the Bubbles. Going Deep & Ascend will be quicker to format. Soon, all five books from The Dive Shop will be out in paperback.
The first three books in my new series, Broad Street Gym, are taking shape. I'm looking forward to finishing the paperback releases for The Dive Shop so I can pour my creative energy into Broad Street Gym. Mark, Dennis, and Gage have their own stories. Still figuring out the details on the rest. 🤍🪽
Thanks for visiting my page & for reading!
Got questions? Hit me up!! I'd love to hear from you.
xoxo Roxy 🫧✨
