Alexa Land's Blog, page 28
March 25, 2014
Speaking of Weddings...
I just finished writing Christopher and Kieran's wedding, which occurs during my upcoming book, Salvation. I'm the type of person who cries at weddings, and ones I write are apparently no exception! It was just really emotional to write the culmination of that relationship, and I'm looking forward to bringing it to my readers!
I also used the wedding as a way to revisit all the couples from my Firsts and Forever series. You'll get to find out what's going on with Jamie and Dmitri, Charlie and Dante, Hunter and Brian, and of course our soon-to-be newlyweds, Christopher and Kieran. So many of you have taken these characters to heart, and I hope you enjoy this glimpse into what their lives are like past their happily ever after!
On top of that, you'll also be meeting several new characters that will continue to move this series forward, including exuberant Skye and troubled Christian. And of course, first and foremost this book will bring you Trevor's story. He's been a joy to write. He's shy and a bit unsure of his place in the world, which I think a lot of us struggle with at some point. I love the way he's come to life and earned his place in the Firsts and Forever family.
So when's Salvation coming out? Well, I'm shooting for a May release, and right now I'm on track for that. I still have the last section of the book to write, and then of course there's the editing process, but May is looking good at this point! I'll keep you up to date here on my blog as I continue moving toward that goal.
xxoo,
Alexa
I also used the wedding as a way to revisit all the couples from my Firsts and Forever series. You'll get to find out what's going on with Jamie and Dmitri, Charlie and Dante, Hunter and Brian, and of course our soon-to-be newlyweds, Christopher and Kieran. So many of you have taken these characters to heart, and I hope you enjoy this glimpse into what their lives are like past their happily ever after!
On top of that, you'll also be meeting several new characters that will continue to move this series forward, including exuberant Skye and troubled Christian. And of course, first and foremost this book will bring you Trevor's story. He's been a joy to write. He's shy and a bit unsure of his place in the world, which I think a lot of us struggle with at some point. I love the way he's come to life and earned his place in the Firsts and Forever family.
So when's Salvation coming out? Well, I'm shooting for a May release, and right now I'm on track for that. I still have the last section of the book to write, and then of course there's the editing process, but May is looking good at this point! I'll keep you up to date here on my blog as I continue moving toward that goal.
xxoo,
Alexa
March 19, 2014
From a reader...
Sometimes my readers send me emails that really touch my heart. That happened today.
I got a message from twenty-four-year-old Joe, who's marrying his true love Jonathan this summer. Here's what he had to say about their relationship:
"...I'm getting married to my fiance Jonathan in August. We've been together for 2 years now. We used to work together 5 years ago... (we couldn't stand each other then) and somehow reconnected. It's our own amazing crazy love story. Now we're getting married!"
How cute is that?! Here's the part that made me tear up, that's how much it meant to me:
"When I do my vows there's one thing I want to put in them that means the world to me and is something I always felt towards him but never could put into words. I hope it's okay that I use a line from your book:
I missed nothing, and I know that for a fact because I have absolutely everything right here. You astonish me, you fulfill me and care for me, you make me feel so incredibly loved and I'll spend every day of the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me."*
I'm absolutely honored and humbled that he'd want to include something I wrote in his vows as he weds the love of his life!
Thank you, Joe, for paying me the highest compliment imaginable. I wish you and Jonathan a lifetime of happiness!
*Kieran to Christopher at the end of In Pieces
I got a message from twenty-four-year-old Joe, who's marrying his true love Jonathan this summer. Here's what he had to say about their relationship:
"...I'm getting married to my fiance Jonathan in August. We've been together for 2 years now. We used to work together 5 years ago... (we couldn't stand each other then) and somehow reconnected. It's our own amazing crazy love story. Now we're getting married!"
How cute is that?! Here's the part that made me tear up, that's how much it meant to me:
"When I do my vows there's one thing I want to put in them that means the world to me and is something I always felt towards him but never could put into words. I hope it's okay that I use a line from your book:
I missed nothing, and I know that for a fact because I have absolutely everything right here. You astonish me, you fulfill me and care for me, you make me feel so incredibly loved and I'll spend every day of the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me."*
I'm absolutely honored and humbled that he'd want to include something I wrote in his vows as he weds the love of his life!
Thank you, Joe, for paying me the highest compliment imaginable. I wish you and Jonathan a lifetime of happiness!
*Kieran to Christopher at the end of In Pieces
February 24, 2014
Checking In
Hi all! It's been a while since I updated my blog, so I thought I'd check in. I've been busy writing Salvation, Trevor's story, which is the fifth book in the Firsts and Forever series, and it's right on track for release this spring. I'm shooting for a May release, and I've been really pleased with the way it's coming together.
At the same time, I've been mapping out the next two books that will follow Salvation. People have asked me how many books I plan to write in the Firsts and Forever series, and there's no set answer. As long as these books remain popular and people keep asking for more, I'll keep them coming!
Alright, I'd better get back to it! Right now in the scene I'm writing, Trevor and his love interest are just about to...take it to the next level. That's all I'm saying! ;)
xxoo
At the same time, I've been mapping out the next two books that will follow Salvation. People have asked me how many books I plan to write in the Firsts and Forever series, and there's no set answer. As long as these books remain popular and people keep asking for more, I'll keep them coming!
Alright, I'd better get back to it! Right now in the scene I'm writing, Trevor and his love interest are just about to...take it to the next level. That's all I'm saying! ;)
xxoo
January 22, 2014
Cover reveal, and thanks!
Thank you to all my readers for your support -- you've made Gathering Storm a success! An extra thank you goes to those of you that have taken the time to leave great reviews on Amazon, and that have emailed to tell me you enjoyed Hunter's story. Feedback like that means the world to me!
Because so many of you have expressed an interest in the next book in the Firsts and Forever series, I decided to go ahead and post an early cover reveal. Trevor's story is called Salvation, and it will be available this spring.
Much love,
Alexa xxoo
Because so many of you have expressed an interest in the next book in the Firsts and Forever series, I decided to go ahead and post an early cover reveal. Trevor's story is called Salvation, and it will be available this spring.
Much love,
Alexa xxoo
January 18, 2014
Now on Smashwords!
I finally made the jump to some additional platforms! In addition to finding my new book, Gathering Storm, on Amazon, you can now also find it on Smashwords.
The rest of my books will be available on Smashwords soon!
The rest of my books will be available on Smashwords soon!
January 9, 2014
Now Available!
I'm thrilled to announce that Gathering Storm, the fourth book in my Firsts and Forever Series, is now available on Amazon.com! You can find it here. Enjoy!:)
December 31, 2013
Happy New Year!
Wishing you an absolutely wonderful 2014!
Watch for Gathering Storm in January!
Watch for Gathering Storm in January!
December 24, 2013
Happy Holidays!
Wherever you are in the world, and whatever you celebrate, I wish you love and peace this holiday season. Best wishes for a joyous 2014! <3
December 19, 2013
My One Year Anniversary!
One year ago today, Alexa Land was born. And what a wild, amazing ride it's been!
On December 19, 2012, I took a chance and self-published Way Off Plan on Amazon. And that leap of faith changed my life forever.
The book had just been rejected by a major M/M publisher, and I took the rejection pretty hard. At the same time, though, I believed in my story and characters. I felt I'd made something that would entertain people and make them feel good. So I decided, to hell with publishers. I could get my book to its intended audience without anyone's help.
I independently published it on Amazon, and then I kind of braced myself. I honestly expected it to just get swallowed up in that giant sea of books, and didn't think anyone would ever find it.
But you did. Just a few of you at first, and then a few more. Good reviews started coming in. And more copies sold. To my amazement, Way Off Plan broke into the top ten in gay fiction on Amazon, then the top five.
All In followed, in time for Valentine's Day of this year. I was pretty sure Way Off Plan had been a fluke, so I didn't have very high expectations for All In. But it did even better than its predecessor.
Those successes encouraged me to publish Feral, which I'd written the previous summer, but had let sit on my computer for months. It was a different kind of story, and I wasn't sure how it would catch on. To my delight and amazement, Feral hit number one in gay fiction on Amazon, and went on to be nominated for a Rainbow Award. It even became a semifinalist.
Over the next several months, I worked on the book I'm most proud of: In Pieces. I published it in early July. My labor of love held the number one position in gay fiction on Amazon for two weeks, and sold more than anything I'd ever written. More importantly, so many of you took Christopher into your hearts, and wrote to tell me how his story touched your lives. I was completely overcome with joy and gratitude.
Then one random Tuesday morning (a week to the day after In Pieces was published, incidentally), my husband of nineteen years ended our marriage. It came out of the blue. Suddenly, my whole world was in a tail spin.
And everything changed. Overnight, writing went from a hobby to a career. I was under financial pressure now, worried about being able to keep my home, being able to pay for my own health insurance, and a million other things.
There was so much to deal with that I could barely think about writing. Hardest of all was only seeing my ten year old son half the time, since my ex wanted 50/50 custody. That, more than anything, continues to break my heart. I also had major surgery, just weeks after my husband left. All my energy was channeled into healing, while at the same time mourning the end of the longest, most significant relationship of my life.
But now here I am. I've come out the other side stronger than ever. I reignited my passion for writing over these last couple months, and it's very much been, to borrow from an old song, my bridge over troubled water. I'm more grateful than ever that I get to write, to do what I love, every single day.
Before last December 19th, I was just this full-time mom named Audrey. While I love being a mom, I'd allowed my personal hopes and dreams to be pushed to the back burner. I barely knew who I was anymore.
But then, I invented Alexa, and I took a chance. I put a book out there, and hoped for the best. And because of each and every one of you, my readers, my expectations were wildly exceeded. I can now call myself a writer. I'm getting to do the thing I dreamed of since childhood, and I'm so happy that this is my life.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
On December 19, 2012, I took a chance and self-published Way Off Plan on Amazon. And that leap of faith changed my life forever.
The book had just been rejected by a major M/M publisher, and I took the rejection pretty hard. At the same time, though, I believed in my story and characters. I felt I'd made something that would entertain people and make them feel good. So I decided, to hell with publishers. I could get my book to its intended audience without anyone's help.I independently published it on Amazon, and then I kind of braced myself. I honestly expected it to just get swallowed up in that giant sea of books, and didn't think anyone would ever find it.
But you did. Just a few of you at first, and then a few more. Good reviews started coming in. And more copies sold. To my amazement, Way Off Plan broke into the top ten in gay fiction on Amazon, then the top five.
All In followed, in time for Valentine's Day of this year. I was pretty sure Way Off Plan had been a fluke, so I didn't have very high expectations for All In. But it did even better than its predecessor.
Those successes encouraged me to publish Feral, which I'd written the previous summer, but had let sit on my computer for months. It was a different kind of story, and I wasn't sure how it would catch on. To my delight and amazement, Feral hit number one in gay fiction on Amazon, and went on to be nominated for a Rainbow Award. It even became a semifinalist.
Over the next several months, I worked on the book I'm most proud of: In Pieces. I published it in early July. My labor of love held the number one position in gay fiction on Amazon for two weeks, and sold more than anything I'd ever written. More importantly, so many of you took Christopher into your hearts, and wrote to tell me how his story touched your lives. I was completely overcome with joy and gratitude.
Then one random Tuesday morning (a week to the day after In Pieces was published, incidentally), my husband of nineteen years ended our marriage. It came out of the blue. Suddenly, my whole world was in a tail spin.And everything changed. Overnight, writing went from a hobby to a career. I was under financial pressure now, worried about being able to keep my home, being able to pay for my own health insurance, and a million other things.
There was so much to deal with that I could barely think about writing. Hardest of all was only seeing my ten year old son half the time, since my ex wanted 50/50 custody. That, more than anything, continues to break my heart. I also had major surgery, just weeks after my husband left. All my energy was channeled into healing, while at the same time mourning the end of the longest, most significant relationship of my life.
But now here I am. I've come out the other side stronger than ever. I reignited my passion for writing over these last couple months, and it's very much been, to borrow from an old song, my bridge over troubled water. I'm more grateful than ever that I get to write, to do what I love, every single day.
Before last December 19th, I was just this full-time mom named Audrey. While I love being a mom, I'd allowed my personal hopes and dreams to be pushed to the back burner. I barely knew who I was anymore.
But then, I invented Alexa, and I took a chance. I put a book out there, and hoped for the best. And because of each and every one of you, my readers, my expectations were wildly exceeded. I can now call myself a writer. I'm getting to do the thing I dreamed of since childhood, and I'm so happy that this is my life.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
December 12, 2013
Finished!!
Just now, I finished writing Gathering Storm, the next book in my Firsts and Forever series!! I am always sooo happy when I finish a book! It's a good thing I was alone when I wrote those final words, because...um...a happy dance may or may not have occurred, and if such a thing DID occur, no one should see that, because talk about embarrassing! Picture Elaine from Seinfeld dancing, but with more fist pumping. So not pretty! :)
Now it's time to edit, edit, edit, then turn it over to my beloved beta readers, all with the goal of making it just as good as I possibly can for you. I'm so excited to bring you Hunter's story. We're in the home stretch now, my friends!
Now it's time to edit, edit, edit, then turn it over to my beloved beta readers, all with the goal of making it just as good as I possibly can for you. I'm so excited to bring you Hunter's story. We're in the home stretch now, my friends!
