Elizabeth Paradise's Blog, page 3

Pleasantly Confused

I have worked in healthcare for several years now. I see a lot of patients going through different stages of confusion, for different reasons. I only really feel bad for those that aren’t in a happy place. It seems like a small percentage of them are happier in their state of confusion than they were dealing with the stresses of their lives.

When I get that way, I hope I can live in a magical world like the ones I dream up for my books. Of the four worlds being built in my head now, I would be amazed to live in any of them.

Indie Reviewing

I’ve been considering doing some Indie-published book reviewing. I’ve been really curious about some of the shorter novella/novelette length stories. Lately that is what I have been enjoying writing. Too many reviewers out there are refusing to review indie pieces. Over the last few days I have read a few indie books, and have enjoyed them for the most part. I will try to get my reviews posted up here over the next week.

Any suggestions on shorter fiction to start with? I’d like to stick to the young adult / fantasy / romance categories.

If you use Smashwords…

My book: The Lost Dreamer is free for a week or two. I’m looking for some reviews. Anyone willing to help me out?

Here is the link:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288727

My first book in the Witch’s Brew Series, titled The Lost Dreamer.

MY CATS, AND MY VIEW ON ANIMAL ABUSE

Insane girl.

Very handsome boy.

 

These are my babies. I have three children too. I’d do anything for any of them.

I think about people who abuse their animals, and I wonder how that is even possible. I couldn’t imagine hurting an animal. They are intelligent, loving creatures. And to think, most cases are never reported, and most animal suffering goes unrecognized and unabated.

Dogs—and pit bull-type dogs, in particular—are the most common victims of animal cruelty. And, it’s insane to me how many animals are being abused in conjunction with abusive human relationships. I heard a statistic that said nearly 1 million animals a year are abused or killed in connection with domestic violence.

If you can’t properly take care of your pet, or you don’t want it, then give it a proper home.

I should be writing.

The Lost Dreamer will be up for sale in multiple locations within the next few days. My Sun and Moon part one novelette “Joining” will be up and running next week some time. I should be working on my next draft, but I’m not. I’ve decided to take a few days off, and do a little reading. I have the outlines ready for my next two manuscripts. My mind should be nice and refreshed after this break, and I will be ready to dive back into the cycle.

I’ve decided that I like working on two manuscripts at the same time. I write a draft of one and let it sit while I work on the other. I love how a completely different project gives me a fresh perspective on the previous one.

What I’m reading now:

Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh

I’m really loving this book so far. I’ve not read much in this POV.

Last week I read:

By Denise Grover Swank: Chosen and The Death of Me.

Chosen: is great. I am looking forward to continuing to read the series.

The Death of Me: definitely had me bawling.

I’m Amazed

It amazes me how I can come up with just a handful of words while writing a story that take me off in a completely different direction than I planned. I’ve spent weeks figuring out the outline, and perfect direction for my WIP, and today I THOUGHT I was writing the last few paragraphs. I was completely prepared to write one or two paragraphs today, and then start on revising. Here I am over 1000 words later, and blown away by the whole thing. I don’t even know how it happened, it just did. My fingers started a sentence, and the characters decided to run away from me on another crazy tangent. I will never understand this concept, but that’s okay. I love it all the same.

Work in Progress:

Title: Joining

Sun-Moon Novelette Trilogy Part One

Series vs Non-Series

My second book will not be the next book in my Witch’s Brew series. I’m doing this because I believe it will keep my mind fresh on the series. It will give me a 100% distraction while my subconscious stews over where to go in the series next. I have my basic outline for book two done though. It will be titled Flower in the Dark. I’m anxious to get started on it as soon as Sun and Moon is complete.

My new story (Sun and Moon) is a completely different idea. The stories are so different, which makes it a fun change to write. It’s also nice to know that it isn’t part of a series. I don’t have to be constantly looking ahead to see how each event fits into the bigger picture.

So far my journey from writer to author, is going great. I feel more empowered than I ever have before in my life. We’ll see what happens when I actually get The Lost Dreamer out there on the market in a few weeks. I’m so excited for it to be finally done.

I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

BE YOU

I have always said “I want to be _______ when I grow up.” The blank part would change from time to time. I was always jealous of the skills other people had that I didn’t. I never thought myself to be good enough to put the word ME in that blank. Until now.

Do you WANT to be you? Are you PROUD of who you’ve become in life? Have you let the world make you into something unrecognizable?

It took me a long time to learn how to be myself. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of me because I am being true to who I am no matter what. I know what it’s like to not know who the person in the mirror is. It took me three focused healing years, and an amazingly supportive husband to rediscover ME. I also had some great new friends in my great new life I had created for myself that were good listeners. We all need someone to tell us we are special.

It takes a lot of courage to start over. I had to turn around, and analyze every little aspect of my life. I needed to rediscover which pieces still represented me, and which were contributing to my unhappiness. Initially this caused a lot of pain for me and the people I love, but in the end, it was 100% worth it.

Now that I’m here, I intend to make the most of it. I intend to follow my dreams, and see what roads they take me down. I’ve always wanted to write, so that is what I’m doing. It is an amazing feeling to finally accomplish something that I feel proud of.

I’ve decided to start a Be You campaign, and post to people about being themselves. (#BeYou for you twitter junkies). This is something that has so much meaning to me.

What do you think?

My first book in the Witch’s Brew Series, titled The Lost Dreamer.

This is the cover for the first novel in my Witch’s Brew series. I’m very excited to be releasing this book in March. It is young adult/fantasy. This book is the journey of a young Priestess of purity who is trying to rescue a boy who was kidnapped by a witch. He is important because he has dreams that speak prophecy. Soon after he is found, she wonders if he was cursed by the witch who took him.

The journey to write this book has taught me so many amazing things. I’ve grown as a writer in more ways than I can count.

Some of the things I’ve learned:

1. Using long hand on the first draft helps me to sort my thoughts better. I do so much chopping and adding as I type it up.

2. I am capable of completing a novel. I never believed in myself before now.

3. Beta Readers are a valuable tool as long as you have ones that are willing to go the distance.

4. Hiring a copy-editor is an absolute must.

5. I can be a published author if I put enough effort into my work.

Free This Weekend

Let’s Go Riding will be free for kindle this weekend (Fri. Feb 1st-Sun. Feb 3rd). It’s a fantasy style children’s early reader targeted for ages 5-8. Each person who has read it so far says that it is better than the first. They don’t have to be read in order, though the first book explains how the main character, Loren, received the magic mirror. 

My daughters read them to each other, and they really enjoy them. 

I hope you download it for free, and leave me a review on amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/Riding-Loren-Magical-Kingdom-ebook/dp/B00B12T462/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4