Bella Roccaforte's Blog, page 4
September 14, 2017
I’ve Been Nominated!
Wow. I’ve been saying that for the last few days I got the news of my nominations for four awards at Ozarks Indie Book Fest. What this means to me can barely be expressed with words. I have to admit that I’m having all the feels right now.
I’ve been nominated for four awards!
Author of the Year
Best Book Cover – Girl on a Swing
Best New Adult Book – Girl On the Mend
Best Contemporary Book – Girl on a Swing
In 2013 I hit publish for the first time sending my baby, Fine Lines out into the world. It’s rough around the edges but there’s a great story in there, I promise. The execution sucks. I’m working on the sixth and final book in that series currently.
Since hitting publish it’s been an amazing ride! I’ve attended and spoken at so many conferences, I’ve lost count. Met tons of amazing readers, bloggers and authors. Traveled all over the country signing books. I also reached a level of sales where I was making a full time wage.
Then something happened in late 2015. I succumbed the to the chaos and destruction in my personal life. My soon-to-be ex husband is an addict. It’s like living inside a tornado. Everything is mess both literally and figuratively. Living in a constant state of emergency for ten years. But it all came to a head with another DUI, another crashed car, and another series of egregious actions from my ex. My book money was gone. He had to pay fines, attorneys, classes, get another car, make up for lost time at work while he was in jail. All of that on top of his constant clusterfuck of living inside the tornado.
Aside from basic life just being completely fucked. I had no money to market my existing books, no money to publish the ones people were waiting for and no hope.
So there I was. My writing career over, barely being able to feed my children, my house in foreclosure, having to file bankruptcy and definitely not in a state of mind to write books I couldn’t afford to publish.
I have some amazing friends that really came to the rescue. Birthday presents for my children were bought with a gift card someone sent me when my coffee pot broke. Food was provided by the Mormon Church and some of my author friends that reached out to me. Due to the kindness of others, I didn’t fall completely down. I can never express my full gratitude for those of you that knew my situation and really saved me.
But depression is a pale horse, and it took a while, but I finally got off it!
I finally landed a job! It doesn’t pay much, but it pays something and we made it work. Then, with the chaos gone and the ex out of the picture, I was able to start writing again and I started publishing again. Most of my readership was gone. There was a handful of really awesome stand up readers-turned-friends that were so patient and gracious in waiting.
I published Luci in November of 2016. It bombed. That’s okay though. I then moved on to publish the Wounded Bird Series. Out of my typical genre, on a shoe-string budget. Through the help of my editor Chelly Peeler and cover artist JN Sheets, I was able to put out Girl on a Swing in December of 2016.
It bombed…at first.
No marketing budget and a lot of people forgot I existed. It was bound to happen. But that’s okay, I had the next two books in the series ready to go and the people that did read the first book loved it. I wasn’t giving up. I’d come too far and love writing too much to give up on my dream of sharing stories.
I released the next two books January and February. Many people that had read my previous work were astounded that I am capable of writing a happy ending.
The thing is. My life has changed. While living in the tornado, the happiest ending I could hope for was getting a little bit of sleep. But now, every day is a happy ending for me. I fall asleep in my clean house, in my clean room with my children happy and content. That’s the best happy ending I could ever hope for and finally know what it’s like to be truly happy, not just in spite of what’s happening in my life.
This year, 2017, has been all about rebuilding. Reclaiming my writing career, publishing more books. Sharing more
stories. It’s all about my come back! These nominations, being named among some of the most awesome writers I know, is such an honor.
I really mean it when I say, don’t vote for me just because, vote for the author or the book that has touched you in some way. It really isn’t some Miss America “I love my fellow contestants” bullshit. It’s totally real.
Everyone that was nominated works there asses off, has challenges and strife. Being a published author isn’t easy, but it’s so worth it!
So yeah, I’m just still sitting here amazed and all the struggle, hard work, tears, doubt and not giving up have paid off. I’m back and I’m doing the thing that I love and thank you to everyone that’s stuck with me and jumped on board.
I’m thrilled beyond measure and it’s things like this that make me so glad I never gave up.
The takeaway? Don’t give up. Everyone has the strength in them to overcome frightening odds. Don’t ever give up, never surrender!
August 3, 2017
Sneak Peek – Bold Strokes, Deadly Dreams #5
Completely unedited, proofed, totally raw sneak peek from the final book in the Deadly Dreams Series (Formerly the INK: Series).
Enjoy.
One deep glowing red eye opens. I stumble backward. The other opens and I try to stand my ground. Slowly, the dragon picks up it’s large head, dust and debris fall from the dragon’s scales. A thousand years of slumber falling away. It’s so hard but I will myself to not show how terrified I am. There’s nothing around me that I could use as a weapon, no way to defend myself against it.
She stands stretching her enormous legs and expands her wings with a look of satisfaction on her face.
The dragon gives it’s entire body one hearty shake to finish removing the debris. It looks around surveying the surroundings. It’s eyes lock back on me and the glow intensifies. Her mighty head lowers to where I am. My body quivering I adjust my stance in a show of strength.
She studies me for a long time and an admiring smile rises to her lips, “It’s about time.” I hear a voice in my head that I know is the dragon’s.
“What are you?” I ask not allowing my voice to falter.
“I’m your heart.” Her grin intensifies, “I’m your strength and you have finally awoken me.”
“My heart?” I question.
“Yes, your heart.” She tilts her head, “I am everything you are meant to be, all you had to do was awaken me.”
“But I’ve always had my heart, it’s always been my weakness.” I lower my head knowing that most of the mistakes I’ve made are from following my heart.
“No, that was never your heart, that was your fear. You’ve been following your fear your whole life, letting me waste in a deep sleep.” Her eyebrows rise awaiting my understanding.
“But, how can you love with fear?” Comfort is blanketing me, knowing this beast means me no harm.
Satisfaction riddles her face as I come to the conclusion with her. “You can’t.”
I inhale a deep breath stunned at the revelation. For a moment I feel like I’ve been turned upside down on the inside. She kneels down closer to where I’m standing meeting me eye to eye. “Are you ready?”
My body fills with something inexplicable a combination of fire, electricity, power and something else. Something I’ve never felt before. With as much assurance as I can muster I nod.
“Then feel it. Be it. Do it.” She says while her head rises to it’s full height. She spreads her wings, flexing the powerful muscles throughout her body, “Now fly!” She screeches while her wings create a hot wind like the wings of Satan blow cold at the center of Purgatory.
I open my eyes and with one thought I power through the vines and branches that bind me. I brush myself off thinking of the dragon within me. “Now fly.” I repeat her words and start moving forward. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know where I’m going but I know I’m going to get there. For the first time in my life I know I’m going to get there.
The swishing sound of the dragon’s winds blow by me, in this nightmare land. I hear her voice, “Just because you’ve awakened me doesn’t mean that this is going to be easy or simple, it only means that now you’ve contacted the power that you will need to do what must be done.”
“I know.” I answer, feeling the truth in her words.
June 3, 2017
A Beautiful Day!
Continuing to Move Forward BoldlyThis day is outstanding! Every day has been a beautiful and magical gift.
This is my smile this morning. Pardon the bed head and no make up. LOL
Everyday when I wake up, before my feet hit the floor, before I open my eyes I say the words, ���Today, I am going to live.���
For awhile I would say it even though I didn’t believe it. I knew that the day was going to be hard and full of pain, sorrow, disappointment and strife. But I still tried. Until I didn’t, and I gave up. I surrendered to the undertow of addiction.
I want to be clear for my new folks that aren’t aware of what’s been happening in my life. I’m not the addict. My soon-to-be-exhusband is.
Today when I began to stir in bed, I felt a sense of peace. I’ve had that every morning for about six months now. I didn’t have to force it. I didn’t have to consciously say, ���Today, I’m going to live.��� It just happened.
Finally getting out from underneath the heavy blanket of someone else’s addiction is so freeing. My house is filled with a sense of peace. When friends come to visit they notice the sense of happiness and peace in my house is palpable.
So yeah, today and everyday, I’m going to live. I’m going to enjoy every second of my life. I work hard, I take care of my small children without benefit of much financial help from their father. But I’m LIVING. I’m doing it, I’m making it happen.
I’m going to be starting a new blog series soon. It’ll be on my new website, which I haven’t built yet. It will be called Moving Forward Boldly. If you are or have been the victim of an addict you’ll want to check it out. Because no matter how bad things are, there is always hope.
I want to spread that word. I want people to see that you can get out from underneath that pain. I want people to know that there is nothing wrong with stopping the madness of an addiction and mental illness that isn’t your own.
I used to feel guilty for abandoning my addict. Not anymore. It’s not my cross to bare and I’m not carrying it anymore. I’m still suffering from the effects of his disasters financially. But it’s getting better everyday. Without him constantly dragging me down, I can breathe and smile and live and feel joy!
I want everyone to know they can feel joy again!
The point is, if you’re living with someone in your life that does not make you feel happy, don’t live in their misery and illness. You have a life to live. I could go on about all the bullshit that people spew about standing by your man, but when he’s cut the legs out from under you, what’s left?
When I get Moving Forward Boldly up and running, I want it to be safe place for the victims of addicts. I want you all to know that it’s okay to live for yourself. How can you be an effective mother, friend, daughter…anything when you have no spirit to move forward? No guilt, no bullshit, just the truth of how to LIVE!
My life, my children, my home are all happy and peaceful again.
May 28, 2017
Saint: A Wolf’s Hunger New Release
Saint: A Wolf’s Hunger an awesome project I worked on with A.K. Michaels has been released. So far you guys seem to like it. I certainly enjoyed writing it!
Writing Saint and Scarlet’s story was sweet journey, it also expanded my craft just wee bit. These characters truly were their own people. It was also a challenge for me to get you to fall in love with them in just 40,000 words. Short stories are not my strength.
There certainly is the possibility of writing a bit more about these characters at some point, along with telling Mako & Robin’s story, if there is one.
Depending on feedback, I may do just that. However, it’s time to get on with the INK: Series.
If you haven’t had a chance to pick up Saint, he’s available on Amazon and for a limited time available in Kindle Unlimited.
You can also pick up the rest of the series by some amazing women!
Rafe: A Wolf’s Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Book 1 by A K Michaels
Kade: A Wolf’s Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Book 2 by A K Michaels
Marrok: A Wolf’s Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Book 3 by Julia Mills
Ax: A Wolf’s Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Book 4 by Monica La Porta
Zohar: A Wolf’s Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Book 5 by A K Michaels
May 5, 2017
Giveaway! Signed Paperbacks or Amazon Gift Card
Giveaway Time!
Easy to enter! If you’ve read any of the books in the Wounded Bird Series, you can leave a review on the vendor of your choice (or all of them) and submit the links to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 22, 2017
Shifted Sheets Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
Check it out guys! I’m participating in the Shifted Sheets Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!
I know y’all love to win stuff. Check it out!
April 7, 2017
Win $50 Amazon Gift Card! Contest Closed
FREE on Amazon
Until the Stars Fall From the Sky (A Hidden Beauty Novel Book 1) by Mary Crawford
“WOW!! What a wonderful book, that will have you in tears. Happy and sad ones. I was very impressed with this book.” ~Reviewer
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FREE on Amazon
Beautifully Wounded (The Beaumont Brothers Book 1) by Susan Griscom
“I read it all in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. The characters are so real and their emotions are so intense that I felt as if I were there with them.”
FREE on Amazon
Assassin’s Call by LeTeisha Newton
Having now to deal with an edict from Avalon to take the one woman to mate that he knew wouldn’t take it lying down was not what he wanted to face.
FREE on Amazon
Girl on a Swing (Wounded Bird #1) by Bella Roccaforte
This is a truly captivating story. Wren has been dealt a raw deal with life. Her parents death have left a permanent scar on her with a hefty burden of having to grow up way too fast and getting caught up in a life that was not meant for her. ~Reviewer
Win $50 Amazon Gift Card!
FREE on Amazon
Until the Stars Fall From the Sky (A Hidden Beauty Novel Book 1) by Mary Crawford
“WOW!! What a wonderful book, that will have you in tears. Happy and sad ones. I was very impressed with this book.” ~Reviewer
[image error]
FREE on Amazon
Beautifully Wounded (The Beaumont Brothers Book 1) by Susan Griscom
“I read it all in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. The characters are so real and their emotions are so intense that I felt as if I were there with them.”
FREE on Amazon
Assassin’s Call by LeTeisha Newton
Having now to deal with an edict from Avalon to take the one woman to mate that he knew wouldn’t take it lying down was not what he wanted to face.FREE on Amazon
Girl on a Swing (Wounded Bird #1) by Bella Roccaforte
This is a truly captivating story. Wren has been dealt a raw deal with life. Her parents death have left a permanent scar on her with a hefty burden of having to grow up way too fast and getting caught up in a life that was not meant for her. ~Reviewer
March 29, 2017
I Almost Gave Up Today
I always try to post positive things. Always keeping my chin up and basking in the happiness of my new found freedom. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have rough days too. I have the
weight of the world on my shoulders, being the sole caretaker of my littles. Having made the poor choice of marrying a very mentally ill man, who will never take responsibility for his children or putting them before his “wants”.
It’s not easy, but it’s so worth it. The children are my life, my freedom from his illness has put the wind in my sails once again. So most days, I’m on top of the world.
Today, however, I was tired, hungry and feeling a little beaten down. I got to the gym and started my workout. I’ve realized there are parts of my body that have suffered from being overweight for too long. That I don’t have the money to eat properly to nourish my body in a way to combat how my new body shapes itself. It can be quite discouraging, really to know that no matter how hard I work, there will still be parts of me that won’t be the way I would like them.
It was also hot in there today, and a little more crowded than I prefer. I nearly walked out. But then I stopped and just said, “No, you ARE going to do this today.”
I took a lap outside the gym, smoked a cigarette and went back inside and worked my ass off.
I’m happier for it! I feel great, still a little tired, but that comes with the territory of working nights. I’m so glad I did!
So the next time you feel like giving up, just don’t. Remember, this is just a tiny blip. A small road block that you have the power to get over. Take inventory and remember how lucky you are.
I know I am. I have 5 beautiful children, my freedom from the abuse, I’m happier than I’ve been in 12 years and I have an amazing future. Every day is a beautiful gift and today I had to remind myself of that.
I totally owned today at the gym and will continue the momentum as the day progresses. I’m going to get some words in on Saint, make dinner for my littles, do some laundry and when I login to work I’ll do my very best to own that too!
I almost forgot to move forward boldly. That was a close one. I’m glad I remembered how awesome things really are for me. They are awesome for you too!
Go forward boldly and be awesome today and every day.
March 24, 2017
Starting Over
Just like almost everything else in my life right now, I’m starting over.
I’m not going to promise to post to my blog all the time, I know better! But I will do my best to keep everything up to date!
So, for now, I’m trying to get this site up and running and get my next book finished! I can’t wait to introduce y’all to Saint from A Wolf’s Hunger series with the Amazing A.K. Michaels!
Stay tuned!
