Rachael Brownell's Blog, page 16

It’s over and I mean it this time

The most rewarding feeling you get as an author, in my opinion, is when a reader reaches out to you, or leaves you a review, and tells you how your book touched them, inspired them, etc. I read every review, even the ones that trash my books. Why? Because I want to learn from them, grow as a writer, and give readers the best book that I can each and every time.

The 2nd most rewarding feeling you get as an author is when you type the two words that send you on a journey that is both scary as hell and exciting at the same time. THE END!

I just did that^^^

I typed those two little words!

I finished another book!

Now, the journey begins… I can’t wait for Brad’s story to be in your hands. I hope everyone loves the conclusion to the Holding On series. I thought it was complete a year ago after releasing Ethan’s novella but people kept asking what happened to Brad. I couldn’t leave my readers in limbo.

You shall be in limbo no longer… well, not after June 9th at least.

Yes!

SAVE THE DATE!

June 9, 2015

Flawed Reality: Brad’s Novella

The final book in the Holding On series (and I mean that this time).

If you would like a sneak peak at Flawed Reality, sign up for my newsletter here. I will be sending out the ENTIRE first chapter in the May edition.

As soon as I set everything up I will post pre-order links for everyone. If you are attending any of my upcoming signing – UtopYA, Books & Bourbon, Great Lakes Book Bash – I will have paperbacks with me. Please email me if you would like to add Flawed Reality to your order.

If you are unable to attend any events but would like to order signed paperbacks from me, click here.

Have a great Thursday everyone! I know I plan to.

Speechless

I don’t normally post many things about my personal life here or on any part of social media. Not because I don’t like to share but because I find it hard to share things about my personal life with people. Ask anyone who was at the first signing with me. I was mute most of the time.

Well, a lot has been changing in my life and I’ve been sharing and found that, probably because there is a computer between me and you, it’s pretty easy to share things. And the outpouring of support I’m receiving for the tiniest things I’m sharing is AMAZING! I’m not saying that I’m going to be an open book at my next signing, but I have a feeling that I’ll be more talkative.

So, on a positive note, I thought I would share something personal with everyone again today. It takes a short story to get to the point but if you wait for it, there are pictures too!

Never mind the short story, here’s the shortest version of the story I can tell. The highlights…

I met my boyfriend in 2005. We moved in together at the end of that year after dating about 6 months. 3 months later, we bought a house. 6 months after that, we decided we wanted a baby. In 2007 we had our son.

I’m going to skip ahead now.

In 2012 my first book was picked up by a publishing house and life went a little crazy. It got back on track when I dropped my publishing house in 2014. Then I got a promotion and life went a little crazy again. I quit my job to be home with my family more and to write last month.

So, long story short, we’ve been together almost 10 years now. We’ve created an amazing family and an amazing life together. Just as I thought things couldn’t get any better, he surprises me again and they become amazing.

 

On Sunday, March 29, 2015, he proposed and I said yes! Nothing will change but everything will all at the same time.

“2015 is going to be our year” he keeps saying and I can’t help but believe him. He’s been saying it since January and things continue to change in our lives and only for the better.

The best part is, we set a date in 2016 so it looks like 2015 AND 2016 are going to be our years.

WINNERS!!!

I replied to comments this morning announcing winners. All winners have 48 hours to reply by emailing me before I select another winner. If you entered and aren’t sure if you won, please check the comments section on the “Why Not?” post.

 

Thank you all for well wishes. Your support means a lot. The next few weeks are going to be very different for me. I’m use to one way of life and that way of life is now a thing of the past. I’ll probably be online more and hopefully writing more. Feel free to contact me. I love to hear from readers and I’ll now be able to respond much quicker than before.

 

Have a great Sunday!

Why not?

Yesterdays big announcement has me both excited and scared for my new venture. The countdown to my last day has already started, it’s down to 4 days and I figure why not do a giveaway a day until we get there.

So, on Sunday, March 29, 2015 I will pick 4 lucky winners. If you are one of those lucky winners you will receive a Mystery Box. Said box will contain swag and a signed paperback.

To enter…

Comment on this post

For an extra entry…

Share this post on Facebook.

For another extra entry…

Comment on yesterdays post. (13 years, 9 months)

That’s up to 3 entries per person.

Can you win more than one of the 4 mystery boxes? Why not. The randomizer I use does not discriminate.

And GO!

13 years, 9 months

It is with both great joy and great sorrow that I write this post.

For those of you that have known me for a long time this may come as a shock to you so prepare yourself. In order for this to make sense, I have to start at the beginning.

14 years ago I got a job working as a waitress for a great company. After I graduated from college, while I was hunting for a position in my field, I accepted a promotion with the same company to move into management. I always thought the position would be temporary, only until I was ready to start my career in my chosen field.

That never happened.

9 years later, I accepted another promotion with the same company, as General Manager for them. I do not regret my decision to stay with them because I love the company and I love my job. They have treated me extremely well since the beginning.

Well, while working for them I also started to purse another passion of mine. Writing. Again, I never envision it being my full time job. I always thought that it would be a side gig or hobby. It’s fun and fulfilling but it’ll never be able to replace the income that I need from my day job.

Well, this is not about the money. It’s not even about me being able to write full time which is something that I enjoy immensely. It’s about me being home, spending time with my family and enjoying my life.

Saturday, March 28, 2015, after 13 years and 9 months, I am giving up my day job to pursue my dream of being a full time author. I thought long and hard about my decision. I weighted the options over and over again. My BF and I had a ton of long talks about it.

See, when I dedicate myself to something I give 110% to it. I’ve been giving 110% to my day job for almost 14 years and that left very little time for me to spend with my family and friends. Then, take away more time from them when I’m writing or at a signing and there’s nothing left.

My family is the most important thing to me. Without them I am nothing. They are what matters most to me. Since my promotion I have been seeing less and less of them. Thats not fair to them and for that I apologize.

So, in 5 days I will be home. For good. I have found a new job where I will work during the day and be home every night. Life as I’ve know it for a long time now is about to change in a good way. I’m looking forward to family dinners at a “normal” hour. I’m looking forward to fighting the lines at the grocery store because I can shop on Saturday or Sunday instead of 8pm on Tuesday night.

These things seem trivial but they are things I know nothing about. I’ll probably be posting a rant soon about how people at the grocery store suck on the weekends. Who knows? All I know is that I’m looking forward to it.

 

Books & Bourbon

I just added a new signing to my 2015 schedule…

Books & Bourbon in Bardstown, KY

August 1, 2015

1pm-5pm (with a party afterward)

If you live in the area, check it out! Click here for their Facebook page.

A dangerous game has begun.

If you’ve read any of my books you know that I like to make you swoon over my characters, cry for them and with them. I want you to embrace the story and the characters. I want you to do the same with this book but I thought it was only fair to warn you, Dark Bishop is a little different…

A dangerous game has begun.

“Sydney, order up for table two!”

Who knew the road to Hollywood would be so glamorous. I’ve been working in this diner for months. My feet hurt. My arms ache. But slowly, I’m putting money away. I’ll get to California. I refuse to wind up like my mother.

Head down. Work hard. Save money. It’s all going according to plan, until Jake Bishop walks in to the diner…

In his game, everyone’s a pawn…

“Can I get you anything else, gentlemen?” she asked with a smile.

I had to touch her. I had to have her. Girls like Sydney are rare. And I will make her mine—whatever the cost. No one will get in my way.

  …and he’s never lost a game.

I wrote Dark Bishop with my bestie (yes, her again) Casey Bond. DB is a serial series. For those of you that are not familiar with that term (as I wasn’t until about six months ago) it’s pretty simple. A serial series is similar to a mini series on television. You get a few different “episodes” if you will that each build on the last to make the entire series. DB is the same concept.

There are five mini books that MUST be read in order. Each book builds from the last, picking up right where the other one left off.

Dark Bishop is just as it sounds. It’s dark. The plot will keep you guessing. There are twists and turns that neither of us saw coming as we wrote it. (It was fun.)

Casey and I revealed the covers for the first four parts in the series. I’m going to share them with all of you in case you missed it.

   

 

Now, there is still one more part… part 5. We’ll be revealing the cover for the last move in the game later on.

Part 1: Pawn releases on 4/29. Here are your preorder links…

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T17UU6M

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00T17UU6M

Part 2: Swindle releases 4/30.

Part 3: Threat releases on 5/1.

Part 4: Trap releases on 5/2.

Preorder links for the these parts will be available soon.

ALL parts are only 99 cents each BTW!

If you haven’t caught the theme of the book, I’ll give you a hint…

And finally, a few teasers for all of you.

 

Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Part 1: Pawn today. Why wait?

Great Lakes Book Bash

If you haven’t heard, which I doubt since I’ve been talking about it non-stop for months, Casey and I are co-hosting a huge author event in my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan this year called Great Lakes Book Bash. We have over 80 exhibitors including models, designers, authors AND Keynote Speaker Emily Snow!

If you haven’t already checked us out, click here or here. If you want to snag tickets for the event click here.

Aside from the signing, there are going to be panels, giveaways and a Rock Star party. You aren’t going to want to miss out on all the fun.

ONLY 250 MORE DAYS!!!

Interview with Author Jo Michaels!!!

One of the most fun parts of being an author is attending the cons. I am a very shy person but I still love the atmosphere and the opportunity to meet the readers and authors that attend. Last summer, I had my very first BIG signing in Nashville – UtopYA. I had the privilege of meeting the wonderful Jo Michaels, amongst many other, while I was there. I also have the privilege of being a part of UtopYA again this summer!

A little bit about UtopYA…

The conference continues to grow, this years its 4 fun-filled days!
When you leave you feel like you are leaving your family behind. A family full of people who love the same things that you love – reading and books!
Everyone that goes has a TON of fun. I cannot even begin to describe how much fun it’s going to be this year.

If you want more information on the con, check out their website here. This years theme is “Write your own future.”

Jo is not only an author but also a blogger and she as been doing features on all the authors that are attending this summer. My turn is next and I’m excited to share is with all of you. Let me just say, Jo asks some great questions.

So, if you are interested in checking out my interview with Jo, click here. FYI – I have a Rafflecopter giveaway that will be going on too.

 

That’s all for now.

 

Oh!

 

I may have shared a little bit about my “Super Secret” project with Jo in case your interested…