Sabrina A. Fish's Blog, page 2

ISWG: November - NaNoWriMo to the Rescue

All writers are insecure at various times throughout their writing journey and I'm definitely no different. So I've joined in on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. The 1st Wednesday of each month I'll post about the insecurities I've been struggling with and/or conquered, and answer that month's IWSG question.

I recently submitted the 3rd book in The Gate Keeper Chronicles to my editor. And now the waiting begins. I don't know about all of you, but this is always the point where I second guess myself while I wait for my editor to read the book and tell me what she thinks.

It's torture!

My editor is amazing and I'm not at all scared of her...sort of...

IWSG: Fall Fun, Editing Blues, and Is Reading Essential to Being a Good Writer?

All writers are insecure at various times throughout their writing journey and I'm definitely no different. So I've joined in on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. The 1st Wednesday of each month I'll post about the insecurities I've been struggling with and/or conquered, and answer that month's IWSG question.

The days are beginning to cool, even if only slightly here in Oklahoma, pumpkin flavored everything is everywhere, and Halloween decorations are up around my neighborhood.


While I love the summer and all that fun in the sun, I must admit that Fall is my favorite season. I love wearing pretty scarves & boots, enjoying a hot drink without the A/C cranked up, and admiring the changing colors of the trees while taking long walks.

This Fall is beginning with LONG overdue edits for the 3rd book in The Gate Keeper Chronicles. I had hoped to have them finished by Sept 1, but that obviously didn't happen. I'll admit to having days where those self-defeating thoughts are so loud I struggle to make any progress. When that happens, I make lists, or if one already exists, I focus only on one item from that list and force myself to complete the task so that the feeling of accomplishment will subdue that negativity.

YAY FOR LISTS!

What do you do when negative thoughts get you down and slow your progress, giving you those editing blues? What's your favorite season? Are you a fan of pumpkin everything?

IWSG Question of the MonthIt's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
While I can concede that not having been influenced by other's work can lead to original ideas, I think that being a reader is necessary to understand the ebb and flow of a story. If you aren't a reader, you won't inherently understand this and will have to spend considerable time learning it. How can you understand what good writing is, if you never read? And even if a writer doesn't read, they most likely watch television, so are they really coming up with original ideas? I very much doubt it! I, as a self-proclaimed book nerd, may be biased, but I don't see how someone who doesn't read could become a writer who's work others would enjoy reading.
What do you think? 
Be sure to see what others are saying on this topic by following the blog hop via the Linky list below!

IWSG: Happy Birth-Month to me, Unreal Expectations, and Dream Writing Spot

All writers are insecure at various times throughout their writing journey and I'm definitely no different. So I've joined in on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. The 1st Wednesday of each month I'll post about the insecurities I've been struggling with and/or conquered, and answer that month's IWSG question.

It's September! Happy Birth-Month to me! It seems perfect, then, to talk about unrealistic and unmet expectations, because I'm good at setting them and then being disappointed in myself. You'd think that after "almost" 37 years, I'd understand that I hate the editing process, am prone to procrastination of those things I don't care for, and to give myself twice the time I'd like to complete such tasks.
You'd think. *sigh* But apparently, this isn't the case.
I'm STILL working on edits for Diomere's Mercenary. Edits I'd hoped to have completed by September 1st. Here this day is and I'm far from finished. The negative voices are there. They like telling me I'm never going to be successful if I don't learn to love editing, that I'll never get this series finished, and that I'm too big of a procrastinator to ever get more than one boon done a year.
And just like every time these doubts rear their head, I clench my teeth and tell them to shut it. I remind myself that I get better, faster, and need edit fewer number of drafts with each book.
Now if I didn't have 4 other projects that are begging to be written...which would be infinitely more fun than editing!
IWSG Questions of the MonthIf you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story,where would it be and why?


My dream writing spot would be in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking Lake Tahoe in Nevada. The hubs and I were married there and I fell in love with the area. One day I hope to own a vacation home with a writing cave that includes a picture window overlooking the lake.
Do most writers hate editing or is this just me? Do you have a birthday this month? Virgo or Libra? Have you been to Lake Tahoe? The Cali or Nevada side? Isn't it just beautiful?!



Sabrina A. Fish is an Award-Winning Fantasy & Romance Author from Oklahoma where she lives with her husband, son, and two cats. She's currently trying to talk her husband into building her a backyard writing she shed and hopes that mentioning it here will express how serious that wish is! LOL. You can learn more about her and her books by visiting her website: www.SabrinaAFish.com






Spread the Positive Vibes! Do you make it your life mission to be a cheerleader to others? Want to spread some positive energy? Check out some of the other writers participating in this hop and leave them an encouraging comment. It may not seem like much, but I promise, it means SO much to us artist types!

Diomere's Exile is AVAILABLE NOW as an Audiobook!

I'm so excited to finally be able to announce that my Award-Winning Fantasy Romance novel, Diomere's Exile is available in audiobook! I've been asked at SO many events if it was available in audiobook, only to have to say no. But not anymore, friends!

Please enjoy this fun little video I made to commemorate the occasion!
And if you're an audiobook fan, please go check it out!

IWSG Wednesday: Doubts, Emotional Writing, and Has Your Writing Ever Taken You By Surprise?

All writers are insecure at various times throughout their writing journey and I'm definitely no different. So I've joined in on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. The 1st Wednesday of each month I'll post about the insecurities I've been struggling with and/or conquered, and answer that month's IWSG question.

In July, I participated in the Camp NaNoWriMo Challenge and I FINISHED the 3rd book of The Gate Keeper Chronicles!! Woot!

However, it wasn't easy. Writing the end of a book is always bitter sweet. It's the point when I worry that I've written an entire book of utter rubbish, that I may not be able to tie things up in a satisfactory way, and that I didn't tie into the overarching series plot enough. So much unnecessary stress!

I also feel like I'm a SLOW writer, so the NaNoWriMo events are my way to propel myself over the finish line. Which they do, but now, in the first days after the challenge has been successfully conquered, I'm beating myself up for not being just as productive EVERY month. Unfortunately, just as I'm an emotional eater, I'm also an emotional writer. If I'm stressed, depressed, tired, sick, or any other number of negative emotion that we humans can dip into for no reason at all, I will eat and not write. *sigh*



To combat this horrible tendency of mine, I work out daily, join blogs hops like this one, and I participate in NaNoWriMo events and/or writing sprints with other writers.

In short, I'm human.


The August IWSG Question: Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?

Many times! But the one that always stands out most is how The Gate Keeper Chronicles has turned out. It's a fantasy romance series with a hot steam level, but when I started it, it was intended to be a Middle Grade Fantasy adventure about a Mer prince and pirates. I even wrote a whole first draft TO THE END! But then my critique group said the story was just okay and suggested the Mer prince's aunt was a much more interesting character. They said I should write the story from her perspective instead. As some of you may know, that Mer prince is Reis and his aunt is the heroine of Diomere's Exile, Nadia.

Making the change from straight fantasy to fantasy romance was another huge issue, but that's a story for another day.

I hope you're as excited for Diomere's Mercenary as I am to have it finished! If you haven't read books 1 and 2 of The Gate Keeper Chronicles, and you're into steamy fantasy romance, definitely visit my website HERE and check them out!

Do you have negative personality traits that you actively combat like I do? Tell me about them. If you're here from the IWSG blog hop, leave a comment so I can visit you back. I'd love to hear about the ways your writing has taken you by surprise.



Sabrina A. Fish is an Award-Winning Fantasy & Romance Author from Oklahoma where she lives with her husband, son, and two cats. She's currently trying to talk her husband into building her a backyard writing she shed and hopes that mentioning it here will express how serious that wish is! LOL. You can learn more about her and her books by visiting her website: www.SabrinaAFish.com

Spread the Positive Vibes! Do you make it your life mission to be a cheerleader to others? Want to spread some positive energy? Check out some of the other writers participating in this hop and leave them an encouraging comment. It may not seem like much, but I promise, it means SO much to us artist types!

Writing Battle Scenes is HARD! #amwriting #fantasyromance

This morning, I'm supposed to be working on the final battle scene in Diomere's Mercenary...

BUT...

So I'm here instead, epically procrastinating by writing this blog. I mean, it needed to be done anyway, right? *sigh*

In fantasy, ordinary battle scenes are difficult because they need to be exciting, while also making sense. The writer needs to have some idea how fighting with whatever weapon is being used works. You don't want your readers to put your book down in disgust because you wrote a battle scene so unbelievable that they're left thinking you're an idiot writer. Or worse, have them be bored! It's an important balance, excitement and logic.

So when you take battle scene and add it to climax scene, the point when the shit hits the fan, things become even more tricky. You have to write an exciting and convincing battle scene while also bringing everything you've set up together so that it all leads to some kind of resolution. And since this book is fantasy romance, that resolution between the hero and heroine is VERY important.  It's so complex and challenging.

For me, anyway.

I KNOW what needs to happen, but HOW to make it happen is daunting. These scenes always take me several days to write because of their complexity...and because I procrastinate out of fear. I'm afraid I'll make it too cheesy, underwhelming, or just plain stupid. *sigh* Maybe I should have used this post for the insecure writers network day.

Despite that demon, Doubt, whispering in my ear, I love writing these scenes because my characters finally get the happy ending they've been working toward throughout the entire book. So I'm going to end this post and go figure out how to help Kardia and the dragon queen kick the bad guy's ass before he kills Sahir. Because who doesn't love when the heroine saves the day?


Are you having your own insecurities about something? Leave a comment (click "View Original Post" if you don't see the comment box) below and tell me about it. Misery loves company and I'd love to cheer you on through whatever thing is causing you to doubt yourself.

Have you read my Award-Winning Fantasy Romance series, The Gate Keeper Chronicles? This book will be book 3 of the series, but books 1 and 2 are available now! Click the image or series title below to learn more.
The Gate Keeper ChroniclesFive Gates. Five Sisters.Five Very Different Men.
Once there were two worlds connected by five magical gates. Then the Gate Keepers closed the gates and disappeared. The Gate Keepers have returned.

International Digital Awards Contest is Open for Entries Indie Authors!

Hello Indie Author Friends, 
Here is an affordable contest for those of you who might be interested. Good luck!!
~Sabrina

Enter your Ebook in the International Digital Awards!!! Here are just a few of the perks:

~ Great prizes 

~ Bragging rights

~ A chance to get your book in front of potential lifelong fans 

~ Low entry fee

Enter your short, novella, or novel fiction in a contest where you’re judged on your STORY, not on how many friends vote for you. Readers will judge and score your work, based on their enjoyment of it. Even if you don’t place, you will gain exposure to at least three new readers! 

Fee: $25.00 for Novels, $20.00 for novellas and short stories (2017 and 2018 winners and finalists receive 50% off)


Deadline: July 30, 2019 

Eligibility: Any ebook with a copyright date of 2018 or 2019 that was available for sale in 2018 or 2019 and is NOT available for purchase in mass print. (Ebooks that are available as POD's are eligible) *** If your book previously finaled in, but did not win, the IDA, it is eligible for re-entry.


Entry: Non DRM PDF as email attachment


Categories: (All of the following offer BOTH a short/novella and a Novel category in each genre) Contemporary, Erotica, Historical, Inspirational, Paranormal, Suspense, Young Adult


Judges: Readers, including other unpublished and published authors.

·        Prizes: Prizes: First place winners will receive an engraved paperweight. Winners and finalists will receive certificates. PLUS - additional prizes for winners include...

·        Featured on a minimum of 3 blog posts

·        Featured in a "winner" video trailer that will be shared on FB, tweeted, and featured on at least 3 blogs and websites

·        Multiple Tweets and Facebook posts 

·        Featured on a special IDA Winners Pinterest Page

For More Info: https://okrwa.com/contests/internatio... 

Join Sabrina in a Christmas in July Fun Hop!

Who doesn't love Christmas?! Especially the receiving gifts part!! If that's you, then you're in for a treat this July! A bunch of bloggers have come together to offer all kinds of "reader friendly" gifts just for you. I'll personally be giving away 2 eBooks of the winner's choice from my own catalog of published novels and novellas.

Enter on the form below!


Sabrina's Christmas in July Fun

And don't forget to visit the other bloggers participating in this hop via the linky list below! You don't want to miss out on any of these amazing "gifts"!

Camping: My Fave Type of Family Vacation...or Should I Say Glamping?

In a couple of days, during the hottest week we've had so far here in Oklahoma, I'm going to haul my family on a camping trip out to the lake where I spent many a summer in my childhood and I CANNOT WAIT! I'm talking tent camping, folks.

That's right. Community showers and toilets, food cooked on camp stoves or over the fire, and a thin fabric shelter to keep the wild life at bay for 5 days. And while all of that sounds over-the-top fun, it's the fact that my siblings and their families will be joining us! Squeeeeee!

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that my siblings are one of my favorite parts of this crazy life I live. Each of us only 2 years apart of less, we are a loud, rowdy bunch with kids and spouses who fit right into our crazy.

My sister and two brothers, all younger than me, are the reason that siblings play such an important role in my books. They inspired Nadia's excitement when Arri arrived in Diomere's Exile and the hilarity that ensued when Arri had her first dreamsharing experience in Diomere's Healer. Without my siblings, my life would have been so much less entertaining and lack the beauty of life with people who grew up in the house.

Now, to some of you, camping out in the Oklahoma heat (think 95 degrees plus and humidity) may sound like a horribly uncomfortable experience, but you would be wrong. They make those quiet generators now and tiny air conditioner fans. Oh the gloriousness that is modern technology. My phone shall stay charged and ready to take a million photos, my camp site shall have the safety of string lights to keep us from killing ourselves by tripping over tent tie-downs in the dark, and we shall have cool air when we sleep at night! All this combined with the fellowship of time with my siblings makes camping the BEST experience ever, in my humble opinion.

Or should I call it glamping?

Do you enjoy camping...or glamping...with your family? What's your favorite must have item for sleeping in the great outdoors? Click on "View Original Post" at the bottom of today's post and Leave a comment to tell me about your camping hacks and funny stories. I love to hear from visitors to my blog!


Here are some fun facts on camping thanks to the folks at Jellystone Park, one of our favorite places to visit.



From Visually.

The Wolf Pack Run Book Sale!

Love shifter books? Add to your Summer TBR list with this Wolf Pack Sale running now through June 22, 2019.
Diomere's Healer, featuring your favorite fairy and manticore shifters, is only $0.99
Don't forget to enter the Wolf Pack Giveaway after you check the fabulous books on sale.(Click the image OR the link below to check out the sale!)


ARH-WOOOOOOOO! Let's RUN!