Meka James's Blog, page 11

IWSG - The Writer Blahs Take 2

Hello and happy December. We have reached the final month of 2018. It's normally a time of reflection on how the year went and looking forward to even more in the next. Only, I'm not.
I think I'm getting to the point when I can almost tell a blah is coming on. It's been a hell of a few weeks. More dreaded time in #editinghell. I made the terrible mistake of looking at my sales, and I had two giveaways with like no entries. One for my newsletter subscribers and only two of my author friends responded. And one as part of an author interview. It's like wow, I can't even give them away. Then I participated in my very first 'author takeover' on Facebook, and yeah, mostly spent the day talking to myself.

When it rains it pours. Right?

My ability/desire to write is directly tied into how I feel. I'm not a 'push through it' kinda gal. So, being down means the words don't come. The words don't come then I feel like crap for not making progress and working on something new. It's a vicious cycle.

And by all accounts I should be excited right now. I have a book coming out next month and another in March. But with the blahs taking control I can only see the glass as half-empty. Writing is not an easy gig. Whether indie, hybrid, or traditional, there are times when (I'm guessing) everyone gets overwhelmed. And right now it's so much all at once.

More impending editsMake a marketing planWrite new wordsMake goals for 2019See what goals I didn't hit for 2018
And the biggie, give up control. The fear of the 'unknown' is real right now. Someone else has the final say on the finished product that will go out to the world. I know this is a good thing and an amazing opportunity, but with one of the two stories coming out already being one I had a shaky relationship with... yeah I'm a giant ball of anxiousness.

I've had the blahs before. And I'm aware that they will go away again. The question however remains: When? The last round lasted from May til early September. Hopefully, they'll move on quicker this round.



The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support.
Thank you to this month's co-hosts!  J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

Music Monday - Nina Cried Power

It's December y'all! Final month of 2018!!! Can't believe it's coming to an end. This month is a normally a time of self-reflection. Looking back on what I accomplished and looking forward to how I can do better next year.
Only, so far I've not done that. Why?

Well... #editinghell

If you've poked around my blog in the last month or so, you know I'm making the venture into being a hybrid author. With this new venture comes deadlines. TIGHT DEADLINES. Editing isn't part of the process that I enjoy. I do it, but I'm not a person that looks forward to shaping and molding the story. I'm a #turtlewriter that means I've stressed over every word that went into the creation from the beginning, which in turns me I'm already sorta over it by the time editing comes around. LOL

But there's work to do.

I recently had four days, yup just four, to do an 'author proof' edit on my 47k erotic romance that's releasing next month. This was after having only about seven days to do the initial edits based on feedback from the editor and make any additional *major* changes I might want to the story.

I'm a turtle and I don't work well under pressure.

Me emerging from 3 days of #editinghell

Music Monday - Love On The Brain

Happy Cyber Monday. I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday if you celebrate and that you won't go too overboard with the online shopping today.


I mentioned two weeks ago that the release date for that story is in January. It's barreling closer with each day and Limitless has a tight deadline. I've said it before, multiple times on this blog, that editing is not my favorite.

This segment started because music helps me with my writing, but it also helps me when editing. While I was working on making the changes suggested and adding a few of my own, I used the playlist for Anything Once for inspiration.

I had a hard time with this story. Not writing it, but in the first round of edits. I lost sight of what I wanted. I got too much feedback that muddied the waters and I fell out of love with it. As I was editing I actually remembered why it made me happy to begin with. Not to say editing was without struggle, it had it's struggle. I'm still iffy about this one more than my other projects, but I'm going to have to let it ride.

What I loved about it when I wrote it though came through. It was nice to write about a married couple. It was nice to see people on the other side of that "HEA" that most romance novels end with. Ian and Quinn are in love, and their relationship is happy and healthy for the most part, but not perfect. This story reminded me that I wrote it because marriage takes work and just because you're married, the romance isn't over. If anything, you have to work harder at it because everyday life can get in the way and you get complacent.

Getting reacquainted with the story meant getting reacquainted with the playlist. Most of the songs are NSFW and this one is as well, but less than the others. At the core of their relationship, the love these two have for each other is forever present. "Love On The Brain" worked for this week because it encompassed my general first love for the story. They are happy and in love and very much attracted to each other after 12 years together.

Hope you enjoy the song and have a great week.

Until next time
~Meka

P.S. be sure to check out my author interview and enter the giveaway

"Love On The Brain" by Rihanna **NSFW lyrics**

Author Interview and Giveaway

Happy Saturday everyone! I know, I don't normally post on the weekends, but I have a special reason.

Author Interview
Head over, check out the fun and enter for your chance to win some free books and the best part some chocolate!!

And because I was recouping from the holidays AND in #editinghell I totally forgot to do my 'release day' blog post yesterday. I'm slipping I tell ya.

Anyway, The Lists was released yesterday. I know, another 'holiday' release, but it has meaning. I picked the day for the one year anniversary for Not Broken.


It's crazy that I expected FIENDISH to be a one and done story but that world morphed into three books. Possibly four-ish as I've been asked to write a spin-off with Dorian. It is sad that they have been part of my life since 2014 and now I'm done-ish with them. But I'm also proud. I created characters that some have fallen in love with. That is seriously the best thing for me. I'm not a best seller and probably never will be, but I am okay with that. I'm happy knowing I've made others happy with my words.

BUY NOW
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Until next time
~Meka

Music Monday - SimpleThings

Happy Monday and happy early Thanksgiving if you celebrate. This is a big week for me. When I put out Fiendish, I thought it would be a one off. Then came Not Broken, even though it was three years later.


I admit it is a little sad to know this is the end for them. I have another story percolating in which they would be side characters, but that's in the distant future. Other things on my plate. Until then, we celebrate the release of The Lists with a song from that playlist.

While this story is fun and full of sexy times, their love and deeper connection are always present. Most of the songs on the list do reflect the erotic theme of the song, but I had a few sprinkled in that reflected the sweetness between Calida and Malcolm. They want the simple things in life, each other and a happy life together. The lyrics of this week's song and the title reflect them at their basic core.

I hope you have a great week and holiday.

If you haven't already, you can grab The Lists for only $0.99 during the pre-order.


All other retailers: books2read.com/u/m0g8aM   Amazon:  amazon.com/dp/B07JKS7Z8V   
Until next time
~Meka

"SimpleThings" by Miguel

Music Monday - Stay With You

Howdy all. It's that time again. The start of a new week, and a new song to share. Last week I got two big-ish pieces of information surrounding the novels I have with publishers. This week's selection reflections one of those.
Why only one, and not the other? Well, I gotta have something to talk about each week right? So next week I'll feature the second piece of news. As for this week, well I'm talking about my release date with Limitless Publishing. The house my my #establishedromance title. That's what I call it because instead of featuring a new couple just meeting, it features a married couple. People that have been in the relationship for a while and have maybe hit a snag and need to rediscover themselves and each other.

Romances featuring married couples aren't as prominent as the new love books. But, as me and my fellow pub sister and #establishedromance writing friend say, married couples need love too. It's exciting that we not only got picked up by the same publisher, but it was with both of your married couple stories. AND we share a release date!!!

January 22, 2019
Another reason this news is shared first, this title will be my first official debut with a publishing house.

I've featured Amelia on my blog before. She was one of my RChat squad members I talked about during Music Monday. It featured a different story, but it's from the same series.

Romance doesn't end with "I Do" a sort of catch phrase Amelia came up with for us and our respective stories. While hers leans more on the sweet, but a little spicy contemporary side and mine is full on erotic heat, the cores are the same. Two couples that realize they've grown complacent as life, responsibilities, and tiny white lies told to each other and themselves have put hairline fractures in the foundations of their relationship.

She made this awesome promo graphics for us as we plan our joint promotional endeavors leading up to our release. I think she did an excellent job capturing the feel of both stories.

The song this week is perfect because it's all about being in it for the long haul and being prepared to put in the work needed to make the relationship work. Hope you enjoy it, and have a great week.Until next time,~Meka"Stay With You" by John Legend

IWSG- End Of Year Panic

Holy smokes, it's November! Can't believe this year is closing in on the end. It's exciting yet frightening all at the same time. But new month, means new #IWSG post.


My indie title is due out in a few weeks and I know I have a final round of editing coming for that. I just finished my first round with Carina and in another week will start in with Limitless. To me editing is soul sucking, so to know I have so much ahead of me is mildly terrifying.

I start to worry I won't get it all done. I'll miss deadlines. Deadlines, that's a word I've never had so set in stone before. The idea that I have to report to others adds another layer of pressure. I start to worry what I've gotten myself into. Will I be able to get it all done?

With so many new factors in play my self-doubt and worry are in high gear. I have obligations to fulfill, new words that need writing. It's like quicksand. My writing squad tell me one thing at a time. Don't try to worry about all of it at once, but that is easier said than done.

I'm not a planner. I'm a procrastinator. Now I have to change that, and in a short time-frame. Will I get it done? Well I have no choice, but it will come with a lot of whining and wine most likely. Though it is times like this that make me thankful for my writing ladies. They throw me a vine when I'm drowning and keep my head above the proverbial water.

Stuff needs doing, so as much as I loathe #editinghell, I'm gonna put on my big girl pants and get it done. That's all I can do.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate.

Until next time
~Meka


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support.

Thank you to this month’s co-hosts:  Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose, and Elizabeth Seckman!

Music Monday - Bohemian Rhapsody

Happy Monday, and if you're in a part of the country that does the time change, woo-hoo for the extra hour!
Well, this week I've picked an oldie. With the movie Bohemian Rhapsody being released, the song has been played more. I'm sure most people have heard it. If you were into Wayne's World back in the 90's you'll remember the scene when they sang it perfectly in a driving scene. Quite funny.

Queen is iconic. From this song, to "We Are The Champions" their music is heard and used for movies, gaming events, you name it. Being a writer makes you sedentary for long stretches, this week's song is another that makes you get up and move. I mean at the very least, you get activity when you try to sing along (or maybe that's just me).

Anyway, that's it for this week. Short and sweet. I hope you enjoy the song. I haven't decided if I'm going to see it yet or not, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the music and hoping the movie does well at the box office.

Have a great week
~Meka

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

Re-Cover Reveal - Fiendish: A Twisted Fairytale

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! 
I know, I seem to be developing a strange habit of having something going on during a holiday. Though I think after my release of The Lists, I'm cutting back on that. It's added stress to an already stressful situation.


My hands skimmed across her bare midsection, and I let my finger circle the red, jeweled sticker that adorned her navel.
“No. I um, you are a hard man to shop for. I tried and tried to figure out what to get you, but I couldn’t think of anything. Well, I did get you a real gift, but it’s Halloween, so I got creative. Today you get your very own birthday genie. It will be my job to make your wishes come true.”
She gave me the biggest smile, and I could see she was really excited about her idea. I pulled her into my arms, and I tried to contain my laugh because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
“Do I only get three wishes?” I asked, chuckling softly.
“Nope, your wish is my command until midnight,” she answered brightly. “And you won’t refuse me anything?”

“Well, I won’t go out and commit murder on your command, but I’m open to anything legal.”
Halloween was Seth's birthday! Because of that I thought it fitting to release the new cover on this day in his honor.

So without further ado...



This one was also made by Avery Kingston. And not gonna lie, I thought she was close to firing me as a client LOL. Covers are important to me and if I was getting one remade, meaning spending additional monies on it, I may have been a little pickier. Plus trying to translate what I wanted into images, wasn't so easy, but Avery worked some serious magic and I am in LOVE with the results!

What do you think?

I hope you have a wonderful Halloween, however you celebrate.

Until next time
~Meka

Music Monday- Heavy In Your Arms

Hello! It's the last Monday of the month. Just two short months remain in 2018. Can't believe it. Here we are again, the start of a new week.
When I first started Music Monday, I was in the middle of writing Not Broken. I wasn't consistently posting even back then, but it was the start that kicked off this weekly segment. Because of timing, and where I was in keeping up to date with my blog, I didn't share songs from the book that started it all, FIENDISH. My dark and twisty story inspired by Beauty and The Beast.

When I started out writing Fiendish, I had one thought in mind. But, like with all the stories that have followed, the characters took it in a different direction. Don't get me wrong, it was always intended to be dark by nature of who Seth was, but I never planned (not that I ever plan) on the depth at which we fell down the rabbit hole.

Why this trip down memory lane? Well, because after getting the cover done for my third book, I decided my first book needed a refresh. Branding and all that jazz. I've learned a lot in the four years since Fiendish was first released. One day I plan to overhaul the book itself to bring it up to what I know now, writing wise, but that is a much bigger undertaking than giving it a new cover.


I'm doing a re-cover reveal on Wednesday because that is Seth's birthday. So, in honor of that upcoming event, I'm sharing a song from that playlist. Admittedly, the songs from that one are darker, heavier, to fit the book.

It wasn't easy to pick one to use. I listened to the entire list a few times before settling on "Heavy In Your Arms". I added this song because it represented to me how Seth's "love" weighed down Calida. Their entire relationship was like a 90/10 split, with Calida doing the major heavy lifting to appease Seth.

His will and wants always trumped hers, and that sort of constant sacrifice starts to weigh on a person. It drags them down and eventually changes them as it did her.

Hope you enjoy the song, and have a great week.

Until next time,
~Meka

"Heavy In Your Arms" By Florence & The Machine