Taking the Time...to Rewind

It's been about 550 days (or so) since I last wrote a blog. That's not to say I haven't been writing. I just haven't been writing a blog. What I've been doing is fixing. For me. Before I was able move forward, I needed to retrace my steps a little bit.

It's hard to believe it's been over two years since my first novel was published. Prophecy~the Fulfillment . The story of Stephen and Jillian took over two years to write. It has been a visceral learning experience in more ways than one. And I love it. All of it.  Reviews and ratings left me sometimes elated and sometimes deflated, but always inspired because someone somewhere, read my work and took the time to write down their thoughts and opinions. Even the snarky bits taught me something about myself. And though I was working on my second novel, I kept thinking back to Prophecy. It was never far from my  mind. There were so many things I learned after it was published. I wondered what would happen if I went back and took care of the things that were bothering me about the first novel before I finished the next one (which is now very much tugging at me!) To try and make it the best it could be.

Not because I'm not proud of Prophecy as it was originally written, but because I just couldn't let it go. I wasn't ready. I discovered I still had work to do. And plus I have O.C.D.. Really.

So...I decided (with a little much-needed encouragement) to take the plunge. I was given the opportunity and decided to allow myself a once-in-a-writing-career whopper of a do-over. So...

I changed the name of the novel to... The Last Summer of Ordinary Times .
I redesigned the cover and made it a paperback (less expensive)
I added a few chapters.
I removed a few chapters.
I fixed some goof-ups.
I fixed some awkward dialogue.
I changed (gulp) the ending...to leave myself some room to expand and finish the story of Stephen and Jillian. (For all of you who have asked about the sequel--it's in the pipeline!)

After all the changes...guess what I discovered? The sky did not fall! I can breathe again. And take everything I've learned from my first experience and apply it from this point forward. I'll finish novel number two with a clear conscience, because now, the characters in novel number one have quieted.

When my next book is released...there will be no looking back. No more do-overs. What you're thinking is very  important to the part of me that wants you to love my stories as much as I do. After all, a book is an extension of a writer's innermost thoughts... it happens to be our imagination floating around for anyone to love or hate or anything in-between. An offering. It's really scary to put it all out there. For you. And your thoughts and opinions are valued. You matter.

So, thank you...for taking the time.  Whether you liked Prophecy~the Fulfillment or not...whether you decide to read the story again to compare, or The Last Summer of Ordinary Times for the first time, or not at all, thanks for bearing with me. And if you took the time to review  Prophecy in the past, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm taking a leap of faith here and I know it.

Now, back to work! I left someone in a forest somewhere...

Prophecy~the Fulfillment is available in hardcover and Ebook. 
The Last Summer of Ordinary Times is available in Paperback and Ebook.

                                                                                   
                              
Until next time.
Debbie

Ebook versions of The Last Summer of Ordinary Times and Prophecy~the Fulfillment will be offered free through Amazon from April 6-10.