Tortoise & the Hare: #IWSG & #ROW80

The  Insecure Writer's Support Group  (or IWSG) is a wonderful group put together by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (which now has an equally cool Facebook group ). 

The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring. 

My biggest insecurity right now is the moving bar of independent publishing success.

When I published my first book, every post I read said it took three books to start really seeing indie success. It made sense... those who stuck with it, and didn't just publish one book hoping to hit it big, would win the tortoise and the hare race.

In May, I published my third book. Yay, time for the slam dunk success. I was ready. So, of course, now I'm reading it takes five books. What?! My fear... it's an ever-moving target, and I'll never catch it. 

Don't get me wrong, I've seen increasing sales with each book. Chasing Shadows has outsold its predecessor already. I appreciate the movement in the right direction, and I still believe I'm doing what I need to do, but...

More than anything, it's defining what success is. Although I understand success isn't all about money, it is one of the measurements. And I'll be honest... I'd really like to reach bestseller status, although I'm not sure I completely understand how to define that, either.

Guess I'll shoot for the fifth book! If nothing else, these moving targets are keeping me writing.

Do you ever feel like "success" is just beyond your reach?

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A Round of World in 80 Days (ROW80) Update

Wednesdays are also my check ins for ROW80. 

I'm a bad girl. I missed Sunday's check in, but I do have happy news to share. Chasing Shadows won as a Finalist in the Young Adult Paranormal category of the 2014 Reader's Favorite International Book Awards. I'm so proud! 

Also, I finished an edit and proofread last week. I have another edit starting next Monday, so my goal is to kick out some words on Chasing Forgiveness between now and then. After all, I need to get books four and five out soon!

Don't forget to check my blog every Monday and Friday through October for my Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial) Series. I have a great line up of authors, bloggers, and more. To see the schedule, please click here .

Oh, and Chasing Memories was selected to be in an amazing box set, Destiny Calling, to benefit Love is Louder. Please stop by tomorrow for more information.