Introductions are in order...

[Courtney]

If you're new to the group and feel like making a formal introduction, this would be the place.

My name is Courtney Wells. I'm a 31 year old living in Chicago that is an avid, savvy reader and attempting to finish up a novel for 2014. I've written fanfiction in the past, which sharpened my quill and am have interests that would be categorized by some as "nerdy".

Thank you for joining this group, in advance, and I hope it helps in some way.

[Angel]

I'm Angel and though I'm supposed to be an attorney, I'd much rather be a writer. I promised to write a "chick-lit" novel but can't get my mind away from my favorite genre, horror. So I've decided to write a short horror story just to get it out of my system. I'm happy to "meet" you, Courtney, and to be part of your new group. Thanks for the invite!

[cc]

My name is Caitlin and I'm a 22-year-old newlywed who quit my job at a call center two months ago (I couldn't handle telling old people that I couldn't send them their medicine because they couldn't afford to pay for it) and have yet to get a new one.

I, too, write, although I have been suffering from a case of Writer's Block for quite some time now, not because I don't know what happens next, but because I can't seem to get it down on the proverbial "paper" quite right. :(

I love cats, rabbits, my husband, and unhealthy food.

I'm looking forward to some interesting discussions.

[G.G.]

Hi, my name is GG and I am.... too old to mention. :P
I published a book and soon will publish the sequel, but I don't consider myself a writer. I wouldn't say that I am shy, but I hate being in the spotlight.

Born in Canada, moved to the USA almost 14 years ago. I love my husband, my dogs and cats, and my Ipad (book library). Yes, in that order, except when my cats wake me up in the middle of the night, then they moved down after the Ipad. :>

Thanks for the invite!

[Harvey]

Hey, Courtney, thanks for the invite. I have self-pubbed a couple of horror novels in both paperback and Kindle formats, and I'm learning that self-pubbing isn't an easy road to fame and riches. I have a couple other more-or-less finished books sitting around here that I'll probably self-pub as well, though neither one is horror so I'm afraid they may confuse the (few) fans of my horror novels. One of them is a children's book, and I need to find a good illustrator before I send it out to meet the public.

I have an exciting (to me at least!) idea for a new horror novel, but I'm going to have to wait until this holiday confusion is over before starting it. It takes me a long time to write a novel because I work through many revisions and rewrites before I'm satisfied, so the new one may take the better part of a year before it's ready.

If anyone's interested, here are the two I've published:

The House of Worms

The Bad Box

[J.S.]

Hello, my name is Joanne and I'm 31. I live in Devon, uk. I have started several YA novels but am yet to finish 1 (all good practise, right?). My current project is further along than I've ever got before, so fingers crossed. Though, as with caitlin, I'm suffering from the kinda writers block where I just cannot get the story down right- taking a break over festive period then I'll come back with hopefully a fresh eye and mindset. Loving the idea of this group. Cheers for the invite x

[Courtney]

Hi back to everyone!

Thanks for joining. I hope you guys are having a happy holiday and finding a little time to write.

[Lisa]

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am ancient! I used to work as a teacher but retired early to care for my mum. I am also a trained musician so I multitask when I have time - composing, recording and writing projects. I recently put a novel out but in the past my focus has been mainly poetry. I tweet a lot and like to help promote other writers and musos (and hopefully they do the same).

[Brittney]

Hi everyone! My name is Brittney. I am 23 years old. I am a college student, and I am working on a degree in psychology. Hopefully I will be done in another year or so (fingers crossed). I love to read! YA is my poison mostly, but I also read other stuff. I haven't had the time to write lately, but I have many unfinished projects I've started over the years. A friend of mine just self published one of his books he has been working on for as long as I've known him, and he has definitely given me some inspiration to get out there and try to do the same!

[Harvey]

Hope you will give self-pubbing a try, Brittney.

[Brittney]

Harvey, I'm definitely looking into it. The hardest part for me is going to be finding the time to finish one of my stories. I find people like you extremely inspirational...self publishing is a hard journey. Kudos to you!

[Shannon]

Hi everyone! I'm Shannon and I'm in my earlier twenties. I work as a graphic designer fully-time and I just published my first book in December after 5 long years writing, crying, sighing, and every other emotional state you can go through while developing a our kinds of art

I enjoy books in the Fantasy, Urban fantasy, Science fiction, and Romance genres as well as anything the incorporates those four and my writing reflects this.

[Jim]

Hi! I'm Jim Vuksic. I am willing to bet that I am probably the oldest member of this group. In fact, I probably have furniture that's older than most of you.

I am an avid reader with an eclectic taste in genres to which the My Books page of my Goodreads profile will attest.

Although I love to read, I also love to interact with my adult children and grandchildren as often as possible, take spontaneous road trips, and socialize with friends and acquaintances, so I don't get to read nearly as many books as I would like.

I look forward to learning from and sharing ideas with all of you.

[Andrea]

Hello All!
My name is Andrea Davis. I'm 22. Recently married. Mother of 1. Avid reader. Book lover.

I am really into writing fantasy, historical fiction, and contemporary NA.

I am currently working on my first novel. It is a dystopian YA novel. I anticipate it to be done by summer this year.

I would love to network, receive and give advice here. I've been on goodreads before but never active and social. I have remade my page and doing it right this time.

[Zohaib]

Hi, I am Zohaib Ahmed,21. I am the author of recently published The Phoenix Legion. its a trilogy.
I am glad it's making record-breaking sales!

link: https://www.facebook.com/thephoenixle...

[Giles]

Hi everyone, I see there hasnt been a lot of action around here for a few months but Id like to introduce myself anyway. I'm Giles, and I'm a selfpub author of 2 paperback/digital novels.

I'm always interested in hearing how other authors are faring, because after 2 books I know how isolating and "why am I banging my head against this wall" it can sometimes be.

Also, I prefer to think of books as works of art as opposed to merely portals into other worlds.

[Craig]

Wow, looks like I'm the first person to comment on this in a while! No matter.

I'm Craig Steven, a member of the Horror Writers Association. I'm sure it goes without saying that I mainly write horror, though I also dabble in fantasy (mostly grimdark), crime/mystery, and some sci-fi. I've had about 30 short stories published with various markets, and my novel is in the finishing stages and it'll be ready for an agent's eyes in the next month or so.

Nice meeting everyone!