Ready to Slay the Demons

Tags

anxiety, failure, fear, Julie Hutchings, lists, One day at a time, real life, Reuts Publishing, thoguhts, writing

There are moments when all the things I have to do attack. The list runs through my mind constantly. I don’t sleep, I simply repeat the list over and over and over.

Then anxiety.

Then fear that I can’t.

Then the darkness of failure begins to stretch its claws across my brain.

Then I can’t focus. I can’t function. Anxiety paralyzes me.

Panic sets in.

I will fail.

But doing nothing isn’t an option. Doing nothing is failure. All I can do is try.

So I make lists. I write down all the things. For some reason seeing it, being able to line the things up in a neat little row makes them less scary. Looking at the words, I can prioritize, push aside the things that can wait and allow my brain to focus on what has to be done.

Which brings me to now. And my list… well, lists. Writing life list and real life list, two worlds that sometimes never get along. But they have to. For my sanity, or what’s left of it.

I can function under pressure. Once I get past the fear, I tend to thrive with all the things to do, with my list firmly grasped in my sweaty fist.

And, of course, I have my own little cheering section. People who tell me I’m fine, who tell me I can do anything, who tell me I’ve got this. My fabulous friends who know me, who know my craziness and still love me. For my hubs who keeps texting me to see if I’m okay… for the tweets and FB posts filled with encouragement.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

I am okay. Today I will reach a place of calm and tackle the list.

So let’s end this post with a bit of excitement… A fabulous lady, one of my Twitter friends, Julie Hutchings @HutchingsJulie (who posted my madness story on her blog last March) has signed with REUTS! Go read about my new Reuts family member. I can’t wait to read her book!

Think of me as you set forth on your adventure today, as you face your lists and possibly demons and dragons. I will think of you.

*draws sword* FOR NARNIA! FOR US!

 

Sachael Dreams Release Day!

Tags

book, fantasy, Melody Winter, NA, release day, Reuts Publishing, romance

IT’S HERE! I don’t know ’bout the rest of you, but I have been hearing all sorts of things on Twitter about this… I have been gazing at all the pictures Melody has been posting related to her story. I’m talking pictures of dreamy guys.

AND NOW SACHAEL DREAMS GOES OUT INTO THE WORLD!

About Sachael Dreams:

Twenty-two-year-old Estelle Bailey has had enough of busy city-life and her hot-tempered ex. She escapes to the seclusion and peace of her family’s clifftop home in Ravenscar, where the soothing solitude whispers to her soul as strongly as the sea itself does. But her newfound contentment is interrupted when a mysterious man—a Sachael, master of seduction—joins her midnight swim unexpectedly.

Estelle struggles against his charm and the overpowering attraction she feels for him. He offers her a life she never could have imagined, a life beneath the waves . . . but at what cost? Before she can decide, she’s captured, ensnared by the Sect, a secret enemy of the Sachaels, becoming a pawn in a war she knew nothing about.

Now, she’s left with a new choice—escape the clutches of the Sect and flee into the ocean, or side with her alluring, intimidating captor and destroy the Sachaels forever. Can she turn her back on the man she might love, or will the secret of her heritage change everything?

Set against a picturesque backdrop, Sachael Dreams is the first in a new series, exploring themes of romance, love, and identity, and the struggle that happens when all three collide.

Get Sachael Dreams Today!

 

And there’s a trailer! Go see it!

Everyone wave to the author, Melody!

Growing up, Melody Winter showed a natural ability in art, a head for maths, and a tendency to write far too long English essays. Difficult to place in the world when she graduated, she pursued a career in teaching, but eventually ended up working in Finance. Melody is convinced the methodical time she spends working with numbers fuels her desire to drift into dream worlds and write about the illusory characters in her head.

Melody Winter lives in North Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two sons. When not dealing with football, rugby, and a whole plethora of ‘boy’ activities, she will be found scribbling notes for her stories, or preparing for another trip to the beach. With an obsession for anything mythical, Melody revels in reading and writing about such creatures. In fact, if she wasn’t such a terrible swimmer, she’d say she was a mermaid.

Sachael Dreams is her debut novel, and the first in her New Adult Romantic Fantasy series—the ‘Mine Series’.

You can view more of Melody Winter on her website, Twitter or Facebook.

 

 

Dare to Dream… Release Day!!!!!

Tags

book, Dare to Dream, fanyasy, release day, Reuts Publishing

 

I am thrilled to be a part of this fabulous release day! I have a copy of this book in my hot little hands and will definitely be sharing my thoughts after I get to read it. For now, check it out and if it looks good to you, go buy yourself a copy.

 

Blurb:

The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain.

Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.

It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling.

No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.

Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.

Buy DARE TO DREAM by Carys Jones today!

 

And there is a trailer! But I am too tech-challenged to figure out how to post it on my blog, (I tried SO HARD! *cries*) so I will link you to it… HERE!

 

And introducing the very excited author… go congratulate her on Twitter and EVERYWHERE!

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader’s imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo. When she’s not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science-fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything. To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

Find more of Carys Jones on her website, like her on facebook or follow on twitter.

Happy reading, everyone!

BEST WEEK EVER!

Tags

announements, book, celebrations, ProjectREUTSway, ProjectREUTSway results, Reuts Publishing, short stories, writing

I am exhausted… from smiling. From screaming in glee. From experiencing dreams coming true.

I am celebrating.

I shall never come down off my cloud. And if this is a dream, a vision, a bit of undigested beef… DON’T WAKE ME!

I do have doubts as to whether this is real life, doubts if what happened actually happened. However the evidence exists.

First…

I have signed with REUTS PUBLISHING to publish my YA fantasy DOORS! Read all about it here! What a great write-up… if I think about it too long… *sniff*

All the congratulations from FB and Twitter still shine in my heart. What a fabulous day. I’ll only ever get that experience once, the day it is announced that my debut book will be published. Wow. Just wow. I soaked in all the emotion. I laughed. I cried. I screamed sporadically during the day, scaring my family. So many times have I congratulated people for signing with an agent or publisher, for their triumphs. It was seriously surreal to be on the other side of that table.

SO THANK YOU! To everyone for being a part of such a great day. I still can’t believe it. However, when the list of edits arrives in my inbox… I’ll sing a different tune. But I’m ready. This is all happening at the exact time it should. The Universe knows what it is doing, even though waiting for it proved difficult. I did work pretty darn hard.

Anyway… today, the announcement of the short story competition ProjectREUTSway winners and runner ups were announced. Out of four stories, I have one winner, which will be published in an upcoming anthology, and three runner ups, which will be posted on Reuts blog! Not too shabby. You can go see all the winners here.

That is no easy competition! So YEA FOR ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

There is one other piece of awesome news, an opportunity I couldn’t pass up and am SO excited to be a part of, but I will wait to announce that, things must be done. I know, that’s mean.

I had doubts, serious doubts, that I would ever get here. But I kept working, kept putting myself out there, and through it all BELIEVED!

To my writers’ group The Summit City Scribes of Fort Wayne… THANK YOU for listening to all my words and giving all the comments, giving such great support. Judy, I might not have found REUTS Publishers if you hadn’t pointed me in their direction.

My dear, Elsie Elmore, who has been a fabulous CP. What a wonderful person to have on my side! Thank you!

To my newest critique partners, I look forward to Sundays because of you! Natasha! Emma! Diana! You guys rock!

You know I couldn’t resist adding that pic, my walruses!

I don’t even have words for Rena, Sarah, Jamie and Heather! I love you guys.

And to my new Reuts family! Kisa, Ashley, Summer, Melody, and Cary. I’m sure I’m forgetting people! Ah! I am truly honored and blessed to be part of such a marvelous team. I can’t wait to get to work!

 

And this is just the beginning.