by Sarah | Apr 4, 2018 | All About Me, Blogging Life, Books, Changing Tracks, Escaping Humanity, General, Holiday, I'm A Writer, Masked Hearts, Publishing Credits, Redefining Perfect, Secret Cravings Publishing, The Tribe, Wordy Wednesday, Writing
On February 8, 2013 my very first novel was published.
At the time I was contracted with the fabulous small publishing company, Secret Cravings Publishing. Very excited, and a very unseasoned author.
Thankfully, through SCP I had some great mentors, supporters, and fellow authors braving the waters.
The past 5 years have been a whirlwind of ups and downs. I spent time writing thousands upon thousands of words, and spent months upon months unable to write a word. I’ve had months with sales beyond belief and months where I didn’t sell a single book. I branched out into self-publishing with a few small gambits, but then my publisher closed their doors and I had to dive in full-force.
Some days it’s truly hard to believe that it’s been five years. How much my life has changed. How much my goals have changed. How much I’ve first lost, and then re-found my love for this world.
These days I’m keeping crazy-busy in my personal life, but also in writing. I pulled all 6 of my original Dominion Falls Series books, the first books I published, last year. I’ve revised, revamped, and added words to the books. Now I’m re-publishing them. Getting back to my roots, and sending these books back out into the world, with a new little novella added on for good measure.
The next book in The Tribe series, which will be book 5 “The Child” is written and with the editor, due for release in July.
My best friend & co-author, Mary Terrani, and I finally released our book to the world, Escaping Humanity (The Exceptionals 1). We are in the middle of book 2, looking forward to a release at the end of the year, first of next. We’re also working with a fabulous artist to turn the book into a graphic novel.
I’m working to try to create a new cover for Masked Hearts so that I can re-release it in September.
I have notebooks with plans for new books, new series, more books in my existing series.
I went to my first conference as a signing author recently, and did well, and had so much fun.
I’m excited to continue doing what I love, and bring more stories into the world. I’ve had to revamp my views on my publishing career, what I want to do, and where I want to go with it. I’d become too sensitive to the numbers and to the “you should” and “you shouldn’t” voices and lost my way.
I feel good coming home to my characters again. I hope you’ll come on in and pull up an armchair, grab a book and join me. Get lost in one of my worlds for a while. They are fun, dangerous, mysterious, romantic, sweet, and spicy. You’ll be able to find something for your personal taste with me.
by Sarah | Apr 1, 2018 | All About Me, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect
Gratitude is a funny thing. So often I have so much to be grateful for, but all I can see are the negatives. To try to curb this oddly innate response, I’m trying to start each week with some gratitude for what I have, or what has happened in previous days, or this year in general.
- My new job – which I love, and will expound more on in a later post.
- That I found Oola. (See above)
- That my husband and I were wise enough to not dive into a loan we could afford, but would have strapped us, for a car we both were crazy about. (Major will power needed to walk out that door, and major growth)
- That in about 6 weeks I will have one credit card paid off, and a nice chunk in savings.
- For hot tea. My new addiction. Yum.
- For a son that sends me random gifts that truly are marvelous and meaningful.
- For an artistic daughter that stretches to break her own artistic boundaries.
- For tweens that actually still want to snuggle and talk.
- The coming spring, shown by the daffodils blooming despite the recent snow.
- Books. Writing them. Reading them. It’s all pleasure.
More in coming weeks, because as I said, I would like for this to become a daily habit. Busting through my tendency toward the negative thought stream. 🙂 Sarcasm has its place, but it’s taken up too much of a residence lately.
by Sarah | Feb 5, 2018 | All of Us, Blogging Life, Book Reviews, Redefining Perfect
This starts as a bi-partisan, scathing a look at the current political system. Much is revelatory and truthful, mixed with Leary’s usual wit and sarcasm. Nothing is really more funny than our current political climate, albeit scary.
What I liked best is that it didn’t lampoon, more deconstructed the current situations we face. And Leary doesn’t appear to be afraid to say the truth, or how he perceives the truth. I found myself smiling a lot, not quite laughing out loud as much. It’s not easy to condense his train of thought.
The latter part of the book switched more to his usual comedy, offering personal yet some incredible situations that come from stardom. These kinds of tidbits are often comedy gold. There were only a few missteps in his narrative, but he’s also changed a bit since his previous book. Changed massively since his standup days when I first heard him.
Good follow up to his previous book, which I recommend reading before starting this one.
*Disclaimer: My hubby Erik wrote this review. This book was more up his alley than mine.
Disclaimer 2: I got this book courtesy of the awesome Blogging for Books site. All opinions are my own, or in this case, my husbands.
by Sarah | Dec 27, 2017 | All About Me, All of Us, I'm A Reader, Redefining Perfect, Wordy Wednesday
Thanks to Goodreads…I have this handy images to share (although I had to paste it together through screen captures because they don’t make a widgets…but still…it’s awesome).
I read 157 books this year!!
by Sarah | Dec 20, 2017 | All About Me, Blogging Life, I'm A Writer, Redefining Perfect, Wordy Wednesday
In the time before time, there was one great Tribe on the great continent of what is now the America’s.
Many of the Tribe’s people possessed great magic.
There were Shifters – those who had within them a second Spirit, that of an animal which they could turn into at will, and had to turn into at the full moon or suffer great pain.
Over time, the Elders saw the arrival of the men from over the great water and knowing of the utter destruction to creatures such as the Fae, and knew they needed to protect themselves. They withdrew their presence to a large portion of woods in what would become Canada. The natives they left behind divided into tribes, and adopted a general modesty, preferring to remain clothed, unlike their magical ancestors that didn’t care much about clothes because of their need to Shift.
The Tribe grew to live in complete secrecy on magically protected lands over hundreds of years, and many generations.
Thought they remained stuck in the old ways, one young woman craved more.
An abnormality even among her people, she was joined by a companion Wolf Spirit, though she had no marking at birth indicating she would, like so many people.
Her behavior, and the suspicious circumstances under which her Wolf joined her life, she struggles against the old ways and her role within the Tribe.
The Tribe series follows this young woman, Nirvelli Misu, through her growth and navigating love, and mate-hood.
An Urban Fantasy ripe with love, loss, pain, deception, family, friendships, and mystery.
Join Nirvelli, Reed (her childhood sweetheart), Kane (the Wolf Shifter that has claimed her as his mate), Noelle, and many more.
From the hidden lands of the Tribe, to California, this rag-tag family learns how to cope with who they are, even if it threatens to kill them.
Find them at your book retailers today:
The Tribe:
Ebook: | Amazon | Smashwords | iBooks | BN | Kobo |
Print: | Amazon | Createspace | BN |
| Goodreads | BookBub |
The Wolf:
Ebook: | Amazon | Smashwords | iBooks | BN | Kobo |
Print: | Amazon | Createspace | BN |
| Goodreads | BookBub |
The Chief:
Ebook: | Amazon | Smashwords | iBooks | BN | Kobo |
| Goodreads |
The Raven:
Ebook: | Amazon | Smashwords | iBooks | BN | Kobo |
| Goodreads |
by Sarah | Dec 19, 2017 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Crafty Me, Redefining Perfect
Earlier this year I got on a crafty kick. I figured out a way to make pendants that were hand painted, and rolled with it. In the end, I opened up an Etsy shop that has a few of my favorite things all for sale. It’s been fun, and I hope you like what I have to offer.
While I started with pendants, and tarot/oracle readings, I’ve begun to expand.
I love photography, especially when I get to photograph animals and flowers. So I went in and added the ability to order prints of some of my favorite photos.
Of course, what would an Etsy shop of mine be without my books? Everything I have in print, is available in the shop.
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First up is the reason I started the shop. The pendants.
Each pendant is hand-painted. I have managed to add details like the Wonder Woman symbol (my favorite), or the flowers you see on the pendant on the right.
Each pendant comes with a leather chain, but you have an option to purchase a silver chain as well.
I have such fun making these, and I wear mine all the time. Stock is lower as I’ve sold a few, but I’m adding more every day.
Second is the animal prints.
The zebra is the reason I started. It is, and remains my favorite photo I’ve ever taken. I am putting a print of it up in my office, actually.
I have quite a variety of different animals available, with more being added often.
From leaping lemurs, to flamingos (my mom’s favorite, so I had to), to the majestic lion, you should be able to find an animal you love here. If it’s not there now – expect to see it soon.
As well as the animals, I also have some beautiful orchid photos available.
These flowers are so easy to photograph. They are naturally beautiful, and therefore so easy to capture.
They’ll make a gorgeous accent to just about any room in your home.
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My books are also available, and with a special twist.
Each will come to you autographed, personalized if you mention so in the comment.
It’s a chance to get a copy of my books fully signed, directly from me instead of from a middle man like the zon.
As I publish more books in print, they’ll be added here.
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Last, but not least, is my tarot/oracle card readings.
Right now I have the options for one or three card readings, with a variety of cards available to choose from.
I really enjoy doing readings, and I love my cards, so I can’t tell you what to pick, but I will say that the two pictured here are my favorites. 😉
I will be adding a link at the top of the blog soon, but Christmas, and vacations, and such have delayed this from happening. For now, I hope you’ll head on over and check it out. It’s a fun little side gig that I’m adding new things to as often as I can. I have a bunch of pendants still to list, and photos. So stay tuned. So much more is coming!
On February 8, 2013 my very first novel was published.
