My 5 Year Pub-iversary

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.

The Future of Lake Point, Dominion Falls, and The Tribe

Yesterday on Facebook I saw a post from a fellow author. I can’t remember who or the exact words, but it was along the lines of:

I don’t every write anything down when it comes to my stories. When the idea hits me I just sit down and write.

I read that post and I literally said out loud, “I miss doing that. So much.”

Throughout the day the statement stuck with me. All day long and into the evening.

I thought about my goals for the rest of this year and my plans for 2016.

Then I thought about what it felt like a few years ago when I would just sit down and write and write some more. About how at times I could crank out 300k in a matter of three months. When I would snatch onto an idea and sit and write without interruption. Sure, some rewriting/reworking was necessary, but it was so freeing to sit at a keyboard and just go.

I realized that I’d already said I’m doing 5 books next year. I considered my stack of books I really want to write that have been neglected for deadlines. Then I went back to my steady stream of set release dates and contracted works I’ve had for the past two years.

SantaMaybe_LGSee, when I started Lake Point, I wrote a stand-alone.

Santa, Maybe was written as a stand-alone story, but I loved the town so much I immediately made plans and a submission for 5 more stories to round it out to a full year.

Then, before 2014 was half over I had another proposal in for another 7 in the series.

SEVEN.

That’s seven books this year.

Yes they’re short and I can write them quickly, but those deadlines loom over my head.

I love my little town, and the people in it, but the obligation and looming deadlines are interrupting the other stories I want desperately to write.

So after Mistletoe Mixup (December 2015), the Holidays in Lake Point series is, well, taking a holiday.  For at least six months, maybe a year. I have stories in mind for this little town, but I need to be free for a while.

Maybe without looming deadlines you’ll see more from this town in 2017. I just don’t know. I do know the series is NOT finished. I’ll know more after I’ve had some time to breathe and write some other stories that are screaming in my head.

ChangingTracks_LGWhat will I be working on?

Well, I had been planning on releasing my Tribe series this fall, but now I think those will dominate 2016.  I have three written, one edited, and am about halfway through book 4, with two more planned to follow. I’d like to release them in rapid succession, so long as my editor and I can get on the same page, I hope for those to all be edited to be released in quick succession next year.

The town of Dominion Falls will hopefully both get new books, and some revamping of the old.

Say what?  Yup, you read that right. In a recent re-read of the series I found some errors and some scenes I’d like to deepen.  So I’m planning an overhaul of the first three books (and perhaps some cover modifications for the first two books). Those are also planned for next year, perhaps in time for the Dominion Falls series birthday in February.

PLUS, I hope to finally sit and write books 5.5, 6, & 7 in the series. 5.5 will likely feature a certain former Pinkerton and his lady love.

On top of that, well, if you saw my goals list, it’s pretty impressive.  I have many books in mind, I have two series that have been waiting patiently for me to give them attention, and one that’s had a book published and seen no love since.

I have plenty to keep me busy, that’s for sure.

But I’m looking forward to it.

It’s kind of scary not having the set release dates and steady stream of assured business.

I guess I’ll just have to work harder at promo to make sure those books still get plenty of love.

But even without Lake Point it won’t be a quiet year, and it won’t be slow, either.

I’m excited to just sit and write.

2014 Goal Update

_MG_6667It’s been a while since I checked in on the 2014 forecast for me and my writing. I meant this as a monthly check-in type of deal and thought maybe I should get back on that.  So, months after my last update, let’s see where I am.

So first, the overall goals I’d set – with where I am now.

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. (258,159 C as of 6/8/14 9:53PM)
  2. I will finish books 4 & 5 of the Dominion Falls series and submit by February 8th  – I did submit on 2/17/14 & both books were accepted/contracted. Releases in August’14 and January’15.
  3. I will fine-tune and perfect Leap (Hidden Senses #.5) for publication.  It goes to my editor on July 1st, then to the proofreader.
  4. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. I am not doing enough with this. Need to get out more.
  5. I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I am working on this. Some days I do great, others not so much. Call me a work in progress.

And for my list of projects. Items in RED are done. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new. Some of the new items are in blue with the progress I’ve made in orange.

  1. Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k
  2. Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 35k
  3. Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) – 48k – Named finally. Independent Brake
  4. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  5. Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k (1k done)
  6. A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 30k
  7. The Tribe (The Tribe #1) – 85k
  8. The Wolf (The Tribe #2) – 85k (24395 done)
  9. Natural Selection – 40k (6921 done)
  10. Hybrid – unknown…going to do as “Chapters” not full length novel.
  11. The Dead Past (Dominion Falls 6-temporary name) – 100k
  12. The Chief (The Tribe #3) – 85k
  13. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k
  14. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (22k done)

I’m quite certain at this point that I’m forgetting something. I do know that not on the list, but completed is setting an editing schedule with my editor. I’ve also come up with an idea for a new series, but it has to go on hold while I work my way through that crazy list up there. 

Overall, I’m happy with my progress. Despite some crazy real life stuff and my typical propensity for distraction, I’ve almost reached the halfway point on my insane 600k goal. I have plenty of stories that are in progress or just need editing. I have ideas ready for next years holidays series, and my brain has not imploded yet. So yay me. 🙂

Seriously, though. I expect items to be added to my list now that I’ve managed to check a few off. First, I need to finish Witch Way, The Wolf, & The Chief before I can seriously contemplate what to add to the list. Once I read the “There’s more red than black/orange” point, I know I have to start thinking toward the future.

So one last goal right now is to adjust and add to all my goals next month, and get The Wolf and Witch Way completed.

(P.S. Having that editing schedule set means a crap ton of books this year, people…seriously, it’s cah-razy).

Tuesday Tales – Independent Brake

frontporchWelcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is to be inspired by this picture.

Goodness I’m running behind this week, and I’m sorry. Life was rather up and down and all around…and a sick kid at home today wasn’t very inspirational to writing. Anyhow…my prompt is rather inspired by this picture as I’m still in Kat’s story and a historical western would not have a mailbox or an electric lightbulb…I’m sort of bare-bones on the details…but anyhow. After a couple of months back in Dominion Falls, Kat has spent her time having fun with Cole, but as that devolves from pure sex into friendship, she has rather upped her pursuit of the older Norman…but today he has a surprise for her:

They hadn’t gone quite a quarter of a mile before the small homestead came into view. She remembered the homestead being half-finished, devoid of life, before she’d left Dominion Falls. She couldn’t even remember who’d been building it, but she had noticed when she moved back that it had come to life, although it still seemed to be without an occupant.

Someone had finished the home finally, and painted it a cheery yellow. Though the homestead was empty, chairs perched on the small porch, just waiting for occupants.

Much to Kat’s surprise, Norman slowed to a stop in front of the small home.

“Norman?”

“I was buildin’ it for Betsy, then she up and died.”

She gasped and eyed the house. “I’d forgotten it was yours. You  left it to rot after she passed. When I left there was no porch or windows. Did someone buy it?”

“Nah. Lots of promises I didn’t keep. Few years ago I figured I’d finish one promise and fixed it up real nice. Thought I might sell it, but ain’t been able to let it go.”

“Understandable. I’m sure Elizabeth would have loved it. I remember she wore yellow all the time.”

“Was her favorite color. But she’s gone now. It’s time to let go, I s’pose.”

“Only you can know if it’s time.”

“Thought maybe you’d wanna live here so’s you can get outta Cora’s place, I mean.”

“What?” Kat dropped her hand from his arm and took a step back.

“I’d rent it to ya, if ya want. If not, I’ll probably sell it.”

“I couldn’t live in Betsy’s house. It’s a lovely gesture, and I appreciate the kindness, but it wouldn’t be right, me living there what with you ready to move on…”

“I reckon I am. Been nine years, after all.”

*~*

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Tuesday Tales – Mother – Independent Brake

KatWelcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Mother.

After a week off, I’m back with Kat’s story, Independent Brake. Kat has decided she might just stay in Dominion Falls a while, and sets about reacquainting herself with more than just the sexy and fun Cole Mitchell–who is little more than a fun romp. She’s already invited the town doctor to lunch, and has another destination in mind, but an unwelcome person is in her path:

Down the street, Kat’s sister stood on the porch of the boarding house beating a rug over the hitching post.

Kat debated taking another route and avoiding her sister as she had all week, but she supposed the time to be childish was over. If she stayed in Dominion Falls for any length of time, she’d have to see Martha now and then.

With her shoulders squared, she kept going down the boardwalk.

Not surprisingly, when Martha turned her way, she ceased beating the rug and set her hands on her hips. Martha’s graying hair was breaking free of her bun from the exertion of her working, and her once thin waist had expanded some inches.

Kat almost felt bad for the change her sister had undergone. Almost.

“Katherine.” Martha touched her arm. “Wait.”

“For what?” Kat turned toward her sister, ready for a fight. “You to tell me what a horrible person I am? Or perhaps tell Mother and drag her here?”

“I just don’t believe you’re thinking. To take up with a man like Cole Mitchell is a grievous mistake.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. I’ve not ‘taken up’ with anyone. I am enjoying Cole’s company, that is all. Men do it all the time, why shouldn’t a woman when she wants?”

“It’s not right, or decent.”

“Right? Decent? You’re a fine one to talk.” Kat bowed to her sister. “To Martha, the most hypocritical person in Dominion Falls.”

“I beg your pardon?” Martha’s nostrils flared in indignation. “I’m not a hypocrite.”

“But you are. You, who took up with an Indian while engaged. You, who were with a good man like Daniel—and got pregnant by another man. You are a fine one to talk about what is right and decent in the world.”

“You wouldn’t have the faintest idea what I went through during that time.” Martha gripped her rug beater. “You were a child.”

“Exactly. Was. I nearly had to bear the consequences of your actions. However, I’m an adult now and can make my own choices.” Kat stepped closer. “You’ve tried to become this perfect person to make up for what you did. Problem is, people hate you more now than they did then. Maybe they’d have gotten over the whole Starbird thing if you hadn’t become the epitome of mother at her most uptight.”

“I had to make it right,” Martha whispered.

“Some things, you never can.” Kat turned on her heel and strode away.

“You’ve never been in love, Kat!” Martha called after her, “When you are, you’ll understand then.”

Kat brushed off the words as desperation and rushed along the muddy street quick as she could. There were no further impediments to her arrival at the telegraph office.

Inside Norman sorted mail into boxes, his back to the door. “Be right there,” he said in an acerbic tone, like he was annoyed anyone dared interrupt him from his work for a different sort of work.

She covered her mouth to hide her giggle. For some reason she found the grumpy gentleman endearing. In the week since she’d been home they’d had a few run-ins, usually right in his office. She’d become convinced his admonishments were little more than him trying to give her advice, it just happened to come in the form of scolding.

“No hurry, Norman,” Kat said when she managed to stop her quiet laughter. If anything, she wanted to be nice to him. She thought maybe he was lonely after his wife had passed some years ago. An older gentleman often had few prospects once his wife was gone, and as they’d never had children, he had no one else to pester.

“Oh, it’s you.” He kept his back to her, slipping envelopes into boxes until the small stack was depleted. “What’re you after?”

“Quite a bit, actually.” She leaned on the counter with a bright grin. “Life, laughter, happiness, fun.”

He grumbled and moved to his desk. “Got a wire for ya.”

“Oh, good. Is it from Patrick?”

“In St. Louis, yeah.” Norman set it on the counter. “What else?”

She read the wire quickly. Bess was doing well, and he was pleased she’d managed to have fun. She grinned. “First, I’d like to reply. Then, I have another request.”

Norman got his pad out and wrote almost as fast as she spoke. He ticked off the words with his pencil and nodded. “That’ll be two bits.”

“Of course.” Kat handed him the money, then set her hand on his arm. “Would you join me for supper this evening?”

He narrowed his eyes at her hand, then lifted his gaze to meet hers. “’Scuse me?”

“You aren’t going deaf. You heard me.”

“What’re you doin’? Makin’ a spectacle of yourself like ya are, and now this?”

“I’m not making a spectacle. Others are making one for me. I tried to be discreet, but people had other ideas.” She pulled her hand back. “I thought I would like the company, and I thought you might as well. Forgive me, for I see I was wrong.”

He shook his head. “Why Cole?”

“Well, why not? I have no delusions of love, not with him. I have yet to find a man that would make me feel that way.”

“Then you are the one that needs company, not me. I had that once.”

“She’s been gone nine years. You must get lonely.”

“No man is lonely in this town ‘less he wants to be.”

“Whores aren’t company. They’re sexual release.”

“Woman like you shouldn’t be talking like that.”

“And yet, here I am.” Kat grinned and leaned on the counter. “That’s what Cole is for me, and I for him. Perhaps we’ll be friends, but that has yet to happen. Please, Norman. I would love if you’d join me for supper.”

“No.” He turned and went back to his work. The click of the telegraph filled the office in his silence.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be at Turner’s. Good afternoon, Norman.”

*~*

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Tuesday Tales – Flying – Independent Brake

KatWelcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Flying.

I’m back with Kat’s story, Independent Brake. In this scene Kat has had enough with her travel buddies from the last year. Now that she’s home, she’s got some gumption up to speak her piece:

The leader of the Temperance group, Helen Bertrand, paced back and forth. By now Kat was familiar with the routine. Helen would get herself keyed up so that she might get the others keyed up to agree to the next step. She’d already loudly denounced Cole’s saloon as the worst of the bunch, which would make him a prime target.

At first Kat would argue until she was hoarse, but time had softened her arguments. Often instead, she’d merely protested, and then gone to the saloon Helen chose as prime target and attempt to warn the owner. Unfortunately she wasn’t always successful, many of the saloon owners dismissed her as an annoying, histrionic woman.

Because of that, many saloons had been left with hefty damages in the wake of the women in this room. Kat saw no promise in destroying a person’s livelihood. For where you destroy one, often two more would spring up in its place.

In the past few months she’d begun to believe with all honesty that Helen enjoyed reaching the point of violence. There was no sign of change now as, true to form, Helen quoted irrelevant scripture once again to boost her cause. “As it says in first Samuel, chapter fifteen, verse eighteen: ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners…and fight against them until they are exterminated’.”

Kat bit her tongue to hide her sigh and one of her standard retorts of scripture. No amount of ‘judge not’ or ‘let he who is without sin’ ever made a lick of difference. She toyed with the teacup on her saucer for a few minutes before she realized every eye was on her. She frowned and straightened. “Yes?”

“No protest this time?” Lottie’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “That is your standard approach, is it not?”

“As women who are beaten by their husband would tell you, you can only take so much berating before you cave to it. No matter what I say, you’ll do as you please.” Kat rose to her feet. “And so I’m leaving. I came along in hopes of helping some men learn temperance, not to destroy the livelihood of dozens of men who have no other trade.”

“We have changed lives.” Helen held her bible close to her chest. “Sometimes it takes a strong hand to enforce such a thing.”

“No. What you have done is bullied and pressured. You’ve interrupted men while in the sauce and tried to speak reason to their drunken minds. Perhaps on purpose because you knew then they wouldn’t listen and you’d have an excuse to take up your hatchet.” Kat brushed past Helen. “I want no part of such destruction. I never did. This call to arms is not what I signed up for.”

“Quiet women don’t change the world,” Helen objected.

“You don’t have to take up a hatchet to be heard,” Kat countered. “I am plenty loud without it. Plus, as I am, many men have listened to me. Perhaps I’ll be far more effective without the saddle of your infractions weighing my voice down.”

Kat turned her back on their gasps and murmurs and strode from the boarding house. Part of her wanted to just go flying across the street to the saloon to warn Cole, but if she did so the women would see and change their plan.

Instead, she turned and walked calmly back to the hotel. Once the world was quiet, she would go to warn Cole. For once, perhaps they might listen. Then maybe she’d feel her debt repaid, and could enjoy her pleasures without feeling like a whore.

Without a word to anyone, she passed through the casino and climbed the stairs to her room. She had the good fortune of a front room with access to the balcony, so she wouldn’t have to pass through again on her way out.

Three days she’d stayed at the Silver Saddle, and every day she hated it more. The proprietor was not only over-attentive in his consideration of her well-being; she’d learned in her time staying there he was also business partners with Jackson Krenshaw.

Kat shuddered at the thought of seeing the man that had bought her parents house. From all she’d heard, he was as loathsome as a snake. He was all pseudo-cunning and cruel actions, not to mention his bold display of his wealth.

She managed to slip into her room quick enough to avoid being seen by Guy, and locked the door behind her. In just a few hours when the town was quiet, she’d make her move. In the interim, she’d get her things gathered into her trunk, and then read.

Sometime the next day she hoped to find somewhere else to stay. Cora had been kind enough to offer a small room at the general store and restaurant she ran with her husband Kelly. Kat seriously considered the prospect, since she had few others on the horizon.

Considering she had no idea how long she’d stay, it was premature to search for a permanent residence. For all she knew, she might just pack up and head to St. Louis before the month was out.  Once the Temperance group was gone, she wasn’t sure just what she’d do with herself.

Packing took longer than expected, and by the time she was done the town had already grown quieter. She gathered her book and sat near the door to keep an eye on the saloon across the way.

Two hours and three chapters later Graham was tossing men out on their drunken rear ends. She frowned, unwilling to cross paths with the man Cole had apparently taken on as a business partner without explanation.

Rumors had swirled about a young whore Cole had taken in for two years before shuffling her off just as quiet as her arrival; especially since at the same time of her arrival he asked Graham to join in running the saloon. Fiercely independent as Cole was, everyone was surprised he’d let in a partner of any kind—business or pleasure.

They’d thought maybe with the new partner he’d turn the saloon into a hotel, or add in a casino, but none of that happened. The saloon remained unchanged, Cole’s mood had soured supposedly, though Kat saw little sign of it in their interactions, and now Graham’s drunken benders were facilitated by his ownership, and gave him a certain power to use his anger to beat up more men under the guise of order in the saloon.

Kat set her book down and rose, closing the door behind her. Into the quiet of the night, she slipped down the stairs. By the time she reached the boardwalk, Cole was outside bidding farewell to Graham.

She lingered until Graham was well down the street and only the flare up of Cole’s cigar when he dragged on it remained. With a careful step she slipped between two vendor carts into the muddy street. One benefit to changing to pantaloons was not having to keep her skirts elevated to avoid the muck of small town roads, and as always she was grateful for that small benefit.

When she landed on the boards across the street, the light of the cigar turned her way. Inwardly she was both grateful they had yet to install street lamps, and upset by it. She’d appreciate seeing his face when she approached, but was glad the dark hid her from any prying eyes.

Either way, by the time she got close, Cole’s chuckle reached her ear. When he himself reached for her, she side-stepped him to the porch. “Easy there, Cole. I didn’t come for fun, no matter how powerful you think your charms are.”

“I don’t think—I know.”

“I don’t think you know, either.”

*~*

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