Today is the first Wednesday of the month and that means I will be featuring my Insecure Writers Support Group blog post. If you haven’t heard of this group before, it is a support group for authors. It is a special place where writers can share their fears, doubts, and concerns, along with triumphs, as they journey down the path to publication. Check out the links at the bottom of this post if you have something to share, or need companionship from fellow authors to keep you writing.

The month of October was a wild ride. I had several exciting and scary things happen throughout the month. The first big change for the month was taking part in a handful of Facebook Takeover events. Did none of these events before. The first was the hardest, and the rest were easy.
Since doing my first online event I have had a spike in newsletter subscribers, increased my sales for permafree and paid ebooks. My street team has grown since the last post along with several things.
My goal for the month was to get at least 300 to 400 subs signed up. I crushed it and now pushing 650 total. I had over 400 downloads of my free and paid ebooks. In September I made over $1.50 in royalties. This month it was $3.41. The increase isn’t much money but for me seeing a tiny increase means everything. It means that people are enjoying my books and wanting more.
Besides my goals for the month and events something else happened. I wasn’t looking to get published through a publisher, it kind of happened. I was trying to find anthologies to take part in over the next few years to broaden my range when I stumbled into a chat with Vanessa Ross and several other publishers. Several individuals were asking them questions when I jumped in. Vanessa and I talked and after sending samples I am now a signed author.
I am now being published through Vanessa Ross’ publishing company, Triple Goddess Publishing. The wonderful thing is I still get creative rights and full control over everything. Bonds of Friendship is being published indie right now and everything else is through Triple Goddess. Overall, the month was wonderful, frightful and spectacular on so many levels. Now NaNo has started and I have five projects to get written.

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION

How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

The question is optional, so I think with my long post already I will leave it to you. Tell me your response to this question. If you don’t write then tell me how books have sparked your creativity throughout your life.

INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP

A fantastic resource site and support group for writers and authors. Features weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Co-hosts this month are Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose, and Elizabeth Seckman! Please stop by their blogs to show your support.

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Today is the first Wednesday of the month and that means I will be featuring my Insecure Writers Support Group blog post. If you haven’t heard of this group before, it is a support group for authors. It is a special place where writers can share their fears, doubts, and concerns, along with triumphs, as they journey down the path to publication. Check out the links at the bottom of this post if you have something to share, or need companionship from fellow authors to keep you writing.

This is my second post for my #IWSG monthly feature and a lot has changed since my last post. If you haven’t been following my weekly updates on my #WIP Monday posts, I’ll give a small update.

Last months post I was just getting my feet wet with writing again. Since then I have published two short stories and working on my third in my Tales of Ferrês series. I worked on Demonic Embrace my PNR serial series. And, I have been writing posts right and left for my blog.

I got more involved in the author community and joined several Facebook takeover events. I found several resources that built my newsletter from 1 follower to close to 200 in under half a month. The goal is to aim for 300 followers this month and once I hit 500, then I will look into weeding out those that aren’t active. The only reason I am doing this is because once I hit 1k subscribers I have to pay and if I will pay for my newsletter, then I would rather keep active followers on the mailing list.

My other big news is that with taking part and getting my name out there I had a few book sales. Not enough to do much with but each sale made me jump for joy. Then I receive my first review on Amazon and on a few other sites. Honestly, with reviews I don’t care if you hate my story or if you found issues, any feedback would be great and helps me learn.

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION

How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?

This question is optional and since I have already rambled on for a long period, I will keep my answer short and sweet. Major life events have been a big obstacle for me with having twins, having a design business, and writing. They have pulled me three ways and usually I have been getting things done.

However, I have a new addition to my plate of obstacles, I now am babysitting my youngest niece. She is a ball of energy and knows how to make a mess. She is a big help though with the boys and love having her around. So, even if babysitting means I have to stay up till two in the morning getting things done I will do it. Just means two hours of less sleep but who needs sleep, right? 🙂

INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP

A fantastic resource site and support group for writers and authors. Features weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Co-hosts this month are Dolorah @ Book Lover, Christopher D. Votey, Tanya Miranda, and Chemist Ken! Please stop by their blogs to show your support.

GET FREE FANTASY, HORROR & PNR EBOOKS IN THIS MULTI-AUTHOR PROMO

October Spectacular Speculative Fiction
(featuring 100+ authors)

This is my first month being a part of the Insecure Writers Support Group. If you haven’t heard of this group before, it is a support group for authors. It is a special place where writers can share their fears, doubts, and concerns, along with triumphs, as they journey down the path to publication. Check out the links at the bottom of this post if you have something to share, or need companionship from fellow authors to keep you writing.

My first time with IWSG.

I have been writing off and on for several years. This last year I went quiet with my writing, due to becoming a mom for the first time. I know this isn’t a real excuse for dropping off the face of the earth for over a year. However, I didn’t just face becoming a mom one but twice at the same time. Yes, I am the mother of twin boys, and I like to say the first year was a real roller coaster ride.

I faced several difficulties during just the first six months. I had severe postpartum depression they hospitalized me twice for, and not only had one big move but two. When June rolled around, I couldn’t believe my boys were one year olds. The nice thing, though, is that they no longer rely on me for everything. This means I get freedom to get back to what I love, writing.

August began my journey back onto the road to writing. I had a system issue with my mac, so I had to do a factory reset. The software I was using for writing in was Storyist to help keep my notes and content organized, sadly I lost the software in the reset. I still have the files, I don’t want to repurchase a software I already bought once. After this I changed over to Scrivener, so August was my catch up month.

I’ve been slaving away trying to get my files switched over I had in word doc format. If that wasn’t enough work, I also did a complete overall on my website, newsletter, and social media platforms. I even re-designed my short story, “A Father’s Protection” cover, and re-published it. Now I completed those blood sucking tasks, I’m hoping now I can get to outlining and writing.

WRITING GOALS FOR SEPTEMBER:

• Put the final touches on “Tarzinëa: Rise of the Vardin” book 1 in the Legacy of the Silver Ryder series outline.
• Convert completed outline for “The Celestial One” book 1 in the Demonic Love series into a serial outline.
• Start writing “The Celestial One” episode one.
• Re-work, re-write and continue with “Tarzinëa: Rise of the Vardin”.

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION

What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?

At this time I have only a short story published and working on my next ones. I decided to self-publish a long time ago. I want to have a say in how my books end up and I would like to get to know my readers. It isn’t about getting rich off my books or becoming famous. I want to do this for the love of writing, reading books and just connecting with people who love books as much as I do.

When I was growing up, especially in high school, books were my escape. I wasn’t an outgoing person anymore. I was closed off, shy, depressed and just had issues being in big crowds of people. The way I experience life and enjoyed my days was reading. Till this day I still don’t live it down, about what my algebra teacher told my mom during a parent teacher conference. “She is a bright student and has great potential,” he began. “I wish I could get her to put those dang books down.”

That is why I want to be a writer/author. I want to have a teacher look at one of my readers’ parent and say those exact words, or something close to it. Creating a world where they feel safe and can escape is my goal. I hope as this journey continues I never forget this goal and if I do, please hit me over the head with one of my books. Trust me, I will appreciate it. 🙂

INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP

A fantastic resource site and support group for writers and authors. Features weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Co-hosts this month are Toi Thomas, T. Powell Coltrin, M.J. Fifield, and Tara Tyler!Please stop by their blogs to show your support.

GET “A FATHER’S PROTECTION” FREE!

The land beyond The Forest of Ferrês belongs to the kyres mortal enemies the twin-tailed foxes. Standing on the borders DarkDeath will have to plunge into the unknown to save his adventurous pup.

Will he be able to find Digger and make it out alive? The battle to protect his own will be tested when DarkDeath faces off against an old rival. Death lingering over his pup’s head will test his strengths as DarkDeath braces himself for battle.