Werelove Series Updates

I promised to give a Werelove series update and here I go.

1. The outline for book #4 Dawn Metamorphosis is in the process of being completed. So far there are about 40 chapters outlined and I'm not in halfway through everything that needs to happen in this book.
2. Re-editing for the first three books is in the process of being completed. I'm glad I went back and re-read them because small mistakes and some dangling, unresolved issues were brought before me and are now being integrated into books 4's & 5's storylines. The updated books 1-3 (ebook formats first) will be out by the end of December 2015. The paperbacks should be completed by the end of February 2016.
3. I know some readers over the years have asked when will hardcovers be available for my books. I'm hoping to get that going in 2016.

For those of you who have to have your Werelove fix, I started an online short story/novella-like series called the Werelove Journals. I began it back in 2014 on Tumblr as a secret treat for those who had signed up for the Werelove Series newsletter (which if you'd like, you can sign-up here.). I then added syndication to Wattpad (which runs 4 journal entries behind Tumblr). Journal entries are posted bi-weekly according to a day of the week picked for that character. Usually 2 characters' journals are going at once.

The Werelove Journals take various characters from the Werelove universe and gives you a first-person look into moments of their lives that are not covered in the books. Below is the list of what is available to be read. Feel free to read either on Tumblr or Wattpad and leave feedback if you feel like it.

Tumblr (follow me) and Wattpad (follow me).

Completed stories:
Britta -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad
Donil -  Tumblr  |  Wattpad (ends November 17)

In-progress stories:
Stefan -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad

Started October 2015:
Drayden -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad (begins December 24)

2016 stories:
Zina -  Tumblr (begins February 2016)   |  Wattpad (begins April 2016)

Possible future Journals
Miguel
Yon
Naiya
Mya
Isabella

If you have character not mentioned that you would like to see given a journal run, leave the name in the comments.

Knocking Down Writer's Block

I've had writer's block before but it doesn't mean I like it. This is by no means the longest drought of creativity as far as novel writing is concerned.

I'm still writing, mainly short stories set in the Werelove universe (more about that in a later post) and sporadic writing down of scenes from my various series.

The biggest problem is getting my mind set to write a novel. I've got notes, outlines and my usual tricks for putting pen to paper but I keep coming up empty. I know the biggest reason for the drought is the mental stress I've been under these last two years. I don't normally through stuff out like this but I think this time I should, if only to help myself put things in perspective.

I've had the following major life changes & issues and all of them, have in some fashion or form, influenced my lack of writing.

• Got married and relocated to a new county.
• Family health issues – hubby being hospitalized for pneumonia and an emergency room visit for me that has lead to ongoing test to discover what exactly is going crazy with my body.
• Having my youngest being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome & ADHD back in September 2014 and all the subsequent doctor visits which are still ongoing. Also the struggles in school for my youngest and the tutoring to bring the reading level up to grade level. My youngest is still in therapy and also on medication that has brought an improvement in attention which has led to a happier child and teachers.
• Having my oldest be diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety disorder and ADHD as well as having my oldest be Baker Acted twice this year for suicide ideation. This also has lead to doctor's visits. Medication as well as treatment plan to help my oldest seems to be helping
• My biological father trying to re-enter my life after he has been absent from it since the age of 5. He wants a relationship. I'm thinking, I'm in my 30s now, so how about....No!
• Work-related stress because of my hubby's job that he had given much of himself and drive to, turned sour and brought financial instability into our lives. Happily this stressor has been removed because  he left the old job and has a new job that he enjoys.
• The relationships of both my children with their fathers. My oldest's father has no relationship with my oldest. My youngest's father fights/butts head with my youngest, while having his own set of mental health issues. Both of my kids love their stepfather (my hubby) but at the same time they do want relationships with their fathers and trying to get the biological fathers to understand that and do something about it has been exhausting.

At the end of the day, I'm so drained I can't get into my writing and when I do sit down to try to accomplish something, some emergency or situation always arises to destroy my "happy place" that I need to write.

I will figure it out and I'm going to use NaNoWriMo to again put me back on track and in the driver seat of my writing life.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - Fall Updates

If you wish to participate, you can sign up HERE.

These are the books I still have to read. My 2015 list has gotten slightly bigger. Don't forget you can check out all my Netgalley reviews here.

Status of lists

Year	Total Requests	Completed	Still to read
2013	51	13	38
2014	57	5	52
2015	29 (as of October 2015)	4	25

TBR 2013
A Shimmer of Angels - Lisa M. Basso
Broken Forest - Eliza Tilton
Compliance - Maureen McGowan
Defy
Dragonwitch - Ann Elisabeth Stengl
Dream Girl
Echo Prophecy
Elfin
Endless
Escaping Reality
External Forces
Forbidden to Love - D.A. Wills
Hereafter
Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
King Hall
Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
Mistress of the Solstice
Night Creatures
Rebels Divided
Rival
Safe in His Arms
Scrap - Emory Sharplin
Sekret
Shadow Allegiance
She Is Not Invisible
Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
Stargazing from Nowhere
The Bane - Keary Taylor
The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
The Naturals
The Silver Chain
The Trials of the Core
The Waking Dreamer
Tin Star
Turned
Unspoken
Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
Winds of Purgatory

TBR 2014
A Curse Unbroken
Alex + Ada volume 1
A Secret Colton Baby
Black Rook
Blind Faith
Blood Assassin
Blood Orange Soda
Catch Me When I Fall
Clipped Wings
Dark Hope
Darkness
Dark Wolf Returning
Danny Dirks
Delucca's Marriage Contract
Desired
Divided
Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Dragon Defender
Fire Heart
Forbidden
Freed
Iskida of the Land of Nurak
Jhanmar World Travellers
Lingering Echoes
Longing
Love's Paradox
One is Enough
On Her Watch
Outshine
Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
Seed
Shadow Heart
Since You've Been Gone
Star Trek: Khan
Stitching Snow
Stones of Power
Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
Tales from OZ
Tamed
The Amulet of Sleep
The Boy a Thousand Years Wide
The Circle
The Fifth Vertex
The Mark of the Dragonfly
The One
Sentinels
The Thirteenth Tower
Thirty Days to Win His Wife
Transformers Primacy
Waking up Pregnant
We are the Goldens
Worth the Fall
Wrecked

TBR 2015 (so far)
Arivaca
Bound by Sin
Bound in Darkness
Commanded
Cursed by Ice
Eden Vol 1
Emissary
Everywhere It's You
Imperfect Love
In Ark
In Search of Lost Dragons
King of the World
Monster Squad: The Iron Golem
Of Flame and Promise
On the Hunt
Rocco's Wings
Seeker Arwen (Elys Dayton)
Sentinels
Sneak Peek Soundless
Sneak Peek: Dove Arising
Sorcerer to the Crown
Tamed
The Battle for Darracia
The Golden Wizard
The Phantom of the Earth
The World of Evendaar Book Two
This Is Where It Ends
Witches Be Burned
Zack

Return of My Vlog Series - Kishaz Talks

It's been a couple of years since my last vlog. I used to do them regularly but as my personal life (marriage, health problems, children problems, and other life problems) became increasing more hectic, crazy and sometimes depressing, I lost my drive to write and to make my vlogs.

In an effort to jumpstart my writing back into high gear, I recorded my long overdue vlog for my novel, "The Melody." Feel free to watch it and to watch any other of my Kishaz Talks Vlogs.

Kishaz Reading Corner: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

About the Book

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful - and passionate - of the Elder Races. As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in one another.

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I got this book from the public library and have received no compensation from the author or publisher for this honest review.

I couldn't put this one down and read it in one sitting. I was hooked from the opening sentence and stayed on the wild ride with Pia as she took me on an urban fantasy journey that had me laughing, shouting in frustration, and cheering the characters on.

The relationship & romance with Dragos was intense as much as it was a roller coaster ride as two people who are not very good at relationships have to make one work.

The twists that were there did not feel contrived or unnecessary. Overall, a really good read.

Would I recommend this? Based on reading this one, I'd be willing to pick up others in this series.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - October #2 This Book Will Change Your Life

About the Book

Take a chance and change your life...

College is where Hannah Gregory plans to follow in her dad's footsteps as a chemistry prodigy-except she bombs her first test. And now her future isn't so certain. Worse, she's not sure she wants it anymore. Salvation comes from an unlikely place-a used bookstore and the sexy Ben Fisher, the passionate college senior who works there.

Ben is trapped in a life mapped out for him. Trapped in a future career as a lawyer to make his father happy. Trapped pursuing a girl he doesn't even like because she fits into a world he doesn't want but can't escape. But then he meets the beautiful and quirky Hannah. And for the first time, he knows what it means to truly want something.

So he gives in to being her friend. Then to wanting her. Then to kissing her. But freedom comes with a cost, and it isn't long before their carefully planned lives begin to fall apart...

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This one was really close to a 5-star for me but I felt some of the angst about telling the parents about their true career desires was a bit much.

Other than that, the romance which was well written kept me captivated as I watched a young woman blossom and a young man finally believe in his own worth.

The familial relationships were intricate but realistic and you couldn't help but sympathize with both characters as they tried to find the correct path they needed to take.

Would I recommend this? Yeppers! I'd even read a sequel.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - October #1 Under His Skin

About the Book

Earth girls are never easy. But they're worth it.

Bakery owner Annabelle Sparks' business is booming ever since she won reality TV's Cupcake Wars. The one thing deflating her happy soufflé? The extremely sexy Kaden Chance only sees her as a best friend-and Annabelle wants so much more. After waiting a year for him recognize their chemistry, she's giving up and dating other people.

What she doesn't know is Kaden's heart doesn't actually beat. He's not human. Heck, he's not even from Earth. To retain his intergalactic immunity, no one can ever know he is an extraterrestrial. But when Annabelle starts dating, something strange happens to Kaden's unmoved heart: it begins to beat. Now he faces an impossible choice-tell Annabelle the truth and be deported-or lose his last chance at love.

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This book took me a couple of days to read because of family distractions but, I'm sure if I had not been interrupted, I would have finished it in one sitting.

I've read some of Ms. O'Neale's other works and it was nice to see a science fiction romance one in the mix.

I like her treatment of female leads. They are not way over the top strong nor are they overly weak. Annabelle was a nice blend of strength and vulnerability. She knew when to stand her ground and when to bend.

My feelings toward Kaden were a little bit more ambivalent. There were moments that I liked him and moments when he irritated me to no end.

Overall the two leads played off each other well and the secondary characters contributed yet did not detract from the storyline.

Would I recommend this? Yes, I think this book is a good start for this series.