Turning this blog into a review blog

When I first stated blogging, (back in the day  *grins*) I wrote everything down. From my personal thoughts to my writing journey, it was all on display.

As time has gone on, I've changed and the way I blog has too. Because of that, I'm converting this blog into a review blog.

Any writing updates will be done through my Official Author Website.

2017 is Strewn with Rocks #WereloveSeries

I'm only 3 months into 2017 and all I can say is that Chaos is my best friend. I really wish she would leave. I have things to do and I can't do them when she is joined to me at the hip.

I started off strong, getting 75% of the way through the writing of Werelove #4. Then everything started grinding to a halt thanks to, you guessed it, LIFE and CHAOS. I don't often put out there everything going on in my life but I figured it was time to let everyone know some of the setbacks that I've experienced this year.

Let's get started, shall we?

1. Two jobs. That's right I'm doing double duty working at a tax preparation business and cashiering at a retail store. I like both jobs but I'd forgotten how draining working more than one job can be.
2. Illness. This one has been taking a toll on myself and my family. First, my husband landed in the hospital for about four days with pneumonia. Then my youngest got the flu. I had some kind of head/sinus cold. Then my oldest caught something. I thought we were all clear but then this past weekend (March 5) I started to feel very under the weather. Sore throat, coughing, and headaches decided to play with me and throw me around like a rag doll.
3. Which leads me to this week. On Sunday, March 5, amid the other warning signs, I had, what I thought was a bruise on my left leg. I ignored it, thinking I had gotten it while attending my kids' dance competition. It turned out that it wasn't a bruise but an abscess. That along with my worsening cough and sore throat sent me to the ER on Tuesday (March 7).
   
   Once the doctor took a look and gave me the verdict, I had to endure getting the abscess lanced so they could drain some of the infection out. I didn't really care what they did, because by that point, I had been in pain for two days and could barely walk. I wanted my body back and anything that needed to be done to fix it was welcome.
   
   It turned out that my throat and cough are part of an upper respiratory illness and I'm stuck taking antibiotics for the next 14 days to clear it and the abscess up.
   
4. In addition to illness and jobs, I also work at a dance studio and we are in the middle of competition season. I mention that here because this takes us to... 
5. I'm going to be starting my own dance studio in Lakeland later this year. I've been getting myself ready and I'm pretty excited about it. That has taken up some of my time because of the running around getting all my ducks in a row.
6. Kids. I don't think this one needs an explanation, but when you have two special needs kids (my youngest is Asperger-Autistic), life can be a bit of a challenge. Especially, when the oldest is driving age and thinks that a driver's license is mandatory. My favorite word right now is "No".
7. Four-legged drama. Yesterday (March 8) and today (March 9) have been some of the hardest days to endure. Yesterday my dog (a female pit mix) attacked my husband's elderly dog, Bravo (chow/shepard mix). I'm not sure what prompted the attack because I was asleep due to my medicines for above mentioned illnesses.
   
   My dog got poor Bravo by the face and bit all the way down to the bone in his muzzle right below his eye. Bravo's eye is okay but it required sutures and an hour & half to stitch him back together again.
   
   I had to make the painful choice of return my dog to the shelter where I got her a year ago. I explained what had happened and why I couldn't keep her. She's a good, obedient dog. I hope that at her next forever home, it's just her. I don't think she's meant to have other dogs around her.

So, after all the above has happened, I'm hoping to finally finish Werelove book 4 during my kids' spring break. I will be going back to my home state to visit and there is literally nothing to do and not a lot of distractions either. I think a dose of that as well as the soothing mountain calm will be the nudge I need to finish my novel.

So everyone, hang on and keep your fingers crossed. Let's see if I can cross that finish line.

My 2016 #NaNoWriMo Journey

The Starting Line

I've been participating in NaNoWriMo for a little over ten seasons and I've learned many things in that time.

1. Always expect the unexpected. Sometimes the things you try to control are the ones that slip away from you the fastest.
2. A little organization never hurt anyone. I used to relish chaos in my creativity but as I've gotten older and my writing style has changed, so has the way I have to get ready to write.
3. I am not alone. It's always nice to be able to interact with those who have the same idea/goal as you. Unity and strength in numbers help keep the creativity flowing.
4. 50,000 is just an ideal number to reach. Yes, it is the ultimate goal for those of us who participate in the "writing madness" but it is actually, in my mind, secondary to what I feel is the true goal of NaNoWriMo. You know what that is? To Write. At the end of the day, that is why we do it. We hope to get our projects going and set our minds free to accomplish that.
5. Just because you don't hit the 50,000 goal, doesn't mean NaNoWriMo was a waste of time. I'm always telling potential and returning NaNo writers that they should keep in mind the true goal of getting into the groove of writing as the ultimate goal. And, that if they feel 50,000 is a bit much, that they should set their own goal and work toward it.

NaNoWriMo & My NaNo Process

I started off rather rocky this NaNo season and was WAAAAYYYYYY behind. But, once I got in gear, I stayed in gear. Even though I had an idea, sitting down and focusing was my biggest problem.

Once I let my characters take over, it was an easier journey. There were several things that helped me and I want to share them with you.

I love Yankee Candles and the one to the left I've had for several years. I was saving it for a special occasion and found that its gentle scent was rather relaxing. I burned it every single day until I had finished that day's word sprints (via my Facebook friends). I used the whole candle. Guess what  I'm buying for next year's NaNo?

Also, I have to thank my cover artist JD Hollyfield who kept after me every single day to write. In the beginning, it drove me batty because I was being such a sloth. But, once I got out of sloth mode, it was a great motivator.

Thanks also go to my friends Angela, Courtney, Jenn and my daughter, Alea (who participated and won in the Young Writers NaNo), because they all in their own way gave me encouragement.

My NaNo Finish Results

Drumroll please....

Final word count: 50,887

I feel truly accomplish and now I plan to continue building on the momentum that NaNo gave me. To all my fellow NaNo writers, I wish you success in your after-NaNo work.

Motivation

This is a short post but, I feel, a needed one for me.

I'm often asked, how do you write? There is no one way for me. I've done various methods over the years but one thing I have found to be a factor in my writing is staying motivated when the chaos of my personal overtakes my need and desire to write.

Maybe it's because of how I write, and the fact that I have such complex characters, that I often have trouble getting into a writing groove and sustaining it. I want to write. My characters demand that I do so but I just can't do it.

It is a rather awful feeling, much like the one I get when I feel that I'm letting someone down. My readers are great, and even encouraging, and that for me is double-edged sword. I want to make them happy with my stories but being unable to write is depressing.

Such a tangled web has been woven around me. I will struggle with all my might and perhaps, like the phoenix, I will rise in a nice blaze of glory.

Only time and my sanity will bear truth.

Jewels #2: Emerald Rebellion Available Now

I'm pleased to announce that Jewels Emerald Rebellion is now available in paperback. I'm currently working on the hardcover edition as we speak.

Pick up your copy today.

Ebook - Amazon  |  Smashwords

Paperpback - Amazon

Work on the hardcover edition is progressing nicely.

#ReleaseDay: Jewels Emerald Rebellion only #99cents

Happy Release Day!

Catch the sequel to my debut space opera novel, Jewels.

Special release day price of $0.99! Ends Feb. 7, 2016.

PURCHASE: Smashwords (all ebook formats) | Amazon/Kindle.

About the Book

Special Lt. Jewels Enbran took to the stars with her husband, Dex LoudRoar, Crown Prince of Felinia, to search for answers about Earth's new allies and their enemy, the Lupinious Empire. She didn't expect to have such a difficult time fitting in or dealing with the crushing animosity of the xenophobic Gatoans.

Amid the political turmoil and the ongoing war with the Lupines, Jewels struggles with her own understanding of the two species. She tries to keep it together, but that is hard to do with the recurring nightmares, frequent assassination attempts and her own inner demons. She wants to find happiness, but at what cost? Can the deepening love and trust she shares with Dex be enough to withstand the challenges of his people? Is the fate of three empires worth more than her own desires?

She thought she would find peace and security with Dex, but the trials and tribulations of her unexpected pairing to royalty are just beginning....

#1000blackgirlbooks - A Good Cause

Thanks to a Mediabistro article, I found out that a book drive was being done by the GrassRoots Community Foundation in West Orange, New Jersey that is looking to gather books that feature black female characters.

I called to make sure of the genres they are willing to accept and there seems to be no cap on what genre, only that a black female character be one of the main leads.

I'm going to donate books 1 & 2 of my Elemental Symphony series which features 4 girls that are based on real life young ladies. You have one hispanic, two bi-racial (both characters have one black parent) and one white character. The planned six-book fantasy series features the four girls going on quests to learn about about their powers and to save the kingdom from an evil despot queen.

If you are an author who writes books that feature black female characters, please visit the website and find out how you can help this wonderful cause.

#PreOrder Jewels Emerald Rebellion for #99cents

Pre-Order Your Copy Today

Catch the sequel to my debut space opera novel, Jewels.

Special pre-order price of $0.99!

PURCHASE: Smashwords (all ebook formats) | Amazon/Kindle.

About the Book

Special Lt. Jewels Enbran took to the stars with her husband, Dex LoudRoar, Crown Prince of Felinia, to search for answers about Earth's new allies and their enemy, the Lupinious Empire. She didn't expect to have such a difficult time fitting in or dealing with the crushing animosity of the xenophobic Gatoans

Amid the political turmoil and the ongoing war with the Lupines, Jewels struggles with her own understanding of the two species. She tries to keep it together, but that is hard to do with the recurring nightmares, frequent assassination attempts and her own inner demons. She wants to find happiness, but at what cost? Can the deepening love and trust she shares with Dex be enough to withstand the challenges of his people? Is the fate of three empires worth more than her own desires?

She thought she would find peace and security with Dex, but the trials and tribulations of her unexpected pairing to royalty are just beginning....

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #4 Final Update

My NaNoWriMo 2015 has drawn to a close.

This year was definitely different from last year where I felt out of sorts and scatterbrained the whole month I tried to write. I feel that this year was better; much better.

I had to bust a move this last week and trust me, it wasn't easy. That's alright, I chose to prevail and prevail I did. Tenacity is such a great thing to have in reserve when you need it.

I've said it every week but I will say it again. My greatest thanks goes to my best friend, Angela Markham. I think we motivated and pushed each other and benefited from it.

Thanks to Lyn Ehley, my favorite editor, and also Allan Baker (another of my editors) who were game enough to work on editing Jewels 2 in "real time" as I wrote it.

Jewels #2 will be released in January 2016 so stay tuned for news on that front.

NaNoWrimo 2015 Final Stats Wrap-up

Words written week #4: 25,399

NaNo final grand total: 50,416

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #3 Update

My third week (Nov 16-22) of writing is drawing to a close and I feel frustrated.

I've continued to write consecutively (Nov, 6-22) but my productivity level has slowed. Mainly due to a teenager who wants to rebel over ever little thing and other related stressors that zap all creativity out of me. Also my word warring partner had a crazy week, too. I think this week was meant to aggravate the living daylights out of me.

Strength comes from knowledge. I know I can win. Eight days to go. Like Salt-N-Pepa said, "it's time to push it!"

Words written this week: 8,321

NaNo grand total at the end of  week 3: 25,017

Words left to go: 24,983

Words needed per day to hit goal: 3,124

One more week and a day to go!

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #2 Update

My second week (Nov 9-15) of writing is drawing to a close and I feel like I'm slowing. But I won't. I will maintain and increase my activities next week.

I've continued to write consecutively (Nov, 6-15) and my productivity along with the word wars with Angela Markham and other fellow writers has helped me to stay motivated as I chug along.

I think I can, I think I can. It's not that I think, I know I can.

Words written this week: 9,865

NaNo grand total at the end of  week 2: 16,696

Words left to go: 33,304

Words needed per day to hit goal: 2,250

Bring it on Week 3!

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #1 Update

I've been doing NaNoWriMo since 2008. Some years I've been more successful than others. Last year was a struggle but I made it. This year I wasn't sure if it work since I've been on a bit of a major writing dry spell for a year and a half.

I am happy to say that as my first week (Nov 1-8) draws to a close, I've managed to not only write consecutively (Nov, 6-8) but I've been productive, too. I managed at least 1,000 words or more each time that I've written.

My grand total for week 1 is 6,831.

That means I only have 43,169 to go.

Time to make it happen!

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.

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.

99 cents Ringing in 2015 E-book Sale

Time to ring in the new year with style! Get all my books for only 99 cents! Happy New Year!

Books are available on Amazon and Smashwords (sells all popular e-book formats). Books without codes are currently priced at $0.99. All other Smashwords codes have to be applied in the shopping cart/checkout. Pricing will change to $0.99 when code is applied.

FREEBIE

Werelove #1: Dusk Conspiracy

Amazon

Smashwords

Sale ends January 7, 2015

Werelove Omnibus  (books 1&2) Amazon Smashwords

Werelove #2: Midnight Revelations Amazon Smashwords (CODE: MH32A)

Werelove #3: Night Betrayals Amazon Smashwords (CODE: YM23G)

Jewels Amazon Smashwords

Dream Miner Amazon Smashwords (CODE: CN78W)

The Rising Amazon Smashwords (CODE: RM93D)

Moon Feast Amazon Smashwords (FREE)

Moonbeams Amazon Smashwords

Elemental Smphony #1: The Tempo Amazon Smashwords

Elemental Smphony #12 The Melody Amazon Smashwords (CODE: AR88H)

2014 - My Year in Review

Normally I'm stoked about writing my end of the year review about my progress through the year.

This time, however, is different.

I'm not going to lie. 2014 has been one of the toughest, most frustrating year of my life that I've had in a while. I've noticed on Facebook and some of my other social media sites that fellow writers have also struggled. That made me feel only slightly better.

2014 was the first year since 2010 that I failed to publish anything. My personal life was filled with so much drama from family to the workplace to depression to good old fashion writer's block that I could never get any traction to accomplish anything that I wanted.

I've made a firm promise to myself to go back to basics and to remember the joy I had when I did write.

Here's hoping that 2015 will be a banner year for me.

It's NaNoWriMo Time!

I have arrived at the venue for my first write-in of the NaNo season and I'm stoked. Werelove #4, here I come.

To all my fellow NaNoers, have fun and see you at the end!

Werelove series update: Character Journals

Back in May, I decided to do something a little different. Readers of my Werelove series have been patiently waiting for book #4 and because I was busy with another work-in-progress, I wanted to give them something to tide them over.

That is where the concept to do "journals" for my secondary characters in the series was born. I decided to start with Britta because she is without a doubt, forefront and center, when it comes to the Weres. And, as the only human (though there are others mentioned throughout the story) who is in the thick of things, I thought it would be fun to get inside her head to learn more about the humans on New Terra.

I don't have a definite number of journal entries planned but it has been fun starting them off with Britta receiving her journal/diary at the age of 7 and going forward.

The latest entries update bi-monthly on Mondays on tumblr. If you'd like to read them and/or follow me there, you can go here.

I've also started uploading them to Wattpad. The Wattpad uploads are bi-weekly and will upload on Wednesdays. If you'd like to read them and/or follow me there, you can go here.

I hope to bring the "journals" of other characters to readers in the near future.

Taking back my writing life

This year ranks in my top five list for most chaotic & feelings of being unproductive since I got on my writing horse back in 2008.

So many things have vied for my attention (dance competitions for my kids, Cons, freelance work) and yet, the one I want to accomplish the most, seems to get pushed to the way side.

The readers have done a lot to boost my drive and it's for them that I really want to buckle down and just write. So I'm making a commitment to do things for me and let some of the other things going on in my life take a back seat for the remainder of 2014.

Ready? Set? Here I go!