Another month, another book release! I wrote something a little different this time around. As a throwback to my old Angela paranormal stories, Lost Highway was a fun change. Now I’m focused on writing the sequels to my two series Serrated Brotherhood MC and Rawkfist MC.
I can’t believe July is nearly over. The last few months have flown by, but I enjoyed the summer break. Roo isn’t thrilled to get back to school tomorrow. Even homeschoolers gotta whine about doing a little work.
August should prove to be busy. We’re driving to Dallas at the end of the month for my first signing of the year. I’m really looking forward to this one because a lot of my fave people are attending. Aimie Grey will have her new book and banner ready for the event. I’m also looking forward to meeting Sapphire Knight, who’s always been very sweet to me online. Yes, I’ll also be in the same room as the author with an affinity for rude pronouncements such as the R-word. I’ve prepared to shrug off her negativity if we do meet.
Roo and Tigger will join me on the road trip. We’re even renting an SUV to haul all of our crap. I've missed traveling to these signings. Eating out, staying at hotels, seeing new things. The last time I drove to Texas was in 2014, and I came up with two story ideas. Now the Little Memphis MC series and Lost Highway are released, and I’m heading back to the Lone Star state. Fingers crossed that I come up with new ideas on the trip.
The rest of 2016 is pretty set release-wise. I need to finish up the two MC series and a book for the Angelic Redemption series. However, 2017 remains up in the air. I have several standalone ideas I'll probably focus on early in the year. One of the MC series I’ve been playing with since 2014 likely won’t make the cut. I might consider writing more paranormal romances. I’m rather excited and nervous to go into a year with no specific plans in mind. Of course, it’s only the summer. By December, I might have my entire 2017 planned out.
Until then, I have plenty of work to check off my to-do list. I better hit publish on this post before August arrives!
High five for book six in 2016! I’ve now published the same number of books in half the time as I did last year. I’d say my new attempt at productivity has paid off so far. Jumping immediately from finishing one book to beginning another has also help prevent the post-publishing funk I used to get.
Black Sheep was a challenge because the three sisters were all snarky but needed their own voices. I also wanted to create a small town vibe. I don’t know how well I succeeded, but I enjoyed writing the book.
I’ve already begun the second book in the Serrated Brotherhood MC series. Whiskey Blues is a darker book than I’ve written in a while. Though it’ll have the same humor, this is the first book where the hero has cheated on the heroine. I really don’t like infidelity in my romances, but the plot point fit and I wanted to stretch outside my comfort zone.
My main writing project right now is Lost Highway. It’s become a paranormal romance, and I’m having fun writing something different. I don’t think the book’s tone fits the Bijou brand. No doubt I’ll write PNR one day as Bijou, and I have a few old “Angela” ideas with the humor and character setups that’ll work for my current brand. Lost Highway will likely use a pen name, though.
Summertime is always quiet at our house. I’ve been taking it especially easy after I suffered a herniated disc in my back. Man, oh, man, did that hurt, yet I managed to work through the pain. I was also lucky enough to find a reasonably priced massager that sped up my recovery.
As for the family, Roo is currently in love with his Xbox, and I got him a rental subscription with Gamefly so he can try different video games. The last few weeks, Tigger and I have been on a horror movie kick. At the end of June, Pooh enjoyed playing in the sprinklers with his housemates. Finally, Sally has rekindled her interest in Nora Roberts’s books and Mahjong.
Next month, school starts up, and I have the Deliciously Dirty in Dallas signing. So while things are quiet right now, I need to get organized for the upcoming trips. Unfortunately, I’m currently enthralled with Jigsaw and can’t seem to do anything except solve puzzles. Every time I finish a chapter, I reward myself with a little time with Jigsaw.
Speaking of my game, I think I best get back to it. I’m working for enough “gold” to download a new puzzle set. All about the priorities!
Let’s just get this out of the way - Bourbon Blues nearly kicked my butt. Every year, one book throws me off my game. In 2014, Damaged and the Dragon enjoyed the honor. Last year was In the Wind. I don’t know what happens to me during this time of the year, but I struggle mightily with stories that should prove simple.
After stopping a dozen times, trashing over 20,000 words that weren’t working, and putting out an erotica short, I have finally published Bourbon Blues. With that book behind me, I’ve immediately jumped into writing Black Sheep and Whiskey Blues. So far, I’ve made decent work of the first one and plan to have it out in June.
I’m relieved I bailed on a few signings I had scheduled for this summer. There’s no way I’d manage my yearly release plans if I traveled right now. I do miss packing up and hitting the road with Roo. Staying in hotels and eating out is fun, but it’ll have to wait until August and October.
With healthy sales for Bourbon Blues, I’ve enjoyed two solid releases in a row (skipping the under the radar erotica short). I don’t know if it’s simply the time of the year or pure luck, but I’ve recently been discovered by new readers. In 2015, I spent a lot more money on promotions and made less. While I do need to get around to promoting the old books, the new ones have found traction on their own. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but it’s a pleasant surprise after three years writing as Bijou.
Recently, I’ve tried to post more regularly on my Bijou page by scheduling something for each day. I am not someone who appreciates having the same things spammed nearly daily from authors, so I avoid doing it myself. I see some authors posting about their “new releases” six months after the books are released. It’s obnoxious, but they must get a positive response from someone or else they’d stop. Even if it’s a strong marketing tool, I can’t do it. I have trouble pimping myself. If I ever got better at networking, I’d probably sell more books. I don’t like kissing ass and tend to flock to people I enjoy rather than those who might help my career. Sounds honorable, but it simply means I’m too stubborn to learn new skills.
Besides scheduling my weekly posts and doing a daily login to respond to messages, wish people happy birthday, and share a few things, I try to stay off FB. There’s so much drama, and it’s only getting worse. Publishers are failing. Formerly successful authors are struggling. The election season is riling up everyone. I wish I could say I’m above all the drama, but it’s damn addictive. That’s why I stay away from FB. If I’m logged in, I’m drawn to it.
Speaking of drama, STGRB seems to be down for the long haul. Though I haven’t posted on the BBA Whisperer blog in over two years, I kept it up to refute the lies on STGRB. With the snot-green site on hiatus, I’ve followed suit with the Whisperer blog. When I started publishing, BBAs and STGRB were ruining everyone’s fun. Now things have shifted, and authors are savvier about reviews and appropriate business behavior. For those writers who occasionally freak out, no doubt someone will care about their antics, but it won’t be me.
There just isn't time for drama in this market. So many new authors publish every day. They want a piece of the pie, and they deserve a chance to be read. If I hope to compete with them, I can’t spend the day posting about what candidate said what or who wronged who or jumping on whatever outrage topic is currently popular. Gossip and drama won’t sell my books or pay my bills. There was a time when successful authors could publish a book a year. I know there are a few indies with such big followings that they can still write and publish like the old days. Their one release is huge and keeps performing long after it’s released. The average author doesn’t enjoy this luxury.
As tough as the market is currently, so many authors are making so much money. These (mostly) women have built businesses out of nothing more than an idea. Whenever anyone complains about Amazon, returns, or market trends, I think about how many new authors have blossomed from dreamers into entrepreneurs in the last few years.
On that positive note, I better get back to writing to ensure June proves to be a productive month for me.
April is somehow over. The month blew by, and I nearly didn’t get a release completed in time. Rather than publish a Bijou book, I finished writing my first erotic romance and published it under a new pen name. I really enjoyed writing something with no expectations. I got to be as dirty as I wanted, which honestly was pretty vanilla compared to what else’s out there. Still I enjoyed going wild (for me). The story has done reasonably well with really no promo, reaching 3000 on Amazon today. I have a few other erotic stories in mind for the pen name.
Publishing diversity is a solid way to keep my writing from becoming stale. I will eventually write Christian romances using my Dakota pen name. I plan a few horror-themed romances too, and my beta reader asked if I might write paranormal romances. I have a lot of ideas, but now I need to get moving.
Bourbon Blues is almost finished FINALLY. What a difference a few days make. April was another one of those emotional months with family issues distracting me. I wasn’t certain I could even finish the book in May. Now I’m aiming for a May 20th release date. Fingers crossed that the rest of the week is as productive as today.
In my last post, I wrote about ways to deal with depression. My main tool is choosing to fight the negativity. Depression is treatable like most illnesses. Positive thinking is all it takes, but thinking positive can be difficult if you don’t choose that path. Some people embrace their unhappiness until their depression defines them.
The other night, I felt overwhelmed by a million little things. All of the negativity built up in my mind and I couldn’t find relief. So what did I do? I made the choice to be happy by finding something to pull me from my dark funk. In this case, I played Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 with Roo. I'm still horrible at the game but improving at “free for all.” An hour of playing with Roo left me laughing easily. While the funk lingered in the background, I made the choice to fight it.
I have a lot to be thankful for. My middle baby, Pooh, celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday. He went through so much the last few years, but he’s finally in a good place. All I want for him is health and happiness. Right now, he’s found both, and I pray he remains blessed for a long time. With Mother’s Day nearly here, I can think of no greater gifts than my boys’ frequent smiles.
So May is here, and deadlines are looming. I’m confident I can put out another Bijou book and get myself back on track. After Bourbon Blues, I’m ready to jump into Black Sheep. I also have another erotic romance story in mind, and I’m planning to finally give Lost Highway a try.
Here’s hoping your first week of May is as fortunate as mine.
There’s no denying I’ve been in a funk the last few weeks. March always drags me into a bad place, yet knowing something is coming doesn’t make it easier to deal. This month, I dealt with grief over Tigger. I gained friends and lost others. I felt both thrilled and overwhelmed by the unexpected success of Junkyard Dog.
I have a few tools I use to deal with my funks (or depression if we’re getting technical).
Music is an obvious one. When moody, I crave Mazzy Starr and Christina Perri. Of course, those are terrible choices when I’m in a down mood. I might as well turn on The Smiths like when I was a teenager and cry in the closet.
So I listen to the Fratellis and the Mavericks. Fun music that’ll force me to tap my feet and sing along.
Particular shows are good to watch when I'm in a down mood. For me, Parks and Rec, American Dad, Happy Endings, and Arrested Development help.
The biggest tool is my journal. I can rage, whine and/or babble without judgment. Sometimes, I just want to get something out of my system without any feedback. A journal is a great way to express myself without causing harm too. If I’m annoyed with my family or friends, I tell my journal rather than get cranky with the people upsetting me. Finally, I use my journal to problem-solve.
So I used all these tools in March. When I still couldn’t write, I gave myself a vacation. I focused on other work-related tasks but no writing.
Ranked at one point at 155, Junkyard Dog turned out to be my biggest success. I had respected authors telling me they loved the book, and new readers discovered my Bijou books because of JD. The strong sales and pages read came simply from word of mouth. It’s impossible to know what book will catch on and what books will get the cold shoulder from readers.
As much as I loved the positive feedback, I felt overwhelmed. Would the new readers try my other books and feel disappointed? Would my future books seem lame in comparison to Junkyard Dog? I have a rule about avoiding reader feedback when I’m writing. Otherwise, I focus too much on the end product rather than letting the characters tell their stories. With the attention from JD, I struggled with not thinking of readers’ reactions to my next books. This worry gunked up my creative mojo. After many a journal pep talk, I’m regaining my focus.
March is nearly over. Here’s hoping April is all happy-happy, joy-joy, rainbows and kittens.
I’m hardcore obsessed with the song La Vie En Rose, so I’ve included three versions in this blog post.
My eighteenth Bijou book is now live and Junkyard Dog is one of my favorites. The character of Angus Hayes came to me while driving home from the Sassy in Savannah signing last October. We were somewhere in Tennessee when Tigger flipped through channels and stopped on the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce. Of course, everyone knows the lyrics:
And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog
From that song, Hayes was born. I introduced his character in High Voltage, wondering how readers would react to the rude SOB. The reaction was positive, so I jumped straight into the story even while working on Sunday Morning. The reaction to Junkyard Dog has been strong so far. It actually reached the highest ranking for one of my 2.99 books.
With JD published, I feel a little lost creatively. I’ve started several projects including Lost Highway, Black Sheep, an untitled erotic short, and just yesterday Bourbon Blues. None are calling to me just yet, but I suspect the last one might be the easiest since it’s connected to Junkyard Dog.
Even though I want to put out a book a month, I don’t want to stress this momentary writer’s bump (block would be too strong a word). March is always an emotional month for my family. Freckles went to Heaven in March 1993. Pooh’s health spiraled in March 2014. Sally suffered health issues during several years in March. Not every March brings sadness. Tigger was conceived in March. We put down a deposit on our Indiana home and lot in March 2004.
Good or bad, March remains an emotional month so I won’t stress a slow start to my new project.
I must admit a sense of pride at publishing a book a month for five months. One of my problems has always been self-sabotage when it comes to productivity. I get too focused on small details or distracted by unimportant problems until I fall behind. I don’t expect this to happen in 2016. I’ve decided to back out of another signing to allow for more time for writing and family time.
In other news, I learned a BBA from years ago remains focused on my every move. She recently wrote a blog, nearly begging me to out her BookLikes sock account. I don’t know why she’d want me to ruin what she’s built for the last few years. She’s tight with many of her former enemies and seems to enjoy their friendships. Lately, she rarely pimps her secret pen names and spends a lot of time reading and reviewing books by other authors. So why would she want me to out her?
Boredom is the likely answer. She might miss the drama of the old days. No one mentions her or cares what she does anymore. Right now she craves negative attention, but I suspect she’ll eventually be thankful I don’t out her. Drama is overrated and no one would truly care once they learned who was behind the sock account. Oh, one or two might pretend to be horrified and play the victim card. It wouldn’t last long, so why waste everyone’s time when things are comfortable now.
So she’ll need to find drama elsewhere. Maybe she can focus on politics. Every time I log onto Facebook, people are outraged about one thing or another. In the past, I was interested in politics, but this election season is too mean-spirited. Besides, the people I wanted to vote for dropped out early.
I also see a lot of online anger about the tight ebook market. Back in the day, authors became successful by simply hitting publish. Now they can do everything right, yet never sell more than a handful of copies.
So authors look for culprits, but competition isn’t something that can be fixed. We all want to write and be heard. Not all of us will earn enough to pay our bills with our writing. Some authors, who were very successful a year ago, are now struggling. On the other hand, new authors succeed every day. There’s no rhyme or reason, so there’s no point in obsessing over it.
All an author can do is to write for themselves. If they’re making money with books they love to write, that’s great. If they can’t sell the books they love, at least they enjoyed writing them. Chasing the market works occasionally, so there's no harm in authors trying something out of their comfort zone. I didn’t think I’d be good at contemporary romance. My heart belonged to fantasy and horror. Now I’d have trouble returning to paranormal.
One day, I will need to write fantasy again so I can finish my Angela series and get a sense of closure with those characters. With the tight market, I need to focus on Bijou books for the time being. One day, Gigi, Vivi, and Blue will get their endings though.
With the time change, my Sunday is nearly over so I better get organized for the new week. Roo will soon be on Easter break, and the weather has warmed up so yard work waits. Busy, busy.
I know this will sound hokey, but writing can sometimes feel like magic. For the last few months, writing has been that way for me. I’ve had creative grooves before, and I know they don’t last forever. For now, I’m in love with writing.
Yesterday, I produced over 10,000 words in a single day. Certain authors can perform that feat every day, month, and year. I’m not one of them. I average 1000-5000 a day. This last Tuesday, I was flying and couldn’t be stopped.
Today, I uploaded Sunday Morning to Amazon and other outlets. I also finished writing Junkyard Dog. By this weekend, I’ll complete JD's main edit and begin my next book. I’m planning on doubling up like I did with SM and JD. Whenever I get stuck with one, I can jump to the other.
I admire those authors capable of producing books with ease. They’re so in touch with their creative sides, and I swear some of them publish every other week. Authors like Alexa Riley, CM Steele, Jenika Snow, and Sam Crescent, to name a few, are machines. I don’t know how they do it, but they’re my damn heroes.
In non-hero news, I was on FB the other day and spotted the particular author I dislike so much for her affinity for the R-word. In the past, she was blocked because I wanted to pretend she didn’t exist. Of course, she’s attending the Dallas signing with me so pretending is now out the window.
The last few weeks, I’ve pushed myself to accept how there are many people who like the R-word. They even find it funny or think it’s daring to say. Anyway, I’m calmer about meeting this author now. I tell myself she’s never been hurt by the word. She doesn’t know anyone who’s been shamed with it. She thinks it’s harmless. Or maybe she uses it, but not on disabled people, so she thinks the word is okay. Whatever the reason she uses it, I’m at peace with the thought of engaging with a woman I disliked only weeks ago.
The reality is most people don’t care about that word like I do. Back in the day, STGRB posted a long explanation about how the word was perfectly okay and I was picking on an author because I was jealous. They really couldn't imagine the word might be offensive to me (or anyone for that matter). I thought they were assholes for championing such a nasty word. They thought I was an asshole for making a big deal out of a harmless word. I was clearly on the side of the angels, right?
Sure, until I looked at Twitter, FB, and every other social site where everyone casually uses the word against both disabled people and “normal” people. There’s no avoiding the R-word.
I’ll always hate the R-word because people have used it to label my sons. Bullies at school often called my oldest that word because he has autism. Even though the word feels ugly to me, I’ll need to accept that like STGRB, the author they posted about, and this author I’ll see in August, the majority of society feel the R-word is no big deal. I can't change the fact that I'm in the minority.
With my newfound calmness about this author, I’m even more psyched about Dallas. Until then, I plan to write and write and write some more. My goal is to publish six more Bijou books in 2016. Fingers crossed my writing magic continues for a while longer.
Last week, I published my first box set. I don’t know why I took so long to put one together. I’ve bought my friends’ box sets plenty of times, and they’re great deals. I am pretty proud of the main cover for the Little Memphis MC set. It’s my first cover in awhile and my first box set design.
Miranda is still creating covers and not only for me. She did this one and that one for Forbes West. I keep telling Candy Girl to go pro, but she doesn't need the hassle. Apparently, authors can be high-maintenance to deal with. WHAT? I don't know where she got that idea. :P
I should probably return to editing Junkyard Dog if I want to get it finished by this weekend. My next two books have different vibes than my normal Bijou stories so I’ll likely need more time to plot. If so, I really should get started if I plan to publish one of them by April.
Hope the weather isn’t too wild where you are! We’re experiencing a snowstorm only days after enjoying beautiful 70-degree weather. I moved to Indiana for the changing seasons, and it hasn't disappointed.
