This month’s reading journey took me through a mix of genres and styles, from mind-bending time travel to heart-pounding romances, with a dash of supernatural thrills. Here’s a quick look at what I read:
Book 1: A Discovery of Time and Space by Tiffani Smith – 3/5 Stars
Mixed Review – The plot of A Discovery of Time and Space was engaging, especially with its time travel and multiverse elements. Tiffani and her friends, Rory, Lin, and Ethan, are on a journey to uncover the mysteries...
This month's question: How do you go about building the worlds in your stories? Do you draw inspiration from real places or historical events?
As a character-driven fantasy author, my world-building process revolves around the lives and struggles of my characters. It all begins with a single scene where a character faces a significant issue. From this pivotal moment, I start to craft the world around them, letting their experiences and conflicts shape the setting in a natural and organic...
As we dive into this month, I’m thrilled to share the titles on my TBR list. From time travel adventures to haunted retreats, my February reads promise to keep me on the edge of my seat. Let’s dive right in!
mmjtu77fbsakqfmex066rflb5hkw655.68 KB
First up, I’ve just finished What Happens in Montana by Kim McCollum. This is a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and ghosts! Set at a holistic hot springs retreat in the mountains, a group of friends is forced to confront long-held secrets while...
Looking for honest Beta readers for An Inspirational Historical Western Cowboy Romance. Wonder what that means to me?
Beta readers are incredibly valuable for authors because they provide feedback that can help refine and improve a manuscript before it's published. Here are a few key reasons why I use beta readers:
Fresh Perspective: After working on a manuscript for so long, authors can become too close to their work. Beta readers offer an outsider's perspective, helping to spot issues the...
I'm writing a series of time travel fantasy books. To introduce the story, we have to travel to the past where the story started as an inkling. I won’t tell you what that inkling was to avoid spoilers but it involved a couple of kids being hidden, a dragon, and a woman. That first scene was a seed that captured my interest. I wanted to know more.
The creative process urged me to dig deeper. I needed to explore events before this first scene to understand the kids' plight. I wrote more to...
This is one of those days where my thoughts feel scattered. I have a loved one going through some major health issues, I need to write the epilogue to the Historical Romance I’m writing, I need to finish going through Sages of Tachnir (Dragons Oath Book 3) and get it submitted, and there's the promo waiting on me. And, of course, there are everyday things like laundry beckoning to me. Several factors can cause a writer's thoughts to feel scattered. These can stem from internal and external...
Happy New Year, fellow book lovers! As we dive into January, I'm excited to share my TBR list filled with intriguing reads that promise to inspire and entertain.
dlbq5r3zls2kikakbxccr86fpqhw662.11 KBFirst up is Midnight’s Child (The Midnight Series Book 2) by Tom Kane. This gripping historical war thriller merges high-stakes espionage with the fierce, complex journey of Jessie Fordham through occupied France during World War II. As a sequel to Walking Away from Midnight, it plunges readers...
As we close out the year, I’m excited to share a roundup of my December reads. It was a month filled with thrilling romances, haunting explorations, and heartwarming tales. From political intrigue to magical fairytales, this list is diverse enough that I’ll be saving my January reading journey for another post! But for now, let’s dive into the books that wrapped up my 2024 reading.
As December wraps up, I’m excited to share a couple of exciting updates with you. It’s been a busy month, and the coming year promises even more thrills.
First up: Drake Ascendant (Dragon’s Oath Book 1) is almost here! After months of anticipation, the first book in this thrilling fantasy series will be dropping any day now. You’ll soon be able to dive into the world of curses, dragons, and a race against time. Stay tuned for the official release!
rhyq3d85zfp0yjze0pz81m6qeo7d636.02 KBThe excitement is building, and I can hardly wait to share it with you all! I’ve seen the new cover for Drake Ascendant—and I absolutely love it. It captures everything I wanted: the energy, the essence, the adventure. There's just a little tweaking left to do, but I promise, it’s almost here.
I know you’re all eagerly awaiting the big reveal, and I’m so grateful for your patience. I’ve been putting my heart into this, and I can’t wait for you to see the...
I’m thrilled to announce that my book, formerly titled Dragonborn, is being re-released under the new title Drake Ascendant! This is Book 1 in The Dragon’s Oath series and will be available soon, published by my new publisher, Next Chapter.
I’ve just received the galley and returned it today, so we’re one step closer to the official release! I can’t wait for you all to experience this exciting new chapter in the story.
I’m super excited to announce that for the month of December, I’ll be diving into two creative events: #DecemberWorldbuilders and #FantasyIndiesDecember! Both of these events are all about engaging with fellow creators, sharing insights, and having fun exploring the fantastical worlds we create. I'll be answering random questions, sharing information about myself and my books, and offering a glimpse behind the scenes of my writing process.
November I wrapped up a variety of 5-star reads, each offering something unique—from thought-provoking poetry to thrilling psychological horror. This is a good place to mention that I don't write a review for a book unless I can award it at least three stars. I know the hard work that goes into the writing process and that not every book is for every reader. I try to choose books that interest me, and in November I struck it rich.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the power of togetherness and gratitude. It’s a time to gather around the table with loved ones, share delicious food, and create lasting memories. Yet, beyond the feasts and festive decorations, Thanksgiving invites us to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday: gratitude.
In a world that often focuses on what we don’t have—whether it’s material possessions, accomplishments, or even future goals—this season encourages us to shift...
National Nursery Rhyme Week is a time to celebrate the enduring tradition of nursery rhymes that have been passed down through generations, offering rhythm, rhyme, and often important lessons to young minds. This week, I celebrate not only these timeless rhymes but also introduce a new story—a nursery rhyme that marks the birth of a character destined to make her mark on the world in my fantasy novel Windwalker.
In this rhyme, Jalil Orenda’s arrival is marked by both the gift and burden of...
When I first decided to take my writing seriously, I signed up for online classes to improve my skills. This was back in the early days of the internet—before social media took over and when most of us were still figuring out how to use email. Online communities were just beginning to form, and privacy was a big deal—so no one really used their real names!
As I tried to pick a screen name, I ran into a bit of a roadblock. Every creative option I came up with was already taken. Frustrated, I...
It’s hard to believe that twenty years ago, I stepped into the writing world with both feet. Back then, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how much of a journey it would become or how it would shape my life. But today, looking back, I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the good, the challenging, and even the unexpected moments that have woven themselves into my story.
Gratitude is such a quietly powerful thing. It’s one of those qualities that sneaks up on...
Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to live the writer’s life? It’s more than just putting words on a page. The reality involves juggling a series of tasks—writing, editing, researching, promoting, submitting, and more. And that’s all while managing the everyday responsibilities of family, work, and social life. It’s a balancing act that requires time, patience, and often money.
The Demands of Writing
The craft of writing is more demanding than most people realize. It’s not just about...
October I wrapped up The Lorimer Line, a captivating saga set against the backdrop of Victorian England. From the very first page, the narrator’s voice transported me to 1877, immersing me in the gilded yet confining world of Margaret Lorimer. The third-person omniscient perspective enriches the narrative, allowing us glimpses into Margaret’s aspirations and the societal pressures that loom over her. Her journey of self-discovery and defiance against rigid conventions is both...
If you love epic adventures and imaginative storytelling, you’re in for a treat! I’m thrilled to point you to a guest post I wrote over on Lucy Turns Pages that dives into the fascinating creative process behind two of my fantasy novels, Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate.
In this guest post, I discuss how a simple walk sparked my imagination and led to the development of these two interconnected stories. I delve into the transformative power of perspective—how viewing ordinary experiences...
