I started writing because I loved reading so much. Way back in the long long ago, I was just a reader who discovered her kindle. I paid way more money than I probably should have, but that little device brought me so much fucking joy, that I regret nothing.
 
In finding my joy this year, I am working on doing things that make me happy. Like last week, I sat down with a friend I made through this whole crazy writer world and we just brainstormed. I told her that I want to write a book next month, that I need to hit a “THE END” and we went from a hint of “I miss vampires” to an entire character arc and story line for both her book and mine. I’m so grateful for your willingness to lock the door to the craziness in your own house and take that couple of hours with me, Kayleigh Malcolm. (Seriously, buy a book from the woman. She’s brilliant.)
 
But even though I’ve said it before in an offhand manner, I've noticed something about myself this past month. I do better when I have more to do. Don’t get me wrong, I still need to do the dance between overloading my TO DO’s and sleeping all day, but when I have multiple things to keep track of, my mind goes into serious mode. I make lists and plans, and I know that I have to get X done, because Y is up next.
 
So I’m going to start jumping into a few small frying pans and see if I can dance again.
 
Starting with....

A READ ALONG!

Even before I fell hard for my Kindle, I fell in love with vampires.​ I can remember checking very specific books out from the library again and again. LJ Smith was also the first author I hunted down and spent my own money on in the bookstore. (I think it was a Borders. RIP) And her Vampire Diaries were the ones I fell hardest for.

The original 90’s-tastic book covers for the Vampire Diaries are stuck in my mind. That black crow with Elena’s blue eyes peaking out…LOVE. 

These are the books I blame for my start down the road to romance. Before I even knew exactly what it was. This unnatural pull and fated meeting...this was my shit.

Yes, I know there was/is a TV show about this. But any LJ Smith purist knows Elena Gilbert is FUCKING BLOND WITH BLUE EYES!

ahem. Sorry.

Actually, no I'm not. Those features had meaning and purpose, and my little teenage heart still hurts that a brunette played her.

I tried to get into the show, but it veered too far off the path of the original story for me. 

I've heard of people currently doing a re-read of Twilight because of the nostalgic flutter that it gave their hearts. I don't have that for Twilight. I did read the books, and they were a fast read for me. But all I could think of when reading them was the Vampire Diaries. The OG vampire love triangle. The struggle of family and loss. All with 90's bangs and so much teenage angst I'm probably going to choke on it. But I'm going to love every minute.

Does this book hold up in today's world? Probably not, but if you go into this in the same frame of mind you'd have watching Friends, or Full House, you'll get it.

​So whether you want to relive a little 90's drama, or see some of what the hell happened to my head as a child that made me who I am today. Read along with me! 

This week, let's read "The Awakening". There are various formats available, but I'll be reading from the 2007 re-release edition. It's a quick read, and I figure in a week, most people will decide this either is or isn't their cup of tea and will allow those of us who are still obsessed to move onto the next book in a speedy way. 

Just realized, maybe this is where I got my obsession with cover art that stares you down! Huh.

Either way, I'm reading this book from Today, Feb 15th, through Feb 22nd. Then it will be onto "The Struggle".

Feel free to chat here in the comments, or head on over to my Facebook page and let me know what you thought of this. I'll link the thread below. Or come tell me what book flips your nostalgia switch! I'd love to hear about it.

​~Roxy

A long time ago in a world far far away, there were small book publishers kicking much ass.

Their names were Ellora's Cave and Samhain Publishing. I read many many books published by these companies and I adored the authors who wrote for them. 

Then one day I wrote a book. I promptly threw that book in the trash because that's where garbage belongs, but then I wrote more books, until I wrote one that I was willing to show people. This book was the start of a trilogy. Because I grew up in the 90's and I loved PNR trilogies. L.J. Smith was my girl. #teamdamon

I wanted to be a writer, so when a writer I admired agreed to read my book, I sent it off. Then she gave me a chance to send it to her editor. Her editor at...SAMHAIN PUBLISHING.

Oh, man. I loved that company. I loved their marketing. I loved shopping their website. 

They published my book.

This October will be my 5th year as an author because Samhain Publishing published my book. Yup. That book, right up there with the kickass model staring you down. 

But now...Samhain is closed and the book is just a file on my computer. 

And the fact that the book that made me a published author, that is the theme of my website, that earned me PAN status in RWA, is stuck on my computer...well it just plain sucks.

I've been working toward doing things that make me nervous. I've self-published a few of my titles that I thought might be too outside the box to find homes with other publishing houses. I've been working hard on a secret project. (No I'm not telling you about it. It's secret because I'm still in the fucking it all up phase.) And I've been getting more involved with my local Romance Writers of America chapter. Which is big for me, because I have to put on real pants and leave the house. You're super impressed, right?

The thing I haven't done that scares me the most, is re-read this first book. 

If you've never written a book before, let me let you in on a secret. You improve your craft with each book. You get a little better at story telling. You remember to turn on track changes for your poor editor. (Still sorry about that, Lisa!) 

All this means, I'm scared I'm not going to have the same love for my first baby. I'm scared I'm going to hate the book that made me an author. 

But I've learned a lot about myself in these past couple of years. And I've learned how knowing where you stand is the first step in moving forward. I adore my Hart Clan Hybrids. I've even refused to take them off this website because I love them so much. I think it's time Amber made her way back into the world.

I've been reading books by my favorite authors. I think it's time to re-read my own.

What are you doing today that scares you?

​~Roxy

 

​This post was meant to go up the day after NaNoWriMo ended, but frankly, your girl earned a day off to buy herself a little celebration present. 

I wanted to review my experience with some rapid fire questions and responses. NaNoWriMo is one of my favorite writing events, and I'd never want to miss it, but I do try to attempt new techniques and stories to keep myself interested and challenged.

Did you write for NaNo this year? It's definitely a challenge, especially considering the time of year, but that's how the creators of NaNoWriMo intended it. Because if you can write a novel in November, you can do it any time of the year.


HOW MUCH DID I WRITE?
I wrote 56,713 total, and crossed the finish line of 50k on November 24th.

WHAT WAS MY MOST PRODUCTIVE WRITING TIME?
I made sure to write at least something every day. And my most productive times are between 6am and Noon. #5amclub4life

WHAT DID I TRY FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Using ambient noise instead of music. (THIS IS MY FAV) Worked better than I thought, but had a mild ASMR effect on me, and made me sleepy sometimes.

WHAT WORKED THE BEST?
Writing in the morning. Getting my words in before everyone else woke up helped immensely. 

WHAT WILL I NEVER DO AGAIN?
Stay up late to write. I've discovered I am an early morning writer. There's no point in me staying up. Unless I like one letter documents when I fall asleep on the keyboard.

WHAT DID I NOT DO LAST MONTH?
Laundry. And dishes. And sleep.

COFFEE OR TEA?
Coffee. Deathwish coffee, to be exact. 

HOW DID I CELEBRATE?
I bought planner supplies, and gave myself permission to take a day off, culminating in playing South Park Fractured But Whole.


I have a lot of housework to catch up on, and finances to address, but most importantly, a story to get back to. Because at the end of the day, NaNoWriMo for me is a practice of putting my writing before everything else for 30 days out of the year. It's a way to reconnect with my favorite part of being an author, writing a new story.

How did you do with this NaNo? Did you hit 50k? Did you try and decide the challenge aspect isn't for you? Is there something new you tried that you're going to incorporate into your writing routine? Let me know. I'm always looking for new things to try for next year. Because I'm ready to earn my next winner badge. 

~Roxy