Usually at the end of the year, I reflect on the previous year and make some plans for the coming one. This year is a little bigger since it ends the decade. When the decade began, I was teaching full time and had been married for four years. We'd blended our families and lived in a small two bedroom condo. But so many changes happened during the years... I became a published author, then watched as publishing houses after publishing houses closed. I joined a small startup indie publishing house as an editor, only to become the owner during the years that followed. I've been fortunate to help many new authors fulfill their dreams. As a reader, I've continued to devour books. Staying current with my keepers and finally meeting some of my favorites, like Laurell K. Hamilton, Nancy Gideon and Daryna Jones. I also reconnected with my childhood friend. I grew up with Tracey, from toddlers to teens. He was my first boyfriend and served as the inspiration for one of my heroes. Each day, he texted or called me. He'd had some brain damage and wasn't quite the same but I loved him. He was a part of my soul. It's hard to explain. But with him, I became a better person. Sadly, I lost him again. This time not to life but to death. He passed quietly right before New Years over a year ago. Reading my first book, he still jumps off the page. After my first book was published, more followed. 63 in fact- some where I was simply a contributor and others where I earned awards and International Best Selling status. Two were children's books which pulled together my love of kids and writing. I was also able to finally publish my mother's book which she wrote in the 1980's. While it was twenty years after her death, I know she's doing a Snoopy dance in heaven. Teaching was my passion but over the years, the changes increased my apathy. I loved the kids but the hoops to jump through increased my anxiety and depression. When you spend all your time grading papers, planning lessons, answering emails and testing children...the love gets lost in the hullabaloo. My own children were missing the best parts of me so I left full time teaching but couldn't walk away totally from the kids. I started guest teaching (subbing) and found a renewed passion, making new connections with familiar schools (the ones my children went to). Sharing my writing with students increased their drive to become authors and made me excited to be in a classroom each day. My own children graduated high school and then two graduated college during the decade. They all found careers. Two married. They have settled into new homes, with my daughter moving to Oklahoma. I couldn't be prouder of the adults they have become. Moving was a big thing for us this decade. Not only did all the kids move out on their own, Mark and I moved from the small two bedroom condo to a three bedroom craftsman home and finally to a South Carolina condo near the beach. The sunshine and warmer temps have provided the needed motivation for a healthy lifestyle. We get to the beach each week and ride or walk every day (often both!). We were luckier than most, fewer losses and more blessings. Each one of you are a blessing to me. You have supported me, bought my books, shared a comment or laugh, sent a prayer or just a smile. You have made me feel so cherished and I'm so glad to have you in my life. As I look forward to 2020, I have stories to write and sand for my toes. What has your decade been like? Are you ready for 2020? Do you have big plans? Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker finally comes to the big screen but it has a bittersweet feeling after the death of Carrie Fisher. You can catch my review on my review page. Have you seen the movie? Are you a big Star Wars fan? What did you think? I fell in love with vampire books early. Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series and Nancy Gideon's New Orleans vampires where a few of my early favorites. Then I read Clara Winter's series. Her vampires have depth and strive to be more than caricatures of the vampire persona. They are more human than many other characters and seek to find happiness. During her series, we meet some amazing characters, a former countess, a spy, Cleopatra's children and a witch. Each must fight for their love match as they battle against the evil in their lives. Now Clara wraps up her series and brings all your favorites back! But it's a bigger evil and more than life and death at risk. Grab a Copy for Yourself! Blurb: The compelling final story in the enchanting series which began with Deepest Midnight…. The Immortal Kindred gather together as chaos erupts. Two of their own have gone missing, sucked back in time. Vampire demigod Selene messed with the wrong goddess of death. Now they’re all in danger. Millicent and Annie come face to face with the distant past. No longer immortal, they must draw on their inner strength to see them through travails long thought dead and buried. Tash, the witch, draws on every spell he knows to bring the women home as he taps into the power of the dark star. Will it be enough to grant the immortals their happily ever after? Will the goddess, Nephthys, put an end to everything they know and love? Dark Star is an epic adventure that will take you all over the globe and through time itself. Now Up for PreOrder! About the Author: Amy Rugg grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland while watching Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. Writing her own stories naturally ensued. She is a wife, mother, and former school counselor, with a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Amy is from Colorado Springs, Co and currently resides in Mission Viejo, Ca. clarawinterbooks.com When author Nicole Sobon shared Collide: Episode 1, readers fell in love with Gemma and Ben. He was the brother of her best friend. She secretly loved him from afar for a while but didn't dare dream he had feelings for her. As the books came out, we saw their love deepen as crisis after crisis threatened it. Death, Depression, Family Squabbles...Things which we all can relate to. Their love took shape over time and now they are facing marriage. But since drama is the name of the game... will Ben and Gemma make it down the aisle? Blurb: Engagement? Check. Stable relationships? Check. Family drama? Check. For the first time in what feels like forever, Gemma and Ben are in a good place. He’s got a good job, and she’s finally able to focus on writing that book she’s always wanted to write. Even better? They’re on their way to finally making it official as they begin to plan their nuptials. Unfortunately, though, life is never without its complications and there will be plenty of bumps along the way to “I do.” What’s a wedding without some family drama? EXCERPT: There were moments I questioned how the hell I’d gotten so lucky. Ben had always been the one thing I’d wanted, and for a bit, he had appeared to be unattainable. Then, against all odds, we bloomed into something more—something we’d both thought to be impossible for so long. Was he perfect? Hell no. The man snored like a chainsaw some nights, and he couldn’t cook worth a damn, but he underneath the once-ladies’ man, there’d always been a gentle giant. Now he just so happened to be my gentle giant. Yeah, life was pretty dang great. Or as close to great as it would get. I was beginning to realize things would never be entirely perfect. My anxiety would still flare up occasionally, and my grief would undoubtedly creep up out of nowhere every now and again. But for the time being, I was happy with how things had fallen into place. “Understood,” I answered. “Now, if we could avoid wedding talk for the rest of the night? That’d be wonderful. Your sister’s already threatening to bring me a box of wedding magazines tomorrow, and I’m still trying to work myself up to handling that.” “In that case, perhaps it’s about time you allow me to get you a ring, Ms. Michaels.” I shook my head. “Nope, I told you, no ring. It’s bad enough I’m going to have to try not to lose my wedding ring when the time comes. You can’t possibly entrust an expensive engagement ring to me, and you darn well know it.” “Well then, perhaps I should try and return this,” he said as he pulled a small black box out of his pocket. “I mean, I’m sure it’ll be difficult, as the ring was engraved and everything.” Now Available About the Author: Nicole Sobon is the author of The Emile Reed Chronicles (YA Science Fiction), the Outbreak duology, Collide (NA Romance), and more! You can find her online at: Twitter: @NicoleSobon Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NicoleSobonAuthor Blog: http://www.NicoleSobon.blogspot.com Letters are windows into the past. I have saved many letters, yes the handwritten kind, from my family and old friends. Sitting among the letters, I enjoy reminiscing about playing outside or celebrating birthdays together. Seeing my grandmother's handwriting always brings a tear to my eyes. Letters serve so many purposes and author, Liz Ashlee has included some letters between her main characters in her upcoming release, Sort of Normal. Through these letters we get a better understanding of their relationship and the motivation they have for doing what they do. Sort of Normal is now up for pre-order but will be released in Jan. Be sure to grab a copy of this heartwarming tale for yourself! Blurb: Falling in love isn’t as easy as staying in love. Carter Hart and Boone Fell’s lives are tangle of perfect and imperfect memories. In a world of drugs, alcoholism and neglectful parents, their love for each other kept them strong. But all it takes is one kiss and a lie to tear them apart. When Carter’s brother, Declan, dies of an overdose, Boone decides he can’t let another day of secrets and mistaken circumstances keep them apart. His only problem? Now that he’s ready to move forward with Carter, she’s ready to leave him where she thinks he belongs: in the past. Pre-Order Your Copy Today! |
Melissa KeirGator Girl Extraordinaire Archives
October 2023
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