Why I’m not finishing Steven’s series (right now)…

Answer: I’m not a machine.

When other characters have stories to tell in my head, I go with those. I’ve written eleven other books, plus a book of extras, since I released Number Seven in 2013. So I’m not as prolific as some other authors. (As a side note, eight of those books I’ve written since 2013 have over 100,000 words.) I have a full-time job, am completely self-reliant and have had some hardships in the past few years.

The characters who have inspired me since 2013 are Livvy, Jon, Max, Callen, Trey, Will, Shea and Coley. Steven has not. Renee has not. Kaydra has not. I’m not going to write an uninspired book or series.

Believe me, I see my sales. I know people aren’t as interested in the characters who interest me; it’s a hard pill to swallow. That being said, I’m doing something my soul needs to do for me to stay healthy and happy as a person.

Someday, maybe readers’ tastes and the voices in my head will align. Until then, I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing… and I’m going to stop calling Number Seven a prequel. I understand it’s misleading when I have no ETA for a follow-up.

A part of me feels the need to apologize, but… I feel like I’ve still given so much of myself over the years that an apology isn’t really needed. Instead, I’ll thank you for reading and for your patience between any releases I do have.

Peace and love, always.

Number Seven is now a Kindle ebook! 99¢

Make sure you add this funny, sexy short story (16.000 words) to your collection! Number Seven is the prequel to Steven Holland’s series, which will hopefully begin showing up in ebook stores in 2015!

Right now, it’s sitting at #46 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Short Stories. If we can get it to the top 10 of this list in June, I will have a giveaway for five signed paperbacks of Number Seven! After you’ve purchased your copy, comment on this post or on the corresponding Facebook post to be entered to win.*

In a new state, embarking on a new career, Steven Holland feels lost. Brothers Jacks and Matty want nothing but the best for their little brother, but they sense he might need a distraction provided by a new friend. Setting aside his desire for some permanence in his life, he ventures out for a night of temporary entertainment. What he finds is the beginning of something he won’t soon forget.

* There will only be a drawing if Number Seven makes it to the top 10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Short Stories!

 

 

NaNoWriMo? It’s not NOVEMBER!

No, I know it’s not NaNoWriMo November… it’s April. It’s time for Camp NaNoWriMo! We go to “camp” twice a year – in April and in July – so we can fulfill our writerly fantasies at other times of the year. Since it’s already been decided I won’t be taking my vacation in November to participate, I figured I might as well participate now! Plus, I need a kick in the pants. I’ve been in a writing rut for a few months, and I need to write myself out of it. So far, so good. I’m just over the 1,667/day goal on day two. I need to get ahead, because while I won’t get to take vacation for this, I am going to Vegas for four days for work, so I doubt there will be much writing done then.

What am I writing? Most of my readers will be happy to know that my Olivia rewrites will represent the bulk of these 50,000 words. That’s not all, though! I’m so anxious to give you a taste of Steven Holland that I’m planning to finish the prequel this month, too. It will likely involve four chapters, narrated by some of your old favorites (Jack and Matty) and some of the new characters I really want you to know (Stevie and Renee).  This little snippet of the story takes place a few months before Lost and Found begins, chronologically. (Did you know that story begins on 12/31/06? Well, now you do.) So this occurs sometime in August, shortly after Steven has made the decision to make his permanent home in Dallas, Texas.

I’ll try not to do the word counts every day. I know that gets boring for you (and a bit obsessive for me), but I’ll keep you abreast of the stories’ progresses. Is that right? Gosh. I think that’s a sign that I’m done for tonight.