Where I've been

I decided early in this blog that I wouldn’t apologize for long absences because it was inevitable. Blogging has always been in service of my writing. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve loved interacting with the blogging community I’ve become a part of and I've made wonderful friends. But I also know that when I have a limited amount of time to pursue writing, my fiction gets priority every time. This is all to say, I’ve been away because I’m writing.

As you are aware (at least that’s the hope because if you're not, I have to up my marketing game), the next book in my Enchanted Path series, A Mage’s Path, will be the last (more on that later). It has taken longer than expected and while I can’t rule out some subconscious aversion on my part to end something that’s been part of my life for over 10 years, I’m really happy to finish it. Right now, the finished manuscript is out with my editor.

Thanks to cover artist, Jack Baker, for his wonderful design

This year I’m trying something new. Instead of focusing all my writing attention on one project, I’m working on three. A Mage’s Path in in final edits. The second novella in my paranormal romance, The Cemetery Circle, is in its second draft phase. And a new book, which will likely be a duology is being “world-built” and outlined.

So, yeah, I’ve been busy.

But I haven’t forgotten about Fairytale Feminista. Fellow blogger, Ari Meghlen, gave me an idea for a new series of posts I hope to write soon. In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me on my writer website and learn more about finishing my first series.

And read the books! 😉

Dipper, my reluctant supermodel supermutt

The Day After

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day (as if you didn’t know), the day dedicated to love. And though it’s supposed to be about all love, romantic love is arguably the most exciting, so it’s what we focus on. I’ve never been a fan of Valentine’s Day, but it doesn’t stop me from appreciating the symbols and gestures of the holiday. With one exception…

Fairy tales are not romantic. I’m always baffled when people claim they want “the fairy tale.” With very few exceptions, fairy tales contain none of the hallmarks of romance. No meet-cutes, no long courtships, no enemies to friends (exception being Beauty and the Beast) and all the kissing happens when one of the party is unconscious. Not romantic!

And yet, we continue to look for our romantic ideals in fairy tales that were written in a time when romance was more about worship from afar, and becoming a couple was more about joining of property than joining of soulmates.

But I do believe in literary romance—Jane Austen comes to mind—just not in fairy tales. I just prefer my happily ever after’s to actually include love. Maybe we should change the saying to wanting the “Austen novel” or “fill-in-the-blank novel” (like Susanna Kearsley or Olivia Atwater).

Or (shameless plug) The Cemetery Circle!

What’s your favorite happily ever after?

Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Author Anniversary: Special Edition

As Fairytale Feminista readers know, I don’t usually post on Fridays, but today I’m making an exception.Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t celebrate, but last year I found a new reason to mark the occasion. Last year I published my first novella, The Cemetery Circle. It seemed appropriate to release it on Valentine’s Day because it was a paranormal romance that I thought up while on a romantic trip with my husband.However, the trip went better than the publication. I spent most of my marketing budget on my fantasy series, so there was very little left to bring it to anyone’s attention. For a time, I considered the book a failure.But a year later, with three books to my credit, I have a different perspective. A lackluster reception didn’t lessen my need to write or my desire to share it with the world. In fact, I’m thinking of writing a sequel.This Valentine’s Day I want to give a special gift to all the writers I’ve met during this indie pub journey. Even getting something out there is a win. Love the successes as well as the failures. And failures for writers aren’t permanent because all it takes is one enthusiastic reader to get your book in other people’s hands.

An interview with me!

Hey FF readers,Writers are a friendly lot. We like to support each other because no one knows more than we do how difficult and solitary this profession can be. Bloggers understand that more than most and I think it's great the way we reach out to each other to make the big, scary blogosphere seem a little smaller and connected!Today Rachel Poli posted an interview with yours truly and while I hope you read my interview, I also hope you poke around the rest of her site, which is fun and informative. Thanks again Rachel for the support!

Reader Blind Date

Hey FF Readers! Happy Valentine’s Day!Reading a new book by a new author is like going on a blind date. You’re taking a chance on love. But you don’t always want to commit to a full meal, or in this case a full-length novel.Why not try appetizers instead? Say a paranormal romance novella?The Cemetery Circle is only 70 pages and 1.99 USD/EURO/GBP—a great way to get to know each other better. Available digitally today!

Coming soon to paperback and audiobook!

Romance by Another Name--My Top 5 unconventional stories about love

Valentine’s day is days away and I’ve never been one to celebrate it. One year in junior high a friend and I, fed up with the day, threw rocks in a pond and named each rock after a boy. It’s my favorite Valentine’s Day memory.Now I write a blog about fairy tales, which for some is the touchstone of romance. I, on the other hand, prefer something more modern. So in honor of a holiday I don’t celebrate I offer a list of modern fairy tale romances I wish I’d known about in junior high: Outlander series: Despite being set in the past, Jamie’s oddly progressive views about a strong, capable woman is worth wishing for. Plus, the accent… Followed by Frost: A fairy tale retelling of the Snow Queen, it’s a rare redemption story that focuses on loving oneself before loving someone elseThe Rules of Magic: Not an obvious choice, but I appreciate a story that shows that love doesn’t have to last to be deep, meaningful and powerfulThe Woodcutter: The ultimate story about faithfulness versus duty. His love of his wife is all that sustains him and keeps him strong for all the trials ahead even though it isn’t a given that he’ll return. I also love that she isn’t described as a great beauty, just someone precious to himHis Majesty’s Dragon: Not all love stories have to be romantic. Friendship is just as powerful and the love between a man and his dragon, while distinctly an idea of fantasy writers, is no less valid. Those are my top five romances for people who need a little something extra in their love stories. Here’s hoping my paranormal romance, The Cemetery Circle, makes it on to your list of unconventional romances.  Stone Watcher. The term holds no meaning for 30-year-old Cia, who thought a free vacation to Scotland would be the perfect escape from her troubles—not knowing it would commit her to a lifelong promise made centuries before her time.The Cemetery Circle is a paranormal fantasy novella that begs the question—who would volunteer to live next to a graveyard? The answer is—no one.

Plans and Villainy

I'm a person who likes preparation. I've always said my superpower is research. It comes from my curiosity and imagination--two things essential for any person, but especially a writer.This past weekend I attended a writer's conference for fantasy and needless to say I was underwhelmed. I spent months preparing. I researched the speakers (where possible because the panels weren't announced until a week before), I printed out marketing material for my current book, A Smuggler's Path and for my upcoming novella, The Cemetery Circle (unrelated to my Path series), and ordered a box of my book to sell at the consignment table.The night before I packed and made sure everything was ready both for my conference and at home. And it was... well...I was a great student. I don't say that with any conceit, but it was something I was really good at because it was the culmination of my all my strengths--preparation, curiosity, and imagination. I knew that if I worked hard, I'd get good grades and inevitably praise from my teachers. Sadly, I've discovered that's not how writing works. All the plans in the world does not guarantee that I'll be either praised or noticed. Not an uplifting thought, but a true one.That got me thinking about villains. Have you noticed that they're the one's that make plans and prepare in fairy tales. The Evil Queen didn't just wing it and poison Snow White--that took planning! You think Rumpelstiltskin hadn't run that "straw into gold" scam on some other desperate waif? He was way too practiced for that. The angry fairy in Sleeping Beauty had weeks to seethe about not getting an invite. Girlfriend had a plan! It's why they end up monologuing--they need to share all that hard work with someone.Only heroes get to make it up as they go along. They're saved because of good looks or charm. They show up with skills, but no preparation.So where does that leave me? With twenty unsold books and wondering if plans are really the way to go. Or maybe it gives me a little insight into the mind of fairy tale villains. When so much planning goes into an idea, is it any wonder they go a little mad?

Trudging up literary hill with Jane Austen

I hate exercise. At least I hate the after effects. I'm fine with taking long walks, hiking, and the occasional dance off in my living room. But I really don't like sweating. It's a real handicap when sweat is the proof that exercise is working. After a summer of trying my best to avoid the heat (to little effect), I'm trying to get back into exercising, but for now it's an uphill battle.It's the same with writing. If I ever needed proof that it's a muscle, I've got it now. Marketing has been plaguing me for the past month or so. It's been rather consuming (writing blog posts, creating ads on Goodreads, keeping tabs on sales, fighting with the printer because of a 0.0625 differential on the cover art, etc.) and therefore has blocked out any semblance of a writing regiment. I vowed when school started for my daughter, I would let marketing go on autopilot for at least a week or two and get back to my much-needed rewrites for my novella, The Cemetery Circle (due out mid-October in time for the Halloween season). It's hard to switch gears.But I've been fighting to get back. The hill keeps getting steeper and more daunting. Doubts creep in... Did I lose my skills? Are my ideas viable? Do I remember all my characters' names? Are sentences ending in prepositions really the end of the world?I'm sure you've been there before. Maybe it wasn't writing. Maybe it was exercise or a reading challenge. And the only advice I have is to start small. I have to embrace the little victories in order to work up to the big triumphs. I write in workbooks with writing prompts. I use the back of Jane Austen postcards to write flash fiction and poetry. Once I start trudging up that hill, my legs remember how to find their footing faster. Breathing gets easier and I remember to enjoy the scenery.And when all else fails I pull out my postcard and read dear Jane's (because, in my mind Jane Austen and I are friends) advice:"I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am."