2017 Writing Recap and 2018 Goals

So, last year was a little hit or miss for me.
Those of you who follow the blog or twitter or facebook probably already know that it was a rough year. I struggled a lot to get back on the writing horse--to love writing again. But I got there, with a couple of passion for-fun projects that were just for me! And even though I "only" wrote two novellas and one novel in 2017, and didn't get done some of the things I wanted to, I'm proud of myself, and the work I put in.

I just set up my spreadsheet for 2018, and since Jamie Raintree upped her sheet to support up to 10 projects, I filled it up, but I really only have two priorities this year and both of them are Orc Saga! First, the short I promised you, which I want to wrap and get out to you this month, and then Orc 3 until it's done!

On the editing and publishing side, I've got a couple of completed manuscripts that I want to do something with though I'm not quite sure what or how yet, plus I want to get some of my serialized fiction, Imaginary Friend and Thor in Zombie Land particularly, into an ebook format for ease of reading and distribution, and get those out there for you all (Imaginary Friend will probably go out free to Newsletter subscribers, but likely it'll have a 99 cent price point via retailers. Sooooo. Sign up?) I also have plans to re-cover Postcards from Asgard this year so it's a little bit more representative of the moderately sensual contemporary romance (with fantastic Norse Myth elements) contents. (Why can't I write things that fit neatly in a box? WHY. WHHHHYYY.)

But after Orc 3--who knows? I have thoughts and plans for more Amalia Carosella titles (including a Theseus/Antiope book because all the hearts) and I have a Fate of the Gods novella-that-will-probably-be-a-novel-by-the-time-it's-done on my back burner, along with a couple more contemporary ideas, name and brand to be determined. But I promised myself I would spend 2018 giving myself a break from agonizing over the publishing side of things, so I'm keeping it nebulous and probably going to spend all my post-Orc 3 time just writing for the love of writing. And if that means I only release on book this year, I'm okay with that. Hopefully you will be, too.

I was going to leave you with a little teaser title for my Orc Saga short story but I've been staring at it all day now and still can't decide what the final title should be, never mind the final teaser image itself. Something to look forward to on another day, I guess!

---

Amazon | Barnes&Noble 

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

2017 Release Round-Up

Just in case you missed anything--

In February, DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS hit shelves, which is a book that broke me to write and continues to break me in new and different ways in release. It's also about Eric the Red's daughter Freydis, and the rise of Christianity around the year 1000 AD and the marginalization of pagan beliefs, reflected both in the past and present, because it has a contemporary timeline too! Woooooooo Dual Timeline Historical Fiction. Anyway. Grab it if you haven't!! There's some connective tissue there that will particularly appeal to fans of my Fate of the Gods books! And it is a book about Heathens by a Heathen, if that sort of thing speaks to you, too.

In July, I finally and at last released FACETS OF FATE, a collection of my Fate of the Gods novellas and short stories, which included TEMPTING FATE (Mia's story), TAMING FATE (Eve and Ryam DeLeon's story--particularly appropriate to the holiday season!) and the all new FINDING FATE (Marcus's story, and also a sort of epilogue to the Fate of the Gods trilogy), as well as Bride Price (about Adam and the DeLeon boys), Mortal Flesh, and a bonus Athena "chapter" that takes place during the events of Forged by Fate.  This was kind of a passion project of mine. I'd wanted to do a paperback collection like this for a very long time, because Tempting Fate was e-only and so many friends and family members wanted everything in print. So now it is! Go forth and complete your novella collection!

In October, we published A SEA OF SORROW: A NOVEL OF ODYSSEUS, the latest H-Team collaborative novel. I'm one of six awesome authors retelling the Odyssey from the perspective of the monsters, witches, and women Odysseus leaves behind. If you enjoyed the H-Team's SONG OF WAR, A YEAR OF RAVENS, and A DAY OF FIRE, you'll definitely want to get your hands on A SEA OF SORROW as well!

In addition to all of that, I also recovered my Fate of the Gods trilogy--all new cover art, and as an incentive to all of you who already have FORGED BY FATE, FATE FORGOTTEN, and BEYOND FATE in print, some bonus scenes in the back of each of those books. You'll probably be MOST interested in the additional three chapters of Eve's life in the ward in the back of FATE FORGOTTEN, but don't miss Thor showing off his power in the back of FORGED BY FATE or the left on the cutting room floor scene between Thor and Eve at the end of BEYOND FATE. The scenes in Fate Forgotten and Beyond Fate are exclusive to the print editions and won't be available anywhere else, so hopefully you'll enjoy it! Really, there's never been a better time to introduce your friends to Fate of the Gods!

Finally, that Orc Saga short story I promised you all is in process--not QUITE finished yet, because it has been a YEAR, but look for it in January-ish. And then it'll be Orc 3 time for Author me! It's the only project currently on my docket for 2018, and now that I have relearned to love writing again, I'm hoping it will all go smoothly!

Fingers crossed and the happiest of holidays to all of you! May your last week of 2017 be bright, and 2018 bring you forward momentum and blessings!

---

Amazon | Barnes&Noble 

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Facets of Fate, A Sea of Sorrow, a Sale, and an Update

Exciting times this summer/fall -- FACETS OF FATE, my Fate of the Gods collection is finally out in the world in ebook AND paperback, and my next Amalia Carosella release, A SEA OF SORROW, a retelling of The Odyssey in six parts by the H-Team, is coming October 17th!

A SEA OF SORROW is ready for pre-orders pretty much everywhere online (Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and iBooks!) as well as for adding on Goodreads if that is more your speed -- and I hope you'll klikk klikk whatever link means you'll remember to grab your copy upon release! It'll be available in print AND ebook -- and you can even pre-order it in print on amazon, so if that is your preference, by all means, go forth!

(I'm staring at the lined up book covers in the footer of this blogpost while I write this and dang! 14 titles. How did that happen? I don't even know how to wrap my head around it. It just doesn't seem real.)

I've also got a sale this month for you! HELEN OF SPARTA and DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS are just 1.99 each on kindle for the month of September, so make sure to take advantage if you haven't!

Anyway, I wanted to just give you an update on authors!me for those of you not subscribed to the newsletter -- which really, I promise, if you want the most up to date info on new releases and sales, that is the place to be!

I know you're all waiting for Orc 3, and I'm working on an Orc Saga short story to hopefully get out to you this winter (again, a newsletter advantage, because it'll be free for subscribers, and that's the easiest way for me to deliver it to you all directly!) And then I'll be diving in to the real meat and potatoes that I know you're all eager to read, hopefully with the enthusiasm and gusto that the conclusion of this series (and you as readers) deserves!

Again, I'm so grateful for your patience and understanding as I recovered from the epic burn out of 3 years of non-stop contract deadlines for twelve releases and no real downtime to rest my creative brain. (I think the one month I actually was supposed to have off I ended up overseeing a household construction project -- which is not at all restful, I promise you.) But it's been a rough year for more reasons than just the burn out (curse you, back-issues!), and I can't tell you how much I needed the time.

Orc 3 is likely going to be one of the last self-pub titles you see from me for a little while, for a number of reasons both personal and professional. (One of which includes a fabulous car accident just before my trip to HNS Portland which totaled our car and necessitated an unexpected investment in a new one. I cannot make this stuff up, friends. Five o'clock in the morning, rammed in the rear end by a cabbie who was literally asleep at the wheel. Going at least 35 mph, no less. And of course we missed our flight. Because naturally. Like I said -- it's been a difficult year.) But that doesn't mean I won't be writing! I'm just going to not kill myself doing it for a little while longer and focus on the traditional side of things for a bit!

So I think that's about everything for the moment. Make sure you hit up the sales, or pre-order, or add on goodreads, and finally, do subscribe to The Amaliad so you don't miss out on future fun, excitement, sales, releases, and/or sneak peeks!

And have a Baldur-cat, too, before you go :)

---

Amazon | Barnes&Noble 

Amazon | Barnes&Noble