Not my typical Post

I’ve seen a lot of people talking about invisible illness lately. Of course, in this social media firestorm we live in, everyone seems to be holding up their particular concerns like an ocean of picket signs. Perhaps I have only zeroed in on this particular discussion because it is something which concerns me as well. I’m not waving my sign and saying “Hey Notice Me! I AM HURTING TOO”. Not really. Though it is nice that I now have better words to use when discussing the issues with those close to me. But, what I am getting from the societal discussions is a recognition within myself that what I feel is real. And I’m not alone.
I’m struggling. I have been for quite some time. And I have done just about everything I can to dress it up, fight it, ignore it, and cry about it. I’m tired. So I’m not going to do any of that anymore.
I have depression. I have anxiety. I have chronic pain. I’m overweight. I am struggling with addiction to smoking. And my stress levels are uncontrolled.

Well, hello there. You too?

Here is an interesting thought one of my students brought to my attention. There is this misconception that in order to write, especially the good stuff, you must be a drunk, mentally unstable, chain smoking genius. Well, I am no genius, maybe that’s why it doesn’t work for me. All the other stuff really puts a kink in my writing process. No, I’m not a drunk. Thankfully that vice isn’t one I’ve acquired, but the others have been a constant battle. And I am so exhausted battling those demons, there just isn’t much left for my characters.
Due to this, my writing has slowed down. But I’m crawling up that particularly deep ravine and finding joy in life while finding ways to manage my illnesses. It’s a wonderful thing to see light in your life again. Even as you stand panting on the edge of that cliff, hoping you don’t fall back in.
One thing I can tell you about these experiences and writing–It sure gives me a lot to write about and new perspectives to complicate the lives of my characters. Life as a writer isn’t just sitting on your butt and writing words. It’s living life. It’s struggling. It’s watching the world around you spin in and out of control. It’s taking all the colors, dark, bright, muted, and brilliant and placing them on paper.
Am I ready to take my recent struggles and put them on paper, into the mouths of my characters? I don’t know. I honestly have no idea how this will go. I’m still struggling with my depression and anxiety. I’m still hurting every day. But I am learning to roll with it.
Soon, I’ll be back to torturing my characters with all the things a crazy life can throw at them.

Noodle Armed but Pumping

Life continues to move forward at a fast pace. I love it! I know it may not seem that way from the gaps in this blog. Or maybe it does. Either way, let me catch you all up on the most exciting items.
I am currently writing the third book in the Viator Legacy series and once again becoming engulfed in these dynamic characters. I can’t wait to share this one with you. Unfortunately, I have to finish it first!
Speaking of the Viator Legacy – tomorrow, March 17th, is the last day to purchase Unforeseen for $0.99. Get your copy and leave me feedback. Good reviews are great and not so good reviews are even better! I can only improve for you if I know what I am missing.
Now to end this post with some really exciting news!

Cibola’s Revenge will be offered digitally through Arizona Libraries via BiblioBoard Library. This is an awesome opportunity. I am very excited not just to be a part of this but also that libraries are becoming more open to digital editions as well as indie authors.

I hope you are all doing well and I can’t wait to make some more announcements soon.

Cheers!

2015… Wow!

Here we are in the second month of 2015 and I am amazed at how quickly it is going already.

When reminiscing on New Year’s Eve with my extended family I realized this year marks FIVE years since I published my first novel Unexpected! I can’t believe it. I feel like I’ve only just started this journey but looking back at the books since Unexpected I know it’s been a heck of a ride. And it is FAR from over.

To celebrate I am offering Unforeseen (Book 2 – Viator Legacy) for $0.99 from February 2nd until March 17th on Smashwords and Amazon! I love Grace and would like more folks to meet her. Lucius isn’t too bad either.

Let’s get ready for more adventures with Deadbeat coming out very soon and Unrepentant (Book 3 – Viator Legacy) coming out later this year. This wild ride just keeps on going.

Happy 2015 Everyone!

Announcement and Sale!

Season’s Greetings to all my Readers and Friends!

After a honestly brutal heart to heart with my editor and betas I decided that I could not release Deadbeat just yet. You all deserve my best and that is exactly what I am going to give you.

I want to thank you for your continued support and patience. This story got away from me. This universe has so many unique personalities and they all want my attention. To be honest, they distracted me with how fun each one is.

In the meantime, to make up for the delay AND give everyone an opportunity to submit an honest review of my first book, I am lowering the price. From TODAY, December 17th, until January 31st you can purchase the digital version of Unexpected : A Viator Legacy Novel for only $0.99. This price is available on Smashwords, (for Kobo, Nook, iBook, PDF, etc.) and Amazon (for Kindle.)

This weekend I am baking cookies, decorating and spending time with my family. I hope you all are enjoying this Holiday Season with the people you love.

Happy Chanukkah, Blessed Yule, Happy Kwanzaa, and Merry Christmas!!

Crashing Waves and Lego Everywhere!

For the first time in forever…I took a vacation that I actually felt like I deserved. Not that I don’t always deserve or even want vacations, my goal in life is to see just about all there is possible to see.  In this case, I actually needed a break from working so hard. Now, often working too hard is considered a bad thing, as we would all love to have a job that is relatively easy to do and enjoyable. For me things have been both hectic and fulfilling. I’ve been working my tush off to get my workload caught up in the office and also finishing up the revisions for Deadbeat. I am happy to say that both are well on their way to moving forward. (It took a little longer than planned. It will be SO worth the delay!)

But that brings me back to vacations. Sometimes you need a vacation to get away from the drag of the everyday. Other times you need a chance to bring yourself back to center. And sometimes, like my recent vacation, it is a time of celebration. And we did celebrate. I had a blast with my family in San Diego. We visited Cabrillo National Monument and explored the Tide Pools. (This is a place and activity I highly recommend to anyone taking a trip to the area.) Then we hit up Legoland, and honestly, do I need to say more? I mean, come on… Lego! We closed our trip with several hours at the beach. I saw dolphins. From the beach. Yes. Dolphins! For a desert rat, it is a sight you never forget. It was phenomenal.

And now, I’m home, happy, and ready to keep moving forward. It is going to be an amazing holiday season and I can already predict 2015 is going to be a year for the record books.

Ok, time for me to finish up those final edits on Deadbeat. Keep your eyes peeled for a vampire who puts a whole new spin on the supernatural.

Cheers!

Phoenix Comicon 2014

Wow! Phoenix Comicon was unbelievable! I am still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened and everything I saw.

I must say that I really loved meeting other authors whom I’ve admired for some time. The charming Donna Cook. The brilliant Frank Beddor, (who hugged me!) The stunning Carole Barrowman whose writing I can’t wait to share with my son. I am still in awe that they were all so gracious and encouraging.

And how do I explain my excitement over the gentleman who brought in my book, (Cibola’s Promise), after 2 years to get it signed? It truly made me weepy. To have people come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy my stories is still amazing. I hope I will always feel this grateful when meeting fans of my work.

I cannot adequately express how much I adore my friends who helped me with this convention. The love, care, and heavy lifting were more than I expected. I am continually amazed at the support system I have. Honestly, I would not have gotten this far with out each and every person who gave a bit of their time or talent to my endeavors. I love you all so very much!

At the moment I am working on the projects which pertain to that very big announcement I promised. So it will probably be a bit quiet again here. You’ll love the results of my hiding, however.

**Falling out of the Shadows September 2014**

 

Also keep an eye out for Unrepentant (A Viator Legacy Novel) scheduled for release December 2014 – more details to come later this summer!

In the Soup, Getting Ready to Paddle out Again

Dude! Really, Dude!

Phoenix Comicon totally snuck up on me. Luckily it was while I was getting ready for Phoenix Comicon. I have passed the point of stressing over the details and am super excited. I mean in TWO days I will be geeking out with friends and making new geektastic friends. Who wouldn’t be excited?

I have scheduled release dates, which I’ll be announcing at the con first, for the next two novels. So keep an eye out for news after this Pop Culture extravaganza we call Phoenix Comicon.

If any of you will be at the convention come by my table and say hello! I love meeting readers 🙂  Plus I will have all the current books on-hand in print ready to sign. See you there!

 

 

 

 

***BTW the fantastic image behind my covers was taken by the Amazing CowgirlZen Photography!***

Wild Wild West Steampunk Con 2014 Wrap Up!

Imagine my excitement when the opportunity to attend the Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention appeared just as I finished Cibola’s Revenge. Wow, this conference was tailor made for this series! Set in the Arizona Desert at Old Tucson Studios, this conference delivered on every promise. For three days we were immersed in the Victorian west, surrounded by Steampunks and Cowboys. Be still my heart, it was fabulous!

If you ever have a chance to visit the studios, it is a brilliant trip any time of year. You get a taste of the old west and a whole lot of movie history. Tucson, itself, is one of my favorite towns, full of character and gorgeous landscape. As you come over Gates Pass you see the full expanse of a forest of saguaros, something you won’t see the like of anywhere in the world!

The energy of the conference was catching, as we spent time in the old barn, hanging with various merchants of Steampunk gadgets, gizmos, and gowns. If you like to add a little fantasy and science fiction to your history, this is the genre for you.

Professor Elemental was the king of the crowd, performing, recording, and being an all-around gracious gentleman. I can’t say enough about how awesome he was to the guests. My favorite part—his super hero pose is a pugilist with a sassy grin. What a great ambassador for Steampunk! If you haven’t seen his work, I highly recommend Cup of Brown Joy.

The best part was the time I got to spend with people I have come to know and love in the scene. I was able to catch up with a great friend and talented artist Jenn Hopkins. I can’t say enough about how amazing this woman is. Her art ranges from paintings, to computers, to photography, to… seriously, she does it all. I look forward to watching her take over the world with her art!
Mantecoza was out in full form as well. And I am extremely excited to hear we are likely to see something by Fall of this much anticipated film! CAN’T WAIT!

I got to meet a bunch of new talents as well. I was very excited to be included on a panel of authors. Eddie Louise was gorgeous and gracious. She spent years across the pond in Scotland, but can I say, we happy to have her back with us in the States! I look forward to seeing her books as they make their way to the U.S.!

And the highlight to my con, was a total geek fan moment. Lindsay Buroker was also on the panel. I got to sit on the panel with LINDSAY BUROKER! I love this woman. Her Flash Gold novellas are some of my favorite works. I love adventure. I love strong women. I love fantasy. She has it all! And I got to sit on a panel with her. Yes, I did a happy dance. I’m still doing a happy dance. I have so much respect for her and her work. And she is just as sweet and beautiful as her blog suggests.

All and all, by the time I left Wild Wild West Steampunk Con, my head was spinning. I even sold some books. It was brilliant! I am already excited for next year!

The fire is right behind me of course!

I love seeing progress. There are many times when it seems nothing will ever be finished, but after this month, I’ll have completed five projects total. Three done for my alter ego Amie Archer, and two for Erin. I really can’t explain how good it feels, but I have promised several people I will never let the backlog gather like it has this year. One project at a time! I swear. Ok, maybe two. Or three. But no more than that. Really. I mean it. Honest.

You may have noticed by previous posts Unforeseen is available, YAY, and that was a huge deal. It was one of those books that hung around in my head for too long. And now that it is out in the universe, I am excited about it again. I miss Grace and Lucius already. I guess I will just have to include them in Unrepentant: Viator Legacy Book 3. But I miss Carlo more, so he gets top billing in this book.

And I would jump right on that, except I have some unfinished business with a certain Lady and Cowboy (Slim—Love him, Seriously. I mean, who else could flirt with disaster so unabashedly and still come out on top? With a grin and oozing charm? Only Slim. Le sigh.) Cibola’s Revenge is on its way to the finish line, just a few more tweaks and we’ll be ready for the victory lap. Christmas is looking to be very good for release. I am extremely excited about this new book in the Cibola Universe, and about the adventures the next year will provide as I visit various steampunk events to share the series. If you haven’t checked out Wild Wild West Con yet, take a look. It is a fabulous event at Old Tucson. Steampunk in the old west, really you can’t do better. (Well in my mind, since I dig that kind of thing!) I’ll be there with a table of signed copies of all my available books, and will also be presenting on the topic of Steampunk Archaeology. Yes, you heard right. Steampunk Archaeology. Come to the con to find out what I’m up to (evil grin).

Once Cibola’s Revenge is off my plate, I will definitely be ready to work on Unrepentant—except that I’m not. I am working on Deadbeat. I have had Deadbeat in my head since 2010, so really, it is way overdue and I have had several requests to see those words put down in print.

So there you have it. I am finishing up the last bits of what I have finished, and starting new projects. I’m excited about the New Year!

And I promise, I WILL be writing the Viator Legacy Book 3 in 2014. It may come out in the Summer/Fall rather than Spring. Hang in there folks, we’ll know what happens to Carlo and Lisa soon enough. First, we have a buck-toothed vampire to contend with.

Cheers!

Finally!

First and foremost – Thank You!
I know you have all waited and waited and waited. We were almost there, then the gremlins hit! Those little buggers conspired with some brownies I’m sure. For there was my beautiful manuscript, or at least the pathway to it, but I could not open it. Corruption most horrid! This heroine, however, persisted and perservered. I won’t bore you with the gory details, they don’t matter anymore. What truly matters is Unforeseen is here!

 

Available NOW at Smashwords and Amazon!