Sneak Peek of Heartbreaker (Heartmender #2) !!! (Vanessa)

I am SO excited to be sharing a Story Snippet with you all that includes a sneak peek of Heartbreaker, book two in the Heartmender trilogy! The prologue picks up right after Addie ran through Schism's red door and what happened to her home land of Barracks.

Heartbreaker comes out September 2020. I hope you enjoy!

Prologue

            The blood-red door slammed shut as the first Reigner traded their heart away. The usual cool weather plummeted to a frigid chill. Damien frowned, crossing his arms over his chest as the crowd buzzed around him, thick with anticipation and desire. Something wasn’t right.

            As the thought flew through his mind, a guttural cackle erupted from between the two doors. 

           "You, stupid humans!" the vendor, Schism Breaker, laughed as his fingers elongated into midnight claws. His skin stretched as his limbs transformed; a horrid creature with red eyes and decrepit wings soon took the place of the beloved vendor. "It's time for a new reign in this dismal realm."

            Before anyone could react, Schism attacked.  Bodies flew through the air, striking buildings and crashing limp onto the cobblestone streets. The crowd exploded into screams of terror and panic, scattering away from the popular vendor.     

            Damien’s arms fell limp as he stepped back, but his mind was clear.   He knew something like this would happen. Turning  to his lady  on his right, he placed a hand on her cheek, his forehead touching hers before he whispered, “Run.”

With her eyes wide with fear, she threw her thin arms around his neck, squeezing him tight before sprinting away from the chaos. Damien ran behind her, glancing over his shoulder to make sure the creatures stayed away until she was far from the market. Relief lifted Damien’s shoulders as her Small form disappeared between the trees, safe from the slaughter.

The cracking of bones snapped his attention back to the market and he rushed to the blacksmith forge, knowing Gladio had weapons somewhere. Every spring he would visit the old blacksmith to buy a new dagger for his collection. 

            Streams of people swarmed around him, screaming and pointing in horror. Damien stopped and turned. This time he did panic. The odor of decaying flesh filled the air as a flood of sickly-looking beasts poured through the red doors. Their elongated limbs and gray skin were grotesque, but the moans coming from their sewn lips made Damien’s knees weak. Bile rose to the back of his throat as they ingested the blood of people. His people.

            Forcing himself to move faster, Damien pushed the terrified citizens of Barracks out of the way, commanding them to hide or escape into Wintertide.

Jumping over the fallen displays of the once-jovial festival, he arrived at the forge. Damien froze as he saw the blacksmith’s apprentice, Silas, bending over Gladio’s portly body. The blacksmith’s vibrant olive-tone flesh was dull and lifeless.

            “What happened to him?” Damien gasped, barreling toward the apprentice.

            Silas stared back at Damien, his face blank, but his eyes dilated, filling with horror. “I—” he began before sprinting out of the forge.

            “Wait!” Damien cried, reaching out, trying to stop the apprentice. “Wait, I need your—”

Silas’s blond locks disappeared among the chaos and Damien lowered his hand. It was too late. He was already gone.

            Fury boiled in Damien’s chest as he turned back to the deceased blacksmith. He closed Gladio’s eyes then covered him in a canvas. Anger churned his stomach as Damien ran to the opposite end of the forge. How could his apprentice leave the kind blacksmith in such a dishonorable way? His eyes landed on a wall of gleaming knives. The apprentice may be a coward, but he, Damien, would fight for his people.

Grabbing as many as he could, Damien armed his body with every knife he could find. The screams of the massacre outside sent his hands in a fury as he strapped the knives onto his belt and held a different dagger in each hand.

            Rushing out of the forge, Damien sprinted through the streets, the metallic stench of blood weighing heavily in the icy air. Grasping a knife in each hand, Damien lunged at the gray creature chasing young Willy Travis. The poor child was only seven.

He stabbed each knife in a different location, retracted them, then tried a knife in the creature’s head and stomach until the beast’s limbs went limp and it fell forward, squashing little Willy. Damien’s chest heaved as he pulled Willy out from beneath the monster. Thankfully, the boy had nothing more than a few scratches.

“Run to Wintertide and hide,” Damien commanded.

With wide eyes and tear-stained cheeks, Willy nodded and took off.

Deep moans ricocheted off the broken displays as the creatures preyed upon the people of his home. But the weakness Damien felt before was gone, a cool, burning rage replacing it. He wouldn’t allow these monsters to kill the people who had helped him when his father wouldn’t. Though it had taken him several tries to kill one beast, he was ready to destroy the rest.

            With a cry, Damien ran toward the center of the market, daggers still in each hand, and tackled the first monster he saw. He pierced the knives anywhere he saw gray skin. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his arms strained after multiple strikes, but he continued from one creature to the next.

Grabbing one of the knives on his belt, Damien flung it at a monster pulling Old Man Chank through the crowd. The bronze hilt protruded from between the soulless black eyes of the creature and it crumpled to the ground. Old Man Chank almost fainted but was caught by Chandra Dunkis, one of the seamstresses from the market. The two scrambled toward the white birch trees of Wintertide.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Damien narrowed his eyes as he scanned the chaos. Though the monsters were attacking many people, there were some that they were didn’t kill. Damien’s heart fell to his stomach as the headmaster was pulled by his legs by two monsters. What did they want with him?

Damien turned, ready to stab the next creature trying to kill or capture, when his eyes landed on an angel in the chaos. Blonde hair flowed from her head as she glided through the horrific battle.

            “What do we have here?” Her voice danced over him like freshly fallen snow. She lifted a hand, and the monster to his right ceased its attack. “A hero among the cowards?”

            “I’m no hero,” Damien replied, taking in the curvaceous physique of the woman before his eyes shifted between her and the monster, noting that it was the beautiful woman who had stopped the creature from attacking him.

            “If you’re not a hero, then what are you?” She smiled sensuously at him, her lips as red as the blood staining the ground.

            Damien had seen such a look many times before. He had not been swayed by it then, and he certainly wouldn’t be swayed by it now.

            “Nothing you would like, madam.” He held his knives pointedly at the woman, suddenly thankful for all those hours of lessons.

            The woman let out a sultry laugh, sending Damien’s nerves on end. Yes, his judgment about this one had been correct.

            The woman stroked the yellow stone on her necklace, a staticky sound popping from the jewel, before she pointed her slender finger at him. An electric-blue light zinged through her skin at his body. He held his stance and smirked when nothing happened.

            “Interesting,” the woman mused, studying her fingertips. “I can’t harm you.”

            “Don’t you hate it when that happens?”

            The woman pursed her lips. The playful tone of her voice fleeing as she tapped her small chin. “There must be something else.”

             Her eyes darted behind Damien and a vicious grin split her face. With a flick of her wrist, a group of monsters groaned before sprinting away. Damien tried to follow when his legs were swept out from under him. Groaning, he quickly spun over his shoulder and lodged his dagger in the face of the creature trying to stop him. It hissed as black blood dripped from its wound on to Damien’s face. Damien threw the monster off of him and got back up, only to be hit by more creatures.

Damien stabbed and punched as many as he could, but they kept coming. His eyes searched for the other group of monsters that had gotten away. He had to stop the beasts. He couldn’t let the creatures find them.

            With a yell, Damien simultaneously pierced two monsters in the back of the head before breaking free of the pack. His feet flew across the snowy ground, trying to catch up with the first group of monsters, but it was too late. The woman pointed the creatures straight toward the direction of the people he valued most dear. High-pitched screams echoed against the gray clouds and Damien fell to his knees, allowing the monsters to pile on top of him. He sobbed as the creatures killed them, one by one. And he would be next.

Weekend Reads: Brine and Bone by Kate Stradling (Sarah)

I’m a huge fan of fairy tale inspired stories and retellings. That said, The Little Mermaid has never ranked among my favorite tales. While the themes are meaningful, the plight of the mermaid in the original tale is a tragic one. And I’ve only ever seen bits and pieces of the Disney movie, perhaps the most well-known variant of the story.

So it’s saying a lot that I actually picked up Brine and Bone, Kate Stradling’s version of The Little Mermaid—and that I ended up thoroughly enjoying it! Brine and Bone offers a hope-infused retelling with an original stamp that still remains true to the key elements of Andersen’s tale.

Instead of a mermaid protagonist, Stradling presents Magdelina, a healing magician with a prickly personality, who has known and loved the prince since childhood, but harbors no hope of him ever returning her affection. When he disappears at sea, the kingdom goes into mourning.

After all expectation of his recovery is lost, Magdelina finds the prince washed up on shore and helps restore him back to health. But she soon discovers there’s a mystery surrounding his survival, one that may threaten him still. When an enchanting newcomer appears at the palace, her suspicions are roused, and she’s determined to protect her friend from the snare laid for him. But how, with dark and powerful magic arrayed against her?

The mermaid in this tale far more closely resembles that of classic folklore than the enchanting mer-creatures featured by Disney. She’s an eerie, at times even frightening figure, but one that in the end wins some sympathy. She has her own redemptive road to travel—or not—as she chooses, right alongside Magdelina.

While only novella length, the story grapples with the concepts of love, immortality, and sacrifice. And it all winds together in a satisfying way, touched by sorrow, yet on the whole uplifting.

Are you a Little Mermaid fan? Do you have any retellings you’d recommend?

Writer's Life: Dress for Success (Or Yes, I am Wearing Pants)

My typical fall through spring attire

City Girl Interrupted

This is not only a Writer's Life but also a life-life post. Over the past couple of weeks, many of you became sudden teleworkers.

That was my story nearly twelve years ago. My husband took a new job in a small town just as the economy was about to do a nosedive. Suddenly this city girl was the mom of a preschooler and newborn over 3 hours from the nearest office. The day I came back from maternity leave, I began the process of becoming a remote worker.

What does that have to do with writing? Well, my writing journey began about three years after our move.

By the time I began writing, I had the discipline of working from home and thinking of myself as a professional writer (even if I wasn't published) was an easy transition.

So let's talk about how to take your writing seriously, and it starts with your shirt.

Cliches Abound

There are so many cliches and stereotypes of remote workers and that are applied to writers as well.

The whole unshaven teleworker in grubby sweats image has been around since my first job in the mid-90s when I was a remote worker in the nascent days of laptops and the internet, back when we had dial-up modems.

It's partial truth that needs to disappear or at least be re-imagined.

Dress for Success

This afternoon ironing button-downs and not just as an excuse to binge on Anne with an E. Most days I wear button-down shirts to work although I rarely leave my home office, even before COVID-19 and social distancing.

I get up and get ready each morning like I have to go to an office. Over the past 12 years, I've become more diligent about this because I realized dressing nicely gives me confidence, and the routine of "going to the office" makes me more efficient at work. Writers, this applies to you too. They say to dress for the job you want. Obviously, writers don't necessarily have to "dress up" for their writing days, but there are book signings, interviews, teaching at conferences, etc. Professional authors, are well, professionals and on occasion have to dress professionally. If you want to be a professional writer, entering the mindset by donning the uniform can be a good start.

There Are Exceptions

That isn't to say, if you dropped in on me, I'd be dressed. I live in the western U.S. and some days I don't get around to showering until the afternoon. I work with team members and clients who are Back East and up to three hours ahead of me. Depending on my meeting schedule, I occasionally start my day before my kids are on the bus and don't have a good break until well after lunch. And sometimes, especially in the summer, I don't bother taking a shower until I've gone for a run.

How else would I have my "how I scared away the religion peddlers" story? It's one of my favorites. A few years ago, I was having a busy day and still in pajamas in the afternoon, not just any pajamas but Hello Kitty with fuzzy bottoms pajamas. The doorbell rang and assuming it was a package, I answered the door to proselytizers. They haven't been back...

How I Do It

I pretty much dress casual Friday style with jeans and a button-down and real shoes (Converse, Pumas, Doc Marten Boots, other cute but comfortable boots or shoes).  In the summer, I have to admit I mostly wear geeky T-shirts and denim shorts; in the winter, especially when I'm behind on ironing, I wear a fair number of long-sleeved t-shirt. Starting this year, I'm planning on phasing out my super-casual summer clothes and opting for more tops and pants, tunics and leggings, and comfortable dresses.

I have embraced this because I am a professional and dressing like one helps me "get into character". The same goes for my writing life too. Although, since most of my writing is at night, I see a lot more pajama time during my writing hours.

Does how you dress help you "get into character" for roles in your life?

Weekend Reads: The Mapmaker's Daughter (Katie)

Weekend Reads (Katie) and a vlog!

Hi everyone! I'm excited to bring you another vlog from Katie's Thoughtful Spot, (1-2 minute videos where I talk about books!), in which I'm featuring a book for St. Patrick's Day.

You can see which book I'm referencing below, and I hope you'll check out my vlog to hear my thoughts about it!

The Mapmaker's Daughter by Joanna Emerson

A Steampunk Novel
Winner of the 2018 Realm Makers Award for YA Fiction

The Potato Famine is almost a decade behind young airship builder, Paddy O'Brien, but its effects still haunt him.

Then he finds his mother dead in the garden. But he has no time to investigate her murder, because a refugee falls from a strange airship, practically into his arms.

How did a gorgeous Asian woman ended up on the south coast of Ireland? Under usual circumstances, her company would be more than welcome. But she's being pursued by pirates, and Paddy's been drafted into a militia. These are anything but usual circumstances.


***Please let me know how I can pray for you during this stressful time. I am more than happy to do so, and I'll be checking in throughout the week. {{{HUGS}}}

Story Snippets - Meet Mathias (Kimberly)

Hi everyone! I'm excited to share my first Story Snippets with y'all where we meet one of my favorite leading men, Mathias from the Rogue Spotter series. The first book, Threats by Numbers, was so much fun because it was my first time writing a sweet but electrifying pairing and Lauren was a very different heroine for me as an introvert who survives by hiding her true nature. While Mathias is this giant lightning rod for danger, lol. He also makes an unforgettable first impression as you're about to see. Enjoy! 

Picking up the phone from its cradle, I dialed the number for Sally's Savory Salmon. Despite the alliterative naming penchant, Sally's was one of the best catering businesses for local paranormals. Sally and Samson were pixies which meant they not only knew how to cater to our clients' tastes, they were also very good in situations like these when we couldn't call in the order until as late as possible. Any meeting involving a Coyote trickster required last minute arrangements to prevent further inciting incidents.

A gravelly voice answered, "Sally's Savory Salmon, whatcha want?"

"Hi, this is Lauren at Halliman's. I'm calling to arrange catering for a lunch meeting between two parties." My nerves steadied as I launched into the regular spiel. A lunch between Miriam our best relocator and the chief of the local Saquatch clan was normally easy to handle, but the topic of today's meeting made things tricky. No pun intended. The Sasquatch clan was appealing to Halliman's to have a Coyote trickster's pet Shunka Warakin removed since he kept letting it escape into their land. Given how particular Sasquatches were about their diets, we couldn't risk the trickster calling in any changes to the chief's wild caught fish and veggies. Not if we wanted to prevent the Sasquatches from going to war with the entire trickster clan, something that could quickly spread from Olympia to Seattle to the whole Pacific Northwest. A PR nightmare.

I started rattling off the order only to be told to wait right before I was put on hold. I listened to the eerie music playing before deciding it was whale calls intermixed with the occasional sea monster. The sound of voices coming from the hall directly to the left of my station caught my attention, and I lowered the phone slightly as I looked. I hadn't realized anyone was in the meeting rooms. Perhaps it was a budget meeting for the accountants we shared the floor with . . .

I put the phone back to my ear. Still on hold. Then, a delicious sound caught my ear. A British accent. No one at Halliman's had a British accent, much less a particularly delicious one. Curiosity made me look up again as the voice, male but not too old or too young sounding, came again. "The cameras will be replaced tomorrow and the rest of the updates to the lower floors shall be carried out in time to be operational Monday, Mr. Halliman."

Mr. Halliman's voice I recognized even as he came around the corner nodding and looking rather pleased. "Good, good. I knew you would be an excellent addition."

His words faded to a shrill ringing in my ears as I stared at his companion. He was long and lean, towering over Mr. Halliman who wasn't much taller than my own five-foot-two, with an air of classical handsomeness. I could see why Beth and the other girls called him a hottie, but that wasn't why I stared. Above his light brown hair floated a number I had never seen before, a 10 that seemed to blaze with searing heat.

I jumped when the phone hit the desk with a clatter. I glanced at the phone and then back up. Mr. Halliman and the man were both staring at me. I could feel my cheeks warming as I hurriedly mumbled an apology and picked the phone back up. The whales were still singing. 

"Miss Hope."

I jumped again, almost dropping the phone a second time, as I realized the men were now standing by my desk. I met Mr. Halliman's concerned gaze and forced a smile. "Yes sir?"

"Have a puppy brought to Miriam's meeting. It will smooth things over."

"Yes sir, right away."

Feeling watched, I hesitantly peeked up only to freeze under blue-green eyes that looked more green than blue at the moment. They were piercing and considering as he studied me with an intensity that made my muscles tense with the urge to flee.

I quickly looked down again and prayed he couldn't hear how hard my heart was pounding. Everything in me screamed at me to run, but I forced myself to stay perfectly still in the chair. Mr. Halliman and Mr. 10 entered the lobby, their footsteps loud against the marble floor, as they headed for the elevator. But not before Mr. 10 stopped in front of the statue of Hermes positioned in our lobby. I tore my eyes away from him and stared unseeing at my notepad. It was all I could do to sound normal when Sally herself got on the phone. My mind whirled with one question. Did he know what I was?

Weekend Reads: The Winternight Trilogy Audiobooks (Heather)

What will you be listening to this weekend?

Oh, wait.

READING. Yeah, that.

These days my book consumption is a steady diet of audiobooks, though there's usually one actual book I'm slowly reading with my eyeballs. As a writer, I try to actually write whenever I have time to sit still. Thanks to audiobook apps like Libby, I can read several books a week as I multitask with chores or driving.

But, when someone asks if I've read a certain book, and I have actually listened to it, I'm not sure what to say. Is "yes" a truthful answer? I'd love your input on this moral dilemma!

So! Back to the question at hand...what will you be reading OR listening to this weekend? If you're turning to this post to help answer that question, I have a suggestion that may keep you busy for the next several weekends.

The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden is a magical, intimate, beautifully written retelling of Russian Folklore set in medieval Russia. Though I'm not familiar with Russian folklore myself, listening to these books has piqued my interest to learn more. Interestingly, Ms. Arden has a degree in Russian from Middlebury College and also lived there twice. These experiences have masterfully imbued her books with everything from the harshness of the Russian winters to the heavy-handed presence of the Catholic church.

I would rate these stories as PG/PG-13. There is some violence described (there are brutal wars and skirmishes) and sexuality implied, (though nothing is gratuitous or explicit). Arden's prose are rich and evoke a sense of the mysterious time in history when superstitions, folklore, and the powerful Catholic church are mingling, clashing, and shifting around to find their place. Is there room for both?

The clash between these beliefs begins in the first book The Bear and the Nightingale, as we are introduced to the teenage Vasilisa who's grandmother has taught her to honor and fear the spirits in the forest, and yet is forbidden to do so by her staunchly religious stepmother. To make things more complicated, Vasilisa has become aware of her own magical DNA.

In the second book, The Girl in the Tower, Vasilisa (now called Vasya) is being forced to either marry or join a convent. Instead, she runs away, only to find her new home--Moscow--is under siege, and she is called upon to defend the city with her newly discovered abilities.

The dramatic, exhausting conclusion comes in The Winter of the Witch. Blamed for Moscow's disasters, Vasya must run for her life while also battling enemies, both mortal and magical, to save the land that she loves.

For me, the audiobooks provided an immersion experience into the Russian culture, thanks to the incredibly talented narrator Kathleen Gati. Her accents, pronunciations, voices, and inflections brought the book to life so vividly. Where I may have stumbled over many of the words and names if I were to read the book on my own, Gati handled them with ease. I may be as impressed with her narration skills as I am with Arden's writing abilities!

Though there are elements of magic and reference to witches and demons, this is not a book about witchcraft or the occult. Folklore, at its core, is the way past generations tried to understand and explain the world around them. The mysterious and the tangible. This book simply peels back the veil to peek into how the unseen and the seen might work together, might disdain, mistrust, or deny the existence of the other. In Vasya, we find the existence of both and her struggle to fit into either dimension.

This trilogy is truly an epic retelling that is a worthwhile investment of your time! Are you familiar with Russian folklore? Have you read any of Arden's books?

Guest Post by Desiree Williams: 5 Unique Activities to Recharge Your Creative Flow

I'm so excited to welcome Desiree Williams to Lands Uncharted today! I connected with Desiree at a writers' conference several years ago, and she is such a fun, thoughtful, genuine person - plus, she writes amazing books! If you like a blend of sweet romance and cool fantasy world-building, you definitely need to check her out! Recently, Desiree put a new (GORGEOUS!!!) cover on her novel Illusionary, and she's celebrating with a blog tour! She stopped by to share with us about her inspiration behind her story and how she keeps up her creativity. 

So without further ado, here's Desiree!

Do you like banging your head against the wall?

Because, in all honesty, life can make us feel that’s all we do every … blessed … day.

Many people wear multiple hats on a given day, at a given time. Trying to juggle all the responsibilities leads to exhaustion—mentally and physically.

And for those who rely on their creative flow to craft for their business, that exhaustion can cause issues. Especially when deadlines are due and the blank screen becomes your mortal enemy.

What’s a writer to do?

For me … I keep busy doing all the things that have absolutely no value in moving my business forward. LOL.

I’m a huge procrastinator when overwhelmed and stressed. “Busy work” becomes my new BFF.

And while I have cultivated better habits over the last several months. There’s one particular day where running into a mental wall birthed out a story idea.


The Birth of Illusionary

Dishes overflowed in the sink. Laundry lay scattered all over the house. My child clamored for help with school. The phone wouldn’t shut up with its constant ringing. At any moment, tears would break past their barrier.

On and on it all went.

My chest hurt for its next breath as I shoved yet another load of laundry into the dryer. I longed for an escape from all the duties and responsibilities.

So desperate in fact, I wondered what would happen if a magical portal opened up in my dryer and whisked me away into another dimension.

Logically, that can’t happen. But I had a good laugh as I imagined my family’s reaction to discovering the dryer had eaten me. Ha!

However, the moment planted a crazy seed within my imagination. One God watered and bloomed into a full-fledged story idea.

I toyed a little with the daydream. Tweaking the details to be a young woman face-planting down the stairs—because dryers do not eat people. [just in case you were worried ;-) ]

And before I knew it, the story idea for Illusionary was born. *throws confetti*

HOWEVER … there are healthier ways of gathering story ideas!! Please don’t run yourself into the ground with stress just to grapple for the daydreams.


Learn From My Mistakes

Before we dive into the tips for creative flow, I’d love to chat quickly about how rest works.

No, I’m not a scientist. Nor do I have a degree in mental health. However, I have failed at a lot of things and learned many lessons the hard way. So this post is for inspiration. To help steer you in the direction to produce balance and more creative flow.

Rest is scriptural and foundational for healthy lives. We need to rest.

Yet, the type of rest we are doing can either recharge us or drain us further. Yep. I’m speaking truth here.

Two concepts to consider regarding rest:

1. If you exhaust yourself mentally/ emotionally during work, then you should rest with your hands.

2. If you exhaust yourself physically during work, then you should rest with your mind.

For writers—at least this writer—I’m constantly pouring myself out mentally and emotionally. Even if I’m writing while on my make-shift treadmill desk, I’m still exhausting most of my energy mentally.

Which means that to recharge, I need to rest with my hands, or in some sort of physical way that gives my mind a complete break.

With this concept in mind, here are my suggestions!!


5 Unique Activities to Recharge Your Creative Muscles

1. Beekeeping

I’m not joking! I promise this isn’t a gag suggestion. Beekeepers aren’t as rare as most people think. And the process is fascinating!

My family set up a hive last spring and the journey has been so rewarding.

[Disclaimer: obviously if you’re allergic to bees and such, then please proceed to another activity.]

I’d recommend poking around your local area and contacting a beekeeper who already has hives. Just to see if this is something you’d enjoy.

Learning about something new, and potentially outside the scope of normal, could be an awesome way to recharge the creative flow. Plus the active work you’d be doing with your hands would give your creative muscles a need break.

2. Abstract Painting

Anytime I mention painting or sketching, people’s first response is “I’m not talented” or “I don’t have the skill”.

But the better statement is “WHO CARES”. The purpose of these activities is to rest.

If you enjoy art in all sorts of mediums, then give painting a try.

I love using acrylics. Mostly because I find them easier to work with. Plus the paint dries faster, so I have a quicker sense of accomplishment. Watercolors hate me. LOL.

And there’s a purpose behind defining the artwork as “abstract”.

Resting has no room for perfection. Effective recharging means turning the logic and critical portions of the brain off.

Another thing to note about this tip: don’t create artwork with the mindset of using it for supplemental income.

Listen … I get the struggle a lot of authors have in regards to finding alternative streams of income. If you already sell your artwork, that’s one thing. But in terms of finding an activating for recharging purposes, don’t go into a project with the added weight and stress of needing to produce a product for income.


3. Landscape Photography

This activity might feel like it’s still using your brain. However, I’d like to steer it in the direction of using your hands and your senses, rather than mental energy.

Think about it …

Let’s say you take a walk down to a local creek to snap random shots. And like the tip regarding abstract art, you’re not focused on producing content for income. You’re just out for a bit of exploring and some relaxing rest.

At the creek, you notice the light reflecting off the water. The birds singing. The wind dancing through the trees. All items your brain is subconsciously cataloging while you’re glancing around for different angles to snap a pretty picture.

With your senses kicking up to catalog your surroundings, you’re not focused on using mental energy to craft stories or tacking those business problems pilling up on your desk.

You’re just focused on the moment and the elements of nature around you—hence, a brain break.

Plus the fresh air and sunshine will refresh you on a physical level as well.

Oh, and you do not need a fancy camera.

The camera on your phone will work just fine. Or any type of camera you happen to have access to.

I have a “fancy” camera. But that simply because I’m investing more into photography as I truly enjoy it and want to strengthen my skills.


4. Cake Decorating/ Baking

Mmmm, cake.

Just do this one, and thank me later.

My daughter inspired this suggestion. She adores baking and decorating her creations. And being the awesome mom that I am *wink*, I help her with orders that come in. [Yep, my skilled girl has an unofficial business!]

I love helping her because her joy creates such a fun atmosphere. Yes, we’re decorating. But we’re mixing colors, exploring different piping techniques, and laughing. Lots and lots of laughter.

And the repetitive act of piping flowers, lines, or dots, forces my mental thought-trains to click off and chill for a bit.

This activity does more than recharge the brain. It’s a great time for family bonding and building lasting memories!


5. Legos!

I’m chuckling at this one, but I had to include it! If you could see the sets of Lego creations filling my house. Ha!

Playing with Legos may seem childish, but honestly … that’s the purpose.

Adulting is hard. Life is complicated. Why not bring a sense of nostalgia back into the mix?

Why not tap into our inner youth and remember what it was like to create people and places with our hands? To construct wacky buildings, ships, or space crafts?

Our lives can flash by in a blink.

Let’s not forget the joy of our youth.


Allow Yourself to Breathe and Daydream

Those are a few of my suggestions to rest and recharge those creative muscles.

Ultimately it’s about finding activities that allow you to breathe and step away from your computer. To focus on being present in the moment.

Life will always be busy. The to-do list will continue to grow and multiply.

Don’t be so focused on pushing the business forward that you forget to invest back into yourself and your creativity.

Daydream. Live. Explore!


Oh, and I’d love to hear what activities you enjoy doing! =D

Feel free to drop them in the comments, or hit me up via email or social media.

Special shout out to Laurie for allowing me to swing by and share a bit of my heart today. It’s been a blast! *tackle hugs*


Blessings,
Desiree

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Desiree! I definitely need the reminder to take a break and rest, and I just love the idea of a portal opening up in your drier :)

Here's a little more about this lovely author:

Desiree Williams is a dreamer by day and chocoholic by night. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky with her husband and daughter, where she juggles life as a wannabe supermom. Desiree is a lover of food and avoider of dirty dishes. She delights in making people laugh and strives to bring hope and love with her wherever she goes.

You can find out more about Desiree and her books at www.desireewilliamsbooks.com. You can also connect with Desiree on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Newsletter.

And here's more about Illusionary (which is a fabulous book, if you haven't had a chance to read it yet!):

Dorothy got sucked into a tornado.

Alice fell down a hole.

Wendy flew to Neverland.

Kamryn? She tripped down the stairs.

Now, Kamryn Kensington finds herself in a strange new world. Within minutes of her arrival, she dodges an archer’s arrow and avoids getting sliced up by a cosplay reject holding a dagger to her throat. And that’s before the storyteller’s breath brings stories to life.

Home is the mission—to return to her family and pursue her life’s dream of art and travel. Yet the longer she’s in the Land of Ur, the harder it is not to feel for the people she meets. Even her artistic side can’t help but breathe in the beautiful wonder and magic of this new world. So when the Oracle hands her a different quest, she takes it on the condition he sends her home afterward.

No one thought to warn her of a jealous queen and her dragon minions. Or that, by helping her, the cute storyteller would go crazy. Or that her heart would rip in two when she left. Those would’ve been great facts to know ahead of time.

Considering that nothing in Ur is what it seems, the mission proves to be more than she ever imagined. But more than her own future will be in jeopardy if Kamryn doesn’t succeed.

You can find Illusionary on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. 

Thanks again for joining us today, Desiree!

What to do with Your Story Idea: Copy Editing and Proofreading (Lauricia, Writer's Life)

Happy spring, everyone! Where I live in south Texas, the bluebonnets are out, the frigid chill has disappeared from the humidity, and I’m finally able to go barefoot without endangering my toes! I hope your corner of the world is equally as beautiful, whatever your preferences.

For the past year and a bit, my Writer’s Life posts have been an extended answer to the question I’m asked most often: What do I do with the story idea I have? If you are new to this series, you can find the previous articles listed below, with all of the necessary links. If you’ve been following along, settle in with your favorite beverage as we discuss the step everybody loves to hate: paying someone else to edit your work.

To many, paying to have your finished manuscript edited seems like an unnecessary expense and, as a reviewer for a book review website, it is something that I find authors skipping much too often. It breaks my heart to have to flag a story because of errors, but I cannot endorse a project riddled with mistakes. Even if you are a grammar genius, everyone is guilty of oversights. My first published novel was scoured by alpha and beta readers, my agent, an amazing copy editor, and a proofreader, yet the first print run contained a character’s name that was misspelled twice. Thankfully, those were the only errors that made it to print, and they have since been corrected. I mention the incident here, however, to emphasize the need to have your work looked over by either a copy editor or a proofreader, preferably both.

Even though the term “editor” is loosely applied to anyone who reviews and/or edits a story for publication, there are actually different types of editors. Two of them, copy editors and proofreaders, are essential for every author, whether traditionally or independently published. Their definitions are pretty straight-forward, so I’m simply going to quote them. According to Grammarly.com, a copy editor is one who checks “written material for grammar, spelling, style, and punctuation issues before it’s prepared for proofreading. A copy editor may also do a rewrite, if necessary, to fix any problems with transitions, wordiness, jargon, and to ensure the style of the piece fits with the publication. This work is known as revision.” A proofreader, on the other hand, is one who “works with a facsimile of a finished product, or a proof (hence the term proofreading). Proofreaders don’t suggest major changes to the text; rather, they look for minor text and formatting errors and confirm the material is ready for publication.”

If you are independently published, you want to take the time (and, yes, the expense) to hire both. If you are traditionally published, this is usually taken care of, however, depending on the size of your publishing house, you may still need to take responsibility for these edits on your own. If you are seeking traditional publication, both a copy editor and a proofreader are a must. Don’t assume a prospective publisher will look beyond frequent errors to see the quality of your story. The number of errors your submission has is almost always considered a fair indication of the overall quality of the work. (I’m sorry if this is a painful truth; it’s better that you hear it now, before you’re deeply invested.)

All of that being said, you must be careful when you are searching for a copy editor and/or a proofreader to work with. If you know any published authors or belong to any writer’s groups, I recommend asking for recommendations. This way, you already know the copy editor/proofreader is reliable and produces quality work. Alternatively, you can go to the Editorial Freelancer’s Association website.

As always, this topic is too complex and deep for me to fully address in the length of this post. What I’ve written here is only a toe into the pool. If you want to dive deeper, I recommend you start with this article by Wendy LauraBelcher, which gives a great deal more detail, as will a general search on your favorite search engine.

Thank you for joining us today. I would love to hear from you. If you’re writing, what are you working on and how is it going? If you’re reading, what is your current book about?

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As promised above, here's the complete list of what to do with your story idea:

1. Write down everything you know about the story idea. Keep writing until you can’t think of anything to add. (Read more here.)

2. When you’re not writing, work on your social media platform.  Develop your on-line presence authentically, in a way that is genuine. (Read more here.)

3. Go back to your idea. Organize everything you wrote in step one into something with structure and shape. Turn that collection of ideas into a plan and begin your first draft. (Read more here.)

4. Start a website. A blog is good because it gives readers a taste of your writing, but if you feel that you can’t commit to a blog, then you need to have a website at the very least. (Read more here.)

5. Edit your first draft. Complete this step as often as necessary. (Read more here.)

6. Start an e-mail list. (Read more here.)

7. Enlist alpha readers who will give you story feedback. (Read more here.)

8. Once your book is as polished as you can get it, enlist someone else to edit it.

9. Decide how you want to publish (indie or traditional) and study the process. Learning the necessary details will save you a lot of time and, potentially, a lot of money in the long run.

10. Start the next story!

Weekend Reads: Space Drifters: The Emerald Enigma (Lizzie)

Is it a bad morning when your spaceship is surrounded by star pirates and then captured by a bounty hunter--all before you've had a chance to change out of your pajamas? Captain Glint Starcrost thinks so. But while it's unpleasant for him, it's rather entertaining for me.

I don't usually read science fiction. It's not that I dislike it; I just usually go for the genres I am already familiar with. But Space Drifters: The Emerald Enigma has a catchy cover and was said to be funny, so I decided to give it a try. Verdict: It's well worth the foray into science fiction. In short, if you like Guardians of the Galaxy, you'll like Space Drifters. Glint Starcrost has a similar immature but lovable adventurer-playboy personality as Chris Pratt's character.

The Emerald Enigma is a humorous adventure story that follows Glint's quest for the Emerald Enigma (a gem stone said to grant wishes). Only the quest also involves escaping bounty hunters and old space academy rivals. To add to the enjoyment, Glint has a fun group of fellow travelers, including the super-intelligent, talented, and (currently) peaceable reptilian warrior Blix; the time-traveling teen from the past Nevlan; the passive-aggressive ship's computer Iris; and the beautiful bounty hunter Jasette. 

This is an Enclave book, so it's clean. It also has an interesting Christian thread to it in that the time-traveling teen has a Bible in his backpack when he shows up on ship, and Blix, like the others of his kind, are compulsive book stealers/readers. I'm curious to see how that plays out, and to know if Glint ever matures... There are three books in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading those too, so I'll have to see what happens.

Have you ever read Space Drifters? How often do you branch out from your usual genres?

Story Snippets: An Introduction to Princess Penelope (Laurie)

I'm so excited to share my first Story Snippets post today! Lately, I've been working hard to complete Traitor, the second book in my Tales of the Mystics series. I've kept a copy of Common handy as a reference during my writing and editing process to make sure I keep things like names, geography, and timelines accurate. It's been so fun to both revisit familiar characters and places in this new book and add on to my cast and story world! Traitor is told from the point of view of Princess Penelope, who played a critical (though not necessarily positive...) role in Common but didn't get a lot of screen time.

Since I've been undergoing a more in-depth exploration of Princess Penelope's character in recent months, I thought today it would be interesting to take a look back at the scene from Common where she's first introduced. In case you haven't read Common yet, it's told from the perspective of Leah, a palace servant, who has a secret friendship with Prince Raphael and may or may not be developing feelings for him... :) Enjoy!

I pushed through the kitchen door into the dining hall, balancing a tray of steaming bowls of bouillabaisse. The party from Trellich had arrived several days before, sending the palace into a frenzy as servants readied rooms, hauled trunks, and prepared elaborate meals. Tonight, the entire palace staff had been recruited to serve at a banquet honoring our guests.

My steps faltered at my first view of the hall. Thousands of candles lit the walls, rendering the room hardly recognizable. Lavish floral arrangements spilled over their vases, nearly covering each long, rectangular table. They must’ve left the gardens practically barren. 

 I glanced to the head table. Rafe wasn’t seated at his usual post on the queen’s right. Instead, he was placed well to the left of the king and queen. On his right was a dignified, sharp-looking older man whom I presumed to be the King of Trellich. How odd—Rafe’s parents ordinarily kept their unenthusiastic son as far from foreign royalty as possible.

To his left sat the most beautiful young lady I’d ever seen. Her hair was almost as dark as Rafe’s, swept up in a stylish updo studded with jewels. Her large, amber eyes and porcelain skin glowed in the candlelight as she gave Rafe a shy, flawless smile. 

I frowned, then shook my head and looked away. The beautiful Trellan princess was welcome to smile at Rafe all she liked. I had a job to do.

But my gaze returned to Rafe each time I emerged from the kitchen with a new platter. While the Trellan king did most of the talking, the princess remained involved in the conversation throughout. She shifted to survey the room, and I hoped she might open a dialogue with her other neighbor. Instead, she laughed at something Rafe said and placed a hand on his arm.

My foot caught on a chair leg. I straightened, irritation nipping at my stomach. I’m here to serve a meal, not spy on Rafe.