What Do Sharks Have To Do With Paris?

At the beginning of September, I went on the trip of a lifetime to Paris. First, I enjoyed four days with my husband of 21 years. The best way to sum up our time together... I looked at him at some point and remembered all the reasons I married him. Paris truly is the city of love.

I adore Katie & Carlyle!

Then, I spent four days attending Janet Wallace's Next Chapter Writer's Retreat. Not only did I get to spend time with the amazing Katie John, Carlyle Labuschagne, Nely Cab, Jamie Anderson, and Jadah McCoy, but I also soaked up an incredible amount of knowledge from Janet Wallace, Regina Wamba, and Cat Espinosa.

I've been trying to figure out the best way to sum up my experience and its value. I could tell you about how inspiring it is to be with my tribe, with people who truly get me and my passion for writing. I could tell you how much I learned about photo shoots and visual branding (Regina Wamba deserves a special shout out for easing my anxieties over having my picture taken). Or, I could tell you how much I adored doing a reading in front of my peers and book lovers. We should all get out there and read our books aloud more often.

So much love for Jadah!

I can't tell you how many fears I faced by doing this. Fear of failure, fear of not fitting in, fear of not being good enough, and on and on. If I hadn't put myself out there and looked fear dead in the eye, I wouldn't have grown. Stay tuned for future posts on more details about specifics.

So, wait... what do sharks have to do with Paris?

At the heart of what I learned in Paris... you have to put yourself out there and take chances/risks to succeed. 

And this is where I come back to sharks. Do you watch Shark Tank? I'm a bit obsessed with it. And I've noticed a couple of things about these small business owners (which, my fellow authors, we are!):

* They don't let money stop them. They've usually put a lot of their own skin in the game before reaching out to the Shark investors.

* They never give up. Even when the sharks don't buy in, most of the owners say they will continue to pursue their dream. They believe.

My investment in my business is necessary. Will I always see a positive monetary return on investment? No. But can I grow if I always worry about that aspect? 

No.

I'm not saying to throw your money at everything! But don't let money stop you from success and growth, whether it's hiring a good editor or cover designer, attending a conference, hiring a publicist, etc.

We have to have the same commitment 

to our business as we do to our writing.

With Janet. ♥

And for those interested in a way to do that, can I suggest the Lift as You Climb Corps. Janet Wallace (Social Deviants) is the mastermind behind this. From her website:

This is a monthly subscription to exclusive videos, live calls, action plans, marketing assistance, mind and heart nurturing, and crazy massive accomplishments.

I have seen private clients and those who have taken my courses have MASSIVE leaps in income, fans, CONFIDENCE, and opportunities that have come their way. I have helped authors hit best-seller lists. I have created world-wide events that have been written up in USA Today, Hypable and Publisher’s Weekly. I have seen clients hit five-digit sales months repeatedly for this first time in their careers, and continue to do so. I have seen them triple or even quadruple fans.

I hear some people say there’s a secret formula. Guess what? There’s no secret. There is a way, though. More than one, actually. And one of them will work for you. There is no secret, but I won’t deny there is a little magic when you turn faith into frequency, when you turn a wish into a reality. This is what I do. This is what I love. And I want to be able to provide it daily instead of piece meal. I want to also be able to provide you with ways to empower yourself regularly.

Check out the website. I hope you'll join us. Her Monday mindset calls are the perfect kick in the butt to start your week on the right foot.

Never be afraid to say Yes to the next step.

♥♥  For me, I know I'll always have Paris. ♥♥

Paris Bound

I'm so excited to be traveling to Paris next week. I have the opportunity to grow as an author through a writing retreat and will be featured at a Paris book signing. Just as exciting, my husband and I are going early to explore the city. I've never been, so I'm super stoked.

In addition to hanging out with the amazing authors featured above, I'll get to spend time with Regina Wamba, Janet Wallace, Jamie Anderson, and more. Pinch me!

If you live near Paris, please come join us on Sunday, September 11, from 4-6pm local time. Or spread the word to your Paris area friends. 

I can't wait to share with everyone all about my adventures.

Oh, and if you've been to Paris, please comment below with things I can't miss while I'm there.

Paris Bound

Sorry I've been MIA... I plan to reboot this blog with scheduled posts once school starts back up. So look for some announcements in August. Until then, I will be featuring authors from my upcoming Paris trip. 

Yep, you heard that right, I'm heading to Paris in September. I'm so freaking excited!

Coming off a great Utopia--look for my highlights post on Monday--I can't wait to have this awesome experience with such amazing authors in addition to the awesome Janet Wallace (founder of Utopia), Regina Wamba, and more. 

I'll be sharing more soon. Stay tuned.

Perseverance : #IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (or IWSG) is a wonderful group put together by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (which now has an equally cool Facebook group). 

The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring. 

Happy Wednesday, everyone! This time of year is always hectic. On top of the holidays this year, I decided to have a book release on 11/12 for Chasing Destiny (Tala Prophecy, Book 3). I'm excited, but crazy busy and often overwhelmed.

So, I thought today would be a great day to remind us all...

The lovely Janet Wallace shared this quote earlier this week, and then she drilled home the idea during Week 3's chat in the Stand Up. Stand Out. RakeItIn. Part II class. (If you don't know about this class, you must check it out Janet's Social Deviants website.)

Most successful people have the will to push through and never give up. It's all about persevering. So, I wanted to encourage each and every one of you to keep going. Though the path is windy and often exhausting, the destination will be worth it. 

One of the things that keeps me going is having an Inspiration Board. It's full of quotes and ideas of what my goal is. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing some of these and what they mean to me.

But, also, in my latest book, I needed to inspire my character to keep her head in the game against all odds, to not quit. "With Faith, We Fight" became her battle cry. It has also become mine. (Funny how writing characters helps us with our own lives sometimes.)

At first, we must believe. But we can't just sit back and hope things will come to us. We have to fight for them.

So, carry on and continue to fight and persevere.

Oh, and please share what keeps you motivated. I love new tricks. 

Guy What Takes His Time : #UtopYA2015 Lip Sync

As promised, I wanted to share the lip sync from UtopYA2015, featuring my awesome Fractured Glass sisters: Jo Michaels, Casey L Bond, NL Greene, and Kelly Risser.

I so love these amazing ladies, and I thank them for giving me the courage to do this. I was terrified at first, but it ultimately felt empowering. It helped to know I was surrounded by love, both on stage and in the audience.

UtopYA rocks!

Enjoy.

What's the most terrifying thing you've ever done?

I Am Brave. I Am Lovable. I Am Worthy.

I have a confession. Fair warning... it's long.

I've lived most of my life adapting to my surroundings. Since I've relocated every two to three years my whole life, I've had to restart many times. When I was younger, I wanted so desperately to fit in and make new friends fast, so I became what I thought the newest location wanted. 

Then, it became a habit.

The Fractured Glass ladies with Janet Wallace
not long before our lip syncing debut.

My third day of college, I met my husband. I had just turned eighteen. I adore him, and I'm so very blessed (we have three beautiful girls and just celebrated 20 years of marriage in March). Still, I went from my parent's house to getting married right after college. 

We kept moving. All three of my daughters were born in different states (IL, CA, and MD).

When my first daughter was born, I was scared on so many levels. I still didn't know who Tia was, but I needed to raise a daughter and give her the confidence to know who she was. Before she was five, I had two more daughters. 

I struggled to find myself. I searched my soul weeks before my first was born. I knew I needed to love myself to truly love others. What was something I always loved?

Writing.

With Kelly Martin (my happy)

I started. It took ten years to publish my first book. Slowly but surely, I started figuring out who I was. Yet, I kept it to myself. Very few people knew I'd written a book.

Then, after a few more moves and a couple more books, I found out about UtopYA. 2014 was my first year. For the first time in my whole life, I knew I belonged somewhere, and I saw more of the  real me.

Earlier this year, I took a course from Janet Wallace (Social Deviants): StandUp. StandOut. RakeItIn. Through weekly calls and thought-provoking exercises, I began to further uncover the true me. She's buried pretty deep, so the work is ongoing. But I was hopeful.

Then, I went back to UtopYA. Most of my life I've lived in fear of not being good enough and not being accepted into a community. No more. 

I am brave. I am lovable. I am worthy.

Nobody can take that away now that I know. Some people in  my life are having a hard time adjusting to the "new" me. I can no longer pretend to be what everyone else needs. I have to be what I need. It's not selfish. Actually, it makes me even more capable of love and giving. Who knew?

Me with Ginny Gallagher

But it also means I can no longer be pushed around. I am not desperate. Sure, I have moments of doubt, but it's not because I think I'm on the wrong path. I just need to stay the course and not let fear make me slide back into my dark, conforming hole.

During the open mic at the end of UtopYA, I got up to speak. I've never done such a thing. Never. Not in front of so many people. I thanked them for introducing me to me. I meant it. I'm so excited about the future. Oh, and the extra benefit... I am now going to be the kind of mother I always wanted to be. My girls are seeing me be brave (my oldest daughter was at UtopYA, and when I finished speaking, she hugged me and told me how proud she was).

No matter how much I've fostered their independence and preached about being true to themselves, they need to see me do it. Now they can. 

UtopYA is not just a book conference. It's an experience. It's a place to belong and grow. When I'm there, it feels like my heart is beating outside my chance. Not just out of excitement, but out of love.

Thanks so much to everyone who has given me the confidence to let Tia out. There are too many to mention, but I've included pictures of some of them here. I am going to be featuring some of the awesome people I met this year in my upcoming interview series. More information to follow.

Oh, and on Wednesday, I will finally post proof of my bravery and love of this conference... the Fractured Five doing our lip sync. 

May you find your tribe. I'm so blessed to have found mine.

UtopYA is now Utopia

The last day of UtopYA is always full of mixed emotions. Part of me wanted to stay forever with the most amazing group of people I've ever known, but part of me missed my family. This year was even more magical than last, although I wasn't sure that was possible.

So, as I sat there, I wondered what the theme for 2016 would be... the fifth anniversary of UtopYA. How could it be even better?

Then, Janet Wallace told us.

First, UtopYA is now Utopia. Why? Because it will include both middle grade and Adult novels and genres. How exciting!! Then, came the even more exciting announcement of next year's theme... #FightForYourWrite.

Yes, someone immediately shouted out that the theme song should be the Beastie Boys hit. And I'm okay with that.

For authors and bloggers who've never attended, please consider coming next year. In addition to amazing panels with awesome advice on publishing, marketing, blogging, writing, and so on, next year there will be people covering topics on how to nurture more than just our blogging and writing. There will be life coaches, nutritionists, and more. 

Who isn't enriched when they feed their soul in addition to their brain?

Over the next couple of months, I will have many UtopYA/Utopia-laden posts. First, I will be featuring Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial), a series of interviews with people I hung out with at the con. (See the 2014 edition here) Plus, I'll also be sharing my experiences at this year's event.

So, what are you waiting for? Until June 30th, there's even special pricing. Check it out here. Dates: 6/22-26, 2016. I hope to see you there.

UtopYA Highlights: Accomplishing Goals

I'm back!

UtopYA 2015 did not disappoint. Since the moment I left Nashville last June, I've been looking forward to returning for another UtopYA. The first year was overwhelming, because I was meeting almost everyone for the first time. Plus, it was my first major author event.

For the most part, I stayed in the shadows and took it all in. Thanks to Jo Michaels, I did make a handful of amazing friends.

This year, I was determined to...

1. Take tons of pictures.
2. Not be shy.
3. Walk right up and hug Janet Wallace.
4. Put myself out there.

I outlined this in a post. 

I'm happy to report that I accomplished all of these things! 

Last year, I ran an interview series highlighting some of the amazing women from UtopYA. I'm working on getting some amazing people to do it again this year. So, I'm saving a lot of my pictures for that. However, I have to share this one...

It's me with my Fractured Glass crew (Jo Michaels, NL Greene, Kelly Risser, and Casey Bond) and Janet Wallace. The FG crew and I did our lip sync not too long after. It was amazing. And, yes, I have video. I promise to share it soon.

Friday, I'll have a more emotional post. But I wanted to make sure and address my goals going in. I met every single one. Oh, and I'll be sharing some changes for next year's Utopia (you'll understand the spelling change more on Friday). It's the five-year celebration, and I can't wait.

Happy Wednesday!

Goals & Renewed Focus: #IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (or IWSG) is a wonderful group put together by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (which now has an equally cool Facebook group). 

The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring.

I've rescheduled my normal Wednesday programming -- Grammar & Writing Tips -- to bring you my #IWSG post. Reading others' pieces and reflecting on my own writing dilemmas and insecurities has been an invaluable experience for me.

Oh, and I totally missed that we were supposed to introduce ourselves in January, so I'm doing it here.

I write young adult and women's fiction. My fourth novel, Fractured Glass (which is one story written by five authors), came out December 24, 2014, and I have a novella in my young adult paranormal series coming out next month. In addition, I'm an editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. I love everything about words, even when my teenagers are hurling them at me. All kidding aside, I have three amazing girls (14, 13 & 9) and my husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage next month.

Last month, I talked about the importance of Defining Me. To accelerate my progress, I signed up for a course by the amazing Janet Wallace, she of UtopYA awesomeness: StandUP. StandOUT. Rake It In. More information can be found here. We just had our first class on February 2, and it was amazing!

There's something I've realized on this journey... before I can define myself, I have to first let go of the things holding me back. I've discovered two major things get in my way:

Comparing Myself to Others

Focusing on the Negative

These should be simple to stop, right? Yet, not so much. I love seeing my fellow Indies succeed, but then the insecurity monster creeps in. Why am I not reaching that level of success? Why am I not selling as many books?

In addition, I spend more time worrying about the few negative comments about my books than focusing on all the wonderful compliments I've received. 

I have no doubt writing is part of who I am. Now, I need to put the time and energy into...

Defining My Own Success

Focusing on the Positive and Striving for More

How to do this? Oh, that's the part I'm still figuring out. Janet's course is a huge step in the right direction, but it's going to take a lot of soul searching and setting attainable, but challenging, goals. I'm pushing fear back--knowing I'll still have days where it takes over--and moving forward.

Do you set goals for the year? What do you base them on (e.g., sales, production, reader enthusiasm, etc.)?

I look forward to catching up with this awesome community (although I admit to just getting around to January's #IWSG posts in the last few days).

Indie Highlights: A Master Class and Crazy For Love

Mondays are for sharing some of my favorite Indie News.

Janet Wallace, the creator of the awesome UtopYA conference, is heading up a class for Indie Writers on how to break through to the next level. StandUP. StandOUT. Rake it In will start February 2. From the website:

Then join me, Janet Wallace, and other fellow writers for a six week course that can set the tone for a positive, healthy and results-driven 2015 for you and your writing career.

Let go of the “backup plan.” It’s time to burn the boats and stop looking behind you. It’s time to forge ahead with your talents and share them with the right people so that you can inspire, share and grow. It’s time for you to put all the missing pieces together FOR GOOD, so that you can make the income you need and have the confidence and knowledge to know that you can do so again and again.

I’ll be hosting two live calls per week — one focused solely on the business of being an author and how to increase your fans and sales though inspired marketing and brand influence; the second call of the week will be focused entirely on mindset — we will examine your relationship with money, time, yourself, your environment, your community and how you can turn fear into fuel to set your life ablaze. Because, the bottom line is, if your mind isn’t in the right place, none of the marketing stuff will stick. #Truth

For more information, click here.

Also, my awesome pal, Casey L Bond, has a new release coming out on Valentine's Day. But it's available for Pre-order now for only $2.99.

About Crazy Love
(from Goodreads)

Shelby Case avoids town and all the people in it. She can't stand the whispers behind covered lips, the judgmental stares. People say she's crazy, that she lost her mind when she lost her husband. 

The Second U.S. Civil War has left widows and widowers scattered across the land. Shelby's just learned to cope. She's taught herself the fine art of self-preservation along with the skills to survive. 

When the figment of her imagination, the man who's haunted her days and nights for the past two years, shows up on her doorstep, Shelby wonders if all of the whispers are true.

New Adult Romance with a Dystopian vibe...
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SM2U12A
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SM2U12A
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00SM2U12A
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00SM2U12A
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy-love-case…/1121102802…
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id960462153
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/crazy-love-27

Again, if you have Indie news to share, please let me know. I'd love to feature it on my Indie News posts on Mondays.

UtopYA Hangover

UtopYA was awesome. It was everything I hoped it would be plus so much more.

Unfortunately, ever since I came home, I've been in a funk. A UtopYA hangover, if you will.

I miss my peeps. 

Funny, a year ago, I lived near DC. It's a hot-bed for authors, but I didn't know it while I lived there. Now, I'm all the way in California (been here just over a year), and I can't find a writing community. The lovely Christina Mercer lives about an hour away--we so need to make plans--but for the most part, I feel all alone.

Before UtopYA, I lived my writer life that way. But now I know how wonderful it is to be around people who share my passion. It inspires me. Now, nothing. It's like that amazing night on the town followed by a hangover--one that lasts for months. 

I'm having a hard time motivating myself. As much as I love connecting with my writer friends on social media, it's not the same as being surrounded by them in person.

Anybody else wanting to beg the powers that be--Janet Wallace, are you listening?--to hold a get-together "fix" sometime around the holidays?

A girl can dream. Until then, June 2015 can't get here soon enough!

For anyone looking for my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) updates, I think I need to bow out this round. I'm going to be up to my eyeballs in NaNo work, and I can't seem to make my updates very interesting these days.