Changing with the Seasons of Life

I’m a night owl through and through (so is my son, which is its own blessing and curse). I can’t remember a time I didn’t feel more productive in the evening. I’ve always felt more comfortable in the dark and cozy time in the night, when everything is quiet, everything is done, and I can finally let my mind play.

That is, until I had my son.

Turns out, as a mom, there is never a time when everything is done. The evening has transitioned for me from a time when I could finally relax and let my imagination run wild, to a time when I have to try and fit in the million things I wasn’t able to get done during the day. To the time when I still have my ear half listening for cries and whimpers, even though my son has been sleeping through the night for almost two years. To a time when I’m so depleted and exhausted, I have nothing left to give to anyone. Not even my story.

At first I thought I needed better systems. Ways to get more done, so there was less remaining to be done at the end of the day. And that has helped. I do feel like I have more mental bandwidth now that I have improved my system. But still, at the end of the day, I felt too tired to do anything. My body and brain were exhausted. Far too tired for the exciting—but also demanding—work of creating. While I love writing, it takes a lot of energy, and focus. And I just didn’t have that at night anymore.

I evaluated all the productivity advice I’ve heard over the years, and tried to think of another solution, but the only one I could come up with was to start my day writing. Its advice many have given before. Focus the beginning of your day on what matters most, when you have the most energy to give. Before, I’d never thought this advice would work for me. Because I’ve always been a night owl writer.

But desperation is the mother of invention, so I decided to give it a try. I set my alarm for six am, went to bed early and prayed for a good result. I even set up a reward system, to incentivize myself for getting up early, fully prepared that it would be like pulling teeth to get myself out of bed before the crack of dawn. And for the first week, I employed that system. But early on, I discovered something I never could have guessed.

I liked getting up early.

It didn’t take long before I began adapted my whole life around waking up early. I was naturally going to bed earlier, so I could get up earlier. I was even waking up before my alarm went off some mornings. I was getting mad when I couldn’t get up early. Because I found that I enjoyed that quiet time in the morning more than the quiet time at night. Because I wasn’t exhausted. I wasn’t already tapped out and only capable of doomscrolling on Instagram. I was able to be me. The person I was before all the mental labor of being a mom.

I started getting more writing done. I am now almost halfway finished with a revision/rewrite project I’ve been wanting to do for years. I’ve been consistently making progress, which I haven’t been able to do for over a year, and I couldn’t be happier.

When I first started this new schedule, I feared it would make the end of the day worse. That I would be run even more ragged than before, since I started the day earlier, but I haven’t found that to be the case. Sure I’m tired at the end of the day, and more inclined to go right to bed after my son falls asleep, but no more so than before. As I’ve made this change, I’ve noticed that getting up early gives me more energy. Taking time for myself in the morning, to focus on me before everyone else, has filled my cup in a way I’d been missing.

I wasn’t just able to do my writing, but to be a better mom too. I was also able to be more patient with my son, because I wasn’t waking up and instantly being thrown into mom mode. I was able to play with him in the morning, because I was already awake and enjoying my day. I found I was writing more. Not just in the morning, but any time I could find. I’m now more inclined to pick up my writing than I was before, because I’m already connected to my story from my morning writing session. 

The toddler stage is just a season, and I’m sure that once my son is through this season I’ll need to reevaluate my writing time again. Maybe in the future, writing at night will make more sense. Maybe in the future getting up early won’t be possible (I’m already dreading having to get him up another hour earlier for kindergarten in a few years), but for now I’m changing with the season of life I am in. And I’m grateful I’ve have found a way to be the mom I want to be, while also finding a little time for myself and my own goals. Even if it’s at an ungodly early hour of day.

So if you’re struggling and finding at this moment you can’t fit in what you need, or your losing yourself to the stage of life you are in, take a moment to evaluated what you need. Try to figure out where you can find time for those things, even if its somewhere you might not expect. Play around, experiment, try something new and see if it works. It might not. But once you find what does, and you’re able to find a way to fit yourself into whatever this tough stage may be, you’ll be glad you did.

New Systems, New Momentum

I've noticed over the past few months I've been struggling to get anything done. As a toddler mom, I probably never have enough time or energy for everything I want to do, but with a few prolonged bouts of illness this summer, I’ve been struggling more than usual. As someone who is used to being productive and going after my goals, it’s been difficult to deal with this season where I have nothing left to give. Physically or mentally.

One of the difficulties of having a young child is that you often have so many balls in the air at once, and you are so focused on keeping them going, you can’t think about anything else. I’ve got to keep my son alive, which includes bathing, feeding (even though he only likes three things), and forcing him to sleep the best I can. Maintain the house while he simultaneously tries to destroy it. Remember snacks for daycare and the swim stuff for lessons. And that doesn’t even touch on all the needs for my evil day job.  It can be overwhelming to keep all those plates spinning when you’re already on empty.  Trying to remember everything is a full-time job of its own.

So this month, I made a list of everything that need to get done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (a quarterly or yearly list might be necessary too, but I'm holding off on those until I've refined the system more). I assigned everything a day of the week and created a daily to do list of every day of the week with everything I need to do, down to putting the recycle in the bin each night. What days the laundry is done. What day I fill the coffee pods. What day I clean the fridge. Anything that needs to get done. Thereby allowing myself to release those thoughts from my mind. I don’t need to worry about when the flowers were last watered or groceries were ordered, because I have a day set aside for that and I know it will be done on that day, and it doesn’t need to be done sooner. If it did, it would be on my list sooner.

And as the month progressed, I’ve added more and more things to lists. More areas of stress or irritation that can be solved by being ahead of the game. I create list of items in the house that need to be constantly restocked, and designated a day to when I would determine if they needed to be purchased or not. No more getting home from the grocery store only to realize I’m out of soap and I need to go back. I’ve moved some activities from the morning to the evening, such as refilling the coffee pot with water (because nothing is more upsetting to my morning than having to delay getting coffee because there is no water in the pot), focusing my nights to set up the best morning, and day, I can.

I've even started adding meal planning to my daily list. Giving each day’s dinner a theme, such as Mexican on Tuesdays and Pizza on Friday. It might not be an exact meal, but even just having a theme limits my options, and allows me to decide what to make for dinner faster.

And so far, it’s been working well. It’s amazing the freedom taking these many little decisions throughout the day off my plate has created. I don't have to wonder if I should do the laundry, or if it’s been too long since I’ve scooped the cat’s litter, or if we are almost out of laundry pods. I have a day for that, a system for that, and until it shows up on my list, I don’t need to worry about it.

And limiting how many decisions I have to make throughout the day has freed up my mind for other things. Most importantly for creativity and writing. I didn’t realize how much all those little decisions were draining my energy. How much trying to keep everything in my head was stealing my creativity. Until it was gone. I just knew I was always too tired, too overstimulated to focus on writing. I never looked deeper.

But now that I’ve freed up some of this mental headspace, I’m able to think about my characters. To ponder what they are doing, how they arrived in their current circumstances, and how to get them out of it (and probably their clothes). I’m able to hear the words again, and get random ideas while walking or doing dishes like I used to.

I’m still working through the kinks of this new system, and finding new areas I can embrace to eliminate even more decisions from my daily routine. And once I have it perfected, I’m sure life will change. My son and his needs will no doubt change over time. As will mine. But finding these areas of relief, even if it’s just for this moment in time, has been so vital to my mental health.

So I encourage you, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed in this season of your life for any reason, or even if you’re not feeling overwhelmed but just feel your life could improve with more organization and focus, take a moment to write down everything that is bogging you down. Everything that splits your focus, or raises your stress, and trying to create a system to eliminate or minimize it. Find ways you can take duties off your mind and put them on paper, and free your mental space up for more. No matter how difficult it might sound to start, it will be well worth it in the end.

Question the Revision Premise

Becca Symes has a great podcast where she discusses assumptions authors make about the process and if they are valid. Every month she debates a new notion, or premise, that many authors act as if it is fact without even considering why or if it was right, such as books can’t market without being on social media or writers have to write every day. She asks why this belief exists, if it’s true, can it be changed, and if this premise is serving writers.

I’ve listened to Becca Symes question these premises for years, and I’ve learned a lot. As someone who has a less traditional writing style, I’ve always thought I was good at questioning the ideas that I have. The notions that have been unintentionally spread by the masses. But this month, I realized I had a huge belief of my own that I’ve never questioned, and that definitely wasn’t serving me.

Revising has always been my least favorite part of the process. I love writing. The exploration, the fun, the lack of limitations in the first draft. But having to turn all that enjoyment and free creation into something that makes sense to everyone else has always been a struggle for me. While writing flows out of me fast and exciting, revisions take forever and can be painful. Especially that first revision.

One of the reasons I think writing goes more smoothly for me is because I allow myself to work on whatever part of the story I want to work at that time. I usually start in the middle, with a sexy scene, and work my way out (though not in any kind of organized manner). I allow myself to explore whatever scene I want to write that day. But when it comes to revising I’ve always thought I had to start on page one and work my way forward. It makes sense. Or does it?

As I’m staring down the barrel of a lot of revisions (not just the books I’ve written over the last few years, but also all of my older works that I am trying to republish), I’m desperate for a way to not only speed up the revising process, but to make it less painful as well.

That’s when I thought back to Becca Symes, and her QTP podcast,  and wondered do I have to revise this way? Do I have to revise starting on page one, or can I move around, working on whatever scene I’m inspired by?

It’s an interesting idea. I’m not sure yet if it will work. I certainly think that I’ll have to do a round of revisions the whole way through at least once. But maybe starting out with revising certain scenes, especially the fun ones in the middle, might help speed up the process, or at least make it more enjoyable.

As I get started on revising these next few books, I’m going to give this a try, and revise in the order my brain and heart want to go and see how it goes. It might blow up in my face, or just simply not make enough sense to keep going, but it’s worth a try. And even if it doesn’t work, at least I’ll know I questioned the premise and the premise is correct. At least for me.

What beliefs do you have in your head that you’ve always assumed have to be true? What can you question about your processes that might open up a whole new world?

Writing Lessons Learned in Motherhood

As some of you may know, a little over two years ago I had a bouncing baby boy. I don’t talk about him much in my writing life, to protect his privacy, and because I don’t think a lot of people want to be spammed with baby pictures in between sexy menage quotes.

To say that learning how to continue my writing career and balance everything else I need to do as a mom has been difficult is an understatement. But there have been a lot of bright spots too. Not just my son, who is the brightest possible spot in the universe—though I am a bit biased—but also the life lessons having to keep another little being alive has brought me.

In honor of Mother’s Day this weekend, I wanted to share the wisdom that I have acquired being a mom that I’ve applied to my writing. 

Take advantage of every minute. The time I have now is fleeting. Sometimes it’s just a few minutes while he is fascinated with a toy. Sometimes it’s a few hours while he takes a nap. It changes every day and can be very unpredictable. But having very little time has taught me how to use every minute to my advantage. Even if it’s just a few minutes, I can always find something that needs to be done.

Don’t try to remember anything. Stephen King famously never writes story ideas down before he starts a book. He says if it’s a good idea it will stay with you. Stephen King is clearly not the primary parent in his relationship. My memory has never been so spotty in my life. There is so much swimming in my head, stuff is constantly falling out. I make lists of everything. Every chore that needs to be completed around the house. Every little task that I used to just remember is now on a list on the refrigerator door. And guess what, most of them get done. What is known is what gets completed.

The same is true for your writing. The more organized you can be about your writing, the more time you will free up to actually write. Instead of worrying about what to post next on social media, keep a list of every idea that comes to you through your day and pull from that. Instead of worrying how to launch or promote your work, make a list of every task you or another author does before launch and follow it each time you have a new book come out. Add every little thing to the list. Even things you think you’ll remember. No one gets a prize for remembering it all.

One hundred percent isn’t always needed, showing up is what matters. Babies don’t need your one hundred percent all the time. As long as you are there for them, as long as you show up, they’re happy. The same is true for your manuscript. 

I used to always wait until I had one hundred percent to give before I would start anything. I would convince myself there was no use starting if I could give it my all. But I’ve learned from having a baby that you don’t always need to give one hundred percent. Sure, when you’re doing your last revision, you probably need to be fully rested and completely focused. But most of the time, seventy or eighty percent is enough.

Even if I’m tired, even if I don’t know how much I’ll get done, I try to at least do something. Because getting something done is better than nothing. And if I wait until I’m completely rested, and energized to go, it will probably never happen. But even fifty percent adds up overtime, as long as you keep showing up.

Your health is not an option. Nothing has put a strain on health like having a child in daycare. We’ve both been sick more over the last two years than we’ve been healthy (a little of an exaggeration but it’s not that far off). Which really makes you value and prioritize your health. Not only do I revel in those days when I’m not down with a cold, but I see more value in eating healthy, exercising, resting and drinking water—when I can do them. Especially when taking care of my health could mean one less cold I get from him. It might not appear the best decision for my writing career to go to bed instead of push for one more page, or to spend time making a healthy meal rather than promote a book, but making these things a priority means more time for writing, or promoting, or even just enjoying life, in the long run. Before my son, I used to put everything before my health. Especially my writing. But not anymore.

This is what I have learned so far from being a mom that I have been applying to my writing, but I’m sure as the years go on and my son grows there will only be more I’ll learn, and even more lessons I’ll be applying to my writing. Not just making me a better writer, and a better person, but hopefully a better mom too.

Not All Tools Are For Everyone

Online I see a lot of authors using gorgeous tools for their writing. Beautiful laptops, monitors and keyboards. Journals full of stickers and mood boards just like their stories. Pens and post-its that match color exactly. Every time I see those beautiful plot journals and character inspiration sheets, I am jealous. I wish I could be that person. I wish I could make everything pretty and surround myself in the vibes of my story. But every time I try, I either get so intimidated by all the choices of making inspiring plot cards and character sheets, or I get frozen with fear of making a choice I can’t unchanged later, since they are on paper and permanent.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we might try, not all tools work for all of us. Everyone’s brain works a little differently, and we need to accept that about each other and ourselves.

Personally, I’ve always done better with digital tools. I like the ability to change things. To constantly adapt my process if it isn’t working without guilt. There is nothing truly permeant in my tools, and there for I can always change it match my current needs. Besides the time to set it up, I’ve lost nothing.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one out there that feels this way.

As a result, over the years, I’ve learned to use digital tools to give me some of the same effects that those beautiful plot journals and vision boards, while having the flexibility that my brain needs to explore and be creative. There are just as many fantastic resources out there for those of us who work better digitally. Most are a lot easier to find and create than a notebook or happy planner.

Spreadsheets, whether in Google sheets or excel, are one of my strongest writing tools. And one that doesn’t get enough love from the writing community. Spreadsheets malleable nature means they can be used for so many functions. Here are a few ways I use spreadsheets, but I’m sure there are hundreds more that others could add to the discussion. 

Series Binder/World Building Dictionary – using multiple sheets within excel file I keep track of every aspect of my world building. From what characters look like, to family trees, names and descriptions of locations, or anything else that I want to be able to find at a moment’s notice. I even sometimes add rules to have cells to color them for certain aspects of a story or world, so I can follow a family or storyline through all my sheets (though this might be a more advanced skill, and not necessary). Spreadsheets also have a find function, which makes it easy to search information quickly if you need to know a character’s eye color or last name in a pinch. And images can be added to still give that character reference and even story vibe that some of the prettier plot sheets that others create.

Vision boards– While I do create most of my vision boards and aesthetics in Canva, so that I can then add them to my computer, phone and tablet backgrounds, a spreadsheet is another great place to add all this information. They can be placed wherever needed on the spreadsheet to give the same appeal as a journal, without any commitment.

Outlining – since I’ve started writing longer and more complex books, I’ve needed a way to keep the story straight, since it doesn’t all fit in my head anymore. I use spreadsheets to track my progress and the story together. I can note what scenes I’ve completed, which ones need more work, how much of the whole story they represent. I even add columns to the spreadsheet to note where the characters are in their romantic relationship, and to track any subplots that might be happening. I add notes of things that I need to check or change when it comes time for revisions, all in one place. It’s great to be able to look at the whole plot in one quick glance.

Time tracking and goal setting – I use spreadsheets a lot to track time and goal setting. I love to create bar charts and line graphs and all that fun stuff to track my progress. I also like to track my time and determine how long I work on a story or scene. I find that tracking my time keeps me more productive and focused, while also offering me a lot of interesting information to analyze.

Tracking sales – This one is an obvious one. I’m sure most authors track their sales, progress and expenses in a spreadsheet, but it is valuable to be able to see your data so closely. I’ll track what series have the best follow through, what tropes are most successful for me, and even what projects I plan to work on and when.

There are plenty of other things that can be tracked in a spreadsheet as well, such as influencers and bloggers that have been contacted, who reviewed your book, where it’s published, and probably a million other things I haven’t thought of yet.

Another invaluable digital tool for authors is a word document.

In the past I have been a Scrivner girl. I wrote most of my books in Scrivner (though I have always revised in word). Since I am an inspiration writer—which means I don’t usually write in chronological order—I often find it distracting to have the words of other scenes and parts of the story I am not currently thinking about on the page before me. I loved Scrivner’s corkboard and the ability to not just work on one scene at a time, but also to move them around if needed. But for convenience and availability I’ve moved to using google docs. Especially since they have created the new tab function, where you can do the same thing as Scrivner with different scenes being on different tabs, unconnected and moveable. You do need to collect them into one document at the end, instead of the compile function of Scrivner, but a small price to pay for the convenience.

I’ve also used word documents the same way, with each scene being its own document to eventually be merged into one giant document. Just like with google docs, it’s more convenient if not a little more troublesome with the pasting.

Series Binder/Worldbuilding dictionary – Word documents are also a great place to create a worldbuilding document. With their bookmarking tool you can easily move to different locations in the document with just a click. And just like spreadsheets they are searchable, allowing you to find information quickly. Images can also be added easily, including a whole title page of a vision board or aesthetic, though images can’t be easily nested so you might need to do create the graphic in another product like Canva first, and just copy the image to your word document.

Character sheets/Plot sheets – whenever I want to write a character sheet, I find a writeable word document the best place to do it. Any questions desired can be asked and answered in the sheet, a grid can even be created for plotting if necessary. And images can be added. For anything, where I know the questions will be the same each time, setting them up in word is a great way to play with the characters without being afraid about the permanence of writing in on paper. They can be set up once and used over and over again.

These are just the digital tools I use to write my novels. Each one is easy to adapt and change depending on the story and current place I am in my head. What tools do you use to create your stories, worlds and characters?

Location, Location, Location

When it comes to writing a romance series, there's many elements that need to come together. Most of them are fairly obvious. There needs to be great characters, fantastic stories with lots of love and pining and banter and tension, some defining similarity between all the stories, whether it's taking place in the same place, or the same group of people, whether they are family, friends, coworkers, on the same team, something like that.

But one of the elements I see forgotten most often is the setting. The location where the stories take place is just as important as any of part of the story. Setting gives the reader a place they want to return to for multiple books. A place to escape to when they want to check out from the real world. And as the world gets more and more crazy, having that escape is more and more essential to all of us.

Not focusing on location is a missed opportunity for any author. Building that world in your story allows you to create depth, complexity, excitement, and conflict that might not be there otherwise. 

When I approach writing a series, I try to think of the setting as another character. A character I can grow, expand, explore. A character I can use to show the different facets of any of the other characters, just like how your heroine might react differently to her big brother than her best friend does. Wink, wink. A character I can use to increase the conflict and tension when it’s needed, or add levity. Whatever the story needs.

The more real and vibrant the location feels, the more the world is grounded for readers, and the more they can escape into your world and away from their own troubles. A place nothing like the world they live in.

But one of my all-time favorite parts about creating a locations is that I get to make up the rules. I can create a world where anything and everything is possible. I can write a small town that holds massive Christmas Ball that is attended by everyone in town. That isn’t happening in my town, or any I know, but it can happen in the ones I create. When I’m in charge, anything can happen.

And if in one mysterious small town, the town’s inhabitants can find love through mysterious letters that grant the opportunity to explore their deepest desires, I can do that. And that’s exactly what happens in Snowedin, VT. A small town where everyone knows everyone's business and fantasies come true, because I want them to.

In each of these Snowedin fantasies, a mysterious letter arrives for the characters that allows them to enjoy a night of fantasy with someone, or multiple someone’s depending on the fantasy, that wants to explore the same desires they do. And in my world, every fantasy always ends in true love.

If this sounds like the perfect way to spend a day, you should check out my Snowedin fantasies series. The first book, Reunion Makes Three, is currently on sale for only $0.99 at bookstrand.com.

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/reunion-makes-three

Blurb: Beth Lewis has always had a fantasy to be with two men who also want each other. For her birthday, her sister gifts her with a subscription to Fantasies Fulfilled, an exclusive online service to help connect people with the same desires. After losing her job and her fiancé, she deserves a little fun and to live out a dream that's been tempting her since high school.

Since his reunion invitation arrived, Dell Harrison hasn't been able to stop thinking about his high school sweetheart, Beth. When he and his live-in boyfriend Marcos Vitagliano receive a mysterious invitation to participate in the exclusive Fantasies Fulfilled services, they decide to add a woman to their dynamic duo. What Dell couldn’t have guessed is that the woman they connect with is the same woman who's haunted him since graduation.

Will Marcos be able to accept Beth in their bed and their lives? Or will adding an old flame to their couple turn their duo into a crowd?

Snowedin with a Good Series

Like most of the eastern United States I’ve spent the last few weeks buried in ice and snow. Thankfully we never lost power, or had to deal with any major consequences of the storm, like house damage or frozen pipes. Instead we got a few extra days at home, cuddled up against the cold and world outside.

And like many others affected by this massive storm, I wanted to spend those days reading. But instead of reading a new book, and exploring a new world, nothing says comfort to me, like reading a great book I already know I love. So I thought I’d share my favorite series to reread. If I’ve had a bad day, need a pick me up, or just wants to escape, these series will give me exactly what I need.

Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series is my ultimate comfort read. I stumbled upon the series almost two decades ago and I don’t think I’ve gone a year since without reading one of these books. The stories take place in a quiet town in regency England where upper class women can go to hide from the prying eyes of the ton. Everyone of the women that inhabit this world are strong, and unique, and I can’t help loving everyone of them.

Just thinking about Meghan March’s, Mount Trilogy has my heart all fluttery. I’m not sure there is a hero written that I love more than Lachlan Mount. He’s everything I love in a hero. He’s spent years alone. He cares deeply. He lives by his own code, to protect and defend those that need it. And he’s willing to do anything (and I do mean anything) for his woman. He’s definitely on the darker side, but that only makes it all the sweeter what he is willing to do for love. Whenever I need a pick me up, I always turn to this series, especially the twist at the end of book one.

Just like Spindle cover, The Brother’s Sinister Series by Courtney Milan shows a different side of historical romance by focusing on stories of women who are strong, complete, with their own interests and desires beyond marriage, whether that be chess or science or newspaper editing. Not a spicy as most of the other books on list, the stories that Courtney creates are amazing. And also show such a different side of history than we are used to seeing in romance, from interracial couples, to medical practices, the trauma of war and mental health disorders.

The Bishop Landing books are exactly the kind of books I love to escape into. They are exciting, filled with the uber wealthy that live by their own set of rules, and are sexy as hell. I love all the Morrelli’s, but the Beast of Bishop Landing are my favorite of the series. Maybe it’s the beauty and the beast retelling aspect, maybe it’s the bookish heroine, or the sexy scene in a library, but whatever the reason, this is always one of the series I turn to when an escape from real life. Which let’s be honest, I’ve needed a lot lately.

I love to read new books. To explore new worlds, new characters and new stories. But sometimes you just need a nice comforting read to escape into. A world you know, a story you know will satisfy everything you are looking for. And I can’t think of a better time to indulge in one of those worlds than trapped at home in the snowstorm.

So what are your comfort reads? Any books you keep coming back to over and over?

An Anniversary Worth Celebrating

I still can't completely believe that this last Christmas Eve marks the fifteenth anniversary of my first book, Naughty List, being published. Its insane to think about how long ago that was, or how much has happened since. I've moved to two different states. I've bought multiple properties. I've had multiple evil day jobs. I've survived a global pandemic. And the biggest change of all, I've become a mom.

And the publishing world has changed almost as dramatically since that time too. When I first published we were in the golden age of ebooks, spurred on by Fifty Shades of Gray and the kindle explosion, epublishers and self-publishing were booming. People couldn't get enough spicy books. And I happily got to join along on that ride. I enjoyed the benefits of everyone falling in love with smut books at the same time as I was. It was a great time to be starting out. So many people were excited and eager to join in, to help, to support each other. 

Over time the industry has changed. Some changes I really love. I love all the different books that are out there. Back when I first started publishing, the big publishers were still in charge of what books were being published, even self-publishing. Not directly, but we were still all getting our cues from the big guys. We really believed to be successful, we had to stay in their box. But so many amazing authors have proven that's not true. I don't know anyone back in those early days that would have thought to write a book where the main character falls in love with a priest, or a planet of horned six foot tall blue men, but Sierra Simone and Ruby Dixon have shown us there is a home for any kind of book, if the characters are amazing and the writing fantastic.  

But on the downside of these changes, there are more demands on authors than ever before. No longer can being with a good publisher, and just having that shelf space in the bookstore or on the digital shelves be enough. You need to be everywhere, do everything, just on the chance that you'll find the readers that love you. Its made it harder for authors, and for readers. 

I used to buy everything that Samhain published, because I knew everyone of their books would be fantastic. Now it takes me more work to find the authors I love. But when I do, its the best feeling ever. And with social media it feels like the book world has become more segregated. I love booktok and bookstagram, but it can often wish I could see more of the book world. I'm convinced there are so many amazing books and authors out there that I would love, if the algorithm would just reveal them to me. 

But regardless, it is still an industry I am proud to be a part of. And always will be. No matter what difficulties might be thrown in its way, an industry for women by women always rises to the top. The romance world is always at the forefront. Learning new things, embracing new concepts, showing the publishing world how its done. I've never met a more hardworking, determined, fun, creative, amazing group of women than I have in the romance community.

My life also looks completely different now than it did back then, except for one thing. My love of reading and books has never left me. Even now, when I'm more sleep deprived than I've ever been before, I still find time to read. I still love books.  

And I can't wait to see what the next fifteen years will bring me. And this amazing industry. If the last fifteen years have taught me anything, its that I couldn't possibly predict all the changes, opportunities and excitement that will be coming our way. And that is fine with me

In Defense of Hallmark Movies

You would probably think I’m not the biggest fan of hallmark movies. As a super spicy writer, you’d probably think I have no interest in the squeaky clean hallmark channel. And you’re not completely wrong.

I don’t spend a lot of time watching hallmark movies. Especially with everything I have going on in my life these days. If I have a little free time, I’d much rather read a spicy book. Or enjoy some good old-fashioned reality tv, like Real Housewives or Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I do have issues with the paper thin characters they create, and lack of character growth. I can’t stand the romances that end with an engagement, when they’ve only known each other for one week and only had one kiss. I’m not saying they need to get down and dirty like my books, but a little more time together before committing their life together feels necessary to me.

But regardless of all these complaints about hallmark movies, I will happily defend them. I’ll battle to the end of the earth for people to give them their due. Because Hallmark movies are no different than the entire romance industry. They are media created by women, for women’s enjoyment, and should be taken seriously as that. 

It’s so easy to mock media for women. To make fun of hallmark movies for their sappiness, romance novels for their spice, reality tv for its constructed pretenses. But how is that any different than any other media. How is The Kardashian any more produced than Survivor or The Amazing Race. They both have producers that decided where they story should go, that encourage the participants to speak out or act a certain way. The only difference I see is that the Kardashian’s is almost entirely about women, where these other shows are not. How are hallmark movies any more tropey or over the top than wrestling, with their staged fights and over the top characters. Once again, it’s the viewers that are different. The participants that change.

And it is for that reason that I will defend hallmark movies every day, even though I don’t watch them much myself. Because media focused on women, and their desires deserves to be valued. To be seen as much a part of the landscape of our television as any other programming. 

So this season, if you want to watch some Hallmark to enjoy the magic of the season, go for it. Embrace what you enjoy. Don’t feel shame. Don’t degrade it. Don’t justify it. Just savor it. Because media developed for and enjoyed by women is rare, and that alone deserves to be celebrated. 

And if you’re looking for something a little spicier than a Hallmark movie, but still filled with all that Christmas cheer, take a look at my Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball series. It’s filled with all the same joy and a whole bunch of the hijinks—only every one of my ladies gets to take two men home for the holidays.

Every Day Should Be A Holiday--and Discounted to 99 cents

Almost fifteen years ago when I first started writing the Naughty Holiday List series I had no idea what I was doing. I'd read a bunch of what we now call smutty books (back then the more common term was erotic romance), I'd written one (Wandering off the Path, which would not be published for a few years after this series started) and I knew I had a fun idea with tons of possibilities. As a devoted romance reader, I knew I loved series, and that other readers did too. And that was about all the knowledge I had when I wrote the first book in this series. 

A good idea. A dream. Enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not enough to realize I had no clue what I was getting myself into. 

I read a submission request for Christmas stories, and the idea just came to me (this happens to me a lot), and I quickly wrote a fun little story featuring a girl, her four best friends, and the lists they all created to bring love into their lives. 

I had no clue if the first book would ever get published (which was published by Cobblestone Press titled Naughty List). I didn't know if anyone would read it. But I was still naive enough to think I could write a whole series of women finding the man of their dreams using lists. It was only after writing Naughty List that I decided all the characters would use their lists at different holidays. And in different ways. (I also thought I would write the whole series in one year, which I definitely didn't do. I had no idea back then how long it would take to not just write a book but five). 

When I started out I didn't even know what holidays would feature in these stories. I started with the big hits. Christmas. New Years Eve. Valentine's Day. All popular holidays, perfect for romance. And I found the perfect stories for those special days. But that all changed with Foolish Desire. None of the remaining popular holidays really worked for the story I wanted to tell for Amy. She was shy, scared, stuck in her own shell. Drinking green beer or watching fireworks wouldn't change any of that.

That's when I thought to try an untraditional holiday. The type of holiday that is rarely written about. And probably seen even less in romance novels. April Fool's Day. 

And that changed everything about this series. It opened up new and different holidays to explore. New possibilities, not just for this book but for the final book in the series, Dirty Work, which was set on Labor Day. Holidays that aren't know for their romance, but had so much great untapped potential. It might be one of the things I love most about this series.

Before writing this book I'd never read a April Fool's holiday romance, but even now, after writing my own, I don't know why I haven't seen more. If every day can be a romantic, why not April Fool's? And if a mix up with a Christmas email, or a Halloween costume, can be the beginning of a beautiful romance, why not an April Fool's Prank gone wrong? Which is exactly what happens to Amy and Will. 

April Fools offered so much potential for romance, especially romantic comedy. All the hijinks that could occur, all the misunderstandings that could take place and lead to so much more. Without the cheesy music, crowded restaurants, or family meddling of the other holidays.

Just thinking about it makes me want to write a whole new series. Filled with even more obscure holidays, and even more delicious romances. Or maybe one where they are all set on April Fools. The ideas are endless. Because everyday is a great day romance. 

And for the next three days, on the anniversary of its original release, Foolish Desire is only $0.99 on bookstrand.com. There was never a better time to pick up a romance set on an untraditional, but so appropriate holiday, than right now. And that is no joke.

Buy Link: https://www.bookstrand.com/foolish-desire

Blurb : Amy Spear has never felt special. She’s shy, awkward, and clumsy to boot. No one ever noticed her, especially not hunky guys like Will, except for maybe when she was tripping over her own feet. Until an April Fools' prank goes too far, and for the first time Amy is the center of Will’s interest, and she's rather liking the arrangement. But does he want all of her, or just the woman who likes getting naughty to an audience?

Will Long has always been a joke. And he never minded playing the jester to a tee, until he met Amy. She’s far too sweet, too innocent, too serious for a guy like him. But when his April Fools' prank shows him a whole new side of Amy, he can’t pretend to look away any longer. But can a fool like Will keep a girl like Amy? Or will he end up being the butt of his own joke?

Expanding My Stories through Journaling

On and off I’ve done journaling for my mental health. It was recommended by a therapist years ago, I have found it really helpful, especially when I’m dealing with a big decision or a difficult situation.

Something about the action of physically writing my thoughts on real paper allows me to think more clearly (at least for me, it has to be real pen and paper for it to work, I don’t know why but I’m sure there’s a psychological reason). I find writing down my concerns, my questions, or my fears forces my brain to think different than just ruminating or even talking a decision through does. Something about sitting alone with a journal and my thoughts, no one else’s judgements or concerns to consider, allows my mind a freedom and exploration I can’t find another way.

Even though I’ve found journaling therapeutic and helpful for making decisions over the years, I never considered applying the same process to my writing. The idea just never crossed my mind. Not until I was watching a YouTube video by Sarra Canon where she mentioned she used journaling for her plotting process.

At first I was a little confused how journaling could help my writing. Sure, I could sit down and write about my story, and the magic of the pen and paper was bound to do something, but what exactly was I going to write about in this journal. How would it be different than just sitting down at my desk and putting my fingers on the keyboard. 

But when I got stuck on my current story, I was a little desperate to find a solution.

Just like almost every story I’ve started for the last several years, I began writing this new story propelled by the excitement of a great idea, until I hit an impenetrable brick wall at about twenty thousand words.

As a writer my process is a little different than most. I’ve heard it described as inspiration writer, or stitching writer. I don’t write starting at the beginning and work my way to the end. I write whatever scene I am currently excited about. That could be the first, last, or any in between. I start with what I know, no matter where it falls in the story, and let the characters take me from there. Usually while I’m writing what I already know, the next part of the story will just unfold for me. The characters will show me more of who they are. And the next steps in the journey become clear.

But lately that hasn’t been happening. Instead, once I get to the end of what I can see of the story, all that’s beyond it is murky darkness. So out of desperation to get some clarity on my next steps with this story, I decided to give journaling a try.

I sat down with my pen and paper and wrote down all the questions I had about my current work in process. I listed all the holes that I needed filled in, and hoped that by writing them down, my mind might see these road blocks a different way. That it might find a solution I hadn’t considered yet.

Amazingly it worked. When I wrote down the concerns I had, the problems I’d found, the inconsistencies I needed to fix, ideas started to come to me. Solutions I had never considered before but that added fantastic complexity to my plot, twists that deepened my character’s goals and motivations. Giving me another way to access my story and to explore this new world I was so enamored with.

Unfortunately, these new discoveries have led to a lot of rewriting. But it’s more than worth it for the new twists and turns the story has taken. And the character depth I’m adding. For the first time in years, I have written more than 50,000 words on my latest work in process, the furthest I’ve been able to write on one story in more than two years. And there’s a lot of territory to still explore in this world.

After giving journaling on my writing a try, I’m a convert. I will definitely be doing it again. I’ve even designated a new journal just for tinkering with ideas, to find new twists and turns to add even more excitement to my story, and delve deeper into my characters. If you’re struggling with your writing, or looking for a way to delve deeper into your characters and your plot, consider pulling out a journal and writing down your concerns and questions, and seeing where your mind travels. Who knows what you might discover in the pages of your journal? It just might be the addition you’ve always been looking for.

Authors are the Best Teachers

It’s back to school time in my neck of the woods. The kids are running around to get the bus, the smell of freshly sharpen pencils and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is in the air. The temperature is getting cooler. As I watched all the kids around me get excited for a new school year, I can’t help but reflect back on how many great teachers have made me the person I am today. And many great authors have made me the author I am by sharing their knowledge and experience and helping me to grow.

Here are a few of the authors that have proven to be fantastic writing teachers to me over the years and have turned me into the author I am today.

Stephen King’s On Writing is my favorite writing book ever. When I first read it, back in my high school days, it was transformative. Not only was it the first book that I’d read written an author I loved (before that all the writing books I’d ever read were more informational and written by people I’d never heard of before), but it also had such a different take on writing.

Just like the rest of Stephen King’s work, his writing advice was grounded in reality, realism, and wasn’t always rosy or optimistic. But I loved that. He made writing sound difficult but doable. He was the first author I heard make a word goal for the day and talk about grinding out the work instead of waiting for inspiration. It may sound obvious today, but at the time I’d never heard anyone detail how to become a writer in as plain terms as he did.

I haven’t read the book in quite a few years, I don’t know how well its held up over time. Especially when it comes to writing style, which is always evolving. But the advice on achieving your goals and improving your art are timeless.

I took Becca Syme’s Write Better Faster Class when I was going through a low point in my career. I’d completely burnt myself out trying to write fulltime after an unexpected job loss, and it was doing a number on my head. She’s the first person who I ever described my writing style to and didn’t think I was insane. She looked at the tests I’d taken for her class, and said my style made sense according to what my tests revealed. That was a vindication I never realized I needed but has helped me accept my style more than I can express.

Also, her advice to write like yourself is something I use every day. Whenever I start to get down on myself that my style isn’t like someone else’s that I love, or I can’t write like some author that is amazing, I always remember her advice that readers don’t come to your work for a copycat of someone else, or for perfect grammar and prose. They come to you for what makes you different. What is special about you. And you can’t do anything better for your writing than embracing who you are. That always encourages me to continue when writing is tough. Or more often, I’m tough on myself.

I don’t remember how I found Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathing channel on YouTube. I must have watched enough other author vlogs that the algorithm sent her to me, but I am grateful. In the last few years, writing has become a lot for me to handle. All the millions of things you have to do on top of the writing. Maintain a website, create an online presence, promote on social media, self-publish books, liaison with vendors….it can be overwhelming. But her 90-day planning system, called HB90, has been a godsend. It helps me focus on what’s important and move projects forward instead of running around trying to do everything at once and getting nowhere. And her writing advice on plotting, and characterization is fantastic.

One of her recent videos on reverse outlining, or grid outlining as I’ve seen some others call it, might have changed my writing process for good. It combines the writing part of my brain, with the analytical data part of my brain, so perfectly I can’t believe I’ve never thought of it before. It’s been so helpful, especially with my frazzled mom brain, to have a way to focus my whole story displayed on one sheet, instead of trying to keep it all in my head.

Back when I had a commute, I loved podcasts. Music is great, but podcasts really help me make a long commute fun. The time flies by when I’m learning something new. Stephenie Holmes podcast was one of my favorites. She has such great tips on writing and marketing, that I couldn’t wait for her podcast to drop each week. I love how clear she is in her own goals. Unlike other authors that give advice, she’s very clear in what works for her and doesn’t hedge. She’s a high production author—meaning she writes a lot, and feels that’s the best way to make enough money to write full-time. And she gives advice in that vein.

I loved to hear how her different marketing projects went. From Kickstarts, to merchandise and special editions, to exploring new genres, she detailed every turn she took with her writing. What was successful, what wasn’t, how she might do things differently to avoid pitfalls in the future.

While she hasn’t offered a new podcast in some time, the old ones still have a lot to offer. From marketing tips and tricks, to mindset resets. If you haven’t checked them out, they are definitely worth a listen.

These are the authors that have been great teachers to me. They have all taught me so much, and I take their wisdom with me everywhere I go. If you have any other authors you have learned a ton from, drop them in the comments below. I can’t wait to find others that will open my mind and expand my insight, just as these fantastic authors have.

Using 5 Whys for Greater Character Depth

A few months ago, I started something new. Something that's been tempting my muse for a while, but I've been hesitant to write. 

I’ve always been tempted by lots of different stories. I have a million story ideas stories racing around my head at all times. Fantasy, paranormal, dark romance, historical. But I’ve found it a little too easy to settle into one type of story, with one type of voice. Mostly because I love these stories. There’s never been a time where I didn’t want to write a story about two sexy cowboys falling in love with a bookish nerd. I love each and every one of my characters and my quirky little towns. And I’ve been very happy writing them. 

But sometimes my crazy muse wants me to try something new. Maybe she knows that trying something different will push me to a new level, or help me find new enjoyment in my stories. Or a new kind of story that I love just as much as the old ones.

So I decided to take a chance and start a new, very different kind of story. Unlike some of the other books I’ve written, this one is more complex. Much darker. With more detailed worldbuilding and character arcs. One of the reasons I have put off writing a book like this is because the complexity and detail intimidated me.

Normally, I can hold my entire story in my head. I don't need outlines. I don't use note cards, complex character sheets, or plotting storyboards. I’m a pretty intuitive writer, and most of the time my intuition and an idea is all I need to find my story and get it to the finish line.

But these characters have been giving me more trouble than I’m used to. It's been harder for me to get my arms around them. Usually I know exactly what my characters are going to do, because it makes sense to me. Often it’s exactly what I would do, or a friend would do, or someone I might know would do. I understand all their fears and misconceptions. 

But these new characters are hard to figure out. They take actions I would never consider (some actions that are even illegal), and I've had trouble understanding their motivations. That’s when I knew it was time to pull out my writer’s toolbox and see if I can find a new strategy to understand these difficult characters.

I went back to an old but a goodie, and tried to determine in detail all my character’s goals, motivation, and conflict. But when I started to think about why they might take the actions they did, I found the goal, motivation and conflict didn’t go deep enough for me to truly get to the heart of their needs. Yes, I understood my FMC’s motivation for blackmailing her boss is money, but why? Why did she need the money? Why this man? Why? Why? Why?

That’s when I remembered the five whys. The five whys is an analytical tool that I’ve used in project management as part of my evil day job. The point of the five whys is not to address the first issue that arises, but to get to the heart of the problem and fix it. Hopefully permanently.

To use the five whys you only have to ask why something is happening, as you in the example on the left. 

When using this tool for character development you only need to keep asking yourself why your character is doing what they are doing. For instance, if your character plans to blackmail her boss, why? Maybe she needs the money quickly. But why? Maybe she has a lot of debt to a bad guy and she needs to pay him off fast. Why? Because he’s going to kidnap her sister if she doesn’t. Quickly, we’ve gotten to the real truth of why she is taking such a drastic action. To protect her sister.

The point of the five whys is to just keep winding down that rabbit hole, asking, Why? Why? Why? Why? Until you get to the very root of the issue. The rule is called the five whys, but that’s only to inspire you not to take the first few answers you receive. You can keep asking why as many times as you need until you get to the heart of the problem.

I decided to try and to apply this logic to my characters (why not😉), asking why they took their current action. Why they felt a certain way towards another character. And the more I asked, the more these characters—and the story—opened up to me. With the more whys I asked, the more complex, complicated and exciting the story became, but also the more understandable my characters and their actions became.

If you're struggling with how to determine why your characters are doing what they're doing, or what their next step would be, consider applying the five whys. Just keep asking. Why? Why? Why do they do this? Why do they keep doing this? Why is this important? Until you get to the very core of your characters. No matter how many whys it takes.

I think you’ll find a lot of secrets along the way, and a lot of fresh exciting ideas to explore, but most of all, you'll find a connection and understanding with your characters you never had before. Why not give it a try?

Doing More with the Same Time

As the mom of a toddler, I’m always looking for ways to get more done in the day. There is just never enough time to complete everything on my to do list, and also spend some time on what I love. And it feels like my writing is always what gets put on the back burner.

In an attempt to try and find more time for the things I want to accomplish, I started tracking how I spent my time. I hoped by tracking how I use my free hours of the day, I might be able to figure out where I could find space that might have been overlooked. Or where I was wasting too much time. If I wanted to find more time in the day, it only made sense to me that I would first have to determine where my time was going.

But when I started tracking my time I noticed a few interesting things. Not in how I use my time (though the amount of time I spend scrolling YouTube and Instagram is a little scary) but how the act of tracking my activities changed my behavior. 

First, I noticed just by tracking my time that I spent less doing things that I viewed as unnecessary (watching tv, scrolling Instagram, messaging with family and friends, etc…). Once I started writing down where I spent my time, and thereby forced myself to be accountable for what I was doing, that was a deterrent in itself. I didn’t want to have to write down that I spent the last half hour scrolling social media with nothing to show for it, so before the half hour was up I would try to find at least one productive thing I could accomplish. Giving me another label to assign that half hour. This gave me a built-in motivation to do more, without having to apply any other techniques or willpower.

The other change I noticed was that simple act of tracking my time forced me to see every minute as valuable.

For simplicity, I classified each half hour under one of four designations. Work, Writing, Promotion, and Personal.

Once I designated a half hour to any of these labels, my analyst brain told me I had to use that whole half hour for activities related to that category. For the purposes of data integrity. The process of tracking time is cumbersome enough, I didn’t need to add tracking fractions to the process.

If I finished a task before the end of the half hour, I would naturally try to find another task to do in that same classification for the remaining time. If I finished the dishes with ten minutes left in my half hour block, I would look around for what else I could do to fill that time. Could I take out the trash, clean the toilet, pack my son’s snacks for daycare, etc... in those ten remaining minutes, thereby forcing myself to use every available minute in that half hour. And by doing this every half hour, by the end of the day, I had found I had packed much more into the same amount of time.

Even if it meant small movements. Even if I only had three minutes, that might be enough to put the books I’d been planning to donate into the trunk of my car. Which gets me one step closer to getting them to their end destination. If I’d finished writing a blog with five minutes to spare, I could use that five minutes to brainstorm new ideas or find pictures to accompany a future blog. This small trick encouraged me to use every available moment, and helping me get even more done in the same amount of time. Inching me closer to my goals.

I’m not sure if this tip would work for everyone. Maybe it’s just a trick of my crazy brain. A side effect of years spent analyzing data, and focusing on creating like comparison. But for any others out there, looking for ways to make more out of the precious time we have, maybe it would work for you too.

If you are struggling to get it all done, to figure how you can get more done in the same limited amount of time, consider tracking what you do with your time each day. This might help you see where you are missing time, or where your processes can be improved. But you might also gain the ability to push yourself to do more in the time you have, to make every minute count, just from the simple act of tracking how you spend your time. Just as I have.

Give Yourself a Tip

For the last month or so I’ve been having trouble getting motivated. I was doing well for a few a while. I managed to write twenty-four thousand words into a new story, brainstorming new ideas, and starting to get exciting about writing again. Then a month-long bout of illness hit my household, just one right after the other, and since then I’ve been feeling like I can’t quite get my feet underneath me. I want to get back to working on my goals again, but being so far behind already, it's hard to get the motivation to start grinding again. Even simple stuff like making dinner or cleaning the house can feel insurmountable somedays.

I’ve talked multiple times before about how I’m not good at giving myself rewards. I never seem to be able to find anything that can motivate me. I just don’t have a lot of things I want. Especially not little things. Earning books has worked okay for me, I can always use more books, but anything else has failed to be appealing enough to motivate me. And now that I have a toddler, my options for 'gifting' myself things are even fewer. I don’t have the time to get a manicure or pedicure, or take a workout class anymore, even if I was interested in doing something like that.

I decided to try something different this month. Since Covid,  everywhere now seems to be asking for tips. Everyone wants a little something extra when they do a good job. Why not me? 

I set up a new system where I get a dollar every time I go above and beyond in my own life. Or at least above and beyond what I have been doing. If I can get to bed on time and get a good night sleep, instead of staying up late into the night scrolling social media, one dollar. Make a good healthy meal for my family, one dollar. Organize an activity to keep my toddler happy and give me a break, one dollar. Anything else I want to encourage myself to do constantly, I give myself a tip when I accomplish it.

I take all these little tips and put them in a special bank account. The start of a savings account to do something really fun. Right now, I’ve unofficially earmarked this money for taking my son to Disney World in a few years, but we’ll see how quickly it grows, and if we’ll have enough funds for that when the time comes. 

You might notice none of these activities are directly related to helping me meet my goals, but indirectly they have been very helpful to get me back on track. Now that I’m getting better sleep and eating better, I have more mental bandwidth to start thinking about writing again. Now that I’m feeling better about where I am, and what progress I am making, I’m more able to conquer that massive cleaning projects on my plate or dealing with another terrible night of illness.

So if you’re struggling to complete what you need to do, think about giving yourself a tip for taking those critical first steps towards your goals. It's amazing what a little encouragement can do for your state of mind. And you can also be saving to some special future fun at the same time.

What would you give yourself a tip for doing? Is there anything you can think of that would be worth encouraging with a nice fat tip?

Stepping Your Way to Creativity

This month I’ve been writing something new. I know I’m supposed to be revising, but I just felt like I needed a bit of a change. Besides Nanowrimo in 2023 (yes, almost two years ago), I’ve been revising for close to three years straight (though the amount of time I’ve had to dedicate to working on my books has not been a lot, especially the last year). Revising for me is very draining, and as a result of doing it for so long, lately I’ve been feeling a little burnt out. I thought starting something new might help me get those creative juices flowing again.

I have a few stories that have been pestering me for a while to be written, so I decided to jump into one of them and see how it goes. But since I haven’t written in a while, it’s been a little slow. Not bad exactly, but more rusty. Kind of like when you haven’t skated in a while, and it takes you a little bit to figure out where everything should go and how to get all your movements to sync up at once. I’m working on it. Little by little. But it has meant a lot more moments of feeling stuck or unsure than I normally have during a first draft.

And when I feel like I’m stuck, I know I have to do something else for a little while. Other people might be different, but for me, no amount of staring at a screen will fix my head not being in the right place. Since I’m also trying to be more active, when I’m stuck, I’ve been getting up and going for a walk. Figuring if the writing is working for me, I might as well work on my step goal. Even if it’s just a walk around my office.

While I’m walking, my mind can wander. It gives me the same feeling as when you take a long drive down the highway. You can kind of zone out, your body knowing what to do on muscle memory, and your mind can drift. On these walks I usually start making new connections. Come up with some idea I hadn’t thought of before, or some character detail that hadn’t occurred to me before, and soon I’m unstuck. Or at least I will be unstuck in some place in the novel, and I can work on that part instead (I’m an inspiration writer, meaning I write whatever scene is inspiring me at the moment, and don’t often write the story chronologically).

When I noticed how often this has been happened to me lately, I realized this isn’t a new phenomenon. Any time when I was walking routinely was also my most productive. When I was writing the Frostbite Falls series, I would take a walk during my lunch break at the evil day job, before finding a grassy place to sit and do some writing. And that was my most productive writing year ever. Writing, revising and publishing six books, and writing two others that were published later.

I wondered if it was just me, or if other people had the same experience. So out of curiosity I did some research. And it appears I am not alone. A Stanford study showed that walking improved people’s creativity by up to 60% either during or after a walk. It doesn’t matter where you walked, on the treadmill, around the house, or outdoors. As long as you get your body moving and the blood flowing, you can boost your creativity by simply taking a stroll.

And even if a walk doesn’t end up giving me a new creative idea, I’ve moved my body, probably gotten a little healthier, and—besides time—it costs me nothing. Which is exactly the kind of hack I love. One with no downside.

Now that I know this, I’m trying to focus my walks to right before I start writing. To get the creative juices flowing, and get myself into the right headspace before writing. And it has help me come up with some great ideas, and even better questions. But more than anything, it gives me the time and space to focus my thinking on writing before I sit down. That kind of focus is hard to come by in my life right now.

Only time will tell if this trick leads to a year of productivity that can rival my previous personal best, but I’m certainly happy to give it a try. And even if I don’t have a record-breaking year, I’m sure to have a good time either way.

So if you’re ever struggling creatively, and just can’t figure out what to do, or how to get to the next scene. Take a walk, and let those creative juices flow. And you might just find yourself stepping toward an exciting new idea.

Untraditional Productivity Hacks

For years I’ve been scanning the internet for different ways to increase my productivity. As an author, there is never enough time to do everything you want. When I became a mom, I was even more desperate to get not just more done, but anything done. I became desperate to any new nugget I could find to improve my productivity. But a lot of what I heard was the same advice over and over. The same recycled ideas. So I decided to start trying some untraditional things, just to see if they worked. And a few did.

Here is a list of some of the habits I’ve been using to make myself more productive, that are either unconventional, or are in direct opposition to most traditional productivity advice, but worked for me. Maybe they will work for you too. 

Do what you want. Sounds good right. But I have some reasoning behind this, I promise. 

All of us constantly have a running to do list in our minds. Some things that need to be dealt with immediately, like make dinner, and bigger tasks like reorganizing the kitchen, or writing a novel. Each one of those little activities nipping at us like a dog, demanding attention, stealing our focus.

When I have one of those particular to dos talking to me more than any others, that’s the one I do. Even if its not my number one priority. Even if it doesn’t need to be completed for months. If it is being too loud, I know it will be easier just to do it now, and silence that voice rather than spend the next hours, days, or even weeks wasting precious energy and focus to ignore it.

I also think this leads to the best result as well. Sure, maybe I don’t need to write my May newsletter right now, but if I have something I really want to talk about, I think it will be a better newsletter in the end if I write it now, when I’m passionate about the topic. Rather than trying to strain my mind to come up with something the day before it has to go out.

Is it possible I would be further ahead in my revising right now, if I stuck to just want needed to immediately be done, instead of getting next month’s newsletter done ahead of time. Maybe. But I don’t think I’ll be unhappy when I don’t have to worry about my newsletter in May, and can instead spend that time revising. It's even possible I am further along in my writing because I do these activities ahead of time, since I’m not using an excess energy trying to ignore any of these to dos in favor of revising.

This definitely isn’t something you can apply across the board. Sometimes you have to do what’s right in front of you, regardless of your passion for it. Your kids can’t wait until tomorrow to eat dinner because you got the idea for a blog today. But you’d be surprised how just even jotting down notes about an idea that is pestering you can free up your energy and make you more productive than before.

Tackle the small things first. I’ve heard many productivity experts encourage people to do the hardest job on their list first. After that, everything else will seem easy. But that assumes that you have time to tackle anything else. Sometimes you just don’t. Instead I try to tackle the small things first. If there is something on my to do list that can be accomplished in fifteen minutes or less, I do it now. Period.

This helps me in two ways. One, I get more done. Sure, it's more of the little stuff. But it's still two things (or possibly more) coming off my list in that time instead of one. Especially since sometimes I just don’t know how much time I have. When your schedule is dictated by a toddler, you have to be prepared to finish what you are doing quickly.

But this also helps me focus my energies. I know I’m not decluttering my closet this weekend. I know I’m not painting the garage. So even if my subconscious nags me to do it, I can ignore it. This limits how much I’m trying to hold in my brain, searching for my attention, thereby freeing up more brain power for me to focus on other things.

And it also helps to keep you motivated. Nothing gets me more excited to move on to the next task as crossing off the previous activity. If you can knock five or six tasks off your list, you feel unstoppable.

Scroll on your phone first thing in the morning. This is one that every productivity and self-help guru tells you not to do. But first thing in the morning, is exactly when I allow myself to scroll on my phone, because I don’t have long to do it. There is a hard stop for when I have to get off my phone. Once my son is up, unless I want to share my phone with him, it has to go away.

When I pick up my phone other times of day, like at lunch or at night, with no hard stop, I can find myself scrolling for way too long. At night, I can spend hours just watching reels of bookish memes and parenting advice. Hours I could be spending doing something else. With only a few minutes to play in the morning, I get on social media, see what what’s going on, and then I have to get off.

If looking at social media first thing in the morning bothered me, I’d stop immediately. If it caused my day to start off poorly, or put me in a funk, I would change tactics. But luckily, it doesn’t bother me too much. But the point is to find a time in the day when, due to circumstance and not an attempt at willpower, you can only be on the phone for a set period of time.

Stick it in the closet. A few years ago I stumbled upon a YouTube video that talked about the clutter in your house having a voice. Which sounded a little crazy (cue Ariana Grande Saturday Night Live sketch where she’s singing with the couch) but what the youtuber meant is that the clutter creates a voice in your head. Every time you walked past that cluttered counter, or the pile of unfolded laundry in the corner, a little voice would go off in your head saying you need to do this. Stealing a little of your energy and your focus. If you walk by in multiple times a day, that little voice could be notifying you dozens of times.

For anything that caused this reaction in me, I either solve it immediately or shove it in the closet. To keep those voices as quiet as possible. That bag of clothes to be donated but I haven’t been able to find the time to do it, stick it in the closet (car might be better, or garage, getting it one step closer to going out). That pile of unwashed or unfolded clothes, keep them in the laundry room until you’re ready to deal with them.

This may seem like an avoidance tactic, and it is. But being constantly reminded of what you aren’t doing, doesn’t help you get anything done. So for the time being, if you can’t do something, just stick it in the closet, and free yourself to do other things now, and thereby giving yourself time later to handle what you’ve tucked away.

As a side bonus, if you stick a bunch of stuff it in the closet, and find you don’t need it for months, or even years, that might be decluttering all on its own. Now you know you don’t need it, and you can just throw it away. No sorting necessary.

Keep changing the system. A lot of productivity gurus make it sound like if you start their system, all your productivity problems will be solved. You’ll get everything done on your to do list and have time to spare. And maybe that does work for them. And many others. But I have never found a productivity system that solved all my problems. 

Instead, what I have found is most successful is to keep changing the system. Some months I’m making to do lists in journals, next few months I might be using a paper planner, the month after that I’m making excel spreadsheets full of plans. 

No matter how good the system is, after a while I always grow bored with it. I’ll find issues with it accommodating my lifestyle. Or I become overtaxed by it. And when that happens, I change it.

Switching up my system not only reinvigorates my interest in my goals, but it also brings them back to front of mind. Whenever I change systems, I usually have to spend a few hours resetting everything. Refill out trackers, and replan weeks. That gives me time to think about what I want. About what I need. And why these goals matter to me. Which only makes me want to achieve them more.

By no means am I saying throw out a system that works for you. If seeing your goals splayed out before you in your office keeps them top of mind, then continue to do that. But maybe you can change up how you display them, what you display. Maybe you show the end results of reaching your goals, like a big new house, instead of a written out list. Keep switching up what you do, until you find something that works for you, and when it stops working, don’t be afraid to change it again.

These are just a few of my productivity hacks that are rather untraditional compared to traditional advice, but have worked for me. Do you have any productivity hacks that you love and want to share? Anything you do that seems a little unusual or unconventional but works? Leave it the comments below. I’d love to find some great new ideas to try.

Submission Rejections can be Acceptance Successes

I’ve always loved a submission call. They have a way of triggering my muse and bringing ideas to the surface of my mind in a way I never would have otherwise. I think the timeline appeals to me too. It can be easy when writing, especially something long like a book, to just keep picking, and tweaking forever. Having a defined end date for completing a project pushes me to finish and focus.

I’ve written books for many different submission calls over the years. Some have been selected for the collaboration, like Menage on the Rocks and Working for Him. And some that have not. But I have never regretted writing any of them. I love the way my mind can take an idea and it can send me off in one direction, and someone else might take that same submission call and go in the exact opposite direction. That’s one of the things I love about writing. There is not one right way to do it. We all bring our own experiences to the table, our own passions and insights, and each of us can create something exciting with it. 

And most of the books that I have been rejected from submission calls I have been able find a different home for. Some with a great deal more editing. None were ever a loss. No good story is.

Here are a few of my books that were written for a submission call, that they weren’t selected for it, but found a wonderful home somewhere else.

Wandering Off the Path was the first ever erotic romance I ever wrote. I had just discovered this up and coming genre, and began reading and exploring as many as I could. I found a few my way to the websites for a few of the publishers whose books I enjoyed and discovered a submission call for Fairytales Retold. Why it caused me to think of Red Riding Hood, I don’t know, but the story suddenly took on a very sexy energy to me. A man—or wolf—creeping into your house at night, sneaking into your bed…

Not surprisingly, since it was my first attempt at the genre, it didn’t get selected. And I understand why. When I read over the old drafts now, I see a lot of the mistakes I made. A lot of the areas I needed to improve. And I did. The book was eventually accepted by a different, but equally lovely publisher. But I also got the freedom to turn the story into a series (something that might not have been possible if it had been selected for the original anthology). I have two more books written in this series, and I hope to have them published very soon. And who knows, I might get an idea for a fourth.

Through one of my writer lists, I got the notification that a magazine was looking for quickies. Sexy stories that would fit in under a very low word count. I though the idea was a nice challenge. Write a story with lots of sexual tension and intrigue, but make it snappy. And I liked the idea of being in a magazine. At the time, I was yet to have a story in print.

I don’t know why (the muse is a fickle girl) but my mind immediately thought up a sexy historical story. And considering the story was a quickie, I imagined my characters having a quickie too. But instead of the clandestine meeting of a man and a woman, it was of two women, trying to cram a little love into their evening undressing. And that’s how Serving Madame was born.

But alas, I could not get the story down to the word count needed for the publisher. The editor and I went back and forth a few times, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t cut it down to a low enough number to qualify without sacrificing the tone. So I found another publisher to publish it. And I even go the idea for a sequel, Monsieur’s turn, where Madame’s husband gets a chance to join in on the fun.

Unfortunately, both stories are currently out of print, but I will be trying to do something about that soon.

Reunion Makes Three started with a very simple idea. A publisher was looking for books featuring characters filling their fantasies for one night. Whatever those fantasies were. When I thought of what kind of fantasy my characters would enjoy, the idea was very simple to me. A full out sexcapade with two men (would you really expect anything different from me). And that’s exactly what I wrote. Along with three characters that desperately needed the escape. And a mysterious fantasies fulfilling service that allows them to find it.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work for that submission call for whatever reason, and it found its way to Siren Publishing instead. But because it changed hands, I was able to write a sequel to the story, and expand the world and town featured in the story in both books.

I always intended to write more books in the series. And maybe I will someday. But for right now, I truly enjoy the two books I did write. And the fantasies that all my characters got to fulfill, at exactly the right time in their lives.

And today, in honor of the anniversary of its release, Reunion Makes Three is available for only $0.99 at bookstrand.com. If you have not read this story, or experienced the magic of the Fantasies Fulfilled service, now is the best time to give it a try.

Buy Link: Reunion Makes Three (MMF) - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks

Blurb: Beth Lewis has always had a fantasy to be with two men who also want each other. For her birthday, her sister gifts her with a subscription to Fantasies Fulfilled, an exclusive online service to help connect people with the same desires. After losing her job and her fiancé, she deserves a little fun and to live out a dream that's been tempting her since high school.

Since his reunion invitation arrived, Dell Harrison hasn't been able to stop thinking about his high school sweetheart, Beth. When he and his live-in boyfriend Marcos Vitagliano receive a mysterious invitation to participate in the exclusive Fantasies Fulfilled services, they decide to add a woman to their dynamic duo. What Dell couldn’t have guessed is that the woman they connect with is the same woman who's haunted him since graduation.

Will Marcos be able to accept Beth in their bed and their lives? Or will adding an old flame to their couple turn their duo into a crowd?

Celebrate Love Year Round

Many romance authors, and readers, don’t like Valentine’s Day, and I am definitely one of them. It’s not the holiday itself that I have issues with. I love the idea of a day devoted to love. I’m a loveaholic. I wouldn’t write and almost exclusively read these kind of stories, if I didn’t love love. Its more how the world perceives the romance industry, especially on February 14th, that I don’t like.

During this month there will be a hundred new articles put out, discussing why people love romance, is it good for you, is it bad for you, does it set unrealistic expectations, is it empowering, it’s enough to make me want to pull my hair out. While some of the articles are can be interesting and even insightful, most are more demeaning and annoying than offer any real value.

Even more infuriating are the bookstores, that suddenly realize that romance exists on February first, even though it is one of the bestselling genres all year long. They pull out romance novels, almost all with red and soft sweet pink covers and feature them prominently in the store, as if no one could find the romance section on their own if they wanted a sweet valentine’s day read. I know it is all meant in good fun, and it is nice to see romance books highlighted in a bookstore, but it would be nice to see them get their praise more than a few weeks a year.

If you’re like me, and Valentine’s Day has become tainted for you, here are a few other holidays that you can celebrate focused on love, but without all the pomp of that other holiday.

Earth Day/Arbor Day – Instead of just focusing on your love for one person, how about love for the entire world. Show some love for our planet. Instead of giving flowers or chocolates, plant a tree with your sweetie. The privacy and shade it offers might be a great places to get frisky.

Fourth of July – Instead of seeing fireworks from a kiss, witness the real thing. Celebrate your love surrounded by fireworks, hot dogs and usually some good drinks. Its everything that a great date can offer without any chalky candy hearts or singing teddy bears.

National Loving Day (July 22) – This day celebrates the supreme court verdict in Loving verse the state of Virginia, and the beauty of interracial relationships. I can’t think of a better day to celebrate love, then in honor of a couple who were willing to do anything to be together, even fight the very state they lived in. If that isn’t devotion, I don’t know what is.

International Friendship Day (July 30) – Not all love is romantic love. Friendship is just as important, and for many might be more valuable or longer lasting than romantic love. I can’t think of a day more filled with love, than a day devoted to the people that stand by you through thick and thin, through each first kiss and every subsequent break up.

National Hugging Day (January 21) –There is not better way to show your love than with a good hug. Whether its to a partner, a friend, a family member or just another human that needs some affection and support, hugs really are the international language of love. More than kisses, or dancing, hugs convey love and affection to so many. What could be better than a day celebrating so much caring?

National Love People Day (September 30) – How could a day devoted to loving everyone not be filled with more affection than any other day of the year? Spend the day showing everyone, from the barista at Starbucks, to your coworkers, to your honey, to anyone you meant, show them all the love you have in your heart. Not only will you bring a little more joy into their lives, you might also find your own heart expanded from all the affection you receive in return. Not just from one person, but from everyone.

These are just a few of the holidays you can celebrate this year, if you don’t want to get sucked into the Valentine’s Day craziness but you still want to celebrate love in all its forms. Because who doesn’t want to celebrate all the good things love brings you, all the different types of love in your life, without having to fill your shopping cart with red and pink hearts. I know I do.

And if you do feel like you want to get in that valentine’s mood, check out my book Heart’s Ultimatum, and read how Krista plans to make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet, but her boyfriend James manages to screw it all up, and possibly their whole relationship. It will be only $0.99 from February 14th through February 16th at Bookstrand.com

Buy Link: Heart's Ultimatum (MF) - BookStrand | Bestselling Erotic Romance eBooks

Blurb : Krista Matthews has been in love with James for two years, but he's never mentioned commitment. After she plans him the ultimate naughty Valentine's Day surprise, and he doesn't say those three magical words, she knows it's time to move on.

She may be plushy and curvy, but she still deserves someone who loves her for all she is. Wounded by the past, James Peterson became principal at a new school to escape his mistakes. What he never anticipated was meeting someone as amazing as Krista. She fits him in every way—except her need for a ring. When she dishes out a Valentine's Day ultimatum—give her more or end their relationship—all those old fears come racing back.

Does James have the courage to face his past for the woman he loves? Or will he lose her on principle?