Protecting Their Heart Release

 Release day is coming!

Protecting Their Heart is the first instalment of the Lunar Falls series. It's a menage love story between Penny, Adam and Ethan.

In this paranormal romance, Adam and Ethan are wolf shifters, part of the Accalia Pack, and they're out running when their mate is literally chased into their arms. Their new mission is to keep her safe from the stalker determined to have her and to make her fall for them at the same time. 

The Lunar Falls series will be a collection of romance books that follow the shifters and their future mates who live in the small town, as their lives are transformed by love. 

It's a sexy story with lots of passion and lots of romance, and as a romance author, I love writing feisty females who don't let their alpha mates get away with being bossy. 

If you're interested in reading anything else I've written, then River's Heart is a paranormal romance about a witch coven who have their curse lifted and are now free to find love. You can even take a look around my website and get some book extras. 

Protecting Their Heart is out now and you can buy it from Amazon here if you're in the US, or here in the UK. You can also get it from Smashwords here. 

 

Sticking to Resolutions

 We're leaving December 2022...

January 1st is the start of a new adventure, or at least that's what they say. As an introverted romance author who is happiest at home, my adventures will probably happen on the page and in the paranormal romance stories I write. 

I do like to set some New Year Resolutions. 

The flaw with resolutions is that they're tough to stick to long-term. In fact, only 40% manage to maintain their resolutions beyond 6 months.

My New Year's Resolutions tend to be focussed on being less lazy, writing more, and working harder, but I like a refresh, and day one of a new year is a good time to start. The question is, what's the best way to maintain your willpower?

Choose the Best Goals

The place a lot of people go wrong is setting a lot of different goals. Taking on too much can be overwhelming, which means the easiest way is to form new habits. Be specific with what you want and plan the steps to achieve it. 

This leads to the next step...

Plan Plan Plan

Write down your goal and brainstorm how to achieve it. Make lists, prepare for obstacles that might block your path, plan ahead. Know what you want. 

Start Small

Don't jump in at the deep end. That's what your steps are for. You build to the end achievement. You might feel like it's going slowly, but that's what progress is. You're not planning on being an overnight success. You'll have to put the work in. 

Deadlines 

Deadlines can help, but they come with their own downfalls. If you're going to be disheartened when you miss one then they might not be worth it. Give yourself a contingency plan and figure out how you'll proceed even when you feel it's not going as quickly as you want. 

Keep it Fresh

Don't keep trying to achieve the same goal. You're already starting for a low point if it's something you've failed at. Make enough changes to the New Year Resolution that it truly is a fresh start. 

Be Patient

This a process and that means it won't be an instant success. There will be setbacks and missteps. It might not happen as quickly as you want, but keep your spirit, keep planning, prepare for anything, and try your best. 

On Your Way...

Now you have the basic tools to get going. All you need is to figure out what your New Year's Resolution is going to be. I'm making it easy on myself. My first one is to publish my book, which is almost ready to go. 

Keep an eye out for book extras and updates, and if you like what you read here, take a look around and read some of my other articles.  

 

 

One Broke Girl

 I'm not alone in struggling financially at the moment. I think we're all feeling the strain.

My piggy bank is empty and it will be for a while. 

I'm a struggling romance writer with a minimum-wage day job, which means, money is often on my mind. 

I've read some ridiculous tips on cutting costs and budgeting. Things like cutting down on coffee shops and instead having coffee at home, and cancelling unnecessary subscriptions. As if those aren't the first things to go. 

I was advised to find out what financial help I'm entitled to, which is zero because I have a job. Another tip was to resist splurging and save the money instead as if I can afford to splurge on anything when food and power bills just keep rising. 

I'm no money expert. If you need deep advice there are better sites to go to for that. I'm just a writer with no money., and the truth is, there really is no way to budget and save when the money isn't there, but I have found some ways to be a little thrifty. 

Yellow Stickers

That's right. I'm a yellow sticker enthusiast. There's no reason not to be. When you consider the same product was £3 at ten to five, and then at ten past five has reduced to as much as 70%. I'm buying that bad boy. And most supermarkets have reduced sections, and I've actually found toys for 40 pence that have made an activity pack. 

Saver Brands

Supermarket own brands are cheaper and a lot of them match up to more expensive brands. There are some brand names that I can't bring myself to give up - I'm looking at you Tetley and Nescafe - but there aren't many food products that I'm willing to pay so much more for. 

Another thing to think about is wonky vegetables. They're not as pretty but what does that matter once they're chopped and cooked?

Less Waste

According to the Office for National Statistics, households make up 70% of all food waste and a third of that waste is still edible. Of course you don't want to make yourself ill by eating inedible food, but think of it like this; best before is a suggestion, while use by is a rule. 

By wasting less you can save yourself a small fortune in money, and there are ways to utilize what is in your fridge. Things like chopping your veg and freezing them or putting bread in the oven to crisp it up. Make the most of what you've got. 

Track Your Spending

It's boring, and it can be frustrating, but by budgeting and tracking the money you spend, it makes you aware of where your money goes, and if there is a way to save somewhere, this is where you'll see it. I use a spreadsheet to budget but I know someone who writes it in a notebook, and there are plenty of apps. 

Pay Off Debts

They say to pay bills and debts before you save and I think it's a good idea. When you have debts you pay interest so it makes sense to get rid of the debt costing you money first. It makes more sense to prioritise that. 

Just a Writer

Like I said, I'm no money expert. I'm just a romance writer with a day job that doesn't pay a lot, so I'm learning to make the most of the money I have, and I'm sure that if you're looking for tips, you've already tried what I suggested, but maybe there's just one thing there you haven't thought of and I hope it helps. 

If you have any tips to share then feel free, and if you're here looking for writing news, then stay with me. Alternatively, you can head over to my website for homepage news and updates. You'll even find some book extras there. 

Writing the Blurb

My book in summary...

I love writing. I've loved it since I was a little girl. One of the things that's changed over the years is what I write.  As a romance author my stories have got a wee bit sexier, but that's what paranormal romance is about. 

And one of the things I don't love about writing is the synopsis and the blurb. 

When it comes to writing the blurb, I've discovered I find it so much easier to write it before I write the story. It gives me an idea of what's coming and a general outline to follow. It also means I won't get bogged down by all the things I've written. 

Writing a Paranormal Romance Blurb

Somethings I like to include when I write a blurb are:

A Tag Line

Just one line that leads into the blurb and grabs attention. It can be an intro or something from your book, but one thing it must do is grab attention. 

Your Plot

Seems like a given, I know, but your plot needs to summaries in about 150 words. What is the conflict? What are the obstacles? What is your book about?

Characters

Another one that goes without saying. You need to tell readers who these things are going to happen to. Who your characters are. 

Before I Write...

The fact that you have to put thought into those things for a blurb is why I write the blurb first. Once I have the story idea, the blurb helps me build the story, creating my paranormal romance and once the blurb is complete, I can flesh out a full outline. 

Where Have I Been?

 

I haven't blogged since July.

I've cut down social media time. 

I'm just trying to write. To finish what I'm working on. To complete projects. And I've taken a little time for myself too. 

I'm not hiding away, but I think I'm trying to be in the real world and less in a web-based world, and sometimes I think that too much social media can negatively impact me. It's about whether the benefits outweigh the negatives; lately, they haven't. 

The real world has been busy too, which hasn't allowed me a lot of free time to spend online either, so writing has been my priority. 

Protecting Their Heart, my new shifter romance is in its final edit so will be coming soon. 

Conversations With Characters: Protecting Their Heart

Sometimes when I'm telling their stories the characters from my romance novels get a bit chatty. They're not necessarily helpful, but as a romance writer, it's nice to talk to them. 

Protecting Their Heart is my current Work In Progress. A menage shifter romance that is at the moment, in edits. 

Chatty Characters

I have a scene in the current Accalia book and my characters keep creating obstacles, never quite reaching the scene planned. I don't know if I'm forcing it or if the book is necessary to move things forward. 

​

      Adam: It'll happen if it needs to happen. 

​

That's not really helpful.

​

      Adam Continued: (Shrugs) Was aiming more for honest. 

​

      Ethan: I say do it. (Pause) Wait, am I in it?

​

That's not the point. 

​

      Ethan Continued: If the scene involves me or Penny, then I say keep it. 

​

      Adam clears his throat pointedly. At Ethan's blank look, he lifts an eyebrow. Ethan rolls his eyes. 

​

      Ethan Continued: Fine. Me, Penny or Adam then keep it. 

​

Obviously one of you is in it. It's your bloody book. 

​

       Ethan Continued: Then keep it. You know what I say about a book about us. The longer the better. 

Romance Novels and The Characters

More information and details will be coming soon from the Accalia wolf pack and the books about them. Book cover, teasers, and blurb are still to come. 

If you're interested in reading paranormal romance stories by me, visit my Smashwords page and see what's available. 

Romance Writer News

I’m a romance author, but I’m a writer with a day job which means I have to organise my schedule.

This morning I’ve been to my day job, then I walked my dog, and this afternoon, I will be writing. This is my usual daily routine. There will be many cups of tea and lots of nibbles.

First Draft Finished

I’ve finished writing Protecting Their Heart and it’s the first book of the Accalia series. It’s a paranormal romance, between three people. Yup, that’s right. It’s also a menage romance.

Adam and Ethan, two wolf shifters, are about to fall for Penny, a baker who just moved to town, and has already caught the eye of someone who is obsessed with her. Adam and Ethan are determined to keep her safe from her stalker. She’s determined to live her life as normal.

Now to Edit

With the first draft finished, I’ve jumped straight into edits. I’m halfway through the first revision, but the first run has mostly been removing the words ‘just’ ‘really’ and ‘very.’ I have certain words that I seem to love a lot.

While I’m working on edits, I’m plotting the second book of The Shadow Coven series. After River’s Heart, Martha’s story is the next to be written.

Romance Author Writing

That’s about where I’m at with writing. Editing and plotting. I’m excited to get more books out there and to advance the series that I’m working on.

Protecting Their Heart is coming soon, but in the meantime, take a look at stories available on my Smashwords page or if you want to stay up to date on this romance author, visit my website.