When Plans Don't Go Your Way - Day 164

When you’re an aspiring author preparing you manuscript, going through the query trenches, and researching the industry, you hear all the time that even published authors get rejected. Once you get that contract, it doesn’t mean your woes are over. You hear these things, but the stories about these instances are few and far between, so they’re a little hard to believe. When you so desperately want to be noticed and seen, you don’t want to hear that it’s just the start of the journey.

I started this year hopeful. I had goals and plans and ideas of how I was going to make them happen. I learned what a kanban board was and set up my notecards and sticky notes for my writing, marketing, and social media goals for each quarter. This was the year I was finally going to get my author career figured out! I was even going to start blogging again!

Well… you know what they say when you tell God your plans…

2023 has not gone as I planned, and I’m seeing more and more of what people were talking about when they said the struggles don’t end when you get a publishing contract.

That’s not to say everything is awful and I’m getting rejected left and right. I have an amazing and supportive publisher and editor. My local library this year has been my biggest cheerleader. Other authors I’ve met and gotten to know have been the most fun and supportive people. I went to Washington DC for AwesomeCon and had an “awesome” time. My list of events to attend keeps growing. My third book was released. There’s been a lot of good.

But, there are more days than I’d like to admit that haven’t been quite as exciting. Days I doubt myself and wonder if I’m doing anything right. More often than not, I spend my writing time staring at the computer screen or my notebooks instead of putting words on the page and can’t figure out why I can’t get my ideas and stories together.

The last couple of weeks I’ve dropped a short story project, asked for an extension for my book deadline, and have had to rethink my latest pitch to my editor because I’ve been slow on getting it to her and other people have too similar of ideas.

None of these things are the end of the world and happen all of the time to writers. I never intended that to be me though. I always wanted to be the person who turned in her work on time and had multiple projects going and ready for something new at any time.

It’s been a reminder that I’m only human and can only do so much. 2023 hasn’t been kind to me or my family, and it’s natural that my mind and body is saying “hey, you can’t do everything.”

At first, there were a lot of emotions and tears. I beat myself up for taking so long and dragging my feet. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t “Just get it together.” Then, once it was done, it was like I could breathe again. Would it have been great if I didn’t need extensions and I’d gotten my new book pitch in sooner and I could have done that fun short story project?

Defintiely.

It’s not worth my mental health though. Because if I push myself too hard and force it out of me, the writing and the stories will suffer. I will suffer along with it.

So, this is my reminder to you. If you’re an aspiring author still waiting to have your first book published, be patient. It will come and know that those of us who are published are having the same doubts and insecurities you do. And if you’re early in your carereer like me, be patient with yourself too. We’re all on different paths and journeys and need to do what works best for us, our writing, and our lives.

We got this, and sometimes there will be stumbling blocks. Sometimes there will be days (or months in my case) where the words just don’t come. And that’s okay.

5 Things I'd Keep and 5 Things I'd Change as an Author at a ComiCon - Day 92

This past weekend was AwesomeCon in Washington DC, which is their local big ComiCon event. Cast members from Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who were there, and some of the most amazing cosplayers!

Oh, and I was there too.

I’ve done a good handful of local library and vendor events here in the Chicago suburbs, but I’d never done a big comicon event at a convention center before, and I was equally excited and scared of how things were going to go. It was such a fun weekend! I hung out with other authors with my publisher, spoke on a panel, and got to connect with a bunch of other authors and readers I never would have been able to before. It was exhausting, but also one of the most fun experiences!

Here’s a few things I learned about what I plan to do the same, and some things I plan to switch up for my next one.

What I’ll Do the Same At My Next Con

1. Bookmarks & Signs with QR Codes

   I already was using this technique when I attended small local events. People love having a simple code they can use right then and there so they can purchase the ebook or check out your website, or even if they want to look later. It’s my number one tip I give to other newbie authors when they ask about what to bring for an event. I have on all of my bookmarks and a table sign a QR code that leads to my link tree. At the top of my linktree it has my website, then right under it is a place to sign up for my newsletter and order links for all of my books. Yes, it’s great to have your website printed on a bookmark or business card, but what’s the liklihood of someone walking by your table of typing your website into their phone as they go? Not high. But being able to take a quick picture of your code that leads them directly to where you want to go? Much higher. The easier you can make it for readers to find you, the better.

   Sometimes people will ask for a business card, and that works instead of a bookmark too. But, as an author, most people were just as happy with a bookmark over a business card as long as they could get the same information. And, if they’re readers, they’ll probably use your bookmark in the future and will have that reminder in their hands longer than they would have with a business card they might lose.

2. Newsletter Sign Up

   This is another thing I learned early on when doing local events and it worked great in a large con setting too. I don’t get a ton of newsletter sign ups, and there is an option to sign up with my QR code. But, having a place where people can write down their information to get a free short story (or whatever your freebie is for your newsletter) and/or updates from you without having to click on links, still works! And this way, even if they lose my bookmark or don’t look up my social media during the con, when they get home they’ll have something from me in their email and can find me in the future.

3. Reaching Out to (Almost) Everyone

   Whenever you hear people talking about marketing, they always say “know your audience.” You need to know your age group, what their interests are, what other books they like to read, etc. Which is great advice! You want to be sure you’re aiming towards the people who are most likely to read your book so you’re not wasting your breath and time on people who most likely won’t like it.

   However…

   I was shocked at how many people stopped at my table that didn’t fit what I imagined for my demographic AT ALL and purchased something. I had husbands who were all “yeah, my wife just finished some ‘Court’ series with fairies in them?” and walked away with all three of my books. Or, I had one man come by in a sci-fi space military uniform, was very stoic, but oddly interested in what I had for sale. I pitched him the epic fantasy side of my books, but then he asked “does it have any romance?” So… I told him about the love stories. While he remained stoic, I could tell he was interested. He then said thank you and left. The other authors around me and I looked at each other and were all “We didn’t peg him for a romance reader at all.” He later came back at the end of the day and purchased The Night’s Chosen.

   So yes… know your audience. But also, you never know who is going to be excited to read your book. Especially in a setting like a big con, don’t be afraid to reach out to literally almost anyone because the person you least expect could be your future biggest fan.

4. Go on a Panel If I have the Opportunity

   This point could go two ways, and both are valid. There are a couple of authors I talked to who said they don’t like doing panels while at a big con because they don’t want to spend an hour away from their table and miss a sale. I was afraid of the same thing at first.

   I was so glad I did a panel though. When you have a table at a big con, they are long days of standing and talking without much of a break. Having a panel to go to in the middle of the day was such a nice relief to have a place to sit for awhile, chat with colleagues you may not have been able to before, and have your face in front of potential readers in a way that’s not just you yelling out from your table “do you like to read?”

   It also gives you a little bit of credibility on your genre and craft. When people see you at a table and being asked questions about that certain topic, it’s evidence that “yes, I do actually know what I’m talking about sometimes” and shows off your personality a bit more.

   On top of it, it’s fun!

   As for worrying about missing a sale, I had a sign on my table saying where I was and would be back soon, and a place for people to sign up for orders I would ship to them for free since they missed me.

5. Bundle Pricing

   People love a good deal! I had different pricing for if people bought one book, then another price for two books, and another for three. While I may not have made quite as much of a profit if I didn’t bundle, it was much easier for people to agree with purchasing three books at a time for an author they’ve never read before when it was discounted than if it was full price.

What I’ll Do Differently at my Next Con

1. Bring more copies - especially of the first book!

   While packing and prepping for the con, I was so worried I was bringing too much and would have to find a way to lug all of my extra books back to Chicago from Washington DC. Was I wrong!

   Other authors and my publisher told me to bring more copies of my first book than the others since most (if not all) the people you interact with will be new readers and want to start at the beginning of the series. It was advice I followed, but I still didn’t bring nearly enough. While I had a good amount of people who purchased all three books (yay bundle pricing!), a majority of my sales were still only book 1, and I sold out of The Night’s Chosen the fastest, and it made selling the rest of my stock even harder than it needed to be.

2. Higher Stands

   While I think I have a good display, there are some authors whose displays are amazing! What made them stand out though wasn’t only their pretty covers or eye catching banner (although they help). It was that they had their books displayed on taller stands at people’s eye level. For my next con, I want to be sure I can put my books up higher so when people walk by, it’s going to catch their eye even easier than before.

3. Bring Better Snacks

   This might sound weird, but it’s so true. I had a table to myself without any help, and I packed a few cookies and pistachios and a water bottle to keep with me in-between meals. I thought I’d at least have time to run over to the concession booths to grab a quick lunch each day.

   Nope.

   I was even afraid to leave my table and use the bathroom! There are so many people walking by through the entire day, you never know who is going to come by and be interested. I was terrified of losing a sale because I’d stepped away too long. Even people who were sharing a table with another author or had a friend or family member there to help out felt the same way. Next time, I’m going to be sure I eat a big breakfast in the mornings, then have extra good snacks to take with me in my backpack to munch on until I can get dinner at the end of the day.

4. Freebie Hand Out

   I had some bookmarks to give away, and people loved them! But, I wish I had more. Some authors had printed hand outs with either a short story or a few sample chapters, then a QR code at the end to where people could order their book. I thought this was a great idea! People’s eyes lit up when an author handed them a little booklet with something free to read while they stood in line and wandered around the con all day. For my next one, I want to have a stack of hand outs like this and see how it goes.

   There were also authors who had stickers, buttons, etc. which were so cute! They were eye catching and a great conversation starter to get people interested in their books.

I’m so glad I went to my first big ComiCon event and I can’t wait to do more! If you’ve done one of these events, what else would you add to either of my lists? If you’re a newer author and getting ready to go to a con, or would like to in the future, what would you want to know more about? Let me know in the comments!

Dust on The Altar Review

Dust on the Altar is a dark urban adult fantasy with magical witches and a touch of sci-fi. It's set in an alternate Earth timeline, where cities are ruled by technology and their citizens have marginalized witches to the townships, where they can practice magic with little fear of reprisal.

Jade loves her life in Sun City: their technology is cutting edge, she's right-hand woman to the country's most powerful business owner, and no one suspects she's a Witch. But when her old coven's High Priestess and last remaining family member is murdered, she’s expected to leave her beloved city life behind, regain the powers she abandoned years ago, and take her place as coven leader.

Going back to Sugar Hill won't be easy. She'll have to find a way to reconcile with her former best friend who's the man she must now call partner, find the keys to her ascension ritual, and stop a Witch who will do anything to bring his daughter back from the dead.

With the coven's magic fading and a whole township counting on her to bring it back, will she find the strength to face the ghosts of her tragic past, or will she run from her responsibilities, again?

Michelle and I met online several years ago and I read an EARLY EARLY EARLY version of this book (and she’s ready early versions of mine too!) so when it turned out we were going to release our books in the same month, I was so excited! I was even more excited when she asked me to be part of her blog tour.

This is such beautiful urban fantasy. It has mystery, love, friendship, and of course - magic! Michelle Winkler offers an intricate and unique world where magic and technology are at odds, and our heroine Jade is caught in the middle.

Jade is both admirable and relatable, and all of her side characters are charming and heartwarming. You quickly grow to love each and every one of them and wish you could bury yourself in this book and join the coven of Sugar Hill! I read this book in one day, and it was a delight from start to finish. If you are looking for a fresh new urban fantasy, you need to pick this book up!

Michelle’s Website

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

The Night's Chosen Cover Reveal

It’s finally here! The moment we all have been waiting for!

MY BOOK COVER REVEAL!

For a few months now I’ve had the final cover sitting in my files begging to be let out and it’s been so hard not to share it with the whole world. Seriously, each time I look at it my mind is completely blown. I’m obsessed with how the cover turned out and I hope you all love it too.

The stars! The castle! THE DRESS. Isn’t it all so beautiful and magical and dramatic? It captures the spirit of The Night’s Chosen so perfectly.

Being able to talk with my publisher and editor about the cover design has been one of the most fun parts of the process so far. It makes it all feel so much more real.

Most Common Pitfalls for Newer Writers with Janet Walden-West

It is my pleasure to host Janet Walden-West today! She’s another author with my publishing house, City Owl Press, and writes Contemporary, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy. She’s a Pitch Wars alum and Pitch Wars mentor and is here to share with you some of the insights she’s learned from the query and submission process for new authors.

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It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a completed manuscript must be in want of an agent and/or book deal.

When the world is turned upside down, books and other forms of creative expression are especially important. It’s perfectly understandable if a writer’s reaction to the stress that is 2020 if stepping back from writing. However, it’s equally okay to dive even deeper into words as a form of self-care and therapy. 

Keeping an eye on industry statistics shows that with people in self-quarantine, or venturing out far less and with fewer events available, book sales have picked up in some genres and formats. Readers are reading, agents are signing, and publishers are acquiring.

So for those of you wondering if it’s possible to query now, go for it.  But learn from our, and other new writers’, mistakes.

In the past 13~ months, I’ve participated in a large mentoring program, as well as tried to pay it forward with manuscript reads, and critiques of query packets for multiple projects and relief auctions.

After going through well over two-hundred packets, I saw a number of issues and common problems that might result in an agent/editor rejection.

The very first is jumping into querying too soon. FOMO is a thing—I get it. Patience isn’t my friend either. However, agents and publishers will still be there, in some form, in a month, six months, a year. 

My best advice is finding critique partners, and not just asking them to read for you, but swap manuscripts. From my group’s experiences, it can be much easier to spot problems with plots, character arcs, and pacing in someone else’s manuscript. Personally, my writing leveled up as much from identifying things done right and things gone wrong, and having that light bulb moment of identifying the same flaws in my story, as it did from actual reader critiques. 

Along the same lines—unneeded prologues and slow first chapters. It’s difficult to overstate how important first pages are. Those few paragraphs are often all an agent reads before hitting send on a form rejection.

From my reads, in most cases the first pages were well written. But they did nothing to draw a reader in either because there was nothing but backstory going on, or the opposite and they started mid-fight. In the first instance, if there’s no anticipation, no tasty question of what happens next, readers will close the book. In the second, jumping into a life-or-death situation without giving readers an emotional attachment to or reason to empathize with a character can have the same result.

Aside from the manuscript, the next most common pitfalls involved the query. 

Queries are no one’s favorite thing. They are tricky, frustratingly short, and utilize a different skill set than that of writing the story itself.

The biggest stumbling block I saw was confusing the query and synopsis. The query is the stage on which to showcase and tantalize, dropping juuust enough information to get the reader wanting to know how the central conflict plays out. Make sure to highlight the thing(s) that makes your story unique, or subverts the expected trope. 

Save the point-by-point plot wrap-up for the equally dreaded synopsis. It’s incredibly difficult to get both voice and plot arc into a synopsis, especially the standard short synopsis. Best practice is to prioritize plot over pretty.

The final reason I identified was simply writers not understanding the genre they thought they were writing. Make yourself aware of expectations in your genre–happy ever afters/happy for now in romances, centering the heroine(s) journey in women’s fiction, resolving the main mystery in mysteries. As a loose rule of thumb, if you can’t find similar books to compare to yours in your genre, think about taking a beat and researching where your manuscript meets or fails to meet genre standards.

I hope my quick and dirty notes are helpful on the journey to publication.

Stay safe, y’all.

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Janet Walden-West lives in the southeast with a pack of show dogs, a couple of kids, and a husband who didn’t read the fine print. A member of the East Tennessee Creative Writers Alliance, she is also a founding member of The Million Words craft blog. She pens diverse Urban Fantasy and inclusive Contemporary and Paranormal Romance.

A 2X PitchWars alum, 2019 Pitch Wars Mentor, and Golden Heart® finalist, her debut multicultural Contemporary Romance, SALT+STILETTOS, released in April 2020 from City Owl Press. She is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary Agency.Find her at:

Website: https://janetwaldenwest.weebly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetwaldenwestauthor/​Twitter: @JanetWaldenWest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetwaldenwest/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Walden-West/e/B07DD9FNQ5/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janet-walden-west

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18062729.Janet_Walden_West

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I’m over on her blog today too, talking about what I’ve learned as a debut author. Check it out!

Praise for Issued by Paris Wynters

Title: Issued

Series: Navy Seals of Little Creek (Book 1)

Author: Paris Wynters

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description as found on Goodreads:

She needs a total life reboot… even if it means marrying a stranger

Taya Maverick has just volunteered to marry a random Navy SEAL as part of the military’s new spouse-matching program. What other choice does she have? Her former best friend killed her father and torched her house. Taya’s determined to start over, but to be safe she has to disappear. The program is the perfect opportunity, complete with refuge and a built-in bodyguard. Her Navy SEAL husband can keep her safe, right?

After one spectacularly disastrous marriage, Jim Stephens nixes round two. But his commanding officer never accepts no for an order. While an injury may have sidelined him temporarily, Jim still needs to salvage his career after a mistake in combat puts him in leadership’s cross-hairs. Being the first in the pilot program guarantees him his rank and eventual active duty clearance…as long as he can last the trial year.

The I dos are barely uttered before Jim and Taya realize they’ve each miscalculated. Their sizzling chemistry might lead to bed, but neither is prepared to open their heart. And then Taya’s past comes knocking...

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://buff.ly/3b95Zvy

Apple Books: https://buff.ly/2WwHdkC

Nook: https://buff.ly/2vAHxE8

Kobo: https://buff.ly/2Wo0Xag

Google Play: https://buff.ly/3a2Cv23

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I was so excited when Paris asked me to read her latest book! I’ve read a lot of contemporary romance but I haven’t ventured into the military end of it much, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Issued. I know almost next to nothing about Navy SEALs. I even had to double check to be sure I put SEAL in all caps just now. I know… you all are probably shaking your heads at me. What I did know is that I love Paris’ writing, brooding heroes, girls with an attitude (and she’s Mongolian!), and any sort of trope that’s a fake or arranged relationship that turns into love is good in my book!

I was not disappointed. This was such a great read!

One of the first things I noticed was while Jim and Taya may not have gotten along right away, it wasn’t exactly hate to love. Instead, it was about them gradually getting to know one another, overcoming their differences, and learning to build each other into their lives. The attraction was immediate, but I loved watching them fall in love as they got to know one another naturally.

Another element I love about Paris’ writing is that even in romance, she’s not afraid to dig deep and give her characters deep and dark wounds. There is some heavy stuff to deal with in this book, and it was done in such a great way where it honored and didn’t shy away from those wounds. But at the same time, you still had the classic contemporary romance feel where you could escape for a little while and be reminded that no matter how dark our world and pasts can get, you can still have a happily ever after.

Then on top of all of that - you have elements of an action packed action book where you want to know more about what’s going on and wonder how the characters are going to get out of the situations they’ve found themselves in. There are a few nail biting moments in there!

Of course… if you couldn’t tell from the cover… it is SEXY SEXY SEXY! ::fans self:: If you like some intense sex scenes that’ll have you blasting your AC to cool down - this is for you!

Some content warnings: there is some intense backstory about war, fires, murder, and if you aren’t feeling pro-military/pro-police books right now, this might not be up your alley.

Overall, Issued is a fast, sexy, and intense contemporary romance that will have you on the edge of your seat while swooning at the same time, reminding you how even after darkness you can still have a happily ever after.

10 of my Favorite Retellings

With the world still dealing with COVID-19, and now the events happening in the United States after the horrific death. of George Floyd, … it feels weird to be posting about normal every day things and promoting my book and blog. I’ve seen authors express this online several times over the last few years and I never understood it and would be all “We still need to celebrate the good things! Art and creativity gives us hope! Don’t feel bad!” Yet, now I’m understanding it more.

I want to try and take my own advice though - because it’s true. When things are at their worst, we need art and creativity to give us hope and help us. There isn’t much I can do to help, but I can keep creating and use those talents. Even if it just puts a smile on someone’s face.

Or in the case of this blog post - give someone a recommendation for a book to put a smile on their face.

That being said, if you’re looking for something new to read I highly recommend doing research and educating yourself on racism. This is something I know I need to work on as well and I am not an expert. This is not my lane so I can’t give you a list of books I personally have read. But, I’ve found this link to be incredibly helpful: An Essential Reading Guide for Fighting Racism. Many retailers are selling out of these books, but I’ve seen some stores say they are working on restocking them as there is such a high demand right now. If that’s all you need and want right now, please check out that link and read those books and feel free to walk away from this blog post.

If you’re looking for something to help you escape and relax after fighting and helping and need a respite from the world - now that is my lane. Particularly, retellings. My book, The Night’s Chosen and the books following it are all retelilngs of fairy tales and it is a sub-genre I have loved for most of my life.

Here are 10 of my favorites!

Red Hood Chronicles by Kendari Meeks (Red Riding Hood)

Kendari Meeks is an indie author and her debut series, Red Hood Chronicles is an urban fantasy inspired by Red Riding Hood. The “red hoods” are werewolf hunters and their history has roots in the Red Riding Hood tale. She even wrote a spin off series diving deeper into that history.

The first book is Reluctant Hood and our main character, Geri, has run away to Chicago to get away from her wolf hunting heritage. Then she finds out her lab professor is a vampire and a wolf comes seeking her help pulling her back into her former life.

I label it as new adult as the characters are college age, there are scientist vampires, with a hint of romance.

Snow by Tracy Lynn (Snow White)

This is one of the very first books which introduced me to retellings as a book sub-genre. When I was in high school I devoured the Once Upon a Time series by several different authors. There are over a dozen of them sitting on my shelf and I don’t even own them all!

Naturally, as Snow White is a personal favorite fairy tale, Snow was my favorite of these books. It has a historical fantasy feel and deals with an experimental evil stepmother whose projects go wrong. I will admit- this one dabbles more on the strange and odd side of things which might make you go “huh… that was… interesting.” But that’s part of what I love about it!

Warm Bodies by Issac Marion (Romeo and Juliet)

I’m not sure if you would categorize Warm Bodies as a strict “retelling” but when you read it, you can see the Romeo and Juliet inspiration woven into this zombie apocalypse book. (The main characters are R and Julie and are enemies who fall in love as they are a zombie and a human respectively.)

If you’ve seen the movie you have a good idea of what the book is about, and it is a well done adaptation. Think of the movie being the PG-13 version aimed for teens, and the book as the rated R version for adults. I usually don’t go for zombie stories, but this one is both grotesque while also having some of the most beautiful writing and messages about love and life and being human.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White)

The Lunar Chronicles is a popular young adult science fiction series - and rightly so! Each of the four books (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter) follow a different fairy tale. Only this series takes place in space with cyborgs and what’s highly relevant now - a worldwide pandemic.

All of the characters draw you in, the love stories are adorable and hopeful, and it has some awesome Firefly vibes.

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier (Beauty and the Beast)

This is such a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast where a young scribe takes refuge (not imprisoned!) in a cursed castle and it is through her love the curse can be broken. It’s a classic tale but when you read this book it feels brand new.

I’ve seen in different places this book labeled as young adult and adult. I’m not sure what the “official” categorization is, but it’s safe to say readers of both will enjoy it!

Hunted by Megan Spooner (Beauty and the Beast, Ivan, The Firebird, and The Wolf)

Another Beauty and the Beast retelling (it’s one of the most popular stories people like to re-write I’ve learned) but this one is Russian inspired, and also has tastes of other Russian tales which gives it such a wonderful new flavor. It sticks to the original tale, but varies from it enough where you can see the author’s creativity. I really enjoyed the blend of both!

It’s a little bit of a quieter book, but so worth the read!

Chronicles of the Third Realm War by EJ Wenstrom (Greek Mythology)

EJ Wenstrom just completed the final book in her Third Realm War series earlier this year and they were SO GOOD! While these books are straight retellings, they are heavily inspired by tales and characters in Greek mythology mixed with some Judeo/Christian imagery as well.

One of the things I loved and made this series unique was the ancient feel of the setting. Most fantasy books I always imagine being somewhere between medieval times to victorian. This felt much older in a new world where things were a bit rough. Then with all the angels and demons and gods - and of course our golum Adem! Muah! So good!

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Rumplestilzkin)

When talking about Naomi Novik I usually see people discuss Uprooted which is very good. But… I liked the book which followed it, Spinning Silver, even more!

It’s another Russian inspired book but a retelling of Rumplestitzkin which you don’t see often. I loved the focus on the three different women in the book and how their lives got woven together. And they aren’t all sweet and lovely women you usually think of with fairy tales which was different. (One is a harsh money-lender!)

How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tess Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Joanna Shupe (Various Christmas Movies)

This pick is slightly unusual - but I love it! This is a Christmas historical romance compilation of four novellas. All of them are reimaginings of classic Christmas movies. It came out a few years ago and it quickly became a December tradition for me! They are all so fun and heart-warming. The perfect holiday read for fans of romance that show you don’t have to read fantasy for a good retelling!

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas (Beauty and the Beast/Tamlin/East of Moon West of Sun)

This is another popular fantasy series and yet another Beauty and the Best retelling. I almost didn’t include it since it is so popular - but this is a list of MY favorites and I would be lying if it wasn’t here! I’m a massive Sarah J Maas fan, and I’ve re-read this series a few times over.

The first book at first seems to be classic Beauty and the Beast, but then you see as the book goes on the elements of Tamlin and East of Moon and West of Sun and just… wow! It becomes a whole different book! If you love retellings and haven’t read this series yet, get on it!

So, there you have it - ten of my favorite retellings! Are you a fan of retellings too? Let me know your favorites in the comments!

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Beat the Backlist 2019: Check-In No. 1

Remember back in January when I said I was going to join this “Beat the Backlist” challenge so I could finally really all of the books on my shelves that I haven’t gotten to yet?

Haha yeah… about that…

Technically, I have done well in the Beat the Backlist Challenge. The only requirement is to read book which have been published before the current year (2019). I’ve read plenty of books that aren’t new releases! Out of the 22 books I’ve read so far this year, 16 of them were published in 2018 or earlier. Many of which I have been meaning to read for quite some time. The problem is that they aren’t ones I already own…

This is what happens when you put in a ton of requests for books at the library and you forget about them and they all arrive at the same time. Whatever plans you had for books you’ve already purchased go out the window.

Here’s what I’ve read so far though!

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Certain Dark Things* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Horror/Urban Fantasy, Published 2016

This is a book where people have been telling me to read it for FOREVER and for some reason I never did. Then, I finally put a hold on at the library and it was wonderful!

One Day in December* by Josie Silver: Contemporary Romance, Published 2018

I saw a ton of people reading this book over the holidays so I had it in my head this was a Christmas book. The first chapter or so is Christmas, but the book actually expands over a 10 year time period. When I learned that I put a hold on at the library. The wait list was FOREVER long, but totally worth it. I loved every moment of this book.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand* by Christina Lauren, Contemporary Romance Published 2018

I’m officially a Christina Lauren fangirl. I’ve read two of their books this year and have been obsessed with both. With this one, I adored the friend group and there were a lot of elements which really hit home for me and got me super emotional in spite of how light and fluffy it is. It was wonderful.

Kill the Queen* (Crown of Shards #1) by Jennifer Estep, Epic Fantasy Published in 2018

This book came out at the end of last year and I’ve been itching to get to it but for some reason I never did until now. However, there’s something to be said about reading books at certain times and when I did read it in April, it was the perfect timing! I’ve been trying to find fantasy authors who have similar writing styles to mine who aren’t YA, and this fit perfectly! It’s dark, rich world building, and wonderful characters. Yet, it doesn’t have the same dense feel as some other fantasy writers like George RR Martin or Patrick Rothfuss. I loved this book SO MUCH and I can’t wait for the next one.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)* by Cassandra Clare, YA Urban Fantasy, Published 2016

Lord of Shadows* (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare, YA Urban Fantasy, Published 2017

I’m super late to the train for this trilogy in the Shadowhunter world. But I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite. I love the concept but something isn’t striking a chord with me.

But it didn’t stop me from reading book two! It almost did because there were a few times I almost DNF’d this one. I kept going though. I”ll get to last one… eventually.

A Hope Divided* (The Loyal League #2) by Alyssa Cole, Historical Romance Published 2017

Then we have the amazing Alyssa Cole! I love everything this woman writes and this was no exception! If you want awesome historical romance set during the Civil War (or just historical in general to be honest…), read The Loyal League series. It’s so amazing.

The Sisters of the Winter Wood* by Rena Rossner, Fantasy Published 2018

This was a book recommended to me because it’s a fairy tale-esque book which features sisters like the one I’m currently writing. I’d seen it around but hadn’t picked it up, so I got it from the library. This book was lovely. If you want a “quiter” fantasy that isn’t all sword fights and dragons and could be comparable to Naomi Novak’s Uprooted or Spinning Silver, you’ll enjoy this one.

Lethal White* (Cormoran Strike #4) by Robert Galbraith, Thriller/Mystery Published 2018

Technically, I started this book last year but read a majority of it this year so I’m totally counting it for this challenge! This one is a beast of a book so it took me forever. I also found the audio went much better for me than reading the physical book. My favorite of the series is still Career of Evil, but I love these characters and the ending was SO GOOD.

The Kiss Quotient* by Helen Hoang, Contemporary Romance Published 2018

This book was on a lot of people’s “favorites” list for 2018 and it’s a PitchWars success story and I knew I had to read it at some point. Oh goodness! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did! This gender bend Pretty Woman style love story was adorable, sexy, and I couldn’t get enough!

Muse of Nightmares* (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor, YA Fantasy Published 2018

I finally read the sequel to Strange the Dreamer! It didn’t quite suck me in as much as the first book did, and these books definitely have the feel of being all one book which had to be divided into two parts, vs. being a first book and a sequel. I loved seeing these characters again though and how it all wrapped up!

Alanna: The First Adventure* (Song of the Lioness #1) by Tamora Pierce, Middle Grade/YA Fantasy Published 1983

I feel like I’m the last YA fantasy fan of my generation who hasn’t read anything by Tamora Pierce. I finally did! This book was good. Not an all time favorite, but I wish I’d read it when I was younger and the age it was targeted at. I think I would have adored this book as a young teen or pre-teen. I can see myself keeping this book to hand to my niece when she’s old enough.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating* by Christina Lauren, Contemporary Romance Published 2018

YES CHRISTINA LAUREN! I love this book so much. I am such a Hazel sometimes and a sucker for friends to lovers romance and aaaaahhhhhh I need more.

A Week to be Wicked* (Spindle Cove #2) by Tessa Dare, Historical Romance Published 2012

If you want straight up historical romance - look no further than Tessa Dare. This is the second book in her Spindle Cove series and it was delightful. At first I thought I didn’t like it as much as the first book, but as I look back I’ve found I think about this couple and they dynamic way more than I did the first book. I love how our heroine is a scientist and a wallflower and our hero is this playboy adventurous type and they are so cute together!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Contemporary & Historical, Published in 2017

I didn’t plan to read this book this year, but everyone was talking about it and it was the Kindle daily deal one day so I got myself a copy. Then, about a week ago I had a quiet afternoon and was like “I guess I can give it a shot and see how it goes.” Well…. I didn’t want to do anything else once I started. This book was totally worth the hype and now I want to watch all of the golden age of Hollywod movies with glamorous “it girls” of the time.

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel * by Jessica Brody, Non-Fiction, Published in 2018

Can you believe I’ve never read a book about the craft of writing before this one? I know… it’s awful. But this was a fantastic place to start! I’m the worst at plotting and this book helped me figure out what was going wrong and what to do and now I’m shoving it in all of my writer friends faces and being a total pusher. Every writer needs to read this book!

So, there you have it! The 16 books I’ve read so far for the Beat the Backlist Challenge. I haven’t read as many books on my own shelves as I’d liked, but my goal was to have read 16 books published before 2019 by the end of April which I totally accomplished! Now I just need to get to the ones I actually own…

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March Wrap-Up: Reading, Watching, Listening, Favorites

Happy Spring, everyone!

I had so many grand plans for my blog this month. There were ideas for posts, I even made drafts of them and knew when they’d go up. Did any of that happen? Obviously not. I’m not entirely sure what’s wrong with me other than that things at work have been super bizzare and hectic lately, that when I get home, my brain is fried and I don’t want to do anything but sit in front of the TV and zone out.

It happens.

But, I did get reading done and I have a few other things that have been going on in March I can share with you all!

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Reading

(Click on the image on the far right to scroll through to see all the covers!)

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy* (Reluctant Royals #2.5) by Alyssa Cole: Contemporary F/F Romance

This past year I’ve totally jumped on the Alyssa Cole bandwagon. She's so fantastic! She has two series going right now, her historical romance during the Civil War called The Loyal Leauge which is amazing! Then this one, Reluctant Royals which is a contemporary romance series. This novella follows one of the side characters we met in book one and it was cute and fun!

Mortal Heart *(His Fair Assassin #3) by Robin LaFevers: Historical Fantasy

I finally finished my re-read of the His Fair Asassin trilogy before I jump into the new book! I decided to listen to it via audio this time around and it was super long so it took me longer than usual. Which was fine though because I liked being able to sink into it and let it last as long as it wanted because Annith is my favorite.

My Favorite Half Night Stand* by Christina Lauren: Contemporary Romance

I read my second Christina Lauren book this month! After falling IN LOVE with Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating in January I had high expectations for this one and it did not disappoint! In fact, this one hit me so hard in the feels, which I did not expect! There were so many elements with this amazing friend group, friends to lovers romance, and online dating that I could relate to SO HARD and brought up some memories for me. (Some which were hard to bring back, but it’s okay!) I’m officially a Christina Lauren fangirl now and already have two more of their books lined up to read.

Certain Dark Things* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Vampire/Horror/Urban Fantasy

I’ve been meaning to read this book literally for years! It was fantastic. This Aztec inspired vampire story was right up my alley. I loved the different take on vampires and while at first it took me a bit to get into the characters, by the end I was far more attached than I realized!

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel * by Jessica Brody: Non-Fiction

Full disclosure: I’ve never taken a writing class or really read any books or anything about writing. The only “training” I’ve had is maybe a panel or two at a con and listening to podcasts. I decided it’s high time that changed! I’d read a blog post about the Save the Cat outlining method and it helped me so much when outlining my revisions. So, I decided to pick up the book. OH MY GOODNESS this was so great! It helped me SO MUCH in figuring out what was going wrong in my book and how to fix it and now I’ve been telling every writer I know to read this book and I’m craving even more resources on story structure.

Water Runs Red * by Jenna Clare: Poetry

I had the privilege to read an early draft of my friend Jenna’s poetry book several months back and I’m so proud of her and how she’s been able to self-publish this book about friend break ups! (Which we really don’t talk about enough.) To be completely honest, I know nothing about poetry and rarely read it. That being said, I fully enjoyed this book and I think it’s going to resonate with a lot of people.

One Day in December * by Josie Silver: Contemporary Romance

I’d seen a bunch of people read this book over Christmas and a friend said I’d probably really enjoy it. At first I thought it was a Christmas book, and while the first chapter takes place at Christmastime and there are a few Christmas scenes, it truly is a year-round book so I decided to place a hold on it at the library. (GOODNESS that line was long though!) I was blown away by how much I loved this love story. It takes place over 10 years and following these characters through the years and I could completely relate to our heroine! It’s super heartwarming and even people who aren’t big romance fans I can picture enjoying this book.

Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards #1)* by Jennifer Estep: Dark Fantasy

This is the book I’m currently reading. It’s been sitting on my shelf for months and I’m so glad I’m finally getting to it. It’s taking longer than I’d like, but it’s only because I’m also really needing to get writing done and I’ve been busy with a writing workshop. So, sadly my free time has been taken by that and not by reading this book. I was able to get a good chunk read the other day and I’m about half through and it is SO SO GOOD. This is exactly my type of epic fantasy where the world building is rich but easily weaved into the narrative, the characters who jump off the page, but the story still moves. It’s one of those where while it’s over 400 pages, it doesn’t feel like it is.

Watching

Queer Eye on Netflix

YES! The Fab 5 is back and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve already binged all of season 3 and like everyone else, I basically cried in each episode. But seriously, how can you not love these guys? There are seriously days when I start to feel down about myself, or I get frustrated with something in life, or even just can’t figure out what to wear and I think “what would the Fab 5 tell me right now?” and it honestly helps! If we all could live our lives the way they do and learn to embrace other people and genuinely love them, imagine how much better this world would be.

Can we have season 4 now?

American Idol on ABC

I usually don’t get into American Idol. The only season I ever got really into was season 2 with Clay Aiken. (My BFF and I were obsessed with him in high school.) I watched it last year but the people who were my favorites didn’t make it very far. Then, I caught the first few episodes of the auditions and now I’m hooked.

Especially because of this guy. I need his album immediately.

Vampire Diaries on Netflix

Yes, I’m kind of rolling my eyes at myself with this one. I’d watched this series a few years ago and while it was ridiculous, I also loved it. Then, I fell off the wagon and last year I binged the last couple of seasons. Which then made me miss the early seasons which were the best ones. Of course, I then went right back to episode one. I’d watch it on and off until finally this past month I was finished with all of the other shows I was watching and figured I might as well just complete the rewatch. By the time we get to the last couple seasons though, I’m basically just living for the last two episodes where Katherine comes back.

Boy Meets World on Hulu

Boy Meets World - AKA the greatest sit com out of all the 90s sit coms. I WILL FIGHT YOU.

Seriously though, I adore this show. It’s one of my all time favorites. It has the same cheesy plot lines as some of the other 90s sit coms, but there’s something a bit more genuine and heartfelt about it. Also, it’s hilarious. Also, Cory and Topanga is the greatest love story of my generation. I have all the seasons on DVD, but the lazy side of me is very happy it’s all on Hulu. I just finished season one, and can’t wait for season two. (Which is one of the best seasons in my personal opinion.) It’s one of those shows where I’ve seen every episode so many times I can have it on in the background and not fully pay attention but will know exactly what’s happening when I do, and laugh at all of the jokes no matter how many times I’ve heard them.

Listening

David Tennant Does a Podcast With…

I’d heard while back that David Tennant (aka the best Doctor) started a podcast and I meant to subscribe, then for some reason never did. I finally started it a couple weeks ago and it’s so great! It’s basically him sitting down and interviewing people and I don’t even care who he’s talking to because I love him and his voice so much. It’s a relaxing and fun show.

Showmance with Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz

In case you don’t know who Kevin and Jenna are - they’re Artie and Tina from Glee.

Yup! They started a podcast together and while they’ve only had one episode so far, my little Gleek heart could not be more delighted.

Kevin and Jenna are IRL BFFs and (kinda/sorta/it’s complicated) had a small romance during their time on Glee. They said there’s a lot of other performers out there who also are either good friends or in romantic relationships while also working together, and it creates an interesting dynamic and on their show they interview them about it. The first episode they interview one another and it’s wonderful. I love listening to them relive their Glee days.

“Flamingo - Virginia Hill” parts 1 & 2 on Female Criminals

I’ve mentioned the Female Criminals podcast in the past and I’m still morbidly obsessed with it. The most recent story I can’t get enough of is about Virginia Hill who to this day the most influential female in the mob. She’s gone now, but no other woman has matched her status. By the time she was in her early 20s, she had connections to the mobs in Chicago, New York, LA, and Mexico.

Not that we should aspire to be high profile criminals but… when I listening to her story I couldn’t help but be at least a little impressed.

My Favorite Things

NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray*

Oddly enough, I’ve never tried a setting spray for my makeup before. I thought I’d give this one a go since I’ve been using some of other NYX’s products and have had good results. This is fantastic! I should have been using it before. I tend to use long lasting makeup anyway because I don’t have time for many touch ups at work, and this helps to give it that extra boost to keep it all in place.

Colour Pop No Filter Matte Concealer

I was running low on concealer and I love ColourPop’s lip products and decided to give their concealer a go. It’s great so far! Surprisingly enough, the shade I bought is slightly too pale for me so next time I need to get it a tad darker. But, it still works just fine!

Smashbox Primers*

Yes, another product I’ve never used before is a primer. I got a bunch of samples with an Ulta order recently and it came with some primers from Smashbox. They were so great! How have I not used these before? I have no idea what they’re supposed to do, but my skin was surprisingly soft all day and that was enough to sell me on them. However… the full Smashbox product is a bit out of my price range. If anyone has recs for a more budget friendly primer, let me know!

Things I Did This Month

Dear Evan Hanson

For Broadway fans, I’m way behind on this bandwagon. I’d listened to the cast album for this show a couple of times and watched the performance on the Tony Awards, but didn’t really “get it.” It came to Chicago and some friends and I decided to go. The tickets were out of my usual budget for these things, but since it’s so popular I kind of expected it. Well… I get it now. This show is so wonderful! I will say this though - with your ticket they should also include a box of tissues, a therapy session, and a comfort dog.

C2E2 (Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo)

This event is basically Chicago’s ComiCon. (We have one of those too I’m pretty sure, but this one is more popular.) I’ve gone a couple of times before and some friends from out of state were coming in for it. Besides…. they were having a Clueless reunion.

Yes. Yes, that is four members of the Clueless cast hanging out. I was in the same room as them. I was way closer to the stage than it appears in the photo, but due to my lack of height I still had to just look at the screen. But, I was still there!

Even beyond the Clueless reunion, this was such a fun event. I love seeing all of the cosplayers, I met one of my favorite authors, hung out in artist alley, and got to catch up with one of the artists I met last year. This has quickly become one of my high priority events of the year and I’m going to need to start considering getting a 2 or 3 day pass instead of just one. It’s more expensive of course, but I’d love to have more time to see everything I want to. I mean… the day after I went David Tennant had a pannel!

Anastasia

Yes! I saw not only one, but two musicals this month! Which basically means this was a big win for me. My sister and I went together a few days after her birthday. I was slightly nervous about it because I knew they’d made some pretty major changes from the movie to the musical. The story itself was still the same, and they had the songs, but still some big changes. However, I had nothing to worry about. It was done in a way where I could keep the animated movie as something separate from the stage show and see how while they were the same story, they were still their own thing. For what they wanted to do on stage, the changes made complete sense and worked so well! My sister and I cried a couple of times and it was wonderful.

On The Writing Front

Plotting Your Novel Bootcamp

An author who’s been helping me out the last several months was taking part in the workshop and said she thought I’d enjoy it as well. It was the first time I’d forked over money beyond buying a book to learn about writing, so it was a bit different for me. But it was helpful! I got started in it late and didn’t totally catch up to where everyone else in the workshop was, but I got all of these great resources and am still going through the workbook.

Revisions

Yes, I’m still working on my revisions for White Rose. I don’t know how long revisions usually take people, but I feel like mine have been taking forever. Far longer than I’d like. Then, I had a break through. On March 31st. And now I’m changing almost everything. Yet again.

Revising is weird my friends.

New Ideas

Yes! I have a new book idea! I won’t share much about it yet, but it’s in a new genre I haven’t really played around with before. Which… I’m slightly nervous about but also excited. I don’t have a whole lot done on it yet because I’m still working on White Rose, but I have characters and some plot ideas jotted down. When I (finally) get White Rose revisions done I’m hoping I’ll have enough brainstorming done for this new book idea where I can jump into it while beta readers are working through White Rose.

Speaking of beta readers - if you like fantasy, fairy tales, and romance, let me know! Cause I’m looking for a reader or two to give me feedback. No set date yet since revisions are taking so long, but I will be needing them!

There’s my March! While writing and revising hasn’t been going as I’d hoped, with all of the events I went to March ended up being a pretty great month. What did you do in March? Read anything you fell in love with? Do you have podcasts, movies, or TV shows to rec?

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Like what you read? Consider buying me a coffee.