September Successes
Hello, dear readers!
For September being one of the shorter months of the year, it sure felt like I managed to cram a lot into thirty days. Despite falling short on several of my writing goals (more on that below), I had a lot of wins this month and that's cause for celebration. Sometimes, I get a bit too caught up in my writing goals, feeling like a complete failure if I don't meet them, but that attitude needs to change. I need to revisit my goal-setting process, as well as reevaluate how hard I am pushing myself. It's good to push and stretch your abilities, but not at the cost of your own mental health and productivity. I'm juggling a lot of projects and commitments, and it's okay as a writer to slow your pace down. You might find yourself better off for it.
So, some successes to share…I published a book! Or rather, my publisher published my book! What an achievement! Where I've published my own books before, you might think this isn't something that amazing to celebrate, but it is! A publisher wanted to publish my work. Not a lot of writers get that chance in their lifetime. I am so thankful that TRENDING TOPIC #MURDER is out there in the world, available wherever books are sold.
As part of the release process, I also got to participate in a podcast for the first time ever. It was so much fun and so incredibly wild. Me, being interviewed about Coco Cline and the Trending Topic Mysteries. I loved it. If you haven't listened to the episode, it's available here. A huge thank you to author and host Leah Bailey for inviting me on the Cozy Ink Podcast. I had an absolute blast.
Other big wins were the incredible 5-star reviews TRENDING TOPIC #MURDER is receiving from authors and readers alike. I am truly, truly humbled by all the love Coco and her friends are getting:
"Coco Cline is confident, chic, and cool." - Lane Stone, author of the Pet Palace Mysteries
"Coco uses her phone and tablet almost as much as her keen intellect and sharp eye for detail to unearth clues and identify suspects." - J.C. Kenney, author of the Allie Cobb Mysteries
"Coco Cline is a wonderful protagonist--likable and smart and timely." - Carol E. Ayer, author of the HSP Mysteries
"Trending Topic #Murder is such fun...the social media influencer is so timely and provides a new take on a cozy mystery." - C.A. Rowland, author of THE METER'S ALWAYS RUNNING
"Ms. Burr breaths life into all of her characters, and the seaside town of Central Shores, Delaware. Written to keep you engaged to the very end!" - C.S. McDonald, author of the Owl's Nest Mysteries
"I loved this book! It's the first in a new series and I can't wait to read more." - Rose Kerr, author
"Trending Topic #Murder puts a modern spin on the classic cozy. With a plucky detective, spirited sidekicks, and plenty of twists and turns, this story of a celebrity social media consultant in a seaside town checks all the boxes for a new mystery series." - Jen Collins Moore, author of Murder in the Piazza
Have you enjoyed meeting Coco Cline? If so, I'd love to hear from you! Reviews are the lifeblood of an author, and really help us with promotion and with writing more books for our publishers. Something short and simple or long and complex…any review is a good review.
September may have been full of many achievements, but it also had its fair share of setbacks. My time management skills failed me when it came to focusing on enough time to finish my latest Court of Mystery novel. Jax deserves my full attention, so I only wrote when I could give it to her. This manuscript is proving a challenge because I’m a little conflicted about the direction I’m going in. While ultimately I know it’s for the best, I’m a little sad that the vision I originally had for the series is no longer. Writing is weird, isn’t it? Feeling these emotions for fictional beings…it’s an odd cross to bear. And I think that’s why I’m having such a hard time getting through this book. However, the last few days have been super productive, now that all the groundwork has been laid, and I’m really looking forward to the new characters and new direction the series is moving in. I have no plans to abandon Jax and the Realm of Virtues, so I am working to ensure that her story continues on!
Let’s take a look at my September goals and see where I ended up:
Finish Court of Mystery Book 7
Celebrate TRENDING TOPIC #MURDER's release
Write 2000 words in a new/different project
Finish Court of Mystery Book 7: Well, it’s clear I didn’t meet this goal. As of yesterday, I was 47,000 words in. I am hoping to wrap things up in under 70,000 words, but at this point, who knows. Jax has full control of her story, so I’m just along for the ride. My plan is to have this to my editor by mid-October, however, like all good plans, things are subject to change. I will most certainly have this book out by December at the latest.
Celebrate TRENDING TOPIC #MURDER's release: Oh, I certainly did this and the celebrations have not stopped! On October 8th, A Cozy Experience is hosting a Facebook Party to celebrate the one-month anniversary of Coco Cline’s debut in the world. Make sure to check out the event, as I will be sharing fun details about the book, as well as offering prizes! What’s more, Coco and I are going a book blog tour, starting October 7th. With 12 blog stops in all, it’s sure to be a fun time.
Write 2000 words in a new/different project: I laughed as I read this goal while typing out this post. What was I thinking? What project did I want to work on? Oh, August Sarah, how little ye knew. In all seriousness, I do want to begin working/focusing more on other writing projects. I feel that too much of my September was devoted to marketing and promotion, which I love, but it’s time-consuming and takes away from writing time. Here’s hoping the last quarter of 2020 provides a little slower pace for me to write to my heart’s content.
Sarah’s Bookshelf:
Back to the Burgh and Beyond by C.S. McDonald
Alexa Owl is starting over, having just divorced her long-time flame Dennis Owl, when a ghost pops into her newly renovated apartment. This ghost, Detective Bobby Starr, informs Alexa that she has been selected by Saint Peter to help Bobby solve a cold case from his 1953 past -- the murder of his second wife. With this paranormal mission, Alexa straddles the 1950s and the present, meeting a cast of intriguing, lively characters along the way, all while doing her best to help Bobby crack his case. The mystery was hauntingly entertaining, and I love a cozy mystery that gives you all the feels. Back to the Burgh and Beyond certainly does just that. Pepper in a witty sidekick and a swoon-worthy love interest for Alexa and this novel sets the scene for a great series to come!
Wish me luck on this month’s goals. I’m going to need it!
Arms around,
S.B.