June's Journey
Happy summer, dear readers!
And just like that, we are nearing the middle of the year. Summer is my favorite season for many reasons. I love working outside in the shade of my porch. I love reading while lounging in the sun. I love visiting family at the lake. I love BBQs. I love swimming. Even with COVID-19 still alarmingly assailing the U.S., I am thankfully still able to enjoy most of these summer staples. I hope you are finding joy as well.
I feel like I say this in every blog post, but June has certainly been a whirlwind of activity in the book-world for me. I launched Harrowed Heir on eBook and paperback, which was a big achievement in itself for the month. Harrowed Heir marks the eleventh Duchess Jacqueline book I’ve published. Eleven books! All of which were written since 2017. That’s pretty incredible to think about. If I ever needed confirmation that writing is my “thing,” writing eleven books in three years certainly proves I have stories to share. And I am continually thankful that I have the opportunity to do so.
During Harrowed Heir’s launch, I also did some additional work rebranding the Court of Mystery series and working on updating my marketing materials across my website and social media accounts. I’ve also incorporated two new programs into my toolbox: Filmora and Book Brush. Filmora is the Windows equivalent to iMovie I have looooong been searching for, while Book Brush has helped me up my game with book visuals and artistic content. I am always on the lookout for programs that help me create fun, attention-grabbing, book-related media, and I am very happy with these finds.
Lots of progress has also been made on my cozy mystery debut. You may recall that I shared that, due to COVID-19, the release of Trending Topic #Murder has been pushed out for several months. However, the work does not stop there. I am thrilled with the cover and am currently working with my publisher on the proof (aka the finalized pages that will go inside the cover). I cannot wait to share more about this project! If you are interested in reading an advanced review copy…feel free to message my Facebook page or send a note through social media.
I encountered a lot of hurdles I had not accounted for during June, so in reviewing my goals, there is definitely room for improvement. Let’s take a look at what I aimed to accomplish this month.
· HARROWED HEIR release
· Finish the first draft of new cozy mystery WIP
· Read three books
· Write a newsletter
Let’s break them down, shall we?
HARROWED HEIR release – Yes! I did this! Harrowed Heir is available on Amazon Kindle, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited. The narrator for the audiobooks, the talented Melissa Green, is working through the Court of Mystery series like a true champion, and if all goes according to plan, Harrowed Heir will also be available on audiobook by early 2021 (if not sooner. Melissa is currently recording Burdened Bloodline as I write). With every release comes something authors really don’t like asking for…reviews! I would love reviews for Harrowed Heir. Any and all reviews are welcomed on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon. Reviews are the lifeblood for authors, so if you enjoyed Harrowed Heir (heck, even if you didn’t), please consider leaving a review about Jax and the gang’s latest adventure.
Finish the first draft of new cozy mystery WIP – This was an abysmal failure. I just cleared 35,000 words on this WIP. Not because I am struggling with it, but because other projects just took up my time. Amazingly, when I did find twenty minutes or so to write, I’d knock out 1000 words in this book during one sitting. I really love the characters and the world I’m creating, so writing has been smooth sailing so far…it’s just finding those moments that have been extremely taxing. July should allow for more time to focus solely on this manuscript, so I will definitely be recycling this goal for next month!
Read three books – I thought I was giving myself an easy goal with this one, but I, too, failed to read three books. I did read two and am currently reading Hollywood Homicide by the hilarious Kellye Garrett. Reading books is just as elusive as finding time to sit down and write is these days. I am hoping that I will be able to demolish my summer reading list though in the next few weeks.
Write a newsletter – I actually managed to do this! Newsletter and blogging go hand in hand for me as things I am not good at. However, I feel like I am getting into a good rhythm of sharing a blog post once a month, so getting over my newsletter phobia shouldn’t be too hard, right? It’s easy to send a newsletter when you have a book coming out. It’s those months when I don’t have books being released that are hard. What do you like hearing about in author newsletters? Please share your thoughts!
Sarah’s Bookshelf
The Bone Keeper by Luca Veste
My favorite part of this novel is something I cannot share for fear of ruining the surprise, but just know when you encounter it as a reader, it’s shockingly brilliant. A gritty detective story mingled with tales of ghosts and monsters, The Bone Keeper was an intriguing read from a genre I rarely explore. I found myself enjoying the police procedural part of this novel, more than the “horror” elements, but all in all, it made for a haunting journey as one female detective races to uncover the truth about her past and how it is linked to the dead bodies appearing all around town.
The Au Pair by Emma Rous
Delightfully wild is how I would describe this book. Following the lives of a wealthy, albeit troubled family and the vivid characters woven into their history, I couldn’t put The Au Pair down. Full of twists and turns, with characters you are rooting for, despite their misdeeds, Rous’s novel paints a perfect picture of an ideal summer vacation plagued by a family full of dark secrets.
And with that, we close out June! Until we meet on the interwebs again, be healthy, mentally wealthy, and wise!
Arms around,
S.B.