Everything old is new again

I'll admit to being laser-focused on my writing while in the flow. Everything else falls to the wayside. Is that normal? No idea. But it's me and my method.

"Plot Twist" and "The Morrigan" poured out of me. Effortlessly. That's a gift I haven't found in around two decades. Consequently, everything in that time period focused on them. Then, I started the third book. Felt I needed a moment. Put that aside. Started my erotic romance. Am giving that air, also.

But in the midst of my trying to decide what to work on next, reality struck. (It rarely strikes. I think it knows I'm not a fan most days.)

I have five books I published twenty years ago, where I just received my rights back. 

Oh look, Crystal! You can work on them. *headdesk*

Two of my recent erotic romance were published oh-so-many-years-ago. One was the bestseller at my ePublisher for three years. Couldn't stand the cover on the other. 

I edited. Rewrote. Brand new cover. Boom!

Good to go.

Now. Let me explain. When I started publishing in 2005, I signed on with Whiskey Creek Press and its imprint Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. I published at least two books a year, sometimes three.

Word came down that Start Publishing wanted to buy the ePub. Done deal. Then Simon & Schuster took over that. And for years, my eBooks were available on the S & S website. 

I wrote a few times and asked for my rights back. Never heard word. So I kissed the Sanctuary carpet when I received the email I had my rights back to at least nine of my works.

I polished about half and repubbed as second edition. 

Unfortunately, circumstances prohibited me from continuing to write at that time. Major house fire. Major move. It was an ugly time. When I started again in 2017, I went strictly Indie. 

In 2005, if you wanted reviews, there were about half a dozen sites you could submit your work to, and they would review it. Bitten by Books. Dear Author. The Romance Studio. And reviewers would get to know you, and you them. It was wonderful. I had reviewers before I finished books. 

Now?

I hope authors are ready to send swag and a card vowing to give up a kidney, if necessary. The review business is a popular one. ARC readers are rare and beatific. I belong to a couple of ARC groups on FB, and it's the same old routine.

Most readers don't want a pdf. They want a physical copy. But even sending one copy media mail, you're paying as much for postage as the book costs.

That's a lot of money to shell out with no guarantee a reader follows through with previous intentions. There are ARC contracts now, which honestly blows my geriatric mind. There's still not guarantee.

But I digress.

😶 

My point, and I do have one, is that I have a four-book paranormal romance series written. I simply need to put the energy for editing and new covers. I also have a time-travel book I can play with.

While times change in the book business, they also remain the same.

Keep writing.

Keep pushing.

All good books find a home.

😌 

Rewired

Trauma changes you. Trite but true. 

I used to write chronologically, before my house burned to the ground December 9, 2006.

Also, funny thing (not haha-in this case), I can't remember dates for shit. Also, it was a Saturday.

Before HF (house fire), my story would unfold for me. Like carefully taking apart an origami animal. I had just signed a contract for my four-book Elemental Guardian Series. I only finished two before the ashes. I believe I stated I would release one every three months but changed it to four, at the last minute.

After the HF? I still had two to write. Quickly.

I've stated previously I'm a mood writer. 

My world, and my children's, fell apart. We lost everything, including the person I was with at the time, and their son. So...half our family. And also, someone I considered family.

Devastating would be putting it mildly.

When I tried to write again...I started at the beginning, but my Muse didn't appear to agree with the same ol' methodology. Scenes came to me out of order. Dialogue would pop into my head whenever the hell it wanted, and I adjusted. Wasn't easy. I didn't like it.

Anyone who knows me knows I don't turn a corner quickly. But I learned if I didn't jot what came to me down, it would disappear, and that was the biggest loss.  

I cranked out Wind Goddess on time, and I feel bad to this day I don't remember writing bits of it. I believe I was still in shock and dealing with trauma for several months after the event. Honestly, there are moments, even now, that trigger me with simple things such as smelling wood burning.

I wrote Earth Goddess as I settled back into myself. Accepted the new normal. 

I love that book. 

Even now, I'll start a book and think I'll continue chronologically, but it never happens. I suppose that event rewired my brain in some way which is incredibly interesting and wholly terrifying. We are at the mercy of our grey matter. Thankfully mine is still giving. We simply like to play a bit of hide-and-seek and Clue and Guess What I Know and You Don't? 😂  

Be easy with yourself. Even small things can throw you off for a bit. 

Like right now. I understand trees are helping me breathe, but they are NOT helping me breathe. They are being incredibly hateful, and we are not friends. 

Dendron non grata

Always writing*

...except for last week, which was Spring Break, and I had two of my heathen granddaughters, and Sweet Baby Jesus...they gave this Mimi a run for her money...