Author Year In Review ~ Life & Writing in 2018

Good-bye 2018!

Personal Life

Lessons Learned

This has been a difficult year, one that I'm relieved to put behind me. Life changed in a big way for me and my children. I'm officially a single mom with four kids between the ages of 12 and 3. I won't go into the gory details of my upcoming divorce because it's just too painful. But, with therapy, I've come to realize that I'm better off now. My stress and anxiety has lowered in significant ways and I have a more positive mindset. This was a year where I learned lessons the hard way. Twenty-three years is a long time and my heart was injured to such a degree that it will probably take an equally long time to heal, but if other women can heal from something like this, then I know I can, too.

Those I Lost

As if that wasn't enough to make a year heart-breaking, my family lost two incredibly wonderful and dear friends.

Chris Angelo passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident a few weeks after my husband left. Chris was my kid's Cubmaster, Baseball coach and the father of my 11 year-old son's best friend. He was such an integral part of our community that his death affected the entire town. In addition to Cub Scouts and baseball, he was also a soccer coach and played an important role for his church and their Youth Group. He was a wonderful husband to his wife, Jean, father to 3 fantastic boys and a great friend who had an infectious laugh and a smile that lit the room whenever he entered. He will always, always be missed.

Another of my dear friends that we lost was Melissa Beadle. She was an ex-co-worker from Waldenbooks. I met her with my first position with Waldenbooks as Seasonal Bookseller. She was Assistant Manager and helped train me. Shortly later, I was hired at a different Waldenbooks location and worked my way up to Assistant Manager there. After Melissa's store closed due to company downsizing, my manager hired her on in our store. It was such a pleasure to work with her again. She was another one who always had a smile and her laugh was loud and heartfelt. She always had a certain glow about her that was almost ethereal. Once we started working again in the same store, we found such common interests together that I felt like we connected in a spiritual way. We both absolutely loved books (of course!) and the supernatural. Labyrinth was our favorite movie because of, well, David Bowie! We shared a lot of favorites with music and we were fascinated by nature. She became a nature photographer, as well as a professional in holistic healing specializing in essences and essential oils. After Waldenbooks closed, we still remained close friends, meeting at Dunkin Donuts and taking bus trips to New York. She was always the first person I messaged when I needed advice on my cats or my spiritual health. Since she's been gone, I still feel like her spirit is with me, but I miss her so much. She was also the mother of two gorgeous children.

Words just cannot express the depth of my grief after losing these two beautiful friends.

Writing Career

Strangely enough, although my personal life was a mess, my writing career blossomed. I wrote more this year than I have in the last few years. Perhaps once the stress of living with such negativity was lifted, it freed my creative soul? For whatever reason, my word count and project list increased this year.

This year I...

• signed 4 contracts 
• wrote 2 new stories
• published 3 stories
• worked on edits and rewrites for 3 stories which I plan to self-publish in 2019
• wrote 38 blog posts
• participated in several contests
• increased social media followers and fans
• read 31 books (my goal was 24)
• reviewed 10 books and posted on either my blog, Goodreads or Amazon  

I lost track of my word count, but considering the amount of work that I did this year, I know it surpassed last year. I did not participate in NaNoWriMo this year because of suffering double pneumonia for nearly the entire month of November. And my kids were sick that month, too, so I didn't push myself.

All in all, I think I did a decent job considering the amount of emotional turmoil I suffered this year. I'm glad I kept track of these things. Looking back, I feel that I accomplished a lot despite the trials I faced. And I have two new angels watching over me.

Books Published

To Kiss a Pirate, an erotic historical romance, is included in Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology

Searching for treasure on a lush Caribbean island, a woman disguising herself as a cabin boy is confronted by her sexy and suspicious pirate captain.

***

Sail on the high seas or into uncharted galaxies! When it comes to love...pirates risk all! Delilah's next delectable anthology is filled with roguish pirates! Readers who crave adventures set on the high seas--or in deep space--will find plenty of sexy bad boys, naughty alpha males unafraid to risk life and limb for treasure--or a lucky lover's heart!

Just a few of the titillating stories inside...

In "The Treasure of Devil's Crag" by Lisa Fox, two rival pirate captains seeking the same treasure, discover the competition isn't the only thing that heats up between them. A modern-day pirate boards a yacht seeking revenge and captures a runaway bride who tempts him in ways he's never experienced in January George's "Captive Desire." In T.D. Rudolph's "Lust in Space", a space criminal teams up with a fearless vamp to steal a cache of titanium--from the dark side of the moon. In "Full Fathom Five" by Rhidian Brenig Jones, a pirate captain, forced to give a disgraced young surgeon a berth, discovers a rich treasure in the other man's arms. And this is just a hint at the sexy stories inside this satisfying volume.

These pirates will pillage and plunder their way into your hearts!

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Cupid's Arrow, a sweet sci-fi romance, is included in A Wink and a Smile: A Read on the Run Anthology 

 A wedding, a bridesmaid, gaudy Cupid decorations, and an out-of-this-world handsome stranger who is simply too good to be true.

***

In this Read on the Run title, we present eighteen romances. Not love stories, although some of them do include aspects of that. But whereas love stories are often sad, each of the selections in A Wink and a Smile has either a "happily-ever-after" ending, or at least a strong suggestion that this is where the characters are heading.

That doesn't mean these tales all sound the same; to the contrary, we've found quite a diverse collection of romances. Yes, there are some traditional romances, and there's a healthy handful of budding romances, but you will also find a story set in the future, and a couple of fantasy tales. You will find stories of pastries, and candies, of young lovers and old. You will meet several matchmakers and you'll see couples reconcile, and there are even a few stories that will make you laugh.

As always, each story in the Read on the Run series of anthologies is short to suit your busy lifestyle.

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Smoking Pen Press

Eve's Garden, a sweet paranormal romance, is included in A Kiss and a Promise Anthology

A new homeowner rediscovers forgotten love in a haunted house.

***

The six romances included in this anthology have quirky characters, or quirky locations, or quirky situations. You'll find a ghost and a new homeowner, a spaceship captain and her cartographer, a window designer and high school beau, a banker and a baker, two vampire hunters, and some supernatural beings. You'll find yourself in two different restaurants, and on another planet. You'll find deception, intrigue, and old memories. You'll find Happily-Ever-Afters, and you'll find Happy-For-Nows. But, most of all, you'll find true romance. You'll find kisses, and you'll find promises.

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Smoking Pen Press

After a year like last, I'm hoping next year will be better! 

And I wish your 2019 is better, too!

What did you accomplish in 2018? What lessons did you learn? 

E-Books on Sale Until 1/1

Do you need books to fill that brand new Kindle that you got for Christmas? Look no further! The Wild Rose Press is offering all of their e-books for 40% off including mine!

If you're a fan of Regency Paranormal Romance, then I hope you'll check out the Merriweather Witches. This family of witches is on the search for love and romance in the most unexpected places. And if you're a fan of Historical Pirate Romance, then you might be interested in the sexy Captain Marco Dante in The Pirate's Lady. 

Regency Paranormal Romance

The Witch and the Wolf

The Witch and the Vampire

The Witch's Thief

The Witch's Kiss

Historical Pirate Romance

The Pirate's Lady

Lord Jeremy North's curse is to become a werewolf during every full moon, turning into a bloodthirsty monster that kills with no remorse. When he finds a woman nearly frozen upon his doorstep, his sense of honor compels him to help her, even at the risk he might kill her himself.

Lillian Merriweather hadn't planned to get caught in a blizzard while traveling the English countryside. Nor had she planned on finding refuge in a house full of secrets. But Lillian has secrets of her own. And what she's running from is not far behind...

Melora Merriweather is searching for a fellow witch to protect her from a scheming uncle with plans of marriage. When her carriage overturns on her journey, she is rescued by a mysterious man whom she learns is the very person she seeks. But, he's not the witch she thought he was...

Sebastian Collins should have left for London days ago. Now a snowstorm has trapped him with a woman who has come seeking protection, a woman who intrigues him like no other. And with each passing hour, his hunger for her grows...hunger for her kiss, her caress, and her blood.

To save her sister's life, Julia Grey seeks a spell hidden somewhere within Merriweather Manor. Her position as a lady's companion affords her the freedom to search the house. But time is running out. The necromancer she's bargained with is growing impatient. And an unexpected appearance of a man from her past makes matters worse in an already complicated situation.

Basil Merriweather returns to England after ten years abroad to discover his childhood sweetheart living in his home. But, he's no longer the carefree man of his youth and she's hiding something--deadly secrets Basil vows to uncover even as he hides a dark secret of his own.

While neither Basil nor Julia will trust in the other, their hearts speak a truer language. In a grand attempt to save Julia's sister and Basil's life, the two must finally confess sinister truths. Will their admissions help or hinder any future they may have together? Or will the necromancer destroy all in a vile attempt at revenge?

Marianne Grey is a ghost. But, she's not dead. Cursed by a necromancer, Marianne searches for the elusive spell needed to merge her spirit with her physical body. She's not alone in her search. Her neighbor and best friend, Sage Merriweather, has vowed to help her break the curse.

Sage suffers from his own demons. Literally. After surviving a horrific attack, a demon has bonded with him, mutating Sage's magic so he can only conjure fire. Until he can break the bond, he is a danger to everyone near him, including those he loves.

From the glittering ballrooms of London to eerily dark graveyards, Marianne and Sage battle forces of evil destine to claim their souls for eternity. Though their newfound love for each other may be the toughest battle of all.

Captain Marco Dante was captured and sentenced to hang two years ago, but he escaped before his punishment was carried out. Now, he's come back to the woman whose memory kept him alive those long months in prison. Arianne had been his grand passion, but he failed to see how much she meant to him until it was too late. Can he recapture her heart? Or has he lost her forever?

Arianne never imagined she'd see her notorious pirate lover again. Though her heart sings with joy at his return, she knows he hasn't come back for her but for the treasure he left behind. She agrees to help him find it, but can her heart withstand one more adventure with him?

#BookReview ~ A Clockwork Christmas #steampunk #holidayromance

A Clockwork Christmas: Wanted: One Scoundrel / This Winter Heart / Far From Broken / Crime Wave in a Corset Edited by Angela James Written by JK Coi, PG Forte, Stacy Gail, Jenny Schwartz



We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.





Anthology includes:

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.

117,000 words 


My Review: 4 of 5 stars

These were all very entertaining holiday stories filled with steampunk inventions and creations, but I will admit that I enjoyed the first and last stories the very best.

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail was fast-paced and suspenseful with interesting and mysterious characters. The characters clashed at the beginning and then were forced to work together which only brought them closer. It was a well-written story.

Far From Broken by JK Coi left me breathless. Although this story started out more slowly than the first, that by no means detracted from the story unfolding to introduce two tortured characters in need of love and healing. Callie and Jasper's ordeal touched my heartstrings as they both struggled to overcome the ugly hand that was dealt to them. This was an emotionally touching story that I enjoyed so much that I instantly bought the sequel, Broken Promises, which continues their story.


View all my reviews

Holly Jolly Holiday Hop #Giveaway #Prizes Dec 1 - 4

Check out the Holly Jolly Holiday Hop 

featuring 68 stops & 69 prizes! 

I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an ebook copy of The Witch's Kiss. 

Check out my Facebook Page to enter.

https://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider/

Then be sure to check out the other participant's pages for the chance to win some fantastic prizes! And don't forget to enter the $50 Amazon Gift Card Grand Prize!

Enter the Grand prize and find the complete list of participants here: 

https://www.bookvixens.com/holly-jolly

Happy Holidays!

Coming Soon! Straitjackets & Holy Water by @AshKrafton Featured in Rite to Reign #boxset #urbanfantasy

Ash Krafton’s upcoming release, STRAITJACKETS & HOLY WATER: The Demon Whisperer #0, will be one of 24 books featured in Rite to Reign: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Box Set. www.books2read.com/ritetoreign

Your featured book, STRAITJACKETS & HOLY WATER, is a series prequel. Tell us a little about the series itself.

The Demon Whisperer series is about an exorcist-mage from Boston. For Simon Alliant, magic isn't just a curiosity or a skill. It's the source of a bone-deep addiction.

Fighting demons is dirty work but someone has to do it. Sometimes, you win. Sometimes, the demons fight back...and every once in a while, the demon wins. That's because that particular demon is all your very own…

Simon is a likeable guy who sometimes does unlikeable things. Part of it is his line of work. Part of it is his impulsive and emotional nature. But the biggest part is his addictive personality. Addiction, no matter what kind, often makes our decisions for us. For Simon, it’s a constant struggle.

For me, it’s an opportunity to have a little bit of fun. I like throwing terrible things at him to see how he’d handle it. I don’t know why I do it because I really like the guy. Thank goodness he surprises me a lot.

What is STRAITJACKETS about?

The story explores a key point in Simon’s past. He talks about it in the first book, CHARM CITY.

I wrote this book to feel like Hellblazer’s John Constantine unleashed a demonic possession on a John Green novel. The story is different from the first two books in that it’s told from Simon’s teenage point of view. I’d always wanted to tell Simon’s origin story but I thought it would be best to let him tell it himself.

Because of that, this story is a great deal more personal. The center of Simon’s world is his mom, Norma, who deals with bipolar II disorder. He’s also been the victim of bullying for a long time. These emotional stresses have really shaped his personality and his decision-making process, and I hope that this book gives fans of the series the glimpse they’ve wanted into his past.

What made you want to be a part of a boxed set like RITE TO REIGN?

I’m an indie author, which means I don’t have a huge publishing house presenting my work. That means it’s pretty difficult to be noticed in a world so full of great books. I’ve long been a part of author collectives, such as my run writing for a multi-author blog (www.querytracker.blogspot.com) and my place with the Infinite Ink Authors, a group of YA/NA fantasy and romance authors. There is power in groups. We support and learn from each other, and we share audiences and resources with each other. It’s the smartest thing an Indie can do.

Likewise, participating in multi-author projects not only presents a more appealing book project to readers, it means authors create a network for team work and audience-sharing. This is my third time participating in a 20+ book boxed set. I’ve met a lot of great authors and found some really excellent books from working with these folks.

I joined this one in particular because the theme is magic—wanting it, taking it, and using it to get what you want. This book was on my to-do list, so the set’s timing was just the motivation I needed to get it written. The set theme also challenged me to introduce a “royal” character. Simon’s the king of jack-squat, which meant I got to dig deep into someone else’s back story, as well!

It’s also been a lot of fun getting to know these authors and their books and I can’t wait until it releases. So many of them have tremendous interests in magic as well, and it’s inspired me. My house is slowly filling with magical paraphernalia and my family is starting to worry.

What’s your favorite part about working with your co-authors?

Definitely all the extras we’ve put together!

We recently held a charity auction and raised $450 for the WWF…we have a bonus anthology “First to Reign”, free on all major ebook sites…we wrote a cookbook (really! My contribution is my own favorite Halloween party snack, Kitty Litter Cake)…and we have a free-books-with- purchase offer that give readers 15 bonus novels plus an exclusive spellbook, written just for reader of Rite To Reign.

I think the spellbook is my favorite part so far. My page talks about the magical uses of chicory, which Simon uses a lot in the books. I think I’m starting to believe the things I write, too—I picked a lot of chicory this summer and keep bunches on my desk and on the dashboard of my truck. Never know when I’ll need that invisibility spell to work!

It’s been a pleasure and an honor to work with so many creative and talented authors.

How about an excerpt? 

~*~*~*~*~

Time slowed, sounds becoming muffled, like a giant pulse in Norma’s ears. She blinked lethargically, the black void of a fainting spell coming on swift merciful wings. Her son had blood on his hands.

They both did—

Blink

Sirens, growing louder. Red lights. Those eyes—

Blink

A young man’s voice, desperate, as if from a distance. The howl, the laughter—

Blink

Sounds of big hollow doors being bumped open. The sensation of movement down a hall, the clackity-clack of wheels on tiles. A doctor being paged on an overhead system—

Blink

On her back, strapped down over her shoulders and thighs. A gurney, rolling like a car on a crazy train. Two men, with white shirts and impassive faces, shoved her down an endless hall. Wrist restraints held her hands fast. Fluorescent lights streamed overhead, sharp punctuation of the screaming light and the soft, kind darkness.

Doorways fluttered past in her periphery. A psych ward. Closed doors with small high windows filled with glimpses of the insane: the lost, vacant hollow eyes, the catatonic, the jumbled voices of the over-excitable. She was all of them. All of them at once.

Above the chaos came echoes of a man calling out a name.

Alliant.

Flashback images of a demon’s face, an empty playground, a bloodied body. Whose memories? Hers. Not hers. The screams were his. Always his.

The gurney paused long enough for someone to snap a hospital bracelet around her wrist. The purple typed letters read Norma Alliant. Once more, the gurney lurched, hard, around a corner. She rolled her head to look down the hall toward the doors through which she’d come. A nurse twisted a huge latch. They were locked. She was locked in. She was a prisoner—

On the other side, her son banged on the glass, his mouth working, his black shaggy hair falling into his eyes. No sound. He was no more than a two-dimension image. He wasn’t real because she wasn’t real. She didn’t want to be real. If she was real, it would be real.

And, if it was real…

No sound but the cacophony in her head. The howling, the screams, the laughter, and the perpetual repeat of memories that weren’t hers.

Madness.

Madness only a devil could inflict…

~*~*~*~*~

RITE TO REIGN will release on December 11, 2018. Find those freebies-with-purchase and other wonderful offers and events when you check out www.ritetoreign.com!

What's After THE END? #MFRWAuthor

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 41: "Epilogue or No?"

I read and write mostly romance and there's always a moment after you get to the end of a really good book that you want to be reassured that the characters you invested so much of your life and time in will definitely turn out fine. And sometimes it's just because it's so difficult to let go of those wonderful characters. The Epilogue can set some of your worries at ease.

What is an Epilogue?

The section at the end of the book. It usually takes place after the action of the story, sometimes a few days later, sometimes a few years. If you're reading a romance, then sometimes the author fast forwards a few years to let the reader glimpse the life of the hero and heroine after they connected at the end of the story. Maybe they're married and have children.

Why Write an Epilogue? 

By giving a glimpse of the character's life after the events of the book you bring a sense of closure to your reader. Readers are reassured that all is well with their characters who, frankly, if an author does it well enough, seem like real-life friends.

This is also a great place to tie up some of those elusive loose threads. Maybe those unanswered questions didn't find a place in the story, but readers deserve to know those answers.

What Do I think?

Personally, I enjoy reading epilogues. In fact, my favorite epilogues are written by Julia Quinn who then went on to publish an entire book of them. Her stories of the Bridgertons are simply wonderful and it's difficult to let go of those characters after you're finished reading them. Those epilogues bring a sense of satisfaction and contentment and definitely leave me smiling and wanting to read another of her books.

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Work Attire for Writers = Clothing is Optional #MFRWAuthor #writinglife

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 40: "What I Wear When I Write"

I bet that got your attention!

One of the benefits of working at home is you don't have to wear a uniform, a business suit or anything at all for that matter! Yes. If that's your thing, clothing is definitely optional when you're working in the privacy of your own home. No one will ever know if the latest novel you wrote was written while wearing your Birthday Suit. Unless, of course, you tell them!

For me, I have what I lovingly refer to as lounge wear. I have several pairs of yoga and running pants, along with a variety of comfy t-shirts. Among those are littered with sayings or designs from Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, The Walking Dead or several Disney Princesses. I think I may have a Star Wars shirt, too.

There are times when casual is just too casual and I don't feel in a work mood. Those days, I shower and get dressed in stretchy jeans and a nice button-down shirt. To get in the mood to write, I sometimes need to pretend that I have an actual job to go to, so I'll dress nicely for that. 

Still comfy though. Comfy is a priority in my life. I'm not a glamorous writer who wears sexy dresses and high heels. In fact, I don't really think I have any high heels, at all. I'm tall enough and sometimes those thing hurt! Sneakers are my thing. Barefoot is great, too, but I have little kids and there's always the terrifying threat of stepping on Lego's or Matchbox cars.

I'm about what feels good. If I wear skin-tight clothing, then it must be stretchy, because no way is my post 4x C-Section body in any shape for sexy skin-tight. I exercise, but I'm not a super model. I'm a mom with wide hips, big boobs and stretch marks. I realized several years ago that there are some clothes that I will never fit into again.

Which again, comes back to if you're a writer working from home, you can wear whatever you darn well please! As long as the kids are at school, anyway. Then have at it, by all means! Just get those words written!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

The New Season of Doctor Who

Are you ready for the Doctor? I am! I can't wait to watch the new season of Doctor Who featuring a new regeneration of my favorite alien. Although, I'm always sad to see the previous Doctor go (and Peter Capaldi did an amazing job!), I'm eager to see what story lines the writers come up with as the Doctor is a woman! Yes! A woman!

It's really about time. I suspected this would be something the writers would tiptoe into when the Master regenerated as Missy. It was simply a matter of wibbly-wobbly timey.

I've heard fantastic things about Jodie Whitaker, the actress who is taking on the role as the Doctor, but I admit that I don't think I've personally seen her in anything. I did watch a couple of episodes of Broadchurch, but I have a tough time watching shows with such dark content involving kids. And that was a while ago, so I really don't remember. I was too busy watching David Tennant to notice anyone else. Sorry, Broadchurch actors & actresses! I'm sure you were wonderful!

Anyway, the Doctor Who sneak peeks I've seen so far look promising. Looks like there's still running! Lots of running. I'm very excited that Chris Chibnall announced that there will be no old monsters. Although, my kids love the Daleks and the Cybermen, I'm looking forward to seeing what other monstrous creations can be concocted by those crazy writers! Just when you think they can't imagine anything else, another one pops up and astonishes you!

Weeping Angels, anyone?


If you don't understand what I'm babbling on about, then I feel sorry for you and I encourage you to head over to Amazon or the BBC or wherever you get your TV watching episodes (sorry, not Netflix! They don't have it anymore which I find highly annoying!) and start watching the Doctor. You're going to binge. I guarantee it!

The best thing is that you don't have to watch Doctor Who from the very beginning to understand it. Granted, it might be a little confusing at first, but that's how it is with the Doctor. You could start with the newest incarnation of the show which began in 2005 starring Christopher Eccleston. Or you can go back further. You'll be watching the Doctor for ages! The show began in the 1960s.

I remember watching Tom Baker's Doctor with that iconic scarf when I was a kid. I remember thinking, who would wear a scarf like that? And doesn't he trip over it all the time?

I'm thinking of re-watching and reviewing the previous episodes, so maybe you can check back here for that, too. I'll start with Rose.

If you're interested Doctor Who airs on October 7th! You've got to see it!

Writing is My Lifeline #IWSG #writingtherapy

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. 

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

IWSG Asks: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something? 

Writing has become therapy for me since I was a teenager. My mother died when I was 11 and shortly after that my father abandoned me and my brother. Writing was the only way that I could cope with all the grief. I'd write stories about a girl in a similar situation, but I'd write a happy ending to her story. That was something I couldn't guarantee for myself, but I could in the stories that I wrote.

And recently, after years of trying to help my husband cope with a mental disorder, our marriage has fallen apart. I won't go into the nasty details, but he simply walked out and left. Since I'm a stay-at-home mom, I can't begin to tell you what sort of situation that puts me and my 4 children in. Despite being in an extremely difficult financial situation that often leaves me sleepless at night, I have one thing I can certainly rely on.

My writing.

Even if I don't ever publish another word, I will still write. After all of these years, I know that writing will never leave my life. This year, I focused more on my writing than I had in a long time, loosing myself in other worlds because I needed a respite from my own terrifying troubles. I finished more stories this year than I have in a long time. Three of those stories were recently published in these anthologies; Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, A Wink and a Smile and A Kiss and a Promise.

Writing has always made me feel better, so throughout every major life event, I always fell back to writing like it was my lifeline. Writing has always been like breathing to me. It's the one thing that helps me more than anything else. My only guarantee in a life filled with uncertainties.

And, I hope that one day I can make a decent income with my writing that I can properly support my family. My children deserve better. And, I believe that I deserve to be happy. Right now, more than anything, I want to see my writing career dreams fulfilled. And I'm more determined than ever to see that happen.

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!
~ Tricia 

Trick or Treat Binge-Read Giveaway! #booklovers #readers

October is here! One of my favorite times of year! The weather turns chilly, the leaves change color and I get an excuse to Halloween candy. Not that I need an excuse for chocolate, but hey, it sounds good! As the wind shakes my windows, I love to curl up with a good book and a mug of hot cider.

N.N. Light feels the same way and they're hosting a spooktacular giveaway. Sorry, couldn't resist the Halloween pun. No tricks, just treats for booklovers! Everything from romance to paranormal fiction is being given away.

You can enter to win one of mine. I'm giving away a e-copy of A Kiss and a Promise. 

Go on, indulge your inner kid and enter this giveaway.

Trick or Treat Binge-Read Giveaway:  https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775020/
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A Bad Mom? A Perfect Mom? Or Just a Mom?

Late last night, I decided to watch Bad Moms. My neighbor had mentioned it to me, so I decided to watch it after the kids went to bed. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, here's a little description I snagged from IMDB since I'll be referencing the movie in my post.

Amy has a seemingly perfect life - a great, marriage, over-achieving kids, a beautiful home and a career. However, she's overworked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she's about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities - going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence - putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms.

If you're a mom, hell, even if you're a dad ... no, especially if you're a dad, you should see this movie! For some of you dads, this might help you figure out what your wives are going through.

I was amused, relieved and saddened to share so many similarities with these women. As a mom of four kids between the ages of 3 and 12, I try and try and try to do the best that I can for them. I shuttle them to activities including baseball, bowling, swimming lessons, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, band, chorus, among other things that I can't think of right now.

Not to mention the many school meetings with teachers, the doctors appointments (because I have 4 kids and during the school year there's at least one kid sick every week!), plus picking them up and dropping them off at school every day.

And then every night of the week there is homework and dinner to prepare and whatever activity is going on and then before you know it there's the hour and a half long process of rounding up the children to get them to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. And on top of all that, I read bedtime stories to the little ones each night, too. Oh, yeah, and I'm a full-time writer and I do volunteer work, too! Besides, shuttling my kids to their meetings, I have Committee Meetings of my own to attend.  

I'm seriously exhausted just writing all that. But, I've been exhausted since the day I came home from the hospital with my eldest son 12 years ago. Between the sleepless nights and busy days at work, I barely manage to keep my wits about me. I've never had much support from my husband. I won't get into all the reasons and neglect I've suffered from him, but let's just say that I could totally relate to Kiki's character in the movie. Out of all of the moms, she is the most similar to me. It was a normal thing for me to say to my friends that I was a married single mom.

Now, I can officially say, I'm a single mom with four kids. Frankly, I was tired of calling my husband my fifth child, the one who wouldn't listen to me. 

But, Amy's character struck a chord with me. I'm constantly running late to everything, mostly because one of my kids can't find their shoes. My daughter insists on wearing clothes that don't match to school and hates brushing her hair. My oldest son suddenly thinks he's Mister Fix-It and decides to drill holes and nail things together in the house. My other son steals my chocolate, even when I hide it! And my youngest son freaks out if I don't have Boss Baby or Harry Potter on the television at some point everyday.

It's a fight every day to get them to brush their teeth. My kids can also go from being the best of friends during playtime to mortal enemies out for blood within seconds. My house is either filled with the screaming of laughter or the shrieking of someone pulling someone else's hair... or worse yet, because one of them looked at another one. 

Yes, there are days that I sit in my soccer mom minivan and cry in the school parking lot. I think I must be the worst mom ever because even for as much as I do for my children, I still can't do everything. I'm just one person. One person, on my own, without any family support. There are so many days, when I just can't understand how I can keep going.

And, yet, I do. Because I have to. I don't have the option of walking away. I don't have the option of quitting being a mom. But, even if I did have that option of quitting, would I do that? How could I? Could I ever just walk away from my kids?

Nope. 

I love my kids more than my own life. They are my heart and soul. I never understood what love truly was until I had my first baby. My grandmother used to say that there is nothing like the love between a mother and her child. I discovered on the day he was born that my grandmother was absolutely right. And for each baby after that, my love continued to grow. My heart expanded to include each one of my precious darlings. There is really nothing else like it. 

So, even if I can't do everything for my kids, even if I don't have the money to buy them every thing their little hearts desire, like the newest Playstation system or Barbie doll house, I'll keep doing what I can do for them. Making them smile. Making them laugh. Loving them. Giving them hugs and kissing their boo-boos when they stumble and fall. Wiping away their tears. Teaching them to become good people and make good decisions. Life is tough and it's okay to get knocked down every once in a while, but then you dust yourself off and pick yourself back up. And despite all the things that can go wrong in life, it's important to keep chasing after your dreams. 

Am I a Bad Mom?

Maybe. Some days. I'm certainly not a Perfect Mom. Yeah, I see those moms at the PTA fundraisers and Scout meetings who have the perfect husbands, the perfect house and their perfect kids, but I suspect it's not really like that. It's a picture that they present to the world. Gwendolyn seemed perfect, too, until she revealed what her life was really like in the end. For a lot of moms, we strive for perfection and when we realize that we can't achieve it, well, then we just fake it. We keep pretending so that other moms don't discover what a fake we've become. An imposter. Because despite it all, we can't be a Perfect Mom.

There's no such thing. 

We're Moms. 

That's it. 

Just Moms. Doing the best that we can do for our kids and keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that one day we'll get it right and everything will work out and our children will become decent human beings that become brilliant scientists who fix global warming, or doctors that find the cure for cancer, or politicians that bring about world peace.

Oh, wait... Is that just me?  

A Kiss and a Promise #NewRelease #Anthology @SmokingPenPress

Here it is! A new release from the Smoking Pen Press! This anthology includes my sweet paranormal romance, Eve's Garden. Eve spends her days tending the vibrant gardens of Covington Cottage while watching the residents come and go until a man arrives who heartbreakingly reminds her of the love she lost over two hundred years ago.

A Kiss and a Promise

The six romances included in this anthology have quirky characters, or quirky locations, or quirky situations. You'll find a ghost and a new homeowner, a spaceship captain and her cartographer, a window designer and high school beau, a banker and a baker, two vampire hunters, and some supernatural beings. You'll find yourself in two different restaurants, and on another planet. You'll find deception, intrigue, and old memories. You'll find Happily-Ever-Afters, and you'll find Happy-for-Nows. But most of all, you'll find true romance. You'll find kisses, and you'll find promises.

Authors Included in this Anthology

Charley Clarke 

Christine Collier

Daniel L. Keating

Kate Lowe

Jennifer Quail

Tricia Schneider

Look for this Book: 

         

Publishing Paths #IWSG #writerslife

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. 

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

IWSG Asks: What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why? 

When I started out the only path to publishing was through those industry giants in New York, the old gate-keepers of the publishing world. I began my journey by going to conferences and writing workshops, meeting with editors and agents and sending in my manuscript submissions upon request. I was fortunate to receive many positive rejections which I was assured by other writers was not the norm. Considering I was barely 20 years-old, I took that as a good sign that I was on the right track.

Then the internet erupted with the indie publishing revolution changed the landscape of the publishing world forever. An author friend, Catherine Bybee, whom I met on MySpace (remember that one?) recommended a small press publisher called, The Wild Rose Press, and the rest as they say is history. I have several of my romances published through them, but I also have a few short stories that have been published since by indie publishers.

One of my closest author friends, Ash Krafton, is urging me to go indie on my own and I believe that is the new path in my future. I think I'll be happy being a hybrid author although the process does feel intimidating. It's validating for me when an editor or publisher accepts your work and gives you the thumbs up that it's good writing with a marketable story. To self-publish is to declare to the world that I have complete confidence that my story is amazing without any acceptance from anyone in the industry. That's a confidence that I greatly admire in my self-published friends. Also, it's a costly endeavor, one that I hope to have the funds for one day soon.

In this startling new world, there are many paths for a writer to take. Not only are there indie and traditional publishing, but there are different formats for your writing to consider, it's not just print and ebooks now, but audio books, too. Who knows what else the future might hold?

I'm also open to the idea of screenwriting one day. In my younger days, I thought it would be the coolest thing ever to write an episode for one of my favorite TV shows like Doctor Who or Supernatural. Well, really, the first show I wanted to write for was Dark Shadows, but I was born too late for that one. Perhaps one day I might, even if it's a fan fiction version.

And, of course, writing alone is only one piece of the pie. Perhaps one day I'll hold a workshop or become a speaker for a writer's group. Teaching others about writing is a possible path, too. Maybe posting a YouTube video or two on writing. Who knows? I'm keeping my options open for my writing future.

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!
~ Tricia 

Cover Reveal! A Kiss and a Promise #romance #anthology

The cover reveal for the newest Smoking Pen Press anthology is here!  

A Kiss and a Promise is a collection of various types of short story romances. 

My addition will include Eve's Garden, a contemporary paranormal romance set in England.

COMING SOON!

Checking Off Goals on the Path to Success #IWSG #writinggoals

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

IWSG Asks: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?  

Everyone has their own version of success and their individual way to reach that ultimate goal. It's rare to hear overnight success stories that are truly overnight. Typically, those "overnight" success stories took years to reach. And to reach that success, those people used mini-goals as stepping stones on their path.

A writer has to take mini-steps on their path to writing a book such as writing a page a day to reach a goal of 365 pages. A runner takes mini-steps before running a marathon such as running short distances and then gradually increasing that each time they run until they can reach that marathon length goal.

It's mostly about determination and plain stubbornness as well as having a successful mindset. Do you want to succeed? How badly do you want it? Do you want it enough to work at it for a long, long time? Whatever ultimate goal you have will undoubtedly take longer than overnight to reach. But, by creating mini-goals that lead up to that ultimate goal, you can give yourself a list of successes on that long path.

My ultimate writing goal is to have a successful writing career. My version of success is to be able to pay my bills with the money I make from writing. Financial independence is nice.

As my ultimate writing goal has remained the same over the years, I've had many mini-goals that I hope will one day lead to that major success.

These are a few of the items I've accomplished on my goal check-list over the years that I believe will help me reach my ultimate writing goal to make money with my books.

• To write a well-crafted novel - I simply wrote for fun for many years before deciding to study the craft of writing, so it took some time before I felt confident that I had the ability to write something that didn't belong in a box under my bed.

• To submit a manuscript to a major publisher - I submitted my first partial manuscript to Dorchester Publishing when I was 18. I got a very nice rejection letter with helpful tips to make my writing stronger. The editor encouraged me to keep trying.

• To submit a story to a writing contest - I had submitted several poems that won awards and honorable mentions, but I was ecstatic to get 3rd place for the Gothic Romance Writer's Haunted Hearts Contest in 2008.

• To publish a book - The Wild Rose Press published The Witch and the Wolf in 2010. My first publication! 

• To have my own author website - Shortly after I got "the call" from my editor at The Wild Rose Press, I invested money in myself by buying a domain name and creating a website for my books. You can check out my website and let me know what you think.

• To create and maintain a blog - I've been blogging for years. I believe this has helped me reach readers, but it's also connected me with other writers and authors which is a wonderful community where I can network and feel welcome. 

• To publish a series - The Wild Rose Press has published The Merriweather Witches, my Regency-era paranormal romance series. 

• To publish a short story in an anthology with other authors - I've got 3 of these out in 2018! Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology and A Wink and a Smile - A Read on the Run Anthology, both of which are currently available. There's another anthology coming out soon tentatively titled A Kiss and a Promise

There are still many mini-goals on my list that I haven't reached, yet. I hope to add them to the accomplished column one day soon! The way to reach success is to get there one step at a time!

Good luck!

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!
~Tricia