A Year with @4thewords! #amwriting #WritingCommunity #4thewords #DustWarriors

I've got beautiful angel wings for writing 365 days in a row!

This time last year, still reeling from the toilet paper shortage brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself struggling with writer's block. Amidst the uncertainty of the virus, I placed myself in self-imposed quarantine with my four children. Not knowing what to expect, I wanted my family safe above all else.

Surviving in such perilous times, I suddenly found myself struggling to write. I suffer from anxiety and depression. Like others, I found myself spiraling downward.

To make matters worse, I lost my desire to write.

How could I write happily-ever-after romance with so much sadness and fear permeating the world?

It was a terrible feeling. I knew I had to fight it. This was my career, after all. While other people were trying to find a way to work from home, I was already doing it.

Tricia's Writing Cabin Retreat

Just by luck, I stumbled upon a writer's group on Facebook that has quite literally changed my life forever. A group of writers came together to organize multi-author projects forming a place where writers could find calls for submissions and other open writing projects.

Interacting with such like-minded individuals, I realized I wasn't alone in this feeling of not being able to write. These writers were feeling it, too. They were working to push out of this writing funk, to get back to work to create stories for their readers. Readers were relying on authors to keep creating content for the time so many people were looking for a way to escape the world.

This group inspired me, sparking my desire to write again.

One of those authors mentioned 4thewords.

I'd heard of it before, picking it up somewhere from some other writer. I hadn't really explored it. I'm not much of a gamer girl to the chagrin of my children. But, this author told me 4thewords was what kept her writing. And it was fun!

I just had to check it out!

I am so glad that I did!

What is 4thewords?

Basically, it's an online writing game. You battle cute little monsters with word counts. There are all kinds of word counts from large to small. There are also timed battles. After defeating the monsters, you earn rewards. You get items to dress your avatar and now they have a house for you to decorate, too.

It is rather addicting. The site is designed to create a consistent writing habit for writers. You have to log in to write at least 444 words every day. The more you write, the more rewards you earn.

There is a main storyline, a quest, for you to follow. Your job is to defeat the monsters along the way. There are also side quests for you to gain more items. There's a map of the world and you unlock the different areas. It's both complicated and simple. But fun!

I joined 4thewords last year in June right in the middle of the Pride Festival. I had no idea what I was doing, but I soon figured it out. There's also a forum which makes it easy to find the answers to any questions. The community of writers there seem friendly and willing to help.

Throughout the year, 4thewords has festivals and events that encourage more writing by offering new quests and creatures to defeat. The developers work hard to keep the game fun, entertaining and inspiring!

My daughter likes to dress my Dust Warrior!

I've never tracked my writing like this before and I found it interesting to see the numbers add up. Yesterday marked my first year of writing with 4thewords. I've earned pretty new wings to prove it as you can see in the image at the top of this post!

If you're a writer and you haven't given it a try, I urge you to check out 4thewords. It is fun! And it keeps you writing! Even when you don't want to write, you know you'll lose that nice writing streak if you don't at least put in 444 words. And really, that's like 2 pages. Right? You can write 2 pages every day. Just about fifteen or twenty minutes work, right? Something like that. I know, we're all different. 

Check out my profile here. There's a free trial to give you time to check out the game and see if it's a fit for you. If you want to join, you can use my referral code - JBDWX52209 - that gets you a few free crystals to help you get started. I get crystals from it, too. So, it helps us both! You can add me as a friend on there, too, if you want!

This online writing game has helped me. A lot. I highly recommend it.

I hope it helps you, too!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

Loving Boone #Excerpt #ParanormalRomance #FathersDay

 

In honor of Father's Day, I'm posting an excerpt from my paranormal romance, Loving Boone. Both Boone and Beth-Ann's fathers play important roles in this story and are two of my favorite characters.

Beth-Ann's father, Geoffrey Miller, is a single dad. After his wife died, his grief led him to escape into the Tennessee mountains where he forged a life for himself and his daughter in the wilderness. Others followed and now he's the undeclared leader of a group of like-minded people seeking to live off the land.

Boone's father, Patrick Evans, a cougar shifter, is a single dad of two sons. His wife was murdered when his children were young and he's been doing his best to raise and protect them from the people who wish to do them harm. Before the story begins, he finds Geoffrey and negotiates a deal that gives him territory on the mountain where he can live peacefully and where his children can grow and learn to use their shifter abilities.

Both of these fathers have made sacrifices for their children. They haven't had it easy and they've both made mistakes along the way, but they continue to do what they think is best for themselves and their families. And they both have their own stories to tell which I'm currently working on. I gave a brief glimpse of Patrick's story in a recent limited-edition boxed set that is no longer available. However, he has more to tell of his story, so I'm adding to that before I re-release it. Check back for updates!

Happy Father's Day to all those who are dads or father-figures to kids who love and look up to you!

Loving Boone
The Cougar Shifters

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Beth-Ann Miller returns to her Tennessee mountain home to find chaos erupting between her survivalist family and their shape-shifting neighbors. Her father is convinced the were-cougar clan is responsible for the murders occurring in their area and interrogates one of the shifters, Boone Evans, her childhood sweetheart. When Boone declares several members of his shifter family have gone missing including his little brother, Beth-Ann suspects someone else is behind both the murders and abductions.

Boone never expected to see Beth-Ann again. When she frees him from her father’s cabin and promises to help find his brother, Boone doesn’t plan on rekindling their passionate love affair or facing the pain of past mistakes. Nor does he plan on coming face to face with the man responsible for altering his family’s life forever.

With men hunting the were-cougars, can Beth-Ann and Boone risk all to have a future together? Or is loving Boone too high a price to pay?

Excerpt:

It began with a phone call.

"Beth-Ann, come home. Right away, honey."

"What? Dad, why?"

"It's started."

That was all it took for Beth-Ann Miller to leave her dorm room at campus one morning in early October to drive four hours of interstate and back roads to reach her Tennessee mountain home. The tone of her father's voice haunted her the entire trip. He explained nothing more. Hadn't told her what prompted his sudden phone call. Simply ordered her to come home. As much as she wanted to balk at his mysterious command, she wouldn't. Being the good daughter she was and knowing that her father wouldn't make such a demand if he didn't need to, she dropped everything and ran home.

As she reached the long dirt road that led to her father's cabin, a man dressed in camouflage and wearing hunting gear stepped out of the fall foliage to block her path. He angled a rifle toward her car. This surprised her for only one reason. Her father wouldn't post a sentry unless there was something seriously wrong.

When she stopped the car, the man walked cautiously toward her. As he neared, she recognized her father's neighbor and close friend, Henry Jenkins.

The moment he identified her, he lowered his weapon and jogged the rest of the way to her car.

She lowered the window as he approached. The crips autumn air invaded the warm atmosphere she created by blasting the heater in the car.

Henry rested his hand on the roof of the vehicle and leaned toward her with a welcoming smile.

"Hello, Beth-Ann. Your daddy's expecting you."

"What's going on, Henry?"

His face grew grim. "Trouble. I'll let your daddy tell you about it. Go on ahead but keep a lookout around you. We have men posted, but you never know if something might get by them."

Something.

The way he spoke the word like it was a bad taste in his mouth revealed more than he could've explained otherwise.

"Okay."

"It's good to see you, Beth-Ann. Despite the circumstances."

"Thanks, Henry. You, too."

As she pulled the car away, Henry stepped back. Glancing in the rear-view mirror revealed Henry with a walkie-talkie to his mouth.

"She's on the way..." His voice carried in the distance, but the noise of the dirt road muffled the rest. Assuming he reported to her father, she continued the long drive up the mountain for several minutes.

On any other day, the beautiful forest scenery with the falling colored leaves of reds, yellows, and oranges would've seemed peaceful and serene. Instead of enjoying the quiet beauty, Beth-Ann kept a keen eye on her surroundings, searching for sudden movements or anything that didn't belong.

When she reached the clearing near the summit of the mountain, she let out a sigh of relief. There were several cabins built at a discreet distance from one another. Each cabin had a tank used to collect rainwater for personal use and a solar-powered generator for electricity. Gardens, usually teeming with vegetables and fruit, filled the space between the cabins. There was an orchard near the back as well as a compost area and a large barn used to store farming equipment and other items.

Her father helped build this self-sustaining community with several other like-minded individuals and families who wanted to either go off grid or simply get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization like her father. Some people prepared for end times. Some people thought it smart not to rely on the technology that ran the world. Sometimes people stayed permanently. Sometimes people went back to civilization.

Beth-Ann parked her car among the jeeps and SUV's near the front of her father's cabin. There was no sign of anyone until she cut the engine. The door to the cabin opened and a man stepped out, carrying a rifle like Henry Jenkins.

With all the frowning men carrying weapons, her fears that the community was under lockdown seemed confirmed, but she didn't want to assume anything until she spoke face to face with her father.

"Miss Beth," Rhody Miller greeted from the cabin's porch. He stepped down as she opened the car door. Rhody swooped her into a one-armed bear hug the moment she stood. "I'm glad you're here."

"My dad called. I came as fast as I could," she said as he released her. "What is it, Rhody? What's going on? Where's Dad?"

"Hunting," Rhody said, but he turned his head so she couldn't see his eyes. It was a tell she remembered from her young cousin. He wasn't speaking the entire truth.

"Rhody?" She tilted her head to capture his gaze again. "What is it? What has everyone so spooked?"

Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes, taking her aback. Rhody wasn't the kind of guy to show such emotion, but his face twisted in untold pain.

"Rhody, tell me."

"Um..." He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, but was unsuccessful. "They're dead. Three of 'em. Dead. We've gone to war."

"Dead?" Beth-Ann gasped. "Who's dead?"

"Marty, Trent and Oliver Wycoski."

"Marty?" Beth-Ann repeated her cousin's name. "Your brother is dead?"

Rhody nodded as tears fell from his cheeks to splash on the dirt at their feet. It was odd that the tears sounded loud. They echoed in the silence of the forest.

Beth-Ann took a moment to breathe deeply, trying to comprehend Rhody's statement that his brother was dead. Marty was older than her by three years. Since she had no siblings of her own, her cousins became her playmates as a child. For quite some time, they had been inseparable.

Marty's face flashed before her eyes, a face similar to Rhody's. Blue eyes, a sharp nose and a mouth constantly turned into a smile. Marty was handsome and charming and funny, always able to get the people around him to laugh.

Thinking of that happy face now frozen in death made her stomach quiver in knots.

Beth-Ann blinked. Her gaze focused on the front of Rhody's flannel shirt.

"Is that blood?"

Rhody glanced at his chest. "Uh, yeah. It's Mr. Peterson's."

"What happened?"

"He's been shot."

Her questioning gaze flashed to his face.

"It was an accident. He got in the way while the cougars were attacking. I'm not sure who shot him. But he's okay."

"What do you mean the cougars were attacking?" As she spoke, a chill shivered down her back. "Rhody, where's my father?"

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The Lunora Chronicles ~ A #DarkFantasy #Fairytale Collection #PreOrder for #99cents

 

In the kingdom of Lunora, nothing is as it seems.

Bloodthirsty wolves roam the woods and the tyrant king cares little for his people.

When a man is found dead, the kingdom is in an uproar. Who will protect them from the monsters that stalk them?

Six women, their stories entwined, will solve the mystery as they try to find their own happily ever afters.

Kanida is expected to marry, but she longs for more, leading her down the wrong path.

Trapped in her stepmother’s household, Lucy procures a magic spell from a witch, so she can attend the Royal ball, only to find mystery, love and adventure await.

Darkness has always followed Casey, but now it seems that the past is catching up with her, as she is snatched by a beast.

To escape marriage to the king, Eira must fake her own death, but that means trusting a handsome huntsman who is prophesized to end her life.

Rose is living her worst nightmare. Alone in the forest, she awakens with blood on her hands and no memory of how she got there.

Alysia longs for a life of adventure and believes that solving the murder will help her find it, unless the killer finds her first.

A shared world fairytale retelling collection.

With stories from -

USA Today Bestselling Author S. K. Gregory

Tricia Schneider

Lexi Ostrow

USA Today Bestselling Author Tameri Etherton

Tiffany Shand

USA Today Bestselling Author Nicole Zoltack

Pre-Order Now!

AMAZON

Paranormal Summer Romance #pnr #SummerReading #paranormalromance

 

Need something paranormal to read this summer?

Fun in the sun beach themes or new summer releases...

with mermaids, demons, shifters, vampires and more!

Check out this Book Fair!

Too early? Probably. But I'm too excited! I have to share! #Preorder The Alien and the Elf #holidayromance #scifiromance

I'm super excited to share news of my upcoming release. Coming this July is The Alien and the Elf. I'm celebrating Christmas in July this summer. I simply couldn't help myself. love Noelle and Jaxar! Their story was so much fun to write! If you bought A Very Alien Christmas Limited Edtion Boxed Set last year, then you already have the original version of this short steamy romance in your ebook collection.

For this edition, while I was looking it over and getting it ready to format for publication, I couldn't help but add a little extra to scenes in the story. Noelle is such fun to write. She's quirky, sassy and bold. Completely unlike myself. Maybe that's what draws me to her. And of course, Jaxar is simply... to-die-for. I truly hope you enjoy their story!

My name is Noelle, and I'm an elf.

I was minding my own business, testing a newly installed engine on Santa's sleigh when it suffered a slight malfunction. I found myself spiraling out of control. Then a bright beam of light hit from above, and I'm taken on board a spaceship.

Jaxar is a sexy, to-die-for, green-skinned alien who thinks I'm stealing his salvage.

He's never met an elf.

Well, I've never met an alien.

With no way to get home, I need Jaxar's help. Can we work together to fix Santa's sleigh in time to save Christmas?

Pre-Order!

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First Draft, Second Draft, Edits #writing #writinglife #rewriting #IWSG

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: For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?

Ideally, I like to have about 3-6 months pass before I go back for a second draft and edits. I always work on other projects in between. This gives me enough time so I can get back to the story refreshed and able to re-read my work with a critical eye. And depending on the story, I sometimes have more than one or two drafts. For some of my books, I've done 5 drafts with revisions and rewrites. It all depends on the project.

Recently, I've been writing faster, so I've been going with less time in between some projects. For short stories and novellas, I've been letting them sit for about a month or two before I start working on them again. But for novels, I still feel 3 months is a beneficial time frame.

So, I guess to answer the question, the longer the project, the longer I shelve it before reading it again. And yes, I think this is a direct result of my writing experience. I've been writing for over twenty years and I've published around 30 projects (short stories, novellas, novels).

When I first began writing, it took me close to a year to write a book. Well, maybe six months to a year, depending on the book. Some longer. My writing skills have grown, I'm much more confident with my abilities and talent, and my home life has changed significantly giving me more time than I ever had to focus on my writing work. I outline more and write first drafts faster. Now, I'm able to get a novel written in 4 to 6 weeks, a novella in a week or two, and a short story in a day depending on the length.

All these details factor into what my writing schedule looks like. Because life keeps changing, my writing schedule keeps evolving. Having my four kids home during the last year for virtual school because of the pandemic really took a hit with my writing output. I spend the early morning hours writing, but the rest of the day is spent helping them with their schoolwork. A little bit of writing/editing/marketing/networking in the afternoon, and then evenings are spent doing other family activities. Once they're done with school, hopefully, I'll be able to extend my writing hours by letting them sleep in during the morning. Then I'll be able to get back to a more productive writing/editing schedule.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I have a lot of stories I want to write and several waiting for that second draft.  

As always, be safe and keep writing!

~ Tricia 

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!

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