“What genre do you write in?”

A question all authors get asked at one time or another. Great question, and one I am all too eager to answer, but the funny thing is I love several types of genres. My reading palette is quite varied depending on my mood. For instance, I recently posted about Kristin Cast’s newest book Amber Smoke. Her love for all things paranormal renders her readers hanging on every word, and her House of Night series is the case in point.

Of course, one can not mention paranormal and vampires without visions of Sookie Stackhouse (Charlaine Harris), or Edward and Jacob (Stephanie Meyers) to elicit strong emotions. Love them or hate them, they write what they’re passionate about, and that is what has sold millions of copies between them.

Look on the Internet, and fellow writers compel newbies to voraciously read in the genre they plan to write in, and to a certain degree that is true. However, much can be learned from reading several types of genres. The topics may vary, but great writing abounds regardless of topic.

So, it is with this heartfelt opinion that I currently read paranormal, fantasy, religious, historical fiction along with mystery, thriller and everything in between. The creativity is endless, and the worlds/people to be discovered tantalizing! So many books, and so little time:-)

Cheers to all the readers reading our books, and a salute and appreciation to all the writers who take us to worlds unknown and characters we’re able to love and hate. Hats off to all of you!!

Happy readings!

K.D.

Angels, Vampires, or Presidents, Oh My! 

Where to begin?

What do I try?

Happy Readings to all book readers;-)  Suggestions relished and accepted!

Cheers,

KD

Who hasn’t sat back in life feeling unmotivated or uninspired? In writing, it can be more than a hindrance! Writer’s block is a very real thing, and one that only gets solved by trudging through and finding that next word to hammer onto paper like a toddler taking steps.  Of course, the other way I look for inspiration is by reading other books or watching movies.  

  I can remember the very first time I was truly inspired as a child, and I still look to it as an adult. The mystical qualities spoke to me, motivated me and launched a love of reading and writing that flourishes to this day. I remember counting all the nickels, dimes and pennies in my piggy bank to take my whole family for the third time in three weeks to watch The Goonies. 

  Eureka! My heart was stolen by the Oregon scenery, the gadgets, real life issues of moving, families living paycheck to paycheck, and all the teenage angst. Of course, the actors sealed the deal with my favorites being Kerri Green and Sean Astin, but the entire cast were spot on for their parts. What kid wouldn’t want to slide down that massive waterslide or play the piano of bones? Posters were subsequently bought and plastered on my walls much to my parents amusement, but I didn’t care. I started writing after watching that movie, and I’m eternally grateful for it!

  Goonies never say die, and I’ve worked valiantly to keep that motto upfront and personal in my journeys in life. Yes, a movie, some call cheesy, sparked an ember in a little child’s heart that led me to believe I could achieve anything I set my mind to. (My parents were a huge encouragement as well!) 

So, to all of you out there struggling in life because each of us does at some point in time, please take time to find your inspiration be it a book, movie, activity or sport that compels you to stay true to yourself. You won’t regret you did! 

And on that note, it’s Goonies time! 

  Cheers!
KD

“What on earth was I thinking” has come up quite a few times over this last year as I finally sat down to write my long-awaited book.  The ideas swirled around in my head for over a decade, and I bit the bullet so to speak and am now in the final stages of editing.  Most people would say “That’s great,” or “Good job,” but my schizophrenic mind is overcome with how to actually publish it.  So, I’ve created this blog to document my failures, successes and near misses in order to remind myself why I write.

Indie writing, a fairly recent phenomenon, frees many to forge ahead in the miasma of publishing without the fear of multiple rejection letters from major publishing companies.  The access by way of Amazon Kindle and other platforms to publish independently has catapulted dreamers to reality makers.  Doors permanently locked opened with a flourish, much to my own amazement, but brought depths of elation and frustration all in one.

Let’s start with the feeling one gets after completing that first perfect novel.  The euphoric triumph of having finally completed an item off the proverbial bucket list is enough to last anywhere from a day to a few weeks.  I say relish in it.  Savor every last ounce because it’s highly deserved.  The painstaking hours of jostling schedules to find time to write, the sacrifices to self and loved ones has been worth it.  Bask in the glory.  Of course, once the high from completion begins to fade, another emotion takes hold.

Fear is as important to the human psyche as love.  Fight or flight has saved mankind for far too long to disregard or loath it.  No, this part of the writing process takes hold and doesn’t ever really abate, unfortunately.  Don’t get me wrong.  Fear is a great motivator, but one that can be taxing over time.  So, I’ve already learned to take each day as it comes, and make lists of what to do.  It takes the guesswork out of what’s next, and the fear monster is abated for yet another day.

After taking a deep breath, it was time to dive into “What’s next?” For me, that was looking at all available platforms to publish this masterpiece.  Amazon seemed like a good place to start, and it didn’t disappoint.  However, I would warn anyone to read the fine print on anything while self-publishing.  Long story short, I painstakingly chose to buy my own ISBNs which cost a bit of money, but ultimately gave me peace of mind.  From there, I looked at articles and advice blogs about cover designs, formatting, and editing enough to make anyone numb.  Conflicting data abounds, but in the end I was able to find an affordable editor, cover designer, and format specialist which I can thank Twitter, Facebook and numerous blogs for til the cows come home.

All in all, this adventure has only just begun.  The hours already invested pales in the comparison of the mountain ahead.  I look forward to including you on this humble journey.  Many talk about numbers and what success means, but I already knew that answer before I even started writing.  Yes, I’m in it for the long haul, and I look forward to the roller coaster ahead.

So, with that I plunge into the icy cold water of self-publishing and welcome all to join me on this precarious ride. Buckle-up! It’s going to be a doozy!

All the best,

KD