My first ebook, my first book, my first anything being published ever – well, that week of ‘firsts’ is now over. And it was an incredibly special week, if I can just say that much. My husband was by my side whilst I obsessively checked my rankings, my stats, my Google analytics and my reviews.

Week two has begun!

So firstly, THANK YOU to everyone who has bought, read and/or reviewed ”The Solicitation” so far! I’ve been shifting between 2,542 – lower 3,000s on the Kindle store already!! WOW.

I am so grateful for the honesty, insight and encouragement I’ve found in the reviews and comments. I would even go so far as to say I’m double-timing “The Shortlist”, book 2 in the Waldorf Manor series, because some reviewers have said they can’t wait for it . . . well, I shan’t keep you waiting then!

An important thing to remember, however, is that whilst I’m writing and getting lost in the world of stat-checking and reviewing reviews and even more writing, my fellow writers in this circle are also writing. They are also watching reviews. They also need beta reading. And that my days can’t be just inwardly focused on me, but must be spent continuing to beta read for other authors, checking to see how they’re doing, liking their posts. It’s all part of it. I don’t wish to become so self-involved that I forget that this circle of writers will always be here, writing and encouraging one another, even when there are no sales. Which I hope is never the case!

Thank you again for the reviews and purchases so far of ”The Solicitation”. I read your comments on Amazon.com and Blushing Books and then I put my head down and get to work.

Make sure to check out some of the other great authors. You can search by genre on Blushing’s website to ensure you find a book that fits your preference. They range from explicit to sweet blush. Enjoy your reads!

“You advertised an opening at Waldorf for a child?” Bennett asked, managing an unbelieving chuckle.
“She’s eighteen,” Brayden said.
Damian looked at his brother.
“I don’t believe it,” Bennett added, the humour suddenly disappearing.
“She is. I don’t refer to her as such; in this house she is ten years old,” he said.
Bennett looked back at Alice. She was petite and that was the only reason he hadn’t believed Brayden. That, and the dress code obviously pushed the point.
“How did she become your daughter?” Damian asked.
“I hadn’t planned that bit at all, but I found out rather quickly that she desperately needed a father. A proper one,” Brayden said, looking over as Wellesley began walking back toward them.

Carrying on from my current topic, ”Bella-isms”, where I share a bit about how and when I write, where I write, how I think and general musings on the subject. See yesterday’s post for more.

My writing habits are . . . a little worthy of hermit-status.

See below.

Coffee shop writing: I very often write in my local coffee shop in America (I never did this in England). I usually go at 8 or 9 am and sit in the same spot (unless it’s taken, and then I get a bit uneasy but find somewhere else to sit) until 3 or 4 pm. Sometimes until 6pm. My husband gets home and he either meets me at the coffee shop and gawks at how long I’ve sat there and written, or politely reminds me that ‘it’s time to go home now, love, you’ve been long enough.’ Poor chap needs dinner. I was doing that five days a week, then I wrote a book in just over a month so I gave it a rest. I work well when there’s music in the background and conversation at the coffee shop. Other times, music is a distraction but people never are. So long as someone isn’t speaking directly to me whilst I write, I can use the buzz to propel me further into my creative world.

Home writing: other times, I stay at home and write for the same amount of time, not moving from my study unless I need the loo or another cup of tea or coffee. I did this once for three days straight and my husband had to escort me to the bathtub and wash my hair for me because I did the whole, ‘I’ll wash it tomorrow, I’m writing now.” Either way, he and I reconnected afterward. And my writing and I reconnected

But I’m not a hermit. No, really, I’m not. I have a social life, I have close friends on several continents whom we keep in contact and visit, my husband and I go on dates, we travel, we love our church family and are very involved with serving the community and people who need our time, finances, love and attention. But, writing has always been my thing, my back pocket friend that I can pull out and do when I feel like it. But I’ve never written a book, even though I tried for 13 years (starting at age 13) to complete a novel and it never worked. I forced myself to sit and write and literally never produced the finished product after dedicating myself to it.

So how did I write a book in six weeks after 13 years of failed attempts?

Perhaps best reflected on later. Because I’m not concerned about the ”whys” of it, I’m just pleased to have done it!

My husband read it (who doesn’t read much besides work-related titles) and loved it. Not only loved it, but encouraged me to get it published. Wait. What? It was hard enough sharing with HIM what I’d written! How on earth could I put myself out there for a publisher to turn down? Well, you see, they didn’t turn me down. That’s the difference between hiding away in insecurity and being courageous enough to share a bit of yourself with the world. Sometimes at the end of a great story is a publisher. Other times, it’s the fact that you’ve finished it. For me, I’m glad it’s both.

So . . . are there any books in YOU trying to get out?

As a very new published writer, I am still the same person who wrote before, it’s just now I have a proper audience. As I reflect a bit on how I write and work I thought I would share some of my core beliefs and thoughts that encompass my attitude toward writing in general.

I don’t believe in ‘writer’s block’ . . .
so I never get it. I don’t doubt that other writers go through it in terms of how they feel about their work. And I would certainly never tell another writer that they don’t have it or be insensitive to their struggle, but for me, personally, I do not acknowledge the existence of it. There are dry spells and less fruitful seasons of writing, but I don’t do writer’s block.

When writing becomes “type and backspace” repeatedly . . .
I walk away. It’s not because I’m giving up, it’s because I don’t like wasting my time. I can write and write and write and as soon as it becomes a chore or if it’s not flowing it means I’m on overload and need to give it a rest. I can sit for (and desire to) up to six hours nonstop, so when I’m struggling to come up with dialogue or descriptions I know something’s wrong. And who wants to write with a broken pencil? Not me.

I continue on this topic tomorrow, so check back!