I've been missing writing in cafes, but I have found that writing curled up under a blanket in the early hours of the morning is really nice when there's a pretty Christmas tree to give me cosy vibes ? ? ⁠ ⁠ Where is your favourite place to read/write?

#FantasyWIPDec20 ????? ??? ??????? ??? ????'? ?????? ??? ??? ??????️ ⁠ ⁠ This is hard, because I've absorbed so much advice and information over the past year. I've also heard a lot of bad advice, like write what pays well, or to only do things a certain way. Actually, the most important writing tip that's helped me the most is to find a routine that makes me happy and is sustainable.⁠ ⁠ For me, that's going to be releasing three books a year. I can't manage more than that on top of a full time job without flirting with burnout. I've seen a lot of authors claim rapid release is the only way, it's not. I don't want my readers to be disappointed in the long run. It works for some people, not for me. And that's the thing, I've had to find what works for me.⁠ ⁠ I'm working on building a better routine, carving out writing time and juggling that on top of everything else. I write faster in the morning, but I'm more inspired at night. Oh well ? ⁠ ⁠ What's the writing tip that's helped you the most?

You know it's Christmas time when the Harry Potter movies are on the tv! Thankfully, my boyfriend got me the boxset a few years back so I can binge them whenever I want ? ⁠ ⁠ The other thing that makes it feel festive in Ireland is when the Christmas Guiness ad comes on the tv. If you have never seen it, go look it up on Youtube! It's just Christmas in a bottle. And it's one of the few ads that don't make me cry lately - any of the Dogs Trust ones or anything like that have me snivelling ? I can't cope with the mushy ones.⁠ ⁠ What TV shows make it feel like Christmas for you?? Also, if anyone has any Netflix Christmas recommendations, please let me know ?

#FantasyWIPDec20 ??? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ??? ????? ⁠ ⁠ This is always such a hard question to answer because I love tonnes of authors for various reasons.⁠ ⁠ In terms of trad books, Harry Potter will always have a special place in my heart. I spent much of my late teens lost in Kelley Armstrong's books, from Bitten I was hooked. Trudi Canavan's Black Magician and Traitor Spy trilogies stole my heart, along with her other high fantasy series. Holly Black's books hit the spot too, I love a bit of betrayal.⁠ ⁠ So many indie authors have blown my mind. @kara_s_weaver will be responsible for the demise of my kindle someday, because the twists and turns in her ????????? ?????????? give me meltdowns ? I'm normally a shifter/vamp kind of girl, but @nmthornauthor showed me an entirely new world in her ???? ?????????? ??????????. She writes strong characters who grow throughout, high stakes tension, and weaves various mythologies throughout the series flawlessly ? ⁠ ⁠ I hadn't read much YA recently, but both ????????? ?? ????? by @jodie_at_home and ????? ????? by @redfae have stolen my heart.❤️ Honestly, both of them are stunning books with characters I couldn't help but fall in love with. If you fancy dipping into YA, grab a copy of both and you will not be disappointed.⁠ ⁠ When I want to dabble in the darker side of fantasy, @hblyne and her shifters are the perfect escape. I love her writing style and the world she has created is so unique.? ?? ??? ????? was the first indie book I ever read (that I consciously knew was indie), so it will always have a special place in my heart.⁠ ⁠ So many fantastic authors and I know there are so many more out there, my TBR is growing by the day!? ⁠ ⁠ Who is your favourite author and why??

#FantasyWIPDec20 ???? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ???-??????? ????? ?????????? ????? ????? ?? ???????⁠ ⁠ That most of us indie writers have a full time job and it takes time to write books. Yes, there are some prolific indies banging out insane word counts every day, but most of us don't manage that. I know amazing authors that not only juggle their job, but also have kids, health problems, and a billion other things to worry about. ⁠ ⁠ This isn't me whining, this is me asking for understanding.⁠ ⁠ Because readers can get their hands on books instantly nowadays, their patience seems to have worn thin. I hear so many readers say they won't start an unfinished series, complaining that books aren't being released fast enough. It takes time, blood, sweat, and tears to write a book. It's not easy, and we're usually going as fast as we can.⁠ ⁠ How is this little author supposed to get to the end of a series if you won't even try it? I get it, you've been let down by a few authors never finishing their series, but we're not all the same. A delay means life got in our way, much like it does for anyone.⁠ ⁠ Us indies are everything: we're the author, editor (before we send it for a professional editor, we have to review it ourselves), the business brains, the accountant, the social media manager, the publisher. All of this on top of our normal lives.⁠ ⁠ My schedule starts before 6am, I squeeze in a workout and then I'm at my desk working on my novels. I'm writing during my lunch break, after work, often late into the night if inspiration strikes and I can keep my eyes open. I try to balance it with life because burnout is real.⁠ ⁠ Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful and excited to be an indie author. I just wish readers understood that authors are humans and that there are only so many hours in a day. Maybe then waiting a few months for that sequel wouldn't seem so bad.

#FantasyWIPDec20 ??????? ?????-??: ????? ????????! ⠀ So, I wanted to be writing by the end of this week but I'm still ironing out some kinks in the side story I'm writing. It's important to get this right as it ties together a few character motives and will come into play in books 2 and 3 of the series. ⠀ Speaking of the full series, I'm trying to keep it to a trilogy for Eve's story arc. The Hybrid Wolf Series will have more books, but they'll be switching to another character I know betas were dying to hear about... ⠀ I've been struggling with routine this month, just trying to fit in my schedule around others what with lockdown and the house feeling claustrophobic. I think I have one that works though, mornings will be yoga time, then writing before work and I'll hit the gym after work to mark the end of the day because that line gets kind of blurry when you're working remotely all the time. ⠀ When it comes to reading, I've two books I want to get done by the new year - one is an ARC, and the other is diving back into the Fire Salamander Chronicles by @nmthornauthor because I massively fell behind on this one and I NEED to know what happened! ⠀ How has your December been? Are things going according to plan or have we hit the 'f*ck it, it's Christmas' point yet?? ?

Some #motivationmonday for you guys. This year has felt like one long winter in a sense, but I've learned so much about myself too. ⠀ Happy Monday ❤️

#fantasywipdec20 ????: ???? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?????️ ⠀ I started writing in my teens, posting fanfiction on Mibba (anyone remember that?) and writing random short stories. When I was 17, I completed #nanowrimo for the first time. I lost the book soon after due to my laptop basically melting internally, it was probably for the best ? That book was garbage. ⠀ Then life got in the way, I went through a few things and wasn't in the right headspace to write. I just couldn't tap into that part of myself anymore. In 2018 I finally felt ready, so I tried NaNo again and won. Again, the story was a mess, but it got me back into writing. ⠀ This pic was taken back when I started. I was so happy that the words were coming to me again, writing feels right for me, and I'm so glad I got back into it. ⠀ When it comes to the why, I think I'm similar to a lot of other authors: I have to. The stories are in my head, I think about them all the time. I've even come up with ideas while drunk ? No one I know really gets it, it's hard to understand the need to share stories unless you have characters bouncing around in your head! ⠀ I want to give readers an escape, to make them laugh, to make them ????. I like urban fantasy because it makes you feel like magic in our world is possible. I write about strong, badass women who don't want some prince on a white horse. I will never write about women who fawn over some guy because he's hot even though he's an asshole. They will make mistakes, but they'll learn. They'll grow. ⠀ So tell me this, what makes ??? love a book??

I begged for 12 years until I was allowed get a dog. Polar was the cutest puppy and grew into the sweetest, most loyal dog a girl could ask for. He stuck with me for 14 wonderful years until his arthritus got too bad. It broke my heart to let him go, and I can't believe he's been gone a year already. I was so lucky to have him by my side for so long ❤️ ⠀ People always laugh when I say this, but my pets are a part of my family. What with lockdown, a tonne of people have gotten pets with no thought given to what will happen when life goes back to normal. It happens every Christmas too when people get a pet as a present. ⠀ As an owner, you are entirely responsible for that animal. They place their trust in you. ⠀ Animals will love you unconditionally, please don't get one unless you deserve that trust ?

This was last year at a Christmas Market in #Dublin Castle. Me and my friends went for our annual Christmas Dinner and then wandered across for some hot chocolate. The atmosphere was fantastic, we had such a lovely day. I can't believe this is a year ago! ⠀ I normally work in the city, it's crazy that I haven't been in the office in almost nine months ? Even when I nipped into the shops the other day (while it was quiet), most places are closed. ⠀ Can't say I miss my three hour round-trip commute though ?