Surface Pressure (and yes, now I'm singing the song)
Jun 12, 2024 12:50 pm
Happy Wednesday, !
Can you believe summer is practically here? What summer plans do you have?
In July, I'll be heading out to Savannah, GA to hang out with my amazing Christian Mommy Writer friends (though, we may be a bit crazy for going to Savannah during the sweltering heat of summer LOL). This year has been challenging, so I'm really looking forward to a little break and down time with wonderful friends who are more like family. I'll get to meet the amazing Dulcie Dameron and MJ Padgett for the first time and I'm super stoked!
Life Updates
I may have mentioned this in the last email, but we're trying something new this year with homeschool and doing summer school too! Right now our goal is 2-3 days a week throughout the summer just to keep the kids in a good routine. Plus, it will help big time when the 100+ degree weather hits and they don't want to be outside. So far, they're actually liking it pretty well and there hasn't been any more complaints than normal. LOL
Writing Updates
**It's long, but worth the read IMHO
Y'all, writing is hard sometimes. I love, love, love it. But there's a lot I struggle with. Like feeling that I need to show up on social media ALL the time in order to keep followers' attention and gain new ones, or feeling like I'm not as good as this author over here, or that if I just did x, y, or z, I'd be able to "hit it big".
When I wrote In the Midst of the Storm, I honestly didn't expect anything from it. I thought a few friends and family would buy it and that would be it. I didn't expect to meet so many amazing bookstagrammers and have so many readers who didn't know me in real life buying my books. It's amazing and I'm so grateful to everyone who has taken a chance on a newbie author.
I've had so much fun meeting other authors and bookstagrammers (many of whom have become my very best friends), but the longer I'm on social, the more pressure I feel (and other authors have been talking about it too, so I know I'm not alone.) Pressure to ALWAYS be online. Pressure to be more like this author. Pressure to write what's trending. Pressure to write low steam (basically, nothing more than hand holding), high steam/smut, no third-act breakup, no grief, less of this, more of that, etc. Pressure to remove faith in your books so that you can reach more people and sell more books. It sometimes makes my inner Luisa come out . . .
As much as I want this to be a hobby, I still need to recoup costs in order to keep writing quality books. There's money for editing, cover design (and just a note, I do not endorse the use of AI since it steals from creators, so I will never knowingly use it in any form), advertisements, formatting software . . . the list goes on and on. So, even though this is a passion of mine, I have to be realistic that I also need to at the very least, break even.
With all of that being said, I am not giving up writing. Not at all! But I am slowing down and I may not be as present on social media as I have been. I released five books in less than a year and a half and frankly, I'm tired. I'm still writing and editing and have plenty of ideas to bring you, but it may just be one or two books a year from here on out (and if one year there's more than that, then yay!)
Right now, I'm editing the first in a three-book series (I know I said two books before, but brother #3 is demanding his own story). I wrote this book in 2022, but it needs a major overhaul. But I'm falling in love with the characters again as I rewrite it and I think you will love this story of three brothers who live in a small beach town in South Carolina. I'll be alternating between working on that series and Everlasting Love, the sequel to Neverending Mercy. And I may be outlining (very, very loosely) some new book ideas too! Some of these are more sweet romance/romcoms and some are super gritty, angsty books that will rip your heart to shreds before putting it back together (always HEA here!)
So, I hope you'll stick around and just know that every email, private message, review, and purchase is so encouraging to author's and gives us the will to keep on writing so we can bring you the stories from our hearts!
Okay, now I'm off to sing Surface Pressure with the kiddos. But before you go, be sure to check out this awesome book and deals!
Books for Your TBR
*I have not read all of these, but have been assured that are closed-door and/or Christian fiction
Fake dating my best friend’s cousin for the summer? Yes, please! No strings, no risks, no problems.
Never fall for your brother’s best friend. And definitely don’t let him switch positions, going from basketball star to your fake fiancé.
Set against the backdrop of an ancient forest, Grave Consequences weaves a tale of courage, love, and faith. Malachi faces his family’s dark legacy and his deepest fears as he seeks divine guidance to find Cate and bring her to safety. In this majestic natural setting, their beliefs and bonds are tested, revealing the true strength of their spirits.
Perfect for fans of faith-based thrillers and heart-pounding suspense, Grave Consequences explores the unbreakable ties of family and faith.
Tempers flare and sparks fly in this enemies-to-lovers, road trip romance
A bookworm with big plans. A flirty handyman searching for joy. Can they find common ground and plant a lifelong passion?
Audiobook Lovers
She inhales life with every breath. He’s suffered a world of pain. Can they rise above tragedy to find their happily ever after?
Promos
Blessings!
