Welcome, welcome! To all my new readers, it's such a joy to have you along. I want to extend an invite for anyone, new and familiar, to reply to this email and let me know a little about what's going on in your life. What drew you to check out one of my books, either full length or preview? Do you have cats (because I love them so much and we'll immediately be friends)? Are you ready for The Mandalorian season 2 coming out next week?

Fun fact, my husband and I have a dog named Mando. Also, the hubs just bought me an Ahsoka sticker for my drink cup so I'm pumped. She's cheering me on writing today.

Okay, time for the good stuff. I released book 3 in the Warrior Series this week and I'm so thrilled with the responses from people. If you're interested in reading, I have a great deal at the end of this email if you aren't in a position to buy all of the books.

Ask Me Anything:

Why do you participate in NaNoWriMo?

Nano was how I first discovered my passion for writing fiction. I had a blog but wanted a new challenge so I found the NaNo site. Only problem was that it was August. Instead of waiting (I'm the most impatient person in the world), I decided to do a trial run to see if I could actually write a book. Well, I did it in ten days. Then in November, I wrote 1.5 books in thirty days. Then last year, I wrote another one.

Those books? The entire Soul Series, plus my standalone If Found, Do Not Return.

At the time of writing those books, I wasn't a full-time writer, so a lot of people ask why I still participate in NaNo when I get to do this for my life. Well, simply put, it's fun. As a former professional athlete, I always crave a good challenge and mental stamina game. Writing on a single project and trying to get that 50K word ending is still something I really enjoy. It's a way to compete with myself and see what I'm capable of. It's also a great break from the normal writing projects (I'm still writing the last few books of the Warrior Series (don't worry, they are planned and will be on schedule)).

This year, I'm having some fun and writing something that might never be published (unless the tides turn and I change my mind). Still, you can read that book (set in the Soul world) on Wattpad starting November 1.

Soul Collapsed

Work In Progress (WIP):

This guy is going to be a little different for you.

For anyone who has been involved in the Soul Series, you know that I tell the series from two different perspectives. A lot of scenes actually were written from both perspectives before I determined who told the story better. But part of me always wanted to know what the entire first book would be like from a different side.

Thus, Shadow and Supernova was born. It's a play on my original title - The Shadow and The Storm versus Soul Forgotten - and I'm actually writing it for the pure joy it gives me. Soul Forgotten is my baby, and I'm so proud of it, so I gave myself a treat and decided to write it again. Now that I know where the series ends, it's so fun to go back and see little nuggets that I wrote into the first book that ended up developing into the third. How funny that you can write little things in passing and discover so much more about them in the future!

Anyway, why keep all the spoils to myself. You can read it for free as I write the chapters on Wattpad. It keeps me accountable.

Shadow and Supernova

Behind the Scenes:

Whoever I was in a past life was not a graphic designer. I'm the equivalent of the frog meme.

That being said, I design all of my covers so I should probably get better at it... While I stick to simple, and I love all of my covers, there are a few I am extremely proud of.

They used to be solely reserved for the Warrior Series (judge me all you want, but I love the design). Now, I can say the Soul Series holds my heart again.

I spent part of this week working (behind the scenes) to develop new covers for my series. Yesterday, they finally went live. Please just appreciate how far they have come. Much better to serve the magical realism genre and encapsulates the always perfect hair of Clara/Finnley.

Made With Patrons:

Thanks to my awesome tribe over on Patreon for making these things possible:

• Medium: Passion Project | How to win NaNo
• Patreon: Soul Forgotten Commentary CH 39 & 40 | They also got a preview of the two new covers for books 5 & 6 in the Warrior Series
• Reading List 1 | Reading List 2
• Passion Planner: Get 10% off all Passion Planner items using code LAURAW10. They also have free downloads if you can't afford one right now.

Wrap Up:

Let me know what you're up to! I respond to every email I get. Thanks so much for your support and I'll see you next week!

You can vote for what you'd like to continue seeing on this Google Form.

I'm offering a great deal for you guys. If you leave an honest review on Amazon for The Stolen Lives, I'll send you book 2 of the Warrior Series (The Innocent Named Warrior) FOR FREE. And if you leave an honest review on Amazon for that book, I'll send you book 3, The Troubled Stranger, FOR FREE AS WELL. That's a $9 value that you're getting for just the purchase of my first book. 67% savings!

In fact, I'll even do the same deal for the fourth book before it's released. That's a $12 deal for only $3.

All you have to do is leave a review and send a screenshot of that review to me at author.laurawinter@gmail.com and I'll share the files with you!