Quick Update

Sorry I haven't updated with the next prompt challenge (on either blog) but I became engrossed in my work. I have been working on the third installment of the Millersburg Shifters series, Spy's Temptation. I do not know how long this book will be seeing as there is a lot I want to see go into this one. So I have a very shaky release date. It's more like 'I hope I'm done by this date'.

I have been asked if I will release all three books in a bundle pack and I will be. But before I do I am going to be going through the first two and fine tuning them just a bit before putting them in the bundle. Nothing major (I think).

I do have a couple of stories I would like to see make it onto your electronic devices but that all depends on my schedule and work *cough* procrastination *cough* level. Though I do have a bonus coming this week. My son is starting school which means I have my days off to do whatever I need to to get done with my work load.

Also, I am wishing my momma a Happy Birthday today. She turned another year older and had a great day of just relaxing. I can't wait for next month when I get a weekend of just relaxing on my birthday, no child, no work (main job), and just me and my computer. Ah, fun times to come.

Write drunk; edit sober.

- Ernest Hemingway

I hope you all have an awesome week. Since this is my Friday I'll be sleeping in for the next two days for the last time until school break. *cries* But as a single mom I am rejoicing at the fact that it is back to school time.

Alice Frost on Writing

First off, to those of you here in the USA, Happy 4th of July! I hope your day is fun and filled with family, fireworks, and parades!  I'm hoping my day will be too. To everyone else, if you aren't celebrating a holiday then I hope you are just having an awesome filled day!

I can tell you that as a single mother with a full time job and a passion to become an established author that it isn't easy. Sometimes there just isn't time to write much less think. But as a new author myself the biggest piece of advice I can give any budding author out there is: Make time. Even if it is just a few minutes while the kid is in the bath and dinner is in the oven cooking. Just jot down the idea you had and slowly expand on this. I have QuickMemo on my phone and Nooote Free on my tablet, which come in handy when I'm at work. Having a voice recorder also works.

Another thing that as a new author that takes time and unfortunately money is finding a cover that fits your story, especially if you are self-publishing. Most readers, myself included, are cover shoppers. If the cover looks good then they will buy it. If you have the money to buy a professional cover then you can move forward a little faster in publishing. If you don't have the money you can save up for the one you have your eye on but you risk the chance of someone else buying before you. Or you can find a temporary cover that kind of fits your story but then you risk the chances of no one buying your book. Now there are several sites where you can get premade covers and I suggest looking through those sites like you were buying a new house. Yes, that one is what you WANT but does it fit the story? Does it have everything you NEED to express? Will it draw your potential buyer it?

Yes yes I know I am a new author myself how do I know what I'm talking about. I do a lot of research. I read a lot of reviews, about writing, and different types of writing. Do I know everything? No. But I know what steps I have taken to get my book self-published. Trial and error is ok. If you make a mistake learn from it and move on. Just don't let that mistake get you down and stop writing, editing, or publishing. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from obtaining your goals. (Unless you are a murderer/serial killer then just don't do it.)

AF out! I'm thinkin' bout doing AAF = Awesome As Fuck

I don't know what do ya'll think?

New Things

Hi everyone! *ducks* Hey! I know you want the next writing prompt but that's no reason to throw things! I'm actually working on it AND my next book. Seeing as how I'm completely and utterly behind schedule I'm sorry. *cries in corner* I've disappointed all of you and myself! But I'll have something for you soon. I swear!

But I came today to tell you that my next prompt is tied in with the first prompt. If I continue writing on this lovely story I might publish it and make it a free book. Fun stuff right?

Update on myself: I dyed my hair a purple pinkish black color. And chopped a ton of hair off. But I forgot about donating my hair! *sobs* I'm also going to start working out. I've gained some weight (a lot) since I had my son. I weigh almost 100 lbs more than I did before I got pregnant. I will not tell you exact numbers but I am a big girl. I'd like to get back down to my pre-baby weight. Especially now that he'll be 7 and he's an extremely active kid.

I'll even document the whole process on here and my other social media sites. I can say I'll be watching Coach Tulin on YouTube and talking to my doctor about an acceptable weight loss plan and diet.

I will be a very busy girl in the coming months. Especially since I plan on rolling out at least two more books in the next five months.

I hope all of you are doing ok and that you are having an awesome summer. In my neck of the woods, school will be starting in about month (oh thank you Jesus). The food bill at my house sky rocketed since school let out.

I also want to shout out to one of my besties who is writing her first book. It's a historical romance and I think it's going to rock! Totally biased I know, but hey who cares? While critiquing her rough draft I realized that I'm pretty good at giving writing advice even though I'm bad at listening to my own advice. I know over on Wordpress I've written a couple of posts on writing but I'm thinking that I either need to start doing that more or offer critiques on Fiverr. Yea, yea more work for me but the more I write the better at it I will become.

I'm also going to plop this down below. I've been quoting The Croods to my son a lot lately. I think all of you can benefit from it too. Reach for your dream and don't ever stop.

I'm Back!

So I've been doing a lot of things lately and I have found that I'm not posting as much on Wordpress as I was on here... Yea go figure.

Why?

I decided it (Wordpress) was all going to be about my work as a writer. I made it impersonal. So, I am going to be doing little things to start back up with my daily/almost daily blogging. And one thing I have decided to do is start doing writing prompts. Little things that I can post and see how well they do before expanding on them into full length stories. (We'll see how well I stick to this.)

I'll also be slowly integrating my zombieverse blog onto here. I let it die. :( I have gotten away from things that brought me joy and I noticed as I was working on my latest book that I wasn't happy with how it was linking up. Then I realized I wasn't happy. I was stressed about work (writing and 40hr+ at the main job), about my son, and that I wasn't spending any time doing something I LOVE. I love to read. How many books have I read since Galaxing Around was published?

Two.

I have read two books in two months. Now for some this may sound like a usual thing but for me I read two books in a matter of days. Sherrilyn Kenyon's last League novel, Born of Betrayal (512 pages), I read in a day. Love this series btw.

I'm going to start reading again. I'm going to start setting aside time for myself and getting on here to talk to all of you (that still hang around). I'm going to start enjoying the things I stopped doing.

Writing with Depression

One of the reasons I haven't been on my A game is the fact that I have been dealing with a severe bout of depression. I am sorry for that. I know a lot of my readers have strayed away due to my inactivity and I am sorry that I caused that. But I can say that I do see the light from this current bout.

Now dealing with my depression hasn't been easy. It never is. It isn't easy for anyone. It's not like you can hit the switch from sad to happy. I know it's easy to flip that switch from happy to sad and that it is a struggle to flip it back. I have heard many things that I could do to 'fix' myself. There is no 'fixing' this there is only making it through the storm. And each of us is very different from the other so my way of making it through the storm will be different from your way.

One of the things I have been told I can do is get myself on medication. Yes this might help for some people but after several years of depression and anxiety I've learned that meds and me don't mix. I become angry and downright hateful. This is not a good thing. Not for me or my family.

I'm sure you are wondering why I titled this Writing with Depression. I have gotten into a habit that when I feel my depression coming on I grab my notebook and force myself to write. This isn't always easy. But if you are writing a sad or angry scene I found that it helps me through this. I have also learned that if I am battling depression I also end up with uber sappy love scenes. Not sex scenes. Love scenes. Scenes where one is professing their love but the other is just not ready or doesn't trust the person. Yea, I'm mean like that.

Is this method going to work for everyone? No. I used to write poetry. Very horrible poetry at that. I've also found that by doing something different like coloring, painting, dancing, singing, or even crocheting. Yes, I crochet. But doing these things help.

When I was younger I used to walk to the park and then walk the trails, then walk back to my house. Unfortunately I can no longer do that due to me being a single mom and I refuse to leave my child alone in the house. Yes, I am a protective parent. Every parent should be. But that is not part of this post. I get sidetracked enough as it is.

Anyway, what I am saying is that don't let depression get to you. Yes it happens but don't let it rule your life. You are the king/queen of your life and you can do what you want (as long as it isn't breaking any laws). If you want to write that novel but feel that you just don't have the strength to pick up the pencil or put your fingers on a keyboard then that should give you even more motivation to do it. Don't let depression or anxiety rule you.

I haven't written a post like this for a while and this was long overdue. Can I say that there will be more posts like this in the future? I have no clue. My nicely plotted out plan for blogs and my writing was blown out of the water. So keep an eye out for future posts.


Here are the links to my social media:

Facebook: https://goo.gl/1dGxyK

Twitter: https://goo.gl/oiFkHS

Amazon: http://goo.gl/5hz1ep

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/1WxuI4

My Books:
Triple Threat - http://goo.gl/P0cLGF
Taming An Alpha - http://goo.gl/USvAzw

New Year, New Things

As I am writing this it is only the 3rd day into the new year and I can honestly say it has been a very rocky start. I am sure some of you remember that I am a working single mom. (I know others have it worse off) but my new manager has already told me that I suck at my job (those words in a polite, correct wording) and that if I don't fix it then he will replace me. Yay! Right?

Now I am looking for some way to work from home. I have found a couple of good possibilities which is great but until I have a steady income things will be kind of rocky for us. I can't say how often I will be able to get on here until things are more stable but I am still working on my next book which as you know is not part of the Millersburg Shifters. I do have plans for 2016 and I am hoping that they come to fruitation this year as well.

So in closing (of this post) I can only say that with a new year brings new changes, new things. I hope your new year is fruitful and inspiring.

Alice Frost