Authors: Just Keep Showing Up…

I’m the type a person who, once I commit to something, I’m all in. Especially if my heart has anything to say about it. Let’s talk writing for instance. At the beginning of 2025, I was faced with a dilemma. My publisher was closing at the end of the year, and I had to take action if I wanted my books to continue to show up in the world. So, I queried (not fun, but a necessary task) a couple of publishers based on referrals from my author friends. Within a month, I signed on with two publishers! The first publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House for my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls (read more about that news HERE), and the second publisher, Next Chapter for The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures. Once I signed both contracts, the stress literally rolled off my shoulders. Woohoo!

That said, I know I’m in it for the long haul. As mentioned, I’ve got two young adult book series on the go—four done in the time travel series, and three completed in the teen psychic tales. What you don’t know is that I’ve got nine more to write in total. Stating this fact shows I know it’s going to take years before each series is completed. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Keep in mind I’ve had to learn that patience is my friend, not foe. I removed myself from the hustle culture a few years ago, and feel much calmer, more focused, and less stressed. If you’re familiar with the Tarot cards, there’s one particular card that I visualize in my mind to help me keep showing up. It’s the seven of wands, and the energy this card carries is one of valor, of holding firm, and of having the advantage in spite of the stiff competition facing you. I’ve embodied this card’s meaning many times throughout my author and personal life. To have the courage to work through adversity and all sorts of pressure. It’s determination, perseverance, and a sense of purpose wrapped up in a gift with a bow. This card reminds me not to give up the struggle, and that if I make the effort, I will achieve victory.

As writers, sometimes obstacles are placed in our path (like losing your publisher) just to enhance our ability to use our skills and wisdom wisely. Take the amount of times a writer has been rejected, and you get the gist. It’s a test for us to see if we can truly handle what we believe we can accomplish. To keep showing up is a testament to your dreams and goals. I mean, why did you come to the earth plane anyway? You showed up here for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and make things happen in your life.

Sometimes just showing up means carving out that fifteen minutes a day to write your story or even a blog post. Do up a few ad blurbs for the books you’ve already written and published, and do some marketing. Back lists sell new books, right? Plot and plan that next novel. Meet with other writers and network or brainstorm. Reach out to your local bookstore, and see if they’ve got any author events planned. Jump in with both feet, and share your reading wares with the local libraries or schools. Donate copies of books to charities like Ronald McDonald House Charities to enhance their libraries and raise spirits. Be courageous and brave, like the figure on the seven of wands, who takes the bull by the horns, and soldiers on.

In this writing business, it’s easy to feel daunted, to retreat, to feel overwhelmed, and not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. I have at times too. Just take a breath, step back from the action periodically, reassess your plans and goals, then take back your place, and know you have the advantage even if you don’t realize it. Because, trust me, you do.

How about you? Have you ever let the competition get to you? Let me know if you’ve ever felt at a disadvantage in your writing life. Do you cut your losses and withdraw from your dreams and goals? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

Alcohol and English by Paranormal Romance Author C.D. Hersh...

Did you know that the English language alcohol content is more than 22.5 percent?

 

What in the world, you ask, does that mean? It’s hard.

Hard liquor can make you dizzy. 

Trying to figure out the English language can make your head spin too. English is hard for newcomers to the language and hard for many of us who’ve been speaking it all our lives—especially if you’re looking into the definitions of homonyms and paradoxically phrases. 

We can’t take any credit for today’s blog. We found it buried in a file of interesting writing emails we had saved from 2005. We don’t know where it came from so we can’t give the original author credit. It’s just one of those things that floats around on the internet that we thought was worth keeping. After reading it, we’re sure you’ll agree that English can be a screwy language … and don’t depend on your grammar check to fix it. 

Here are a few gems to consider. 

• The bandage was wound around the wound. 

• The farm was used to produce produce. 

• The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 

• We must polish the Polish furniture. 

• He could lead if he would get the lead out. 

• The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 

• Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 

• At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum. 

• When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 

• I did not object to the object. 

• The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 

• There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 

• They were too close to the door to close it. 

• The buck does funny things when the does are present. 

• A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 

• To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 

• The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 

• After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. 

• Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear. 

• I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 

• How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? 

Screwy pronunciations can mess up your mind! For example, if you have a rough cough, climbing can be tough when going through the bough on a tree! 

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? 

In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on and you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. 

Do you have a favorite crazy English paradox, homonym (words that sound alike but have different meanings), homophone (a type of homonym that sounds alike and has different meanings, but has different spellings), homograph (words that are spelled the same but have different meanings), or heteronym (a type of homograph that is spelled the same and has different meanings, but sounds different)? If so, write them down for us and we’ll be right grateful that we’ve learned something from your learned contribution. 

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They've written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after, and that’s why they write romance. 

The second edition of the first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are coming soon. 

In addition to writing Catherine and Donald love antiquing, traveling, singing, and going to the theatre. Catherine is also an avid gardener and has drawn Donald into her garden as a day laborer. They figure the couple who plays together and works together, stays together—and that's just what they aim to do.

Social Media Info: 

Website: https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh 

Blog: https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/blog-2/

Sip and Scribble by Young Adult Paranormal Author Leigh Goff...

Wine tasting and writing fiction may seem like two very different realms, but when you look closer, you'll see that they share intriguing similarities. Both experiences involve sensory exploration and the art of storytelling.

I recently began a journey into wine tasting and am now studying for my level 2 certification (yes, the homework rocks). How wine tasting appeals to me was similar to how I feel about writing. After some research, I discovered there was a connection. Just as a wine taster engages their senses to explore the intricacies of a wine, a fiction writer harnesses the power of sensory details to bring their story to life.

A highly skilled winemaker tends to the grapes and the winemaking process to produce a wine like a Napa Cabernet that boasts flavors of ripe blackberries, velvety dark chocolate with subtle hints of cedar, culminating in a full-bodied magical experience on the palate. When I craft a story, I construct compelling plots, drawing on my sensory experiences to enhance them and then refine the work through editing and revision. In my first novel, Disenchanted, the story I created was filled with sensory details. I wanted to immerse the reader in the magic of Sophie's world, her star-crossed romance, and the haunting history of Old Wethersfield.

Some writers through the centuries, such as Jane Austen, were known to imbibe on too much wine. Research from the University of Graz shows that drinking wine enhances creative thinking for writers. Of course, it does! Now winemakers are harnessing the art of storytelling to enhance their connection with consumers. Using a new phone app called Winerytale, the user can read the story about a wine of their choice and learn about the winemakers.

While wine tasting and writing fiction may seem unrelated, the parallels are undeniable. Both pursuits involve sensory exploration, layered complexity, subjective interpretation, storytelling, and a blend of artistry and craftsmanship. The next time you savor a glass of wine or dive into a captivating novel, take a moment to appreciate the shared essence of these two worlds, where sensory delights and imaginative tales intertwine. 

Cheers!

Leigh Goff writes young adult fiction. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).

 She has three published novels, DISENCHANTED, BEWITCHING HANNAH, and KOUSH HOLLOW. She is also a member of SCBWI and a graduate from the University of Maryland.

Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Authors Need to Learn to Stay in Their Lane…

A good friend of mine invited me to jump on an Instagram show she does weekly. The topic was all about jealousy and envy, especially the green-eyed monster kind. I was intrigued, so of course I gave her a definite yes. As the conversation grew, I thought about how jealousy and envy seeps into the minds and actions of authors and writers. Yes, there’s comparison-itis, when an author compares his or her books and career to that of a highly successful author. How do they make it so easy? *Seethes* Why can’t I get a break? *Grumbles* What am I doing wrong? *Head desk* And the gut-punching laments go on and on. It’s like these famous authors got a free pass, and we’re looking for any scraps they can toss our way. But, what if I told you that there was a way to get the author life you’ve been working toward? It’s not easy by any means, but it’s doable.

Stay in your lane. That’s it. Told it was doable, but with today’s distractions an author has to deal with, it’s darned hard. Writing. Editing. Revising. Submitting. Rounds of edits. Book cover design. Formatting. Publishing. Book launch. Book promotion. Book marketing. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. The problem is we authors are too busy looking in the rear view mirror, side mirrors, odometer, gas gage, and in front of us, that it’s no wonder we can’t get to where we want to go. So strap on a pair of blinders and move forward. Stop for gas. In other words, rest and recharge. Check the GPS. Are you going in the direction you want to go or in circles? If you write for young adults, why are you in Stephen King’s lane? Yes, learn from him by all means, but don’t be envious of his accomplishments. They’re his and his alone.

Learn to pace yourself. The cliché, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ holds merit even by today’s standards.
Do what’s right for YOU. Write what’s right for YOU, not what’s trending. The famous authors you love to hate got there through their own grit and merit. Yes, they had help. Yes, they had support. Yes, they made it. But only through their tenacity, and because an agent or publisher thought they were ready. Don’t let the green-eyed monster come out and destroy your integrity as an author or writer. Shove it in the back seat and buckle that beast in. You’re the driver. You’re in control of how you respond to how well other authors are doing in your circle or your world. Keep your focus. Stick to your plan. Stay. In. Your. Lane.

This advice isn’t easy, especially when you’re more interested in what other authors or writers are doing. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence is not really what it seems. You didn’t see the work that was put in to actually make that grass perfect and luxurious. You don’t realize what successful authors have gone through to get to where they are now. Many flat tires, oil changes, recharged batteries, brake jobs, and a whole slew of other repairs and challenges have prepared them for the long haul of their publishing dreams. Learn from their journeys, but please, stay in your lane. You’ll be a better writer if you do.

Does the thought of another author’s success make you cringe with jealousy? Have you ever gone off course in your writing career because you decided to follow a famous author’s path instead of your own? When something amazing happens to an author you know personally, do you reach out and express your happiness for them? Or do you say nothing? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

Authors: Do We Really Need to Go All In With Our Book Marketing Strategy…

Book Marketing is a Gamble for Many Authors

Fed up with doing Facebook ads that at one time gave me great reach and amazing clicks, but no buys, I decided that these kinds of ads didn’t serve me anymore. So, in March (2024), I asked for feedback from my fellow authors on what they did that works for them in their book marketing and promotional world. I received quite a lot of responses—especially from my Facebook groups—and decided to put together a list of their responses. To give you the gist, here’s the original call to action I put out on my social media accounts:

“I’m searching for other ways to market and promote my books, since Facebook ads don’t seem to be playing nice, and don’t serve my purposes anymore. So, I thought I’d ask my fellow authors what you do to get your books out there and into the hands of your readers, beyond the usual social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn I see throughout my feeds.

For example, do you pay for ads on Twitter or LinkedIn? If so, do they work for you? Have you ever hired a promotional specialist or company (which can get quite pricey) to do your book marketing? If so, what was the experience, and were they worth it? Or do you do your own marketing, scheduling your posts ahead of time? I’d really like some solid advice, and frankly I’m tired of being approached by these so-called ‘marketing specialists’ on all my social media accounts.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions you can share. I appreciate it!”

The response was immediate. My feeds filled up with helpful advice, and other authors waiting in the wings to know what magic-marketing-bullet would be best for them. Turns out this book biz is NOT a one-book-fits-all kind of marketing strategy. I knew all along that it wasn’t. I was just interested in seeing what other authors do out there, so I could make a conscious and rational decision on what’s best for ME. That said, below is most of the feedback I received. Much of these ideas I’ve done, but there are some that I haven’t, and may give them a go. In the long run, you must decide what’s best for YOU…

·         Start an email list and newsletter. If you have done so, continue to build it.

·         Don’t pay for subscribers—instead, engage with readers in genuine ways.

·         Get out there in person. Meet other writers, go to events and conferences, especially events that include both authors and readers. Always bring a signup sheet or QR code for your newsletter signup.

·         Shop at Indie bookstores. Be a part of the literary conversation.

·        Consider doing Amazon ads. Apparently, Bryan Cohen offers free Amazon ad courses that usually happen quarterly. Check out when the next course is available here: https://www.facebook.com/bestpageforward/reviews

·         Other advertising ventures are BookBub Feature Deals (which can get quite pricey) and BookBub ads. Apparently, most authors said to stay away from Twitter or LinkedIn ads.

·        Promotional and review sites such as NetGalley, Fussy Librarian, Written Word Media, Bargain Booksy, FreeBooksy, BookFunnel, and Hello Books just to name a few. Price points vary, so do your research.

·         In-person events such as craft shows, fairs, markets, and special events like holidays.

·        Podcast interviews. An author friend pays $15 a month and gets two lists of ten podcasters weekly who are looking for guests. Here’s the link: https://podcastguests.com/

·        YouTube appearances or having your own show. Depending on your personality, helpful content, and author guests, this may be the way to go for you.

·         Guest blogging or working with book bloggers for reviews.

·        Speaking engagements based on your genre. So, if you write for children or teens, schools would be a good place to start.

·         Getting books into your local library network.

·        Book signings at your local bookstore, grocery stores, fundraisers, or anywhere else that’s connected with the setting, content, and genre of your books. Think outside the box for this. Does your book have a shelter animals slant? How about at a local pet supply store? Cozy mystery with a baker as the main character? Check out coffee shops or local bakery stores in your area. The possibilities are endless.

·         Garnishing paid book reviews through Booklist, BookPage, ForeWord, Kirkus, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf Awareness to name a few.

·         Promotional specialists or companies. A word of warning on this: if these people approach you, they’re most likely crossing a boundary or invading your virtual space. You’re the one who should be contacting them.

·         Paying a publicist. This one can get expensive, with prices ranging from $1250 to over— are you sitting down—$10,000 for a four to five-month campaign. Yikes! But, depending on the book, and if it’s worth your time and investment, then go for it!

·         Last, but not least, the tried and true method: Word of Mouth. Works. All. The. Time.    

Hmm. So many ideas, so little time to actually write those books to market. What a conundrum! With all this wealth of information listed above, I bet you’re wondering what marketing strategies I’ll be using moving forward. First, an admission – I don’t have an email list. I’ve resisted having one for so long because frankly, I didn’t want to do the extra work involved with sending out a newsletter with barely anything to say. Book marketing expert Sandra Beckwith advises to start and build an email list for the simple reason that if your pet social platform disappears or crashes, you lose everything. But not your email list. You own that sucker. Plus, it’s an excellent way to get to know your readers and have genuine conversations with them. Makes sense, but to be honest, I don’t feel this is the best use of my book marketing time.

However, If you’re interested in starting an email list or building your existing list, writing coach and speaker, Colleen M. Story has a couple of great articles to whet your book marketing appetite with HERE and HERE. Check them out when time permits.

So what am I going to do? Nothing. At least for now. I’ve decided to take a break, take a breather, and take myself out of the game of feeding all those book marketing ploys manipulating authors out of their hard-earned money. My former publisher used to say, Money flows to, not away, from the author. Wouldn’t that be nice if that was the norm? The best advice I received was from author Vonnie Hughes, a dear friend from New Zealand, who offered, “What about just writing because you can't help it and not writing to be published but just writing for YOU?” In a perfect world, wouldn’t that be amazing? I may just heed her sage advice. As a life-long learner, I strive to do better when I can, and hope what I learn, I can pass along to others. At least, that is my wish.

Does the thought of marketing or promoting your books make you cringe? Do you have an email list? Are you tired and overwhelmed with all the marketing strategies out there, that you chose to do the bare minimum or nothing? Is the continual expense of doing book promotions sucking the joy out of being a writer for you? If so, I totally understand, and would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

Guest Post: A Writer's Imagination by Paranormal Romance Author C.D. Hersh...

 

People frequently ask how and where we got our ideas to write one story let alone a series. Honestly, sometimes it's not easy, almost like ramming your head into a huge cement abutment. Yet thankfully storylines and scenes magically appear in our minds. Sometimes more than we want.

Every book demands who, what, where, and why. The plotline. From time to time that necessity confuses those images into a gnarled mess. But we work through it. 

So how do we find ideas that allow our imaginations to run rampant? Magazines and old telephone books are marvelous for coming up with character names. Be sure to follow the mix and match theory. That means do not use the full name of any one person or you might find you have a lawsuit in the making.

We love to travel and often our imaginations are sparked by a billboard or other people on the road, even pit stops offer fodder for a new story. Those diners and rest stops are a wealth of fodder too an author.

The grocery store is another great place to gain ideas. For example – the next time you’re in the store take a good look at the lady scanning your purchases or maybe it’s the bagger who draws your attention. Maybe on this trip you notice something different about one or the other. Maybe something different in her dark brown eyes as if they’re hiding a secret. Of course, you can’t ask, so you allow your imagination to take over. What if she’s a crime stopper by night? After a hard day on her feet, she shrugs out of her sweat filled uniform then into black jeans, a black turtleneck, and low-heeled boots. She shakes out her chocolate brown hair from its topknot and it cascades to her shoulders…You get the idea.

As writing partners, we bounce ideas off each other with the C in C.D. Hersh writing explicit notes. After a few days or we revisit C's list and start the occasionally wonderful, but more often heart wrenching, practice of elimination. After all, what writer doesn’t love his/her words? We do our best not to judge or tick off each other too much since we're married. Besides, I love my wife. Seeing her happy makes me happy. 

Here is a little about our shapeshifter series on Amazon. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we did writing them.

TITLE: The Turning Stone Chronicles

GENRE: Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

HEAT LEVEL: Sensual

Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world?

Find out in The Series The Turning Stone Chronicles

Book one of the chronicles titled “The Promised One” available on Amazon
In the wrong hands, the Turning Stone ring is a powerful weapon for evil. So, when homicide detective Alexi Jordan discovers her secret society mentor has been murdered and his magic ring stolen, she is forced to use her shape-shifting powers to catch the killer. By doing so, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.

Rhys Temple always knew his fiery cop partner and would-be-girlfriend, Alexi Jordan, had a few secrets. He considers that part of her charm. But when she changes into a man, he doesn’t find that as charming. He’ll keep her secret to keep her safe, but he’s not certain he can keep up a relationship—professional or personal.

Danny Shaw needs cash for the elaborate wedding his fiancée has planned, so he goes on a mugging spree. But when he kills a member of the secret society of Turning Stones and steals a magic ring that gives him the power to shape shift, Shaw gets more than he bargained for.

Book two of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Blood Brothers” available on Amazon.
When Delaney Ramsey is enlisted to help train two of the most powerful shape shifters the Turning Stone Society has seen in thousands of years, she suspects one of them is responsible for the disappearance of her daughter. To complicate matters, the man has a secret that could destroy them all. Bound by honor to protect the suspect, Delaney must prove his guilt without losing her life to his terrible powers or revealing to the police captain she’s falling for that she’s a shape shifter with more than one agenda.

The minute Captain Williams lays eyes on Delaney Ramsey, he knows she’s trouble. Uncooperative, secretive, and sexy, he can’t get her out of his mind. When he discovers she has a personal agenda for sifting through all the criminal records in his precinct, and secretly investigating his best detective, he can’t let her out of his sight. He must find out what she’s looking for before she does something illegal. If she steps over the line, he’s not certain he can look the other way for the sake of love.

Book three of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Son of the Moonless Night” currently available on Amazon.
Owen Todd Jordan Riley has a secret. He’s a shape shifter who has been hunting and killing his own kind. To him the only good shifter is a dead shifter. Revenge for the death of a friend motivates him, and nothing stands in his way . . . except Katrina Romanovski, the woman he is falling in love with.

Deputy coroner Katrina Romanovski has a secret, too. She hunts and kills paranormal beings like Owen. At least she did. When she rescues Owen from an attack by a werebear she is thrust back into the world she thought she’d left. Determined to find out what Owen knows about the bear, she begins a relationship meant to collect information. What she gets is something quite different love with a man she suspects of murder. Can she reconcile his deception and murderous revenge spree and find a way to redeem him? Or will she condemn him for the same things she has done and walk away from love?

Book four of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “The Mercenary & the Shifters” available on Amazon.
A desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.

The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles Series page are available on Amazon. Their standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music, is in the Soul Mate Tree collection with twelve other authors from various genres.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to the husband and wife co-authors whose pen name is C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s while co-authoring a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. As high school sweethearts, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. Which is why they write it!

When they aren’t collaborating on a book, they enjoy reading; singing; theatre and drama; traveling; remodeling houses (Donald has remodeled something in every home they’ve owned); and antiquing. Catherine, who loves gardening, has recently drawn Donald into her world as a day laborer. Catherine is an award-winning gardener — you can see some of her garden on their website.

They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.

You can see excerpts of their books, connect with, and follow C.D. Hersh at:

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

So, You Want to Write a Book…

When I told a friend of mine I was thinking about writing a book, she said to me, “Ah, you have something to say.” I frowned, and said, “No. I just have this awesome story in my head.”

So, with those words planted in your mind, “Let me tell you a story…” 

My journey to publication started in the mid-90s. One evening while I was reading, I thought how simple the structure and dialogue was in this particular novel. You can write, a voice urged inside my head. Let me tell you, I almost fell off my chair. But the words rang true for me. So, I decided to act on this truth, and took a writing course—Writing your Novel—where I met a great couple of like-minded would-be writer gals. Together we started a writing support group, and I wrote my first novel—a paranormal romance. This manuscript caught the eye of an agent, but I was hardly ready, and I see that now. What I needed to do was to hone my craft and get better and better with the process of writing. And that takes making lots of mistakes at the expense of your ego. In other words: lots of rejection, rejection, rejection! Ouch!

Then one night, during my writer’s group, one of my friends said something that floored me. She mentioned that I hit my twelve-year-old character’s voice bang on. So, this got me to thinking—how hard would it be to write a young adult novel? It was a stupid question. Of course it was hard! After thinking about what my friend had said to me, I decided I’d challenge myself and write not just a novel—but a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the target age of my audience. Since I’ve always loved the time travel genre, it was a no-brainer for me.

Time travel to almost twenty-five years later, and it turns out that I had plenty to say! About my writer’s
life. About the writing process. About my journey to publication. And about the feeling I finally had holding a printed copy of my first book, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. Let me tell you that was a bitter-sweet moment. Bitter because I didn’t realize the amount of work that lay ahead of me to continue on with my journey as a published author. Sweet because all those years—seventeen to be exact—I’d worked so hard to achieve getting published, had actually paid off. Perseverance, they say, truly wins in the end.

So, you want to write a book? It begins with INTENT. Back when I started blogging, I was so green and didn’t have much to offer writers or even knew what to say. I was scared, insecure, and filled with tons of self-doubt. BUT I moved forward with tenacity and embraced the desire to be a published author, and dare I say, Bestselling author. I’ve built my blog, and my writing career brick by brick, word by word until I’ve amassed quite a collection of helpful and heartfelt content to assist anyone who is remotely interested in delving into the murky, yet exciting world of writing and all the challenges a writer might face. Today, I still have a long way to go, but I’m definitely on the right track with my goals and aspirations as a young adult author.

It is my hope that you find my free PDF ebook Tips, Tricks and Tools for the Tenacious Writer insightful, inspiring, and illuminating as you begin your writing journey or just need some tips, tools, or tricks to help you shine in this crazy publishing business. All the best. All the success.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS.

An Author’s Greatest Fan…and Critic!

I was fortunate to be interviewed by LITREAL in July (2021) as part of their Essential Reads segment. It was through a connection on LinkedIn that got me this amazing opportunity with CEO and co-founder Dr. Shasikala Palsamy. LITREAL introduces English speaking authors to India (and the world), so I thought it was a way for me to expand my literary reach, and perhaps gain some new readers. Here’s a smattering of what they do for authors:

“LITREAL wishes to have a hands-on approach towards the study of literary works. LITREAL BROADCAST is the official YouTube channel of our institution. We have several live segments on a weekly basis where we interview writers across the globe. The input that writers of the current era provide us can really be useful to bring out the literary scholar in every individual.”

Honestly, I’m blushing. I was so out of my comfort zone during our interview! Despite the technical difficulties I experienced (I couldn’t see my video feed, but they could see me) we persevered and the interview went on as planned. I’ll include the full interview in this post, but there was one question I’d like to revisit, and wished I had answered differently.

That question?

Can you mention a person in your personal life who is your greatest fan and someone whom you may regard as your harshest critic?

The harshest critic was easy. That would be me. But my greatest fan? Wait…what? I honestly had no idea, so I rattled off a few names of girls I knew that had read my books and loved them. After the interview, it hit me like a ton of paperbacks. I was my greatest fan. All authors must be the champions of their own stories or what’s the point of writing?

As promised, here’s the interview with LITREAL. It was a scary-wonderful, humbling, and just plain old fun experience. You can hear my enthusiasm rise out of my voice at times, and to my surprise, it made me feel like I belong in this crazy literary world. Enjoy!

The actual interview:

If you’re an author, do you agree with me about being your own greatest fan and harshest critic? I’d love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

When It Comes To Writing, Age Doesn't Matter by Catherine Castle...

Age Doesn’t Matter

Just Ask Abraham’s Wife Sarah

I got a text from my daughter the other day. It read, “You’re kind of like Laura Ingalls Wilder. She didn’t get published until 65.”

 I took a bit of umbrage to that statement, and pulled a bit of pride from it as well. I’d love to be an internationally well-known writer like Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was one of my favorite authors –as well as my daughter’s favorite author, now and when she was young. I wasn’t so crazy about the 65 bit, however. I was under 65 when my first book was published, and well under 65 in how-young-you-feel-and-look years. (And isn’t that what really counts?)

 However, my daughter’s statement got me to thinking about how our accomplishments aren’t limited to age. I was actually in my early 40s when I began writing professionally as a stringer for our local town newspaper. I’d always loved to write and had filled a notebook full of poems, written dozens of short stories that never made it past the Mom-thinks-it’s-wonderful stage, and composed countless school essays that always made great marks. The writing assignments that other students groaned about, I relished. I loved everything about them, from the research, to the actual writing, and even the editing—things that serve me well now as a published author.

Writing and reading have always been my passions, along with singing and acting. As a teenager I wanted to be a rock-and-roll singer or act on stage. At the time, writing never even entered my realm of careers. It was only a hobby I loved. I never made it to the limelight of center stage, in spite of the many times I tried out for school plays or musicals. I got chorus parts, but never the starring roles.

Ahh, but never give up. There’s a time and a place for everything and, for some of us, that time comes later in life. Today, I’m a published author—both as a solo author and co-authoring with my husband. I sing onstage at church, praising the Lord who gave me my voice. I’m also co-writing plays for our church (with my husband), acting and co-directing in plays for our church. Granted, it’s not Hollywood, which I have decided I wouldn’t want to be part of now anyway. Nor am I on the New York Times Bestseller list, to which I still aspire. But I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to. I’ve discovered doing what you love, at any age, is satisfying beyond belief.

Here’s the interesting thing about how everything turned out: I believe I’m right where God wants me to be, at the time of my life he wanted me to be there. After all, if he could give Sarah and Abraham a child in their old age, at just the right time to begin His plan of salvation for the world, who am I to question why my bit of success didn’t come when I was twenty?

Mine is not to wonder why, but just to do and be satisfied. So, if you’re bemoaning the fact that you haven’t “made it” yet in the publishing world, or with any other goal you’ve set for yourself, don’t. Just keep working toward that goal and relish the success, no matter how big or small, when it comes.

Catherine achieved her goal publication and also won several awards with her debut book, The Nun and the Narc. Check out the blurb and read a sample on Amazon.

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

The Nun and the Narc is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.