1 year later!...

Today is the one-year anniversary of my first novel being published. What an amazing year it's been! I've met lots of new people, and I've learned a lot about the people already in my life, but mostly I've learned a lot about myself. Not only have I self-published the next three books in the Black Rose series since then, but I've also become a traditionally published author with Forever Lost.

Friends have become fans, and fans have become friends, and I am so grateful to those who've given me and my novels a chance. I think most of my readers were shocked by the content, but came on board quickly with the darker themes once you released where I was going and why I did it. Those who couldn't get on with it, that's okay, not everything is for everyone.
I started out with a shy little dream and a fear of letting people in my strange mind, but now I'm more confident and ambitious than ever before. I know what I want from my life, and I'm determined to keep on going until my mind is empty of stories and I'm free of the characters and scenarios that haunt my mind day and night - if that can ever actually happen! I often wonder what the mind of a writer is like in comparison to other people's. I've always created people and places in my head, and then told myself stories about them. I never realised that this wasn't 'normal' until I was an adult, and even then it took me far too long to figure out how to write them down. 

I couldn't have done any of this without you guys! If you weren't reading my books and giving me the support and encouragement to carry on, I would not be where I am today, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart. This journey has been wonderful, and I'm not stopping any time soon xxx 

Reflecting on the past

Wow, where do I even being to cover everything I've been up to the past few weeks? It's been crazy. I had 2 book releases within 2 weeks of each other, and so far the responses to both Destined for Darkness and Forever Lost has been mostly great. I say mostly, I've only had a tiny bit of negative feedback, and one review wasn't actually true to the storyline, so I'm not 100% sure the reader understood the novel, and that makes me sad. The others have simply been 1star ratings on Goodreads, which also makes me sad as they've not given me any other feedback. I can never be sure why they felt compelled to only rate the book with 1star.
There seems to be a lot of backlash at the moment from authors feeling as though they deserve proper feedback from those who decide to leave a review. One liners are not usually helpful, but at the same time readers have given you their time already by reading your book, and I never expect an essay as review. I would appreciate a reason why someone didn't like my book, but at the same time I also know that I do not enjoy every book I read. I've never left fewer than 3star reviews as I'm not inclined to put authors down, and that was the same even before I brought out my own novels. Either way, I loved writing Forever Lost, just as much as my black Rose series, and I hope that those who continue to read it enjoy it. If not, please be kind!
It's just coming up to my 1 year anniversary of publishing my first book, Embracing the Darkness. I cannot believe a whole year has already gone by, and I've truly loved every step of the way. I've learned a huge amount since hitting that scary button on Amazon KDP, and I feel as though I grow as a writer with each new story. I love writing, and feel it's something inside of me I've unleashed at long last, and that will never be put away ever again.
Please tell me those of you who wander by this little blog of mine continue to do so, and as always please comment below so that we can start some interaction. I feel as though these little musings of mine disappear into the ether after I've written them, but hope not!
Lots of love xx