Writing Update!

 Hey everyone! Just stopping in really quick to let you know that I've been writing! Alot! I'm hoping that I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. I have new summer hours at work so instead of two days off, I now have three whole days ! That extra day is really beneficial in the writing department.

I am getting closer to ending my manuscript everyday...  If I stuck with my original plan it would be done already but I didn't want to end the story there. I decided to add even more to it. I love being back with my characters.

Hopefully, I will finish soon.
And of course you will all be the first to know if (when) I do!


Happy Summer!!!



P.s. Got the paperback copy of Dead Friends Walking in the mail yesterday. So excited!

Update

Hello Everyone!!! Happy Spring almost Summer! I haven't been on much lately, as you all can tell and I apologize for that. These past few months have been hard on me. I was really getting back into writing then my old injury in my neck/shoulder flared up, and I had to take a break from writing again to let it heal again.
That lasted about a month and a half. Sometime in April, I started back into the sequel of Dead Friends Walking but then on 4/29 we had to put our dog down due to a terminal illness. Losing Loki hit me pretty hard. He was my first dog I ever lost. I do not have children. My dogs are my children. They are my everything so currently my heart is broken.
I took a whole month off for myself and to spend quality time with my other dogs. I haven't given up on writing. I miss writing. I just really, really miss my dog.

I am going to try to start back into my story, but I am not rushing it and I am not forcing myself. If it's a beautiful day outside, I'm not going to miss out on it. I am going to put my writing to the side again and go out to the creek with the rest of my dogs. Or go for a walk.

For so long I was wrapped up in my stories, and writing, that I realized I missed out on a lot of things. I understand some of you are waiting for my sequels, and that's why I will continue to write. For you.
And I understand that my soul needs writing, needs that creative outlet, so I will continue to write for me as well.

I hope to finish something soon, but in the meantime it's supposed to be another beautiful sunny day so I'm going to go take the dogs to the park.

xoxo,
Natalie

                                       

                                          Last photo of all my babies together
                                 Chancey(Top left) Nova (Top middle) Cooper (Top right)
                                        Rock(Bottom left) and Loki (Bottom right)
                                                   

Now Available!!!

Hey everyone!!! Dead Friends Walking is now available in paperback and ebook copies!!! 

Release Date!!!

 Dead Friends Walking is scheduled to be released Feb. 7th, 2016 from Tell-Tale Publishing Group LLC.
Can't wait! Mark your calendars!!

Now I have to get back to writing a sequel....

Upcoming Release....

Hey everyone ! Happy New Year!!!

Starting this year off with a re-release this February. Can't wait! My previously self-published zombie novel was picked up by Tell-Tale Publishing Group LLC. New cover, new edits. Hope you enjoy the story as much as I did writing it. Check out the cover below! I think it rocks! Hope you do too!

 Look forward to sharing more information with you soon....

Three Year Anniversary

Hey everyone! Today marks the three year anniversary of my first self-published book. "The Girl Whose Heart Was Too Big." This book is still by far one of my favorite stories.  

When you write a book people always seem to ask you in some form of way if the book is successful. I"m not really sure why that even matters. Truth is, you wrote a book, therefore it's already successful. You accomplished something that you put a lot of work into. Finishing a book is not easy.
If your story touches someone's heart, makes them smile or makes them cry good tears, than in my opinion, your book is successful.
It's not about how many people buy your book. It's about the connection you make with people who do buy your book.
At least, that's my opinion. When I write I try to create stories that will give more than just a story line to people. I want my stories to give lessons, and share smiles. I want to connect with each reader I have.
Success will be measured by this. If you can connect to even just one reader, you have accomplished something.
Success this way, eventually will pay off the other way. Sometimes quickly. Sometimes it could take years.
For all my fellow writers... I ask you to not judge your books by sales. Even if you are a #1 best seller or only sold one of your books so far. Just be proud of yourself no matter what. YOU are successful. You are following your dreams, and that journey is never easy. 



The reviews I have received on my first book have been so touching and inspiring. I thank everyone who has taken the time to share their opinion with me. I love hearing your thoughts. Your kind words have made me smile so much over the last three years.

To date, I think my favorite moment with this book had to be back in February of 2013 when I was asked to guest read at an elementary school for a third grade class during author week. Here I am that day:

I'm not great a public speaking and I have the worst stage fright. (Though this wasn't on a stage, it was still me standing in front of a classroom.) To say the least, I was terrified to do this reading. I was so afraid I was going to mess up, the kids were going to hate it, that I would trip and fall over my clumsy feet and become the laughing stock of the entire school. Trust me, I had a lot of discouraging thoughts racing through my head.
The teacher, however, encouraged me to do this and I am so happy I did. It only took two minutes for me to calm down. The kids were awesome and made me feel so welcome. And after I read them my story, they had so many questions about writing that I didn't even feel like I was standing in the front of the room by myself anymore.
Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to do this again.

If you haven't had the chance to read my book, click the link below. You can check out a sample of it on Amazon.




The Girl Whose Heart Was Too Big

Here is just one review- This is one really meant a lot to me.


 Sometimes the Simplest Books are the Best Books, August 14, 2014

By Kevin Gerard on August 14, 2014

Format: Paperback

After reading only a few pages of "The Girl Whose Heart Was Too Big," Shel Silverstein's classic book "The Giving Tree" popped into my mind. Carlisle's girl captures the same innocence and sincerity of the tree in Silverstein's book. Amber Ellens is completely untouched by the ugly competitiveness of our world, and freely gives anything she has away, or shares it someone who has less. The rest of the children don't understand and react accordingly, but Amber's BIG heart won't be dissuaded. She just keeps giving and sharing. It is a charming tale that will touch readers of any age.

I write fantasy novels for kids - sometimes 600 pages long - and Carlisle's book is as compelling as any with ten times the page count.

Award winning middle grade fantasy author Kevin Gerard

Thank you Kevin Gerard. And thank you again to any one that has purchased my book and taken the time to review it.


xoxo,
Natalie

Meet Mr. Cooper

Just sharing photos of my newest love, Mr. Cooper. He's a wire-haired fox terrier. My husband surprised me with him since we just celebrated 10 years of being together. We've had Cooper for about a month now. Being a puppy mommy is exhausting, but he's worth losing sleep over. 

I just thought I'd introduce you all to the OTHER reason I hadn't been writing much last month. 

*Side note- He kind of reminds me of Scout Rollins (when he's shifted, of course) from my Emerson Fox Series. I thought about naming him that, but stuck with Cooper.*

** Oh, double side note- You all can see a glimpse of my new hair do. It's Red/Pink!**

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring! Can you believe it?? I felt like this winter was going to last forever. It wasn't necessarily the cold weather, it was just this winter has been pretty rough for me and my family. I wrote to you guys in January about why I hadn't been on in awhile. The death of my grandmother in November really broke my spirit and has been hard on me. But I promised that I was still writing and that I would try to get back into the swing of things. And for a moment there, I was. Up until I lost two more beloved members of my family, very unexpectedly.
The shock still hasn't fully wore off.
I just know last month was a blur really. A very sad, blur.

I'm looking forward to Spring. I hope it brings some warmth, and sunshine. My family could use it. 2015 started off sad, and cold, but we are hanging in there, keeping our chins up as much as we can.
Some days are easier than others.
For those that have offered there condolences, thank you.
I wish all of you a happy spring too!

As for my writing, I might not have touched the keyboard last month, but I will tell you that I've been writing this past week. And they have been particularly good writing days. With the promise of warmer weather, and summer sunshine in my future, I think it's been cheering me up.

So with that said,  I will gladly tip my hat to winter, then put it away in storage.
Of course, that will have to be after tomorrow.... We are supposed to be getting snow again!

Stay warm everyone!




xoxo,
Natalie

A new year, a new beginning!

 So much can happen in a day, let alone four months. I am aware I probably lost some followers with my lack of updating, or disappointed some fans who seriously are anticipating the release of my next book by not publishing any novels in 2014 like planned  --And to them I apologize it was not my intention ever.

However, sometimes plans don't go as scheduled, sometimes life just gets in the way. As much as "being a writer" is a big part of my heart, it isn't my career. It doesn't pay my bills.  It is something I do because I enjoy it. But as much as I love it, it doesn't take precedence over my actual job that pays the bills, or over my family, and especially over my health.

The end of the year is always busiest at my " 9-5" job- and though I normally can manage working during the day and writing at night, this past year I have unfortunately been suffering from a neck/nerve injury that has inhibited me from continuous hours of typing without bad pain and numbness in my arms. I am seeing a doctor, and hoping physical therapy will help, but right now it seems "resting" is the only sure way of feeling better. Any real writing is only getting done by a tape recorder right now. Then I have to wait to have it transferred to text. 
So, I appreciate your patience, and hope when my sequels are finally released you love them just as much as the first, and not hold this long wait against me.

And, if I am being honest with you all, I must confess that these last couple months my drive to "write" has been pretty much not existent anyway. Am I still writing, yes, through the tape recorder I am, but my heart hasn't truly been into it. The injury does have something to do with it, but mostly because apart of me is still grieving. On November 8th, my biggest writing inspiration, and my biggest fan, passed away. My grandmother wasn't just a mentor in my life, she was also my very dear friend. And I miss her contagious laugh and words of wisdom more than I can ever express in words. She was a beautiful woman, and the absolute most positive person I ever known. Because of her, I wrote my first novel. Because of her, I continued to write. So she would have something to read during chemo, and something to make her smile.  As the illness started to spread, she lost her ability to read though. Sadly, she never did get to finish my third novel. When she lost her ability to read, I lost part of my drive to write.

Writing this now, writing about her, brings tears to my eyes. A bittersweet kind. 
I hate that I have felt distant from writing, if she only knew, she'd be so upset with me. She always told me never to give up. To believe in myself because she believed in me.

Maybe walking away from writing was something I needed to do though. For me. Because since the start of the new year, I found myself being pulled back by the sudden urge to write again. But not to just write, meaning to finish so my readers can finally know the end of my series and move on and I can finally finish these open w.i.p.s.
But to write with meaning again. With purpose. With heart. 
Listening back over some of my tape recorded words, I realized I have been missing that. I didn't hear it in my story. I just heard a story. 
And I never wanted to become that writer. Who just writes stories. 
I wanted to be a writer that captured a reader and shared my imaginative world with them. A world that steals them away, and puts them right into its realm. A place a reader doesn't want to leave because they are in love with all the characters. They are friends with them. They feel for them, cry with them, laugh with them. 
I've said it before that I can't just publish something to publish it. And that's why it was taking me a while to write these sequels. I just hadn't realize how big an influence Gram really had on my writing. Yes, the stress of publishing brought me down, yes, my injury has plagued me with a lot of pain, but mostly losing Gram has broken my spirit. 
My family, who I came to for writing advice and encouragement and ideas, have all had their spirit broken this past year and my writing wasn't something I wanted to bring up. It wasn't really much of a thought at most times. 
Spending time with my family, with my Gram, remembering the last "good" moments we had with her, that's what mattered most to me(us) in 2014.
I don't regret not writing. And I'm sorry you've all had to wait. There is nothing more irritating for a reader than to start a series and then not have an ending to it. At least in my opinion. 
I am so grateful for your continued support, and that you've taken time to read my novels. I know everyone has busy lives, and deal with their own inner turmoils. So the fact you've taken time out of your busy schedules to sit down and read my books, is truly an ultimate compliment.
Hearing that you enjoyed it, just as much as I did writing it, makes that compliment even more cherished. Knowing some of you are still waiting for "what happens next" not with frustration but with the same anticipation and love, is beyond incredible. It makes all those sleepless nights and pain in my arms worth it.

I'm going to scratch a lot of what I recorded. It's not what you want to hear I'm sure. But, it needs to be done. My heart tells me so. 
Good news, I already know where I'm going with it next. Let's hope life doesn't step on my toes this time. Let's hope it gives me some time to tie up the loose laces and move a bit further on.

Here's to wishing you all a healthy, happy new year!

Xoxo,
Natalie

In memory of my grandmother. 

Almost my favorite season...

Well happy September to all of you! And happy birthday to my godson, Wyatt. We are coming up on my favorite season, and I can't be more excited. Pumpkin everything, cool days, beautiful colored leaves...oh, and writing season! Yup, now that summer is almost over, I will be spending more time indoors and getting my "write" on.

I know that I have been M.I.A a lot this year, and I apologize. I haven't stopped thinking of all of you and it's because of all of you that I am still in the writing chair.
I have just had a lot of personal stuff going on in my life, and my computer has been in the fritz. But at the current moment, things seem to be giving me the green light (computer included) and I am playing catch up now.

Yesterday I spent all day writing. It felt great. I got about 3000 words typed and the words are still flowing as of this morning. I can't wait to finish the sequel to Finding Keith. I have some fun ideas for it.


After that I have plans for a bunch of stories, but I am not rushing it. I want to give you a great story, not just some rushed one. Therefore, I'm never going to be that author that pumps out books every month. My books will take longer but I promise I will put my heart and soul into each one. I will try to create a world that pulls you in.
That's my promise.
That's my writing style.
My characters mean everything to me. I want them to mean everything to you too. In that moment you are reading, I want you to feel you know them. I don't want to give you just a story. I want to give you friendships. I want to give you emotions.
So please bear with me as I write slowly.
And please excuse my lack of constant updates.
I don't want to post just to post nonsense. I  want to post when I have something important to say.

Thank you for understanding.
Thank you for being great.

Enjoy my favorite season to come!!

Summer is here...

Happy July 1st, everyone! I can't believe that we are starting the 7th month of 2014 already. It's crazy how fast time flies.
I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine, but being careful to apply the sunblock (Trust me on this one, I'm STILL peeling from a burn I got about 2 1/2 weeks ago)
Do any of you have some exciting plans for the fourth of July?
My weekend is so booked that I highly doubt I will do any writing at all.

And speaking of writing, in case you are wondering Losing Time is still going well. Up to Chapter 7 now. My YA romance I don't have a title for yet, is about the same place. And my YA paranormal is currently being reviewed by one of my readers for some serious critique. (Can't wait to finish that one- it's been a long time coming.)

Also, I wrote two new kid books last month. I am currently in the midst of going through the edits. Hoping to have them published by the end of the week, but since its a holiday weekend, might be the beginning of next. We will see.

Anyway, that's all for now.
My best friend in the world is down this week, and I just spent yesterday with her like we used to back in high school. I can't wait to catch up with her again before she heads back home.
I had a blast yesterday laughing and being crazy just like old times.
I sooooooo wish she lived near me still.

Well, that's all for now.
Xoxo,
Natalie

And she writes...

So it' s been one week more or less since I started writing again, and let's just say my life was swallowed right back up into my addiction. I missed the writing, but I am now starting to miss my sleep. My brain is on overload, I swear thoughts can't be put on paper fast enough, and even when I try to sleep at night, my mind is still going.
I picked up one story to work on, for fun, just to see if I could get back into the swing of things... the next day I picked up another story.... this weekend I just picked up another story...
Now I've got so many things open, i don't know which to concentrate on first....
I want to write them all, and I want to write them all at the same time.
Not possible, I know. I know.

My diet got messed up too, in the first few days. It was very easy to just write and forget about the important things I've been working on the last six months. So I quickly had to whip that back into shape, I can't go eating like crap all the time again. My health won't allow it.

I'm starting to think maybe there is a happy medium for me... it's either all in or not in at all. I can't do the easy, breezy, just write and see thing. Nope. My ADD, and OCD won't allow it.

So what does that mean? Not sure. Just that right now, my mind is buzzing with ideas and I'm just trying to figure out how to escape with success.


In the mean time, here is one of the WIPs I am working on:
(This is not a cover reveal)

Why I've been M.I.A, blog updates and summer specials.

***Got a moment, check out all the changes and updates I made to the blog today.***

 I know that I have been M.I.A lately. To all my readers who follow me, I apologize for kind of doing a disappearing act since the end of last year. It wasn't completely intentional, though a writing break was much needed. At first, I thought I just wanted a timeout for the holidays, but then my time off kept expanding.
I needed to have two medical procedures done in the past 6 months, and it was kind of an eye opener for me. I realized writing was good for my soul and my mind, but terrible for my health. Perhaps this doesn't happen to you, but when I am writing, I am so wrapped up in my fantasy world that I don't even remember to drink water half the time. And I would write hours upon hours, not exactly a good thing for someone with low blood sugar condition.
Anyway, so my obsessive focus that usually landed on writing, was quickly switched to my diet and my fitness.
I have been actively getting myself back into shape, and I'm confident that I'm on the right track now that I can trust myself to balance my health and my writing. And all my other time constraints. (Full time work, family, etc)

Another reason I haven't been posting, has to do with mental and emotional stress that sadly comes with being in the writing business also. Sometimes you can roll it off your shoulders, other times things make you sit back and rethink why you are doing what you do. I guess with my health under par and the holiday stress, I finally hit that point where I was tired of brushing things off and truly considering "quitting."
But there is a saying, "Once a writer, always a writer..."and no matter how many times I told myself to just "stop" I could never shut off the stories in my head. And that was enough to prove to me that I need to continue with my writing. For myself. And of course, for all of you readers out there. Those of you that read and love my books, your faith in me has reassured me that despite all the stress, writing is still worth it. And I can't just leave you hanging. Not when you love my characters just as much as I do.
Their stories need to be told.


And last, the other major reason I have hardly touched my computer besides a few days here and there is because the hubby and I are putting the house up for sale. And for anyone that has sold their house, they should completely understand my lack of free time.  Home renovations, packing, excessive cleaning... between my longer work hours at my full time job, and our new puppy (well he's 5 months now) and the joys of relocating, time is swallowed up quickly and my days have a "Ground hog day" effect now.

But FINALLY, my to do list isn't longer than I can handle, my mind set is almost completely back to "full stream ahead" and  I'm in better active shape then I've been in a long time.  So though, I may have disappointed some of you from being away (I am truly sorry for that) I will admit I am happy I took such a long break.
It helped me learn  a lot of things.
And it helped me remember why I wanted to write in the first place.
For the love of it.
That's all that truly matters.
I love it.

So what does that mean exactly? Will I be going on a publishing frenzy? Will you see all the sequels by the end of this year?
To answer, I don't know. I'm not pushing myself over my limits again. I'm keeping my writing "fun and enjoyable."
It could take me 30 days to write my next novel or a year. Or more. I won't know until I start writing.
Once I know, trust me, I will let you know.
Until then, I will keep up with my blog posts.  I will offer some giveaways. I will post some discounted rates on my previously published works.

This blog was about the journey of an author. About my journey. Some journeys are easy. Some are harder. But we don't know where the road ends up, just the direction it leads. I just know the journey doesn't stop here. I won't let it. But sometimes when your tired, you just need to stop and sit for awhile. That's what I did.
Consider it - I had to take  a detour.
It happens.
At least it does in my journey.
But I didn't quit, nor will I.

I can't wait to share more stories with you.

Thanks for following me and for your patience. You are all awesome!


xoxo,

Natalie

P.S.
As promised, summer special going on right now! Get my Finding Keith novel on Amazon Kindle for only $ .99 cents. Now through 6/15/14 only.


Don't pass up this good deal!Get it HERE

"Zombies. Hot guys. Romance. Nonstop Action. Friendship. And One Faithful Pit Bull."

Earth Day and Arbor Day

 In honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day this week, I am giving away a free copy of my children's book, "Greyson Breyer and the Ugly Tree."

I wrote this book last year in honor of these two special days. A percentage of proceeds earned on the sale of this specific book is donated to the Arbor Day Foundation.

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave me a comment on this blog, on my facebook page or tweet me on my twitter account. I will be choosing a name randomly at midnight on Friday.



Best of luck.

New Year, New Stuff...

 Hey Everyone! I've been M.I.A for a few months now. I'm sorry. A lot been going on in the home front and at my full -time job. It's hard to find time to finish all my to-do lists and unfortunately writing was put on the back burner for awhile but I think it's just about time I'm done with that. There hasn't really been any updates, no new books out, but my Emerson Academy Series is now available in print too! So if you have been waiting for it to be in paperback, now is your chance to pick up a copy for your shelves!

I will be back on shortly, this is a just a quick H-E-L-L-O during my lunch hour!!! I just wanted to let you all know I'm thankful for your support, I love your feedback on my stories, and I am glad people are falling in love with my characters just as much as I have.

There's a few things swirling around my head lately, and I need to take a moment to put it all down on paper. Once I do that, I will have more progress to report.

Heads up....

 Hey everyone! Just wanted you all to have  a heads up that my blog review tour for Full Moon on the Rise is coming up soon.

 I'll keep you posted the closer we are to the dates !!! In the meantime, if you haven't read The Shifted yet, I hope you check out a free sample on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Find out what type of trouble Kale and Scout find themselves in, and if Kale will be able to keep his brother safe. I mean after all, he did promise he would.

of course, that was before he knew any better.

Hey everyone! IT'S FINALLY AVAILABLE!!! The sequel to The Shifted has finally hit ereaders everywhere!!!

Hope you are all as excited as me!. Full Moon on the Rise is book #2 in the Emerson Academy series and it's actually my favorite so far!

(I'm still in love with the cover too !!)

Also, something else wonderful is going on today!! It's the start of my blurb tour with tasty book tours.

So if you get a chance, swing by these supportive blogs and check it out!!
Oct 21st- Words, Words, Words

Oct 22nd- Angelia Almos Blog

Oct 23rd- EMRAZ The Spark

Oct 24th- 3 Partners Shopping

Oct 25th- Crossroads Readers

(Stop 2) Diane's Book Blog

In the meantime, Happy Reading!!!  (That is if you get the chance to purchase a copy of Full Moon on the Rise)

xoxo,

Natalie

Cover Reveal

Here it is everyone! The cover for book 2 in my Emerson Fox series. (Full Moon on the Rise) I hope you love it as much as we do! Can't wait to release day! One month to go!!!

Book blurb coming soon! Leave me a comment! Let me know what you think! And if you haven't gotten your hands on a copy of book 1 (The Shifted) yet, you still got time to read it before Book 2 hits ebooks everywhere!

Little update

 Just a quick update. Spent the day working on the final tweaks of my upcoming cover for book 2 in my Emerson Fox Series. It's going to be a whirlwind these next few weeks, I am sure, but I can't wait to share the continuation of Kale's story. Full Moon On The Rise is due out sometime next month as long as everything goes as plan.
So excited.
And totally loving the cover. More on that later....


Night everyone.
xoxo
Natalie

And the winners are...

Congratulations to First Place winner Tiffany Drew.
You have won a 15 dollar gift card to Barnes & Noble and an owl necklace.


And congratulations to the Second Place winner, Kristan Price.
You have won an autographed copy of my kid book, Home Is Where Your Heart Is and an owl necklace.

Tiffany and Kristan I will be emailing you. I just ask if you could please be patient with me, my dog just had emergency surgery on both his knees and my other dog is sick and I am tending to them this weekend. I will try to email you sometime this weekend for your addresses and try to get your prize out to you this week.

As for everyone else, thank you for participating in my giveaway. I hope you stick around and keep updated with my blog. Never know when another giveaway might spring up... plus got a lot of stuff coming up this fall.


xoxo Everyone!
Summer is officially over! Happy Fall! My favorite time of year!