Long time, no see right?

Ever since I started working for Unity World Headquarters about two years ago, I haven't been putting much effort into my artistic projects. Well, not marketing them anyway. I have been writing--although it has been slow going.

I'm still working on the novel I was talking about in 2021 on the Find Creative Expression podcast. Most of my previous novels have not taken me nearly as long, but I did completely rewrite the book. So it's almost like I wrote two books! 

I'm spending the rest of the year polishing it up, and then the plan is to start querying literary agents in January. I am an indie author, yes, but this is an adult contemporary novel that would just be shelved in the generic “fiction” section at the bookstore. So I want to pursue the traditional route with this book first. 

Hopefully, I will have more information about this one soon! It's about a Broadway performer who loses her balance due to spinocerebellar ataxia (a rare neurologic condition that I have) and has to move back in with her parents (who she hasn't spoken to in eight years) in Atlanta and find a new career. 

Don't worry, that's not the ACTUAL elevator pitch, but I just wanted to give y'all the update.

Anyway, I've been so deeply involved with my day job over the past two years, I haven't worked much on the artistic stuff. I absolutely love my job, and I'm so grateful to have a job helping to spread the message of Unity. I'm actually studying to become a Licensed Unity Teacher right now, and the classes I am taking for that have been so incredibly rewarding.

But I have missed all the artistic projects. I actually re-strung my guitar the other day and I've slowly been trying to get back into playing music (something I haven't done since my August 2020 acoustic show I livestreamed from my living room.) 

I also miss having an outlet to talk to other artists like with the Find Creative Expression podcast or even a place to talk about music, books, TV, and films I really love like on my YouTube Channel. So I may be starting the YouTube Channel back up soon. 

In such a divisive time where tensions seem to be so high, I really love talking about one thing we all have in common: the love of art/entertainment and creativity. I loved knowing that all the artists I used to talk to on my podcast had VASTLY different beliefs and opinions, but I connected with all of them regarding their creative process. It was such an inspirational and uplifting time for me! So I would love to make videos again talking about my own creative process, what albums or books I'm obsessing over, and maybe some tips for other creatives.

So I just wanted to give y'all the update and tell you about what's been going on with me. Feel free to check out my books, THE MUSE CHRONICLES, TIME AFTER TIME, and INTO THE SHADOWS. (My goal is to get back to the Shadow Vampires and put out book 2 sometime in 2025 by the way!) I also have a free writing craft book, THE 30-DAY WRITING CHALLENGE: BEGIN OR ENHANCE YOUR DAILY WRITING HABIT, and three books of poems, COILED AND SWALLOWED, DRIVING DOWNTOWN TO THE SHOW, and SLIP AWAY. 

And in case any of you are interested, here are some of my favorite articles I have written for Unity World Headquarters.

Thank you for staying up-to-date with what's going on with me! I hope to have some artistic news for you soon!

Surprise!

While I'm in the revision process with You and the Night (which is set to come out 4.30.19), I decided to release an e-book version of Into the Shadows.

As some of you will recall, Into the Shadows, is a young adult vampire novel that I wrote over the summer for the mobile platform, Radish. I have taken it down from Radish, polished it up a bit, and released the book on Amazon. It's also available on Kindle Unlimited.

I had so much fun writing this novel, and I hope you all will have fun reading it as well. 

The print version will be available in March.

Here's the description:

Is Chloe ready to travel into the shadows? 

Chloe Chastain thought the mysterious stranger from the internet was just another obsessed fan of her favorite vampire books, and she grew close to him, letting him see into her soul. When she discovered that he was the actual dangerous vampire, Theodore Dupont, from her favorite books, she vowed to forget him. 

After an encounter with her childhood bully goes horribly wrong, she knows Theodore is the only one she can turn to for help, and she travels to New Orleans to find him. As she learns all about the world of the vampires and her role in it, she tries to resist her connection with Theodore, but she's not even sure if she wants to anymore. 

When she finds out how much is at stake for not only Theodore and herself, but the entire New Orleans supernatural community, she's forced to make an impossible choice. 

Fans of The Vampire Diaries and Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles will love this Southern gothic young adult vampire romance.

The book is on sale for just $0.99 for the rest of the week! Then it will go up to $2.99. So take advantage of the sale!

You can download the book here.

Thank you so much for all of your support!