Where’s the Coffee?

Hi everyone 🙂

Well, we are into the second month of 2023 and things are as usual, hectic in the Raven house. I’m on the second round of edits for my secret project and my new story is slowly starting to take shape. I’m also in the process of trying to become more organized, which I’m finding harder than I thought. It’s amazing how much stuff I have that I either don’t need or have no clue why I got it. Anyway, I am slowly decluttering and what can’t be recycled is just going into the trash.

While all this is going on my muse is feeding off my increased coffee intake and is bouncing around like crazy. Given how my secret project is going, I think the characters in that are also hyped on coffee. As long as the words keep flowing and they keep talking, I’m happy 🙂

Regarding the next part in the Hellbound Chronicles, it’s looking at the moment as if the first novel won’t be out until 2024, but I will keep you all up to date on that.

That’s all for now 😉

Raven

Advertisement

Starting at a Run

Hi everyone,

The start to 2023 has been interesting to say the least. I’m sticking to my schedule regarding my secret project and the first draft remains on course to be completed by the end of January. My characters, as usual, have decided that they don’t want to stick to the original plot and have gone off on their own tangent – and it works 🙂 Also a new story waved its hand and as much as I wanted to set it to one side and focus on the book I’m currently working on, the main character insisted I start on his. So I now have two books on the go.

Now, concerning the Hellbound Chronicles and what I alluded to in my previous blog post. They will continue with the old characters and some new. The novels will be the next chapter in the chronicles and will come under the heading of “The Hellbound Chronicles: The Next Generation.” I’m aiming to get the first book out either at the end of this year or the start of 2024. I will let you know more when I’ve made a decision, which will be based on the number of books I’m already aiming to get out this year. I’m not going to rush any of them, including this new one, and put out subpar novels. That wouldn’t be fair to either you the readers or the characters.

That’s all for now, so back into the writing cave I go 🙂

Raven.

New Year, New Start.

Hi everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed the New Year festivities. I’ve just about gotten over mine and I am now getting back to work. The fourth book in the Hellbound Chronicles – Realms and Retribution, is available across Amazon and should, fingers crossed, be hitting other retailers soon. There has been a change regarding what my plans were concerning where the story would go next. I had intended on doing books on the respective characters to bring their stories to completion. However, the muse, no doubt nudged by those characters, has pushed me in another direction. All I can say for the moment is that the Hellbound Chronicles are far from over 🙂

I am currently working on my secret project, which is in the research stage. I’m hoping to start work on the first draft next week and I’m aiming to get it completed no later than the end of January. One of my major issues last year was time management, so I’m determined to get a handle on that this year.

I am also working on getting my writing career on a more solid footing and getting to grips with areas where I can see I’ve been falling short. I will do my best to keep you all updated on how that is going and share with you my highs and lows as I move forward.

Well, that’s all for now. So back into the world of researching I go 🙂

Raven.

Come Yule, Come Christmas, Come New Year

Hi everyone 🙂

I hope that you are all doing well as we head into the festive season. This will be my last post of 2022, so it is basically going to be a round up of all that will be happening for the remainder of the year and a heads up regarding what is going to happen regarding one of my series. Firstly, my last release of the year which is the fourth book in the Hellbound Chronicles is on schedule to be released by the end of December. It was my intention that it would be the last one in the series, and in a way it is. However, the main characters still have stories to tell, so the fourth book will be the end of the first half of the series. The second half will consist of books which take up the main characters stories afterwards. I’ll provide more information in 2023, so watch out for that 🙂

My secret project is moving along nicely. The back story is in place, along with the main characters and the locations. I’m aiming to get started on the actual writing before the end of the year. I’ll provide more info next year regarding release dates, etc. I am also setting other plans in place which, fingers crossed, will move my writing career forward.

Before I sign off for 2022, I want to thank you all for your support and for taking the time to read my posts. I wish you all a Happy Yule, a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy, and wonderful 2023.

Raven.

A Touch of Clarity

Hi everyone,

Do you ever get those moments when out of the blue you gain clarity over a problem, situation, or issue? Well, that’s what happened to me today (Wednesday). Maybe it was lack of sleep or something else I’m not sure, but after getting some writing done I was sitting down with a coffee, when it happened. I’ll admit that over the past few days my motivation hasn’t been 100 percent and that I’d hit the “I’ve done some work, so I’ll take a break for an hour” mode. Of course, an hour turned into more than that and before I realized it the day was almost over.

Coffee cup clutched in my hands, I just sat looking out the window when I realized it was easy to make plans, set goals, but without the motivation to follow through with them that would be all they remained. So I took a long hard look at myself and asked a question I think on a subconscious level I had been avoiding; do I want to continue to write. That single question shook me, but it was one that I answered without a second thought. Yes. That answer had me looking at what I was doing that might be self-defeating, and one of the things I do is set undue pressure on myself, which is a motivation squasher. I admit I can at times be my own worst enemy, but knowing that and facing it means I can start to deal with it.

What does that mean going forward? It means I’m going to continue writing. It means I am going to continue pursuing my goals. I know what I want and I am going to do all I can to achieve them. It also means stopping myself from putting unnecessary pressure on my shoulders, for beating myself up if on one day all my targets aren’t reached. So, for me, daily goals are going to become weekly goals. And if after a certain period I want to shift back to daily and I can do so without increasing pressure on myself, then I will.

The decisions I’ve made have already had an impact. I’m eager to write, new long term goals have been set, along with more realistic timescales. Books are being worked on, among them the fourth in the Hellbound Chronicles series. There is also a secret project which as it unfolds I am loving. I will share more about them in future posts 🙂

The fire within this Raven is burning brightly again, and I couldn’t be more happier. So I’m off to get some words down and see what chaos my characters unleash 😀

Raven

Hello July

Greetings one and all 😀

Well, another month begins and we are halfway through the year. The first day of this lovely, bright month has gotten off to a good start. The latest round of edits has been completed, and my cover is eighty percent finished. I do have to say that June didn’t leave without teaching me a lesson. One I’m going to do my best to take on board. One thing I’m guilty of is placing unnecessary pressure on myself. I did manage to get a handle on it, but for some reason last month I started doing it again. I got it into my head that my work had to be done within a specific time frame, and if I didn’t start it at precisely the right time, my stress levels shot up.

Towards the end of June I realized that as long as the work I set myself to do was completed on the day, what did it matter what time I started? That small realization has helped me more than I can say. The words are flowing, my cover work isn’t being forced, and finally, after a month of asking my characters, I finally got the title to my next release. Hopefully, I won’t forget the lesson learned and continue to keep unnecessary pressure off myself.

That’s all for now, so make sure to take care of yourselves.

Raven

Organized Chaos? Maybe.

Hi everyone,

Apologies for my silence, things have been hectic within both my writing world and personal life. I was busy getting the second Blood Prince Novel – A Crown Betrayed out, and it’s now available across Amazon. During all that I was battling a virus (non-Covid thankfully), which sapped my energy and left me wanting to do nothing but sleep. That has cleared and at just the right time as I’m working on the first book in my secret project and I’m loving the characters. I’m hoping to get this book out end July/start of August, but I will make sure to keep you updated as work progresses.

Add into the mix I’m doing home study and making plans to take my writing career to the next level and I think it’s safe to say things are borderline organized chaos. And I love it 😀

Well, that’s all from my world for now. So until next time, stay safe and keep well.

Raven

Happy Halloween

Hi everyone 🙂

Yep, I know I’m a few days early with the greeting, but it’s my favorite time of the year and I’m in full Halloween mode. Decorations are up and my muse is inspired by this dark and spooky time. It’s also given me a boost of energy, something I need as I edge ever closer to releasing the last Vampires of Rose City Novel. The characters have been a part of my life for so long and I will be sad to bring their stories to an end, but I hope my readers will be happy with the way I’ve brought that world to a close.

I’m still working on my secret project. The foundation for the first novel connected to it is in place and I’m working on the plot outline which is starting to come together. I’ve also worked out what the last release of the year will be (more information to come on that later). Going back to the last Vampires of Rose City novel, the cover for it is scheduled to be revealed on Monday 8th November on my Facebook Page. If you want to keep up to date on what is going on in my writing world then you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and soon, TikTok.

Well, that’s all for now. Have a safe and happy Halloween 😀

Raven

Chaos and Heat

Hi everyone,

I think it’s safe to say that so far this week has been borderline chaos. Between trying to deal with the heat, humidity, and various characters demanding my attention, I am straddling the line between chaos and insanity – though I’m starting to get the impression that line is morphing into a skipping rope. One that is on fire.

Despite all that I have by some minor miracle or stroke of luck managed to get some work done and the second Kacie Rayne novel is well underway, with the first draft close to completion. Two other projects I’m working on are ticking along nicely and if things continue as they are going I might be able to release one at the end of the year. Regarding my latest release – Betrayed, that is now available across multiple platforms 🙂

Well, that’s all for now, so back I go to the fiery skipping rope.

Until next time, take care and stay safe.

Raven

Under Pressure

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the ear worm I might have sparked with my post title, but it’s appropriate given how this week is going. One thing I promised myself I wouldn’t do is put myself under pressure regarding my writing, and what have I done? Yes, you guessed it, I broke my promise. It’s so easy to slip back into bad habits without realizing your on that path, fortunately I managed to catch myself before I fell down the rabbit hole at the end. I know some pressure is okay, but when it gets to the point it turns into a weight pressing down on you, that’s when you have to step back and look at what’s going on.

I’ve realized that one of the main things for me is setting fixed release dates for my books, so that is something I’m pushing pause on for a while. My characters need their stories told in the best way I can do it, so lifting that weight off is going to help achieve that. Only when my characters and myself have reached a point in the story we are happy with will I announce a date – and not before.

Regarding my upcoming release, it looks on track for release on Kindle on the 19th, but if that should have to change then I will post it on my Facebook Page. The second Kacie Rayne novel is moving along nicely and I’m going over my release schedule for the rest of the year to see what other releases I have planned. I am working on something new, but that will not be seeing the light of day until early 2022.

Well, that’s all for now. So until next time, stay safe and well.

Raven.