Celebrating Ten Years As A Published Author

 I guess I should clarify. I've been a published author for over twelve years, but I have been an Indie author for ten. Boy, what a ride. Ups and downs. Frustrations and joys. So much time and energy goes into writing a book. For a while, I couldn't get off the computer. I had so many stories itching to get down on paper. The honest truth was I didn't have a clue what I was doing when I decided to write. I just knew I wanted to do it.

Being an Indie author hasn't been easy, especially because I'm not a business woman. What I am is someone who followed her dream. But what being an Indie author has done is allowed me to do what I love. I love creating a story from beginning to end. I write mainly romance, but if you read my books, you will know that I stay true to my story. I write from my heart.

I was first published by Wild Child Publishing back in 2008. I thought it would be fun to go back and look back at previous covers I had. I hope you see the progression of the books and the way I have of not letting go of a story.

I still love this cover. When I got my rights back, I couldn't use because it was Wild Child's property. A good cover artist is essential when you're an Indie. Thankfully, I found a great cover artist, who now is the only one I use: Erin Dameron-Hill. 

Patriot Secrets was the beginning of my series that is now Winds of Betrayal. WOB as it now stands as two books. I combined The Cry For Freedom and Embrace of the Enemy. 

The complete series is now on sale for $0.99— Winds of Betrayal Four Book Collection. 

Over the years, Winds of Betrayal has seen many cosmetic changes including titles. Did you know that The Darkness of Deception was once called Ruse of Love and Kiss of Deceit? I kept changing my mind about the title on that book.

The old face of Winds of Betrayal.

Now interesting enough, Winds of Betrayal, no matter the title, wasn't my first book. Wild Child Publishing took Dream Walker before Patriot Secrets.

You won't be able to find Dream Walker as it was. I took a great deal of the storyline and rewrote it under my other penname, Colleen Connally, Scream For the Camera.

But...it still wasn't the first. I did tell you that when I first started I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I had always wanted to write, but I graduated with a degree in Medical Technologist. Back in 2002, I put together a book about my dad. The story is a great one, but my writing was terrible. What I intended to do was to have a record for my kids to have of their grandfather. 

I'm going to back up a moment and explain. Dad was a high school basketball coach—a really good one. He set records back in the '60s that haven't been broke today. Yet, I think his biggest accomplishment wasn't his record, but how he helped developed boys to men. I believe its so important in a kid's life to have a mentor. I think I kinda took it for granted that my children would find someone like him when they played sports. The reality—they never did. Then came the realization that Dad was one of a kind.

My first attempt was lacking. When I was talking to one of his boys a couple of weeks ago, he said it was just a good old country girl's attempt. I think he was right. But just like my dad taught me, I didn't give up on my dream to write. 

I was not blessed with a natural ability to put my story down into words. It took years of working at my craft... of writing and rewriting. I had a ton of rejections, but one rejection turned my writing around...and it had to do with Winds of Betrayal. The publisher told me that I had a good story. It was the first compliment I had gotten on my writing. Strange what a kind word can do to one's soul.

After that, I kept editing my books. I'm not one to let go of a storyline, but I will take it down and rewrite the entire manuscript.

Then four years ago, I was injuried at my job as a Med Tech. My hand was crushed. I had three surgeries in less than a year and was left with what doctors call, Complex Regional Pain. It basically means, I'm in pain all the time. I can't use my hand the way I used to either. No more piano for me. But I believe everyone has their own path in this world, but it has just slowed my writing down. 

I really haven't had an orginal book to come out in a long...long time. Last year, I had two books come out, but both were rewrites. Scream for the Camera and Vision of Destiny (fantasy series I'm rewriting). I haven't released a book at all this year.

That will change.

I have two books in the works: one that is completely out of my genre. The Measure of a Man is a coming of age story, a fictional account of the story of my dad. This book isn't just about Dad but the community I grew up in and the boys that played for Dad. It's about belief and the power belief has. I don't have the release date, but it will be before Christmas. I haven't done the cover reveal...but I do have the cover and a video I did. I'll share the video with you. If you enjoy an inspirational story, I believe this will be a must read. I do have a Facebook page set up for it. 

The other book, The Waking Bell, is also a totally different project for me. My friend gave me her storyline and some great characters to finish. It is an honor for me. I'm hoping to have it out early next year.

Ten years and over twenty books later.

I hope I have ten more years. Thank you all for reading my books.

Tides of Charleston series published by Whiskey Creek Press is now Winds of Change where once more I pushed two books (The Judas Kiss and The Promise) together to make The Governor's Daughter. The Bastard Son was Another Night Falls.