It's always a pleasure to introduce to you a new-to-me-and-my-blog author so without much further ado, here's Lynn....
Hi everyone!
First, I need to thank Pam for having me. It’s always wonderful to connect with friends and readers through a blog post.
Writing is my life but last year was a rough one considering my husband had cancer. It was a year full of angst, treatments and me doing classes to keep the writing alive. Frankly, I am amazed that I had even two things published but I’d always knew there’d be great years, good years and just barely there years.
See, I’ve been a writer a long time and most of the time I don’t need inspiration but this year, when I’m supposed to be writing daily, it’s been a hard time. Writer Jeff Goins has a really good book out called You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One) that I read a snippet of and it really touched me. In caring for my husband and substituting classes for writing, I lost the writing me somewhere along the way.
So, how does one find their writing self again? Well, for me, it was throwing myself into a project. The project happens to be the one I’m promoting here, Mystic Realms. Once January happened and my husband was declared cancer free, I threw myself into all the trappings of getting a release ready.
I was thankful I had the piece already written and gave it a quick once over. I had to add some words but my editor had looked at it a while ago, so I knew it would be easy. After adding going over the manuscript and adding what was needed, I zipped it off to her. Then I was off to look for a cover and not just any cover but something very specific as this was an Urban Fantasy and the first in the series.
Once the cover was found, I made sure that the artist could turn it into a series one and after about a week, the collaboration was done. The cover was submitted to great fanfare and I knew the writer in me was slowly coming back.
The parts were all submitted like the blurb, tagline and excerpt as we prepared for release day. I’d forgotten how the promo train grabs hold of one and steers your daily life until you know you’ve done all you can to get the word out. Promo is one of the things I think most authors detest but this time for me, it helped me get back into the groove.
Even the current class I’m taking, Folklore and Fairy Tales, got me back into the daily habit of writing with reading response papers and in class pieces every week. When I wasn’t reading the class work, I was writing something about it. The final project is a new fairy tale written by the students. I wondered for weeks about what I was going to write about and that too got me into the writing mode. Finally, I decided that I was going to re-imagine a Cinderella tale where an older Cinderella wanted to pass the shoe to someone just as worthy. What’s even better was I just found the perfect cover for it, so it will be released as a short story sometime this summer.
Happily, after a year of unexpected down time, I can honestly say that I am back on the road to be the best ever writer me.
Lynn
From vampires and demons to shifters and creatures that you’d never
suspect, this set will leave you breathless in the best possible ways.
So, don’t be afraid. Come, step inside our realm. Allow the mysticism
of romance in many shapes and forms fall over you like a veil of sweet,
soothing, spine tingling comfort.
We promise…you won’t be sorry.
Bound by vengeance, she is humanity’s one hope…
Blurb:
Aingeal Cochran is on a mission to save humanity from itself when suddenly she’s staring head-on at her forgotten past. Lukas Everhard must bring her up to speed regarding the real enemy before allowing himself to love her completely. In learning about her past and mission, Aingeal realizes the best is yet to be and she will do anything to protect those she loves. For Lukas, Aingeal is the mission
PURCHASE Links for Mystic
Realms:
Award-winning author Lynn Crain has done it all in her life. From nursing to geology, her life experiences have added to her detail-rich stories. She loves writing full time, weaving contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic, for various publishers. Her home is in the desert southwest, and she’s just returned from her latest adventure of living in Vienna, Austria while her husband worked his dream job.
She loves hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net
Where Lynn Is:
https://twitter.com/oddlynn3
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
14 comments:
Hi, Pam and Lynn! I've walked your shoes a few times, Lynn. I was especially vulnerable when Handsome was diagnosed with throat cancer twelve years ago. As a newbie, my writing was fragile. I took classes, did lots of word search no vowels, critiqued, read, and most importantly, set a start date for months down the road. That day, I piddled on my manuscript. But over time, the words increased. Congratulations to you!
I've also had and have health issues in my family. Writing and reading help to stabilize the negatives. Best wishes for the success of your novel!
I admire your meeting the challenge of a loved one in a health crisis. Perhaps that could be inspiration for yet another book.
Good luck in all you do!
So sorry about your husband, Lynn. Glad you're getting back on track. Your story in Mystic Realms is fantastic.
Lynn, as a writer who has gone through a family crisis and survived it you have my admiration and respect. I'm so sorry about your husband. You're a strong lady and its so inspiring to read about your experience and your progress back to doing something you love...writing. Great article. Once of the best I've read in some time. Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story.
Hi Vicki,
Yes, having a significant other with a health crisis is hard. And men are different. Mine was especially needy because, despite being a doctor's kid, he hated all things medical! The best part though was I always felt he would be fine because in some ways, he's always been healthier than me since he jogs daily plus more.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Jacqueline,
Yes, health issues are hard. Writing and reading are such a part of my life, I think I would be very negative without them.
Thanks for the good wishes and stopping by!
Hi Susan,
I am very methodical about health challenges and I think it's because I've been in the medical field when I was much younger. My husband was surprised about the daily lists I had to make sure everything got done. I do the same with my writing but he'd never noticed. But I was efficient and made sure the insurance, the doctors and him were always on the same page.
Thanks for the well wishes and for stopping by!
Hi Tina,
The husband is all better and considered cured right now. Thank goodness...LOL!
Glad you liked the story.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Unknown,
It makes me happy that I can inspire you. I've always known that anything worth having takes a lot of work. Life and writing are just two of those things!
Glad you liked the article and thanks for stopping by.
I too had a medical situation shock me about nine years ago, but it's the side effects that continue to frustrate me. I fell off my routine with writing, but with the support of my writing group I finally returned to critiquing their chapters and, now, to my own writing, even though I have to peck the keys due to torn nerves in my right hand.
Hi Carole,
Yes, side effects can be horrid. And it appears you're making progress, which is great. Have you thought of using something like Dragon Naturally Speaking? I know author's who swear by it!
Thanks for sharing your story and stopping by. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to share with me!
Such an inspirational story! Life has a way of throwing unexpected things in our way. We just need to figure out a way around them and push ourselves forward. I am so happy to hear your husband is doing better and you've continued to write!
Hi D. Anne,
Thanks...yes...life does have a way of throwing things at yes. I just keep trying to throw it back. LOL!
Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate it!
Post a Comment