Looking back, while moving forward.

2013 and I have a love hate relationship.

It had it's moment's of absolute greatness and the lowest of suck.  You know what though, that's life.

The highest point in 2013, as most of you can probably guess, is that I self-published my first book Sapphire Universe.  I wrote this book on a whim.  I've always loved writing lyrics and sayings, and I kept a journal my whole life, but I never knew I could write a whole book.  I've always been a bit of a daydreamer, and loved creating stories in my head, so it should have been a given, but sometimes the best things in life sneak up on you.  My heart was in my stomach when I finally decided to self-publish SU, and I never expected to sell more than a few copies. I could have had only ten people read it and I would have been tickled pink.  Really, who would buy a book from some no name author in Wyoming.  I mean, most people don't even know where Wyoming is on the map, and if they do, they think that we all ride around on horses and our streets are made of dirt.  There aren't computers or internet there!!

...No seriously, I was actually asked all those things once. 

Every High has it's low.

The low to that high is that I learned how naiive I was about the literary world.  I went about it all the wrong way, because I really didn't know any better.  I researched my little fingers off, but in the end, I guess it's all a matter of experience.  I didn't have the budget to pay a cover artist or an editor, but I thought, meh...how hard can it be to edit your own work and make a decent cover.  Well...let's just say that from now on I'll let the professionals handle it.  I know that there are some amazingly talented authors out there who can whip out a bestselling cover and edit their own work to literary perfection with no sweat at all-I'm not one of them.  I mean...I just want to write.

Yea, I was a Noobie...I made Noobie oopsies, but I have no regrets.

I will say this much, despite the mistakes I made in the beginning, I was genuine about my writing and my goals.  I wrote a story that came to me authentically, I fell in love with my characters and I wanted to share their story with others.  I had no grand notions of becoming a best-selling author with my first book.  I didn't expect to sell 15k copies every week, but I also didn't care either way.  At some point, after all three books in the Universe Series are finished, I'll make Sapphire Universe free forever.

My only goal was to have at least one person connect with my characters.  I wanted to bring out someone's emotions.  If I could just capture the heart of one person, and teach them a few small lessons on life and love, then I would be happy.  I like to think I reached that goal.

I've grown a lot as an author and a person in the last year.  I had the immense pleasure to meet and befriend some truly incredible people who have changed my life in so many ways. 

Where there is heartbreak, there is love.  Where there is strife, there is strength.

On the other side of that coin, I've experienced a lot of heartbreak and some very large bumps in the road.  My family has been through the ringer this year.  It's no secret that I'm extremely close to my family.  My sister and I married twins, we live two blocks apart, and my parent's house is just one more street away.  Between legal issues, health problems, divorce, and deployments overseas each and every person in my life has been tried and tested at every turn.  Their pain is my pain, and we've definitely had our share.  Maybe it was just our turn since we've always been so blessed.  Either way, it's happened, and I'm happy to say that we're on our way back up.  I think 2014 is going to bring a lot of good things to my clan of people :)

Due to all the challenges I faced this last year, writing was forced to the backseat.  I still managed-barely-to write and publish two books, but I didn't get to experience it the way I wanted.  I didn't have time to put 100% of my focus on writing, marketing, and connecting with my readers like I wanted to.  Writing is very personal to me, so it's important to that I have the time and freedom to give it the love and attention it needs.  That's all going to change in 2014.

What's coming in 2014, and my long term goals.

I'm currently writing Hard of Heart, a love story about a young war veteran with "PTSD."  This story is my favorite so far, and very near and dear to my heart.  I know that it's risky considering that the market right now is alpha male millionaires and tatted up rockers, but it's a story that needs to be told.  Despite all of that, I still think that people will love this book.  I'm nervous and excited and challenged-and that's the rush that every author strives towards, so in a way, I'm already successful.

I still work my full time job with the State of Wyoming, but I don't see that changing any time soon.  My goal is that within ten years or after I've published a good 15-20 books, I will be able to quit my job and write full time.  I got a little girl with a giant's appetite to feed, so I can't do the poor writer's gig.  :P

Conclusion.

I'm one lucky SOB.  Well...actually I guess it's DOB, but people usually acquaint that with Date Of Birth, not Daughter of a B**ch...and my mom's not a B word...never mind, you get my point.  I'm doing what I love to do, and it's something that I never in my wildest dreams would have thought possible.  I have an amazing family who loves and supports me even when their world is collapsing around them.  I have the most amazing readers who continue to buy my books even though they are a bit off the radar and don't fit into the popular mold.  This is the most wonderful feeling.  I'm a bit of a rebel, and even though I love to read the books that are currently taking the literary world by storm, I like to write a bit against the grain.  SU and DU weren't exactly revelations or anything, but I got to share a few of my deep seated ideals and perspectives on people, life and love.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Keep reading, writing, loving, and living.  That's my motto for 2014.

I'm out!

Devon H.

Music is just one of my muses.

Most of you know about my current project, Hard of Heart.  If you don't and would like to know more about Kaleb Hunter and his upcoming story about war, love, acceptance, and coming home, feel free to click on the FAQ tab to read all aobut it. 

I get asked a lot about my writing process.  First, I spend quite a bit of time, talking to myself about my characters.  Their favorite colors, their childhood stories, quirks, preferences, ect.  Then I plan out my story to make sure everything fits together and I have a clear idea of the messages I want to get across. Next is research.  Lots and lots of it.  I want things to be accurate and as realistic as possible.  Fiction always has some level of unbelievable in them, because they are fictional.  We have to squeeze in as much juice as we can in just so many pages so it doesn't come off as superfluous.  I know that some of you wish all of your favorite books were 500 pages...but I can guarentee that you woldn't love them as much if they anything but exactly what they are. 

Lastly... I go music hunting.  I find songs old and new that have the same general tone as what I want the reader to experience.  I compile them into a playlist and put that sucker on repeat.  I add as I go, but for the most part I put a few hours worth of music together before I even start writing.

Music is a big part of my life.  I ALWAYS listen to the lyrics and everytime I hear a new song I love, I get inspired.  Sometimes it gives me a new character, or a break up scene, or a childhood event, or a love scene to put into one of my books, but I always get something out of a great song. 

Everyone who's been following my process for Hard of Heart knows how important this story is to me.  Therefore, so was the playlist.  I think it's so great that I want to share it with you right now, before I'm even halfway through writing Kaleb and Alexa's story. 

Go forth and listen.  Enjoy the feels, dance to the rythm of the journey of love.  Teehee  ♥

Spotify:
Hard of Heart

I don't have a big ego, but...

So I made this dramatic post the other day about writing Hard of Heart and how I had to delete everything and start over.

Well today is a new day and I feel fantastic.

Because I've rocked out over 3,000 words and it is pretty amazeballs if I do say so myself.  I'm loving it, and that's saying something.

Sometimes writing is the poopy...but sometimes I feel like a superhero.

This is how I feel right now.

Like a damn boss!

 

 

Yea...I made that prologue my bitch.

Writing...and erasing...and rewriting. Sometimes, my computer turns into a chalk board.

Most authors know how much of a process writing a good book is.

I'm sure most readers realize this as well, but definately not always.  I will admit that writing Sapphire Universe and Dark Universe was a process, and not easy by any means.  SU was my first book, and I had no idea what I was doing.  It took three covers and several- SEVERAL edits before I realized...wow...I'm a shitty cover artist and I can't edit my own work to save my life.  During DU my life was full...FILLED TO THE MAX with family and personal and work related drama.  I didn't think I was going to get done on time, honestly.

Hard of Heart, is proving to be even more difficult.  Not only have I spent countless hours researching for this book, but I'm forcing myself into a place with my writing that I haven't visited before.  SU and DU both touched on emotional and tough issues, but they were riddled with humor and both of my main characters were emotionally strong and had a lot of support to make it through.  So there wasn't a whole lot of fuss or muss. 

I finally got the point where I could sit down and write Hard of Heart, and I made it through the entire prologue.  Now this prologue is sort of lengthy because it's the telling of Alexa and Kaleb's childhood.  This is something that is important in the book, because it gives you the whys and hows and whos.  How did Kaleb and Alexa meet and become close?  Why did Kaleb join the military?  Why did Alexa fall in love with him?  Who were they and how did they end up here?

I was LOVING IT.  The words were flowing, the characters were developing and I gave myself a nice little pat on the back.  Then I sat down to read it...and...something wasn't right.  It didn't have the right tone, the narration was all wrong, the stories didn't mesh with my theme...it just didn't work. 

Wanna know what I did?

Yup...you guessed it.  I deleted everything.  Clean slate.  I reoutlined, I changed up the narration, I started completely over from scratch. 

Did it suck?  Hell yes, but it had to be done.  The thing is, I know my plot and the theme and the storyline like the back of my hand.  I have my hidden lessons and messages and ideas all outlined and ready to change some perceptions, but the process is a bit sticky.  I don't want to fall into what's comfortable and write another Universe novel.  I want this book to be different and stand on it's own. 

So...Here I go, rewriting and all that jazz.  Keep sending me those encouraging messages my friends... I'm going to need them. 

Release Day!!! Let's chat!

Oh boy.  Today is the release day for my second novel.  I feel such a multitude of overwhelming emotions right now.  Fear.  Excitement.  Gratitude.  Love.  Pride.  I can't tell you how crazy this experience has been, in the most wonderful way.

When I first wrote Sapphire Universe, I was a total dufis in the writing world.

That's right, I said dufis.

See, I knew absolutely NO ONE!   I thought I did my research, I thought I was all set to go, but as it turns out...I knew nothing.  My cover was paranormal looking, I edited my book myself (something I will NEVER do again) and I had no clue how to market.

You see I didn't really consider myself an author at first.  I was just a small town girl who wrote a book because she loved it.  I work full time, I'm a mom, and a military wife, so I had little to no time to dedicate to writing and marketing and networking...so...I was a little lost.

When I made it past 20 reviews I seriously flipped out.  Really.  20.  That's how newbie I was.  I was happy that ANYONE read my book and liked it.  AAAANNNND then some more experienced readers read my book, and some of them loved it...others...not so much.

I was okay with that.  I was content.  No biggy, I'm not really an author right?  Well, then I met a few other newbie authors.  Wow, you guys.  These people are amazing.  They supported me, read my books, gave me some much needed advice, and became life long friends. 

THEN...I started thinking...Maybe...What if I really am an author?  Could I really be like Colleen Hoover, or Jessica Park, or Jamie McGuire, or Jennifer Armentrout?  Could I really one day have readers and followers who pine for my next books?  Could I really make a difference in someone's life with my words? 

Well, I'm a stubborn broad...and I love a challenge.  So guess what guys...

I'm totally going for it.

Dark Universe is out now, and boy was that a roller coaser write.  I moved houses, got sick, my sister barely missed having cancer by the skin of her teeth, my husband had surgery, my family had some drama, and I honestly didn't know if I was going to finish it.  But I did.  And I love this story. 

I hope you do too.

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU, to all of my readers, bloggers, and author buddies who have stuck by me and supported me.  I seriously love you all with everything I have.

Now...Back to writing my heart out.

Release Day Tomorrow....

I might be sick.  I hope my fingernails grow back soon...

 

AHHHHH!!!! The nerves!

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!!!! Oh shouty captials!! :)