Prepare yourselves. For this will be long.
I’ve been MIA for a hot minute and there’s a lot to catch everyone up on.
So, how have you all been? Good! I’ve been busy, too. I’ve also been completely disenchanted and burnt out by social media. And the world in general. Haha. But not really, haha. But that’s not a discussion for this post.
Let’s get down to why you’re here: updates about little ol’ me!
RELAUNCH
As most of you know, I have a YA dystopian series out there in the world, and it’s a bit old. I love it, though. It’s my first published series. I think it is still relevant and has so much life in it. And the first time around, I just kind of tossed it into the world and did no marketing. Had no social media. Nothing. It did pretty well, but I know it could do SO MUCH better if I launched it the right way. So that’s what I decided to do!
I went and did all the things. I got a new cover design for the series from Mandi over at Stone Ridge Books (and you guys, they’re incredible!). I sent the first in the series out to beta readers to get feedback (if you want to be a future beta reader, email me or DM me on Insta!). I’m working on audiobook versions. I’m going to be advertising. I have a newsletter sign up (drop our email in there if you don’t already get it!). I took Hearth Breathings Publish & Thrive course (that is also amazing!). I feel so much more prepared this time around. The rerelease date is set for September 30, 2023, and I am all in this time around.
REBRANDING
I have also been looking into rebranding. But Rach, you just did a rebranding a couple of years ago! I know, and it was beautiful. But it wasn’t the “author me”. So, I dinked around with colors and fonts that I both liked and also went with the vibe of the books I write. And I found it. I’m working on my website and the look of my IG page. I’m also figuring out exactly what I want to present to you all online.
I was struggling so much with trying to do EVERYTHING online and be EVERYWHERE that I just ended up hating it. And I’ll be honest, sometimes I look at my IG account and say out loud, “Remind me what the point of all of this is?” Because when you don’t have a plan, when you try to give everything to everyone else, you end up burning out, not caring, and then just kind of letting everything fall away.
Because of that mindset that developed, I lost contact with A LOT of the people I consider friends online. I’m going to rectify that because these people truly do matter to me. They are important, but I needed to step away from everything to really find out: what I wanted to share online, what I wanted my account to focus on, how often I wanted to post. And while I don’t have it all figured out, I’m a lot clearer on what my boundaries are and I think it will be more fun and sustainable.
WRITING
I have started a new book that will be the first in a duology (I think, we’ll find out). It’s a NA Viking-inspired dark fantasy and I’m in love with it. I’m part of an amazing critique group with amazing people and my writing and story are already reaping the rewards of my mini community. I’m hoping to get the book finished this year, but with the relaunch of my current series, I’m not sure that will happen, but I’m okay with it.
I’ve also been working with Sydney, Skye, and Megs on The Writer Community. We love you guys so much and love the community!
PERSONAL
This has been such a busy area and has been put to the forefront of my life, as it should. My kiddos are getting to such important ages that I want to be there with them and create memories with them and show them that they are at the top of my priority list. While we haven’t done any camping this summer, we’ve made lots of memories at the pool, hiking and outdoors trips with friends and family. We are planning vacations in early fall. School is going to be here before we know it. My little guy is literally all over the place (boys are SO DIFFERENT from girls, literally right out of the womb!). This is such a golden time of my life, and nothing will get in the way of it.
WHAT TO EXPECT
So, what do all these updates mean? I will be online and interacting more than I have been, but not as much as I used to. Confused? Me too!
I have a goal of posting a few times a week about organic topics. I’m going to be making a shift to more of an author / personal account. I may still have writing stuff from time to time, but it’s not going to be as forced as I was making it before.
I love being easy going and funny. It’s who I am in real life and that wasn’t showing up for you guys. So I’m promising that it will, going forward.
I’m going to share the funny (and also not funny) side of my mom life
funny memes that keep me going through the day
I’ll be making more of the humorous reels I enjoy about the relationship we have with our MC’s as authors
I’ll give more glimpses of the behind the scenes of writing (especially as a full-time working mom of three)
We will all experience the change together and it’s going to be glorious!
If you’d like to stay in touch and get (about) once a month emails, sign up for my newsletter! I’m still working on what that looks like, but I know for sure you’ll get book updates and perks for being on that uber exclusive list!
Okay, I think this is good for now. I’ve missed you guys and am excited to see what’s around the corner! Happy reading.
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