A Long Way Home - The Graveyard and a Sign

 "Oh Andrew. Please help me. I have no clue what I am doing. Jace told me that you wanted him to take care of me. Did you?" She paused as if waiting for an answer. "Ugh! It's not like you are going to answer me. But did you have to leave me? I know you were sick, but why couldn't you stay with me? For a little while longer. It's selfish, I know. But I needed you." She gestured down to her belly. "We needed you."

"As you can see I am having a baby. Your baby." She whispered. "And I have struggled since your death to adjust to life. Then this happened. I have had no one to share it with. Yes I say no one. You want me to be with Jace. I know. He told me, but he wants something from me that I do not feel like I can give. And yet, I am so emotional and..." She gulped and closed her eyes. "Jealous of the girl he is with. That he went to because I refused him I think."

"Oh god." She slammed her hands on the grass in a soundless smack. "Why? Why is this happening? I pushed him away because on the surface I cannot see him as anything other than your best friend. Inside...I want him. I loved him as your friend. How can I honestly sit here and say that I love him as more than that now without seeming like I did when you were alive?"

Tears had begun falling out of frustration and sorrow. She sat on her knees with her hand on the grass staring off through the stones. Names of loved ones etched into stone...their legacy...leaving their families to sort things out. She briefly wondered how they made it. "I know you knew I loved you. With every fiber of my being. So you can see why it is difficult to push that aside and move on. He is here though. Well...he was. Now, he is in Montana. Without me. Without us." She sobbed. "He left me like you did. I am alone."

"I am alone."

A leaf fell and landed in her lap. She sucked in a breath, wiped her face, and picked up the leaf. Looking up she examined the tree. The cycle of rebirth. Renewal. Maybe she should take a page out of the tree's book. "Why can't I be with him? You are gone aren't you? You are in my heart and no matter what happens you will be with me. In my heart. In my mind. And in this child. Our child." She placed a hand on her stomach and a strong kick startled her. Chuckling, she wiped her tears. "I guess your child agrees with that."

"But this was our home. Can I walk away from that? From this ranch to another?" It might be easier to start a new life with Jace in a place where we can make our own memories. "If he wants to be with me still."

The baby began to move in earnest as the wind kicked up more leaves. A fat raindrop hit her hand. "I guess this is my sign. Renewal." As she stood slowly, the burden she previously felt was dissipating. The walk back to the car was slow going. She was locking up a little from sitting so long on her knees. Most of the thoughts were now lost in the wind. She had no clue what she was going to do now, but at least she had some peace. Slipping into the car, she shivered and turned the engine over and headed home.

A Long Way Home - Just a ride

It was a lazy afternoon with work completed. When he came inside, Andrew suggested a ride to soak in the autumn colors. Agreeing to the proposition, a quiet kiss was placed on her lips as he turned and walked out. His stride was sure. He had saddled up the horses as she gathered some snacks. The sight of him, seemingly healthy, checking the horses took her breath away. With all her heart, she had wished she could stand on the porch viewing that sight for all of eternity. Maggie came bounding toward her, letting out an excited bark. Andrew's attention shifted back toward her with a brilliant smile on his face.

 "Ready?" He asked as she walked toward him.

 "Yes my love." She slipped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Whenever you are. Where are we headed?"

 "Nowhere! Just riding. I hope that is okay." He shifted toward her horse.

 "Perfect."

 They climbed into the saddles and began their journey. Slowly climbing the trail, the heartache and worry disappeared behind them. It was just them and the world. Colors of burgundy, mustard, gold, and brown brightened each step. The quietness of the climb didn't take away from the closeness she had felt to him.

 A little over an hour they summited with a breathtaking view looking out over the valley. Slipping from the saddle, they settled on a rock with an apple as a snack. "This was a good idea." She spoke softly. "I love riding with you."

 "It is the same for me darling." He took a bite and looked at her. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."

 "Oh?" She waited patiently.

 "When I die, I want you to move on. Find someone to marry and have a real life."

 His words brought her gaze to his. "I can't do that Andrew. There is only you in my heart."

 "What we have is wonderful Melanie, but this is not a real life. I am half a man. Maybe not even that."

 "You are not just half a man. You are more than most men will ever be. Don't say that." Frustrated with him, she stood up and paced away.

 He remained where he was sitting. "Melanie...you have meant the world to me. I wouldn't change having this life even with the sickness. But to ask me not to want more for you darling, that is not alright."

 She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. The brilliant colors were lost. The peaceful mood she obtained on the ride disappeared. "But I do not want more. I just want you."

 "I know you want children. And you deserve them."

 She turned and looked at him in exasperation. "We can have children. Adoption is an option. Or we could find a surrogate to carry a child."

 "Oh Melanie. I am too sick to have a child. I would be no help."

 "Don't say that. You are not too sick. We can have the life we wanted and planned for."

 "Melanie...we can't. I am going to die soon." The words hung in the air. Words that remained unspoken until this moment. They seemed as if they were choking the air. He couldn't take them back.

 Her voice was but a whisper. "You are not going to die soon. You can't leave me."

 He stood up then and pulled her close. Slowly his finger pushed her face up so he could look into her eyes. "Yes my love, I am. We cannot pretend any more. I want you to prepare for it."

 "I don't want to prepare for it. I want you to be with me forever." She knew that she sounded like a child, but she cannot help it.

 "I will be with you forever." He placed his hand on her heart. "In your heart. In your memories. I will always remain. You would only need to think of me to have me."

 "Oh Andrew." The tears began streaming down her face. "I cannot live without you. I don't want to."

 His arms pulled her tight against him. "I know my darling. I know. But above anything, I want you to be happy. I need to know that without a shadow of a doubt that you will be happy. With or without me."

 "Please Andrew. Let's not talk about this." She pleaded.

 "Tell me Melanie. Make that promise to me. Make the promise to find happiness for yourself...and for me after I am gone." His lips brushed her wet cheek. "Promise Melanie." He whispered.

 "I promise Andrew. I promise." The words were barely spoken. But the words were enough.

A Long Way Home - A Letter from Andrew

My Lovely Melanie~

You and I both knew that this day was coming. The day I would be leaving your arms forever. Please my love, do not despair. I will be with you again one day. Until that day, I will be looking down on you, watching the rest of your life unfold before my eyes. The time I have spent with you has been the light of my life. You were always someone I could come to when my heart was heavy and I needed an ear to release. I want to thank you for that. The strength you have shown through our life together, all the ups and the downs, has made me realize the love I have for you and the sincerity of your heart. 

Having to deal with cancer at such a young stage of our marriage has been hard on you. Thank you for staying beside me and enduring twice the amount I have had to. But there are issues I still worry over, before I can go. My love, please find it in your heart to move on. To be happy. To share the love you have with someone worthy. The thought of you doing that will carry me through the next phase of my life. I need you to be happy!

I would like you to know that I have entrusted Jace with your safe keeping. He has always loved you. Sometimes I feel he has loved you more than I did. In the times I have been to weak to show you, he has been there to wipe your tears and give you the strength I have always longed to give you. In life, we are each given battles to conquer. Mine has been cancer and leaving you in the trusty hands of Jace. Your battle will be moving past this and finding the love you have for him.

I hope one day you will realize it and know that my life might have been to bring you together. That's what I know right now. The purpose of my life was to bring you into his. To show you the love he has. To share with you the precious years we had as a family. There is nothing I would change. Not even dealing with the cancer. It has given me the strength to show you the truth. It has given me the strength to say goodbye to you. 

I love you Melanie. Remember that for the rest of your life. Keep me in your heart. Allow me to be the strength that pushes you to find love.

I love you always,

Andrew

A Long Way Home - A Letter from Jace

Melanie,

                In the time I have known you, I have seen the loyalty and faith you have as a person. When I accused you of not being loyal to Andrew, it came from anger and jealousy. The feelings I have are not feelings I should be having for my best friend’s wife. Try as I might, I cannot stop those feelings. Nor can I follow through with the promise I made to Andrew. You are one hell of a woman. I know that you can do whatever you want without help.

                You are, as always, a gem in this world. Your child will be lucky to have you as a mom. I wish you all the love in the world.

Wishing the best for you,

Jace

Sharing a Little...From A Long Way Home

I think any author can tell you stripping a novel through editing removes many scenes and other aspects. This is such a heart and gut wrenching process. When I was editing and revising A Long Way Home, I had scenes that killed me to remove. I would sit here and ask the simple question "Does this add or take away from the story?" And rightfully so, I struggled to answer.

In the spirit of NANOWRIMO, I am providing a look at some of the scenes and letters removed from A Long Way Home. Please look forward to them during November! Feel free to ask questions or share with me something you had to edit...or a scene in a book where you questioned the author's inclusion!

NANOWRIMO - My plans and a sneak peak - Strangers

Every year around October, I begin seeing posts and memes about NANOWRIMO. In years past, I didn't really participate in that process despite being a writer. I like the idea of completing a manuscript in the month of November, but I just can't get into it. Maybe it is the daunting task of completing a WHOLE novel in that time, or the thought of pushing so many other things aside to accomplish the goal. This year...I am trying something different.

It requires not completing a whole novel.

It requires no commitment to writing every single day.

It requires no pushing aside fun, autumn-y events and plans.

It is a simple, no frills approach.

I will be trying to write or edit ONE erotic short every two days in the month of November. That will be a total of 15 erotic shorts and potentially 2 erotic collections.

Simple, right?

I currently have a stack of erotic short stories to rewrite and edit sitting in the queue. If I finish those, my plans are simple. I write another one. These stories are short enough to write in a day, and edit in another day.

What are your plans?

In other news....

In my last post, I provided a quick little tease for my next project: a collection of erotic shorts. To continue the theme of sneak peaks, I am providing a look at the cover for my next erotic short. Are you ready to see it?

And the reveal...

I cannot wait to share the story with you!

Happy Reading (or writing)!

Available Now: Just a Taste - Erotic Short Story

It has sure been a while since I posted, but I wanted to share my newest creation: Just a Taste. It is a simple erotic short story available under the pen name Elly Abrams on Amazon. As of right now, it will only be available on Amazon. 

Currently, I am working on editing around 9 more erotic short stories that will make it into an erotic collection.

But, without further ado...here's the cover reveal. 

You can purchase this story HERE.

Happy Reading!

A Long Way Home - New Release

Hello everyone! I am proud to share with you the release of my newest romance novel under the pen - Cristie Noll. The book is the first in the series of Coming Home titled A Long Way Home. This book is the first novel I wrote. It started while I was in college. Although it is being published second, A Long Way Home will always be my first novel.


Will they......
                    or won't they?

Melanie Collins didn’t know what she would do once her husband died, but falling for his best friend wasn’t it. When she receives a surprise, she struggles to overcome the fear, anger, and isolation Andrew’s death brought for her.

Jace Williams knew two certainties: his love for his best friend’s wife and the knowledge that she would never love him like he loved her. Facing a life without her, he learns to make hard choices that ultimately take him away from his promise to his best friend and the woman he loves.

This book is available in e-book format and 5x8 print format. You can find the links here:

E-book

5x8 Print

In the coming weeks, I will be releasing some new additions to my releases - deleted scenes and character profiles. I am so happy to share this with you. 

Sanguine - A Poetry Collection

In the last month, I realized that I wanted to combine my three books of poetry (Expressions of the Soul, Deep Connections, and Stolen Moments) into one collection. It seemed like a great project, but it was time consuming. I spent days making sure the format was correct for a print edition. I decided to name it Sanguine. Why you might ask?

Well, the first definition that people associate the word sanguine is blood red. I found this definition pretty fitting giving that some of the poems are about family (blood) and some are emotionally draining.

What you may not realize is that the first, true definition of sanguine is optimistic or happy. That definition fits in my mind the most, because it showcases a frame of mind that, as a tortured artist, I sometimes struggle with. The underlining aspect of many of my poems is optimism or a search for happiness. Hope. That distinct human trait of hoping for a better life or something better to come along.

There are no new poems in this book. It is just a complete collection as of May, 2016. Unlike my previous books, Sanguine will be the only poetry collection (so far) that will remain as a print edition. It is 6x9 with 208 pages. Here's a look at the cover:

Officially, it is released and is available through Amazon and Createspace. 

Look for the following book titles. Coming soon!

In These Mountains - Poetry/Short Story

A Long Way Home - Modern Romance

Into the Alaskan Wild - Paranormal Romance

A Season of Beginnings - Modern Christmas Romance

Sunset through the Willows - Modern Romance

Lost: The Ballad of Dovie Sutton - Fiction

The Moonshine Kid - Fiction

Local, local, local

Living in a tourist area, the main thing that people forget is local is important. Local authors. Local artisans. Local painters. Local businesses. Supporting our community begins from the inside out. Recently, I expanded my distribution by taking my published books to a local bookstore. Slowly, but surely my goal is to have my books in multiple stores locally.

In the last few years, my branching out has allowed my little tree to put down further roots. And I am proud to say that I am doing so to help a great cause. Art is the foundation of any society. If you look at history in all ancient societies, you will see an appreciation of art and literature as a way to bridge gaps. Old. Young. Poor. Rich. It didn't matter. Art can be appreciated by anyone. That is why it is important to bolster that connection no matter where you are.

Downtown Newport Artscapes is a relatively new community with an old concept. Teaching the community and showcasing the works of local artists. I came to know it from a friend on Facebook who has been working tirelessly day and night to get this off running. It is my pleasure today to share that I have joined as an artist and soon as a contributor with this amazing group.

We have that history, in Cocke County, to connect us to the ancient ways. Of capturing the fog that rolls over our hills. Of connecting to each other. To exploring the paths of our history that are sorted and seedy, but understanding that without that aspect we wouldn't have the ability to share. I am looking forward to being a part of it all.

You can visit their links below. If you are an artist in Cocke County, please join us in bolstering art and the artist community in Newport and all over Cocke County.

http://www.dnatn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DowntownNewportArtscapes/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DowntownNewportArtscapesTN/

Into the Meadow - A New Low Price

All this glorious spring weather has made me want to share Into the Meadow at it's lowest cost ever. You can now get Into the Meadow on Kindle for $3.99!

On a Shelf

Hello readers! I am sharing some exciting news. Recently, I have been talking to and looking into local book stores and gift shops that carry local authors. As of April 20th, my published books are available at a store locally. You can visit their website below. If you are in the area, please stop in. It is jam packed with books and has a full locals section.

Our Place

I am looking forward to having any future books available at this store and hopefully others soon. 

A-to-Z Challenge: Thankful

Thankful. What a word! I sometimes find it hard to be thankful for the abundance I have in my life. So I am going to take a moment and list what I am thankful for this year.

• I am thankful for my support system. Without them, I would be very lonely.
• I am thankful to have been selected to appear in Not Taking a Fence. I applied on a whim.
• I am thankful for being able to write all the poems in Deep Connection.
• And continue to be thankful for the opportunity to publish it.
• I am thankful for my home, and the abundance of material possessions I have.
• I am thankful for each and every day I wake and see the beauty of the natural world.

I could go on and on when thinking about the things I am thankful for. It is difficult to see these things on the dark days, but today isn't one of those days. What are you thankful for?

A-to-Z Challenge: Support

What does support have to do with writing?

Well, it has everything to do with writing. One of the most unfortunate parts of writing is how much of a "lone" career it is. Authors spend hours alone with their own thoughts. We write alone. Even as we view the world, we are alone in our thoughts, cataloging things for a future story.

Recently, I was at a party. I was sitting at a table with my partner who was talking to someone else. A guest came up and mentioned how we sat a table set off in the back. "A good advantage point," I replied. The individual walked away, but it left me with a distinct recognition of what I had done by choosing the table. I set myself up to watch the room and the people. I set myself out of the middle of the room or front of the room, where inevitably I would have been engaged in more conversations. Instead, I put myself at the back and near a corner so I could be the observant person I am.

What I also did is make it more difficult for people to engage me, thus providing myself with less support in a situation when I should have been engaging others.

Which leads me to prompt you, as a reader or a writer, to find a good support system. Mine includes my siblings, a few close friends, and my partner. These individuals push me to have meaningful conversation and to engage instead of just observe. Sometimes, having conversations also sparks good writing material!

A-to-Z Challenge: Recognition

One of the most important aspects of building a brand is gaining recognition for your work. This is also an aspect of writing that most new authors want right away. Originally, I felt that writing a good book would make "recognition" happen overnight. That book would be a success. At the end of the day, that didn't happen. I didn't gain instant recognition. I haven't hit the tip of the iceberg so to speak.

What I do is attempt to engage those who comment, like, and share my work. I try to share the authors I recognize and who I feel deserve that word of mouth. I do this all with the hope that, someday, someone else will do the same for me. That's all any author can do.

If you have an author you enjoy reading, share that so they may receive some recognition for their work.

Stolen Moments - Free Kindle Download

I am offering Stolen Moments as a free Kindle book starting April 20th through April 24th. Please get your copy. I ask that you provide a review, but it is not necessary. As an Indie author, reviews help greatly. I would appreciate any I receive.

Share with your friends. 

A-to-Z Challenge: Quality

Quality is supposed to be a subjective subject. Everyone has their own standards on what they feel writing should be and the rules that govern. I am no different. As an Indie author, I purposefully spend lots of time going over my manuscripts for errors in grammar, punctuation, and many other issues before I prepare for publication. And there is a reason for that. I want my work to be the best quality it could possibly be.

As a reader, I have, all to often, come across a book that is poorly written. I am not ashamed to say that there have been books I refused to continue with and thrown away. Not donated. THROWN AWAY! They were horribly written. And unfortunately, the book came from a traditional publishing agency. I am not sure if the standards are slipping for traditional publishing. Yet, I find more and more the inadequacies of proper grammar and thoughtless writing.

That is probably why I strive to maintain a certain quality in my work. It creates a better experience for the reader. And one that hopefully doesn't push someone to throw my work away.

If you are new to writing and seeking a platform through Indie publishing, here are a few tips.

1. Run your manuscript through a checker. Grammarly has a free program that points to obvious issues. You can also pay to check more in-depth issues. I used this program in college, and continue to use it with my writing.

2. Read. Read. Read. Over and over. Do not read your manuscript once. Reading it multiple times points out different areas that contain issues.

3. Find an alpha/beta reader group. Other people catch what we cannot.

4. Let the manuscript sit. Wait a few days and view it with new eyes.

A-to-Z Challenge: Piece of Mind

Piece of mind.

How can someone sum this up? As a writer, I tend to be on the quiet side. I listen to conversations. I view the body language and the facial features. I view the world searching for truth and details that most may miss. And most people would misjudge my quietness for concentration. Sometimes listening is my way of realigning my own piece of mind. I seek so that I may find comfort. I search so I may find the truth.

What happens after I find those things is a clear focus on what I want to accomplish. Finishing a chapter. Finishing a book. Writing out an outline for my next story. Beyond that, I find the focus to be happy. I find a center that connects me to the ground below my feet and places me in my rightful place in the universe. It is a freeing feeling.

A-to-Z Challenge: Onwards

Onwards - the act of moving forward despite being denied. Every author will have something to tell you about this subject. Rejection is a part of the process. Within the last three months, I have been denied and rejected around fifteen times from literary magazines, agents, and publishing agencies. It is 100% part of the process. You cannot get around this. What makes you an author is your perseverance to continue onwards despite those obstacles.

Here are some tips to dealing with rejection:

1. Learn to appreciate criticism.

It helps if you can objectively view what someone else has to say about your work. Not only will it provide a second, third, or fourth point of view, but it will allow you to explore your writing with more depth.

2. Form a writing criticism group.

Yep. Form a group that allows you to criticize someone else's work. It will help you be more comfortable with hearing rejection from strangers. I remember doing this in college and finding rejection much easier.

3. Realize your voice isn't going to be liked by everyone.

Someone will hate your work. Someone will love your work. Art, beauty, and how we view it is subjective. You can and will find someone who loves it.


If you find yourself upset about rejection, take the time to relax. You do not have to jump back into the saddle and write a whole novel where the villain is the person who rejected you. It may help you rid yourself of the emotions, but will it help you move on and accept the criticism for what it is? Well, that is for you to decide.

A-to-Z Challenge: Nourishment

Nourishment to most simply means food. In the world of literature, I would like to say that nourishment is a sense of fulfillment. For a writer, nourishment comes in the form of the immersion of one's self in the expanse of written word. It is a different experience for each individual. Some authors can gain that fulfillment from completing a story. Others find satisfaction in being published. Like so much in the world of writing, fulfillment, satisfaction, and nourishment are all subjective to the individual.

My fulfillment comes at various stages of my process. I find satisfaction from outlining a story, finishing a book, editing/revising a book, preparing it for publication. Each step of the process provides me with some form of nourishment.

My ultimate nourishment....is receiving praise from those who have read my work. I write because I feel I have to. There is something deep inside me that wants to share and tell stories. Perhaps it is my Native American ancestry...an inherent need to paint a picture for someone else orally or printed. Hearing that someone enjoyed my work spurs me to continue.

Whether you are new to writing or a seasoned vet, continue to find and explore the things that provide nourishment. When we seek nourishment, we are more likely to continue to find satisfaction with our work.

A-to-Z Challenge: Motivation

There are plenty of tips on how to stay motivated online. It seems like every author has their own way of staying motivated. I wish I could say that I am one of those authors who doesn't struggle with sticking to a schedule, but I am SO not that author. I, like many others, have competing things that take up time in my life and take me away from my writing. Most of the time, I feel like this is okay. I am fine with allowing experiences to seep into my life as they fuel my writing.

My best writing happens in the quiet hours at my house. With three adults, it is difficult to find that. But when I do, I try to focus on accomplishing my goals.

Here are my tips on staying motivated:

1. Find a time that works for you. Be it morning, evening, afternoon, or middle of the night writing, make sure you find that sweet time that has the quiet you need.

2. Take a walk beforehand. There was a recent study that showed walking increased creative thoughts.

3. Set yourself up for success. If you need an outline, make it. If you need to allow the words to flow, do so. Do not push yourself to do something that won't work for you. It just creates issues.

4. Be alright with life intervening sometimes. It happens. Do not beat yourself up. Writing will happen tomorrow.

A-to-Z Challenge: Life

I once read (and overheard many times) a statement that surprised and overwhelmed me. The statement is "You cannot possible have anything to say until you are at least 30 because you haven't lived." What I found surprising about this statement is that life is subjective and how we experience life is individual. What one person experiences in terms of emotion will not translate well for someone else. This overwhelmed me with anger and many other emotions.

Who can say that you have not lived until you are 30?

I say no one! Life is an individual set of actions and emotions. With that said, living is necessary to write. How can you write about romance if you haven't had romances? How can you write about poverty if you have not experienced poverty? You can get very close to the core, but to write the core...I feel you must experience it. That is what makes our individual voices so unique. Each author...each person has the ability to write by exploring their own emotions and memories.

It leads into "Write what you know." I say "Write what you experience in life." That way, you can share the life you have with those who seek to be a part of it.

A-to-Z Challenge: Knowledge

The most important thing to the advancement of society is knowledge...and fire of course. As an author, I have less use for fire and need knowledge on a daily basis. When I began this challenge, I found it difficult to find a word for each letter that had a positive spin. I didn't want to just randomly post words that began with "insert letter here." I specifically needed this to be a positive influence. I guess the best way to explain is that I wanted this challenge to reveal the positive things I do and look for each day as a writer.

Knowledge is positive. As humans, we seek knowledge. We seek truth. We seek something that allows us to advance or to feel safe. As a writer, we seek knowledge to be truthful. I am sure, as a reader, you have come across a nugget of information that wasn't truthful. In most writing, untruthful and inaccurate writing is frowned upon. It loses readers. It discredits you as an author. And as an Indie author, you need to keep readers!

Here are three tips to help you:

1. Research. Research. Research. And not on Wiki. Remember, every fact has another story. Nothing is ever as it seems.

2. Be wary of online research. It is pretty easy to create a website, slap some facts/events on it, and call it truthful.

3. Cite any material. If you use research in your writing, have a citation will help when you need to go back and reference the material, reread, or for general copyright purposes.


Knowledge is important, but sometimes it is necessary to use your brain to find truth.

A-to-Z Challenge: Joy

Joy. What a word! It is one of the most subjective emotions we have. Everyone finds joy in different things. For me, joy is sharing with others. Whether that is my food. My writing. My crochet. My life. My plants. When someone enjoys something I have to offer, it incites joy within the very depths of me. I radiate. I smile. I find happiness.

One of the challenges in writing is escaping the mundane tasks - especially as an Indie author. You write. You edit. You revise. You edit. You format. You advertise. The list goes on and on.

But you must find joy.

I have read the histories of artists like Van Gogh who were so tortured from life. They create AMAZING works, but suffered so much in the process. I can relate, but I find that seeking joy in the things I do helps create a better mentality and better work. That should be our ultimate goal as humans - finding joy and happiness in all we do.

A-to-Z Challenge: Inspire or Inspiration

Inspire is such an amazing word. The first definition is to fill with an urge. The second is to breathe in. The second definition is the one with the most impact. To breathe as human is to live. To breathe in writing is to have culture and to grow as a society. I absolutely love literature. That emotion is why I chose to get a degree in English. And it is why I continue to write, explore, and seek stories and poetry.

In my role as Indie author, I find that inspiration comes in many forms. It could be nature. It could be an event. It could be a person. More often than not, inspiration is simply a word or set of words. Each and every day, writing takes up a huge chunk of my thoughts. I read. I write. I connect with other authors on social media.

I breathe words. I breathe life into stories. I breathe emotion. 

When you analyze the word inspire as breathing in, authors inspire each and every day by doing what they love to do. Stepping outside of that, take the time to foster and inspire the younger generation to love literature and to "breathe" life through words.

A-to-Z Challenge: Helpful

Community is pretty important in any group. With authors, it is extremely important to connect with others who can expand your horizon and share ideas. This is very intimidating when you first start out. I remember feeling lost and alone, wondering who I could talk to about plot or character issues. I wondered if I would find a group of people to fit in with and who I would share my passion with.

I was lucky. I found Sharon Strawhand Garner, a mystery writer. She was in one of my college classes and we clicked. In fact, we seemed like two peas in a pod. The connection provided a place to talk about writing, life, and so much more.

I am sharing because being helpful comes with the territory of any guild. Our passion is writing. Our greatest strength is helping those who have questions, need help, and bolstering community. I have seen some horrible treatment of others in the two years I have been a published writer. I make it a point to try to reach out and to help when others have questions. What I am hoping is that others join in.

Be helpful. Be part of the community. Reach a hand out and create the strong link we need as Indie authors.

A-to-Z Challenge: Guide or Guiding

Guidance is a word I would connect to the human condition. And something I need on a weekly occurrence. Whether it is something small or something large, guidance is something we all seek at some point in our lives. Writing, for me, is such a personal act. I imbue something of myself in everything that I write, but it is not always something that I can infinitely do. I have sought out advice. I have sought out information. I have sought out knowledge. And I have sought out guidance for people I view as better than me.

I believe we all do it. Writers that is. We seek opinions, advice, and guidance for peers, fans, and our friends and family. We do so because we are human. We do so for support. It is something that we can feel self-conscious about. And we shouldn't wary on the topic. To seek guidance is to be human.

A-to-Z Challenge: Focus

Focus is a great word. The ultimate meaning of focus is the center of interest or activity. Focus is something we all lack in this world of technology and speed. I struggle with finding the right balance for my life and my writing goals. Each day I try to do something that bolsters my chosen career as a writer. This can be writing. This can be working on updating my website. Submitting my work for contests or literary magazines. Any activity that advances your aspirations is something to focus on.

So to help you with focus, here are five tips:

1. Reduce distraction. Turn off phones or the internet. Shut yourself away from those who may distract you. By doing this, you ultimately focus on what you need to do more.

2. Write every day. It will help you focus on getting something done each and every day.

3. Do not be hard on yourself if you lose focus. It happens.

4. Take breaks! Yes...take breaks. Allow your writing to mingle within your brain. Sometimes we are in such a rush to push out material that we cannot focus on building the right connections in the scene or between our characters.

5. Take a walk. I am sure you have already read many articles that show the scientific evidence of how walking affects writing. For me, it has those affects and brings much inspiration to my writing. I love using the area I live as a setting. It is so beautiful.


Like any tips or advice, know that writing doesn't have a set standard of right and wrong. You do what feels right for you. If you can write with a television in the background, two kids screaming about who's turn it is on the Playstation, or for 16 hours straight, do so. And more power to you. Me, I cannot even fathom doing that. 

A-to-Z Challenge: Encourage

The act of encouraging is one of the kindest gifts you can give someone. Encouragement helps bolster our confidences and helps guide us on the path we make for ourselves. In the writing world, encouragement comes in many forms outside of the spoken word. I cannot help it sometimes, but I overhear conversations and see situations that interest me. Those events/words get the gears going in my mind and act like encouragement to write scenes and conversations. It goes back to finding the world around us as an open book. 

I do have to say, personally, I feel at my happiest when someone I know and love encourages me to continue down the path I started on long ago. So whether you are a reader, a writer, a friend of a writer, or a fan, please take the time to encourage and bolster. It pushes writers on when they may be struggling under the weight of the umpteenth revise and edit. 

A-to-Z Challenge: Direction

Direction! What a word. I cannot count the number of times I have been given the tip to create direction for any piece of writing I dream up. For academic writing, I use outlines to push the piece in the right direction. Until recently and sometimes never, I didn't do this with my books.

Here's what I do:

Poetry books - Beyond the theme of the book, I do not focus on an outline or direction. Yes, a theme could be considered a form of direction; however, I do not even let that dictate the emotion of my poetry. 

Fiction - I write out the summary of what I am going for as well as the ending I want. Then, I let the story tell it's self.

Romance - Recently, I followed the path of what I do with fiction; however, I have been creating out a general outline of the story to ensure I get the scenes I wanted. Perhaps it was that one novel, but it still counts right?

Erotica - This one is pretty much fly by the seat of my pants.

Short stories - I create a summary and a VERY simple outline.

You need to find what works for you. If you do better planning out your whole novel, what your characters say, what scene goes where, then do so! There is no right and wrong way to write. That is the beauty of it.

A-to-Z Challenge: Creativity

Now this...is something I eat, breathe, and sleep. Creativity is an important part of life in general, but also writing. There are very few types of writing that doesn't include some form of creativity. Why I included this word in my A-to-Z challenge is because it is the foundation of all my writing. I do use some places and events from my real life; however, the majority of what I do has only a basis in my mind.

Take Into the Meadow. In this book, I used a community found in Gatlinburg as the setting in name only. Roaring Fork is a scenic drive and small community. I loved the name, so I used it as the town that Sophia and Cade collide in. The bare bones of this book show creativity. Hello...Werewolves! They do not exist in this world. Yes, they exist in our wildest nightmares. In television and movies. Or in books. That means that some form of creativity has to be employed to create the world, culture, and lives of these individuals. Because they are so popular, it is easy to take bits and pieces to weave my own story; however, the transitioning between man and beast was something I had to create on my own.

World building is another form of creativity. It is especially employed in SyFy and Fantasy novels. Terry Pratchett is an HUGE example of this. Disc World is so unique and filled with so much detail. Personally, I am in utter amazement at how much work went into creating a world that sucks you in like Pratchett did.

A-to-Z Challenge: Balanced

Balanced is a great word. Unfortunately, it is something we all have to learn to do at some point in our life. As an author, this is extremely important since learning to balance life with writing ensures that you have a level of commitment to your writing. Take a regular 9-5 job. You have a set amount of hours that you work inside a place and dedicated to that job. There may be distractions, but ultimately you get the job done.

With writing, you may not have a dedicated space. You may not have a boss breathing down your neck. What you do have is the necessity to carve out the path you want in regards to your writing career. Which is why you must find the right balance for writing goals, how you accomplish them, and the rest of life.

Personally, I struggle in this area. I cannot seem to find a dedicated time to sit down and focus only on my writing. There is always a distraction; however, I do work on my writing several times a week. My personal life doesn't allow me to have a 6-8 hour time period to solely work on my art. Not to say I wouldn't absolutely enjoy it, but at this point in my life I cannot do that. What I can do averages to around 1-2 hours a day working on all things writing.

This could include social media updates (only my writing), updating my website, working on a manuscript, jotting down ideas, poetry, cover art, formatting a manuscript for publication, marketing, etc... There is so much that goes into publication, but balance is key. Find what works for you!

Available for Pre-order - Deep Connections on Kindle

Hello all. I wanted to share that Deep Connections is now available for pre-order on the Kindle. The book is due to release on April 11, 2016. You can visit HERE for purchase. This is my first time offering a book for pre-order.

National Poetry Month - Deep Connections Release Date

April is the official National Poetry Month. Typically, I do not keep up with these types of things; however, I found it extremely fitting. A great way to celebrate National Poetry Month is by publishing a new book of poetry. In the early morning hours, I began working on the final touches to Deep Connections.  The book contains 27 new poems. 

Here's the summary:

Deep Connections is the third installment of poetry from Sarah McHatton. Featuring 27 poems, the book showcases poems on many topics from memories to nature. These poems encompass the connections to the world, memories, and life as she knows it. McHatton has included a new visual poem called Broken Tether where she has explored with word placement to create shapes on the page. In every aspect of her writing, McHatton tries to connect to the Appalachian roots instilled in her from birth. Deep Connections provides the opportunity for the reader to connect to those roots and to weather the storms.

Here's the front cover:

The book will be made available in 5x8 print format and on the Kindle as an e-book. At this time, there are no plans to make this into a Large Print edition; however, this may change in the future.

The release date for Deep Connections is:

April 11, 2016

Backup Release Date: April 18, 2016

A-to-Z Challenge: Accomplishments

Accomplishment is the first thing I want to discuss in my A-to-Z challenge. For some, it doesn't take much to feel accomplished. Those people are probably generally happy-go-lucky people without seeing many problems in their life. Some require a lot to feel accomplished.

For me and my writing, it took a long time for me to feel accomplished. I remember first being married, alone, and without much in California. My husband was in the Navy at the time, so we were on a strict budget. One night, I remember asking if we could get a computer so that I could write. See, I grew up in Appalachia.

There are two distinct lives in my childhood. The first was with my father, who was from New Jersey. Although I was born in Appalachia, a few years of my childhood were spent living in Nashville, TN. My father was a teacher of Economics and Government. During that time, we had our first computer which was an Atari. I don't remember much about it beyond Donkey Kong. Even beyond that, we lived outside of Appalachia in the Valley. It is an entirely different life.

The second distinct life was with my mother inside the mountains of the Appalachia's. No computer. No phone until I was around fifteen. No cable. Even to this day, high speed internet and cable are not wired to where my mother lives. The life is simpler. Computers and technology are not as instilled in life. Summers were spent on the front porch or running around the yard.

Both of these distinct lives are melded within me. I appreciate the simplicity of life, but I spend more time on technology by choice and a sense of necessity. So when I timidly asked my husband if we could get a computer, I knew that life, for me, would change. Until that time, I spent most of my day cleaning, cooking, and watching television. It wasn't productive. We bought a computer, and all my plans went out the window.

I couldn't get my words out. I had all these plans. I wanted to write my novels. I had these stories inside me that wanted out, but I couldn't seem to get the thoughts into words. For years, I would start a piece and then throw it away. No matter what I did, I couldn't feel accomplished. That was 2003.

Flash forward to this moment in time. 2016. I am a published writer. I am a college graduate with a BA in English. In those early days, I would have never thought that any aspect of writing (including the beginning phases) could be seen as an accomplishment. Even the thoughts in my mind. Those small fragments could turn into a story that could be shared with someone, someday. Perhaps it took publishing my first book to feel accomplished. As an author (a year and four months later), I feel accomplished with far less than publishing a book.

April Challenge - Author Blogging A to Z

The month of April seems to be a renewing of life. For me as an author, I like to look at April and Spring as a time to refresh my ideas as well as pushing myself to look outside the box I put myself in. So, when I kept coming across the A to Z April Challenge, I thought I might like the idea of writing the alphabet. I have adapted it for my own desires. If you would like to join me, please link this blog post in the initial posting. I will update the list below. If no one joins, then you get to read me ramble on in the month of April through anything I have on my mind from A to Z.

Not Taking a Fence

I found out about this project from a Facebook page for writers. The deadline was coming up quickly, and I struggled with whether I would submit. In the days after I read the project, I went through my unpublished poetry and decided I would submit 6. These poems are called Snow Capped Mount, The Markers, Spring's Desire, Love without Condition, Appalachian Song, and Autumn in the Smokies. Each of these poems focus on love, nature, and the vein that runs deep within me. The vein that is pure Appalachian. I love these mountains, and I enjoy sharing that love in my writing.

Each day, I viewed my email with hope that I would receive a confirmation of being included. I wouldn't receive money. I would only receive a place among other Appalachian authors in a type of homage. One day...I got in my email addressed from the man I submitted my work to. Many thoughts ran through my mind.

What if he didn't like my work?

What if he rejected me?

What if I wrote poorly?

Is my voice wrong for his project?

More and more doubts surfaced. Isn't that the writer's way? And yet, I opened the email. I got the news I was waiting for.

I am very pleased to announce that I have been included in an anthology edited by Danny Kuhn. The anthology is called Not Taking a Fence. The book contains 137 page of verse, stories, and memories from the heart of Appalachia. 30 Appalachian authors have contributed.

It has been difficult to keep the information to myself. In every moment, I find myself proud and happy with the inclusion. Please help me support people like Danny Kuhn who reach out and help authors (new and experienced).

You can purchase the book from these places:

Createspace

Amazon

Amazon Kindle Countdown Deals!

Spring has arrived and the longer days make me happy. I get to enjoy nature without freezing. I get to grow fruits and veggies in my small garden. I get to enjoy the sun on my face or the coolness under the canopy. Above all that, I get more experience in our community. Perhaps that is the most important part of spring. We feel more able to move about freely and interact with people around us. As a writer, I absorb it all!

In celebration of Spring, I am offering two of my books on Kindle Countdown for a discount. From March 31st through April 7th, you can get Expressions of  the Soul (2015) for $1.99 and Into the Meadows (2015) for $3.99. This discount is for my e-book editions only. Please visit the following pages to obtain the deal:

Expressions of the Soul

Into the Meadow

I am so pleased to offer this for you! Please take advantage of the deal. You can then curl up in your favorite lawn chair and enjoy some poetry or a novel about Werewolves under the warm sun.

Happy World Poetry Day! From an Appalachian Writer

From a very early age, I struggled with reading poetry. As an adult, I can tell you that reading between the lines has never been my strong suit. I prefer plainly stated over overly embellished. Yet, as a poet I enjoy the same processes. I like to plainly state what I want viewed. It is something I strive for. In a fast moving world, easy to understand by many seems like the best option. Even in the complexity of poetry, I become excited when I come across a poet that has a plain speech aspect to their work.

On this World Poetry day, I am sharing with you a poem from a writer called Spiritwind Wood. You can find his poems here. Within my veins flows a mix of Cherokee, Scotch-Irish, English, and Jewish blood. As I grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains, I have come face-to-face with a history and culture I didn't live. You see, I have white skin. Despite my Cherokee blood, my skin is so fair. Yet, there is a calling inside me. In my exploration of my heritage, I reached out. I explored new authors and poets within the Native American community. I viewed history from the eyes of my ancestors. What I found saddened me and caused such sorrow. It made me sick to my stomach.

And yet...when you read the words of poems such as Cherokee by Spiritwind Wood, you get a sense of hope. A perseverance that cannot be shaken. Words that, beneath all heartache and sorrow, exist in every human being. The desire to uplift and continue to walk the path - no matter what is put in our way. Spiritwind Wood's words are uplifting especially from the views of my ancestors.

On this day, I ask you to share and explore poetry from around the world. From cultures you do not know. From cultures you may struggle to understand. It is those moments, when we reach outside of ourselves, that we begin to shape the future for our children and our children's children. Let writers and poets like Spiritwind Wood show us the world from a different perspective and gain the respect to love each other for not what is on the outside, but everything we are on the inside. Kind. Proud. Generous. Human.

Think Outside the Writer's Space

If you are a writer, you have likely read all types of tips on setting up a space to write. It has to be quiet. It has to be set aside. You should build it up to be this great space that cultivates your writing. Yet, I can assure you that if you have the determination to write, you can write anywhere. Imagine you are in a crowded square. Perhaps you are sitting on a bench. In your lap is a book that has you enthralled. You are lost to the world around you. You focus on the world inside that book. The characters are talking to you. The setting fills in the space around you. All you see, feel, and hear is that book.

Well, that can happen with writing. You can become so focused on the story that the world around you falls away, leaving you with your computer/notebook, your thoughts, your emotions, and the story. What that leaves you with is the ability to write wherever and whenever you are able!

The reason I wrote this post is to show you that writing outside can be an uplifting, inspiring choice of setting for your writing. There have been many times that sitting outside to enjoy nature's bounty provided a wonderful view point for my poetry. It can even help with writing your setting. Think of it as a way to connect to your setting.

In my poetry, I find that nature is a great companion. Stolen Moments has some poems that capture the beauty and bounty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Why? Because I live here and I go out to enjoy what nature has to offer.

So take with you the fact that a writer's space can exist anywhere and at anytime. It doesn't have to be in a designed, well-organized space. Finding the space to write shouldn't be the difficult part.

Happy Writing!

A Hint of Spring

Maybe it is the change from cold air to warmer air. Maybe it is the disappearance of snow, or the daffodils flowering across the hill. For me, life seems to open up into that renewal at an ever increasing pace. During the lengthening days, I have walked around outside and enjoyed the changing world. As I take in the scenery, I wonder who has walked the path before me. I wonder what type of life they had, who they loved, what their ultimate sadness was.

Living in Appalachia, it is not hard to imagine what type of life they carved out for themselves. Just down the road, an ancient looking stone house juts from an untouched landscape. A little further is two small stone barns with wooden beams still attached. The roofs have fallen, but the stone has stood the test of time. I look at them and can almost see the life and the people who once stood, played, loved, and laughed there.

As a writer, I love those types of moments. The moment where a snippet of the past fills my mind. As a child of Appalachia, I am immediately proud and then saddened at the scene. Proud because my ancestors helped shape the community I still live in. Proud because they withstood so much and bore so much heartache and toil to create a better future for the futures of their families. Sad because it must have been hard. Sad because life isn't better for some. There is still toil and sadness. There is still strife. Poverty still exists. Despite that, those in my community still hold onto old ways of life with such pride that they continue to pass it on to the young.

With the world waking up, these snippets of times gone by will slowly disappear under ivy and other creeping vines. Leaves will unfurl and cover the stone buildings one by one until all you see is nature. The whispers will be silenced by nature herself waiting until autumn to appear again.

Perhaps that is why I love and loath spring. I lose connection to the past and become forced to greet a new season.

Snowed In

Hello readers! If you are like me, you are stuck in winter's icy grips and hoping for a hint of spring. In the past few weeks I have been experiencing being snowed in, icy roads, freezing temperatures, and lots and lots of snow. While you may think the snow provides the opportunity to be snuggled under the blanket and writing, it hardly happens that way. Everyone gets cranky. Everyone has to go outside and play in the snow. Cabin fever sets in, and all you want to do is go out and do something - anything...even pay bills.

What the winter has provided me so far is some fodder for poetry. These poems have been added to the Deep Connections folder for future use. I wish I could share some, but that ruins the surprise.

What I can share is some beautiful photos of snow in my front yard. It was cold. It was wet, fluffy snow. And it made me wish we got another few feet so we could enjoy some snow cream!