Hey there, gay pals (and guy pals too!)
So, I haven't blogged with you in a very long time. In fact, I haven't written anything in a very long time. The truth is, I've been depressed. Life... the world... everything can play a hand in depression, and many things played a hand in mine.
I don't want to get too personal about it. Everyone gets depressed from time to time. It happens. We shouldn't wallow in it like I did, but it happens.
No, we should face it, and we should tackle it head on, which is what I'm doing now. Over the last several weeks, I decided to tackle my depression by making myself focus on the things that make me happy in life. Writing is one of those things. I thought about how I had so much planned to write and publish, but all I'd accomplished were entries into anthologies with other authors who had bigger names to help sell the books. I mean absolutely no disrespect to Miriam Newman or Jae El Foster, or Adesanya or Kristi Ahlers... they are all wonderful people and tremendous authors who have earned the respect they get for their hard work.
They all also have solo books out, which was something I didn't have. 'Runaway Heiress' was to be my solo debut as a writer for romantic comedies. I was so close to finish it when my laptop went belly up, and I had not saved a backup on a drive or online. I was devastated. All of that hard work, gone to waste. I had readers - actual new wonderful readers - who were looking forward to that book, and I lost it. It was just gone. Ripped away from me before I could even comprehend what had happened.
My newfound fan-following had come to me thanks to pretty great reviews for my stories 'Scent of a Man' from the anthology 'The Scent of a Man,' and 'Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter's Night' from the anthology 'The Two Sides of Santa's Lap.' I wanted to make my newfound fans happy and give them something fresh - something just from me - but that dream had been shattered with the death of my beloved laptop. I had nothing to give them.
It took a while to save up for a new laptop, and during that time, my life took different courses. I changed jobs. I lost loved ones. I found a new apartment. I took on different hours and responsibilities. I put my dreams and my passions behind me through the course of all this.
And then, one day, I had my new laptop and I had a little time on my hands. I sat down at my computer and opened up a nice clean Microsoft Word document. Then, I began the process of rediscovering myself.
Well... I had the intention of writing a collection - an anthology, if you will - of short romantic comedy stories and release it as sort of a 'comeback' book. After all, I was known for being in anthologies.
Maybe having one all to myself would do me some good.
But, there was this new problem. Once I started writing, I couldn't stop. My opening story called 'Snowfall' was supposed to be around ten thousand words. It more than doubled that by the end. Much too long to publish in the anthology of shorts, I pulled it and put it aside. As much as I loved that story, it had to wait for something else. So, I started 'The Socialite' - another entry into the anthology of short stories.
And I experienced the exact same problem again. It just kept going. Chapter after chapter, page after page, word after word... before I knew it, I had two completed books that I had nowhere to go with.
Fortunately, Pam Seres, the publisher at DCL Publications who took a chance on me in anthology after anthology, was an encouraging rock. First, she agreed to publish 'Snowfall' as a standalone book. It came out a week or so ago, and I'm so very proud of it.
Then, today, she greenlit 'The Socialite' as another standalone publication. 'The Socialite' will be my second standalone book and my first standalone book in print. I'm overwhelmed. DCL and Pam have always been very good to me, and I'm so thankful for them!
The anthology is still planned, and it's half done. My depression is a lot better, but I have my moments. Don't we all? Either way, I'm just trucking through life, still single... still living with cats... and, once again, still writing.
Understand, depressions stems from more than one aspect of life usually, but we'll cross the other roads as we get to them. Until then, celebrate with me! I'm super excited over 'Snowfall' and I hope you'll read the free preview on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1F2NWF8Thank you for reading, especially since you haven't heard from me in quite a while. Just know I'm still here, and I'm doing okay, and I will try to stay in touch more.
Also, you may be pleased to know that I've started a new draft of 'Runaway Heiress,' and yes, I have a back-up!
~ Jenn
