Around her the bedroom was lit by half a dozen candles, their shadows dancing on the walls. A delicate vanilla fragrance filled the room. The gothic palace lay silent. It was almost midnight. Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the large four-poster bed, Riley sat staring down at the CD in her hands. Her CD. Her debut album that was due to be released worldwide on the stroke of midnight.
A box of CDs had been delivered that morning with a note from the record company saying simply, “Autograph these in time for the launch party on February 29th.” She’d signed her way through two silver Sharpie markers before all the CD inserts were autographed. At Garrett’s suggestion, she’d practiced her autograph on a few sheets of paper before deciding how she wanted to sign it. Initially it had been fun sitting at Garrett’s huge rosewood dining table signing the insert for each disc but after the first fifty or so the novelty swiftly wore off. Two hours later she had finished the chore. All of the discs had been signed -all bar one. The one she held in her trembling hands.
Pre-order using the links below to ensure Riley is ready and waiting on your kindle on 18 Nov 2022
For the first time in a while someone left a review on Amazon last week of Book Baby 6 aka Long Shadows. Seeing those kind words and those 5 twinkling stars genuinely gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. It also caused me to pause and reflect on my creative journey so far.
It really doesn’t seem so long ago when I sat down on my front doorstep with my new notebook and new pen and began to write a story that went on to become my first novel, Stronger Within. As I wrote that night, the aim was just to write a story, to achieve something just for me. I wasn’t thinking about what it might go on to become. I was simply telling a story.
The first handwritten page of Stronger Within
Now when I look at it and its book baby siblings on Amazon and see those twinkling stars, I do finally feel proud of what I have achieved. Trust me, it took a long, long time to admit that I felt proud of myself.
Is it the best book in the world? Of course not!
Is it earning me a fortune? LOL—no! Monthly royalties from all of the books combined barely cover the cost of a cup of coffee from Starbucks.
If you think you’ll make your fortune from writing your novel, forget that notion right now. Writing is a labour of love and a burning desire to tell a story. It’s a passion. Yes, some indie authors do strike gold when their book babies land in the right lap at the right time but those are miracle moments, in my humble opinion…but all indie authors live in hope of miracles happening as well as dreams coming true.
Do I really want that fame and fortune? … if I’m being totally honest, there’s a bit of me that does to an extent, but I’d hate to lose my identity in the process. I’m quite content to just be me. It would be nice to walk into a book shop and see my books on the shelves among the other authors I admire … but I’d like to be able to do that and have no one recognise me.
Ok..feel like I’m waffling now! …or is it daydreaming?
Writing a book doesn’t just happen by magic. There’s more involved than the average reader could ever imagine. Getting that first story from the handwritten pages of my notebooks into a paperback novel and an ebook was a long hard slog and an exceptionally steep learning curve. I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my Infamous Five (yes, you know who you are). Those five individuals have stuck by me on this journey and never for one second do I take that help and love and support for granted. Their support and faith in me, along with kind words in the various book reviews and kind words left on social media by others, really are what gets me through the low moments, the days when you can’t string two words together, the days when you are riddled with self-doubts…and for the past couple of years, the days themselves on occasion.
I’ve said this before, but one of those wonderful people shared a quote online years ago and this has become my mantra.
So, if you are reading this and swithering about whether to pick up your pen or sit down at your laptop and begin your own book baby or short story or poem or in fact anything creative at all, my advice is DO IT! You have nothing to lose and everything to achieve, including making that dream come true. The biggest thing that writing/creating costs you is your time. If you have the desire to chase that dream, then it is time well-spent, and you won’t mind putting in the hours…and hours…and hours…
The dream come true moment for me- the first one anyway- was seeing my name on the cover of a “real” book. Holding that first proof copy of Stronger Within in my small trembling hands is a moment that will live with me forever. I remember holding the unopened package, scared to actually open it…and then I did…and yes, there were tears.
As Walt Disney said in the quote above “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
To celebrate, Impossible Depths is free to download to kindle for one day only.
To whet your appetite here’s an extract that I’ve not shared with you before:
After Jake had called, Lori had settled back on the sun lounger to read another chapter of her book. She had spent the afternoon quietly sunbathing in her bikini, confident that no one was going to drop by and disturb her. When she reached the end of the chapter, she slipped her bookmark into place and closed the book over. “Time to light the coals,” she thought, as she got to her feet. The decking boards were hot under her bare feet as she crossed the deck to the BBQ. A plastic chest sat at the side of the deck with the charcoal and BBQ fluid inside. Trying not to cover her bare skin with charcoal dust, Lori tipped the remains of the bag into the tray, scattering the lumpwood evenly. She sprayed it lightly with lighter fluid, then tossed in a lit match. Small flames licked up, gradually spreading out evenly over the bed of charcoal. Satisfied that it would stay lit, Lori headed indoors to wash her hands.
As she turned off the tap, the front doorbell rang.
Want to know more then download Impossible Depths today
Jake watched her from the distant vantage point of the boardwalk. He had headed for the beach after the end of his shift at the pizza parlour. It had been a roughday and he had decided to walk off his black mood before heading to meet the guys. The last thing they needed was him turning up in a foul mood, stinking of tomato sauce and cheese. He had walked to the south end of the promenade and had just turned back when he saw the girl walking down on the sand. It was the sun catching the golden highlights in her hair that had attracted his attention. He never noticed her crutches at first. Watching from a distance, he had kept pace with her, then stopped to watch as she turned towards the boardwalk. When he saw her stumble, he regretted not following his instincts and going down to walk on the sand with her. “Shit,” he muttered. “Shit.” There were no breaks in the fence nearby, so he jumped over the wooden palings into the dune grass and ran towards her, sand immediately filling his shoes. By the time he was close enough to call out to her, she was sitting up and looked to be unhurt. He almost turned away but decided against it and continued to walk down the beach. “Hi,” he called out. “Are you ok?”
Want to spend the weekend at the beach with a hot rock star? Want it for free?
Look no further, Stronger Within, book 1 in the Silver Lake series is free to download this holiday weekend. Oh, and books go great with chocolate eggs!
Jake watched her from the distant vantage point of the boardwalk. He had headed for the beach after the end of his shift at the pizza parlour. It had been a roughday and he had decided to walk off his black mood before heading to meet the guys. The last thing they needed was him turning up in a foul mood, stinking of tomato sauce and cheese. He had walked to the south end of the promenade and had just turned back when he saw the girl walking down on the sand. It was the sun catching the golden highlights in her hair that had attracted his attention. He never noticed her crutches at first. Watching from a distance, he had kept pace with her, then stopped to watch as she turned towards the boardwalk. When he saw her stumble, he regretted not following his instincts and going down to walk on the sand with her.
“Shit,” he muttered. “Shit.”
There were no breaks in the fence nearby, so he jumped over the wooden palings into the dune grass and ran towards her, sand immediately filling his shoes. By the time he was close enough to call out to her, she was sitting up and looked to be unhurt. He almost turned away but decided against it and continued to walk down the beach.
“Hi,” he called out. “Are you ok?”
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Lifting his face, Jake smiled at her through his tear-filled hazel eyes, “I love you, li’l lady.”
“Love you too, rockstar,” she said, kissing him softly. “Now, its show time.”
Slowly, he got to his feet, suddenly aware that all eyes were on him. Pausing to compose himself, Jake took a few deep breaths then bent to kiss the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. “Show time,” he repeated with a smile.
If you want to read more then, you can catch up with Jake and all things Silver Lake using the links below
Coral McCallum 