Happy Holidays 2020! #FREE Books

 

I wish you love, kindness, and rest this holiday season. 2020 has been a rough year on every level, and 2021 isn't going to be easier. It's going to take the world a long time to recover, and we must be patient and compassionate.

I realize I've been quiet this year. Do know that I still sneak around and peek at your blogs whenever I get a chance. Usually I don't get on the computer during the day because my son needs it for virtual schooling, and by the time evening rolls around, I'm too drained to do much of anything. I don't expect 2021 to be much different on the school front. Cheers to all the families and students pushing forward with their education in a pandemic. It's tougher than I ever imagined, and I only have one kid!

Next year is going to bring on new challenges for my family. My husband was recently diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It's indolent (meaning it's hibernating and could possibly not affect him for the rest of his life), so his outlook is very good, but we are still in a pandemic. I take nothing for granted.

Apart from everything else, it has been a good writing year for me. I've published two books under my pen name, Morena Silver, and I have two completed first drafts. Next year, I'll be releasing at least three books including my first shared world novel and my LitRPG.

Reading has helped me get through 2020. I want to share with you that gift. For the next five days, I'm offering three books for FREE!

Geeky and hilarious contemporary romance
LOOSE CORSET

When a fledgling vampire wakes in a funeral home run by demons
OF BLOOD AND SORROW

Dealing with the undead will seem like child's play when the Cult of Ammut comes calling
OF GODS AND SORROW

Don't forget about all these wonderful holiday reads!

My 2019 Writing Goals - Making It Work

This might be a little late for a start of the year post about my goals, but that's all right. I'm taking it easier on myself. Last year was rough, and for the sake of my health, I need to be kinder to myself in 2019.

I'm not going to pretend that I will find the perfect balance this year. What I will try to do is be okay with that. Easier said than done, I know!

I've been giving a lot of thought about what I want to do this year. My first instinct is: I WANT TO DO IT ALL! My first instinct is highly ambitious and unrealistic. Someone ought to give it a talk.

Nothing has lessened my drive to want to do all I can do, to make myself better, to release tons of stories into the world. So to satisfy that drive, I will make this the year of little steps. One little thing a day for my career. It might not be writing. It could be just tweeting or blogging or critiquing. They're all small things, but add up a whole year of them, that's huge!

Here are the goals I want to accomplish:

1. Finish writing and publish Of Death and Sorrow. This will be the only major project for my name. I already have 25,000 words down, and it's going to be a big book. I won't be setting a deadline. I will give the story as much time as it needs. I will give me as much time as I need.

2. Write two books for my pen name. Last year I published two. (I wrote 69,000 words in four weeks to be able to release one novel by Christmas!) Writing for my pen name is much easier than what I write for my own name. I'm following tropes, and the stories are light and fun. Two isn't unrealistic.

3. Blog twice a month. While I've been keeping up with posting, I haven't been very good at visiting blogs in the latter half of last year. I want that to change. If I only post twice a month, it will give me time to visit your blogs. That makes me happy.

I'm also happy to welcome writers to guest post on my blog. I already have two terrific guests lined up for February and March. If you'd like to take over my blog for a day, please email me ( christinerains.writer@gmail.com ).

4. Spend less time marketing. I got into the habit of using my entire mornings to work on social media, email, marketing research, etc. I put in a lot of effort and got little back. As proven through my experience with my pen name, I don't need to spend a lot of time marketing to get the same results. Less time spent doing that means more time for writing. Because as a writer, that should be my focus.

5. Get up and move more often. This old body isn't tolerating hours spent sitting in front of the computer anymore. Even if I just go fold some laundry or do the dishes, I'm away from the computer and shaking out the stiffness.

6. Read and review 100 books. I made my goal last year, and I'm excited to do so this year!

I will not say my WANT TO DO IT ALL instinct won't push me at times, but I hope to keep it more check.

Here's to a great 2019 for all of us!

Random Acts of Kindness Blitz

Angela and Becca at The Bookshelf Muse created this awesome blitz to celebrate the release of their book, The Emotion Thesaurus. Kindness is powerful. Even the smallest kind gesture can fuel a person and keep them going. Little things like a comment on a blog or a shared tweet.

The writing community is full of encouraging people that know the value of a small kindness. It always amazes how wonderful you all are. You've made me smile on bad days and given strength when I feel like giving up. Are we feeling like a group hug yet?

Wait! I want to do something for you. All of you. It's the very least I can do for a community that has done so much for me.

For the first ten people to email me, send five pages of anything you've written, and I will critique them. A novel chapter, a short story, a query. I'll give you my honest opinion. My strengths are with romance and action scenes. So if you need to know if a scene is steamy or if you want some help giving an action scene more oomph, I can help. I'm a blunt and honest critic. Not everything I say will be pretty, but I compliment the positive as well as point out what needs work. I've worked a lot this past year on honing my critique skills. A fresh pair of eyes might be of some help for you. Just click on my profile to contact me or go right from my site.

You guys rock!

I have a thank you and a reminder for you too.

A big thank you to the awesome Clare Dugmore for passing on to me the Kreativ Blogger award. She is a talented young writer and has a fantastic blog. Go check it out!

 

A reminder that Monday starts Cherie Reich's 2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest. This year, the prompt is "Lightning flashed." A dramatic beginning! She has some great prizes. Head on over and sign up.