Here we are, in 2022. Good bye 2021! You will not be missed. At all. This is a LONG BLOG. You’ve been warned!
Before we go to my goals for the new year, I need to release a confession to the world, an admission of 2021 that I’ve been holding on to so tightly that it’s become painful. I need to say this before I can walk clearly into 2022. I probably shouldn’t get into it, but I need to release this. I have to open up about this struggle so I can walk into this new year with my head held high and ready for whatever the future may hold, good and bad. This is vulnerable to write. I’m pretty open and transparent about my struggles as a human and author, so here we go.
If you want to skip the personal stuff, just go down to the 2022 point. (Though, I’m an author, so… I guess everything I do is personal because I am the brand and all my decisions comes from a place of being personal etc)
One of my biggest disappointments of in my time as an author happened in 2021.
Servant of the Blood released… and almost none of my readers picked it up and gave Everly a chance.
A new series, a book I was immensely proud of where I tried something a bit new, something a bit different, but still I hoped to hit something in my readers to give it a chance. It’s part of my plan for the future of my world, which will be my entire career for the next decade, if not more…
And I heard crickets.
Cue the late-2021 depression from my disappointment in myself, my work, and my passion. Missed deadlines, stress, an inability to focus on my work because it didn’t feel good enough anymore. Writing shorts for the newsletter? I keep making promises but this unending depression makes it a little impossible. Cue me wondering if I was going to cancel a second series or find someway to condense or trim down the series length so I could finish it sooner rather than later. Flashbacks of Witch of the Wild West happened. Did I try something new that no one cared about? Giving a one-day bad ass character a rough start, forcing her not to just be emotionally strong but incredibly careful and intelligent sounded great, but no one wanted to try it out.
I hear it all the time “I’m tired of reading the same thing all the time”. This is great to me, because I refuse to write the same type of lead character on the same journey all the time. The same themes might appear in their journeys, but who they are when they start are wildly different. They begin at different points in their character arc, have different cores. Jacky was avoidant and reluctant. Kaliya was a go-hard, obsessive, risk taker. Everly was normal, intelligent, has a bit of anxiety, and a lack of confidence and I loved the premise for the start of her journey. She’s skilled in ways the others aren’t. And I love writing different people.
So I tried to give something different… and practically no one tried it. In fact, it was a worst release than Bounty, Kaliya Sahni’s release, which doesn’t bode well for the future.
Cue another thought: Am I a one hit wonder in whatever genre or trope I write? The Redemption Saga killed Kingson Pride and Age of the Andinna in sales. But I chalked that up to my early career and a major genre change. TRS was UF RH, and Age of the Andinna was definitely an epic fantasy with a much different building for the RH.
But Everly Abbott is UF Romance. Psychological thriller-vibes UF, but UF Romance nonetheless. Just like Jacky Leon. Just like Kaliya Sahni. In the same world, with cross over characters and a deeper exploration of the vampires, showing their good sides and their bad, and forcing a human to go beyond what she believes she’s capable of and find her own power to succeed. I thought people would be interested. I’ve been writing this world for over 2 years. I should have a good group of people ready to dive deeper.
Right?
But Servant of the Blood was a flop compared to nearly every other book I’ve ever written (With 2 exceptions: Witch of the Wild West and Wolves of Wild Junction). It’s certainly the worst Tribunal Archives launch ever. With over 300 reviews from those committed readers that read and review everything I do, it actually doesn’t have the sales to match.
My confidence, with that release, dropped to an all-time low and kept taking hits for a few months. I’ve seen it in the careers of other authors. Write one good series? No one trusts you to write another and your career is only that one series. Was that my fate? I accepted that Jacky Leon was going to be more popular than Kaliya for a lot of reasons, but I had hope for Everly. So much hope that she could give Jacky a run for her money. (She did worse than Kaliya, actually). In a weird way: It makes me hate Jacky sometimes. Not while I’m writing her, but when I’m trying to anything else. Trying to do something else but so many people say “but it’s not Jacky. She’s not the same as Jacky, she’s not as good as Jacky or as badass as Jacky” and you’re right, a new character isn’t Jacky. That’s the point. I love Jacky and her story, but I’m not going to copy her into every book. I would burn out. I would get bored. The books and my passion would suffer.
Writing Everly’s book 2? It took 2 1/2 months because I was… a bit broken, in the best way to describe it. I could barely work for the months of September and October (and this was coming off a really hard summer). I couldn’t look at my manuscript. Why would I want to? Readers (in my group) were saying things like (paraphrasing) “vampires? meh.” or “I thought it would be another generic forced vampire romance”.
It felt like readers had no faith in me. No trust to try something different from me. I asked for honesty and I got it. (remind me never to do something so foolish ever again). I got the book done, and I’m so happy with it, but it started as such a struggle because I had to momentarily overcome this deep sensation of failing.
It killed me and it killed my hope for the Tribunal Archives to take readers on a journey through a world that would stay with them for years. Not something they could consume quickly and move on from, but a world they could invest in with me.
Cue another painful question: Is the Tribunal Archives worth it? Do people want something like this? Or should I stop telling people they’re in the same world? Should I pretend they aren’t and force people to figure it out themselves?
Do you want to know how this world started? I just got tired of having to build a new world every time I wanted to write a new series (which I do frequently, because I’m indie. I can publish pretty quickly and by 2 years into my author journey, I had created 4 worlds).
So I left space in Jacky Leon’s series to let me fold in my planned naga series, my hope for a witch-y series, my hope for a vampire series and more. That’s all. I just wanted to make a big world so I could live in it for a while.
I’m still not sure of the answer, but I’m committed. I really am. I have so many stories in my head that I feel would leave me unfulfilled if I don’t write them. A decade of books, definitely over 80-90 full length novels, with who knows how many shorts, novellas, or whatever else. I’ve got plot lines for side characters that will grow over that entire decade.
And I don’t want to fail myself, because in the end, I never started writing for other people. I write for me. (there’s a long and personal blog explaining why I’m an author and how I became one: Lifeblood) I start these stories with their hopes I write the story I want to write in a good way. Jacky and Kaliya have confidence and power, but Everly needs to find confidence and power. Writing that journey, finding one’s self, finding one’s power? That’s moving to me, because I’ve been on that journey myself and will go on it again, because we people are constantly evolving and changing.
The second thing I think about has evolved over the years but right now? I hope that story reaches out and touches someone else the way it’s important to me.
That second thing is the one that keeps me driven most days.
To those who have fallen in love with Everly Abbott, thank you. She reached out and connected with you and that tells me… I did it right for you. Through all of this, I’ve heard your encouragement, your excitement, and I can’t wait to continue her journey with you. The journey I plan and book two is going through editing, exactly the book I hoped it would be. I won’t cut the series shorter. I won’t cancel it. She found you.
While I felt readers had no faith in me, but that’s not the most painful part.
I lost faith in myself and I’ve had to find it again.
Recently, another author (the hilarious Sami Valentine) finished Servant of the Blood, and her reactions brought me so much joy. She freaked out at the twist, she was taken by surprise, and she loved the book. She’s excited for the next book. Another author, who I just met in November who said (again: paraphrasing) “well, I write vampires. I’ll see what you did with them” when she bought a signed copy from me. And I connected with someone new, who understood what I wrote, why I wrote it. Not one of my closest friends, who saw me workshop it for months, not one of my betas, who devour whatever I do. Not my consistent readers that read and review everything I do. Someone new.
It doesn’t completely wipe away the problems, but it was nice to hear, nice to have happen. I worry about a lot. I pay the bills for my family, I am part of other’s incomes, I have to keep readers happy at the same time as meeting my responsibilities. Everything piled on top of me for 4 months and I couldn’t breathe. I’ll keep having those days in the future because it’s who I am to consider the future and worry about whether I can be the person I promised to be and fulfill those responsibilities. And every time someone says to me “I’m waiting for the series to end” or “Finish this other series first then I’ll start that one”, I feel the crushing weight of it.
I often think about one thing all the time now. Jacky Leon, my best selling series (ever), will end one day. I know exactly how it does end. We’re halfway there. I am terrified for that day. Terrified that no one will stay with me for the stories of other characters. Stay with me for new journeys. Luckily, it’s a long way off. Jacky Leon’s last book will probably release in 2026. Four years away because 2 books a year and 8 books left. But I can tell you I’m not looking forward to that day, not because Jacky is ending and I’ll never write her again (I will, just not at the main character). No, I’m terrified because when she ends, it feels like everyone is going to walk away from the world and I won’t be able to continue this amazing work, because I have responsibilities that come before my happiness.
A problem for tomorrow.
Edit: I should add that during all of this, my father was in and out of the hospital with a number of problems for half of the year and I live on the other side of the country from him. It added to these issues of depression. I’m not getting into it right now, but it’s important to note.
2022
And now we’re in 2022. Finally. That explanation dragged out like the damn year of 2021 did. I’m sorry.
What is 2022 going to be?
Well, in a jolt of fear: Kaliya Sahni’s last book is this year and that means a new series will start in November 2022 to take the May/November release spaces. Will I follow my heart and write the story I plan? Yeah. Will it start as a flop like Everly? Possibly. I’ll have to take it on the chin if it does. Will my late 2022 be exactly like my late 2021? The possibility is real. Can’t magically get over this sort of stuff.
Also in 2022, I plan on making a huge change to my writing, but nothing that will change my series. I’ve struggled with wanting to write short content for a long time. POVs, short stories, novellas. I want to write it. I want to write stuff that doesn’t go “in a book”, but continues to explore the world I love. So, something is coming. I can’t do it for free anymore, not consistently (as we’ve seen). It’s work and it’s for nothing in return except good faith and complaints. Oh, the complaints. People not checking their email folders for the newsletter (or even simply searching my name in their inbox?), never opening the emails (therefore being automatically unsubscribed after missing several), missing the downloads through no faulty of mine, asking for me to resend them when I was clear that wouldn’t happen or asking me to make special concessions about previous announcements. When I missed sending out a planned newsletter, the complaints came raining in and this one, I really understood, but it’s on the pile of “wow, this system isn’t working for me”.
It’s also incredibly frustrating to be someone else’s tech support. No one bothers to message my PA.
So there’s a plan, which I will announce in February, to roll shorts and novellas permanently into my schedule. They’ll be exclusive for a year after I write them, then they’ll go on the new Tribunal Archives website I launched in late 2021 for everyone to read. Novellas will go on sale after their year of exclusivity. But more on this February 1, 2022.
2022 is the year where I’m going to not rethink my life and work as an author and I’m going to try and stop letting fear freak me out and shut me down. I’m insane. I’m going to double down, because I know I can succeed even more than I have. It’s really important for me to remember, I have been successful. I’m doing pretty damn well and I have to hold on to that. Time for that goals/plans list.
Goal: Launch my short and novella plan with success and keep it going with the help of passionate and wonderful readers. This goal is actually going to help the next one. Again, more on this February 1, 2022.
Goal: Hire someone to manage my websites part time or full time, especially the Tribunal Archives website. Adding content, updating it, and really giving readers a place to go and feel like “wow, this is a well developed world. I could live in this place for weeks/months/years”. Clearly, I can’t do the website by myself. It wasn’t intended to be my private job. I built it, but it’s definitely a team project.
Goal: Find those readers who want this sort of world, this sort of reading commitment that they can rely on for the next decade. Can’t find anything to read? Well, the Tribunal Archives world by that one author always has something new to dive into. “Oh, new shorts have uploaded since the last time I checked the website, too!”
Goal: Be me and write the stories I need and want to write, as I’ve always done. Keep on keepin’ on, I guess.
Goal: Step back from social media and this one will probably be the most controversial to you.
I will be (mostly) inactive in the Facebook Reader’s Group.
Facebook Reader’s Group, you belong to the modmins (moderators and admins) now. I want you, as readers, to talk to each other. Not wait for me to make an appearance. I want you to throw theories at each other. There’s been a conflicting feeling with the group for me recently, too. It’s like some really want me there and some shut down the moment I comment on something.
And remember how I mentioned everyone skips all the wonderful people helping me and come directly to me with their problems? One person starts and the next 50 people think that it’s the perfect time for everyone to troubleshoot with my help. Suddenly, I’m not getting important work done (writing the books you want) because I’m trouble shooting for you and a dozen other people for hours. I understand that you have a problem and you want it fixed, but I can’t do it every time. This isn’t that you won’t get helped. There’s just better options to get help, more options than replying to my comments and posts with your problem.
You can find this list in the members section of the read group or just type mod or admin in a comment and they will come.
Andi Jeffree(my personal assistant), Becca Janowicz (a best friend of mine and volunteer), Erika Sexson (a best friend of mine and handles all of my audiobooks). Dawn, Susan, Talia , and Jozanne (moderator team). They have the answers, can get the answers if they don’t, and they will help you. I asked them to do just that. They’re there just to do that. It’s like skipping customer service to go directly to the CEO. They’re there for you. Use them. Help me help you. I’m tired. I really am. I want to write good books and interact with you about those books.I’m not tech support. It’s probably the one thing that keeps me from focusing on writing on a consistent basis.
If you, readers, want to reach out, You still can! You can comment on the blog when they go up (links will still be provided in the group, clearly). I try to reply to as many comments on recent blogs as I can (though old blogs do lock comments because old information might not be relevant anymore). You can also use the website contact form. I will have spoiler blogs where you should expect comments from me, while the Spoiler Event in the group will be Reader Only.
In short, the Reader’s Group is a time sink I can’t afford anymore. On a professional and a personal level. Professional: A place where people think I’m there to solve problems, taking me away from the work I want and need to do. Personal: An emotional investment I’m not built for anymore. Be everyone’s friend all the time with a smile on my face, even when people are rude or demanding or inconsiderate or give me a laundry list of complaints about something I have already addressed.
If I want to stay an author, I just can’t be surrounded with something that feels so negative to me now. And that’s the reader’s group. It’s just a well of negativity to me right now, not even because most people mean for it to be. It just is due to a combination of so many things.
I’m a human being. If I want to stay a sane human being, I have to step back.
I have struggled with Depression for various reasons for years, so I sympathize with the struggle. Whatever happens I read all your books and Love The Tribunal Archives world. In all honesty I struggled connecting to Everly at 1st BUT the fact that I know what a. Amazing writer u are kept me reading and u didn’t disappoint by the half point I was hooked and loved it and can’t wait for more!!! You do you, if your not happy it’s not worth it!! Here’s to a much better year for us all!!
I’m disappointed to hear that Everly’s first book didn’t go well. I absolutely loved it and I’m really glad you decided to still write her second book and finish her story. I hope 2022 is a better year for you. I love the books you write!!
I’m looking forward to it. 2022 has so much to give.
So many news! Thank you for sharing all your writer’s struggles. As a reader I kind of feel responsible for now being so supportive of my authors. I should write reviews but I am a terrible writer myself and I always feel I’ll scare readers away. I do try to read everything first through KU and then buying the ebook to keep and re-read whenever I want. I just read the Redemption Saga over New Year.
My goal this year will be to try and be a more supportive reader. I may be on the quiet side of the fandom but I do read your books. I love all your characters and I am here for the long run because I am absolutely fascinated by the world you are building and I am looking forward to reading more.
I just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your writing and have always fully intended to read Everly Abbott, but I wanted to hold off until more books are out. I read a LOT (average about a book a day) and it’s really hard for me to remember all the important plot points and potential Easter eggs in a story when I’ve read a bunch of books in between, so I usually have to reread at least the last book in the series before I pick up the next if it’s been several months. I have stayed current with Jacky and Kaliya and usually read the most recent book right before the next release, but I held off with Everly for now. I think the main reason I decided to hold off is because you tend to write longer series that are slow developing with slow burn romance, so for me, when I find a series I like, it can be torture waiting to find out what happens next. This is not a complaint (at all!). I love the pacing of your books, but when I read slow burn romance, I much prefer to binge a series. I know it’s hard on authors when a large group of people individually decide to hold off until a series is done or almost done to start reading it. I generally try not to do that, but I think I made the decision thinking that it’s not a big deal because I’m still supporting the author by reading the other series as they come out. I hope that sales improve and that a lot of people who haven’t picked it up yet are still planning to, because it sounds like a great series. I hope you keep writing what makes you happy and that the sales keep coming in!
Every series has to be judged individually by the author and your thought process is a common misconception. The combined effort doesn’t work in this instance. If a single series isn’t doing well, it’s an investment of several months that ends up being not worth it. That’s just the fact of the matter and the reason traditionally published series get cancelled all the time, even by immensely popular authors. Because of that mindset. People are going to stick with what pays the bills, their employees, and helps them create more.
Now, I’m indie/self published so no one can pull the plug but me but I got close this time. I can’t count on people returning when there are more books. Most people just forget that series existed at all and never come back. That’s the risk of writing series, yes, but when something is cancelled, it’s just a self fulfilling prophecy. Not the fault of the author but the market and the mindset of “I didn’t start because I wanted more books but now there’s no books, so I’m glad I didn’t start”. There’s no books because people didn’t start.
As for easter eggs, that’s why I’m working on Tribunalarchives.com 💙 to give readers a fun reference site to explore when they want/need it.
I’m glad you shared this blog post with us. It’s a perspective I wasn’t thinking about and makes a lot of sense. I’m looking forward to all the new stuff you have planned!
And clearly, Everly, or any other series, could just be bad and that’s why it’s not selling. But there has been a swing in the market to people who need binge material instead of letting books release how they’re meant to and reading them/supporting the series.
I loved Everly! I don’t care what is written in Loving all the books in that world. In fact I bought it on ebook then hub bought the paperback. I need more Everly and clearly I need to review more!
And clearly you are one of the best authors as I buy rarely these days due to lack of space. Can’t change the doubting in your head but us readers are not all the same x
As a fellow depression sufferer, my heart goes out to you. You are my favorite author and I have read everything you have written ( except the Witch of the Wild West which is out of print) and like all of it. Of course, I like some better than others. My favorite is still the Age of Andinna. What I like best about your writing is the way you mix UF with slow burn romance. I also feel you have some of the best character development that I have read for an author writing mainly first person POV of the MC. I liked the first Everly book and am looking forward to the next. What. Was best about it was the POV of a human working for vampires who was not a vampire or a blood bag for vampires. I am anxious to see how she develops now that she is a vampire. I find the world of the Tribunal Archives to be rich and fascinating and look forward to seeing you develop the many aspects of it. Please keep up the good work. I will read and buy everything you write.
Please take care of yourself. That is the first and most important thing.
As for the various Tribunal series, I got hooked on Jacky, read them straight through and got my friend hooked on them. They are one of my comfort re-reads.
I loved Kaliya but because of you know what that happens in Royal Pawn, I find them hard to re-read. But I am always on the look out for more.
Then there is Servant of the Blood,. I always say I don’t like vampires, I just like the writers sometimes. And that is true of Servant of the Blood. I loved it and loved the way you are exploring that area.
You are an automatic pre-order for me. And I love knowing I can go to these books for when I am down. So thank you, thank you, thank you.
I admit when I first read the blurb for Everly I wasn’t overly interested. I’m not a very big vampire fan to begin with and the vampires of the Tribunal Archives have not been seen in the best of light in the Jacky and Kaliya series. They’re kinda dicks. I drive a semi over the road and I have very limited time to actually read and I chose to spend that time reading Rogue Alpha. When I saw Everly available on audio I decided to get it solely on the basis that I have loved every book I’ve read/listened to by you. I have a lot of time to listen (I average about 200ish hours of audio/month) so I can take more chances on a new series if it’s in audio. THANK YOU for going through the time, effort and cost to produce your books for audio. I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten into your books otherwise. After listening to Oath Sworn, I was hooked. I wanted to listen to everything you’d put out. It’s gotten to the point that I buy the ebook as soon as it’s released (usually pre ordered) and then get the audio version when it’s available. It was only my faith in your storytelling and writing that got me to get Everly Abbott in the first place and I’m glad I did. It was pretty awesome considering my feelings about the vamps in the Tribunal Archives. I genuinely look forward to the rest of Everly’s story. It was really nice to not be told how smart a character is only for them to act in stupid ways or make stupid decisions. We actually get to see Everly have to make smart decisions or she’ll die. It was awesome.
P.S. I still think the vampires in the Tribunal Archives are kinda dicks.
All the species of the Tribunal Archives are kind of dicks 😂😂😂😂
On an author, why I do what do note: Thats not just a joke. That’s why I’m writing series from all these different view points, trying to make sure my main characters are all so different. Everyone in a world focuses on the bad stuff happening. But when you get into the group, you find there are really good people. Jacky is a highlight of her family (along with a handful of her siblings), but Hasan is actually a real monster to a lot of people. Jacky is only starting to see how much of an ass he can be. And her siblings earned all of their reputations, even if they show her the loving/supportive sides sometimes and never threaten her.
Witches haven’t been seen in the best light either. I wouldn’t blame people for thinking they’re all bad, but oh man, does that simplify things too much. Because that’s what happens when we have conflict. We judge an entire group on the actions of a few on our limited reactions with them.
So (one of the reasons) I wrote a vampire series so you could see just how complicated they are, just like the werecats, the nagas, the cambions, and everyone else. They have heroes and villains, just like everyone else.
Thank you for all your work!!! My favorite thing about your books is the variety of main characters that you write and I have loved them all! I love Everly and can’t wait to read more of her!
I’m so sorry 2021 was a tough year for you. You are one of my favorite authors whose books I will always pick up regardless of the genre because I know it’s going to be great. Your world building is top notch and your characters feel so real. I’m really looking forward to Everly’s next book and am curious to see how she handles her new circumstances. I know main characters who start off badass are probably more popular, but having a main character who was regular and normal was a nice change.
As a person who has suffered depression for the majority of my life my heart goes out to you! You have created an amazing world with the Tribunal Archives! You have created what many authors can only dream of, a world that readers enjoy and want to be apart of! Depression makes everything seem hopeless a constant state of “is it really worth it” please know you have a group of readers who will support you in any endeavor you want to explore. May I suggest a small group of people possibly ARC readers that give suggestions of new things to add to the Tribunal achieve website? The readers would send their suggestions of what could be added to the website to your website employee. So your employee wouldn’t have to be alone in making sure all the information in the archives is up to date. Whatever you decide please know your readers are incredibly grateful for everything you do. We noticed your effort in giving us the best possible reader experience with not only your books but also the novellas, newsletter, shorts, responses, and updates for us.
There’s already rules about what can and can’t go on the website. Reader suggestions could/would muddle everything up. The person I hire will start with oldest content, and move forward, while carefully avoiding spoilers so people can’t entirely skip actually reading to get story or spoil themselves while catching up, etc.
I couldn’t get into the Everly book but found you as a author through the kingston. Pride series. Which I loved, which led to the redemption saga loved it. But Jacky and Kayla are my faves! I love your writing its awesome.
I mean this kindly: this wasn’t the blog to tell me you didn’t like Everly’s first novel. Anywhere else, any other time, but not this one.
My favorite authors all have two things in common, their captivating “storytelling” and their
“author’s voice”. I don’t give a hoot about the plot or ending of their books. I enjoy everything they write because their voice is the same whether they’re writing about their family and pets, cooking dinner, or their bestselling series. You nailed it with Jacky on page 1 and every page since. I didn’t recognize your voice though in Kaliya Book 1 but I’m not giving up, I purchased the next two books. I hear you in Everly and I loved Book 1. You are among my favorite authors, I’m so glad you were recommended!
I wish I understood what people mean when they say an author’s voice because, to me, Kaliya is exactly the story I love the most and I feel very connected to her.
So I don’t understand what you mean because all my books feel like my voice. My writing style doesn’t change dramatically.
Obviously it could simply be me and what I had going on while reading Kaliya Book 1. I’ll definitely pick up Book 2 soon.
Fighting depression is rough. I stuggle with it myself and am sorry you are. I LOVE your Tribunal Archives books. I’m an audiobook girl – I love books and when I read I pretty much check out of life. Audiobooks let me become immersed in a story but keep me doing what needs doing as well. Anyway I wanted to say that I have every Jackie and Kaliya audio book and buy the new ones on release day. I LOVE THEM! But, I have not listened to Everly and here’s why …I’m a big chicken. Since I was a little girl I have believed that if you can imagine it, it could happen. So, what’s to say nagas, werecats, werewolves, vampires, etc aren’t walking around this world along side us. No, I’m not crazy, I’m just saying it’s possible and this scardy cat, afraid of the dark girl doesn’t want to normalize vampires! I know if I dive into Everlys story I will be hooked and I will start to think, hey vampires aren’t so bad. So, this is my brain quirk, not your writing or ability to tell an amazing story. And I am very much looking forward to the next decade of different stories!
Thank you for what you do and being strong and brave enough to lay it out there and share. ❤️
Wow, thank you for such a detailed update & I’m so sorry for all the crap you’ve had to deal with.
Firstly, I thought Servant of The Blood was brilliant & I absolutely adore the Tribunal Archives and think that it is wonderful that I as a reader can explore it so thoroughly through the different perspectives that each series (& stand alone stories) provide.
Secondly, you absolutely should not be being asked to be any reader’s tech support! You provide a brilliantly immersive experience with your books, website, blog & newsletter – far more than a lot of other authors and it seems ridiculous to me to ask anything of you other than to keep writing these amazing stories that a lot of us love so much.
You are one of my favourite authors & I look forward to all that you are able to share with us in 2022.
You are an Amazing Writer. My niece recommended you. At the time I was not into the type of genre you write. YOU HAVE ME HOOKED. I have read and reread all of your books. THANK YOU so much for your amazing writing.
I agree with the other commenters — please make sure to prioritize your mental health! I am one of your Kindle Unlimited readers (I would be interested in a future post that compares how well KU reading supports you vs. outright buying your ebooks, as I definitely want to support you the best way possible), and I read all your books within the first few days of release. Everly’s first book was no different, although I admit that leading up to it I was both impressed with the great covers (gorgeous design) and a little leery of how you might write vampires, considering that many vampire UF romances are a little annoying. However, your writing of vampires impressed me so much — you did not hesitate to illustrate how they can truly be monsters.
I also admit to being a bit shocked to how dark Everly’s first book was in the middle of the book, but it would be like introducing us to Jacky right after her fiance died (or when she found out about the lie) or Kaliya in the midst of being trafficked. At the end of the book we see her with a powerful ally and a developing power herself, so Everly should (hopefully) never feel quite so hopeless/ alone or powerless as in that first book.
I also identified with Everly more quickly than with Jacky or Kaliya, but honestly that made the darker parts of the book a bit darker for me than if I were still more detached. I’m so looking forward to how you develop Everly, though, because you are giving us readers the chance to join her on this journey from the beginning.
Thank you for being an awesome author!
Woman, you are a fantastic author. I may not interact as much as some of your other cheerleaders on here or FB, but it’s because of me and definitely not you. I live in my world of fantasy to escape from real life because right now, it sucks. I found you through a recommendation from Auryn and I haven’t looked back. There are reasons that I’m part of your ARC team and pre order everything you have written. I’m a picky reader and you’re one of my top authors. Keep doing you and the ones who actually appreciate your work, will be right there whenever you release something new. Hugs!
Thank you so much for taking the time to connect with us and tell us how you are feeling and how our actions are affecting you. I think people tend to forget sometimes that authors are people and need the same emotional support as the people we see in our daily lives. I think this will help a lot of us going forward on how we interact with both the admins and each other.
I for one absolutely adored Everly. Did I want to shake her sometimes? Like in any book with a relatable protagonist: absolutely! But it was so easy to see the world through her eyes and realize that in her unique situation, we wouldn’t have been able to make many different choices. She did the best she could with what she had. I’m sorry that the launch flopped, I’m really hoping thatore people give her a chance soon.
I aslo hope that you father is doing better. Battling depression as well as all the other things ON TOP of your father having medical issues? You are an absolute trooper, and my heart goes out to you.
May 2022 be your year, and may yours and your families health and happiness stay optimal.
Thank you for taking the time to post! It’s nice to learn what an author’s thought process is and many don’t go into the deep nitty gritty you do. I hope the feedback you read helps you in some way.
I picked up Oath Sworn and liked it, but I grabbed a different series after it. I read one book in that series and jumped back to Jacky Leon book 2, and oh boy, I was reaching for book 3 before I had even finished book 2.
For me, it was the world building and ancient family that I soaked up. I wanted to know more about this world that I could see developing better in Family and Honor. I wanted to know the stories behind all the ancients that ruled. Jacky is great, she is certainly my favorite, but don’t let her popularity stop you from evolving this world, please. I was excited to start Kaliya’s story (though I find her hard to like, she has a bite to her for sure) and I greeted Everly just the same.
With Jacky and Kaliya’s stories they were already established in the supernatural community when their books began. Since their origin stories already occurred (before their books began) you were able to focus on character development and much world building. With Everly, her first book is her origin story. It’s exciting to see you take a different route with this series.
On a side note, the perfect quote to describe Everly is “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’” -Mary Anne Radmacher
That quote rang through my head the entire time I read Servant of the Blood. Everly shines a new perspective on vampires. They don’t have to be violent or badass (Everly doesn’t seem the type to enjoy gore), if the newest vampire is a geeky computer nerd who wears sweaters then points for originality. (bonus points especially if she wears comfy sweaters, what other vampire does that?)
In my convoluted way, what I’m trying to convey is please, don’t get discouraged. Sometimes it’s the second book that changes perspectives, and you will always get bonus points for trying something new.
BTW, people are really giving you a hard time about taking 6 months to put out a new book in 1 series? You put out what, 6 books a year now!? I’m shocked by how much you get done! You are a writing machine! I wish I had your energy sometimes, the things I could do…
Thank you!
In terms of the release schedule/how fast I write, it used to be more, and easier to keep up with. I used to nail 7 or more books a year. 2021 was actually my busiest year as an author, with 9 releases (including a novella in an anthology, but not including Kaliya Vol.1).
Going to 6 books a year, every six months each series is a pretty big change for some, but my old breakneck pace was slowly killing me (well, maybe not even slowly). Full length content at that pace? Oof. Never again. This year will be accidentally similar, with 8 released, but 2 of then aren’t series books and that’s really helpful. They also aren’t stacked in one season of the year. I reminded my husband the other day of something terrifying: I have had a release every month from September to January, and we’re not done yet. January’s release hasn’t happened. I’m tired 😂 I’m never going to accidentally schedule releases like this again. I think 2021’s 5 month release marathon is part of my scheduling shift to something that provides more free for doing different things, instead of trying to pile it all on top of itself.
Thanks for a great start to 2022! I took your suggestion and gave Everly Abbot another try. I couldn’t get it delivered in time to read on my break, so I stuck with my usual mode of consumption, audiobook. I admit there is a vamp series out there that has ruined any other vamp book for me; nothing else *vampire* can grab me like that series…until Everly and Servant if the Blood! What a fun listen! Everly Abbott is a strong, fun and relatable main character. Everly seems so different than K.N. Banet’s other strong female leads.At first I didn’t really have enough respect for her. I think the thing that made me change my mind about this character and her story was realizing she is a bada$$ after all…..I just couldn’t recognize it because there aren’t immediately obvious super cool super powers that she wields around. Oh but she is definitely a bada$$! Can’t wait for the next one. Thanks for sharing your imagination and hard work!
Just finished reading the rest of your blog post (sorry, I was super stoked to coment on how much I enjoyed Everly Abbot before finishing reading the post). I already love your books. Now that I’ve finished reading this post, I am committing to be a lifetime fan. I also suffer depression (and other stuff, yay US Army). I appreciate your share and vulnerability. You have a beautiful mind. Thank you for sharing so others can escape our own sometimes.
Definitely not a one hit wonder author everyghing you write is written well, full story, different and adventurous. Not everyone will love every book even if was good. I love witch of the wild west. Your best book/series AOA hands down i think its my fav book ever.
Some times even when poeple say they dont like a book doesnt mean it wasnt any good, it just wasn’t up their alley.
Thank you for the adventures
P.s jacky and the others world is huge massive really. So good luck im sure it will be a challenge
First, let me just say that I loved Witch of the Wild West. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy Everly, but I did. I have read everything you’ve written (that I’m aware of), and never been disappointed. (I usually download on release day.) In spite of the fact that I wish you would write faster (lol), you need to put yourself first. My husband, my son and I all suffer from depression, so I can definitely understand where you are coming from. Take care of yourself!
This is the most honest and real post I have read from anyone in a long time. I LOVE your books, and I loved Everly as much as I love all of the characters. I didn’t even realize that some people don’t like Kaliya. It is great to hear you are getting away from social media, especially Facebook. The trolls are in every age group, in every career choice, in every life choice, in every author’s, etc., group around. I am not someone who has followers like your profession always produces, but I got off of Facebook and Instagram two years ago, and have never been happier. It took up so much of my time and affected my emotions so much just viewing the posts from my network, and i can’t imagine what it did to you. I have suffered from major depressive disorder and anxiety since having children (hormone issues, not my amazing daughters), and books became my escape from being a single mom and work, etc. Your books have become some of my favorites, and I devour everything you write. I discovered Jacky, then went back and read the Age of Andinna series, then forward to the Redemption series, and on and on. Please know that you help so many people with your writing and keep me, at least, from spiraling back into the depression that is always waiting for me to have a bad day. THAT IS WHAT YOUR BOOKS DO – help people deal with “real-life”.
Please read my review of “Hearts of War” on Amazon and Goodreads. I think that review says everything I want to say to you right now, and since I can’t give you an actual hug, please go to see how your books affect me. My Amazon name is “Lawmom1966”. WE LOVE YOU!