Candlelight Romance!

I am officially a Gold Canyon® Independent Demonstrator!

I've always enjoyed candles. The flickering flames add ambiance to any room and I find them so relaxing. My favorite candles permeate the room with a fragrant aroma that evokes memories or inspire new ones. When my aunt introduced me to Gold Canyon I fell in love! Gold Canyon candles are incredible! There is a scent to go with every occasion, to set any mood or create one.

My auntie encouraged me to branch out with my own Gold Canyon business but I hesitated, uncertain I could make a go of it. If there is one thing this year has taught me is that anything can be possible if you're willing to try...no strive towards your own personal goals. I never would've imagined I would've sold stories to two publishers, but I have.

After pushing away from all doubts, I decided to go forward. The decision to start my own business with Gold Canyon was a go. I decided to name my business Candlelight Romance. Who doesn't love candles and romance? The two are a HUGE part of my life...the name is perfect!

When you believe in something it's easy to put your whole heart into it and that's how I feel about Gold Canyon. Their products are top of the line, The World's Finest®. These candles last and last, melt all the way down to the bottom with no black sooty residue. The wax burns cool and burns longer than any of the competition and I've tried them all. Haven't heard of Gold Canyon? Check out my website or contact me!

www.mygc.com/candlelightromance

Friends in Cyberspace!

(photo by clix)

I'm a bit of a loner. I think a lot of writers are, but as an author I force myself to reach out. To make contacts and maintain a visible profile on various social media outlets. I used to fret about what to say or share, until I realized every single post or tweet doesn't have to be profound. It just has to be me. Simple right?

Well, it has gotten easier and now I appreciate networking. I'm actually GLAD to be a part of internet social circles. When I first joined these sites, I never expected to make new friends. I may never meet some of them face to face...hell, I may not ever SEE their face, but that doesn't matter. 

Call me crazy, but I'm thankful for my internet buds that have encouraged me, offered suggestions on my WIP's and listened to my frustrations as a writer. I hope I've been as helpful to them as they've been to me.

You guys know who you are, thank you!

~AN

Music to the Rescue!

This has been a crazy day and when things get crazy, I turn to music to change my mood or at least calm me down.

These are my top five song choices in no particular order for mellowing out:


I LOVE this song. It helps keep everything in perspective.


So joyful and full of hope. I listen to this song and remember things aren't half crazy as they seem.


I can listen to this song over and over. I love when the audience joins in with her.


You can't listen to this without tapping your foot or shaking your bum.


Having a bad hair day or worse? Make this song your mantra and you'll feel "Cold-Blooded". *G*

I could post a hundred songs on here, but I'm going to keep it short and sweet as I turn up the volume and soak in the good vibes.


~AN

Motherhood Musings

Before I had kids of my own, I had fantasies of what motherhood would be like. I imagined how awesome it would be to have a child created from the love between me and my husband. I wondered how being a mother would change my life and his.

When I was pregnant I was obsessed with Baby Story on TLC. I think I watched every episode during my pregnancy. I wanted to be prepared for every possible scenario. I remembering talking to my mom about breastfeeding, newborns and giving birth. Now, she told me being a mother was tough and I remember her saying more than once, "Just wait until you're a mother," but that statement didn't mean much to me at the time. I don't think she told me the complete truth.

Motherhood is extremely hard work filled with joy and pains you could never imagine when your belly is round with child. I love being a mother but I didn't understand the time, committment, challenges, sacrifices, doubts, worries, headaches, backaches, boo boos, poo poos, late nights, crying, whining, pleading and just plain ole exhaustion it would involve. These are the words of a mother who has seen good days and bad as every mother has. Being a mother touches your heart and soul like no other experience on this planet. But the job of mothering can also deplete your spirit and soul if you let it consume you.

I say it's a job because it is and if you don't see it that way you're probably not a mother yet. It took me a long time to balance being a mother and keeping hold of me and I'm still trying to figure out the magic bullet of balancing it all. It's a labor of love because you love your children and soon all of the things I mentioned above mean nothing if you can see that bright smile on your child's face.

Motherhood is more than I could ever imagined. I'll take the good with the bad because the bottom line is...I am a mom and I wouldn't have it any other way. I salute every mommy out there who understands the struggle and the joy's of mothering. :)

My two hearts, Kai & Drake

Waiting and Writing

Around the beginning of October, I submitted my first completed manuscript. This YA novel will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what happens in NY. This was the baby that made it all clear to me that writing was what I was born to do besides sing. After almost two years in the making, two hundred and seventy-eight pages, countless rewrites and one busted computer later (it fell to the ground right when I could see the ending in sight), I shipped it off. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as soon as I did, but then a few days later the weight was back and stronger than ever before. I got the email asking for the entire work and I rejoiced, but now I'm back to biting my nails.

What if I missed the mark with my target audience? What if I shipped it off to the wrong editor? And then the big one question … what if my novel is rejected? Literally, a million questions go through your mind. I know writers face rejection and what truly matters in the end is if you keep trying.

Yeah.

I get that, but looking out for every email or envelope in the mail is very, very hard! I haven't shared the details about my YA novel because I almost think it could jinx things. Crazy, I know and I'll admit to being just a little bit crazy. I was up to two in the morning thinking my writing and this book and what I would do if it is or doesn't get picked up. I know for sure I will resubmit and pull all of my hair out (that's a lot of hair)!

Once I was released from Mia's story, all the other characters that have been swirling around in my head began pushing and shoving to make it out next. I love short stories a lot as a reader and definitely as a writer. There is nothing like creating a tale in a week or less and enjoying the sweet success of completing a story. Waiting for word is tough, but becoming published in the meanwhile with my other short stories has helped. I can do nothing but wait and write and try not to wonder every few hours about all the 'what if's'.

I was pleasantly surprised to read the blog post of an editor turned author that finally submitted his own manuscript and discovered what it was like on the other side. His story is worth reading and you can find it here!

Manuscript Received!

Today, I got the postcard from Kimani Tru confirming that they had indeed received my full manuscript as requested. I still can't believe that almost two years ago I got serious about my writing and committed myself to finishing Mia's story. This has been such an amazing year for me in the sense that I finally decided to follow my dream of becoming an author no matter what.

With two young kids and a million distractions as a mother and wife, I finished not just the manuscript that's being reviewed in New York, but three other short stories. I've been offered a contract for two of those stories and I'm waiting to hear about the third. I'm thrilled! I'm humbled and happy.

We all have different dreams and some of them we reach for and others we just daydream about. All of us change through life as we grow older and experience new things and often times our dreams shift with us, but the core of your dream usually remains the same. It's the part of you that's truly you without the programmed fears and self-conscious hang-ups. For me, being creative is what makes me feel alive. Whether it's with my music or writing, I just feel like I'm the most connected with myself and the world when I'm in one of those two worlds.

This year is almost over, but I've learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of doing when I'm fully committed. What's your dream? Are you fully committed to it or is it just a daydream that seems impossible to grasp? Don't listen to those around you or the voices in your head that would have you to believe you can't do whatever your heart desires. You can because whatever your dream is...is a part of who you truly are. Be you...be brilliant!

Believing in Your Gifts

I’ve always loved three things in my life: reading, writing and singing. But it’s taken me a long time to realize that writing and singing were my gifts. It’s not that I wasn’t told that they were or that in the back of my mind I didn’t know…the truth was I didn’t believe I was good enough to do either. It didn’t matter how well I sang or how many times someone told me how much they enjoyed my performance because deep down I never really believed them. I wonder sometimes what I would have done differently with my music in school if fear hadn’t held me back.


The same went with my writing that began at an early age. I remember getting my first journal and I believe my love affair with words started then. I moved on to stories, plays and poems that I’d scribble into notebook after notebook for only me to read. I was too scared to share any of it with anyone.


In college, I started sharing some of my poems and I can remember being told that I should pursue writing. I thought, “Who would want to read some of my stuff?” I focused on my music, but writing always popped up in creating songs and crafting poetry to express myself.

Now, almost ten years later, I understand that you have to believe in your gifts to really soar with them. You have to let go of your fear to let your gifts grow.

I’m not saying that I don’t still have off days as a writer, but I finally believe that…I AM A WRITER. That’s huge. I got serious about becoming a published author about a year and half ago and now within the last month I’ve been offered a contract for one of my short stories and asked to send in my full manuscript for my YA novel.


Validation does encourage the spirit, but you still have to know within your being that you are your gift to achieve any amount of success. Success is usually based on status and money, but I truly think it should be measured in realizing your gifts and honing your talent to share and enrich other lives no matter what the calling!

Staying Focused

A month ago, I was celebrating the fact that my first manuscript was finished...or so I thought. After rereading it for the third time and hearing feedback from a couple of trusted friends, I realized I wasn't yet done. My work needed more work. My story was lacking enough tension or drama to keep things popping.

I admit the feedback I got was great, but it made me feel a little discouraged. I was done! I wanted to be done, but I also wanted a really great story that the reader would enjoy.

I wanted to write a super positive story for young adults to enjoy, but I forgot that too much feel good reading leaves the reader bored. You need drama for good drama. I knew this, but somehow I still missed my mark. So, I went back through and rewrote several scenes and made the nemesis in my story a real stinker.

With thirty more pages added to the end of my book, I truly think I've created a story that will not only be positive, but has enough drama to keep the reader guessing up until the ending. I'm staring at my manuscript and trying to prepare my brain for rereading this story for the umpteenth time. This I hope will be the final run through.

The next phase is even more arduous...finding an agent or submitting on my own to the publisher. I'm still not sure which way to go. So many questions and it feels like I'm fumbling in the dark, but I have to believe that I will hit that ray of light that will push me through the door.

Slow and Steady Editing

Boy, I have the manuscript done, but I know I still have to go through and reread and edit. In some ways I love this process, because it's liking seeing a beautiful picture that just needs added highlights or a splash of color here or there to bring the piece alive.

That being said, editing is slow and tedious process. Try to hurry and you are just skimming the words, not truly grasping what you are reading or what you really intended your character to say.

No, it has to be done when you mind is clear and your thoughts are focused on what you were really trying to impart in the written words on the page.  Only forty pages in and I am feeling a bit discouraged, because I so want to get to the next step of this process, but I know I can't rush this either.

I am love seeing the characters that I've created come alive with the dialogue or fall flat. This is my chance to rework and rewrite until it shines and I truly want it to sparkle.  So, I will take my time and pray that this process doesn't take half as long as I think and that it brings forth a story worthy of readers.