Heading in to 2017!

I can't believe how fast 2016 has gone, but unlike 2015 which saw huge changes and stress; 2016 has been different. There have been equally big changes; they have been better and smoother, but they have only just caught up to me this month.

This year my family welcomed a new addition; my beautiful little nephew who is a ray of sunshine and by far the best gift we have all had this last year.

I have had two job positions this year; this second one a position I didn't ever see myself in, but is proving to be both interesting and fun. I am very thankful for this job as it has meant the worries I had last year are behind me now, but it was a position that I had to prove I could do in order to keep the job. Thankfully I did prove myself and I can breathe a lot easier in 2017.

I had the opportunity to organize and hold an author signing in November this year, and it went great. So great that I'm doing it again next year. It's very rare that I am able to go to signing events, but when I do I always feel elevated. Being around other authors and so many readers.... It is a huge reminder that despite my day job I am an author and I am so grateful that I get to write and share stories with well, the world. Every signing is a reminder that writing is important to me even though I usual feel like a bad author because I'm not writing or producing enough books a year. I love writing. I love creating. And even if it is just a book a year; i am still writing and sending one book a year out into the world.

I have made new friends this year - fellow authors included - and by doing so these friendships have opened up new opportunities for me. I'm very thankful for all the new people in my life.

I continue to gain and meet new readers, which I am unconditionally thankful for, because you're all awesome.

This year saw the release of Blood Series: Book Two, Blood Secrets. (Finally!) Those of you who have read the second book, I do hope you enjoyed it. Thank you to those of you who have reviewed it, your thoughts are always appreciated. I have already had a couple of readers ask about the third book and how they hope it wont take two years to be released. This is my hope also. All writers are different; we have different lives, we write differently, think differently. I wish I could write a book a month; it would be fantastic, but that is not how it works for me. In saying that, I want to have the book finished as soon as I can because I don't want to leave you all hanging, but I can't make promises because I have no idea what this next year will hold. Plus, I have a novella to write before Book 3 will be written and released.

So the plan for 2017 is to write the Blood Series novella: Book 1.5, which has the working title Cross My Heart. I also plan to re-release/self-publish two previous titles this year, and then make a start on the third and final book in the Blood Series which will be titled Souls Blood. The aim is for Book 3 to be released in 2018 at the latest.

You can find more details/hints on what projects I am hoping to work on across the next couple years on my website: www.e-morgan.com

Other than that I have no idea what next year has in store. My aim is just to be healthier, happier, and now I am in a securer position - in all senses - do what matters most  to me; write more.

I hope you all have a fantastic night whatever you may be doing and I shall see you in 2017!

Happy New Year!

Elizabeth xx

Where is Blood Book 2?

Due to the lack of updates and promotion on here, my website, facebook, and all my other online homes I think it might be safe to say that what I am about to say will come as no surprise.... Blood Book 2 will not be releasing this month.

*hangs head in shame*

Since my last update post, which you can read here, things have gotten... I'm not going to say worse, because the things that have happened across the last two and half months - as unwelcoming and hard as they have been - are indeed fixable - and I have been working hard to fix these little bumps in the road. While trying to deal with life and all that is going on at the present moment, I have been adding words to Blood Book 2, but unfortunately due to these outside problems I haven't been able to meet my deadline. I hate that I haven't. I hate that I am having to tell you - yet again - that the date has been pushed back for Blood Book 2, especially because some of you are eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the Blood Series.

When I made all these decisions for my life back in May I was under the conclusion that things would have worked out the way I had planned - foolish thought really - which included that I would now be super organized in regards to my writing. My writing was why I made these decisions. You see I had this idea that I would roll out of bed each day and just make words flow. I never included the need to eat or go for bathroom break, off chance visits from family or friends, phone calls, bad or unwanted news that may arrive, how I would feel on a day to day basis etc. Reality wasn't included in this plan. And although I am not a disorganized person - because I'm not - things just haven't clicked and gone as smoothly as I would have liked.

So firstly I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the delay with this book.
Secondly, I am making a promise to both myself and you, my wonderful readers, that I will never set a release day or hint at a release date for any of my upcoming projects until I am on the last chapter of the story.
Thirdly, Blood Book 2 will be released before the end of 2015. Even if it is New Years Eve. December 31st. This book will be released. My god, it will.

I have - by the look of my notes - got about roughly 5 - possibly 6 - chapters left to write. The End is in sight. I am almost there. Once I have sent the manuscript off to my editor for edits I will be able to sort the cover reveal - prizes and fun ;) - and set a release date for real.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of rubbish news. Thank you for your patience. I hope when you do read this book you will feel it was worth the wait.

Have a wonderful week. And keep your eyes peeled for my victory "I'm finished" post. It will come. :)

2015 Release Schedule Update

I have promised you all an update for the last few weeks and here it finally is.

I did not plan to have two books releasing so close together its just kinda happened that way. This year is the first in a couple of years I have actually been able to write something new, well, almost new; Blood Book Two. The last two years - with one of my publishers closing - has been spent on polishing and re-releasing the books that I had received the rights back for. So, it's been nice to actually write again, but that is not what I'm blogging about today. It's time I give you an idea of what the heck is going on with this release schedule of mine.

Creak

I received the rights back for my erotic suspense novella early May. I have been undecided in regards to when I want to re-release this book as it wasn't in my plans for this year. At first I thought I would sit on it and release it on Halloween, and then I thought well what is the point in doing that when not much needs to be changed it just needs another scene sliding in there. So the aim was to release it as soon as possible, and well, release it once my lovely editor was able to start work on it with me.

We have started edits on Creak. As stated above not much needs doing with the story, but my editor and I feel that it just needs another scene in there to tighten the story that extra notch. We have both agreed on a date I had in mind to re-release the book; early September.

The exact date and details etc will be revealed this Thursday 13th August during the cover reveal on Facebook, which you can join: https://www.facebook.com/events/1156070317743574/- I will be sharing excerpts and holding a little giveaway to celebrate the reveal, and would love if you could join me.

Blood Book Two

I had hoped to have the book finished by now, but my recent change in circumstances - which I do not regret - started off somewhat smoothly and then just kinda veered on to a rocky road. It's been a little stressful the last couple of weeks. I have had to cancel an event I really wanted to attend, and well, look over a lot of stuff, but everything is fine and will be fine in the long run. Onward and upward.

Other than outside forces at work; Blood Book Two is proving to be a lot longer than I first thought. I think mainly because we have four character POV in this novel, so in one sense there is a lot more going on then there was in She-Wolf and Cranberry Blood. Also it's a little to do with me freaking out. I think I am allowed to admit that, right? As some of you may know from interviews and guest post back when She-Wolf (prequel) and Cranberry Blood (Book one) were released I mentioned there has been quite a gap between those two books and this one - five years exactly - and that was due to issues with my previous publisher.

So, although Book Two overlaps with/continues from Cranberry Blood meaning no time has passed for the characters; for me, five years has passed. My voice has changed - hopefully improved - as a writer, and well, so many people have enjoyed Cranberry Blood - which makes me so happy - I'm feeling the pressure a little with this book. She-Wolf has had mixed reviews, but overall despite what people think of SW, Cranberry Blood has been well received. So yeah, I will hold my hands up I have gone back to the beginning of Blood Two a couple of times and re-read, tweaking along the way, and hoping to god that you, the readers, will enjoy the next instalment of Heather and Brendan's story.

If there is one thing I have learnt - because as a writer you are constantly learning along the way - I will never take breaks between books that are intended to be a series. The reason there was a gap with this series was simply that it took a year to get She-Wolf published, a year later Cranberry Blood was and then after CB had been released with my ex publisher all hell broke loose at the publishers and it took a year to get the rights back, and then a year to polish and tightened and re-release them both.

I have learnt.

So, I firstly want to apologize to those of you who are eagerly waiting the release of Blood Book Two. I wanted so badly to stick to my Summer release goal and at this point in time I'm still not 100% sure if I will be able too.

I had planned to release Blood Book 2 at the end of September. Now, there is a chance that I may still be able to keep that promise, but as stated above Blood Book Two is proving to be longer than expected - which is hopefully a good thing - and with that in mind - and knowing how many chapters I have left to write - I'm thinking I may have to push the release back a month, so October. Mainly because I want to get this book as perfect as it can be, but also because I want to give my lovely editor enough time to edit. She has a life like we all do; plus she is an author herself, so I want to give her enough room and efficient time to work on the book with me.

So for now I am going to say that the book will be released at the end of October, if that changes and I am able to bring it back to the end of September then I will. But for now it's the end of October.

Another lesson now that I am self-publishing and sort of writing full-time, I think I am going to do what one of my favourite author duos do, which is write whatever book I am working on and then only set a release date when I am a chapter or so from the end. I hate disappointing people and with the luck I am having trying to be organized and thinking life will play along, well, I think it is for the best.

Good news; I have the cover for Blood Book Two, and naturally, the title. All I need to do - other than finish the book - is write the blurb - something I never look forward to. It's crazy that a blurb is harder to write than a story. Anyway, cover means cover reveal, which I plan to hold on Facebook mid-September; after Creak has been re-released.

Schedule for 2015

August 13th - Creak Cover Reveal on Facebook
Early September - Creak Release
Mid-September - Blood Book Two Cover Reveal Facebook
Late October - Blood Book Two Release

What Next?

As stated above I am no longer having gaps between books in series. So as soon as Blood Book Two has been released I will be working on Blood Book 1.5. Should I not start work straight away on the novella it will be due to a secret project that involves other authors, but it is still early so I will have to wait and see what is going on by October, but my hope is to get the Blood Series finished by the end of 2016, beginning of 2017. I have one or two standalone books stewing away and another series that I would like to work on. So, plenty of ideas and projects coming up in the next year or so, but for now keep your eyes peeled for details on the release of Creak and Blood Book Two.

Where I'm at... in life and with my WIP

So, I wanted to let you all know where I'm at. I feel that for the last few weeks I've been kinda quiet.... Okay, when I say quiet I mean on social media, not so much here on my blog which I very rarely blog on.

Firstly, I want to apologize that this blog has become more of a hangout where I feature other authors. I'm not sorry for having guest authors over, because personally I have found a lot of the books that are pimped on here interesting and have added them to my TBR pile. I am sorry that I'm not blogging enough about my own books, and the reason for that will tie in with what I am going to say below.

If you follow me on social media - Facebook, Goodreads, TSU or Twitter - apart from my posting links to guest authors you may - or may not - have noticed I've been rather quiet the last few weeks; not that I have ever been an author who posts constantly, but I don't know, I feel I haven't really been around the last few weeks and the reason for that is that I've had to do a lot of thinking about my life; what I want, what I don't want, what I think would be best for me at this point in time and I think I have figured stuff out, but it has kinda exhausted me, which is why I haven't been "around."

I'm an over thinker. It isn't healthy. It isn't always necessary, but I tend to go over and over things in my head. The decisions I have had to make recently aren't even drastic or huge decisions, but naturally they are the beginning of the process of change, and I think we all tend to get into a daily routine, we become comfortable with our situation, and sometimes - or at least with me - I become overly aware of that change. Does that make sense?

Once upon a time I had a dream. It was a big dream or well, my big dream. I kept this dream and worked at it all the way until the age of 18 and then I fell out of love with zed dream, and turned my attention to a smaller dream. I've worked hard at this smaller dream and love it, and I don't regret the way I have spent the last nine years of my life, but part of me has always longed for my big dream and it has taken me until this point in time to see that I have been scared, and have doubted myself, my talent, abilities and even my appearance and character. I have believed this dream to be impossible, which is stupid, because nothing is impossible if you are willing to work for it. I have settled for the routine that I have fallen into and I'm unhappy. I have depression. I hate saying it because people look at you as if you're wanting pity, or attention, or just saying it as an excuse, and they don't understand. I hate the way I feel most days. I hate the way I feel when I'm depressed; how much a part of me wants to give up because I can't cope. I have depression and it ruins things in ways that I never even thought possible. Part of me believes I've never followed my heart because of fear, but also because of my depression. I want to be a happier person, or at least someone who is content. I want to do things that make me happy rather than doing things because I feel I must or because I'm scared to stop doing them.

I still want to achieve my big dream and if I don't try now while my life is my own and I have few responsibilities, I will regret it.

So, figuring this out I have had to make a plan to sort myself out and my life, which I have. Don't worry, I'm not giving up writing. I wont stop writing or stop creating stories. Stories come to me so I believe I should write them. Why be gifted a story and an imagination if you don't use it or share them? I love writing. I love creating, but what has happened is - and I hate to ruin my mystique as an author - my day job, every day job I've ever had gets in the way. Since I started writing I have taken part-time jobs because I wanted the time to write and produce and publish books. I wanted the time and the energy to nurture my stories, but my day job ends up become my priority, and that's not right.

"Ignoring your passion is slow suicide. Never ignore what your heart pumps for. Mold your career around your lifestyle, not your lifestyle around your career."

I'm not 100% sure who said that or where I read it, but it stood out to me. Now, some people reading that will say, "it's not so easy." No it isn't. You need to be smart. You need to support yourself. We all have responsibilities. I have always been career orientated. When my friends were crushing on boys - and I did crush a little - I was dreaming. My career has always been important to me, and I am doing one fraction of it, but I am not spending my time or energy on my passion, and it is suicide. Every day I go into my day job I feel like my soul is curling up into a ball and slowly dying. That my sound nuts to you, but it's how I feel. I am bored, and drained, and fed-up.

So, I have made the decision to change jobs. I found a job that lets me choose what I want to work instead of being told what I'm working. I need a job because I have yet to write a big bestseller that will allow me to live off the royalties and write to my hearts content. So, until that happens, if it ever happens, I must have job. But my books are my priority. I want more time to write. It bugs me that I'm not hitting my wordcount every week. It bugs me that I can't manage to write two or more books a year for you all and myself. I said I wouldn't watch the progress of other authors and compare, but I can't help it. I don't write as much as I want for a number of reasons and it does bug me, but hopefully that will change and soon.

It is the lack of writing which means I don't write a lot of blog posts because I feel I have nothing much to say, but that's bad of me. Even if I don't have an essay to write I should still blog once in a while. So, I promise to start rectifying that. I promise I will try and write one blog every week or fortnight, but you will find I'm on Facebook more than anywhere else, and I might not say a lot, but I do post status updates more then I blog.

Being an author is one of my passions. Being an author, writing stories is my priority along with my big dream. Everything else has to fit in around them.

My big dream, which I'm keeping to myself, I am starting in this next month. I have a plan. I have a goal. This time next year I hope to reach that goal and then I will take the next step and then the next. It is a dream that - like being a writer - may take a while to lift off the ground, but I am determined to try and if I never get anywhere then at least I can say I tried. At least I can say I wasn't afraid to try.

I have no idea if I have confused or lost you, but to put it in a nutshell; I have been quiet the last few weeks due to make some decisions about the direction of my life. I feel better about what I have decided and I'm in the process of turning thoughts in to actions. And now that I have done that I can carry on with Blood Book 2, which I have unfortunately neglected due to feeling like utter crap and driving myself crazy these last few weeks.

On March 11th Blood 2 was up to 23.3k I haven't written anything since then. I have spent this last week reading through Cranberry Blood (Blood Series: Book One) to double check some things before I continue. I am still planning on releasing Blood 2 this summer. I tend to send my beta reader a chapter at a time, which I have already started doing so that when I finish the books, she will have almost finished the book and then I can edit and then send it to my editor. I find it easier to concentrate on individual chapters. It means I can tweak without having to go to far backward.

So far my beta is liking what she has read, which is great, but I am very aware that five years has passed between writing She-Wolf and Cranberry Blood and Untitled Blood Book Two, and I have to say I am nervous. From reading through Cranberry again I can see and hear how my voice has matured as a writer - which is a good thing - and I'm just kinda worried if that will ruin the story somehow. I don't think it will. The world is the same, the characters. The story is hopefully good and you will all hopefully enjoy it, but well, I'm an author. We worry about these things.

Anyway, I'm reading the last couple of chapter of Cranberry Blood tomorrow and then I am going to start reading from the beginning of Blood Two. So reading straight through from Book One to Two, and then I will crack on with the second instalment of the adventure.

Sorry for the rant, but even if it seems I haven't been somewhat absent these last few weeks I feel that I have and I felt it was only right to let you know why. And to update you on where I am at with Blood 2.

Thank you for your time, your patience, and your support.
You're all awesome! Have a fab weekend. :)

Elizabeth x