I recently explored the concept of my characters sprouting from alien spoors, seeding my mind with featureless golems that come to life through my fingers and spring over the keyboard. Yes, I live with pods in my head. I really like it in there, and they depend on me.
What I don’t like is having to leave them behind when I come out to do all the mind-bending, endless labor it takes to publish and sell books. Too much time getting headaches when all I want to do is add dimension to my pod family! …And maybe find some time to relax with the hubby. That seems to be a hard-won bonus these days. I mostly get to see him when he comes to visit my pod people. He’s very amenable that way.
But I’m being honest here… I mostly want to run screaming back to the confines of my imagination. There are scenes needing to be written! More characters that lay dormant, waiting for the words to make them whole. Why must I go down a million internet vortexes that lead to galaxies, that lead to universes where it seems I might never find my way back out, just to get them out into the world?
Do they really need to go into print? Maybe my pod people are happier where they are.
The bottom line is, I tell their stories for readers to enjoy.
So, grow pod people, take shape, and fly off the page and into cozy reading nooks everywhere.
Updated Blog, January 2026 – This year is the fifth anniversary of my series launch! Enjoy The Starlight Chronicles... On SALE January 26 – 30!
Artwork above and below by:
Vic DeLeon Art Director, Ark II, Studio Wildcard – ArtStation.com
Since I started writing a year and a half ago, and somehow decided that my first story would become a three-part, 1200-page novel, characters have been sprouting, growing, and taking on life like so many alien pods. My life is truly no longer my own.
The featureless entities shed their membranes and take on dimension as they flow out through my fingers and over the keyboard, then burst onto my screen. But part of them keeps growing inside me, their tentacles wrapping firmly around my consciousness, and oozing out through my senses. Then they become entangled with my emotions.
I would choose to live no other way. Their stories must be told. Telling them is my reward for being their host.
Soon it will be time to let them go into the world on their own, to make room for my imagination to be seeded again, maybe from a different part of the galaxy. But I’m not quite ready for that yet.
How do you deal with your pod people and the sense of becoming an observer in your own head, loving your characters like children who will leave you and maybe never look back? I’d love to know. I think readers get it.
I’m sharing some artwork by Artist Timi Honkanen. I think artists get it, too.
From her excellent short story, Braza, first published in 2022, to her exciting debut novel, Path of the Crescent Moon, released this May and available for preorder, I’ve had the pleasure of following Isa’s writing journey, whether as a reader, writing group member and fellow critiquer, social media sharer, or interviewer. (You can check out our first Spotlight interview here.)
I’m currently enjoying Path of the Crescent Moon as an ARC reader and eager to chat with the author about the story, its creation and publication, and her writer’s life. Join us for some writer’s inspiration.
Let’s Meet the Author
Isa began her journey as an avid fantasy reader who often wondered if, one day, she could write a book herself. It turned out that she could.
Isa’s work began with short stories. She was hooked from the moment she began crafting her own worlds and characters, watching them dance under her typing fingers.
For Isa, the lens of fantasy helps her understand the world; the good and the bad, the whimsical and the dark. Much more than a form of escapism, she believes that speculative fiction has the potential to show a better future for ourselves, to take us on new adventures.
Isa moved continents from her hometown in Brazil to Portugal in 2017, seeking that new adventure for herself. Besides writing and reading, Isa enjoys long runs through the local parks of Porto, feeding and watering her plants with her adoring husband, and obsessing over the fanart of her favourite fantasy protagonists.
She also believes that books are political and that we can change the world one story at a time.
Let’s Get Started
Thank you so much for visiting my Spotlight, Isa. I love having an author join me during such an exciting milestone. Your novel is out! And it’s amazing. From the start, I was hooked by the intriguing characters. Your stories have found excellent homes in a variety of magazines and anthologies. Can you start by sharing your experiences with the different publications and, eventually, finding and collaborating with your small press publisher, Owl Talyn Press?
Thanks so much for having me again, Darci!
I began with short stories, finding magazines with submission calls that aligned with whatever I had written. There’s a lot (and I mean A LOT) of rejections in any writer’s journey, but I’ve learnt to never take it personally. When we manage to find a home for a story, it’s the best feeling ever.
The process is very similar for short stories and novels: you’re an unagented author, so you’re submitting directly to editors. The only difference is the material you need to prepare.
For short stories, a small cover letter and a mini blurb is enough. For a novel, you may need a synopsis, a summary, author bio, and parts of your manuscript. Pay especial attention to the details, such as what exactly the publishers are looking for, the format of your submission, and when possible, who you’re writing to. Use your voice when crafting the cover letter, try to show why your story would be a good fit, then hit send and hope for the best.
Finding Owl Talyn Press was a dream come true. They were willing to give my book a chance, and it’s been wonderful working with them. I couldn’t be happier!
That’s excellent advice. Thank you! Tell us about your novel and how we can find it.
Path of the Crescent Moon is a fantasy novel made of witchy rage and moonlight. It’s for the angry souls, the soft souls, the ones who would very much love to get lost in a dark forest and learn the secrets of the night.
We follow Bea, a young mother who will do anything to save her child. In her journey, we discover how far we are willing to go for our loved ones, and to what depths we will fall if we fail.
When you have the chance to exact revenge, do you take it? When you have the power to set the world ablaze, do you provoke the spark? If your immediate answer is not a hard “no”, then you might want to check Amazon and Owl Talyn Press for a copy of Path of the Crescent Moon.
Ooh, so moody and such fun questions to hook the reader. From my initial foray into the first chapters, I’m getting the feeling the setting is a character in itself.
Do you have more stories in the works?
Always. I’ve got a vampire novel in submission, and two works in progress. One is a novel, the other a novella, both still on the first draft stage. I’ve got short stories also in submission and probably a thousand more ideas on the back burner. What I do not have a lot of is time.
Hmmm, vampires… since I happen to be intimate with the makings of this story through our writer’s group, let me just say, yes! Vampires, and so much more…
Let’s back up a bit and talk about what inspired you to become a writer.
I’ve always loved books, loved stories and legends and myths and anything that let me wonder. For me, authors are the real super stars, so I’ve always had this idea in the back of my mind that I’d love to write my own story one day.
When I was thirty years old and done with pretending to be what I was not, I decided that it was time to do what I wanted to do; and that was writing a book.
I fell in love with the process of writing. It’s hard and maddening and terribly wonderful. My friends and community inspire me everyday and so do the books I read and the authors I love. I’m a fan girl at heart, so to be able to count myself among my idols is honestly a dream.
I love it, Isa! You share this passion for books and writing on your fantastic Instagram posts. Where do you get your story ideas?
I… have no idea, lol.
Most of my stories begin with an image, something like a stage and a masked cellist in a crimson dress; or a loose vibe, a feeling of grief, or rage, or obsession. I usually know what I want to feel, not necessarily what I want to say, and I won’t know the shape of the story until I start writing it. So maybe they come from my emotions?
I do use writing prompts with my friends: we challenge each other with three random words and write for an hour or two until we have something to share. That’s always fun and a great exercise.
Archetypes are also another starting point for me: a striving musician, a depressed vampire, a grieving witch. I like to play around with ideas and see what comes out of it. Subverting expectations and such. Anything can be a story, and finding it is the fun part.
Excellent! You likely just sent some of our readers to the keyboard to get started on an idea. Dark Cottagecore Fantasy is perfect for this novel–cozy cottage garden backdrops mixed with dark fantasy moonlit forests. I wasn’t familiar with it until Crescent Moon, and now I’m intrigued by the possibilities. Can you talk about the genre and its appeal to you as a writer? What other fantasy sub genres do you enjoy as settings for your stories and why? Are there others you plan to explore?
Cottage-core comes from this idyllic and enchanted life, a cosy cottage and a food garden, tea and biscuits, and no emails to answer or meetings to attend. It’s dream-like, utopic. But we know nothing is as simple as it looks, and there’s always darkness lurking in the corners. Forests are beautiful, but also quite dangerous. Nature is bountiful, but also mercurial.
Dark cottage-core explores the shadows that live in our dreams. Nightmares are frightening, and mystical and alluring. The witch who lives in the cottage deep in the woods can save or hex you, and you won’t know until you knock on her door. I love this duality, the good and the bad that exists in everything.
I love everything dark and whimsical, so give me gothic literature, gas-lamp fantasy, historic horror, and so on. I’m also a hopeless romantic, so I want to explore it more in my writing.
I’m right there with you on this. The best thing is that these stories have always been out there, but this descriptor shines the perfect light on that spot on the shelf where readers can find it.
One of the many things I admire about you is your willingness to support authors by sitting on panels, or participating in groups and organizations, offering your experiences and expertise one on one or to the group as a whole. Can you talk about the benefits of engaging with the writing community?
Writing can be a lonely and at times terribly difficult pursuit, especially in the beginning, so finding a community can make all the difference in the world.
A community helps you stay motivated because every writer has been through the dreaded creative block, or struggled with plot holes and shallow characters. Talking things over, listening to advice, asking and giving feedback helps you hone your craft and grow as a writer. Actually, I’d say that sharing your work and actively listening to feedback is the only way to get better.
I also believe art is about connection. We make art in an attempt to translate ourselves and our inner world, in the hopes we will find someone out there who can understand us, who might have gone through the same. It’s all about connecting with other human beings, and writing and reading is the same.
In engaging with the writing community, I met people who have become dear friends even if they live far away from me. And I think this is priceless.
I can relate. Starting this writing journey during the Pandemic on lock down ironically opened the door to a community as big as the globe, yet as supportive and friendly as my neighborhood.
Will we be seeing you and Path of the Crescent Moon at public events, so we can reach back to you?
I will be chatting with dark fantasy author Lucy A. McLaren on hers and her cohost’s (sci-fi/fantasy author Lydia Baker) amazing podcast Introverted Indies soon, so stay tuned for more info on that. I also hope to do book fairs and book signings in the future, but I haven’t got anything scheduled yet.
Introverted Indies is awesome and a great place to find new authors and their books. In addition to interviews, you can enjoy authors reading their works.
I did an interview with Lucy a year ago February. So fun! I also interviewed Lucy and Lydia.
For bookish fun and news on sales and events for Path of the Crescent Moon, follow Isa on Instagram and TikTok.
Now that you’ve published your first novel, what are your key takeaways on the writing process? In other words, your best practices.
Write your first draft as if no one is watching, because they aren’t. That draft is just a blue print of your story, and it’s messy and ugly, and that’s okay.
Your second (sometimes third) draft is where you make the story work. It still doesn’t have to be pretty, but here is where you solve the plot holes and flesh out your characters, their motivations, ambitions, how it all plays out. Only after that you can start making the prose pretty, working the sentences and so on.
I find that showing my work to a critique partner or writing group earlier on is best, even if the prose is rough. They are usually the ones who can help me make the story make sense. This way, I won’t waste a lot of time worrying about sentence level edits, only to have to rewrite the whole chapter because of a plot hole.
Be patient. Writing is a marathon, not a race. There will be lots of rewrites anyway, edits and revision, so it’s important to enjoy the process.
Wonderful! Thank you for such awesome advice from the perspective of living it. For more on what it’s like to be part of a writer’s group, check out my Spotlight with Dylan and Isa.
Your cover is gorgeous. Can you talk about your cover design collaboration?
Matisse is a wonderful artist, and I’m so happy I got to work with her.
I started by looking at the covers of books with a similar vibe than mine, like dark cottage-core, witchy books, and found there were lots of flowers, vines, birds, and that they used a darker palette of colours.
From there, I picked the themes and symbols in my book: the monarch butterfly, the crescent moon (of course), the wild flowers and the books.
I made a mood board on Canva, and Matisse was able to bring these disconnected ideas to life. She had four sketches done, and we (my editors and I) chose the one you see today.
Thanks for the resource! Here’s Matisse’s website also. Speaking of websites, I’m super impressed with yours. Any tips or advice on building an appealing author landing page?
Oh, so truth be told, my dad made it for me, since he is a programmer and I had no idea where to start!
He chose the template and added all the plugins and popups and what nots to make it work while I chose what would go in each page and link. I also made all the graphics on Canva, trying to build a visual identity with the colours, pictures, and fonts, and I think it worked well. I also made sure no AI was used.
It was his advice to have all my published short stories there, as they could be a way to introduce my work to new readers. Having them on my website means that they are searchable, people can Google and find them easily, and that can convert in actual sales for my book.
I’ve got a Newsletter now too, so people can subscribe directly on my website.
I love a great family collaboration story, and what a success.
What are your top tips and advice on balancing your creative time with daily life?Do you have a regular writing schedule, a favorite writing spot?
No regular writing schedule, more like seizing every opportunity to write. I don’t write everyday, that is literally impossible for me, so I don’t feel bad if I spend a whole day without it.
But I do make an effort to write consistently, which means finding time in my routine for it. It’s not a difficult thing to do, because I love writing even when it’s hard. If the words aren’t coming, I either leave it to come back later, or I write something bad and broken either way. Those are always fun.
My favourite writing spot now is my desk which has a nice witchy atmosphere around it. But I’ll write on the sofa or at work if I have a break during the day.
I can picture you at all these places. Thanks again Isa for dropping by! I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
Any parting advice for aspiring writers?
Write. That sounds obvious but it’s too easy to get caught in the “planning to write” stage. So, write. Write bad words, ugly sentences, broken stories; put it all out there and have fun. Slowly, things will start making more sense while you read and learn and write some more, and one day you will notice that you wrote a book and that the book is kinda good.
And Darci, thank you so much for having me and for being this amazing friend!
Back to you, Isa 😍 Ooh, and let me share my Path of the Crescent Moon character art as the grande finale. Get in touch with Isa to collect your very own!
Writing is still on hiatus for me, but never the writers! Come back tomorrow for an excellent conversation with my critique buddy, Isa Ottoni, who just launched her debut dark cottagecore fantasy novel, Path of the Crescent Moon.
I have more interviews scheduled for the year, and I plan to revisit one of my 2025 summer guests (a fellow local author from last year’s Viriginia City Writing Retreat) for updates on their year in writing. Scroll down for this year’s Retreat highlights.
I plan to have two (for sure one) short story appearing in upcoming TDB Author Collective anthologies, so stay tuned for those exciting publications. Thanks to all of you who visit my blogs and read my books! Your support is so appreciated.
Health
Meanwhile, on the home front, I’m three weeks past hip replacement surgery and thrilled with the results. The first week and a half, I was a big baby wondering what the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks! I was thinking. Typical for early post-op days, I suppose. I’ve only had three surgeries in my life, and I’m pretty sure this was even more invasive than my partial mastectomy. Those scars they leave on your butt? Huge! This time I remembered to mention that the only time I can ever throw up is when my body wants to purge pain drugs and anesthesia (last time all the way out of the hospital and in the car on the way home), so the anesthesiologist kindly stuck an antinausea patch on my neck. Beauty!
Oh, and it was my first time at Carson-Tahoe Hospital. I was impressed. Not crowded either…
Okay, enough of that. Can you guess what I’ve been doing during recovery?
Stitchy Update Time!
Virginia City Writing Retreat 2026
It was super awesome having a writing retreat at the end of May right before surgery to keep my mind off being sliced and diced. My friend Dee and I enjoyed our cozy room again, the abundant homemade food, and the classes, like how to write a cozy mystery, researching–the good old-fashioned way (in person and making actual phone calls)–for our fiction and non-fiction stories, and character development. I missed the pitch (to an agent) class but learned it was super entertaining watching the roll-play. The highlight this year was a book display organized by author and awesome cover designer, Salem T. Lynn, where attendees could share and sell their books. I bought two and got them signed, of course. Jacci Turner will be a guest on my August Spotlight. Our wonderful host and author, Kim Harnes, outdid herself once again.
I’m blinking hard. The light is bright and welcome. I smile. Where shall I start? I reach for the canvas bin and all my pretties…
This has been my February: emerging from a five-year writing binge, still preoccupied with the many stories I have yet to finish. However, I know I need something different. Suddenly, the urge to stitch strikes me. I experience a moment of panic, but then I remember that dozens of kitted-up projects survived the great purge of 2025 – that strange year (yeah, it was only last year, but it feels like a lifetime ago) when I felt compelled to clear space in my 10×10 craft room for life’s unexpected challenges.
My cancer treatments are behind me now, the world is even crazier, and living in it requires creative survival tactics. I’ll call it revitalization. The joy I’ve found in stitching over all my decades calls to me again, urging me down that rabbit hole of bliss in mindful handwork – all the color, texture, and wonderful redefining rhythms of pulling a needle filled with vibrant silks and cotton through scrumptious fabric.
I’m happy to report that I started the fun last week by organizing all 50 WIPs (works in progress) and my supply stash. And yes, 50 survived the purge, though I sadly gave away 30 others plus tons of stash. My projects are all stored in a beautiful collection of handmade bags in pretty bins on my shelves.
From late 2018 through 2021, I was part of the stitching community on YouTube known as FlossTube, an outgrowth of BookTubers who love to stitch. The channels multiplied as even the shiest stitchers came out of their craftrooms to share their passion through video. Watching these women and men from all over the globe, living all the diverse lives, talking about the huge thing we all have in common, and sharing their progress, is surprisingly addictive… and highly enabling – and the craft supply hoarder part of me went wild. So did many new designers. Careers were launched, dreams were made.
Sitching while listening to books was how I got started writing at the end of 2020… but that’s another story.
I’m so excited to return to this world on YouTube, finding so many old favorites still at it and still working on some of the same BAPs (Big Ass Projects), many of them the same ones I’m trying to finish. Nope, it’s not a lonely craft. If you check it out, you’ll discover that for yourself.
My challenge now is to balance time for crafting (including knitting and crocheting) with time for writing novels. I’ve got nine, yes, nine stories in the works. I’ve always been, and always will be, a multi-crafter, serial starter, and steady finisher. Lately, I’ve focused on finishing short stories for anthologies, but those novels keep on developing…
Want to see some of what I’ve been doing this past week? Because I must share. 😍 I stitched on 13 projects, making really decent progress, and even finished one last night! I plan to finish another one in February. As with my novels, I’ll keep you posted throughout the year.
I hope this inspires you to catch the crafting bug or return to a favorite – maybe carve out some time to create a little something every day, then share the beauty. It makes a difference to the universe.
I did get a finish done last year, which I adore. Monster Whale by Owl Forest Embroidery. It still needs framing… so you get my chihuahua for now.
What is it about the month of May that feels like disappearing into “Alice in Wonderland?” Creators of all sorts seem to let loose, snug in the bosom of springtime, and I’m one of them… starting all the new things. I suppose that’s because spring is about life-affirming renewal, transitions, exploration… and the difficulties that sometimes come with accepting change.
This spring post is mostly about my cross-stitching journey, where I share the photographic evidence of my craziness. Ironically, my stitchy bug has me working on the eerie and gothic–the mysterious darker side of life while the world blooms bright around me. That might be explained a bit at the end of this post.
I’ve started 10, yes 10! new cross stitch projects this month–32 this year–thanks to being a confirmed serial starter and multi-crafter, and not just a few stitch-along groups I’ve joined (one of which is comprised of The Witchy Stitcher fans getting their witchy madness on in May), and all the Flosstube I watch, and all the new and old Instagram stitchy friends who enable me daily…
However, I am also sharing a few other spring revival happenings, like “Revival,” literally the title of a new anthology from the Dreamer’s Bookshop Author Collective, which includes a short and poignant story I wrote last November, featuring a bit of a personal theme. You can find it at the top of my Anthologies page, another revitalization this month.
In fact, after experimenting with a very lovely web page at Author Websites by BookBub over the last year, I’ve returned to WordPress. This is where my people are and this is where I’ll stay. Feel free to explore the spiffed-up pages at bydllewellyn.com and let me know what you think.
So, for the serious stuff. You might wonder why an author is sharing so much about cross stitch these last few months. It’s simple. This culturally rich craft and its community are helping me survive. I’m in the middle of losing someone very important to me. It’s a transition I want to fight, to deny. But I need to be strong and be there. It’s hard to explain, but stitching such an eclectic variety of projects from so many creative designers soothes, bolsters, and revitalizes–giving me that strength.
As for writing, my pod people are at rest for now, letting me get all obsessive over another craft. There are noises of jealousy for my attention, a few whispers to remind me their stories are waiting. But for now, stitching lets me wake up each day on a positive note. Sharing it with you is part of that. Thank you!
Coming in June…
A Q&A with my friend and fellow author, Isa Ottoni. She’s visited my Spotlight a couple of times, and it has been wonderful following her journey. Her debut novel, Path of the Crescent Moon, is on presale!
Next weekend (the last weekend in May) is a return to the Virginia City Writing Retreat with my friend Dee. Stay tuned for highlights.
Hip replacement surgery is in my future, starting June 1 with the left hip, then on to the right a few months later. I’ll let you know what life is like with bionic parts.
I’m working hard at finding awesomeness in each day because while there are sad and challenging things going on in my personal life, there are awesome things too. And it all centers around creativity. I encourage you to create every day and embrace the awesomeness.
Check out April’s fantastic Spotlight interview packed full of insight and advice for indie authors.
Meet Paranormal / Urban Romance author Naomi Valkyrie. Naomi packed this Spotlight with a wealth of insight and experience as an indie author. Reap the benefits as I have.
Get your romance on with the Romance Book BlastFREE e-book event April 28. Here are few selections in the Paranormal Romance section.
This event and many crafty ones are filling my calendar. Here are a few just for fun:
Lola Crow’s 2026 Mystery Stitch Along, Museum After Midnight
Just Cross Stitch Magazine’s 2026 Stitch Along, “Tapestry of Twelve.”
Willowing Art’s Free Mastering Mixed Media 2026 Online Workshops
Witchy Sticher May Madness – Instagram group, stitching designs by The Witchy Stitcher. I’m hoping to start a new one from Meg’s wonderful book or my digital library, and work on my two in progress…
April Stitching Progress including some of the events listed above
I truly hope your April was awesome, and happy upcoming Maynia… as we call the fifth month in the stitching world.
Naomi Valkyrie, author of the Life is Hell series and The Cursed series, is known for her unique writing style, perfectly flawed characters, and chosen family themes.
Naomi is fond of saying she is merely the humble vessel characters choose to tell their stories through. Thankfully, her family forgives her midnight writing binges and plies her with caffeine when the characters won’t stop talking.
Let’s Get Started
Welcome to my Spotlight, Naomi. Tell us a little about yourself and how you began your writing journey.
I don’t remember when, exactly, I started writing my first book. It was in 2018, but the details elude me. I’ve slept since then. The whole thing began when I was driving to work one day. I thought, I wonder if I could write a book? So, I did. And then, as often happens, I developed a taste for it.
What or who was your biggest inspiration, your favorite author. Perhaps you can share your favorite books.
I think everything I’ve ever read is part of the inspiration behind my creativity. Reading was my escape in childhood, I spent more time in books than the real world whenever I could. Reading saved my life in a lot of ways.
By nature, I am a person who loves to learn – on my own terms. If I am interested in a topic, I will absorb as much as I can. It’s given me a deep well to dive into when coming up with story ideas. And because I spent so much time using my imagination as a kid, nearly anything can spark an idea now.
There’s no one favorite author for me. There are so many good books, and just not enough time to read them all!
You write in multiple genres under various pen names. I imagine that allows you to wear many creative hats and let your imagination soar. But what are the practical reasons to designate pen names, and what is your advice to authors in that regard?
Originally, I didn’t intend to write under multiple pen names; and you can see this when you look at my Naomi Valkyrie catalog. I’ve got Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy Romance, Contemporary Romance, and an Alien romance in there.
Then, as happens so often as you grow in your authorship journey, I learned about branding and continuity. The Valkyrie pen name is now focused on Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Romance.
But, I still wanted to write in those other romance sub-genres. The answer was creating new pen names. When I did that, it got overwhelming real fast. Social media platforms for each one. Newsletters for each one. No, thank you! I am one person. I can only manage so much. This overwhelm led me to create the Kaleidoscope Romance umbrella where I run all the pen names in one place.
If there is advice in this area I would give, it would be to start the umbrella from the beginning so you can spend more time on writing than management. Since I streamlined it, I’ve been much more productive.
Do you write full-time? What is your writing schedule like, and how do you balance writing–your creative time–with day-to-day life? Do you have favorite techniques you use to get your creative juices flowing?
I write full time. That is, I write when my brain lets me. Being neurodivergent, sometimes it can get tricky corralling my brain to stay on task. So, unlike a lot of authors, I don’t have a firm schedule. I write when the hyperfocus comes on, and knock out big chunks at a time.
Not only am I neurodivergent, my family is as well. Our daily life looks different than it would in a neurotypical household. Every day can look different from the day before. It just depends on where everyone is with what they can tolerate at any given time. Most of the time, we flow pretty well. And when we hit a hiccup, we pivot until we get back on track.
As for creative techniques, I don’t have any specific ones. An idea pops into my head and I sit down and write. Ideas are never my problem. Wrangling my brain to stay focused is my biggest hurdle.
What are your top writing resources to help with productivity (applications, services, websites, etc.) and favorite methods you’ve gathered along the way? Are you a pantser or plotter?
I go about my writing process a little differently. All of my first drafts are handwritten. It’s the way my brain works best. So, the most important tools for me are pencils and paper. And I have a hoard of them! Oh, and erasers. Because the ones on pencils never last as long as the lead.
My next most important tool, from a writing standpoint, is Atticus. It does everything I need all in one. The first step in my editing process is transcribing my draft into Atticus to create the manuscript. Then, once all my editing steps are finished, I can format it in there for eBook or paperback!
Since I have nearly abandoned social media – seriously, it is virtually impossible to get visibility on any of the platforms without paying now – my primary tools for marketing are FloDesk for my newsletter (the most important piece of marketing), BookFunnel for group promos and swaps, and StoryKeepr, a robust author management platform where I have my to-do list, release calendar, tracking links, landing pages, more swaps, etc.
At this time, the only two social media platforms I still use on a regular basis are BlueSky and Mastodon. After tracking the numbers, I observed these two platforms are the ones that give me the most traffic. I’m not wasting valuable writing time posting anywhere else. So, you’ll probably find my pages on Facebook, but I am rarely ever on there. And most of those pages have a pinned post to direct people to find me elsewhere. It’s unfortunate, but social media sites have become cesspools and a time suck that’s robbing us of both productivity and attention spans.
Community building is where it’s at now, and most social media isn’t doing that anymore. For community building, I lean on my newsletter, and on my Discord server. There’s no feed to keep me side-tracked with scrolling. I am there having productive conversations with other authors and with readers.
Oh, yes. I must mention my website. Having a website is a key tool. If something happens to your account on a publishing platform, you want people to still be able to find you! (This is also why building a newsletter list is important). Yes, maintaining a website can be tedious, but it keeps you available to readers!
Pantser or Plotter? I hinted at this earlier. I am, and always will be, a pantser. I have to let my brain go where it’s going to go. If I try to organize any of it, it freezes me up. I’ve learned to just sit with the pencil and paper and let my brain download whatever is in there. You can fix anything in edits!
Any advice on publishing?
This is a BIG subject, and a lot of it depends on the person.
I think the most important thing is, before you even publish your first book, decide on your path and stick with it for several years. Things take time to ramp up. Publishing is a slow build. It’s not a get-rich-quick scenario. I know a lot of people don’t want to hear that, but them’s the facts.
If you decide you want to publish wide, then stick with it for several years. Give it time to take root. If you decide you want to publish in KU, stick with it. Don’t bail after six months. That’s not enough time to get any real data. Again – slow build.
Another important thing, you have to get used to change in the overall industry. When I first began, Amazon was the king of indie publishing. Nowadays, more and more authors are going wide, and even setting up direct sales to sell their own books (look into Fourthwall for this).
There’s a lot of advice out there. It can be like trying to drink through a firehose. STOP. BREATHE.
Now, what do YOU want to get out of this? What are you ABLE to do? What is in alignment with your goals and values?
Looking back on my author journey, I can see how I burned out hard several times. I was trying to do too many things that were not in alignment with my values. And, I was trying to do things from a neurotypical framing. But, I’m not neurotypical. Those ways don’t work for me.
People are going to give you a lot of advice. It’s your job to figure out what is actually viable for you, and what you can throw out.
At the end of last year, I did a re-evaluation of my authoring. I realized, with their overwhelming lean into AI, Amazon was no longer in alignment with my values. I’ve taken all my eBooks down from that platform. I wish I could opt out of that platform for my paperbacks, but alas! D2D doesn’t have granular opt out options for that.
Sometimes you’re going to have to make hard decisions to stay true to yourself. But in the long run, you’ll feel better about where you’re headed. Did I take a hit in my sales? Yep. But, it’s temporary. I’m just getting into a new groove. I had to pivot for the greater good of my business. Because if my mental state about my writing isn’t good, I can’t put out quality work.
What have you found to be your best marketing path?
This is another one of those areas where the way you market is dependent on who you are and what you can tolerate.
As mentioned above, after looking at the data, social media turned out to be a complete waste of time and an attention span saboteur. A lot of marketing tips out there are social media tips. Not applicable to me. You’re going to have to weed through all the noise to see what is in alignment with your values, and what allows you to maximize writing time. You need to study the hard data to see where you’re leaking time.
What I’ve leaned into is building my newsletter list. Your newsletter list is the only thing you own. A social media platform can tank your account without notice. A sales platform might close your account without warning. But if you have a newsletter list, you have a way to let your readers know what’s going on.
I build my list through group promos and newsletter swaps. Yes, this requires giving away something free (a reader magnet). I know some of you are probably cringing at that. But, a free book (or chapter sample if you just can’t stomach the idea of a whole free book) is a time-tested part of marketing strategy. Now, you don’t want to give away just any free book. You want something that represents your catalog. For instance, if you write sweet romance, this is not the time to try a dark romance freebie. That sets readers up for disappointment.
I put my free books/chapter previews in group promos that match the sub-genre or theme of my book. Niching down this way adds to the chances I’m going to get readers that are actually interested in what I’m writing. I also swap in matching sub-genres or tropes.
My newsletter is weekly. But that works for me. If you can only send something out monthly, do it. Your strategy has to work for you. Otherwise, you won’t keep up with it.
When I do post on social media, I post and run. I’m talking roadrunner speed with dust flying. As long as I’ve got the right hashtags on my posts, BlueSky and Mastodon do most of the work for me. And those posts are mainly visibility posts. I get almost no sales from them.
In addition to promos and swaps through BookFunnel and StoryKeepr, I participate in active Round Robins. This means, I make sure everyone participating is actually going to share on time. It does no good if people aren’t following through.
Most of my networking is done on author-related Discord servers. And I have my own server where we share ideas and support each other. Part of my networking is offering a monthly Featured Reads spot for authors on my website. I am also building a networking database for authors to search to find networking partners.
As they say, team work makes the dream work!
Can you talk about what you’ve got in the works, your latest releases, and where we can find your books?
After several releases, I learned about leveraging readthrough. I love all my previous book babies. They helped me grow! But now, I am focused on building an entire world. My current series is The Cursed. It’s the foundation series that eight other series will branch off from – one additional series under the Valkyrie pen name, and the remaining seven under the Styx pen name.
As of this spotlight, I’m working on The Cursed: Merric, which is book six. I also have projects scheduled for my other four pen names. And by scheduled, I mean, they’re on the calendar, but who knows if the timeline will stick. I’ve already started the drafts for some of theCurrently, under Naomi Valkyrie and Sinister Styx, you can find my books on:
Thanks again for visiting, Naomi. Any parting advice to aspiring writers?
Build a solid community – both reader and author. You might have to try a few before you find one that fits. If you can’t find one, Kaleidoscope Romance has a server for the misfits, neurodivergent peeps, LGBTQ+ peeps, outliers. If it’s divergent, we’re probably okay with it (with some logical exceptions – like what’s in those Files we keep hearing about right now). Our basic rule is – don’t be shitty to each other. If we’re all sticking to that, it keeps the drama down. One other thing is yes to networking, no to spamming. We’re here to have a good time, not weed through ads.
Don’t put up with anyone’s bullshit. If you leave an interaction feeling like crap about yourself, that’s not a thing you need to repeat. Use the block button early and often.
Beware of scams. They are plentiful, especially now with all the AI stuff going around. Writer Beware is a good resource: https://writerbeware.blog/
Filter advice like you would if you had to purify drinking water in the wild. Just because something worked for someone else doesn’t mean it’ll be a fit for you. And if you discover something isn’t working for you, you’re not chained to it. Give it the axe. You want to enjoy your process, not dread it.
One of the most important things I’ve learned on this journey is, no one is walking my path. They may be walking beside me, but they’re not on my path. Ultimately, my decisions have to work with my life. While you will run across people called experts, YOU are the expert on your life. There’s no one right way to do this out there – there’s only the right way for you.
So, there you have it. The thoughts and journey of a Gen X survivor who is too old to give a shit about fitting in and playing by the rules.
Wow, Naomi, what a wealth of resources you’ve gathered. I can’t express enough thanks for sharing your amazing insights and valuable advice gleaned from your writing journey. So many of us get bogged down with the business of writing while all we want is to focus on the joy of writing. This is so helpful in putting it all in perspective and giving us tools to streamline the process. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Stitching, stitching, and more stitching! And I’m loving it all. I also interviewed a wonderful indie author who writes cozy romantasy. Check out our conversation on my Spotlight. Lots of medical follow-ups this month, and getting used to my five-year course of hormone blockers. Still, not really any complaints on the cancer front. Other than that, just using my time to stitch, get out, and walk in this crazy, gorgeous weather.
The wild horses are also out for a walk today.
I hope you enjoy these stitchy photos of my projects as much as I do… Click here and here for previous articles in my stitchy saga. Linking to shops where I can.
Keep in mind, variety is the spice of life. It’s not hoarding…
WIPs
What I’m kitting up for and can’t wait to start
Isn’t this stunning? It’s from Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED), featuring artwork by Ernie Francis. Just my cup of tea, gorgeous, colorful mixed media, a captivating geisha, and my favorite Japanese anime hiding in the background. But folks, this is full coverage, 90 DMC colors, and 20 x 25 inches when finished (stitching tiny stitches in every little square). I will need to put the unfinished work in my will.
I have eclectic tastes, eh? But aren’t these wonderful? (I’ll just restate it here. I am not a hoarder.)
I also got Meg Black’s awesome book from Amazon. I’m drooling over Dracula’s House and Nevermore. There’s also a Poe bookmark to do.
Which Artsy Housewife after Cats and Cocoa?
Cats and CocoaOctober BloomThe Flower Pot Sampler
Others I want to stitch, but down the road sometime… Sigh…
I’ll leave you with photos from my 80s and 90s stitchwork sprinkled throughout my house
Some newer ones. As you can see, some still need finishing… Working on it.
Thanks for letting me catalog my stitchworks, as they will likely end up in a landfill someday… or maybe, if they’re lucky, in a thrift store for some future stitchworks-appreciator to collect. I’m not being negative, just realistic, and it’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to lately…
I’m so happy to start my Spotlight off this year with a wonderful author from our #RomanceBookBlast community, where authors support authors and have a “blast” cross-promoting.
Along those lines…
Let’s Meet the Author
When Alanna ran out of horse stories to read at the local library, her father gave her a box set of The Lord of the Rings.
After a couple of weeks, she declared the trilogy a suitable alternative and started working her way through all the fantasy books in the library (though the unicorns she kept sneaking into her own horse stories should have been a clue about where the whole writing thing was going).
Now, Alanna writes cozy and gaslamp fantasy with romance. And there’s usually a horse or two around that are not of the winged variety.
Let’s Get Started
Welcome to my Spotlight, Alanna. Tell us a little more about yourself and how you began your writing journey.
First, thank you for having me! I’m excited to be here.
I actually have a hard time remembering a time I wasn’t writing stories. I have a strong memory of sitting in my second-grade class and writing a story about unicorns. It wasn’t a class assignment–I would sit in class and pretend I was taking notes, but it was actually a story.
I love it! What a great memory. What else sparked your interest in your cozy romantasy genre?
So, early stories about unicorns aside, most of my stories were about girls and their horses (horses being another early obsession). Looking back, I realize I was always drawn to media with some element of magic or the supernatural, but I didn’t know there was such a thing as the fantasy genre until my father gave me a boxset of the Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was twelve.
I read a lot and would read whatever I could get my hands on, which started including my mom’s romance novels and murder mysteries. The romance influenced me more than the murder mysteries, obviously.
As for cozy, I didn’t set out to write a cozy. Most of what I wrote in my teenage and college-age years was epic fantasy, which transitioned to urban fantasy. Then I stopped writing fiction, period. I had multiple jobs and just didn’t have the time. A few years ago, I made it a goal to publish a book. I picked up the manuscript that became Teaching Magicand finished it. As I was learning about self-publishing, I realized that book didn’t fit on the epic fantasy shelf, and it took me a while to realize it belonged in this growing category of cozy fantasy.
Amazon LinkAmazon Link
I love how your reading journey channeled so many elements into the perfect fit for you as a writer. Also, great covers, by the way! Totally giving a cozy plus romantasy vibe. Can you tell us more about what or who inspired you? Perhaps share your favorite books or authors.
I pick up a little bit from everything, I think. My favorite tends to be whatever I’m binging right now. Other books certainly inspire me, but so do movies or song lyrics or even catching a scent that jogs a memory.
Awesome. Do you write full-time? What is your writing schedule like?
I do not write full-time, though I’m hoping to work my way there. I tend to write at night. After I come home, I have to give myself a couple of hours to transition from work brain to writing brain, so I eat dinner, get some chores done, shower. And some nights I have to accept that the words just aren’t coming.
I feel you there. I’ve experimented with all sorts of different schedules and keep going with “when the mood strikes me” for as long as it lasts. Can you share tips on fitting a writing routine into your daily life and what you like to do to spark your creativity?
Fitting a writing routine into my life is a little bit easier for me because I don’t have children. The thing that helped me the most was adding a little bit of outside pressure. For me, that was posting Teaching Magic to Royal Road while I was working on edits. I knew I had to have a chapter ready by a certain day to post, because people were waiting to read it.
What are your top writing resources (applications, services, websites, etc.) and methods you’ve gathered along the way?
The writing resource that probably made the biggest difference for me was discovering Becca Syme’s work on Clifton Strengths. That’s actually where I got the idea to utilize outside pressure to get myself writing. I used to struggle a lot to follow others’ guidance because it didn’t work for me, which made me feel terrible about myself and my writing. Becca’s work taught me how to find advice that actually works for my personality.
For romance writers, I like the book Romancing the Beat and Ines Johnson’s resources (she has something in almost every format, depending on how you like to learn).
I also like resources that aren’t necessarily writing-focused. There are a ton of world-building guides and things on YouTube that are geared toward tabletop role-playing games. I listen to so many history podcasts, which can spark ideas but also help me feel out what life is like for my characters.
Thanks for all these great tips and ways to spark story ideas. I checked out the Romance Write Club found on Ines Johnson’s website. The classes look amazing. Along these lines, what is your advice on publishing and marketing?
Whoo, this is a big question. Probably the biggest thing is to not do all the things. Pick one type of marketing and get that established before you move on to something else. For example, I spent a lot of time this past fall working on my newsletter. I revamped the short story readers can get for free by joining my newsletter. I started doing more promotions to get people onto my newsletter list. I gathered together a bunch of emails from authors I follow, and I read each one, found bits I wanted to include, and built a template for my newsletter. My list still isn’t big, but it is growing steadily.
I really appreciate this advice. It makes sense to focus on one thing, and I’m impressed how you’ve built such an amazing newsletter following–your own community eager for your stories. Can you share what you’ve got in the works and where we can find your books? I believe you sell your books on your website, Alanna Cole Books? Can you talk about how that works in conjunction with other book retailers?
Selling on my website is very new for me, so I haven’t quite figured it out yet. I will be releasing a boxset of Teaching Magic and Trial by Magic next month, and I will offer it on my website first before I upload it to the retailers.
I just released a short novel about a side character from my secondary-world gaslamp fantasy series called An Inquest of Gryphons. All of my books can be found on most ebook retailers and are also available through Kobo Plus and Everand. I can also be found on Instagram at @alannacole.books.
I’m not quite sure what my next book will be, but it will most likely be in the same world as Teaching Magic. I’ve had several fun ideas about characters from that world that I’m exploring.
Amazon LinkAmazon Link
I really need to focus on Kobo. It’s growing huge, and I just saw a YouTube video where a reader shared their new Kobo eReader, which has some really cool features that seem to compete with, maybe even outshine, the Kindle. I’m just starting to research the pros and cons.Thanks for visiting, Alanna. Any parting advice to aspiring writers?
Thank you for having me! Aspiring writers, find a group. I have two: a local group where we do writing meetups and share ideas, and an online group that is more of a professional organization for my genre. It is so important to surround yourself with other writers.
The nice steady slow beat where I can breathe and experience satisfaction in my handiwork. I hate to call it escape. Maybe “living” captures the time spent moving colorful silks and cotton through fabric with a needle.
I’m hoping some of my enjoyment will flow into the universe, and you’ll catch the vibe. (See the start of this series, and some of my beautiful stitching this past couple of weeks, in my previous post, and feel free to share your creative outlets.)
Not one fictional word written in two weeks… Wait, what?! But it’s true, and I’m doing okay. Hmmm… My pod people are quiet in my head. Maybe they needed a vacation, too.
So, instead of books and writing, I’m sharing my craft projects, old, and yes! New! I’ve caught the bug again after watching “Flosstube” videos with all the wonderful designs being shown off. I have tons of stash to dive into, but naturally I’m missing certain colors, which leads to retail therapy… Yes! Another benefit of embracing this surprising whiplash turn in my daily life. Somehow, writing doesn’t spark the same need to buy as other crafts do… but that’s a blog for another day.
Retail Therapy
A tiny sample of favorite shops: 123Stitch.com for DMC and Weeks Dye Works floss, Etsy (so much cross stitching!) for patterns and specialty floss, and other items like these gorgeous project bags. My favorite goth pattern designer is The Witchy Stitcher for the eerie and quirky. My favorite fabrics come from BeStitchMe.com
The most exciting part of this birthday month adventure has been kitting up for new starts. Check out these designs I purchased after watching too many enablers on FlossTube. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) I’ve made significant starts in “Greenhouse of Oddities,” “Cats and Cocoa,” and “I Like Cross Stitch.” I even started an old pattern from my stash, “Single Step” by Stichrovia.
Single Step by Stitchrovia (had in my stash and wanted to start forever)Summer Gothic Sampler by The House of CamA Graveyard Wander by The Witchy StitcherA Stitcher Haunts Here by The Witchy SticherBooks are Magic by Counting PuddlesWinter Flower Bird by Nathnolu (got all four seasons)
My progress… on the first three above.
Cats and Cocoa also on 16 ct Aida, Sugar Cookie (don’t remeber the dyer)Greenhouse of Oddities, and the gorgeous fabric by BeStitchMe, 16 ct Aida, PeanutGreenhouse of Oddities (stitching in SAL sections, starting top center)On 16 Ct Aida from Hand-dyed by Rolanda
Today, the last day in February to round out my record craze, I’m starting “I Like Cross Stitch” and this Stitch Along (SAL), “Tapestry of Twelve,” from the Spring Just Cross Stitch Magazine by multiple designers. You can borrow the magazine issues from Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. The top left corner is part one of four. I bought the called-for Weeks Dye Works overdyed floss. Gorgeous!
Rescuing Old Stitchworks Languishing in a Box
I recycled hallway picture frames, and now I get to enjoy these.
Stitcher’s House by Stone Street StitchworksFrankenstein for The Stitching Bookclub (SBC) Walkin’ on Sunshine by Luhu Stitches
I’ve touched over a dozen old WIPs (works in progress) in February, including restarting three – all those old problems that made me hide them away and forget about them. I totally got inspired to patiently frog out stitches or toss out the disliked fabric or fabric I measured incorrectly, and show them some love. The first of my three restarts was in my previous post, but I’ll add it here as well.
Old (sad face) Garden Stroll by Carolyn Manning (design free with Sulky Thread Pack)Garden Stroll – New startOld (absolutely no room for the entire design. Oops! Fresh Picked Evergreens by Petal Pusher (came with specialty floss)New (started in the corner this time)And… I finished the free pattern that came with it!A tiny finish! Isn’t she pretty?
And this beloved project, Keiko Sato Sampler by Twin Peak Primitives, started in November 2020, is also on fabric a bit too small, but I love the color with the stamped leaves, and decided to make it work. So, I stitched all night on the berry out to the black border, and part of the crane to see how close I would be to the edge of the fabric. Less than an inch! But I’ll make it.
Keiko Sato Sampler by Twin Peak Primitives
Another Finish!
Check out this gorgeous reproduction sampler, stitched in 1857 by Jane Marshall, a 10-year-old Australian girl. I pulled out the band I was working on (her name) because the color just wasn’t working, and then I couldn’t stop stitching. The silk floss came from my stash, featuring a gorgeous variegated silk called Fairy Quilt Crossing. The pattern was free from Hands Across the Sea Samplers in support of the Aussie fires in January 2020. Many designers contributed patterns, and I stitched three, two I finished in 2020.
By D. L. Lewellyn 