To celebrate adding my books to Google and my relaunch this month for Books One and Two, I’m offering all three books free on Google through August 1 !! Click hereor on image for my Linktree!
This has been a great month for me writing-wise, not only for the Relaunch, but I’ve made huge progress on Book Three, which I am only too happy to share by way of a cover reveal! Scroll down… Yay!
Thank you so much for your support. 💚💙💜💙💚
You can still get my books free on Smashwords Books during its Summer/Winter Sale!
Fantasy Author MJ James will be coming for a visit in September, and I can’t wait to share our conversation and talk about all the ways the writing community is awesome. MJ knows because they work hard shining the light on the unsung indie writers and their books.
You can follow MJ on their YouTube channel, and I will point you to it with this particular episode because MJ invited me to share Book One in the Starlight Chronicles, Ursus Borealis!
Give the channel a like and subscribe. MJ works tirelessly for the community all while working on their own books. The In-Between is a super good read, too!
My Pod People and I have been working super hard on a finish for The Starlight Chronicles series. And it’s getting hot in my office with no air conditioning. Our window units don’t reach that far. How are all of you faring in this hot weather? Yikes!
So, I was stoked when my bestie asked me to stay with her a couple nights at her timeshare at South Lake. But my energetic and fun-loving friend doesn’t just stop with an invite to stay in a charming little condo… Nope, she also provided a list of excursions for us to indulge in.
Which meant I packed up my pod people and left my laptop behind… Well, not quite. But I only wrote for about twenty minutes on Book Three when I had some downtime 😁 Oh, and I made a promo video for another writing buddy who will be sharing it on their YouTube channel because I thought it would be fun to film it at Tahoe since there’s a great scene in Ursus Borealis at Harrah’s… and a chase scene on the highway to Truckee… But that’s it for writing, I swear. Oh wait. I also bent my friend’s ear on my latest plots. She’s wonderful about that too, including injecting me with a needed dose of her vibrant enthusiasm. She likes my books and is great for bouncing ideas off of.
I only live 45 minutes from this world-class destination and visit once or twice a year, but I’ve never gone up to a ski lodge. Mostly because I don’t ski. Who knew Heavenly could be as fun in the summer! And it was blessedly much cooler than my valley this past week.
Here is a bit of trivia: The amount of water in Lake Tahoe (39 trillion gallons) is enough to supply each person in the US with 50 gallons of water per day for five years.
View from the Heavenly Gondola. I highly recommend this experience. It includes a final leg on the ski lift to the top at 10,000 feet! I live in a high dessert valley at 5,000 feet, but still! It’s great getting high on that pine scented air that only smells that sweet so far up. And there was plenty of snow left over in July.
I’ve never gazed on Tahoe like this. Isn’t it amazing?
view of the Carson Valley, Nevada-side
From the top of Heavenly, you can ski down the Nevada side or the California side.
The other highlight of our outing was a Magic Fusion show at The Loft in Heavenly Village. (The Village is also good for fantastic restaurants and shops.)
The Loft is a small venue, purposefully intimate, so the audience can be up close and personal with the performer. Our evening included an amazing performance by Matt Marcy.
For your entertainment, here is Mr. Marcy on Penn and Teller.
We finished the trip with pizza at the Base Camp Pizza Co. with live music.
Empress Linen with Indigo Gin, Elderflower liqueuer, lemonade, and cucumber
Okay, so back to my hot valley and writing… after a little knitting and pot luck at my local air conditioned hangout with my knitting buddies!
I’m a romance writer. Passion is an emotion I get to play around with… a lot. Sigh…
Okay, that statement pretty much says it all, and I should just end my article here. Wait… sorry… I got caught up in the moment. I do that a lot when I’m writing.
What I really wanted to talk about was how I found my own personal passion that 1) blossomed in my 50s, 2) is sticking with me, unlike so many other creative outlets I’ve explored, and 3) has been a joy fanning into a brighter flame through learning and community… And through my example, prove to you that you can do the same.
You get one shot at life and there’s no age limit in pursuing your passion – if anything, you now have the wisdom and experience to navigate your passions with a clear head. Besides; it’s better late than never!
My focus today is the part where I started this journey in my 50s. Because I want to convey to you that it’s never too late to pursue a new passion, to rewrite your life, even. It can happen. Sometimes it happens with purpose, sometimes by those lovely twists of fate. The twist of fate that caused me to take another turn in life was not so lovely, but the fact that the pandemic brought an activity that prompted me to try my hand at my first novel is a positive thing I will gladly take away from all that horror.
The summer it hit, I decided to get back into my reading. My wonderful niece turned me onto Cassandra Clare, and I devoured the Infernal Devices series starting with Clockwork Angel. After that, I went on to consume Stephanie Meyers’ TwilightSeries. I couldn’t get enough of the fantastic first person narrative of Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood. I’m getting ready to start them again on my Audible. I went on to discover independent authors like Stephanie Hudson and devoured all twelve books in the Afterlife saga, followed by Transfusion. Next, was another fantastic discovery; Grace Draven and Radiance. Highly recommend this author! More authors got swept into my Audible or Kindle like Laura Thalassa (The Four Horsemen novels, The Bargainer series, and other great series), Jeanienne Frost (Night Huntress novels), and Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark novels). For the romcom paranormal shifter delights, I turned to Carrie Pulkinen. And the list goes on. I read 180 books that summer.
All devoured, digested, and churned into a new passion.
Which means I got the crazy idea one day (in 2020) that I would try my hand at writing a novel. I sat down to write… and haven’t stopped. My first novel turned into a 250,000 word series. I’m still finishing the last book, and have rewritten the first two several times in the process of learning. I went for the self-publishing option and learned how to make my own book covers and promos, all one step at a time. I got involved with a writing community and found other resources. Three years later, I’ve learned so many new things, my head is spinning, and I made the momentous decision to retire from my day job a year early.
I ‘m also 50,000 words in on three other stand alone novels and have written a host of short stories (many based on characters in my novels yet to be complete), one having won a contest. But wow! Contests and anthology submissions are tough. Still I’ve learned so much through the process, that it’s worth the beating. I blogged about the benefits of slogging through rejection yesterday. I did managed to get a short story accepted to an anthology this year, and that was a thrill.
Am I convincing you yet to go for it? I hope so. All I can tell you for sure… following a passion at any stage of life is the best way to live. Strong and barely controllable emotions fuel the mind and body, spark that drive to get up and start a new day, and to live that day in excited anticipation of the next development while meeting yet another milestone in your new passion.
Here is one great example to illustrate that developing a passion later in life is not a new thing. [Click on header for the full article on other examples]
Author of the autobiographical “Little House on the Prairie” series, Laura Ingalls Wilder became a teacher at the tender age of 15, but spent most of her adult life tending a farm and family. She wouldn’t really take up writing until her 40s, and faced several rounds of rejections for her first attempts at chronicling her childhood on the frontier. She finally broke through with “Little House in the Big Woods” in 1932, when she was well into her 60s. She continued to write “Little House” books for the next decade.
Just think – you could spend the next few years indulging your passions, or you could tell yourself it’s not worth it. Those next few years will pass regardless, only by then, you may regret not giving your passions a go.
This was my week for the dreaded “R” word. Rejected twice in seven days. I thought I’d chat about about how that makes me feel and what I’ll be doing about it. Maybe you all can relate and it will give you a boost to know that you’re not alone.
People who experienced rejection as more painful were more likely to change their behavior, remain in the tribe, and pass along their genes.
I’ll start by saying that this whole fiction writing journey has been a complete surprise and only started three years ago. I’ve been a steamroller ever since. That is the most surprising part because most of my life I’ve been a dabbler. I love to create, but I’ve never stuck with any one thing long enough to become expert.
I’m now a bulldog about a craft I’ve developed a surprising passion for… in my 50s. What? How did that happen? I’ll get it into the idea of late-blooming passions more in a future article. Today, I’m focusing on dealing with rejection.
So, when the results go unseen, unappreciated, or are outright rejected, the feelings go deep, right to the gut. Maybe that was why I always dabbled. No risk. Well, I’m opening myself up to all the poundings now… and having the time of my life.
Both of these rejections I’d prepared myself for and even planned my next steps. Doing this I was sure would help me cope with the blow. It does, and it doesn’t, and I’ll tell you why.
First. It was still a gut punch.
This TED article provides the reasons why we feel rejection so deeply. So, I’ll point you to it because you really need to read it and it explains things much better than I can.
As for me, I really thought that I wouldn’t feel rejection as deeply in my 50s, convinced life experience, maturity, whatever you want to call it, would be my buffer. Instead, my first reaction when I get that “Thank you for your submission to… Unfortunately…” message is to cry and rant.
Then my jaw juts out and my backup plans kick into action. But the plans don’t go forward in a vacuum. Each rejection is a major learning experience. I love to learn, and I love to apply it to my work. It proves just as Mr. Winch describes in his article, that pain equals survival. It’s motivation. It changes behavior. And leads to success. Just be open to the idea that success comes in all sorts of ways each time you push through another rejection.
So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that the pain is short-lived. I waist little time before turning back into a steamroller, and I can move on with honing my craft. And that’s why I’m enjoying the heck out of this ride.
I love to feature all creators, and this month I’m excited to delve into the music industry. Come meet my friend Tracy Foote as we get behind the scenes of a busy musician touring with his bandmates all through the foothills of California… and beyond.
Rock and blues guitar is a passion of mine, and Tracy had the talent from the beginning. I was not surprised when he made it a career. Check out these schedules…
Andras snared me with his eyes. A low rumble sounded in his chest and moved up his throat. The reactions around us shocked me. The croupier paused the betting. Some of the men moved away. A few cleared their throats, and several women let out soft moans. And all of it increased my internal temperature. Fearing I would dissolve into a puddle if I thought too much about what was happening, I kept my gaze fixed on Andras.
Selena Aires – Ursus Borealis
To celebrate all the excitement and my appreciation of all the fantastic fantasy, paranormal shifter romance, and supernatural fantasy readers out there, my books are free July 3-5! and Ursus Borealis is free all month on Smashwords. Click on image.
Here is a sneak peek at the cover for Book Three, Tigris Vetus, and a series synopsis:
When Selena Aires moves to a small town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, what she expects falls into place; the perfect artist bungalow, fun new friends, and miles of trails right out her back door.
It’s not long after finding her niche at the old pioneer pub The Starlight that she discovers her new town and its citizens harbor mysteries below the surface. For answers, Selena must tap deeper into her abilities as an observer. What she sees not only changes the world as she knows it but requires her to face hard choices… and strange foes.
Fortunately, the petite artist attracts strong allies, including two men, shifters, and alphas of rival packs, who put aside their differences when she calls on them, though they don’t stop competing for her heart.
Others line up to support the once dedicated loner. A vampire emissary brings challenges to Selena’s personal life, though she sees his potential as an ally. She is reunited with her brother at the perfect time, but he has a secret that breaks her heart. Then there’s her magus guide Zigan, a holy man dedicated to her prophetic cause, though even he doesn’t have all the answers.
Just when Zigan and Selena think they figured out which direction she must go to fulfill her destiny, a new twist is revealed, requiring Selena to investigate yet another path.
Answering this call means facing an alien prince who made Earth his territory thousands of years ago. Aviel does not give up when he wants something, and he wants Selena. To rid the planet of this age-old menace, Selena must make the dreaded decision to leave her growing family behind and join Aviel in her biggest role yet as a maiden marked by the moon goddesses of Anurash.
I discovered fantasy writer J. V. Hilliard through a writer friend, Nicholas Lemieux, when Mr. Hilliard interviewed Nicholas on his YouTube podcast, The Realm (Episode 119). I was so impressed with the podcast and their fun discussion that I investigated Mr. Hilliard’s Warminster series and reached out for an interview. Enjoy our resulting conversation and find out what’s next for this busy author!
Born of steel, fire and black wind, J.V. Hilliard was raised as a highlander in the foothills of a once-great mountain chain on the confluence of the three mighty rivers that forged his realm’s wealth and power for generations.
His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise him during his formative years. His genius brother, whose wizardly prowess allowed him to master the art of the abacus and his own quill, trained with him for battles on fields of green and sheets of ice.
Hilliard’s earliest education took place in his warrior uncle’s tower, where he learned his first words. HIs uncle helped him to learn the basics of life—and, most importantly, creative writing.
Hilliard’s training and education readied him to lift a quill that would scribe the tale of the realm of Warminster, filled with brave knights, harrowing adventure and legendary struggles. He lives in the city of silver cups, hypocycloids and golden triangles with his wife, a ranger of the diamond. They built their castle not far into the countryside, guarded by his own two horsehounds, Thor and MacLeod, and resides there to this day.
Okay Joe, I love this bio. It’s so fantastically imaginative… and captivating. My first question is what kind of furry kids… um… I mean horsehounds are Thor and MacLeod?
JVH.They’re mine and my wife’s dogs—a Siberian Husky and red-fox Labrador Retriever. They get into all kinds of trouble, but they’re family to us.
DLL. Awesome. We’re dog lovers around my house, too. 😊
You talk about the fantasy worlds of gaming being your inspiration and how your series grew out your love of that media.I’ve been fascinated by the processes used by writers who come from a gaming background where it seems the worlds come first almost like a character unto themselves, though I suppose that’s true of epic fantasy in general. Was that the case here?Did the world come before your characters?
JVH. The realm of Warminster kind of followed the creation of one or two characters, so I would say it came to be very early in the writing process, but more alongside those couple characters.
I’ve got The Last Keeper going on my Audible. My first thought is the characters jump off the page (or leap out of the narration in this case). What about Daemus Alaric? How long has he been living in your imagination and when did he really come alive?How did your other characters evolve?
JVH.Daemus came from a series of recurring nightmares I had as a young adult. The prologue with him wandering in fog and meeting Graytorris comes right from that experience, as did part of the Antlered Man. The dreams were so scary that I knew they’d make a great story line and start of a novel. Now everyone else gets to share in my demented nightmares. Some of my other characters evolved from Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve been playing for 20 years and characters like Sir Ritter of Valkeneer, Wilcox de la Croix, Rufus Crag, Marr Larkin and others all are characters from gameplay. Some are now cast in different roles of course but my love for the game made it easy to memorialize some of our better characters in the Realm of Warminster. Sprinkle in some world building, creativity and recasting and you’ll find old campaign arcs scattered through the series.
DLL. That’s fantastic. To have such amazing characters already alive that can walk right onto your pages.
The reviews for The Last Keeper are fantastic. Here is the start of an in-depth 5 star review:
At heart and beyond the various sub-genres there exists but three types of Fantasy: quality Fantasy, unique Fantasy, and quality unique Fantasy. Which is The Last Keeper? Beyond all question the third.
Erurainon
Reviews like these must be a thrill. Kudos to you. It goes on to describe your multi-layered world and how you bring in so many elements of fantasy and make it all work. Can you share how you developed your writing style? Along with that, What or who are your biggest influences?
JVH.Reviews like that are so incredible to read, and I’m grateful my reviewers take the time to craft them. I also love the ones that offer constructive criticism as they help me a lot. My biggest influences definitely shaped my writing style. Authors like Margaret Weis, J.R.R. Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, and Tracy Hickman. They know their genre inside and out and have done fantastic jobs crafting their worlds.
I’m thrilled you shared your covers for Books Three and Four right here on our chat. You must be humming along on your progress. Book Two,Vorodin’s Lair, is out now! Awesome. Can you give us a glimpse of what’s happening and what to expect next in the world of Warminster?Any dates yet for Three and Four?
JVH.The Trillias Gambit, we can expect very soon – as in within the next two months. Echoes of Ghostwood is due out before the end of the year. I can give you a glimpse into Trillias by saying I hope to surprise a few in the direction it takes toward the climax of the story. No character is safe, and I hope to show that in this next installment.
DLL. Fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Your covers are captivating and gorgeous. How did you find your cover designer? Do you have any tips about seeking the right style and artist who can convey your story? How did you find your publisher? Can you share any tips for writers who are deciding whether to go down a traditional or independent publishing path?
JVH.My cover designer was introduced to me by my publisher—Dragon Moon Press. Larch Gallagher, who has an extensive portfolio online, really adds to the series and knows how to convey the realm of Warminster with just an image. I was referred to my publisher by my development editor and fellow author, Dane Cobain in the U.K. Dane worked with Gwen Gades, the owner of Dragon Moon Press in a professional setting years prior and knew my work was right for her… and for me. It goes without saying he was correct. My tip for writers deciding on indie or traditional: do your research. Know which publishing houses will champion you and that fit your style. If you go the indie route, learn all you can about the publishing world however possible.
DLL. Thank you so much for this, Joe. And I love hearing how you assembled such a great team.
Obviously, fantasy is your preferred genre, but do you have aspirations for other types of stories or writing?
JVH.I do. I’ve always been into vampires, so I could see myself delving into that area at some point.
DLL. I will be checking up on that for sure. Vampires are a favorite for me too, and I have one I adore in my series. He’s getting his own story soon!
We’ll get into The Realm below, but what other creative outlets do you enjoy?
JVH.We know about my love of tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, but I also like film and being immersed in the different worlds there.
I’ve been interviewing authors lately who, like me, enjoy interviewing other creators. I’m thrilled to add you to that list. Your YouTube podcast, The Realm is so well done and the conversations are a blast. How did that come about and what benefits have you found in sharing other writers’ works and creative journeys in this format?
JVH.Thank you for saying that. The Realm was launched as a brainchild from my director/producer Jan Dicker of Personal Cast Studios in Philadelphia. He thought it would be a great way to promote Warminster while also allowing other creatives a portal to exposure in short, fun and often unpredictable interviews. I look forward to recording and interviewing others and always try to sample their work beforehand so I can speak intelligently about it. Since then it’s taken off and been a nice marketing too for me as an author. I’ve learned a lot from interviewing the people on my show, and I’ve made some good friends because of it. It feels great to lift up these other creatives and show off their talent to the world.
DLL. I love this. Finding a writing community was a bonus for me. So many creatives are happy to support each other and share. Thank you, Joe!
Can you share how you balance work and life with your creativity? Do you have a favorite routine or method to help with productivity. How about a favorite work space?
JVH.Finding time to write is definitely a challenge as my days are pretty packed already thanks to my career. It helps that my creativity can be reserved for just writing. My favorite method for productivity is just looking around me and drawing inspiration from there. Most days, I end up in cafes or bookstores, so I would say that is my favorite workspace.
DLL. If I lived near those types of places, I’d be there with my coffee and a laptop in a heartbeat. Awesome!
Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
JVH.I see myself learning a lot more about the craft and releasing many more genres and series to come. By then, I hope to have the Melderverse video game, The Realm of Warminster, in full swing as well.
DLL. Ooh. That sounds totally amazing. All the best to you!
Thank you so much for joining me this month, Joe! I look forward to our chat on the Realm. Any parting words of advice for those wanting to follow their creative passions?
JVH.Don’t overthink it and just go for it. There’s no time like the present.
You can follow J. V. Hilliard on Instagram, Goodreads, and his website to stay posted. Drop us a comment or questions, and thank you for visiting!
By D. L. Lewellyn 