The Rabbit (Deleted Scene)

There are times when I feel like a fraud. I have been a beta reader and critique partner for many writers over the years, pointing out areas where stories are weak and where they are strong. I'm a freelance editor with Black Wolf Editorial Services, contracting my services out as a developmental editor, helping other writers shape their stories into masterpieces. However, to date, none of my fiction has been published. I am a published writer, but all of my personal publication credits are non-fiction.

A few of those whom I have provided editing for have gone on to obtain traditional publication contracts. Some have self-published. In most cases, I've received some form of acknowledgement, but I am unlikely to ever get editorial credit, because developmental editing is an early-stage editing — editorial credits commonly go to the copyeditor of a book.

Some writers from my early days of being an editor were actually disgruntled by my comments, even though my comments highlighted the good... and the areas that could be improved. Recently, I heard from one of those writers, and she gave me words that actually lifted my soul.

I wanted to give [you] a way belated thank you.

You did some extensive crits on my works a long, long time ago. I wasn't ready to hear it at that time and did not appreciate them. I'm trying to improve and see now the honesty and TRUTH in those crits. I just wanted to say thank you for investing the time in me. It pushed me to be better.

Well, like that writer, I'm pushing myself to be better. Part of that process is to suck-it-up and share with the world some of my fiction — proving to my readers (and myself) that I really do know how to craft a story. So, I decided to share with you a deleted scene from my high-fantasy novel, Beacon of Hope. The novel itself is currently sitting in that metaphorical drawer, as I have a mental hangup about querying the thing, but still...

I hope you enjoy it.

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It’s a milestone, but still a long way to go.

I’m so giddy with excitement that I’m struggling to contain it. I know I should, but I can’t. I want to shout it out to the world.

Hidden Traps is now available for pre-sale.

So far, it’s listed on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. Hopefully soon, it will also be listed on Book Depository, Fishpond, and many other places that I can’t remember the name of. It really has been mind-blowing to know how far and wide the distribution network has been cast.

It’s a massive milestone to get to this point — countless hours of hard work and very little sleep — but as much as I want to, I can’t rest. Now the really hard work begins: marketing.
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What have I done? (Cover reveal)

I'm sitting here, not really knowing how to feel: excited, nervous, giddy, panicked.

For the past few months, I've been working hard on writing a book on the pitfalls of building an online platform. Everything is coming together.

There is still some editing to do... But release day is only three months away. 

(AHHH!!! MUST NOT PANIC!)

So... Here it is... The cover for my book...

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Leaving Home (A Poem)

Migrating birds, flying south.
Winter it comes, and they fly south.
Wings spread far and wide,
Scared they’ll fail,
Leaving behind the warmth of the nest.
Her babies migrate for the first time alone.
Nervous and aflutter, she lets them fly.
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