Girl’s Night Out Gone Wrong & Title Reveal!

The Girl’s Night Out in Downtown Ocala, FL last night was a blast. Not gonna lie though, it started off really rough and I about cried, took down my tent, packed, and went home. Literally. For this event, it was my first time needing a tent, which I didn’t realize until the week before. So, I do what every person does when they are rushing to get something on time. I jumped on Amazon. Sure enough they had a 10×10 tent and I bought tent weights since stakes aren’t allowed. The tent comes in, with its own carrying case. The hubby and I tried to open it open but there wasn’t enough room, so he decided (against my better judgement) we’d figure it out the day of the event.

It was an hour and forty minute drive to the location. The area was partly under a pavilion and we were in the parking lot area. The sun is beating down on me at 5pm (which is just past the hottest time of day in Florida), and here we are with this tent trying to figure out how to open it. I’m glad my husband and son were there, but it really tested our communication skills as a family! We got into a heated discussion, got upset with the little one because he didn’t understand where we needed his help. Then my coffee, which I regrettably (and knew better) placed at the bottom of my wagon, tipped over spilling its contents all over some of my decor.

It was a mess. I literally looked at everything, bit my lip to stop the tears from flowing in front of all these professional vendors with their beautiful huge multiple tent displays, and almost pushed the tent back together and went home. I told the hubs and he said “We didn’t drive over an hour and a half for you to give up and go home. We’ll figure this out.” I’m so glad I listened to him.

Finally, we pulled out a video and figured out where we went wrong. My husband had to reach up high and push everything up to lock in place (because my five foot two self could never reach), and at last after twenty minutes of struggling…the tent was up. We cleaned up the coffee, exchanged apologies, hugs, and love, then finished setting up. When I sat down to start, I felt defeated. While I chose to stay, my attitude was wondering why I even bothered. I had to force myself to say this is going to go great if I believe it will. Was my mind screaming that I was over my head? Yes. But my heart chose to make it a good experience.

And it was! I met so many awesome readers. Several people told me how not many book events or authors come to Ocala and they want more. Several asked if I’d be back or where my next event would be. They were craving for indie authors. It was the boost in confidence I needed.

That and we got our traditional empanadas (every time my husband and son come with me to an event, we go to a food truck or local spot and get empanadas). Also, the vendor next to me was selling fancy cinnamon buns and right before they sold out I snagged their last blackberry cinnamon bun and a raspberry/ lemon cream cinnamon bun for my son. Then they gave us two free cookies! I also got my husband a hat he wanted (which looks great on him), just as a thank you and to make up for the craziness early. I came home full, in so many ways, and that blackberry cinnamon bun is calling my name! (I already had a bite and it’s incredible).

Had I would’ve left, I wouldn’t have experienced all of those wonderful meet-ups and food that happened after the initial debacle. I’m glad I didn’t give up. And I hope when you encounter a rough start to any day, event, or project, that you remember it can only get better from here, especially if you set your mind right.

Speaking of getting better from here, I’ve been wanting to blast the title of this novel for so long and finally I can release it. This story started years ago with an image in my mind of kids in a dark alley eating colored glass. At the time I knew the glass represented a drug which would give the user powers, but I couldn’t figure out the rest. When I started writing it, the story was going in a different direction to…honestly…no where. I had no clue what the story was really about, so I set it aside. That’s when I wrote, finished, and published Choices of Power, Rise of Power, and Struggles of Power. I needed those stories out first.

Yet, I always knew I would revisit this story. While writing Struggles of Power, my mind would wander back to this other story. I wrote a quick outline/notes section to it so I could get it out of my head and finish my first series. Once I published Struggles of Power it was like the story clicked into place and after a couple of months rest, I jumped back in and fleshed out what I had been stuck on for years. The world came into focus, along with the characters, especially adding a much needed romantic opposite to my main character.

Next I enriched the world with culture, especially mine, to add depth and flavor. Once it all came together I knew waiting was the right choice. It wouldn’t be what it is now, if I had forced it before. Without further ado, I’m thrilled to introduce you to:

Esmeralda “Esmie” Morales always follows the rules. She is the top of her class, already has companies fighting over her for an Internship, and does everything her Mamá tells her to. Until her favorite underground, illegal band Maldado reappears to play at the notoriously shady Nightcrawler Club at the edge of downtown Andloor – a place she is forbidden to go. With Andloor Capitol eradicating culture, Esmie makes a choice to not only rebel against her mother, but against the government of Andloor too.

Esmie and her friends have the time of their lives, including Esmie catching the eye of a handsome stranger. Then mayhem breaks loose when the police raid the club, making Esmie and her friends run for their lives. As she flees, she slips on something that pricks her eye. When she wakes the next morning, her eye has changed, along with the perfect future she had set herself up for. With the help of her brother Leo, and his best friend, Esmie goes into hiding because her strict mother finding out what she’s done…and what she has in her body…is the least of her worries.

To be caught by Andloor Capitol would mean the end of her current life. To cure the thing within her would erase the possible destiny before her. A destiny she didn’t think possible while under her mother’s and Andloor Capitol’s thumb. As corruption is unveiled, and the stakes to her life and family raise, Esmie must make a choice to go back to her old way of life, or move forward into the unknown that will turn her world, as she knows it, upside down.

Whew, there it is. I’m hoping to get the cover of Purple Glass along with some character art finished by next month to be able to show you. Things are coming along. The release date is tentative for June 6th – all depending on if I can get the cover done on time. It’s a bit slow as my cover designer/artist is very busy. If so, I’ll be at For The Plot, on the day of to sign and sell Purple Glass!

Continuing the Conversation

A lot has been going on and I am trying to catch my breath most days. My son has Spring Break this week, and while I won’t take the whole week off, I will be working from home. I’m hoping it will be less stressful. I believe in rest and I plan on taking some soon. If you feel like me, and are feeling overwhelmed and pulled into way too many directions, I hope you too, will take some time out to rest.

Take a day off, bask in nature, pray, meditate, read, turn off the cell phones, tablets, computers, and just relax. Go for a walk outside even. It will be good for you. You and I both need it. We deserve it.

Until next time friends, Happy Reading!