This week marked something pretty major in my life. It marked the day my first published novel turned 5 years old.
So much has changed since I first picked up my laptop and started to randomly toss words on the page. I never imagined that this fantasy world I was creating would actually be accepted by readers. As a teen I would write poems and that was pretty much what I stuck to. Well that and oratory speeches for debate. I never pictured what it would be like to create worlds, kill people, discover new lands, all from the comfort of my chair.
The entire experience has been mind blowing on so many levels.
Especially when I look back at where I was in 2011 when I wrote Blood Purple.
English was never my strong subject in school. I loved reading and I did great on content questions and essays but the grammar nuts and bolts were a struggle. This journey through writing really helped that little girl who couldn’t figure out the difference between an adjective and a noun in elementary is rejoicing because now, while yes the nuts and bolts still are a struggle, I have learned to overcome it!
Conquering ones fear is am amazing deal, one that more of us should be doing. One that I should have done a long time ago.
I remember how Blood Purple came to life. I had been laid off of work and I was depressed. I wanted to read a story about Arabic vampires. Vampires were all the trend, you had Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, Dark Hunters, Black Dagger Brotherhood, of course I wanted MORE vampires.
But I couldn’t find any from the Arabic region. My aunt and I had been researching our families journey from Lebanon to America and the idea hit me. If I can’t find the book I want to read I will just write one!
I think I would like to add right here my Aunt has been one of my biggest supporters and is a true source of encouragement. So Thank you Aunt Pam!
Anyway - I took the history my family encountered and twisted it into this new world. A world where God didn’t create humans, the Algula created humans, in their image, and used us in their civil war against one another.
Nikole and Zane, oh how these two characters will forever hold a deep place in my heart. And Leigh and Haydar too.
Probably the best part of all was when my very first true fan, by true fan I mean complete random stranger who sought me out to talk and I didn’t already have a connection with, unveiled a truth in my novel.
She told me that Nikole (the heroine) and Leigh (the villain) were two sides of the same coin and she believed that coin was me.
Dear Ole Laken really made my year that night.
Everyone judges success on something different. I don’t judge it by the number of books I sell but by the experiences created.
Ish - this guy is an awesome fan (and photographer). I met him at one of my first ComicPalooza events in Houston and he has been a loyal follower ever since. I believe he has read the whole (or most of) my Maverick series. And he sure seems to like it because he has been known to send a tweet or two out about it.
The Pasadena, TX library - this place is awesome! They keep my books out on display, invite me to their local events and most of all, have my whole mystery series on their book shelf! Every time I go down there for an event fans come up to me and talk to me about my books. It’s a small town outside of Houston but that town is the best town. No where else do I go and always have someone who recognizes my name.
These are my grading scales about success and why I feel like Blood Purple really helped to make me successful.
Of course the novel itself has its own journey on how it came to be exactly what it is today but that is not a story for this blog. I will say as a first novel it wasn’t the best quality of writing because there was SO much to learn about this process. But the story was true and the characters are purely delightful. When I look at my current works in progress and compare the quality to what I was back in 2011 I see true growth. Growth I can appreciate and feel a sense of accomplishment for.
It takes a strong person to be able to point out a weakness and I know where mine are. But weakness or not, Blood Purple was an amazing adventure, one that I hope never ends.
And the best part of all in my writing ... once in a while, a bad guy gets to win. Rock on you evil villain ... you have your moments too!
You can check out my Blood Series on Amazon free with Kindle Unlimited ...
BLOOD PURPLE
So much has changed since I first picked up my laptop and started to randomly toss words on the page. I never imagined that this fantasy world I was creating would actually be accepted by readers. As a teen I would write poems and that was pretty much what I stuck to. Well that and oratory speeches for debate. I never pictured what it would be like to create worlds, kill people, discover new lands, all from the comfort of my chair.
The entire experience has been mind blowing on so many levels.
Especially when I look back at where I was in 2011 when I wrote Blood Purple.
English was never my strong subject in school. I loved reading and I did great on content questions and essays but the grammar nuts and bolts were a struggle. This journey through writing really helped that little girl who couldn’t figure out the difference between an adjective and a noun in elementary is rejoicing because now, while yes the nuts and bolts still are a struggle, I have learned to overcome it!
Conquering ones fear is am amazing deal, one that more of us should be doing. One that I should have done a long time ago.
I remember how Blood Purple came to life. I had been laid off of work and I was depressed. I wanted to read a story about Arabic vampires. Vampires were all the trend, you had Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, Dark Hunters, Black Dagger Brotherhood, of course I wanted MORE vampires.
But I couldn’t find any from the Arabic region. My aunt and I had been researching our families journey from Lebanon to America and the idea hit me. If I can’t find the book I want to read I will just write one!
I think I would like to add right here my Aunt has been one of my biggest supporters and is a true source of encouragement. So Thank you Aunt Pam!
Anyway - I took the history my family encountered and twisted it into this new world. A world where God didn’t create humans, the Algula created humans, in their image, and used us in their civil war against one another.
Nikole and Zane, oh how these two characters will forever hold a deep place in my heart. And Leigh and Haydar too.
Probably the best part of all was when my very first true fan, by true fan I mean complete random stranger who sought me out to talk and I didn’t already have a connection with, unveiled a truth in my novel.
She told me that Nikole (the heroine) and Leigh (the villain) were two sides of the same coin and she believed that coin was me.
Dear Ole Laken really made my year that night.
Everyone judges success on something different. I don’t judge it by the number of books I sell but by the experiences created.
Ish - this guy is an awesome fan (and photographer). I met him at one of my first ComicPalooza events in Houston and he has been a loyal follower ever since. I believe he has read the whole (or most of) my Maverick series. And he sure seems to like it because he has been known to send a tweet or two out about it.
The Pasadena, TX library - this place is awesome! They keep my books out on display, invite me to their local events and most of all, have my whole mystery series on their book shelf! Every time I go down there for an event fans come up to me and talk to me about my books. It’s a small town outside of Houston but that town is the best town. No where else do I go and always have someone who recognizes my name.
These are my grading scales about success and why I feel like Blood Purple really helped to make me successful.
Of course the novel itself has its own journey on how it came to be exactly what it is today but that is not a story for this blog. I will say as a first novel it wasn’t the best quality of writing because there was SO much to learn about this process. But the story was true and the characters are purely delightful. When I look at my current works in progress and compare the quality to what I was back in 2011 I see true growth. Growth I can appreciate and feel a sense of accomplishment for.
It takes a strong person to be able to point out a weakness and I know where mine are. But weakness or not, Blood Purple was an amazing adventure, one that I hope never ends.
And the best part of all in my writing ... once in a while, a bad guy gets to win. Rock on you evil villain ... you have your moments too!
You can check out my Blood Series on Amazon free with Kindle Unlimited ...
BLOOD PURPLE
