I’m depressed. Yesterday was Mother’s Day and I miss my mom butt that’s not why I have the blues.

Two weeks ago I finished my latest book, The Gypsy Thorn. It’s a paranormal urban fantasy and a prequel novel to a new vampire series. The new series, The Evening Bower, will begin later this year (hopefully). So, you may ask, if I have a book in the can, why am I depressed?

Because the book is done. 

Sound silly? I suppose it may seem that way. I have written three books of poetry, one memoir, one photography book, and one urban fantasy. Now I have this new book and it will be published any day. Putting a book “to bed,” typing “the end” (figuratively), isn’t new to me and you may be saying, “why aren’t you celebrating instead of bemoaning?”

Let me explain and then maybe you’ll understand what I mean. With the photography and the poetry, I didn’t deal with a character. Yes, my poetry discusses a variety of “characters” but not a sustainable one, not one that has a complete substance.

With the memoir, the topic was me and I was happy when the book was done and published. I released me and it set me free.

With the urban fantasy, Midnight Assassin – A Tale of Lust and Revenge, I told a story that I new would continue. The main character – the vampire Drahomira – was due to return in the new book and so I didn’t feel as though I walked away from her or left her. I never felt that I ever left the story. Instead, Dra hovered near me as I wrote this new book where she is the driving force. Maybe you could say we got very close.

However, when I finished The Gypsy Thorn (GT), Drahomira’s work was done. She was the tool I used to prepare my readers for the series where Drahomira is not the main character. She is one of the important people (and will have her own off-shoot series) but she is not the character on which the series is based. And putting an end to GT closed the door on my favorite bad girl. Her voice stopped and I was alone. Hence the depression.

I hear from other authors and many experience this feeling. I haven’t given birth so I don’t know post partum depression though some have said that birthing a book is similar. It is my baby. Every single one is a labor of love and I give everything to it. I am told that this feeling of “letting go” is much like seeing your children move on, graduate, leave home, etc. I can’t speak to that, but I do feel sad to see it end. And I do miss her not being there to whisper in my ear.

As a result, I am hard at work on the next book. The new characters (introduced in Midnight Assassin and GT) are shyly stepping up and demanding my attention. New whispers fill my ear. But I did want to tell you how I am overcoming this lingering, last book sadness.

Book completions are both joy and sorrow. The joy is pride and a sense of accomplishment. There is no feeling in the world like finishing your story. The sorrow is finishing the story. As with any book I read, I feel satisfaction and a little sadness in ending. That’s the key. Ending.

I realized I needed to let go. I also realized I need not grieve! Nothing is over. The new story begins, and characters continue. Things are not done yet! There is more to tell.

And that is my answer to you. When you find yourself in a little bit of the blues, in sorrow of your book’s end, then begin anew. Take your joy in your success and reseed, regrow, renew!  Be happy and proud, congratulate and celebrate.  And hey, it’s okay to be blue.

To be sad is understandable but not to remain that way. Each author must find a way to move forward, and when you do, you will give birth to new exciting characters and new stories. But first, release yourself.

I’ve heard authors say, “I gave my all to that story. I don’t know if I have anything else to write about.” Pish posh. You need to let go! Blood renews itself. Mine did. Yours will, too.

Today I am nearly over being blue and excited about The Gypsy Thorn’s upcoming release THIS MONTH. Keep checking here and on my Facebook Author page for info.

And the new book, Time and Blood? Oh what a deliciously tangled web we weave! I’ll see you with this one in October.

Meanwhile, I hope your Mother’s Day was lovely and that you have projects you can sink your teeth into with joy and gusto. As for me, the vampires are calling and demanding my attention. And THAT makes me happy!

Thanks for stopping by and keep writing.
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

(Midnight Assassin cover by Robin Ludwig Designs)
(The Gypsy Thorn cover by Marisa-rose Shor of Cover Me Darling)

Hi Everyone! I’m feeling wild and crazy and I wanted to do something a little different and off book, as the saying goes.

So I asked my PAA to let me tattle on, oops, I mean tell more about her by asking her questions that I probably wouldn’t ask in an interview. She’s cool enough to play along, even if she did take a few of the questions much too seriously.

So without further ado (yes, that’s correct and not “adieu”), please meet the REAL Terri Wilson:

Interview Questions You’ll Probably NOT Want To Ask:

When speaking to writers’ groups or other authors, I always end up in debates about sharing our work.

• “I don’t want others to know what I’m working on.”
• “No one needs to see this drivel before it’s ready.”
• “I don’t want my ideas stolen.”

Do any of these comments sound familiar?

Writers, seriously, let go of the fear and embrace the concept of sharing. The word means “to give a portion of something to others” and “to use, occupy, or enjoy jointly with others.” In our case as writers, we give, use and enjoy. Or, we should. Why?

First, let me debunk a myth about if you share your work before it’s copywritten, it will be stolen and you’ll be out of luck. Really? Are you that good? If so, why are you worried? Get that superior thing to your agent and publisher right now! What’s that? You don’t have either one? Then listen up. There is nothing left to write that’s original. Like music, everything’s been done. Your job is to find a way to make what’s been done, unique. You change characters, change settings, change time periods, change the ending, etc. All the plots have been done, it’s what YOU do with your idea that makes your story yours. No one can tell your tale like you, even if they try to do it before you. They can’t write what you write, the way you write it. So, relax and share.

Now, why share?

• First, sharing your work build confidence in your abilities. I was very insecure when I started writing and it took all my bravery to offer my work to someone. What if they hated it? What if it turned out I couldn’t write? Sharing builds confidence in self. No matter what is said, you will learn to trust in your ability with time. The confidence you find in feedback and in connections will prove to be invaluable.
• Next, sharing toughens you. Building on the first reason, writers have to develop confidence but along the way, the criticism toughens the emotional skin and allows the writer to actually learn from mistakes. Hearing what you’ve done wrong is hard but continuing to do it wrong because you’ve never been told is worse!
• Following with the criticism, sharing gives you invaluable feedback. How well is your work received? Do your readers like your characters? Is your genre hitting the mark or falling flat? Is this something others would buy? This kind of feedback is critical to your future success.
• Sharing can also be inspiring. As you offer your work, others will offer to you. You see what they write and how. You read new ways to approach subjects and maybe are inspired by exciting new characters. Perhaps you discover a new genre or a new approach to an old one. Maybe the quality of someone’s writing sparks your muse. Those discoveries don’t happen without sharing.
• Finally, sharing means entering competitions. Start small if you feel insecure. Local or regional contests. Then branch out as your writing improves. Collect feedback from teachers and judges. Learn to revise and compete again.

One last point of sharing that experienced writers and authors know is the value of the beta reader. You must use beta readers if you want to be published. Beta readers are people who look over your manuscript and are those extra eyes reading for content mistakes, plot holes, grammar and punctuation misses, oddities (like missed hyphens and oxford commas), and overall appeal. Beta readers tell you what works and doesn’t and why. They are critical to a book’s success. And if you don’t share, they can’t care and you don’t win.

I’ve been writing and sharing for a long time and I still get shivers when I hand writing to someone else for a critique or a cold read. Nerves mean you care about your work and it matters what is said. That’s good.

Remember that nervous feeling when someone asks you to read something they have written. Be understanding and thorough because they are depending on you, just as you have on others.

Sharing is caring, folks, about your work and the responses to it. That kind of caring will only make for wonderful improvements. For writers and authors that’s money in the bank. For readers, that’s great books! And that’s win/win for everyone. So be not afraid. Share!

Thanks for stopping by,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

PS Next time, sneak peek into the new novella!

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress):

– Writer’s Workbook – Learning to Write Everyday – Beginners Volume  (expected July 2017)
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures (Nov 2017)
– prequel novella to the Bower series (May 2017)
– four-part fairy story (part one complete) (Christmas 2017)

On the Desk: (next reading): nothing yet

Off the Desk (book just finished): A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab

Coming Soon: More tips while writing that novel/Interviews/Odd Thoughts/Book Review