After Sunset

In June of 2020 I took the plunge and published my first African-American paranormal romance. I loved every moment of it. This book was something I’d been working on for a long while, and I finally had the guts to publish it. I got reviews, (not many as this was released on Amazon and I self-published) and I was pleased with the results. Now I am working on the sequel.

It’s taken me almost three years but I am pleased to say that I am almost finished with the next book in the series, Before Midnight. I lost inspiration, then gained it back. I had writers block. Tonight, as I’m working on the next book I am marveling at how far I’ve come. I used to be so afraid to publish my own work. Always fearing that it would never be good enough.

But publishing my poetry on this website, and seeing notifications of other writers reading my work truly warms my heart. You all gave me hope that maybe my writing isn’t as meaningless as I once thought it would be. It’s what gave me the strength to try. If I had to give advice to any person struggling with the decision on whether or not to post their work, I would tell them to do it. To try. Because you’ll always wonder.

And you are better than that.

By the way, if you’re interested in reading the first book, see below the hot book cover for link. 😏

https://amzn.to/3Wbj6Ud

Book Cover

What do you think?

I’ve been busy this week. Schoolwork has kicked into high gear, and my book promotions have been going well. This Thursday I will receive my manuscript, all professionally edited.

(And by that I mean copy editing, line editing, critique, and everything else that was wrong with my story)

Afterward, I will have my book professionally formatted- and it will be ready on October 21. Plenty of time before my release date to make any changes or have a couple more heart-attacks from anxiety.

This has been a pleasurable journey. I learned so much, met some great and interesting people, and have discovered a community just waiting for the next terribly romantic historical fiction. I do hope you guys enjoy it. Again, we’ve still got time before it’s released, (Check the banner) but I want to start thinking in the mindset of it already being released to the public. (EEEK!)

I love you all.

-NR

Letting Everyone Know….

Hello, world!

So today I did something I thought I would never do: I let all my Facebook friends and family know about my book. I have kept this secret for over a year, and to finally be able to announce my book will be published come the first week of November gave me so much joy. I have always kept quiet about things in my life, deciding to use my platform to congratulate others and talk about news events that are shaping our world.

But not today.

No, today I flexed a bit. And I’m not mad about it. It caused my mind to wander into the whys. Why don’t we shout our accomplishments from the rooftops? Why are we afraid to sometimes show others how far we’ve come? I know that I’ve been taught as a young girl to not be boastful. I would agree only to an extent. If you have worked hard, given everything to a project, or something you love, you should boast about it. So people understand your passion, but how proud you are of accomplishing what most would think the unattainable.

Another reason why I posted today my truth, is because I want everyone to know that you don’t always have to do things the conventional way. My life, up to this point was conventional. I went to school, went to grad school, then entered the workforce. Every day for a year and a half, I woke up at an ungodly hour, commuted to the city, and did my nine to five. Was I truly happy? No. But I did what society expected from me. We cannot do that.

As a people, we have to learn to be individuals. We have to do what is right for us, and not what someone thinks is right for us? You get me? Let’s start that trend. Instead of being followers, find our own path, and try that door. If it fails, you could always do the conventional thing.

But I don’t think you’ll fail.

-NR