It is the quiet room I build at midnight when the heavy world is finally fast asleep, a bridge between the shadow and the sunlight, and a vault for all the secrets I must keep.
It is a tapestry of dark and ancient magic, where urban realms and phantom worlds collide, a canvas for the sweeping and the tragic, and the truths we are too terrified to hide.
It is a shield against the weight of long tomorrows, a way to capture light within the gray, to anchor joy, to give a voice to sorrows, and mold the things I can’t simply say.
It is the ink that bleeds when hearts are breaking, the steady pulse beneath a restless hand, the quiet art of letting go and making a world that I can finally understand.
You are a radiant dawn, the breaking light, The guiding star that shines so ever bright Seize the day, make it count, Failure’s not your final moment. You are the hope that fuels our spirits high, With boundless strength to reach for the sky. Success is yours if you believe it true, There is nothing at all you can’t do. You own the courage that conquers darkest fears, The strong inspiration that elevates and dries all the tears. Never surrender your dreams to doubt’s deep shade, Not let fear paralyze the progress you have made. Make no mistake, you are unique and bright. Let your internal essence shine both day and night Flourish and grow until you reach your peak. Blossom and thrive in the honest truths you speak. Reach for the stars while they are in your hand, And soar high above across this waiting land Venture forth and leave an indelible mark, As your talents are unfurled from the silent dark. Your capabilities come alive and thrive Turn every bold desire into reality while your alive You are the architect of your own destiny The author of your extraordinary story.
The silent prisons of our own mind, Worry for the deeds we left behind, The chances lost, the paths we feared to roam, Our potential dormant, never brought home. This anchor heavy, second-guessing’s sting, Drags down the soul that was meant to sing.
To truly live, regret must be outrun, A risk embraced beneath the morning sun. The unknown holds the promise of our growth, A fertile ground for a pledged oath.
Take the chance at greatness, a choice for all, Be willing to reach, to answer the call. See what reserves within your spirit lie, Of strength and grace beneath the open sky. Commit to the dream, take the fearless flight, Forward with conviction, leaving behind the night.
Hesitation is the foe of every deed, By fearing failure, planting doubt’s cold seed. You’ll never know the heights you could attain, The monuments you’d build through sun and rain. The touch of courage, how it might inspire, A beacon lit by your own brave fire.
Embrace the call: Take the chance once more, See what you can do without a shore. Take the challenge, soar upon the breeze, Let past regrets dissolve with newfound ease. Don’t look behind; the future lies ahead, Just keep the onward path and be well-led.
Belief and grit define the way we go, The goals you set, the success you will know. Though failure whispers—part of learning’s art— Do not let that dark shadow break your heart. The glorious chance of victory is near, For this bright hope, dispel all doubt and fear.
Stop postponing the life you wish to lead, Write the unheard book, plant the needed seed. Learn the unlearned dance, let rhythm take hold, Sing out your heart, a story to unfold. Let nothing hold you back—no fear, no scorn, The time for your own greatness is this morn.
When your mind is cloudy,
When your head wants to rest,
And all you can do is worry,
About all the things that are a mess.
The work you need to do.
The places you need to go.
But your mind needs to rest.
Your head needs a pillow
And you need to stop.
Slow down, close your eyes.
Take a breath, it’s okay to stop.
Slow down, close your eyes.
Take a breath, it’s okay to stop.
Feeling guilty
When I rest my head.
When I need more sleep.
When I can’t go on, I need to rest.
Slow down, close your eyes.
Take a breath, it’s okay to stop.
I am what you call an indie writer which means I publish my own books. I tried to work with a publisher, but it did not go well. I learned a lot from working with them, and from writing over the years.Â
Now I am writing the last book in my series the Shadow Realm Chronicles and still I do not know how to market the book. It worries me sometimes that I have put all this energy into this project and because of that no one will read it. I recently got a review that was not the best and it made me think. Do I really know how to write? Are my books just crap? I know all writers have people who don’t like their books, and everyone has their own taste, but man that killed me.Â
I found that when I write, I am less stressed. So that act of writing keeps me grounded and focused. When I am not writing, for any reason, I am more stressed and irritable.Â
I also like being creative. My books series, I think is fun. It is the story about a family that is cursed and through generations they try and overcome this darkness.Â
Book 1 The Shadow Realm Chronicles Maeve
Welcome to the Shadow Realm!
Many years ago, darkness tore apart the worlds. They called it the Great War, for it was massive and involved all the realms of all the worlds, save one. Enemies on either side grew their armies for battle with heavy casualties. New allies formed out of this bloodshed while old ones crumbled. The Great War might be over, but another one looms in the distance, and it all begins with a lonely mother named Maeve.
Maeve once was a loving mother and wife, but darkness transforms her into a creature of the night. The Vampire Lord Marius attacked her and turned into a vampire. Her husband, Hunter, fled with her infant son, fearing the monster she would become. Now she is a pawn being used by Marius and The Shadow King who wants to make her his dark Queen. How can she get back to her son and the family she left behind? Will she succumb to the darkness or fight for her son? Will she ever be able to forgive Hunter for leaving her to the mercy of Marius and the Shadow King?
Travel to the Shadow Realm, hear spellbinding tales, meet magical creatures, and join Maeve in the quest to save her soul.
Book 2 The Shadow Realm Chronicles Matthew
Return to the Shadow Realm!
Matthew, Maeve’s grandson, is the prisoner of the Shadow King. Killed by the King of the Faye, Matthew must fight to get back to his family and reunite all those he had lost. Can he, do it? Or will he allow darkness to enter his soul? Will Maeve intervene and save him? Will his wife ever forgive him for the dark things he must do, and will his son ever accept him? How far would you go to save your family?
Can Matthew overcome the darkness and return to his family or succumb to the darkness and become The New Shadow King? Travel to the Shadow Realm, hear spellbinding tales, meet magical creatures, and join Matthew as he fights for his family.
Book 3 The Shadow Realm Chronicles Justin
Journey with Justin as he learns about the magical world.
Take a journey in time, back before Maeve and Matthew returned, back to the time when Justin first met Lily and Nancy, back to when Justin did not know he was a magical being. Take a journey with Justin and his friends as they learn who they are, how they are connected, and what powers they have. Can they sense the darkness? How can a group of kids help prevent this impending doom and darkness?
Travel to the Shadow Realm, meet vampires, witches, and werewolves. Learn about the merpeople and the Faye. Help Justin and his friends learn who they are in this magical world filled with danger, darkness, and love.
Book 4 The Shadow Realm Chronicles Maurelle
Will Maurelle ever be able to forgive Matthew and herself? The search for Maurelle’s kids starts now!
For a young fairy named Maurelle life was wonderful. She was a princess, and she loved her family. But Maurelle did not understand the ways of the world and the darkness that dwelt in her father and others. But as she grew, that darkness became a reality not only for herself but her husband Matthew.
Will she find the courage to rebuild her family, to forgive her husband, and will she ever be able to forgive herself? If she can’t forgive herself, how will she ever be able to face her father and find her children?
Book 5 The Shadow Realm Chronicles: Annabelle (Coming soon)
Book 6 The Shadow Realm Chronicles: Carillon (Coming Soon)
As an indie writer, you learn things over time. I am not by any means a successful writer. I am still putting more time and money in than I am getting out. Let’s just say I will not be stopping my day job anytime soon. Needless to say, there are things we learn, and I would like to share some of those with the readers of my blog over time. Today, well yesterday I learned that even though I paid an artist for my cover art, they still use stock photos and someone else could use my stock photo. I assumed, and wrongly so, that if I pay an artist for artwork it is their artwork and no one else could use it. Well in this case, my artist used a stock photo. In other cover art this particular artist did for me, they did extensive edits, so it no longer looks like the original photo.
So here is an example
This is my book cover:
In this case it has changed so much that it does not look like the original but in another case, it was identical. Needless to say, I am redoing the cover.
So, I decided why to spend 200 dollars on a cover when it is just stock photos?
So here is one that was made for me. I don’t know if it was stock photos, but I paid 200 dollars for it and now I wonder why I did that. And next to it is one I made this morning. Since I am making this into a series, I want all the covers to look the same.
Obviously the one made by the artist is better, but is it worth 200 dollars and the chance for someone to copy it? Heck, they could copy the ones I made without me paying 200 dollars.
Just something I wanted to share with other writers. I was quite upset last night when I saw the exact same cover for this book on someone else’s book. Yes, I am redoing this cover.
Chances are if you get a copy of Maeve with this cover, it will be the original cover as I am changing it, so it does not look like anyone else’s cover. Things you learn….
