Dark Dreams

Dark Dreams Be warned, this is wordy with a lot of fun links to click on. In September of 2013, I released a reader-driven novella, The 13th Floor (DD Novella #1), in September 2016 I released, The Otherside (DD Novella #2), and then wrote nothing in the series for a long time. Technically, looking at the dates the next one should be due out by September 2019. But I won’t make anyone wait that long. It’s been long enough. After publishing those stories, I received positive feedback from a small group of new readers. They gave great reviews, but still I wasn’t feeling that I could take it where it needed to be, so I shelved it. It’s been bugging me ever since. It’s a paranormal series, but not ordinary by any means. Which made it fun to write and hopefully to read. I wanted to get it going again in 2017, but I wasn’t feeling it then either. The problem? It was reader-driven. When requesting which of the two possible ways it could end, the feedback was 50/50. So, what’s an author to do? I proceeded to write the third book with the ending I wanted, and in doing so a third option presented itself. I introduced that option and well...it became a three-way tie. During that time, I put things on hold to figure it all out, and I also tried to get involved with a few different venues that would allow me to publish the series for better publicity, but none of those worked out. They wanted something new and fresh, and the beginning of my story had already been published. Early 2018 I got sick with an intestinal infection that messed me up for many months, physically and mentally. I didn’t write anything new, but edited a couple things, and read almost all my books to find some typos and minor errors – so I fixed those up, but that’s all I was capable of. I still have chronic pain which I assume was from the illness, but after seeing a bajillion doctors and specialists and having just as many tests, I gave up when no one was finding anything. It was more stressful to keep going to the doctors, and as most of you know – stress is bad. By allowing myself time away from the medical field, I’ve been able to get stronger mentally, and physically (been hitting the gym with hubby – that’s a story in itself – maybe next month’s newsletter will have that tale). In July 2018 I went to the SaSS Author Event in Norfolk, VA – that was a HUGE part of my wellbeing going in a more positive direction, and I started writing again as a result. Not a whole lot, but it was better than nothing. As 2018 progressed so did I. I’m not 100% where I was back in 2017, but I’m so much more myself than I have been, which makes me happy, I missed me! Anyway, as for that damn series that’s haunted me for years. When I made a conscious effort to sit down and finish it, I couldn’t. My characters were holding me back, I was holding me back, and it had been so long since the last book was published that no one was asking for it. No pressure = no motivation. One night I was complaining to my husband about the ending and how I couldn’t decide what to do, or who my main character, Luciana should end up with: Ethan the vampire, Nick the shifter, or the Lee the human. Hubby said, why not write all three endings. I was about to laugh it off and dismiss what he’d said, but then I started percolating on the idea. I was going to write them all and the one I liked best I’d publish. But the one I liked might not be the one you liked… Writing all three was a great idea since I couldn’t write it without each having their happy ending. Or I could’ve just killed them all off and left her alone, but that wouldn’t have pleased me, and would’ve pissed off a bunch of readers, and in my new plan I might be pissing people off too. Time will tell. Book #3, Time of Decision will be out soon, keep an eye on my social media for dates. I’m at the mercy of my editor, but I plan to have it out by March or sooner if I can. Book 3 will end in a cliffhanger, maybe? I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, but it all depends on you if there is one! ***Take the POLL to help me decide how to publish the endings.*** *** Catch up on books 1 & 2 before 3 comes out!  1. The 13th Floor 2. The Otherside 3. Time of Decision (add to your TBR).

Giveaway & Fun Things: ***WORD SEARCH - Time how long it takes you to find all the words, and let me know in the Dark Dreams Facebook Group - where there may be a random drawing, dependent on the number of entries (I'll go easy since this is a new group). ***My GIVEAWAY this month is for the first book in the Dark Dreams series, The 13th Floor. Two lucky winners will receive a copy. Good Luck! Click HERE! Thanks for stopping by! ~Laci <3

Nikki Noffsinger - Music And Writing The Happy Balance

Please welcome my guest blogger today, Nikki Noffsinger, she is 37 years old, and the mother of 2. Nikki is a published author with XoXo Publishing. 

Music And Writing The Happy Balance

I find when I write, I see the story first in my mind but it is often inspired by its own soundtrack. A question was posed, "What song describes one of your books and why?" I can honestly say there is no "one" song that inspired either of them. When I wrote Renegade Night, I was inspired from everything from Puccini's Tosca and Madame Butterfly to Rob Zombie. 

I love music as much as I love books and there are few genre's that I just refuse to appreciate or listen to. However when I look at Renegade Night and reflect I think the song that comes more often to mind is Apocolyptica's I Don't Care because for my main character Alexi, he's so closed off and hardened because of everything he's lost and the fact that he's the very creature he hates. He tells himself that he doesn't care for Lainey other than being duty bound to her to keep her safe, yet he falls for her. So his "I don't care" attitude is not only questioned and tested but it's found lacking but throughout the book, he has to deal with the conflict of the past and present as well as cope with the barriers that Lainey is breaking down. He doesn't want to be hurt again-he doesn't want to love again, but the die is already cast.

When I wrote my 2nd book, a soon to be released E-book, Cursed Awakening I believe if I had to pick one song it would have to be Dare You by Shinedown. Ivy Morgan is coming into her own-on her own terms and Nyx knows Ivy is right for him but Nyx's family is steeped in tradition right down when it comes to mates. So the song I Dare You I think fits them both in some way. I dare you to live, I dare you to step outside the safety zone, I dare you to love, and I dare you to walk through fire. The final publication of mine is a story I submitted for Lost To The Night that was written with: Denyse Bridger, Brigit Aine, Sara Gonzalas, and Kayden Mcleod for XoXo Publishing. Night Lessons was a bit on the naughty side. What would you do if you had a sexy Lit teacher in college that was a guitar playing vampire who could spout poetry? So what song came to mind when I thought of the very sensual Dante Notte? Bryan Adams Wen You Love A Woman comes to mind because the guitar in that song brings an exotic sensual flavor that is Dante Notte. 

I was also inspired by Three Dog Night's Mama Told Me Not To Come because Ariel is so against anything that has to do with Mr.Notte and going out of her comfort safe zone. However it's not all hearts and flowers-there is some pretty dark things going on as to why Ariel keeps herself at arms length from things. There's a bit of greed and plotting when it comes to a Stepfather who wants his stepdaughter's trust fund and is willing to do what he has to do to get it. Music like writing is an art form. It evokes emotion. For those of us who write music can help keep the creative juices flowing, drown out outside distractions, or help create a mood or emotional moment. It's like the motion picture that's on paper instead of on screen and we all have our soundtracks.

Nikki's Bio:
I've always had a love of books and writing since I was a young child. I am a high school graduate and currently obtaining credits towards a degree in college. Though I have a love of most genres I love writing Paranormal romance because I get to create my own worlds and stories along side some of my favorite horror icons such as vampires. I grew up in a mid sized town in Indiana and was raised by my grandparents. My first solo E-Book project is through XoXo Publishing is Cursed Awakening, a wolf shifter book that blends paranormal with strong Native American characters of the Lakota Sioux nation.