Time to Say Good-bye

Vonnie Davis

This will be my last post at Voices From the Heart. I didn't renew my membership with FTHRW this year for a variety of reasons. Life gets busy. Time gets stretched. Sad choices get made. Even so, I've enjoyed my time with this group of awesome writers. I'd begun my time here as a first-time published author, full of dreams. I leave with eight titles published and a contract for a paranormal series with Random House and a Christmas novella with HarperCollins. I'm busy with edits, writing installments on the series and the ever-annoying promotion.

I like to think my time here with you helped all that happen. For that, I'm grateful. People who help you achieve your dreams are to be cherished.

As writers, we know dreams have to go hand-in-hand with hard work. And so, we're about expanding our skill set. We read books on craft, take online writing workshops and study other writers. This is how it should be. After all, the learning curve of a good writer is continual. A good editor can help us grow, too. I've been very fortunate to have had some tough editors. Ones who didn't hesitate to point out my many weaknesses. As a serious writer, it was up to me to learn all I could from them. To email and ask why do you want this change made? Tell me, please, so I know not to do this again.

I've also learned when to stand my ground, to defend my characters or GMC.

Calvin and I have just returned from Paris and Berlin. We'd made the trip so I could research some places for future storylines pingponging around in my brain. While in Paris I experienced a dream come true. Famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company agreed to stock my romantic suspense, MONA LISA'S ROOM. Several scenes in the book had taken place at Shakespeare and Company and, for that, they wanted copies. I was thrilled.

Dreams do have a way of coming true when we don't give up. I leave you all with one of my favorite quotes...

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. ~ T. E. Lawrence.

 

Best of luck, success and happiness to you all. Hugs, my "writerly" friends.

Dare to Dream!

Photo by Frank Wolzein

I thought this photo perfect for new beginnings. The new year is full of possibilities. Take advantage. Dare to dream!

Happy New Year!

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Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a pre-published writer who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. DawnMarieHamilton.com

You can also visit Dawn Marie at Castles & Guns on January 17 and January 31. And at Celtic Hearts on February 6.

Twitter: @DawnM_Hamilton

2011 - What a year!

This is my time of year to look back and see how I did with my goals I set at the beginning of the year. Sometimes I surprise myself and sometimes I fall a little short.

When I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for Tempting Adam in 2010 I knew 2011 would be an exciting year. It has more than lived up to my expectations.

Tempting Adam came out in February. My first Indie book came out in October and I will have another Indie book out before the new year kicks off with champagne and fireworks. I started a newsletter and actually have real people who signed up for it. LOL

Just this week I had two sales in the UK. The UK!! In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined how I would feel to see people all the way on the other side of the world buying my book. I thought that happened when you hit bestsellers lists, when you did great for your publishing house.

I'm paraphrasing here, but I believe the saying goes something like this. When you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you still land among the stars. That is the thought I'm taking into 2012. I might not have hit the moon but I am definitely floating among the stars.

Wish upon a star. Shoot for the moon. May all your dreams come true in 2012.

I Dreamed a Dream

Dreams come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Sometimes we reach a certain age and think our dreams are done. We missed the boat. Whatever cliche you want to use. But, sometimes we need to remember that dreams come true at any age. It is never too late to reach your dreams.

You read all the time about women who think they lost their chances to have a baby and suddenly they are pregnant at 40 something. You read about an artist or writer being "discovered" in their 70's or 80's or beyond. It can happen tomorrow, but not if you give up today.

Don't let your dreams die because you think life passed you by. Dreams are fragile but durable things. Strong enough to hold our every wish. Dreams come true every day. Sometimes we forget that.

And sometimes we have to be reminded of that fact:

Britain's Got Talent - Susan Boyle

My Birthday

I am riding high from my birthday today. It has amazed me at how many friends have taken their time to send me a greeting and best wishes. I've always thought writers are the best kind of friends, now I know beyond a doubt.

As a writer and because I live in the mountains, I don't get out much or have much of a social life. I rather like being a hermit most of the time because I have my muse to keep me company. A week ago I enjoyed three days at a writers' retreat with my Sacramento Valley Rose group and certainly thrived on the comraderie. Like one of the attendees said, "I've never enjoyed being a writer as much as I have since joining RWA. People who don't write, don't understand what I am talking about most of the time and if they did, they don't care."

My mentor, Karen Rose Smith, told me twelve years ago to get into RWA and join a local chapter if I was serious about writing. She opened a door to a great new chapter in my life. I have also joined online groups, volunteered for lots of jobs along the way, and have made life-long friends.

Maybe the best part of writing are the friends, but accomplishing writing goals aren't too shabby either.

Dreams really do come true.

Sometimes we hold our dreams close, deep in our hearts, and wish with all our might for them to come true. For writers, getting published is our biggest dream. One I got to realize this week.

I've been offered a publishing contract and my manuscript will become a book. It still seems unreal no matter how many times I say it in my head, to my friends, or on a blog.

As I was reading the email with the good news a small part of me was whispering; now what do you dream of? Because, although we dream often and dream big, a little part inside worries it will never come true. I've been dreaming, and hoping, and working since I was 20 years old to publish a book. I won't tell you how many years that is. LOL

So, this wonderful editor sends me a wonderful email and in just a few short words makes all my dreams come true. I wish I could hug her and I hope she realizes what her note meant to me.

So, when one dream comes true what do you dream of next?

Jill James
http://www.jilljameswrites.com/