Vulnerable Post

I'm going to be honest and vulnerable for a moment. If you've been around for even a small amount of time, you know that I love live/in-person events. I didn't always love them because they scared me and I felt too “salesy" but I've come to love them because of the amazing people I've met and connected with over the years. I love talking to people whether they love my books or don't. I've had some valuable conversations and made some incredible friends.

There's also nothing like hearing that a reader does, in fact, love my books, or that my books helped them through a particularly difficult time. That's one of the reasons I write and release my books. In the hopes that they can brighten someone else's day. I was so happy to see the readers who came to see me at the Family Christmas Gift show over the weekend to tell me they enjoyed my books and some of them purchased more. 

But, overall, the show was not great. It was three long 12-hour days with very little sales and honestly not a ton of interaction. The event was packed, but so many people just walked by. Partway through Saturday--the busiest day and the last day--I was feeling so down on myself because there were so many people, but none seemed interested in even hearing about my books. As an author who puts so much of myself into my stories, I couldn't help but feel it as a personal rejection (logically I know it wasn't, but it's harder to tell that to my emotional self)

There were some moments that I wondered why I was still doing this thing. Why I even bothered. I should just throw in the towel, quit writing and focus soley on the house and the kids.

Fortunately, I went home, licked my wounds, and slept a ton for a few days and now I'm feeling much better. It was just a bad show and I can move on from it, but it definitely throttled my pride for a minute. 

 If you're here reading this, thank you!! I don't think I could ever stop writing even if the entire world hated my writing, but it helps to have a handful of readers who think my books are pretty great. And I know a lot of you are counted among them, so THANK YOU!

Catch up...

A lot of things have been happening in my personal life and so I’ve missed posting here on my website for several months. I have been sending out regular emails though, so if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, get on that list!

joannareeder.com/getmyfreebies

Here are a few highlights from my recent emails:

  • We got a puppy!

  • I’ve been working on fulfilling my Kickstarter

  • I accidentally plotted a 12 book series…

  • and FanX 2024 in Salt Lake City was incredible

Writing Update:

Even though I have 22 books published (some are co-written with other authors) you'd think I would have a tried and true system for writing books. But I don't. Not because nothing works, but because the systems I've used to write all of my books worked great for those particular books. Then I learned something new or wanted to try something different and the next thing worked great for that book/series.

When I began writing Fae Thieves and Crowns, it was an experiment in serial writing and I LOVED IT. Of course, I had to change the structure of the story when I turned book one into novel form, but the drafting of both books one and two as a serial story has worked beautifully.

Mostly thanks to my amazing editor and friend, Kristin Dawson. 

I have loved figuring out the story as I go (though I do have a rough idea in my head and a bullet-point list of important moments that need to happen in each book.)

If you're following the story on Ream or Kindle Vella, book three is about ⅓ into the story. Last week I talked with Kristin because I was getting a little bit stuck due to so many life things taking my energy and attention lately. She suggested I quickly draft the rest of book three instead of doing it the serial way since we are so far into this massive story. 

So I did! I wrote 5,000 words (About 20 pages) with a quick summary of what will happen in each chapter until the end of book 3 and I'm so excited!  

I think this will really help me get this book written quickly and with fewer stumbling blocks. I think it will help me mention things and add things at the right times in the story to make the serial experience that much better!

Listen to Silver Wings and Shadows!

Good news…

I'm writing again! It's been a rough creative year with the move and other personal struggles, but I sat down a few days ago to write the bonus scene for the Stealing Fae Hearts and SecretsKickstarter and it just flowed!

I also have an new episode of Fae Thieves and Crowns almost done!

I hope it sticks and I can get into a good groove of writing again, especially with my kids going back to school next week.

Listen to Silver Wings and Shadows!

I'm really excited for this, because Karyne Norton is an excellent audiobook narrator. For her Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, Karyne read Silver Wings and Shadows (the prequel short story for Courting Fae Thieves and Crowns.)

Click the link to listen for free!

Listen Here

Three Reviews (Shhh... they're not fantasy books)

My kids go back to school in less than TWO weeks! I think it's the earliest they've ever gone back, but they finished just before Memorial Day so it's time. In total, they will have had 11 weeks off which I know is much longer than some areas/countries. 

With the move, we haven't done a whole lot this summer, but we were able to go to one of our favorite places for a week with my family (my parents, siblings, and their kids). 

We spent a lot of time at the beach (lake, not ocean) and the pool. 

It was so nice because I was able to forget about my stresses and relax for several days.

I also read THREE books! Which is nuts because I've been in a reading slump for most of the year. All three are regency romances by Sally Britton:

Maybe I just needed a break from fantasy for a minute. I loved all three of them! Click the pictures or the links in my short reviews to see them on Amazon!

  • The Social Tutor is about Christine who is getting ready for her first season in Bath. She speaks her mind too much and needs to learn how to act socially acceptable, so she enlists a neighbor, Thomas, to teach her. In return, she will give him stud rights to her stallions so he can start a horse farm.


    What I loved about this book is how forward Christine is in her genuine questioning and how it makes Thomas feel so awkward. But she legitimately wants to learn about what she's doing wrong in society so she can be better and have a successful season to snatch a husband. She even asks him to teach her how to flirt. It's such a fun book!


  • The Gentleman Physician is about Julia who travels to her cousin to help take care of her house and children while her cousin's husband is dying of consumption. It feels a lot like Jane Austen's Persuasion because we quickly learn that the doctor of Julia's cousin-in-law is the man she rejected many years prior (because of family issues, not because she didn't love him).


    What I loved about this book was how the romance unfolded during this very difficult time of losing a family member to a horrible sickness. It's not convenient or even socially acceptable for a romance, so the two deny their feelings for much of the book as they are thrown together taking care of this grieving family.


  • His Bluestocking Bride is about Ellen, a spinster (who is only 26, c'mon!), who is asked to marry Marcus (the second son of an Earl) in order for Marcus to have access to his inheritance. Ellen and Marcus have known each other since childhood and Ellen has always loved Marcus. So she says yes, even though he makes it clear that it's a practical match, not a love match.


    There's nothing specific that I loved about this book, other than I just loved it. The characters are great and I just love reading romances about marriages of convenience.

Update: Print Version of Stealing Hearts and Secrets

I have some news! Mostly for the Kickstarter backers, but if you've been waiting for Stealing Fae Hearts and Secrets to be available in print, we're one step closer! 

My map artist (and one of my author besties), Hanna Sandvig, just reached out because she's ready to update the map of Faerie! Once that's done and I get the bonus scene written, I'll be ready to format and get the books printed and shipped out to all the lovely Kickstarter backers. 

After that, I can announce when the books will be available to purchase on other retailers.

 

The Read A Thon for Imitating a Fae Queen is over, but if you hop on over to Ream, I have a special deal going on! Click the button to learn more!

Learn more

Read A Thon: Imitating a Fae Queen

We’re about halfway through the free read-thon of Imitating a Fae Queen, but it’s not too late to join!

Here are the details:

Where: https://reamstories.com/joannareeder ←Click the link and make sure to Follow. The Read a Thon will be free to all followers and subscribers! 

When: June 17 - July 17, 2024 (Join Ream to see the reading schedule)

What: We'll be reading Imitating a Fae Queen. Each week there will be quizzes, discussions, and giveaways!

Weekly Giveaway Prizes

  • Paperback copy of Exiling a Fae Queen

  • Art print of Aria and Tien by J. Brent Hill

  • Map of Faerie print by Hanna Sandvig

  • Art print of Aria by Leona Sure

  • 4 character cards (Aria, Sterling, Carys, Tien)

  • Raven Court bookmark with handmade tassel

We Funded!

I am overjoyed at the amount of support my Kickstarter has received. If you were one of them, thank you! We funded in 45 minutes and the campaign was selected as one of the platforms “Projects We Love."

We’ve also unlocked our first two stretch goals!

The Kickstarter ends on May 22, 2024. Check it out before it ends!

Learn more

Kickstarter: Stealing Fae Hearts and Secrets Hardcover!

A lot has happened over the past few months. I moved!! My family and I sold our house, then bought a new one and moved.

Life is back to normal and I'm so excited to hit the ground running and get back into the swing of things. After a long break, it's always a challenge to get the words flowing again, but I am writing! And I know that if I keep pushing and working through it, it'll come easier. 

With that being said, I'm hoping to have a new episode of Fae Thieves and Crowns very soon. I'm just working through the creative blocks and getting my head back into the story. 

You can catch up here on Ream: Fae Thieves and Crowns

In other news…

The Kickstarter for Stealing Fae Hearts and Secrets has launched!

Click this link to check it out!

Learn More

Do you ever have this problem?

I've been in a reading slump since… well it's been a long time. A huge part of it was probably how involved I was in getting TWO books released in the past two months. But now that those are done and in the world, it would be nice to be able to disappear into a story.

I'm sure I'll get out of it soon. Just admitting this will give me motivation to read again. Especially because I love sharing what I read with you!

Actually, I have been reading (well listening) but it hasn't been fiction books. I recently listened to “The Secret” on audiobook. Recently, as in I just finished it earlier today!

The book was actually an eye-opening and mind-blowing listen for me because it gave me an entirely new perspective on mindset. It was something I really needed. Listening to it and connecting it with past experiences and things I've read in scripture and a random video about time gave me an incredible epiphany. Our thoughts affect us so much and I hadn't realized just how much until I listened to this book.

Have you read anything amazing lately? Entertaining or educational?