The goddess says...

Breathe. Let the light of this time flow through you. Everything is in flux. Energy abounds and can feel overwhelming at times. Plant your seeds, water them and watch them grow. If you read anything about this time astrologically you will hear that the old ways are failing and the new ways are just beginning. Doesn't it feel that way? The shifts are coming faster now, causing disrupted sleep, brain fog and a feeling that nothing is real. Hare in the Moon is a good place to start if you haven't already been following the major shifts going on.

I, personally have been in a stuck place for several months. I'm not interested in writing the same stories, but the goddess has yet to tell me what's next. I unpublished one book and stopped working on another. I'm redoing book covers. Patience seems to be the word of the hour. And patience is not my strong suit! If you have begun a new project, good for you. And if you have yet to decide your future, don't push it. (advice to myself on an hourly basis) We can rest in the knowledge that the chaos we're noticing is a part of the change. Because there are those who fear it and resist. And if you resist a tidal wave you can get swept away.

From my own perspective my marketing has suddenly gone belly-up, my books not selling. Any of the old ways that have worked in the past do not work now. And if I'm faced with anything tricky to navigate, say putting an ad up on amazon, I end up walking away from it. My mind simply refuses to go there. And so I wait, wondering what will come next. A few new things have begun--the one I mentioned in my last blog about the YouTube videos I'm currently doing. My plan is to not only read from my books but to also talk about the goddess and how she figures in my writing and the mystical experiences I've had in the midst of writing certain books.

Remember who you are and ground yourself in earth energy. Try not to be carried away by negativity. Believe in yourself and what you know to be true. The divine feminine is alive and well and will prevail.

Thanks for reading.

Marketing!

This is a topic that all writers cringe about...but I'm writing to YOU, my readers. I have recently begun showing my face and voice to the world. It took me several tries before I could actually face my face, and not stumble over what I was saying or attempting to read! Here is a YouTube video of a reading from one of my Summer McCloud murder mysteries:

I would love any and all feedback! Does it entice you to read this book? I decided that I didn't care to look professional because I knew that looking professional would never happen for me. I can barely read without a stumble here and there.

In any case, working on this project has buoyed my spirits...have lost my muse in the past few months, so doing videos is taking the place of any substantive writing...hope this lifts soon because how many videos can anyone stand to look at? I'm not on TIKTOC.

In the theme of marketing I am considering selling from my website...haven't gotten all the details figured out yet, but...it sounds easy but nothing is ever as easy as it sounds. And big question--is it worth it? I definitely need everyone who reads this to send it to a friend. Maybe I can get more subscribers? There is a free book involved...one other bit of news: I am updating several book covers, and the new ones are SHAZAM! I've uploaded two of them to the website already...see if you can find them.

Thank you for reading and don't forget to check out my YouTube channel!

Kick-ass heroines

Does a heroine have to appear full-blown at the beginning of a book? Does she need to go it alone? I had a review in which a person commented that my main character was whiny and weak. Yes, she was. But as the book progressed she changed. I don't agree with books in which a character is uber strong at the get-go. If she is, what's the purpose of the book?

My characters start out with lessons to learn. Even the dark goddess in my current book 2 of the series has lost her powers. She has to go into the underworld/dreamtime to discover who she is. And my other question is: Why is it necessary for a character to never ask for help? Isn't collaboration part of what makes a person great?

These questions plague me as a writer of fantasy. It seems that readers want something unrealistic...well, yes, I know. Fantasy is by its very name, unrealistic. One way around this would be to have the heroine strong at the beginning but lose her strength as the story develops, and then somehow reclaim it. Trial by fire or some such theme...I am thinking about a new book, one in which the politics of the last four years does not intrude :)

My dystopian book Echoes is not doing well as far as sales go. (the one where politics does intrude) It makes me wonder about the themes and/or maybe the cover. My heroine is a tough girl at the beginning...falls in love as the story progresses, and now in Book 2 she's floundering. Here's a thumbnail of the two covers: Which one do you like? One on left is the new one...

Would love to know your opinion...please respond if you have one! .nikki@nikkibroadwellauthor.com

Thank you for reading!