The Proofs Have Arrived

The proofs of my novel were waiting on my doorstep for me when I got home from work last night.

Yes, the proof copies (I goofed up and ordered two rather than one). And here they are, proof that this book exists. It's out of my head and sits between a front and a back cover.

Thing was, I couldn't stop looking at them, touching the cover, flipping through the thing to see this page or that, did the acknowledgements turn out okay and I realized, I felt this way when I gave birth to my children. In particular, I'll compare it to the birth of my first child, Michael.

"The first time's a novelty," a more seasoned mother told me after church one day as we dismounted the church steps. "The second time is a pain in the ass."

Oh. Well, I'm still in the throes of the thrill, thank you.

When I was pregnant, I was filled with such awe that such a thing could be taking place in my body, that a tiny egg could germinate to a living being, that the living being was being nourished and nurtured within my body, growing to fruition to a point when it would emerge, it's own person, separate and apart from me. I wondered so many things. Who will you be? Will I be able to raise you well? Will I protect you, teach you, will I love you enough? Will you have all your fingers and toes, will you be healthy? and at times, when I was overtaken by sheer terror, Can we call this whole thing off?

And then Michael arrived, all eight pounds one ounce of him, and as I held him in my arms I was stunned, filled with an all consuming joy, head over heels, fierce, relentless and never ending. I fell instantly in love.

It's not that different birthing a book. All the steps that led to this point are similar in nourishing, protecting and giving birth to a child. Laying the baby on my chest for the first time reminds me of bringing the germ of an idea to fruition. Reading through my story last night gave me a lot of pleasure. When I finished proofing the same feelings flooded back as when Michael was born. I still love the story. I still love the characters and I'm pleased with how they turned out. And I hope others will be when they read it. My first character, Julie, is not so likable at first but her growth process pleases me more than the other two, I think. I'm proud of her, actually.

How do you feel when your work is published? Do you feel the same, that the process is similar to giving birth to a human child?

Now Available for Pre-Order as an E-book on Amazon!

Just a quick note - this is so exciting!

The Discovery of Joy is now available for pre-order as an e-book on Amazon! Get your copy today. All reads and reviews would be appreciated!

A Short Review of The Discovery of Joy

I am so excited about this, friends. What an awesome review of my women's fiction novel, from....a man. Holy cow.Jumping up and down, blowing party whistles, throwing glitter all about, my party hat askew, dancing to Roy Orbison. Well? Wouldn't you?  

What affirmation. I mean, really. Still dancing. 

But the clock strikes midnight and well, we have to get dignified (crap) in spite of our very best selves, and so...here we go. 

My friend, RIckey Pittman, graciously agreed to review my novel prior to release and wrote this "short" (not so short) review. Just a bit of history here - I met Rickey a few years ago, at the Ozarks Creative Writers' Conference, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Since that time, RIckey and I joined forces in reviewing one another's work, and giving critiques and reviews of and for each other. So, I was so pleased when he agreed to review my women's fiction novel, The Discovery of Joy. Rickey is an accomplished novelist, songwriter, musician and storyteller, as well as being an educator. And, he is a dear friend, while we're at it. Here is a link to his website: https://www.bardofthesouth.com/. With that, here is the "short" (not so short) review of The Discovery of Joy." I intrude a bit, notice the italics.

The Discovery of Joy by Yvonne Erwin: A Short Review (hahahah - that's me laughing)

The Discovery of Joy is a first novel by Yvonne Erwin.  I think this novel will help set her on her way as a romance writer. (Romance? DId he say romance? I like, even though I never thought of myself as a romance writer. Oops, Rickey, go on.) And yes,  this is a romance novel—reminding the reader of how easily and quickly one can fall in love and the price one may have to pay for those forays into love’s territories.

Erwin writes with a strong sense of narrative, a style that reminded me of Candace Bushnell. In her writing, (Candace Bushnell? Sex in the City? That's big, baby) I see scenes rich in vivid imagery and emotion. For example, the early scene of the moving van is one that will not be easily forgotten.  Many of the scenes are quite sexy and she accomplishes this without being graphic. (OMG, this means he read it, he read the freaking book. Wow.)

After reading the book, I feel like I know the characters well, even down to the interior conflicts and conversations—the talks  and questions we have as we experience life and question our own value and sanity. The reader will gain insights into what Erwin describes as the “caustic void” of the legal world, and the heart-rattling realities of divorce. Erwin’s writing causes us to think about the angst, the secrets, the lies, the memories, years and “twisted, gnarled roots of our life” that sit between people. There is a wide variety of characters that the reader is sure to identify with in this (to borrow a phrase of Erwin’s) “waltz of discoveries." (Mhmmm, mhmmm.) The reader will encounter the sincerely religious, the crazies, the cruel, and the fair-weather friends. The reader will feel how marriage and conquest change people, about secrets, about lies. (And, you're gonna eat a lot, or at least thing about eating a lot. This is a foodie book as well.)

Though there are men who are key characters, this is a story about women—the women of Springfield, Missouri.  We discover their self-doubts, the struggle with self-image, about what a woman feels when she is caught in the rut of a dead-end job and existence, how it feels to be fired without explanation, and how marriage can be a paradise or a nightmare, exceeding or disappointing our expectations.

If you are a reader or a writer of romance, you are sure to enjoy, The Discovery of Joy by Yvonne Erwin.

Thank you, Rickey Pittman. Looking forward to your next work.

The Heckmasters, Book 2 - Release Date April 7, 2015!

Here is the second volume of The Heckmaster series, written by my friend and fellow Ozarks Romance Auithors member, Allison Merritt. Allison is a prolific writer, with an amazing talent for the written word. This volume will be released April 7, 2015 - Read on. 

If love can’t save them, there will be hell to pay.

Grateful for his mother’s human blood that cools the dark fire of his demon father, Eban Heckmaster has set up a medical practice in New Mexico territory. But there’s no hope of living a normal life until he rids himself of a seductive demon that’s been pursuing him.

Vanquishing it won’t be as simple as sharpening his demon-hunting sword. The clever creature is hiding inside his best friend’s head, and she has no idea of the havoc she’s been wreaking, especially with his body.

Beryl suspects Eban knows why she’s been waking up with no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done, but he’s not talking. But when she inevitably learns what he’s hiding—or rather, what’s hiding inside her—she wonders if her love for him is real, or an illusion created by the demon’s lust.

Eban is losing the battle to hold his rising desire in check. There may be only one way to extricate Beryl from the beast entangling her mind. Call upon his demon blood...and offer it as a sacrifice.

Warning: Contains a half-human, half-demon doctor who can heal anyone except himself, and a woman who’d blush if she could remember the sensuous torture she’s been inflicting on him. Could make you wonder if you should start listening to the voices in your head...

About the Author:

A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.

Social media links:

Blog – http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com

Facebook – http://facebook.com/allisonmwrites

Twitter – http://twitter.com/allison_merrit

G+ - http://gplus.to/allisonmerritt

Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/AllisonMWrites

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/allisonmwrites/

Read the first book in the series: Wystan (The Heckmasters)

Buy links:

Samhain - http://store.samhainpublishing.com/wystan-p-73651.html

Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00L501TJK

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wystan-allison-merritt/1119847207?ean=9781619222892

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Release Date!

I am happy to announce the release of my contemporary women's fiction novel, The Discovery of Joy, will be February 2, 2015! You will be able to find it on amazon.com and bn.com.

Releasing my baby to fly free is a thrilling and frightening process, not to mention a little astounding. How did I come so far? I'm torn between a feeling of buyer's remorse (is it good enough? Will everyone hate it?) and wanting to jump up and down shrieking, "Yes!" not to mention grabbing complete strangers by the shoulders shouting, "I have a book! A published book!"

I'm also grateful. I tried doing this, the publishing process, before I was ready and certainly before the book was ready. Obviously, I met outstanding failure. When I allowed people into my life, people who didn't feel the same bond with my book as I did, the book began to change. And I began to change as well. For one thing, I stopped rushing about trying to arrange every detail and keep control. I started listening to advice from people who've been around a little bit and know more than me. What evolved from that? Well, here it is; look at the photo.

So.

Thank you to Rebecca T. Dickson, my editor. Thank you for demanding that I see farther than my fingertips on the keyboard. Thank you to my beta readers, Ellen Harger, and Sharon Kizziah-Holmes and an unknown friend of Sharon. Thank you to my cover artist, Niki Bradley-Fowler. Thank you Paperback-Press for taking this project on.

So, on or after February 2, 2015, should you feel like reading a book about women, about love and betrayal, heartache, food, personal growth and the discovery of joy, please order my book. I hope you like it.

January 3, 2015 Mega Write-In and Critique

Hey folks - just a quick note to let you know the link is up and available for pre-registration for this event. Please go to:  www.ozarks-romance-authors.com and you will find the link to the Mega Write-In and Critique.

You can also find the link on my Events page.

All genres and skill sets are welcome - we'd love to see you there!

Cover Reveal - One Step Closer

It's becoming more a reality now.

Here it is, my thoughts, my dreams, my hopes, everything I've ever thought about being, and it has a gateway, a cover. Wow.

I've always been interested in the concepts of re-inventing one's self, and personal redemption, not necessarily on a spiritual level, coming into a place of growth. Personal growth, to me at least, brings joy, a completion of sorts.

In this book, I've given you three main characters. Each woman is at a crossroad in her life, each must face her challenges and overcome the challenges life throws in her path, to come to a place of joy. I'm also serving up some food goodies here and there; cinnamon rolls, chicken and pasta, and a nice turkey-blue cheese-pear sandwich for the tummy's sake.

We're one step closer to publication but not quite there yet. Look for me after January 1st - I don't have a set-in-stone release date but once I do, I'll be sure and let you know.

Cover art by Niki Bradley-Fowler.
Publisher: Paperback-Press.