IWSG ~ Do Overs in Publishing

Today marks another IWSG post, where writers come together to share their thoughts, angst, worries, and insecurities about the publishing world and book writing all together. BUT, we also share our hopes, dreams, and our successes.

So here's a success I'd like to share and add to the Insecure Writers Support Group's wall of encouragement.

MOTLEY EDUCATION has been completely rebranded, edited, and released as a Second Edition!

Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | iTunes |
Smashwords | Kobo | Publisher

Motley Education: The Urd Saga BkI

Ages: 8-12

Pages: 354

Publisher: Ellysian Press, September 10, 2019; Second Edition

ISBN: 978-1-941637-63-0

ISBN: 978-1-941637-64-7 (Ingram)

ASIN: B07XCYPD76

"A deftly crafted ... and entertaining read!"

Midwest Book Reviews - Children's Watch 2017

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Motley Junior High: School for the Psychically and Celestially Gifted Terms of Enrollment

Signed: Ebony Charmed

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Ebony should be excited about entering sixth grade to further develop her skills. And she would be. If only her lame abilities let her see more than three ghosts.

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Struggling to live up to her gifted family, Ebony is horrified when she is branded a Seeker: someone who is neither Sensory nor Luminary. To top it off, her Deadly Creatures and Relics project – transforming a measly stick – seems destined for failure.

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But there are doors to other worlds where creatures have been watching her. And when the truth emerges that her project is more than a stick, she knows she must act. Along with her best friend Fleishman and his pet lizard, Ebony finds herself wedged between prophecies and quests. Oh, and saving the entire spirit world from annihilation.

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Ebony is not ready to be a hero. But a dark presence has already stolen more than one local kid. And this time, her failure is not an option.

2017 Literary Classics - Gold Medal Winner - Grade School Fantasy

2016 New England Book Festival - Best Children’s Book

2017 Readers' Favorite - Gold Medal Winner - Children's Fantasy/Sci Fi

2017 Feathered Quill - Bronze Winner - Best Juvenile/YA Fiction

2017 Purple Dragonfly - Honorable Mention Winner; ebook 

Add to GOODREADS

Here's the new book trailer . . .

The release was a huge day for me. But I didn't make a big deal about it. So here's where my insecurity comes in for this month.

Releasing Motley - which was my debut novel into the world - for a second time felt like I was playing catch-up, like I was re-celebrating my birthday and everyone would be like "Uh, big deal." No, no one said that. On the contrary, I had a ton of support during my new book birthday. )You know who you are, and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!) I know that Motley has been completely rebranded with a new cover, theme, book blurb, and marketing strategy, which is all good. It's just not new to me, not a new accomplishment, not a bigger goal reached. Does this make sense?

It was work. A lot of work, just like when I originally sold the manuscript to my first publisher. There were rounds of edits, cover discussions, all new marketing graphics created, and more. I'm super blessed that my YA publisher loves my work so much they offered to rep Motley. Honestly, I couldn't thank them enough.

I guess what I'm asking you all is How should I really feel about getting Motley back out into the wild? (For those who don't know, feel free to go HERE. Basically, my original pub closed, leaving Motley homeless.) Does feeling like it's a success make me selfish? 

One note: I truly am thrilled the book is back out there and that I'm in revisions for book II. I love these characters and the world they live in. We really do have a cool job, don't we?

MORE PARTICIPANTS

A  huge 'thank you' gotes out to the awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

IWSG ~ Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day & a Bookish Giveaway!

I'm foregoing this Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly question to share a cause that is dear to me and has, in the past, caused me some insecurity. I'd love it if you'd comment, sharing from your experiences or opinions, but I completely understand if you don't. A huge 'thank you' goes out to this month's co-hosts: Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner! For more participants, go HERE.

The first annual Book Lover's Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour will kick off on Sunday, September 1st and will culminate in a twelve-hour Facebook Live Event on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.
The purpose of this event is to spread mental health awareness among the book community, eradicate the stigmas associated with mental health, share our individual journeys in an accepting community, discuss books that effectively represent mental health issues, and raise money for the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Mental illness is often misunderstood. Some believe it's feeling sad, while others think there's just something wrong with that person. And the biggest misconception is that the person suffering with mental illness can just think happy thoughts or maybe try smiling to make it all okay. We have a lot to learn about true clinical mental illness, but smiling more is definitely not a cure.
Without further blah-blah from me, here's the exciting author line-up for the Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour:
                            LINK                                             LINK                                               LINK

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                         LINK                                             LINK                                        YOU ARE HERE!

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My Spotlight On September 4th
I talk about mental illness and depression from personal experience, one I RARELY expose. 
When I was around twelve years old, my mother was diagnosed as a severe or manic depressant. (Today, I believe it would be classified as bi-polar. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) For the remainder of my school-aged years, my father spent most of his time refereeing for her, while I shielded my younger brother of four years from any of the backlash. Yelling, throwing things, crying, complaining, grabbing my arms, being dissonant, and over-dosing on sleep. That's what I remember her doing all those years.
Growing up was tough. She threatened suicide sometimes, which made coming home from school kind of scary. I never knew what I might find. My mother wasn't a bad person. Frankly, she had a huge heart, always wanting to help others or be involved. But so often, her emotions (or so we thought) prevented her from doing so. She was sick, but nobody back then looked at it that way. She was moody or ornery or high maintenance. Other than taking her to therapist after therapist - that always failed - she never got any other help, partly her own doing. Everything was everyone else's fault. I even agreed to go to therapy with her in my later teen years to help her, and all she ended up doing was telling the therapist how wrong I was about everything. I don't think that's what she meant. It's just her view of reality was so eschewed that she didn't know any other way to act or communicate. 
Her behavior, attitudes, and roller coaster emotions were so confusing to grow up with, which made being the oldest extra rough. My dad tried everything, but nothing could ever make her happy, make her well. And that unhappiness needed an outlet. I've never, EVER said this out loud (Well, other than to my husband), but most of that unhappiness landed on me - the oldest child, a girl who was expected to grow up so fast. I feel like this is me crapping on my mom, but people have to realize that a family member with a mental illness is a family with mental illness. It affects every single member.
It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I realized how emotionally damaged I really was, the reason I had a hard time to show love, the reason I was terrified to accept love. I know this must sound seriously messed up to some of you, but I've never put my feelings about all of this into words. I've tried. I've just never been strong enough. I think I am now.
I've had a young adult story about a patient of mental illness and the affects it has on a child growing up within that perfect storm stewing within me for over fifteen years. I know I must write it. I think I'm finally ready. I want children/families with members suffering from mental illness to know that they can advocate for their loved one . . . but they also should advocate for themselves. 
Something I wish someone would have told me when I was younger.
Thank you for listening. <3 
Please scroll to the bottom of this post to enter for your chance to WIN the special giveaway I'm offering up. Facebook LIVE Event!

Join us for a twelve-hour Facebook LIVE event on September 10th - World Suicide Prevention Day!

Join the Event!

Want to lend some support?

Attend the Event!

Share the Event!

Buy a T-shirt for $20 to support the International Association for the Prevention of Suicide!

Enter my giveaway . . .

What you'll get:

• a Book Lovers Unite for Suicide Prevention day T-shirt
• a Meditation Sidekick Journal from Habit Nest
• some book swag from my books

 I'll be keeping this giveaway open until the Live Facebook Event on September 10th, so the more you spread the word the more chances you'll have to win!

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This is a safe zone. If you'd like to share an experience or feelings about mental illness and/or suicide, you are more than welcomed to do so. Thank you for stopping by to visit the Alleyway!