BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY BOOK SALE: CHECK IT OUT!

Happy Reading! 

Starting today, ALL of my bestselling titles (a total of 18!), are available for just 99 cents each. The ENTIRE Collapse Series has been dropped to 99 cents per book, including the popular final installment, State of Hope. 

Get them on Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

The sale ends at 9 p.m. PST, November 27th.

 Thanks so much for your readership. I hope you pick up a few of the books this weekend and enjoy the stories - I only drop the prices ONCE a year, so take advantage of this sale (especially since there are 10 books alone in the Collapse Series - that's only 10 bucks for the whole collection!)! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

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BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY BOOK SALE: CHECK IT OUT!

What I'm Thankful For: Writing Belle's Thanksgiving Week

A lot of people look at Thanksgiving as perhaps nothing more than a purely American-only holiday, where families gather around a table and pig out on copious amounts of rich food. And hey: for some, that's probably true! The point of Thanksgiving, however, is to be grateful for the blessings in our lives, and to reflect on all that we have been given. Because I guarantee you - whether you see it or not - there are things in your life that are good. There are things in your life that are great. Sure, life is hard. Sure, life sometimes beats the crap out of us all. But there are people, places, and things that give us joy, warmth, and love. Thanksgiving is about remembering those things and humbling ourselves and allowing our hearts to overflow with gratitude. 

I'll be honest. It has taken me years to really stop and realize all of the blessings that are in my own life. Like many people, I always struggled with focusing on the negative rather than the positive, but I'm happy to say that I have clawed my way out of that backwards mentality to see the world for what it really is: a combination of highs and lows. How you feel about life comes down to your mindset. Thanksgiving is a reminder to me to be thankful for the lows and well as the highs. Without the lows, I wouldn't be able to learn, grow, or evolve. Without the lows, I wouldn't appreciate the highs. 

Here are 10 major things that I'm thankful for this year. I challenge you to make your own list, too. Tape the list to your desk or pin it to your bulletin board! It helps to keep things in perspective when the going gets tough! 

1. My job. I'll be the first to say that the career path I chose wasn't an easy one. Being a full-time writer was a hard thing to do. It still is! When I started working toward this job, I was only 13 years-old. I didn't get my first paycheck until I was 17, and for years, I pinched pennies and worked my butt off. Every step of the way was a learning experience, a painful experience, riddled with failures that paved the way to successes. Today, I'm so proud of what I do. I get to write books and manage a publishing company and work as a writing instructor. I'm grateful for every opportunity that my career brings me. 

2. My friends. I've never had a very big family, so I've always said that my friends are my extended family members. I have friends here where I live, as well as friends who live across the country. I'm thankful for all the guys and gals who make me laugh, offer a shoulder to cry on, and just like to have fun together. I love the saying, Friends are God's way of taking care of us. So true! 

3. Failures. This is a weird one, but I'm grateful for every failure I've had in my life. I still fail, all the time. It's hard to go through, but every time I fail, I can't deny that I learn something incredible because of it. Life is very painful, but it's also very educational. I have to be thankful for failures, because they have shown me the reality of the world we live in. Sometimes forcing yourself to be grateful for something messy or unhappy is hard, but it's a huge attitude game changer. 

4. My husband. I met my husband in a Sunday school class, of all places. I was still just a teenager, and at that time in my life (I was 19), I had honestly not given a single thought to ever getting married or even dating (I was very goal-oriented, and considered dating a waste of time, which some people thought was strange - but I thought it was efficient, haha). I was solely focused on one thing: my career. Don't ask me why; I just never gave marriage any thought back then, and still didn't, until later. My husband changed that. He was the first and only person to impress me enough to make me consider a relationship. We started dating after only a couple of weeks of knowing each other, and after 4 years of enjoying each other's company, we got married. I chose to get married not because I felt pressured to, or because Cosmopolitan Magazine said it was a good idea: I got married because he was my best friend, and we are equal partners in everything we do. I am grateful for him. Not just for his love, but for his willingness to do hard things, and for the way he and I function as a team to both enjoy and endure life. Marriage, to me at least, is about putting your partner first instead of yourself. It's really a very healthy thing, because guess what? It's not about us - it's about others. Always.  

5. My town. I live in a small farming community in California. I was born here, and despite an 8-year detour in Sacramento, this has been my primary place of residence. My town is known as the "World's Fruit Basket." Agriculture is the backbone of our area. Most of my friends are farmers. My husband and our family works in agriculture (I'm the anomaly, because I'm a writer!). The small town vibe is relaxing and quaint. Our local church is over 100 years-old. Our main street is 3 blocks long. I always said I wanted to settle down in the country, on the outskirts of a small town. Goal level? Achieved! It's funny, too, because when I finished high school, I had my sights set on moving to Anaheim, California, and working at the Disneyland Hotel in marketing. I ended up staying in my hometown (better for me, because I hate SoCal traffic!), and now I get to visit Disneyland as a guest every year! 

6. My students. I teach writing classes every semester. I started teaching simply because somebody asked me to, and I decided it was something I liked, and hey: I made a side career out of it. I have taught writing/grammar for about 5 years now, and every student I have ever had has added to my life in a wonderful way. Any teacher knows that we oftentimes learn as much from our students as they learn from their teachers. I am grateful for every kid I've ever helped teach writing to. They are a blessing to me.

7. My dog/animals in general. I'm a huge animal person. If I had more time (and room in my backyard) on my hands, I would be taking home every stray that needed a home. I love dogs, cats, and everything in between. I love my dog because she brings me laughter and snuggles and companionship. I'm a huge supporter of protecting animals. I support zoos and endangered species breeding programs. I do not support hunting (although I know some people who hunt, and my belief that sport hunting is wrong is not meant to offend anyone: I understand that everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that). I always encourage people to help out an animal in need; they're just like us: all they want is love! They brighten our lives by existing, and we should show them the same respect!

8. Music. This is pretty general, yeah. But without music, my life would be a lot less interesting. Music helps me to get with the program while I'm working. It inspires me, relaxes me, and touches me. I have been a music junkie since I was a kid, lying on the floor, listening to my boombox, playing my Sound of Music cassette tape over and over again until I knew every note of every song and instrumental. 

9. Traveling. Whether it's a day trip or a flight to another state (or country!), traveling every once in a while is one of my biggest joys. Traveling to new places gives me inspiration for new books and stories. I adore exploring new locations with my husband (he's not as much as a travel junkie as I am, but we make a pretty good balance). Traveling is one of the best parts of life! 

10. This country. I love living in the United States. Not only do I have the freedom to work and live as an independent businesswoman, I also have the ability to voice my own thoughts. I have the freedom to choose my religion. I have the freedom to write books without censorship. I have the freedom to go to church. I have the freedom to vote, to state an opinion (or withhold it), and to engage in free business. The first Thanksgiving was a feast. Native Americans and Pilgrim immigrants came together to celebrate the bounty that God had blessed them with in a New World, and that, my friends, is the root of Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the men and women who have fought and shed blood for this country for centuries. Thankful for wonderful veterans like my late grandfather, who gave 21 years of his life in the Navy to help protect the future of his children, grandchildren, and beyond. That is something to have deep gratitude for. 

What are you thankful for? I encourage you to reflect this Thanksgiving on the blessings in your life, big or small. Stay humble. Stay kind. Stay loving. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

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What I'm Thankful For: Writing Belle's Thanksgiving Week

EVERVILLE: THE FALL OF BRACKENBONE (FROM #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR ROY HUFF)

Title: Everville: The Fall of Brackenbone 

Author: Roy Huff 

Series: Everville #4

Release: Available NOW!

SALE ALERT: This novel will be available for just 99 cents in the UK on Black Friday (for one week), and the 1-3 boxed set will be free November 24-28! It's a good way to catch up on the series before reading The Fall of Brackenbone!

Synopsis:

Two very different worlds, Easton Falls University and the magical realm of Everville are in dire need of a hero. Owen Sage embarks on an epic journey of monumental proportions to save these worlds all while fighting to keep the world within himself intact. This quest is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the weak of mind—only the bravest will succeed. 

Discovering the well-kept secret of The Fourth Pillar of Truth is only part of the feat. Owen will have to outwit the ever-powerful villain Governor Jahal and overcome countless other challenges along the way. Amongst all of the dragons, giants and grand chaos, will Owen's acquired skills and wisdom be enough to save both worlds or will peril be the ultimate fate of all?

Roy Huff is a bestselling author of both fiction and non-fiction. He's one of those guys who gets things done, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed with the vast array of books he's published and the name he's made for himself. Roy has five degrees in four different areas (liberal arts, history, education, and geoscience!), and he has worked as a scientist (even studying Kilauea in Hawaii). The Everville Series is what he is most well-known for. Recently, he just released a book called Think Smart, Not Hard: 52 Key Principles to Success and Happiness. He is also now a contributing writer to The Mission on the Medium. I encourage you to explore his writing and his website, and to pick up his brand new non-fiction. I personally love books that help people to reach out and achieve their goals and dreams, and Roy's approach to publishing is both inspiring and fun.

Check out his official website HERE!

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EVERVILLE: THE FALL OF BRACKENBONE (FROM #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR ROY HUFF)

Surviving NaNoWriMo! (Here's How!)

Take it from me, NaNoWriMo is an epic challenge! I've written a lot of books in my day, and although I don't actively participate in this event anymore (I literally do NaNoWriMo all year long), I have a lot of tips and tricks to offer to the budding writer hoping to tackle a 50,000 word manuscript during this month of whirlwind creativity. 

Most of my advice is rooted in pain. Seriously. I have learned the hard way what to do and what not to do, physically, emotionally, and creatively. When you've set a crazy deadline for yourself and nobody is holding you accountable except for YOU, things can look pretty bleak about halfway into the month, or 25,000 words in. Here are some surefire methods I personally use all year long (I write and publish several books a year), and that I have found to be fantastic tricks for surviving an event like NaNoWriMo. 

Don't be discouraged. The key to surviving National Novel Writing Month (or anything that overwhelms you), is to break it up into day-by-day pieces. If you look at the whole enchilada, you'll end up overwhelmed and paralyzed. I mean, come on people. The Death Star wasn't built in a day (oops, I've got Star Wars on the brain!). Let's take my week, for example: I had something going on almost every morning, afternoon, and evening. Sunday night, I started worrying about all the things I had to get done, and I was seriously stressing. It was then that my husband reminded me of what I periodically forget: "Just take one day at a time." He's right! If you look at everything all at once, there's NO WAY you can possibly tackle it all without dying inside. You have to break it up, focus on one task at a time. Before you know it, you'll be halfway there, and then rushing across the finish line! The average word count per day to stay on track for NaNoWriMo is around 1,600 words, which can seem overwhelming. Just remember: worry about 1,600 words ONLY. Once a day. Don't think about the full 50,000. Make it smaller. Make it work for YOU. 

Plan. So you're a pantser, I get it. You don't like to plan, you like to let it flow. I have some news for you: If you've never successfully completed NaNoWriMo before, being a pantser is probably why. Sorry to tell ya, but somebody has to! Pooping out in the middle of writing a manuscript is something I like to call "Middle Book Fatigue." The initial burst of creativity has worn out and suddenly, you're not sure where to take the story and honestly, you just don't care anymore because hey, you have a million other things to do and The Voice is on TV and you're pretty sure you need to vacuum your house. You can avoid this situation by having a plot plan in place before you write. I'm not saying you have to plan out every scene or piece of dialogue. I'm saying have an idea of how your book will be structured and how it will end so that you have a clear goal in mind. When you pull onto the road, you usually have a destination in mind. Why? Because otherwise, you would drive aimlessly about and eventually run out of gas, stranded on the side of the road somewhere. It's good to know where you're going, even if it's just a rough idea. 

Stay healthy. I have learned the hard way (and I keep learning, even after all this time), that one of the best things you can do to stay focused and productive is to take care of your body. Staying well-fed, hydrated, and rested will go a long way in helping you to tackle your daily goals and conquer NaNoWriMo. I have a bad habit of starting work early and remaining glued to my office desk until mid-afternoon, never pausing for so much as a snack. I hydrate with coffee only and then wonder why I don't feel good. Don't be me: take care of yourself! I've started to take a more serious approach to nourishing my body with things that are good for me by eating clean, cutting out processed foods/fried foods and sugars (buh-bye sodas and candy!), and trying to limit my overwhelming caffeine intake. I notice a huge difference in the way I feel about myself and the quality of work I put out when I'm exercising and eating correctly. 

Surround yourself with positive vibes. When you're trying to accomplish something big and difficult, you can only let good things inside your world. I have also learned the hard way to stop letting toxic people and situations affect my life. I had to take control of my world and say "NO MORE." I noticed that every time I was consumed with some trifling drama or dragged into a negative mindset, I found it more difficult to create and write. I was so consumed with my own jumbled emotions that I couldn't focus. SO NOT ACCEPTABLE. You have to learn to push the white noise away and focus on what's important. Surround yourself with people who love and care about you. People who constantly attack you or pick on you or tell you all the things you're doing wrong - constantly - are poisonous. I'm telling you: drop em' like it's hot. That kind of influence is permanently scarring. Drink in positive vibes. Do not, for a single second, allow self-doubt, negativity, or the idiotic and skewed judgement of others to impact your life in any way. You are YOU. You are in charge of your life, how you feel about yourself, and your journey is exclusively your own. Kick haters to the curb. Walk into a room and know that nothing that anybody says to you can change the way you feel about yourself and your dreams. Believe that you can, and you will. I'm serious. Be a go-getter. 

Finish. Right, this one sounds stupid. A no-brainer, right? But hey, all of the above advice is useless if you don't actually reach the finish line. Even if you don't reach your goal in the timeline that you set for yourself, getting up and trying again and again is literally the sign of a champion. Failure breeds experience, and experience paves the road to success. It comes down to you, my friend. Are you going to finish what you started or not? I encourage you to buckle down and do it - whether it's NaNoWriMo or anything else. You are the only person standing in your way. In the end, there is nobody to blame for giving up...except for yourself. I believe in you, and so should you! Life is a rollercoaster ride, and you have to ride it with your hands in the air and a smile on your face. Kick butt. Go into your mission with the mindset of I CAN DO THIS, and no matter what, you will not fail. You can't. Not when you've got a mindset like that! 

I've got a lot of advice about writing. Over the years, I've cataloged so much of it here on Writing Belle, that I was inspired to write a book about the art of storytelling and writing a hit book. I'll be releasing this compilation of my own writing journey and offering tips and tricks to any and all writers, young and old. Look for it in Spring of 2018! 

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Surviving NaNoWriMo! (Here's How!)