It has been two weeks since Ruin Me officially hit the world. Looking back on it now, it feels surreal. I still get that familiar flutter of nerves—if "nervousness" is even the right word for it. You start wondering what people are actually thinking. Do they love it? Do they hate it? Is there something they hoped would have gone differently? Those kinds of questions naturally pop into your head. With book two, Collared Vows, I want to do things differently. I want to show readers a whole new set of things, aiming even higher. But to get my mind right, I actually took a few days off from writing. I spent time working around the house, started painting again, and just did whatever I needed to do to quiet my mind before jumping back onto the intense roller coaster of writing a novel.
In between everything, I found myself looking back. Reflecting on everything I've been through, seen, heard, and experienced. And part of me is sitting in this space of acceptance—not necessarily glad or sad, just riding an emotional wave of feelings. I’ve achieved most of the things I set out to achieve, but there is still so much more I want to go for and succeed in. I know some people might not care about what I write, and that's okay. For me, this is like keeping a journal, except I'm sharing it out loud with the world. I’ve shared the raw process of how I write, the stress I felt while bringing my first book to life, and the messy realities of the journey. When I talk and meet new people, it's fascinating. It helps me capture different sayings and real-life experiences. I tend to bond with people on a completely different level than what most expect.
I truly hope people love Ruin Me—and every book to come in the series. Beyond The Hellfire Series, I have so many other series I want to build in completely different genres outside of dark romance. I am so excited for the future, to keep walking this path, and to keep writing for myself, for my readers, and for anyone out there who feels a bit lonely or doesn't really have anyone to talk to. If my books can keep someone entertained, keep them talking, or bring even a small smile to their face, then it's all worth it. We never really know when our last day on this planet will be. If I can make somebody's day just a little bit better through a book, a blog post, or my website, that is everything.
Sometimes, without us even realizing it, we are growing as people. The lessons we learn in life stick with us, making us stronger and better than we were in the past. We don't have to erase who we used to be, but change is often a deeply refreshing experience. To be completely honest? I hate change. I am a total creature of habit—but that’s a whole different story! In reality, I've had to learn that change can be good or bad, but the secret is taking the best out of any situation, saying, "Hey, that was a curveball, I learned my lesson," and continuing to walk forward.
So, if you’re reading my blog today: Hi, nice to meet you. I hope you have a wonderful day or night, and I hope today is even better than yesterday.
