A New Season in Life, Gratitude & Writerly Things

You have my promise I have books I’m working on. My next regency is a novel and a 4 book series I’m praying that my dream publisher will pick up. Cue the imposter syndrome. I am good enough and know I’m good enough for them. Writing just isn’t easy when there’s a “formula” for category romance. Then again, that’s where knowing the beats helps. You’d be amazed at how much time authors will spend over analyzing scenes and criticizing their worth as writers. At any rate, after re-reading my first chapter and comparing it to other works formats, I am happy to say I am close to having the idea down right. Then it will be a matter of hitting send.

For anyone curious, this would be that book I started writing back in 2012 and finished writing via dictation in 8 days back in January of this year.

I really am digressing from my epiphany back in August, but I promise it is all related.

By mid-August I knew several things had to change: my weight and physical activity (or a lack thereof), self worth, old demons with manic depression, gut health and matters of the soul.

My reading has changed from romantic fiction to non-fiction/self-help books (temporarily) and I don’t regret it one bit. I acknowledge I’m a little behind on book reviews (romance), but my head couldn’t properly digest everything I was reading when my heart needing healing too.

I will leave you my personal recommendations below for some books you really must read. Even if you don’t need help. Changing my mentality was the whole purpose of this mind flip I needed to do.

I will forever be grateful for this change of season in my life. I’m on the road to being reborn much like the phoenix rising from the ashes. Cliche, I know, and I don’t give a shit and I’ll tell you why.

A friend of mine back in 2011 once told me marriage sedated me. While I don’t think it did, I am on an endless journey of learning new things about myself and let’s not even get into the patience I’ve developed. Here’s to all the folks with spouses/partners willing to ride out the dark times without a stinking voodoo doll ready to get all stabby to anyone who messes with mama bear.

So, I started back on the path of crafting to keep me grounded. Soap making started out as a for fun thing for thank you gifts for customers buying my paperbacks at the inaugural Romancing the Capital in 2014. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I’ve turned that hobby into a small business. A barely visible one, but it’s all mine to own and drive into ground it if it’s not meant to be.

I finally re-learned how to crochet, y’all! I am happy and relaxed when I do this. Much like soap making, minus the piles of dishes.

Guess who’s finally back at the gym, still hanging on to intermittent fasting and is semi-permanently gluten and dairy free? The husband is a chef and sometimes you just can’t say no even though you should.

I’ve been on a steady stream of changes that matter for me right now. Yes, I’m still taking care of my family. Yes, I’m still working two jobs, plus my side hustles.

Oh, and this is still including squeezing in time for the grand baby too. God! She’s such a cutie pattootie!

Life isn’t meant to be easy. Life will give you challenges that need to be viewed as opportunities. Opportunities to happiness, freedom, resolution, peace, etc… Turn those lemons into lemonade.

Now here’s for a little disclaimer, I am an affiliate for the following links which means I will make a small commission for any sales you make from them. It’s not much, but every single penny counts and I wouldn’t represent or present any titles to you if I didn’t think they were worth it.

Danielle Laporte… what can I say? She is soooooo calm. If you listen to her audio books, you’ll find yourself completely mesmerized and doing that 80lb leg press with no difficulty. I always say when I grow up I want to write a historical romance like Suzan Tisdale and Kathryn LeVesque, but I am well on my way to be calm, cool and collected like the lovely Danielle Laporte. I finished her The Desire Map Experience: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul. I would so take her course and would love to teach it one day. That’s how good she is. I’ve just started The Fire Starter Sessions and right behind that The White Hot Truth is after.

Danielle has a way of reaching into your chest and making you realize how off course you are. In a good way that is. I just purchased her 2020 Daily Planner and would you believe as I started writing this post, I got the shipping notification. Invest in your time and life and should. She is worth every minute and penny you invest in your happiness.

Jen Sincero will have you peeing your pants and in others, you’ll find yourself so connected with her it’s ridiculous. So to any of my peeps on Facebook who may read this, you need to check her out. Especially, if you’re in a situation like I am. And you’re probably thinking, Layna, what the f*ck do you know about my situation? To this I say, I’ve been broke (still am in reality but working on changing that), I’ve been pregnant and homeless at the same time and only ate once a day when the soup kitchen was open, and guess what? I’m still here trying every day to make something of myself. As I said earlier, life isn’t meant to be easy. I listened, laughed, cried and trying to action some of her recommendations. I would not recommend this book if I didn’t think there was value in it.

I will leave you with these two recommendations for now and will be sure to share the rest on my next post.

I’m currently listening to Grant Cardone’s The 10X Rule and I’m not even sure what I think of this point. I get his points, but the second he boasted about being one of the largest contributors to his political party, church, etc… he lost me. I’m still listening to the book as I still value his direction, but I’m not wholly convinced at this point I will finish this book. Pretension just isn’t my thing. He’s good at what he does, but we’ll see where I end up with this book. I just wish I wasn’t so distracted by those things, but I am. He’s worked hard to get where he is now and that’s admirable, but the delivery just failed to keep me distracted away from those things that shouldn’t be important.

I’ve been following the likes of Marie Forleo who by the way is the bomb. Ok. Maybe one more recommendation and it’s her latest book. Follow this woman on YouTube. You will not regret it. She is so smart and funny and Gods! Her interview with Ed Mylett. So good. She’s such a well-grounded human I’d love to meet her sometime.

Anyway, my darlings, I will leave you with warm pleasant wishes for an amazing rest of October. I’m not sure if we’re dressing up this year for Halloween, but I will do my best.

Coming up next is:

-More non-fiction recommendations

-When dictation apps don’t get your meaning and app recommendations that aren’t burn a whole in your pocket investment

-Pumpkin Cookie recipe anyone?

-Teaser from my upcoming paranormal romance Wynter’s Rose

-Teaser from my work in progress?

-Live video recaps – Yes, Cindy, I am planning on two specific live videos on Facebook.

P.S.

While I’m no Martha Stewart, or Lauren Conrad, if there’re any crafts you’d like a demo or tutorial on the blog or video wise, be sure to leave me a comment below.

Much love and gratitude to you all,

Layna