Do you believe in ESP and Angels? I do. There’s a reason I write paranormal romance books. This is the story of how I became an author.

I love to write almost as much as I love to read. I had always wanted to write a book and put it out into the world until a college professor told me I’d never be good enough. So, I put that dream away even though I continued to write while following my husband who was in the Air Force around the world.

In late 2010, I joined a writing group who met once a month at the county library. I took workshops on writing and psychic healing modalities while working on my psychic gifts. I was recovering from an illness and financial difficulty and couldn’t work. Writing a novel became a “Bucket List” item, the fulfillment of a life-long dream. I worked on visualizing my success and believing in myself.

In early January 2011, I went to one of the healing workshops I liked to attend and announced that I was going to manifest the e-publishing of my book. I felt the energy come in and happily went on my way knowing that somehow I would bring this into the world.

I continued to write, and started volunteering with the Arts Foundation that sponsored the writing group, but I didn’t work on revising “Alpha’s Mate” (my first novel) much at all. I knew it was too short, but I wasn’t feeling anything coming in. I often get a dream or ‘get inspired’ by something that leads me to write.

In June, while serving on the board of the Arts Foundation, I met a woman who was also writing a book, a civil war historical fiction. We hit it off right away.

As we got to know each other, It came out that she was also psychic and a ghost hunter. I was excited to find someone who shared that other world and similar experiences. She mentioned that she was going to the Universal Light Expo in October. I hinted around that I would like to go, but she said “no” as it was to be a special trip for her and a girlfriend. I really felt like I was supposed to go with her, but I put it out of my mind. From attending workshops and learning more about the metaphysical world, I had realized that my number one spiritual gift is: knowing. However, I also feel you can’t push the Universe. Things will come when they come.

I got really busy with my volunteering. Suddenly, the holidays were looming and October was here. I received a call from my friend, who asked me if I wanted to go with her tomorrow to the Universal Light Expo. Her other friend became ill and had to cancel. Everything was already paid for I just needed money for food and souvenirs. My husband said he didn’t mind and we laughed when I said, “see I knew I was supposed to go.”

My friend suggested I get on-line to see the list of vendors and who offered readings. Once I choose someone I’d need to go to his or her location at the Expo and get on his or her list first thing when we arrived to get an appointment or miss my chance at one.

I agreed and went online. I found someone who looked interesting, checked out her website, took a chance, and emailed her for an appointment. She wrote me into her calendar and gave me a time in the afternoon. I had just saved myself from running around when we first arrived at the Expo and took the ease of scheduling to be a sign from the divine.

I packed my bags to have a grand adventure. I’d never been to Columbus, Ohio. But I love to travel and was excited about the opportunity. My friend and I drove through beautiful fall foliage and checked into a lovely suite downtown.

We went to the Expo the next day and had a great time. Afternoon came along and it was time for my reading with Judee. She used tarot cards to help focus her energy and asked me why I was getting a reading when I should be giving them. I explained that she was my ‘back up,’ so I’d know I was getting a clear message that wasn’t my ego talking.

She understood and pulled the first card.

“You have a book in your future, in fact, I see three books. But you are way behind. You should have the first one out already. I see you on roller-skates, so get ready things are going to happen quickly. The third book will make you famous. It’s supposed to be a self-help kind of book.”

My first reaction to her words was guilt. I’d been really lazy about getting “Alpha’s Mate” completed. The Universe had already given me the clue which book to publish first when, at a healing workshop, a lady told me she picked up the name “Violet,” the heroine in “Alpha’s Mate.” I decided right then I needed to get to work and publish my book like I’d said I would.

Then I thought about the non-fiction book comment. I’d never written non-fiction before except for term papers in college. How was I supposed to know what to write? I decided that Judee misinterpreted the message. I was focused on “Alpha’s Mate.”

When we returned home I pulled up “Alpha’s Mate” and set to writing. I added some foreshadowing, wrote a new scene, and reworked others, and finally the word count was up to 41,000. The book was done and I gave it to friends to read. Everyone loved it.

I joined an author’s support group called “Selling Your Novel Idea.” I started researching different e-publishing sites. I asked my friends in the writer’s group for advice and I asked the authors in the support group for advice. I was in high gear and flying.

I started researching how to format the book and how to convert it into the different E-publishing files. My friend and mentor told me which sites she used. I researched the fine print. Did they charge a fee up front? Did they charge you an annual fee? Remember, I didn’t have a lot of money I could use to pay someone else to do this for me. It took me hours to get through all the small print.

I consulted my friends about the energies of the New Year. I was really feeling led to release the book on New Year’s Day 2012. They talked about the energy of Capricorn and stuff I really didn’t know much about. But these were my friends and I knew they would steer me in the right direction. So, it looked like New Year’s Day was the day to publish.

The morning dawns brightly. Here we were at the beginning of 2012. I went to Amazon to upload the book and their site was having technical work done. I started to panic. Was I doing something wrong? Nope, it was just that Amazon thought people had better things to do than upload books on New Year’s Day.

So I went to Smashwords and uploaded there. Everything went through smoothly. No errors were found. I uploaded my picture and bio to the site and gave a sigh of relief that at least my book was up on one site.

We drove to my son’s apartment to celebrate New Years and watch the Rose Parade on TV. I took my little HP mini and the flash drive with my book files. I really didn’t want to miss this release day. I knew I needed to get this book out today. I had this sense of urgency that I was behind and I needed to get this done.

I tried Amazon and the site was still down. So, I watched the Rose Parade and visited with my daughter-in-law. She’d received a Kindle for Christmas and wanted to be the first to download my book.

Finally, after the parade was over, I was able to get the book to upload on Amazon without a problem. I’d priced it at ninety-nine cents since I was an unknown author.

I’d never thought past that point. I was so proud of myself for getting it done. I realized how the Universe had helped me and pushed me to get it out there. I sent emails to all my friends and family. Then I put a notification on Facebook with the links. One of my beta readers put notices on her Facebook page and on her reader’s group page. I was in business.

I gave a huge sigh of happiness and release. I accomplished my goal, which I had been working on for two years. I gave myself a pat on the back and did a happy dance. Two hours later my daughter-in-law downloaded the book onto her Kindle. It was official I was an author.

The rest of January I researched and learned how to put a website up on WordPress and started a blog, which I titled “Moon-Kissed.” I watched the other authors in my genre and I knew that marketing meant getting your name out there and making a connection with your readers.

My husband and I celebrated when I broke into Amazon’s top 5000. I wasn’t expecting anything, so each new step forward was a reason to celebrate. I kept reading online about how to market a book. My author’s support group gave me ideas. My writers group celebrated my success. The book moved to 1028 on the Amazon list and then 125.

All the messages I kept getting from my angels were “Yes, you’re on the right track. Good things are coming. You’re going to get your heart’s desire.”

Now, I write three different paranormal romance series and I am just about to release my second book for psychic kids. I probably wouldn’t have done it at all if my Angels and the universe hadn’t pushed me.

For information please visit CarynMoyaBlock.com

Coming April 25, 2016

Trapped In Shadow

Book Four in the Shadow Walker Tribe Romance Series

Stacey Johnson is all about secrets. She’s an operative for the government and kills people on command. Love has no place in her life. Even when she dreams about Hugh Thunder Hoof, the one man who makes her wish for a different lifestyle. With him she can believe that happy endings are possible.

Hugh Thunder Hoof, Shadow Walker, left the service after being injured. Now he walks with a slight limp. The one thing he still craves from that crazy lifestyle is his last partner, Stacey Johnson. When she shows up in his life five years later, he thinks he’ll finally get his wish. But Stacey isn’t going to make it easy on him and once again when the mission is finished she disappears. Only this time, he’s going after her.

Excerpt:

“Target is entering the building. Mission is a go, Stinger.”

Stinger readied the poison ring and nonchalantly walked across the lobby of the five star hotel. The marble floors bounced the light of the crystal chandeliers illuminating the room in a warm glow. Her stiletto heels clicked out a message of death with each step. The noise blended with the conversations of the movers and shakers of Washington D.C. who mingled with upper class tourists and visiting international dignitaries.

Tonight, she went by the name of Linda Howell. Her cover being a starlet that just had her big break. A bright red wig covered her normally blond hair and her outfit dripped trè chic.

Her target, a South American arms dealer selling to America’s enemies, walked in the door. With a jolt, Stinger was surprised to see a small girl holding the man’s hand. She skipped to keep up with the large stride of the adult, her dark curls bouncing with every step. Nobody mentioned a child in the mission briefing, only a spouse the target had eliminated. The little girl looked to be around six, the same age Stinger was when covert agents murdered her mother.

“What’s with the little girl?” she whispered through the two-way radio piece in her ear, signaling her partner waiting outside.

Amazon Link:  http://amzn.com/B01D6NA95S

BIO:

Caryn Moya Block burst onto the paranormal romance scene with her debut e-book Alpha’s Mate in January of 2012, which won the “Global Ebook Award for 2012” in contemporary romance. She was also named one of the “Top 50 Indie Authors for April 2012” from E-Reader Reviews. A Siberian Werewolf in Paris was chosen as a finalist in the 2014 RomCon.com Readers’ Choice Awards in the paranormal category.

Caryn has continued to write, giving her readers three different series to choose from,  The Shadow Walkers Romance Series, The Witch Guardian Romance Series, and the very popular, Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series.

She also has two children’s books published under the pen name Caryn Block and has her new adult non-fiction book, “Joy, My Journey of Awakening.”

Caryn loves romantic movies and stories that end “Happily Ever After.” She is an avid reader and writer who lives in the Virginia Piedmont. Her pack consists of her husband of more than thirty years, two grown sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters, as well as a cat, a turtle, and three Shetland sheepdogs. She suffers from “Multiple Sheltie Syndrome,” because one is never enough. After seeing her first ghost when she was three, she has been intrigued with the paranormal. She would love to hear from you at: CarynMoyaBlock@gmail.com

Or sign up for her newsletter at: http://carynmoyablock.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/

One of the reasons I love historical novels is they transport the reader to another world in a way no contemporary story can—no matter how compelling. Reading a good historical romance is like going back in time. The period adds a lush, delicious layer to the escapism we all love to get from a captivating romance book.

There’s another side to writing historicals. A side that is less dreamy and more an intellectual challenge and constant labor of love for me as the writer. Research.

In order for escapism to work, there has to be detail. There has to be accuracy. The whole setup must be seamlessly convincing, full and rich, an intimate glimpse into our nation’s history and into the hearts and lives of the people who lived back then. How does a writer know about life on the frontier? Or how the people spoke or how they managed their chores? How would a writer even know what the chores were?

The answer is research—endless, constant research. When I’m writing an historical novel, I research before I start and continue checking sources throughout the development of the story. Both of these are important to the final product.

There are certain events I know I’ll have to research. Because the period of western expansion was one of rapid change, I always confirm political and geographical facts of the particular time period and location where my stories are set.

Some questions repeat themselves:

What parts of the country were settled during the period of the story? How regions were divided and what were the boundaries? What laws governed the people? Were there any specific, common known events that took place around the time period?

A settler’s journey westward can be as big a part of the story as a character’s life once they’ve reached the west, making the hardships of travel another substantial research topic. It certainly required a lot of my attention while I was writing Colin’s Quest! I started writing with the basic facts. As the story developed, I continued to research until I found the detail needed to create an accurate picture of easterners traveling west by wagon train.

I spent some time in college studying American history, which gave me a good knowledge base. As I’ve written and researched more and more, I’ve built on that knowledge. However, like anything else, I can always learn more.

When I write a romance, I need details that make the setting come alive. A readers expects to know how women’s clothes looked from one end of the country to the other, how a man protected his family from danger, and know how people expressed themselves. What were their social lives like? How would a young family have outfitted their kitchen? What did their cookware and dishes look like?

It’s these details I have to catch, correct, and fact-check as I’m writing. Sometimes I find myself backtracking because what first appears to be a simple factual error. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t challenging.

The great aspect about research is it builds on itself, and the process is a skill you can hone as a writer. Every time I create a story, every time I make and correct a mistake, I’ve learned for the next book. I use several resources over and over again, which are a godsend when I’m researching.

Here are a few of my favorites from my quick, convenient resource cheat sheet.

Webster’s Dictionary: I use two editions of the dictionary to check my word choice. For historicals, I always check the Webster’s 1828 online dictionary first. http://webstersdictionary1828.com  If a word appears in this resource, I’m comfortable using it. The second is the current Webster’s online edition. The modern edition of Webster’s will often offer the approximate date of first usage.

www.HistoricalTidbits.blogspot.com: This blog is great for looking up whatever topic comes to mind during the creation of a story. The blog is authored by Lynn Coleman, a fellow historical novelist, so it’s no wonder the information she chooses to feature is so interesting and useful to me.

www.USHist.com: This is one of the resources I use to learn about period clothing. This site sells highly accurate, custom-made reproductions of frontier clothing, and is chock full of information and pictures of the everyday items of 19^th century life. These folks are good enough that museums buy their wares!

Redwood’s Medical Edge http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com  Let’s all take a moment to thank our lucky stars we don’t live with the medicine of the 19^th century. Illness and injury are facts of life, and were even more so on the tough western frontier. This blog is dedicated to “Medical Fact for your Fiction” and has several posts about 1860s medicine. Some of it is pretty grisly, but interesting once you stop squirming in your chair.

www.IdiomSite.com: This one isn’t specifically historical, but it is helpful when a phrase is on the tip of my tongue.

Conner Prairie Interactive Park www.connerprairie.org This is a great resource for learning about the daily lives of women and families on the frontier. It is organized by a non-profit with a physical site in Indiana. There is plenty of helpful information and pictures on their website for writers or those who are simply curious.

I’ve enjoyed putting this post together and hope you find the information useful—as a reader or a writer!

Colin’s Quest, Book One, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series

For An Undying Love…

When Colin MacLaren headed west on a wagon train, he hoped to find adventure and perhaps a little danger in untamed California. He never expected to meet the girl he would love forever. He also never expected her to be the daughter of his family’s age-old enemy, but Sarah was a MacGregor and the anger he anticipated soon became a reality. Her father would not be swayed, vehemently refusing to allow marriage to a MacLaren.

Time Has No Effect…

Forced apart for five years, Sarah never forgot Colin—nor did she give up on his promise to come for her. Carrying the brooch he gave her as proof of their secret betrothal, she scans the trail from California, waiting for Colin to claim her. Unfortunately, her father has other plans.

And Enemies Hold No Power.

Nothing can stop Colin from locating Sarah. Not outlaws, runaways, or miles of difficult trails. However, reuniting is only the beginning. Together they must find the courage to fight the men who would keep them apart—and conquer the challenge of uniting two independent hearts.

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Excerpt:

Colin lowered himself next to Sarah, letting their thighs touch as he ran his hands through his hair, squeezing out the moisture. Lowering his hands, he turned toward her, his heart swelling at the look of adoration in her eyes.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered so no one else could hear, grasping her hand in his. “We have to talk.”

“I know, but how? Da doesn’t let me get more than a few feet away from the wagon.” She threaded her fingers through his and squeezed.

“Everyone will be busy for the next two days, cleaning up after the storm, searching for lost animals, and repairing wagons. Your da can’t watch you every minute. We’ll find a way.” He leaned toward her, wishing he could brush his lips across hers. He’d kissed her for a brief moment once and couldn’t forget the taste of her. He had no intention of ever forgetting.

“Robena, Sarah, are you in there?”

Sarah’s frightened eyes locked on Colin at the sound of her father’s voice. Without thought, he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek before launching himself out the front of the wagon as the back flap flew open.

Colin’s Quest Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016C4QH3Q

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1048224779

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ENm7CgAAQBAJ

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016C4QH3Q

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/colins-quest-maclarens-of-boundary-mountain-historical-western-romance-series-book-1-shirleen-davies/1123025452?ean=2940158072673

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Colin%27s+Quest

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27786636-colin-s-quest

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/598492

Amazon Author Page Information and General Bio for Books

Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance.  She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

Shirleen loves to hear from her readers.

Write to her at:  shirleen@shirleendavies.com

Visit her website:   http://www.shirleendavies.com

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Nancy Lee Badger has banded together with three other talented authors to create a boxed set released on March 2nd. The collection, When Love Conquers Time, contains over 1,000 pages of time travel romances set from the 14th century to the late 20th century.  Kilted Highlanders, shape-shifters, vampires, pirates, dragons, soldiers, and more will give readers hours of adventurous reading. Here are the Book blurbs:

MORAG’S TEARS (Celtic Storm Series Book 5) by Ria Cantrell

Step back in time to the beautiful Highlands of Scotland in the 14th century. Come and sit with us by the warm peat fire as Morag, the much loved character from Ria Cantrell’s bestselling Celtic Storm series tells the story of her life. From a child, gifted in the ancient ways, to a beautiful young woman in love, Morag weaves her rich tapestry of tales. She is a mystical seer, healer, manipulator of time and chatelaine to the clan MacCollum. You will feel as if you are walking alongside her on her life’s journey. Share her tears of joy as well as a few sad ones, as she recounts the triumphs and tribulations of a long life filled with love in its many guises.

SEA PANTHER by Dawn Marie Hamilton

Can love mend a fractured soul? After evading arrest for Jacobite activities, Scottish nobleman Robert MacLachlan turns privateer. A Caribbean Voodoo priestess curses him to an eternal existence as a vampire shifter torn between the dual natures of a Florida panther and an immortal blood-thirsting man. For centuries, he seeks to reverse the black magic whilst maintaining his honor. Cruising the twenty-first century Atlantic, he becomes shorthanded to sail his 90-foot yacht, Sea Panther. The last thing he wants is a female crewmember and the call of her blood.
Although she swore never to sail again after her father died in a sailing accident, Kimberly Scot answers the captain’s crew wanted ad to escape a hit man. She’s lost everything, her fiancé, her job, and most of her money, along with money belonging to her ex-clients. A taste of Kimberly’s blood convinces Robert she is the one woman who can claim the panther’s heart. To break the curse, they travel back in time to where it all began—Jamaica 1715.

MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER by Nancy Lee Badger

Skye Gunn could not prevent her husband’s death, and will risk everything to defeat the sorcerer she blames. When he attacks her nephew, she is taken, instead. She escapes by plunging into the North Sea, and a spell takes her back to the future, to Jake. The woman who haunted his dreams since she blackmailed him into traveling back in time falls from the sky, beaten and bloody. He must trust her as they return to ancient Scotland. To survive, he and Skye must dare to love in the time they have.

REFLECTIONS OF LOVE by Paul A. Crust
As a result of a head injury suffered in the Gulf War, antiques dealer, Jason Hobbs is the victim of total amnesia. After investing a great deal of time and money trying to unlock his past, he has resigned himself to the fact that he may never fully know his own true identity. Life goes on and in the course of his business Jason acquires an old dresser with an oval mirror among a shipment of antique pieces from England. That same evening, strange images start to appear, reflected in the old mirror, and the mournful sound of a woman weeping can be heard, echoing through the night air. As he searches for answers to the mysterious events which began the day the dresser came into his possession, the past and present collide, bringing events from World War 1 crashing to his doorstep. A shocking revelation will rock his world, changing his perception of who he really is.

When Love Conquers Time, a four-author boxed set, is available at AMAZON for only $.99 (Free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers)

Also available HERE for Amazon UK Readers

Learn more about the authors:

 Morag’s Tears by Ria Cantrell:  Facebook Twitter

Sea Panther by Dawn Marie Hamilton:  Facebook Twitter

My Reluctant Highlander by Nancy Lee Badger: Website  Facebook

Reflections of Love  by Paul A. Crust:  Facebook

Some people ask why I changed from selling mysteries—a series of humorous mysteries with romance and a suspense—to creating work in other genres. Here is how that came to be.

My eight-year-old granddaughter asked me to. Sweet Claire asked if I’d hurry and finish my latest mystery and write a book with her. How could I say no? What kind of book would you like to write? I asked but she didn’t know. I thought about it and discussed my ideas with her, and we came up with How to Take Care of Your Pet Ghost. The publishers I was selling to only did mysteries, and we couldn’t wait since she was so young. That’s why I ventured into self-publishing. We have a fun book for young children that Claire helped sell at various places (giving hard stares at anyone who passed by without buying our book.) She bought an iPad with her first earnings and has earned a lot of extra cash since then.

And then my mother died. She was an amazing who went to college and became a businesswoman way before her time (Mom was born in 1906.) Widowed at an early age, she pressed on with outstanding values, and when she was aged seventy, started dating. That made her way fun to be with. She exercised and lost weight and danced all evening until a month before she passed on—at the age of 102—and a half. She told everyone that half really counted once a person reached 100. She also told a man who asked her, when she was 95, how she looked so amazing and did she take many pills. “One,” she said, and when he asked what for, Mom looked at me and then told the man, “Birth control.”

Mom’s favorite dances were The Freeze and Macarena, and everybody insisted I write a book about her. They wanted to know her secrets—exercises, foods, attitudes….. I wanted to have it out while so many people still remembered her, so again I self-published. That book, which many have called extremely inspirational, is called Nora 102 ½: A Lesson on Aging Well.

Awhile after that, my teen granddaughters Brooke and Caroline, who are sisters, asked to write a book with me. “Do you just want money, or do you really want to write a book?” I asked, and both assured me they thought writing a book would be fun. They were avid readers, and we all loved the Hunger Games books. Thus my latest work was born.

Just One Friend takes place after warfare destroyed most of the country, and only one area exists where it’s known that people can survive. Because of limited resources and space, the Leader decreed that each person can have only one friend. A lonely teenage girl believes things should be otherwise. If she is wrong, she and someone very dear to her will meet with a horrible death.

Our book has done well and received excellent reviews. Thanks for letting me share my writing voyage thus far. I hope you’ll check out my (our) work.          June                        www.juneshaw.com