Life After a Series

Self-publishing is a constantly changing animal.  When I first wrote Outcast and the Blackguard, it seemed easy to market.  But as I was writing the final books of The Blue Dragon's Geas, the marketing dynamic changed.  Tactics I was using to sell 400 books a day suddenly fell flat.  When you self-publish you have to both write and then sell the books.

When Fallen Tiers, the last book, was finished I set about marketing the series.  So far, I haven't found a new magic solution to put me back at 400 books a day but it is still relevant on Amazon.  I can get it to number one when I give it away but that kind of  defeats the purpose of selling your work.

I then turned my attention to a book on the journey of fighting cancer.  If I Told You, Would You Listen will be out soon.  It is written to not only cancer patients but also to family, caregivers and professionals.  It is my message of hope so that others can fight with a sense of peace, something I have learned on my way.  I am four years into my cancer journey and felt I had a lot to offer to those at the beginning of their fight.

Now my attention is returning to Death's Door.   It will be a spin-off of the series with more focus on Jon than Alador.  The premise is that souls are starting to turn away from Death's Door and the Goddess of Death has tasked Jon her High Priest,  to figure out why.  Of course with all my books, there are other plot lines and the typical twists to make it a Dragons' Geas novel.

The other project I have been working on and am just now completing is that I opened a life coach business.  CreateGoodLiving.com opened a couple of weeks ago.  As many of you know, I am trained first and foremost as a counselor with a specific focus in cognitive behavior therapy and addiction.  Since I prefer to write rather than punch a clock, I have found myself missing helping others find success in their own lives.  Life coaching is something I can do around chemo and writing making it the perfect business to round out my daily life.  When coaching others, I find myself reminded to do my own activities to keep inner peace and balance.  You learn best by teaching after all.

I believe that is everything I wanted to update you all on.  I know I fell silent there for a bit as I became hyper-focused on writing the cancer book and opening my business.  I also know many of you have contacted me about that spin-off novel. I promise you, I am still working on it.  Talk to you all soon, may fantasy fill your days and bring joy to your life.

A Video Blog

I thought I would share this video I made!  It really shares a lot of my own personal beliefs and insights.

Death's Door

Well, the book is making progress.  Initial beta test reads are positive and the cover is done.  Writing with cancer and other challenges continues to be difficult but not impossible.   I am curious though. How many of you are interested in a story about the baby Latiera?  I have had a few ideas after this book is finished about her teenage years.  Being the first half-dragon on her planet, there are opportunities abounding in this particular area.  Let me know what you think. 

Meanwhile, here is a look at the cover for Death's Door!

Life After a Series

Anyone following my blog, well they know my story.   They know about the July 2014 diagnosis of cancer, the fire that ripped through our hobby farm and the many surgeries.  All happening as I wrote the Blue Dragon's Geas Series.  I had to have a lot of push and support to get the last book out.  After the last period was placed and then the mis-release on Amazon were all resolved.  I just walked away from my computer.  The relief to finish the story before cancer finished me was a huge weight off my shoulders.

I moved to Minnesota to attend the Mayo clinic.  My health has been on a constant return to somewhat of a normal day to day that is manageable. I live with great friends who have made me part of the family.  I have learned to live in a new place with a new cultural approach to life.

Then it happened.  The story started to nag at me.   Where did Jon come from? What happened to Nightmare?  What about the baby?  Did anyone else know about Levielle's magic?  What about all the other Gods?  Why were they so absent?

Poke. Poke. Poke. Poke.

Guess what?  I have picked up my pen.  Jon's story needs told.  A lot of these questions need answers.  I can't leave it alone.  Death's Door is now in progress.  I should have it finished in two months to begin the editing process.  That is why I am reaching out to my readers.  What questions did the series leave you with?  I don't promise to answer them all in this book.  (Maybe future ones)  I will try to answer as many as fits the story-line I am writing.

So while I have been fairly silent over the last year.  I am here to say today, "I AM BACK!"

I  can't wait to hear from all of you.

Best wishes
Cheryl Matthynssens
Creator of the world of Vesta