S.V. Brosius's Blog

I love the fall season! I look forward to it every year. I enjoy wearing jackets and boots, baking pumpkin pie, making my special chili...it's a time to feel alive! However, I will be much busier this season than in the past. In addition to my day job, I will be taking on a small part-time bookkeeping gig as well as continuing my writing. Add in the normal family stuff and other activities with friends, as well as a book launch on October 6 (Duality pre-order coming soon) - I will be a busy lady (happily busy - I don't like to be idle too long)!

Kindle Vella has turned out to be a rewarding experience for me as a writer. I didn't know what to expect going into it. Not only am I thoroughly enjoying the story I'm writing, I have had the pleasure to read from several other talented authors and discovered a supportive and nurturing community. I have joined several groups on Facebook devoted to Kindle Vella and work hard to maintain a presence on each one. I have an idea for a second story that would work well with this format. I'll start sharing once I get more details worked out in my head! It will be paranormal and revolve around a family or group of companions. Soap opera drama is what I'm hoping to create.

This week is truly the calm before the storm. In my mind, a storm isn't always a bad thing. A lot will happen in a short amount of time, causing some stress. However, it will be worth it in the end to tie up loose ends and clear a path for new opportunities.

I asked one of my younger followers what she thought I should write about in my next blog. She said that readers like to know more about the everyday lives of their favorite authors. It adds a level of relatability, it seems. So...here goes!

Every day for me must begin with a cup of coffee. I drink dark roast with liquid creamer and Splenda. What is my favorite thing to eat for breakfast on the go? Donuts. Not the most healthy choice, but give me some sweet fried bread and I'm a happy camper.

During the week, I go to work as an office manager/bookkeeper for a wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies. It's a laid back office environment that allows me the flexibility I need and the independence I crave. All my coworkers, save one, are men. We are just one big extended family and share plenty of laughs while working hard to take care of our customers.

My evenings and weekends are different every week, with the exception of Wednesday night choir practice and Sunday morning church. I make it 90% of the time. My husband is the music director and we are blessed to be involved with a loving church family.

My teenage son works most evenings, so I try to snag some quality time with him when I can. My teenage daughter is involved with dance and music, but since she doesn't have her own car yet, I get to drive her around and spend quality time with her that way. My husband and I try to have regular date nights by going out to eat at a restaurant or staying home and watching a movie. We both like sci-fi/fantasy and superhero films. Our latest thing has been watching the Marvel TV series we missed a few years ago, starting with Daredevil. We are currently in the middle of Iron Fist.

Every other Friday night is girls night with my besties. Do we go clubbing? No. We go eat and have one adult beverage. Then, we go shopping. Lately, we go to the grocery store together. I know...we party hard! LOL.

Saturday is the only day of the week I get to sleep in. I usually don't have anything scheduled so I can take my time getting around, savor my breakfast and coffee in my jammies, and read. Household chores are a necessary evil on the weekends. Cooking and baking are my favorite household tasks and I create meals whenever I can.

I do volunteer work for our local PBS affiliate on occasion and run a monthly moms group through our church. The rest of my free time is dedicated to writing and marketing my books. I'm on social media every day and am constantly coming up with ideas for my projects. I read a lot and have 2-3 books going at all times: one audiobook and usually an ebook and/or paperback. Yes, I mainly read romance novels. All heat levels. All subgenres. Occasionally, I enjoy celebrity biographies/memoirs.

Well, that is my everyday life in a nutshell. I hope you have a fun-filled summer!

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I'm going to be brutally honest here. My natural inclination since I was young is to seek validation, approval, permission...whatever you want to call it. Why? It could be a lot of things. Despite being loved by my parents, I had little confidence to go out and do what I wanted to do. I had to see someone else do it first. Do I still need validation as an adult? Yeah, sometimes I do. I admit I frequently look at comments if I post something new on social media. Do I need validation as an author? Very much so!

The beauty of crafting a story or a poem is that it came from my imagination and is unique. I can think it is good, but if someone else disagrees, the sparkling gem that came from my complicated mind can lose a bit of its shine. Should it be this way? No! I should believe in my work 100% no matter what anyone else says. However, there are experts who have experience and knowledge that far exceeds mine. I do have to take their advice into consideration. Reviews are an essential part of book promotion. Reviews are a form of validation. When I get a glowing review, my heart feels like it will burst with pride and I am overjoyed. I always keep in mind, though, that any negative reviews I receive does not invalidate my work. It is still a form of validation because that person still read my work and felt it was important enough to take the time to write a review.

I was fortunate to attend Readers Take Denver this past weekend and I have been on Cloud 9 ever since. It was so much fun and I met so many wonderful people! The support and encouragement I received when I shared the fact I was a new author warmed my heart. Needless to say, I received plenty of validation!

In reflection, I am blessed to have friends and colleagues who give me the validation I seek without making me feel silly about it. I am blessed to have readers who take the time to write reviews on my work. I am blessed to be validated and part of a community of creators!

It is a bit surreal seeing my first novel in print. I recently received my proof copy of The Darkness of Day in the mail and have to admit that I squealed a little. Danced a little. Stopped breathing a little. Thankfully, my dogs were the only ones around to see my unusual behavior! Once I calmed down and took a good look at the book, I quickly noticed some errors and was so relieved that I took the time to order the proof copy. My corrected copy is en route to me and I am crossing my fingers that it is all good.

Getting the pre-order kindle copy ready to go wasn't too bad but it was hectic as i scrambled to start promoting and getting my ARC team together. The paperback version was an entirely different story. I ran into lots of editing issues and spent many hours trying to fix the formatting problems.

As of now, I have 2 positive Goodreads reviews and must wait patiently until my book is live on Amazon before my ARC team can post their reviews there.

My next author event is in a few days and I plan to read from my novel. Am I good at speaking in front of a group of people? Not really. I get nervous and spend a lot of energy trying to keep my composure. Am I excited to share my work? Yes!

I have several WIPs and cannot wait to see which one I complete next.

Here's to...hopefully...a successful book launch!

I'm in the final round of edits for my first paranormal romance novel "The Darkness of Day." My book cover is being designed by a talented artist that I've known for many years and everything is on schedule for a December 2022 release!

My editor is reading my latest changes, so I wait with an anxious heart and hope that I successfully fixed some of the issues with the last draft. Is my novel good enough to be successful? Is it the best story I can possibly create for these particular characters? Is their character development good enough? I suppose I could edit this story forever and still find things I could improve upon. When I think about how many years I've spent working on this story, I look forward to the moment we decide it is ready to publish and it is as good as it's going to get.

I am still reading constantly and watching football. I joined a fantasy football league for beginners and am doing surprisingly well! There's nothing like watching an exciting game and cheering as loud as you can for your team! I also stay busy attending concerts and other events for my kids. They are becoming awesome human beings and I couldn't be more proud.

As always, I appreciate my readers so much and am grateful for those who have supported my poetry books. I have another idea swirling around in my brain for the next one, not to mention the many other novel ideas I plan to work on once "The Darkness of Day" is completed.

Enjoy this autumn season!

“It makes me happy,” I replied. I love writing stories. I’ve been creating in my mind for as long as I can remember. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can be creative in my free time. Not everyone has that luxury.

For the past few months I’ve been working hard on the edits to my paranormal romance novel “The Darkness of Day.” I am highly motivated to publish this book by the end of the year. However, I am aware of the limitations I will be faced with. The reality of how book sales go. Marketing is vital and can get expensive. As much as I hope that sales will be high and I could have a nice second income, I know that it could be a flop. All my hard work may only entertain a small group of people. I’m okay with that. Even if one person besides me loves my work, it will be worth it.

Thanks to my editor, I am expanding my novel considerably. He told me I was writing “too safe.” He was right. Fear of criticism has always been a problem for me. As I am making changes and re-writing less-than-effective scenes in my book, I realize that I have a much better novel now. One that I am proud of even if it ends up getting scrutinized. I have to believe in myself. I have to trust myself.

The positive reviews I have received from my poetry books keep me motivated to continue writing. My next release “Water Colored World” is scheduled for this month and I am so excited to showcase it! Patty has created some truly gorgeous illustrations. Book cover reveal will be coming soon!

My decision to become a romance writer has been a huge leap of faith for me. Although my first novel is yet to be published, I have pages of ideas for future novels and every story idea excites me beyond measure. The joy I find in writing is unique and rewarding. To know that others like my work means the world to me.

I also had to decide what kind of romance author I wanted to be. There are different levels of “heat” and I have experimented with all of them. I read all forms of romance, from the innocent to the super steamy and love them all! I choose to write at a medium level: enough spice to keep it real but not so much as to violate my personal beliefs.

As a young girl, I had many crushes. Sometimes it was a neighbor or a classmate, but many times it was the male celebrity I had a poster of on my wall. When I became older, I found the fictional male characters in movies, TV and books to be so intriguing that my imagination ran wild. I began writing my own romance stories in high school, including fan fiction.

There is a unique magic that takes place when a man and woman fall in love. Trying to capture it in words and make it interesting is beyond challenging. As I prepare for the release of my first romance novel, I experience a blend of anxiety and excitement. It will be the realization of a dream that started one night so long ago.

I’ve heard it is healthy to slow down once in a while. So, I did. I’d been pushing myself pretty hard for so long. Work. Household chores. Writing. Marketing. Family. Instead of my usual frantic feeling of trying to get as much done in one day as possible, I focused on one, sometimes two tasks at a time. Now that I have returned to a busier pace of life, I feel refreshed and am glad I took the time to slow down for a while.

I still plan to release my first novel before the end of this year. One way or another. I am enjoying the small writing projects I have taken on lately and am grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

My wonderful friend and illustrator has become available again and is working on the next project with me! I can’t wait to share it with you when it is ready!

My third poetry book is almost finished and the short story I wrote last year will be published in an anthology very soon!

Happy Easter!

I knew the query process was going to take a lot of patience, but...wow! Some agents have so many queries that it takes them three to six months to get through them all. On the positive side, a number of agents I have sent queries to are good about responding to every person no matter what. Yes, I have received quite a few rejections, which I expected. I did not expect every agent to have different requirements for their queries. Some only want one chapter, some want the first ten pages, some ask in-depth questions, some just want your query letter and nothing else, etc. It has been an interesting experience so far and, no matter the outcome, I am glad I am taking this route.

My creativity took a pause during the holiday season of 2021. My winter break that I look forward to every year was comprised of sickness (twice), a road trip, a dinner party, and a funeral. It was one Christmas season I won't soon forget. I am pleased to announce that I am actively writing new poems for my next poetry book. My next novel is underway, and I am currently at 12k words. The best surprise I had recently was finding out that Earthbound Journeys won 1st place in the poetry category of the Stellar Book Awards. I am honored and humbled to say the least. 2022 is going to be a great year!

2021 has been challenging and grueling. It has presented me with unpleasant surprises and new opportunities for growth. I am in the query process of finding a literary agent for my first novel THE DARKNESS OF DAY. My experiences thus far with marketing my poetry books myself have been difficult and costly. In the event I am unable to obtain a literary agent to represent me, then I will self-publish my first novel. There are many of my devoted fans eagerly awaiting my debut book and I do not plan to disappoint. I will attend my first book signing event next month. I'm not sure what to expect but I will be there with eager anticipation!

Going into the holiday season presents uncharted territory for me. It will be my first without my mother. I am grateful for my family now more than ever. New traditions and new decorations sprout hope that I will make merry during the feasts of Thanksgiving and Christmas. My mother wanted me to be successful and obtain the kind of happiness that she could never experience, despite her best efforts.

My WIPs are finally getting my attention. I have dusted off some old ideas in the hopes of giving them new life. A surge of excitement runs through me at the thought of creating adventures for the heroes and heroines of my yet-to-be-written books!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!