Candace Kade's Blog

Yes, it’s true. I’ve found one recipe to rule them all.

Alas, it does not look at all like the photo above. You know those annoying recipe sites where they have a stunning finished product and when you make it, the food looks more like your dog vomited crayons into a pot? Just me? Cool.

Well, I didn’t want to do that to you. If I took a picture of these cookies, you’d probably be scared away. And that would be very sad because…these cookies are the BEST! I mean, I stock up on Costco cranberries in bulk and freeze them so that I can make these cookies year round.

They’re also hypoallergenic and won’t set your gluten-free, diary-free, sugar-free, everything-free, free-loading friends into a tizzy. And while these scrumptious bites of perfection do fall apart and are less cute than if you make them with flour, they are addictively tasty–all while being healthy!

They’re so good, I always quadruple the recipe. I’m so confident you’ll wish you doubled it, I went ahead and I doubled the recipe for you! How about that? No pesky math for you.

So, ready to dive in? Here we go…

Ingredients4 eggs2 cups melted diary-free butter (I like this olive oil based one)1 1/2 cups honey2 tsp. vanilla3 cups almond flour6 cups oats2 tsp. cinnamon2 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 2 cups diary-free/sugar-free chocolate chips (I usually cheat and use these . They are diary-free but do have a little bit of sugar. If you want to be hard core use these instead and just chop them up.)Optional: 2 cups chopped walnuts (If you don’t add them, put more chocolate, cranberries, or oats)

InstructionsPre-heat the oven to 350F. Mix wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl (except for the chocolate chips, cranberries and nuts). Mix everything. Plop those suckers on a baking sheet (ungreased) and cook for 10-15 minutes.

Cookies will be very crumbly. But this is perfect. Because now you have an excuse not to take them to the upcoming holiday party. You can hoard them instead.

You’re welcome!

How can you thank me? Why, I’m so glad you asked!

You can support me by buying my books, leaving me a review on Goodreads or Amazon, following me on Instagram or Bookbub, and/or subscribing to my newsletter.

See what I did there? Verrrrrry subtle, I know.

Merry Christmas!

– Candace

The post Secret Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-free, sugar-free, and diary-free) appeared first on Candace Kade.

This is what I call the AAA post. Aka accountability and a gut check for you creative addicts out there.

Don’t worry, I’m not here to squash your hopes and dreams, in fact, I hope to encourage you to reach for the stars! But with it, here’s a little advice on building that spaceship.

I’ve written five novels, two of which are currently published. From each novel I’ve completed, I’ve grown as an author and learned a few things. The goal of this post is to save you some of the blood, sweat, and tears I shed along the way. Yes, literal blood. Martial arts classes to help me learn to write fight scenes led to more than a few injuries.

I’m going to break this post down by things I learned after each successive book I wrote.

There’s a lot of information here so just focus on one to three things you can implement in your current WIP. Take what’s helpful but don’t worry about the rest or doing it all.

What I learned from completing a trilogyHave a story bible. What color of eyes does Orion have? What is that one character’s sosh in book one vs. two? What did the head founder of the AI games look like again? Arg! These are the infuriating details that slowed me down in book three and drove me mad. The number of times I’ve had to search through books one or two to try and find them is embarrassing. I thought I had a system for this but that system was a mess and broke down as I reached the end of the series. I learned that I should have set this up better from the start. Plottr is one tool that does this for you that I might have to try for my next series. Take a break from your first draft. I used Nanowrimo as an excuse to pump out a terrible rough draft. Then I set it aside, go back to working on whatever book is actually due to my publisher. Six months later, I come back to that rough draft and, with a fresh set of eyes, begin the editing process. This doesn’t work for everyone but it works really nicely for me.Allow yourself extra time to complete the final book in the series. Finishing a series is hard. Suddenly, all of those fun new characters you added in book two are staring you in the face demanding their full life plan. All those sub plots you thought you were clever by adding? Also demanding resolution. My advice, keep the end in mind for each character you add in or each subplot. One day, everything you write will come back to haunt you in the form of the end of your series. Plant bread crumbs throughout the series. Even if you’re a plotter, there are some things you can’t anticipate. As your story grows, so do your characters and sometimes that mean character become naughty and do things they’re not supposed to. And said things wreak havoc on your perfect little plans for them. Here’s where bread crumbs come into play. In each book, you can leave a few plants of things you foreshadow that you maaaay or may not pick back up for books two or three. If you need them, they’re there. But if not, well, hopefully you didn’t make them so obvious that the reader remembers them and is wondering what the heck happened to them…

What I learned from my second and third novels

Read a book on story structure and story board before sitting down to write. I love Save the Cat Writes a Novel. That was a game changer for me. I finally understood why the pacing was off in my book and I had a rough guideline to show me how to fix it.Use Scrivner. I wrote my first book in Microsoft Word. I tried to switch to Scrivner for book two and it was really hard for me. It took overcoming some serious mental hurdles to force myself to use it. Now, I love Scrivner and how it makes me more efficient. I can’t believe I used to work in clunky ol’ Word. This tip is for sci-fi novels specifically but . . . keep your tech organized. Otherwise, you’ll spend way too much time trying to remember if Flyers used laser-hand axes or Magtouch600s and if you hyphenated them in book one or not. Kill me with said weapon now.Find critique partners at a similar point in their writing as you. Find one too advanced and you won’t be able to offer them much help. The reverse is also true. Finding someone who’s at a similar place in their writing craft as you and who you vibe with is gold. Cling to that critique partner like a cat to a laser point.

What I learned from my first novel

Here’s what the books don’t tell you.

Here’s what my older self wish my younger self knew when I first started my journey down the narrow and bumpy writer’s road. First…

Have character charts for each character AND how you want them to grow throughout the book.

Hopefully you already have a character sheet with the information you need on each character. Sorry to break it to you but while that is necessary, in the long run, all that’s going to do is ensure consistently boring characters.

You want your characters to grow and be changed by the journey they embark upon. This isn’t something that will magically occur. If you don’t have a clear plan for growing and developing your characters throughout the book, it won’t happen.

Make sure each character is critical.

Every single primary and secondary character needs to be in the book for a reason. Surgery to remove them later is a HUGE pain. For those of you who’ve ever had a wisdom tooth removed, envision that kind of pain. Now add on trying to participate in one of those hot dog eating competitions directly afterwards while simultaneously trying to get your sedated self to solve complex formulas. If your head isn’t hurting yet, you still don’t have a clear understanding of what this process is like.

Be 100% sold on a name from the start.

Also a pain is changing a character’s name mid book. Pick a good name from the start and make sure you don’t have too many main or secondary characters with names all starting with the same letters. This can confuse the reader and cause them to forget who’s who. I know the find and replace search function in Word may seem like an excuse not to worry about this one. Trust me, when you’re working with several hundred pages of manuscript, its going to be a mess unless you have it right from the start.

Don’t forget sub plot.

This was a big one for me. I was laser focused on the bigger picture but paid little attention to sub plot. While having an over arching well thought out plot is helpful, it can’t solve everything.

Don’t wait until the end of your book to realize sub pot is missing. Plan it now! Here’s a great post on writing sub plot that has helped me.

Draw up a map FIRST with the .

Don’t be like me and learn this the hard way.

I drew up a very rough map and then didn’t bother adding to it as I went. During the editing process I could never remember where anything was and had to constantly tracking down errors. What region was Helmnatri? Was that really a place? What was the name of that city that had the river running through it again? I thought the city they’re from was a dry hot place not cold…

In summary, lay the foundations of the house first. I know you’re eager to start writing the next New York Time’s best seller but be patient. Once you’re finished with your first draft and go back to edit, revise, rewrite and rewrite again, you’ll thank your younger self for the hard work you put in ahead of time.

Set the stage

Ever had someone take a quick pass at your first chapter and totally miss the genre? “What? This is sci-fi? I totally thought it was romance novel.” Womp. Womp. No one wants that.

Only you can prevent this from happening. Your first chapter is critical in setting the stage for what type of book it is.

Here’s a quick checklist of things you need to have answered in the first few pages:

Who’s the protagonist and what are they like? What’s their gender? Age?Why should the reader care about the protagonist? What’s their goal/motivation?Where is the story taking place?What’s the time period?What’s the tone? Is this light-hearted and funny? Suspenseful?

Did you answer those questions in your first few pages? Great! Now, let’s take a look at a few things not to do.

What not to do…

In your first few pages please spare the reader from:

Long clunky sentencesHeavy slang, dialect, or fantasy elementsInformation dumpDream sequencesFalse sense of suspense

I think those should all be pretty self-explanatory except perhaps the last two techniques.

Countless writer’s already use dream sequences and if your goal is to impress and stand out to your reader, you’ve already failed them with a dream sequence.

False suspense is never good and you shouldn’t be using it. What I mean by this, is withholding information that’s actually quite critical to understanding the story. Remember, you want to create FOMO, not an anxiety disorder.

Hopefully, these tips can help you as you work to craft a powerful start to your book.

Ultimately, remember to never give up on your dreams! Building a spaceship takes a long time.

But one day you’ll be able to fly.

The post Advice to Aspiring Authors appeared first on Candace Kade.

How to Leave an Amazon Review: A Simple & Cheerful Guide on How to Make an Author’s Day

If you’re reading this, I’m incredibly grateful because it must mean A) you’re going to try and leave a review for a book and B) you don’t know how, but despite that, you’re going to figure it out so you can do so anyway.

Thank you! Reviews mean the world to us authors. And it’s really not that hard.

So, how do you leave a review on Amazon? Here’s how…

1. Log into your Amazon account then search for the book you want to leave a review for.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the Amazon page until you see ”product details” then click on the ”ratings”

3. You’ll arrive on this page. Under “Review this Product” click: “Write a customer review”

And that’s it! Simple, right?

Thank you for your help!!

The post appeared first on Candace Kade.

Bypass the babble

That right there is paleo perfection.

It may not look like much. But looks, as we all know, can be deceiving.

If you want a real baking challenge, try converting a normal recipe to paleo. Yes, it will be healthier, but it will probably taste healthier too. Which. . . no one wants.

So how does one cook healthy while maintaining the deliciousness of a French bakery? Well, with most recipes it’s a lost cause. Don’t even bother.

But alas, with this recipe I have succeed!

I’ve finally created the perfect blueberry orange paleo muffins! I may or may not have already had a dozen within the past 48 hours…

But hey, they’re healthy! Am I right??

Ok, so anyway, as my gift to the world, here is my secret sauce for these amazing little goodies. 

Recipe for The World’s Only Paleo Blueberry Orange Muffins that Actually Taste Good and Looks Semi-decent

Baller and (mostly) healthy ingredients

½ cup softened dairy free butter (Regular butter acceptable. You do you!)
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups almond flour (Did you know that almond flour is loaded with way more nutrients than flour??)
1 TBSP baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup almond milk (Or regular milk if you want to cheat just a weeee bit)
¾ cup orange juice
1 ¼ cups fresh blueberries
1 TBSP orange rinds or zest

To make the best muffins in the world…

First preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next, mix the butter and sugar till its smooth before adding in vanilla and eggs.

Then stir dry ingredients together and then add to wet ingredients. Add the milk and orange juice and mix.

Finally, add the blueberries and orange rinds and mix again.

Line a muffin pan and fill each tin about 4/5ths full. Bake for 20 minutes.

YIELDS: 15 scrumptious muffins

*Pro tip: Double the recipe. Trust me, you’ll wish you had later.

The post The World’s Only Paleo Blueberry Orange Muffins that Actually Taste Good and Look Semi-decent appeared first on Candace Kade.

Have you ever written a scene, loved it, then immediately shelved it for years? Maybe even given up on that snippet of writing ever making it into a book?

That’s the story behind Hybrid.

I wrote the climax of this book, had no idea how Urban (the main character) got to that point, or where she went after. So, as all good writers do when stuck, I procrastinated writing the rest.

Just kidding.

Procrastination is never the answer!

Over a decade later, I finally circled back to this scene.

I reverse engineered how Urban got to this pivotal scene I had written so long ago. Thus book one was born! Now, not only do I have the beginning written (Enhanced), but I have all of the climax written (Hybrid), and the ending is currently being written now (book 3 coming soon)!

Add HYBRID to Goodreads

Here’s a little bit more about HYBRID, book 2 in my young adult cyber punk series.

CAUTION. There are some spoilers for ENHANCED, book one.

Lee Urban’s search for truth could destroy everything.

After narrowly surviving several attempts on her life, Lee Urban retreats into hiding, seeking refuge with her family for the Lunar New Year. But the relaxing holiday turns into a heist when someone crashes the party with intel on the hybrid’s identity. 

Driven by desperation, Urban accepts a position within the elite Dragons AI team, a high-stakes gamble that will propel her into the heart of the turbulent West. As she follows the elusive clues to the hybrid, the journey takes her closer to uncovering the truths about her own origins and the odd circumstances surrounding her adoption. 

Tensions between the Enhanced and Naturals grow increasingly violent and the Western Federation teeters on the brink of civil war. Urban’s choices threaten to tear her family apart, and the secrets she unearths just might shatter the delicate balance of society.

Pre-order HYBRID today!

Candace signing off to celebrate this milestone in publishing by enjoying a trip to Colorado!

The post Cover reveal for HYBRID, book 2 in The Hybrid Series appeared first on Candace Kade.

Summer is in full swing and it’s time to hit the pool or beach! Which means it’s . . . READING TIME!! At least for me. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been hopelessly behind in hitting my 2023 reading goals.

But.

Summer is a time to slow down and enjoy the NOW of life. It’s also a  great time to read lots of new books! Which is why I have a list of some new releases and old favorites for you that I think you’ll enjoy this summer.

These are some of my favorite (mostly) YA novels that are perfect for pool side reading. Most of these are clean and appropriate for teens, just because that’s what I love reading. I’ll let you know if there’s any sort of trigger warnings.

Now, on to the ultimate summer reading list…

Picture Perfect Boyfriend by Becky Dean

The perfect romcom book for the beach.

Literally.

Set in a lush Hawaiian landscape, Picture Perfect Boyfriend makes you want to go adventure. But the best part of this story is the impossibly hilarious situation the main character gets herself into. After making up a fake boyfriend to get her family off her back, she suddenly finds her fake boyfriend crash their family vacation. She must pretend to go along with it or risk exposing her secret. Full of witty banter, tropical paradise, and hilarious romance, this book has it all!

Ember Hawk by Jamie Foley

I’m a sucker for a good fantasy novel with a unique world and this book was exactly what I wanted.

Set in a land of cattle ranchers, farmers, and traders, the main character embarks upon a journey out of her homeland to save her family. Epic battles with giant Scorpions, trace cats, warring tribes, and cute boys are only some of the obstacles along the way. I devoured this book in days!

Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao

Crazy Rich Asians 2.0. If you enjoyed reading, or watching the movie, then you’ll like this newly released debut novel by Kyla Zhao. This is an entertaining story about a common girl faking it into Singapore’s elite socialite circle and the sacrifices she makes along the way.

Note: This book straddles the adult and YA world and has some swearing that may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

For fans of Hunger Games, dystopian and super power stories.

I devoured the entire book within 24 hours of starting it. Fast paced and with an interesting dystopian world where only society’s elite have super powers. That is, until an ordinary girl, develops some and the whole world changes.

These are a few of my favorite recent reads. For the full list of summer books, subscribe to my newsletter!

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The post Ultimate Summer Reading List appeared first on Candace Kade.

Looking for some new books to read? I have you covered! But before I get to the reading list, I wanted to let you know about a several giveaways I’m doing. Sign up for my newsletter to find out the details of how you can win a free hardback copy of my YA sci-fi novel Enhanced!

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First, some exciting news . . .

My long time writing friend from China and I are going on a book tour together through Texas!!!

If you’re in any of these cities, or near by, we’d LOVE to meet you!

Also, if you are a writer in one of these cities, we’ll be hosting a meetup for local authors to gather, make new friends, and encourage each other. Feel free to connect with me on Instagram at @candace_kade_author and message me to let me know you’re interested in joining and I’ll send you the info!

For the full list of events I’ll be at, check out my author events page HERE.

And now, for the Spring reading list!

These are some of my favorite YA novels that are perfect for a picnic, and if you’re in Texas, sitting among the bluebonnets! Note: all of these books have a PG-13 and under rating. Some have themes of Spring in them, which is why I included them, others are new  releases or about to be released. First…

Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean

I’m absolutely obsessed with B.L Dean and her books! So much so, she’s actually joining Nova and I for the Austin leg of our Texas tour! Come hear us talk about all things sci-fi in Austin on April 28th at 6PM at BookPeople.

Anyhow, this young adult science fiction novel was such a blast reading, I actually wrote an endorsement for it! Here’s what I had to say:

A must-read for fans of sci-fi! Witty and engaging, Rogue Pursuit shines like a brilliant star among a galaxy thick with pirates, spies, and dazzling new worlds. The characters will sneak their way into your heart faster than a smuggler and keep you hostage until you finish reading. You won’t be able to put this book down!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This is an odd mash up of romance and dystopian. It’s like divergent games meets the bachelor. I was a big fan of the world building and fun, but NOT, steamy romance in the book. Highly recommend!

The Water Child by Ellen McGinty

This fictional retelling of the 2011 Japanese earthquake is stunning! I’ve personally lived through too many natural disasters to care for reading about them and so this book was not something I would normally pick up. However, I’m so glad I did!

While The Water Child addresses heavy themes of grief, loss, and fear, it does so in a hopeful way. I never felt like I was drowning in the weightiness of it, but instead walked away feeling a glimmer of hope that beauty can still exist in some of the darkest times.

I cannot recommend this book high enough!

Fugitive of Talionis by CJ Milacci

This is book two in CJ’s Talionis series. If you haven’t read book one, Recruit of Talionis, go check it out now! If you’re a fan of dystopian novels with military vibes, and strong characters who refuse to give up hope, this book is for you!

Exciting news! This book currently has a Kickstarter running from now until April 20th! Go help this book get funded!!

For the full list sign up for my newsletter!

The post Spring Reading Round Up appeared first on Candace Kade.

Happy New Year!

Any one else’s flights get delayed? And delayed. And then cancelled all together?

Just my family?

Cool.

I wish I could say Christmas left me refreshed and energized for the new year, but after my family took two days trying to arrive in one place (thanks South West), one family member fell asleep at the wheel and totaled his car, I got the flu twice, the stomach bug once, and then strep . . . well, let’s just say I’m grateful the holidays are over

Hopefully your Christmas was a little less exciting and involved smooth travels or better yet, no travels at all!

But regardless of how your 2023 started, I have some books that always make me happy that I think you’ll like.

Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese

In case you don’t recognize the name, John is the guy who wrote the script for Monty Python. The book is a short read but has some fantastic tips which I now use on a regular basis. My favorite piece of advice from the book is to allow time for your subconscious to solve problems.

It sounds weird but it really does work. Problems can be anything from plot holes in a book you’re writing, to how to help your child, landing that new job, improving grandma’s recipe, beating someone in a sparring match—anything.

When you allow yourself time for an answer to percolate at the back of your brain, often times, when you return to it, you’ll find you have new and better solutions.

I do this with every novel I write. I’ll make a mad dash to pump out a rough draft during Nanowrimo and then I’ll put the entire manuscript away for a couple months. When I come back to it, I often find the plot holes I was close to tears over are now easily solved.

Changing the Way You See Everything by Kathryn D. Cramer & Hank Wasiak

This is a guide to positive thinking. Only this book has tangible steps to take and lots of pretty pictures. It’s basically a picture book but for grown-ups and with life lessons. I try and reread this book every couple of years because it’s that good.

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

The plot doctor for novels.

This book is specifically for writers so please ignore this if you’re not one. Or, if you have a writer in your life, you can file this book away in the back of your brain as a great Christmas present for next year. Look at us already getting a jump start on Christmas shopping!

If you’ve written a novel, the chances are, you’ve probably gotten stuck at some point and had no idea what was broken or how to fix it. This book will tell you everything you need to know to get unstuck. I reread portions of this book every time I’m outlining a novel or when I’m in a rut.

For the full list, sign up for my newsletter! You’ll get quarterly reading round ups with the best books out there as well as exclusive access to book giveaways.

And that’s it! These are a few books that have made my life better and I hope can help you too. I would love to hear what books you’re starting 2023 off with!

If you’re looking for more reading recommendations throughout the year, follow me on Goodreads!

Signing off to pop some more cough drops,

Candace

The post Start 2023 on the Right Page: 7 Must- Read-Books! appeared first on Candace Kade.

Are you exhausted from the holidays?

I am!

Which is why I spend pretty much every free evening these days in front of the fire reading. It’s absolutely delightful and a great escape from frantic Santa’s workshop mode.

I highly recommend it! Along with these books which pair excellently with a crackling fire, soft blanket, and hot cocoa.

But first. I have a little treat for you!

Are you broke from Christmas shopping? There’s a Kingsumo giveaway going on now until December 21st. It’s sponsored by myself and some of my favorite authors.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card to help with those Christmas presents or, if you’re like me, buy MORE books!

Enter giveaway here

Now, snuggle up by the fireplace. It’s time for some cozy book recs! Starting with…

Winter, White & Wicked by Shannon Dittamore

This reminds me of a mash up of Narnia and Monster Trucks.

A spunky winter truck driver is on a mission in an urban fantasy setting with magic, frozen tundra, and hostile natives. The most interesting part of all is how the main character can speak to Winter herself and even control her. Fascinating premise! This fast-paced novel will keep you on the edge of your seat ever twist and turn of the journey.

Book two in the series, Rebel, Brave & Brutal is now available for pre-order!

All I want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door by Chelsea Bobulski

It’s a Wonderful Life meets Freaky Friday.

I was not expecting a Christmas story with a twist but this was just the book I needed this holiday season! I loved the lesson in this book that sometimes what we desperately want isn’t what we desperately need. Graham Wallace finds this out the hard way when his wish comes true and history goes back in time and changes for him. A great YA romance with a fun, magical twist!

For the full reading recommendation list sign up for my newsletter! You’ll receive clean, seasonal YA reading recs straight to your inbox.

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If you’re looking for more reading recommendations throughout the year, follow me on Goodreads!

Follow Candace on Goodreads!

Signing off to frantically finish present wrapping,

Candace

The post Cozy Winter Reading List & Giveaway! appeared first on Candace Kade.

Our story begins with cramming all my world possessions into these four bags and boarding a flight back to China.

Yes, back to China.

You see, despite holding a US passport, I grew up in China. Let’s rewind a bit.

That’s me! On a camel. In . . . you guessed it! China.

Looks can be deceiving my friends. (More on this fake Egypt photo later).

Let me explain.

At the age of four, my family moved from Ohio to China. I spent most of my childhood growing up as the token foreign kid in my Chinese school, neighborhood, and sports teams.

Living in overseas certainly had its perks. For instance, getting to hold panda bears, learning to appreciate true Chinese food (no offense Pei Wei), learning a complex language and culture, and getting to explore.

One adventure led my family to the World Park where each part of the park had a different country theme to it. The park came complete with fake landmarks, real animals, and costumes (supposedly) from that region.

And now we come back to the camel photo with fake pyramids.

It was at the World Park the inklings of the idea for Enhanced sparked.

One of the park sections had this absolutely huge building in it. I wandered the marbled floors feeling tiny. It was there that I first asked the question, “What if there were a giant, super human race?”

Fast forward eight years to Austin, Texas.

I’ve moved back to the US for college and grad. school. I botch most American sayings and mispronounce words, but I can pass as a normal American to people meeting me for the first time.

I’m on a road trip trying to jam out to music but the reception is spotty and all I get is an NPR special on CRISPR and genome editing technologies.

I listen, stunned. A single question loops in my head . . .

What if CRISPR gene editing takes off?

I envision a world where humans can choose the genes they get. A world sharply divided by those with genetic enhancements and those born naturally.

The rest of the road trip, I connected this questions back to my trip to the World Park. What if the reason that person standing in that building was so small was because everyone around her is genetically enhanced–super human?

The story began to slowly evolve and my excitement grow.

I knew this was the story I wanted to tell.

But at the time, I was already working on a different novel. I was also drowning at my new job in Austin. Not to mention, most of my free time was taken up by Krav Maga, Spartan races, rock climbing, pick up games of basketball, and exploring the world. I don’t have much time to write this story bursting out of me.

Fast forward four more years.

I’m feel pretty confident about belonging in the US now. I can pass as American and you have to look pretty closely to see the cracks in my facade. I have a sweet apartment overlooking downtown Austin, a community and friends I love, and a serious boyfriend.

But something always tugs at the back of my mind.

China.

I miss it.

The smell of street-fried potatoes, the taste of xaokao caked in layers of spice, and rickshaw rides with four people piled in each other’s laps laughing and holding on for dear life. I miss haggling at the market, windy road trips to the nearby Sichuan mountains, and the crackling boom of the most brilliant New Year’s firework display.

All of it so far away from my Austin apartment.

This other part of me, buried and stuffed away for so long, forced its way out. I tried to stop it. I really did but I wanted to go back.

But what if I returned to China, only to discover I’d lost that half of me? That I no longer belonged there any more?

My parents, ever the source of wisdom, said something that stuck with me:

“If you don’t go, you’ll spend the rest of your life asking what if.”

They were right.

I wasn’t sure what would happen in China. But I also wasn’t sure what would happen if I stayed in America.

Should I go and risk the life I’d made for myself in America? Or not go, and always have the gnawing ‘what if’ question at the back of my mind?

I decided to risk it.

So, I request a relocation assignment to our China headquarters in Beijing. One year later, everything was finally in place and I was ready to move.

Now you’re up to speed on why I was weighing and reweighing each suitcase to make sure they were exactly 50 pounds and no more.

Three flights later, I arrived at the Beijing International airport.

Alone.

Exhilarated.

Exhausted.

And wondering if what I’d just done was crazy.

I’d already found a roommate via WeChat and she’d rented out a flat for us close to down town where I’d be working. Pictured above was the room that awaited me that first night I arrived.

Despite the jet-lag, I pulled out my laptop and immediately began writing. So many emotions bubbled up within me. Endless opportunities and possibilities stretched before me in a city like Beijing. I knew I had to write a book while I was there and surrounded by so much inspiration.

But what?

Meanwhile, it felt amazing to be back in China–to be home.

My first month I ate all the food, explored, and made new friends. I found a Jiujitsu community a short bike ride away from my apartment. I was having the time of my life!

Then I realized I already had a trilogy semi-fleshed out for my genetic enhancement story. What if I set it in a futuristic version of Beijing?!

I instantly loved the idea!

Decision made, I began outlining more. Writing was slow going. Especially since . . . hard reality set in.

Pictured above, commuting to work and wearing a mask due to pollution.

Work was insane. I knew working in my second language, in a new role, and on a new team would be hard.

But I wasn’t prepared.

The work days were much longer. My brain hurt every day from all the new words, politics, and things I was learning. We had a re-org every month. So every time I started to figure out what I was doing, I had to start over. Everything with HR for me was complicated since I was one of two foreigners working in an all-Chinese office.

I got sick a LOT.

Everything from food poisoning to weird illnesses that didn’t have a diagnosis or treatment. My visa and bank caused many headaches. Sometimes I couldn’t even get my money out of the bank and had to borrow from my new roommate. #awkward

I hurt my knee and couldn’t practice Jiujitsu anymore.

My boyfriend and I were struggling with long distance. I didn’t think we were going to make it.

Basically, I was holding on by a thread.

Then the final shoe dropped.

The relocation assignment I’d been sent on, was cancelled. Meaning, I had three months to figure out a new job. Three months to write my novel.

I was at rock bottom.

Despite health issues, work drama, and trying to hold my life together, I started writing every spare second.

I went to work early every day. In the shopping mall my office was located in, I’d order breakfast and write.

I wrote during my lunch break.

I wrote during my coffee break.

I wrote in the evenings.

I wrote most weekends.

Enhanced was one of the few bright spots in a life that felt like it was crumbling around me.

I knew that despite my circumstances, everything was somehow being used for my good. I just couldn’t fathom how.

I kept writing and trying to find a new job. I eventually did find one and was able to relocate back to the US. At that point, I’d almost finished the first draft of Enhanced.

I moved back. I worked through things with my boyfriend and decided I loved him like crazy and married him. I healed up my body. I found new friends. I finished my book.

Three years later, I got a three book deal from Enclave Publishing for my trilogy.

When I look back, I think to myself, how on earth did I write most of the book in six months during one of the busiest, most sick, and stressful seasons of my life???

The only answer I can give, is God.

Going back to China was one of the hardest seasons in my life due to the circumstances surrounding it. China itself was amazing and I loved living there. But while you couldn’t pay me to relive that season, I also wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I grew so much. I learned so much. And without it, Enhanced wouldn’t be getting published this March.

I still miss China.

But writing books two and three in my trilogy have allowed me a chance to travel back to a futuristic fictional version of the world of New Beijing.

My hope is that any readers of Enhanced who feel like misfits, like I did most of my life, like my main character does throughout Enhanced, will feel seen and heard.

I hope it will encourage you.

And for those of you who never make it to the other side of the pond, I hope you get a taste of the beauty of Chinese culture.

Now, if you stuck with me through this whole mini novel, wow! You’ve either skimmed it or defied all the modern day statistics about people having the attention spans of goldfish.

You get a prize!

Sign up for my newsletter and respond to the first email you get from me with your address. The first fifty will get a rare bookplate with my signature mailed to you plus a short story sent via email.

Sign up for my newsletter HERE!

Enjoy!

-Candace

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