Lesson in Bravery

First of all, don't forget to enter to win one of two signed copies of my novel, Félicité Found, on Goodreads. Good luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Félicité Found

by Julia King

Giveaway ends September 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Now to the meat of the post...

I can be quite the sassy little brave-ster sometimes. Yeah, it takes some (ok, a lot of) mental coercion and talking myself into it, but it happens. 

 

My most recent act of bravery was this:

 

There's this guy I've been interested in for some months now. Oh, man, I have been smitten. Finally, after many a nice conversation, I was bold and asked this man of super hotness and intense intellect out. He accepted. We had a fun time. Is this relationship going to go any farther than the driveway? I think not, unfortunately. But, dear friends, I put myself out there and tried for something I wanted.

 

This is how I've felt about writing.

• First, I had an idea for a book.
• I started type, type, typing.
• I finished said book and started revising and editing. A lot. And a lot more with tons of peoples' critiques.
• I queried book.
• After countless rejections, I received that blessed agent call with the "yes".
• I parted ways with agent, but that's ok! :)
• I self-published the book instead.
• I'm happy.

Things may go a different path than you think, but you will never know what will happen unless if you try.

 

So TRY! Be brave! Start writing your story. Send out that query letter. And conquer this world!

 

Tell me your acts of bravery. 

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels 

IWSG: Taking that Terrifying Leap

Hi there, fellow IWSGers, friends, and followers alike. Alex J. Cavanaugh hosts Insecure Writers' Support Group. It is a fantastic place to find support from other writers; they may just have the same insecurities as you. It is a great venue to vent or to share writerly wisdom.

 

Today, I'd like to discuss my insecurity that the general public will reject my words. See, I am going to be releasing my book Félicité Found as a self-published work. I don't have a publisher backing me up. I just have me and me alone. It is freaky to take this step with hopes that all my hard work will shine through as a quality product. However, I know if I don't follow my heart and have confidence in my story, then I will regret it. So, as a friend of mine recently taught me: "Live life with no regrets." I guess here's taking that terrfying leap into the unknown. It's my story and I love it. And that's all that matters!

 

Come Monday, August 12, 2013, you'll be able to purchase my first baby, Félicité Found. And there will be a blog tour going on, to boot. Here's the tour schedule:

 

Monday, August 12: Sara Bowers

Tuesday, August 13: Elise Fallson

Wednesday, August 14: Jolene Perry

Thursday, August 15: Nick Wilford

Friday, August 16: Rebekah Callor Grow

 

A thousand thanks for their willingness to participate. There will be some fun content each day and a chance to win a paperback copy of the book!

 

See you then and hugs.

Also, do you have similar insecurities about your writing?

 

Writing Jewels

Great News and Diving off the Unforgiving Plateau

Hi all!

Last week I made mention in my post that I'm going to do something I never thought I'd do. I said it was going to be a surprise. Well, I'm going to let you know what it is!

***Drum Roll***

I'm going to self-publish my book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND.

And I couldn't be happier. You know why? Well, there are countless reasons, but suffice it to say, I know this is the correct path for me to take right now. I have been aching to be published for so long and have fought tooth and nail to accomplish it. Now, it's time to take matters into my own capable hands and set my little baby free.

Years ago, maybe even three months ago, I'd have thought that taking the self-publishing route was giving up on landing that amazing book deal with a traditional publisher, but no, *stomps foot*, it isn't giving up! It is pressing forward and on my terms.

I had an agent and that didn't work out. I'm going to be my own agent for a while until I decide to seek out traditional publishing again. Of which, mind you, won't be far off. :D

Anyway, I've felt like I've been coasting on this unforgiving plateau for so long, and it's just time to do something; to jump off the linear path I've been trudging through, and do something. I'm taking a chance and am giddy beyond words to do this thing. I'm going to be published!

So, here are the details, folks:

• Release date is August 12, 2013.
• Available for e-book purchase through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Available in paperback through Createspace.
• Cover Reveal will take place on the lovely Morgan Shamy's blog next week on Thursday, July 25, 2013. Just thinking about the cover makes me so happy I could die.
• Check out my book here on Goodreads (and add it to your to-read list--please).
• I will be doing a book blog tour from August 12 - 16 on various blogs. More information to come. If you'd like to take part in sharing the news, email me at writingjewels (at) gmail (dot) com.

Well, that's that. I hope you're excited. I know I am... Well, I'm pretty terrified too, but if I don't "Seize the Day" then I'll never know what beauty could have resulted from this wicked cool venture.

Hugs

Writing Jewels