Dear Reader

Just inside the front cover of my book you will find a letter to all my readers. I thought I would share it today. Regardless of what the book description may say, this book is an emotional and sweet romance. Some of you may be relieved (while other a little disappointed lol) that there is nothing x-rated happening within the pages of my book. This story is very personal to me and I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am to see it in print. It is all because of you--your support and your votes--that I get to see this dream come to fruition. Thank you again!

Dear Reader,

This story began fifteen years ago, long before I was aware of just how it could be used. I was a young teenager, experiencing first love, when my boyfriend was tragically killed in an accident. What followed was nothing short of heartbreak and pain, before I was eventually able to see that life went on regardless.

It was in 2013 that I finally realized my healing process had come to an end. In that moment, on what would have been his thirty-third birthday, I began to ask myself the question every writer asks: What if...? I wondered what life would have been like if only he hadn't died that day. And so this novel was born.

It is not a biography by any means, but the story of two characters on a journey of grief and healing similar to my own. It was cathartic, writing Micah and Josh's story. You can watch them grow together as they struggle with the pain of their past and maneuver their way through unknown territory and burgeoning new emotions.

Even when I felt it shouldn't, life went on--the world kept spinning. It wasn't the pain that defined me, but rather the way I handled it.

I have been writing for many years, but lacked the confidence to pursue my dreams. My first step after finishing my manuscript was to get it out there. Such was my motivation for entering So You Think You Can Write. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that the story so near and dear to my heart had won the public's vote, awarding me a publishing contract.

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And that you walk away inspired and encouraged by Micah's story.

Tanya

Adventures in Dating

Nineteen days and counting! It still seems so unreal. I thought about organizing a little book release party so I could dress up and put on my party heels.

I mean, check out these heels!!

However, I can't last long in them and what's a party without party heels? I know, my logic is bewildering.

Plus I am still concentrating on finishing up book two. It's hard to celebrate when I still have so much work to do. I've found writing to be so much more difficult under contract. I've put a lot of pressure on myself, and it's just not flowing as easily as it did pre-contract. Inspiration and creativity can't be made to happen. They are forces that come and go like the wind. I like to hold on tight and let it take me on a wild ride. But now I don't have the luxury of waiting for that burst of inspiration to breeze by. I have to learn to make it happen, to search for the inspiration in every day life.

I've drawn from my personal life--shocking, I know. The other day I was at work, at the bridal shop, and one of my brides started asking me questions. It's completely normal. I help them get dressed. Things get personal quickly so its natural to want to know some information about someone before you strip down in a fitting room with them. This particular bride asked if I was married. When I told her I was single, she seemed shocked. She couldn't understand why I would want to help women plan their weddings and not my own. I assured her that I love what I do, and there was no need to worry about me. She then started to list all the options I have, as if my singleness was a disease and I needed to see a doctor about it. "You know you should try match.com or a singles group or something." Thanks, but no thanks. I've tried the eHarmony thing before, and although I've met some wonderful guys that way, I also met some real doozies. I laughed and told her that unfortunately online dating didn't work for me in the way its supposed to but that it did provide excellent material for book number two!

As a working title, I'm calling this book The Dating Adventures. Shay hates it, but it's temporary. We'll figure that one out later.

Getting our flirty face on

Dating is--well, it's a roller coaster. At least it has been for me. There are these highs where I find myself full of butterflies and every time I'm near this person I get a shot of adrenaline that travels through my arms and makes my hands tingle with anticipation. I find myself suddenly feeling coy and brazen all at the same time. Usually, I'm rendered speechless, struck by a sudden fear of saying the wrong thing, over analyzing every tiny moment. I can't even say hi to the ones I'm really smitten by. These moments have been few and far between with me. I can probably list them all on one hand.
More often than not, I experience the lows of the dating roller coaster. The heartbreak the unmet expectations. Some might say I've been unlucky, but I just see it as God protecting me. Plus, now I have the freedom to pursue my dreams and write about all of the unlucky dates I've been on.

My character in The Dating Adventures is going through something similar. She knows what she wants, and even though she encounters many lows, she refuses to give up.

It all depends on your outlook. You can focus on the bad, and be afraid of being vulnerable as I have in the past. I could only concentrate on the fact that I can't find love. Or I could focus on the good, and hold it up as something to work towards, something worth waiting for AND write about it!

Side note: No one was harmed in the making of this book. All names were changed to protect the innocent. Just messin'. But really I didn't used real life experiences just was inspired by them. So no one has to fear becoming a victim in my book. Although that's not completely off the table. Be careful what you say or do around me. Just sayin' :)

It's coming!!!

I know, I know. I've been pretty much silent for a long time. The first reason being I'm a dork and do stupid things like forget to renew my domain name for this blog. It's gone. Off into never never land. I'm trying to consolidate everything into one site with one domain name, but in the mean time you'll have to use this unbelievably long address.

Sorry.

My other reasons for remaining relatively silent have to do with the fact that I was working extremely hard on completing revisions for If Only which will be released on July 1st. Pause for a squeal.

Then once those revisions were finished, I started slaving away on book number two, not yet named. I'll talk about that one more later. For now let's focus on the fact that a month from now you can purchase my debut novel!

If you haven't seen the cover yet, feast your eyes on this...

I'm still a mix bag of emotions. I am on the edge of crying uncontrollably, laughing hysterically,  and screaming at the top of my lungs all at the same time. Which , for those of you who know me well, is nothing abnormal. I've been known to do that while watching a favorite TV show. I'm a woman. Don't judge me.

I've had so many people ask me the same questions so I figured I would just share some of the details here. IF ONLY will be released in paperback in the UK and AUS. Unfortunately for my US fans, it will only be available in ebook format. It is already available for pre-order at all major online retailers.

I know. I know. You don't have a Kindle. You prefer the feel of a paper back book. I hear you, but welcome to the future. Electronic is the way to go. You can download the Kindle or Nook app to just about any electronic device. I read from my smartphone and my laptop more than anything these days.

Once I receive my copies, the giveaways and contests will begin and a few of you will get a signed copy!

Exciting things are happening. I said 2014 will be my year. So far it's looking that way!

Click on any of the links below to pre-order today!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Harlequin

Thank You!

Wow! I would never have dreamed in my wildest dreams that this would happen! Around this time last year I made the decision to stop messing around and take my writing seriously. I mentally prepared myself for a long, long road to publication. My mind cannot even begin to grasp all that is happening now!

This past January I joined Harlequin's writing community. It was in the Work-In-Progress Care Group that I met an amazing group of women who showed me the ropes and encouraged me along the way. Like a sponge, I absorbed every tip and took notes in every online class or chat. I wanted to learn all that I possibly could to enhance my craft. I still have a lot to learn, but as someone who considers herself a life-long student, I'm looking forward to the lessons to come.

The morning of March 6^th a friend reminded me that it was Andy's birthday. It was the first time in sixteen years that I forgotten his birthday. It was a good feeling. It proved I had finally healed, finally moved on. I sat back and thought about it and how he would have been thirty-three. I tried to imagine what life would have been like if he had lived. That's the moment If Only was born.

There will be some that say this is just beginner's luck. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Time will tell. But the one thing I am sure of is that my life has been leading up to this. If Only would never have had as much of an impact if I had not gone through what I did fifteen years ago.

Each experience I've had, every heartbreak, every loss, every moment of pure joy will be put to use to better me as a writer. God had a purpose for all of it, and I believe this is it.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who took the time to vote, share, and read my manuscript! I may have made it to the top ten with my story, but you were the ones who took me the rest of the way. I cannot thank you enough!

I only planned on getting my feet wet this year, but God decided it was time to swim the ocean. So here I go!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” --Eph. 3:20

If Only

VOTE NOW!
 If Only

SYTYCW

I have a lot to be thankful for today, but one thing stands out at the moment. 

In April, I wrote a blog post called My Heart. You can read it here. It tells you how my manuscript If Only came about, and how I was inspired. I had come to the conclusion that all the things I have experienced over the years, all the emotions I have felt—the highs, the lows, all of it—could be of use.

Ernest Hemingway once said “There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” So that's what I did. I poured all those experiences onto paper and If Only was born.

Today, my work is being recognized in a big way. I keep pinching myself. 

Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write competition has announced their top ten, and yours truly is on that list.

Mind blown.

Starting today through November 25^th, you can read my entire novel at soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com and vote. Everyone has one vote per twenty-four hour period from now until the 25^th. The public decides the winner which will get published.

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's a look at what the story is about...

Ten years ago Micah’s world came crashing down when her boyfriend was killed. As the anniversary passes, she finds herself overwhelmed by the pain. Her dreams become more realistic than ever. He still exists if only in her dreams. But is that enough?

Micah’s best friend, Josh, has noticed the change in her. He desperately wants to take her pain away, but knows there’s only so much he can do without jeopardizing his own heart.

As two worlds battle—her dreams and reality—Micah struggles to escape the ghosts of yesterday so she can see what’s waiting for her.

purpose

I've gone back and forth all year long trying to find out what kind of books I want to write. Most authors stick with one genre. But if you know anything about me at all, you know I don't like to be limited. I like to have my hands in as many cookie jars as possible. It's a fault of mine.

I want to write stories that mean something, that have purpose. It's not about just a random story for the fun of it. Life is hard. We struggle. We falter. We become defeated. Finding escape in a book has always been my go-to, and I know it is the same for many others. We need to escape the mundane, the difficult, and the sometimes impossible. Wouldn't it be awesome if while we were escaping our problems, we get pointed in the direction of the One who holds the answers?

It is easy for me to lose focus and forget my purpose. But as I look back and read through past posts, I remember the things that God first laid on my heart years ago. I am reminded of my calling and it just gets me fired up all over again.

So as I begin to write this next novel, I've come to a decision. I want to write stories that draw people in and point them to Jesus. Period.