I cannot remember if I mentioned that I recently spilled coffee all over my MacBook Air, my brain baby-maker, but sadly, the Apple Store technicians were not able to fix my computer child. Instead, I was forced (I say this, while happily typing away) to upgrade to a MacBook Pro, one of the basic models but still, very nice. 

It feels good to finally write wherever I feel like being... standing, sitting, laying down. I don't do well with a desktop and if I'm going to write Descend by Spring, I'm going to have to get cracking, so thankfully, my husband, being who he is, stepped up and paid for my new laptop. Thank you, Captain America... I'm going to miss you when you ditch me for Germany! 

Other than that, it's been a really productive few days. Picked up horse feed for Molly and Durango on Thursday so I was able to pop by on Friday and today to feed them grains and pay boarding. We also went on an impromptu ice cream date last night before picking up most of the groceries we needed at Walmart. Yes, my life is so exciting. 

Oh, we did go see the house yesterday and were happy that our new phone company does work there, so once we have wifi, we'll be set. 

Strange how slow and quickly this all seems to be happening... our lives will be different by the time my brother and sisters visit for my birthday in November... We will finally have our forever home.

Anyways, that's all for now. Lots of love and hope to make progress on Descend ​soon. Lots of love!!

Before I get to the BETA request, I'm thrilled to say that Ascend has sold in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia! It's getting out there!!! Very happy about that! 

Now, do you want to be part of my BETA group? If so, please email authorlmgose@gmail.com with your previous BETA reading experience OR why you'd make a great BETA reader. Also, it helps if you've read my debut as this is the sequel so please note that if you have! Bonus points for leaving a Goodreads review and including the link.

I'll be selecting my BETA readers by October, so please get your "application" in by September 30. Thank you for your time!!! 

​

I'm so sorry I've been so busy, I really haven't had a chance to write much. We are closing on the house in Cripple Creek and I am so excited, but it's been a difficult process. It's been stressful and slightly overwhelming... Let's just say I will so relieved when we're finally done with buying a house. At least it's a dream home. Otherwise this wouldn't be worth it. Especially with needing a survey of the property (which is four different plots of land combined together) to plan the fencing for my horses. It's been a hassle and a half.

Speaking of my horses, I am happy to say that Durango and Molly are doing very well. In addition to doing Liberty Work with both, I decided to saddle up Durango and see if he trusts me enough to let me ride him and he did! It was just a short 20 minute jaunt but we are building our relationship and I want him to want me on his back. He did great, didn't try to buck and listened to my commands. Molly followed us, which made him a bit nervous as she wasn't saddled or haltered but he eventually calmed down enough for us to circle the 14 acres and ride back to the shed where I store my saddle and tack. Molly is doing really well. Despite what a jerk of a farrier said, she is the most gentle, sweet horse and nothing will change my mind. 

Other than that, the kids had their second day of school with the Spanish Immersion Charter program and they had a better time. It's an adjustment but I think it will be worthwhile for them to experience this educational opportunity. It will also help maintain regularity over the moving process. They're also making friends here, which is great since it's been a struggle to get them social around here. I can't wait to get settled because I already found a family up there with kids close in age for us to hang out with. They also homeschool so I'm hoping they'll know other families as well. That's how you build community: one family joining another joining another.

I did get invited to do an author interview last week, which is exciting and I'll be sure to post the link when I've got it. It was my first author interview and I hope I sound like... well, not this. I'm not great at the blogging thing but I did want to update you all about Descend. I have written about 10k words so far (which is great for a new project). I'm looking forward to meeting Madoc's Special Friend soon. He's my ultimate favourite character, which is funny because he wasn't even in my head when I began writing "The Children of Lilith Series" this year. 

Among other things, I did host a Giveaway and a fellow writer named Betty won! I sent her a free signed copy of Ascend. I'm also doing an Ebook Giveaway, so check my Twitter for the deets. 

Other than that, just continuing to live my life as best I can and hope that it all works out. Much love. 

As those who have followed my journey for a while know, I homeschool my kids. However, I've always enrolled them in programs to keep them social. In Hawaii, we used the Kroc Center and in California, a charter helped us pay for two Learning Centers and Martial Arts. However, here in Colorado, they have different options so today, my Dynamic Duo (the older two) are attending a Charter School in Colorado Springs that will allow them to learn Spanish through immersion. I am hoping they have a fun day as it's once a week for the duration of the school year and we plan to keep them there after we move to the mountains as hubs has to go through town to get to work (once we officially buy the house in Cripple Creek in early September and move out there officially before November). 

It's all very exciting but it begs the question: How to I keep my 4yo and 16 month-old entertained for the whole day? I'll keep you posted. 

​Hope you all have a great week!

Dear Writing Community,

I would LOVE to cross-promote any indie author that would cross-promote my book in return. I will help you and you help me by promoting each other to our followers and even purchasing a copy of each other's book, whether it be ebook or paperback or hardcover.

I just want to help other indie writers who are trying their best to make writing a vocation. It's more than just a hobby and it's not quite a job for me (as I have four kids and don't rely on this to earn my income, but rather a dream that one day, my book and the series itself, will be loved by just enough people to make the investment into indie publishing all the more worthwhile).

I want to be a successful author but I believe each of us needs a little help in this day and age... so anyone that would like to PROMOTE each other, please email me at authorlmgose@gmail.com and we will begin a dialogue. Thanks for your interest and good luck to you in your publishing endeavors!!!

Even if you don't like my novel, leaving a review will help attract other readers to a book they may enjoy, even if you didn't. At the very least, it helps to see that it's been read by others and people can make their own choices. Some people, like me, read the bad reviews to look for actual criticisms to learn from them, so please, don't be afraid to hurt my feelings. I'm an artist. My feelings are always hurt... but in all seriousness, reviews mean people are talking about the book and that's the hardest obstacle to overcome: abscurity. Being an indie author comes with a lot more expenses and work. You are your own marketing squad. You are the only one that will push your book with the same enthusiasm... until other people start to fall in love... and then it becomes its own entity... a life of its own. 

And for an author, the dream is for your book to become other people's book: the book they turn to for comfort or familiar characters... the book they reread countless times until they need another copy because the first fell apart. We all have books like that, at least, we bookworms all have books like that. 

My dream is for my book to become someone's ratty, torn, barely held together edition. Something that was clearly loved and appreciated.

​Lots of love. 

The database where my book is published says that I have sold 12 copies, not counting the ones I've bought (I think it's only counting Amazon at the moment) and sold. So far, I have sent out 7 signed books and have another 4 waiting to go, just had the order for three more this morning and honestly, it's going well. I am excited and hopeful that I may actually get on a list of some kind for new authors to watch. 

After mailing them out, I went to spend time with my horses... later I need to head to the store and pick up stuff to make Lasagna (my husband's birthday request) and red velvet cake. His birthday is tomorrow and while I can't do much this year, I spoiled him on Father's Day and gave him his boots early so he'd make use of them. He knows we love him... but it's drill weekend too so there's not much I can do to celebrate.

However, next weekend we're going to Cripple Creek, the small mountain town where we just went under contract with a house... It's a beautiful town so I'm going to treat him to a special family lunch and then we'll meet our doctors and dentist and hopefully meet the fence guy who will help me build a good pasture for my horses... 

I can't wait to go up there and write my next book... the view is incredible. 

​Lots of love.

I am officially a Goodreads Author... I can't believe it. It's almost anticlimactic at this day in age because you get an email while you're pooping... for example, not saying I was... I wasn't actually. I was sitting at my husband's computer (spoiler alert, I broke my Macbook), trying to figure out what I want to do when I got the alert on my phone. I'm a Goodreads Author. Wow.

Today's also a good day because I was able to spend some time with my horses. If you follow my twitter or facebook, you've seen photos of Durango and Molly, my beautiful quarter horses. Just being near them is healing for the soul, but working with them, building that bond between human and 1000lbs creature is amazing. They make me feel so wonderful, especially when they wrap their big heads over my shoulder to hug. Best feeling ever and... the reality is there is nothing better than horse smell. They'll never manage to bottle it but, my gosh, if you've ever loved a horse, you know what I'm referring to.

Other than that, so far, the publishers say I've sold 11 books, not counting my personal inventory.... and I've sold 9 personalized copies! So progress! Each book is one more person who can fall in love with my characters. 

​Lots of love. Have a wonderful day.