15/02/2024
Fire
My life imploded. I was divorced, Papa died suddenly, and then we lost our beloved German Shepherd. I fell into a deep depression. I had experienced the three Ds—Divorce, Death, and Depression. I believe in going big. I did too. I had a nervous breakdown. I dropped my basket, lost my mind, and completely embarrassed myself. My New Year’s resolution was to stay out of the loony bin.
I fought with depression and she’s a gnarly bitch. I’d gotten through the divorce and the death part. Now I had to kick this final D. I was depressed because I’d lost my writing companion and business partner. Our publishing company Square Pegs was finished and with it my writing career.
Or so I thought, until I remembered a Facebook friend. K’Anne reached out to me to ask me if I was okay after my meltdown and we chatted. Then, I remembered she had her own publishing company, had been doing this for over a decade, and we discussed what I was doing. She recommended I self-publish instead of signing with another publishing company. I asked to hire her to consult with me, mentor me, and jump start my career. She first helped me with some of my old work, creating new, fresh-looking, but easily recognizable covers for them. She created a website, that we’ve since been playing with, and she talked to me (which I needed). She taught me how to put my books back online, not in the few outlets I’d had them, but in over twenty platforms to help me sell my books. She put me in contact with an editor, a real one who actually was professional, very good, and I’m learning from. Amy Stinnett has her own website and I’d recommend her in a heartbeat. I found out from K’Anne that learning from the editors who work on your writings is such a bonus. It makes you a better writer. She’s right. She put me in contact with other people she knows, has cultivated, helped, and who are now helping me. Proof readers, beta readers, and marketing consultants can help make a book successful. She informed me that I was going to finish the book I was working on W**d or Read (and yes you can do both.) K’Anne got my ass out of bed and to my computer. We even have plans for audiobooks and foreign language books!
K’Anne was there when I needed her. She became my mentor, fellow writer, and a good friend. I hope you like the results of our labors. These books healed me. I’m out of the ashes (hence the phoenix rising logo) and back to my authentic self—the one that writes funny stories that hopefully make people laugh. These last two are the best edited, most proof-read books of mine, and I have to say, the most polished. She already made a cover for my next endeavor and I’m looking forward to getting to it, after I finish one of my older works that she stated I just had to get out there.
So, out of the ashes of my previous life comes the Phoenix, my new spirit guide. I’m also pleased to announce my publishing company (that is mine), is called Wingnut Publishing (because we all have a screw loose now and again) which, as you know me, is appropriate.
Thanks for reading and remember to be kind to yourself. My books should be available.
And if you need help with any of your publishing needs by all means use K'Anne Meinel.
