April 2024
Happy Spring my faithful readers!
During the winter months, I seek to enjoy my fireplace and writing after the holidays have passed, being a much bigger fan of staying warm inside, though I do love the beautiful snow outside my windows. And that is precisely what I did during these past cold months. I wrote “Seclusion”, my new psychodrama thriller, as I call it. I think you’ll find that it does indeed “thrill” while giving a very dramatic story to follow which very much takes us into the depths of the mind and what trauma can do to it at times. This novel is filled with the cold winter mountains of some of the most stunning locations on Earth; Colorado, Switzerland, France, and Italy. More than once, we will travel to the gorgeous country of Italy to experience all this incredible place has to offer. We take a deep dive into the survival of one man, fighting to live with everything he is in the most savage of climates, within the treacherous Dolomite Mountains. We also follow the story of his heartbroken wife who is struggling herself, to come to terms with his disappearance. Watch for the release of “Seclusion” in the coming weeks!
As we move into the lovely days of spring rains, sunshine, warmth, and blooming buds, of the trees, flowers, and all the astounding things in nature, I feel myself beginning to blossom as well. It’s time to get outside and get some exercise, relish the sun, plant, and discover new things! It’s time for outdoor adventures, hiking, bicycling, picnicking, and baseball! It’s time to watch everything come to life! What a beautiful time of year it is! In addition to enjoying all these wonderful things, I’ll also continue writing as being outside is so inspiring for me in every way! I’m continuing work on “The Descendants of the Moon”, the next series related to “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy”, a Vampire Series based in New Orleans, and the beginnings of a new coming-of-age book about a great group of kids in the 80s that’s sure to take us for a feel-good ride! Much more to come on all of those!
As my thoughts move to the next pieces of writing I am currently working on, I find myself, once again, diving into matters of the mind. Of the darkness and psychological workings of it. And of course, of horror, as I am presenting a horror anthology I’m utterly thrilled about! Within this fantastic collection titled “Macabre: A Horror Anthology”, we will see some absolutely amazing contributors and feature not only short stories but also art! Many of these incredible contributors are already well-known authors with published stories in collections and full-length novels. Some, with many! Some of our artists are well known as well and have works already available. And some are up-and-coming authors and artists who are sure to give us some fantastic pieces too! To bring all these talented individuals together and create an anthology is beyond exciting and it most certainly will not disappoint! Watch for the release this Fall!
Keep yourself updated by signing up to receive emails about my upcoming book releases and other exciting news on my Home Page. Don’t forget to check out the News and Articles section for upcoming events and fairs I’ll be a part of as well! As always, a huge thank you to all of you, my dedicated amazing fans!
Happy reading! Cheers!
-MS
Seclusion
Within the wilderness of nature, we seek the solitude that only such a place can give us, but just how far into the wilds of our own mind to find solitude must we travel, before we enter a world of veritable seclusion? One of which there may never be a chance to escape. -MS Chambers
Mina Walter has the life of her dreams. Living in Lakewood Colorado near the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Mina is a bestselling author and married to the most incredible man in the world. Life couldn’t be any better. Her husband Zander, a huge outdoor enthusiast, pursues his lifelong dream of climbing the Swiss Alps and hiking the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. With a book tour coming up, Mina’s not able to join him but encourages him to go. Zander travels to the Alps, but when the greatest adventure of his life takes a completely different turn, he finds himself lost in the unforgiving savage winter of the massive Dolomites and fighting with everything he has, just to survive. His disappearance leaves Mina completely destroyed and lost without him. She can’t stand any more pity or write a word at all for the horrible thoughts and dreams of Zander, and not knowing what really happened to him. To escape the pain and reality, Mina goes to her family’s cabin in the Rockies and shuts herself away from the world, submerging herself into her memories so she can write. But that submersion causes her mind to slip into another place altogether. A place where she can be happy again, a place where her husband is alive, a place where she can live out her days in utter Seclusion.
Coming this Spring!
MS Chambers presents:
Macabre: A Horror Anthology
13 Chilling Tales of Twisted Terror
Delve into the dark collection of strange and unusual short stories and art featuring talented seasoned masters of horror and up-and-coming minds of madness with a very special introduction by Anthony Northrup, author of “STEPHEN KING DOLLAR BABY: The Book”.
Featuring stories and art by:
Mirrissa Alexander • Beverly DeBurger • Kassidy Morrow • Cassandra Caruso • Anthony Northrup • Stephen Spignesi • Billy Hanson • David Tocher • Andrew Rausch • Paul Inman • Brock Birkner • Frank Lewis • Jeni Christain • Jonathan Edward Mills • Rob Darren Newberger • MS Chambers • and • JustGena…
Coming this Fall!
November 2023– Author talk at ReRoll Tavern Novelist Night
Intro: A little about me.
Thank you Katarina and ReRoll, for having me today. It’s truly an honor to be speaking to other aspiring authors.
My name is Samantha Chambers, otherwise known as MS Chambers in the writing world. I am 47 years old, the mother of 6 daughters, 2 of my own and 4 via my partner, Alex. I am the proud grandmother of 7 beautiful grandchildren, 3 girls, and 4 boys. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, grew up in Idaho and Washington till my early 20s, and spent 10 years in Wyoming before moving to Kansas City, where I have lived for 18 years. I am a self-published author of 3 books, “Pearls of the Sea”, “Blood of the Moon”, and “Ashes of Oak”, which are “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy”.
How I got started:
I was raised by my amazing mother and was born into a family of avid readers and writers, and constantly surrounded by books which made me develop a very early love for the written word. My mother was a writer and a poet, and though she was never published, her works and obsession with books were the beginning of what inspired my deep love of reading and my drive to write. I started with short stories and poems at a young age and continued throughout my life. I even won awards in school for my writing pieces. I have always been in love with books. I read constantly, almost every genre, though I have my favorites. Fantasy, horror, psychological thrillers, mystery. I am a fan of romance and action as well.
Later, I devoted 20 years to taking care of my Mom and raising my children which was the most extraordinary and rewarding job of my life. I made sure to instill a great love of reading and writing in my daughters as well and today, they are both very avid readers and enjoy writing as well. Now they are instilling the love of literature in their own children which makes me so proud. Raising children, taking care of my Mom, and life in general was time-consuming. It didn’t make writing feasible for me during those years but I made a promise to myself that after my children were grown and there was more me-time, I would finally settle down and try and achieve my dream of writing a book. My dream was always to be published and share my love of such with the world. A few years ago, I started writing “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy” and just published my 3rd book this month.
I sadly lost my mom in 2012 at a very young age. This trilogy was inspired by her and my daughters, who are my very best friends and often, more like sisters to me. It encompasses some of the most treasured memories, places, and people in my life, many of which are represented in the books. Though many don’t know this, it’s our story. Much of it is about our lives and the rest is fiction but it’s what brought the story to life. It’s one of life and death, of struggles, achievements, heartache and love, family, adventures, and magic. We are all very close and spend a lot of time together. My ultimate goal in this life was to leave my children and grandchildren something they can be proud of. When I’m gone, I hope that they’ll pick up these books and find what they’re looking for inside. I know from personal experience how the heart aches for someone when they’re gone, how you long to hear their voice just one more time, for one more story that can only be told by them. My hope was to give them that gift. My hope is that through these books, we can travel together again and they’ll hear my voice, and they’ll know I’m always with them in every step of their journey. In the end, it’s truly what we leave behind, the lives we touched and the stories we told. I believe that is our legacy.
My process: If you are taking any notes or I move too fast, please feel free to ask me to slow down or repeat. It’s no problem. If you have questions, I can answer those as well. If you need to stop me to ask, feel free, otherwise I will answer questions at the end also.
Having the time still to focus on writing is definitely a challenge, being employed full-time. But if you have a dream and you want to make it a reality, then you have to put in the time and effort. Trust me when I say, it’s worth it. The feeling of completing a book, publishing it, and then holding that book in your own two hands, knowing that you created it, is astonishing. It truly makes all the hard work worthwhile. That being said, you really want to give yourself time to live your life in addition to your writing. It’s important to focus on writing when it’s writing time and then allow yourself to spend time with your family and do other things when you’re not writing. However, when you become serious about writing, it will engulf your mind and it’s all you want to think about and all you want to do. A lot of the time that can be really hard on your family and friends and your relationships so again, it’s really important to make sure that you spend time with them and that they understand what kind of pressure you’re under because you are writing a book and that they allow you the time to get things done as well.
It’s also important to try and write every day. I shoot for 2,000 words a day when I’m really in the depth of writing a book. I don’t always hit that but it’s important to write something at least 6 days a week, if you’re serious. Now when you’re a parent and you have a full-time job, that isn’t always going to be achieved. Don’t beat yourself up over that but keep trying, keep striving for the number of words you’ve chosen to hit. Stephen King once said that failure is motivation and that is the truth. You’re going to fail at some parts of this and that’s okay. That’s when you pick yourself back up, learn from your mistakes, and attack the project again with a new outlook. No one has ever achieved anything great by giving up. Keep going.
You also need to read a lot. Now, I have trouble doing that when I’m writing my own book because it affects my style of writing sometimes but it’s still important. Try not to let other people’s storylines affect your own but it’s an amazing tool for expanding your knowledge and vocabulary, improving focus, concentration, and thinking skills. Reading reduces stress and makes you feel tranquil. Writing is a very personal journey. You really have to be yourself and write for yourself first and foremost. There are tons of tutorials, writing lessons, and guides out there but you have to develop your own style. Who you are is what makes you unique. Be brave in your writing and express yourself. You want your audience to appreciate you for who you truly are.
I can’t begin to tell you how many writing ideas are swirling around in my brain constantly. So many that I have to keep lists and a million notes. That is a major part of the process. It’s vital to write everything down, no matter how little or how big the thought is. I keep a notepad on my phone that I just jot down my ideas in and let me tell you how important that is. Later when you Go back to writing you may have completely forgotten what your thought was at the time when you were doing something snacking in your book. No thought or idea is too small because it can become something so much bigger.
I take those notes and start molding them into chapter outlines. This really helps me organize my thoughts and my notes and gives me a chapter-by-chapter goal. I like chapter outlines because they give me so much more organization. Once that is finished, then I begin a storyboard with a timeline. Now you may not need to do this but it really helps keep you organized and know who’s who and what is happening when. This becomes vital if you are planning a series of any kind. You would be shocked at how much you may forget or confuse if you have a lot of history, time shifts, characters, and plot twists, especially with multiple books.
You must form your characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. This is key to any story, whether short or small. Now, those all transform as I go, sometimes completely changing as the story unfolds. You see, as a writer, sometimes our stories take turns that we ourselves don’t even see coming. That’s the amazing part about it! We’re on the same adventure while we’re writing, that you are on as you read. It’s so exciting!
When I began my journey of writing, I wanted to share the things I love in life. I wanted to paint a vivid picture for my readers so they could feel, see, and experience those things as I have or dream to. The best way to approach writing as a new writer is to write what you know, and if you want to add factual things, then research! Though my books are technically fantasy, I wanted to include factual information about people and places, history, timelines, and their traditions, as well as lore and legends. Once I complete my research, then I apply it to the book and continue molding the story. Character development is very important. You have to make your readers love and even sometimes hate the characters. You want your readers to develop a relationship with who they’re reading about just like you did when you were creating them. The impact of what they do, what they experience, and what happens to them in the end, is so much more important if your reader has a love or hate for that character. Don’t be afraid to accentuate details. Be descriptive, be imaginative, and most of all, give your whole heart to the story. And a side note, and very important, don’t be afraid to kill your darlings! That means killing off your characters and eliminating unnecessary elements in your writing, even though you may have worked hard on them. I also suggest getting or using online, a word-a-day calendar, or something like that. Expand your vocabulary. Please believe me when I say, you need to learn something new every day. Intellect is power.
The first wave of writing is your first draft, ALWAYS. No one just sits down and writes a perfect draft the first time, not even the greatest seasoned writers. You’re going to make so many more changes than you realize. It takes patience. Create a good writing environment. Give yourself some space, quiet time, and somewhere you can concentrate when you write. Surround yourself with inspiration, whether that be “things”, mementos, smells, sounds, or a certain place. For me, it’s nature. I’m the most inspired when I’m outside. It’s definitely my happy place.
After you’re satisfied that the book is “finished”, it’s time to EDIT! I can’t begin to stress the importance of this. You’re probably going to change, add, and even remove so much more than you think you are. Editing is the most crucial step of the process. If you hire an editor, they will come back to you with many notes, changes, suggestions, ect. Then you’re going to take all of that into consideration and edit. If you aren’t hiring an editor and doing it yourself, it’s even more important to edit well but I strongly suggest you take a break from when you believe you’re finished and when you start editing. Let the story swirl around in your brain for a while and then approach it again with a fresh well-rested mind. I do 3 waves of editing, the first revolving around the storyline, the second, checking that timelines are in order and make sense, and checking for things I may want to remove, change, or add, and the third, for punctuation, spelling, formatting, ect. You NEED 3 waves of editing every time. You would be so surprised at the things you missed the first and even the second time around. It’s crucial. Each of my books is given a great deal of attention.
My daughters play an integral part in the process of my becoming a published author. Not only are they the inspiration for my writing but they have both worked tirelessly for endless hours on these novels. My youngest daughter, Mirrissa (Missy), owner of “Entangled Elements”, is the Developmental/Copy Editor and Proofreader. Alongside me, she edits every word of these books and helps to develop the characters and story arcs, and adjusts things. Beverly, my oldest daughter, and owner of “Bits and Bobs by Beverly”, is my book cover Artist and Designer. I tell her what my vision is and she brings it to life. She also makes promotional pieces to go along with my books. With the help of my partner, Alex. who is a tech genius, we have built a great website which I operate and maintain, and am constantly improving. For me, no one from the outside is hired into the process until publication, and even then, we do all of our own editing, book cover design, the layout of the book, and marketing (which I can honestly say, I am still learning myself).
Marketing:
Word of mouth and social media are crucial for marketing. I have an author Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads, and my own website. I am also featured on my niece’s website as well, Krafting Eclectic for entrepreneurs. I also do a lot of vendor fairs and such whenever I get the chance, but it’s still not nearly enough. It’s a saturated market which makes it a tough road to travel. Marketing is really important so seek every avenue you can for that and don’t be afraid to talk about yourself and your books. Doing so can make you feel very self-absorbed at times but please trust me when I say, you need to do this. Posting is so important to your success. If you don’t then no one knows who you are and that is certainly not going to sell your books. Use hashtags as well. You can find lists of hashtags for author-related posting online. Reviews are also crucial and there are lots of ways to get them though sometimes personally, I feel it’s very hard to get people to follow through with reviews, even if they loved my book. There is a review section on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads, and even if people just make a post somewhere and tag you in it, it’s a great thing. Share them on your social media, and if you have a website be sure to place them there. Make sections on your website, one with a BIO all about you and your books, a blog, where and how to contact you including all your social media outlets, a gallery of pictures relating to your books and life as an author, and a news section for coming soon books, events that your hosting or participating at, articles you’re featured in, ect. I’ve been featured in 2 online magazines that someone did a referral for me on and included that on my news page. I’ve even dedicated a section of my website to promoting other authors and small businesses. I do this because I truly understand the struggle of getting your work out there as a creative and small business owner. It’s so much harder than one who is not can realize. Supporting others not only helps them grow but it helps me flourish and I love to share their unique goods and creativity as much as I like to share my own.
Self-Publishing:
Okay, let’s talk about your publishing options, starting with self-publishing.
There are about 15-20 self-publishing outlets out there, that I know of. There may be more nowadays. Each one has different packages and prices which vary for ebook, paperback, and hardback books. Depending on the package you choose, you write the book and send it to them digitally and they edit, format, do covers, and publish depending on what they provide and what package you choose. Some offer marketing packages as well and that vary in price tremendously. From my personal research, I find it is very expensive and let’s be real here, unless you are doing very well financially, this is something most of us as brand new authors, cannot afford. When you self-publish, you’ll receive book royalties for each book that is sold. Now that amount again depends on the company you are with but keep in mind here, if you are publishing paper and/or hardback books, most do charge printing costs which decreases the amount you end up with in the end.
I went with Amazon- Kindle Direct Publishing or KDP as it’s often referred to. With them, you can earn up to 70% on your book royalties, but again, I will say, they do charge printing costs so my royalties end up being 60% on ebook sales and about 35% on the paperback copies of my book, take home. That’s much lower than I would like to be at but I’ve stayed with them because I’m extremely familiar with their process, I really like the project manager I work with and he understands my process and what I want very well now with 3 book published books through them. Also, I paid for a package that keeps my books on Amazon for life. In addition, I also locked into a publishing price with them (though the prices vary depending on what packages you choose) and how much work they are doing for your book. IE. editing, formatting, book cover, marketing, ect. I started with self-publishing. It’s a start and we’ll see where it takes me in the future. Keep in mind that authors can definitely be discovered through self-publishing. It’s happened many many times.
Now onto traditional publishing:
Though my dream is to be with one of the “Big 5” Publishers, finding an agent and getting a foot in the door is very difficult and a very discouraging path to walk. Traditional publishing companies can take up to 85% of your sales, depending on what they do for you. Now, that being said, they CAN do it all for you, and sometimes having someone else do all the time-consuming, hard stuff for you is definitely worth it. If you are mass marketing your books online and in-store, overall, it’s possible you will get a lot more sales as well, which could lead to more money than self-publishing. To get started you want to thoroughly do your research following some crucial steps.
-Determine your genre or category of work.
-Identify prospective publishers by researching other books in your genre.
-If you can, try to make publishing contacts by attending conferences and reaching out to other authors.
-To find prospective agents and publishers, search databases of which you can find lists online.
-Prepare your submission materials by creating query letters and a book proposal that highlights your marketability.
-Based on what they ask for, submit your materials to agents or editors, or in some cases, directly to the publishing company.
-Prepare yourself for rejection. Waiting for an agent and publishing firm to recognize your talent can be so tiring and disheartening but keep at it.
-Once you find one and are accepted, you’re going to be entering into a contract with them. They generally pay you in advance, initiate your book’s promotion, and distribution methods, and then you receive royalties depending on your contract with the publication house.
A little more about my books:
The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy follows the lives of three sisters on their own personal journey through self-exploration, life, love, family, and loss. Being raised solely by their mothers, Tabbatha, Lunarah, and Ivy grow up believing that they are singletons until something magical unfolds and they discover they have sisters and seek out one another. As they navigate together through their mystical ancestry, The Sisters of the Moon, they discover more about themselves, each other, their mothers, the father they share, and an evil that threatens their existence. The trilogy is filled with heartfelt romance and the beauty of the relationships. Not only of partners, but between a mother and their children, and sisters. They dive deep into the hearts and minds of both men and women and the trials and tribulations of life. We read from both their points of view at times and even from the teens in the story. Each book features a female witch as the protagonist and celebrates spiritual empowerment and magic while they explore their own individuality, natural spiritualism, the sacred feminine being, and magical worldviews. Accompanied by strong male perspectives and the male protagonist, intense romance, passionate scenes, and loving family influences, they include something for everyone! You’ll find a lot of factual information in each, about history, timelines, amazing places, traveling, traditions, lore, legends, and more.
What I have coming in the future:
Inside the trilogy, you’ll find many recipes from our own families. To accompany the series, my daughters and I have plans to write a “Sisters of the Moon” cookbook to share with the world our love of food and cooking which is a tradition that runs deep in our family.
While we see the end of The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy, it is only for a short time as they will be back in the next trilogy I have planned, “The Descendants of the Moon” which is based on the children from this series. l also have an upcoming standalone book, “Seclusion”, coming this Spring, a Vampire Series in the works, and a very special collaboration with some incredible writers, filmmakers, and artists for a new Horror Anthology, coming next Fall that I’m especially excited for!
In close:
Within a story, we immortalize people, places, and things. They can live forever, again and again. We can see the whole world and go on adventures as often as we wish. We can hear their words in our minds, over and over. There is no journey we can’t take, time is what we make it, and there is no end to the mystery and magic we can discover inside a book. This trilogy encompasses some of my most treasured adventures, places, and people in my life. If this is something that you want to do, please follow those dreams. Work hard and write every day and make them come true!
November 2023
Autumn has arrived! The time for cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, campfires, Fall festivals, and pumpkin spice! And most importantly, Samhain (Halloween)! The most beloved time of year for me! There’s a feeling I get at this time of year that can’t compare to any other. The eerie nighttime sounds, the fog that rolls in, the longer nights of starlit skies, and all that is spooky and strange. It fills me with endless inspiration for writing. This Fall, I’ve started a Horror Anthology that I’m thrilled about, in which we will see some absolutely amazing contributors. I’m also working on a Vampire Series based in New Orleans, a stand-alone book called “Seclusion” and the beginnings of the next series related to the Sisters, “The Descendants of the Moon”.
An era has ended but I’m very excited for the future! You may not know, but “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy” is based on me, my mother, my daughters, and our lives. It is a love letter, my heart, and my legacy, which I leave to my girls. But, it’s time to begin a new chapter, a new love letter. A new legacy. One to my grandchildren, “The Descendants of the Moon”. This series will bring light to the darkness. We’ll discover all kinds of magic, and incredible creatures, and explore entirely new places, and even new realms as we travel through this fantasy series. Glorious and magical things are afoot for the sisters and their families and many new introductions will be made. I’m so excited to share it all with you!
When I began my journey in writing, it was with great excitement, but there was much to learn I soon found out. In the beginning, the process was raw and an entirely new experience. Through struggle and drive, sheer will and determination, and so much encouragement from my family, friends, and other writers I know, I found my niche, developed my process, and dived headlong into this trilogy. Becoming a self-published author is not an easy task. It isn’t just putting the words on paper. One must learn how to structure a book, know what your readers want, and give it to them but be brave enough to pour your heart and soul onto the pages. You have to be willing to expose your characters fully, take chances, and kill your darlings. You must sacrifice huge amounts of time, organize, and navigate the publishing process, marketing, social media, websites, releases, and book covers, struggle with writer’s block, and find time when inspiration erupts. You must also endlessly edit, edit, edit! All the while, you have to maintain your regular job, daily duties, events, and maintain relationships with your family and friends. I myself do a lot of vendor events and fairs and have been interviewed and featured in 2 magazine articles with VogageKC and CanvasRebel, which you can link to from my website. My oldest daughter got married and I, of course, insisted on doing a large amount of things for that. It turned out exquisite. My grandson has played several seasons of baseball and I try to attend as many games as possible, and there are always birthdays, holidays, vacations, and all manner of other events. But I do it all, I juggle everything I can and still, I have pushed myself to keep writing! Was it worth it, you might ask? ABSOLUTELY!
Every single second of sacrifice was entirely worth it! I had a dream, I made it come true, and I have no regrets, whatsoever. If this is your dream, you can make it happen too, but you have to want it, you have to live it, and you have to work hard! I would also like to add that I could not have done this without my daughters, Mirrissa and Beverly, and my partner, Alex. Missy and Bev are intricate to my being a writer in so many ways. Aside from being my inspiration and sounding board, Missy is the Developmental/Copy Editor and Proofreader and Bev is the Cover Artist and Designer of my books. They have also sacrificed so much time and energy to be a part of this journey. Alex has also sacrificed endless time with me so I could write and continues to do so. He also built my website and taught me how to maintain it. There will never be enough thanks to say how much all of their hard work, dedication, and patience means to me!
My heart is filled with love and my eyes with tears at the achievement of a lifetime. I think it’s time for a celebration! The Season of the Witch has begun and with it comes, Ashes of Oak, Book Three, and the final installment of “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy”. I do so hope you enjoy it and the other two books and I hope you, my faithful readers, will continue to journey with me through all of the upcoming adventures! Thank you for your support!
Happy Reading!
~MS
August 2023
~Changing Seasons...
The dog days of Summer; long, hot, and sultry. The time for swimming holes, air conditioning, and good books. For me, it’s the early mornings when I can sit outside and read or write, surrounded by quiet, nature, and chirping birds. Some mornings, I’m watering plants and picking vegetables from our gardens.
During the 100-degree days, it’s inside I go, for my day job, writing, crafting, and working around the house. This year, we’re painting and redecorating some rooms as we wait for the Fall season to begin. In the evenings, when the work is done, I’m back outside to my happy place, my favorite thinking chair. The song of cicadas fills the air and fireflies light the yard as twilight emerges, the sunset slowly fading on the horizon. And then blessed nighttime arrives when the sky is filled with brilliant twinkling stars and the cool breeze makes your dewy skin tingle. Grilling dinner, outdoor movies in our lounge chairs, and walks by the light of the street lamps.
I love all the seasons for different reasons but as we move into the late summer, I’m filled with renewed excitement. This is the time of year for our family camping trip before the grandchildren return to school, something I look forward to all year. Time with my family is so precious to me. This year, we did backyard camping as storms prevented us from our normal plans, but it was still a blast!
As the heat subsides and lower temperatures prevail, I get to spend more time outside which I love. The days of bike rides through the lovely forested areas of Kansas City, cozy sweaters at night, colorful changing leaves, and campfires and s’mores. As Autumn emerges, it’s time for scented candles, Fall festivals, pumpkin spice, and Halloween! The most beloved time of year for me!
There’s a feeling I get at that time of year that can’t compare to any other. The eerie nighttime sounds and fog that rolls in, the longer nights of starlit skies, and all that is spooky and strange. It fills me with endless ideas for writing. This year, I’ve started a Horror Anthology that I’m thrilled about, in which we will see some amazing contributors. I’m also working on a Vampire Series based in New Orleans, and more!
This October, we’ll see the close of “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy” with the release of Book Three, “Ashes of Oak”. I feel like an era has ended. I’m very excited, but to know that “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy” is finished, makes me feel a great sadness, like I’m saying goodbye to someone I love with all of my heart. You may not know, but “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy” is based on me, my mother, my daughters, and our lives. It is a love letter, my heart, and my legacy, which I leave to my girls.
But, it’s time to begin a new chapter, a new love letter. A new legacy. One to my grandchildren, “The Descendants of the Moon”. And that my faithful readers and fans, is your first peek at what’s to come in the future. My future in writing and the future of the Sisters of the Moon. Not farewell, but see you again soon, when we get a glimpse of you in the next generation.
This series will also bring light to the darkness. We will see all kinds of magic and incredible creatures and travel to entirely new places and even new realms as we open up the fantasy side of this series. Glorious and magical things are afoot for the sisters and their families and many new introductions will be made. I’m so excited to share it all with you!
In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my first two books, “Pearls of the Sea” and “Blood of the Moon“, with the end of the Summer season. I myself will be working hard, writing, vending some fairs, and preparing for some other exciting upcoming opportunities. I’ve also been featured in a new piece in CanvasRebel Magazine. The link to that is featured in “News and Articles” here on my website. Check it out! Stay tuned to journey with me through all the upcoming adventures!
Happy Reading!
Cheers!
~MS
June 2023
~A Love Story…
In many ways, my first three books, “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy“, were love letters. Book One, Pearls of the Sea, was a love letter devoted to and inspired by my beloved mother, who sadly passed in 2011, far too soon at age 57. I miss her so much every day. I can’t even begin to express how my heart yearns for her love, her soft soothing voice, and her gentle beautiful crystal clear blue eyes. To be without a mother that was also your best friend is a pain that cannot be mended.
It’s also a love letter to my partner, Alex, who supports and loves me through every step of my life. He understands and encourages my process and “rolls with the punches” of my absences. With so much to do, it keeps me very busy and takes me away often, both in physical and mental ways so that I can continue to pursue my dreams. I love him so much for that. I’m truly a lucky girl to have found him. He is my “Jack” in every way.
Book Two, Blood of the Moon, is a love letter to my eldest daughter, Beverly. It is inspired by her and her family and is dedicated to them all. A woman that embodies the meaning of mother and wife. How she engulfs her family with wings like an angel, enclosing them in love and protection, is so beautiful. It gives me so much pride. What is even more, sadly Beverly suffers daily with severe pain and through it, she still manages to keep going, to keep caring for her family, her home, her dogs, her business and job, her garden, creating arts, and so much more. She is truly an inspiration. She is a beautiful gentle soul, kind and giving, and selfless.
Book Three, Ashes of Oak, is inspired by and dedicated to my youngest daughter, Mirrissa, and her family. Missy is the sunshine that nourishes the seeds of life and produces the flourish of loving growth. She is the voice of reason and responsibility while stimming creativity and individuality. She is a mother, maiden, and crone in all ways and embodies the meaning of magic for me. Working with and for all living things, respecting their majesty and place upon this earth. Also, a hard-working beautiful gentle soul, she is kind and giving, and selfless. She teaches and guides her children and cares for her family with the passion and fire of a thousand suns. She is truly the blueprint.
Sometimes, one cannot see with their own eyes what a blessing they are to others, how their strength for survival is so inspiring, and how their love and kindness touch the hearts of so many people in such a way, that leaves hope for a brighter, more giving and gentle world. This is how I see my daughters. I see their whole selves and I’m in awe of them both. I am truly humbled that the universe blessed me with such children. If only they saw themselves the way I and so many others do, they might know that their shining souls will forever be a light in the darkness. Through them, and through their incredible children. My love for them all is so vast, it could never be measured.
This trilogy includes one of my most cherished pleasures, traveling. We venture to amazing destinations, some of which I have lived and been to, and some I dream of visiting someday. Life doesn’t always provide us with the opportunities we would like to have and so when I began my journey of writing, I wanted to feel, see, and experience things I’ve loved in my life and that I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to paint a vivid and beautiful picture for my readers so that they may experience the way I see and feel it in my mind’s eye and heart. It took more research than you could possibly imagine but each and every piece of learning I did was so fantastic!
And as my fingers typed the words, I was truly left with the feeling of actually being there, experiencing the people, places, history, traditions, and food that I wrote about. It was glorious! My hope is that you’ll feel the same after reading the books. That you will feel like you have experienced the adventures that our characters do throughout these stories.
In Book One, we begin in beautiful Belfast, Maine, and travel through various places in the area. We head to the city of witches, Salem, Massachusetts, to St. John’s, a lovely city on Newfoundland Island off Canada’s gorgeous Atlantic Coast, then to the wild Grand Banks of Newfoundland, and to historic New Orleans, Louisiana, one of my most favorite places. In Book Two, we begin in the hidden gem of the Midwest, Kansas City, Missouri. We journey to Ireland, the land of wonder and magic, fairies and lore, and to Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, a place of mystery and legends. Without giving too much away, Book Three begins in the glorious Pacific Northwest, and takes us to the Western mountains, into the Tropics, and back to the South. I’m so excited to share with you the majesty, traditions, and history of each place, and the delicious food! I look forward to you experiencing the journey and adventure with me!
A huge thank you to all of my readers, for without you, who would I take these amazing journeys with? Safe travels and happy reading! Cheers!
~MS
November 2022
~A journey begins…
As long as I can remember, a love for reading and writing has filled my heart and mind. I began at an extremely young age, reading everything I could get my hands on. My mother read to me every night as well. When I was just a little girl, I began trying to read things that were well beyond my capacity for understanding. My mother’s bookshelves were filled to the brim with books of all kinds. Books of every genre and 100s of authors. I still remember how they smelled and felt as I ran my hands over the spines. Taking them off the shelf one by one, I would flip through the worn pages, dog-eared, with frayed edges. Books my mother had read over and over. She always had a book on the kitchen table, her bedroom side table, the coffee table in the living room, and in the car. They were everywhere. Sometimes she would be reading 3 or 4 books at a time, switching back and forth depending on her mood, the weather, or the season. When she wasn’t working, cooking, and caring for me, she was reading and writing. She wrote poetry, short stories, and books throughout her life and I devoured them hungrily one after another, along with the books from the shelves. Sadly, she was never published. It breaks my heart because she was so amazing at writing, her imagination, just spectacular. She encouraged me to have a very active imagination as well and I developed the very same love of reading and then writing, that she possessed. I can never thank her enough.
When I was in school, all through my years, even when I was little, my teachers were so impressed with my ability to read books so quickly and to write. It was my favorite part of schoolwork and subjects and came so easily for me. When the assignments were given to read a book or to write something, it was like Christmas for me every time. Ralphie from A Christmas Story comes to mind when he’d given his theme to write, What I want for Christmas. When I entered high school, my teachers were in awe. I’ll never forget when my English teacher told me, “You’re going to be an author someday”. I loved every second of it and won several awards for my writing. My love for both reading and writing continued as I grew up but life went on as well and got busy. My mother sadly got sick when I was young and I took care of her from the time I was 11 years old until she passed in 2011. I had two daughters, got married and divorced, and moved from Wyoming to Kansas City. I continued caring for my mother and raising my daughters, sharing the same love for reading and writing as was gifted to me. They both love books, read to their children, and are thinking of writing their own books as well. How proud I am of them both, for so many reasons. I think about my mother every single day and I miss her so much I can’t stand it. But I truly believe her spirit watches over me and my loved ones. I can feel her with me all the time.
These last five years, I have found love with an intelligent, fun, amazing man. In many ways, he has changed my life. He is very supportive of my writing, which means the world since it takes a great deal of my time. We love to be together, get outside and do things, plant and grow flowers and vegetables, watch movies and football, and spend time with our children. He has four daughters, so between us, we have six beautiful girls! What a blessing they and the grandchildren are! We love them all so much. For the last two years, I have been writing constantly and finished “The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy”. There are many more starts for other books and several more trilogies as well, all in the works. I always planned and knew I would write at least one novel, just to know that I could do it and bring a dream to life. Writing three, being published, and realizing it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, was beyond what I set out to do. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me every time I write a paragraph and sit back to review it and think, “Wow, that’s great!” But it takes work, dedication, and drive. Organize. Read everything you can about writing a novel. Research your topics, places, and facts (unless it’s all fiction). Make a storyboard, chapter outlines, lots and lots of notes, and edit, edit, edit. You’ll be glad you did.
I’m a writer, now an author, and just simply a woman who wants to share her passion for literature with the people she loves, and the world. I hope you enjoy my books and if one isn’t up your alley, wait for the next. I have so many genres I want to write about so you’ll have your pick eventually. I can’t wait to share all the adventures with you all. Please, support your local libraries and bookstores, your friends and family that are trying to write and publish, but most of all, support yourself. Take your time and write that book you’ve always wanted to. Take the journey and let your imagination run wild, let your thoughts flow, and your fingers type. You can do it and it’s truly a magical thing! Until we meet again…
Cheers!
~MS