NOTE: There are many clickable links in these posts for book titles, businesses, and events. They are in bold. Just hover and click 😉
August 2026
It’s crazy how fast time slips away. I am completely awful at keeping up with my website, but recently I had it updated by Chelsea M. of Madison Chase/Nocterra Bookery. If you haven’t yet read the books of Madison Chase, please do so! They are incredible, as are the two women who write them! Not only do they write amazing books, but they run a beautiful bookstore called Nocterra Bookery in Independence, Missouri. If you’re local, please go check out their incredible shop, where my books luckily and proudly reside! Huge shout-out to Chelsea for helping me get my site updated and looking so much better! I went in after and added/updated a few things and realized, my goodness, I haven’t done a blog post since April of 24′. Again, where does the time go???
Since then, I have published three books. Seclusion, my psychodrama thriller, came out in July of 24′. I feel like Seclusion was a bit lost to readers, coming behind my first four book releases. The Sisters of the Moon Trilogy: Pearls of the Sea, Blood of the Moon, and Ashes of Oak, which are dark fantasy and very witchy. Then came Macabre: A Horror Anthology, which is chalked full of incredible contributors of both stories and art covering boundless genres of horror. These four books were and still are very popular with the masses.
Seclusion is a thrilling, psychological ride that navigates us through the shattered minds of Zander and Mina, who are both fighting for their lives. One is literally lost and fighting to survive the savage winter mountains of the Dolomites, and the other is secluded in the Rocky Mountains, and quite literally losing her mind with grief. At every turn of this book, you’re not sure whether what is happening is real or madness. It’s one that shouldn’t be missed, so grab a copy if you haven’t. It makes a wonderful winter read, taking place in the snowy Rocky and Dolomite mountains.
About the book:
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.
Next up was MandeVilla, released in May 25′. This book is also a popular one. A sci-fi gothic horrormance that will have your heart pulsing and your skin crawling.
About the book:
The life of a plant is a marvel. It grows, it thrives, and it dies, just as we do. And sometimes, unlike us, it returns. But what if we could return as well?
After Victor and Audrina purchase the sprawling MandeVilla Funeral Home and Eternal Rest Cemetery, he masters the art of mortuary science while she devotes herself to postmortem cosmetology.
Meanwhile, Audrina also explores her passion for cultivating red mandevillas, and in doing so, she discovers an unusual way to fertilize them. Then, a twist of fate shatters Victor’s world.
He is about to discover just what nightmares can grow from a soil fertilized with grief and madness.
Everything he thought he knew about life and death is about to change… True love can never blossom twice. Or can it?
This book was a challenge to write. I did a great deal of research in mortuary and botany sciences, and learned so much. My previous psychological schooling and psych nursing background played an intricate role in the development of this book and the maddening mind of Victor. In addition, those studies and much research into thanatology, which, if you don’t know, is a study of death and grief, came into play for Audrina’s condition. Once again, if you haven’t yet checked out this book, you really should, especially if you’re into death, plants, psychological madness, and Frankenstein, as it is very much inspired by it, being one of my favorites. Perfect feels for end of summer and spooky season!
And most recently, in July, I published The Coos Crusaders. Once again, my editor, Missy Alexander, and cover artist, Beverly DeBurger, did an incredible job editing the story and painting the stunning cover art. I’d like to add that they are my daughters, which many of you may not know. We are a team regarding all of my books. In addition to being a painter, Beverly is a polymer clay artist. Her work can be found here. David Tocher, an incredible author and friend, is the cover and interior designer of this book. Please take time to check out his incredible work at davidtocher.com. This book is near and dear to my heart. It takes place in 1985, in Coos Bay, Oregon, and is very much inspired by The Goonies and Stand By Me, two stories that are invaluable to me! This year, I turned 50, and Coos was a gift to myself and to the world. It’s YA/Adult and filled with 80s nostalgia, adventure, heartfelt moments, the woes of growing up, and, let us not forget, pirates! It’s a coming-of-age story, and one that represents my childhood in a nutshell. Both young teens through adults will love this book! Grab a copy today!
About the book:
Coos Bay, Oregon, 1985.
Six lifelong friends stand on the edge of childhood’s end.
The Coos Crusaders: inseparable and fearless, believe one thing with absolute certainty: together, they can survive anything. So when summer arrives, they set out on the venture they have dreamed of forever: the grand adventure, a four-day escape into the wilds of Oregon in search of long-lost treasure.
But what begins as a thrilling quest quickly turns dangerous. Moss-draped forests, shadowy caves, and the untamed Pacific Ocean hide more than they expected. Real-life swashbuckling pirates. Deadly obstacles and peril. Choices that will test their courage, loyalty, and trust in one another.
As danger closes in and time runs out, the Crusaders are pushed to their limits. They must rely on the bonds of friendship and their skills to survive, even as they confront the harsh realities of growing up. Not every adventure ends the way you imagine, and some moments change you forever.
Will they outwit the pirates standing in their way?
Will they make it home before their parents realize they’re missing?
Or will their dreams of adventure end with them walking the plank?
A nostalgic coming-of-age adventure novel by MS Chambers. A story of friendship, courage, and the bittersweet passage of time, reminding us that the greatest treasures are not always made of gold.
The only question is: Are you ready to join the adventure?
So there you have it. The book releases since my last blog post. And now, I begin a very special project! A promise to my 11- year- old grandsons, Cooper and Sammy, who are assisting with the storylines, and also another piece of my childhood. A choose-your-own-adventure-style book. Of course, that is a registered trademark, so I will be creating my own, but you get the concept. The three of us are hard at work coming up with an assortment of ideas for this project, and they will be listed as co-creators. How exciting! As for release, it will be next year. These kinds of books are actually a real challenge to write, but I’m stoked about it! After that, it’s back to work on The Descendants of the Moon Trilogy, the next books in relation to The Sisters of the Moon, which I’ve already begun work on. The first will not be ready for release until later in 2027 or even into the next year, and I may just whip up a stand-alone somewhere in there as well. I am overloaded with ideas for them, so it won’t be hard.
What else is going on with me, you might ask? Well, the last 2 years have been amazing, filled with creation, events, family, and friends as always. Last April, my daughter and editor, Missy, and I took a trip to Seattle for work/fun. We got to spend some glorious time with my best friend there and enjoyed Seattle a great deal. We’re originally from Washington, so getting to go home is always a wonderful thing! Later, my spouse, Alex, joined us. After Missy had to return home, Alex and I went on a crazy, wild adventure for a total of 9 days! We continued to enjoy Seattle for a couple more days, exploring the Seattle Aquarium, taking a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, and so much more! Then we headed to Oregon, staying in Cannon Beach and then driving up the coast to Astoria, then into Washington, traveling along the coast, all the way up to Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Forks, and La Push Beach. It was absolutely breathtaking and incredible! A trip I will never forget and always cherish!
The rest of Spring was lovely, too. We planted as we always do, and enjoyed the nice weather as much as we could while I was finishing The Coos Crusaders and getting it ready for publication. In May, Alex and I took a trip to Fantastic Caverns for Mother’s Day, which was so neat! I had never been in a cavern before. We took a Jeep-drawn ride through the massive ancient underground river bed filled with rock formations, large stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones, ancient marine fossils like crinoids and starfish, and small animals like bats, raccoons, and salamanders. Missouri is filled with caverns like these.
The warm summer weather moved in, bringing us beautiful and sometimes dangerous summer storms. Living in tornado alley is tricky business at times! It was a mild summer to start, but eventually we got the brutal hot and humid weather as we always do here in Kansas City. My 4-day 50th Birthday Extravaganza took place in the middle of July, which my daughter Missy planned. It was extraordinary! With the help of family and friends, who also attended, four days of incredible fun and adventures took place! They included a nature-based day of outdoor brunch, crafts, painting, hiking, and a bonfire which I wrote very special spooky story for that I plan to include in a future anthology, a HUGE 70s/80s themed bash that will go down in history, a day at the lake where I proceeded to fry like a fritter (I’m still getting healed from that sunburn weeks later), a seafood dinner and pirate- themed family night, a spooky day with my girlfriends, and a spooky movie night with my family! I felt so loved, pampered, and spoiled all 4 days. It was a birthday unlike any other, and I’ll never forget it!
Now, summer is dwindling. It’s been an amazing one, but I’m ready for cooler weather, spooky season, and eventually, winter, which is writing season for me. ♡ The cicadas are deafening right now, another thing I love, and the whispers of early fall are in the air. We’re getting days in the 80s more now, and even a few in the 70s, and some of the leaves are just beginning to get a tinge of color at the edges. It’s all I can do not to drag out my million boxes of Halloween decorations, but alas, I will wait just a tad longer and begin in the middle of August.
The kids will be going back to school in a few weeks, so we’re working our way through grandbaby sleepovers and enjoying the last dog days of summer. I think Alex and I will escape for a short weekend to the woods somewhere soon. I’ll also be co-hosting with KC Book Beat at Crypticon on August 14-16th, along with five other incredible authors, at Hilton Kansas City Airport. Check out the websites for KC Book Beat, Crypticon, and the event website. If you’re local, come out and join the creepiness and stop by our booth: S111/S112! On September 19th, I will also be doing Cozy Fest: Spill the Tea: A Jane Austen Affair with KC Book Beat as well.
Before I know it, I’ll be sitting outside again for outdoor movies under the stars, enjoying all the new fall shows and movie releases, going on evening walks, enjoying pumpkin-spiced coffee outside on foggy mornings, roaming the thrift stores and shops for eerie books and spooky finds, and submerging myself in my favorite pastimes: everything Halloween!
Until then and my next blog post, enjoy the rest of summer, my faithful readers! Start collecting your books for fall and winter, and pick up copies of my seven to add to your ever-growing TBR pile! Happy Reading!
~MS
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 was 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 were 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 to 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, just as 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 an online 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, etc. 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, etc. 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 you’re hosting or participating in, articles you’re featured in, etc. 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 those 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 it to be, 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 books published 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, etc. 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 by 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 where 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 between partners, but also 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. I 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, 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 integral 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 mean 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 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 who 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 in 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 was 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 been 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 that 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 my loved ones and me. 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