I actually have been sitting here for a few minutes trying to formulate a perfectly polished blog posting about the release of my book ‘Isle of Night’. The thing is, right now, I am filled with so many emotions. I absolutely love this book. I feel like I have poured every ounce of my heart and soul into the second book of ‘The Skye trilogy’. To see it released and available for purchase is almost surreal.

For months now I have gone over every aspect of this story. Countless hours have been put into writing, editing and revising ‘Isle of Night’. Days and nights seem to bleed into one another until finally I would lay my head down at night with my eyes sore, my head aching, and my body psychically and emotionally exhausted. I never complained once because it wasn’t a hardship. No, these ailments were all met with a sparkle in my eyes and a smile on my face when I woke up every morning.

Quite simply, this book didn’t drain me, this book invigorated my very being.

I suppose I am somewhat worried about the reaction to my book. As every writer and artist knows, not everyone will like what you create. I think what makes me the most uncomfortable is with this book, I have bared my soul. If you want to know me and who I am, I have laid it out there for the world to see. My first book ‘Isle of Skye’ was an awakening but still I think I got caught up with the little nuances of editing.

‘Isle of Night’ is me in the raw for all the world to see. I didn’t hold back my thoughts or feelings. I realize that the people that know me well are fully aware that the main character Willa and I have a lot in common. I am not ashamed to admit that Willa is me. Some people say that you should never model a character after yourself. There are of course many others that will disagree. I think it is impossible not to infuse something of yourself into your characters.

Unfortunately, good or bad, I put everything of myself into writing Willa. There is a part of me that wishes I wasn’t quite so honest in my writing but I truly don’t know how to be any other way. As I sit here and reflect on the past few months I find myself torn between crying and smiling. Crying because this book is everything I wanted it to be and more. I’m sure the grammar police will come after me with reviews and that’s totally cool. I’m not an editor. I did the absolute best job that I possibly could and I hope people love it as much as I do.

I’m smiling because after now writing and publishing two books I think I have finally reached the point where I can comfortably say that I am an author. I pretty sure there are no Pulitzers in my future. I’m quite certain the amount of f-bombs and the term douchbags that are sprinkled throughout the book are not going to reach a wide audience. I am also prepared that there will be some that are turned off with the few but graphic sex scenes.

That’s ok though because at the end of the day I can hold my head high knowing I did something pretty darn special. I achieved a goal that I never thought that I would ever be able to accomplish.

I’m an author. Not only that, I’m an author of a really good book. A book that I have read so many times I can pretty much recite every word verbatim. A book that I still cannot believe I actually wrote.

I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did writing it.

Thank you.