Thursday, April 23, 2015

Reinvention

I was first published in 2007, co-writing with my husband. We always discussed it, and one day started a “what if” based upon an absolutely nightmare series of delays. That turned in to a short story about a couple and another man who are stranded at the airport over Valentine’s Day. We sent it off, never truly expecting to be published.

To our shock and complete astonishment, we were accepted for publication with that very book, and went on to write three other shorts, and were contracted for two more. It was a wonderfully creative time. Then…we stopped. Writers’ block set in, performance anxiety—yes, it does exist for writers, too—and we didn’t write a word of original fiction, for years.

A lot of life changes hit, and my husband decided he didn’t really want to write any more. He loved the plotting aspect, but the actual getting words on paper and editing them was a problem for him.

While I deeply missed writing, my job as an editor, some serious life challenges, and just life in general kept me away from most of my hobbies. Last summer, I was laid off from my job of over a decade and had a little spare time. I had never expected to feel the fire again, but soon words were flying from my fingertips.

And then something even more wonderful happened. I was invited into the Naughty Literati, and had things like deadlines to meet. I had no idea what to write for Naughty List, but I had the fire to reinvent myself as Alexa Silver, rather than half of Alexa & Patrick Silver. I looked in my WIPs folder and found an idea I’d jotted down possibly ten years ago. It was very simple “dying rock star saves woman. Paranormal please.”

And I started writing it. That story became Holdin’ On, which you can find in Naughty List. My next story for the Naughty Literati was something I’d had in mind for ages, but hadn’t actually ever done more than think about. Love Potion #69 is a friends-to-lovers story with a tiny paranormal kick, which you can find in Naughty Hearts. And Stay the Night is another friends-to-lovers story about a bookseller and her favorite customer, who also happens to be her new favorite author. You can find this one in Naughty Flings, which is coming out on May 15.

My writing this year has been epic (160,000 words written thus far and counting) and I have several other releases coming out, plus a few books that were previously published and will be expanded. That is a scary prospect in and of itself and probably warrants my next blog post!

I never really thought I could reinvent myself. Back in 2009-ish, I was certain the writing career was over, and I’m so thrilled to be a part of the NL, as well as writing like the wind!

Happy reading!
Alexa

Want to chat?  I’d love to hear from you! You can find me here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alexasilverauth
Twitter: @alexasilverauth
Website: www.alexasilver.net



2 comments:

  1. I know I speak for a lot of readers when I say I'm glad you 'came home'. We are blessed to have you as a valued member of the NL.

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  2. Thanks so much, Charlee! I really appreciate it! I've been a fan of your work since the '90s and am so lucky to be working alongside you and the other uber-talented ladies.

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