 I lost one of my most beloved family members this week. A family member who shaped many of the core characteristics of who I am since I was a child.
Loss of a loved one is impossibly hard in so many ways and for so many reasons. Dealing with loss... as a writer... has far more impact than I realized, though. And while the impact is brutally painful, and the reality is that my perfectly controlled worlds will never be carried over into the plain of existence I currently inhabit, the impact of a loss on me as a writer shows me positive sides as well. Experiencing loss makes us human. The never-ending struggle with grief following the loss of a close loved one is exhausting, but it's one that most of us battle through. Some days will be better than others. 'They're in a better place,' some say, and yes, in this case I personally agree, but I'm not here to argue religion. "They're not in pain anymore," others will do their best to console, and yes, you know they're right, too. But where do we, Fantasy readers, often turn when societal norms seem to fail us? If you're like me, you turn to books. Books where characters struggle with life, death, love, loss, and more in richly-detailed glory. Why is that? Because the writer poured a piece of their soul into those pages. We find in their words a connection to someone else who at the very least imagines a pain similar to our own. We know someone in this world exists who understands us, who can truly imagine what it is like to be in our shoes. And those scenes, the ones that really mean something to us as readers, don't happen on accident. They are born out of the raw reality of the writer's own soul. They represent the heartaches and joys, the highest highs and soul-crushing lows of their progenitor. So while writing is the last thing, emotionally-speaking, that I feel like doing right now, it is, perhaps, the best thing to do. I'll take a pause, work through the emotions and the memories, and then pour those emotions into scenes which may one day be read by others seeking the same comradery and escape that I seek as I read today. Hold your loved ones a little tighter the next time you see them. Each day is a gift. And gifts are all the better when shared with those we love. Are you new to my writing/self-publishing journey? Check out my about me blog HERE
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 Yes, you read that title correctly. We are so close to hitting a #1 spot on the Amazon bestseller list that I had decided to coordinate a separate celebration giveaway to begin next week IF The Vow That Twisted Fate e-book hits a #1 spot this weekend!
I have dropped the e-book to only 99 cents thru the weekend (you can grab a copy HERE). I will also be donating 100% of all profits made on TVTTF October 1st thru the 4th 2021 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (to support childhood cancer research). This giveaway would include: -1 paperback copy of The Lost Heir by Chris Gourley -1 signed paperback copy of The Vow That Twisted Fate by Katherine D. Graham -1 paperback copy of Wolves of Adalore by Morgan Gauthier -1 "Dark Dimension" Candle custom-made by Novel Candle Co. based on Maedra in The Vow That Twisted Fate -1 custom "Stele" (water elemental) by Dynamic Alley -1 Personalized Video Message from Maxim Roy (the actress who played Jocelyn Fray in Shadowhunters) (Maxim's Photo by Shadowhunterstv.fandom.com) This giveaway would be valued at $150.00 (US), and would be open internationally. I will only run this separate celebration giveaway IF we hit a #1 spot in one of my categories on Amazon (for the e-book) before 10/4/2021 (11:59 pm CST on 10/4/2021). Ready to grab your copy? Click HERE to grab a 99 cent copy in the US, or HERE to find your international link on The Vow That Twisted Fate's book page. **If the giveaway is run, purchasing The Vow That Twisted Fate WILL NOT increase your chances of winning the giveaway (there will not be additional entries added for doing so). IF the giveaway runs, no purchase is necessary to participate/win.**  Are you self-publishing savvy? Or self-publishing struggling? Or, quite honestly, slipping back and forth between the two? Yesterday I had the great privilege of speaking with AutoCrit Editing about not only my personal self-publishing journey with The Vow That Twisted Fate, but also about the self-publishing process overall. There are so many different approaches to self-publishing (or "indie" publishing), that I humbly share my experiences as a fellow beginner "indie" author with the hopes that it will provide clarity for other writers in my shoes. While most of my blogs are brief and related to my projects and supporting other authors in the indie author community, the response from yesterday's live was too overwhelming to leave at that. Here are the key points that I discussed on my live with AutoCrit: 1.) Writing inspiration (in my case, a dream hijacked my 2016 NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - plans) & my mentor, Lindsey (owener of Of Ink and Pearls Publishing) 2.) The five levels of editing (developmental edit, line edit, copy edit, proofread, galley proof) + Beta Reading & Self-editing using AutoCrit. 3.) Distribution Platforms (KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, Ingram) and Formats (AudioBooks, Print, etc.) as well as formatting/cover design 4.) Timelines (from revisions to print); what I wish I'd done sooner and why 5.) Budget (how much did it cost me to truly self-publish and what that went toward - overview) 6.) Reviews (trade reviews and reader reviews, what I did to set up review tours, and post-launch marketing) 7.) Marketing in general (*still navigating this part myself* - From pre-orders to Amazon bestseller to post-launch slow-downs)
For that reason, I am truly grateful for the money-saving, headache-relieving role that AutoCrit played in my self-editing process.
If you have any questions at all, or comments about your own experience self-publishing, feel free to drop them in the comments; I love hearing your feedback! If you would like to try AutoCrit's self-editing software for yourself, you can do so by signing up for their Free Forever membership HERE. Want to read the finished version of The Vow That Twisted Fate? It is on sale for only 99 cents (e-book) or $10 (paperback) on Amazon now thru October 4th 2021, so grab your copy today HERE. With the fall upon us (bringing loads of new fall releases to read), I want to share the list of books I gave 5-star reviews to: summer 2021. Anyone who knows me from a reviewing standpoint knows that I don't hand out many 5-star reviews. A book really has to go above and beyond, blowing me away, to break out of the "Loved It" (4-star) and into "Must-Read" (5-star). I am known for being blatantly honest with my reviews, and I will link my review to each book below in case you'd like to read it in full. Many of these books I found courtesy of Reedsy Discovery, although some were reads from fellow authors in my Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter writing community.
I am always looking to expand my TBR list!
Which 5-star reads did you have this summer? -Want to read all my reviews? Follow me on Reedsy Discovery HERE or Goodreads HERE -Interested in seeing what readers are saying about my books? Check out my blog HERE, my Goodreads page HERE or my Amazon author page HERE -Are you an author who would like me to review your sci-fi or fantasy novel? Submit it for consideration on Reedsy Discovery HERE.* *Please note that Reedsy Discovery only permits reviewers to "accept" 3 books in our queue at any given time. If you submit your book while my queue is full, it may be sent to other fantasy reviewers on Reedsy for review. I cannot guarantee a review of every book submitted to me, but I will try my best. (Reedsy reviewers are not paid for our honest reviews.) Each cover shown above is from Amazon.com and is not the property of Katherine D. Graham; Katherine does not claim any rights over the books or their covers, and is not being paid to promote these books.
 I know it's been a little while since I shared some news about my debut novel, but I am excited to share that a The Vow That Twisted Fate collector's edition hardback and audiobook are both in the works!
The amazingly talented Talon David (Singer/Songrwiter and Voiceover Artist) has partnered with me to graciously bring The Vow That Twisted Fate to life on audiobook. Talon brings such passion and heart to TVTTF, that it has been truly an honor to listen to the world she's literally given a voice to. We are slated for completion of production this fall (2021). While this is going, I am also happy to announce that I will be launching hardback collector's editions of The Vow That Twisted Fate exclusively on Amazon later this fall. This unique edition incorporates brand new never-before seen interior page formatting (post-correction of some slippery typos that somehow escaped all five of us editors), a collector's edition cover (I know, how could it get better than the cover I already have?!) and in-book exclusive content I have never released anywhere else. So which one are you more excited about? The collector's edition hardback? Or the audiobook? -Don't want to wait to start reading TVTTF? Grab an ebook copy (on sale for only $1.99 thru September 30th 2021) HERE -Have you taken the character quiz? See who you would be in TVTTF HERE -Did you catch my most recent interview/live reading (the one that gave access to exclusive deleted content)? Check it out HERE -Not an e-mail subscriber but want to be one of the first people to get TVTTF news? Subscribe HERE and I'll send you a free novella!
Welcome to My Written World blog! There are so many new faces joining me these days, that I created a quiz so that you could see which Katherine D. Graham series would sweep you away?
While I am ultimately a fantasy writer, I write a broad range of fantasy books, from dark NA (new adult) fantasy with no romance at all, to epic fantasy, to fantasy romance. You can check out the quiz below, or (if you're having trouble accessing it below) by clicking HERE. I'd love to hear in the comments which Katherine D. Graham series would sweep you away? Feel free to share and compare with your friends, too. Who knows, maybe you'll find your next buddy-read!
Want to know more about the series result you got?
-Read more about Down Falls the Queen: A Splitting Worlds Novella HERE -Read more about Splitting Dawn HERE, and join the Realm of Darkness Box Set "Dark Book Boyfriends" FB group HERE -Read more about Starfire Express: A Flame of Fae and Fang HERE -Read more about The Vow That Twisted Fate HERE You can also sign-up for my e-mail list HERE to receive new release info, sneak peeks, and a free copy of Splitting Dusk: A Splitting Worlds Novella. 
When darkness falls, beware of the creatures that come out to play... -40+ Full-Length PNR (Paranormal Romance)/Fantasy Romance Novels -NY Times Bestselling Authors, USAToday Bestselling Authors, and Award-Winning Authors -Fae, shifters, werewolves, vampires, dragons, mermaids, gods, angels, demons, and more -Romance levels for every reader, from sweet romance and clean/closed-door to spicy open-door steam (my book will be cut-to-window) -ONLY 99 CENTS DURING Pre-Order (More info on that coming soon) You're Invited... Join us for a cover reveal party like no other on Facebook HERE. Our party isn't just a one-time deal, it's a celebration worthy of 40 full-length epic Dark Boyfriend stories! We will have takeovers from authors that are part of our set as well as guest appearances from big-name indie PNR/Fantasy Romance authors like Emma Hamm (Author of Heart of the Fae and Of Goblins and Gold) and Skye Horn (Wings of Fate). PLUS we're doing an amazing giveaway you won't wanna miss, that includes a personalized video from James Marsters, the actor who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Enter the giveaway today!   This morning an interview hosted by Ash Oldfield, author of The Rachaya Series, went live on her website!
The support of fellow indie authors makes such a huge difference when you're an indie author. This isn't a competition; our readers need something to read between books, after all, and I could not be more grateful. -You can check out the interview I did with Ash on her website HERE. -Ash's 'The Rachaya Series' (Dragon Fantasy) is available on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited HERE. -And you can check out my featured indie author of the month, Susan Stradiotto, on the featured indie author page HERE. Happy Tuesday, and thanks for reading!  Something big is coming... something so big, that I have not dared breathe a word of it 'til now, and I tremble at mentioning it, as though the words leaving my fingertips as I type this are jinxing something.
And yet, here we are. *Deep breath.* I'm going to let you in on a secret. One of the biggest secrets of my writing career: I am participating in a project. This project may *cough* involve other amazingly talented authors. And it may *double-cough* have a HUGE event coming up in the next two weeks. An event that will change my career and launch me into a writing frenzy that won't slow down for over a year. Ready for the spoiler? The one just for you? Splitting Dawn, the first full-length novel in my Splitting Worlds series, may *triple cough and looking around for falling bricks* be involved. Something big is coming... I am literally shaking as I write this. You won't find Splitting Dawn in the drop-down section under "My Books" tab...not yet. There is only a working cover there right now (not the final cover), and a vague blurb as it is all I am able to share right this second. However, make a note, set a reminder, or keep a close eye out for an e-mail from me September 8th 2021 (CST). That e-mail will be the one to finally pull the veil off what this HUGE project is, and you will have front-row first access. If you are not already an e-mail list subscriber, but you want "in" when the announcement comes on September 8th, you can sign-up for my e-mail list HERE and receive the first novella in the Splitting Worlds series, (Splitting Dusk) to read while you wait for the announcement. |
My Written WorldHere I share more about the worlds I write, lessons I'm learning as I strive to become a successful author, and my real-life travel and cooking adventures along the way. Archives
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Katherine D. Graham - Author Official Website
Proud participant and supporter of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)
