Aria Glazki

Some very exciting news!

2024-06-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

It still feels a bit surreal, and saying anything seems like I'm bragging. Because, well, I am!

I'm thrilled to share that:

Unleashed won the HOLT Medallion in the Speculative Romance category!!

It's incredibly gratifying to have this little piece of confirmation that a book I wrote has value to readers.

So if you haven't read Unleashed yet, what are you waiting for?

And if you have and you'd like to read more in this world, you can read Defiant Dragons, Book 2 as I write it by supporting me on Patreon or on Ream!

Unleashed is officially available—plus a BONUS!

2023-09-27T08:35:00.078-07:00

I started this story in February 2020, and since then life has certainly been a whirlwind with far too many lows for far too many of us. But I'm thrilled to finally have this story finished and available for all those readers who stuck by me as I worked on it.

Not sure this story is for you? Here's what some early readers had to say:

"A captivating and seductive story, full of rhythm and action, which I absolutely loved." (Lucia)

"If you love a strong female lead, obligations that come at a heavy cost, a slow burn, and a strong male who is willing to accept his mistakes and stay by her side, then this book is for you!" (Renee)

"The author did an excellent job building out a really unique and interesting world with multiple dimensions, as well as fleshing out some multi-faceted main characters." (Nit)

"This was such a great slow burn novel. ... Loved this book in all of its glory. Excited for the sequel!" (Kara)

Plus, a free gift with purchase!

Email a screenshot of your purchase confirmation (or your confirmation email) for Unleashed to unleashed AT ariaglazki.com to receive your exclusive coloring page featuring a character from this story!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy here!

Unleashed got a makeover!

2023-09-12T09:39:00.002-07:00

As you might remember, the original cover for Unleashed was designed quite a while ago, long before the first draft was finished.

Not only have market trends changed in that time, but the tone of the story also turned out quite differently than I expected. So as much as I love the original cover, it simply wasn't right for publishing the final version.

This left me in a bit of a panic, scrambling to figure out both how to update the cover and how to pay for it, as custom fantasy covers tend to run at least $250. And finding a new designer with immediate availability and a short turnaround? Oy!

Luckily, the original designer had time and was able to adjust the cover rather than starting from scratch. I love how the result incorporates that lush purple and changes the overall tone of the cover to showcase the story better!

What do you think??

About Unleashed:

A one-night stand with the sexy new dragon in town could force her into a fight to the death. Still, worth it?

Unleashed

sizzling

And it's now available for preorder!

Plus, here's its first review!

Trying New Things!

2022-09-21T10:00:00.005-07:00

I'm working as hard as I can to share Unleashed with readers. To do that, I've been trying new things:

Unleashed is up on Kindle Vella!

It's been a bit of a nightmare to get there, and it will take a little while for the episodes to catch up to Radish. (Episodes will always be ahead on Patreon!)

But, the first few episodes are up for free on Vella!

You'll also have the option of leaving a review, which is an interesting feature for something unfinished. But I'd still really appreciate it!

Click here to start with Episode 1 💕

I have also added this story to Ko-Fi!

Supporters there will have access to episodes on the same schedule as Radish, and folks will be able to read all posted episodes for 30 days after donating to support my writing.

Money donated on Ko-Fi also has a very specific goal: membership for the Author Alliance. In addition to education and other resources, joining the Author Alliance would make it less expensive for me to create (or update) print versions of my books. Of course, I'll also need to find money for the print covers, but one thing at a time.

I'd love to be able to create print versions of Summer Seduction and Fragments That Fit for you!

I have joined BookTok!

Yes, I know how ridiculous that may seem for someone who doesn't really create visual content and hates social media. But like I said, I'm trying.

At the moment, I'm posting every morning except Saturdays. I'd love it if you'd join me there! There are some sneak peek videos of Unleashed. 😉

You can also—for the first time ever—hear my voice in this video!

Lastly, I shared something extra-special!

Sharing Unleashed has given me a little more practice letting people see the rough version of my work. So to thank my Super Supporters, I shared the only written scene from Forging Forever #3, aka Trisha's story. 💕

And for those who might have missed this, Episode 16 of Unleashed posted today. If sexy Fantasy Romance featuring dragon shifters is your thing, don't forget to check it out!

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 3)

2022-07-25T10:00:00.013-07:00

Ready for part 3 of Unleashed? Make sure you read Part 1 and Part 2 before diving in!

Embedded version not working? Click here!

Read Part 4 Now

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 2)

2022-07-21T10:00:00.016-07:00

Ready for part 2 of Unleashed? Make sure you read Part 1 before diving in!

Embedded version not working? Click here!

Read Part 3 Now

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 1)

2022-07-18T10:00:00.032-07:00

Welcome to the first installment of a new experiment: releasing Unleashed in serial form. A couple reminders before we dive in:

This is a sample chapter of my new story, which I'm releasing in draft form. The final published version may be a bit different!
You can read this story as it goes up on:

Patreon — read early chapters!
Radish
Kindle Vella
Ko-Fi

Your feedback is encouraged and appreciated! 💕

Embedded version not working? Click here!

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Cover Reveal for Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel

2022-06-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Status Update: Thanks to antivirals, I am doing much better than I expected to be at this point (hooray!). I'm still struggling with pretty bad weakness and shortness of breath, which is extremely frustrating. But I'm starting to be able to do a little work like this post (and the accompanying newsletter).

Thanks for your understanding and support as I try to recover. 💕

This cover design is all due to a lovely bit of luck and a wonderful designer's generosity, and I'm thrilled to finally be sharing it publicly. I've been sitting on it for over two years!

So without further ado, here is the cover for Unleashed, designed by the super talented Danielle Fine of Design by Definition Covers:

The blurb is as rough as the manuscript, but here's a quick look at what this story is about:

Tia's been hiding among the humans for hundreds of years, and she has her system down. But when a new dragon arrives in her city, she doesn't run fast enough. Alluring as he is, the newcomer is determined to drag her back for the ritual she'd escaped.

Did she say "ritual"? Make that "fight to the death."

Azar never dreamed he'd be the one to find her: the spoiled, selfish princess who doomed all the dragons. Only it turns out the Sovereign's sister is nothing like he was told. She's fierce, shrewd, and stunning, and she throws everything he believes into question.

The one thing Azar knows without a doubt? Bringing her home is dragonkind's only hope.

What do you think?? Let me know in the comments! 💕

Making a Major Change with Exciting News!

2022-06-16T08:00:00.103-07:00

A version of this post went up here on my Patreon, but unlike there, this post allows public comments. So please let me know your thoughts!

As you know, this year my focus is on giving my Patreon the best possible chance of success I can manage, so that I don't have to give up writing. To that end, I've been learning from other authors in several different spaces, and naturally, I'm working on implementing their advice. It's been (and continues to be) a huge mindset shift from indie publishing, and I'm going to be making some big changes going forward.

Some things I have already implemented, like updating tier descriptions and benefits, and even adding images:

This is a cropped screen grab, but you can check out all the updated tiers here.

As you can see, the $1 tier is now support only. That's really nerve-wracking, saying: "Support my writing for nothing extra in return." But so many other writers have told me this is the right way to go, so I'm going to try. This tier will also get early access occasionally when all Patrons will see posts before they become public, but I haven't found a good way to say that concisely. (Suggestions welcome!) I figure people won't be complaining about getting more than they expect, right?

Eagle-eyed readers may also have caught something else:

💫 🐉 🌟 The Biggest Change: 🌟 🐉 💫

I will be releasing the entirely rough current draft of Unleashed (aka "The Dragon Story") on Patreon (at the Benefactor tier and higher).

And, on a serial fiction platform (or maybe several). I haven't yet decided which other platform(s) the story will go on, which depends in part on hearing back from one to which I had to apply, where authors can get paid for their stories. Depending on if/when I hear, I may be putting it up for free elsewhere, which is frightening and very counterintuitive for me (artists deserve to be paid for their work!!!).

However, it's apparently the best possible way to get more eyes on my writing. (Sort of like putting up free content on Youtube but having a Patreon.)

The basic way this will work is that "chapters" will absolutely always go up on Patreon first, and the Patreon will always be multiple chapters ahead of what's available elsewhere (until we reach the end of the story, that is).

I say "chapters" because these will not be like book chapters. Rather, they will likely be one or two scenes at a time, so this story in this form might end up with a hundred chapters, though the final book someday will have a more traditional chapter breakdown.

This text will be ROUGH. As in, rougher than even what I would normally have sent my writing group in days gone by. It is the story as it currently sits on my computer, which normally I wouldn't let anyone read (and so far haven't). The magic system isn't entirely figured out, not every character has names, and there may be massive plot holes or other embarrassing things. It will be rougher than any writing I have ever shared.

Apparently, this is the kind of thing readers love seeing, but it is terrifying for me.

On the plus side, since I do have the entire draft finished, I should be able to have a reliable release schedule. I will also continue working on polishing the story when I can, so there's a chance the later chapters will be in much better shape than the early ones (hopefully).

This also means I will be doing a cover reveal next week! I hope to release the first couple chapters on Patreon before the end of this month, and I'm currently planning to have them go public in early July—at which point they will also be available here on my blog, to allow for public commenting.

Ultimately, I hope you all see that I am working hard to try to keep doing this writing thing. And I would love to hear what you think of this plan! 💕

I want to be more

2022-04-11T16:07:00.007-07:00

I want to be more than reality allows me to be, than my body and my health (which I for some reason still separate because the cognitive symptoms feel like they're not my "body" even if they're a physical illness impacting my mind) leave space for me to be.

I want my books to be read by thousands, and my stories to impact lives. But I also want to leave my bedroom more than I do. To bake, or paint, or pick up the violin again. To have the energy to devour a book a day rather than one book painstakingly in the last 14 weeks (yes, really).

Sometimes my life feels like this, but not at all in a fun way:

Whether with publishing or with life, I keep trying to be more, but I'm trapped by my reality that keeps me chained and swinging ever farther from my goals the harder I try to reach them.

Part of it is a twisted desire to live up to the "potential" people used to see in me. To be the person I was "meant" to be before ME/CFS stole that self from me.

Part of it is simply wanting to have the freedom of choice, for the smallest things not to take so much fight. For my contribution to life to be significant (and hopefully positive), and my silence/absence noticed, to be felt. In some sense, I suppose it's profoundly human to want to have an impact.

But the funny thing is, before my illness, I never wanted to have some massive impact on the world at large. That was never my goal or priority for myself.

I wanted to have a good impact on the people in my life, on the community I belonged to or would build for myself. To focus on the kind of small positive influence that actually affects our individual daily lives, rather than anything paradigm-shifting that would change the world.

It's somewhat inevitable that I lost sight of that with my writing, or more specifically with publishing. The "success" of a story is measured by the number of people who read it, or the number who buy it (and yes, those numbers are always vastly different). And I think I will always want my books to find their audience, the people who will enjoy and appreciate and even possibly be transformed by my stories. After all, the stories are meaningful to me and take an extraordinary amount of time and work and energy.

But I've also realized I need to accept being less. To focus on the individuals rather than the more abstract "audience."

All I have to offer is what I am, and what my stories—if I manage to keep writing them—have to say. I don't know how to be more, especially in the context of our social media–centric world. And because reality is what it is, and my ill health dominates all, I am going to stop trying to be more.

Instead I'm going to try to focus on being enough, on connecting with the individuals to whom my writing matters.

Practically speaking, within the context of my writing, it means that the writing comes first. The Patreon comes second. And everything else, not at all (though public posts will continue to be shared on this blog to allow public commenting!). Even keeping up with those things sounds daunting enough.

I have set a new goal in the Patreon, focused on the number of Patrons rather than a certain dollar amount. My aim is to get there by the end of 2022. I'll reevaluate then, but I don't want to be misleading. Right now, I think if I don't hit that number by the end of this year, I'll be calling it a day (or really, a decade) with my writing.

As always, thank you to those of you who already support my writing and have become Patrons. No matter what happens over the rest of this year, I really appreciate your steadfast faith and encouragement. 💕

Fragments That Fit is officially available!

2022-01-28T08:00:00.064-08:00

I'll admit, this release might have a bit less hoopla than you're used to. I've been so focused on getting the book ready to be read that I haven't had the energy to plan much of anything to celebrate. But that doesn't mean it's not worth celebrating! 🥳

The very first review this story received was definitely pretty exciting:

Is it weird to be thrilled you've made someone cry? (And hope it'll happen again? 😉)

Though I don't have any other reviews to share yet (please leave one when you're done reading!), I do have something fun for you: a giveaway!

I'm trying something different this time and keeping the prizes a mystery! But there are plenty of goodies up for grabs to celebrate. Here's a hint for part of the main prize pack:

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And if you haven't gotten your copy yet, what are you waiting for? Grab one here! 💕

End of the Year Book Lover Giveaway!

2021-12-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

This year has been so rough, as you know. I'd like to end it on a high note, and I bet you can guess what that means: a special giveaway of goodies for book lovers!

As you'll see, one of the methods of entry is to subscribe to my newsletter. I know letting someone into your inbox is a big ask! Mostly I'll be sharing exciting book news, but I also offer some sneak peeks behind the scenes, like in today's newsletter. Missed it? Just this once, I'm sharing a link here on my blog so you can see exactly what these emails will be like. Check it out here!

Now on to the giveaway—enter below for a chance to win:

A large Dreams to Dishes mug

A Taking Chances notebook, featuring lyrics by Liz Anne
A book charm necklace
...and more!

Enter Here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy December!

Fragments That Fit Cover Reveal!

2021-11-09T08:00:00.006-08:00

Getting this cover made was the kind of hectic, crazy time that makes you wonder if the universe is trying to tell you something. I hired two different designers. Though I did my due diligence both times, looking at portfolios and feedback from authors, both experiences were disastrous, in truly ridiculous ways. As if the people doing the designs had no actual understanding of basic graphic design principles—and I say that as someone who's terrible with visual design!

Still, after the second designer was a bust, I decided to try to create this cover myself. After all, I had already found both the primary image and font I wanted. Because this is not in my skillset, I spent many hours working on it before I got to a draft that I felt looked all right.

And then—the very next day, as I was about to keep working on it—I drowned my computer (accidentally of course). Backups are critical, and I was relieved when I thought the online tool I had been using would save the design to my account on their site. Turned out, they don't. They rely on the local computer cache, meaning that entire design—all that work—was in jeopardy. You can understand that week was intensely stressful.

Unfortunately, after waiting for the computer to dry out, it still didn't turn on. Thankfully, though, I was eventually able to get a full bootable copy of my hard drive, which is genuinely great. I'm also fortunate that I was able to borrow a computer on which to boot that copy and pull the draft cover file (among some others).

I still don't have my own computer, but I have been able to use someone's older one to keep doing some work, like redesigning this page on my website, and adding a Heat Level Guide I hope will be helpful. Ultimately, this has turned into a stressful and very expensive—but not entirely catastrophic—accident.

Still, despite all the setbacks, and with a lot of helpful feedback from a good friend, I was able to finish the cover for my next novel. I can't wait to hear what you think!

About Fragments That Fit:

her

Fragments That Fit

sensual

Coming January 28th! Preorder Now:

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play
More Stores

I started writing this book for NaNoWriMo 2015, so you can imagine how happy—and anxious—I am to finally have it be reaching readers! I'm definitely looking forward to hearing what you think of this story. Meanwhile, let me know your thoughts on the cover in the comments! 💕

In other news, Fallen recently received an incredibly positive review from Readers' Favorite! I admit, I blushed 😊 Can you blame me, with comments like:

"Fallen by Aria Glazki is a romance[*] taken to the height of fine literature by Ms. Glazki's exquisite prose and deep insight."

"...an inspiring and tear-jerking masterpiece."

"In all, a sublime literary romance that is not to be missed. Fabulous writing!"

*While the reviewer calls this story a romance, what he really means is that it centers on a romantic relationship. Fallen is a love story, and it does not qualify as a romance.

If you haven't read it yet, maybe now's the time to grab your copy. 😉

The Raw Truth About Why I Disappeared

2021-10-11T03:30:00.001-07:00

The last year and a half have been incredibly difficult in so many ways for so many of us. Many lost family and friends, including me. That on its own should have been enough for people to be kinder to one another, to allow space to process and grieve, to do whatever it took to get ourselves through it as intact as possible.

Instead, we simply found workarounds to help people stay "productive." Because as a society we value an adult's (and often a child's) productivity above all else. Many authors (and readers) rejoiced that being stuck at home during the pandemic meant being able to write more books! And faster!

You all know that wasn't the case for me or, let's face it, for many others. Yes, I did write the Dragon Story in February–August 2020. It won't be published for some time yet. I also eventually realized that I really needed a break from social media, which I used predominately for the business of being an author. Newsletters went out the window, and eventually my Patreon went on pause.

Because on top of everything related to the pandemic, on top of the chronic illness I've been living with for over a decade, I got even more sick.

Below, I discuss fatphobia, eating, and weight loss in a way that may be difficult for some to read. If you would prefer not to, skip down.

In January of this year, I started experiencing some discomfort and symptoms when I ate. My body so frequently does weird things that I thought, at first, all I needed to do was eat more carefully—bland foods, chicken broth, etc. In just a few weeks I went from struggling to eat to not being able to, and struggling to take in fluids as well. So I called my GI. By the time of my appointment—an entire 5 days later—I could barely drink anything.

Imagine knowing that every tiny sip of water you take would cause you pain. And even if you did manage to suffer through the symptoms triggered by trying to eat, it wouldn't matter because it wouldn't stay inside long enough to count.

Then imagine doctors ignoring you because, according to some chart that doesn't differentiate among individuals' needs and just slaps on a label, you're considered obese. To the medical community, that word is pretty much synonymous with: "you did this to yourself." Fatphobia is so ingrained in medicine that it has led to doctors ignoring life-threatening issues in favor of body shaming their patients (e.g., doctors telling folks to "just lose weight" (or be glad they had) when what they actually have is undiagnosed stomach cancer). Fatphobia kills, and it nearly killed me.

That first GI I saw literally told me it "didn't matter" that I couldn't eat or drink. He did, however, schedule a test I knew I needed, so I stuck it out before changing doctors, knowing how time-consuming starting over with another practitioner, and getting the requisite insurance approvals, would be. In the two weeks between that first appointment and going to the hospital for that test, I rapidly dropped weight. When I brought it up with him, he said it wouldn't worry him until I weighed 90lbs. Spoiler alert: if I ever reach 90lbs, I'll be dead.

He added that if I was "worried"—as if that was so unreasonable when one is dehydrated and unable to eat—I should just go to the ER, even though I was in the hospital with an IV, and he could have at least given me fluids right then.

Just for extra fun, in the time between that first GI visit and the procedure, I was also diagnosed with Tietze's, a condition that causes significant pain where the ribs meet the sternum, and which can last for months or more. But hey, what's some extra pain when you can't eat or drink and already have a pain disorder?

Because I knew the chances of being dismissed in the ER were equally high as with the other doctors I had seen, I didn't go to one until I went over 24hrs without being able to drink anything (as opposed to "merely" being in a lot of pain when I did). Many of you would be astounded at how difficult it is to get fluids, much less IV nutrition, in a situation that seems so straightforward to us laymen. To give the ER doctor credit, he ran many tests and did give me fluids (the change in me as a result of the latter was literally visible, but sadly shortlived). He still couldn't find what was causing my problems and, since I wasn't in danger of dying right that second, sent me home, though he did prescribe a medication in an attempt to help.

Ultimately, I was the one to figure out what was causing my symptoms, not any of my doctors. The last GI I saw diagnosed me with functional dyspepsia and IBS—conditions* that can get pretty debilitating each on their own—then basically told me to just deal with it. Turned out, though, the symptoms I was experiencing are known, though rare, side effects to a medication I was on—that every doctor I saw knew I was taking. So all that advocating for myself, all that effort trying to get them to hear me, was basically torturing myself for nothing. Then I also had to deal with withdrawal from those meds and the months-long search for a doctor who would listen and prescribe a replacement.

*I say "conditions," but really these seem to be diagnostic catchalls for: "You have these symptoms and we have no idea why."

As of the time I'm writing this, I've lost 27% of my starting weight. I hate the fact I have to keep track, thinking about that number daily when it's dropping, nearly daily when it plateaus for a while. (See? Recovery.) I hate it even more that all the messaging I've gotten—and sometimes even continue to get—has enough of a hold on me that I have to reason my way out of that little instinct of happiness when I see it drop. Because it dropping is unequivocally bad.

In case it needs saying, losing weight at any cost is most definitely not the path to health. That's called an eating disorder for good reason, and malnutrition has plenty of serious consequences. But it also feels important to point out that starving doesn't change your body the way we expect when we think of "weight loss." Your body doesn't care about societally preferred aesthetics when it's trying to survive. So yes, I've lost over a quarter of my body weight—and about 18% was in the space of just 2 months—but for those who can't understand just how unhealthy this kind of weight loss is, let me put it in terms we're all much more familiar with: I've only lost 2 pant sizes. I am now frail, not skinny.

For those wondering, I'm comparing the exact same pants from the exact same brand, purchased at the same time (the second one by someone else in my home). It's about as clean an experiment as one can have given how fashion brands make up sizing, and change theirs at will.

And yet, I still constantly heard from people, whether in person (outside, at a distance—stay safe!) or on video calls about how "great" I look. Yes, even people who knew what was going on, that I was literally starving, decided the right response was to compliment me on being that ill, because to them my wellbeing is less important than looking (more like) the way society says I'm "supposed" to. I guess it shouldn't have shocked me considering I've had people calling me fat, telling me the most important thing I could ever do—"for my own health," of course—is lose weight since I was a child. It still brought up emotions I will be sorting through for a long time.

Suffice it to say, this has been a physically, emotionally, and mentally grueling 9 months. Surviving it has been about much more than simply figuring out how to get nutrition into my body, which is still a work in progress. I spent months being unable to read, much less write. At the worst of it, I couldn't even follow a plot in a tv show or movie. Yes, that was as miserable as it sounds.

While I am doing better—as evidenced in part by this long post—there are still severe limitations on what I can eat. All of this has also been less than great for my CFS, making recovery a long, complicated, and unpredictable process with plenty of setbacks along the way. I still have days when I can't handle things like reading or having a conversation, though those stretches now tend to span days rather than weeks or more. Progress, however slow.

I hope this helps you understand why I've "disappeared." There were long stretches where I felt as if I literally had: I wasn't a person; I was barely a body, just misery and pain, trying to find the energy to advocate for myself in a system that insisted on ignoring me while implying I was lying or "exaggerating."

And yes, I believe this is at least in part an issue of gender—1, 2, 3.

I am trying to resume "being an author." I guess, since I've had books published all this time, technically I never stopped. Though in a world where we have to be constantly producing more content (or at the very least spending money on ads) to "count," it certainly felt that way.

Thankfully, I have started sporadically being able to work on my drafted stories. Soon, there will indeed be book news heading your way. 💕

For those who have read this far and may be so inclined, here is how you can help:

Buy my books. Read them, review them, gift them to friends, even talk about them on social media if you're so inclined.

Not only will this help by showing people do care about and enjoy my stories—that it's worth the effort to resume creating and publishing—but this will also remind storefront algorithms that I exist. This matters.

Suggest your local library buy my books! They are available to libraries in both digital and print formats, but libraries do rely on patron requests to decide what to purchase.
Consider supporting me on Patreon for behind-the-scenes access and sneak peeks. Patrons have even seen the cover for the Dragon Story!
- Yes, this is currently paused and I post only sporadically. However, it is a priority to figure out how to resume bringing value to my supporters there, and there's plenty of available content.
- Please note: you will be charged immediately one time, the moment you become a Patron. Following that, I will warn all Patrons before I resume monthly billing.
If a monthly commitment isn't for you:

Don't forget to tell me how you're doing in the comments! 💕

Yes, I really do want to know, and yes this counts as supporting me—it's a reminder that you're there, you're listening, and you care enough to give me the time and effort it takes to read, and respond.

"Fire bad. Tree Pretty."

2021-01-15T14:12:00.009-08:00

I don't get it.

In times of turmoil, many respond by simply keeping on. That I understand. Do what you have to do, make it through the day. Hope that things get better, easier, simpler. That someday you'll have space for something more than surviving this moment.

I read months ago observations by psychologists that humans are incapable of processing trauma in the midst of living it. There are coping mechanisms, like denial, but we can't truly engage with the way trauma has impacted us until we have space free from the trauma to do so. Until we can do more than keep on keeping on.

People respond in different ways, of course. Many writers had an immensely productive 2020. Some continue to escape the political circus—and its terrifying implications—by focusing on their stories. And maybe if the extent of their personal trauma is dealing with the isolation of lockdown, I can understand that. After all, I've been living in a "shelter in place" way for years, for reasons unrelated to COVID, and with limits that go beyond local laws (or even the threat of infection). That hamper me even inside my own home. Maybe I would have started to process that, but COVID happened.

And then the traumas kept piling up. People I'd known for years died. And I made my way out of that grief enough to return to looking forward. The protracted disaster that was the US election became just another thing to live with. Staying abreast of developments required energy, sure, but there was a little something left, enough to revise my 2015 NaNo project, however slowly; to reveal the cover of the Dragon Story; to start to plan what I wanted to accomplish writing-wise in 2021.

Then people were diagnosed with terminal cancer, or were injured in a way that required hospitalization. Friends lost relatives to COVID.

The Capitol was attacked by white supremacist terrorists whom half the US still considers "patriots."

And even so I tried to push forward. To be more than a body that drags itself through the rituals of daily life (hygiene, sustenance). To try to find the energy to post here, or write that newsletter I really need to write, or work on the planned revisions to a published book I wanted to re-release.

But my body has decided that food is too complicated a concept for it to handle.

And today, a family member was hospitalized with COVID.

I'm an expert at "keeping on." I do what I have to do. Hygiene. Water. Food, if I can, or now when I get hungry enough that I'm willing to suffer the consequences of a bowl of broth. Checking in on the people in my life who've been having a hard time.

But writing? Even revising?

Trisha and Ev (Forging Forever #3) have been walking through my mind more frequently. I should be writing their story. The Dragon Story needs to be revised. That other book, the plan was for a February re-release.

But I can't keep on keeping on with my writing. I can't even find the right tone to hit with a patreon post or for a newsletter. I can't be "an author" when I can barely manage to be a person.

I'm sorry. I don't know how other people do it. I feel so incredibly weak, but it's all I can do to keep the endless disasters from overwhelming my mind. So I stare at whatever show or movie is playing on my screen, or I drag my eyes over the pages of stories I'll never remember reading, or I play some inane game online literally because it takes no effort yet still occupies that little bit of my mind left that isn't enough to process everything but would otherwise still try. And break.

I'm sorry.

2 weeks into 2021, and I've already failed to keep up with everything, too busy keeping on.

Someday.

I hope you've found ways to be better, to take care of yourselves, to be kind if you're keeping on, or to celebrate if you're achieving more than that.

p.s. Bonus points to anyone who recognizes the title quotation without looking it up.

This post originally went up on my Patreon here.

Let's Start with the Oven Mitts

2020-12-07T16:38:00.002-08:00

A recent conversation with a friend meandered to a struggle of hers: anxiety about getting burned when using the oven. Of course, she was using potholders, but there are still quite a few ways to accidentally get burned. And burns suck. Anxiety, which is often less than reasonable, also sucks.

As you can probably guess from the title of the post, we quickly reached the conclusion that oven mitts would offer her the protection she needs. More importantly, they would offer her peace of mind when using the oven. And that means, she'll be able to use the oven more often, making the task of cooking that much easier.

Now, it wasn't like she was starving before this conversation, so this may seem like a pretty small change to her quality of life overall. Except, making one thing easier is always worth it. When we're juggling a million stressors, it can be hard to see how we can lighten that load even a little. Sometimes, outside perspective is the only way. Sometimes, we see a potential solution but it still feels insurmountable. Or maybe the problem seems too tiny compared to the Real Big Problems, and we convince ourselves (or, perhaps, stress and anxiety convince us) that fixing that tiny problem isn't worth it.

But consider that experiment with holding a glass of water. Brief recap: picking up a glass of water isn't hard for many of us; holding it awhile isn't that hard either; but if you keep having to hold it aloft, it seems heavier and heavier as time goes on. The same goes for your stressors, whether they're pebbles or boulders. Putting down a pebble is, overall, a small change. But incremental change in the right direction is a good thing that can still have a great impact on your everyday life.

So, let's start with the oven mitts.

What's one way you can make your life a little bit easier right now? Or, what's one everyday annoyance you'd like help solving? Let us all know in the comments!

"Be Interesting"

2020-11-17T01:56:00.001-08:00

Public post from my Patreon

In a little folder in my email, I have ~200 messages focused on teaching authors how to communicate effectively with their audience, primarily through newsletters, but basically they're all about how to create content that reaches through the messy mass we're all trying to avoid and actually has an impact. Because reaching an audience is part of the business of being an author, and I do try to learn and improve.

The most recent of these expert emails included the groundbreaking tip in this post's title: Be interesting.

Who knew the trick to writing good, engaging content (whether for blogs, patreons, or newsletters), boiled down to such a simple thing? All I have to do is be interesting!

Too bad this has very little meaning. What's interesting? To whom? When? How often? (This is where nailing your target audience comes in.) But even if you know your audience pretty well, "interesting" is still a relative, fluctuating concept. Influencers, perhaps, have this figured out. A little while ago I read that if you weren't an influencer 3 years ago, it's too late to try. Frankly, if that's true, it's almost a relief. I'm an author, not an influencer, and being "interesting" isn't my main goal.

Freshman year of college, one of my professors pointed out that calling a story "interesting" is entirely meaningless, partially because while it should mean that you found the story engaging, it most often means, "I have no idea what to say or have formed a slightly negative opinion but don't want to be offensive/confrontational, so I'll call it interesting."

So, goodness forbid folks find my real work "interesting." I'd almost rather people hated it—at least that would mean it had some kind of impact. (Though I assume if you hated my work, you wouldn't be here...) But wanting my work to have an impact does mean reaching an audience.

And that means, apparently, I have to learn to be interesting. So, wish me luck...

Something to Celebrate!

2020-10-12T00:01:00.002-07:00

To say 2020 has been and continues to be difficult may be the greatest understatement imaginable. As we all grapple with stress, uncertainty, and loss, joy can feel incongruous. And yet, that's precisely why it seems important to grab on to any cause for celebration, to commemorate our achievements or simply take a moment away from the incessant turmoil of the year.

Since I've found myself with something to celebrate, I wanted to share this moment of happiness with you. What's this big news?

I've finished the first draft of the Dragon Story!

(Check out the draft book description, an excerpt, and much more on Patreon.)

Started back in February, before 2020 fully imploded and trapped us all in its depths, this story is quite different than my previous books, with fantasy creatures and pocket dimensions mixed in with the heartfelt emotions you can always expect from my writing. World-building to this extent is new for me, and many revisions await, but there is a story hidden in those ~85,000 words. It exists.

So I'm giving away three different prize packs celebrating my published romances! Check out the details and enter to win below. 💕

Summer Seduction Prize Pack:

Tantalized by Taralynn mug
E-book copy

Mortal Musings Prize Pack:

Signed paperback
Dreams to Dishes jumbo mug
Mortal Musings playing cards

Forging Forever Mega Prize Pack:

All 3 signed books! (Mending Heartstrings, Tasting Temptation, Taking Chances)
Stainless steel water bottle
Cavaliere Vineyards coasters
Taking Chances notebook
Guitar pick necklace

Enter to Win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hush, Now (On Writing Quiet Genre Fiction)

2020-07-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

One thing I've come to accept as a result of working on the Dragon Story is that even when working with a premise that could naturally be plot-driven, filled with escalating external stakes, I still write what's considered "quiet" fiction.

Quiet genre fiction is almost a cross between genre fiction and literary fiction. It focuses primarily on the character(s), even within the framework of its genre. Rather than being boldly direct, it relies a bit more on inference and nuance. It usually avoids laying out every piece of the story and the characters under a spotlight. As a result, it allows for a more colorful, vivid style of writing, rather than prioritizing the most direct language possible.

Though quiet fiction overall has long been considered not commercially viable (literary fiction authors often seek out teaching positions or paid residencies, rather than relying on book sales), some agents and authors have started talking about the viability of quiet genre fiction. This is interesting, since like I said, I can't seem to help but write quiet stories.

Summer Seduction is the perfect example. It could have been mostly fun sexy times between an author and her fan, but it became character-driven and much "quieter" from the concept through the writing. The Dragon Story is turning out much the same at the moment (for better or worse).

It does make sense—whether reading, writing, or watching, ultimately what interests me is the characters. Even in romance, if the story dips too heavily into the plot-driven side, it feels dissatisfying to me.

Of course every genre story has to balance character and plot, and some genres require more external action and tension than others. For me, plot without significant character development is just stuff that happens, which also explains why I don't watch/read many action-based stories. But I believe in any genre, the best stories are the ones that incorporate compelling character development, which also allows those stories to appeal to readers who may not normally explore that genre. For example, I don't read much Fantasy or Sci Fi, but I really enjoyed many of the books in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series back when I read them, because McCaffrey allowed the balance to tip enough toward character development to pull me in.

As a writer, though, I have to recognize that many readers do prefer "standard" genre fiction. They want the more blunt language, laying everything out on the page. They want the action-driven stories. They want the drama and excitement of external experiences far outside their own, even if they also want to find something relatable in the character as well. For some readers, quiet fiction feels like English class.

I also have to accept that my stories may never fit that more standard genre style. While I can't say I've quite reached that perfect balance of plot, character development, and language that we see in the truly masterful quiet genre stories, I have come to recognize that nailing this blend is more my aim with my writing. So, it is fairly heartening to see these types of stories starting to claim their space within the market, which really means, in readers' hearts and minds.

What do you say—which type of story do you prefer? Something quieter, more character-driven, or something more direct, more focused on the external action? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Add Some Sizzle to Your Summer!

2020-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

We've made it through (a little more than) half of 2020, and if that isn't worth celebrating, what is?

Up for grabs are a $100 Amazon Gift Card and over 20 ebooks! Including Tasting Temptation, like you might have guessed from the graphic. 😉

Entries are all based on signing up for our author newsletters. So if you're subscribed to mine, you get a free entry! For the others, please remember that while you're welcome to unsubscribe at any time, we would greatly appreciate if you remembered not to mark the message as spam as a shortcut to doing that. Thank you!

We're hoping these books add a little spark and sizzle to your summer, so without further ado:

Enter the Giveaway

Click here to enter

Patreon has done something annoying

2020-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

This post simultaneously went up on Patreon.

Authors, and likely creatives of all sorts, constantly hear that we should ensure our ability to reach our audience doesn't rely on someone else. Most often these admonishments unsubtly refer to Facebook, which of course now also owns Instagram. And it's a fair point: platforms can change the rules on us at any time, booting us entirely, cutting us off from our audience, or forcing us to "pay to play."

Patreon, as it turns out, is not immune to this problem. Recently, they've decided to close comments—even on public posts—to anyone who isn't a patron. So while followers can continue to receive public posts in their emails, they can no longer interact with creators. That contact is now behind a paywall.

Patreon has their reasons, of course. This decision was made ostensibly to prevent creators from being spammed, threatened, etc., by anyone who might come along. Perhaps this is indeed a serious problem for more popular creators, and it makes sense that Patreon would prioritize them, since Patreon's income is a portion of a creator's income.

Still, for the rest of us, it's annoying at best. The whole point of allowing followers and having public posts was to give people full access to certain posts without a paywall. Now, that's gone.

So, unless/until this is fixed (whether it's changed back or creators are given a choice about this setting), I will be simultaneously cross-posting public posts to my blog. This will be harder with posts that are released early for patrons, but I'm determined to ensure anyone can share their thoughts on public posts. Starting with this one!

I do hope Patreon will come to their senses and fix this problem, but I'm glad to at least have my own site where you can comment without any problems. As with changes implemented by other platforms, the best I can do is try and adapt. I apologize for the associated inconvenience to all of you. But really, follow my blog instead, and I'll try to ensure you don't miss out on anything. 💕

Something Special to Wrap Up the Month!

2020-04-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

How are you doing? How are you holding up with sheltering in place or being an essential worker? There have been multiple confirmed cases of the virus in my direct circle, which is unsurprising but still troubling. I'm hoping they all recover, and I'm also worried about each of you. Are you staying safe?

As we head into the last third of April, many of us have been sheltering in place or self-isolating for many weeks. Some may be starting to go stir-crazy even as we try to stay connected through all the awesome virtual tools available to us. We try to show up for family celebrations, to check in on friends, to continue with our studies or our work.

We're also consuming an extraordinary amount of art, whether socially distanced virtual concerts, previously filmed performances being made available for free (Broadway, ballet, opera, classical music, and so much more), that television show you've been meaning to binge, the movie queue waiting on your favorite streaming service, or of course that massive TBR pile I know you have. As that art hopefully brings you comfort, please don't forget the creators behind it who could use your support, including a reminder that their work matters. Reach out on social media, boost their work, leave a review, etc. Especially as we try to continue creating amid everything going on, the support truly helps.

As for me, I've been working on a story I've so far only talked about on Patreon, basically in an attempt not to jinx the process. Hopefully I won't undo all that by telling you all about it now. But since this story has surpassed 50,000 words and it's also my birthday week, I've decided to offer something special!

Before I tell you what that is, I recognize that times are especially tough for many of us right now. I want to emphasize that all my readers are important to me, and every patron at any tier is invaluable! The emotional impact of knowing you value what I can create is as important as any financial support you may be able to offer.

But like I said, I wanted to offer something special:

Everyone in the Benefactor tier or higher (check them all out here) as of midnight 4/30/20 will have a character named after them (or a loved one) in my new Dragon Shifter story!

The basics:

Every eligible patron will have one character named after whomever they choose.

You, a loved one, an enemy you'd like to see get what's coming to them (see next point)... It's entirely your choice!

Everyone pledging $5 and up will get to choose your character type: good/neutral or a bad guy.

At this (the Insider) tier, you'll also get a personal thank you card and free e-copies of every book published while you're a patron!

There are many currently unnamed characters, but of course the number is still limited. If I happen to run out, your name will be added to a list for future stories! Like possible spinoffs of this one. We'll see. 😉
Plus all patrons get exclusive early access to chapters of my stories, cover designs, and more!

See all the details here or to learn more about this whole Patreon thing, click here. Like I said above, you can help simply by spreading the word, including by sharing my Facebook or Twitter posts about this special offer.

I'm excited to include you in this story! 💕

The chronically ill spend our lives hiding. No wonder you don't see us now.

2020-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

People with chronic illnesses of all kinds spend so much of our time and energy hiding those illnesses from the world at large. It's effective to varying degrees, with invisible illnesses being of course the "easiest" to hide. Or rather, the easiest for you not to see.

Ambulatory wheelchair users who push themselves to walk into a room and sit on a seat in the corner rather than move around that room in a wheelchair are keeping their illness—their disability—hidden from your sight. People living with lupus or CFS or fibromyalgia who put on their nice clothes and makeup and push themselves to "look normal" while meeting friends for dinner (well, now for Zoom sessions) are keeping their illness out of sight. (Etc., etc.) We hide our medications, our supportive devices (when possible), the circles under our eyes, and anything else we can.

And while we do this for ourselves, to protect ourselves from the truly damaging and scary ways some people respond to signs of disability or illness, mostly we do it for you. To make your life easier, we push our bodies and hide our pain. So that you don't have to do the hard work of engaging with our realities.

While we hide less from those with whom we are close, especially from those with whom we live, sometimes you're the ones from whom we hide more—because we know our pain will hurt you too. But that's, in this case, not the point.
People living with disability or chronic illness spend so much of our time trying to help the world pretend that our conditions don't exist, to come across as "normal," that is it really any wonder that now, when the world is battling a virus that's far more dangerous for those who are already ill, that same world simply...doesn't care about us?

The blissfully ignorant continue to minimize the importance of tactics like social distancing, the impact of passing this virus through a community, because you simply don't see us.

"Maybe it's better to let the virus kill who it will kill?" people ask in callous thought experiments, unaware that the people they're hypothetically killing off include their barista, their Uber driver, their coworker, their friend. Their family.

"Can't you answer the question abstractly, don't make it so personal?" my uncle who lives on the other side of the globe asked me a few days ago. "I refuse to think of you as that sick!" he then added multiple times.

I wish I could just refuse to be "that sick." But that's not the point either.

I am more than my illness (as are we all), but if you don't see my illness, you don't see me. And because you don't see that part of us, you can abstract the idea of "those with underlying health conditions" from the horrifying question of: "Don't you think this is too hard on us/the economy, so we should just let them die?"

Don't you think we should just let you die?

I am certainly guilty of keeping the reality of my illness (or to be more accurate: illnesses) from the world at large, inasmuch as possible. Though I've started to talk about it all more in recent years as my health has chewed up my life, I still keep most of my reality to myself, and I've spent decades putting the world at ease by hiding my conditions, my pain. Because I was taught, as are most of us, to prioritize putting you at ease. Not to mention the undeniable reality stated so well in Grey's Anatomy ep. 5x17 that "once people see you as sick, they don't see anything else."

And I am more than my illness.

But I am not separate from my illness.

I wish SARS-CoV-2 could sweep the world and take out disability and chronic illness without taking out the disabled and chronically ill.

See what I did there? This is one of those dichotomies that exist in the minds of the healthy, who think about the conditions but not about the people. (Because that's too hard, too depressing, too much of a downer...)

Frankly, even if the total number of those with chronic conditions was a thousand times less than it is, that death toll would be way too high.

But the thing is, we are everywhere. And we've gotten so good at hiding our realities that now to you, the healthy, we've stopped being real. So you grumble about your boredom, you ignore shelter in place orders, you moan about the media overdramatizing, and you curse the falling stock markets as if that's what matters and not our lives.

"Take the disabled if it means I can have dinner with my friends!"

"Kill the chronically ill so I can see a concert!"

"Who cares about them?" you ask, in your minds or to our faces, forgetting that we're not a them. We're part of your us.

And we can't shelter you from our reality anymore. Now more than ever, we need you to open your eyes and stop denying our existence. We need you to shelter us.

--
This post first went up on my Patreon. For those who are able during these tumultuous times, I'd appreciate any support you may be able to offer.

Writing with Aphantasia

2020-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have aphantasia. Many of you likely don't know what that is, although lately it's become better known due to some popular twitter posts (like this one or this one). Basically it means I can't visualize things—at all. I know what things are, logically and conceptually, but there is no mental picture that goes with it.

Though I didn't know it at the time, aphantasia is why when we did guided meditations in theater camp, I couldn't entirely understand the directions to "picture yourself in a field." It's why I can (well, used to be able to) paint from something, but why I could never draw or paint something without a source I could see. It's why when I hit the point in math that required visualizing things, like a curve rotating around an axis, I just couldn't do it. (I actually had a wonderful teacher in HS who worked around this by showing me computer simulations.) It's also why I am absolutely terrible with things like directions, since I can't visualize anything resembling a map, or build a "mental" one from living somewhere and moving through the streets.

A few years back I learned that aphantasia, while relatively rare, is something shared by others. Sometimes having a name for something really helps, even if my experience of it hasn't changed at all. I have to memorize facts for every single thing I want to be able to conceptualize (roses have thorns; birch trees are white with dark spots; owls have big eyes; etc.). I bet for many of you, even that short list produced images in your mind.

Aphantasia also impacts my memory, because memories are so often tied to visuals or other senses. I recently learned (as in, minutes before drafting this post) that aphantasia is tied to a lack of "picturing" other senses. I hadn't actively thought about it before, but I also can't imagine a smell, a sound, a taste, or how it feels to touch something. It's pretty mind-boggling to me that other people can genuinely hear or smell something just by thinking about it.

Everything—even music—for me is filtered through logic and words. For example, I know if you slam a door, it's a loud, sharp sound, even if I can't hear it in my head. I had a lot of musical training (for someone who's pretty hopeless as a musician), which genuinely helps, but "hearing" a melody for me still means naming the notes in my head. Similarly, I know what a rose is, or that they come in different colors, or that a chocolate cake baking in the oven smells appetizing. But whatever the item or sense in question, I have to actively translate "imagine X" into an understanding of what that logically means. It never becomes a picture—just a conceptual understanding.

As you can imagine, this drastically impacts my writing. I can't picture my characters, their movements, the spaces around them, or what they're smelling, tasting, hearing. I do know what they're feeling, in the emotional sense of the word (not in terms of touch). I know how they speak to each other, what they want. But everything else I have to conscientiously layer in, which is also why visuals (and other senses) are so rare in my work.

Personal experience and research (hooray for the internet!) help. I often look up pictures of settings such as bars, hotels, or cityscapes, even outfits and furniture. I sketch out very basic layouts of apartments/homes so my characters don't accidentally walk through walls, which has definitely happened in drafts because I can't visualize a space. Sometimes I'll find shortcuts like looking up an apartment building in the right area and using their floor plans.

It's possible this is part of why I'm such a slow writer. Everything other than emotions and dialogue, including figuring out gestures and mannerisms, requires even more intentional consideration. I don't see any of that. It has to be pieced together.

Another author wrote about his experience writing with aphantasia here, calling it a "patchwork." Though my method is in many ways different from his, that notion of taking pieces from here and there and bringing them together to add in everything outside the minds of my characters is pretty accurate. This is why I may sometimes write Urban Fantasy (like Mortal Musings) but no epic fantasy, which would require creating a full new world from my imagination. I suppose I could use the patchwork method to meticulously piece together an alternate world, but keeping my stories rooted in our real word means not worrying about creating and staying consistent in an environment that I can't imagine.

Even though I know this is a weakness to watch out for, sometimes those external pieces get overlooked while drafting. With Summer Seduction, it wasn't until I was revising that I realized I'd never described Tracy at all (don't worry, I added that in). The only reason Jeremy was described is because I was literally going off the cover image.

Hypothetically I could find pictures to use as a foundation for every character and setting, but visuals are not what inspires me to write, and so that's unlikely to be something I will ever do. My stories are built on the internal experiences of my characters, the language people use with each other, how they feel about each other, which I can imagine, even to the point of feeling it myself. Everything else is deliberately, painstakingly sprinkled in to help flesh out that external world, but it's not the primary focus of my writing.

In some ways aphantasia does feel like a disadvantage. If I saw my stories play out in my head like a movie, I would probably be able to write faster, and perhaps the end result would be better, rooted in sights and smells and the physicality of my characters in a more significant way.

But the aphantasia isn't going anywhere. So my stories will continue to be rooted in the emotional side of my characters instead. Still, I'll keep trying to add all those branches, leaves, and flowers on top, because I understand the story remains incomplete without them. After all, I experience the outside world, thankfully with all five senses. I just can't picture it.

Want to see where you fall on the visualization scale? Take this (fast and painless) test: https://aphantasia.com/vviq—then share your experiences in the comments!

This post originally went up on my Patreon. Want to see all my public posts as soon as they go up? Follow me there!

Or become a Patron and see all my exclusive content too. 💕

Summer Seduction is Officially Available!

2020-02-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's release day for Summer Seduction! Grab it this week only at the special release price of $0.99.

The idea for this story first came to me when I was sitting on an airplane, trying to relax with a nice contemporary romance. Problem was, this romance decided to feature a really annoying cliché. I was so sick of seeing it that instead of reading, I suffered through typing up what turned into several thousand words of notes on the story that would become Summer Seduction—on an ipad. (I know I'm a luddite, but typing that much on a touchscreen keyboard is awful. The resulting number of errors in those notes is pretty embarrassing.)

Of course once I started writing, Tracy and Jeremy asserted themselves, refusing to follow along with that rough outline and proving once again that I am not a "planner" type of writer.

But now finally this story is out in the world! Check out what readers are saying:

"If you’re looking for a book that will keep your mind entertained while teasing your imagination, this is it!" —Samantha B.

"Aria Glazki gave all the power to our female lead, Tracy, also known to her readers as Taralynn Harwood... I loved that the author kept it real for the couple and made the story believable. Great Job!!" —Heather

"Amazingly told, steamy, hot... A well-edited enjoyable story which I can gladly recommend." —Judith

Please note: full review contains spoilers.

About Summer Seduction:

When Jeremy meets romance author Taralynn Harwood in a hotel bar, he’s glad just for the opportunity to buy her a drink. When she takes him back to her place and has him sign a non-disclosure agreement, his imagination—and libido—run wild. But after she kicks him out of bed, the blow to his ego forces him back to her, ready to just about beg for an opportunity to perform better. He’s willing and eager to learn the art of pleasure from one of the hottest romance authors in the business.

Tracy doesn’t hide from her achievements as Taralynn Harwood, touted by readers and reviewers alike for the off-the-charts heat of her books. What she does hide is a secret that could destroy her entire career. But when her failed one-night stand shows up at her door—NDA already signed and enforceable—it seems like the perfect opportunity to indulge in a little research. All for the sake of her books, of course.

This is a sexy contemporary romance novella.

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Google Play | Smashwords

And in case that isn't awesome enough, I'm also participating in a huge romance giveaway! Enter to win a Kindle Fire with 50 romance e-books or an Amazon gift card:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aria Glazki

Some very exciting news!

Unleashed won the HOLT Medallion in the Speculative Romance category!!

Unleashed is officially available—plus a BONUS!

Plus, a free gift with purchase!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy here!

Unleashed got a makeover!

About Unleashed:

And it's now available for preorder!

Plus, here's its first review!

Trying New Things!

Unleashed is up on Kindle Vella!

I have also added this story to Ko-Fi!

I have joined BookTok!

Lastly, I shared something extra-special!

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 3)

Read Part 4 Now

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 2)

Read Part 3 Now

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel (Part 1)

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments 💕

Cover Reveal for Unleashed: A Defiant Dragons Novel

Making a Major Change with Exciting News!

I want to be more

Fragments That Fit is officially available!

Enter here:

And if you haven't gotten your copy yet, what are you waiting for? Grab one here! 💕

End of the Year Book Lover Giveaway!

Enter Here:

Happy December!

Fragments That Fit Cover Reveal!

About Fragments That Fit:

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play More Stores

The Raw Truth About Why I Disappeared

For those who have read this far and may be so inclined, here is how you can help:

"Fire bad. Tree Pretty."

Let's Start with the Oven Mitts

"Be Interesting"

Something to Celebrate!

I've finished the first draft of the Dragon Story!

Summer Seduction Prize Pack:

Mortal Musings Prize Pack:

Forging Forever Mega Prize Pack:

Enter to Win:

Hush, Now (On Writing Quiet Genre Fiction)

Add Some Sizzle to Your Summer!

Enter the Giveaway

Patreon has done something annoying

Something Special to Wrap Up the Month!

Everyone in the Benefactor tier or higher (check them all out here) as of midnight 4/30/20 will have a character named after them (or a loved one) in my new Dragon Shifter story!

I'm excited to include you in this story! 💕

The chronically ill spend our lives hiding. No wonder you don't see us now.

Writing with Aphantasia

Summer Seduction is Officially Available!

About Summer Seduction:

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Google Play | Smashwords

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play
More Stores