Books by Gretchen de la O

The Lost Years on Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sat, 28 May 2022 01:07:00 +0000

It was very strange as I slowly peeled myself away from social media. It wasn't as if one day I decided to stop creating my world set by the algorithms of Facebook and Twitter. I found myself contemplating the efficacy of my words. Were my words really changing the hearts of people who read them? I would write a post and then ask myself, "Is the post really going to make a difference in this world, today?" Most of the time I found myself saying, no. So begun my disengagement with social media.

But in order to be fair and honest, I will have to admit I had a little push from the Universe.

Back in 2016, I had just published Broken Girl and was ready to put my career in high-gear. Broken Girl was like nothing I had published before. It was a dark and gritty book. It was the one book that took the most out of me writing it, and yet, I believe it is my best work to date.

Around that time my aunt contacted me, her health was starting to decline and she asked for my help. She was 83 years old. She never married and didn't have any children. It was just her and her dog as she was slipping into the mild to moderate stage of Dementia. Now, if I knew then what I know now, there is a part of me that wonders if I would have taken such a massive role in her life. But, the truth is, she didn't have anyone else. Too many bridges burned, and all the people she called friends had all transcended before her. My aunt needed someone and I was the next in line.

Days sailed by, my career hobbled on, and the more dependent she became on me, the less time I had to spend working on my writing career. It was hard to log into Facebook and write positive posts blooming with inspirational words when I was drowning in a very hard, very lonely, and at times an overwhelming resentment-filled mental state of mind.

I had my close friends and family to lean on, but when it came to logging into Facebook and searching for the virtual pats on the back or the warm and fuzzy love of swelling hearts or tear-filled emojis it fell pretty flat for me. Truthfully, I didn't want to be another broken voice in the sea of brokenness on Facebook. Quite frankly, I couldn't find enough gumption to post any words of inspiration while I was submerged in the anger and frustration of having my life hijacked by my aunt's illness. So, I posted sporadically until I pretty much stopped posting all together.

At first, it was hard disconnecting from something that had become an addiction to me. Social media was my drug and the "thumbs-up" and comments became my hit. Facebook did exactly what it was designed to do, keep me coming back for more. Becoming addicted to social media was insidious, and fighting the addiction had become the uphill battle with my self-confidence.

I watched the writing world roll on without me. The fear of becoming irrelevant was real. Seeing my fellow authors publish and shine in the light of productivity was excruciating. Don't get me wrong, I wanted them to succeed. I loved these very talented and creative people. Yet, seeing them keep publishing and producing, signings and sales made me long for a different path. They were moving on and I was stuck in repetitive stories of yester-year and trauma.

Dementia is a bitch. It slowly steals the victims memory in the most cruel way. But it doesn't just take away memories, it confuses, and makes its victim scared. It tricks the mind into not eating, obliterates short-term memory and eventually riddles its host with paranoia and fear. So as my aunt worsened, I had to step into her life and take over more and more of her daily needs. Essentially, her life became mine.

While I hoped the Meta-verse of Facebook missed me, it didn't. The personal vibe of Facebook was fickle, if I didn't interact with people, I simply got lost in the shuffling algorithm and irrelevancy became my new normal. It was like I fell off the face of the earth and nobody noticed. Book sales dried up and the people who validated me months early stopped.

Suddenly, I found myself wondering if I'd ever publish again. I kept writing when I could steal some time, and find the mental strength. In the last handful of years I finished a couple of manuscripts and tucked them away in folders on my computer. However, the thought of putting another book out became almost impossible. Self-doubt, the impossible pulse of judgment and the ever-growing cancel culture on social media had me wondering if people would accept any of the future books I would publish.

Then cue a world wide pandemic. My aunt survived eleven months of the new order of things. She continued to decline, falling and emergency room visits, arguments of who came to see her, the "good, sweet Gretchen" or the "terrible, ugly Gretchen." Her ability to recall was failing drastically, and I was worried on how I was going to get this very proud, independent woman to leave her house for a different normal. I promised myself that if she fell again, I was going to have to put her into a home and health care facility, basically a cold, small room in a house shared with others suffering from Dementia. I harbored a lot of guilt because I promised her that I would do everything in my power to keep her in her home.

Truthfully, I wish I never promised anything of the sort. It's easy to come up with answers to promises when you didn't make them. Easy to write-off a woman who treated strangers better than her own flesh and blood. But I couldn't. I am not wired that way. I can't walk away from someone who needs me. I will exhaust all options, and do what I can to help, even if it was stripping every little morsel of peace from who I was. I wasn't mentally prepared for the amount of bandwidth she took.

I felt weak minded, I felt like an impostor who, just months before told people to always seek love in the midst of hate. Truth is, I was filling with hate and anger. I was burned out and losing who I was. Then in December of 2020 I found my aunt on the floor, she had fallen again. This time she cracked her ribs. The world was in the deep throws of the Covid19 and my aunt had to go to the hospital, alone. I couldn't go with her. For the first time, she wouldn't have her advocate with her.

A couple weeks went by, her mental state was deteriorating while trying to recuperate in the hospital. They said she was stable enough to go to a SNF, (Skilled Nursing Facility), the only problem, there weren't any beds available in the whole state of California. I did my research, looking for assisted living facilities, hoping that she'd be okay going from a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house where she lived alone, to a shared room in someone else's house with perfect strangers. It was depressing to see what places she could afford to go. This was going to be the place she'd finish out her life, and most of them were not what she was accustom to, living alone.

A couple days later, the sky opened up and the social worker called me--they have a bed in a SNF a couple hours away. I agreed to send her there. As long as she was safe, I could keep looking for a place to move her into. I never told her that she wouldn't be going back to her home. She had lived alone for most of her life. Just auntie and her animals.

When the mind is struggling to recall the past, you are given permission to tell little white lies. I kept telling her she'd be home soon. It wouldn't be long before she was reunited with her dog, Cinnamon. My husband and I went up to see her, took her pup and showed her through the window that we were keeping her dog safe.

Well, all hell broke loose. She wasn't in the SNF for very long before I started getting recorded phone calls about the cases of Covid19 in the facility. The calls would tell me the amount of patients and workers who had the virus. Every day the numbers rose on the recorded call. "5 patients and 6 employees have tested positive for Covid19." It was so fast that I didn't even have time to react. Then, a call came in from the facility, I answered expecting to hear the recorded voice tell me how many more cases they had, but instead it was a real person, she was calling to tell me that my aunt had tested positive for the virus. My heart dropped. I failed her. I wasn't able to get her out of there in time.

For most of her life, my aunt was a heavy smoker. She did quit twenty years ago, but her addiction had made its mark, it stole her ability to breathe on her own. She had COPD, and in the last ten years of her life, she was on oxygen 24/7. Now my fears were realized, she tested positive for Covid19.

It was so hard, the guilt was almost unbearable. She was two hours away from me and I spent hours back and forth on the phone. I tried to talk to her, talk to the doctors, figure out how to make her comfortable, while fighting Covid19 with COPD amidst the cruelty of Dementia. They'd tell me she was doing well and sent her back to the SNF, then they'd call again and tell me she wasn't doing okay and that they took her back to the hospital. She was stable one minute and acute the next.

On January 18th, 2021, she succumbed to the virus, less than three weeks in the facility. I was able to talk to her over the phone. Even though she was unconscious, even though she was never going to wake up again, I needed to tell her that I loved her and that she won't have to suffer any longer. She died that evening with no family around her, just the nurse who I spoke to who said she stayed with my aunt until she took her last breath. It's strange when people say, you come into this world alone, and you leave the same way. For my aunt, it was literally true.

It's been over a year since she died. I still haven't really dealt with the trauma of taking care of someone with Dementia. And even though Covid19 took her sooner than Dementia, I will say, I believe Dementia would have been a much more painful way for her to transcend this life. She was a prideful woman who was extremely intelligent, and her mind had slipped away.

There are things I wish I would have told her. Stories I wish weren't lost in the abyss of nothingness, the black hole of Dementia. I wish family relationships could have been mended for the people left behind.

Even sixteen months later, I'm still trying to figure out my place in this world; still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every once in a while I start looking at how to get my groove back in the book world. Most days, I tell myself, it has sailed on. I keep the hope that one day, when that ship comes back around there will be room on it for me and my stories.

With Love and Compassion,

Gretchen

When the World Pushes Back...

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 20:03:00 +0000

tumultuous sea of dementia

So many times we set up grand expectations which end up nose-diving to major disappointment.

I didn't expect to be gone from publishing for three years. In the book world, it feels like a lifetime. The stress of where to jump back onto the merry-go-round of self-publishing is real.

Have I been gone too long from the industry? Will readers be able to find me in an even more saturated market than three years ago? Has technology in publishing drastically changed?

You see, I wasn't burned out on writing, I wasn't taking time because I hit a brick wall or experienced the dreaded writer's block. For the last three years, LIFE happened.

Outside of who I am, the world around me decided to explode in crazy ways. Death and disease have ravaged some of my relationships, wreaked havoc on my writing career, and really messed with my emotional state of mind.

For the last three years, I've been navigating an extremely complicated relationship with a family member who is afflicted with dementia. I wasn't prepared for the amount of mental energy that the disease consumes. Dementia is a bastard who slips through the cracks in a broken mind, laughs in your face while it insidiously steals your freedom. I'm still not prepared for the road to come. I don't know if tomorrow will be filled with the stress of accusations or the sadness of watching them struggle to remember what happened yesterday. I haven't seen the worst, and yet I can't even fathom what the worst will be.

All I know is that I'm treading water in a tumultuous sea of dementia and my muscles are fatigued. I remind myself, it's not forever, and this too shall pass. It's the only words that seem to soothe the battered kid locked deep inside of me.

Needless to say, I am writing. It's a slow process and it's discouraging that I can't dedicate hours and hours into the worlds I love to create. But I am doing what I can. So don't give up on this ol' gal!

XoXo
Gretchen

COVER REVEAL FOR BROKEN GIRL!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:39:00 +0000

BROKEN GIRL

by Gretchen de la O

A standalone Contemporary Romance

RELEASE DATE:

Friday, April 29th, 2016

COVER DESIGNED BY:

Perfect Pear Creative Covers (Sommer Stein)

BROKEN GIRL SYNOPSIS:

My name is ROSE NEWTON, and I sell my body on the streets of San Francisco. I’m what you call society's dirty little secret. On the outside, I'm in control, the woman who makes her own rules and gives nothing away for free. Inside, I’m broken and numb. Torn and shattered by my past, my life is nothing more than the lost fragments of what's left of me.

SHANE WEST represents everything that’s foreign to me. He’s brave, kind, funny, gorgeous and persistent. When fate brings us face to face, an undeniable attraction blazes between us. He becomes the constant I've never had and the only man I'll ever trust.

There is nothing simple about falling in love when you're keeping a secret like mine.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28582130-broken-girl

BROKEN GIRL EXCERPT:

Time is bending my trust, breaking me before he brushes the back of his fingers against my lips. His touch startles me at first, but tracing his fingers on the outside curve of my lower lip soothes me.

“What if I can’t trust?” I ask in a hushed whisper.

“You can,” he answers, dragging his fingers along the outline of my jaw and down across my collarbone.

“What if it’s not in me?” I ask, still blindfolded and feet tangle in the sheet.

“You have everything you’ll ever need, right here.” he answers rubbing the tips of his fingers in circles between my breasts. My heart reaches for his touch as it leaps and crashes against my chest.

“You don’t understand, Mister, I need to have a sense of control.”

“Rosebud, control is an illusion, it’s a decision to trust a certain outcome. All you have to do is trust me and you’ll have all the control you need.”

I want his words to soothe me, and his calm, direct voice to caress the strength within me cowering at letting go of my scars. I want to trust him. I crave to taste the freedom he wants to give me. I want him to save me from a future tucked under cracked sidewalks, cold gutters and from ever having to fuck another man for a penance. I try and convince myself that he wants to keep me off the streets.

AUTHOR BIO:

Gretchen de la O, is the mother of three amazing young men, the wife of Mr. Big O, and the writer of romantically unique stories. A proclaimed positive energy infuser by people who know her, when Gretchen isn’t writing, parenting or teaching children computers, you will find her talking to people about discovering their creative process. Gretchen is a firm believer that anything is possible if you set your mind to it; and what you expect out of life, always finds a way of showing up. Want to be inspired, follow her inspirational posts on her Facebook page.

Gretchen released her first novel, Almost Eighteen in September of 2011, the first in a three book new adult student/teacher romance, The Wilson Mooney Series. In November of 2012, she followed with book two, Eighteen at Last, and concluded the series with Beyond Eighteen in October, 2013. Her Fourth novel, PROTOTYPE, a romantic suspense, first book in the Possession Series was released in October 2014. BROKEN GIRL, Gretchen’s fifth novel, is a standalone contemporary romance slated to be released April 29th, 2016. Please visit Gretchen at www.gretchendelao.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: www.gretchendelao.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/booksbygretchendelao

Twitter: www.twitter.com/GretchendelaO

Instagram: www.instagram.com/GretchendelaO

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/delaogk

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/gdelao

The Wilson Mooney Box Set with Additional Prequel, MAX is LIVE!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 21:20:00 +0000

THE WILSON MOONEY BOX SET is LIVE!

See what some have said about the Wilson Mooney Series!

"I give a lot of credit to Ms. de la O, she handled a sticky subject matter in a tasteful and yummy way. Max --- where was he student teaching when I was in high school? The drama, the desire, the secrets, the friends, the family. It all works its way into a great series that I want more and more." ~Amazon Customer

"From the very beginning of this series, I knew that Gretchen de la O had given us a gem. What I hadn't expected was the respectful, slow and magical transition from YA to more Adult. You literally feel like you are growing up with Wilson Mooney, our heroine of the series."

~ Desiree

"Loved Wilson and Max.. Gretchen has a way with her words that lets you live through the character.. She brings the story to life. I felt the pain, sorrows and joys for each character."

~ Summertime Book Blog

THE WILSON MOONEY BOX SET includes all 3 full length novels in the series plus, MAX, A WILSON MOONEY PREQUEL, bonus material only available in the box set. Experience this steamy yet delicate, heart breaking yet healing collection of stories that will work Max Goldstein and Wilson Mooney into your hearts forever. A sexy New Adult teacher-student romance that overcomes the taboo and embodies the purest of intentions, even in the sexiest of moments.

BONUS MATERIAL

MAX, A WILSON MOONEY PREQUEL:

Max Goldstein has always been expected to take over his family’s business. But, when a tragedy strikes in his sophomore year at the University of Michigan, he decides to choose his passion over the expectations of others. When he accepts a teaching job of his dreams in California, Max has no idea his world is about to change forever when Wilson Mooney walks into his classroom.

Priced at $3.99 you get 3 full length novels & MAX, A Prequel for less than $1 a book!

LINKS:

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1HOTKkf

B&N: http://goo.gl/TKEuQe

THE WILSON MOONEY BOX SET is only available electronically.

What's Up With the Big O in 2015?

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:13:00 +0000

Hi All,

I hope you're enjoying your summer! I'm spending part of this summer hunkering down to finish writing BROKEN GIRL, (book 1 in the series).

While I do have the summer off from work, (yeah, I work outside of writing) I have 3 amazingly awesome boys who are also home for the summer. Between the boys, hubs, animals, books, extended family and chores, I'm hoping to spend some time diving into some other writing projects that are rumbling around in my head ... What's that saying? A woman's work is never done! Well, neither is an authors!

I live to create, and in some sense, create to live!

*****BIG O's NEWS FLASH!****

I wanted to let you know I've lowered the price of PROTOTYPE to $2.99 and decided to register it for the KindleUnlimited program. For those of you who aren't familiar, KindleUnlimited is a monthly subscription service Amazon offers where you can read books for FREE! If you don't belong, you can still get the ebook through Amazon.com.

LINK----> http://amzn.to/1LiHlWa <----PROTOTYPE

***THE WILSON MOONEY SERIES IN THE NEWS!***

Shhhh.... You're first to know!

The WILSON MOONEY series is going to be available in a boxset! That's right, all three ebooks bundled, with a prequel titled, MAX. <---That's right! A prequel before ALMOST EIGHTEEN! This story will ONLY be available in the boxset, so if you want to find out HIS story, make sure you check your inboxes for the news! My goal is to release it the end of July, beginning of August. Price TBD.

ALSO, as 2015 rolls toward a close, I wanted to tell you where you can find me! I have 2 signings left for 2015!

***COME SEE THE BIG O, FROM COAST TO COAST!***

SAN FRAN GOLDEN GATE AUTHOR EVENT.
August 8th, 2015. San Francisco, CA.
http://sfgoldengateauthorevent.blogspot.com/

INDIES INVADE PHILLY AUTHOR EVENT.
November 7th, 2015. Philadelphia, PA.
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/indies-invade-philly-2015-tickets-15294974681

I look forward to seeing you!

With love and gratitude!

Gretchen de la O
"The Big O"

Happy New Year and Look, a Fan Made Book Trailer for Prototype!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 06:28:00 +0000

Hey friends, Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and sane holiday! I wanted to put this for those of you who haven't had a chance to see this fan made book trailer for PROTOTYPE! I think she did an amazing job really capturing the story! Here's to a very prosperous and amazing 2015!!!

LOVE,
Gretchen

P.S. I hope you read it, and fall in love with it, and tell all your reading buddies about it ... PROTOTYPE, book one in the POSSESSION SERIES!

Prototype is LIVE in ALL PLATFORMS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:09:00 +0000

PROTOTYPE is available and waiting for you to one click! Check it out today! <3

An Adult Romantic Suspense with just a hint of sci-fi.

PROTOTYPE, where romance collides with suspense...

PROTOTYPE:

Lauren Matthews believes she will be dead in seven days. She’s done witnessing others around her meeting that exact fate. With the device Marshall Grayson installed in her head as the only golden thread linking them, Lauren is left with no choice but to believe it is her destiny to die.

Unable to see her professional world in Washington DC is about to be ruled by her personal life in San Francisco, Lauren’s two realities collide when Grayson Industries’ influential financier, Alejandro Fernandez, infuses himself into her life. Enchanted by Alejandro’s old world charm and modern sensitivity, Lauren becomes tangled in a web of sex, love, deceit, and murder. She struggles to find a balance between self-preservation and ethical responsibility.

With the full scope of the prototype slowly possessing her every thought, she truly understands―her life is not her own. Will Alejandro’s love be enough to reawaken her soul and change her destiny?

LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prototype-Possession-Book-1-Gretchen-ebook/dp/B00P1OTNO4/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1414707655&sr=8-32&keywords=prototype

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prototype-gretchen-de-la-o/1120585245?ean=2940150607057

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prototype/id935316527?ls=1&mt=11

Pink Shades of Words...An Anthology to Raise Money for Breast cancer Research.

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 21:06:00 +0000

I am honored and very humbled to be a part of something that moves the world beyond just the limited space I am in. When Glorya Hidalgo asked me to contribute a short story to her Avon breast cancer project I was more then willing to jump in with both feet. Then when I heard she had big name authors like Emily Snow, Jessica Sorensen, Julie Prestsater and CJ Roberts, I knew I was putting my name on something truly special. Breast cancer (<---notice I didn't capitalize the insidious bitch), has made a mark in everyone's lives one way or another. It has become a too common household conversation regarding our mothers, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends. We've ALL become affected by this disease. Whether a personal story of survival or of a loved one, this disease is finding its way into too many people's lives.

I wish I had magic pill that would wipe this gnarly, insidious disease from the face of the earth, but the fact is...I don't. But what I do have is a story. MAX, A Wilson Mooney Series Prequel, a short snip-it of Max Goldstein's life up to where Almost Eighteen (book 1) begins. I wrote this short story especially for Pink Shades of Words, I figured what better way to help out then to contribute what I know. I hope you enjoy the 16 other authors that poured their hearts into this project along with countless contributors that donated their time!

Below is all the information....even links to purchase it!

17 of Today’s Best Selling Authors in Young Adult, New Adult & Romance came together to support Breast Cancer Research.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated towards Fifty Shades of Pink Avon Breast Cancer Team- Santa Barbara, CA.

FIFTY SHADES OF PINK team participates in the 2 Day, 39.3 miles Breast Cancer Walk in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. For one weekend- we wake up at 5am, deal with blisters the size of mountains, body aches (from body parts we should never ach from) and become one big family with the other thousands of walkers. We do this all in hopes that no other Mother, Sister, Aunt or Friend will have to deal with Breast Cancer.

Ready to Wed by J.L. Berg
Forgetting by JL Brooks
Max by Gretchen de la O
Fate by Dani Hart
Final Stage by Jade C. Jamison
Choices by Sloan Johnson
Leap of Faith by Shayne McClendon
Trying by J.B. McGee
Ruby and Finn by Maggi Myers
A Bend In the Road by Tess Oliver
More Than A Friend Request by Julie Prestsater
Songs of Dominance by CD Reiss
Falling by Julie Richman
Determined to Obey by CJ Roberts
Meeting Sin by Emily Snow
Lies & Deceit by Jessica Sorensen
Don’t Close Your Eyes by Hilary Storm

Amazon (Kindle & Paperback)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Smashwords (All Formats)

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:38:00 +0000

HUGE SALE ON AMAZON! JANUARY 20,TH ALL DAY!

Get all three books for under $3!

CLICK HERE

I'm Taking Over Panty Dropping Book Blog's Facebook Page Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Hey My Lovelies! I have the privilege of taking over Panty Dropping Book Blog's Facebook page today! I am so excited, because it is the first time I will actually take over someone's Facebook. AND....NO, I didn't have to tie them up or bribe them to do it. They were cool enough to invite me! So here are the deets! Go to this link >>>>>> https://www.facebook.com/pages/Panty-dropping-Book-Blog/295274823946802 at 4pm PST/ 7pm EST and hang out, answer some questions, ask some questions and maybe even win some prizes! I am hoping some of my writing buddies come hang out for a moment or two! Maybe even win some cool stuff they have out! Get ready with your best pictures, some really deep questions, and maybe even get ready to drop trou!

See you later today!

Grateful Journey...

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 01:00:00 +0000

I can say I would never change my life for all the money in the world or all the friends I could squeeze into an Amtrak train. I know that I am the fortunate one…I’m the person that skips across the crosswalk in rush hour traffic wearing a grin and dances down the sidewalk of my life in the pouring rain without an umbrella.

Writing the Wilson Mooney Series was an amazing journey, but taking the series on the road to book signings has made the journey phenomenal. Where else could I meet some of the most supportive, dynamic, talented, people I know?

Where could I fulfill my dreams and aspirations but amongst the people that see me for who I truly am? To wake up to the true validation that what I do isn’t just a spoiled girl’s attempt to be something she wasn’t meant to be.

I am an author…Validated by some pretty established, talented, and amazing writers. And as I make my mark on the hearts of my readers and fellow writers…one beat at a time, I attempt to stay authentic to who I truly am.

I can’t find the difference between my life and how I’m supposed to act. As I drag my hands across the dark tweed curtains on center stage, I struggle just like anyone else for that opening where the edges meet and the lights beg to push them part. I squint as the spotlights penetrate the most private corners of my soul. I’m the person who still cries at moments of weakness and cheers at the smallest moments of strength.

I am grateful for everything that I’ve experienced, learned from choices I’ve made, and grew from watching the experiences of others. I get giddy at the moment I discover someone has fallen in love with my writing, and get overwhelmed at the support from other authors with my process. I’ve gained trust and earned respect of my peers, not by asking them to do for me…but by sharing my heart openly with them.

YES…I have days were I want to stop. Days where I’m tired of having my heart ripped out of my chest. Days where I just need someone to tell me that I am worthy. But with each turn of events…with each breath that leads me back to my passion; I learn just that much more about my industry. I learn that what I put out…will be drawn back into my life. I know if I turn away from the sun I will cast a shadow in front of me, I know that as I close my ears to the discontented I won’t be able to hear, and I know as I speak…so shall my life mirror my words.

I’ve learned so much in the infancy of my career, and in learning…I’ve discovered there is still so much I have to learn. But it is in that space...of not knowing that the greatest growth takes place for me…and for all of that…I am truly grateful.

New Covers for the Wilson Mooney Series!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:42:00 +0000

I just wanted you to see the new covers for the Wilson Mooney Series. Thank you Sommer Stein from Perfect Pear Creative and Toski Covey for their patience and creativity. And Liza Aharonovich for the amazing photos!

Find your copies at:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Beyond Eighteen...is OUT to the World!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:08:00 +0000

Beyond Eighteen is out to the world! Amazon is up and people are clicking….Barnes and Nobel is taking a little longer…keep checking back with their site. Smashwords is up but am still waiting on the approval for distribution to iTunes/iBooks.

So here are the links…

Kindle at Amazon.com

Paperback at Amazon.com here

Paperback at Createspace.com here

For all electronic platforms at Smashwords.com here

Nook at Barnes and Nobel…still waiting for link…

This has been one amazing journey. From the first time I starting writing Wilson’s story to the moment I wrote the last word on the screen. I’ve cried, laughed, became frustrated, loved it, hated it, and basically felt the entire gamut of emotions with this series. It has been a ride I only dreamed of. Thank you for making it a reality! Truly, without you, this couldn’t have taken place. Thank you for supporting my passion, thank you for cheering me on when it became difficult, thank you for letting Wilson and Max into your heart and most of all….thank you for letting me take you away from the realities of life so you could have some time with the characters that flooded my mind.

I love you all and honor you as a fan of the series.

Beyond Eighteen Blurb and Cover Reveal...10 More Days!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 16:09:00 +0000

Can you believe that in 10 days Beyond Eighteen will be out to the world? In 10 days…the series you fell in love with, will finish its run with its third and final book.

There’s this part of me that is breaking inside. I ache because I know there is a moment where I will sit at the computer and tap out lives that have nothing to do with Wilson and Max. And yet, there is this excitement that boils inside of me for the new characters that are dancing around my head. I can’t wait to introduce you to them, and their stories. My heart rate speeds up when I think that you are going to meet people who have nothing to do with the Wilson Mooney Series. It’s like the first day you bring home a friend or lover to meet your parents.

Today I am going to give you…my subscribers the first look at the blurb for book 3 and the new covers. Yeah, you read right…I reissued new covers for book 1 and 2.

Before you start screaming or emailing me…I want you to know…I loved the butterfly covers…but I needed the books to become something different when people saw the covers. I needed them to reflect what the story was about…and the butterflies just weren’t enough. At first the covers were my attempt to be different, but just as caterpillars morph into butterflies; my books needed to evolve into something that let people know it was a contemporary new adult romance.

Soooo…without further ado….here is the blurb for Beyond Eighteen and the three new book covers.

Beyond Eighteen Blurb

Max Goldstein has been confronted by death, betrayal, and unwanted expectations. He must work to find the delicate balance of a love that has been tested and a family that has been broken. Returning to the warmth of Wilson’s arms, he finds the only place he can be truly healed. Unfortunately, teetering on the edge of losing everything he’s ever wanted, Max must make decisions that pull at his sense of responsibility and push at his desire to protect the life he’s found with Wilson.

When Wilson Mooney is thrust into adulthood, she never expects her childhood demons to come knocking. Struggling to balance the delicate nature of her relationship with Max and the burning sting of betrayal; Wilson realizes she must dig deep within her soul to find forgiveness. Will she allow circumstances out of her control to shape her future? Or will she find the strength and maturity to go beyond eighteen and have the life she desires with the man she loves?

Will Wilson and Max ever get to have their happily ever after?

Watch for Beyond Eighteen October 2nd, 2013.

With Gratitude and Love,

Gretchen

My Interview with Christy from Tyhada Reads Book Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Hey Ladies!

Check out my interview with Christy at Tyhada Reads.

She asks some pretty detailed questions about my writing process and how I came up with the name for the series!

http://tyhadareads.com/2013/08/11/author-spotlight-gretchen-de-la-o/

SAVE THE DATE! Beyond Eighteen release date is October 2nd, 2013! Also, make sure to check out the book tour for Beyond Eighteen from October 21st through the 25th. There will be interviews, reviews, and giveaways!

With Gratitude,
Gretchen

OMG....WE HAVE A DATE!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:29:00 +0000

I've had several people ask me...What’s going on with Beyond Eighteen (book 3 in the Wilson Mooney Series)?

First off, I know you feel like you’re floating in a blow-up raft in the middle of a shark infested body of water known as Wilson and Max. Bailing water from the sinking boat, and hoping that the little lifelines I seem to throw you will keep you from becoming shark bait. I get it. I truly understand the frustration, anticipation, and impatience y’all must be feeling, because I feel that way too! (thanks Shark Week)

With anything I feel impassioned about; I want to keep it safe. I want to make sure everything is in proper order before I let it go off on its journey. It’s so important to me that I give as much of myself that I can to the stories I write.

When the characters talk through me, or I feel that spark to write, it is as if everything else bows out. My family, friends, house, animals, events, everything becomes the background on which my writing is fueled. Life around me goes on going, while I disappear in the folds of my stories and the heartbeats of my characters.

The people, who know me and love me, try to understand. They continue to support me, but I can see and feel when they are reaching the saturation level of being ignored. Doors become heavier as they close with more force, calls and texts become a little longer, with words like, “I know you’re writing, but”, and my family gets tired of the excuse, let me just finish this chapter. As a matter of fact, I know my family and friends sometime feels my characters get more time with me then they do, and truthfully, sometimes they’re right.

Inspiration has a way of showing up at the most inopportune of times and so does its nemesis procrastination! There are days when I want to ignore the cat calls from the fictional characters in my head and the bellyaching from my boys in real life, and just take a day to myself. But, well, that just wouldn’t be fair to everyone.

So, here’s where I am with Beyond Eighteen...I hope it eases your mind. The first 3/4 of the book is written, and as of yesterday, is with my editor, Tiffany. I am at a pivotal point in the book and I feel like there is roughly another 3 or 4 chapters to go before Wilson and Max’s story will be done for this series. A couple of my beta-readers have been reading it all along, helping me catch inconsistencies. My graphic designer has finished the ebook cover and it is ready to go, the paperback is really close. I have been communicating with bloggers and other authors about promoting the series. And if all goes well, I will revise, re-read, and revise before back to editor and then off to the world. So the big question everyone is waiting for…When will book 3 be released?

DRUM ROLL PLEASE............

Beyond Eighteen will be released on a very special day…October 2nd, 2013, (Ed and my 19th wedding anniversary).

HEY! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

I'll be in Las Vegas on August, 17th at the Hard Rock Hotel from 2-6pm.

and

On October 12th (10 days after book 3 is released), I’ll be at the Mark Spencer Hotel in Portland, Oregon from 12-4.

With Love and Gratitude,

Gretchen

FIRST MAJOR SIGNING SFINE HERE I COME!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Well everyone I am off to San Francisco today for my first HUGE signing on Saturday! There is going to be over 30 authors there. I have a half of a table I am sharing with Bethany Lopez (I can't wait to meet her!). I've got all my swag in order and my bags are almost packed, all I have to do is set up my boys for success while I'm gone for 30 hours! Not much time in the realm of taking off for the weekend.

I am so excited to meet my readers, amazing authors, dynamic book bloggers, and many different people in the book industry! This weekend is going to be FAN-tastic! If you are coming down to the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf, make sure you come by my table, pick up some swag and let's chat! If you aren't going to San Francisco, then make sure to make it to Orlando, FL. on June 29th for Book Bash!

Thank you for being the most amazing fans a girl could ever ask for! Here's a little treat in case you can't make it to SFINE!

With Gratitude,
Gretchen

It's an East Coast,/West Coast Thang!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000

I am going to have 2 major signing events this summer! The first event is SFINE in San Francisco, California on June 15th and the other event is BOOK BASH in Orlando, Florida on June 29th! It's going to be a busy June!

I am so excited about this, I can hardly wait! Both signings are BIG...HUGE...MAJOR EVENTS!

**waving perfusly and jumping up and down**

OK, now I gotta let you in on a little secret...I haven't been on a plane since.......1998, shhhhh don't tell anyone, it's a little embarrassing. Yeah, I know, where have I been? Under a rock? No, just busy, raising kids and workin' for a livin'. It isn't because of fear, I'll tell you that! I just haven't really been flying anywhere....

Sooooo, now that I have a place to fly I am getting all these tips. One person told me to wear flip-flops to avoid having to take off my shoes (Well....anyone who knows me, knows I'm a tennis shoe girl through and through). Also, I had people tell me to travel with tiny shampoo/cream rinse bottles. Don't take liquid if you can help it. No toenail clippers, or sissors and avoid all powders. But on a good note, I heard they'll let you take a purse and a carry on with you (Well, again, anyone who knows me, knows I hate carrying a purse)! But I am willing to start carrying a purse if I can avoid the fees for checking-in bags. So many new rules to get from point A to point B.

Needless to say, I'll be in disguise with my flippy-floppies and huge purse! Maybe I'll need big pair of sunglasses too!

Alright, let me ask you, my Worldly Readers, What else should I know before I venture out of my little Northern California community into the huge world waiting for me...because, I sure don't want to get profiled as suspicious!

I look forward to meeting people, connecting with my readers, and chatting about The Wilson Mooney Series!

Birthday Giveaway ebook copy of Wilson Mooney Almost Eighteen!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:37:00 +0000

So it was my birthday Tuesday (4/23)! And what better way to celebrate it than to give away the first book, Almost Eighteen, in the Wilson Mooney Series!

Sooooo, for this weekend only (4/27-4/28) If you go to Smashwords and enter the promo code EH98M, you can download an eBook of Almost Eighteen for FREE!

Share this on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your blog, and your website! Don't ya think it's about time the rest of the world found out just how swoon-worthy Max is!

And thank you for being the best fans in the Universe!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86666

Sneak Peek Scene from Beyond Eighteen WM#3 & News

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Hey My Loves,

Head on over to Up All Night Book Blog and check out the exclusive scene sneak peek between Wilson and Max... Click HERE to read it!

www.upallnightbookblog.com

Also, don't forget SFINE on June 15th, the San Francisco Signing~ the event is almost to capacity...so...if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the middle of June, come on down to the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf and say hi! I'll even sign your book (or whatever you have to be signed!)
Click HERE for details and register soon!

With all of that...If I get 1K (1,000) LIKES on the Wilson Mooney Fan Page I will reveal Beyond Eighteen's cover!
I gotta tell you...is it a lot different than the other two books!

Oh, yeah, and one more thing... You've heard it here first...I am re-issuing book 1 & 2 with totally new covers! More about that...later! Shhhh......

Thank you for supporting me on this journey~ with the deepest gratitude and love,

Gretchen

Win a Beta Reader Spot for Wilson Mooney #3 Beyond Eighteen!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Check this out! Want to win an opportunity to read Wilson Mooney Beyond Eighteen (book3) before the public? I have 1 spot available in my beta reader team...are you up for it? Check out the auction link above the picture below!

Hey my lovely readers, the money is going to a worthy cause! It helps fund needed programs at my son's school! Bid high, bid often...and who knows, you just might be hanging out with me, talking about Wilson and Max's future!

CONGRATULATIONS TO....
Suzanne R. from
the San Francisco Bay Area!
Thanks for supporting PHE!

My First Indie Author Event in San Francisco! SFINE

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:05:00 +0000

I am so excited to tell you all about my first ever "indie" author's event, SFINE! I am going to be at the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday, June 15th from 12-4pm. OMG, can I just say I am so excited to be invited to such an amazing event! Colleen Hoover, Nyrae Dawn, Steph Campbell, and Jillian Dodd just to name a few of the 30 authors that will be there, with me! I can't wait to rub elbows with some truly talented writers!

Hey, but wait! Did I mention you're invited! Just go to the website,www.sfine.net and register (it's free). Then, come on down! I'd love to meet some of my amazing Northern California readers and sign your books! If you don't have a copy of Wilson 1 or 2, don't worry, click HERE, scroll through to the last page and order a copy or two!

It has been an amazing time in my life and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

With Love,

Gretchen

My First Author Interview!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:22:00 +0000

So I've finally arrived! Okay, so maybe I was never gone....I had so much fun doing my very first author interview over at Smitten's Book Blog! Check it out! You might even get some insight to questions you have!

Check out the interview HERE!

Oh and there are another 2 WM book giveaways at www.smittensbookblog.wordpress.com!

Which reminds me!

Winner of the 2/14/13 drawing is...

Bianca from Downey, CA!

Congratulations Bianca, email me at gretchen(at)gretchendelao(dot) com.

Added an Additional Drawing Date 2/14/13!

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:12:00 +0000

Congrats to Riley from Georgia! She was our first winner drawn on 1/31/13
BUT WAIT!
I'VE DECIDED TO DO ANOTHER DRAWING!
Don't forget to tell everyone you know about

The Wilson Mooney Series!

NEW DRAWING DATE 2/14/13 to enter the drawing for a signed copy of both books 1 & 2. Fill out the form to the right.

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If you've already filled it out, you don't have to do it again. You are already entered into the drawing!

HEY! Watch for the next contest....It's going to be a great one that involves winning an opportunity to read Book 3 before it is released to the world!

Don't forget to come back and keep looking for the details of the next contest!

Tell Your Friends~

noreply@blogger.com (Written and Ready) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Don't forget to tell everyone you know about

The Wilson Mooney Series!

Tonight is the deadline to enter the drawing for a signed copy of both books 1 & 2. Fill out the form to the right.

------------------------------------->

If you've already filled it out, you don't have to do it again. You are already entered into the drawing!

HEY! Watch for the next contest....It's going to be a great one that involves winning an opportunity to read Book 3 before it is released to the world!

Don't forget to come back and keep looking for the details of the next contest!