But really, the only way to deal with all the insanity, all the nausea inducing fear, panic and self doubt is the same way I did before I sold to NY, which is to just keep on writing.

Reviews came in. A lot more than when I’d been in digital publishing which also means a far greater level of negative reviews, LOL. Not always fun, but it helps that most of them were good reviews and that I’d had to develop a thick skin before I sold to NY.

The happy part was that I did sell more books to Berkley. I love my editor there and I feel like she’s always pushing me to do my very best. She’s eager for me to stretch my wings and try new things. And at the end of next year, a new journey starts with my first mass market paranormal romance with Sensation.

There are ups when you sell new books. When you get a great review or hear back from your editor or a reader that they loved the book.

And there are still lows. Rejections. Bad reviews. A whole lot of waiting, like huge amounts of waiting and then hurrying to meet someone else’s schedule.

This journey has been a beautiful one. I’ve met people who’ve become my closest frie3nds. I’ve created relationships with people I know my life would be poorer for their absence. More happy is that I continue to publish with Samhain and am quite pleased to do so.

Each new year of my life as a writer I have had new challenges and had to find ways to deal with them all. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it makes me want to stay in bed with the covers over my head.

And still, every day I can honestly say I have the best job in the world.

Bio
The story goes like this – A few years ago, Lauren Dane decided to quit her job and stay home with her brand new second child. As a result, she had lots of conversations in a sing-song voice but no real outlet for adult thoughts and words. While on bed-rest with her pregnancy with the tiny monster, Lauren had plenty of down time so her husband brought home a second hand laptop and she decided to “give that writing thing a serious go.”

Lauren had no idea how fabulously wonderful it would feel to actually make a go of her writing and she’s thankful every day people actually want to read what she writes! She’s well aware of her good fortune and loves every moment of it, even when she has to edit and put Barbie’s dresses back on over and over again. She still hasn’t managed to figure out how to shut out the sound of the Backyardigans so she can write a love scene, though.