I tell ya, the Ladies of Hive contests make you think. Some of the questions are light, some require a deep dive into memories or emotions... This week, the question is:

What has been your greatest achievement at a professional or work level, perhaps a project that made you feel proud or something you did on your own and that only you could have done at home or at your workplace?

Well...

As usual, I can't just choose one, but I'll group them together under one label: BOOKS!

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The life of an author.

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My greatest accomplishment (professionally-speaking) is becoming an author.

Being a writer is one thing. I've written all my life. Not always well, mind you, but over the last decade, I've dedicated much of my free time to developing my writing skills.

You don't have to be good at writing for it to be a blessing. For instance, poetry got me through a good portion of my youth because it allowed me a healthy way to express the mess of emotions I was drowning in. Sure, a lot of my early writing was cliché, and melodramatic, but what do you want from a teen?

Fast-forward many, many years, and here I am, working on getting my fifth book ready to publish. It's out with a proofreader right now, while I work on another project that I'm super excited about but not ready to announce yet.

Being an author is being a writer, plus a lot more. If you're lucky enough to have a traditional publishing deal, you might end up with books on the shelves of stores worldwide. However, traditional publishing houses have cut back the number of new authors they're picking up, and most authors these days are either with small publishing houses, or doing it all as self-publishing multitaskers extraordinaire.

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The art of self-publishing and self-care.

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Self-publishing is not for the weak of heart. It's a business. You have to be an entrepreneur as well as an artist. You have to manage cover art, formatting, editing, proofreading, and the actual publishing process. And then, once the book is out in the world, you have to market the thing so people know it exists.

Some of this can be outsourced, depending on your budget, but you're still the one making decisions, which can be both liberating and stressful.

The first time I published a novel, I had a 12-hour panic attack. What would people think of the story? What would they think of me? What if they hated it? What if I was making a huge mistake sending my creativity out into the world of critics?

None of these worries were things I had control over, of course, and it turns out that most people don't even care. Most people who have read my writing have told me they love my stories, and those are the ones I focus on.

The hard truth is, I'm terrible at marketing, and, like the vast majority of self-published authors, my books haven't sold that well or been read by that many people. However, every book I've published has excellent reviews. So I keep writing, and publishing, and appreciating the readers I have, because they tell me they want more of my stories, and that makes my author's heart glow in the most wonderful way.

The trick to self-publishing, for me, is self-care. I've stopped giving myself deadlines, and decided to only announce the date of the next book when everything is ready, not when I think it will be ready. I take big breaks from writing when I need to, and let myself work on other projects if I'm approaching burnout.

Like everything, the life of an author is a balance. It's finding the right amount of ambition and dedication, without losing the joy of creativity. It's believing in yourself, and finding the friends who will cheer you on when you're struggling. It's celebrating the wins, some small, some monumental.

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And now, I proudly present my book babies!

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I write fantasy under the pen-name Leia Talon, and my upcoming release is the sequel to Falling Through the Weaving, so let's start with that.

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Falling Through the Weaving: Roots & Stars Book One

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Cool story... Part of Falling Through the Weaving is set at Duart Castle in Scotland, though heavily fictionalized. Before publishing, I reached out to the staff at Duart, as a matter of courtesy. The personal assistant to the current Chief of Clan Maclean read my book, and had this to say:

"I am an avid reader and work at Duart Castle as PA to the Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean, and also as a visitor guide. I have been utterly captivated by Shelta and her journey through time and dimensions and her link to the one soul in three men. Shelta's musical intuition and connection to nature's song is fascinating and I feel a resonance with that in my own soul.” — Alison Canham, from Duart Castle, Scotland

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Falling Through the Weaving has been sold in the gift store at Duart Castle, which is one of the coolest things ever!

Here's a link to get your own copy of Falling Through the Weaving. 🔥💖🔥

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Dragons in the Weaving: Roots & Stars Book Two

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Dragons in the Weaving, the next book in the Roots and Stars duology, is coming soon! I'm so excited for this story, which I began writing in 2013, when I was pregnant with my twins.

Dragons is with a proofreader right now. I'm hoping to have it ready for August 1st, 2022. But, like I said above, I've learned not to set a hard launch date until I've got everything lined up and I'm ready to go live with it, so we shall see...

For now, here's a sneak peek at the cover. I'll release the full cover in the not-so-distant future.

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Shelta's Songbook: Poetry and Prose from the Vaults of the Keeper

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Shelta's Songbook is a poetry and short story collection written by Shelta, the main character in the novel Falling Through the Weaving. It's fictional, presented as a collection gathered by an elusive god... one who will finally be named in Dragons in the Weaving.

Here's the official description of Shelta's Songbook:

As Shelta tumbles through time, she leaves notebooks and sketches behind. The Keeper of Lost Souls and Stories slips Shelta’s creations through the World Tree into his secret collection.

Sometimes, he listens through the tapestry when she sings. Sometimes, he transcribes her words. He cannot help himself. Her music sets his immortal soul aflame.

One of the poems, from the illustrated paperback:

I had a lot of fun designing Shelta's Songbook. If you get the paperback, the poems and stories are accompanied by gorgeous art. I don't know how long the sale will last, but Amazon has Shelta's Songbook on sale right now!

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Wild Horse Heart: A Hollywood Romance

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Wild Horse Heart is a fun, fast-paced romantic suspense set in the film industry. I've even adapted it to a screenplay, in case it ever gets interest from a producer. I'm not holding my breath, but anything is possible, so I'll keep the door of opportunity open for that.

When musician Ria Walsh lands the lead role in director Ben Crawford's next film, she works up the courage to leave her toxic marriage. She takes the kids, escapes her ex-husband, and dives into her new Hollywood life. Even as Ria secretly falls for her director, she accepts the offer of a summer fling with her co-star, Gregory Finn... a man notorious for romancing his leading ladies and leaving them when production wraps up.

Filming on location at a wild horse sanctuary, Ria finds solace in the horses and slowly gains confidence, channelling her fears and courage into acting. But when her ex jumps parole, hunting her, both Finn and Ben get protective. They'll have to stop him once and for all for Ria to claim the freedom she deserves.

PRAISE FOR WILD HORSE HEART

“Deftly written, a lush love story that moves like a freight train.” — Melanie Wise, founder of Artemis Film Festival

“Passion and adventure at every turn of the page. An honest look into a woman’s mind and soul.” — Maja Aro, award-winning filmmaker

“My favorite stories hit that sweet spot between romance and women’s fiction, and Wild Horse Heart sits squarely in the middle of those worlds.” — Amanda Heger, author of Semi-Scripted

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Yoga for Dragon Riders

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My first release was non-fiction, a book I wrote at the apex of my career as a yoga instructor. I guess this counts as a double "Greatest Accomplishment" item.

Yoga for Dragon Riders is an extensive manual on yoga and subtle energy, that merges the realms of fantasy and reality. Get the illustrated paperback, and find the pages that speak to you. Yoga for Dragon Riders is on sale right now!

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Thanks for reading!

If you're interested in any of my books, please check them out! 😇

For those of you who've read my books, thank you!!! 😍

To those of you who have left me reviews, you are AMAZING!!! 😘

Huge shout out to Ladies of Hive for providing the motivation to write this blog post. 💖💖💖

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Whatever happens, keep singing your song!
Peace @Katrina-Ariel / @LeiaTalon

^{All photos mine or used with permission.}

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Author bio: Katrina Ariel is an old-soul rebel, musician, mama bear to twins, and author of Yoga for Dragon Riders (non-fiction) and Wild Horse Heart (romance). She’s also written two books as Leia Talon: Shelta's Songbook and Falling Through the Weaving. Visit her website at www.KatrinaAriel.com