Superiors Species Book 3 Release

I am super happy to announce my latest release.

Ivory Ames has lost two friends because of the “Models”, supernaturally good-looking monsters in their human form. She plans the two funerals to keep her remaining friends from finding out the truth. If they learn, they will be killed.

In order to escape the “Models” that control the town, Ivory focuses on graduating college early. Her boyfriend Romero Riveras has her hesitating on her plan. He’s sweet, has been there for her, and has the most important quality—he’s human. But they live a town filled with monsters, secrets, and being human is not always a good thing, it’s downright dangerous.

https://mybook.to/SSB3E - ebook

https://mybook.to/SSB3

-K.A.

Top 10 Ways Writers Waste Time and the Fixes

Here is my list of top 10 ways writes waste time and the fixes for it. This is what I have seen other writers and myself waste our time. Let's try to avoid then.

1. The Unlimited Excuses

I am too tried to write.

I don't have the time to write.

I need to finish cleaning before I write.

My kids need my help before I write.

And etc.

Does any of these or the unlimited amount of excuses sound familiar? You do not have time to screw around. You need to write. You can do it. If you don't agree with me, Dolly Parton has sung the song, "You can do it." Check it out.

THE FIX: Make the time. Schedule a certain time every week or every day. Get your writing time in. Make sure everyone knows this is your writing time. I write every November. If my family leaves me alone, I will cook something for Thanksgiving. If they don't, they not getting their deviled eggs, aka rotten eggs (my family calls it this after my son made the mistake). Guess what? Every year they get rotten eggs. Fight for your time to write. I get all of a sudden my kid has something and it is during my writing time. Well I will do that, but guess what is happening the next day or so? I will be writing during that time. I moved that time to a new date.

2. The Research Rabbit Hole

You search for some answer and then you get stuck in a massive time suck. Before you realize it you've spent too much time on finding an answer. And you might not have even gotten the answer you needed.

THE FIX: Research just what you need. Get the answer and get back to writing or editing. I've been stuck before and realized my friend knew the answer. I messaged them. They answered me and I got an answer instead of wasting my time. Use your friends. I hate asking people for anything, but good people, your friends, want to help. Other authors want to help. We have an amazing community.

3. The Social Media Time Suck

Let's be honest. We all do this. You're looking at one of the many interesting videos and then flip to the next before you realize it 30 minutes or more has gone by.

THE FIX: Get your goals done and then enjoy your social media time. I reward myself. Or I yell at myself and tell myself to get it done.

4. Proofreading or Editing Your Unfinished Manuscript

Before you start writing for the day, you read over your manuscript and edit it before you can begin writing. Can you see how much time you waste if you do this EVERY TIME?

THE FIX: Limit how much you edit. I do the previous chapter at the most and that is it. You do you. Look over a scene. Look over a chapter. Look over a few paragraphs or etc. Don't edit the whole book. You'll be doing an edit once you finish your book. Trust yourself. Your future self will edit your book just fine.

5. The New Story Idea

You chase after a new story idea, and you write it. The story you have left for the new one is over half way done. You have another new story idea and you repeat. Do you see the problem here? Before you know it, you'll have over 5 stories started and never finished.

THE FIX: Limit it. I write the scene or chapter and that is it. I get it out of my head and get my fix. You do you. But unless you convince yourself to finish a story, you won't. I will admit I have 8 stories ready to be written, wanting to be written. I have written on them, but I am not allowed to write any of them until I get another book done.

6. The Feedback Dilemma

Before your work is finished, you hand it out. You change your work based on that feedback. You let people read it again and then you change and edit again. Like #4 you keep on editing, but you change YOUR work based on someone else's opinion.

THE FIX: Don't send it out. Don't get so much feedback. This is YOUR story. You write it. You can ask for opinions if you have questions. I've done that. I liked my character but wanted to know what other people thought. They let me know he wasn't kind like I wanted him to be, and I changed one small thing. He's kinder now. That was a few chapters. Not the whole book. I have a rule of 10. If 10 people or more are saying the same thing, I should change that. I also have a few trusted authors I change for too. It has to be serious before they ever mention anything to me.

7. The Change Over

You change your book over and over based on an editor, a publisher, or etc. opinion. This is a bit different then #6 because it's people in the industry who you should trust. People you should take their opinions over. Should you though?

THE FIX: You need to ask yourself, do you regret the change? If you do, don't do it. I rather be happy and be this unknown author then hate the story I wrote. You have to do you though.

8. Researching How to Write

Why are you researching how to write? You write by doing it. All the research will not get you to write.

THE FIX: Writing can be simplified. You need to write an interest beginning, keep people engaged, you need an almost ending, and then an ending. You have those four things and you are good. I'm not into the story arc with the bell curve. I want to keep people flipping the pages to read what happens next. I will take or watch something to improve. That is different. Improving is always a good thing. And I limit that too.

9. The Green Envy

Your writing friend or someone (you do or don't know) on twitter, tik tok, or any of those social media platforms sold a lot of books, got a lot of page reads, got an agent, or etc. You feel like you should never write again and you will never make it.

THE FIX: Be happy for them. Don't compare yourself. Your writing journey will be different. You write different then them. Unless you are #CopyPasteCris. Don't be that person. I believe everyone will get there. Readers read a lot of different books. There is a spot for everyone.

10. Creating a Book Cover

Why are you making a book cover and book isn't done? Your story can changed. Why have something that you may not use? Why waste time?

THE FIX: Don't do it.

I want to see so I do it. I am hoping to stop.

Later,

K.A.

My Latest Obsession

My latest obsession is the American TV show Ghosts (2021). Have you seen it?

Samantha and Jay throw caution to the wind when they convert their recently inherited country estate into a bed-and-breakfast. Call it mislaid plans. Not only is the place falling apart, but it’s also inhabited by spirits of previous residents – whom only Samantha can see and hear. Ghosts spins the funny, heartfelt story about a newfound dream that reveals connection and self-discovery aren't just for the living.

It is hilarious and a lot of hijinks. It does take 3 episodes to get into the story. Spoilers coming up now. The first episodes sets the story up and then Sam has an accident. Second episode she freaks out. Wouldn't you if you could all of a sudden see ghosts? Third episode she accepts seeing ghosts and the series gets better from there.

One of the reasons why I am obsessed with this show is because it is a lot of fun and the episodes are short. They are slotted for 30 minutes time slot Thursdays 8:30/7:30c currently airing on CBS. I gave up cable years ago so I watch it on the Paramount+ app.

The Ghosts cast has a ghost for everyone. One of my favorite characters is Sam. She is not a ghost, but the main character. She is played by Rose McIver. Have you seen Rose in anything before? She was in the TV show iZombie, the movie series A Christmas Prince, and so much more. She is definitely one of my favorite actors. In Ghosts, her husband is Jay, played by Utkarsh Ambudkar. He does a great job of going along with Sam and takes convincing but does support her in the end. I'm not as familiar with his previous works, but I'll need to check it out.

The Ghosts are (in order of deaths (I think)):

• Thor/Thorfinn - a Viking and the oldest ghost in the house. He doesn't understand everything in our world which would happen to anyone who has been dead and around for over 1,000 years. He calls cars landships. We should call them that. Portrayed by Devan Chandler.

• Sass/Sasappis - a cynical Native American who is the voice of reason and also a story teller. The writer in me is like YES! Portrayed by Román Zaragoza.

• Hetty Woodstone - uptight and proper lady from a long time ago. She originally owned the house and is the great-great-great-great-grandmother of Sam's. Portrayed by Rebecca Wisocky.

• Captain Isaac Higgintoot - a closeted gay American Revolution officer who died of dysentery. Portrayed by Brandon Scott Jones. He is one of my favorite ghosts. He likes to gasp at shocking moments. It does happen a lot between the living and the dead. We should bring back gasping.

• Unknown amount of Cholera victims - they live in the basement. So far we have learned about 6 of them. Nancy is awesome. She's outspoken and doesn't take flack from anyone. Portrayed by Betsy Sodaro who has been on several comedy programs like Another Period, Clipped, Nailed it, and etc.

• Alberta Haynes - a flamboyant Prohibition-era jazz singer who was murdered. This does bring a bit of mystery to the series. Portrayed by Danielle Pinnock.

• Flower aka Susan Montero - a hippie who died in 1960s after being so high she hugged a bear. She is a little flighty. It works well for the show. Portrayed by Shelia Carrasco.

• Pete Martino - a guy who died by an arrow to the neck in 1985. Portrayed by Richie Moriarty.

• Trevor Lefkowiz - most recently deceased ghost and was a wealthy, hard partying business man (I want to say kid since he is barely out of college) and Wall Street investor. He was Jewish and died in 2000 from a heart attack because of drug overdose. He also has no pants. There is a story behind it and you'll have to watch to find out. It is a good one. Trust me. Portrayed by Asher Grodman.

There are hgosts that live nearby or in a shed. So I won't mention them. These are the main ghosts that live in the house.

This is the American version of Ghosts. There is a British version, Ghosts (2019). It's just as good, but only 6 episodes per season and a special except for the first season. The main characters are awesome also. The ghosts are the original so the American version are similar. When adapted, Ghosts (2021) had to change a few things like names and characters since American and British have a different history. The premise is the same. I have not seen the 4th season of the British Ghosts (2019) and I want to. It is on my list to watch. I watched the first 3 seasons on HBO Max (it does have the specials). I can't buy 4th season either yet. It just ended in December 2022.

I am hoping bother series gets many many seasons.

Here is the British verison:

From BBC One:

A cash-strapped young couple inherit a rickety country mansion, only to find it teeming with needy ghosts. Grown-up comedy from the Horrible Histories team.

Later,

K.A.