MY PUBLISHING CAREER 9 YEARS LATER

When I was a teenage girl, I had a dream. It was to one day write and publish a book. Fast forward to July 2014 and that dream became a reality.

And here I am nine years later looking back in awe at all that I've accomplished with a thankful heart for all the readers, reviewers and supporters I've gained along the way.

Here are a few highlights.

2014-2016 Wrote the 4-book Physical Series (Physical Touch, More Than Physical, Physical Distraction and Physical Connection)

Attended my very first book signing in July 2016 at Writers on the River in E. Peoria IL (Picture of me and my niece, aka: table asst, Steph)

2016-2018 Wrote the 5-book award-winning college sports series, Courting Love

2018 During this time, I was invited to become a publishing author in The Flirt Club.

Published the epic 3-book serial, Reckless: The Smoky Mountain Trio (this won 2 awards in 2019)

2019 I wrote my best selling, highest ranking, and most highly acclaimed single dad/sports romance, Game Changer. This won two awards in 2020!

In 2020, I created a YouTube channel and I also created a multi-author book series called All American Boy. What was only supposed to be a one-time thing with a handful of authors ended up with over 40 authors participating in 4 separate rounds of unique interconnected series's. What a blast!

2021-present Started the multi-author Audiobook Angels newsletter, began publishing under my new LGBTQ pen name, K.C. Kassidy, and began co-writing with my friend, S.E. Rose.

To date, I've published over 43 books under 2 pen names, across the contemporary romance genre. I've made incredible friends and gained readers worldwide! I've established an agent and had my books narrated by audiobook publishers.

None of this would have been possible without readers! Thank you!

Cheers to more years and books to come.

~Sierra

2022 Recap...That's All She Wrote

Four releases. That's it. Only four book published when my goal starting out in 2022, believe it or not, was supposed to be seven. And out of those four, NONE were in the second half of the year. WOW.

One solo Sierra book (The Wife Win), one solo K.C. Kassidy release (Pretty Boy), and the final two books in my joint co-written series with SE Rose (Ignited and Scorched).

This year I produced less than any other year since my debut year in 2014.

I missed my goal but I had REASONS.

Am I disappointed in this? Yes. But I'm also amazed that even with the challenges I faced (and still deal with today), that I was even able to accomplish that much.

The truth in all of this is I was forced to slow down and step back. Even though I wanted to do all the THINGS, I was physically and mentally unable to do it. And that's life. We can only do what only we can do. And that's okay.

The question I face now is what am I going to be able to achieve in 2023? Will I have to continue at this slower pace? Probably. But now that I know what my limitations are, I'm able to confront them, implement tools to enable me to write, and establish more realistic expectations of myself and my readers.

Because after all, life is a journey, not a race. Some days/weeks/months/years it will feel like a slog and you're barely squeaking by. But then others will be so amazing you'll be counting all the stars within your reach.

Here's hoping that 2023 is YOUR YEAR and you're the recipient of all the great joys life can offer.

As for me and my writing projects, I have two dates already locked down for the first quarter 2023.

The Rival Romeo (Book #3 Puget Sound Pilots) releases January 23rd and the first book in the new college football romance series with my co-writing partner will be coming at the end of March.

And then get ready for some HOCKEY with the Vancouver Vikings hockey team.

Wishing you Peace, Love, and Joy this holiday season and throughout the new year.

xx, Sierra

With a Thankful Heart

I’ll be honest, and I've mentioned this before in a previous post, but 2022 has been a very difficult year for me. I’d even go so far as to say it was the worst year I’ve experienced in my life. YIKES!

Most of the difficulty was derived from my physical health and the loss of my vision in my left eye. That lead to a demise of my mental health due to the chronic pain and inflammation. All of which effected my writing career.

It was the perfect storm of imperfect conditions.

Last month, it became so bad that I was about to give up writing entirely. I’d attended an out-of-state book signing and felt absolutely defeated. It felt like I was invisible in a sea of up-and-coming authors who were adored by readers who clamored for their books.

I came home after that event and sobbed and thought, “well, maybe this is it.” Maybe my books just aren’t good anymore. Maybe readers aren’t interested in my stories.

Fast forward to the first weekend of November. I attended a romance author conference in Houston. The only reason I decided to go was because I'd already paid for (it was a huge investment) and I’d given my word to my author roommate that I’d be there. I went with a heavy heart and no desire to be there.

And guess what?

I. WAS. INSPIRED.

My spirits were lifted with the community of authors that were there together. We hugged. We laughed. We cried. We shared our mutual anxieties. We celebrated one another’s successes.

The biggest theme and takeaway I got from every presentation and every discussion was learning to be okay with where you’re at in your career. To find joy in what you’ve accomplished and achieved. And to remember that there is NO time limit on your success.

I’ve been publishing for over 8 years now. I’ve never been a #1 Amazon Best Seller or on the USA Today Best Sellers list. I’ve never made a million dollars like some of these other newer authors. I don’t have thousands of TikTok followers who promote my books.

I don’t, I don’t, I don’t.

But something clicked in my head during this conference with the notion that “I DO HAVE SUCCESS…” It just looks different than what I imagined it would.

• I do write good books (and have several award winners).

• I do have wonderful readers all over the world.

• I do have a solid number of followers.

• I do have amazing author friends who support me.

• I do have the amazing privilege to write fulltime.

• I do have the control over my business and publishing career.

The change of perspective from I DON’T to I DO was game changing for me.

Reframing how I look at success has flipped my attitude around and it’s all about being thankful and grateful for what I DO have the opportunity to do.

So, as we celebrate the month of Thanksgiving (in the U.S.), I encourage everyone to give this a try.

Focus on all the things that you DO HAVE, not the things YOU DON’T.

Be content with where you’re at now. Look back with appreciation at how far you’ve come. And plan ahead with a positive outlook on all the things you want to achieve in your future.

Be positive. Be intentional. Be thankful.

Wishing you all love and HEAs,

Xx, Sierra

Tell me what you're thankful for?

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  My health
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  My family
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  My career
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  Books! Always books