Dear Unicorn Bell

Dear Unicorn Bell,

Two years ago, Kristin Smith asked me if I’d like to join Unicorn Bell. Huntress and the other moderators welcomed me with open arms. The fact that you all saw something in what I was doing on my blog, and you invited me to join you here, thrilled me. Thanks, ladies!

And thank you to all Unicorn Bell readers for embracing me and my Dear Writer posts. Your comments, shares, and support were amazing, I was honored to be able to share writing advice and writerly motivation. I truly hope I helped and inspired you.

Today is a new year, though. I am sorry to say that I will be stepping down from being a Unicorn Bell moderator to make room for other responsibilities. I’m going to continue blogging at Write with Fey, but even there I’ll be blogging a little less. This will allow me to focus on writing, freelance editing, and being an administrator for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (my big job with them is the monthly newsletter).

Before I go, let’s take a walk down memory lane. Here are all of my Dear Writer posts published on Unicorn Bell:

  

Writing Advice:

Dear Young Writer

Dear Aspiring Author

Dear Late-Blooming Writer

Dear Writer Not Writing

Dear Time-Strapped Writer

Dear Blocked Writer

Writing Life:

Dear Withdrawn Writer

Dear Degree-less Writer

Dear Scrambling Writer

Dear Distracted Writer

Dear PMSing Writer

Dear “I’m the Worst Writer Ever!” Writer

Dear “My Writing Sucks!” Writer

Writing/Publishing:

Dear Lazy Writer

Dear Scared Writer

Dear Mad Writer

Dear Impatient Writer

Marketing:

Dear Confused Facebook Author

Dear Debbie Downer Writer

Editing/Critiquing:

Dear Beta Readers and Critique Partners

Dear Writer with an Editor

Dear “Editing is Crap!” Writer

Dear “I Hate Grammar!” Writer

Goals:

Dear Goal Writer

Dear Unfocused Writer

Inspiration:

Dear Uninspired Writer

Thank you again for making my time at Unicorn Bell special.

I’ve cherished your friendship, and I look forward to continuing it. You can sign up for my free monthly newsletter for updates as well as giveaways. (I’m doing a 12-Month Book Giveaway throughout 2017!)

I’ll see you around the blogosphere. :)

XOXO,

Chrys Fey

Author of Hurricane Crimes, 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. Blogger. Reader. Auntie. Vegetarian. Cat Lover.

Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Website / Amazon / Goodreads

'Twas the Night Before the Deadline

I've got a fun post for you today. I'm reblogging this from my blog Write with Fey.

Enjoy!



‘Twas the Night Before the Deadline

By

Chrys Fey

‘Twas the night before the deadline when all through my writing room,

not a pencil was scribbling, not even a pen.

The books were all put away with regret,

while I hoped my writer’s block would soon end.

The notebooks were all stacked neatly on my desk,

with my next creation invisible on their pages.

My cat Rosie and I behind my computer,

had just clonked out after a long writing attempt.         

When out on the road there arose such a commotion,

I rocketed off my swivel chair to see what was occurring.

Away to the front door I ran like a jock,

yanked off the chain and jerked the lock.

The moon on the leaves of the tall palm trees;

gave witness to the blowing wind from sea.

When what to my drowsy green eyes should hover,

but a giant bookcase and eight cherished novels.                

With a beautiful fairy as lively as a lit fuse.

I knew in an instant she must be my muse.

More quick than agents her directions they flew,

And she hummed and sang their titles on cue.

Now MacBeth, now Moby Dick, now Jane Eyre, and Huckleberry Finn.

On David Copperfield, on Frankenstein, on Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:

To the top of the shelf, to the top of the bestsellers list.

Now inspire, inspire, inspire all writers!

As dry pine needles before the happy parade swayed,

When they met with the writer’s block in my brain,

So up to the rooftop the path they hurried,

with a bookcase full of books and the writing fairy too.

And then in a second I heard in my thoughts,

The whispering and musing of a new story plot.

I was pondering my idea and thinking with all my might,

when the writing fairy materialized before my very eyes.

She was dressed in lace and silk from ears to toes,

And her dress glittered with diamonds and pearls.

A pile of books she held in her hands

and she looked like a goddess with a deep love of literature.

Her eyes how they glowed, her skin was like gold.

Her cheeks were like roses, her nose was elegant.

Her lips were shaped into a kiss,

And the hair on her head was as soft as mist.

The scent of peppermint lingered on her skin,

it circled me and awakened all of my senses.

She had a lovely face and two sparkling wings,

that fluttered when she walked so gracefully.

She was tall and slim, a fabulous imagine,

and I smiled when I saw her in spite of my writing trouble.

A skip of her feet and a twirl of her dress,

soon put my worries to rest.

She hummed as she danced to my writing room,

and laid the books where my cat snoozed.

Then twirling around she shook glitter off her wings

and vanished from her place in front of me.

She popped into her bookcase, to the novels gave a deserved, “Well done!”

And away they flew to spread more writing love.

But I heard her sing as she returned to her realm of creativity:

“Happy imagination to all, may you never stop writing!” ©

30 Seconds

Today Chrys Fey is joining us to tell us a bit about her newest release, 30 Seconds, and her newest favorite TV show. And of course a bit about her writing process and publishing experience...

1. Where did the initial idea for 30 Seconds come from?

I had a dream that I was sitting cross-legged on a swivel chair, spinning wildly to pounding rock music with my eyes closed. Suddenly, my fast rotation stopped and lips touched mine. I opened my eyes to see a hot cop in full uniform. “I shouldn't have done that,” he said and left. I immediately woke up and pondered a story idea about a woman who falls in love with a cop even though she knows she shouldn't. That’s when Dani and Blake sauntered into my imagination. My dream even made it as a scene in 30 Seconds.

2. Which part of the publishing process was the most surprising?

How difficult it is to get an agent. I have been approaching agents for the first book in a series off and on for seven years and I still don't have one. It’s a good thing I didn't need one to submit to The Wild Rose Press or else I wouldn't be published at all.

3. If you could give yourself any piece of advice before you started writing, what would it be?

I was twelve when I started writing with the goal of one day being published, so I would tell myself to be patient. If I could have, I would've been published at the age of twelve and that might've been a disaster. I now believe things happen when they do for a reason, so...for all the aspiring writers out there...be patient!

4. Plotter or pantster?

I'm a little of both. I always write a complete outline whenever I get a new story idea. I even include conversations so I won't forget dialogue. When I'm writing though, I allow myself to change things up if I get a better idea, or if my characters tell me to do something different. If my characters speak, I do as they say! After all, I'm writing their story.

5. Quiet room or noisy room when you're writing? How quiet do you need it? What sort of noise?

Headphones are usually snug over my ears no matter how noisy or quiet the room is around me.

6. Your writing area/desk: a place for everything and everything in its place or if anyone ever straightened it, you'd never find a thing?

I tend to get a little OCD when it comes to my desk and my papers. I like things to be in order so I can find them quickly and easily. But I do love to decorate it for every holiday. Right now I have a pumpkin perched on the corner of my desk.

7. What is your current pop culture obsession (book, TV show, movie, webcomic…)? What are the rest of us missing?

How to Get Away with Murder, the TV show, is my current obsession. I love Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, and the twists are exciting!

30 Seconds

When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.

The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?

Chrys Fey

Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses--especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.

30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.

Links:

The Wild Rose Press
NOOK
KOBO
Amazon 

Goodreads: 30 Seconds
Facebook
Blog
Goodreads: Chrys Fey