Where does the time go?

The reflection of one's self is not always the best. When looking back at all that you have accomplished, over came, and then stride for, it can become a little overwhelming. We can see ourselves through others eyes and we can also see who were are through our own. Reflecting back on when this journey started for me, it was one that caused much heartache. There was this story inside of me that I wanted to tell, but never thought it would get real far. My past flowed onto pages and my present life was starting to unfold onto this book. There was never any real doubt that I wouldn't pour my heart and soul into anything I did, I just didn't know if I could. 

Most of the time, I find inspiration in telling others that they can live their dreams, they can accomplish anything they set their hearts to, all the while I live in self-doubt believing that I won't be able to accomplish my own. The first time that I saw one of my books hit the best seller list on Amazon, it was mind blowing. The book was poorly written because I didn't know how to write. (Still not sure I do. Haha.) Yet, people were seeing themselves in these characters that I had made. There's a real truth behind the books. There's a piece of my soul out there, that I never thought anyone would know, yet I wrote it out for the whole world to read. That alone was hard to do. 

When it comes to people reading what I write or just reading my every day nonsense, there's something inside of me that tells me to keep going... Maybe being so hard on myself is what drives me to keep pushing, to do better, to be anything but the person I was. See, we all do bad shit in our lives, and we all have hurt someone somehow some way... I just never understood how hurt I was till the stories came out. The sad part is, half of my family has never read a book I have wrote. (There's 3 currently available.) and some may never read them... That part is what drives me yet keeps me down. You see, there's characters in the book who mimic my family members, my friends, my life, but maybe the real world wrote out in black and white is too hard for them. They don't want to see the woman I became because for some reason they believe that the life they thought I had wasn't what it was. When you start writing out a make believable world with twists and turns, that's exactly what it is. Make believe, but when you feel something from that passion that you bleed out into paper that's where it becomes real. 

Many times, the questions are asked.. Does this character represent someone you know? Did this really happen? In some things the answer is yes, on others no, it's just a story. When I wrote Charming I wanted to tell a love story about a girl who had come from a broken home but love healed her heart... As the story grew so much more came from that. 

Writing this last book for the Charming series is taking a toll on me. Unsure of how it ends, unsure of where the story goes, and will her heart ever truly be whole. My life is wrote into a novel of a beautiful chaotic world... and now I have to find out, what am I truly made of. 

Stay tuned because the best is yet to come. 

This song is going to be on the playlist... because the lyrics ring loud and clear for me. Hope you find that in this journey we are all on, that someone, that something gives you purpose, gives you hope, and above all... GIVES YOU LOVE! 

With these words...

As an indie author you learn a lot along the way of your journey. What works, what doesn't, what others think and like, the list is forever long. I've learned quite a bit as my journey continues into the book world, but even though I have learned, I still fail at times. No one is ever going to be perfect, that's clearly an understatement for me, but I keep pushing forward.

The new Charming Selene hit the world like a storm. It was shocking and exciting to see how many people fell in love with this book. (I can't thank everyone enough for taking the time out to buy it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!) As an author there's parts of me in the books that come close to drawing from my own personal experiences and a thick line between what is real and what is fake. With the Charming Series, it's taking from my life and put into a world of make believe. For each character you write, you do an entire back story of them. That story may never get told, but none the less you know who they are and where they came from. That's the part I love. Giving a life to someone who may or may not play a big role is always exciting for me. That doesn't mean that I don't love each character, it just means that each one has a role and serves a purpose for a time.

While writing Selene's point of view (re-doing the first book) it was an awkward place for me. I had moved on from her and had wrote the second book from Sebastian's point of view, and going back to her, was more difficult than I had thought it would be. Selene is many parts of myself. From the sarcastic girl, to the nervous girl, to the girl who doesn't care about anything... These are all parts of my life and my soul. Sometimes when writing you go to a place you haven't had to go to, to let out parts of you through words... That's just what happens when I write. People say that you can't be "all these things" but in reality, aren't we? We are all complicated, interesting, and deep down loving people who just want to make a difference in our world. Not the whole world, but in our own worlds. We want to be ourselves, we want to be heard, and we want to be loved. It depends on who you are and where you're at in your life as to what and who the character becomes. That's the fun part.

As I begin to write the last part of the Charming Series, I find myself at odds. How does it end? What happens to the characters I have made in this story, and above all else, does it end with a happily ever after? Life isn't always a fairy tale, so do you go based off of that or do you go based off what you would want to happen in your life? It becomes a battle of where do you see yourself or better yet where do you see your character in the future. I guess as I write this final book, we will see how it plays out... But I am so excited to see where it leads.
This is a new YEAR and a NEW positive ME has emerged. It's time to let the past be the past and look forward. I hope all of you will join me on this journey...

Peace, Love, and all that Jazz- Dee King

It's DONE!

Finally for the first time I feel that the Charming Series is on the right track. The first book, Charming Selene has been revised and basically re-written. Some where along the way as I read the book and began editing this horrible thing I found myself reliving the past. This series in a form is my real life that I just added in other worlds and made a not so believable story into one that could be. I never wanted to write my real past because that seemed too sad at times. These books were my way of fighting back when I couldn't and my way of fighting for the truth to be told. My truth. Characters were changed and added to not be so much like my life, but enough that the truth was in there. Everyone writes from some where within themselves. This series is that for me.

When you start writing a book, you never know how that is going to go... You have an idea of how you want it to start or possibly end, but it's that middle section that you start wondering if what you're doing is even making sense. As I read what I had wrote the first time, it was pretty awful. This isn't me being hard on myself, it was bad. Words that didn't make sense were in there, and it was wrote like a play not a novel. By the time I wrote the second book in the series, I knew that I didn't want it to be like that again, so when re-writing Charming Selene, I took the time to make it more like the second book. This time I was going to write a book that I would want to read.... Hopefully I accomplished that.

Since it's holiday time I wanted to give back some how. I decided to make all three of my books free at one point during this month. It's just something I wanted to do. I know people enjoy reading and I wanted to hopefully help them in finding a story that would put them into another world for a little while. Sometimes escaping reality is the only place we can find our reality. That probably didn't make much sense and maybe I'm just talking to myself... But in the end I want to find a world that isn't always so cold and hateful,  world where love does conquer all....

Hopefully you will check out the new version of Charming Selene. It's been a rough ride, but it's done, finally. Thank you for always taking the time to read my little blog here. It's much appreciated.

Just a little something to start your Monday......

Alright, alright, alright.. (My best Matthew McConaughey voice there) We have made a video for Charmed Destiny. Now, if this works.. I am crossing my fingers, but I am so excited to share this. This was a big collaboration of efforts.

Two Indie Bands let me use their songs for the video. Choosing the songs were easy, though. I love both of these songs and these bands. The Shameless Pursuit and Ships Have Sailed let me use their tunes and I couldn't thank them enough!

The video is to tell you a little of the newest book to the Charming Series. I wanted to tell just enough that maybe others would be excited to see where the story is headed. It's very different from the first one. Hopefully, that's a good thing.

Well, without further ado.. I give you the video for Charmed Destiny!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2yYApHzNjDXMW1DT3hsb2dZVDA/view?usp=drive_web&pref=2&pli=1

Cover REVEAL

This took some time, and some crazy brain storming... but Charmed Destiny has a new cover. The one I had originally done wasn't working. It wasn't the right size, and I felt like it wasn't what I had wanted. It wasn't what I had wanted for this book. So, after a very long time.. The concept to what you are about to see became a reality. It was a lot of going back and forth on what I had wanted.. what I felt was the concept of the story but not give away too much.

Before, I reveal the new cover (covers, Charming Selene has a new one too!) I wanted to share some more of the rest of the playlist with you.

Let's get this party started, shall we?

Panic! at the Disco- Victorious

Banks- Warm Water

Ellie Goulding- On my Mind

Adele- Hello

Death Cab for Cutie- The ghosts of Beverly Drive

And the final songs will be revealed next week! I will also share quite a few videos for the playlists too. If you want to see the entire list and hear the music, feel free to check out my website.
AuthorDeeKing.weebly.com

Now, for what I have been waiting to share with you all.. Drum Roll Please.......

Charmed Destiny! Hope you all like it! Peace, Love, and all that Jazz- Dee

So much, so little...

Oops.. I missed playlist Wednesday, but I had a good reason. I finally finished writing the second book of the Charming Series.

That's right, it's finally finished. Now, onto edits, book covers, the list goes on, but the book is finished. I am hoping to publish it very soon!

I was looking for more songs for the book.. I found one that I fell in love with.

If only for now- by Pop Evil.

This song just made sense to me. It also reminded me of a particular part in the book. I want to share the song with you guys today.

"If only for now.. So if you lay here with me now, I promise the stars won't make a sound.. If you stay with me just for a while."

I think those are the chorus lyrics, please don't quote me, because I could be wrong.

There isn't an official video but I did find a video that I could at least share the song with you. If you remember this story is from Sebastian's point of view. Like I have said I am not even sure this book is wrote well from a guy's point of view.. Well, because I am not a guy. But, I really wanted to tell the story from his point of view so you could see Selene through his eyes. I got quite a bit of "flack" about Selene being particular ways. I wanted to change peoples perspective of her. The Charming Series is based loosely on my life and many other books I have loved. I added twists and turns in this book. I hope that everyone enjoys this one.

Back to the matter at hand.. The song. Here is the video. Hope you enjoy!

-Peace, Love, and all that Jazz- Dee King

Click the link!

If you click on the blog post I shared from Your Favorite Corner Book Blog, you will get to see the cover reveal. I did an exclusive with two blogs for this today. I will share it on mine tomorrow in case you missed it!

I am so excited for you all to see it! -Dee King-

Hey Hey Hey

Sometimes we just need a little funny in our lives. I promised this week we will have new songs for some playlist ideas.. I have had a hard time trying to choose which songs to promote this week, and where they will be at in the new book. (I know I said a new book) I always share with you guys first! I think I have a song though for you all today. It was a hard choice, but I am going to give away one song from a new playlist. Jeremy Messersmith's Heidi is my new song for a character in the Charming Series book 2. When I first heard this song I didn't know what it was about it, but something in the chorus spoke to me. Go give it a listen, and see if you can find out who's song I will use that as in the next book in the Charming Series. Okay, all.. you know the drill.. Peace, Love, and All that JAZZ -Dee King