So Long 2012... A Year-End Wrap Up and Look Forward!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I know... I'm a few days late - I'm sorry! 2013 is already shaping up to be a busy and crazy year, but an great one too!

But before I go on and on about the future, I want to take a look back on 2012 -- the year my writing career truly began! And man oh man what a year it has been!

2012 At A Glace:
- Ignite got a new cover and became free!
- Simmer was published and had an amazing month-long blog tour!
- Blaze was put on-sale alongside an amazing giveaway that connected me to a ton of new blogging friends!
- Scorch got a title, cover and first chapter reveal!

2012 By The Numbers:
Amazon Sales:
      - Ignite sold over 50,000 copies!!!!!
      - Simmer rolled in just under 15,000!
      - Blaze settled at just under 10,000!

[quick pause while I freak out...]

Smashwords is still compiling their 2012 year-end numbers, but I'll hopefully have them soon! So far, Apple and Barnes & Noble have about 5000 sales each.

AMAZING!!

Seriously, I never dreamed that in one year I would go from having just under 1000 copies of Ignite out in the world, to having thousands of copies of three different titles sold. It is truly just unbelievable!

But more so, I never in a million years thought I would ever connect with so many people. A year ago, I had maybe 20 followers on Facebook (99% of which were my family and friends). Now, I'm about to go over 850 Facebook fans, which in itself blows my mind. And even more incredible, are the posts, emails, tweets and reviews from all of you! There is really nothing more amazing than hearing that someone loved my book, is anxiously awaiting the next installment, or stayed up all night because they just couldn't put it down!

I feel so blessed to have so many devoted and amazing readers, and that is really the best thing that happened to me this year. So, cheers to 2012--a year that I will certainly never forget!!

Oh, and one more thing happened this year in case you missed it -- I made a fool of myself in a promo video! Please watch it and spread the word... and try not to tease my dance moves too much :)

Now onto 2013!! 

I'm all about goals and resolutions, so I thought I would share what I have so far! 

1) End the Midnight Fire Series with a BANG and publish Scorch!!! (Don't worry! It's not the last you'll see of this world--I have some prequel ideas and even some ideas with new and old characters!)

2) Make paperbacks available! (I am so excited for this!! There will definitely be signed copy giveaways involved!)

3) Start my new series! (I have an idea I am REALLY excited to pursue!! I'll share more details when the time nears! Until then it's Scorch, Scorch, Scorch!!) 

And now, the mega-crazy, in-my-wildest-dreams, would-pass-out-if-this-happened wish list! 

1) Hit a bestseller list 

2) Get in-store placement 

3) 500,000 free downloads of Ignite (holy moly that is a huge number... breathe...just breathe...)

4) Host a book-signing where I can actually meet all of my awesome readers!!!

Okay... time to come down out of crazy land! But hey, everyone has got to have dreams right? 

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has read my books and taken a chance on me!! 

I can't wait to see what 2013 holds! 

A Moment To Freak Out

Few things annoy me more than when people achieve their dream and act blase about it. When an actor wins an oscar then smiles, nods his head and gives a thirty second speech without freaking out at all, it just bothers me. Yes, there is something to be said about accepting awards graciously, but there is also something to be said about letting your fans and friends understand how excited you are to be doing something other people only dream about.

So, with this in mind, I need a moment to freak out with excitement! No, I did not win an oscar or get on a bestseller list, but I am soon going to receive my first paycheck from selling books (according to Amazon, it is in the mail)! I am a paid, published author...!!!!! Being an author is something I have literally dreamed about my entire life and actually witnessing that dream become a reality is an amazing feeling! To the six hundred or so people who have bought my book, thank you so much for making my life complete! For the reviewers who have read or plan to read my book, thank you! To everyone else, grab a copy!

I just wanted everyone to know how excited I am. I don't want this blog to become a personal journal, so I've been trying to write about writing, self-publishing and books in general, but I just wanted to say thanks and...ahhhhh!

A few exciting things coming up:
- The Paranormal Romance Guild is reviewing my book - wooohooo!
- I started writing 'Simmer'
- Next week, I'll be publishing a new edition of 'Ignite' with the cover and first chapter of 'Simmer' at the end
- A bunch of blog reviews should be rolling in soon, keep your fingers crossed for me that they're good!

Thanks for listening my rant!