Dreamer's Sanctuary

Thanks for checking out the first chapter of my new story, A Heart That Isn’t Mine!  Chapter 2 is up!

Happy 6th birthday to Holden Dorough!  Bet you’re glad you’re not in this one, buddy. 😉

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I have a new novel for you!

Synopsis:
Life can change in a heartbeat.  No one knows that better than Nick Carter.  After an unexpected loss leads to an estrangement from his wife, he finds himself in the Florida Keys, broken-hearted and alone… until a chance encounter changes everything.

This has been a long time coming!  I got the idea for this story toward the very end of writing Sick as My Secrets in June 2017.  I spent two days obsessively researching and outlining to get it out of my system, but didn’t start trying to write it until I finished SAMS.  It took me three tries to get the version I’m posting today.  I started the first version later that summer, the second version that December, and the third (and final) version last July.  I have been working on it ever since – pretty consistently since November – but I’ve been nervous about posting it, in part because I don’t want to flake out on it like I’ve done with certain other stories, but also because of its content.  I always get a little nervous posting new novels and feel the need to include some kind of disclaimer when I worry I may have gone too far with the drama.  This story deals with a topic that I once said I “wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole” – which I now know means I was totally going to go there someday!  It only took me ten years.  All I’m going to say in the way of a disclaimer is that this story is going to be another roller coaster.

Consider yourself warned.

The first chapter has been posted.  It takes place on Halloween, not Valentine’s Day, but I didn’t want to wait until October to post it.  I’ll be back over the weekend with Chapter 2.  Enjoy the ride!

It’s officially February, and that means it’s time to kick off our first Flashback Fics discussion, featuring one of my old favorites, Cardio by Trinity.  If you’d like to join in, head over to the forum and add your two cents!

After spending my two snow days off work this week writing, I’m feeling pretty good about the progress I’ve made on the novel I’ve been teasing lately, and I think I may be ready to start posting it soon.  If all goes well, the beginning will be up on Valentine’s Day.  But if the groundhog sees his shadow tomorrow, it’ll be six more weeks without an update…  Just kidding.  Valentine’s Day.  I said it, and I want you to hold me to it.

Hope to see people popping up on the forum soon!

Do you realize this is the last year we’ll have a Backstreet Boy still in his thirties?  God, we’re getting old!

I was tempted to post the first chapter of the novel I’ve been teasing for the last few posts because it’s Nick’s birthday, and it’s a Nick story, but I resisted that temptation because 1) I’m still not ready, and 2) I’m not being very nice to Nick in this one (shocker), so it didn’t seem like the best birthday gift for him.  Then again, I posted the beginning of Broken on this day 16 years ago and the end of its sequel By My Side on this day 11 years ago, and I was not very nice to Nick in those stories either.  Sorry, Nick.

The main reason I’m posting today is to give you the run-down on Flashback Fics, the new fanfic discussion club we’ll be starting in February!  Thanks to those of you who expressed interest and/or voted in the polls in my last post!  After a close vote, we decided to hold the discussion over on the DS forum.  I think this will be a better format for discussion, but it will require you to register on the forum if you haven’t already.  You can get to the forum through the Site menu or clicking on this link: http://dreamsanctuary.proboards.com/   I created a new subboard in the FanFic ChitChat section called Flashback Fics.  For our first month, February, we’ll be reading a classic favorite of mine, “Cardio” by Trinity.  Head on over to the forum for more information.  Hope to see many of you there!

It’s been so long since we’ve had a new BSB album to gush about, I just had to post and do just that!  After a late night last night and a long day at work today, I’m finally able to sit and fully enjoy listening to DNA on repeat (a.k.a. not while getting ready or driving to/from work).  I love it!  I had a feeling it was going to be a strong album based on the four tracks that had been released prior to today, all of which I adore, and it did not disappoint.  There’s not a track I don’t like.  My top three of the new songs are “New Love,” “Passionate,” and “The Way It Was.”  “New Love” is such a unique-sounding, cool jam!  I listened to the album for the first time while lying in bed, which was my way of compromising on my dilemma of “Do I stay up too late to listen to the album, or do I go to bed and wait until morning?”, and this song completely erased any feelings of sleepiness.  “Passionate” is the perfect song to follow it; it keeps the groove going.  This one was a grower for me; I didn’t love it on the first listen, but by the third time through, it was a favorite!  I was the same way with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” which is still one of the best tracks on the album.  And then there’s “The Way It Was,” which gave me goosebumps!  I love the oldies vibe of it, and listening to Nick’s solos backed by the other Boys’ beautiful harmonies… seriously, chills!  This album shows how much Nick’s voice has grown and matured in the last twenty years.  He sounds amazing!  I also love that Brian sings more leads on this album than he did on the last one – I love In a World Like This, but I missed my Brian solos!  The balance between all five guys on this album is awesome, both in terms of solos and harmonies!

What are your thoughts on DNA and your favorite tracks so far?

I will posting again at some point this weekend with more details on the first month for Flashback Fiction, the fanfic discussion group idea I’ve been talking about.  If you’re interested in participating and haven’t voted in the polls I posted in the last update, please do in the next day or so!  As of right now, it looks like we’re going to be reading “Cardio” in February (which I’m super excited about!) and discussing it on the forum.  I’m also excited about that, as the forum could use some activity!

In terms of my own fanfic, I’m still writing and am on Chapter 12 of the novel I started this past summer.  I’m getting antsy to start posting it, but I’m also still nervous that as soon as I do, I’ll hit a wall and won’t be able to keep up with regular updates.  I’m not sure if the new album will inspire me to write more or make it harder.  Sometimes I have a hard time writing drama and angst when things are so good in the guys’ real lives – and, of course, this novel will be chock full of drama, angst, pain, and torture!  I know you must love it as much as I do, or you wouldn’t be here! 😉  So… stay tuned, and in the meantime, enjoy the new album!!!