New Horizons

Welcome to 2014!  We all have a new chance, but the funny thing is that we all have a new beginning every morning.  It's now time to not only ask the questions, but to boldly live them!  Now what are the questions?

How do I begin to fulfill my creative longings?
What will my fic world look like in the next few months?
Will I be able to keep creating on a continual basis?
Will my audience stay with me?
How do I become unapolagetically strong?
(yes I am fully aware that isn't a true word, but I love it anyway)

One of my favorite books is Simple Abundance  by Sarah Ban Breathnach,  I discovered it when I was still a new mom.  For those of you who don't have children, I'm sure you know that it's a very hard time in a woman's life.  I was utterly confused, exhausted, and unsure of my ability to parent a child.  We eventually discovered that our daughter has a high functioning form of Autism, and, when you add her insomnia to that, you might understand why I had an extremely hard time in that first year of her life.  By reading this book, I found myself in the daily passages.  Sarah talked about the seven principles that she based her life on, and I embraced them fully.  One of her famous quotes was '"The authentic self is the soul made visible."'  I clung to this book, and my tattered copy is only inches away from my laptop.

To say the least, the gentle lessons an frequently abstract concepts rocked my world and helped me become the woman I am today. Gratitude, which is a core concept of the book, became essential to me.  There were hidden blessings in my life everywhere.  On the passage for January second, we are told to love the questions.  I'm doing just that now

So I am on the verge of a new horizon, in both my fic life and in my rl.  The one year anniversary of my dedication to writing is this month.  A year ago, I would have never thought I would have come this far.  Knowing that you all love my words and plots still surprises me.  I'm always thrilled by the amazing responses, and I welcome constructive criticism.  It shows me that you're interested in the story.

Now as far as my favorite couple, yes I believe all is well for them.  They are fabulous people who have a bright future ahead.  I have faith in their abilities and in their love.  

XXOO, Ashley

Love for My Friends

I feel as though I never get to thank my amazing readers/fans/readers enough.  Y'all make writing truly enjoyable.  When I read that one of you likes my fics, it makes my day.  I'm humbled and thoroughly floored in the very best of ways.

I'm scouring pinterest for new porn pictures to share with you all.  But, even though they are great, I'm sure y'all are more more excited about the chapters I'm working fervently on.  SB&EP is open on my laptop now, and I should finish chapter three this afternoon.

As for Christmas and the holidays, I should be able to keep my regular posting schedule.  Some of that will depend on my beta and prereaders, of course.  My fics are much better all due to them,

One last thing before I go....

    Love, Ashley  XXOO

Beauty From Pain

I've received some harsh criticism for SC&CS as of late.  It was from a person who does not write and will not allow anyone to send her a message.  In my mind, that tells me that she will gladly say anything she pleases, but she can't handle anything slung back at her.

If you look up the definition of coward in the dictionary, I'm sure her picture is right next to it.

I'm sure you all have read that I seriously considered no longer writing fanfic.  Not going to lie to you...the vile, hateful words left behind hurt me, broke me.  It has taken me about forty eight hours to get over the sting.  I'm sure that if you had received this as a review on not only your best fic, but on your personally, then you would be as upset as I was.

The upside of this was, and is, the amazing out pouring of love I've received since then.  Y'all have floored me, made me feel like I really am important, and that my fics matter.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It's time for me to find a way to write once more.  This morning, I told my writing partner that our fics would continue.  She's thrilled about that, but I told her to expect for me to have a hard road ahead,  Recovering from being bullied is not easy.  I'm going to need as much love, support, and motivation as possible.  I have to believe that I can do it; that my fics are significant to others.

I have to feel that the Sweet Six deserves to keep on going.  A piece of my heart is in each of them.  My fans know that I have a love of Law Enforcementward (or some version thereof).  The Bella I love to write is girly, strong as opposed to what someone else claimed.  I like the combination of those two characters. Most likely, I'll keep coming back to that formula because it makes me happy.  Who among us is opposed to a protective, slightly possessive Edward who wants to fall at Bella's feet and love her shamelessly?  That is my fantasy, the kind of man I want.

Is it such a crime that I write about that in most of my fics?  It's my signature, and while my writing can always improve, the formula is not going to change.

So I'm going to stare at my favorite couple while I try to write another Carolina Heat chapter.

Love, Ashley  XXOO

Musings

Several weeks ago, I posted the banner and links for Twilighting in a particular group I once was a member of for a few years.  When it was created back in  2010, one of the admins begged and pleaded with me to join.  She told me that my fic choices and input for this group were invaluable.  We actually live near each other, and we were "good fb friends" at one point.  I was a member of this group on my rl fb account, but I rarely use it any way.

That night, I turned my back on them.  If you're going to treat me like crap, then I'm far better off without your toxic shit in my life.

The banner and the links were deleted.  I checked at least five times to make sure I wasn't wrong.  I almost left the fandom due to this, but thanks to my true friends, I changed my mind.

I will not name the group, but they have a poll that everyone knows if you've been in the fandom for five minutes.  I'm not the first author they have ticked off, and I'm sure I won't be the last.

My point?  Yeah, I may not have a thousand reviews for any of my fics.  I seriously doubt it will ever happen. Apparently, I'm not that popular.  I've racked my brain for months trying to figure out why.  Maybe it's because I love Robsten and thoroughly believe they are together.  Maybe it's because I don't write angst or the slow burn or manhores.  Maybe it's because Mercury is in retrograde.

Who knows, and better yet, who cares?

I write my fantasies.  Excluding the parts about kidnappings, rape scenes, or killings, the things that happen to Bella are the things I want for me.  SC&CS was my ultimate dream.  I want my work to be about me. And when someone is finished reading one of my fics, I want them to say..."THAT was one hell of a ride!"

Love, Ashley XXOO

Southern Beauty and Eternal Protection

Coming in the near future...

Southern Beauty and Eternal Protection
Life is amazing for Edward and Bella Cullen.  Beach trips.  Domestic Bliss.  Six years of passionate love. Yet someone wants revenge, and now they are facing danger together again.  How will he be able to keep them safe this time?

Diamonds and Moving Forward

Just a short post today to let you all know that I love my readers/fans/friends.  Y'all are the diamonds in my tiara, always.  I wouldn't be the person I am without you all.

I can already tell that Carolina Heat is a better fic than Twilighting.  The response, even after one chapter, is all the evidence I need to know that it more interesting to you all.  Even the numbers are more impressive. And I've only posted the first chapter of CH.  

Maybe that failure will always haunt me?  I can't say for sure, but I can say that I'm moving forward.

I have the second chapter of the sequel to SC&CS open on my laptop as I write this.  It's refreshing to write something that is only for me.  I'll be tickled pink if you all like it too, but this is for me.   Bella is the fanfiction version of me in this story.

I'll post the banner for it and the summary soon.

Love, Ashley  XXOO

My Favorite Couple!

Just a few pictures for you all to look at while I work on an update for Carolina Heat!  Love you all!!  XXOO