The Energy We Hold

13 May 2023 — Leave a comment

I hadn’t been on an airplane in years. It was finally time to embark on a much needed journey. I felt a little rusty, but trusted that my travelling experience would come back to me easily.

Whether it did, or didn’t, I wanted to go on an adventure. Adventures are good for our minds and our souls. They open up a door to a personal journey.

The packing was easy. Being an extended hiking and walking focused trip, I needed to pack specifically and efficiently. My learning over the years kicked in.

Departure day came, check in and boarding was easy.

As I took my seat, nestled between hubby and a stranger, I did experience some anxiety. It felt claustrophobic. I realized how long I would have to be confined in this space.

I could have let negative, anxiety ridden energy take over. I chose not to. I chose to tap into everything I’ve learned. A few deep breaths and intentional thinking rids the mind of bad thoughts, clears the body of poor energy, and revitalizes your entire being.

I’d held good energy up to this point during preparation, I wasn’t going to let that slip away now.

Once my being found a peaceful place, the journey flew by. A plane, several trains, and some footsteps later, we were in a beautiful place that we were eager to explore.

This trip is about experiences that we’ve been wanting to share together. It’s about moments as we take in everything around us. And it’s about love and positive vibes, holding space for ourselves and each other.

The energy you carry can absolutely feed your entire state of being, the state of those around you.

What do you do to refocus your thoughts and energy! Comments welcome.

Welcome to GLITTER BOMB

8 May 2023 — Leave a comment

This is GLITTER BOMB! The blog that seeks to inspire while sprinkling a healthy dose of 80s metal glitter your way!

Welcome to the first post. The post that will strive to convince you that – YES! YOU! CAN!

You know that thing you want to do, but you have a load of self-doubt…YES YOU CAN

YEAH – that THING! The one that you know deep down you really want to do. But, there’s that VOICE. The one that tells you that you can’t do that thing that you really want to do.

Well, I’m here to tell you that you can. YES. YOU. CAN.

I’ve had a lot of self-doubt throughout my life. It’s just something that is there. I used to listen to it a lot. Now I don’t. My ability to tune it out did not come naturally. It took some work.

When I started writing Final Track (book one in my beloved series), a lot of the self-doubt that I had left behind came rushing back. Writing a novel was a big path change for me. A whole new journey. The novel that I wanted write was a fusion of 80s metal and serial killer thriller. I had so many moments when I was working on the first draft where my mind would fill with so many thoughts.

Is this stupid?

Will anyone ever read this?

Should I be doing this?

But…often when someone would ask me what I was working on, their eyes would light up when I said serial killer, detective, 80s metal. I realized that I had a world of support around me. I reminded myself that embracing that support was a huge part of letting go of my self-doubt in the past, so why not do it again?

I also chose to tap into a better voice. A voice that I had cultivated over years of focus. A voice that spoke of love and belief in me. It’s so easy for many of us to believe in others. But, for some of us, it’s really hard to believe in ourselves.

I’ve continued to feed off of the support offered to me, and accept it like something that I deserve. I’ve also continued to choose not to listen to that negative voice, but rather to reinforce that positive voice. I’m glad I did, because Final Track has gotten a lot of love from a lot of readers, and it turned into a whole series.

What is it that you want to do, but that you are stopping yourself from pursuing? What barriers are you creating for yourself?

Take a few minutes and jot down your answers. That’s the first step to moving forward.

Finding Flow in the New Year

4 Jan 2022 — Leave a comment

Some of us had time off during the festive season. For those of you who didn’t, I hope you can find time and space to rest and recharge. This year, I took a full week between Christmas and New Year’s. I didn’t allow myself to work on anything book or writing related. I love to write. But being an indie author brings many other things that have to be done, other than writing books. I realized that I quite dedicated to my little book business, and thus I don’t tend to take conscious breaks. Especially at a time when travel and adventure has been off the table.

So, I consciously took a full festive week. It was great. I read a lot. I went on nature hikes with my hubby in the winter cold. I cozied by the fire with festive Christmas beer (brewed by my favorite brewery). I had a tonne of fun in the kitchen! I have a passion for learning how to make French pastry. I have a French pastry idol, and have taken his master class, and bought his book. That poor book sat on my shelf, alone. Over holidays, I opened it up and dove right in. I was quite proud of my execution of the homemade jam-jam style cookie, the ever so sweet chocolate chip cookie, and tiramisu. I love how this type of baking requires a slow, focused pace. I love the art of it, and creating something so divine to the sight and the taste buds!

The festive break was also a time to connect with people that I love. And to spend some real quality time with my hubby. It felt good to be completely away from the computer and the office.

Yesterday, Monday, January 3, marked the intended day of my return to the office. It didn’t happen. I was quite run down from my festive and fun week. I recognized that, and I took a full rest day. This morning, I feel quite different. I feel good, relaxed, and in a full state of flow. I have some hefty and exciting goals for this year to realize some visions. I am overly excited about them. I wanted to fling myself right back in. But, if there is one thing I have recognizedd this past year, it’s that I don’t want to be in a state of force. I want to push myself when I know I need it, want it, and it is right. But, when I know my being needs a break, I want to back off. This is something I have not always been good at. Sometimes, I have been terrible at this.

This year, I seek flow.

I will achieve my goals, bringing my visions to reality. I want to do it in a healthy state of creativity, passion, and oneness with my physical, mental and spiritual beings.

This week I will translate my visions for my projects into concrete actions. I have decided to start with the first four months of the year, as I have some big targets for May. Instead of madly jotting down all the things that need to get done, I will start by reflecting on what these visions truly look like to be in a state of success. What success means to you is the most important thing in defining a goal. I will then identify those tasks for each month and week that will take me to my idea of of success for each of those projects. The whole time, I will seek to be in a state of positive energy, passion fueled creativity, and trust in my talent and comittment.

Sound good? Do you want on this train? Stay tuned here. I’ll share my journey, the steps I am taking, and tips along the way.

10 Days of Halloween – PARTY Time!

23 Oct 2021 — Leave a comment

JOIN THE PARTY!

Halloween Edition

Halloween Party Book Launch!

Join your hostess for the evening, Demon Julie, for a creepy cocktail to welcome an 80s nostalgic serial killer novella into the world!

Owen’s Terrarium is essentially Psycho meets The House that Jack Built. It follows the path of Owen, hiding in the Elm Film House, inspecting reel after reel of classic horror flicks in the basement. As he fights his sickness, and the tendencies that it spawns, his world is turned upside down when a milk chocolate haired woman enters his world.

Will Owen be destined for happiness? Or will it end in t blood bath?

Don’t miss out on your chance to join the fun! There will be prizes. There will be costumes and creepy makeup. There will be horror inspired cocktails. Join the one hour live stream followed by a mingle in Demon Julie’s zoom room…if you dare.

A Horror Filled Fun Time THIS FRIDAY

29 Sep 2021 — Leave a comment

We are only TWO days away from FRIDAY! But not just any Friday. THIS Friday, there WILL be fun!

I am SO excited. Join me for a fun filled livestream event to launch an amazing book. On Oct. 1, The Omens Call, a horror anthology, will be unleashed upon the world! Do join in for a celebratory toast with a horror themed cocktail, for your chance to win some great horror reads, for some creepy readings, and more!

This one is special. It was my first collaboration, and I had a fantastic fellow author to work with (Daniel Willcocks). It was such an amazing experience, I do hope that I will be able to work with him again to bring more scary books to life.

Don’t miss out. Jump on in the Horror Collaborative now, then watch the live stream on Friday.

POP INTO THE HORROR COLLABORATIVE

An Immersive Weekend for Readers and Writers

13 Aug 2021 — Leave a comment

It’s here!

It’s Friday the 13th (Mwahaha), and I am PUMPED up as I do final preparations for a wicked weekend of FREE presentations, sessions, and socials for book lovers.

It all starts of (for me) at 6 pm TONIGHT. I’ll be doing a killer presentation on True Crime – What Content is out there, WHO is binging it, WHY we love it, and HOW to capture it on the page.

Next up, right after Evil Fanatics, I’ll be dipping in to the Noir @ the Bar. I’ll be reading, along with some really cool other authors, some 70s Acid Laced Serial Killer Thriller stuff. Mmmm…delicious.

Tomorrow (Saturday), you’ll find me dishing out a healthy dose of inspiration, and ‘Yes You Can’, at Write Your Book One Word at a Time! Join me for some motivation, empowerment, and walk away with powerful mental tools to climb your own mountain – whatever that may be.

And, FINALLY, I close out the weekend with some Demon Fun! Join me, and a fellow demon of mine, to take a look at embracing your inner darkness and leveraging it to write dark and market your books.

It all starts TODAY at 1 pm. Grab your FREE ticket, and attend as many sessions at you want.

See you there!

WHEN WORDS COLLIDE REGISTRATION (FREE)

My Fiction Writing Journey

14 Jul 2021 — 3 Comments

During the first two years of writing fiction, and attempting to produce a full novel, the process was slow, for me. There were tears. There was a lot of sweat. And…maybe a little blood?

I declared the start of my fiction writing journey to be officially happening in the fall of 2017. There had been a gap between writing and producing my non-fiction work, I had continued to plunge myself into the local writing community, and just attended my favorite, local writing conference. With no particular goal, or project, in mind, I attended a plethora of presentations and discussions, all on topics that intrigued me. I met a local Detective, and was blown away by his presentation on principles of investigations. It stirred within me the passion for true crime books and shows that had been swelling within me for a long time.

I decided I wanted to know if I could write a novel.

I had no idea what that meant, really. But, I knew I wanted to try. It was a strong desired pulsing in my gut. I had to forge forth and let the journey unfold.

I did make a plan, of course. And that plan was derailed from time to time, of course. That is life. But if I’ve learned anything from the ventures and projects that I’ve thrown myself into, it’s how you respond to such derailments that really matters.

I remember the first year of researching and trying to write. At times, I could have sworn I was trying to extract blood from a rock. It took me a while to get it. To be able to let go, let my imagination run wild, and to write freely, words falling on the page. What a glorious moment that was when I realized I’d found my flow.

Now, looking back, and staring at my author page, I am grateful, delighted, hell, I’m ecstatic, that I have continued to set goals and to work hard, and to find my own writing process.

Today, four and a half years after declaring my fiction writing journey has started, I am thrilled to be able to share my author profile here. Eeeeek!!!

First line up: my core series. An 80s metal dark crime series, comprised of two full novels and a novella. The third in the series is planned for launch early 2022.

I have had two short horror stories published! Yes! Someone else loved my story enough to publish it in their works – TWO TIMES! I am also collaborating on a horror anthology that will be released in Oct (The Omens Call). I had no idea I would be working with others, and co-creating an anthology!

Share with me. What journey have you embarked on? Where are you at? What successes have you had? What are you struggling with?

And, please, believe me when I say: YES YOU CAN!

Pushing Yourself into New Realms

14 Oct 2020 — 1 Comment

Hello my little demons! How is your Halloween month?

Now that you’re here, with Demon Julie, it just got better! Why? Because I have a Halloween treat for you. Yes. A dark, delicious delight.

When I set up Killers And Demons, I was writing dark crime, thus ‘Killers’. My vision was to branch into horror, thus ‘Demons’. Well, I am thrilled to announce that it has happened sooner than expected. Sometimes in life, when something presents itself, you just need to dig your claws into it and go for it. When I saw a particular call for submissions for a horror anthology, something tingled in my gut. My whole body clenched with excitement. I didn’t know if I was ready, I didn’t know if I could do it, but I knew I had to try. And, my little demons, failure is not doing something and getting a less than desired outcome. Failure is not trying at all.

So – I thrust my entire being into writing the darkest piece of fiction that has ever come out of me (I think, but some might say my dark crime is just as evil). For days on end I thought of nothing else as my creation formed itself from somewhere within me. I would wake up in the night thinking about it. I would get up early and plunge myself into it. Day after day, I was filled with turmoil in creating the best horror story I could for the particular anthology. If I didn’t try, and I mean – if I didn’t try at 200% (or more), then I’d be a disappointed demon – in myself.

Once I released it, I let it go. I thought about it a lot. I allowed myself to think about it and to dream of being in the anthology. But I also moved my focus into my other work and the universe take the story where it was meant to go.

When I found out that my story was indeed to belong in this anthology, I don’t think I even believed it at first. I think I read the email over and over until I realized – yes – my story made it.

After reading the other stories in the book, I am honoured to be part of this amazing creation. And, I am here to tell you that you should TREAT YOURSELF to a copy now! It is a truly indulgent Halloween treat for you. After all, why should the kids have all the fun?

To get your pre-order in, and have your very own copy dropped your way on Oct 19, check out all the juicy details here: https://www.devilsrockpublishing.com/theotherside

To join in the celebration with me, Demon Julie, on Oct 19, RSVP to the to the invitation to a truly horrifying celebration that will be sure to chill your bones. You don’t want to miss out on a chance to ask Daniel Willcocks, a modern horror king, your questions about his creation. You might even get your spine prickled with a creepy reading by Demon Julie. Bring a cocktail, and raise your glass to pushing limits and doing things that simultaneously terrify and excite!

The next time your nerves tingle, your pores bleed sweat, and your stomach clenches in response to something you REALLY want to do, but you have a mound of self-doubt over, think of Demon Julie taking a deep breath and plunging into a new world of story telling. If I can do it, so can you. Take a deep breath and do it (and then come back here and share your story in the comments)!!!

Lots of love from Demon Julie xxxooo

Killer Writing Tip #1

17 Jul 2020 — 1 Comment

When I started writing fiction, I wanted the words on the page to be good. I wanted readers to connect with the characters and get pulled into the story. It took time and effort for me to learn how to translate the snippets in my brain to well written sentences on the page. One thing I have going for me on my new found path as an author is that I love to learn. Along the way, on my journey one word at a time, I’ve built a tool box. One of my most favorite tools is the thesaurus collection written by the dynamite duo Angela and Becca. This is my personal collection

I’m here to share with you today some exciting news! The release of the newest thesaurus is just around the corner. More information here.

I blasted through my advanced reader copy in no time and am thrilled to have discovered yet another way of looking at and developing both my characters and my storylines. Yes, just when you think there’s nothing left to learn, these two put a new spin on things. I understand if you are wary of writing tools. Trust me, I stick to what I feel in my gut and I dig into whatever natural talent I have. But, sometimes it helps to learn a new technique, try a new way of thinking about things, and get the brain tingling with ideas.

The reason I love the thesaurus collection so much is that they are easy to digest, well organized and can be used as references to go back to when you are stuck or need to elevate something.

To put the cherry on top, I’ve found these books helpful for any type of story or character, no matter how dark and twisted. After all, I do write about killers and demons.

Give any them of a whirl. I doubt you will be disappointed.

If you like it, stop on by Writers Helping Writers (free!) or One Stop for Writers (subscription).

Stay tuned for tip #2!

Ode to the Lizard King

3 Jul 2020 — 2 Comments

There’s something about a good front man that makes my insides tingle. I want a reptile like, tight, scantily clad body slithering up to a microphone, piercing my soul with his haunting eyes, and cloaking me with his deep, dark words. I want to feel like I’m the only one in the audience. Like he’s only singing to me.

The Lizard King has always been one of my favorite front men, despite the fact that I’ve only seen him on screen. His vocals are hypnotizing enough to pull me into the TV, landing me in a prime position, squished against the front of the stage.

He absolutely epitomized the definition of good front man. A poet at heart, he went through the ultimate transformation when he stepped on stage. Like a second skin, he shed his shyness, his trepidation, his old self, to become what the masses needed. Men and women looked to him to lead them to the other side in their acid induced states as he crooned to them of dead toads on the road and the end.

His words were haunting. His presence hypnotizing. His essence sereal. If I could, I would step back on time into one of those jam packed venues and infuse myself into the giant being of a crowd swaying back and forth in time to the delivery of the Liazrd King on stage in all his glory.

He had it all. A tight body. Long curls. Luscious lips. A dark message. A mysterious vibe. He entranced entire audiences, taking them away to another world with his presence alone.

If I am to mention how much I love a good front man, I must mention the Lizard King, eventhough I’ve only met him in my rock ‘n roll dreams.