How Liane Got her Groove Back

This business of writing can be vicious. But it doesn't have to be.

Saying the last year has served me up a heaping helping of suckage is an epic understatement. But that's all past history. My period of shell shock is over, and it's time to put on my (cliche alert) big girl panties and get back to work. I will no longer accept personal angst as an excuse for my lack of word count, blog posts, tweets and general lack of support of my fellow authors--particularly the ones who have kept this particular wild party going!

Thank you, ladies for all you do.

Thank you readers for sticking with me.

I'm in my renewal phase. Without the connections I've made both here and in last year's Next Best Celler contest, I'd never have gotten here. My friends and fellow authors have stood by me. They've swept up the ashes of what I thought just a year ago was a fast burgeoning career. They've held my hand while I decided whether I even wanted to start over. Ultimately, the call of the muse was too much to resist.

Firm in the belief creativity spawns more creativity, I have wisked myself and three of my most creative friends to Sanibel Island for the first annual Sanibel Word Orgy. With the support and encouragement of my fellow divas...that and a whole lotta wine, I've ground my way to a finished a manuscript and spit shined it within an inch of it's life. Passion Storm, the sequel to my mermaid romance, Heart Storm, is sitting in my outbox.

I give a huge amount of credit for that accomplishment to my fellow authors, Saranna DeWylde, Gail Hart and Jennifer Hart who are here on the island with me even though there were times in the last year they probably had every right to vote me off the island.

Also to the wonderfullyt altented Robin Wright from the textnovel diva's blog, for her helpful enthusiasm and for my writing. And to my mermaids...you know who you are. There are some days you all were the ONLY thing that got me to the keyboard. Hell, that got me out of bed.

So I'm here to say I love you. And thank you. For those of you still reading, if you're floundering and lost, please read the next lines until they sinks in.

1) Girl, sometimes you have to just step back and renew your spirit. Because the words won't come until you do.

2) If your world has gone so dark you wouldn't give a damn if the sun didn't rise tomorrow,seek medical help. Now. I don't think I'd be alive today if I hadn't. There's no shame in using whatever means are at your disposal to shine a light in the darkness.

3) The people you meet on the ride up will circle back into your joureny a thousand times over. Be kind to them. Nurture them. And swear to Universe, they will feed your soul, even when it's starving.

With that said, there's a lot of giggling going on in the kitchen. I'm off to play. To renew. To restore.

Well, that and drink some more wine.

Party on.