author – Cannons to Cruising

SLC+AWP=OMG

The last two weeks have turned me inside out. They revealed the version of myself that is usually too preoccupied with an internal ‘to-do’ list to make an appearance. Between the SLC retreat that left me both raw and comforted, and the AWP conference that pushed me out of my comfort zone, I can’t remember the last time I dedicated so much time to my own development.

SLC stands for ‘Smart Ladies Club’, a name that started as a placeholder with our founder but has stuck due to accuracy. Believe me when I say that the women in this group are truly awe-inspiring bad asses who embrace the ups and downs of life with open arms and a ‘nothing will break me’ attitude. We are a support group, each other’s biggest cheerleaders, listening ears, and strong arms to collapse into when one of us needs rest.

Last year our retreat was in California, and this year we all journeyed to Annapolis. Everyone moved heaven and earth to make it happen—organizing kids, childcare, jobs, spouses. I flew from Seattle, the others traveled from San Diego, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and DC. It sounds crazy for just the weekend, but it is incredibly special to show up for ourselves and each other in such a meaningful way. After an intense three days of courageous connection, I flew home exhausted, but my proverbial ‘cup’ was filled, just in time for my first writer’s conference later that week!

AWP, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, held their conference in Seattle this year. The first one since COVID, over 10,000 writers attended at the Seattle Convention Center for three full days of developmental seminars. I had a hard time narrowing down my schedule to just one panel per timeslot, but my nerdy, note-taking heart was so happy to go back to ‘school’. Here is a full list of all the seminars I attended:

From Poetry Hotlines to Kate Bush: Writers on Creative Book Promotion
Crafting Voice in YA Fiction
Out of the Boneyard: Keeping Dead Manuscripts Alive
From Slush to Sale: Literary Agents Explain It All
Reading, Writing, and Revising for Style and Sound
Defying the Data: Literary Impostors
Stealing Time: On Purpose, Permission, and Putting Writing First
The Small Press Author’s Guide to Cultivating Community and Publicity
Neither the Madonna nor Mommy Dearest: Why and How to Write Real Mothers
Nevertheless, They Persisted: The Writer and the Long Game
Show Me the Money: New and Creative Ways to Fund Your Writing Life
Impossible Balance: Re-Examining the Narrative about Writing and Parenting

It ended up totaling around 18 hours of seminar, and I greedily gobbled up every bit of this food for my soul. I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately while pitching my 6^th book, and I had no idea how much I needed the reminder that although writing is solitary day-to-day, there is also a rich community that has experienced everything I am going through. My biggest takeaways were that writing is a LONG road, and I’m not running anyone else’s marathon but my own. I’ve been focused on getting an agent and getting frustrated with the process. I have neglected to celebrate all that I have accomplished because it isn’t my version of “complete success”. I’ve also failed to acknowledge that I am in a very tough season right now with two kids who aren’t in elementary school yet. I am needed intensely—physically and emotionally—all day, every day, and I do not have the capacity to give everything to the craft like some writers can.

I had two books published by a small press before I was 30, while raising two kids. I should be proud of that, damnit. I am also still growing, still learning, and writing brings me great joy. I got turned inside out this month, but also forced out of my own head. Que será, será. I’m not going to whine about the 12 rejections I’ve received for book #6 so far. Time to get to work on my short story submission for a $2,000 grant for parent writers.

Love,

Taylor (and all the supportive people in my life who picked up the slack while I was away. You rock)

Author Confession

In a bid to flex my stagnant writing muscles, today I’m going to confess my deep, dark, author secret—

I’ve never read copies of my own published books.

I’ve held them, hugged them, and handed them out, but the last time I read both Cloaked and Sonder Village, it was on a computer screen to approve the final galley copy before publication.

At first, I think it was because by the time the books launched, I was so sick of editing them through for errors that I had them memorized. Then months passed and I still couldn’t crack the spines. Now years have gone by, and it’s been built up so much in my head that I’m too scared.

I was at a different place in my life and in my writing career with these books. I like to think I’ve grown enough to look back with fresh eyes, but I am afraid of the cringe. Writers tend to be a finicky lot. We chase perfection and are frustrated when our own works do not measure up to the authors we idolize. The story I remember writing is not the story that will appear on the pages. I don’t think my ego can handle the blow right now. Pitching my current project has been particularly heart-wrenching and I have little enough forward momentum as it is, so I’m not sure if looking backward is the answer. Maybe someday I’ll be brave enough.

I’ve had enough space from high school to look back at these photos, at least! Here’s to celebrating how far we’ve come, and how much farther we must go.

Love,

Taylor (and Conor, W, and R)

As Seen On TV

And by that, I mean MY BOOK WAS ON TV!! It was featured in a holiday gift guide on the show Good Day Sacramento. Somebody pinch me!

Here’s the segment:

https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/3985330-out-of-the-box-gift-ideas/

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be here on my boat. Freaking out.

Love,

Taylor (and my greatest supporters, Conor and W)

COVER REVEAL!

I proudly present the cover of my debut novel! Cloaked will be released on August 22, 2018. You can order it here once it becomes available:

https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/

Let me just add that this is such a surreal moment. The Wild Rose Press editorial team did an incredible job finalizing the manuscript, and the cover artist, Debbie Taylor, brought my vision to life.

Cloaked_w12562_750

As the Cloaked Shadow, Fawkes has made his career breaking into prisons for any contract with a large enough purse. He takes advantage of the kingdom’s impending revolution by playing both sides of the conflict. Each rescue contract he fulfills turns a tidy profit until he angers the wrong duke.

Charlotte is a criminal-in-training who yearns to crack her mentor’s guarded façade, but is unprepared to confront the depths of his dark past. As her sense of right and wrong blurs, Charlotte discovers just how far she will go for the Cloaked Shadow and the sacrifices he requires.

Now hunted throughout the land, Fawkes must face long-buried secrets in order to survive, but they could destroy him. Charlotte risks everything, including her heart, to set Fawkes on the path to redemption.

Will Charlotte have the strength to pull Fawkes into the light, or will she follow him into the shadows?

Thank you all for your never-ending support.

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and W

MIA in WA

Only 2 posts in April? What?! Epic fail.

Why? We have been up in Washington state visiting family for the past few weeks! Now Conor is back east for a class while Baby W and I hang out a little bit longer. It has been almost two years since we traveled to our home state, so we have had a lot of catching up to do with friends and loved ones. I’m taking advantage of the free babysitting to sit down and finally write something for the blog.

You might notice that I upgraded from the free wordpress option, so now we are just cannonstocruising.com. SO fancy, I know. I’ve also added an author page for my book that is about to be published up in the main menu. I’ll post updates about that process on here, too. Another reason I’ve been lax on the blog of late: finalizing my manuscript! After going back and forth with my editor, we are about ready to submit the final copy.

Once Baby and I are back at Camp Lejeune, there will be a lot to fill you in on. We are discussing getting a new heat/AC unit after discovering ours is 16 (!) years old ($$$). There are also some dear friends of ours who recently bought their own liveaboard and sailed it from Florida to Gottschalk. We are THRILLED to have them as our new neighbors and I hope to share some of their story on here as well. There will also be some ‘Sailing with Baby’ posts as we figure out how to safely sail with a little one this summer.

In the meantime, I will be soaking up my days in the rainy PNW, staring enviously at the boats out on Puget Sound. Can’t beat the view though, right?

ferry

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and W

Book Contract

Ahem! I have an announcement, and it is one that doesn’t have to do with sailing, living aboard, or military life (shocking!).

For those of you that don’t know, I have been trying to become a traditionally published author for the past three years. So far, I’ve written four books and been rejected countless times by literary agents and publishing houses alike (I should go through my email and get an exact number, it is in the hundreds). My stubbornness finally paid off, though.

Last week I signed a book contract with romance publisher The Wild Rose Press for my third novel, Cloaked. I am so excited to work with an incredible team of editors and marketing staff to realize this dream. More details to come, but for now I’m just pinching myself to make sure it is all real. Sending love and thanks to all who have supported me through this, and told me never to give up. The many hours spent banging my head against the keyboard turned out to be worth it.

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and Baby W

I took this pic on the day I finished the rough draft of *Cloaked* way back in California (September, 2016). Yes, I ate that donut to celebrate.