Podcast Who Asked Us? – Jolene Navarro

I meant to post this last week…really. New podcast, new cover and a book signing. Busy. Busy

Sometimes procrastination come in the form of just being too tired. To make it worse we have had another podcast since this one. Since I procrastinated I have two podcast to share.

I am so excited to share the cover of my newest book, Her Holiday Secret. But first let me give you our two last podcast.

In episode 17, we have a great discussion about how we procrastinate, why and some tips to get over it. Give us your tips or let us know if one of ours worked for you.

In episode 18, it’s all about the modern label of blue collar, white collar or pick collar heroes and heroines. As writers, the kind of work our characters do are part of their personality, their dreams or the lie they believe. Do you have certain heroes/heroines you enjoy reading over others? As a writer, do you find yourself writing a certain type. Listen in and get our take on the blue, white and pink.

Blue and white have been around for a hundred years now. Maybe something to do with the industrial revolution and how it changed the way we did things. New industries were popping up Factory and machinery was becoming the norm.

Pink was a new one for me. It started being used in the 70s. It is the care industry, such as teaching, nursing, social work, child care and beauty industry. I think developing characters and giving them a job is an interesting part of the hero’s journey.

Blue, White and Pink collars

Now for the new cover! I adore this little girl.

She’s home for the holidays…

with a daughter he didn’t know existed.

Six years ago, pregnant teenager Catalina Wimberly left town without a word to protect her childhood sweetheart Andres Sanchez’s future. Now she’s back for the holidays and ready to reveal her secret—she and Andres have a little girl. But as they begin to feel a lot like family, will Catalina turn down her dream job and stay beyond Christmas?

You can pre-order at Amazon, Barns and Noble and Google read.

One last thing…

If you haven’t heard, I’ll be at the Boerne Bookshop Saturday May 27. If you are in the area, I hope to see you there.

Do you have a community the supports your dreams and passions?

Writing can be a solitary endeavor. We delve into our own minds to find that creativity, that imagination, that muse. It is our art. But we don’t have to do it alone! Some writers find critique groups. Some writers host writing sprints and brainstorming sessions. In today’s episode, Storm and I talk about our own groups and how creating community can help the writing process.

Create your own community. In the mid-1800s, there was a movement that changed how the world would forever look at and judge art. Impressionism was incubated at Café Guerbois.

How did a small group of people accomplish this fete? By meeting together regularly, challenging and debating with each other on the idea of art and what makes it art.

They had heated disagreements over the “rules” of art. Artists such as Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Degas made up this group, and their creative energy paved the way for generations of modern artists.

Steve Jobs said collaboration works best when ideas are met with brutal honesty and are forced to explore a deeper purpose. I doubt Degas ever patted Manet on the back and said he had pretty pictures. They didn’t just dream of being artists, they wanted to set the world on fire with their passion despite what the established art world told them. They were told they were impostors and needed to stop trying to be an artist.

It seems I spend many days telling myself that I’m not an impostor…my friends help with this too. We need those kinds of people in our life.

Ten years ago I made the resolution to try and write for commercial publication. I went online and found SARA (San Antonio Romance Authors), and my writing greatly improved because of their questioning and tough critique. I also learned about the realities of being published. Like selling one book doesn’t mean you will be guaranteed to sell another.

I’m published today because of them. They also introduced me to others that changed my life.

In June, for last several years, I have made my way to West Texas A&M for a writer’s summer camp. This is where I met Jodi Thomas and now count her as a friend. The first year I made the five hour trip alone and it was worth it.

For five days, a small group of us met for almost five hours a day in a class going over our own stories. It’s magical. It was a full week of brainstorming and being pushed by this small group to find that twist in my story to make it unique. I learned that the ideas are there, the details buried deep within my brain.

A few ladies from my writing group.

Side benefit? Lifelong friends that “get me” in a way no one else ever will. And most of all, urge me to get it written and put it out into the world.

I also have created friendships with the woman of Love Inspired. We share a publisher and at times need to cheer each other on or just talk about the industry. I love that they are all over the country and in Canada.