Micki Fredricks's Blog

Today is the day! The race is on! Goal: Full-time writer by the end of the year.

Oh my gosh, is this going to be a crazy-train ride or what? I’m so glad you’re here for it!

I’m scared, nervous and excited all rolled into one enormous pile of, “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing”. Thank you for following along as I jump in WAY over my head.

I believe something big will happen for me this year and for you too! If you are looking for a place to speak this out into the universe, you’ve found it. I’m rooting for all of us.

Are you ready? Here are my writing goals:

On average, a romance novel is 65,000 to 80,000 words. I’m on the wordy side, so I usually aim for 80,000. The book I’m working on has 2,700 words already written so I have a remaining 77,300 words left to write.

I am giving myself 13 weeks to write this book. If I write 5 days a week for 13 weeks, I will need to write around 1,900 words or about 3 pages a day.

Yikes.

Don’t forget to go to the home page, scroll to the bottom and sign up for updates, so you don’t miss any of my posts. I will give weekly updates on my progress, my bumps along the way and what my next steps are. Check back for future posts that list the services I’m currently using to write and the price for each. This way, if you are interested in writing and self publishing, or you’re just curious, you can see what it costs.

If I have any chance of making this happen, I’m going to have to push myself out of my comfort zone. Like, WAY out.

Here is your warning: Get out now if you don’t want to see me wade through the scary waters of Facebook live, selfies and the dreaded… TIK TOK! Gasp!

This is going to be easy, right? *insert awkward, tense laugh*

Well, easy or not… here we go!

Micki

NEXT POST: What I did to “pre-game” leading up to today.

See what Goodreads reviewers are saying about Pause.

"Beautifully written that came with all the feels. Like all-of-the-feels. Pause is a book you want to climb into and be apart of the O’Brien family almost immediately. Every character in this book made me want to hug, squeeze, laugh. cry with, and cherish forever. Pause is definitely a 5 star read, but I honestly think it deserves more than that."

" The story is beautifully written, grabbing you and pulling you in with the turn of the first page. The emotions bleed from the page and into your soul. You feel the love, the pain, the heartache and the joy."

Pick up your copy today!

ONLY 4 DAYS!!

Pause, my newest romance book releases in just 4 days! Make sure and pick up your preorder so it hits your kindle ASAP!

Here is the Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2u1BSlt

He was living in a nightmare. She was determined to wake him up.

An instant.

That's all it took for Trey's life to change, twisted into an unrecognizable mess. Paralyzed by the weight of his guilt, he was numb to anything that wasn't his self-induced loathing and isolation. And that was on a good day.

Callie spent the first part of her life in the shadow of her illness. Two years ago, she was given a second chance, and she intended to live life to the fullest. She danced in the rain, sang as loud as she could and met every adventure head-on.

Life was short, and since she knew nothing was permanent, she had no time for things like falling in love.

But when Trey and Callie collided, life exploded into something beautiful.

Could the secret Callie carries with her ruin everything and bring the entire O'Brien family down? Or will it be exactly what Trey needs to pause, and remember how to live again?Pause

Click the link to preorder today! https://amzn.to/2u1BSlt

Pause

He was living in a nightmare. She was determined to wake him up.
An instant.
That's all it took for Trey's life to change, twisted into an unrecognizable mess. Paralyzed by the weight of his guilt, he was numb to anything that wasn't his self-induced loathing and isolation. And that was on a good day.
Callie spent the first part of her life in the shadow of her illness. Two years ago, she was given a second chance, and she intended to live life to the fullest.
She danced in the rain, sang as loud as she could and met every adventure head-on.
Life was short, and since she knew nothing was permanent, she had no time for things like falling in love.
But when Trey and Callie collided, life exploded into something beautiful.
Could the secret Callie carries with her ruin everything and bring the entire O'Brien family down? Or will it be exactly what Trey needs to pause, and remember how to live again?

Release date: July 10th

***Cover Reveal for RECKLESS FEAR***

Thank you so much to Robin at Wicked by Design for creating the perfect cover for Reckless Fear!
You can find the first chapter of Reckless Fear under The Black Vipers tab.Thank you for your overwhelming support!
Are you ready for The Black Vipers??

Do I have to take a stand?
No matter what side of the Rainbow you choose to stand on, yesterday was a historic day for the United States of America. I can't think of anything in my lifetime that has drawn more attention, emotion or energy than the debate between people who believe in gay marriage and those who don't.
My question is...Do I have to take a stand?
After reading that one question, most people have already made their decision on what I need to do. How many of you thought, "YES! Take a stand. Pick a side." Maybe you thought, "She's Christian, she knows where she should be." Please keep reading.
 I've been truly blessed to have wonderful people in my life. My influences have been a mix of people from different backgrounds, up bringings and belief systems. My circle of family and friends consists of straight, gay and bisexual people. Through my work, I've been exposed to many corners of society. I've worked with the rich and the homeless...The dying and addicted...The privileged and mentally ill.  I have clients who are praised by their communities and ones who are shunned. 
Can someone explain to me who decides what group of people are less important? Whose needs should be honored above everyone else's? Is there a hierarchy that I'm unaware of that allows some people to be ushered to the front while others needs are shoved  to the back?
Why am I expected to decide what is right and wrong for others? I don't ever want to be that person.
 I, myself, am a follower of Christ and believe completely that he died on the cross for every sin committed by his followers. 
And that's where my journey both begins and ends.
Do I have to take a stand on gay marriage?
I have prayed and meditated. Talked with believers and non believers. Researched in the word of God and still...I'm confused on a few things while others have become crystal clear.  
Because I have given my life to Christ, does that mean I've secretly signed up for membership in the anti-gay marriage movement?
No. I haven't...And I don't need to.
Does it mean I have to 100%, whole heartily support Gay marriage.  
No. It doesn't...And I don't need to.
Does it mean it matters to me if you are gay or straight? 
Nope, not one bit. 
Does it matter to YOU that I don't take a stance because my belief is acceptance of everyone. I sure hope not.
What it does mean is, no matter who you are, I will love you for your heart and for who God has made you to be. I will cheer for your successes and support your through your failures. I will love and give forgiveness, even in the worst of situations. Just as the Lord has done for me. This isn't easy and I'm not perfect at it. As a matter of fact, I fail a lot and need to ask forgiveness frequently.  But I will continue to try to be this person that I feel God has called me to be.
 I think that about covers it. 
 Now, some of  you will say, "Micki, if you don't take a stand, it's just like taking a stand." I don't believe that. I think God speaks to each of us and lights passion in our souls. I believe he gives us the courage to take the lead when he intends us to do so. Not everyone is supposed to take up every cause and  if you do so without the Lord leading you, the wrong reasons spur your actions. It becomes personal and your reasons are your own and not the Lord's. Some of us are here to support and remind everyone that Christ's love is about acceptance above all else. Never once did he say, I want you...But not you. He said, "I want you all."
Well meaning Christians in this country have decided that not only do people who are gay or lesbian somehow love the Lord less than straight Christian but the people who support them are not as strong in their faith either. Who has given them the power to make that decision? Does God intend to pit us against each other. Nope. It was never meant to be us and them.. it's always been US and HIM. 
 I know what the bible says, I read it regularly. I don't ever remember it saying we should make the decision ourselves, who loves Him the most. It says, above all else, love Me and love each other as I have loved you. 
So, if it's super important for you to know if I support/don't support...Here's my answer. I support people. I support love and happiness and joy. I support families and people no matter what side they choose. Some of us aren't meant to take a stand, we are meant to reach out a hand. 
So today, as the country debates what side of the rainbow to stand on...I think I'll sit on the top. Not because I'm above the issue, but because I feel closer to God here. And that's where I always long to be,as close as I can get to the one who loves all of us without titles, without boundaries and without agendas. There's an open invitation where I sit. Gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, believer or non. Come to the top of the Rainbow and worship the Lord with me, meet him for first time or just enjoy the view. The Lord has given us this day,and it's beautiful. 
~Micki 

So excited to be attending this signing with some amazing Iowa authors!!