If you haven’t read Not The One yet, I highly suggest you do that. That One Moment does work as a standalone, it’s been tested and approved, but I think it’s a more enjoyable experience after Not The One.
A few people have asked me what other books of mine to read while they wait. I think London Bound is cool to read because that is Theo and Leslie’s love story and they play an important role in Hayden’s life, but it’s certainly not necessary. Only if you’re looking for something to pass the time. 😉
In the mean time, let’s having fun counting down the days until Hayden!!!
Have you checked out Not the One yet?
My name is Reyna Miracle.
Even though a part of my name is Miracle, there’s nothing miraculous about me.
My body portrays the tales of my life.
Every feeling, every heartbreak, every emotion. Marked. Inked. Stained.
A walking canvas of my messed up truth.
But there’s one confession I can’t put in a tattoo.
A confession that will kill me to tell, but my best friend died before I had the chance.
Now I’m left with him.
The only one who can hold me in the night and squeeze that spot on my neck that feels like my lifeline between sanity and chaos.
But we don’t work together.
We’re absolute poison for each other.
We’re a stifling, suffocating, sickness of darkness.
But I feel safe…because I’ve made an art of pushing people away.
Now he’s pushing back…
And making me believe…
Making me wonder…
Maybe, just maybe…
I could be the one.
Not The One is live on iBooks now. It goes live everywhere else December 8. My book baby is live and it’s funny because people have no idea what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to writing a book. The anxiety, the stress, the writing and rewriting…and most importantly…
The self doubt.
During the editing process of Not The One, I became depressed. Reyna Miracle is the darkest character I have ever written…and I didn’t just write her…I lived in her. In my book, my heart was in London at the fourth floor Pimlico flat she lived in. She pulled me into the darkness with her. And I nearly drowned.
There was one night when I was laying in bed and stricken with grief over my story. I hated it. I hated everything about it. I was sick to my stomach about messing it all up. I even angry-typed a horrid message into my phone. Prepare yourself…I was in a dark place:
The Dirty Truth:
There is so much self doubt in the writing process. Every book I release, I have a moment of heartache and pain and disappointment…and it is one thousand percent in myself. My aching heart tells me to stop doing what I’m doing. It screams, stop releasing mediocre crap! Just go back to reading and enjoying the fruits of someone else’s labor that will most certainly always be better than your own. And oh my god would that be a hell of a lot easier! And when you pour countless hours of your heart and soul, blood, sweat, and tears….real freaking tears…all into a blah story that’s just “eh” …. It hurts. It’s gut wrenching and you wish you could take it all back.
Every dull word. Every wasted minute. Every shred of hope.
That’s the life of a writer.
I told you…Reyna Miracle took me down the rabbit hole.
But then….THEN! You get the most magical review you’ve ever received. A review that literally stops your heart, stops your breath, stops the world from spinning…and just IS.
Goodreads review from Hopelessly Devoted to Books Blog: “This.Book.Broke.Me! This is the book that pushed Amy into a whole new league! She isn’t trading on a simple love story, this isn’t about her sense of humour, this is the book where she stepped out of the ”norm” she has done something here that, personally, i think is remarkable….Amy Daws has created an original idea! She’s written a story about a woman that saved herself. A woman on the brink of utter destruction. She’s the voice that pumps blood around Reyna’s body…but Reyna’s voice? This character is as real to me as my own son. I adore her. I sincerely doubt that any other author could’ve pulled this off and i salute you Madam Daws! And more importantly…i thank you. I thank you for spreading hope, i thank you for melting my heart a little and i thank you for staying true to Reyna’s voice…you’ve done us both proud! 5 Stars and my official book of the year…perhaps of all time.”
And just like that, you remember why you do this all the bloody hell over again…because…
Happy iBooks release week Not The One…dang you hurt…but the pain is worth this one magical review.
Amy Daws is a commercial producer and lives in South Dakota with her husband and daughter. The long-awaited birth of Lorelei is what inspired her passion for writing. Amy is a lover of all things British and her award-nominated romantic comedy series, The London Lovers Series, is centered around Americans in London. It’s emotional and self-deprecating with lots of humor sprinkled in. On most nights, you can find Amy and her family dancing to Strawberry Shortcake’s theme song or stuffing themselves inside children’s-sized playhouses because there is nothing they wouldn’t do for their little miracle.
I did it. I went full blown free on Becoming Us. It happened so much sooner than I anticipated but heck, let’s just enjoy this and see what happens! It’s been two days so far and the download numbers are awesome! This is my first experience ever pricing a book for free and I’m so excited to find new readers and introduce them all to Frank and Beans! 🙂
If you don’t know who Frank and Beans is…just wait for Book 2.
So if you don’t have Becoming Us on your devices yet, get downloading people!
And p.s. Almost as soon as I sent out my writers block email, inspiration struck. I’m finally writing Book 4, Not The One. This one is consuming me in a way that no book has before. Every book I’ve written has been different, but this one scares the heck out of me. I can’t wait for you all to read it!
This is insane for me. My first book released in May of 2014 and I’ve cranked out four more books since then, so why have I lost my drive? Where has it gone?
The truth is…I’m scared.
I have tons of ideas for this next book, but it’s embarking on a place I’ve never been before. So instead of sitting down and starting the words…I just keep letting the ideas swirl and fester and I keep jotting notes into my leather Big Ben notebook.
Big Ben is getting fat yo.
So for those of you that have been asking me when the next London Lovers Series book is coming…my only answer is…I don’t know. But hopefully, it’ll be worth it! 🙂
p.s. The type A planner in me wants to say November…whew…I feel better now!
It’s the ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my very first novel, A Broken Us!!!
Finley & Brody’s story is very near and dear to my heart. I wrote it two weeks because it just poured out of me. I gifted a very special poem to this book that I wrote when I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. It was an honor. I would share it here now but it’s a bit of a book spoiler and just better if you read it within the story.
A Broken Us is a second chance romance that covers an extremely sensitive subject matter that you don’t often see in contemporary romance. I’m so incredibly proud to bring light to it and to involve a heavy romance element along with it. It’s all about the love baby!
Happy Birthday Brody & Finley…thanks for bringing me into the world of contemporary romance where I have never been happier! And thanks to all of you who have already ugly cried with me in this story.
Sidenote: A Broken Us was originally Book 1 in my London Lovers Series but I later went on to write the prequel (Becoming Us). Since then I’ve re-ordered them so readers start with the prequel.
But A Broken Us can be read as a standalone.
The moment those words come out of the doctor’s mouth, I feel sick. So sick. The life I have dreamed of…obliterated. And Brody. God, Brody. How will he look at me? How can he accept me? He’ll know what I hid from him. He’ll know everything. It’s over. It’s completely over. I can’t tell him “I love Us” anymore. Even though I do. Even though it will kill me. I can’t tell him anything. Everything is ruined. Pummeled. Broken. I have to leave him. I have to give up us. I know he’ll come after me. I just have to do something to make him not want to.
CHAPTER 21:
I shake my head and move past him to head downstairs. He grabs my hand and pulls me backwards into his chest.
“Hey,” he breathes into my ear. “I haven’t even had a chance to say hello to you yet.”
“Hello,” I reply lightly, enjoying the feel of his warm breath on my neck. He smells awesome, like a fresh laundry detergent.
I feel his lips gently kissing my shoulder and moving their way up my neck.
“Liam,” I shake my head back and forth, feeling a shiver prickle all over my skin.
“Finley,” he growls into my neck and nips at my ear.
Goosebumps crawl straight out from the spot he nips me and I break away from his grasp.
“Friends, remember?” I say, holding my hands up defensively toward him.
He scrunches his lips to the side, “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“I know, I’m sorry, but it is what it is. Let’s go downstairs. It’s family flick night for goodness’ sake.”
I start to make my way down the steps and Liam rushes up behind me, throwing his arm around my shoulders playfully. He growls in my ear, nipping at it again. I giggle into his touch and my heart hits the floor as my eyes glance down to the foyer.
Dead in my tracks, I stop. Everything around me blurs as Liam continues his descent and looks up at me, grabbing my hand. When he takes in the frozen expression on my face, I hear him say my name, barely. I can barely hear him because blood is rushing in my head. I can feel my heart beat pulsing in my eyes as I begin to feel faint.
Brody is standing in the foyer with a small suitcase in hand. Brody. In. London. Liam drops my hand and turns to look at what I’m looking at. I hear Leslie and Theo come down the steps behind me. They stop beside me when they see me frozen in place. Leslie gasps as she sees Brody.
Lots going on in the world of books for yours truly! So…let’s talk!
My current work in progress is a Cinderella short story! I’m a part of a collection of 14 best-selling authors who are twisting up your favorite fairy tales! Mine is super modern and fun…and of course…romantic!
Here’s a teaser I haven’t revealed to anyone yet!
This collection is available for preorder on Amazon, iBooks, & Smashwords…so get your #OneClick on!
Colleen Hoover and Penny Reid are both supposed to be there and I’m going to try to stop fan-girling long enough to be a signing author and stuff…
I told my husband this was for business, but seriously…I would have gone as just a reader.
If you’re in the area or planning to attend, let me know! And I have a special gift for anyone that Preorders!
Pointe of Breaking is kicking some serious book butt! Some authors don’t talk numbers because they don’t like to jinx things…but honestly, I don’t care. I just have to say THANK YOU to everyone who has #OneClicked and posted reviews and made this ballerina novel of mine and Sarah J. Pepper’s an amazing experience!
If you haven’t got your ballerina on yet…here’s the purchase links!
I’m going back to London!
At least…in my mind. 🙂
As soon as I wrap up my Cinderella story this week, I’m diving head first back into my London Lovers Series. Book 4 will follow Reyna. You met her briefly in London Bound. Reyna’s storyline is something I’ve NEVER seen in contemporary romance and I really hope I can bring justice to it! “Not The One” will release this Fall!
And if you haven’t read any of my London Lovers Series…what are you waiting for?
Book 1 is only .99 cents right now! That sale price will be going away by September 1st, so get your #OneClick on there too!
Today is mine & the hubby’s 10 year wedding anniversary. It’s been a complete whirlwind the past ten years and I can’t imagine having more fun with anyone else by my side. Except maybe Jake Johnson…or Paul Rudd…seriously, those guys are really funny.
I’m having trouble knowing where to begin this blog post because I’m overwhelmed with amazing things happening!
First of all…did you see my USA Today Feature on why I set my romance series in London?
It was AMAZING! So exciting to see my name next to ANYTHING USA Today related! Click here to read the full article!
Also, I’m working on a special project that has nothing to do with my London Lovers or my memoir series.
I can’t release details yet, but it will be coming soon!
Then…oh then…today of all days…a really incredibly special book anniversary snuck up on me.
My baby. My pride. My joy.
Chasing Hope
Never in a million years did I think I’d be anywhere that I am sitting today.
Writing a blog on my very own author website?
Are you serious?
I always wanted to be a sitcom writer as a child. I thought that sounded so cool. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to write a whole book! It seemed like too many pages…too many words…too overwhelming.
Then these tragedies started happening to me.
Life-changing sadness enveloped me and my husband and I was hurting. I was hurting for everything I’d lost and I was hurting for the hope that was fleeing from me every single day.
I had to do something.
So I wrote.
At first it was just the days of the “sad tragedies.”
So I would never forget….
Then it turned into more.
Then I started asking questions about publishing.
Then I found an editor.
Then I picked a day to release.
Then I introduced my angel babies to the world.
So they could be remembered always…not only in my heart…but on paper.
Happy 1-Year Anniversary Chasing Hope.
You started something for me.
Something I never thought I could do.
I’ve just released my fourth book now and I found so much more than HOPE when I published you.
I found my dream and I found my happy ending,
both in family and in my career.
I call that…a really good freaking year.
I’d like to give a HUGE thanks to everyone for supporting the London Lovers Series and making this release my best yet!
The love story of Brody and Finley is something that readers have latched on to and I have fully enjoyed all the beautiful reviews online!
Because of reader reaction, I am now turning my Prequel, Becoming Us, into Book #1 of the London Lovers Series. You can still read both books as stand alones, but the majority of readers seem to feel that it’s an over-all better reading experience to start with Becoming Us and then move on to A Broken Us. If you’ve already read A Broken Us, don’t fret! Becoming Us is still a whirlwind of a read that takes you back to college and tells the whole dramatic backstory of “the one that got away” for Finley.
If you haven’t jumped into the London Lovers Series,
now is the time. The $2.99 sale price will be changing!
Book 3 of the London Lovers Series, London Bound will be releasing this Spring. I’m not announcing a specific date yet because as soon as it’s ready, I’ll release it. It follows Finley best friend, Leslie, and her tumultuous start with Theo! There’s going to be lots of Frank and lots of FUN! I can’t wait to blast this to the world!
Cover reveal will be in March!
I receive many requests for updates on Chasing Peace and I just want to say that it’s partially written, however, since it’s memoir, sometimes life has to happen before I can decide how this story will progress. Chasing Hope had just a clear and distinct ending. The ending for Chasing Peace is less clear. Rest assured, I will finish it as soon as I can though! And thank you all for the interest, it means the world to me that you care!
Thanks again for all of you who have read and reviewed! It means a lot that you’re taking this journey with me and I couldn’t be happier doing what I’m doing!
Amy lives in South Dakota with her husband, Kevin, and their miracle daughter, Lorelei. The long-awaited birth of Lorelei is what inspired Amy’s first book, Chasing Hope, and her passion for writing. Amy’s contemporary romance books are a part of the The London Lover Series and currently have two installments out with Book 3, Leslie’s story to release this Spring.
Amy’s inspiration for writing is and always will be her six precious angel babies and her daughter. On most nights, you can find Amy and her family dancing to Strawberry Shortcake’s theme song or stuffing themselves inside children’s-sized playhouses because there is nothing they wouldn’t do for their little miracle.