My 2019 Writing Accomplishments (W/ a Glimpse into 2020)

My writing career officially began in the fall of 2016, if you count the initial written word of my debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, as the kick-off. In 2017 I published Watching Glass Shatter, and in 2018 I published Father Figure. The launch of the Braxton Campus Mysteries series also started in 2018 when Academic Curveball and Broken Heart Attack were published. Let’s chat about all my writing accomplishments in 2019… and then I’ll offer a sneak peek into next year’s plans… can you believe it’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow?

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In 2019, I wrote 4 books in the Braxton Campus Mysteries series and published 3 of them. On average, it takes me ~3 months from the initial outline draft to the final formatting and pre-sale launch for each book. Below I’ll share the timelines for each book, as not everyone know the process authors go through to fully publish their work.

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Flower Power Trip

Although the outline was drafted in 2018, the book was written, edited and reviewed with beta readers in the first quarter of 2019. My favorite thing about writing this story was watching the snow fall from the dining room window. The setting in Flower Power Trip was a spring garden show and a masquerade ball in May. Finding motivation to describe the colors and beauty of the gardens was difficult! To celebrate my birthday and the book’s completion in March, W & I vacationed in Quebec City… where we spent an extended weekend in 4-foot snowdrifts in a gorgeous estate at the top of a Canadian mountain.

• January — Write Book
• February — Cover Reveal
• February — Editing & Beta Reading
• March — Pre-Sale & Early Marketing
• March 30th — LAUNCH Day
• April – Blog Tour

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Mistaken Identity Crisis

The day after I returned from Quebec City was the target to begin the next book. It was a little easier to draft this one because the weather outside was beginning to line up with the setting in Wharton County, where the Braxton Campus Mysteries take place. The plot revolves around the renovation on the famed cable car transporting students between campuses and culminates in an explosive July 4th showdown. As the weather warmed up in NYC, I hunkered down to deliver this fourth book in the series. When it was finalized and ready to launch, W & I took another trip… back to Canada! This time we hit Vancouver & Victoria on the West Coast as well as drove through Olympia National Park and Seattle, Washington in the US.

• February — Draft Outline
• March / April — Write Book
• April / May — Editing & Beta Reading
• May — Cover Reveal
• May / June — Pre-Sale & Early Marketing
• June 30th — LAUNCH Day
• June – Blog Tour

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Haunted House Ghost

Writers never take a break. The day after I returned from Seattle, I had to begin writing this book. I’d committed to an intense schedule and difficult deadline. I was adamant about launching a holiday-themed book… and since Halloween was coming up in four months, I had to push myself every day to make this one happen. Luckily, the holiday setting was so much fun to design, motivation came naturally with this book. I created the 31-day Fall Festival to promote the book’s launch… and let me tell you! October was a nightmare, and not the good kind. As I always do, I book a vacation around the publication date so that I can celebrate. We chose Maine as our trip… and it was the highlight of the year. But since I’d be away mid-October for 7 days, I had to plan and write all the Fall Festival posts in advance. Never again! LOL

• May — Draft Outline
• June / July — Write Book
• August — Editing & Beta Reading
• August — Cover Reveal
• September — Pre-Sale & Early Marketing
• October 1st — LAUNCH Day
• October — Blog Tour & BRAXTON FALL FESTIVAL

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Frozen Stiff Drink

Since I like to torture myself, I agreed to a publication date before I truly mapped out the outline for this book. In October, after my return from glorious Maine, while I finished unveiling the BRAXTON FALL FESTIVAL, I wrote the outline for Frozen Stiff Drink and another book. I had intended to draft the other book first, but I realized I had a future 2020 timing issue that forced me to swap my plans… so, I dove into the winter blizzard that brought Wharton County to a standstill. As I create this post today, I’ve just sent the semi-final version to beta readers for their feedback. When you read this post, they’re likely sending me comments and questions, which I’ll address after New Year’s Eve. Also in the new year… my celebratory trip in early March: A family vacation with all the siblings, in-laws, and kids to Disney World! Let’s hope I survive it… maybe I’ll find inspiration for the 2020 books: murder by a cartoon character!

• October — Draft Outline
• November / December — Write Book
• December / January — Editing & Beta Reading
• January — Cover Reveal
• February — Pre-Sale & Early Marketing
• March — LAUNCH & Blog Tour (Details Coming Soon)

*** OVERVIEW ***

A winter blizzard barrels toward Wharton County with a vengeance. Madam Zenya predicted the raging storm would change the course of Kellan’s life, but the famed seer never could’ve prepared him for all the collateral damage. Nana D disappears after visiting a patient at Willow Trees, leaving behind a trail of confusion. When the patient turns up dead, and second body is discovered beneath the snowbanks, Kellan must face his worst fears. What tragedy has befallen his beloved grandmother? Kellan’s brother Hampton learns essential life lessons the hard way after his father-in-law accuses him of embezzlement. While trying to prove his innocence, Hampton digs himself a deeper hole that might lead to prison. Sheriff Montague wants to save him, but she receives the shock of her life as the past hurtles forward and complicates her future. Between locating Nana D and solving the scandalous murder of another prominent Braxton citizen, Kellan and April’s worlds explode with more turmoil than they can handle. Too bad neither one of them knows what to do about the psychic’s latest premonition. The suspicious deaths happening around town aren’t ending anytime soon.

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Thus concludes my 2019 writing achievements. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a few other things I wrote in 2019 that were above and beyond the actual books:

• Two short stories which you will read in 2020
• Two outlines for new series which I’ll begin working on in 2020
• 365 blog posts on THIS IS MY TRUTH NOW
  • ~220 were reviews of other people’s books
  • ~80 were spotlights & alerts on other people’s work
  • ~65 were author updates about me or my books
• 1000+ social media messages (Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook & Twitter) targeted on marketing my books

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Sneak Peek at My 2020 Plans

In 2020, I’m hoping to be as prolific but perhaps with some changes in the approach and goals. Below is what I’m currently considering:

• Frozen Stiff Drink: Death at Danby Landing (Braxton Campus Mystery #6) will launch in early March 2020.
• The sequel to Watching Glass Shatter will be published in the second half of the year. Depending on how quickly the book comes together (1/4 written and edited thus far), it might launch in the summer, or I’ll target October 8th, 2020, the three-year anniversary of my debut novel. Who’s excited to hear about the Glass brothers?
• Braxton Campus Mystery #7. I am drafting the outline over the holidays this year, as my time will be limited with tons of events and responsibilities. It’s easier to write an outline and take multiple reality breaks than work on full-length chapters while celebrating Christmas and New Years.
• NEW Item: If I publish Braxton #7 in 2020, this will push to 2021. But… it depends on how the muse strikes. There are two options currently in development. One is a collection of short stories, poems, and advice. Another is a brand new series. Both have outlines already. I won’t start writing either until I finish the Watching Glass Shatter sequel, which means I’ll make this decision around April when it’ll be time to begin focusing on the next book.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews… here’s the scoop: I’m Jay, an contemporary fiction, family drama, and mystery author who lives in NYC. My stand-alone novel, Father Figure, can be purchased on Amazon as electronic copies or physical copies. My co-written metaphysical drama about past lives, Weathering Old Souls, is a partnership with the amazing Didi Oviatt. My family drama series, Perceptions of Glass, has two books: (1) Watching Glass Shatter and (2) Hiding Cracked Glass. My clever book series, Braxton Campus Mysteries, will fit those who love cozy mysteries and crime investigations but with a twist. There are eight books: Academic Curveball, Broken Heart Attack, Flower Power Trip, Mistaken Identity Crisis, Haunted House Ghost, Frozen Stiff Drink, Legally Blind Luck, and Sleigh Bell Tower. I read, write, and blog A LOT on this site where you can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.