The End...

Today is the final day of 2014. What has this year been like for you?

I saw so many changes occur this year. I lost the last of my original canine kids. I applied to a different college...and got in...twice :) I filed for divorce and ended a 20+ year marriage. I faced financial trouble and got through it. Moved out of the rental home I had shared with my ex-husband for almost 4 years. Moved in with a girlfriend and her family for about a month. Worked as hard as I could to save up money. Moved to a different state with my best friend. Embarked on a journey into a world I knew little about and fell in love with the lifestyle. Started school at a different campus. Hated it. Learned to love it. Was determined to change my major. Decided to stick with my major. Discovered the "real" me and found I REALLY like her...a lot. "Played" in this new lifestyle and learned even more about myself than I could have ever imagined. Met new friends who understand my new life. Finished classes. Finished The Golden Dragon's Treasure!!!! PUBLISHED The Golden Dragon's Treasure!!!!!!! In e-book and print!!!! Decided to change my major...again. Went to a birthday party for a friend and had an absolute blast! Did something I never thought I'd have the courage to do. Got to try something I've never tried before.

These are from the new thing I tried...it was gorgeous!

Met MORE new people! Started a new series! Yes, I am actually putting Cedar River aside for a few days to work on this new series....

As the final day of 2014 gets started in my world, I am currently working on my demons. They have been calling to me and I have begun to sketch out their world. This series will be NOTHING like Cedar River. There will be plenty of kink and loads of sex!! After all...these demons are highly sexual beings with a taste for the BDSM side of life :) Currently, I'm deciding on whether I should publish them under a different name or keep the Gemma K. Murray. In discussions with friends and family, it looks like I will probably publish under a different name. It seems only right. However, we shall see how it works.

So tell me...do you make resolutions? If so, what are yours? Me? I intend to carry on like I have been...learning about me and my kinky side, studying hard, playing just as hard, and loving the life I have!

Have a blessed New Year!

Happy Christmas!!

Today is my first Christmas on my own and it's not an easy one, but I'm making the best of it. I made bubbleloaf (or what some of you call monkey bread) for breakfast. And I'm making a simple pot of chicken and dumplings for my Christmas dinner.

As one of my favorite men is off spending the holiday with his family, I am spending my day with the rest of my favorite men. From Kili and Fili, Gandalf and Bilbo, then on to Frodo and Sam, Aragorn and Legolas, I will be safely ensconced the times of Middle-Earth.

And as my movies play and my other favorite man lays at my side (Diesel, my Mastiff), I will also be playing with Avery, Oliver, and Beckett Black. Their buddy, Gideon is also along for the ride today. Gods, I love me these bad boys...damn good men, but bad boys to the core. I'm working hard so that it isn't 2 years before the next book release!

I am hoping you have a very Happy Christmas as you spend it with your families and friends! Thank you for all of your support!

With love and blessings,

Gemma

OMG!!!!

Well, I've been working on it and struggling with it, but today it happened...The Golden Dragon's Treasure is now available!

I made it before the Christmas deadline I had set for myself and I couldn't have done it without all the support from my beloved ones and my fans!

Currently, you are able to get every version you need at Smashwords. I will post other links as they become available.

Please...check out Brady and Silver's story! They have been a patient couple and they need to have their story read.

Just proofed the print copy this morning (12/23):https://www.createspace.com/5191646 

Here's the link to Amazon (12/24): http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Dragons-Treasure-Cedar-River/dp/1505696380/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1419447393&sr=8-5&keywords=The+golden+dragon%27s+treasure

Happy Winter Solstice

Last night, I spent the evening with friends...not just any old friends, but the special type of friends who are more family than mere acquaintances. We had terrific food, filthy and fun conversation, laughs until our bellies hurt, a few tears shed, but we had the most amazing time.

I was reflecting on one conversation in particular. This beautiful friend lost her father at the end of May this year. This is her first holiday season without him. I understand her grief in so many ways. I told her recently how I pick up the phone to dial my dad's number whenever something amazing happens to me, then I lay the phone down because I know he's never going to answer the phone. She's been checking her phone for messages from her dad and realizing he will never call her again. Two women met due to, well...similar interests, yet bonded in so many ways...losing our fathers is merely one of so many.

The conversation we had on the way to the solstice bonfire came back and made me realize that these people, though I haven't known them long, are my family. I don't have to hide who I am, what I believe, or any other thing you can imagine. They accept me for simply being me. They don't judge (okay, maybe a little, but that's okay) me for my faith, my beliefs, my relationship status, or anything else. I think we hug more than most families, too. And I mean those nice long hugs that tell you that these people miss you when you're not around and care about you. That is so nice! I'm such a touchy-feely person. I love to touch and be touched.

My family may not be made up of a mother, father, and siblings. My family is one of friends who are very like-minded. We are accepting of each other's weird little quirks and love each other in spite (or because) of them.

Last night was the only "real" holiday I will spend with family. That is perfectly fine by me since I've had way too many family holidays where I feel like the odd man out. I'm usually the butt of the jokes with my biological family. With my 'self-made' family, everyone gets equal teasing and ribbing, but when we walk away, it's always with a hug and a promise to see each other again soon.

I want to take this moment to tell you this: Family is who stands with you, for you, and beside you. It doesn't have to be people who share the same DNA or bloodline. Your family is those who accept you at your best and love you at your worst. They are the ones who allow you to be zany, off the wall, serious, mournful, loving, and most of all, yourself.

I want to wish you and yours a very Happy Winter Solstice, a Blessed Yule, a Merry Christmas, and most of all, an incredibly wonderful New Year!!!

Ramblings from a Writer's Jumbled Mind

Wow! Two blog posts rather close together...I'm sort of impressed with myself :) Okay, so this is more or less me just shooting out random thoughts, but let me tell you, this head of mine is filled with all sorts of random bits and pieces.

Brady and Silver are sitting in my lil sis/editor's hands at the moment. I'm hoping to self-publish BEFORE Christmas. Then, I have Books 4 and 5 well under way plus a few surprises.

Last night, I got to sit down and discuss books with an incredibly brilliant man. He blows my mind every time I get to spend time with him. He's reading Frankenstein at the moment and we were discussing how his idea of what Frankenstein was skewed (according to the movies). He told me how awe-struck he was by the differences he's finding. He had me laughing until tears fell from my eyes with some of the things that came out of his mouth. Gods, I haven't laughed like that since...well, he visited the last time. Should I mention that this highly intelligent guy is my inspiration for Beckett Black (otter shifter)? Oh yeah, let me tell you...you all are in for a rare and beautiful treat with this one :) Thank you, T, for the laughter and conversation! You need to visit more often :) You are the most amazingly brilliant and twisted human I know (yes, that's a compliment)!

You will notice some things popping up on this blog that may or may not surprise you. I've told you how this year has been about change for me. I'm exploring myself and discovering that I really do love who I am. In that same context, you will start to find some BDSM things creeping onto my page. More often than not, these people are friends of mine who do magnificent work and I want to promote them to the world. You will also find some kinky type writings creeping up on this page. If that isn't your thing, I understand. I'm going to post them under their own tab so if you want to avoid those types of writings, well, you can.

I want to say something to all of you...if your partner tells you that you are beautiful or sexy, DON'T look at him as if he's lost his mind. DON'T tell him he needs to have his eyes examined. DON'T tell him he has no idea what he's talking about. DON'T belittle his opinion of you!!! Look that incredible person in the eyes and say "Thank you!" and mean it!!!! Like I said I'm learning as I go. I have a man in my life who is my best friend. He's been telling me I'm beautiful for a looooooonnnnnggg time. I've done all of the DON'Ts I listed above. Lucky for me, he still keeps saying it. I think he believed that if he kept telling me I was beautiful, I would eventually believe it. And here's a surprise: it worked. If you tell someone something enough, they start to believe it. This has been a hard lesson for me. He even scoffed at me the other day when I said something about my fat ass. Seriously, dude? Oh yeah...thank you :) He also tells that I'm sweet...wow...someone is trying to get on Santa's nice list this year. Oh wait...thank you!

Thank you for letting me ramble on about life! I'm headed toward finals this week and I have over a month off between semesters. Plenty of writing time and loads of fun to be had. Who knows what will be created in that time? Could be fun to find out!

Love and blessings to you and yours!

What I'm Thankful For...

"A day late and a dollar short" as my grandma would say. Yes, that is me. I've been so neglectful lately and it shows in everything. From my writing to my friendships to my homework, I've been neglecting way too much.
I promised everyone that this was going to be a year of change, but I never dreamed how many changes would come my way. What a difference a year can make!
Yesterday, I spent my first holiday...alone. I cooked a small dinner for my Diesel and me. I spent the day in my pajamas, working on homework, playing on the internet, and watching movies. My baby sister called and we talked. Okay, I cried a lot, she coughed a lot (she's sick), and she listened to me bitch. Then, I realized that I never wrote out what I'm most grateful for.

So today I will share what I am most grateful for (in the order of which they came to me):

My baby sister who listens to me. She makes me laugh, cry, think, and roll my eyes. Her humor is twisted and dark. Her brain is weirdly wired like mine and her weirdness can catch mine toe to toe. She lets me vent when things aren't working and doesn't laugh (too hard) when I realize the situation isn't nearly as bad as I thought.

My roommate, my best friend, my partner who gets me. He gets all of me...most of the time. He came into my life when I felt more alone than I had ever been. He walked through that classroom door and flipped my world upside down. He gave me hope. He cared when I felt no one else did. He helped when I didn't think I had a friend in the world. He organized and strategized. He gave light to my darkness and showed me the weird freak that lives inside of him. His weirdness dances with mine and  my demons quiet at the sound of his name.

My furkid who has been there through all the insanity of the last year. His paw was always there for me to hold when I needed that physical contact with someone or something. He's made me laugh more than anyone else could. He accepted the changes in our life like a trooper and fell in love with the people who have come into our lives. He doesn't begrudge me the times when I leave him alone for a few hours to go out and explore my darkness. He's been my constant through it all.

My friends who helped me through the worst summer ever. I don't know what I would have done without you. You gave Diesel and I a place to live while asking for very little in return. You listened as I cried and bitched about the move we were going to make. You kept me from making the worst decision of my life. You helped us move into our new home and helped out with the little things we needed...like a shower curtain and a bed. You came to visit and told me I always had a home to come home to. You are my friends who became my family and I love you more than you will ever realize.

The friends who have often sent a text message or FB'd me just to check in and let me know they are there if I need a shoulder.

My fans, new and old, who stand by patiently (or not so patiently in some cases) while I get my shit together. You've been faithful and loyal. For that alone, I am truly grateful. Book 3 is almost finished, I promise.

To live in the country I live in where I can get an education and become anything I wish to be

To have had the childhood I did

To have been raised by the most incredible man in the world...my daddy.

To have known the love of a mother, even though she wasn't MY mother

To have had the courage to make the changes I made

For my talent as a writer

For my family who still stands beside me

For the new friends who have come into my life, accepted me and showed me that I'm not alone in my darkness. You've helped me grow and you've shown me that I'm not nearly as weird as I thought I was. I've learned so much from all of you in the short time we've been acquainted. More often than not, you keep the light burning bright inside of my cold, dark heart.

There are many things that I'm sure I'm forgetting, but these are a few things (and people) I am most grateful for. Without the people in my life, I would be more lost than I ever thought.

One more thing, I'm grateful for...snow. I have discovered just how much I love the stuff. It is beckoning to me now and I need to get out and shovel. It's actually more invigorating than I ever imagined. One of these days, I'll post some pics for you.

For now, be good to each other, love one another, and hug those you love most!

Riding this Rollercoaster

With all of the upcoming changes, including a very big move, I've made a few decisions. The most important was to discontinue the Cedar River Series fan page. I just don't have time to keep up with all of it, go to school, go to work, write, and have a semblance of a life. I'm sorry if that disappoints any of you, but you will still be able to interact with the characters and see their pictures on my author page. I'm trying to keep that going so that you can keep up with what is happening.
Another decision is to "fix" Brady and Silver's story. It's been through the editing process, but I really just don't like this story. It needs something...maybe a little magick, maybe a bit more passion, I'm just not sure yet. Because I'm self-publishing this one, I really hate to put out a book that a) I hate and b) something that isn't up to standard. I have people helping me find the missing heart to this story...people who love these characters as much as you do.
As mentioned above, I am currently in the middle of a big move. The apartment is rented. Most of my things are moved in...all except a few odds and ends, Diesel, and me :)

This boy is my life and his comfort is above and beyond all else my main focus. He's always been a country pup with room to roam and very few neighbors. For the last month, his world has changed by leaps and bounds. His dad moved away. Mom's best friend came to pick up our things and take them away. Mom and Diesel were forced to move in with friends, 3 dogs, 3 cats and 2 teenagers. Now, Mom is moving Diesel into a city apartment with a huge park down the street with her best friend. There are going to be all of these new people flooding into his life and a new way of living that I'm hoping doesn't overwhelm him. Luckily, he's a Mastiff...pretty laid back, roll with the flow.

I'm going to be able to post more once I have my schedule figured out and I can keep you up to date on life, books, characters, and maybe even start bringing my author friends by to visit again.

Thank you for being patient with me as my life evolves into this amazing thing that I simply can't get enough of! This roller coaster is slowing down slightly...just not sure if I'm ready to step off this ride yet :) I'm having a ball!!! Maybe you will bring a new friend or two along for the adventure?