As writers, it’s easy to wallow in uncertainty and doubt. Our brains seem hard-wired for this—it’s a creative curse. The road ahead is filled with valleys and peaks. But writing is a marathon, not a sprint. If we commit to this path, we are in it for the long haul. This is an adventure of epic proportions. One in which even The Hero’s Journey would approve.

We embark on this odyssey because we feel compelled to tell a story. Writing is a passion that burns deep in our hearts. To stop the flurry of tapping fingers on the keyboard, or still the sweeping pen in our hands would leave us lost, a gapping hole in our souls. That being said, it’s not an easy journey, but it’s one we must embrace and milk for every ounce of awesomeness we can find. We must not let the fear of rejection, or the fear of failure deter us.

Let me tell you about a recent phone call I received from my local newspaper. The editor/owner has known me for several years, and she had a proposition. In an effort to increase advertising revenue for the paper, for anyone who placed a half-page ad, she wanted me to visit their business, try their services, and then come back and write an article about it—kind of like an advertorial, but different. You see, I’m known around here as the Yes Woman. Why? Because I’m always up for an adventure. No obstacle is too large, no challenge too daunting that I will not at least attempt the journey. I may stumble, I may have to turn back, but rather than give up, I’ll always try to find another way around—unless the adventure involves risk of death… or snakes… or spiders. Seriously, there’s no going around that (shudder).  So, the idea morphed from a simple advertorial into a challenge to see what sort of situation I could get myself involved in and the resulting article about the mayhem.

I could have said, no. But where would that have gotten me? Life is an adventure. We thrive when we live our passions and follow our dreams. As it is with life, so it is with our writing. Even if we stumble across fallen branches, or become mired in a mucky trench in the road, we need to hike up our boots, lean into the wind, and keep on trekking.

My editor and champion at St. Martin’s Press left during the production of Avelynn. That meant when it came time to offer on Avelynn: The Edge of Faith—a new stand-alone historical fiction, and the second book in the series—I no longer had anyone invested in my story, or me as an author. They declined, and I was without a publisher. I could have let that stop the dream, but why would I do that when there are so many other amazing opportunities and options available to writers today? I’m the Yes Woman. Setbacks do not ruffle my feathers; they fuel the wind beneath my wings.

I made the bold decision to self-publish Avelynn because I owed it to readers to continue her story. It was not the easiest path—there were many scary creatures lurking about in the shadows of the unknown—but I am nothing if not stubborn. So, I set out on my noble quest with a brave heart. It was a fascinating journey, filled with wonderful people and sky-scraping towers of knowledge. There were epic battles against Doubt and Rejection, but I vanquished those demons and rose triumphant in the thrilling climax! The first road to publication for Avelynn: The Edge of Faith resulted in a dead end, but I found another way. I kept my passion alive and followed my dream. And thanks to that Yes Woman attitude, the second book in the Avelynn series will be in reader’s hands by the end of September, 2016!  

Keep writing, keep submitting, and keep sending your work out there. Don’t let the spectres of rejection or self-doubt thwart you! Write your heart out. Never give up on the dream.

In gratitude, 

Marissa xo

Avelynn: The Edge of Faith
Book two in the Avelynn Series

Now Available!

In a struggle that forces Avelynn to question her faith, her hope, and her
future, Avelynn and Alrik are thrust into the world of ninth century Wales and
must navigate magic, greed, and betrayal while the iron hands of fate threaten
to tear them apart.

Forced to flee England, charges of treason, murder, and witchcraft follow Avelynn into exile.

Arriving in Wales, Alrik and Avelynn find refuge amongst friends of the Welsh nobility. Cast out by his half-brothers, Alrik seeks to regain his honor and earn favor with the gods. When war threatens, Alrik embraces gold and the opportunity for Raven’s Blood’s crew to become mercenaries, aiding the Southern Welsh kings in their fight against Rhodri the Great.

Desperate to return home, Avelynn seeks to find a way to prove her innocence, pitting her against Alrik as their desires for the future clash. With battle looming, Avelynn’s faith in their relationship is further tested through a bitter struggle with Marared, a jealous lover from Alrik’s past. Marared’s threats turn deadly, and Avelynn runs afoul of magic and sorcery, causing her to question her beliefs and role as priestess.

When the very friends Avelynn and Alrik had come to trust betray them, Avelynn is captured and Alrik is charged with regicide. The two become separated, a chasm of greed, deceit, and ambition driving them apart. In an act of harrowing faith, Avelynn will stop at nothing to find her way back to Alrik and break them both free from Wale’s bloodthirsty grasp.

Purchase Now!

Also available, the first book in the series, AVELYNN.

THE LIBRARIAN’s Readers Choice Best Books in Romance pick for BEST BOOK OF 2015

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Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day. Her debut historical fiction AVELYNN, was published through St. Martin’s Press, September 2015. Look for the second book in the AVELYNN series, releasing Fall 2016. She is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7. When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

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