The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom: Guest Blog and Giveaway with Sheena Hutchinson

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Sheena Hutchinson. I self published my first book, Seraphina: The Awakening back in January and I’m now preparing to release my second book, Seraphina: Initiation on October 20^th. It’s been a long two years, but it was worth every hour of sleep lost and every hair I pulled out when the words wouldn’t come. There are however, two questions I get asked by fans and in interview questions all the time: How do you come up with the story or the inspiration to write a book? and Why did you self publish instead of the traditional way?

Not to get all Twilight on you guys, but Seraphina’s story came to me in a dream. I had been going through a break up and dove into reading again. I was deep into the Hush Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick and I was sort of obsessed with the idea of him being her Guardian Angel in the second book. I went to bed that night and saw it all play out before my very eyes, a Guardian Angel falling head over heels for his subject, the accident, and him making the hardest decision of his life. The next scene I pictured was Sera’s accident and her somehow shielding herself with a power she never knew she possessed. By the time my eyes flew open the next day, everyone close to me was sick of hearing about my dream. Desperate for an escape from my own feelings I resolved to put all my effort into writing it all down on paper. One scene led to another then another until I began passing it around from friend to friend for advice and one year later I finally had my first completed book.

Now, why did I choose to self publish? Honestly, the thought of rejection scared the living daylights out of me! I knew I wasn’t up to par with the writing styles of people who have been writing all their life. I knew my manuscript would just sit on someone’s desk for months before I got that inevitable rejection letter in the mail. Instead, the idea of self-publishing really appealed to me. I’d put it out there on my own terms, I can change it anytime I wanted, and if it didn’t go anywhere it was no big loss. The one thing I wasn’t expecting is the amount of promotion and marketing I’d have to do completely solo. If I had to go back and do it all over again, I think I’d do my research way before I hit ‘publish.’ I’d find out about blog tours, street teams, conventions, marketing, and networking with other authors and bloggers. One thing that did save me was the fact that I signed up for Amazon’s KDP Select. It’s Amazon’s program that makes your book available in the Amazon Lending Library so their Prime Members can borrow it for free. I’ve heard this doesn’t always work for everyone, but I’ve personally had a lot of success with it.

In the end, I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. I have found out more about myself as well as the world of publishing than I ever would have thought possible. I plan on writing a ton more books and everything I’ve learned will be a tool for my future success.

Seraphina: Initiation

Seraphina Series

Book Two

Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Hutchinson Publishing

Date of Publication: 10/20/2014

ISBN: 1502319608

ASIN: B00NE4Q7J2

Number of pages: 200

Word Count: 60,000

Cover Artist: Andrea Garcia

Book Description:

Seraphina Cross is unexpectedly thrown into this crazy, spiritual world of Angels versus Demons. Never did she expect to meet Nate who was just a figment of her imagination until last week. Now she finds herself moving in with him because of her innate responsibility to protect her loved ones from harm.

Finally beginning to feel at home in her new house and with her new relationship. Nate begins training Sera in all that she can do, surprising even himself at times.

Just when she is starting to feel safe and powerful, the Devil finds a new way to attack her at her most vulnerable.

When her dreams are no longer a gift, can Sera control the powers needed to defeat what's coming before Lucifer fulfills his promise to her?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/GFFT-_DAuZk

Available at Amazon Amazon UK

Excerpt:

I’m walking along the long cliff in my new backyard, enjoying the gorgeous scenery. I’m basking in the sun, breathing in the fresh outdoor air, and feeling the wind whip my hair around my face. I look back at my new home behind me and sigh as my mind automatically thinks of Nate. I lie down in the grass, feeling the wind whipping around my hair and the grass grazing my legs ever so slightly. Again I let my mind wander to thoughts of wondering if I ever would have moved out of my parent’s house had it not been for Nate. What would my life have been like? Would I have stayed at the office until retirement in quiet misery? Breaking me out of my moment I think I hear someone shouting my name. I look around, but I’m alone here in my new backyard. Where is that noise coming from? I shrug my shoulders and try to continue my thought processes, but a part of me is still on alert. There it is again, my name, Sera! I finally climb to my feet and look through the glass wall of our house. Nate isn’t there. I must be imagining things.

Maybe my senses are just extra sensitive today. I begin to walk along the cliff and I hear it a little louder now. Sera! I glance out over the cliff and the winding river below that continues far into the distance. SERA! Finally my eyes lock on something in the river below, Nate.

What I’m not expecting is the hand that’s holding his head under water is big, clawed, and belongs to none other than Gabe. Gabe, the hunk from the office that tried to kill me only a few short days ago. His eyes are no longer green, they are all black and staring straight up at me like he’s tempting me to do something about it. He lifts Nate’s head back up as he tries to catch his breath while gulping down chunks of water. Nate’s arms are flailing around trying to grab onto something to defend himself, no to avail. “Sera!” he sputters out before Gabe shoves his head back down into the water. This time I know he’s not going to let him back up for air. He will kill him. There is no time, no thinking, Nate needs me. I extend my arms out like a bird’s wings, somewhere inside me I feel like I can fly. I dive off the cliff to help Nate. I open my eyes to see, it’s working! I have wings, big white glorious wings and… I’m flying! I think excitedly as my eyes lock on Gabe’s dark ones only instead of the fear I expect to see, he laughs at me. A strange, haunting laugh like he wanted this to happen.

I land on the ground hard before my eyes fly open. Nate is on top of me screaming words my mind can’t quite make out yet. I glance around in shock, I’m outside in the grass by the cliff. Stars are sparkling above me and in a stupor of confusion my mind is trying to make out what Nate is yelling.

“Sera! What were you doing? Tell me what was that?” his hands are shaking in anger.

“What?” I don’t seem to understand, “What happened?” I ask shaking my head as I begin to sit up.

“What do you mean? You were about to jump off the cliff!” he yells putting his hands on his head and paces back and forth in front of me.

“But, I was dreaming…” I try putting my thoughts together.

“Sera, I heard you walking past my office so I followed you out here and you were about to jump! I dived at you at the last minute and caught you just in time!” He states angrily waiting for an explanation.

I’m so confused. “I was dreaming you were in the river and I needed to save you, I was flying down to save you…it was a dream, at least I thought it was…” I rub my forehead.

Processing what I had just said with his silent angry face he finally softens and states, “Let’s get you back to bed,” before picking me up and carrying me back inside the house. By the time he’s climbing the stairs, I find myself nodding back off to sleep in his arms. I can feel him tucking me in and his footsteps trace back to the door. Suddenly I’m wide-awake, frightened that I could sleep walk again.

“Wait, Nate!” I softly yell.

“Yes?” he responds over his shoulder pausing in the doorway.

“Please don’t leave. I’m scared to go to sleep.” I admit quietly. He doesn’t have to respond I know he will stay. He probably wanted to anyway knowing his overprotective self. He walks back to the other side of the room, grabs the green chair from the corner, and pulls it up beside my bed. Leaning back he puts his feet up on the edge of the bed, I can’t tell if he’s sleeping or not but I feel better knowing that he’s there.

I roll over facing away from him as I try to close my eyes. Instead of drifting to sleep again, I find my mind wandering to how I could have walked all that way unconscious, what would have happened if I had jumped? How could this happen? Is this another gift? Or is it a curse? Unable to sleep, I roll back to face Nate. The moon is shining in through my window falling on Nate’s face. His eyes are closed and he looks so peaceful, but I know he’s not going to get any sleep tonight. I find myself wondering what I would do without him. Finally, unconsciousness finds me as I’m falling asleep wondering how I won the Angel lottery.

About the Author:

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can't seem to hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny has lead her back to her true passion for writing.

She constantly strives to be a positive role model and writes stories that empower and inspire. Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after.

While God is currently still writing her love story, she continues to put all her effort into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more info, updates, and fun facts visit her website at www.SheenaHutchinson.com

www.Twitter.com/Sheena_Hutch

www.Facebook.com/TheSeraphinaSeries

www.Goodreads.com/SheenaHutch

www.amazon.com/author/sheenahutchinson