Hattie's Blog

My Not So Secret Diary

Tuesday Morning Thoughts

I saw a post this morning from another author that got me thinking. This publishing malarkey is hard. Getting your books out there is hard, and every single sale means something because you know that someone somewhere is putting their hand in their pocket to buy from you. Reading that made me reevaluate things. I had to decide why I write, and largely, for me at least, it’s because I like it. I have stories and characters that come to life in my mind, and the only way to deal with that is getting them down on to paper. Admittedly, I’d love to be rich and well known, (not famous) but to have people love my books would be great. However, I know the chances of that in this industry are slim. So I do it for me, and knowing that those of you that have read my books enjoy them, makes it really worthwhile.

Hattie's faceI thinkk everyone should have the chance to write and get their message out there. I’ve written five books, some are under another name because I choose to keep separate areas of my life apart, but I love the expression that indie publishing gives me. However, and this is not meant in any way to be snobby, but I do feel there should be a level of expectation. When someone picks my book, I’d hope they’ll find it well written with a good story line. I read something last night, which ultimately seemed to be the authors fantasy, there was no real storyline and no depth to any of the characters. At the end I felt cheated. I didn’t think the characters had a happy ever after because I didn’t know them well enough. Sex is great, but it’s not enough. That’s true in real life and true in the world of romance too. It’s not enough to hold my attention, and I want to have my attention held. I have a busy life, most of us do, so when I pick up a book, I want something from it, I want to feel something, and disappointed is not it.



So if you do read something I’ve written, thank you. It means a lot, and if you’ve enjoyed it, please consider leaving me a review so I know! Thank you!

About Hattie!

Hattie Wells just loves a happy ending, and writes contemporary romance with relatable characters.

She knows that the road to true love can be bumpy, but you can be can be guaranteed to find a happy ending alongside passion, humour and a lot of romance, between the covers of her books.

When Hattie is not writing or reading she can be found at home, with her own happy ever after and their four kids.

Follow below and say hi on socials - she’d love to hear from you!

* Second Chances - Oceans Apart 1

* Playing with Fire

* Risking Everything - Oceans Apart 2

April Newletter

Newsletter 1 exportHave you signed up for my newsletter yet? No worries if not, you can read it here, but if you want to be part of my read and review crew, and receive a free copy of one of my books in return for an honest review, then I need to hear from you!

Available Now!

176962962_192245772739304_4848182759907839159_nv1 So, I'm branching out, and soon my books will be available not only on Kindle and at Amazon, but also Apple Barnes & Noble and Kobo. I am so excited!!

Why I Write...

Why I write
I have a very busy mind. It's been worse, much worse, but as people go I know mine is constantly whirring.

It's like I need to think. Sometimes, at night after a perfectly lovely day, out of nowhere, the whirring will start. It can be nothing or at least something small, but whatever it is can set me off on a spiralling path of worry.

I’m the same with doing. I have a virtual checklist and I struggle to relax if things aren't ticked off it. It can be small things like emptying the dishwasher, or important things I actually need to do. But if they aren't done that's it! I can’t sit still or relax!

I've always had an active mind, but with it comes an active imagination. I find myself conjuring up characters and stories in my mind, watching them play out their lives in front of me. It’s almost like I know them. I’m sure although it sounds a little crazy, other authors will get what I mean. The other day I read something that sums it up perfectly, it went something like, writers aren't mad, they're inhabited, we have people in our heads that we like to make up stories about.” (Maybe it does sound a little mad?

Sometimes I feel that my writing should be more 'serious' but you know, I do that too, just not here. Sometimes whoever we are, wherever we are, we need a bit of something to make us feel good. That's why the romance category is so popular. Whatever is going on in our lives, we can escape into someone else's life, have an adventure and then come back to reality.

For me there’s nothing like escaping into a good book, whether I’m reading it, or writing it. Tell me though, what are you reading at the moment? xx

Hello!

hello
Hello! So I thought I’d let you all know a little bit about me.

I’ve been writing on and off for years, but I’ve never been too good at sharing my words with others. They say, (whoever they might be), that our biggest critic is ourselves, and I have to say I agree. I can read books that others have written and enjoy them, without picking them apart, but when I write something myself I find every tiny fault, even those that aren’t there.

That’s why my fiction work is all written under a pen name. I feel, rightly or wrongly, that it gives me a little more freedom to write just what I want to, without anyone knowing it’s me. Of course, I know that it is me, I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not, and I haven’t made up a character for my pen name. When I talk to you, it’s a genuine conversation, it’s just from behind a little shield that I’ve constructed for myself. Under my real name, which isn’t so different to my pen name, I write a blog where I’m very honest and open about my experiences. It’s received well, and partly I feel like that’s another reason I keep the two apart. Writing from my own experiences can’t be wrong because even though others might not agree, they are my experiences. It’s strange that sharing something, in this case stories I’ve made up, is actually harder for me than sharing the truth.

I enjoy reading so much! I can lose myself into a good book really easily and always have at least one on the go. I also have a really active imagination, so I suppose it was inevitable that one day I’d venture into writing my own books. So, on and off, alongside my blog I’ve let my fiction side release itself, and it’s so much fun. My first two books Second Chances and Playing with Fire are available now, and I’m currently working on the sequel to Second Chances. I have so many ideas for my next few books too, it would be so easy to jot them all down and get started, but I know if I do that I’ll never finish anything, so I’m trying to hold back!

I’m looking forward to hearing what you all think of my books. It’s hard to put something out there when you’ve spent so much time constructing it, but it’s awesome when you hear good feedback.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Hattie xx