Yes, I'm an Author

Bestselling too!

Earlier in the week I shared a video across my platforms talking about the book I am currently writing. I was genuinely surprised so many people had no idea that once upon a time I was actually full time Indie Author in the Romance genre.

It made me realize how little I have actually talked about my writing past. I used to publish as Erotic Romance author, Dawn Robertson.

Oh yes, spicy books. Back when 50 Shades was the latest rage… My love for reading pulled me back into my love for fiction. After making it through the three 50 Shades books, I just dove head first into the newest romance names.

Jamie McGuire was one of my early favorites. It broke my heart to see her be outed by her own online behavior, racism and nazi-esque posts quickly made her a thing of the past. I mean honestly though, the first and only book signing I did with her (Book Bash 2014) she was super rude to everyone. Including the readers. Anyway!

I then fell completely in love with Colleen Hoover. I am talking, first books… way back in her early career. Slammed not only introduced me to indie writing but also to The Avett Brothers. A young bluegrass band out of Concord, North Carolina who to this day are in my top 5 artists I listen to constantly.

Once I knew that Colleen did it all on her own and still had success I knew that I could write something better than some of the books I was reading at that moment in time. So I started, and I wrote two novels, published them with my own name and then decided to start all over again.

I pulled both books, created a pen name and wrote my debut novel Hers. Which fucking blew me right out of the water. I had no idea the kind of success that would come with anything I could write or put out. A month and a half later I released the follow up to Hers. The second book in a series, Finding Willow. Which had equally as good success and a run in with Amazon’s censorship in the early days.

Over the few years I would write and publish 18 novels, most of which are still available now. Some I co-authored which has made them unavailable at this time.

It was a crazy ride, and then Bezos fucked Indie authors with Kindle Unlimited. Page swipes, and ways to pay authors even less. Apparently the 30% off the top wasn’t enough for them in profits of literal DIGITAL files on their platform. Of course running many of us who did it full time out of business because then the only authors killing it were padding the backs of their novels with free books, or lengthy ghost written prequels or unreleased materials.

Long story short? Scammers thrived and those with talent quietly were defeated. I went into Real Estate shortly after that. Gross. I was so glad to leave that industry altogether during COVID.

One thing that never left me through all of these seasons is my love for writing. It has been far too many years since I hit publish on something I could be proud of. Seven long years. And I have been itching to pick up where I left off.

Not only do I have my novel about the loss of my sister, but I am also writing a fictional political thriller in the backdrop of it all. But shhh, no body knows about that yet and I must finish the project I have been feverishly working on. That being Sisters: A Story of Grief and Healing.

I always knew I wanted to write the stories of my late sister’ life. Honestly, the first draft of this project began in 2018. And the idea then to what I’ve created now is night and day. What I didn’t realize way back then is I had my own journey to go on before I could finally be able to give this book the real attention and direction it deserved.

Last year I wrote about how the Eras Tour & my relationship with my daughter would give me the greatest healing I could never have seen coming.

I needed the journey I took with my daughter last year. I needed the experience. I needed the healing of the grief I had no idea how to process. There are so many books out there about losing a child, or a parent… but sibling loss is something we so rarely talk about. We never grow up expecting to lose a sibling. They are a peer. They are supposed to walk through life with us.

In reality we know in the long term we will lose those who are above us. Older than us. The Grandparents, and parents… but we don’t prepare ourselves ever for the loss of a sibling. At least not that early in life.

Hell, I was 26! I just had a new baby. Addison was only born in April when Dawn would pass in October. One of my biggest regrets always being how little time they had together on this earth.

In fact, I was able to reflect that 2024 and all that came with it made me a better Mother all around.

As you can see, at the end of the day I am a writer with so many words I just am desperate to get out and share with the world. With my community. Pull back another layer of Chasing Oz for the world to know.

And I really hope at the end of the day you love Dawn as much as I do, after reading our story.

But I am going to have to warn you ahead of time, each novel should come with it’s own box of tissues. Additionally, do not drink any beverages while reading. You’ve been warned.

The closer I get to a publishing date, pre-orders, etc. I will share here and all of the places you can follow me online!