The Waiting Series

Housekeeping

Had a great release of Witch Dance earlier in the week. I’m so happy to get that book out in the world. It’s the first time I’ve ever written anything other than The Waiting Series and I’m super proud of it. Several reviewers have mentioned to me that it has the same twist and turns they’ve come to expect from an Elizabeth Burgess novel, and I couldn’t be more pleased with that compliment.
If you’ve received an ARC or bought the book via pre-order or on/after release, there’s a pretty significant error where all the italics was accidentally removed. (Instances where Starling’s grandfather is speaking to her). My formatter is working to fix this as soon as possible.
What’s next…I’m currently writing the second book in the Hopewell Coven–Queen of Angels. I estimate I’m about halfway done and hope to publish by the end of the year.
The SEVENTH book in The Waiting Series (The Flood) is with my editor. I’m expecting a summer release.
As soon as QoA is complete, I’ll finally return to the Douglases, Caissys, O’Malleys, and Adams. Y’all, I’ve missed these people like crazy.

I think that’s pretty much it with me. Thank you all so much for reading these stories and giving your support. I really appreciate it. 😀

Congratulations! You’ve received a bad review🎉

Bad reviews… every single writer in the world has them.

Except me.

Let me preface this by saying I don’t have a ton of reviews for my first series–a very modest amount in fact–but what I do have are positive, uplifting, and everything you want to hear about when you read that someone enjoyed your book. However, because my genre isn’t the hot market right now, I thought…why not see if I can figure out a paranormal series? I’d had an idea brewing for a while and my desire to get ‘in the game’ spurred it on. Pretty soon, I was loving my characters and my story. I knew I had a winner. My editor gets it, loves it. Same with my beta readers. I am on Cloud Nine sending to reviewers believing we are going straight to #1.

Until yesterday.

I received not one, but TWO two star reviews, and for a good twenty-four hour timeframe all my literary dreams came crashing around me.

Questioning my ability as a writer is nothing new. Every writer I know has been talked down from the ledge of tossing their computer to its death more than once, but yesterday it felt different. It was different. Because up until now, everybody has liked my stories.

And now someone doesn’t. Two someone’s actually.

After much crying to my very supportive friends and family, I’ve come to the conclusion that bad reviews are impossible to avoid. They are a rite of passage for all authors. They shouldn’t be feared, but embraced as a part of living out our dreams because to truly live, you have to take the good with the bad. To avoid less than three star reviews, I would have to give up the only thing that’s ever meant anything to me, and that’s just not a life I’m willing to live.

So what am I going to do?  Take a deep breath. Maybe eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food. Possibly read a few of J.K. Rowling’s rejection letters, or Charles Dickens’ one star reviews… and… keep writing.

Always keep writing.

The Wanting ARC

Hey y’all!

I’m days away from hitting publish on The Wanting, Book 3 of The Waiting Series. If anyone is interested in an ARC, then email me at elizabethburgessandmariehewes@gmail.com.

Paperback Giveaway!!

Guess what y’all? We are having a paperback giveaway on Goodreads starting TONIGHT at midnight and running thru January 3, 2016!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from us!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Waiting

by Elizabeth Burgess

Giveaway ends January 03, 2016.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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The Foundation is FREE

The Waiting Series Prequel: The Foundation is FREE on these venues. I’m working on Amazon now, but it’s a process.

We hope you enjoy the revenge, lies, and love on the banks of the Pontchartrain…

iTunes:

https://itun.es/us/0gnv-.l

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/the-foundation-elizabeth-burgess/1122725622;jsessionid=FC38350E8476E67EB8B9D6C20776D3D1.prodny_store01-2?ean=2940152661439

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-foundation-book-0-5

Inktera: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/b175732a-0341-44d9-9fc2-74cdb243c799

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/mobile/book/283217152/The-Foundation-Book-0-5-The-Waiting-Series

Coming Soon…The Foundation: Prequel to The Waiting Series

Revenge, lies, and love on the banks of the Pontchartrain…
Millicent Douglas can’t resist two things: good revenge and hot sex. She discovers her ticket to both in Missouri. Can she open her black heart to a new love… or has love always been there, hiding in plain sight?
As the creator of a black market organ scheme known as “The Operation,” Stephen Mullins can’t afford to take chances – personally or professionally. But when cardiothoracic surgeon Millie Douglas walks into his office, will he discover that some chances are worth taking?
Nash Douglas knows that the odds are stacked against him to win Millie’s heart, especially since he’s the son of her ex-husband, but that won’t keep him from being the most trustworthy friend she’s ever had. His strategy is simple: remain the one constant in her life and eventually, she’ll see his devotion. When Millie returns from a business trip, enamored with someone new, Nash fears he’s lost only woman he’s ever loved.

*The Foundation is the prequel for The Waiting Series. It can be read as a standalone or at any time in the series.

**The Waiting Series is intended for 18+ audiences due to language and adult content

SALE

The Waiting Series is having the biggest sale EVER!! The first two books (The Waiting and The Funeral) are FREE and The Watching is only .99!!! Take advantage of this deal today!!!

Link for The Waiting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MOJFZNW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1428098902&sr=8-2&keywords=the+waiting+book+one&dpPl=1&dpID=51eIK4VdyuL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Link for The Funeral: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OOF05CU/ref=kina_tdp?ie=UTF8
Link for The Watching: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UO1QYUA/ref=kina_tdp?ie=UTF8

In other news…

– I finished The Wanting last week. I’ve never had a book stretch me like that one did, but it is probably my favorite book to date. The subtitle could actually be Three Weddings and a Funeral, but I’ll stick to Book 3.

– While my computer is at the doctor, I’m working on a short story/maybe novella about the origins of the “Operation.” In this story, we’ll meet Stephen Mullins, the surgeon from Jefferson City, Missouri, and discover how Millie and Bob aligned St. Tam in Slidell, and Rivers in New Orleans with the black market organ scheme.

– When I have my computer back, I’ll start work on the outline for The Flood. For those of you concerned for Arianne (The Wanting is even more brutal for Ari than The Watching, FYI), she finds her voice and maybe even a new best friend in The Flood. I’m excited to get started on it!

– The Fire release date is coming soon… as in within the week. Since we published in August 2014, my hope has been to put out 4 books within the year, and I’m so proud to have met this goal.

– We love our readers and reviewers!! We’ve received so many beautiful and encouraging words about the series. Thank you so much for reading and we are thrilled that the people on these stories resonate with you.

Laments of an Indie Author…

Good morning from sunny (and unbearably HOT) Louisiana! It’s been a minute (several months) since I’ve posted anything and I’ll be honest as to the reason.

I was burnt out.

Being an indie author can be tiring, lonely, overwhelming, and downright depressing. When you look at your minuscule books in the expansive sea of novels that are published daily, it’s easy to fall into the trap of insignificance. For the past several months, I truly didn’t see my place (or the place of this series) in the vast, evergrowing, competitive, cutthroat world of books.

Honestly, I still don’t.

Between financial hardships, broken computers, and job changes, I’ve almost given up and walked away from the entire thing.

But that’s not me.

Nor is it the mindset of the team of people I’ve surrounded myself with. My partner, Terri has been my biggest cheerleader, putting up with mood swings, a dirty house, and sporadic meals. My co-creator, Marie has always offered encouraging words and constantly reminds me to forge on. And last (but certainly not least) my beloved editor, Kathy, who loves and knows these characters as well as we do, and is an endless source of positivity and realism when I need it.

Quitting is not the work ethic my beloved grandparents instilled in me, nor is it part of the legacy I wish to leave behind. “You can do anything you set your mind to.” Not a few things. Not what’s easy.

ANYTHING.

I might have stopped promoting and putting myself out there, but I NEVER stopped writing. Presently, we are weeks away from releasing The Fire: Book 2.5. If you’ve read The Watching, you can guess the content within the novella. It’s beautiful and bittersweet, and the beginning of a love story that transcends life and death. We cannot wait for you to read it. I’m also two chapters away from finishing the 3rd novel in The Waiting Series. If possible, this one is crazier than the previous two. Several short stories are in the works including one that chronicals the origins of the “Operation” and another one entitled “Vermilion Bay.” Paperbacks will be available soon along with beautiful color covers (thanks to CJ Design) instead of the original black and white.

As for what to do about marketing and promoting these books…I still don’t know, but I do know GIVING UP ISN’T OPTIONAL. I’ve never been one for reading directions or instructions. I tend to do better if I’m allowed to figure it out for myself because let’s just be honest: there are no quick fixes.

No magical publishing deals.

No wishing on a lucky star.

But there is hard work.

Tenacity.

And for all I lack in the ability to promote myself, I have stubbornness in spades and I’ll be damned if I’m going to allow something to keep me down. So, in the prolific words of Lindsey Buckingham:

I’ll ‘go (my) own way.’

To our readers: we love you. We are thankful that these stories resonate in your mind and heart and that you keep coming back for more. YOU are part of the reason I still write. Thank you.

Elizabeth

THE WAITING SERIES SPRING SALE!!!!

Hey y’all…
To celebrate spring and also the release of the third book in The Waiting Series, we thought we’d do a sale. ALL books are .99 thru April 5th. If you need to catch up on what’s going on with these crazy Louisiana families, now’s the time.

Amazon Links:
THE WAITING BOOK 1: http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00MOJFZNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418334637&sr=8-1&keywords=the+waiting+book+1

The FUNERAL BOOK 1.5: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OOF05CU

THE WATCHING BOOK 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UO1QYUA

We are so blessed and thankful for all your support. This has been an amazing journey, but it would mean nothing without our readers, followers, bloggers, and friends. Thank YOU for all you do to make indie publishing grand.

Elizabeth and Marie

The Watching Blurb

Secrets, lies, and family ties bind us together on the banks of the Pontchartrain…

Discouraged over the direction the Douglas murder investigation is headed, Gregory Adams reaches out to Jamie Caissy for help.

Hopeful to avoid another family crisis, the Montgomery-Adams family returns to South Louisiana, and Finn Adams takes a job that will alter his world… and his mother’s.

Lesley Huff receives a generous and life-changing gift, yet she refuses to tell anyone… including her wife, Sylvia.

Moving forward, Millie Douglas focuses on the relationship with her daughter, Sydney, and finds an unexpected new friend.

Resolving that her marriage is at an end, Christine Caissy makes a bold decision.

Bob O’Malley’s faux relationship with Millie deteriorates, yet he finds solace in the most unlikely companion.

The Congressman sends his daughter to New Orleans with specific instruction: marry an O’Malley.

After the death of her son and loss of her beloved Gregory, Arianne Douglas spirals downward into a dark depression and finds a secret way to cope.

Andrew Douglas is still determined to hold his family together, despite subtle evidence that his wife is still in love with his best friend.

With the “Operation” still reeling from Nash’s death, the O’Malleys regroup and Sol takes the helm, but unbeknownst to him or his father, another “Operation” is in the works.

Coming SOON!!!!!!