Updates!

It's obvious that I haven't updated this blog in a very long time.  I could come up with a slew of excuses, some are good reasons, others not so much, but I pretty much just stopped blogging for a while.  So, instead of me posting tons of separate entries on things that have happened, here is a condensed version.

As past entries as stated and as my title of the blog gives it away, I am a novelist.  A self-published one that is. And back in November of 2014, I self-published my first novel, Behind the Mask on Amazon and for the past year I've been writing the sequel to it, which I'm proud to say, I'm finally almost finished, the first draft. But I've sort of slacked on promoting the first book while I worked on the second book, which I realize now that was kind of stupid so I'm going to get back into promoting the first, get the sequel finished, edited, and make that one available to the public.  

I also haven't given up having Behind the Mask and it's sequel published by an actual publisher but right now just finishing the second novel is my main goal.  

Let's see, back in October I quit drinking McDonald's Sweet tea COLD TURKEY!  For those who know me, or who have read my post about my caffeine/McD's Sweet Tea addiction are most likely shocked at this happening.  Especially being that it's March 2016 and I haven't caved yet and bought one.  A friend of mine said McDonald's probably put a picture of my face on their sweet tea cups, with the caption:  Heather - Missing in Action.  Plus, the workers at the local McDonald's, that I frequented all the time, are probably what happened to me, because I haven't set foot inside of the place since I quit.  Like a true addict, I figure it's best to just avoid the substance altogether, so I avoid the establishment just to be safe.  But I also gave up all caffeine, because I felt it just wasn't good for me anymore.  Not that I turned into some big health nut, trust me, ain't gonna happen, I gave up caffeine, not sugar!  But now when I want a Coca-cola, I drink Caffeine-free, if I want hot tea or coffee I just drink decaf.

In February of 2011, I posted about my issues with migraines.  Sad to say, in 2016 I still get them, but I've got a better handle on them.  Thanks to me finally seeing a neurologist.  Only took me 25 years.  That's what stubbornness and plain old stupidity will do when you just accept something as is, instead of actually doing something to rectify the problem.  For years, I took Imitrex (sumatriptan) when I felt a migraine coming on and for the most part, it would make a headache go away, or at least, lessen the pain.  Except at certain times, I would get severe migraines in which the Imitrex was useless, usually because I would puke it right back up.  In 2015, I began to log dates and times of when I was getting the headaches, and they were consistent with hormones or in females terms ovulation and menstruation.  By November, I couldn't stand it any longer.  The severe ones were coming more often, and when I say severe, I'm talking three days in bed, in excruciating pain, puking, dry heaving, and eventually becoming dehydrated.  The final straw came in December when I told my husband to drive me to the emergency room because I just couldn't take it, and after pumping me full of narcotics and anti-nausea medications, the ER doc admitted me.  He felt I should be observed and treated for 24 hours, which thankfully was the smart move because even after many doses of narcotics, the migraine still hadn't subsided.  I also had a CAT scan done which yielded nothing because I pretty much knew hormones were the main culprit.  Well, the next day, a neurologist visited me and once I explained my situation, she felt preventative migraine medication might be a good route for me.  So, that's what I did.  I now take a medication called Topamax.  I take it daily and though it's not a cure-all, I still get migraines during certain times of the month, the Topamax does stop the frequency and the severity of them. I also have an injectable form of Imitrex so if by some chance, I do end up with a severe one, I can administer a shot, which bypasses my stomach, therefore, I won't vomit the medication.  Hopefully, I never have to use one.  It's only been a few months of taking the Topamax but so far so good.

As I've done so many times before, knock on wood!

- Heather Carnassale aka the Delusional Novelist 

THANK YOU!!!!

It's been exactly 2 months since I self-published my novel, Behind the Mask.

And I'm beyond grateful to all those who bought it, read it and supported it.  Not that I was feeling negative, but I wasn't prepared for all the love I got for it.

I sold way more than I expected and though I had always planned on a sequel, the fact the readers have requested it have given me the extra incentive I needed to get the ball rolling.

I've been working on the sequel for a while now but hadn't begun to really put it together until recently.  And it's coming along nicely.

I certainly can't take 6 years to write it, that's for sure.  But I've learned a lot about the writing process and feel I've corrected the mistakes I made.  This time, I'm writing without second-guessing or overthinking it.  The best thing for me to do is first, just write it through THEN go back and edit it.

With Behind the Mask, I would constantly write a few pages then go back, change my mind and start all over.  I REFUSE to do that this time.

So again, I just wanted to thank everyone because though I didn't start writing seeking validation, it still feels damn good receiving it.  Ain't gonna to lie, knowing people enjoyed the story and the characters have made it all worth while for me.

- Heather Carnassale aka the Delusional Novelist

Image source:  Chaloner.com

Behind the Mask - Synopsis

Here's the synopsis for Behind the Mask:


       What appears to be a typical bank robbery is anything but.  It’s Columbus Day in the city of Brotherly Love and when the Bank of Philadelphia is besieged by a group of masked mercenaries, it’s not cash they’re after, it’s five rare pink Argyle diamonds, that are housed inside a safety deposit box.  As the employees become unwitting hostages, things appear to run smoothly until one of the gunmen, 28 year-old Liam Matthews, unexpectedly gets locked inside of the vault with 23 year-old bank teller Remi Catalano.  During this time, she never sees his face or learns his name, but when an undeniable bond forms, Liam will make a fateful decision that will drastically alter the heist’s outcome.  In its aftermath, Remi will have no memory of what transpired while Liam, now a fugitive with the diamonds in his possession, chooses to hide in plain sight.  

Two months following the heist, the captor and his former hostage will inadvertently cross paths again, but without any recollection or having never seen his face, Remi has no idea that Liam is the man behind the mask.  And though he tries not to tempt fate, by initially avoiding her, curiosity along with unforeseen threats, make it next to impossible to distance himself.  But as Remi struggles to regain her memory of that day, Liam’s world begins to unravel.  

As each learns something surprising about the other, and about themselves in the process, in a twist of irony, just who ends up protecting who will ultimately define who they both really are. 

Check it out on Amazon.com

- Heather Carnassale aka the Delusional Novelist