Courage Over Comfort

Here I go, jumping into the unknown. Leaving fear of failure, and criticism behind, I’ve started my journey as an author. I have twenty-five completed novels that no one has read. Since I was nine years old, writing has been my solace. It’s where I find peace during times of grief, and sorrow. I write when I’m stressed, I write when I need an escape and solitude.

Creating a new world is an exhilarating experience and I love it! From grade school short stories to middle school poetry, and high school screenplays, I am here, writing full-length novels! For the past five years I’ve been hard at work honing my craft, in whatever way I can. I tried to write my first novel at nineteen, but I later dropped it. At twenty-two adulting had begun its siege to try and destroy all I hold dear, like my imagination. I emerged as the victor, thank fk! After life failed to push my passion aside, I marched onward and kept writing, but never once had I thought about ever publishing.I was writing for me, a fat black girl who loved Paranormal Romance and NEVER saw her type represented. I wanted to read about women who looked like me get the strapping vampire, or be the head mistress leading a coven, or be the one mate that werewolf desired above all others. It’s rare to read about women like me who is both the love interest and a preternatural being. And I reallly wanted to read that! So, I started writing and haven’t stopped since. For quite a while, I was totally fine with never putting anything out into the world, because I am terrified of negative criticism.

Despite my fears, I am ready, prepared, and excited for this new adventure. I know it won’t be filled with rainbows and sunshine all the time; I don’t expect that. I just wanted to choose courage, and confidence for once. I’ve spent years doubting who I am, what I’m capable of and my art. I’m done with that, and over the whole idea that somehow what I write isn’t worth a read or two.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Maya Angelou

Fear, My Best Buddy!

For years and years annnnnd years, I’ve let fear run amok. It’s controlled many parts of my life, I threw away huuuuge opportunities because of such cowardice. My lack of spine, and lack of faith in self! I let doubts and impending criticism hold me back from sooo much.
But sis, bro, them!I am so over it. I have been a writer for seventeen long arse years. I have written scripts, poetry and scribbled ideas on napkins, journals and receipts. I have finished 16 MS! No one, has read so much as a word. Not one person, why? Cause I scarwed, or was. I was terrified of someone saying, “yo, this is garbage.” After I’ve just spent months pouring my whole soul into 120k words.
I was polarized and mortified by the mere thought of criticism. Not that I think I’m above it, absolutely not. No, it’s someone looking at my work and thinking I’m no good, cause I wanna be good, I wanna be a published author. And, I think I’m good, I do. I think I’ve got a knack for it, but what if someone disagrees?! That’s the scary part. Thing is, with age, I’ve grown less concerned with what others think of me, what I wear, or how I choose to live my life. For the life of me, I can’t find those same set of balls when it comes to writing.
Letting strangers read what I’ve written is exposing! I think that’s what it boils down to. People get to see what’s inside my dark, dank, attic which some would call a brain. It strips me bare for all to see, and perhaps that’s what I’m fearful of most. But by gods of Olympus, I’m sick of it y’all, I am done! Ya girl is fresh out of excuses. If I want people to read what I have, even ten sets of eyes, I will mush on! I want someone to see this world full of vampires and demons that reside in my head for weeks on end.
I feel it’s time you know, to throw caution to the wind and say, F it! Some will hate it, I am not delusional about this, there will be folks who will give it one star. But, that comes with the territory. Life as a storyteller isn’t easy, but if I can write it, I can publish it.

Fourth Book Blues!

I loooooove writing book series! I mean, I really enjoy it! I tend to have a lot going on for my MC’s. Once they start talking it takes a long while for them to shut up. Which I am not complaining about. Cause well, when they go dark it’s typically in their last book. Hearing them gets harder and they often don’t know what to do or where to go by then. I often refer to myself as a messenger cause I don’t seek out much. Everything comes along naturally. But during the fourth and typically final installment things get stagnant. Not in W*iters B*ock (I hate that word) sorta way, but more of a slow crawl to the finish line. Third acts and the last hundred pages are a pain in the arse to write. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve had this issue for two years. Eventually I type “The End” but it’s a hassle getting there. And being that I’m on a fourth novel as we speak, the turtle pace has begun. I am feeling the drag!

That One Girl In the Dark…

As far back as I can remember, I’ve had this love for inky gloomy things. I can’t recall a time where I wasn’t captivated by dark and creepy. Along with being a writer, I am also a cinephile (film fanatic). At about eleven years old I saw my first vampire film, Blade.

And from then on, it got worse, I saw Interview with a Vampire and so on. But before that, I was heavy into films which were on the darker side. Rated R, bloody and visceral. Imagine an eight year old telling you, their favorite movie is Goodfellas. At age ten, I made certain to let everyone know I saw Fight Club and would get a tattoo of Brad Pitt on my arm.

That never happened.lol

Anyway, after a while I started searching for books along the same lines. At seventeen, I stumbled upon Katie MaCalister and that’s how I got acquainted with adult novels. Pretty much from there it all went down hill. My Paranormal Romance obsession burned out of control! Tons of titles from that genre followed and by various authors.

Then the day came where I said, “you know what, I can do this.I can write this…I wanna write this.” Books that are on the darker side I often pledge loyalty to. Novels that keep the nasty, reckless and crazy coming are *chefs kiss*

I’m a wee bit of a messy writer too, cause drama, and sordid behaviors are deeply rooted into my stuff.The worlds and characters I scribble about aren’t for thinned skinned or faint of heart.

Moments may get uncomfy, and you’ll read things you don’t like. But, there is a theme at play…love conquers all! I don’t mean to sound so cliche, but it’s true. I make sure to showcase this over and over again.

CAUSE I’M A HOPLESS ROMANTIC!

But one who also writes about demons, dead bodies and excessive amounts of sex.

This is the part where I talk about me, right?

Okay so, this is my first post annnnd I can’t even lie, ya girl is nervous. I’m listening to Panic at the Disco just to get me going. lol Brendon Urie is a frikin gem. Any who, hiiii I am J.T. Frost! An aspiring author, not writer, cause I AM A WRITER.

That’s what this blog is all about, since I was nine years old, I had a jones in my bones to tell a story. And to my surprise, that desire hasn’t gone anywhere, in fact, it’s only grown more profound. There is nothing like creating a new world, breathing life into characters that would otherwise never exist. My imagination is a passport, it takes me any and everywhere I wish to go. There isn’t a border in sight and no boundaries, unlike the real world. Bleh!

For years -and I cannot stress this enough- years, my heads been in the clouds. Reading and writing were my strengths in grade school, and so on. Words and I have a strong healthy relationship! Can’t live without em’, and I’d be lost in an infinite abyss if I couldn’t read a book. Becoming an author was never my plan. Alas, here we are, I am taking a leap into the unknown. Throwing all caution…or anxiety to the wind! I’m rolling the dice and betting on seven, honey! Never been much of a gambler, but I figure why not. We only miss the chances we never take… or something like that.

On to the good stuff, like what it is I dabble in. And by dabble I mean spend every waking moment writing. Drrrruuum Rooooollll, PARANORMAL ROMANCE! Oooo sexy, scary, bloody and dark stuff. Okay I knowwww they’re full of tropey tid-bits half the time. But what are love stories, if not tropetastic…you get it.

Paranormal Romance is my ten and two. My comfort zone, my niche and my little corner of hell. Lets get real here for a second, okay, just a little. In the literary world there is a lack of representation for those of us who enjoy the creepy, the wild, and the sexy. Those of us who enjoy, Sci-fi, fantasy and historical romance, there’s not much out there for POC! I am a plus-sized, short, black woman who has committed her life to reading these genres. I’ve flipped through countless paperbacks on the NYTBS list. You wanna know something? Not a one looked like me, not a single supernatural love interest was a black, fat girl with glasses and curls. And you know what? I never found it, maybe I missed an author who knows, but I started writing what I wanted to read.

Black women in powerful positions, black women loved and adored recklessly by that one guy with fangs who may or may not be hot. But I digress, vampires, witches and demons have always caught my interest. And I wanted to see women like me, be the one who saves the day or gets the guy. And most of all, females (cause they aren’t human) vampires of collloorrr! Black vampires who are not the gosh darn villain! Okay, enough with that! Oh but hold up, hold on now, Imma let you know something. My characters are flawed honey, their lives are twisted, tough and deep. But, these are MOST DEFINITELY love stories!

I enjoy nasty, angst riddled scenes heavy with emotion. Whether happy or sad… you gon’ feel it. Couples that can stay on top through the good, bad and dirty is the theme so to speak. (PATD line) However, these women (females) aren’t inherently bad, just products of their environment. Some are stricken with constant introspection. My books cover the beautiful and brutal parts of love for an old damned immortal soul. And oh yeah, a lot of sex… I mean tons. It’s absurd how much sex I’ve managed to shove into these novels. I’m almost ashamed… almost. lol With that said, this blog will be dedicated to my WIP and what’s to come! I will introduce main characters via candid interviews, and hopefully at least one of y’all will like it. If you made it this far honey, thank you for sparing a moment to read my ramblings! And, have a wonderful day!