Just Breathe

What a time we live in right now. Do you feel the change? I sure do. I’ve been plagued by this anxious energy in the air. It’s begun to fester and grow from deep within. Sleep is hard to come by; I’ve spent the majority tossing and turning thinking about all the “what ifs.”

Simple, daily tasks that can seem so mundane have been robbed from us. Just a couple of days ago I went in to the grocery store and what a panic it was in! The shelves nearly bare, people frantically filling their carts, and nearly plowing into each other. I just shook my head. It’s times like these that make us or break us. We should be coming together in some sort of comradery. It’s a shame when for the most part, all I can see is “what about me?” Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all of us are acting this way. But the ones who are, are sure making a scene out of it. Let’s not forget our basic manners now.

I really, really didn’t want to touch on this subject. But, alas, here I am. Talking about what it seems the whole world is consumed with. We need to remember to just breathe. Simply, breathe.

If we all work together, and respect each other, we will be okay. This will come to a pass. Like all terrible things, it will dissolve into nothing but a memory, a lapse in time we wish never happened. But like all unfortunate things, look at it as a learning experience. Hopefully we can take away something good from this momentary lapse of time where the world has come to a halt.

Take this time to look out for those that can’t help themselves. Enjoy the sunshine, try and find a reason to laugh, knock off your “to do” list at home, or curl up and read a good book. Just please, don’t forget to be kind to one another. At the end of the day, we’re all that we have. We have the power to make or break this world. Let’s aim for better.

xx Katt

"A Father's Daughter" trailer

If I’m being truly honest, I had no idea that book trailers were even a thing. Lucky for me, I have a team that clearly knows way more than I do.

Here it is. The trailer for my debut novel, “A Father’s Daughter.” I hope you enjoy!

xx Katt

"A Father's Daughter" Trailer

It's go time

“A Father’s Daughter” Kindle version is available now on Amazon! The print copy will be releasing around mid February 2020. You can find the Kindle version under my “Books” section of this page.

Alternatively (for my fellow Canadians) you can click here: Amazon.ca

Or here, if you are outside of Canada: Amazon.com

2020 is the year my books come to life. I hope you enjoy them and thank you for joining me on this journey.

I have included below a rough release guide for my books:

“A Father’s Daughter” print-February 2020
“The Loss” Kindle- March 2020
”The Loss” Print- April 2020
”Building It Up” Kindle-May 2020
”Building It Up” Print- June 2020
”Forget Me Not” Kindle- July 2020
”Forget Me Not” Print- August 2020

As always, I’ll keep you posted along the ride ;)

xx Katt

Rebranding a name

I’m sitting tonight with a cool, crisp glass of wine. The Vancouver Island market has come to an end for me tonight. After two afternoons that turned into evenings, I met a whirlwind of people, signed some books, and even took a photo with some smiling faces.

I want to sincerely thank all those who purchased books. I can’t tell you the joy that brings to my heart. I’m a huge fan of Christmas, and to know that some of my books will appear as a gift under the Christmas tree leaves me speechless.

I’ve wrote a brief post on this before, but some have noticed a name change from “Kat” to “Katt" Rose. This is definitely not a typo. The name change was a forced decision as someone had piggybacked on my original name “Kat Rose.” To put it simply, the other “Kat Rose” writes smut books. That is most definitely not in the same realm of what I write in. And so, with a name change came the alteration of my book covers.

As the edits began an idea began to take form for a complete redesign for “The Loss.” It was the only cover that didn’t quite match the heart of the story. Tonight, I got my first look at the new cover and it fits the bill perfectly.

The new relaunch of my books is getting closer. Katt Rose has officially been taken under Country Roads publishing's wing.

I can’t wait for what 2020 will bring.

xx Katt

Vancouver Island Market

Where did the year go? I can not believe Christmas is just around the corner. I was lucky enough to get a spot at the Vancouver Island Market, Thursday December 12th and Friday December 13th. Hope to see you there! The event will take place at the old Sears building in Nanaimo. There will be lots of local artists and vendors there. If you’re looking for last minute Christmas shopping, this will be the place to be! The market will offer great unique gifts all within a festive environment.

And did you notice the picture above? It’s from my fourth book, “Forget Me Not” to be released early 2020. We’re still in the midst of dealing with the technical aspects of finalizing the book for it’s release, but it’s coming along. This has been a long time coming. Often times it’s so easy to get discouraged with the writing process and the formatting. But let me tell you, when the cover materialized, it took my breath away and also gave me a much needed kick of determination to get everything wrapped up.

2019 has been a year of change. I look forward to what 2020 will bring. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

xx Katt

Change takes time.

Writing a book is not simple. There is a lot, and I mean a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Once you have the manuscript complete, and after a lot of editing, there are still a few more things to check off the list.
A book cover. They say a picture is worth 1000 words and a good, eye catching cover can go a long way. Next is the formatting. That one is a hair puller in my opinion, but when it comes time to upload your book to different sites, you need your manuscript to upload clean and tidy. Every website has a different formula, so a good formatter is worth their weight in gold.

Why do I bring this up? Well, I have finally completed my fourth book “Forget Me Not.” I will post more about that in a separate post. As you may or may not have noticed, my name has slightly changed from “Kat Rose” to “Katt Rose.” What does this mean? A LOT more work. All of my previous book covers have had to undergo changes to match the new name, as well as tweaks on the various sites I have live now.

That brings me to another vital point. Your pen name. Make sure there is no one else out there with the same name as you-otherwise it can create a mess when you upload your books to sell. There was another author out there who had the same pen name as me and we wrote umm let’s just say very, very different genres. I didn’t necessarily want to be linked to her, so with a slight tweak of the name it has allowed me to separate from her. Or him. Who knows really.

Long story short, big, exciting changes are coming. The journey has been long but I’m so excited to share it with you all very soon.

xx Katt

I'm back

I’ve been gone a long time.

Life, as it has a pesky way of doing so got in the way. Trials and challenges were thrown at me that forced me to take a step back from doing what I love to do; write.

The time that I spent away has only made me realize one thing: I can never stop writing. I will never stop writing. Ideas fill my head like a never ending water leak, and I’m left scrambling to jot notes in my journal until I can nourish them into a story.

About a year ago, I had an idea for a book. I wrote the first chapter with ease and then the idea came to a halt. I was torn from one project to another and the book sat on the back burner. Not anymore. I have been steadily working on it, and I am more than half way finished. Trust me, when this book is complete a glass of wine (or two, maybe three…?) will be enjoyed.

Not only has life been a demanding nag while writing this book, the story itself has been emotionally draining. My brain and heart can only take so much before I have to force myself to take a breather. With that said, I am so excited to share it with you when it’s finally complete!

For the time being, the other books I have for sale are currently pulled off the shelves. I am rebranding so to speak, and finally have the freedom and talent behind me to help create my vision. Insert drum roll here
I have joined a publishing company “Country Roads.” I am beyond thrilled to be working with a small, but super passionate team. https://Countryroadspublishing.net

Hang in there. Big things are coming soon.

xx Katt

Unexpected

I am currently getting lost in new characters. My fourth book is in the works as we speak.

Writing is a funny thing. You create a world with people, places, etc that no one can see. But somehow they begin to become real. Starting a new book is never an easy task, well for me at least. But once it begins to take form, I find myself getting personally attached to the characters and I can't stop writing until I am satisfied at where their story ends.

It's brisk here tonight. I am sitting by the fire and taking comfort in the crackling of wood, and the soft glow the flames give light too. The ideas are flowing freely, nothing seems forced. These are the best days to write. 

In other news tonight, I received a very unexpected message today. It was something that made me smile, and feel truly blessed. My books are now available to order on-line through Chapters/Indigo, and soon to be available in store!! I just about squealed in joy.

I am fully aware that not a lot of people know who I am, or that my books exist. But I don't write for that. I write for myself, for the passion that I have for the written word. I have found many escapes and comforts in a good book. The feeling is truly blissful. If anyone gets a feeling close to that from my own books, well, than I am truly honoured.

I will attach the link below if anyone would like to take a peek. 
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=kat%20rose

Remember, dreams are something worth pursuing. No matter how long they take, the end result will always be worth the struggle.

xx Katt

Settling In

Well, it's been a hot minute since I've added a post. Life has been crazy....and I mean crazy.

It all started in early October. A feeling of restlessness and displacement had taken hold and it refused to let go. The area that I called home for the last three years suddenly felt like a cage. I was no longer happy in the city that housed me and an urgency to leave seeped into my very being. I found myself dreaming of the last place that I felt happy, where I felt free.

And so, the seed was planted. It didn't take long for the house to sell; the population had grown so drastically in the last few years. The houses were overtaking the greenery and being shoved next to each other at an alarming rate. I missed the quiet, I missed the trees, and the fresh air. I missed being able to drive into town and not be stuck in an hour of traffic. I missed the mild isolation and being able to sleep without the neighbours lights shining into my bedroom. I missed where I grew up.

You know, life is a tricky, funny thing. I have fully embraced the fact that I will never understand it. And so, with the house being sold, it was time to leave. And where did I go? I went back to the place where I grew up, across an ocean. I went back to the place where I was so eager to leave when I was in my early twenties. 

I can not tell you the feelings that went through me as the ocean breeze hit my lungs. A feeling of contentment and warmth flooded my soul. I now treasure this place that I call home. I think I had to be away from it for so long to truly appreciate it. It may not be my forever home, but for now it feels right. They say home is where the heart is. There may be some truth to that after all. 

xx Katt

It's a good one ;)

I have been writing for most of my life. It is only very recently that I decided to share some of my words with the world. It's a scary and vulnerable feeling. My words are now in the eyes of someone else, someone I don't know. They can be picked apart, or thoroughly enjoyed. When someone reads what I have put my heart and soul into, I hope those feelings will translate through the page.

Writing has been something that I turn to as an escape, it is a place where I go when the real world gets too heavy. I have always found a sense of peace when I write. I'm not sure where the words come from exactly; but when I get into "my zone" and the fingers hit the keys a process takes over and I allow it. 

In what I consider to be a short amount of time in trying to get my books out there, the process has not been easy. As it turns out, writing the book was the easy part. The rest...well, it hasn't been a flawless ride. I have had a lot of rejections, and there have been times where I've been pushed to tears and swore to myself I was done.
But here's the thing....if you stop trying the dream dies. If you stop, nothing moves forward. In order for something to change, you must keep moving. You have to keep going. You have to keep trying. It's okay to step back and take a breather, but please, don't walk away forever. Keep at it. It only takes one "yes" to change it all. And it helps immensely to have a supportive group of people in your corner.

"Building It Up" (my personal favourite this far) recently had its first professional review. And it made me feel like this process is worth chasing after. 

xx Katt

Here's the link. Please check it out ;)

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kat-rose/building-it/

Whirlwind

What a crazy past few months. Figuring out a road map for my life isn't as easy as I once thought it was. I think something every one strives to attain comes down to one thing....a purpose in life. Or, at least it does for me. And that's what I've been obsessing over lately. "What am I going to do with my life?" "Is this all there is?" "I want more."

And so, I've been chasing something that I can't see...or seem to find. While it's great to have an ultimate goal, or dream, you can't ignore the realities of life. And you can't forget to enjoy the journey along the way. Don't forget, all the little moments you encounter along the way add up. It's in those "little" moments that can have a huge impact. In fact, as I reflect on my last few months (which have been full of trial end error) it's those passing moments that hit me in a huge way. And I'm glad I held on to them....they keep me moving forward.

When my world feels like it's up in the air, I have always turned toward the comfort in writing. There is something inviting and secure in the process for me. It's where I feel safe, in control, and like I have something to offer the world. For once in my life, I feel....special. And so, I have started writing another book. My characters are developed and the plot is moving forward. 

To wrap things up, if you ever feel like you're lost or struggling to find your way, take a breath. You're not the only one out there who is trying to make the puzzle fit. Life passes us by so quickly, don't forget to make memories along the way. It's in the darkness that memories of joy and happiness shine. Let the light shine through. Keep on smiling, and keep on going. Everything will come together when the time is right. Sometimes, you have to appreciate the journey and the memories made along the way.

xx Katt

Time to runaway

Running away can be good for the soul; I think we all should do it. Go ahead, I give you permission. Runaway from the everyday responsibilities of life, runaway from the chaos of traffic, schedules and deadlines, runaway from the stress. 

And that's just what I did. This past weekend, I ran away from it all. And you know what? I enjoyed every single moment of it. It was so refreshing to step away from the daily life and routine just to breathe and reset myself. I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city, the smell of car exhaust and traded it in for a weekend up in Northern BC. I breathed in the crisp, cold mountain air and relished in the sound of my boots crunching in the snow. 

The nights were dark and cold, only lit by the bonfire we made. The crackling and snapping of the logs burning as our breath came out in a cloud of white smoke was heavenly. There were no city lights around us; the stars were so bright they were almost blinding. I even stepped out of my element and tried something new; ice fishing. While we didn't catch anything, I had a great time, and so many memories were made.

Though the trip was short, it was just what I needed. The hectic deadlines at work had been draining me and with this mini trip, I let it all fall away. Sometimes, we just need a small reset ;)

xx Katt

Hard times

We live in an instantaneous world. We expect to get what we want, when we want it. But that doesn't work for everything. What happened to patience? What happened to working hard for what we want? Remember the old saying, all good things take some time? I believe that to be very true indeed. I personally enjoy the feeling of hard work, stepping back and seeing all of my efforts pay off. Sure, it's nice to have things at the click of a button but that simply doesn't work for everything.

When I step back and really evaluate my life and choices, quite often some of the best moments in my life did not start out as easy. They placed me down roads I did not care to go down initially. I have fallen, I have cried out in frustration, but you know what? It all turned out okay in the end. I got back up, dusted myself off and pressed forward. It's so easy to get lost in the sorrow, but we can't get stuck there. Shake it off, take a deep breath, and place one foot in front of the other. Nothing remains the same forever.

All of the trying times have led me to where I am now. They all had a lesson to teach. As long as you listen and learn, chalk it up to a life lesson, an adventure even. One day, you may be able to look back and have a laugh. 

Life is short, Make the most of it, Smile, dance, laugh, cry, yell. Do whatever you have too, but never forget life is an adventure. Sit back, buckle in, and enjoy it.

xx Katt