Dear Reader...

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe that after 7 years, Devastated will be here in two days. It’s been one of the most difficult books that I’ve ever written and also one of the most enjoyable books as well. The book has my usual wit, sweetness, and lightheartedness that my other books have, but it also touches on a subject that many people have to deal with It’s been seven years in the making and has gone through a lot of changes, but finally, it’s here and I’m pretty happy with the way that it turned out and the direction of the series.

When I first started toying with this series it was actually going to be called the Politically Incorrect series because it was going to deal with raw emotion, a lot of anger, etc. It was the same idea of what I have now, but with more anger. I wasn’t sure if it was something that I could pull off because I really don’t like dark romance, anger, drama, whatever you want to call it, it’s not really my thing. I like humor, kindness, growth, etc. But I wanted to see what I could do mostly because I wanted to give characters who have been through hell and back the happy ending they deserved.

So, I wrote the first few chapters of Furious (the second book in this series). It was about a firefighter who’d had his life torn apart in the worst way imaginable and found himself facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair. When I was an EMT I encountered a lot of patients like him, who had their lives destroyed and were understandably angry. So, I let that character go, let him be angry and didn’t hold anything back. I posted that chapter online with a quick explanation of what happened. The majority of the feedback was positive, understanding and readers were able to put themselves in his place, but a very small percent didn’t understand at all.

So, I took it down and put it away and moved on. Over the years, I played with Furious and Devastated, not sure where they were going, but knowing that they were definitely something that I wanted to get back to. It wasn’t until I got to really know why readers enjoyed my books that I realized where I was messing up. My books are known for humor, down to earth characters, and an escape from reality and I don’t want to change that.

With that being said, the Anger Management books are a bit different. They’re a little more serious, dealing with those issues that a lot of people unfortunately have to go through. I wanted to write a series for everyone who has struggled, who has gone through hell, and busted their assess to survive. This is for you. I wanted to write those stories with the same humor, friendship, love, and happy endings.

The characters go through hell and there’s mention of what they’ve survived, but it’s not the main focus. Their survival and ability to move on and finally get their happily ever after is. So, if you’re easily triggered by painful experiences, just know that in this series, they overcome, kick ass, and finally find peace.

In honor of everyone out there who has survived the kind of hell that Kylie has survived in Devastated, I am starting a scholarship for you. It’s for those who have overcome adversity and done the impossible. The page is not completed yet, but I will keep you updated when you can start applying. This year, I am doing (2) $500 scholarships. The details and how to apply will be up shortly. 

Thank you and I hope you enjoy Devastated,

-R.L.