The Story Behind The Christmas Witch (and What It Took to Keep Creating)
When I first wrote The Christmas Witch in 2020, I felt lit up from the inside. We were filming my first feature film, Hashtag Blessed, and for a brief, beautiful season, it felt like everything was falling into place. The magic, the momentum, the meaning—I was living it.
By the end of 2022, Hashtag Blessed had been released, and The Christmas Witch was selected for an exclusive Once Upon a Book Club holiday box. I signed thousands of copies. It was a dream moment—one of those “how is this real?” milestones for any indie author.
I signed 3,000 books and it was such a magical moment I will never forget! If you look closely you can see I am wearing my very own Amberlight Stone.
And then, as often happens in stories… came the shadows.
The feedback started rolling in. Some readers weren’t sure what to make of the genre blend. Others critiqued the editing, despite the care and effort I had poured into it at the time. For someone who writes from the heart—and feels deeply—this wasn’t easy. It took me by surprise just how much it hurt. I’ve since learned there’s a name for that intensity: rejection-sensitive dysphoria. It helps explain why criticism, even when it’s not personal, can feel like a gut punch.
For a while, I lost my voice
Lost in Time, the second book in the series, stalled. I second-guessed everything. Not just my writing—but my path, my voice, my creative identity. And just when I thought I might be ready to find my footing again, life threw more curveballs. Unexpected delays. Creative partnerships that didn’t work out. Moments of deep questioning—of self, of purpose, of faith.
But eventually… something shifted.
I started to rebuild. Quietly, at first. I re-edited The Christmas Witch and released a second edition—one that felt more aligned with the vision I’d held all along. I couldn’t erase the earlier version, and I wouldn’t want to. That story mattered too. But I could reclaim the narrative—for myself, and for every reader who needed it.
And now, I’m writing book three.
Not from the same place I started—but from a deeper one. The magic is still there. It’s just wiser now. More rooted. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It’s about showing up even when it hurts. About letting your work evolve as you evolve.
If you’ve ever been misunderstood, discouraged, or derailed… if you’ve ever questioned whether it’s worth continuing when your heart feels exposed—I hope you know this:
You’re not alone. And the story isn’t over.
You’re still becoming.
And sometimes, that’s when the truest magic finds you.
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