4k Hits and Moving Forward

I just wanted to pause my writing for one moment to write a quick and sincere thank you to everyone who's visited my blog since its inception. Yesterday evening my blog hit 4000 page views. It's been kind of a lumpy bumpy ride these past two-ish years that I've actually been active here. I've had times where I couldn't get three words typed, and I've had times where I've written an entire novella in less than three weeks. With me, there's not much in-between.
And with me, there's not much room for writing blog posts no matter what kind of time I'm having writing my stories. For that, I apologize. I'm not the best at social networking. I find it really difficult to post comments on others things. I'm actually really kind of afraid of not conveying myself properly and accidentally offending someone with my words when I'm typing.
When I'm speaking, on the other hand, I don't have to cherry pick my words as much. I stutter and stammer and might still have some difficulty expressing myself, but I don't have to sit and second guess what I'm saying because when I'm speaking you can tell my mood. You can plainly hear or see my expression and tone so what's meant as a compliment shouldn't come off as an insult (and vice versa).
I'm trying to push forward and force myself to speak on the internet. In fact, I've made an acquaintance in one of my lovely readers. She followed me on Twitter and it was linked to her tumblr so I followed her back on both and we ended up skyping that entire night away. It was just about the best time I'd ever had with someone on the internet.
So here's the thing: Please, do not be afraid to approach me. I want your readership, but more importantly I want your friendship. Who knows? Maybe you'll make it into one of my stories! I take a lot of my friends and put them in my stories, in one way or another.
Anyway, if you catch me on the internet, go ahead and talk to me. Bother me. Tell me I should be writing and then start enthusing about Star Trek or Doctor Who.

This month, I'm hosting an event over on fridley.patch.com. Every day, I'm posting a 50-150 word excerpt (shooting for 100 words each time, but sometimes it's a bit over and sometimes a bit under, because paragraphs) from something I'm working on. And: All through June, July and August I'll be releasing one short story every Friday or Saturday.
This week it's a zombie action gorefest.

What's going on right now?

Why haven't I released Elizabeth Hayes yet?

Well, to be honest, I got half of the novel written then redesigned the entire storyline, so it won't be out until 2014 at the absolute earliest.

But but but but VAMPIRES!!!!????

Yes, I know, I know. And I'm sorry. But I have to be firm on this. I can't just drop the other projects I'm working on to work on vampires, even if they're sexy and non-sparkly.

What about Paper Lanterns? You're not postponing THAT are you? ARE YOU?????

Shucks no! Of course Paper Lanterns (The second book in the Sketchbooks series) will be released ON TIME! It will be available for purchase on October 14th of this year from Smashwords, and shortly after that on Amazon and the Nook store. And then about a week later in paperback.

Are you working on anything else right now?

OF COURSE I AM! I can't very well sit around and do NOTHING, can I? (Well, ok, the internet is pretty interesting, and OMFG I HAVE A TUMBLR NAO. YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IT. IT'S EMMALINEWESTLUND.TUMBLR.COM)

What comes out next, then?

First "Fatima," the first story of many in my Cedarcrest Chronicles (More info to come), then Paper Lanterns will be released on my birthday, Thoughts of a Strange Mind (a stream of consciousness memoir) will be released shortly after its completion at the end of November, and then Cigarette Papers (A collection of short stories and poetry) will be released around Christmas.
Somewhere in there "Paper Hearts," the first two books in the Sketchbooks Series, will be released. (It's a combined paperback that will cost around $9.00)