Category: the pit of despair


Jan
2022

Hello 2022

categories: Adorkable, Cupcake, kindness, NA, New Adult, O'Brien Brothers, Romance, self-publishing, The Perfect Play, the pit of despair, Wallflower, writing, YA

It’s a new year, you guys!

We’re almost a week into 2022. Can you believe it? Also, have you actually tried saying the year? What do you say? Twenty-twenty two? Two-thousand twenty-two? Just twenty-two???

Regardless lol, I hope you are having an amazing year so far! 🙂

When I started The Cookie Jar, I promised to tell you about the sweet and bitter times in this writing journey. Honestly, 2021 was challenging. Still, there were good things, and I’d like to take a look back at my goals, see if I achieved them etc. The Hello 2021 post will help with this! Here we go!

Bookish/writing goals achieved last year: I published three books and wrote one half of a co-written story! Book baby #7, my YA romance WALLFLOWER was released in ebook, paperback, and audiobook, yay!!! Book baby #8, my NA sports romance, The Perfect Play, came next–it’s the second Southern U O’Brien Brothers book–which means I have an actual series, woop! Book baby #9, my #OwnVoices YA romance, CUPCAKE was published by Entangled and is now available in bookstores, huzzah! The Boys of King’s Prep Academy, co-written by myself and Michelle Pennington (under our pen name Cookie Michelle), is available now on Kindle Vella, Amazon’s new episodic reading platform! We only have a few more episodes, and our book baby is being read which is wonderful! Earlier in the year, ADORKABLE reached 10,000 ratings on Goodreads (thank you so much for making this happen!). I participated for the first time ever as an author at a conference (thank you RSJ Convention!), was part of an Entangled Teen Live Chat, had a wonderful conversation with Molly E. Lee hosted by Hub City Writers Project, and was part of a virtual YA panel hosted by Little Shop of Stories. I reached out to a few authors, and they agreed to a newsletter swap (thank you Maggie, Jordan, M.F., Sally, and Emma!). Some wonderful readers participated in the CUPCAKE Book Challenge, and even more played Cookie O’Bingo (still can’t believe people have read my books–but I’m SO grateful!!!). I didn’t write as much as I wanted to, but I wrote 2 books that I love (The Perfect Play and a new upcoming YA romance).

Now for the bitter.

I want to mention these things because…well, they happened. But no worries! I’ll be sure to bring it back to the positive!

In July, I got pretty down.

It blindsided me when another author–who I’d kind of thought of as a friend–said some hurtful things about me/my work to other authors. Part of me wishes I’d never found out (I don’t have many friends, hardly none who are writers), but I’m also glad to know. I’m so introverted; it just surprised me that someone would do that. Also, I hope to put my trust in people who would stand up for me, even when I’m not in the room.

Then something else happened. No details, but suffice it to say: social media tried to break me, and it nearly succeeded. I had heightened anxiety, the kind that affects you physically. I cried. A lot. I felt helpless, and unfortunately, that spread to my family. I broke down, wrote a depressing, way-too-real newsletter about my struggles, and sent it to my subscribers. And…I was definitely in the pit of despair. A big part was I never believed people could be so hateful. With how terrible people treat their fellow humans, I should’ve known, right?

But I didn’t.

And that was so disheartening.

Okay, enough of that lol. Let’s get back to the positive bc it far outweighs the negative!

Remember how I mentioned my newsletter?

Well, some of my wonderful readers read it and sent the kindest, most uplifting messages during that awful time. I don’t think they’ll ever know how much their words meant to me. How much light they provided. How their unexpected kindness truly touched my heart. My family was there, too, feeling it all, holding me up, giving me more love than I deserve. All that to say, I’m so very thankful.

I’m thankful for YOU.

Thank you for supporting me and my books.

Thank you for every bit of love and kindness you give to others.

Thank you for making the world a better place.

My goals for 2022 are: Write a book (hopefully 2-3). Write more and consistently. Publish a book. Start doing thankful/gratitude posts. Use the knowledge I’ve gained in writing courses, finally try running ads–but don’t stress. Send newsletter once a month–but don’t stress. Attend a writing conference and/or classes. Figure out how to be more a part of the writing/book community. Show my family that I love and appreciate them. Be thankful always. I hope to put more love in the world–I always hope that, but I want to be more vigilant about it. Try not to let the opinions of others (good or bad) affect me so much. Focus on the good.

Do you have any goals this year?

I hope you’re doing well, my wonderful readers!

Stay safe, keep reading, and I hope you have an amazing 2022!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Dec
2020

December

categories: December, kindness, the pit of despair, Uncategorized, writing

Hi everyone!

I’ve been struggling with what to post (struggling in general really lol, but who isn’t?). Anyway, yesterday was a day, you guys. Long story short, our pups went to the vet for an unexpected visit, and it was stressful. Thankfully, they are back home and okay *sigh*.

Seriously, thank goodness for that.

We love those babies and are so grateful they’re well.

In other news, I’m writing on a deadline for basically the first time which is different. My inner-critic is so much…louder ha. She just will not shut up. And I’ve been struggling to hear my character’s voice–which usually is one of my main strengths imo. I love this book, and I’m working through the doubts, trying to focus and just write the story I would want to read. If you’re feeling extra generous, please send good vibes and cross your fingers for me.

How have you all been doing?

Oh, I so hope you’re well!

Several readers have left the kindest messages/comments/reviews, and I’m so grateful to all of you for the encouragement <3.

And here we go… It’s December. If you’ve followed my publishing journey, you probably know this time of year is very difficult for my family and me. Christmas hasn’t been the same in a while. The holidays aren’t as bright as they used to be. We lost someone very special a few years ago, and…

It’s just…hard.

It’s so, so hard.

Sometimes I get down around this time, and I wonder: What the heck is wrong with me? But I already know the answer. I miss my best friend. Desperately. I feel her loss every day. We all do.

So yes, Christmas is hard.

If you’re in that boat as well, I pray you can find the happiness, wonder and magic of the season. Spend time with the ones you love (whether it’s in person, virtual, on the phone or through exchanging cards). Hang in there. Keep trying to find the good. And if you’re suffering through this pandemic, struggling financially, if you, your family members or friends are sick, oh I pray for you. Sending you all so much love, strength and prayers for healing and happiness.

Please stay safe, my awesome readers! I hope December has been treating you well so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Oct
2018

Honestly

categories: Adorkable, giveaway, Ninja Girl, the pit of despair, YA

To the four or five people who read my posts, I’m sorry for the short hiatus lol.  I’m also sorry for how dreary this is about to be.  My life hasn’t been all roses and happiness recently, and I was trying to wait until it got a bit better…

…but you know how that goes.

Maybe it’s because I use a pen name, or maybe it’s because I really don’t think many people read my blog, but sometimes I feel I can be more honest here.  And honestly?  Despite a lot of good things happening–and there have been several really awesome, wonderful things–I have been feeling…sad.  “Down” would probably be a better word.  And since I’m writing the truth here and am a big fan of using movie references, “the Pit of Despair” would probably be the most accurate.

I’ve been in the Pit of Despair for a while now, and it’s awful how I can’t seem to shake it.  So many great things are happening, in my life and in other people’s lives.  I should feel happy, but somehow I feel separate from the good.  Sigh.

Again, to be honest, this time of year always gets me down.  It probably always will because my best friend isn’t here, and September-December is always a giant reminder (as if I could forget).  Let’s just be honest: I am aware of this all year, every day, every second, but it hits me hard sometimes.

I wish that the wonderful things felt better.  I wish I felt like everything mattered.  I wish I wasn’t such a downer and could just get over it.  And I think I will soon.  Hope so anyway.

In bookish news, I’m hoping to get some bookmarks made and will have a pretty awesome surprise to share with you in November.  If you’d like to enter the NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway, there’s still time!  Some people have said ADORKABLE made them happy (which makes my heart glad), so possibly Sally & Becks could lift my spirits as well <3.  Maybe I’ll even watch The Princess Bride again while I’m at it :).

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well–definitely not in the Pit of Despair and are instead reading awesome books!  I hope it’s been a great October for you so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman