In addition to all of the exciting things that have been happening with my writing, another really big life change happened. 

I got married.

Isn't he so handsome?

I met Erich right around the time I started this blog and he has been my best friend for years. We lost touch for several years, but reconnected recently. We dated for a few months before we eloped. 

I also ended up moving to Wyoming and it has been an adjustment! 

Anyway, all of this to say, I have a new name.

My pen name when writing my nonfiction has been Paula Jean Ferri since Paula was so much of the inspiration for my writing and my own given name was not searchable online.

But my new last name is! So now that I'm switching to fiction, I am now using the moniker J.S. Baehr. 

I'm really glad my husband has a unique and fun last name. 

Cover Reveal!

 
I am obsessed with it! Look how beautiful! And the best part is, there is another one coming!

Design by Taylor Douglas

Cover Information

 So I've decided to release the cover on the 21st. There are still a couple of days, but I want to share something I am excited about. 

There are actually going to be TWO covers!

So far, only one is complete, but I am already quite in love with it and can't wait to see how the second one turns out. 

I have yet to decide how exactly I will use each of these covers just yet. I am considering one being a collectible "first run" edition type of thing. 

Anywho, check back on Tuesday the 21st for the first cover reveal!

Madamn

 So, biographical fiction! 

I touched a little on this project in my last post, but let me share some of the really exciting things about this next book.

I am releasing it on This woman's birthday, so it will be out on August 22, 2023. I will be doing pre-orders, but not sure when that will be an option just yet. I'll keep you updated.

I have one cover finished, but has not been released yet. Check back next week. The second cover is still in the works. I have big plans for this book, obviously.

The woman's full name is Ernestine Emilie Prondre de Guermantes, Countess Picot de Dampierre.

She never had any children, so her story got lost and her chateau and property fell into public hands. But take a peep at this chateau!

It's stunning. 

There is even a hall that was made to imitate the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. It's currently privately owned but rented out for business conferences, etc.

My new goal in life is to have a retreat here for writing or reading. Either way, I'm flexible. 

I'm currently going through the first draft and breaking up scenes into chapters and fixing any glaring issues I see. I'm starting negotiations for editing and what that will look like while I go through it one more time. 

Then comes the really fun editing with feedback from someone else. 😬

Book Updates

 As you have seen from my last post, I have had quite a few changes happening. But on a professional level, things have changed almost just as much.

This blog has seen me publish my first book, but I'm not sure how many others I have posted about. 

But just in case, I'll recap all that I have published and where I am currently at. 

Recap:

Awkwardly Strong: My first book about how to utilize awkward moments to your advantage.

Tragically Strong: While this is the second book, it is stand-alone. It outlines some basic healing that allows us to utilize our tragedies in our life long term. 

Fearfully Strong:  My third book outlines how fear is actually a good thing and how to understand fear and utilize it to your benefit.

Hard Earned Lessons Learned:  My fourth book came as a result of many asking me to help them write and publish their book. I wanted to help, but I also don't want to be a book coach. So here is everything I learned from my first three books in an easy and concise outline to publish.

Long Time, No See!

 Hey there friends! It's been a minute.

I need to share a few large life updates with you. 

My biggest life change was that I got married and moved to the middle of nowhere, also known as Wyoming. I absolutely love it! I never thought I would live this far north, and I'll be honest, the cold is not my favorite.

But the people are amazing, the views are phenomenal, and the change has been good for me overall. 

The second big shift is now that I have FOUR published works of nonfiction (oh yeah, by the way, that was a thing, too), I'm shifting into fiction.

Biographical fiction to be precise.

Fiction is SO much more difficult, but so much more rewarding, and I'm looking forward to the first release this year in August. More on this project later. 

I've officially made Paula Jean Ferri into a brand, and I LOVE my new logo and what the brand stands for. This means I'll likely be changing the overall look of the blog so it fits with everything else I'm doing.

There have been lots of other changes in the past couple of years, but these two are really the biggest. However, the third change is just beginning. 

I want to start blogging again. We will have to see how well I do with it, but I should manage more than a post per year. Ideally more than a blog per month. I'd love to get to a point where I'm writing multiple times per week again.

However, we will have to see what life brings. 

I do work a part-time job, mostly so I don't spend all day sitting and being anti-social.

My husband and I would also like to start a family, but we will see what happens there.

As always, I'm super involved in my church activities and being around people, and my tics are loving every minute of it.