Connie Morgan

Connie writes under the pen name Connie Morgan.

Even before she became a licensed mental health counselor, Connie was a story collector — both fictional and real.

Fascinated by life stories of any type, Connie is especially drawn to transformational and second chances stories.

She has a passion for understanding the inner workings of people and the why behind their behavior.

Connie worked with children and adults in the mental health field, in various capacities, for twenty years.

More than likely, in every book she writes, you will find a mental health component encouraging the reader to be their most courageous self.

She is a Washington state native who lives with her husband, George, a retired assistant chief/fire marshal. From their back deck, they enjoy a view of Mt. Hood and Connie’s organic raised bed garden.  

Listen to interview on KXRW.FM:   Connie Morgan

Soon Available on:   Amazon PodcastsApple Podcasts | IHeartRadio |   YouTube

More than Luck Required book cover
This is a possible cover. The actual cover has not been finalized as of January 2025.

After our radio talk, Connie shared a few more insights into her book journey

Tip 1:

Let me reply to some of your questions and clarify others.
 
I don’t want to give the impression that the book is a self-help book.
 
The plot shows characters struggling with big issues, and each one has to find their path to overcome the roadblocks trauma has presented them with.
 
With my mental health background, I am providing a look at what those characters used to break through often self-imposed, protective restrictions for living a full life.
 
I would prefer not to reveal those specific therapeutic tools, I want the reader to discover them in the context of the story so they make sense. 
 
That said, I added scenes in the book showing how a WrapAround Community team functions because I hoped readers might see that the concept could be used within their family, church community, or organizations.
 
This is a team-based approach to individualized care that meets the specific needs of a child or family.
 
The approach emphasizes the strengths and resources of the individual/family rather than focusing on problems and deficits.
 
The individual/family chooses who will participate in their team (unless they are working with a school, CPS, or other institutions, then it might be necessary to include them).
 
The community team members are there to offer support and supply resources.
 
The focus is on achieving specific goals.
 
This sounds complicated, but the scenes in the book demonstrate this step-by-step approach.
 
The WrapAround team concept fit perfectly into the plot of my story. 

Tip 2:

The book is inspirational. That is not just me saying it but also comments from my beta readers.

I also received 5 stars from an advanced Reader’s Favorite Book Review – “I enjoyed the book immensely and highly recommend it to readers looking for an inspirational romantic story.”

I have spent decades studying motivational and transformative movements before and after I received my master’s degree.

My monthly newsletter is designed to give tips for navigating life transitions, which is a broad topic.

I enjoy writing about this theme because as a counselor, working with difficult cases as a child and family therapist, the outcome was not always sunshine and roses.

As an author, I get to create the outcomes that my heart wants my characters to have.

Tip 3:

Yes, I will be 75 years old when my first novel comes out.

I have met a few authors my age but they already had several books out or have had a long career in this field.

My view is if a “seasoned” person has a passion for writing, then follow it and see where it takes you.

Find joy in the journey.

Find a writing group, learn to accept criticism, and immerse yourself in learning the craft and the business end of being an author.

Learn from young writers and hopefully, they will learn from you.

You have lived a history that young writers can’t even imagine – that wisdom can be put into your stories.

Find your support system or create one.

Be generous to other writers and build a network.

Other writers are resources.

Continue to live in the world; we writers can sit too many hours in front of a screen. 

Tip 4:

I went with a small publisher, one who received some bad press when they started but admitted their mistakes and strived to improve their business model.
 
They continue to change, add on staff, and modify how they operate.
 
They have over 700 authors signed with them now.
 
Many publishers have closed over the last ten years; it is an ever-changing field where you have to adapt.
 
Besides the great feedback others gave me about Black Rose Writing, the cost of a hybrid was a deterrent for me.
 
I had already spent a considerable amount of money over my eight years of working on this book for classes, critique services, a developmental review, and a couple of copy edits.
 
I was aware a debut author makes very little on their book.
 
Therefore, I would suggest all want-to-be authors start a book savings account.
 
Nowadays, book marketing is left to the author, even if they had signed with a Big % publisher.
 
You will need to spend some money on your book launch, business cards, flyers, ads, contests, etc. 

Tip 5:

Although I think a reputable Hybrid publisher can do a fantastic job, they are expensive.

The one who offered me a contract appeared to do fantastic work but I couldn’t justify the cost since I had another option to go with. 

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