dreams – Author Elena Carter

Somewhere Between the Worlds

Imagine a café somewhere between the worlds, where you can meet your lost loved ones.

You’ll sit down and order a drink, and then you’ll have a chat as if nothing happened.

Or maybe it’ll be a different kind of chat. The one where tears stream down your cheeks as you keep repeating, “I’m so sorry for everything” and “I miss you so much.” And they just smile and pat your hand, saying, “It’s okay”, and give you a tissue.

The sadness hiding in the corners of their eyes will tell you it breaks their heart to see you like this. And you’ll realize that it’s not what you came here for. It’s not why you were given this chance.

So you wipe your tears and order another drink, and maybe a meal too. And you say, “Hasn’t the weather been crazy lately?” Or “You know, the other day my car wouldn’t start, and I was late for work.”

And you tell them that your cat has been acting weird lately, and that you’re starting a new diet, and that the prices went up again. And how amazing the last book you read was, and that the rose bush in your garden is about to bloom.

You save those tears for later. For when you wake up and realize that of course it was a dream.

Although you know that of course it wasn’t.

Life Is Not Enough

All the books I want to read.

All the stories I want to write.

All the places I want to go.

All the things I want to do.

Time slips through my fingers, and I clench my fists until my knuckles turn white, but the precious grains of sand keep escaping. The wind picks them up and carries them away, mocking me.

“Catch me if you can.”

Of course, I can’t.

Another day gone. Another week, another month.

Another story left untold.

Another path not explored.

Isn’t it cruel—that here it is, this enormous, fascinating, delicious world—so tempting, so mouthwatering—yet you can’t bite off more than you can chew?

“There are no limits!” My immortal soul squeals in delight.

“Oh, yes, there are.” The earthly body glances at the watch. “No time for this today, my dear. We’re on a schedule, mind you. Chop-chop.”

They’ll come at night, in my dreams. Exciting, untold stories.

Wondrous, undiscovered places.

All the might-have-beens and could-have-dones.

They’ll leave me in the morning, as I open my eyes, with a pang in my heart and a faint shadow of regret.

Regret for what wasn’t meant to be.

What wasn’t on the schedule.

Chop-chop.

Things We Carry

People carry so much.

Our whole life, we carry something. And the older we get, the more our spines bend under the weight.

We carry bags full of shopping. School backpacks. Purses. Piles of textbooks. Suitcases. Boxes with our belongings as we move to a new place.

We carry our kids when they’re tired. We carry their backpacks, their toys, their scooters and skateboards.

We carry our pets to the vet clinic.

We carry guilt. Regrets. Nostalgic memories.

We carry self doubt. Grief. Fear. Anxiety.

We do carry our dreams too, but they are the lightest. They don’t weigh that much—so oftentimes they escape and disappear high in the sky like a balloon.

Our hands are rarely free of weight. Neither are our hearts and minds.

So sometimes we catch ourselves looking up at the birds roaming in the sky and a faint whisper of envy touches our souls. What would it be like, we wonder, to be so light and free? What would it feel like to soar among the clouds with no added weight?

And someday, we’ll find out.

LIFE IS GROWTH

If you don’t grow; if you don’t change, or learn — what’s the point? You might as well be dead.

Learn from your wins and from your failures. Learn from everything and everyone you come across.

Push your boundaries. Stretch them. Eliminate them when needed. (You know I’m talking about you and your own boundaries here, right? Not about the other people invading them.)

If you can set any goal that you really want to stick to, make it a short-term one.

Easy and simple: Don’t wake up the same person you were yesterday.

Every subtle change you achieve in constructing the new version of you is a win.

Maybe, you learned to say ‘No’ when it was necessary. Or, maybe, you managed to be a little more patient and understanding than usually. Maybe, you learned a new skill, or at least took the first step towards mastering it. All these things make you a slightly different YOU.

Defeated your fear?

Or gained a new fear that you can now work on defeating?

This all means that you’re ALIVE. You’re breathing, growing, and changing.

And that’s what life is all about.

Ever watched “Groundhog Day”? Well, there is no “groundhog day.” Even the concept of the so-called “groundhog day” is a nightmare, isn’t it? The whole idea of the movie was to show us that we can CHANGE and LEARN and GROW. And only then life starts HAPPENING.

Going through life on autopilot isn’t living.

Embrace your life. Own it. Enjoy it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Not enjoying it? Do something to change it. Anything. Can’t change the circumstances? Change yourself.

Sometimes, one small change is all it takes. To set your life in motion.

And sometimes, you’ll need to put much more effort into it.

But don’t be intimidated by the ‘Everest’ you ‘have to climb.’

Focus on each step instead.

I can moan about 50-something subscribers I have on my YouTube channel, or my content not getting seen and appreciated enough. Not enough views/likes/comments. The algorithm hates me. How depressing… right?

Wrong.

Two months ago, the idea of going on YouTube would most likely give me a panic attack.

My books are still not on the bestseller list. Bummer. That’s definitely something to be frustrated about… right?

Wrong.

Tell that to the younger version of me who dreamed of writing books but never really believed it was possible… (until she finally did).

I took that step. And another one. And then another one.

I keep taking those steps every day, no matter what.

I decided to focus on my growth this year. I’m determined — when it comes to end of 2023 — to be a VERY different person to who I was at the start of the year. Is it because I was a “not-good-enough” person? Nope. It’s because I’m ALIVE and that means I’m changing, growing, and I want to experience this life to the maximum. I want to see what I can do. Or what I can learn to do. Or at least what I can try to learn to do.

See what I’m hinting at? It’s not about the result. It’s about the process.

Your life is what you are experiencing right now. What you’re doing/trying/learning/failing/succeeding at. Now. As you live it.

And this is what you should focus on.

Not the obituary someone else will read when it’s too late for you to add or change anything.

Completing My Fantasy Trilogy

As I release the final part of my fantasy trilogy—The Dream Tamer Chronicles—at the end of this month, I feel like taking a moment to look back at my journey and reflect. It’s a bittersweet feeling, I must admit. On one hand, I’m beyond excited to share this new story with the world, wrapping up all the previous plots in the first two books, and providing the readers with some sort of closure.

It’s a great accomplishment. I have written three books in three years. There are readers looking forward to this last instalment in the series, impatient to find out what happens with the characters they grew to love. And it’s amazing. I’m so grateful for that.

On the other hand, it means that I have to say goodbye to my characters, too—and that makes me sad. I’ve been living in that world for three years, and now it’s time to pack up and go. A part of me will stay there forever, though.

It all started with an idea. A story about a young widow who struggles to cope with grief, and despite having the most supportive and loyal friends anyone could wish for, she’s ultimately lonely and lost. She’s so unsure about everything that happens in her life that when she starts having extraordinary dreams that feel way too real, she quickly blames it on her depression and is initially reluctant to share her experiences with anyone, fearing they’ll think she’s losing her mind.

As I wrote Tina’s story, certain side characters started demanding more attention. They wanted their stories to be told, too. This is how the second book was born. When I was writing book one—which originally I thought would be a standalone —after completing the chapter where Alice, Tina’s friend and mentor, leaves her an old diary with a story of her life and her dream-traveling adventures, I immediately knew what the next book would be about. Alice’s story needed to be told. I wanted to read it myself.

Book two lets us take a peek into Alice’s past—tragic and heartbreaking at times, yet full of hope and life. As Alice’s world is on the verge of disappearing, Tina is desperate to find clues that would help her save her friend. She opens Alice’s old diary and dives into her fascinating life story, while searching for ways to help her in the present, because after everything she’d been through, Alice deserves her happy ending more than anyone else.

Meanwhile, the friendship between Tina and Kate is growing stronger. Kate lost her husband in the same car accident, and she is searching for her own ways to deal with grief, all while being crushed by a destructive feeling of guilt. In book two, we find out that Kate might be one of the dream-travelers too, just like Tina, and she’s getting obsessed with the idea of finding her late husband in the other realms and getting the much-needed closure.

Except it’s not as easy as it may seem. Kate’s first dream-traveling experience goes wrong, and she gets lost in the dream worlds, while her physical body goes into a coma.

Tina has to rescue another friend. In book three, we follow Kate’s journey in the other realms, and Tina’s search-and-rescue mission at the same time. They both change and grow, and they both need to learn to let go of the past and move on.

I love all these stories. Sometimes I feel tempted to say “this was my favorite” about one of them, but it’s wrong, and it’s not accurate. It’s like comparing which of your kids you love more.

All these stories, despite being a part of a trilogy, are different. They’re written in a different style, and they have different vibes. Which makes perfect sense because they are written from different points of view. Even the same main character in all three books—Tina—doesn’t stay the same throughout the trilogy. She learns. She changes. Just like we all do in our lives. We stumble, we fall, we make mistakes, we learn from them—or at least attempt to. We get up again and force ourselves to move on, filling our hearts with hope and faith. Sometimes we fail. Sometimes we succeed.

These stories are about giving yourself a chance to be happy. About letting go, and moving on. About opening your heart and mind, and focusing on your inner light.

Just like Tina, Alice, and Kate, I’ve been through a lot. I’m still learning, still changing and evolving. Struggling at times to see that flicker of light in the darkness. To try again. To trust again. To hope again.

I’m so grateful to these characters for all the lessons they’ve taught me. Saying goodbye is sad. I’ve always hated goodbyes. But I’m completing this journey with gratitude in my heart. After all, it’s not really a goodbye. It’s not the end. It’s just the beginning of something new.

Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone

How often and how easily do you take steps out of your comfort zone?

I haven’t set any resolutions at the beginning of 2023, but I decided where my focus will be this year. Or my “word of the year”, as people often put it.

GROWTH

Which means constantly learning and evolving. Trying new things, welcoming new opportunities, gaining knowledge, skill, and experience. In all areas of my life. Writing, self-awareness, parenting, interacting with other humans around me.

It will most definitely involve making tons of mistakes, tripping and falling, but also getting up and giving it another try.

Because growth is painful. Growth forces us to leave our cozy comfort zone and go out there. To overcome stuff. To face our fears. To push aside our insecurities and self doubts—all that baggage we keep lugging around wherever we go. Mine’s awfully heavy, to be honest. I really need to get rid of that stuff.

So why am I telling you all this?

Because yesterday I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and started a podcast.

I’ve never tried it before and I feel terribly anxious. I want people to hear it, and I’m also terrified they will actually listen to it. I didn’t even want to share it on social media at first.

So today I’m taking another step out of my comfort zone and telling everyone about my new podcast.

It’s called Dreams, Books, and Miracles. I’ll be talking about writing and reading. Sharing parts of my writing journey and hopefully encouraging someone to embark on their own. Talking about books I enjoyed and talented authors I keep meeting in the writing community. And about how important it is to follow your dreams and overcome your fears.

https://anchor.fm/elena-carter

If you check it out, I’ll be thrilled (terrified, of course, who am I kidding, but still thrilled!) to get some feedback. Comment, or send me an email, or suggest something you’d like to hear in the future episodes — whatever you have to say means a lot to me and supports me on this journey.

And if you’re also thinking of starting something new and taking that first step out of your comfort zone—I’m rooting for you. You can do this. You’ll be so proud of yourself for giving it a try. Go ahead, open that door and step over the threshold. Good luck!

My second book is coming out next month

“You know what, life is not fair, and it can throw a lot of crap at you when you least expect it. But sometimes, it gives you pretty awesome things too—amazing people, fascinating experiences. I guess the trick is to try and focus on that. To celebrate what you gain instead of dwelling on what you’ve lost.”

~ Follow the Blue Rabbit, book 2 of The Dream Tamer Chronicles

I always find it fascinating how my characters speak to me—or rather through me.

I love these magical moments when the writing is flowing—pouring out without any special effort—and one of the characters comes up with something that I read later and can’t help but wonder if those words were, in fact, addressed to me.

I learn a lot from my characters and I’m so grateful for all the wisdom they share, all the lessons and important reminders they give me, and I hope that the readers will be able to connect with them as much as I do.

Can’t wait to share this story with the world. And to get back to writing book 3 of the series, as soon as book 2 is released. I had to put it aside while I was editing and proofreading, but my thoughts keep going back to my characters. I miss them.

Follow the Blue Rabbit releases on September 30, 2022. It will be available on Amazon as ebook and paperback and will be included in Kindle Unlimited.

The ebook is available for preorder at a discounted price. You can preorder your copy here.

Why Do I Write?

There are many reasons. I’ve always wanted to write, and when I finally started, it felt so right that I almost regretted missing all those years. I’m saying ‘almost’ because I don’t really regret anything. The way my life went, the things I had to go through, and the lessons I learned, all of this has shaped me into the person I am today. And this is the person who is finally ready to tell stories.

Going back to the reasons for writing—there are plenty. But here’s one of the most important ones I want to focus on today.

I have two sons.

I have a teenager who thinks he’s got life figured out.

And I have a toddler who is only beginning to learn what this world is all about. And when he is the same age as his big brother is now, he’ll probably think the same.

It’s okay. They are learning. And I’m learning with them.

But I’m also teaching them something too.

I’m teaching them that it’s okay to follow your dreams. No… wrong wording. Following your dreams is the right way to go. It’s in fact the only way to go if you want to find yourself. And to stay true to yourself.

I’m teaching them that following your dreams can be hard. And scary. But it’s not a reason to give up.

I’m teaching them that it’s never too late to start.

My teenage son is reading my book now. It’s not his preferred genre. And there’s a great chance he won’t like it. But every time he picks it up, he’s holding physical proof of the fact that anything is possible. That it’s possible to start writing when you’re 40 years old, when you are raising a baby, when you hardly have any time or energy, but counteract it with enough stubbornness to type on your phone in the middle of the night. To type words in the language that is foreign to you.

So maybe he’ll feel more hopeful.

He learns that if you don’t know how to do something, it’s possible to research and learn. For example, you can learn all you need to know about self-publishing your book. And while doing that, you can meet so many people on that journey. You can also genuinely connect with those people from all parts of the world. You can read their stories, support them, learn from them, and call them your friends.

So maybe he’ll feel less lonely.

He learns that you can pour your heart out on the paper (or screen), wrapping it gently in words, linking those words together and making phrases, using those phrases to build stories. Stories based on your thoughts, your feelings, your imagination, your dreams, your joy, and your pain.

So maybe he’ll learn to open his heart.

And as for my little one, he is really obsessed with my book cover. Every time he sees my book, he needs to hold it. Well, I can’t blame him, the cover is absolutely stunning. But seriously, do you know why I think he’s drawn to it? Because he can feel what it means to his mom. He can feel what I invested in that book. And I’m not talking about the financial investment here, of course. He can feel the energy coming from a dream that came true. It’s pretty much like magic.

He’ll grow up and I’ll have many more books published. But I will tell him where it all started. How I decided to follow my dream when he was a little baby. How the chapters of that very first book were created while he was sleeping in my arms.

I’ll tell him this story and then I’ll say, “You see, son, anything is possible if you really want it. You need to be brave enough to start, and then you just keep going no matter how hard it gets. Don’t give up, don’t turn back, believe in yourself, and you’ll get there.”

These are the things I want to teach my kids. And what better way is there to teach than through leading by example?