I left my hometown twenty years ago and I haven’t been back for more than a vacation/visit since. Yet after the turn of life at the end of 2023 I found myself vacating Florida for good and returning to the north! 

Because of my day time job I never thought it would be possible for me to have my career in my hometown because we just didn’t have the market for the level of restaurants that I work at. But man, things have changed so MUCH!!!!!

And it’s a wonderful thing to see.

It’s also amazing getting to be so close to all my family again. I love getting to see them when I want, instead of having to plan out only a few hours with them on a short trip.

I do miss some things about FL. My dear friends from down their chief among them. But that’s the way life goes, even in a new city. It seems impossible to have everything at one time. 

The other thing that it’s done for me is that I’ve noticed a shift in how I prioritize and think about things in my life. In good ways.

The job I accepted when I moved back home is with a medium-large restaurant company, as their corporate pastry chef, and we are about to open an amazing restaurant, the likes of which you would only see in NYC, Vegas or LA.  And man is it stressful!!! Yet compared to the stress from the last several years in FL, this feels amazing. The next three months are going to be absolutely mad, but I find I get more and more excited for it every day. 

Funny how I’m realizing I’m actually happy only after leaving the happiest place on earth……

Talk about surprising facts of life in a new city.

One thing that is not so great about being back home, is that there is nowhere that I can go to get a REALLY GOOD K-pop fix ! It’s really hard and makes me want to spend more buying things from online stores

The other thing that the changes from this last few months has done is make me want to dive head first back into my author world. And I’m realizing just how many WIP’s I have anxiously waiting to see the light of day.

Guess it’s time I really find a way to get them what they want, huh? HAHAHA 

And I better go do that now, so peace out for now

always L.H. Nicole

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I recorded this video last night after I got home from an all day writing intensive and I have to say I’m pretty proud of it. It did get a little longer than I had originally intended, but I did not edit it down because I like it as is.

It was definitely a learning curve with trying to figure out how to upload it. I ended up having to upload it to Youtube cause Word Press won’t allow it cause it was too long. But then Youtube put me through my paces as well!

It’s okay though. I’d rather have learned it now then get to a point with multiple videos ready and have to do it. This also means I now have a channel on YouTube so click here to see it.  @lhnicoleauthor

I really wanted to get this uploaded and published before I go to DragonCon next weekend. Friday, yesterday, was also my only day off since going back to work after KCon and before I head off to ATL. If you’re going to be at DragonCon check out the link above to my prev post with my schedule of events.

I will have a signing where I’ll have my books available in both print and digital. Make sure you stop by, even if it’s just to say hi and get some free swag. I also hope that if you see me around the con you’ll come up and say hi .

I’ll stop going on now and leave you with my slightly awkward but fun first video. (I know I said that a lot, but I’m kinda proud of myself! Plus I’ve been up way too long at the time of writing this so please don’t judge )

always L.H. Nicole

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So much going on right now. But it’s time for an update in DragonCon 2023! While the app does not have the schedule up yet for all the different tracks (most likely due to the strike currently happening in Hollywood land) I can share with you my schedules! At least as they stand right now. HAHAHAHA. I know better than most things can change in a flash.

As a Chef I live and die by the prep I put into my everyday. So it’s time to prep for DragonCon.

Please remember that this schedule is a tentative one until its confirmed when the DragonCon app drops the schedules.

Title: Characters Running Amok
Description: Plotting is a thing, right? Well, sometimes things just doing go according’s to anyone’s plan. Ever wonder what happens next? How do authors compensate when their characters rebel and run amok.
Panelists: Howard Andrew Jones, L.H. Nicole, Patricia L. Briggs, James A. Hunter, Jeaniene Frost, Robert Ross
Time: Fri 11:30 am
Location: Embassy CD Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Populating Your World
Description: Great characters (fun, interesting, snarky, whatever) can drive a story to the NYT bestseller list–or to the bottom of the barrel. Developing memorable characters is a talent–and you can learn how during this workshop.
Panelists: Venessa Guinta(M), Andrew Aydin, Trisha J. Wooldridge, James J. Butcher, Michael G. Manning, L.H. Nicole
Time: Fri 07:00 pm
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: YA Today: Are there Boundaries? What are They?
Description: What’s going on in YA fiction? What are the kids looking for? How far can a writer go? How far is too far?
Panelists: Claudia Gray, Isabelle Hardesty, AJ Hartley, L.H. Nicole, Jay Boyce, Katie Cross
Time: Sat 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Author Signings
Description:
Panelists: Stacey Rourke, L.H. Nicole, Quincy J. Allen
Time: Sun 02:30 pm
Location: Overlook Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

As you can see I’m getting the honor of being on panels with some truly amazing authors that I can’t wait to chat with.

As I’ve said before I SUCK at cosplay, but I totally plan on having some fun outfits and doing some extreme makeup looks. I will totally admit that I do not plan on being at the Con the whole time. Despite the fact that by the time this post goes live I’ll be in LA at KCON, I totally plan on hitting up some places in ATL that also celebrate K-Pop.

BUT I would love it if anyone who’s interested wants to say hi when they see me around. While I’m a pretty solid introvert, in a one on one basis, I actually like getting to talk and meet with new people.

I hope I see you all soon. And until then remember that I’ve still got more fun things coming to the site I’m working hard to get up and going. Like the Passion Corner that will include many things around, tv shows, comics, books, kpop and kdramas, food and travel.

Always L.H. Nicole

The post DragonCon 2023 Time To Prep appeared first on L.H. Nicole .

I’ve never been to LA or Kcon before so I’m not really sure what to expect or plan for and not gonna lie, that low key terrifies me. I like my plans. But I’m gong with some buddies, and I’ve already made a new group of friends to go around with.

If you’re not a Kpop fan, but you’re curious then you can check out the official KCON site and learn more. The festival has many sponsors, and it it part of a global convention that is operated by MNet. They are a major tv conglomerate in South Korea. They practically run majority of the broadcasted kpop shows, including weekly and yearly award shows and variety shows.

While I’m focusing on only certain groups that will be there, there are so many coming that my mind is spinning. My top groups I will totally flip my shit for is Ateez, Itzy, Stray Kids, Xikers, (G)I-dle, and Everglow. And I even scored tickets for a Hi-touch meet and greet with Everglow  

Outside of the convention space with special panels, stages, meet and greets, food and chances to spend all my money…hahaha…each night also features a concert! While I am unfortunately only going to D-3 concert (I’m gonna miss Ateez, Rain, and Xikers ) but I am getting to see all the others that I am most excited for.

If you’ve taken a peak at my Insta you’ll have seen the post I put up of the shirts I made to wear on D-2 & D-3. I gotta say, I’m pretty damn proud of them too. Going for comfort all the way given how hot it’s going to be and how much walking I’m gonna be doing.

I also made a promise in one of my last posts to keep you all updated on the reconstruction of my workspace at home, which also included the thought that I may also try to do a live or video on TikTok for the first time! Well I’m gonna do my best to make sure I follow through on that. So keep your eyes posted on my Insta and TikTok.

The other promise I made was to also share the final design of my writing space so here we go:

See you all soon! And keep watching for new things.

always L.H. Nicole

The post KCON LA 2023 appeared first on L.H. Nicole .

I’ve already managed to sort ALL my DVD’S & Bluerays that will go to Goodwill later this week. I gotta say it was NOT easy! In all honesty, I didn’t even realize how many I still had. And my fur babies sure can’t believe how many I’m getting rid of too! HAHAHA

Next on the list is sorting through my BOOKS!!!!! That’s right, I’m going to do the extremely horrible, devastatingly tragic act of cleaning. out. my. bookshelves.

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The only things getting me through is the reminders that I can share books that brought me so much joy with others at good prices! I can redesign my bookshelves to display more of my KPOP albums! AND I’ve got a crap ton wine to help me through this traumatic process.

Have any of you gone through something like this? My ultimate goal, of course, is to create a better workspace to help me get settled back into a literal good writing space, that also gives me a good writing headspace! It’s time to get back into this and I’m determined to make it happen.

Until then, I’ll keep posting updates on how redoing my author site is going. And it *MIGHT* even end up with me being in a place to try a…GASP…live vid on TikTok. Don’t know if I’m quite ready fro that yet, but…¯\_(ツ)_/¯ guess we’ll see .

Until then make sure to do the things that make you happy

<3 Always L.H. Nicole

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For those who have been with me for a while, you will know I’ve happily attended DragonCon several times in the past and taken part in many awesome panels! After taking a break from Con last year I am THRILLED to announce I will be attending DragonCon 2023!!!

My schedule of panels will be posted closer to the Con. I hope to see many of you there! I’ll be selling my books, participating in reading hours, in addition to being on panels.

I will be the first to admit Cosplay is not my strong point. I think I’ll leave that to the real experts and maybe focus on casual day to day clothes showing off my favorite fandoms. Along with killer makeup fun as well, of course !

I’m thinking showing off some of my FAV KPOP groups, Sailor Moon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, MAYBE even a little Disney? That one may be a bit of a stretch, but who knows what my mood may bring LOL.

I feel a bit of a traitor saying this…but I’m kind of hoping that one of the KPOP groups i like will be doing their ATL concert that same week so I can get 2 fantastical events in 1 trip! HAHAHA am I being too greedy?

Well, here’s hoping DragonCon 2023 will bring many fun times and encounters, and maybe even a concert!

I’m looking forward to seeing you all there. If you want to check out what DragoCon has already announced go here: DragonCon

always L.H.

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I never even imagined that something could shut down the Disney theme parks for months, absolutely devastate so many industries, and take so many lives due to so many reasons or factors. And I certainly never imagined that it could still have such a long lasting effect even 2 years later.

I’ve been quoted many a times at work saying that “the world’s ending, it’s okay…”. Mostly when we get no stocked on items like FLOUR, CREAM CHEESE, CHOCOLATE, and many other basic staples in the pastry world.

I think we can all agree that the 20’s have dealt out more than their fair share of trauma and drama.

But then, a few weeks back, I stopped, like really stopped, one day when I was walking through my park on my daily location check. I spent about ten minuets watching our guests as they went through the  largest theme park in the world. This fall & winter was the first time the parks had returned to a pre-pandemic level of operation. As I observed the people it hit me that it was hard to tell a difference between then and now. People were having fun, enjoying being out in the silly warm weather despite it being fall/winter, and it helped me kind of reshape the way I’ve been looking at things.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a very real and long lasting effect going on. Or maybe it’s just that we as a society finally realize it’s okay to be in our feels, and share that openly with the world with less fear of being judged. But I realized, for me, I don’t necessarily want to go back to the way I lived my life, acted, or thought about things before the pandemic. I’d rather embrace the things that have changed about me, what I want, how I view myself, and what I do to help myself get to a more healthy mental and physical state.

2022 especially hit me hard because of the sheer number of losses we suffered. Especially the ones that we lost because of their struggle with mental health. Jason David Frank, is one that particularly haunts my mind, because he was my very first celebrity crush. I remember watching the OG Power Rangers in elementary school and I can honestly, and without shame say, that Jason David Frank’s character Tommy single handle shaped my taste in guys.

I know, I know, how geeky of me. Guess what I don’t care that it may be silly or geeky to some. I like what I like, and it doesn’t matter the reason why.

I’ve also embraced the good that has come from the last 2 years. My deepened love of foreign drama shows, K-pop music, the friends I’ve made through those two loves. I finished 3 manuscripts in those 2 years, and even though I’ve not published any of them yet, I am finding hope that I may be able to change that! I’ve also have managed to cut back on how much I allow what other people think about me matter to me. Though, I can’t say that I’ve completely stopped letting what others think of me effect my life, or how I view myself.

BUT I can say that I think I have become a better version of myself. And I’ve found healthy ways to embrace the things I love and not be afraid to show it. Those things I don’t think would have happened if the pandemic hadn’t literally ripped the world apart.

So, about 2022…

I will certainly NOT say that it is the best year of the 20’s, because it is NOT! However, I am choosing to focus on the good things that I’ve seen and experienced through 2022. I want to use those to put myself into a better place, and state of mind going into 2023.

I am also hoping that I can showcase more of the things I love. Not just who I am as an author, through this page in 2023. So keep your eyes open to what’s around you. Try to find a different way to look at things in your life. Because you never know when that one moment of looking at things in a different light can change your way of seeing things.

<3 always L.H. Nicole

The post About 2022 appeared first on L.H. Nicole .

Hello everyone!! I hope you’re all enjoying this wonderful time of year and the festivities still to come before we ring in a new year. I apologize to all of you, as you can see my site is under a major overhaul. I’ve been forced to rebuild my site from the ground up due to unforeseen circumstances.

I will not be deterred! Instead I’m using this opportunity to completely update my site, layout and goodies shared here.

So please, take a few minuets to look around, and keep coming back as I get more pages and goodies added to my work in progress.

<3 always L.H. Nicole

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