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| Happy Spring! |
So here it is. The brand new, shiny cover art for After - Part Three!
Doesn't it look so cute, fluffy and.... creepy??
Thursday, March 20, 2014
After - Part Three Cover Reveal!
Happy first day of spring! Ya'll know what that means, right? As promised, the cover reveal for After - Part
Three is coming right up!
Before I get to that, I just really quick want to say thank you to my fans out there. I love reading your kind words that come across Facebook and Twitter. They mean so much to me and really do brighten my day. I'm back to working on the book at least a little every day, and I'm so happy that you're on this journey with me!
So here it is. The brand new, shiny cover art for After - Part Three!
Doesn't it look so cute, fluffy and.... creepy??
So here it is. The brand new, shiny cover art for After - Part Three!
Doesn't it look so cute, fluffy and.... creepy??
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
A Kind Word
I like to talk about trivial things. There's just something I love about fluff... a sweet, guilty pleasure. Today, however, I'm leaving the fluff behind, and touching on a serious subject.
I don't talk about my personal life, my past life, much. It's a topic I intentionally steer clear of for a reason, and I have no plans to divulge my ancient history other than within my writing... and before I go any further, you must understand that it is just that. Ancient history.
I sit here tonight in a brand new house, have a loving husband, wonderful kids, a good job, and I've been able to turn my dream of becoming a published author into reality. I'm blessed, and I know it, but I walked a very dark path to get here. Yeah, I caught a few breaks that lead me out of a very bad situation, but ultimately it was me that made the decision to be strong and walk away.
Maybe, at some point in my life, I thought of myself as a victim. Not only did I live through, I survived years of domestic abuse, and I believe I came out the other side a stronger person. It's no small debt that I owe my husband for helping me grow into the person I am today, and he probably doesn't even realize how much he helped me by simply being the kind soul that he is. I've grown so much over the past decade, and even though there are still some lingering issues, some scars that refuse to completely fade away, I am happy with the person I am today. I will never think of myself as a victim again.
But that's not the story I want to write about tonight. I will leave the darkest part of my life in the shadows, only to break free in bits and pieces in my books. What I want to talk about is the road I walked that lead me there.
We were all born a clean, pristine slate, to be shaped partly by nature and probably a lot more by nurture. The house I grew up in was rife with bitterness and negativity. Two things that really don't come close to what I suffered in my early adulthood, but they paved the way nevertheless. The passive aggressive comments and outright degrading statements getting thrown at me at a very young age shattered my self-esteem. Remember, as a child, you have no basis of comparison. This was the norm. This was how I thought the world was supposed to work.
I very keenly remember sharing my dreams with the adults around me - those that I trusted, loved, and respected unconditional because that's simple what children do - and I was laughed at. By adults. I didn't even get humored or patronized, my thoughts were simply shot down.
I sang a song and was told "You'll never sound like Pasty Cline."
When I told another member of my family, "I want to write a story," I can still remember her laughing at me and saying "You don't have anything to write about."
But the worst thing was that I believed it.
I'll never forget how hard I tried to achieve their standards, how I strove for a complement, and yet I could never satisfy. It left me feeling completely unwanted and that anything I would accomplish would be worthless and a waste of time. I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of people that have suffered through similar situations, I can't imagine that it's really all that uncommon, and that's a sad thought indeed.
Years later, as an adult, I finally understand that the problem was never with me, but more a reflection of the insecurities and doubts of my caregivers projected at me. Now, as a mother, I can't even fathom saying these things, or the like, to my children. Even though I witnessed it, lived through it, and bore the brunt of many hurtful statements, I still do not understand the thought process behind 'knocking' a child's self-esteem.
And really, this is what I want to talk about.
Watch what you say around and to the young-ins. What you think is an offhand remark that doesn't mean anything to you might linger in their thoughts for years. It could hit them at a critical time and shape who they are, affecting their decisions and reasonings for decades.
And even though I was nearly crushed under the weight of the overwhelming negativity, I do remember the good things too. Not that it came from my immediate family, but the applause from an unlikely source stands out like a bright pillar in my memories. It was the encouragement I was starved for, and it was enough to keep the spark burning.
I remember that vividly as well, Mrs Duke. Thank you.
So never withhold a kind word from a child. If you have young children around you, keep in mind that you are their everything. Everything you say, everything you do is being inscribed into their memories. It doesn't even have to be your own child, especially if it's not your own child, because you never know, can't know what they live with. The kind word you say to them could just be the only one that they'll hear that day, that week, that month, that year.
Encourage them, listen, spare that moment to really focus on what they've brought before you. It will mean the absolute world to them. Those kind little words may be the ones they remember, the ones they cling to during the tough times, the ones that will give them that extra, little push when they want to give up, and the ones they smile back on after they accomplish something amazing.
You may never know what you've done for a child with your kind words, but they'll know, and that's what matters most of all.
I don't talk about my personal life, my past life, much. It's a topic I intentionally steer clear of for a reason, and I have no plans to divulge my ancient history other than within my writing... and before I go any further, you must understand that it is just that. Ancient history.
I sit here tonight in a brand new house, have a loving husband, wonderful kids, a good job, and I've been able to turn my dream of becoming a published author into reality. I'm blessed, and I know it, but I walked a very dark path to get here. Yeah, I caught a few breaks that lead me out of a very bad situation, but ultimately it was me that made the decision to be strong and walk away.
Maybe, at some point in my life, I thought of myself as a victim. Not only did I live through, I survived years of domestic abuse, and I believe I came out the other side a stronger person. It's no small debt that I owe my husband for helping me grow into the person I am today, and he probably doesn't even realize how much he helped me by simply being the kind soul that he is. I've grown so much over the past decade, and even though there are still some lingering issues, some scars that refuse to completely fade away, I am happy with the person I am today. I will never think of myself as a victim again.
But that's not the story I want to write about tonight. I will leave the darkest part of my life in the shadows, only to break free in bits and pieces in my books. What I want to talk about is the road I walked that lead me there.
We were all born a clean, pristine slate, to be shaped partly by nature and probably a lot more by nurture. The house I grew up in was rife with bitterness and negativity. Two things that really don't come close to what I suffered in my early adulthood, but they paved the way nevertheless. The passive aggressive comments and outright degrading statements getting thrown at me at a very young age shattered my self-esteem. Remember, as a child, you have no basis of comparison. This was the norm. This was how I thought the world was supposed to work.
I very keenly remember sharing my dreams with the adults around me - those that I trusted, loved, and respected unconditional because that's simple what children do - and I was laughed at. By adults. I didn't even get humored or patronized, my thoughts were simply shot down.
I sang a song and was told "You'll never sound like Pasty Cline."
When I told another member of my family, "I want to write a story," I can still remember her laughing at me and saying "You don't have anything to write about."
But the worst thing was that I believed it.
I'll never forget how hard I tried to achieve their standards, how I strove for a complement, and yet I could never satisfy. It left me feeling completely unwanted and that anything I would accomplish would be worthless and a waste of time. I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of people that have suffered through similar situations, I can't imagine that it's really all that uncommon, and that's a sad thought indeed.
Years later, as an adult, I finally understand that the problem was never with me, but more a reflection of the insecurities and doubts of my caregivers projected at me. Now, as a mother, I can't even fathom saying these things, or the like, to my children. Even though I witnessed it, lived through it, and bore the brunt of many hurtful statements, I still do not understand the thought process behind 'knocking' a child's self-esteem.
And really, this is what I want to talk about.
Watch what you say around and to the young-ins. What you think is an offhand remark that doesn't mean anything to you might linger in their thoughts for years. It could hit them at a critical time and shape who they are, affecting their decisions and reasonings for decades.
And even though I was nearly crushed under the weight of the overwhelming negativity, I do remember the good things too. Not that it came from my immediate family, but the applause from an unlikely source stands out like a bright pillar in my memories. It was the encouragement I was starved for, and it was enough to keep the spark burning.
I remember that vividly as well, Mrs Duke. Thank you.
So never withhold a kind word from a child. If you have young children around you, keep in mind that you are their everything. Everything you say, everything you do is being inscribed into their memories. It doesn't even have to be your own child, especially if it's not your own child, because you never know, can't know what they live with. The kind word you say to them could just be the only one that they'll hear that day, that week, that month, that year.
Encourage them, listen, spare that moment to really focus on what they've brought before you. It will mean the absolute world to them. Those kind little words may be the ones they remember, the ones they cling to during the tough times, the ones that will give them that extra, little push when they want to give up, and the ones they smile back on after they accomplish something amazing.
You may never know what you've done for a child with your kind words, but they'll know, and that's what matters most of all.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesdays!
I love Tuesdays, aside from the part of it being the 2nd day of the work week. I love them because for years now they have heralded the release of a new movie to DVD/Blu-Ray, or a new console or PC game, or a new book. Tuesdays are awesome because of the fresh and new things that are released to the public for our consumption. Tuesdays are exciting.Yesterday, R.A. Salvatore's Night of the Hunter: Companions Codex, I released. I had it downloaded before I even got out of bed. In fact, this blog post was supposed to be up yesterday, but my spare time got lost within the book. The saga of Drizzt Do'Urden is my biggest and most loved fandom, and I'm so happy that Salvatore can get out two of these books a year.
Also, I'm thrilled my daughter has fallen in love with these books as well, and I now have all of them on Audible up to The Servant of the Shard. I expect I'll have every last one of them here within a couple months, because she's devouring them. Victor Bevine does an excellent job narrating, and they're well worth the price, especially the ones that have the whispersync deal.
For the indie scene, Monica La Porta's The Priest is now free on Smashwords, and Amazon will price match. You'll remember her from our collaboration on Off the Beaten Path. I highly recommend giving this book a read if your looking for a good romance.
But if you need a little more horror, then be sure to grab this one, and it's for a wonderful cause! I've read the works of more than one of the authors in this collaboration, and I love their stories. Let's Scare Cancer To Death is now available on Amazon, and all proceeds will be donated to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. How can you NOT buy this book? I love me some short stories, so I'm excited to get started on this!You can read more about the collaboration on T.W. Brown's blog here.
Everyone have a wonderful week, and I'll be back on Friday! (I think.)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Odium (The Dead Saga) - By Claire C. Riley
Happy Friday! North Texas finally recovered from the cold and it's a beautiful day! To bad the rain is coming in tomorrow, so gotta enjoy it while it lasts.
Today, I'd like to talk about Odium (The Dead Saga). This was written by a fellow indie, Claire C. Riley, and it's a good read, specially if you have a craving for the more main stream zombies. It's written in first person, present tense, with Nina as our voice and main character. This is actually not my favorite style to read, but the book still drew me in once I got into the rhythm. I didn't catch many grammatical or formatting errors, so Claire and her editor are doing a great job there, AND the cover art is beautiful.
Overall the story was good and the relationships between the characters developed nicely. I don't know why, but I'm always a sucker for the stories of what happened to each individual during the crisis or the turn, and I really enjoyed those sections.
I only gave the book 4 stars because I was sometimes confused by who Nina was supposed to be. The character seemed to waiver a little bit from when the book first started out until she finally found her flow about half-way through. Even though that development part was a little shaky, it shouldn't stop anyone from picking this book up, especially those that love some good old-fashioned zombie fic.
Claire C. Riley is definitely on my watch list now!
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Overall the story was good and the relationships between the characters developed nicely. I don't know why, but I'm always a sucker for the stories of what happened to each individual during the crisis or the turn, and I really enjoyed those sections.
I only gave the book 4 stars because I was sometimes confused by who Nina was supposed to be. The character seemed to waiver a little bit from when the book first started out until she finally found her flow about half-way through. Even though that development part was a little shaky, it shouldn't stop anyone from picking this book up, especially those that love some good old-fashioned zombie fic.
Claire C. Riley is definitely on my watch list now!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
90mph
Can I be done yet? I mean.. can I just collapse and sleep for a week?
I hate moving! And to do it twice within 3 months has been a huge strain, physically and mentally. Calling all the utility companies -sometimes multiple times- fighting with the ones that screw things up (I'm looking at you, Time Warner) and all the boxes... Dear Lord, all the effing boxes!! I never want to see a brown moving box again!
Thank goodness it is OVER! We don't plan on moving again for a long, long time. Now it's time to settle back into the routine and get some relaxation in. Now if only this crazy Texas weather will cooperate. Saturday was all, 'Hello sweet spring day!' with the wonderful 80 degree temps, and then they sank to 19 on Sunday with sleet and ice all over the place. Really?
And on top of buying a house and the move, the day job just went through a major realignment and I had to learn a bunch of new lines. There's a little bit of work jargon for ya. No need to go into details on it though. It was stressful at work, stressful at home, and the blog and the edits have been pretty much ignored for the past month. I'm so ashamed.
On the bright side, I am over halfway through reading Odium ( The Dead Saga). It's nice to actually read a book again, although I've grown really fond of listening to them too if you have a good voice reader. I should be done with it soon and be able to get a review up.
I've already started the edits again on After - Part Three and I'm actually printing the first chapters of the manuscript now for beta reading! I meant to have the cover reveal done last month but life just got in the way, so now it's been rescheduled for the 20th. Why the 20th? Because that's the first day of spring! I'm still confident part three will be released before summer officially begins, but I do not have a release date for you yet. Hang in there with me!
So happy to get a Tuesday post up again. Feels like it's been forever since I've been knocked off my schedule. At least I'm able to say Happy Tuesday! Have a wonderful week and I'll be back soon!
I hate moving! And to do it twice within 3 months has been a huge strain, physically and mentally. Calling all the utility companies -sometimes multiple times- fighting with the ones that screw things up (I'm looking at you, Time Warner) and all the boxes... Dear Lord, all the effing boxes!! I never want to see a brown moving box again!
Thank goodness it is OVER! We don't plan on moving again for a long, long time. Now it's time to settle back into the routine and get some relaxation in. Now if only this crazy Texas weather will cooperate. Saturday was all, 'Hello sweet spring day!' with the wonderful 80 degree temps, and then they sank to 19 on Sunday with sleet and ice all over the place. Really?
And on top of buying a house and the move, the day job just went through a major realignment and I had to learn a bunch of new lines. There's a little bit of work jargon for ya. No need to go into details on it though. It was stressful at work, stressful at home, and the blog and the edits have been pretty much ignored for the past month. I'm so ashamed.
On the bright side, I am over halfway through reading Odium ( The Dead Saga). It's nice to actually read a book again, although I've grown really fond of listening to them too if you have a good voice reader. I should be done with it soon and be able to get a review up.
I've already started the edits again on After - Part Three and I'm actually printing the first chapters of the manuscript now for beta reading! I meant to have the cover reveal done last month but life just got in the way, so now it's been rescheduled for the 20th. Why the 20th? Because that's the first day of spring! I'm still confident part three will be released before summer officially begins, but I do not have a release date for you yet. Hang in there with me!
So happy to get a Tuesday post up again. Feels like it's been forever since I've been knocked off my schedule. At least I'm able to say Happy Tuesday! Have a wonderful week and I'll be back soon!
Monday, February 17, 2014
They're here!
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| Ready for signage!! |
Also, my review for The Dark Tower has been started... and I'm not half done yet, so I figured I should just get this out of they way and continue to work on the review in other posts. Maybe two... I have a lot to say about these books.
In the mean time, I have started a read and review ... thingie... with T.W. Brown. Hopefully it'll turn into a real book of the month club, but we need a few more indie authors to join in! So speak up if you're interested!
The book for February is Odium, by Claire C. Riley.The title alone is gripping for me. I've barely opened the book and I can't wait to read more. I can only catch snippets here or there, but hopefully I will find some time to sit down and blaze through this book.
The move into the new house has started. We spent the weekend painting my daughters room, and will be moving all the big stuff this upcoming Saturday. We're spending time moving some little things during the evenings after work, and I Am Beat!!
Hate to say this, but editing has slowed on part three. I'll jump right back into it as soon as the move is done. I think I'll be dying for some time to just park my butt somewhere and rest once this is all over with!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
What day is it?!?
My head is spinning, I can't keep track anymore!
So, a big update coming your way today. I think it's due since I've been neglecting my blogging duties lately.
First up, my reading status. I'm done with Wolves of the Calla and Song of Susannah. Wolves of the Calla is a big book, almost a stand alone story like Wizard and Glass, but it all ties into the main plot by the end. It took a while to get used to George Guidall's voice. There was a time or two I almost put audible down and reached for the kindle, but I hung with it and finally got used to it... for the most part. I still prefer Frank Muller over George, but I think Georgie can carry me through to the end at least.
I haven't read reviews of what other people thought of Wolves of the Calla yet, (don't want to stumble across a spoiler!) but I enjoyed it. The battle at the end was satisfying, and I really enjoyed seeing Jake grow into a young gunslinger. The book flowed so easily into Song of Susannah that I escaped the hangover. I started listening to Song the same night I finished Wolves. Song of Susannah is a very short book by King's standards, and I got through it in a week... AAANNNDDDDD I'm already a few chapters into The Dark Tower, so it's going to be hard to separate the books in my mind once I'm all done. Guess the real review will come when I finish the last one. Since they've been out on the market for a whole decade, there will be spoilers. I've got to be the only left who hasn't finished the series!
Now, here's for the fun-fun news! The first big order of paperbacks of After - Part Two are on the way to my house, so for those of you who have been waiting patiently (thank you, thank you!) for a signed copy, you'll have it soon! The ETA to my doorstep is February 17th, and I will have them in the mail soon after.
A natural segue into an After - Part Three report should follow that, but unfortunately I do not have any breaking news. I'm still plodding away as time allows, and expect to reveal the cover at the end of the month, along with maybe a little extra somethin' somethin'. ;)
Time to wrap this up with some pretty big life news. Remember when my husband and I sold our house back in November, moved into a rent house, and said we'd take some time looking for THE house we'd spend the next 20 years in? Yeah, we found it. We expect to be closing in a WEEK and then will be moving in! I'm very excited! Might be hard to find editing time while we're moving, but I'm sure I'll get settled in soon enough. Then I'll be back at it, buckling down, keeping my nose to the grindstone, going that extra mile and whatnot... Oh, silly idioms, I'll never escape em', but I'll be working hard, dammit!
Until then... Long days and pleasant nights, sais.
**Not sure who to credit for this artwork, but I found it on the Dark Tower Wiki.
So, a big update coming your way today. I think it's due since I've been neglecting my blogging duties lately.
First up, my reading status. I'm done with Wolves of the Calla and Song of Susannah. Wolves of the Calla is a big book, almost a stand alone story like Wizard and Glass, but it all ties into the main plot by the end. It took a while to get used to George Guidall's voice. There was a time or two I almost put audible down and reached for the kindle, but I hung with it and finally got used to it... for the most part. I still prefer Frank Muller over George, but I think Georgie can carry me through to the end at least.
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| Mordred Deschain is creepy! ** |
Now, here's for the fun-fun news! The first big order of paperbacks of After - Part Two are on the way to my house, so for those of you who have been waiting patiently (thank you, thank you!) for a signed copy, you'll have it soon! The ETA to my doorstep is February 17th, and I will have them in the mail soon after.
A natural segue into an After - Part Three report should follow that, but unfortunately I do not have any breaking news. I'm still plodding away as time allows, and expect to reveal the cover at the end of the month, along with maybe a little extra somethin' somethin'. ;)
Time to wrap this up with some pretty big life news. Remember when my husband and I sold our house back in November, moved into a rent house, and said we'd take some time looking for THE house we'd spend the next 20 years in? Yeah, we found it. We expect to be closing in a WEEK and then will be moving in! I'm very excited! Might be hard to find editing time while we're moving, but I'm sure I'll get settled in soon enough. Then I'll be back at it, buckling down, keeping my nose to the grindstone, going that extra mile and whatnot... Oh, silly idioms, I'll never escape em', but I'll be working hard, dammit!
Until then... Long days and pleasant nights, sais.
**Not sure who to credit for this artwork, but I found it on the Dark Tower Wiki.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The Hangover Within a Hangover
Don't get too excited just yet, I'm talking about book hangovers. The kind that causes severe emotional distress and leaves you stuck in the author's world, aching and unwhole. I know that's what every reader thirsts for, but it still manages to stun us when we finally close the book on that final page.
Well, Stephen King managed to deliver a double whammy with Wizard and Glass.
Again, I know I'm like... a decade late to this party, but one of my resolutions was to discuss every book I read this year, not just the indies, (although the indies will get extra special treatment.) So here it is. My thoughts on Wizard and Glass.
I touched on this briefly in my Other Worlds post when I had just started Wizard and Glass, and was still mega happy that I had finally finished the train ride. That part of me is now whole. In my late teens, I was left hanging off the most horrible cliff anyone could imagine, and there was no comfort to be had for years. I’m pretty sure King’s cliffhanger has reached legendary status by now because even non-readers are aware of the hiatus after The Waste Lands.
And then my excitement turned to “WTH am I reading?!?” just a few days afterwards because King went off on a tangent for like... THE WHOLE BOOK!! Debra wasn’t happy. Where did Suzanna, Eddie and Jake go? They were the ones I wanted to read about, not Alain and Bert and the dinky little town of Hambry. So day after day, I plugged in my ear buds and loaded up audible, suffering through Roland and Susan’s love story and barely able to tolerate it. Until I wasn't just tolerating it anymore…
By that I mean, King drew me in, again, and my tolerance turned to acceptance, then to curiosity, and finally morphed into obsession. What took me months to get into, I ended up finishing in a rush and was unable to put the book down.
Then the story ended… but the book didn't. I was suffering Hambry hangover, and I still had a couple chapters left to go when I was suddenly back with Roland’s ‘New York’ ka-tet. I had just enough time to get all cuddled up with them, AND THEN the book ended.
Blargh!
There you have it. Hangover followed by hangover. It’s a rough life for a reader sometimes.
I have eased my suffering by starting Wolves of the Calla, but it’s read by George Guidell, NOT Frank Muller who read the previous three books. Why you do this to me, Penguin Audio? I might have to find the time to read the book myself since I got so used to Muller’s Eddie Dean. Guidell just can’t pull off the accent as well. We’ll just have to see what happens there.
Now, I have to apologize for the lack of post last week. Things were going along wonderfully as far as edits go, but a monkey wrench got thrown into the works by way of a stress headache last Thursday. Set me a little behind, but I’m back at it now. Working on a few projects, which I know those eagerly awaiting part three probably don’t want to hear, but it helps with the burn out factor. Don’t worry though, The Phoenix Curse remains my primary focus now and will be until it’s finished. The other couple projects I have are just stress relief. :)
Also, for the Sherlock fans out there, Season 3 is out and it is absolutely smashing!! The game is on, people!
Also, for the Sherlock fans out there, Season 3 is out and it is absolutely smashing!! The game is on, people!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Happy New Year!
I'm back!
I hope everyone had a wonderful, wonderful 2013 holiday season! We've made it through another year, woohoo! The family and I spent New Year's Eve playing board games and having fun. At 10 till midnight, I realized I'd forgotten the eggnog and we had to improvise. The internet is truly an amazing thing. I pulled off a recipe, whipped up the creation and voila! Holiday eggnog. Wonder if a new tradition was just born?
Now, I have a few people out there waiting on paperbacks. I'm expecting my first shipment to arrive around the end of this month and I'll start shipping in February. Just a little update on that.
Also, I'm happy to report that it feels like I have a solid grip on things again. I haven't felt this way since before we decided to put our house up for sale. We're finally all settled after the move, I feel pretty settled in at the new job, my wrist is almost back to 100%, and I've been able to hit my daily goals for the past couple of weeks. You know what that means? I'll probably be sending my manuscript off to the editor by MARCH! That's a huge leap from what I had originally expected.
So, wishing everyone the best this year. Remember, it's up to you to make it all happen! I'll leave you with some poetry I wrote ages ago, written sometime during those horrible high school days. Maybe it wasn't ALL horrible.
I hope everyone had a wonderful, wonderful 2013 holiday season! We've made it through another year, woohoo! The family and I spent New Year's Eve playing board games and having fun. At 10 till midnight, I realized I'd forgotten the eggnog and we had to improvise. The internet is truly an amazing thing. I pulled off a recipe, whipped up the creation and voila! Holiday eggnog. Wonder if a new tradition was just born?Now, I have a few people out there waiting on paperbacks. I'm expecting my first shipment to arrive around the end of this month and I'll start shipping in February. Just a little update on that.
Also, I'm happy to report that it feels like I have a solid grip on things again. I haven't felt this way since before we decided to put our house up for sale. We're finally all settled after the move, I feel pretty settled in at the new job, my wrist is almost back to 100%, and I've been able to hit my daily goals for the past couple of weeks. You know what that means? I'll probably be sending my manuscript off to the editor by MARCH! That's a huge leap from what I had originally expected.
So, wishing everyone the best this year. Remember, it's up to you to make it all happen! I'll leave you with some poetry I wrote ages ago, written sometime during those horrible high school days. Maybe it wasn't ALL horrible.
Time passes, year by year.
Friends who go, new friends to meet.
And so on, life floats slowly by
Making memories, forever sweet.
d.r.johnson
circa 1994
d.r.johnson
circa 1994
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Post Christmas Post
Ahahaha, I crack myself up.
But I know, I know. If you actually made it past the goofy title and are now reading my post, you deserve a prize. Unfortunately, all I have left are free digital copies of After - Part One.
Okay, I'm sorry. I'll stop and get on with the news. Luckily for me, I actually have news to share!
First off, I now have my edited manuscript of part one, just emailed back to me earlier this week. Now it's time to reformat the eBook, reformat the paperback, redo the paperback cover, then get everything uploaded. Good times! It's a lot of checking and double checking, but at least the eBook should be uploaded by next weekend. No promises on the paperback. I still have issues when I start fooling around with the cover. It's not exactly cake for me right now, I just need a little more practice.
That being said, the preliminary ideas for the After - Part Three cover art are beginning to form! Green is the theme this time around. I'll be saving the reveal for this one until I send the manuscript off to the editor.
Not to get your hopes up too early just yet. The rewrites for After - Part Three are coming right along, but it's still way to early in the process for me to have an idea of when it will be published. I'm still shooting for 'before spring.'
Okay, one more productive day of the week, then I'm going to enjoy the weekend. Maybe finish up my Minecraft storage room, among other creative things I should be doing... ;)
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| Maybe this is a little too true. |
But I know, I know. If you actually made it past the goofy title and are now reading my post, you deserve a prize. Unfortunately, all I have left are free digital copies of After - Part One.
Okay, I'm sorry. I'll stop and get on with the news. Luckily for me, I actually have news to share!
First off, I now have my edited manuscript of part one, just emailed back to me earlier this week. Now it's time to reformat the eBook, reformat the paperback, redo the paperback cover, then get everything uploaded. Good times! It's a lot of checking and double checking, but at least the eBook should be uploaded by next weekend. No promises on the paperback. I still have issues when I start fooling around with the cover. It's not exactly cake for me right now, I just need a little more practice.
That being said, the preliminary ideas for the After - Part Three cover art are beginning to form! Green is the theme this time around. I'll be saving the reveal for this one until I send the manuscript off to the editor.
Not to get your hopes up too early just yet. The rewrites for After - Part Three are coming right along, but it's still way to early in the process for me to have an idea of when it will be published. I'm still shooting for 'before spring.'
Okay, one more productive day of the week, then I'm going to enjoy the weekend. Maybe finish up my Minecraft storage room, among other creative things I should be doing... ;)
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Last Day!
As of this post, there's only 16 hours left to pick up After - Part Two on sale. Not sure when there'll be another sale, so you'll want to grab it now!
I hope everyone's holiday festivities are glorious!
I hope everyone's holiday festivities are glorious!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Other Worlds
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| Artwork by luke314pi |
It's been a while since I've done a review, but not for lack of reading... or - more truthfully - listening. I just haven't had time to curl up with a book lately, so my audible account (read wallet) has been getting a workout. I don't always do reviews on the mainstream books I read, they don't need them like us indie's need them, but I'd still like to talk about what I've been reading.
I've been on a huge Stephen King kick lately, as you may have guessed by the epic quote above. If you don't know what's its from, it first appeared in The Gunslinger, the first book in The Dark Tower series, and became a running theme throughout the books.
The Dark Tower series aren't the only books I've been listening too lately. I started with 11/22/63, a novel dealing with a worm hole that spit the main character out around the time of JFK's assassination, introducing the main conflict of the book. 11/22/63 was the first King book I've read in a long while. I think the one before that was Carrie a couple years back and then Rose Madder probably at least ten years ago. A very long stretch to go without reading a book from one of my 'favorite' authors.
Anyway, back to 11/22/63. I actually picked up this book at the same time a friend began her re-read, and as soon as I cracked it open (loaded it up on audible), I was drawn back in time. It was just so familiar. My friend said it best when she said, "It's like talking to an old friend."
This book really has a bold line drawn down the middle, separating it into two very distinct halves. The first half had me captivated, and I found I was listening to it every chance I could get as it built to its crescendo. It was a wild ride and gave me the story I craved. Once it was over, I still had the bulk of the book left to go and was wondering, where the hell do we go from here?
And the book changed... I lost interest for a while and didn't pick it back up for a few weeks. Final verdict, I would recommend this book for any King fan, along with those that like a good, gritty horror story thrown in with a solid time-travel backdrop... on the first half alone. It was excellent.
But here's the trap I fell into. The main character makes a visit to Derry in the last 1950s. All King fans should know what happened in Derry back in the late 1950s.
Pennywise...
So that's when I totally got sucked back into King's universe. The main character Jake actually meets a young Beverly Marsh and *beep beep* Richie Tozier. Anyone else visualizing a young Seth Green right now?
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| Artwork by raulman |
Kiddos, Stephen King corrupted an entire generation, leaving so many of us terrified of white-faced clowns. Slenderman doesn't hold a candle to Pennywise.
And then I purchased It on audible and began to listen. I had no idea how deep those claw marks in my psyche went, but after looking up old It movie clips on YouTube and reliving Georgie's excruciating death again, I was reminded why I stopped reading King. Because he friggen terrified me. Thus I was reminded why King is still one of my favorite authors. He is the master. 'Nuff said.
It segued into The Dark Tower, because this one I had left unfinished. Wasteland was the last that was published the first time I started reading the series, and many know there was a long hiatus between this book and the fourth book, Wizard and Glass, that wasn't published until six years later. I was off King by then, so never picked it back up until now.
I am thoroughly enjoying this read. I just finished up Wasteland and have finally started on Wizard and Glass and I finally know what happened with that damn train!! Ugh, talk about a cliffhanger. I was hanging for YEARS. I am aware of The Turtle mention in 11/22/63 as well as the references (origin?) of Pennywise in this series. I can't wait to get there!
And that is a very long update on my reading life right now, and a small tribute for this man that has created an entire universe that has webbed through all of his books and so many of his readers lives. It's awe inspiring. Words just can't describe the admiration I have for this man and his ability to put all his stories on paper.
Cheers, Mr King! Your story telling is truly exceptional and I am so thankful you have shared it with the world.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Only 2 Days Left!
Only two days left to pick up a digital copy of After - Part Two for only 99 cents!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I'll be back tomorrow with a real update.
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I'll be back tomorrow with a real update.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Sale!
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Is everyone excited and ready for the holidays? I'm definitely ready to sit down and relax a bit with the family. I hope everyone's plans for the holiday season are going well!
I'd also like to tell everyone that After - Part Two will be on sale through the week for only $.99. Don't wait! Grab it today! Remember you can always gift a copy to anyone as long as you have a valid email address for them.
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| On Sale Now! |
Also, if you're new to the series, After - Part One is currently free with no end in sight! -- Although I do not think it will stay free if you 'gift' it, so watch out on that one.
If you're a paperback reader, After - Part Two is ready for purchase in print AND the matchbook feature of Amazon should allow you to download the ebook for free after you purchase the paperback. I haven't tested this out myself yet, so not sure how it works exactly.
That's all for today! Have a splendid weekend!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The paperback has released!
Woohoo!
Just in time! After - Part Two has been released in paperback. I just got my proof yesterday and approved it for the masses. I ordered mine in the matte finish, and have to say I didn't much care for it. Going back to the good ol' glossy and I have a few on order for Christmas gifts. Crazy good news, right?
I did opt in for the matchbook program for part two, but was informed it would take 2 to 5 days for it to link up, so for those of you who already purchased the ebook and was waiting to get an awesome deal on the paperback, sorry. Just a few more days to wait on that.
After - Part Three is going to be... fun... So much has changed since I wrote the first draft so I'm having to correct time lines and other fun things.
Did you know Ali had a bow at one point during the creative process? She never used it (Katniss she is not) and she only carried it around with her to for kicks. Freaks don't care much for fashion, so the whole idea got kicked to the curb. Let's face it, we are ALL better off that way.
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! I still have some shopping to do. What the heck was I thinking playing reddit Secret Santa? I have no idea what to buy a complete stranger that lives halfway across the country. :(
Idea's anyone?
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| Get the paperback today! |
I did opt in for the matchbook program for part two, but was informed it would take 2 to 5 days for it to link up, so for those of you who already purchased the ebook and was waiting to get an awesome deal on the paperback, sorry. Just a few more days to wait on that.
After - Part Three is going to be... fun... So much has changed since I wrote the first draft so I'm having to correct time lines and other fun things.
Did you know Ali had a bow at one point during the creative process? She never used it (Katniss she is not) and she only carried it around with her to for kicks. Freaks don't care much for fashion, so the whole idea got kicked to the curb. Let's face it, we are ALL better off that way.
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! I still have some shopping to do. What the heck was I thinking playing reddit Secret Santa? I have no idea what to buy a complete stranger that lives halfway across the country. :(
Idea's anyone?
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
It's Live!
The professionally edited copy of After - Part Two (ebook) is now live! Woohoo!
I'm very pleased with how it turned out, so if you haven't grabbed your digital copy yet, it's all ready for you!
I know this is just a quick post, but I wanted to get the news out ASAP.
I'm very pleased with how it turned out, so if you haven't grabbed your digital copy yet, it's all ready for you!
I know this is just a quick post, but I wanted to get the news out ASAP.
Monday, December 2, 2013
So Many Things
Can I breathe yet?
*gasp*
November was nothing but a blur. The publishing of After - Part Two, the surgery, the new job, selling the old house, moving into the new, Thanksgiving and NANO! It was all just too much. I'm surprised I didn't pass out from exhaustion at some point.
But now NaNoWriMo is behind us for another year! All of us wrimos have a fresh pile of jumbled words that we get to shake and wring out to see what will become of it. My regret was that I didn't get to participate in the NaNo festivities AT ALL this year. Pretty much if it wasn't house, job, or sleep related, I was typing (or, at times, speaking). It's the only way I could make it happen.
This year, I finished on the.. 28th? I can't even remember. Like I said, blur... but I know for the past couple of days I've taken the time to relax. Played some games with the family, watched some shows, and just let my brain dissolve into mush. Actually, I don't think I had much control over that last action. My brain pretty much checked out on me on its own. Like, I'm having one of those pull up to a stop-sign and sit there while waiting for the light to turn green kinda days.
So, what now?
Well, I have a few goodies to reveal. I think I've already mentioned this but I'll say it again. I have an editor! Not sure how excited everyone else is about it, but I am totally ecstatic. The really good news is that she's already finished with the part two edits, and you can expect them to be live on Amazon by this weekend. If you've already purchased the book, that's okay. I'll be requesting a push from Amazon to update all the other downloads, but I have been warned that it may take up to a month for this to actually go through.
Now that I have my professionally edited manuscript, formatting will begin on the paperback this week. I am hoping that I can have this available so that orders can make it to their destination by Christmas. Don't you know someone who would just love a paperback of After - Part Two as a stocking stuffer? *cheesy grin*
One last thing before I vamoose. If the editing news wasn't exciting enough, then hopefully this will leave you bouncing with anticipation. After - Part Three has now been compiled and is begging for the rewrites to get underway. You may have noticed the availability date being pushed out to the Spring of 2014. Remember, that is a tentative date, and I am going to do my best to get the third installment of After to you before then!
Toodles everyone! I'll be back to my regular schedule soon!
*gasp*
November was nothing but a blur. The publishing of After - Part Two, the surgery, the new job, selling the old house, moving into the new, Thanksgiving and NANO! It was all just too much. I'm surprised I didn't pass out from exhaustion at some point.
But now NaNoWriMo is behind us for another year! All of us wrimos have a fresh pile of jumbled words that we get to shake and wring out to see what will become of it. My regret was that I didn't get to participate in the NaNo festivities AT ALL this year. Pretty much if it wasn't house, job, or sleep related, I was typing (or, at times, speaking). It's the only way I could make it happen.
This year, I finished on the.. 28th? I can't even remember. Like I said, blur... but I know for the past couple of days I've taken the time to relax. Played some games with the family, watched some shows, and just let my brain dissolve into mush. Actually, I don't think I had much control over that last action. My brain pretty much checked out on me on its own. Like, I'm having one of those pull up to a stop-sign and sit there while waiting for the light to turn green kinda days.
So, what now?
Well, I have a few goodies to reveal. I think I've already mentioned this but I'll say it again. I have an editor! Not sure how excited everyone else is about it, but I am totally ecstatic. The really good news is that she's already finished with the part two edits, and you can expect them to be live on Amazon by this weekend. If you've already purchased the book, that's okay. I'll be requesting a push from Amazon to update all the other downloads, but I have been warned that it may take up to a month for this to actually go through.
Now that I have my professionally edited manuscript, formatting will begin on the paperback this week. I am hoping that I can have this available so that orders can make it to their destination by Christmas. Don't you know someone who would just love a paperback of After - Part Two as a stocking stuffer? *cheesy grin*
One last thing before I vamoose. If the editing news wasn't exciting enough, then hopefully this will leave you bouncing with anticipation. After - Part Three has now been compiled and is begging for the rewrites to get underway. You may have noticed the availability date being pushed out to the Spring of 2014. Remember, that is a tentative date, and I am going to do my best to get the third installment of After to you before then!
Toodles everyone! I'll be back to my regular schedule soon!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Looking back
So, the sale on the house closes tomorrow and we turn over the keys to the new buyer. (Also, this just so happened to be the same day the lease house became ready so we have ONE day to move, but that's another story.)
I've been so busy with getting things ready and the rush of it all happening so fast that all I've been doing is looking forward. I'm VERY excited to be making this leap as my husband and I begin our preparation for buying the house that we want to spend the next 20+ years in.
Today it finally hit me that I only have a very short time left in the house that's been my home for the past 5+ years. I'm just really not sure what to feel right now, but I know part of me doesn't want to let it go.
We aren't moving because we don't like the house. I actually love it, and I've spent these past few years making it mine. It fit perfectly for a little bit, but the family is growing. Yes, it's a small house, but that's not the bad thing about it. It's the location. Unfortunately, we just aren't in the best school district for little boy and we want to make sure we give him the best start that we possibly can... So, we move.
But I'd like to take the time to look back, just for a little bit. I'll never forget the day I got the call we'd closed on the house. It was May 3rd, 2008. Jesse's and my wedding day.
Jesse and I got married in our apartment. I didn't want a big white wedding, just something small and intimate that only close family and friends could attend. I spent the morning hiding in the bedroom while Jesse and his brother arranged all the furniture into isles, so I didn't see the work they'd done until it was time. I didn't even get to see the preacher that morning until I walked out.
So there I was, anxiously waiting for the bridal march to start playing while my daughter stood ready to escort me out to my husband-to-be... and my phone rang.
I didn't answer it of course, but after we said our vows and danced barefoot to The One by Gary Allan, I found time to check my voice mail.
It was the Realtor, letting us know we had closed on the house and where we could go pick up the keys. After our little reception dinner, the whole family drove over to our new house, still in wedding attire. It was magical and one of the best days of my life.
So I'm truly sad to see it go, especially now that we've been unearthing all these memories while we've been digging out the closets and packing it all away. I still remember how weird it felt to sleep there that first night, and now tonight will be our last night there.
I've been so busy with getting things ready and the rush of it all happening so fast that all I've been doing is looking forward. I'm VERY excited to be making this leap as my husband and I begin our preparation for buying the house that we want to spend the next 20+ years in.
Today it finally hit me that I only have a very short time left in the house that's been my home for the past 5+ years. I'm just really not sure what to feel right now, but I know part of me doesn't want to let it go.
We aren't moving because we don't like the house. I actually love it, and I've spent these past few years making it mine. It fit perfectly for a little bit, but the family is growing. Yes, it's a small house, but that's not the bad thing about it. It's the location. Unfortunately, we just aren't in the best school district for little boy and we want to make sure we give him the best start that we possibly can... So, we move.
But I'd like to take the time to look back, just for a little bit. I'll never forget the day I got the call we'd closed on the house. It was May 3rd, 2008. Jesse's and my wedding day.
Jesse and I got married in our apartment. I didn't want a big white wedding, just something small and intimate that only close family and friends could attend. I spent the morning hiding in the bedroom while Jesse and his brother arranged all the furniture into isles, so I didn't see the work they'd done until it was time. I didn't even get to see the preacher that morning until I walked out.
So there I was, anxiously waiting for the bridal march to start playing while my daughter stood ready to escort me out to my husband-to-be... and my phone rang.
I didn't answer it of course, but after we said our vows and danced barefoot to The One by Gary Allan, I found time to check my voice mail.
It was the Realtor, letting us know we had closed on the house and where we could go pick up the keys. After our little reception dinner, the whole family drove over to our new house, still in wedding attire. It was magical and one of the best days of my life.
So I'm truly sad to see it go, especially now that we've been unearthing all these memories while we've been digging out the closets and packing it all away. I still remember how weird it felt to sleep there that first night, and now tonight will be our last night there.
But, in the end, it's just a house and my home will always be with Jesse, wherever we are. My life isn't perfect. Anyone who says that theirs is is lying. But I will say this. My life is everything I wanted, and much more than I expected. I can't say if there is or isn't a God out there somewhere, but I do feel truly blessed and, although I don't say it enough, I cherish it all.
Now that I got all that out, I only have one thing left to say... Goodbye, House. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. I will miss you.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Unscheduled Post!
Just a real quick, unscheduled post.
I recently met with Michael Garza over at Goodreads. He hosts a blog dedicated to some really creepy stuff called What Horror Looks Like, so all you horror buffs should swing by there and check it out. It's one of the blogs I follow regularly, and I have to admit some of the topics and books he posts about has made me squirm. It's good stuff.
He also does a few author interviews and I'm very pleased to announce that mine went live tonight! You can read the whole interview here.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I'll be back next Thursday!
I recently met with Michael Garza over at Goodreads. He hosts a blog dedicated to some really creepy stuff called What Horror Looks Like, so all you horror buffs should swing by there and check it out. It's one of the blogs I follow regularly, and I have to admit some of the topics and books he posts about has made me squirm. It's good stuff.
He also does a few author interviews and I'm very pleased to announce that mine went live tonight! You can read the whole interview here.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I'll be back next Thursday!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Stitches!
Oh my goodness, the stitches came out today! Now, for those of you that have ever had stitches before, this may not be a surprise. For me, however, when the Doc pulled them and I saw my skin open up and the... whatever beneath, I shoved my hand at him and told him to PUT THEM BACK IN!
I was just so not prepared for this whole ordeal. Not that I regret doing it, though. I'm glad I did and I'm nearly back to 100%. Typing, mouse clicks, lifting some things, but don't ask me to turn a door knob. For some reason, that motion still gets me.
Even though the pain has slowed me down a little, I've still managed to stay ahead of the game for NaNo, although not by much. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to my current trend for the rest of the month. 50k words added to The Phoenix Curse isn't bad! Keep in mind, my precious super fans, I'm already done with the first draft for After - Part Three! Rewrites are difficult though, but I'll be diving right into it once NaNo is finished.
Also, After - Part Three will have something very special that the first two releases lacked... an Editor!! That's right! I'm in the market for one right now, and both part one and part two will be worked over. The release of part two has pulled in enough extra income for me to be able to finally indulge in this important step of becoming a real author. Sooooo excited about this!
So that's my very fun news for the week! Remember, After - Part Two is finally available, and if you're just hopping on board, After - Part One is available for free!!
I was just so not prepared for this whole ordeal. Not that I regret doing it, though. I'm glad I did and I'm nearly back to 100%. Typing, mouse clicks, lifting some things, but don't ask me to turn a door knob. For some reason, that motion still gets me.
Even though the pain has slowed me down a little, I've still managed to stay ahead of the game for NaNo, although not by much. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to my current trend for the rest of the month. 50k words added to The Phoenix Curse isn't bad! Keep in mind, my precious super fans, I'm already done with the first draft for After - Part Three! Rewrites are difficult though, but I'll be diving right into it once NaNo is finished.
Also, After - Part Three will have something very special that the first two releases lacked... an Editor!! That's right! I'm in the market for one right now, and both part one and part two will be worked over. The release of part two has pulled in enough extra income for me to be able to finally indulge in this important step of becoming a real author. Sooooo excited about this!
So that's my very fun news for the week! Remember, After - Part Two is finally available, and if you're just hopping on board, After - Part One is available for free!!
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