In this month's newsletter I unveiled the new trailer for "The Weight of Shadows" AND unveiled my new website. If you subscribe but didn't read it yet, please dig it out of your inbox and check it out. If you don't subscribe yet--see what you're missing!?
Regardless, the new website is also the home of my new blog. The archives of this blog are housed there as well, in case you're ever looking for something from the past. But anyway, point being, change your bookmarks and come join me at the new site!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Done! (I think.)
I turned in book 4 today. I think I'm done with it. I'm not 100% sure; it's been so long since I went through the publishing process I can't remember if there's another editing step after line edits or not. I really, really hope not. I really want to be done.
Today was my deadline. I didn't remember that until about 3 days ago. I thought it was the *end* of January. Thank heavens I checked! I turned it in at 5:40PM, which is 7:40PM in New York where my editor is, but hey, as long as it's before midnight I'm in the clear, right?
So now I'm freed up to work on other things--like the book that I'm supposed to be done writing by January 31. That's a self-imposed deadline, though, and I've already conceded it's not gonna happen, so I'm moving it to the end of the first week of February and just dealing with the fact that I won't have a whole month away from it before I start edits--which is a bummer, since I'm supposed to research and outline book 5 while also beginning a collaborative project with a friend.
I've been working on a new website in my "free time," and will be ready to launch it next week. To celebrate, I'll be holding a bonus contest in my January newsletter, so if you're not signed up to receive that, just enter your email addy in the sign up field. I'll also be premiering the trailer for The Weight of Shadows in that issue, and I can't wait for everyone to see it--I think it turned out *very* well.
Well, PJ finally fell asleep on my lap (an hour past bedtime), so I think that's my cue to sign off. Happy 2010--looking forward to putting new books in your hands this year!
Today was my deadline. I didn't remember that until about 3 days ago. I thought it was the *end* of January. Thank heavens I checked! I turned it in at 5:40PM, which is 7:40PM in New York where my editor is, but hey, as long as it's before midnight I'm in the clear, right?
So now I'm freed up to work on other things--like the book that I'm supposed to be done writing by January 31. That's a self-imposed deadline, though, and I've already conceded it's not gonna happen, so I'm moving it to the end of the first week of February and just dealing with the fact that I won't have a whole month away from it before I start edits--which is a bummer, since I'm supposed to research and outline book 5 while also beginning a collaborative project with a friend.
I've been working on a new website in my "free time," and will be ready to launch it next week. To celebrate, I'll be holding a bonus contest in my January newsletter, so if you're not signed up to receive that, just enter your email addy in the sign up field. I'll also be premiering the trailer for The Weight of Shadows in that issue, and I can't wait for everyone to see it--I think it turned out *very* well.
Well, PJ finally fell asleep on my lap (an hour past bedtime), so I think that's my cue to sign off. Happy 2010--looking forward to putting new books in your hands this year!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Have you seen those prize bundles?!
I was just over at Project 320. I've already used up all my raffle tickets, so I can't try for any more of the bundles--and man, am I missing out! Have you gone over there since they started posting them?! There is some really beautiful stuff! Seriously, check it out. If nothing else, donate just $10 (they have a little thing you can print up now to give to someone if you're donating as a gift in someone else's name--a great way to finish up your Christmas shopping!) and help them get the last $600 they need to build the well. Yes, that's right, they've already raised $4,400--actually, more than that, but it was some un-round number I don't remember. :D Anyway, believe me, these gift baskets are incredible, and they're posting 3 new ones all week. (But then they're drawing winners each day, too, so if you see something you really like, best to jump on it.)
What an awesome opportunity, and what a wonderful project. I'm so glad I got to be a part of it.
What an awesome opportunity, and what a wonderful project. I'm so glad I got to be a part of it.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Project 320
Want to build a well for water in Africa--for just $10? Head over to Project 320 and you can do just that by entering the raffle they're holding. The story of this is just incredible, and what better time than now in the Christmas season?
And hey, here's an idea--you know how you're always wracking your brain to figure out gifts for those hard-to-shop-for-people? Well, half the time they're hard to shop for because they already have everything they want. So why not make a donation in their name and make a nice little card that tells them they helped make the lives of a few hundred people better? They'll probably be thrilled to not have another sweater or tie or scarf or knick-knack that they don't really need--and they'll *really* thank you if they win one of the gift baskets!
And hey, here's an idea--you know how you're always wracking your brain to figure out gifts for those hard-to-shop-for-people? Well, half the time they're hard to shop for because they already have everything they want. So why not make a donation in their name and make a nice little card that tells them they helped make the lives of a few hundred people better? They'll probably be thrilled to not have another sweater or tie or scarf or knick-knack that they don't really need--and they'll *really* thank you if they win one of the gift baskets!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Come see me! Buy my books!
Tomorrow (Friday) from 9a-11a I'm selling and signing my books at the Northglenn Dazbog (1050 W. 104th Ave). If you're in the area, come grab one of the best mochas in the world and do a little shopping--personalized and autographed books make a great Christmas gift for hard to shop for people! This event is hosted by the local Denver ACFW chapter, and we're also having a used book sale. Coffee and books--seriously, what better way to start your Friday?!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
LOST: My November
I could have sworn I had it right here. I was looking at it when I wrote my last blog post FIVE WEEKS AGO. It had some nice goals on it, some appointments, and a holiday. But I woke up this morning and realized I think I've lost it. It's gone.
And here I am on December first--STILL NOT WRITING MY NEXT BOOK. But, disappointed as I am, I have to once again give mad props to Scrivener for being such a freaking awesome program. I'm nearly done with the snowflake for MM--like, 18 scenes left to flesh out--and this is the longest this last step has taken me before. I was trying to figure out why, and I realized it's because the space where I'm writing all the scene details is so BIG. In the past I'd done this step in a spreadsheet, and even though I set the preferences so that the boxes would expand to fit whatever I typed, I still only had this teensy little box to look at while I wrote. And the small visual ended up limiting me. I wouldn't flesh things out as much as I could have, and I'd write in weird shorthand that would have me scratching my head later when it came time to actually write the scene. But this time around, I've got this nice wide column that just goes on forever, and I can type, type, type to my little heart's content and not worry about how small the space is I'm trying to squeeze everything into. And so, I *am* typing and typing and typing--including bits of dialogue that come to me, making notes to myself of things I want to make sure get mentioned in passing, even adding details like what someone is wearing if I think I might not remember when the time comes to actually write the scene. (And let's face it: I won't remember.)
So THAT'S why it's December 1 and I'm still not writing this book: because Scrivener is giving me the space I need to be as creative as I can be in this last snowflake step, which means once I do finally start writing it's going to go much, much faster. So it's all good, even if I am a whole month behind.
And speaking of being behind, I'm yet again doing major edits on Reinventing Rachel, which releases with Cook in September. It was supposed to release this past September, so you can't get much more behind than that. But wow y'all, this book is SO MUCH BETTER than I ever thought it would be. I'm really excited for you to read it. And for those of you out there who are slaving away on your manuscript, let me just say that Nicci Hubert is the absolutely best editor I've ever worked with. Which I'll admit isn't saying all that much since I've only worked with a few. And I've been blessed in that all the editors I've worked with have definitely be above par. But ho.lee.cow. If you *ever* have the chance to work with her, you must. MUST. If you could see the HUGE changes made from the first draft I submitted to her, to what we're working on now, you'd realize that the woman is some kind of editing superhero.
Alrighty--lunch is just about eaten, then I have phone calls galore to make (most definitely the worst part of my day--I HATE USING THE PHONE), then a small tome's worth of paperwork to fill out for yet another evaluation for PJ that is set for tomorrow, and then! Then! THEN I get to work on scenes and edits. Hope you're all having a lovely Tuesday. I promise not to let five weeks pass before writing again. I'll keep much closer tabs on my months from now on.
And here I am on December first--STILL NOT WRITING MY NEXT BOOK. But, disappointed as I am, I have to once again give mad props to Scrivener for being such a freaking awesome program. I'm nearly done with the snowflake for MM--like, 18 scenes left to flesh out--and this is the longest this last step has taken me before. I was trying to figure out why, and I realized it's because the space where I'm writing all the scene details is so BIG. In the past I'd done this step in a spreadsheet, and even though I set the preferences so that the boxes would expand to fit whatever I typed, I still only had this teensy little box to look at while I wrote. And the small visual ended up limiting me. I wouldn't flesh things out as much as I could have, and I'd write in weird shorthand that would have me scratching my head later when it came time to actually write the scene. But this time around, I've got this nice wide column that just goes on forever, and I can type, type, type to my little heart's content and not worry about how small the space is I'm trying to squeeze everything into. And so, I *am* typing and typing and typing--including bits of dialogue that come to me, making notes to myself of things I want to make sure get mentioned in passing, even adding details like what someone is wearing if I think I might not remember when the time comes to actually write the scene. (And let's face it: I won't remember.)
So THAT'S why it's December 1 and I'm still not writing this book: because Scrivener is giving me the space I need to be as creative as I can be in this last snowflake step, which means once I do finally start writing it's going to go much, much faster. So it's all good, even if I am a whole month behind.
And speaking of being behind, I'm yet again doing major edits on Reinventing Rachel, which releases with Cook in September. It was supposed to release this past September, so you can't get much more behind than that. But wow y'all, this book is SO MUCH BETTER than I ever thought it would be. I'm really excited for you to read it. And for those of you out there who are slaving away on your manuscript, let me just say that Nicci Hubert is the absolutely best editor I've ever worked with. Which I'll admit isn't saying all that much since I've only worked with a few. And I've been blessed in that all the editors I've worked with have definitely be above par. But ho.lee.cow. If you *ever* have the chance to work with her, you must. MUST. If you could see the HUGE changes made from the first draft I submitted to her, to what we're working on now, you'd realize that the woman is some kind of editing superhero.
Alrighty--lunch is just about eaten, then I have phone calls galore to make (most definitely the worst part of my day--I HATE USING THE PHONE), then a small tome's worth of paperwork to fill out for yet another evaluation for PJ that is set for tomorrow, and then! Then! THEN I get to work on scenes and edits. Hope you're all having a lovely Tuesday. I promise not to let five weeks pass before writing again. I'll keep much closer tabs on my months from now on.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Scrivenings about Scrivener
Can't remember if I've blogged about The Best Writer's Software Ever here before, but I know I mentioned it on my newsletter. For those who read the blog and not the newsletter (silly people!) Scrivener is a unique writer's software that lets you do all sorts of amazing stuff. If I had more time I'd wax lyrical about all its amazing features, but since I'm itching to get back to character-building I'll just recommend you check out their website and watch the tutorial videos--or you can read the newsletter where I wrote about it. Seriously, if you're a writer, you need this software. Not just fiction writers, either--anyone would benefit from it.
The one thing some people see as a drawback of the program (not me, of course!) is that it is only written for Macs. The guy who developed it is a Mac guy, and actually learned how to code for Macs just so he could develop the software for the OS X platform. However, he gets asked *constantly* whether or not he'll make a PC version, and now he's taking a poll to see what the real interest for that version would be. If you like what you see but want it for Windows, click here and scroll to the bottom to go to their poll and give him a thumbs up for PC.
The one thing some people see as a drawback of the program (not me, of course!) is that it is only written for Macs. The guy who developed it is a Mac guy, and actually learned how to code for Macs just so he could develop the software for the OS X platform. However, he gets asked *constantly* whether or not he'll make a PC version, and now he's taking a poll to see what the real interest for that version would be. If you like what you see but want it for Windows, click here and scroll to the bottom to go to their poll and give him a thumbs up for PC.
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