You Could Be A WINNER!

Okay, so as of late. I've been pumping out my creative/artistic side that goes hand in hand with my BA in Fine Art and Design. I promised my sister in Ohio that I would make her invitations for her wedding in September. I've procrastinated a little, I won't lie. Though today, I got a lot done. Soon I can say, "Here, sugar-pie, is one thing you do not have to worry about." I made my own for my wedding two years ago and goodness, I wished I had cut the guest list. The photo of the invitation is not an invite to everyone. You have to actually receive one in the mail.

As for my writing, I'm not going to be so hard on myself (If I can help it). I also have promised my own personal giveaway (aside from the soon-to-be-determined Goodreads giveaway) on facebook. I'd like to boost my Fan-age and I'm offering two copies of Broken Light to my first 100 Fans. In other words, from the first group of 50, one lucky, random, non-relative will win a copy. From the second 50 (Totaling 100) another random person will win a copy.

Now for a giveaway for The Vernore Gene. I have one copy to giveaway for a fan from this blog. So if you'd like to win, follow this blog. If you'd like to have a chance at both... I think you get the idea here. It's not necessary to follow my individual book blogs. I just made those so I could make clear the hardships and fun that surround the given book.

So tell one and all about the giveaways and how I'm increasing my Fan-age. I'm picking and choosing so be honest and I'll be nice. :) The Facebook contest/drawing ends when a number is met so for blogspot and Goodreads the combined total of 50 will be the marker for the end.

Too Hard On Myself

I've decided to be a little more serious about my life as a writer. I don't know where I'm heading and I'm so afraid of rejection right now that I use the copout of being my own boss and not having to answer to publishers as my reason for self-publishing. The reality is that I just don't know what I'm doing. I write to write and I like my train of thought and how the people I've created live out their lives. Of course, this kinda makes me like God because I decide who lives and dies, where they go and what they say. (That's enough narcissism.)

I keep telling myself that I should join a critique group and submit my manuscripts to publishers or find an agent. I wish I had someone to do all that on my behalf. I feel quite insignificant when I look at the success of other writers. I know what my problem is. I was born in the wrong time period. This is the age of instant gratification and I want answers now. I want hard work done and over with so I can be awesome now and not later. I don't write for money and I hate the prices that are associated with POD's but at least I can say that only I have rights to my work.

Now that I've made myself all depressed over my lack of research and hard work, I'll go write because that makes me feel better.

P.S. I wanted to discuss Fans on facebook and giving away free copies of Broken Light. Guess I'll do it later...

Wishing My Life Away

Here's the skinny.

Broken Light's second edition will be released when I'm ready. Jeez, how much more obscure can I be? The reason, though, for the second edition is due to distribution. I can't list the book on sites without an ISBN. The cut size on it currently doesn't allow for an ISBN. Don't ask me why this is. I have no idea. And I agree, it's stupid. It won't take me long to get Broken Light reformatted it's making room in my head to do so that's holding me up.

Which brings me to what I'm currently working on. I know a lot of you want to know what's going to happen next in The Vernore Gene and I'm trying to fix all the confusion I've started in my head. I'm sorry for this. I didn't plan it well and now I'm kicking myself for it. The other reason for not working on it as much as I should be is because I have another story in my head. This one could end up being a trilogy too. Mostly because it's so long. I've got it completely outlined and have almost what I call Book 1 complete as my mind creates scenes and complications for my main characters later on in what could be Books 2 and 3. More to come on that later.

I also have my collaboration on ghostwriting a memoir. I have ideas planned out for it, a lot of research to do, and feedback to get from the woman who asked me to do this. The hardest part is figuring out the point of view (POV) and making sure I don't offend anyone in the family for the way I think they should be portrayed. The woman lived an amazing life and I don't want to ruin it with too much fiction for the parts I don't know about. Maybe those parts aren't as important as I want them to be.

On another note, I do more than just write 24 hours a day. Although, I'd like to do just that. Only problem is the hand cramps. Anyway, I also have my sister's wedding invitations to finish up within the next month in a half. In case you didn't read the About Me profile in the sidebar, I majored in Fine Art and therefore like hands-on arts and crafts. I sculpt a lot too and try to cut back on the video games. Writing fills up most of my time at home and I should thank my husband more often for taking care of our two dogs and making dinner so often. Thank you, elephant!

So instead of giving into the demand of the sequel to The Vernore Gene I am doing tens of thousands of other things in my head. (And I just came up with a possible story this morning by mistake. I had intended to give my mind a rest. Shh!)

I also haven't forgotten about The Lyon's Key and the work that still requires. No rush though. I also like to make Playlist's for my books. I'm working on one that's helping me to write the current new trilogy and one for Broken Light. All this thinking is making me want my vacation in July to come faster than it is. I know, I know. Don't wish my life away.

What Was I Talking About!?

I believe in my last post I listed numerous things I had to do. One of which was to rework a story from last year. Well... I started. Then I got distracted (Big surprise there) and my brain got slammed with a new book idea. This is how this happens to me:

First, I have questions that can't be answered (ie: I see yellow and blue in that green tree. What colors do you see? or I know how I feel about it, but what about you?) and I think about these questions all the time. So much so that I create my own answers to the What If questions. These answers then turn into the life style of certain characters.

Normally, I have a character and a name (first, middle, and last) all picked out. I know what they want and what they plan to do. The one problem is that just like life, my writing can vary from the original idea because "life" just gets in the way and people (characters included) have to adapt. Therefore, as I write, the characters grow into people whom I feel I've known forever. Problem I was enduring for longer than necessary was that I had the idea and no names for my protagonists. Help!

Secondly, as I answer these questions with a story, which is how only I can answer them, they turn into either a series or a single book. After completeing book 1 of Shadow Reign Chronicles and still needing to follow up on aspects has me feeling overwhelmed and needing to re-read my own book to keep on track. My goal with Broken Light was to NOT do that. I wanted a concise beginning, middle, and end. I suppose you could make a sequel out of it, but it doesn't need it.

Lastly, I've found that no matter how much I re-read my work, I always think it could be better. (This applies to The Lyon's Key, which I need a second pair of eyes for.) I believe that if I'm not impressed, moved, or in love with my characters than no one else will be. Now perhaps I fall in love too easily (I would hope my husband doesn't agree, but... *shrug* whatever) because I loved Bailey as I wrote The Vernore Gene and then I fell hard for Garrett** (and why wouldn't I? He's me!)Damien (The Lyon's Key) is dark and mysterious, but a complete sweetheart, and Luke (or Keller, depending on which you prefer) from Broken Light, has caused me to put aside books by other authors using the same name for their characters.

Right now, I'm in love with Elliott**. (Not that I'm replacing my husband or anything. I don't think he cares anyway.) So, now that I'm working all that out in my head and trying to finish the To Do List, I'm looking for moments of sleep, eating, and fitting in a full-time job, as well as filling the next year with three weddings. Woohoo love!!

Where was I going with all this anyway? Now you know how crazy my mind works and why I can't stay on one topic for too long...

**If you're confused by character names, it's because there isn't a book title ready to be released yet.

The Day Has Come

If you've been following my Broken Light excitements and hardships you'll know I've promised a release last Tuesday. Well, it didn't happen because of some stupidity on my behalf. So here we are, April 6, 2010 and I have decided that I am done. Currently, you can purchase the book on my storefront from my printer for $15 and add coupon code SHOWERS (expires April 30 , 2010) and get 10% off. Woohoo!

So what am I doing now?

1. Still waiting for the finished sketches to be painted for Friendship Cheese.
2. Reworking a story from a year ago.
3. Planning on submitting The Lyon's Key to Flux for possible traditional publishing.
4. Ghostwriting a true-story/memoir about the holocaust.
5. Catching up on my reading.
6. Working on VG2.

Fun, Fun, Fun!