5 Books is A-Okay & a Giveaway

I am on a roll! Well, at least it feels that way.

I'm only 20 pages away from finishing my final revision of BELOW THE BELT, my first adult novel (Well, I guess it works for 18-25 year olds, so if they're adults then...yes...it's an adult novel). However, I do still need to finish the cover art (thanks GIMP for all your craziness! Bleh!).

In other news, I still have some formatting/revision work to be done on SIX DEGREES, my world religion curriculum, as well as finishing the cover.

I should be able to finish both of these if I'm diligent by next week.

Then of course there are the two pregnancy books I want to finish before I pop out kiddo. They're each about half-way complete, so I'm not sure how they'll work out or if they will before baby arrives.

Regardless, if I publish BELOW THE BELT and SIX DEGREES, I will have published 5 books this summer. That's not bad. If I can squeeze one or two more out, that would be AMAZING and I would have reached my original Summer Writing Challenge goal. Even if I don't get to 7, I feel like 5 is pretty good.

I don't think I can go back to ANDREW right now (although I have some fans clamoring for the next installment of the Rollins Pack) to actually finish it with any kind of quality (and I'm much more about quality right now than I am quantity...seriously).

That said, as part of the summer publishing EXTRAVAGANZA, let me REMIND YOU to enter my fantastic giveaway for a FREE copy of JEREMIAH (enough caps for ya?)! I'm giving away three so you and two of your best friends could start a werewolf book club. Make sure to share the giveaway with friends and good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Poetry Collection Published!

 

This summer was rough. It was so rough that for a period of time the only thing I could do creatively was to write poetry. It's been a little while since I've written poetry exclusively (for years it was the only type of writing I did). 

Even though it had been some time since I'd written so much poetry, I found it was a bit like riding a bicycle. You never really forget.So for about a month I was writing only poetry. It was a cathartic process that helped me deal with the massive amount of hormones surging through my system while Christian and I went through a difficult situation that I wouldn't wish on any one. 

The result was this chapbook size collection of poems - UNCERTAIN TRANSFORMATION. The poems are about pregnancy, financial uncertainty, determination, and hope for opportunity.

Be sure to visit Smashwords to download a free sample as well as purchase the full collection today!

SWC: LILITH Revision & Uncertain Poetry Collection

It seems like every weekend has become a whirlwind. The end result is always my writing/work taking a dive while I recuperate for a couple days and then things pick back up.

As such, I have a little more than half of LILITH revised...and I didn't realize how much left I really needed to add to the manuscript. I knew I'd breezed through the first draft, but working through it a second time I realized how much I needed to plump up. So far I think I've added about 2000 or so words.

In other news, I finally got GIMP to a place where we're no longer fighting. As you may know, technology and I don't exactly get along well. The most recent iteration of GIMP and I have been...having differences. It came to a head yesterday when I was trying to finish a cover for my poetry collection and I almost threw my laptop. Of course, my frustration caused EVERY program to stop working. Literally. I was incapable of doing anything on my laptop.

Needless to say, my technopath husband came and saved the day last night, using his skills to do a little GIMP/Alexis conflict resolution.

This meant I was able to finish my poetry collection's cover (I think - though I'm going to have it checked by my test group before I reveal it). I've already researched digital poetry collections for word/poem counts and prices. Everything is pretty much set and ready to go formatting wise as well. Literally, once the cover is finished, I can set it up for preorders (a new feature on Smashwords! Woot woot!) and subsequent publication.

LILITH will be ready to go when this revision is complete.

Then I just have a few things left to do on a couple other books.

I'm realizing now that I might actually get 6 books out this year. I'll settle for 4 considering everything that's happened in the past few months, but the fact is I might actually reach something like my publishing goal. I'm cautiously excited as I cross my fingers that I won't lose momentum over the weekend. With any luck, you'll get to see a couple more books out by next week!

SWC UPDATE: Publishing, Formatting, and Writing! Oh My!

I'm really excited. I updated my NOVELS page which now includes links to some of my older novels, as well as a summary of JEREMIAH. I also added LILITH's cover (which you can check out to the left!) because hopefully I will have the few formatting/rewriting issues completed by the end of this week.

And you know what that means...

PUBLISHING!

In addition to this, I started putting together a small collection of poems that I began writing since this horrible transition period in my life. They're about the struggles Christian and I have been facing, as well as my feelings about the pregnancy in general. I'm pretty excited about it because it is such a departure from what I've published previously...however I've always wanted to publish poems. Even though I don't expect much reader love for them, I do hope those who do read them can find some strength or voice when they're experiencing similar situations. That's really the goal - to give voice to those moments of crisis, and build strength for those who feel like they have none. Because let's face it, for a lot of people, that's happening now. And I feel it. I feel for them, and I want those people to know (perhaps you?) they're (you're) not alone.

I also uploaded the first chapters of THE BROTHERS and JAMES for FREE on Wattpad. About 30 seconds after I did that, I noticed I already had like 14 reads on each. Hopefully it will get some people interested in the books. I know, as my fans have said, that once you get hooked you can't put them down. I will likely do the same for both LOVERS AND RIVALS as well as JEREMIAH. Once LILITH is ready, that will follow as well.

I'm feeling like I have a little traction with this...so that's good.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with these goofy non-fiction pieces that I'm still unsure about (particularly as to their formatting).

I might actually get somewhere close to my publishing goal yet! It's sort of amazing, and unbelievable considering I only have 5 weeks left until my due date (and that's if kiddo decides to stick to the schedule...which how often does that happen?). I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to get these things together and make magic happen. Maybe I should channel Khloe for this. We'll see. All we can do is wait and see...

SWC Update - Press Releases and Leisurely Plans

Well, I finally sent out some press releases for JEREMIAH today. This happened after much research and muddling through contact pages, name lists, and deciding what was worth fiddling with and what wasn't.

I could still send out more.

I guess you could always send out more.

I'm not sure when you're supposed to stop when talking about a metropolitan area as large as the Bay. It feels like I could keep sending things out and always find another little news outlet or blogger that's concerned with things in the area.

I even sent things to television stations. I'm not sure if they'll do anything with it, but you never know. I can hope.

For the moment I'm going to try and finish BELOW THE BELT. It's the next fiction piece closest to being complete (formatting, editing, etc).  I do have a few more things I need to work on, but I'm recognizing this week for what it is - disjointed work time at best. So, with that in mind, I'm going to enjoy it for what it is and get done what I can.

That's all we can do.

Along those veins, I'm going to take a nap. I have to if I want to have any hope of surviving the rest of the day.... *sigh*

Vacation for Writing or Not?

The past few days have been pretty jam-packed which hasn't left a lot of room for writing. :-/

I'm hopeful that I'll have some time this week to hole myself up and write, though it seems visiting family has turned into a lot of "hang out with prego lady." And I understand. I do. I just need to get writing done for my own peace of mind...and to lower my stress levels.

Even writing this is tensing my shoulders.

Probably not good to do right before bed. *sigh*

Well, because even thinking about this is causing anxiety I'm going to cut this short. The goal of this week was not to cause stress, but to decrease it (and my personal one was to get a bit more writing/publishing done...maybe that was wishful thinking).

I'll keep you posted as I go along...and hopefully there is more to post about. :-/ Wish me luck!

One Day at a Time

I don't have much of an update as far as personal progress. HOWEVER I do have an update as to motivation.

While this week has been insanely crazy and much of my time has been devoted to our basic needs, there is some light (which you'll be able to read about on Raising An Alien).

Because of this new found light, I'm in a much better place than I was two days ago. I can say that while I was unsuccessful in getting much done this week, I am ready to get moving after Sunday. I say Sunday because that day is fully spoken for. Hell, even Monday is spoken for. Okay...TUESDAY. I promise. I'll get to everything TUESDAY.

Sheesh, this is embarrassingly bad.

I've been told that press releases need to be sent during the morning hours, and at the beginning of the week. Obviously this isn't going to happen this week, but that isn't the end of my promotional efforts through Saturday. There's always the much discussed Goodreads. It seems if the press releases can't go out, at least I can look into the details of a giveaway.

I'll be honest. If there are a bagillion forms, I may run away screaming. This week I've had my fill of forms (no more forms! No more hoops! Please!).

Whatever the case, I haven't given up. There is still time (not much, but there is some). I will be able to put together some books. I may achieve half my original summer publishing goal despite everything that's been threatening to thwart me. We'll have to see.

I keep saying that, but really, it's all I can do. I can only do what I can. Each morning brings a new day, and I'll take that day as it comes. It's a difficult thing to accept, but it is how my life is destined for the immediate future...one day at a time...

SWC: Modifying Publishing Goals

I'm a bit embarrassed about how unproductive I've been thus far this week. Through a combination of appointments, meetings, exhaustion, heat, and a new supplement with a sedating effect, my schedule has been completely trashed.

Fortunately my resolve wasn't trashed along with productivity. If anything my resolve and motivation has been strengthened over the past few days. Through conversations with friends, blogging across my different blogs, and a great deal of introspection, I am even more committed to my plan than before, though I realize there will be some modifications.


It's become clear the blog tours aren't going to happen during the summer, though I wanted them to. Instead, I'm going to focus on press releases and giveaways. I may have some guest posts going at various blogs, but it seems the tours themselves may have to wait until after the baby, or possibly get scraped all together.

Print formatting is something I need to do for all my books. Even though every holiday brings more purchases of ereaders and various tablets, many people still prefer print books. Unfortunately formatting for print is the thing I procrastinate the most (typically I want to shoot myself in the face about an hour into actually doing it). That means I need Christian to at least be hanging around pushing me to get it done. This is a new lesson I learned about myself, but thankfully I now know what I need in order to get this part of goal done (and hopefully reach new readers).

I have three books I'm interested in finishing writing & publishing for my summer challenge. I've chosen to focus on these rather than other projects (the two non-fiction books that only have vague ties to my current focus areas). Two of these should be quick, even with some minor research (pregnancy related). The third is a fiction piece that has ties to my interests in religion (and has a fantastic first chapter that will get you seriously hooked if I do say so myself).

I realize working on these last three projects may push me a little against the wire, especially if I have more weeks like this one. However, tomorrow is a new day, full with possibilities. I can only do what I can do, and I can't berate myself for things outside of my control.

With that in mind, There are 3 focus areas I have for this next week:

• Print formatting completed for finished books along with covers etc. (bleh!)
• Writing the last three books
• Press releases for the finished books

 If I can get these things done this week I will be incredibly proud of myself and will feel a lot more secure about moving forward. Cross your fingers for me and I'll keep you updated!

Full Stop - A Mandatory Break

Last week was rough. This past weekend was rough. Now today...

I slept until 1:30. I couldn't help it. Okay, I woke up with the sun and did a few things, but then I went right back to sleep. I woke up again at 11:30 and tried to do a few things like use the bathroom and drink some water. Even doing basic tasks like that, I was falling asleep. I think the only reason I woke up at 1:30 and finally got out of bed was because it was so hot on my second floor I couldn't handle it any more. Otherwise, I might have slept until Christian got home. :-/

Needless to say, when I looked at the print format template for JEREMIAH, I wrote the name of the book and added chapter sections to the template. Then I stopped.

This is the most sluggish I've been since the first trimester. I hope it's not related to the tea my midwife advised me to drink (nettle). I had that the first time today and I'm not sure if I was supposed to feel any different but the only difference I've experienced today is a total and utter exhaustion.

Of course, it could be completely unrelated to pregnancy and more to do with the whirlwind of stress in my life right now.

Whatever the cause, I'm laid up. Nothing is happening. Not today anyway. If I were to force myself to do anything today, I think it would be a disaster. I'd make mistakes and end up having to redo everything anyway. That's not the way to go about reaching your publishing goals.

Unfortunately, when you're a super prego lady, some days you just have to curl up, nap, and/or read a book. Today is one of those days for me. Send me good thoughts that tomorrow can be productive despite the worship committee meeting that will take me away from my laptop for several hours...I can't afford another day like today.

2 Months Left of SWC: Getting Over the Blocks

I'm getting a little anxious - well very anxious.

I have two months left before the baby is supposed to arrive (assuming we're actually following the schedule, which I honestly can't know with any kind of certainty). I still have six books to publish to get to my bare minimum goal of seven books self-published this summer. I still have a bunch of marketing work to do. I still have research and all manner of things to get done.

I'm wondering if I'm approaching this the wrong way.

The formatting only takes a few days (if we're looking at print, which I'd like to do despite the small cost to me). That's not a problem.

Most of the writing is done. So that's not the issue.

The main issue is the rewriting and editing which has stalled me. My "beta readers" haven't been particularly helpful at this point because I haven't gotten the feedback I need in order to move forward to rewrite. I'm annoyed. I'm frustrated. I'm stressed. I'm hot (we're experiencing a heatwave which has put a damper on my progress as well - thanks climate change!).

I'm not sure what to do.

While marketing is CLEARLY important (based on the hobby level of sales I made before more intensive efforts) I feel like I can do that off and on without too much pain (i.e. in between the newborn's naps). I'm not so sure about the writing/rewriting part. That takes concentration and large blocks of time devoted to the craft. Editing and proofing always takes me several solid days, and I may have to go back and do that several times before I feel like I have things right.

On the other hand, I could just be getting overwhelmed by things and wanting to procrastinate working on several projects that I find less sexy. For example, I kind of hate one of the non-fiction projects I started. I'm not passionate about it. I don't care about it enough to really get behind the marketing portion. It just seems more work and doesn't dovetail on anything else I'm doing. That said, I came up with a few other ideas for quick writing books that could combine several of my interests without too much research, or pain on my part. That sounds a lot better.

Besides, I don't want to get too far afield in my focus. Branching out into non-fiction is fine, but I want to keep my non-fiction sort of contained to certain areas. I don't want to get too far from the content of my blogs. That means my non-fiction work needs to clearly be related to pregnancy/parenting, religion, writing, or self-development. I could even combine areas (which I intend to do and will discuss in more detail if I can actually get this one non-fiction writing project off the ground).

It makes me wonder about the art curriculum book and whether or not I should pursue it. I guess I could connect it to the self-development angle if I framed it correctly, but I don't know. The same could be said for the buying local book, but that's the one I feel less commitment towards (and almost zero passion). I feel like I need to let them sit, which may mean they need to sit for longer than my challenge is supposed to last. If that's so, then I have eliminated two potential books. That will mean I'll need to figure out two substitutes and quickly.

My immediate thoughts have to do with pregnancy which is something I enjoy writing about and comes easily (considering I'm in the middle of it). Plus, my pregnancy blog is doing exceptionally well for something I just launched a few weeks ago. My second thought has to do with poetry. It's not something I've worked on recently, but it is something I have a lot of and I've always wanted to publish a little chapbook of my own. I wouldn't expect it to make a lot of money, or garner much attention, but it would bring me closer to my summer goal and satisfy a long held dream (two birds with one stone!). My final thought is another long held dream/wish to create an interfaith devotional which would touch on my religion blog (as well as highlight my one definite non-fiction project). I think having at least 2 books of each kind/topic would be helpful because they could feed readers into one another.

What do you think I should do for these books I need to have in order to complete my summer goal? What is the best route - similar topics or quick and dirty completion? Or maybe some combination of the two? Leave your suggestion below!

SWC - PR Boot Camp

I feel like I'm going through publication boot camp I'm learning so much so fast! Then again, that was what I expected and needed considering my time limitations.

So what did I learn this week?

I learned that press releases don't have to be for book launches. They don't have to be related to a specific event. They can just be related to a book being published. I know, it sounds elementary to some of you, but it was eye-opening to me.

Even press releases need cool headlines. This is how you attract people. The headlines necessarily need to hint at an angle, and the better the angle, the more likely it is you'll get some kind of press for your book.

I figure between the content of JEREMIAH and my crazy summer publication plan, I'll get at least a couple bites at least locally, even if not on a broader stage. Still, every little bit helps and I'm all for whatever I can get publicity wise!

On top of my discoveries about press releases, I was able to find a wealth of blogs to contact about hosting posts for my blog tour. I finished polishing JEREMIAH and prepping the manuscript for Smashwords. I made some last minute touches to the cover art. I even wrote 4 guest posts in preparation for the blog tour. My goal today is to contact 5-10 bloggers (which I hope to do this afternoon) and hopefully finish the bones of my media kit. Is this a lot? I'm reading this and I think maybe it's a lot. In any case, I'm beginning to feel like I have traction.

Today I *really* feel like I can do this. It's a great feeling.

SWC: Fleshing Things Out

It's getting down to the wire. I feel it acutely as I look at the calendar and start thinking about scheduling blog tours for the books - the books that still need more time and love. BELOW THE BELT still needs some development, JEREMIAH needs polishing, and my non-fiction books need some serious research and collecting of websites and blurbs (the Art book less than the Local one, and the Religion one least of all...still...formatting. Bleh.). LILITH has received no feedback yet, so I'm not sure what needs to be done with that one, and ANDREW isn't finished. Pure and simple.

My stomach is knotted and slowly sinking (or rising...depending on the moment).

That overwhelming sinking feeling is threatening to overpower me as I think about when the baby is due and how much I haven't been working on my books. I've been researching so much about marketing that I haven't been spending enough time on actually ensuring the books are together and ready. It's a balancing act that is foreign to me, and frankly stress-inducing (which I'm told is really bad for pregnancy, but I also know that if I don't do this now, I may not get another chance for some time).

In an effort to focus more on writing and finishing books, I refused to turn on my ancient media PC and high-tailed it to the kitchen table (where I currently reside). This has multiple benefits:

1. I can't get distracted by movies.
2. I won't get overheated on the second floor (it is seriously 5 degrees hotter up there!).
3. I can still put my feet up on the nearby chair (to avoid leg swelling - thanks pregnancy!).

Let's see how productive I am today and then I'll get back to you about how well this plan worked. So far, I've gotten a few different things on my list completed. We'll see how many more I can finish. Wish me luck!

SWC Update - Formatting for Print & Tours

Well, with the help of Christian and my schedule-making, I formatted both LOVERS & RIVALS as well as JAMES for print. Now I just have to make some final adjustments to sticking points (like headers - I hate headers) and then I'll be ready to order the proofs. I'm pretty excited to finally get these things out there.

The question is, can this development count towards my goal this summer? :-)

In the mean time, I've been focusing on marketing A LOT. I've researched different places to upload information about books (particularly Indie author sites that exist for the sole purpose of promoting books - and often making their owners stupid amounts of money). I've also checked out bloggers that I'd like to approach about joining blog tours for several of the books I'm going to be putting out.

Now there are a few things I need to do, and one of them is a timeline with the marketing pieces in place that somehow hooks up with the publications of JEREMIAH, BELOW THE BELT, and LOVERS & RIVALS. This timeline is going to need to include the following:

• Blog posts written for each tour
• Media kit finishing touches for each book
• Developing a portfolio (or at least a couple of pieces) of artwork associated with each book
• Developing a database of blogs and contacts for sci-fi and fantasy books (and hopefully these will be usable for reviews/tours)
• Putting book info on Goodreads
• Researching info about Goodreads giveaways (in anticipation to do a giveaway for each book - and possibly giveaways for earlier books as well).
• Putting book info on other Indie sites

Keep in mind all of this is *just* for the fiction books, and I haven't included ANDREW on this list because not only am I not finished writing ANDREW, but I also want a little space between JEREMIAH's publication and ANDREW's. In fact, I may push ANDREW's back into the fall (yes, I'm considering having this out after the baby is born). If that is the case, I'll need to have everything planned out in advance (the blog tour, the info ready to go and easy to upload etc).

The non-fiction marketing plan will involve a very different process even if it includes similar pieces. Admittedly I feel a little wary of the non-fiction marketing perhaps because it will be my first attempt into the genre. I still have a lot of additions I need to make to two of the non-fiction pieces and I'll need to verify the formatting is acceptable to the third.

Honestly the marketing parts are so different from anything I've done, it's more than a bit overwhelming and stress-inducing. I realized some time in the past week that writing has been little more than a hobby up until this point. It's only this year that I'm seriously turning to writing - both books and blogs - as a job. The transition is more than a little uncomfortable, though I'm excited about my future and the lessons I know I'll learn along the way.

Author Q & A: JEREMIAH

Here is the Q&A section of the media kit for JEREMIAH. I thought you'd find it interesting. :-)

Where did you get the idea for this book?

Originally I started writing this series with the middle brother, JAMES. Once I wrote that book, I realized it would work well as part of a series. I decided to explore the Rollins family and the unique relationship of werewolf gender roles through all five brothers' perspectives. In order to do that, it made the most sense to start with JEREMIAH. Right when I began writing Jeremiah's story, women's reproductive rights were under serious attack by a variety of political interests. It seemed a poignant time to write about the kind of troubling situation teens could face, especially considering the current political climate regarding contraception and the right to choose.

What traits and other tidbits do you share with your main character?

Jeremiah is the kind of person I never would have spent any time with in high school. He's got money, athletic ability, and smarts, but above all he is a trouble-maker and partier. I was never very good at sports, and I never went to parties. I followed the rules almost to a “T.” That said, I did tend to have a new love interest every other day and I have always been known for my impetuous decision-making (both qualities exhibited by Jeremiah).

Beyond personality, Jeremiah and I share something else in common. Jeremiah is from Pittsburgh, a place near and dear to my heart. My father's family is from Pittsburgh and so many locations in the book are real (and much loved by my family and myself, especially Vincent's Pizza). There really is a holy trinity of sports clad in black and gold and half the state of Pennsylvania turns those colors whenever there is a big win by one of Pittsburgh's holy three (especially the Steelers!).

Did any of your inspiration for this book originate in your real life experiences?

As a woman with the rights to my own body constantly under attack, I felt it was necessary to highlight the current state of reproductive rights, especially in an unfriendly state to women like Pennsylvania. Though I have never had an abortion (or wanted one) I have friends and acquaintances who have found themselves in situations where an unplanned pregnancy has brought the issue to bear.

The relationship of the sexes in werewolf culture developed by exaggerating the feeling I've experienced in certain circles when being a woman. I can think of several particular instances, all in college. As an undergraduate I was the only female to pursue a thesis. While the class was small anyway, there was a distinctly male feeling to the space and I felt very clearly that I had to defend my abilities and my topic better than my classmates because of this. The same year, I remember going to a politics department party where several students of my own department were invited. I brought a cigar (which I've been known to smoke on the rare occasion). I was one of the only students to bring my own (the other being the friend who came with me) and the only woman smoking one. This instantly registered on my professor, and gave me immediate entrance in an all male conversation. It was only after some of the women saw this occur that they attempted to join by grabbing some wimpy cigarillos from my professor's stash. I could rattle off other anecdotes about being second class despite my abilities, but the result was I understood one thing. Women are still separate, and often less than men. The werewolf gene in THE ROLLINS PACK allowed me to explore this in an accessible way for teens, and I hope it will stir discussion.

What made you decide to self-publish?

I did consider selling this book to agents and publishers, however I think the topic scared them. It's a controversial topic and most Americans want to avoid it with a 50 foot pole. In the end, I decided I didn't want to wait around for someone to pick it up. The themes are so important to me, I really feel it is essential to get this out into the world and get people talking about these issues. I don't care where people fall on the spectrum, I want them talking!

Are there any specific authors whose writing styles or subject matter inspired your book?

I'll be painfully honest. The idea for the series came in direct reaction to TWILIGHT. That said, it was also as much directed by movies like UNDERWORLD and THE WOLFMAN as Ms. Meyer's pretty boys.

Werewolves are my favorite paranormal creature. There is usually an ugliness about them, because they have that animalistic side. While I didn't make my werewolves into the half-man half-beast monstrosities of traditional monster lore, I relish in the animal side of my pack. They are emotional. They hunger. They enjoy the hunt and relish in the kill, splattering blood and guts around, same as any other predator.

Do you have another project in the works? If so, what is it?

I have so many projects in the works! From May through August 2013, I have a self-publishing goal of seven books! This includes non-fiction guidebooks as well as stand-alone adult fiction. I'm also really excited to get out the third book of THE ROLLINS PACK, ANDREW, which will come out soon after JEREMIAH for those chomping on the bit to find out what happens to the Rollins family. My other YA series, KHLOE ALWELL, will also launch book three, LILITH AND AMMON as part of my publishing goal. It's going to be a great summer for publishing and reading!

Author Q & A: Lilith and Ammon

This will be included in my media kit. However, as I was writing it, I thought you might be interested in reading my answers to these questions. Enjoy!

Where did you get the idea for this book?

LILITH AND AMMON is both a prequel and the third book of the KHLOE ALWELL SERIES. As such, it is a combination of a myth from THE BROTHERS and the legend surrounding the main conflict of the Otherworld. When I first wrote THE BROTHERS, I didn't realize how important Lilith's story would be to Khloe, the main character of the series. However as I wrote the second book, LOVERS AND RIVALS, I realized the reader needed to know Lilith's story, and understand exactly why the Otherworld was split into two factions – Seelie and Sidhe. Could you understand the series without it? Probably, but you'd miss some really interesting and important insights into the characters in Khloe's time.

What traits and other tidbits do you share with your main character?

I definitely see myself in Khloe, the main character of the series, but I actually see myself less in Lilith. Lilith is a person who refuses to see what is right in front of her because it makes her feel so uncomfortable. She is scared of change, and that isn't me at all! Lilith does however make impetuous decisions – something I'm known for doing. Then when she does finally come to accept her relationship with Ammon, she works really hard to bring people together and resolve conflict, a theme throughout the Khloe series and something very close to my heart.

Did any of your inspiration for this book originate in your real life experiences?

My inspiration for this book came more from my love of mythology and creation stories. Myths hold truths for people, even in metaphor. I enjoyed tying a number of myths into Lilith and Ammon's story, including some irreverent Biblical references. As to the complicated social structure in this book, it is less like my life and more like daytime television!

What made you decide to self-publish?

I don't like the idea of having to subject myself to the capricious rules of the publishing industry. Though it would be nice to have someone else do the marketing and editing etc, the price to do so seems high. Also, I like the immediacy of self-publishing. Yes, producing a book takes time, however it takes less time when I only have to rely on myself rather than a series of corporate approvals.

Are there any specific authors whose writing styles or subject matter inspired your book?

Again, this book draws heavily from mythology. I would say the most influential books for this series as a whole are THE SEVENWATERS SERIES and THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS. Marillier and Clare have interesting voices that I find enjoyable for different reasons. I often find myself somewhere between them.

Do you have another project in the works? If so, what is it?

The real question is, when don't I have another project! This series has one more book to complete Khloe's saga (which I hope to publish in 2014). Meanwhile I'm working on another young adult series, THE ROLLINS PACK, which focuses on some other themes near and dear to my heart (gender and family). That series uses my favorite of the paranormal creatures – werewolves. I also have a couple of adult stand-alone novels that are partially finished which I'd like to complete in 2014 (think: mutants and angels, but not together!). On top of that, I have several non-fiction projects I'm developing, based on my professional experiences as well as growing up in a very religious family. It's a lot, I know, but I can't seem to stop!

Blog Update and SWC Day 27

Well, I'm still struggling with a title for the parenting/pregnancy blog, which is why I haven't posted anything related to that. Today isn't a regularly scheduled day for this blog (moving forward) but I didn't want to leave you all hanging while I figure this stuff out.

In the mean time, today I worked on some pieces of my media kit (some which can be used for any book while others are more book specific). I also finished the cover art for ANDREW (even though the book itself is still being written... geez Alexis!). Add to all this the fact I got some research done for my ART guide/how-to book and even a little writing for it. I'm feeling pretty productive (despite having a ridiculously low step count on my pedometer, but at least I got SOMETHING done!).

So, while I didn't stick perfectly to my schedule (or *exactly* to some of my goals - like the step count) I feel like things are continuing in the right direction.

That said, if you have suggestions for a title for the parenting/pregnancy blog PLEASE leave a comment or mention me on Twitter (@alexisdonkin). I am open to hearing suggestions (though I can't promise I'll use them!).

SWC Day 26: Scheduling for Self-publishing Success

Last night in a fit of planning (nesting maybe?) I decided to get very specific about my tasks for the next few months.

The result is I came up with goals that I could use for each of the different aspects of self-publishing. This is to make sure I'm still working on things (and don't feel guilty about doing something other than writing), but also to guarantee I won't burn out (essential if I want to achieve my summer publishing goals).  They are the following:

• Writing days - 2000-4000 words
• Research days - 2-4 hours (specifically for non-fiction book references though could also be used for marketing etc)
• Formatting days - 2-4 hours of digital and/or print formatting
• Rewriting days - 2-4 hours
• Marketing days - 2-4 hours developing media kits, cover art, connecting with reviewers/readers/bloggers about book launches
• Mixed days - at least half the goal of 2 different categories

Some people might think I'm being a little low in my goals, but this is achievable for me considering my current condition (and the next 2 weeks of work). However, just because I have these smaller blocks for different areas doesn't mean I can't work on multiple areas in one day. In order to make sure I'm spending enough time on my goals, I decided to implement an old strategy of mine - scheduling.

Lists are fine, but schedules make completion that much easier. Even if you don't stick *exactly* to your schedule, it takes the question of time management out of the picture and helps divide your day into blocks. So while my schedule today said I needed to wake up at 7:30, that didn't exactly happen. However, I did get the things done this morning that I wanted to, including EXCELLENT cover art for LILITH and AMMON. I have to say I'm REALLY excited about it. I thought I might have enough time to get some other cover art done, but 2 hours wasn't enough to get more than one book cover completed (though I did get part of the BELOW the BELT cover done). Unfortunately I had other things besides my publishing projects to do this morning (you know, like work out and shower).

The moral of the story? Scheduling is already working well. It was (and is) a good idea and it's something I will have to be diligent about doing from now on. I think I'll have better success because of it.

SWC - Break From Writing

Clearly I haven't posted much in the past few days. Well, I haven't done much of anything.

I did do some cover art (for 3 different books) and I did write about 1000 or so words. I feel a little guilty, but I also feel like one thing is clear - I need a break.

I think I'm tired of writing so much so consistently. With the heat of my loft, the end of my job, and a few other things up in the air, I just needed a little time away from writing.

I think I still do.

That said, I figure if I'm still working on something related to the challenge, I'm good. The question is, what does that mean?

Rewriting, formatting, marketing,  and cover design all take time. In fact they take more time than actually writing books. With the non-fiction books I have some research I have to do as well. I'm dreading that, even though it probably won't be soooo bad (I hope it's not so bad!).

At the same time, I'm beginning to doubt my ability to get all of this done. I'm freaking out a little bit. I was counting on my nesting instinct to carry me through,  but I underestimated the general discomforts of late pregnancy. And I miss my non-pregnant abilities.

And I have to get this done.

I will feel like a failure if I don't.

Even if I don't post updates to this blog religiously, I have to keep going. Hopefully today I can get something else book related done. Hopefully that thing will be big and I'll feel like I have accomplished something.

Even with finishing 3 manuscripts so far, I still feel like I haven't accomplished anything. Maybe it's the past week, or the fact that I haven't yet published something as part of my challenge. I'm getting really antsy. I don't want to go to work because afternoon is the time I'm most productive these days, and I don't want to waste another second. I want to stay home and get something done. It is incredibly frustrating. The whole thing makes me feel crazy! Maybe that's why I stopped; I felt like it was a futile exercise.

But I can't stop. I don't know what will happen in September and I need to be publishing. I need my name out there. I need to be the person I am in my head, even if no one else sees it. I need to be the person in the room with a nuke even though it's a knife fight. I need this. I have to have it. It must be done.

My Stay-at-home Mom Plan

Okay. It's official. I have a plan on how I can make staying at home work for me and for us.

Granted, my plan is loose and fancy free, and I haven't worked out all the kinks, but it's there. It is undeniably present in my head.

My plan is comprised of different parts, which over time will work together. It is a process and I expect it to take some time to lead to any consistent revenue, but I'm not going to let impatience blow me off course. I'm also not absolutely certain I will follow this plan. I may decide to throw out huge chunks of it in favor of focusing on one thing over another...we'll have to wait and see.

So what is this much lauded plan? Here goes nothing:

1. I will complete my Summer Writing Challenge. The books from said challenge will be promoted (Look for giveaways and sneak peaks in the future - that is FOR SURE!). I'm hoping to have some book tours involved, or blog hops, or something. This portion of promotion will take a little bit of work, because I need to connect with a few bloggers to make it happen, but I've been researching blogging networks and I feel confident I'll be able to find a few people interested in hosting something.
2. I am seriously considering an email/subscriber list type deal, which may involve some free tips/stories/and if I can make connections with products etc, possibly discounts (that would be AHmazing!). I'd like this to be more connected to my writing as opposed to other topics, as first and foremost I am a writer (though my readers seem to be most interested in my perspective on pregnancy...hmm).
3. I will begin looking for brands/services etc to review (as they relate to content on my blog ONLY - so possibly parenting related, possibly writing related, possibly politically/socially/environmentally related - this is a little open and will depend on how my interests continue to develop.).
4. I will attempt to connect with products and services that may interest visitors to my blog and possibly sell advertising space in the sidebar.
5. I am working with another writer/editor to start a webzine type of site which will hopefully lead to another consistent revenue stream through reviews and affiliates.

Already I've started looking into these different areas and I have a few ideas on how to get started. I know it will take some work to get things going, and I know I will probably have some trial and error before I'm able to find things that work well consistently.

As I work through this plan, you'll continue to get updates about my books (SWC posts), see changes to the blog (likely in the next few months), and hear about different articles on other sites. As part of the book launches, I'm also considering putting together some swag (totes...shirts maybe?).

A secondary consideration is separating my blogging into different sites (one for pregnancy and parenting and one for writing and related issues). This is something I am seriously considering because I'll be able to better tailor my posts to my readership (I know this will be annoying at first for those of you who have gotten used to reading pregnancy posts here, but I think it might work better to help to build brands.).

So here are those questions - (and *please* comment!) - would you rather see my pregnancy posts on a purely pregnancy/parenting blog? Would you rather my writing posts were separate? And, how do you feel about swag? :-)

A final question, what kind of giveaways would be exciting to you?

I can't wait to read your comments (twitter mentions are good too!)!

SWC Day 21: The Development of a Series

Well I'm back on track with my Summer Writing Challenge - at least for today. My goal was 55,176 (including the extra 900 word add-on from yesterday) and I got to 55,178. SUCCESS! And as usual, my time writing is surprising me in unexpected ways.

You see the interesting thing is that ANDREW, the book I'm working on, has become much more about his mother than I expected. Yes, the book is still Andrew's story, but an important part of it is how his mother deals with the issues arising in the book. I can't say much more without giving away major plot points.

However, I've said it before and I'll say it again - THE ROLLINS PACK is about women and family. Despite it being told from the perspective of teenage boys, it is fundamentally about the interplay of gender roles and expectations/interactions of men and women. Secondly it is about problems that affect families, as well as how families deal with them (though always through the lens of women and men).

I'm interested to see how Andrew's relationship with his love interest will develop, or not, in the remainder of the book. There is of course, no mention of her in JAMES as I didn't know she existed until now. The question will be how she disappears and if she comes back in subsequent novels (namely Frederick's and Charles' books). However, those books and their plots will have to wait until much later. There are other things on the docket requiring earlier attention that will postpone these two manuscripts' development. That said, I am hopeful I can bring them out by this time next year. We'll see. NaNoWriMO is only a couple months after kiddo is set to arrive, so I'm not sure how much writing I'll be able to accomplish at that point.

Regardless, I have a number of plot ideas floating around in my head including women centric topics waiting to be addressed (Yeah, they're probably going to be heavy, so prepare yourself.) as well as pack dynamics waiting to be expounded in the Rollins' universe. To be frank - I'm excited to write about them (Can we say Omega anyone??).

In the mean time, I'm thinking about 15k more words and ANDREW will be more or less finished. There are only a few more months between where I am in ANDREW's plot and where JAMES' novel picks up. Because of the importance of the events in ANDREW, I will likely use up those months to bring the family to the state of cautious equilibrium which is hinted at in JAMES. I can't wait to see how this is tied up!