Open Book Blog Hop: Three Things Shaping My Voice

Winetasting in Paso Robles

What are three things that make you unique? That was the prompt for this week's Open Book Blog Hop. I think you'll see a lot of connection between my answer and my books.

Ultimately the thing that makes a writer unique is experience. Accident of birth places us in a certain range of possible experience and life directions. In my case, there are a few specific things which guide everything else.

First, and perhaps the most obvious, is the influence of my parents. My parents are both ordained Baptist ministers (it is one of the family occupations in my tree). However, their brand of religion is not exclusionary in the least. It is carefully considered, thoughtful, and deep. My father is a man of logic and learning, who enjoys everything life has to offer, from watching a finch take a bath, to winetasting, to playing electric bass or guitar in a funk band. When my friends meet him, they say, "Your dad is so cool!" Half the time they end up befriending him on Facebook.

My mother is a powerful person. She dictates the climate of every room she enters (a gift I inherited, for better or worse). She suffered prejudice in order to follow her calling. I think because of this, she determined not to pigeon-hole me into a gender label. Instead, as a child she gave me gender neutral clothes unless I asked for something "girly." She made sure I had all kinds of toys, from remote control cars to blocks to dolls. I had science and craft kits. Thanks to her, I never felt like I couldn't do something because I had a uterus.

Second, I experienced a lot of overt misogyny from toddlerhood through young adulthood. I write a lot about this in my memoir THRIVE, and while I won't go into the details of what happened here, it definitely shaped who I am and my voice as a writer (especially in the context of my upbringing). This made me hunger for compassionate justice for all people, no matter their identity or station. It definitely directs my themes in all my fiction, but especially in THE ROLLINS PACK, because I wanted boys to particularly understand how their actions can impact others.

Finally, I am an optimist. Despite whatever crazy things happen to me (again, see THRIVE for some of the nitty gritty), I look for the beauty and wonder in all things. This may be considered a quality or trait as opposed to an experience, but it definitely shapes how I view my life experience and how I approach new things. I always give people the benefit of the doubt. If I don't know I person, I never credit their reputation until I have seen and experienced it myself. If something bad happens, I always look for the lesson or opportunity available. When there is the option for adventure, I always say yes - because I see all the marvelous possibilities and potential. It's how I ended up studying abroad in Hungary at the last minute (I heard a professor talk and decided I was going a month before.). It's how I got married in India in the Himalayas (Because why not? A story for another time...).

These are the things that stick out in my head as dictating what I do and how I do it. These are the things that shape my work and my path through life. What about you? Leave a comment below or write a post and join the hop!

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Looking for a diversion this August? Be sure to check out P.J. MacLayne's books. If you like werewolves like I do, you might want to pick up a copy of WOLVES' PAWN. It explores werewolf social structure and has a love story, the kind of thing I love in paranormal!

Also be sure to read about MacLayne's Wyoming adventures. There are some super cool pics on her blog.

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An InLinkz Link-up

THRIVE Launched, Now What?

I've got a lot further to go.

I've been struggling the last few weeks. In the wake of THRIVE's publication, total exhaustion set in. I want to get a whole bunch of things done. I want to work. I know there are things I should be doing. I know this.

I think part of me felt like I hit my milestone and that was that. The project was over and I could space out. And it was a lot of work. And some of it paid off, but mostly it was just the beginning of a larger lead up to more things....which mean the dividends haven't come in yet.

I've been reading a lot about this, especially through my author forums, which have proved invaluable (for which I thank Clara, as strategic a person in thought as I am in feeling). In these forums, muckety mucks slum around with us peons. And it is great for the peons, and gives perspective to the muckety mucks. We find out how much more we have to do, and they realize how much they've done.

I have to say, honestly, it can be disheartening. I am at a disadvantage with what I am able to do (limited primarily by resources). But there are also things that encourage me - such as the reminder that this process is never over. Books do not stop selling - and with the internet, they can always reach more readers. There is always someone else who has not heard of me (Okay, in my case, at this point there are probably around 7 billion, but even for the famous author, there are probably 2 or 3B.).

This is actually a good thing because it means I can always do more for a book - there is always more that could lead to sales. Also it is a bad thing, because, well, it is never done.

Right now, after the insane push I made with THRIVE, some part of me thought the momentum was already there. That I could sit back and enjoy THRIVE having a life of its own. But I'm not there yet. I've hardly begun. It feels like the week after mid-terms where the tests are done, but there's another half semester to go. The nights of studying are not over. The note-taking is hardly finished. And I have no energy. And I'm struggling to get FAMILY FRIEND OR FOE rewritten, which while turning into an excellent book, is going much slower than I'd like. I have until August 2nd to finish the manuscript and upload it to Smashwords (incidentally, you should preorder it to get the 20% off price before it goes live!).

And after that I need to work on ANDREW, and redo all the Rollins Pack covers, and revamp all those books, and finish proofing SIX DEGREES.

And while all this is going on, I need to continue working on speaking engagements about THRIVE, guest posts about everything, possibly blog hops, and remembering to eat and sleep... sometime.

When I do all that, not only will I feel damn accomplished, but I will have transformed my life. And that is incredibly exciting, but it is also a lot of work. And I need to keep reminding myself that it is worth it. I need to keep developing better systems for getting everything done that needs doing, that assures forward progress.

Here's to efficiency, effectiveness, encouragement, and energy! And crossing my fingers I get all four in hand...and soon!

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Transform your life and heal through my memoir and small steps for 32 days!

Get digital copies of THRIVE: HOW I BECAME A SUPERHERO and TRANSFORM TO THRIVE: 32 DAYS FROM VICTIM TO SUPERHERO!

You can also get paperback copies of both the memoir and journal.

Help! - Project Poll

I need your help. Seriously. I'm blocked. Not sure if it's  sleep deprivation, stress, sleep deprivation, illness, or sleep deprivation. Whatever the deal is, I'm at an impasse with writing. SO...I need your vote and here are the fiction project options:

1. FAMILY, FRIEND, or FOE - the last book in the Khloe series. I'm maybe half way done with this and I can't figure out where to go next. The ending is in my head, but how to get there is tough.
2. ANDREW - the third book in the Rollins Pack. Again, I'm about half way done (maybe more) and I know how it ends, but I'm struggling with the path between here and there.
3. CERIDWEN - a stand alone college/adult project with series potential. This is my mutant/alien/disease/sci-fi book and is maybe a quarter done. I have no idea how it ends or where to go next (lots of intrigue and scandal potential).
4. VICE & VIRTUE - working title, a stand alone adult project. I'm probably between a third and half way finished. This is my angels, demons, and general mayhem theological exploration book. I have no idea how it ends, and I'm not sure what needs to happen next in the story.
5. ???? - there are several "other" options including a story about a family where the son strays from his parents to pursue his dream (think night circus style); a sister who decides to leave the family business with catastrophic consequences (think myth); there's also a psychological book idea involving God and the nature of reality. Christian thinks I should write a sequel to BELOW THE BELT (it's a very popular download on Smashwords and it's FREE this week so get it now!)

 The other option is something non-fiction. I have two real projects there, both in relative infancy (one in lines of the unexpected, and the other having to do with a taboo topic and the process of exposing it).


What do you think? VOTE! PLEASE! I need to figure something out. I must make progress! And, please tell me why you want me to work on a given project. Also, suggestions for something completely different are also options, along with reasoning behind them.


Thanks in advance!

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

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*

Wendy Davis, Abortion, Teens, and Literature

A lot of important things have happened this past week politically (both good and bad). One of the good things was the Wendy Davis filibuster, which effectively skyrocketed the Texas state senator to superhero status in the eyes of the pro-choice camp.

While the latter has mostly drawn attention to Ms. Davis' gumption, it has also put the spotlight on several other important and scary points. One being, of course, the recent underhandedness of the GOP to pass legislation that is against most people's interest (I say this piece impacts most because as far as I know, we women are still 51% of the population).

The other issue is of course, the one at the center of the debate - abortion and a woman's right to choose.

I am, and always have been pro-choice. Even after I became pregnant and I thought hard about how I would feel if my situation was different, I still came to the same conclusion; women should be able to choose. I came to this conclusion because I know that regardless of how we legislate this issue, there will always be women who want an abortion. If we make abortion illegal, there will always be women who will go to shady doctors, use coat hangers, drugs, or ask their boyfriends to beat them so they will miscarry or abort.

I also know, there are medical situations (both physical and psychological) that may require abortive intervention. I don't want any legislation in place that would criminalize such acts.

I don't want a man dictating what I can and can't do. My pregnancy has taught me, in a very tangible and real way, there are certain areas of human experience that are withheld from men. It only seems right that those who experience them get to make decisions about these things.

 There are so many other issues that surround the abortion debate - like foster care (Those unwanted babies go somewhere...), death row (If we're pro-life, shouldn't we be pro-life all the way?), war (same as the death row issue), quality of life (What happens to mom after the baby is born? Pro-birth isn't the same as pro-life!), and of course the philosophical question of when life begins (which as far as I know, no one can agree on).

These are complex issues that need to be considered. I think it's even more important that teens talk about these things because they are at the age where the lines are gray. Do parents get involved? Will they have access to contraception? That's why I wrote JEREMIAH. I wanted to give teens a way to talk about reproductive rights and to think about situations that could occur if they choose to be sexually active (which, let's face it, most of them will!). In a place and time when sex education isn't a guarantee and legislation is regularly proposed that restricts access to reproductive health care, something has to step up to the plate and get people talking. People like Wendy Davis help, but so does literature.

Are there any books that have forced you to think about difficult issues? Sparked new perspectives? Encouraged you to consider something different? Please let me know with a comment!

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!

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!

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!

SWC Day 15: Writing is Just Not Happening

Okay the preggo problems are seriously hampering me now. I was only able to get to 41,160 today, which didn't even bring me to yesterday's goal of 42,169. Eek!

I'm just sooooo tired. I'm exhausted and I just can't get into ANDREW's story. Maybe it's because it's depressing at this point in the book, or because I know too much about what needs to happen (I hate that - I like the revelation of a story rather than having it all planned.). I'm leaning towards a combination of these factors.

Of course, the leg issues I've been having are certainly contributing to my writing problems. This sounds strange I know, but let me explain. Most writers have a space they use consistently to work. It helps keep writing and life separate. It helps us get into a groove. I prefer to write downstairs at my dining room table, which isn't conducive to putting my legs up. I have to put my legs up to combat the swelling and leg cramps I've been getting. It's much more comfortable for me to be on my bed, propped up by my Snoogle. When I sit on my bed like that, it makes me succumb to my exhaustion (You see the vicious cycle here, right?).

I'm not sure what to do here. I need to keep pushing myself, but I think 4500 words at this point is too ambitious considering my current situation. Should I dumb it down to 3000? 2000? What do you think? Leave me a comment or mention me on Twitter with your thoughts! I need to keep pushing myself to finish this book, but I also need a goal that is achievable, otherwise I'll get discouraged and may just stop (which is NOT an option for me at this point).

SWC Day 14: Slow Day

Through a combination of things (think: the on-going swelling issue - see yesterday's post - along with exhaustion and leg cramping) today just didn't happen. I got about 1000 words written and then just stopped.

I'm going to blame this on being preggo.

Sigh.

Some days just don't work out (though I did this morning, which apparently was too much for me - I guess I didn't drink enough water or stretch ).

Thankfully tomorrow I have off so I can spend some time with my legs up (which apparently is necessary now...sheesh!) and reach my writing goals. I *have* to get back on track, especially since the plot is getting pretty exciting (I can't wait to write it! This is the turn of the *entire* series!).

So tonight I'll get some sleep, drink a ton of water, and then be ready to get my writing on tomorrow morning.

SWC Day 13: One Tough Wolf

ANDREW is a surprise. The plot is going distinctly difficult directions. The topics being discussed are hard, especially because I know for a lot of people they will hit close to home (alcoholism, loss of status, and bullying specifically). Because of this, I find them a little more painful to write. They're too realistic even if I haven't experienced them directly. Then again, these topics could be the same things that draw readers in. I'm interested to find out how it's received (though I have some time before that can happen).

Despite my difficulty powering through my daily writing goal, I did succeed! I went from 33,163 to 37,669 (just 6 words over my goal amount!). It was close, but I did it.

I'm hoping to bring the total word count to around 70k which I should be able to do by the beginning of next week if I successfully complete my goal amount every day. I might even be able to fit something else writing related in (because of the days off). We'll just have to see.

Wish me luck!

SWC Day 12, A Wolfy Reading Day and Future Plans

Well, I decided to start with ANDREW, the second (or third depending on how you order them) from THE ROLLINS PACK. This decision was made based on three things:

1. This is a book in a series and series are well received in genre fiction.
2.  It was also the longest manuscript stub I had.
3. I know exactly what will happen at the end of this book because it leads into JAMES' plot (Which you know because Andrew is older than James and these books are fragments of their family's story, told when each boy is at the relative center of things.).

I'll be honest. I'm fighting my own artsy self-indulgence by working on this. My inclination is to start a whole other book (namely Book 4 of KHLOE) from scratch. However, I wanted to make sure I stayed true to my plan. I didn't account for writing a whole new book. I wanted to get some of these projects that have been collecting dust finished. They deserve to see the light of day - to be read and enjoyed.

The result was I had another reading day to bring me up to snuff on the plot. Thankfully I was able to finish reading the stub completely in one day as well as make some writing additions to the manuscript (not large, but still there was some progress).

My guess is I'll be able to finish the first draft of ANDREW in a week if I keep up with my daily writing goals. I may even be able to finish sooner considering I have a long weekend next week for Memorial Day (that means two extra days of no work obligations that I can focus on jamming out words).

Finishing ANDREW will mean I will have finished 4 books since I began my writing challenge. I would need to finish one other non-fiction book and then I have a total of 7 manuscripts that need covers, polishing, and formatting for publication. If I wanted to be really ambitious, I could shoot to finish one of my other fiction stubs (the one that's nearly as long as ANDREW's was) and have a total of 8.

Once the books are all written, I'll have to go back and proof/edit. Between editing projects, I'll have art breaks where I'll work on making cover designs for each. I have a few ideas floating in my mind (one for BELOW THE BELT and another for LILITH AND AMMON). JEREMIAH has a preliminary sketch for a cover, and as to ANDREW, I am at a total loss. For the non-fiction books I'm going to try for something a little less arty with a bit more GIMP manipulation. We'll see.

I think that brings us up to date with my plans and how much more I have to complete. I'm feeling really good about things right now, most especially because I'm able to force myself to work on things that aren't exactly where I want to focus. However, I notice once I'm committed to a project, it develops a new appeal.

SWC Day 10 & 11: A Second Book Finished

I neglected to update you about LILITH AND AMMON's progress yesterday. Sorry, but I ended up a little busier and a little more tired than expected.

The result however, was this afternoon I was able to finish the first draft! Granted, it is a little shorter than I expected, but I realized when I was originally writing it, I didn't intend it to be as long as the other two books. It is a story, that while complex (and has a predetermined ending), was primarily for explanation purposes.

I am not entirely sure I won't go back and add a few little things here and there to the chapters I added, but I have rewritten the first portion of the book already, so there really isn't much left for me to do. Even the formatting is done. It needs another few sets of eyes to double check some things, but then it's pretty much ready for publication.

I'm smiling. You can't see it, but I'm smiling - broadly.

Now I need to figure out the next writing project I should pick up. I'm wondering if it shouldn't be ANDREW, which I started last fall but never finished. I'm not even sure how much of that book I completed. The other option is my angel/demon book (which I think I have more written than I do of ANDREW) or a third fiction option is a sci-fi/suspense/romance piece I began last fall as well. I think ANDREW and this sci-fi piece have about the same size manuscript stub, so in that case it's a toss up. In both cases, I will need a reading day to bring me up to speed.

Wow, I just feel fantastic about this whole writing frenzy of mine. I had no idea I had so much to work with and so little left to do on so many projects.

I do feel a little silly for putting them off as long as I did. Still, what's done is done. Moving forward is the name of the game. Time to take a serious look at my options. I'll let you know my decision tomorrow. Wish me speedy writing and more awesome book endings!

Writing for Baby: SUMMER WRITING CHALLENGE Countdown Begins

The title of this post could be taken a number of ways, but for me, it is simply this. Last night during my customary insomniac moment (when all good thinking occurs, or at least I get 2-3 solid hours of it), I began formulating a specific plan for how to get writing done before the baby comes.

So I downloaded Catch, an interesting and highly useful app, and began writing notes to myself (so I wouldn't lose these early morning jewels).

First I got lost in product and sales lines, which, I can't help it. Even though I'm pretty sure that for at least the foreseeable future I won't do that, I keep letting it simmer because I have a few ideas that might be worth trying out.

This however was quickly replaced by my writing plans, which since the weekend have been whipped to a frothy frenzy in my head. I needed to get them out. I needed to figure out how long certain books needed to be (especially my ventures in non-fiction - and the answer is however long it needs to be, or between 20 and 200k). I needed to figure out the major steps for each book (LILITH needs to be finished, in about 20k words, JEREMIAH needs some polish, BELOW THE BELT needs somewhere between 30 and 50k, just to name a few).

I figure I have half of May, all of June, July, and August to write and work. At just the fiction books that are mostly done, I've got at least 70k I need to write (if I include ANDREW, I have another 50k on top of that). In non-fiction, I have at least 10k and a bunch of research. If I want to do more than the book that is half done, then I need to add around 40k to be safe. None of this includes formatting the digital copy or the print.

Phew.

I know, it seems like a lot. It might be a lot, when considering I'm trying to figure out ways of making some extra cash on the side, forcing myself to exercise (which I did today! Yay me!), as well as dealing with third trimester symptoms (which I expect to be a whole other beast qualitatively different from first and second), and keeping my apartment from becoming a sty (as you know, I refuse to live in my own filth. Gross!).

That said, remember: I wrote THE BROTHERS in a week and a half. That's 130k. I think JAMES was written in three weeks during a particularly successful NaNoWriMo, and I was being leisurely. That was 110k. And now [insert maniacal laughter] I have nesting on my side.

I can totally do this.

The key is daily goals. So, let's take the outside edge of the word counts and make this interesting.

So let's say I have 170k I need to write before September. Starting from tomorrow I have 116 days until September 1. That is assuming the baby doesn't decide to change my schedule, which is ENTIRELY possible (little bugger!). If I just wrote 1500 words daily, I could get to my word count by that time, however that doesn't allow for any formatting of the last books to be completed. Ick. Formatting takes time, especially if I'm going to do both digital and print versions (though for the purposes of this exercise, I'm shooting for digital only). So, how much should I speed things along? If I doubled my writing goal to 3000, I could finish the word counts in 58 days. I could be finished writing by mid-July. If I tripled my word goals to 4500, then I'd be done even faster. I could finish by mid to late June. That would give me plenty of time to edit, rewrite, and format.

Yes. I think we have a winner.

I'm going to shoot for 4500 words daily. I know some days I'll write more (I hope) and others I'll write less. However I am determined to get this stuff out there. I'm tired of waiting for publishing professionals to see the value and purpose in my work. It's time to take things to the next level. So, my intent, along with a regular blog post, is to give updates on my SUMMER WRITING CHALLENGE. I will try, to the best of my ability to give a daily account of what I did with my writing (short stories may also pop up from time to time).

While I'm counting down, and giving word counts, I'm trusting you (my beloved readers!) to help keep me accountable and keep me going when it gets hard. Because let there be no misunderstanding or mistake - there will be times where this is going to be really fricking hard. There are times where I'm going to want to sit down and cry or quit or curl up with some icecream and the boob tube.

Sometimes I might even do that [insert cringe].

Still, keep pushing at me. Hold me accountable. With any luck, we'll get through the SUMMER WRITING CHALLENGE and I'll have several new books published all before the baby arrives. And you can be proud of me. And I'll be proud of me. Because seriously, if I do this, I will have kicked some major writing ass.

Wordsmith, Silver tongue, or Quantum Maniupulator?

Halloween.
Sandy.
Full moon.

These things all happened at once - like something from my books.

It sends a shiver down my spine and a rush of euphoric butterflies through my gut.

Maybe it's a little arrogant to say this has anything to do with my books, but I can't help feeling like it's a bit strange. Three things that clearly relate to plot points in my books happened at once. It could have been kismet. It could have been coincidence. It could have been clairsentience.  We'll never know.

I'm going to take it as a sign.

You should too - and read them. ;-)

Back to Writing About Reproductive Rights

ACK! Because of Christian's current project, I lost the use of my laptop for several days. This meant no blogging and no writing. I'm about a week behind on everything and it's driving me crazy!

Thankfully I now have my laptop back and can return to my previous pace. Thank the lord.

This is particularly encouraging considering the current political situation. As much as I would like the election to be about the economy, many have brought women's issues to the forefront of the debate.

I don't know how much more of this idiocy I can stand. I feel my focus on reproductive rights - particularly in JEREMIAH and my short stories - is even more poignant. More than ever I feel it's important to get these pieces published.

I'll be 30 a week after the election. I'm in the middle of my childbearing years. While I don't have any children yet, I do want some eventually. When and how that happens is something I want to determine and discuss with my husband and my health care providers. Whenever I read about old white men making decisions for my body it freaks me out. How can they possibly know what will be best for me?! They don't know me! They're not even female!

I won't talk about how abortion and stem cell research should continue to be legal if certain methods of in vitro fertilization are. I won't talk about how access to contraception and education makes the difference in unwanted pregnancies. I'm sure that someone who doesn't have direct experience in these matters but is only concerned with manipulating certain voting groups will definitely make the right decisions when it comes to my health.

Yeah.

Totally.

8 Books Published By July 2013

I mentioned it in passing, however goals need to be clearly stated. In the spirit of blogging virtuosos the world over I decided to document my goal. I plan on publishing 8 full length novels by July 2013. Since I declared this, I've written 30k on Jeremiah (second in The Rollins Pack) and I feel like I'm off to a good start.

The key is sticking to my words per day goal. At the very minimum, I should write 2,500 words every day. I'm shooting for approximately 4,500. My word counts are based on the assumption I want 100k length novels. Of course, I already have Lilith almost finished, and two others half way done in addition to Jeremiah. This decreases my remaining word quota and brings me closer to rewriting and publishing.

I know I can do it, but this week was hard. I was pretty sick and my brain was barely functioning. Thus I stopped writing for a few days. However, I got back on the horse and wrote over 2k so far today.

Like all goals, the issue is maintenance. I need to maintain consistent movement towards this library I'm writing. Consistency has not been my strong suit. I know how it needs to be done, but I have difficulty. In the past I was easily distracted. My hope is that by documenting my goal publically and pushing toward it with people watching, I'll get there. Plus, I'm pretty confident. I've written books in short periods before and I can do it again. I just need to make sure I can get them published by my deadline.

There's also the need to blog and tweet this to maintain accountability.

All that is to say, help a girl out! Keep me honest and cheer me on! I might be crazy. I've got the slightly manic laughter to prove it. Still, I think it's going to be fun and you're going to love it. You'll probably like my books too.

And now, GERONIMO!

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