I want to publicly thank my CP team for hours of reading, catching my lack of commas or word repetitions, understanding my characters and falling in love with them too, and pushing me to make CASTING STONES the best it can be.
Thank you Katy Wagers, Myra McEntire, Keli Gwyn, and Heather Zuerner. You make me a better writer.
Showing posts with label writing update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing update. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Typing THE END
Last night, at midnight (No, really. At midnight.) I typed The End on CASTING STONES. It came in at about 90k. I'm really pleased with it. I'm doing a final read-through and polish and then sending it to Holly tonight.
Also, the title is going to stay the same. I'd considered changing it, but after discussing it with my CPs, I've decided the title CASTING STONES works.
To meet the deadline for this, I had to work like a ditch digger these last two weeks. I wrote 50k in TWO WEEKS. Yes, that's insane. But I'm really glad I now know I can do that. =)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Rough Draft In Progress
I've mentioned Twisting Fate (sequel to Shadowing Fate) on the blog and even posted a (Pantser in Progress, Will Probably Change!) blurb for it. What I haven't mentioned is that I'm also working on book one in a new series at the same time.
Since I don't have a deadline yet for TF, I have the luxury to divide my writing time.
Naturally, I have no title yet. Shadowing Fate was Alexa Tate Book One for months and I'm afraid the same will have to be true for this new series. (Hang on, long time blog readers, Earl is finally getting his day!)
I give you: Lilli Stone Book One
First line: "Some days fate hands you calorie-free chocolate and dates with men who don't live with their mothers. Other days, it sets fire to your hair, slaps five extra pounds of water weight across your stomach, and dumps you head-first into your neighbor's pig trough."
Setting: A small town in Tennessee near the Smokey Mountains
Premise:
All Lilli Stone wanted from her life was a career as an actress, a date with Johnny Depp, and one perfect day when her bi-polar mother forgot to be disappointed in her daughter. Instead, dropped by her Hollywood agent and fired from her waitressing job, she returns home to Tennessee to care for her senile Gramps and her (slightly psychotic) Great Aunt Beatrice. She expects to fade quietly into the fabric of small-town living without a single ripple to show she ever left.
Her mother has other plans.
Jonathan Stewart is a private investigator specializing in tracking the kind of creatures most people don't believe exist. When an outbreak of terrifying supernatural events hits eastern Tennessee, he traces the source to a tiny town nestled in the shadows of the Smokey Mountains. Opening a private investigation office as a front for his paranormal research, Jonathan heads into the mountains to destroy the cause of the crisis.
His first foray into the heart of the Smokeys meets with disaster. Now, Jonathan is injured, unable to continue his research in the field, and a demon of unspeakable darkness has his scent. Worse, the residents in tiny Bird's Eye, Tennessee have taken Jonathan at his word. Over-run with clients spouting complaints about missing ATVs and murdered roosters, Jonathan needs help. When Elizabeth Stone tells him her daughter is an ex-FBI agent returning from a five year stint in deep-cover and is looking for work, he jumps at the chance to hire her.
Now, trapped in a lie of breath-taking audacity, Lilli must take on the role of a lifetime or risk exposing her mother's mental illness to the entire community. Taking online private detective courses by night, she spends her days trying to look like she knows what she's doing. One fainting goat, two instances of shooting inanimate objects, and three high-speed chases using stolen lawnmowers later, Jonathan is getting suspicious and Lilli is running out of excuses.
Meanwhile, the demon set loose in the mountains is closing in and someone in town wants Jonathan and Lilli dead. Will Jonathan and Lilli learn to trust each other in time to defeat their common enemy or will they take their secrets with them to the grave?
Since I don't have a deadline yet for TF, I have the luxury to divide my writing time.
Naturally, I have no title yet. Shadowing Fate was Alexa Tate Book One for months and I'm afraid the same will have to be true for this new series. (Hang on, long time blog readers, Earl is finally getting his day!)
I give you: Lilli Stone Book One
First line: "Some days fate hands you calorie-free chocolate and dates with men who don't live with their mothers. Other days, it sets fire to your hair, slaps five extra pounds of water weight across your stomach, and dumps you head-first into your neighbor's pig trough."
Setting: A small town in Tennessee near the Smokey Mountains
Premise:
All Lilli Stone wanted from her life was a career as an actress, a date with Johnny Depp, and one perfect day when her bi-polar mother forgot to be disappointed in her daughter. Instead, dropped by her Hollywood agent and fired from her waitressing job, she returns home to Tennessee to care for her senile Gramps and her (slightly psychotic) Great Aunt Beatrice. She expects to fade quietly into the fabric of small-town living without a single ripple to show she ever left.
Her mother has other plans.
Jonathan Stewart is a private investigator specializing in tracking the kind of creatures most people don't believe exist. When an outbreak of terrifying supernatural events hits eastern Tennessee, he traces the source to a tiny town nestled in the shadows of the Smokey Mountains. Opening a private investigation office as a front for his paranormal research, Jonathan heads into the mountains to destroy the cause of the crisis.
His first foray into the heart of the Smokeys meets with disaster. Now, Jonathan is injured, unable to continue his research in the field, and a demon of unspeakable darkness has his scent. Worse, the residents in tiny Bird's Eye, Tennessee have taken Jonathan at his word. Over-run with clients spouting complaints about missing ATVs and murdered roosters, Jonathan needs help. When Elizabeth Stone tells him her daughter is an ex-FBI agent returning from a five year stint in deep-cover and is looking for work, he jumps at the chance to hire her.
Now, trapped in a lie of breath-taking audacity, Lilli must take on the role of a lifetime or risk exposing her mother's mental illness to the entire community. Taking online private detective courses by night, she spends her days trying to look like she knows what she's doing. One fainting goat, two instances of shooting inanimate objects, and three high-speed chases using stolen lawnmowers later, Jonathan is getting suspicious and Lilli is running out of excuses.
Meanwhile, the demon set loose in the mountains is closing in and someone in town wants Jonathan and Lilli dead. Will Jonathan and Lilli learn to trust each other in time to defeat their common enemy or will they take their secrets with them to the grave?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Writing Update
It's been a busy writing week for me. Comes with the whole "get up at 4:30 a.m. because I am a crazy woman" territory. Here's where my projects stand:
1. SHADOWING FATE: Finishing the revisions requested by my agent. The last two scenes were just not working, no matter what I did, so I finally opened a new doc and started typing from scratch, rather than trying to work within my existing material. I think I've got it now.
2. DYING TO REMEMBER: Because so many people (both on and off line) have requested this book, I submitted a query for it to The Wild Rose Press, an e-pub that also sells paperback copies of their novels through Amazon. If they offer me a contract for DTR, I can post a link on my site after it's published and all interested readers may purchase a copy and read to their heart's content.
3. Super Secret Project: I'm really excited about an idea I have for a Middle Grade novel. My agent wants to see a chunk of it when it's ready so I have the green light to write it. (Much better than sending her an idea and having her gently inform me that in no way would THAT ever sell.) I'll be working on this after meeting my weekly writing goal for the Fate series.
4. Workshops: I finishing critiquing a few additional queries sent to me by members of the query workshop I taught the first two weeks of April. I'm now planning a workshop to give at May's Music City Romance Writers meeting. I will be taking three methods actors use to get into character and translating that into tools we can use to write authentic characters. Because I've had requests, I'll be setting up a class loop off this blog in June or July to run a Query Workshop for any writer interested in joining.
5. Critiquing: Besides the queries, I've critiqued chapters for a CP, brainstormed with another, and currently have 1 manuscript, 1 partial, and 1 query left in my inbox to read for others.
6. Other: I need to get one of those page count stat things on my blog (Yes, yes, that is the official term for it.) for both Twisting Fate and Super Secret Project. Last time I tried to use a page count thingie, it wouldn't work. Somehow, even the simplest pieces of code can sense my innate techno-idiot status and enjoy flaunting failure in my face.
1. SHADOWING FATE: Finishing the revisions requested by my agent. The last two scenes were just not working, no matter what I did, so I finally opened a new doc and started typing from scratch, rather than trying to work within my existing material. I think I've got it now.
2. DYING TO REMEMBER: Because so many people (both on and off line) have requested this book, I submitted a query for it to The Wild Rose Press, an e-pub that also sells paperback copies of their novels through Amazon. If they offer me a contract for DTR, I can post a link on my site after it's published and all interested readers may purchase a copy and read to their heart's content.
3. Super Secret Project: I'm really excited about an idea I have for a Middle Grade novel. My agent wants to see a chunk of it when it's ready so I have the green light to write it. (Much better than sending her an idea and having her gently inform me that in no way would THAT ever sell.) I'll be working on this after meeting my weekly writing goal for the Fate series.
4. Workshops: I finishing critiquing a few additional queries sent to me by members of the query workshop I taught the first two weeks of April. I'm now planning a workshop to give at May's Music City Romance Writers meeting. I will be taking three methods actors use to get into character and translating that into tools we can use to write authentic characters. Because I've had requests, I'll be setting up a class loop off this blog in June or July to run a Query Workshop for any writer interested in joining.
5. Critiquing: Besides the queries, I've critiqued chapters for a CP, brainstormed with another, and currently have 1 manuscript, 1 partial, and 1 query left in my inbox to read for others.
6. Other: I need to get one of those page count stat things on my blog (Yes, yes, that is the official term for it.) for both Twisting Fate and Super Secret Project. Last time I tried to use a page count thingie, it wouldn't work. Somehow, even the simplest pieces of code can sense my innate techno-idiot status and enjoy flaunting failure in my face.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
How Many Brain Cells? Let Me Count Them...
Yesterday's stats:
1. Received an email from an author friend telling me she'd taken the liberty to pitch me to her agent and her agent was interested so please send a partial.
2. Sent the partial along with a warm thank you to my friend. Having other authors believe in my work is an unbelievable gift.
3. Spent much of the day writing. Total word count: 6400
4. Yes. That's right. 6400 words in ONE DAY.
5. I think I have about 24 brain cells left.
6. Nope, make that 23.
1. Received an email from an author friend telling me she'd taken the liberty to pitch me to her agent and her agent was interested so please send a partial.
2. Sent the partial along with a warm thank you to my friend. Having other authors believe in my work is an unbelievable gift.
3. Spent much of the day writing. Total word count: 6400
4. Yes. That's right. 6400 words in ONE DAY.
5. I think I have about 24 brain cells left.
6. Nope, make that 23.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Writing Update
WRITING PROJECTS:
Shadowing Fate: Synopsis finished (and I'm really happy with it!). Currently adding five chapters into the middle of the book, two into the last third, and then I just need to finish writing the ending and polish it up.
Short stories (one for ezine, one for Paul): Nothing. Nada. Zip. Let me finish SF and then we'll see.
Poetry Blog: Up and running. Starting slow but I won't be posting more than two a week there. I want an outlet, not a stone around my neck.
SUBMISSIONS:
Queries sent this week: 2
Total queries sent for SF: 7
Total requests for partials: 6
Total requests for fulls off of partials: 2 (the others are still reading)
Total rejections: 0
CONTESTS:
Will be entering SF in the Golden Pen by end of August
*If anyone knows of another high-publicity contest that would be a good match for SF (one that is coming up shortly), please let me know. I am woefully out of touch with which contests hold the most weight (beyond Golden Heart, Maggie, and American Title).*
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Upcoming Project
Never fear, I'm hard at work finishing SHADOWING FATE...however...as most writers will understand, the voice of the character in the series to follow the Fates is growing increasingly loud in her demand to be heard.
I took five minutes today to write a prologue for her first book. Most likely, this will be re-written five times before the book ever comes to light but this is the first draft. Let me know what you think. =D
Prologue
If I were you, I wouldn’t read this.
Not because if you keep reading, something dire and most likely fatal will happen to you, although I never discount such possibilities. Not because the story I’m about to tell isn’t interesting, for if you like magic, misdeeds, or motorcycles – and who doesn’t? – you’ll be suitably entertained.
No. If I were you, I wouldn’t read this because if you aren’t a believer in Evil, you’ll become one.
I did.
Once you become a believer, nothing you will ever hear, see, or do will change your mind. You’ll listen for voices no one else hears. You’ll tiptoe past the shadows for you’ll know what lives there. You’ll sleep with the light on.
All the lights on.
I do.
The real trouble started in the thirteenth century with six pure Druids and one betrayer. My trouble started six hundred years later with a pile of overdue bills, a Code 36 violator, and one very drunk Pixie.
I took five minutes today to write a prologue for her first book. Most likely, this will be re-written five times before the book ever comes to light but this is the first draft. Let me know what you think. =D
Prologue
If I were you, I wouldn’t read this.
Not because if you keep reading, something dire and most likely fatal will happen to you, although I never discount such possibilities. Not because the story I’m about to tell isn’t interesting, for if you like magic, misdeeds, or motorcycles – and who doesn’t? – you’ll be suitably entertained.
No. If I were you, I wouldn’t read this because if you aren’t a believer in Evil, you’ll become one.
I did.
Once you become a believer, nothing you will ever hear, see, or do will change your mind. You’ll listen for voices no one else hears. You’ll tiptoe past the shadows for you’ll know what lives there. You’ll sleep with the light on.
All the lights on.
I do.
The real trouble started in the thirteenth century with six pure Druids and one betrayer. My trouble started six hundred years later with a pile of overdue bills, a Code 36 violator, and one very drunk Pixie.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Facts - Both Strange and Mundane
Some Facts (Wierd and Otherwise) I've Researched For My Books:
* Sites of interest in Dublin, Ireland.
* Chinese Surnames
* Mapquest from a hotel in Detroit to a neighborhood on the outskirts of town.
* Manolo Blahniks
* Recipe for herbed pork chops
* Rental cars
* Carpet cleaning companies
* Underwater predators
* Obscure Greek mythology
* Amnesia
* The Irish Armed Garda
* Restaurants in New York City
* The Detroit PD
* German food
* Small town names in Louisiana, New Jersey, California, and Tennessee
* Synonyms for the words "blur" and "tentacle"
Why you would want to know any of this, I have no idea. But it's just past midnight, I'm tired, and this is the best I've got. =D
* Sites of interest in Dublin, Ireland.
* Chinese Surnames
* Mapquest from a hotel in Detroit to a neighborhood on the outskirts of town.
* Manolo Blahniks
* Recipe for herbed pork chops
* Rental cars
* Carpet cleaning companies
* Underwater predators
* Obscure Greek mythology
* Amnesia
* The Irish Armed Garda
* Restaurants in New York City
* The Detroit PD
* German food
* Small town names in Louisiana, New Jersey, California, and Tennessee
* Synonyms for the words "blur" and "tentacle"
Why you would want to know any of this, I have no idea. But it's just past midnight, I'm tired, and this is the best I've got. =D
Monday, May 5, 2008
Updated Again!
I just received another request for DTR from one of the agents I queried two weeks ago - Jim McCarthy. Sent off the manuscript minutes after receiving his email. That's 3 down, 7 to go. =)
Work In Progress Update
Current Projects:
SHADOWING FATE - closing in. Just need to convince my plot arc to do as it's told.
DYING TO REMEMBER - revisions finished. Submitted. Done.
The Writing Process blogs - posting every Tuesday/Thursday and now introducing guest blogs and author interviews on Wednesdays! (I have "recently sold" authors, finalists from the Golden Heart, and a few authors you can buy at your local grocery store all lined up for you!!)
Other Projects:
DYING TO PUNISH - sequel to DTR, currently shelved until I need to write it.
TWISTING FATE - characters being developed, plot being twisted...
News:
*Sizing up contests to enter SF in this summer (my goal is three).
*Sending off requested material to Jessica Faust and Kimberly Whalen today.
*Need to order new business cards before Conference.
*Need to join local RWA chapter this month. (somebody remind me the meeting is the third Saturday...)
*Need to line up other authors for guest blogging.
SHADOWING FATE - closing in. Just need to convince my plot arc to do as it's told.
DYING TO REMEMBER - revisions finished. Submitted. Done.
The Writing Process blogs - posting every Tuesday/Thursday and now introducing guest blogs and author interviews on Wednesdays! (I have "recently sold" authors, finalists from the Golden Heart, and a few authors you can buy at your local grocery store all lined up for you!!)
Other Projects:
DYING TO PUNISH - sequel to DTR, currently shelved until I need to write it.
TWISTING FATE - characters being developed, plot being twisted...
News:
*Sizing up contests to enter SF in this summer (my goal is three).
*Sending off requested material to Jessica Faust and Kimberly Whalen today.
*Need to order new business cards before Conference.
*Need to join local RWA chapter this month. (somebody remind me the meeting is the third Saturday...)
*Need to line up other authors for guest blogging.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Work In Progress Update
Current WIP:
1. Finishing SHADOWING FATE
2. Outlining TWISTING FATE
3. Small revisions to DYING TO REMEMBER.
Additional Writing Projects:
1. Bi-weekly Writing Process blog posts
2. DYING TO PUNISH - DTR's sequel
3. Building main character for series to follow FATE.
Contests & Agent Search:
1. DTR currently Golden Heart finalist
2. Sizing up several smaller contests to enter SHADOWING FATE to get it in front of editors
3. Sent out 10 agent queries last week and have a request from Jessica Faust of BookEnds as of last night. Yay!!
1. Finishing SHADOWING FATE
2. Outlining TWISTING FATE
3. Small revisions to DYING TO REMEMBER.
Additional Writing Projects:
1. Bi-weekly Writing Process blog posts
2. DYING TO PUNISH - DTR's sequel
3. Building main character for series to follow FATE.
Contests & Agent Search:
1. DTR currently Golden Heart finalist
2. Sizing up several smaller contests to enter SHADOWING FATE to get it in front of editors
3. Sent out 10 agent queries last week and have a request from Jessica Faust of BookEnds as of last night. Yay!!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Work In Progress
Current WIP: SHADOWING FATE - nearly finished. Would already be finished if I didn't obsessively rewrite every chapter before moving on. =D
Other writing projects: Writing Process blog series, DYING TO PUNISH - sequel to DYING TO REMEMBER, current Golden Heart finalist.
Agent search: Sent e-queries today for DTR to two agents: Ethan Ellenberg and Jessica Faust. Decided to use my momentum as a GH finalist to gain some attention for my career and hopefully find the right agent. My goal is to send out two queries a day this week and to sign up for an agent pitch spot at RWA's conference as well.
Future projects: Currently outlining TWISTING FATE, the second in the Alexa series, DYING TO SURVIVE, third and final in the DYING series, and beginning character sketches for the series following Alexa (which is, surprisingly enough, named already - shocking given my difficulty with titles, but I'm feeling fairly territorial over the name since a) it's very unique and b) it's an intricate part of the story so I'm not sharing). =)
Other writing projects: Writing Process blog series, DYING TO PUNISH - sequel to DYING TO REMEMBER, current Golden Heart finalist.
Agent search: Sent e-queries today for DTR to two agents: Ethan Ellenberg and Jessica Faust. Decided to use my momentum as a GH finalist to gain some attention for my career and hopefully find the right agent. My goal is to send out two queries a day this week and to sign up for an agent pitch spot at RWA's conference as well.
Future projects: Currently outlining TWISTING FATE, the second in the Alexa series, DYING TO SURVIVE, third and final in the DYING series, and beginning character sketches for the series following Alexa (which is, surprisingly enough, named already - shocking given my difficulty with titles, but I'm feeling fairly territorial over the name since a) it's very unique and b) it's an intricate part of the story so I'm not sharing). =)
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