#CampNaNoWriMo : Staying Motivated!

So, last week I wrote about my supplies for Camp NaNoWriMo. This week, I want to talk about some of the tools I use to get myself to write and to keep myself writing.

1. Scrivener

You know how a TV takes tiny pieces and puts them together for you to view on a screen? Well, Scrivener does that for the stories that are locked inside my head. I've never used a writing program I liked more, and I couldn't imagine writing The Sealer Saga any other way.

Let's break it down:

On the far left we have my Chapter List and my Research which are (I think?) call the "Binder". I can click on any of these at any time and get to specific parts of my story. By writing my story piece by piece, I keep from getting overwhelmed and when I go to edit--or need to make a note for something happening later--I can hop to the part of the story I need in one click.

In the middle of the screen, we have the space where I actually write the chapter. I tend to brainstorm my outlines in Word and then bring them into Scrivener and fill in gaps, move scenes around, etc. since each of my chapters on the left have an index card. But there's another reason I like bringing my outline in from Word. My favorite font for writing is Calibri, and when I bring in my outline it carries its formatting. That saves me having to switch it in each separate chapter. I type "chapter" once, copy / paste that into each file and I'm good to go.

On the right we have two really handy tools. The one at the top is the chapter's index card. This is a snapshot of what's suppose to go on. (Pay no heed to what's there right now; I did my outlining differently this time.) I've been too lazy to correct that here, but normally it would have a two sentence summary of the main gist of that chapter's purpose.

Below that we have what I like to cal the "idea pad". This is where I jot down ideas I get as I am writing. If I figure out that I need something in chapter eight while I am in chapter three, I can click chapter eight's idea pad (each chapter has one) and fill it in. Or if I think up a great piece of dialogue to use later in a scene I'm writing, I can stick it there until I am ready.

These are only the absolute basics of Scrivener, but they serve my purpose well. Oh! And I really like how anything I put into tabs under "research" does not effect my word count. For Camp, that's very helpful.

2. Sealed With A Kiss iTunes Playlist! 

Music is a huge part of my creative process. It effects my mood, it helps me to project the current moods I want my characters in, it can change the rhythm and tone of my writing... It's absolutely essential. I listen to a wide variety of music when I write, sometimes letting it free play and sometimes going to certain playlists for certain types of scenes. But I also always have a soundtrack for my books that tries to capture their overall themes. Shall we go through this one quickly?

1. Just One Little Kiss -- This is about the push and pull between Lucian and Carita during the first half of the novel. It's essentially their opening 'couple song'.

2. Enchanted -- This is their 'meet cute'. Neither of them wanted to be where they were that night, but both are better for having met the other. They have no idea how much this one moment in time is going to change their lives.

3. Dark Horse -- This is my villain, Ruby's, theme. She wants to start her life over by hosting this contest (as absurd as it is) and yet she is destined to repeat--completely against her will--the very things that made her miserable to begin with. I like the overtone of compassion and righteousness mixed with the dark undercurrent of potential vengeance here.

4. Beautiful Girl -- This is Lucian's theme. He's potentially the most dangerous being in the universe and he knows it. He's on a mission that is vital but also destructive. And then the woman of his dreams just falls into his life at the absolute worst time ever. Is there any way she'll stay?

5. Put The Gun Down -- This is our climax to part one. Lucian is the only man left, Carita has fallen for him completely, the prophecy must be fulfilled and Ruby is the only woman who can make that happen. Things are about to get very painful and very complicated.

6. Bring Him Home -- I've never seen the musical this is from, but Stages (the Album Josh Groban released that had this on it) came out as I was outlining Sealed With A Kiss and the moment I heard this I knew it was going to be one of the most important pieces of music I would use while drafting. There is a point in the second half where Carita makes a life changing decision and this song really echoes her reasoning and emotions while doing that.

7. America's Sweetheart -- This is Carita's theme. She does not follow the conventions or rules of her society, she's brutally honest, and she is very "okay" with who she is. She also won't accept people who refuse to take her "as is".

8. Building A Mystery -- This is about Lucian, the Underworld, and Carita's discovery that everything she has been told her entire life is a lie and completely false. It is only by allowing the lies to fall away and embracing the truth she is discovering that she will be able to survive the situation she has been thrust into.

9. Masterpiece -- This is the climax of the book, where Carita must finally, fully face up to what has happened to her and either succeed or fail. I love the idea that even though she will succeed here, she (and Lucian) are aware that this will continue to be a challenge for the foreseeable future. I also love the extremely tense pace of this song. It suits what has to happen really well.

10. Queen of Hearts -- So far I've mostly talked about the changes and sacrifices that Carita has made, but this song is important because it represents Lucian's ability to finally understand all that has happened and that he has to meet her half way. I also love the idea that after thousands of years he finally has someone with him whom he truly loves.

3. the Came NaNoWriMo Website

I've decided to post this for two reasons. First, because I love getting daily inspiration throughout the month. Second, because I believe this is one of the most powerful forms of motivation that can be used. There's one that trumps it for me, but maybe we'll talk about that next week? We'll see.

Writing is a solitary activity, but I'm an extremely social person. I want to share the things I care about with others. One thing I've said for years is that if I'm hanging out at Absolute Write I'm probably writing, and if I've been absent I'm probably not. But for Camp, I've been spending a lot of time writing back and forth with my cabin mates and on the "Campfire Circle" subform of the NaNoWriMo boards. It's very much like how I will stalk tech forms if I'm trying to save for / build a new PC, or how I joined health communities when I had to figure out how to deal with needle phobia. If you treat something like it's real, like you've already got it, you put yourself on step to making what you desire become reality.

I do not like competition where I have to face an opponent directly. I find that it reduces my performance in whatever I'm doing. (I always felt I'd sang my worst in competitions--even those I won.) But a graph like this, which is just as much about beating myself as it is keeping up with or exceeding what others are doing, is surprisingly effective at keeping me focused.

4. Facebook (a.k.a. Calling Home)

I don't believe in fear as a motivator. I do believe in telling people you are going to do something, and then bringing them with you along the way. It takes me a few minutes each day to update facebook with what I have accomplished, and in doing so I have a permanent reminder of what I have made happen. I've done this with every novel or novella I've written and it works (for me) every time.

Do you have any tools, tips or techniques that help you with NaNoWriMo? Feel free to share in the comments. :)

Road To #CampNaNoWriMo : What I'm Writing!

I'm thrilled to announce that I plan to take part in Camp NaNoWriMo this July. I just finished the final chapters of my latest story, TO GRANT A DARK GIFT last weekend and now I am absolutely dying to get started with my next book, SEALED WITH A KISS. This book is very important to the Sealer Saga, as I have come to realize that it (not SEALER'S PROMISE) is actually the first book in the series. Want to know what it's about?

(This synopsis may yet be changed. This is not the final cover.)

Some Kisses Are Worth Dying For...

Chosen as a Champion, Carita of Bel Auryn thought she would spend her days fighting demons. Instead, she is drawn into the latest scheme of the Moon Goddess, Ruby: a ridiculous contest to choose the man who will have the "honor" of fathering her child. When Ruby encourages Carita to choose a competitor, she picks the man she is most drawn to--and immediately regrets it.

That man is Lucian Veradayne, the Lord of Death. He knows he must win Ruby's game at any cost. It doesn't matter that he has avoided her for over two thousand years. It doesn't matter that she hated him enough to maim their first son. And it definitely doesn't matter that he would much rather woo her endearing but brash Champion, Carita. The Soul Well, the source of all creation, has given Lucian a vision that he and Ruby must have another child. A child who will save the world.

But winning Ruby's affection and resisting Carita will prove to be the least of Lucian's problems. He and Carita are not the only ones who have been drawn into Ruby's game. Someone else wants to get close to her, and they are willing to kill to make that happen. Will Carita and Lucian be able to protect Ruby long enough for a victor to be named? And if so, will they be able to walk away from each other to ensure the Soul Well's prophecy comes true?

There are definitely things that I am really excited for as I prepare to write this. Are few of those are:

• I get to explore what Kesyl was like as a little boy.
• I get to experience how Carita and Lucian fell in love.
• I get to see how Zakariah was before he started opening up to people.
• I have a chance to (hopefully) understand Ruby better. 

There are definitely some challenges that I will be facing in writing this, though:

• I need to research how to authentically capture the voice of a little boy.
• I'm writing about a woman who is raising a son; not exactly normal NA stuff there.
• I'm working the contents of two novellas into a collective story arc. That's...interesting.
• I face the challenge of ensuring my world can be understood in this context from first time readers, since I am hoping this will be book one of my series. 

So, yeah. July is going to be insane. My goal is to write 50,000 words but I'd honestly like to finish the whole rough draft for this story. As long as I hit the word goal I'll be happy. If completing the whole thing takes me to the end of August I still wouldn't be overly upset. 

So, is anyone else doing Camp NaNoWriMo? What are you writing about? I'd love to know! 

NaNoWriMo 2014: What I'm Writing!

Yeah, I know: as if I'm not busy enough. :D But I can't help it! For years I've wanted to take part in National Novel Writing Month, but something--life, health, etc.--has always come up. Not so this year. *knocks on wood* This year I'm finally going to do it.

So, what's my project? Glad you asked!

In her first Sealer Saga anthology, SEALED WITH A KISS, Kathy Coleman tells the story of Lucian Veradayne, Lord of the Underworld.

BY DARKNESS DECEIVED...

For centuries one thing alone has eluded Ruby Grendell, Goddess of the Moon: to have a child of her own, to raise as she sees fit. Her consort, the Sun Lord Darius, has denied her this each time she has questioned him about it. And now she has discovered his mortal lover...and their son.

Two can play at that game. Ruby decides to host a contest among her followers. The man who proves himself most worthy will have the honor of fathering her child. But when Lucian, Lord of the Undrerworld, disguises himself and ends up in her bed, Ruby will stop at nothing to seek vengeance on the man who wronged her a thousand years ago. Even if it means destroying the very being she sought to create.

TO WED A DARK LORD...

Carita Veradayne has been given an unthinkable task. She must murder the infant son of her Goddess. But while Lucian fought to win Ruby's heart, Carita unwittingly gave him hers. Unable to kill her only surviving link to him, she returns to the Moon Temple with the baby and begins to raise him in secret. She knows she will not be able to hide him forever. And that when Ruby discovers this betrayal, her wrath will be severe.

Lucian has spent ten years searching for his son. When he finds the boy standing over Carita's body and calling her "mother" he offers to grant her immortality--if she agrees to become his Queen. But Lucian's heart is shattered and he has no desire to repair it or have it broken again. Will Carita find a way to win his love or has she sentenced herself to an eternity of solitude?

I am so hyped to start work on this! Since I'm working on outline and characters and this book is totally on my mind right now, I thought I'd share five facts about it with you guys.

1. Yes, this was inspired by Hades and Persephone. 

I was really happy to see people on the NaNoWriMo forums catch on to this. :D There are a lot of differences between my work and the actual myth, but a lot of my Sealer Saga stuff references, borrows from or alludes to different stories within several mythologies. Kesyl and Sarena's story didn't have a specific myth tied to it, but SEALED WITH A KISS is a nod to Hades and Persephone, while SEALER'S QUERST (which I should be writing next) has its roots in the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. 

2. Readers will get to explore New Haven, the capital of the Underworld.

I work very hard in this series to integrate my divine realms (The Underworld and the Sky Realm) in with my two living realms (Earth and Zynedia). We got a few scenes from The Underworld in SEALER'S PROMISE, but I'm really excited to expand on that further in this anthology. We'll also get to see Carita and Kesyl's reactions to Earth, and the reader will get to see Zynedia before it's destruction since this is a prequel. 

3. Readers will get to witness the birth of a Hell Hound puppy! 

From artists to betas, facebook fanpage members to people on twitter, people seem to love the mini hell hounds. :D And who can blame them--they're cute! (And I totally credit Katling on Facebook for them--it never occurred to me to do them this way when I commissioned her for this art.) We got a couple scenes with the minis in SEALER'S PROMISE, but in SEALED WITH A KISS readers will get to witness the birth of Cujo! (Can you see glimpses of Zakariah's sense of humor in this? :D I figure a deity who can inflict people with fear would HAVE to love / respect Stephen King's books.) 

4. Readers will get to witness Kesyl's first trip to Earth and see the first time he encountered a car. (Something referenced in Sealer's Promise)

When I initially planned out a few novellas to go between the main four Sealer Saga novels the decision was inspired by my friend Robert Bevan's Caverns and Creatures mini-adventures. I'm so glad I ended up planning these (and that I eventually listened and did the re-write for SEALER'S PROMISE before releasing any of them.) The ideas for the novellas have added richness to my plans for the books, and as I work on the books they add things I want to explore to the novellas. It's totally win-win. One of the most crucial scenes in my NaNoWriMo project is inspired from something Kesyl tells Sarena about while they are at the Sterling Community Theater. I love getting to see Kesyl as a little boy (he's so freaking cute!) and showing how much he has grown as a character (by showing where he came from) will be an interesting writing challenge. 

5. Readers will get to see how Zakariah deals with the idea of a "new mom" and a baby brother. 

Writing the family dynamics for the Veradaynes is one of the toughest challenges I will face this November. I'm NOT from any form of a blended family; my home is about as 'nuclear' as you can get. I've had lots of close friends who come from a wide variety of backgrounds, though, and I'm hoping that will be helpful in not botching this up. There's also the fact that the Veradaynes are Sealers (basically Gods / Immortals), which can be a blessing and a curse when writing them. I want them to seem as zanny as the characters from the Greek and Norse myths I love, but I also strive to have them deal with character issues that feel real to today's world--not our world the way it was centuries ago. 

Zakariah is a 1,000 year old Sealer who has never lived. He's kind of a sand in for, say, an 18 year old brother who is looking after a baby sibling. I like this about him. It means I can make him responsible, but I can also make him emotional and have him make mistakes. This story takes place before SEALER'S PROMISE and part of my goal is to show how far Zakariah has come from here to where he is in that book. Zakariah, as a character, is pretty close to my heart. He has kind of evolved with each of my three drafts of SEALER'S PROMISE, getting (I hope!) better with each one. Getting to explore him further is something I'm really looking forward to. 

Are YOU writing something this year for NaNoWriMo? Feel free to link me to a post about it, or to it's page on the NaNoWriMo website. Good luck! 

Sealer's Promise: Add It On GoodReads Giveaway!

This has been a long and challenging year for me as a writer, and my objectives have shifted and changed as the year has progressed. I have several projects in the works, but today I'm here to talk to you about the one which is probably the nearest and dearest to my heart.

Sealer's Promise.

I am finally working with all of the beta feedback that I have been given, and am in the process of writing my final draft. The book will be releasing Q1 of 2014. That's what we are here to celebrate today.

I'm thrilled to share the book's new synopsis, give you a taste of Chapter One, link you to its freshly created GoodReads page, and reward all of those who support this story with a chance to win a giveaway! Read on for complete details!

Check Out The New Synopsis! 

Some promises are meant to be broken.

After witnessing a murder where only a skeleton is left behind, Sarena Lengton knows it will take more than police to catch the killer. The Kindred, magic wielding beings who came to Earth five years ago, must be told that one of their people have gone rogue.

The plan is simple: go in, hand over the evidence, and get out.

When a mix up shows that Sarena has the potential to use magic, her simple plan gets shot to hell. The daughter of an infamous anti-Kindred assassin, the last thing she wants is to be anything other than human. Even if her new powers come with the bonus of being around handsome, mysterious Kesyl Veradayne.

But if Sarena wants her normal life back, there is only one man willing to give it to her. Zakariah, the God of Judgement, is desperate to obtain a physical form. He will free Sarena of her powers and bring her family together again--if she will give him Kesyl to use for his new body.

Sarena thought she would do anything to be normal again. Now she has to make a choice: between the life she had and the man she loves. The future that could have been, or the one happening right now.

And she must hurry, because Zakariah won't wait forever.

Oh, look! A Release Date! 

Sealer's Promise will be released on February 4th, 2014. 

Add It On GoodReads!

Yes! I finally made a page for Sealer's Promise on GoodReads. It would totally make my day if you'd take a moment to add it to your TBR pile. If you want to do that, click here. 

Read An Excerpt from Chapter One... 

Sarena

For two weeks Kyden had been missing. For two weeks Sarena hadn't slept.

Now was not the time to be behind the wheel of her crappy '98 Sebring. Yet here she was, jockeying for position so she could make the hairpin turn that would let her cross the street and enter the parking lot outside her townhouse.

The crustini sitting in the Angelo's bag beside her tried to make a turn of its own, like it was being pulled by some magnetic force toward the floor. Reaching over, Sarena kept the meaty, cheesy goodness from meeting an early grave. It had a date to keep with her stomach in about five minutes.

She turned off the car, a sigh escaping her lips at the sudden blissful silence. Unbuckling her belt and opening the door, she grabbed her lunch and headed for the porch.

The house was in way better condition than her car. Cherry brick with a wooden veranda coated in a fresh layer of white paint, it oozed a certain elegance and charm.

Even if it no longer felt like home without Kyden and Cait.

Still juggling the crustini and her purse, Sarena managed to slip her key in the lock and turn the knob on the front door.

"She's not here." There was a pause which Sarena's roommate, Jessica, likely left to inflict maximum bitchiness on her hapless victim. "Why would Cait be here anyway? She moved out almost a year ago. Thank God."

Sarena walked down the hall, picking up speed as she rounded the corner that allowed her to peek into the kitchen. She stopped in the doorway, reaching out to keep herself from tripping over her own feet.

What the hell was Avish Grendell doing here?

"Then what's her new address?" Avish asked.

Sarena backed out of the doorway, glad no one had noticed her. She didn't need Jessica using her as a scapegoat so she could get out of this game of twenty questions. Sarena didn't like the way Jessica was talking about Cait. But she liked Avish even less. Cait had dated him during their first few months at York University, and there had always been something about him that put Sarena on edge.

"How the hell should I know?" Jessica stared up at him like he was an insect about to get squashed under her shoe. How she didn't feel the holy shit he's creepy vibe that rolled off him Sarena wasn't sure. "You should go find Sara. After all, Cait's her friend, not mine."

He took a step closer to Jessica, totally invading her personal space. Whatever creepy factor he'd had back then was was still present and accounted for now. No way was she getting in the middle of this. Avish could find Cait on his own. The longer it took him the better.

Trying not to make any sound, Sarena started to turn around and head back to the front door. She had taken three steps when a bloodcurdling scream that belonged on the set for a horror film filled the house.Turning back toward the kitchen to see what the hell had happened, Sarena's hands went slack and the bag holding her lunch dropped to the floor.

Jessica had been rude. She'd made fun of Cait, and thirty seconds ago she would have been on Sarena's shit list. But Sarena was pretty sure she hadn't taken that thirty seconds to sign on as the leading lady in an erotic horror flick called Hump Me Dracula!.

Avish had Jessica pressed against the wall. One of his hands wrapped around her ponytail to lift her off the ground while the other pushed her face to the side so her neck was exposed. His knee was between her legs, leaving her with no choice but to wrap them around him to relieve the pressure on her scalp.

All of this would have been normal for Jessica on a Friday afternoon. What wasn't normal were the fangs buried in her throat. A trickle of blood slid down her neck, headed on a one way trip to the kitchen floor.

Good luck explaining that to the landlord.

Hands shaking, Sarena reached inside her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She couldn't just stand here like a mindless zombie. She had to do something. Turning it on, she stared at the little green phone button, willing it to dial 911 by itself.

What good would that do, though? If she told a 911 operator that someone was drinking her roommate's blood they were going to think she needed her head examined. This was not a situation for the police. Even if they believed her there was no guarantee they would be able to stop Avish.

If they got here in time to try.

Instead of making the call, Sarena pushed the camera icon, switched it to video mode, and hit record. Godless would know how to handle this situation. Footage of a Kindred behaving like a vampire was going to make her mother's day.

But that wasn't helping Jessica now. Her face looked pale and thin; her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. Avish was sucking the life out of her.

Literally.

For a brief moment Sarena flirted with the idea of doing something to intervene. But if Avish had fangs, what else did he have up his sleeve? No doubt he'd find a way to overpower her, judo and muay thai be damned. Besides, the thought of actually using her martial arts training to attack someone made her want to barf.

Maybe it was a good thing she hadn't eaten the crustini. Yet.

A disgusting slurping sound, like someone was trying to use a straw to get the last drops of soda from a fountain drink, forced Sarena's attention back to Avish and Jessica.

He had let go of her. That was good.

But then a pulsing red orb rose from her body, tearing away every ounce of muscle, fat, and tissue. Avish opened his mouth and the orb slide down his throat.

He was eating her. That was bad. Really, really bad.

On the ground only a skeleton remained where Jessica had been only moments ago. Sarena's cell phone started to slip out of her hand and she tightened her grip on it until she was afraid she'd crush it. If it hit the floor, Avish would hear it.

What was she still doing here? Waiting for an invitation to become dessert?

Backing away from the kitchen, Sarena waited until she was in the main hall before making a run for the door.

As she struggled to get her car to sputter to life she decided that the first person who deserved to see the footage on her camera was Cait. Maybe now she'd understand why Sarena had always thought Avish was two sandwiches short of a picnic.

The Add It On GoodReads Giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for taking the time to come and check out my giveaway! Have a great day! 

Stacking The Shelves / What's Up This Week (Jul. 20th)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews where people can share the fabulous books they've bought, borrowed or received during the week.

   1. Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler

2. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

3. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

4. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo 

Hey guys! How's it going?

First, the good news: I have my PC back.

Now, the bad news: It's just as broken as it was when I took it in. I'm just $108 poorer. :( To say I'm not happy is a huge understatement. I'm back to the darn drawing board and have to decide how I want to address this, because it really, really sucks. 

Long story short: if you live in my area, do NOT take your computer to Computer Ease Solutions. Not only did they epicly fail at fixing this thing, they also deleted my downloads folder(!!!). I'm lucky I thought the machine was getting a reformat (lord knows it NEEDS it) and saved my cover for Sealer's Promise or that would be a real mess! They were also more focused on telling me the fan they were replacing would no longer be a blue LED (big deal) while neglecting to tell me it would not be silent (Oh. My. God. Noise.)... My head is hurting just thinking about this. 

I got a lot of reading done in the downtime, though. :) I guess everything has a silver lining? I finished Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler and Faking It by Cora Carmack, and I'm over half through The Collector by Victoria Scott (which I'm loving so far.) 

I got my smartphone! :D I chose a Samsung Galaxy S3 and got a totally cute sky blue case for it. If you have app recommendations, I'd love to hear them. :) So far I'm really liking Plume (for Twitter), Life Reminders, Skype (big surprise there!) and Flow. 

Last, to any fellow ontario bloggers, are you planning to go to this year's Blog Squad Meet Up in November? Tickets go on sale August 1st, if you haven't heard. You can find out about that here. :) 

As always, my disclaimer: no guarantee I'll finish all this. But it's what I'm dying to read! 

The Collector by Victoria Scott

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West 

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck 

This has not been a productive time for writing. Plotting? Sure. Writing? No. Writing on a smartphone is definitely not my cup of tea. It's great as a "Holy crap, jot that idea down!" device. But I wouldn't want to write a novel on it. 

My plans, as far as what I'm doing, are staying relatively the same. Working on finishing Promise Me Forever, then finalizing Sealer's Promise outline decisions while I work on Sweet Rebellion. 

As for giving you guys a sample, here's part of the latest scene for Sweet Rebellion. As always, this is draft so it is subject to change and there may be typos or other minor mistakes at this point. 

Down on the dance floor people were doing a variety of hip wiggling, gyrating dances in time to the song’s heavy beat. Clay was among them, a throng of girls circling him like they were petals on a flower. Each shimmied and dropped, grinding him shamelessly as they spiraled around him.

Burning disappointment lodged itself in Megan’s throat, but she focused on singing and managed to tune it out. Why bother being surprised? She had known from day one that this would happen sooner or later.

As she came to the last repeat of the chorus she caught Clay's gaze and altered the lyrics, singing, “He’s a snake with green eyes.”

Her point made, she turned toward the other side of the stage and finished up the remainder of the song, her body throbbing with pent up frustration that had nothing to do with controlling her diaphragm. She needed to get down from here, now, and slip into the crowd. The stupid sugary smile she had plastered on her face was already starting to make it hurt.

It was time to forget that stupid kiss he had given her the night he arrived. Except she couldn’t decide what hurt more: the fact that she was fool enough to still have it on her mind, or the fact that she wasn’t sure she knew how to let it go.

Anyway, that wraps it up for me this week. :) How's life been treating you? What are you excited about right now? What are you reading and / or writing? I'd love to know, so feel free to leave a comment. :) 

She Lives... Talking About What Will Be Happening in June.

Plenty. Even though I'm still not back at 100%, I am thinking about how I want to handle my blog once I get my new laptop next weekend / get my desktop in for repairs. This post is mostly about my goals for that, and I'll share a little bit of update news for Promise Me Forever.

First, the blog. Because we all know it's been horribly neglected.

For a while now, I've been saying that my review system is no longer working for me. I've read some really great (and some not so great) books this year, but I just get this feeling that I'm saying the same things to you guys over and over. My review system worked fabulous when I started the blog. It helped me make sure I covered all the aspects of writing / books that I care about. But now it has become a bit too much of a mold. So... I'm here to present my new review setup.

Kat's New Review System: 

Each review will continue to begin with an image of the cover, as well as my thoughts going into the book / why I picked it. I feel that this gives my reviews context and that it's often the most "me" part of them. I like doing this part and don't want to lose it.

This is exactly what it looks like: a header for me to put the book summary under. I'm not going to be putting my thoughts on actual plot structure here anymore, though. Some books make me wanna talk plot; some don't. I think, by this point, people know I read the books that I review. I don't need to "prove" it as though my readers are my fourth grade teacher and I'm giving a report. (How freeing this feels!)

This is where you'll get my reaction to the books I read. I'll still be talking plot, character and romance like I always have. But I'll be judging what and when to say stuff based on the book, rather then my review outline. My reviews are likely going to be shorter and more to the point (*hopes, prays*). I don't know whether people are benefiting from the two hours to write reviews I do on here and I know my reading isn't increasing from them at this point.

Much like my old "In General" tag, this is where I'll sum it all up and put my rating of the book up for your use. This part is pretty straight forward, and generally where I grab the quote I use for my BOTM picks.

Other Blog Stuff:

I'm still sorting out how I want the rest of my schedule for the blog to go, but I can tell you that I do want to do more discussion posts, I will be putting up teasers from my writing and telling you guys how that is coming along, and I will be very happy to get back to being involved with cover reveals, blitzes, etc. (You have no idea how many came out this month that I didn't sign up for because of all the tech grief.)

That lovely new header on this post, "What's Up This Week?" is probably going to take the place of Stacking the Shelves / Shopaholic Sunday, in that I'll still share what I've purchased, but I also want to share what's going on in my life. I don't always buy books, and honestly (this is going to sound absurd, but it's the truth...) I'm tired of the pressure that trying to do a weekly "What did I buy?" has put on me. I'm not, for lack of a better term, an aggressive reviewer. Publishers aren't trying to break down my door to give me books, and honestly, that's a good thing. When I *do* get a book of NetGalley I make sure it's something I'm going to read. But getting books from publishers, in my opinion, often involves a committment that I can't keep AND write at the same time.

*NOTE: In no way am I implying that any of You have put me under pressure to do a book buying topic: that's totally on me and it's time I dealt with it because my bedroom looks like a damn library. :P

The next few weeks will be a growing and shifting period here at I Write, I Read, I Review. But like anything else that grows over time, changes were bound to happen here. I thank all of those who have stuck with me through all of this and who continue to read my posts. It means a lot.

And Now, Some Promise Me Forever Updates: 

I'm currently writing Chapter Six of this novella and I'm currently about half way through the plot outline I set up before I began. I'm totally thrilled with how this is going and I'm having a blast getting to know Lila and learning ever more about Kyden. Lila may well be the most gutsy, take-no-prisoners heroine that I've ever written. She has someone she wants to protect (her little sister, Blossom) and damn if that hasn't made her fierce. I totally can't wait for you all to meet her. :)

The latest word count sits at approximately 16,000 words. I started writing this draft about two weeks ago, and it's already come so far. I'm totally thrilled with this progress!

As always, thanks for dropping by! Just think... One more week and this place should return to some semblance of actually being alive. C'mon, June 1st! I want my new laptop!

More Updates: Writing, PC Repairs, and Getting A New Laptop...

Okay... Until I get this mess with my PC sorted out I'm probably going to update once a week just to let you guys know what is going on. Here are all the details of May 4th-11th, 2013.

Books I've Bought:

My Kindle got a bit more love. :)

Writing Updates: 

I started writing Promise Me Forever this week and the rough draft clocks in at roughly 6,500 words so far. I'm absolutely thrilled with the progress I'm making on it. I know I'm not as active here, and one of my later announcements should help more with that, but on the writing front I'm in great shape!

It's a bit irritating to have to put Sweet Rebellion onto the back burner, but all my notes for that are backed up on my e-mail and I don't want to go through the headache of switching them to where / how I'm writing the SP novella. That's part of the reason I planned the releases the way I announced them last week.

I'm also going ahead with planning the next SP novella, By Darkness Deceived (which is Ruby's story, for anyone curious) and my second Maple Springs novel, tentatively titled His Sweet Obsession (I'm still staying mum on the details for that--It's got a long way to go.)

For anyone interested, I usually post a daily word count update, complete with a snippet of whatever I'm writing, on my facebook author page if you would like to follow it. :)

PC Repair / Blogging Updates:

I have not been signing up for cover reveals, tours, etc. because this PC is running with two broken legs and one hand tied behind its back. It's still going to be a while before I can actually get it working properly. I don't drive, our local computer shop has hours that conflict with my family's work schedules, and if I were to take it in right now it could be a week or two before I would get it back.

Your continued patience is appreciated. :)

Time For A Laptop! :) 

This nightmare of thinking I lost all my writing is never going to happen to me again. Ever. I spend way too much time on my stories for them to get eaten by some stupid virus or maliware attack on my computer.

Now, I will make two things clear: (1) Yes I intend to use the laptop as a laptop, not just as a big fancy flash drive. (I had someone ask me this on a forum. "Ooo, we've got a funny guy, huh?" :p) But his point is clear: get a darn flash drive while I'm dong all this. And (2) Yes, I realize this isn't a magic wand that's gonna make me write twice as much. (I wish! Even though I outline, my characters surprise me when I get to the drafts and writing their stories often throws really awesome curve balls at me that I don't see coming.)

The point, really, is that if one machine is down I'll be able to use the other (see my current situation above, for example.) and the laptop will give me additional portability (and the ability to put a wireless printer in our living room, since my room is too small.)

After doing a bit of research, I've decided to budget myself $700 before taxes (Canadian; and not including getting a mouse, laptop bag, flash drive and printer / paper / binders to organize things.) I've gone far too long without getting things set up to take this writing thing seriously. I realize none of this is going to write the books for me, but (for me) I think there is some type of pride in having everything together and working properly. Plus I can sit at the dinning room table, which is much closer to the tea kettle and microwave. :p (Sound business / productivity strategy there, yes?)

But WOW do I have options! Do I want a touch screen? Do I want dedicated graphics? (My main PC is a gaming machine, and my bf is all "Just think, we could still play LOTRO if you go on vacation.) Do I want something with an SSD? (Expensive, would have to be a bonus, but very writing practical.) 15.6" or 17.3" ?

To tell you all the truth, what I want is:

1. A machine that is capable and which will load things without acting like a turtle. Meaning: it needs a decent processor.

2. A machine with a screen that I can read / see. Fortunately, I'm buying for writing and blogging, not gaming. Most of my writing / blogging programs can have their fonts increased for the drafting / editing stages.

3. (And really it should be #1, since it will likely be my deciding factor) A machine with a keyboard that I don't despise. I'm a writer. If my hand (I use a one handed typing technique, as I have little control of the fingers on my right hand) is gonna be like a permanent growth on that thing, it better work with me, rather than against me.

Everything else is a bonus, really. (I mean, I know I want at least 4gb RAM and that if I don't get a dedicated graphics machine that I should aim for something with Intel 4000 so it is at least up to date in its incompetency. :p *Did I say I was a gamer? :p*)

Anyway, I think that sums everything going on this week up. :) Would you guys like me to post a weekly recap of my facebook writing snippets here? Have you read / do you want to read any of the books I bought? Do you have any thoughts about my upcoming laptop purchase? I'd love to know! 

What's Going On?

Hard to believe that it's already the first of December!

I'm sure some of you wonder where I've been and what's been going on. Well, I've been conserving what I do with my hands and that has held me back a lot. But they are doing better then they were. I've also been working on the outline for a new novel, a contemporary romance this time. (Not sure yet if this'll be adult or new adult, but I know this one is not YA.) I'm really excited about it, though... small town + big music star + biggest fan (and secret songwriter) = a lot of crazy / romantic stuff going on. :D I'll see about putting a better summary together soon.

As for Sealer's Promise, I am pausing it for now because it needs another round of revision (big revision, not just clean up) and I need some space from it to get that to come out right. I'm shooting for it and the contemporary I'm writing to release next year, but as always, we'll see what happens. I only get to release a first book once and I want whichever that ends up being to be something I'm really proud of.

So, what am I planning here at I Write, I Read, I Review?

Well, I have read a few books in the past while that I haven't been able to review and I want to catch those up. Titles on this list include The Goddess Test, Hidden (House of Night), Backstage Pass, Dark Horizons, and The Game Changer. I'll also be posting some of my favorite books read in 2012, some of the books I hope to read in 2013, a (much smaller this year!) list of challenges I want to participate in, the results of the Apocalypse Tour giveaway and then all the usual stuff. :D I'm gong to do my best to juggle writing and blogging, but I know that can be a challenge for me, so if I'm not as quick to update stuff, bare with me. :)

I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for dropping by!

Sealer's Promise Cover + Trailer + Prologue Reveal!

The day has finally arrived!!

Yes, I know I am ridiculously excited here. I can't help it. This is a huge step for Sealer's Promise and I am thrilled to get to share it with all of you.

As some of you may know, the journey to reach this point--having a cover-- has been long and perilous. But I hope that you will agree with me that it has been worth the wait.

So, let's quit stalling and get to the good stuff, hm?

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I still kinda zone out when I look at this. I have a little trouble believing it is real. :)

The cover was designed by Robin Ludwig Design Inc. and I think that Robin did a totally fantastic job. I'm certain we will be working together again and I highly recommend her to any fellow authors looking for a talented artist capable of doing absolutely stunning cover design.

Summary: 

Some promises are meant to be broken.

Sarena Lengton knows what it's like to die -- two years ago her soul journeyed to the Underworld. Zakariah, the Lord of Judgement, has offered to spare her life in return for a promise. Sarena must convince his younger brother, Kesyl, to use his powers as a Sealer to open a portal to the Underworld. Then Zakariah can absorb Kesyl's soul and experience life on Earth.

Now seventeen, Sarena has managed to avoid completing Zakariah's task. But when she witnesses a murder at Sterling High where nothing but a skeleton is left behind, Sarena knows she will need Kesyl's help to catch the killer. As they work together, she finds herself falling for the boy she promised to help destroy.

Sarena doesn't want to know what Zakariah will do to her if she defies him. But if she keeps her end of the bargain, Kesyl will lose his soul. Can Sarena keep her life and her love? Or will both be torn from her forever?

Sealer's Promise Official Book Trailer: 

But that's not all I've got for you today. :) I have been sitting on my hands for months, trying to keep the next thing I'm going to show you secret. I'm certainly not a video design guru, but I'm thrilled to share the trailer I made for my book. I designed this back in July and couldn't touch it because I needed my cover for the end credits. Please check this out. :)



Sealer's Promise Prologue Reveal: 

If you would like to read the prologue, click here to find it--and some totally great custom art from some talented members of DeviantArt--on my author blog.

But I wanted to go a little further. I wanted to pay homage to how and where I learnt to write. I didn't end up going after an MFA in creative writing, Those weren't common here in 2001. But I *did* take a totally insane intensive study course in Oral Narrative during my second year at Trent. I don't think anything else (aside from possibly Book in a Month by Victoria Schmidt) has had such a huge impact on my work.

In honour of all I learned during that time, I decided to record a reading of the prologue.

Part 1:



*I kinda messed up at the start and didn't catch it. That should have been 'the Heart's waiting hall." Oops!

Part 2:



Thanks so much for listening! :)

I wanted to make sure that this reveal was as fun as I could make it. So I figured hey, everybody likes a chance to win a great prize, right?

Well, Sealer's Promise is not ready for me to give away ARCs yet, but I am a book blogger, as well as an author. So I see it as a great opportunity to support fellow authors by providing an opportunity for somebody to win a free book of their choice. :)

The Actual Details:

One (1) lucky winner is going to receive a book of his or her choice, valued up to $12 USD, from The Book Depository. All you have to do for a chance to win is fill out the Rafflecopter! Simple, right? :D This giveaway is open to anyone who lives where The Book Depository ships. It will run from Midnight October 19th, 2012 - Midnight November 1st 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Where To Find Me:

Website | Twitter | FaceBook | GoodReads

Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Krystle Jones @ Krystle Jones, YA Fantasy Author

Darkfallen & Greta @ Paranormal Wastelands

Carmen @ Shelfspace Needed

Teressa @ Reesa's Book Blog