I’ve been struggling with this subgenre distinction for my current work in progress, When Darkness Falls, which has vampires, djinn and shapeshifter and other paranormal species, set in a medieval desert city in an Arabian Nights type setting. Tricky. This … Continue reading →
Everyone™ says even at this early stage of my writing career, I need an author newsletter. So to all of you out there… I listened!! YES! She can be taught! I’ve been taking Jessie Clever’s Getting Results from Your Author Newsletter. … Continue reading →
This week was Wowsa! I got requests for not one but TWO full manuscripts! I’ll be spending this weekend formatting it per the publisher’s specs. On Monday, I was laying in bed half asleep thinking about how I’m supposed to … Continue reading →
I’m seeking out beta readers for my manuscript, When Darkness Falls. It’s a fantasy romance set in a medieval middle eastern city (think of Arabian Nights or Kismet). There are paranormal elements: vampires, djinns, shapeshifters, and others. Rating: There are … Continue reading →
Wow, I got a TON of work done last week! Almost cleaned out my Plan! I give myself a huge pat on the back, and I’m having tacos for dinner 🙂 Great reward! I got 4 manuscripts submitted to a … Continue reading →
I’ve got the first two chapters of A Gift of Jacinth and When Darkness Falls out to beta readers so I can enter them in a contest this week. Still trying to decide if I want to enter A Cat … Continue reading →
In researching literary agents to submit to, I’ve noticed something very disturbing. A large number of them state that they will respond if they are interested in your query. If you don’t hear from them, they’re not interested. So um. … Continue reading →
On my desk I keep a ceramic egg bowl (that I made myself, btw, in a ceramics class on using fired gold), filled with polished hematite chips and small hematite beads of different shapes. They’re very smooth and cool to … Continue reading →
After all, this seems like a pretty personal thing of no interest to anyone but me. While this is quite true, at the same time I actually have a couple of good (to me) reasons. I have a number of … Continue reading →
Today my doorbell rang and there was a cardboard envelope for me… I opened it, wondering what the heck it could be.. and it was a certificate for A Cat For Troy for finaling in FF&P’s On the Far Side … Continue reading →
There’s just no way you don’t want to back up regularly… everything, yes, but your writing even more so. This is a part of you, your blood and sweat and tears, your baby, your creation. To me just the thought … Continue reading →
Okay, Jenna Moreci is my goddess of the Beta Reader process! She has a series of youtube vlogs on beta readers. It’s from these that I’m basing my own beta reader process as I get started. Here’s a comprehensive list … Continue reading →
The On the Far Side contest is through RWA’s Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter. A Cat For Troy, which is the third book in my “Wishes & Dreams” series, took third place in the light paranormal category, and I’m thrilled … Continue reading →
Seeking out beta readers is a new endeavor for me, so bear with me. I’m working on a three-book light paranormal romance series, Wishes & Dreams; the lines are a little blurry. My primary desire is for my stories to … Continue reading →
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter… I do a lot of writing-related chatter that’s basically meaningless *mea culpa* but I also do post and re-tweet articles and blogs that I think are helpful, or pertinent, or funny, and I … Continue reading →
A Gift of Jacinth is the second book in the “Wishes & Dreams” series, and it’s basically a completed manuscript but I do want to go back in and do some more editing (is editing ever done? at least up … Continue reading →
I think I have the writer’s version of postpartum depression. I’ve been trying not to whine (well, except a couple times over on Twitter). It was about 11:45 pm Monday night when I typed The End (shivers in delight recalling … Continue reading →
Back in the days of paper submissions, every publisher and agency had specific requirements laid out, i.e., query letter, first 10 pages, 5-page synopsis and SASE. Or whatever. In these days of email or webform submissions, I did a spot-check … Continue reading →
It’s really just for fun more than anything. I created some boards to put pictures I’ve found around the web (or, in some cases, taken myself) that were inspirational for characters, clothing, places, etc. For instance, the photo for this … Continue reading →
I feel like I’m on the home stretch with Wishes in a Bottle. I’m almost up to the second wish (which scene is already written) and the third wish comes hard on the heels of that. I’m hoping… *really* hoping! … Continue reading →
I have a number of “tricks” that I use when crafting a particular scene, whether in the micro or macrocosm of the scene; that is, whether I’m crafting the wording of a sentence or phrase, or an entire paragraph, or … Continue reading →
I’m taking a class, Literary Sales Package with Laurie Sanders, and the first assignment was the query letter, which included a short “blurb” for the second paragraph. I brainstormed and got it written, and Laurie tweaked just a couple of … Continue reading →
So, in writers groups, we joke a lot about the voices in our heads. At least, we do in the groups I hang out with. Anyway! So a few years back I wound up in the ER with bronchitis/incipient pneumonia. … Continue reading →
Rejection letters are no fun, even if they’re nice. It’s depressing. But I got one from an agent, querying for my very first book, Truck Stop, back in 2000, that said: “There’s no question of your ability. I think you … Continue reading →
Year 2000 was a turning point in my life; that year, I completed not only my first, but also my second-ever novels, both contemporary romances. So this is the Cliff’s Notes version *laughs* I’d been writing on and off all my … Continue reading →
