dreamhunter

atthequillsmercy

Reality Bites (sorta)

Here I am back from my week long girl get away. Eh, it’s not bad to be back. I did miss my family. But man, did I ever have fun. >}

I’m back to writing and typing Greenhouse as I edit Dreamhunter to be put up on Createspace. I also have to finish typing all those short stories and the next bit of Go Away Girls to post on the site. It’s been a busy holiday season what with all the baking I’ve been doing to prepare (and for fun), but since I’m going back to work in the morning, I’ll have my head completely back in the game tomorrow. ^_^

Tomorrow is also Yule, which I look forward to almost as much as Beltane. 🙂 This year will have a full moon as well so I would like to take the kiddo out to gaze at it as long as weather permits. She’s a little young for full on rituals so a little prayer will have to do.

The holidays are certainly taking there toll on me. I can tell because I’m perpetually sleepy and I have a lovely, stress induced sty forming. It doesn’t look bad and I intend to keep it that way, damnit. If I keep soaking it and can manage not to touch my eye, it should be gone in time for the 25th where I will be shuttled around to people who don’t hide from cameras like I do. >_o If not, I’ll have to get creative about my poses. XD

Till tomorrow, lovelies!

atthequillsmercy

Progress report

Using a pen, I have done terrible, TERRIBLE things to paper.

And I can’t wait to share. >}

I am one sick woman. XD

More ego stroking: Today, I was told by a coworker that a patron who took my book out was absolutely raving about it and wanted to meet me. I am not used to people I don’t know telling me they like my book, to be honest. It’s cool and nerve wracking at the same time. @_@ I ordered some business cards to promote the short fiction that’s there (and what’s to come, mwahahaha!!) so I hope I’ll sell more books and get more traffic to my site.

Like my writing? Tell a friend. That’s all I ask. 😉

atthequillsmercy

Remember, Remember…

Tis October so the familiar rumblings of NaNoWriMo are upon us again. Let me succinctly sum up my feelings on this matter: I’m not doing that crazy shit again!!! I did it last year and not only did I NOT make the word count, the words I DID write were utter crap! There is something to be said, as loudly and often as possible, for quality over quantity. I started the Dreamhunter sequel during it and looking back on what was written, there is SO much work that needs to be done to it which would have been avoided if I would have just taken my time and done it correctly. This includes entire scenes which were left out because I was straining for a damn word count. A complete and utter waste of an entire month.

While it is an admirable goal for me to try and finish a novel in less than 8 years (that’s how long it took DH to be officially completed), that is not the way to go. So it takes awhile. You, as well as me, will just have to live with that.

This is not to say I have no plans for November. Quite the opposite, actually. For that month, I will be taking a break from both my novels to see how many short stories I can complete in a month’s time. Not typed and clean, just start to finish, under 100 pages or so. Perhaps one will be the spring board to another novel? Crap, I hope not. I’ve got about 10 in here… *knocks head* But I need practice in keeping things short. That’s what I want to learn from this. ^_^

atthequillsmercy

Advice of the day and Super Shortie Saturday

I LOVE Jeff Somers’ books. I got lucky enough to meet him quite by chance at NY Comic Con last year when I had no clue what he looked like. The exchange went something like this:

Me (with fangirlish glee): YOU wrote The Electric Church!!
Mr. Somers (in fear and quite ready to flee from me): Yeeesss…
Me: I LOVE that book!!
Mr. Somers (in very obvious relief): Oh, thank you. That’s great! Here, let me sign that copy for you.

And he did.

This is relevant because I wanted to share this video when Mr. Somers responds to an question about his writing process (which is a question I am often asked and think he has the best response):

I really enjoy what he says about word counts and having the best intentions for the day. I’m not giving up on my word goals but I’m not going to be as hard on myself if I don’t quite make it. But I’m sticking to my guns about cheap RED wine and not cheap white wine. White wine feels like nail polish remover on my tongue.

No, I have not deliberately tasted nail polish remover. I just stupidly put my finger near my mouth after cleaning off my nails.

Now, I’m not sure who’s luckier: Him, who get’s to write all day, or me, who get’s to see all these awesome books coming into the library all day and write whenever there’s a quiet moment to be had… I think I have to say me cause my job sends me to conventions and expos where I get advance copies of certain crazy author’s books. XD

For this week’s shortie? A snippet from the Dreamhunter sequel, Greenhouse:

Raquel smiled. "You don’t know what love feels like, huh?"
"Right to the point as always." Darjeeling grumbled, her cheeks turning the red that was once her hair.
"It’s warm." Raquel held her friend’s chin in one hand while applying muddy gel to Darjeeling’s eyebrows with the other. "You feel an overwhelming warmth when you look at them. You start to see them as brand new again, like they’re a fabulous stranger. If you don’t see them, it shocks you to your core." She smirked at Darjeeling’s bewildered expression." Sound familiar?"

Now, I’m off to do whatever I can while I’m at Dayjob. Tomorrow is Get New Shoes For Monkeygirl and Work On Website day. This clueless author finally figured out what was wrong with the root directory that was making the old page come up instead of the new one. Lookit me, lernin shit.

atthequillsmercy

Brainstorming

I’m not a big user of brainstorming. In school, I used to roll my eyes and groan whenever that was a required part of an assignment. Now it seems I’m fricking CONSUMED by it! I always thought it was a waste of time, still kinda do, but it’s better than staring at the blank page wondering why the hell it won’t tell you what do to. Having a completely disorganized list of ideas is so much more productive. :p

With another short story under my belt tonight will be more "Greenhouse" typing and some brainstorming. I need some erotica ideas, some ideas for my "female friendship" story, and I have a demented idea for "Chick lit for chicks who are fucked up" which I really have to play with. it’s just too fun not to. >}

So as I sit with my newly christened brainstorming notepad (meaning the first one that my fingers hit when I reached out for one) I try to imagine where I want my story to go, what I want the reader to get out of it, and what the characters have to tell me. Very often while I do this, an entire random scene will come out.  Many times I don’t use them but sometimes I do. If I don’t, it’ll end up on a Super Shorty Saturday post like the others. XD I have a ton that I’ve never managed to use. But I keep everything, no matter what. And lucky for all of you lovely people, you get to read it. XD

And don’t forget Dreamhunter is available for purchase. Yes, I will be mentioning that a lot. 😉

atthequillsmercy

Let the flood gates open!

This has been a pretty shitty week (including the weekend). Between chronic problems with hubby’s car and a stupid fight with a friend, life seemed generally in the shitter.

Until now. ^____^

That’s right guys and dolls, "Dreamhunter" is ready to be purchased in print or as a PDF for your hungry little brains to digest.

Now that all the drama is over, I can get back to work and get a less ugly site up and ready to go. Writing will take time, though. Stress is like a kick in the nads to my muse. We both need a deep breath, some quiet time to heal, and perhaps a couple beers.

And hugs. Plenty of hugs.

Oh, and this is WIN. The Last Airbender movie sucked ass. Fan or no fan – and I am a HUGE fan of this cartoon – there was only a single redeeming factor in this movie: the effects. Elements are bended, glowy tattoos glow, but for 12$ a ticket, I feel ripped off and Shyamalan owes me 2 hours of my life back. The universe was already built, the story already written, HOW THE BLOODY FUCKING HELL DO YOU SCREW THAT UP??? HOW!

atthequillsmercy

It’s that time again!

"Dreamhunter" has been updated with chapter 11 and I fixed the code so all the text is one color. This weekend, I will once again tackle building the website. Each chapter will have its own page instead of my audience being forced to scroll through the whole story over and over again

Now, off to write! I have 16 pages to get through before tonight. I’m goin out! >D

atthequillsmercy

“Djinn” and Book Expo

I finished episode one of "Djinn" tonight! I’ve been really pleased with my progress these days. The words just keep coming and they’re pretty good even pre-editing! 😀 

Tomorrow, I will be updating on schedule after I make sure there aren’t any glaring typos. Then I’ll be looking at layouts to see if I can get something a little cleaner and more "author like." No offense to my awesome pink and purple swirl but pink on black wears on the eyes after awhile. And I spend a lot of time staring at computer screens, I know what I’m sayin here.

One of the awesome things about having a day job in addition to writing is the library will send me to places like Book Expo. There were publishers, authors, and exhibitors, oh my! I came back with so much swag, there are bruises from where the bag cut into my shoulder. I’m still going through it all but I have some great information on marketing websites and connecting with other writers who are on the same route I’m taking. I gotta say, the thought of having some other authors here and reading my stuff is kinda awesome. Unless they tell me I suck, then not so much.

Since my representation has told me Dreamhunter will be available to order in the next week or so, I’ll be removing the chapters and putting up a preview instead. It’s this that’s got me wondering about other site layouts, ya dig?

I got a little more work to do before I pack it in for the night (and my hands are starting to get mad at me for the typing) so, off I go. Till tomorrow, kids!

atthequillsmercy

Oh consarnit…

Here I was thinking LoudTwitter was working while I was neglecting my blog, but noooOOOooo… T_T

Anyways, to catch up, the edits on "Dreamhunter" are done and the text has gone to the right people. ^_^ Including some cover art from the lovely and talented . No previews of the art till I’m sure it’ll really be on the book.

Let us all cross our fingers and toes, shall we?

In the mean time, I have resumed work on "Greenhouse," as well as several other projects. I have been doing a very good job of keeping up with my quota despite my ever evolving workout schedule and my new addiction to Mad Men. XD

Till later!

atthequillsmercy

The stench of a job well done

I spent an entire day (Saturday to be exact) in front of the netbook getting aaalll of those edits done. And they are indeed done! Just a final grammar check then ZOOM!! Off to my agent person! 😀

While the grammar check happens (not by me, thank the gods), I’m back to work on the "Dreamhunter" sequel "Greenhouse" and back to my 250 word a day goal. With that in mind, I better get to work. 😉