Monday - 30 July Week Behind and Ahead

A fellow writer once said "If you sell one book at a signing, it's been a successful one." On Saturday I went with three friends to sign books at the Kingston Farmer's Market. We set up under a tent and had just had everything in order when the rain began. I hurriedly began packing my books since the thunder made me realize this wouldn't be a short rain. Boy was I right. Rained so hard the tent began to collapse. Fortunately in this lovely town the sidewalks are covered. As we were talking to people I mentioned to a woman about my YA stories. Her daughter was with her. The woman mentioned she only read books on line these days. Told her about my books on Kindle and Nook and opened the case pocket to find pens that show my blog and mention the books I've written. Pulled out a copy of my YA fantasy and showed her. She opened the book and handed it to her daughter. "There's only one word I don't know." The little girl then read the back and said she wanted the book. So I had a sale. The ride home was a torture with torrential downpours. I would gladly send all this rain to places where it's needed.

The above gives a clue about last week but I am progressing on the Plot draft of Lines of Fire. Am about a quarter of the way through that draft and am finding some of the things I thought I might have to change will remain. Others won't. Sent another email to one of my publishers about the mss I sent several weeks ago. Will wait and send again in several weeks.

This week I'll be working on Lines - Plot Draft and hope to be nearing the halfway point. This is the draft that takes the most time since one has to be sure all the ducks are in a row. The good thing is that I'm still able to keep from wanting to rush with the story.

28 May - Week Behind and Week Ahead

Hard to believe another month is nearing the end. Last week was a trunicated one since 2 days were spent in Florida with grandchildren and in returning home. The blog schedule was behind and that meant it was sort out of sync. On the writing schedule, I managed to re-write two chapters of The Micro-manager Murder and though I would have written more, at least I'm still headed for the target date.

Coming this week will be the completion of the sixth draft of the book and the start of the final one. So sometime in June I will be done and ready to send the story off into the ether. On Tuesday I'll find some words of inspiration for myself and others. Wednesday will see the start of Wednesdy's with Eileen Charbonneau, a talented writer who has written a book on writing called Elements of the Novel. Not sure how many Wednesdays I'll be doing this. Eileen is a former critique partner whose insights into my stories I sadly miss. Thursday I'll be featuring the stories of Jude Pittman, publisher and whose books I have on my Kindle and have read more than once. I'll also have a post up on obscurekitlit blog. Friday and Saturday will be spent with Karenna Colcroft with How Sje Does It and an excerpt from one of her released. On Sunday I'll visit three blogs. Already have two with interesting tidbits up. Looks like the week will be busy.

14 May - Week Behind and week ahead

First Caroline is the winner of the authgraphed copy of The Dragons of Fyre. An email has been sent to her.

Last week saw a number of things. Code Blue was released. Formerly known as Obsessions. The new cover is dramatic. I saw the new cover fro Choices, once called Come Into The Light. Finished formatting Flight, now known as Escape and talked about covers for the story. I think we have a cover idea now. Busy working on The Micro-manager murder and am now nearly 5/7th of the way through. Also proposed a potential book signing to our local chapter. Will see what responses I receive. I know I will go even if alone.

This week must finish configuring Confrontations for BWL. Need to have that done before I leave for grandson's high school graduation on Friday. The blog will probably suffer during that time since I have never figured how to get things to post which means Friday through Tuesday will be blank though I will be able to put up something on Tuesday. Hate to be so computer challenged.

23 April - Week Behind and Week Ahead

Winner of the autographed copy of Quests has been emailed.

Last week found me finishing the setting draft of The Micro-Manager Murder and still finding little glitches in the plot line. Discovered or always knew one doesn't only do one thing when doing a draft for a particular part of the story. The good thing is that I'm close to the 60% goal I set for the length of the book. I also began and tore up the first chapter of a new romance series called The Guild House, This story is called Lines of Fire. Tearing up the first chapter and prologue was the best thing I ever did. I had made one of the beginning writer mistakes I often see when I'm judging contests. I'll address that later.

During the coming week, I'll finish the first chapter. I need that so when I'm able to work on this story again during breaks from the book I intend to finish by June or July, I will have a foundation to continue and finish this story. One might say I'm working on two stories at a time and I suppose I can. Fortunately they're so totally different there will be no carry over from one story to the other. Once this first chapter is done I'll move into the Character draft of the partly finished murder story. Why doing the character draft after the plot and setting one. Plot, especially in a murder mystery is very important but for me it's what drives the characters to act and react. Setting is my weakest part of writing and thus it comes second. I remember earlier comments from editors in the days when they wrote lengthy rejections. My characters existed in a vacuum. At the time I was writing 'nurse' romances and the settings were totally familiar to me that I forgot they wouldn't be to the reader.

Now a bit about my beginner's mistake. I the writing of the prologue, I had written BACK STORY. Pages of it in the prologue and the first chapter. Now this was information as the writer I needed, but the reader didn't need huge blocks of this shoved in their faces. I've written a new prologue and am writing a new chapter that has hints about the backstory but now concentrates on the main character. Sometimes I make other beginner mistakes and I'll write about them when I find myself doing them.

13 February Week Behind and Week Ahead

Winner of Becoming Your Own Critique Partner is R. Ann Siracusa


Last week was a busy one and one with a unique event. Out chapter HVRWA took part in the first Nook Book signing at the Barnes and Noble store in the Pallisades Mall. There were no physical books being sold only downloads. I believe I sold some books. I don't know for sure abd won't for a long time. I believe the signing was a success since they asked us back for around Mother's Day. Actually I think for the store this was successful for it brought the Nook a lot of attention. Perhaps this will take in other places. I signed a half dozen postcards I printed for the people who circled the title or titles of some of my books on the list they took to the cashier to be given a code for the download. They could take the code home or they could download it right in the store.

As to writing, I'm about a third of the way done with A Surprising Seduction. This isn't bad, especially when I'be been working on it for a little over two weeks. When a book practically writes itself one feels good but also a bit wary. Hopefully this one will please my editor.

This week I'll be plunging ahead and hope to finish what I call the Where draft. Often I forget about placing my characters in anything but a vacuum. I always must go back and add the little touches. Sometimes I go overboard but that's why i have a critique group. They tell me when I've written. Once this book is done I'll be working on a new Mrs. Miller story but that's for a time ahead.

28 November - Week ahead and week behind, contest, peeve

Once again I'll post the contest rules. They're simple. Starting on December 1st one copy of each of the books listed yesterday will be given away. If more than one person selects a particular book another one will be substituted. Th enter.
1. Visit the blog.
2. Leave a comment with how to reach you - email is enough.
3. If one of the books tickles your fance, mention it.
4. A drawing will be held each day of the contest until the last of the 27 books are awarded.
5. Books will be sent to US and Canadian posters.

Been doing a lot of reading about how people are protesting the legislation about the internet. What really puzzles me, is How does putting limits on what people can post interfere with "freedom of speech." Is stealing the intellectual property of others really freedom of speech? Doesn't seem that way to me. Theft is theft and especially when some of these people borrowing the works of others make money doing this. If someone can explain to me how someone taking the stories, songs, movies, under a person's copyright isn't theft but freedom of speech,I'll listen. Don't think its' possible.

Last week was fairly productive even with several days off for a short Thanksgiving trip. Am now 80% done with The Chosen of Horu. Will continue to work on it this week. Can't wait to finish and move forward. Soon be time to set goals for next year. I always have goals and I try to make them ones that I can overcome and go beyond.

The week in review and what's ahead - Feb. 21, Contest winners

The winner of Healwoman - Dark Moon is Shannon Leigh. I'll get in touch with her later for an address to send it to. Anonymous, Cat's Lady and Candy Girl will receive a download of the Vanilla Heart book. I'll need an email from Anonymous. She can email me at Shady L 717 @ aol.com without the spaces.

Last week was just about the same as the other weeks with a lot of work on Confrontations. This book has taken me longer than most. Wonder if it's age or an unwillingness to let the characters go. Perhaps it could be because the next story up hasn't reached the point of I have to write this. That always spurs me to finish what I'm working on. I'm pretty much a one story at a time and I do envy people who can work on more than one at a time.

Are you a one book at a time or work on several at the same time?

Been re-reading books in my library and doing some sorting. I'm doing this alphabetically but some people write under more than one name. I was putting Kat Attalla's books off until I reached Taylor but decided to jump her to the head of my list of favorites. Homeward Bound will always be my favorite of all the ones she's written and I'm sure Sex and Key Lime Pie will come in second.

This week coming up Tuesday still on Bird by Bird, Wednesday more on Characterization, Thursday an interview, I'll add who in a bit. Friday is Becoming Your Own Critique Partner. Saturday another chapter. There are still a lot of books to go. Sunday more blogs to visit. The interview will be with Ann Patrick a fellow Jewel of the Quill