NaNoWrMo: The Aftermath

So, NaNoWrMo is over.  How did I do?  Well, let's just say I learned a lot.  I didn't win NaNo, meaning I didn't write 50,000 words in the month of November.  I fell short with about 41,000 words.

The month started off great and I was really excited.  I spent the first week or two ahead.  It was supposed to be so easy.  Keep writing at the pace I started off at, take a few days for the holiday, and finish early.  Well, it wasn't so simple.

While NaNo was great because it was forcing me to be productive and write every day.  An average of 1,667 words a day are needed to complete NaNo on time.  Like I said I started off with a bang and stayed ahead of that for a while.  Then things started to slow down.  There were days I just stared at the screen and days I barely choked out a couple hundred words.  I fell behind and I realized forcing myself to write when I wasn't in the mood or I lacked inspiration was not productive.  It was counter productive.  I ended up being stuck for longer than normal.

I also don't write linearly.  My stories are hardly ever developed when I start writing.  My characters generally have control over what they do.  I jump around writing scenes I see and then go back and link it all together.  That's how it usually happens anyway.  Every now and then a story flows from beginning to end.  Well, this one didn't.  And I stressed over skipping and coming back to finish up because of the deadline.

Let's talk about grammar and spelling mistakes.  The idea behind NaNo is to write and just write.  You don't edit, you don't worry about plot lines and character development, you just write.  Well, that doesn't work for me.  I can't stand knowing my fingers were flying too fast over the keyboard and I mispelled a word.  I HAVE to go back an fix it.  It's really a problem.  It definitely hindered my NaNo progress.

So, I have to say NaNo wasn't a success but it also wasn't a complete bust.  I got to work with some characters that have been running around in my head for a few years.  And despite no winning I made some great progress.  So keep and eye out for Chloe and Drake and their adventure.

Top Ten Tuesday: Everyday Things That Bother Me

We all have things that bother us.  Whether it's things that people say or do.  Mannerisms, habits, or just little things we happen to see.  Here are a few of mine...

10. When people talk with food in their mouths.  My mom was big on table manners when I was growing up apparently they stuck.

 9. Crums on my kitchen floor.  It drives me crazy when stuff gets stuck to my feet.

 8. When you say hi or good morning to someone and they don't respond

 7. When people don't use their turn signals

 6. Blue Ink...as in ink pens.  I hate it!

 5. When people don't say please or thank you

 4. Morning...I am not a morning person.  Not at all.

 3. Movie previews that give away the whole movie

 2. Writer's Block

 1. When people confuse "sell" and "sale".  They are two very different things.

There you have it. A glimpse into my crazy mind.

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I'm Thankful For

In honor of Thanksgiving today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about the things I'm thankful for.

10. I'm thankful there is an abundance of cheesy teenage dramas for me to watch.

 9. I'm thankful for the opportunity everyday to pursue my dreams.

 8. I'm thankful that I get to do something I love everyday and call it work.

 7. I'm thankful for music.  Music is a huge inspiration for me.  I don't know what I'd do without it.

 6. I'm thankful I have a place to live.  In this world there are so many that can't say the same.

 5. I'm thankful for all of my readers.  Your support means so much to me.

 4. I'm thankful to my editor and Rebel Ink Press for publishing my work and being patient with my creative process.

 3. I'm thankful for the girls in my salon.  They make every day with them interesting.

 2. I'm thankful for the great support system I have around me.  I'd be nothing without you all.

 1. I'm thankful for my amazing friends, family, and boyfriend.

I'm thankful for everything and every person I have in my life.  I am very blessed.  These are just a few highlights of what I'm thankful for.  Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

NaNoWrMo Progress...

Well, I've been busy working on NaNoWrMo as I said I would be.  I started off great and I was ahead on word count for quite a while.  I've been having writing dates with an author friend of mine, and it's actually forced me to be more productive.

This weekend proved to be rough though.  I was busy and worn out from work throughout the week.  I have to admit I hit a snag and didn't write at all for two days.  No big deal since I was ahead.  It will be easy to catch up I told myself.

Monday rolled around and I needed to write about 4,000 words to be caught up and 6,000 to be ahead like I had been before.  I sat down and tried my hardest.  I really did.  But...it didn't happen.  I'm still behind.  I have managed to write a bit today, and I'm going to keep going.

Writing this way has been difficult for me.  I don't usually plot a lot.  I follow an outline.  My characters tend to take over so it's easier to outline and go with the flow.  I also don't usually write linearly.  I skip around quite a bit and then go back and play connect the dots.  Well, the point of NaNo being to start and keep writing as much as you can for a whole month has put me out of whack.  I can't go back and edit.  When things get slow and I want to skip ahead I tell myself not to.  I'm having fun though.

So off I go.  Back to work on my NaNo story.  Wish me luck!!

Now Available in Paperback...From the Rubble

For everyone who's been waiting, it's here!  The paperback edition of From the Rubble is now available on Amazon.

A big thanks to my publisher Rebel Ink Press!

For more information on From the Rubble click here.

Thanks again to everyone that made this possible.  I greatly appreciate all your love and support!

NaNoWrMo

I'm sure some of you are thinking "what the hell is NaNoWrMo?"

Well, for those of you who don't know, NaNoWrMo is a writing challenge that takes place in the month of November.  NaNoWrMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.  The challenge is to write 50,000 words in the month of November.  You register and track your progress and when you're done if you met the goal you submit your novel and get some goodies.

I've had a bit of writer's block lately and I've had so many stories floating around in my head that I wasn't sure what to work on.  I debated doing NaNo just to focus my attention on one story and to challenge myself to write A LOT in one month.  I made the decision to sign up but I was having trouble deciding what to work on.  I have three stories that I think about a lot, some are plotted, some I've worked on a little bit, but I just couldn't commit to work on one.  Then I realized it's the 29th.  That means I only have a few days to decide and plot.  Scary!

I finally decided and I feel much better.  Stay tuned for more on my progress with NaNoWrMo!

To find out more or sign up for yourself visit NaNoWrMo.

Top Ten Tuesday: Vampire Movies

Continuing with my celebration of October and all things spooky today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about vampire movies.  Vampires are probably my second favorite in the horror genre.  I love them in books and movies.

Now, there are all different kinds of vampires these days.  The legends and myths have morphed and changed.  I do still enjoy some things about the new vampires, but I love the old stories the most.

I would like to point out that these are in no particular order.  Narrowing them down was hard enough.

10. Shadow of the Vampire
9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
8. Interview with the Vampire
7. Blade
6. Queen of the Damned
5. 30 Days of Night
4. Dracula (1992)
3. From Dusk Till Dawn
2. The Lost Boys
1. Stake Land

Oh the Horror...

Today my friend and fellow author, Kate Roth, is stopping by to share her feelings on horror, Halloween, and October.

I’m one of the weirdos. That certain kind of person who loves to be frightened. I like horror movies, scary shows and creepy books. Around Halloween I always get the urge to watch as many horror films as I can, DVR the ghost hunting adventure shows and break out my Stephen King’s.

Not everyone can get on board with horror and I suppose I can understand why. There are a lot of things in life to actually be afraid of so why bring it upon you by getting wrapped up in stories of murder and hauntings?

Well, because it’s fun. Tension building, heart pounding, looking around to make sure you aren’t being watched—it’s all part of the fun of horror. As with all entertainment, it’s escapism. Sometimes you want to escape to Hogwarts or Middle Earth. Other times it’s the countryside where the man of your dreams waits for you. But every now and then you want to find escape in the darkened hallways of that old hotel, that mansion on a hill, the abandoned asylum. Where things go bump in the night and you challenge yourself to survive whoever—or whatever is chasing you.

I’ve often wanted to write horror but I don’t think I have it in me. I’ve tried and it never comes out right. I’ll leave it to those authors who have the horror bone and can truly tell a chilling tale. I’ll stick to the sappy stuff.

Here’s a list of a few of my spooky faves from all media.

     ·         A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – I adore Freddy! He’s wisecracking and terrifying all at once. And—spoiler—I always love a story with a kick-ass chick who can defeat the bad guy.

•          Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill – Stephen King’s son gives daddy a run for his money with this novel about a troubled rock star that inadvertently purchases a ghost. It scared me in broad daylight and left me wanting to take a cross county road trip with some AC/DC playing on full blast.
•          An American Horror Story – Season one of this creepy FX show completely changed the way I think of horror. Who knew you could be so scared by what can be shown on cable? So excited for season two in which a new cast, setting and storyline will be played out.
•          Celebrity Ghost Stories – Okay so call this one lame if you will but I love this show. “Celebrities” (aka D-listers and people you barely recognize from 80’s and 90’s sitcoms) share their personal accounts of hauntings while no-name actors reenact the scenario. Let’s just say it fills the void left in me by the loss of one of my childhood favorites, Unsolved Mysteries.

Thanks again to Kate Roth for stopping by today.  To find out more about Kate and her writing visit her website.

From the Rubble: The First Chapter of the Last Chapter

Just in case your curious...

Chapter One
April

Layla clutched the grayed wood in her hands so tightly her knuckles went white.  All she could do was stare at the worn wood and the initials carved in it as moments ticked slowly by.  She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she willed her body to stand.  Seconds?  Minutes?  Still stunned and unsure, she walked mechanically to the counter and grabbed her phone.  Pursing her lips, she thought hard about her next step. Whatever she did could change things forever. For better or worse she wasn’t sure.  Excitement and curiosity ran through her and Layla tossed the phone back on the counter and rushed to her front door.  Praying she wasn’t too late she took the steps of her loft two at a time, landing on the sidewalk breathless and barefoot.  Craning her neck, she looked left then right but there was no Taylor in sight.  What was she going to say anyway?  It was probably for the best.  Tucking her blonde hair behind her ear, she headed back inside reminding herself his gift could mean nothing.  It could simply be a peace offering.  A show of his acceptance of their situation.  Layla knew it could merely be Taylor’s way of saying that he was trying to make the best of what had happened between them.

Layla wasn’t getting her hopes up.  She knew the romantic part of their relationship was over, but she couldn’t help the quickening pace of her heart when she thought about what she wanted that piece of old wood to mean.  What it could mean.  If she hadn’t screwed up and made decisions that weren’t hers to make.  The future that could’ve been played out in Layla’s mind and it was a whole relationship, a whole history that never existed because she’d hidden something from Taylor.  Something big.  Something she could never take back.  What could have been was a future she’d never know.
Layla walked down the hall, her footsteps light, and peeked into Lexi’s room before she headed to her own.  Her daughter slept peacefully, her brown curls splayed out on her pillow.  With a sad smile, Layla slipped the wooden relic between some sheets piled on the top shelf of her closet.  Out of sight, out of mind.

****

Taylor sat in his car tapping the steering wheel nervously.  The second he'd left the white box in Layla’s hands and headed down the steps of her loft apartment, he’d wanted to sprint back and take it from her.  It was a stupid gesture and he wasn’t even sure what he meant by it.  After screaming at Layla in her shop, he’d gone home and paced his small apartment.  It had felt good to get his anger out.  It seemed to clear his head a bit and with his thoughts less jumbled, he needed a way to show Layla he was sorry and that he wanted to move forward.  Forward to where he wasn’t sure, but forward none the less.  So he’d dug through his still unpacked boxes and found the only thing he knew could say what he needed to.  Sighing, he rested his head on the steering wheel.  In retrospect, maybe giving her the wooden piece had said too much.
The past few weeks had been a roller coaster for him.  His father’s death, finding out he had a daughter, and seeing the girl he’d been sure was “the one” for the first time in years.  Taylor had the feeling he wasn’t any closer to getting off the ride.  He only knew now that his anger had started to clear, it left him with a mess of other emotions to work through.  He had to learn how to be a father and fast.  Then there was the ever present sizzle he still felt whenever Layla was near.  Taylor wasn’t sure he'd ever get past what she'd done but he had the inkling his love for her was bigger than her lie. 

From the Rubble is available in ebook format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ARe.

It's Release Day: From the Rubble

Well, it's finally here.  The release of the follow up to Tears in the Rubble, From the Rubble.  I'm up way too early searching for purchase links for you and stressing about going to work today.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  It's just what I do.

Join Taylor and Layla for the final chapter of their journey in the long awaited follow up to Tears in the Rubble.

In the wake of a terrible betrayal, Taylor and Layla bury their feelings for the other, good and bad, just to get by day to day.  Forced together because of their daughter, Taylor struggles to forgive Layla so he falls into the role of fatherhood, naturally striving to be the best father he can be.

Layla’s guilt overwhelms her as she fights herself over her feelings for Taylor.  After all, she doesn’t believe she deserves another chance.  She’s already had too many. 

Making a family out of a broken relationship won’t be easy, but with both Taylor and Layla pushing forward, will they ever find a new normal?  Will they ever confront their feelings for one another?

From the Rubble is now available in ebook format at Amazon, ARe and Barnes and Noble.

From the Rubble Playlist...

If you read Tears in the Rubble (and you should have if you're reading From the Rubble) you may have seen my playlist.  I love music.  It influences many parts of my life, so here are the songs that influenced or remind me of Taylor and Layla's journey in From the Rubble.

                                                     
1. Youth Group-Forever Young

2. The Flys-Got You (Where I Want You)

3. Jem-Amazed

4. Aerosmith-Cryin'

5. Lady Antebellum-Just A Kiss

6. Taylor Swift-Today Was a Fairytale

7. The Lumineers-Ho Hey

8. Breaking Benjamin-Breath
9. Anna Ternheim-My Heart Still Beats For You

Hope you all enjoy my little playlist!  Don't forget release day is tomorrow!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Paranormal/Supernatural Movies

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about the paranormal and supernatural.  Ghost, exorcisms, demons, maybe even the Devil himself.

These are in no particular order...

10. The Exorcist
9. The Sixth Sense
8. A Haunting in Connecticut
7. The Evil Dead
6. Drag Me to Hell
5. The Ring
4. The Omen (1976)
3. Silent Hill
2. Grave Encounters
1. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Top Ten Tuesday: Slasher Flicks

If you know me you know how much I love Halloween and how much I love horror movies.  So I thought what better way to spend my October blogging time than talking about those things.  Now, you're probably thinking a whole month?  Oh yes!  I can go on and on and I plan too.

You may also think it's weird for someone who's written Romance to love horror but..... I do.

Now, horror is such a broad genre I thought I'd break it down a bit.  We're starting our first Top Ten Tuesday with Slasher Flicks which are my all time favorite.

10. My Bloody Valentine (2009)

9. Harper's Island
(This was not a movie but a slasher flick disguised as a mini series.)











8. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon











7. Wes Craven's New Nightmare











6.  Psycho (1960)











 5. Scream












4. Friday the 13th (1980)











3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)












2. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

1. Halloween (1978)











Bonus:  Rob Zombie's Halloween  I love this movie almost as much as the original.  Also The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994) and the remake from 2003 are pretty high on my list.

I can go on and on.  It was hard for me to narrow this down and I was surprised by how many I'd forgotten about..

Reviews, reviews, reviews...why are they important?

Tuesdays are usually reserved for a Top Ten list of some sort, but I haven't done one in a while, and I actually tried to make this topic into a top ten list.  I just couldn't do it.

With my next book coming out soon I've been thinking a lot about marketing.  I know a lot of authors don't pay attention to reviews, good or bad.  They don't want to see what people have to say.  They trust their editors and they'd rather keep doing what they do and loving it.  This is a hard business to be in and you definitely have to have thick skin.  I know that not everyone will like what I write, and I'm okay with that because for every person that doesn't there is a person that does.  That brings me to why you should leave a review if you enjoy indie authors or authors from smaller publishers...

1. Because I want you to...pretty simple, right?

2. Leaving a review on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles (or any other site for that matter) helps other readers find our books.

3. For every negative review there could be a positive review.  People are less likely to say the good things but people almost always share their negative thoughts.  Help change that...

4. I like to know what people think.  Other authors do too.

5. Good reviews can bump rankings higher on vendor's sites.

6. We can use reviews to improve.

7. It gives you a chance to express the journey you went through while reading.  You get to be the writer for once.

I almost made it to ten, but not quite.  Hey, I tried!  Leaving a review really does help us and we appreciate it.

So What if I Think the Capital of SC is Charleston...

I recently took a trip to Myrtle Beach and had a blast.  It was my first time there.  It was actually my first time in South Carolina.  Some friends got married on the beach giving us all an excuse to have some fun and take a trip.

We headed out late on Wednesday night in our rented Town & Country and I have to say that I momentarily wanted to own a minivan.  It had all kinds of awesome features including two DVD players and built in navigation.  So off we go on our twelve hour drive.  We made it safely and the drive went smoothly.  I was so excited to sink my toes in the sand and feel the ocean breeze on my face.

There's just something about the beach and the ocean that I can't describe.  Something about it that makes me feel at ease.  I don't worry when I'm there.  It may be the fact that I'm usually on vacation when I'm at the beach but I think its more than that.  There's something serene and soothing about the salty air, the waves crashing, and the sand between your toes.  Plus there's always the sunshine.  Needless to say I soaked up as many rays as I could, enjoyed some delicious drink, and spent time with some great friends.  And last but not least celebrated the marriage of two great people.

For the record the capital of South Carolina is Columbia.  What can I say I was never good at that stuff.  Plus its been a while...

Congrats again to Mr. and Mrs. Limeberry!  Wishing you all the best!

The One and Only...Nina Jordan

Hey everyone!  My friend and fellow Rebel, Kate Roth, is dropping by with one of the characters from her debut novel, The Low Notes.  Nina Jordan is going to answer a few questions for us.  Thanks Kate and Nina! 

1.      So Nina, I understand you’re in high school.  What’s that like?  What grade are you in?

I’m a senior, finally free. High school has been okay but I’m definitely ready to spread my wings a little bit.

2.      Is there anything you are looking forward to this year?  Dances?  Football games?

The senior choir concert is the only major thing I’m looking forward to. It’ll be the first time I perform at school. I guess prom is on the list but I’m still not sure about it.

3.      Do you have any cute teachers?  When I was younger all my teachers were older ladies.

Um, yeah I guess. There’s one guy…I mean teacher. He’s sort of good looking.

4.      I understand you have a passion for music.  Tell me about that.  Who are some of your favorites?

Music is my life! I love to sing and play piano. I can play a little guitar too but I’m rusty. I love everything from old standard singers like Frank Sinatra and Nina Simone to Adele and Maroon 5. I can even get down with some 1980’s rock if I’m feeling fun.

5.      Is your family supportive of your love of music?

Sure, I think. My dad travels for work so he can’t always make it to performances but he’s always been willing to pay for lessons. He bought me the most beautiful piano for my twelfth birthday.

6.      Are you dating anyone?

No. Um, well…it’s complicated. I mean, no. No I’m not.

7.      What are your college plans?  Are you sticking around Wexley Falls?

The Big Apple is calling my name. I’m outta here…leaving it all behind.

8.      What’s the one thing in your wardrobe you can’t live without?

I have a pretty awesome dress collection that I’d be sad to lose. Most are fancy and impractical but I can’t resist a great dress.

9.      What do you think of all of these reality shows?  I know most girls your age are obsessed.

Not really my thing. I haven’t had a lot of time to watch TV lately. I guess I’m a little distracted…with school and all.

10.  Okay, last one.  We’ll make it a fun one.  What’s your go to snack?  The one thing that makes you feel better or just always sounds good.

It’s not so much a snack but I love breakfast foods. Pancakes are my favorite. So yummy!

Thanks again for stopping by!

To find out more about Kate Roth or to find out where to buy The Low Notes go to Kate's website.

A Cover is Revealed...

Today was a very happy day for me.  I'm excited to finally be able to share the cover for From the Rubble with you!  A big thanks goes out to Rebel Ink Press and their graphic artist Carl Franklin.  My two gorgeous covers wouldn't have come to life without them.

From the Rubble is a follow up to Tears in the Rubble and will be released from Rebel Ink Press on Oct 17th 2012.  For more information visit the coming soon tab above.

Hitting Send...

I finally decided it was time...

I let you all know the other day that I had finished writing From the Rubble.  Well, finishing it definitely doesn't make it a finished product or even a submittable product.  My writing process is all over the place.  When I'm done it's kind of like playing connect the dots, so I always have to go back through and make sure it all adds up.  Not to mention grammar, spelling, typos, any number of things...

After going through From the Rubble twice on my own I decided to hit send this morning.  It has officially been submitted to my publisher.  Now comes the fun part.  The waiting.  Waiting to see what they think, waiting to see how well I really edited myself, and waiting to see how soon it will be released.

I take pride in learning from my editor, and trying to improve.  There are so many things that I don't know, things I could improve on, or just plain get lazy about, so I owe a lot to the person who is willing to take the time to teach me those things.  A huge thanks goes out to my amazing editor.  You're the best!

So, today I'm off to a kiddie Tae Kwon Do cookout where I will be obsessively checking my email on my phone.  Yes, I know I won't get it back that fast, but I will still do it.

Big News...

Today is an exciting day!  I just finished writing the last scene for From the Rubble, the follow up to Tears in the Rubble.  I can't believe it's done.  In a few minutes, I'm going to start going through and editing a bit before I send it off to my publisher.  I couldn't be more excited!

So now I will edit and submit, and wait impatiently (shhh) for my cover and release date.  I'm so excited to share this second novel with you.

Thanks again for all the support and encouragement!  It really means the world to me.  I hope everyone enjoys the second one as much as the first.

And don't forget to tell people to hurry up and read Tears in the Rubble :)

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July!  Stay cool, hydrated, and please don't set anything on fire.

Also, I have some exciting news.  I was featured in Rebel Ink's Newsletter this month.  If you have a minute check it out.

Rebel Ink Press July Newsletter

Have a great safe day celebrating!