Sunday, March 31, 2019

That Summer

Just finished Chapter 14. Six more to go, if I manage to stick to my outline.
Here's a glimpse:

She looked at the gap between the boards again. “Have you ever seen a ghost?”
Josh was standing in no time flat. He followed Peyton’s gaze, the words, “no, WHY?” shooting from his mouth, his voice cracking almost comically.
“You haven’t?” she asked, incredulous.
He shook his head. “Of course not, are you crazy?”
“A little.”
He looked back at her. It was strange to get the “you’re weird” look from someone who also had a spectrum diagnosis. Peyton’s stomach dropped.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

That Summer

Just a quick update: I'm writing chapter 8 of new book. It's called That Summer and so far I'm liking it a lot. Another ghost story, this time with a twelve year-old protagonist who's just been through a battery of tests to try and get to the bottom of her behavioural problems. The spectrum diagnosis may be appropriate, but the fact that she's surrounded by ghosts surely has something to do with it, too. In any case, a Summer spent with her grandparents should provide her the break she needs before going back to both school and her team of doctors.
But it comes with new challenges, too. Her 'break' turns into an opportunity to learn about her gifts instead of merely coping with them...only she'll have to accept that her teachers are ghosts, and they want something in return.
I'm thinking of doing the self-publishing under a pseudonym. In my haste to start this challenge, I focused on the aspects of it that were practical: it'll help me learn about self-publishing in the most comprehensive way, and it's an excuse to write another book. :)
But what if it's not my best? What if, in my efforts to learn more, I sabotage myself with something mediocre?
...
It'll take more thought, for sure. Right now, though, I'll get back to it.
xo

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Self Challenge #2 - Self Publish

I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a patient person.
The process to be traditionally published is long and sometimes painful, so I'm always looking for ways to DO something to ease the process. This blog, the Rose's Ghost Facebook page, my one chapter a day challenge which resulted in Bird With a Broken Wing - these have all been my way of surviving the tough parts.
Now, I feel that familiar discouragement simmering, so it's time for another challenge!
I'm still writing Book 3 of the Rose's Ghost series, and I've been determined to get the series published traditionally. But what about self publishing? I'm curious. It's been suggested by friends, family and readers alike, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. But I can write pretty fast, and Amazon has some amazing resources to help - what if I wrote a book just to test it out?
What if I write a chapter a day, giving myself a month to get a new book written and prepare it for publishing on Amazon? What if I published it on my birthday? Is it doable?
My birthday is on April 26th. What a cool birthday present to myself that would be, huh?
If I'm honest, I'm thinking prepping it for publishing will be the most difficult part. I know they have some guidelines and anything published has to meet certain formatting standards, etc. Stuff I'm not so awesome at...
If I fail, it'll be that stuff that drags me down. So I'll give myself a bit of a break: if, by April 26th, I've finished a new book and have prepared it to the best of my ability for self publishing, and I'm waiting on approvals or other technical stuff from Amazon, I've succeeded.
I think that's fair?
Better get to it...

Thursday, March 21, 2019

There is a Loneliness Here

At 43 years of age and quickly approaching a birthday, I am shocked to be learning only now what a lonely art writing is.
I've always loved it, have always done it in one way or another, but it's only now, when I'm trying to make a serious go of it that I see how daunting it really is. I was warned, don't get me wrong - rejections, even the kind or helpful ones, are painful. And the effort to become traditionally published is at least as hard, probably harder - than anyone ever could have been prepared me for.
But it's the loneliness that surprises me. The roller-coaster of it. I do the hard work - I go up, up, progressing through the story, getting to know the characters and to love them, feeling elated as the plot unfolds in front of me, my excitement gaining in anticipation of the thrills to come.
Then I'm taken over by the approach to the climax, unable to plateau until I empty my body of it, the words spilling onto the screen as if made of the very life and blood that courses through me.
It is ME on the pages, bare and naked in my offerings.
Me there at the top of the roller-coaster, poised at the precipice, as high as I'll ever be.
Me delighting in the fall - that empty, floating feeling as the cars are pulled over the edge, just before they plummet toward the earth. The slight rise off the seat as your body works to keep up with the motion of the machine beneath you. The speed as the story crescendos, then slows, coasting to the ending, the puzzle of it finally completed.
The cheers and noise of the participants as they exit the coaster at the finale is the reaction I get from my readers, be it praise or criticism; I love it all.
And then it stops - the sun sets and the amusement park is shut down for the night.
The letdown after I finish something - it's always there. It comes in many forms, but the worst of it...the very worst...is that none of it MATTERS if nobody reads it.
I imagine that one day, when my books are in stores and in the hands of the dear people who will love them, the 'after' of writing will be satisfying. The feeling of getting something out there, of sharing something - some part of myself - that is good. Is maybe even the best of me. But for now, it just - all goes away. I finish, I celebrate, and then it's done. Nobody even knows it's there.
Yet.
To those who've been so kind to read anything I've written: THANK YOU. You carry me forward and encourage me to get back up after the fall. Or to just stay in the roller-coaster car and go around again until the right reader finds me.
xo

Monday, March 18, 2019

The End

Chapter 15 - the final chapter of Bird With a Broken Wing - is up! It was a tough one for me to finish; I came to love the characters so much. 

I hope you love the ending.

I've got more Margot-centred stories upstairs; after I'm finished Book 3 of the Rose series (currently called Viktor), I'll get one out.

xo

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Friday, March 15, 2019

Chapter 12 of BBW is up!

Here's Chapter 12 of Bird With a Broken Wing!
I hope you're loving it! Three more chapters after this one, folks, and it's all done. :(
xo

Thursday, March 14, 2019

BBW: Ch. 11 and Book 3 of the Rose's Ghost Series

Good morning, dear readers!
Chapter 11 is up ----->

Just an update on the Rose's Ghost series: Book 3 (still needs a name) is in progress! I've had a hard time transitioning back to the series; I've loved writing Bird! But now that I'm back into the groove, I've realized how much I missed Max and Maggie and all the characters in the Rose series.

Book 3 is going to have some surprises; we're going to hear more about Greyson's past and Max is going to be forced to try and solve the mysteries surrounding the life of Viktor Kotova - his childhood and family life in Russia and why he ended up fleeing the country. We might even come to some understanding about why he was who he was at the end of his life, but I'm not giving him any benefit of the doubt just yet.

Hang in there, all! After Book 3 is finished, I'll write another short story online. I'm having so much fun!

xo

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Bird With a Broken Wing: Ch. 10

Quote of the day:

“Did your dad ever say what the cause of death was?”
“I think it was a train, Margot.”

Chapter 10 is up! ------>

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Bird With a Broken Wing - Chapter 9

Hello, dear readers!
I've posted Chapter 9------>
Please enjoy! Let me know what you think.

In other, related news, I finished writing the story last night. I was wrong; it took 15 chapters to finish it, not 14, but I'm really happy with how its turned out.

Now to pick another from the many options cooking in my crazy brain. :)

Monday, March 11, 2019

BBW: Chapter 8

Good morning, dear readers!
If you'll kindly look to the right, you'll see that Chapter 8 of Bird With a Broken Wing is posted for your reading pleasure.
For those of you wondering, I can say pretty confidently that the story will be a total of 14 chapters long.
I hope you're enjoying it!
:)

Friday, March 8, 2019

Bird With a Broken Wing - Chapter 5 is up!

Chapter 5 is up! ------->
I have to confess; I'm nearly done. Guess that means I failed the chapter a day challenge, but in a good way?!
Enjoy. :)

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Heeeere's Chapter 4!

This story has me in its grips. I can't stop thinking of it and all I want to do is write, write, write, so I can see what happens.
The chronic headache that comes with fibromyalgia makes it hard for me to look at the screen while I type, so I've had to devise some creative ways to keep going when a book takes hold of me like this. I write in short bursts, taking breaks to move around or nap.
But when I can't let go, I write while looking elsewhere; the kids, the TV, out the window...the book just keeps flowing out of my fingers. I give up when my hands and forearms start to ache.
Then it's all just trapped in my head, swirling, repeating, developing further, and I write notes with pen and paper so I can remember everything the next time I write.
I hope you enjoy Chapter 4--------->

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Chapter 3 is up!

Someone commented that 'Bird' would do well with younger folk. What do you think?
By the way, you can comment anonymously without joining Blogger. SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING!
*Ahem*

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Chapter a Day Challenge

Yep, you read that right!
I've decided to post a new chapter of Bird With a Broken Wing every day. That means minimal edits and no chance to go back and change anything. I'm bound by the posts as they're published.
I'm already falling in love with Margot and Wren; I hope you do, too!
Today's chapter - #2 - posted to the right.
xo
T

Monday, March 4, 2019

Bird With a Broken Wing

As I wait impatiently for Rose and Heather to be published, I've decided to work on two books at once; Book 3 of the Rose series and another book called Bird With a Broken Wing, which I'll write online, publishing at least one chapter a week, right here.

I'll be honest, I'm thinking of this as an investment. I need to get my name out there and I'm hoping to gain some followers and a buzz about my stories. I don't have the money to self-publish the way I would want to, so while I wait (or until the money materializes. Ha. See what I did there?), I'll invest my time and effort in writing you a story, posting it as it progresses.

All I ask is that you pass it along.

:)

Chapter 1 is right there, to the right. Enjoy, dear readers, and thank you!

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Book 2: Complete

It's bittersweet to finish the second book; I've loved writing it, which I guess is obvious, given it took me exactly three weeks, start to finish.

I'm so eager to share them with the world...

Friday, March 1, 2019

Rose's Ghost

Rose's Ghost: finished and being read by my wonderful volunteers. Queries sent to several Canadian agents and the few publishers accepting submissions. Now: we wait.

Book 2 (Heather's Field?): Three quarters finished. I'm loving this one. The only problem is that I can't get the words out of my head fast enough. It's like a fever, keeping me up at night and allowing me to focus on nothing else. I'm just hoping Rose can finally rest at the end of it. 

Book 3: Shaping up as an outline. I'm thinking this is Viktor's story, told mostly through Max's eyes.

Quote of the day:

Let go of my panties, weirdo.

~Maggie, Book 2

Maggie...

Maggie?

You have to come here, Maggie.

You have to help her. 

~Sebastian