2018 Goals #IWSG #amwriting #amediting

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. January's co-hosts are Tyrean Martinson, The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan, Rachna Chhabria, and Jennifer Lane. Find the other IWSG participants here.

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe 2018 is upon us, but we've made it.

In 2017, I wrote 111,465 words and edited 908,937 words between my own work and other people's work. I've been on a writing hiatus since October 24, but I'm back writing as of January 1. And I'm trying to be more realistic of what I can accomplish. *crosses fingers* We'll see how it goes.

In 2018, my goals include:

• Publish Forged (The Fate Challenges #2) in mid-2018.
• Publish Elements of Untethered Realms (Elements of Untethered Realms 1-4) in October 2018.
• Rewrite and start editing Destined (The Fate Challenges #3) for a 2019 release.

I also hope to read at least twenty-four books, continue to critique for my critique partners, and schedule in the occasional breaks.

What are your goals for 2018?

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question:What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing? For over two years, I wrote every single day. I don't plan to do quite that, but I am trying to do better about having reasonable goals and scheduling in some downtime too. For me, I need to remember writing is part-time. I have a full-time job, and it's too hard for me to treat writing as one too. So my plan is to have monthly goals and take one day at a time.

---

Since I'm trying to be more realistic about my goals, here is what I hope to accomplish in January.

• Rewrite/edit 20,000 words in Forged.
• Edit my friend's novel.

Yep, that's pretty much it. Five thousand words or so a week and I'll meet my writing goal, but I'm hoping to spend a few days writing/editing more so I can take a day or two off here and there.

Here's to a productive 2018!

A reminder: Bookworm News has moved to the last day of the month.

Hindsight Is... #IWSG | December's Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. December's co-hosts are Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner. Find the other IWSG participants here.

December's question: As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?

I can think of three distinct things I would have done differently, but the last two bleed over into what I would have done differently in 2016 too.

1. Take a break. Thank you all for your kind comments on last month's IWSG post about my writing hiatus. It took a few weeks to settle into not writing/editing, but I am less anxious about not writing and editing. I've decided to take the rest of the month off so I can start the new year fresh.
2. Read Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron much earlier than I did. I just finished this book, and it's amazing. True, I was doing some of these techniques subconsciously in my work, but the questions Cron has me asking my characters and scenes will make a difference (for the better, I hope!). It's given me so many ideas on how to take Forged and Destined to the next level.
3. Work on one project at a time (i.e. The Fate Challenges). While I don't necessarily regret working on Soul Reaper series, I do wish I'd used that time to focus on finishing up Forged and Destined instead. If so, then they would be out in the world now. Or at least much closer to publication. It's looking like mid-2018 for Forged and early 2019 for Destined. Live and learn. *sighs*

What would you do differently?

2018 Stats: 111,229 words written and 908,601 words edited

---

Changes are coming to my "Bookworm News" section.

Starting in January, Bookworm News will be in its separate post on the last day of the month. The post, if not including a guest post, will have its comments turned off. I'll still highlight what books I've read as well as what speculative fiction books were released. These posts are also available for cover reveals and guest posts, if anyone is interested.

But the biggest change is that I am no longer reviewing books I've read. I do not come to this decision lightly as I know how important reviews are, but they're causing me too much stress to write and are making reading not as enjoyable as it used to be. I will continue to rate what books I read on Goodreads and maybe even leave a sentence or two of what I loved, but I won't officially be reviewing books.

BOOKS READ

Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron

BOOK REVIEWED

Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce

All the kingdoms of Wales are threatened when the Picts arrive in Mark Noce's Dark Winds Rising. Set several years after Between Two Fires, this novel follows Queen Branwen as she seeks to keep peace within her kingdom and her surrounding neighbors. The cunning and passionate Branwen matures throughout this story as she faces Queen Sab's sinister plot, which kept me guessing until the end. Noce makes the late 600s Wales come to life. I do hope there will be another book because the Queen Branwen series keeps getting better. An enchanting and fast-paced historical novel, Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce is a must-read. SPECULATIVE FICTION RELEASING IN DECEMBER Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce Sea of Strangers by Erica Cameron Huntress Lost by A.A. Chamberlynn Rebel Faerie by Rachel Morgan Ghouls by Lou Klein The Young Queens by Kendare Blake MIND: The Fracture by Jenn Nixon Doom Sayer by Clara Coulson As this is most likely my last post for this year, I hope everyone has a storybook ending for 2017. Happy Holidays!

I Never Intended to Be a Writer #IWSG | September Goals | Bookworm News #SpecFic

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. September's co-hosts are Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure. Find the other IWSG participants here.

September's Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing?

YES! All the time.

While growing up, I never intended to be a writer. Though I've always had a great imagination, I was rather dreadful when it came to writing papers in English classes. The main reason was because I missed learning how to write a paper in high school, and I didn't learn how to write one until a college English class. In high school, I went from regular English 9 to Advanced English 10. Advanced English 9 and College-Bound and regular English 10 learned to write papers. I missed that all so important step. *sighs*

So, as you can probably imagine, I hated writing. In fact, I even told my AP English 12 teacher that I was going to move to a foreign country so I'd never have to write in English again. *laughs* Because I thought I was inept when it came to writing, every time I read something I've written since I've become a writer, I'm surprised and amazed.

Has your writing surprised you? What are your insecurities this month?

---

August was a surprisingly good month for completing my goals.

I finished editing Forged (The Fate Challenges #2), and it's now with my critique partners. I completed my outline edit of Destined (The Fate Challenges #3), formatted the manuscript, and have started editing it. I'm hoping to finish this edit by November 15, and I'm planning to work on Destined during weekdays.

I've been using weekends to work on Soul Reaper series, and I'm making progress on editing the outlines so I'll be ready to start edits and write books 3-5 eventually. I was hoping to start writing A Soul to Take (Soul Reaper #3) in October, but now I'm thinking I should finish the outlines and edit the books I've already written before writing A Soul to Take, especially if I want to have 1-2 Soul Reaper books published before the end of next year. We'll see how it goes.

A big shout out to Christine Rains for finishing her urban fantasy series Totem. All nine novellas are fantastic reads!

Untethered Realms is gearing up to publish the fourth Elements of Untethered Realms anthology. Spirits in the Water will be released in early October, and my story "The Folding Point" is in it. In August, I was busy reformatting the previous anthologies and getting some images ready for #4. Besides being one of the editors and having a story in the anthology, I am also the final proofreader and formatter. It's so much fun to see all of it come together.

Here are my September goals:
- Continue editing Destined. Ideally, I'd like to be at the midway point by the end of this month.
- Format, proofread, and publish (likely as a preorder for an October 2nd or 3rd release date) Spirits in the Water.
- Continue working on the outlines for Soul Reaper series.

What are your goals for September?

2017 Stats: 99,493 words written and 766,670 words edited

---

BOOKS READ AND REVIEWED

True Shifter by Christine Rains

The Hook Up by Tawna Fenske

SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKS

RELEASING IN SEPTEMBER

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding: A Fiendish Arrangement by Alexandra Bracken

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

Warcross by Marie Lu

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

The Han Agent by Amy Rogers

Fireblood by Elly Blake

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

Summoner by S.D. Grimm

Zero Point by Adam Quinn
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Werebiker by Paige Cuccaro

#IWSG: What Is in a Name? #penname | #Specfic Bookworm News

IWSG was created by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other participants. August's co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders.

As I've been working on the Soul Reaper series, I've been considering whether or not to create a pseudonym for my adult urban fantasy work. It wouldn't be a secret pen name as I've been talking about working on the series here, my website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. My work under my own name has been rather all over the place when it comes to genre, although it fits under the umbrella term speculative fiction. My published stories have been young adult or general adult—limited (closed door) sex, light cussing, and some violence.

Soul Reaper may have sex (Diana Greyson says a big YES, but I keep telling the character we'll wait and see if the scene stays. Her daughter wants to keep that door open too, if possible.) and will have violence and strong language. It's adult fiction and fits well in the urban fantasy genre. I see potential for one to two companion series, and I have other adult urban fantasy ideas as well. A pen name may suit my urban fantasy side while I continue to use my own name for my young adult and general adult speculative fiction work. A pen name would be good to use when marketing, particularly narrowing in on the UF fanbase and keeping the Also Boughts more focused on books similar to mine, as opposed to all different genres like my other books.

Yet it would mean a new email address, website, domain name, and newsletter, which will take a bit of time to set up, but aren't overly time-consuming. It would mean branding and marketing the new name, which can be a bit (i.e. a lot) harder.

So this question to use a pen name or not has been weighing on my mind and is my current insecurity. There are so many pros and cons, and I still haven't decided one way or the other. *sighs*

What are your insecurities this month?

August's IWSG question: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published? The very first story I wrote that was not school related or posted on a fanfiction site was a short story similar to the Sherlock Holmes' stories called "The Case of the Tom Cat," featuring Detective Liam O'Hare. I wrote that story in 2006. The story, around 3500 words, was briefly published in 2009. Unfortunately, the publisher fell apart about six weeks later, so I never received royalties for it. *frowns*

The first novel I wrote was Reborn (titled The Phoenix Prophetess at the time). I wrote it in 2009, rewrote it in 2012/2013 and published it in May 2014.

On July 8, 2016, I finished writing the first draft of Destined. So I've completed my first series! Destined came in at 86,410 words. The Fate Challenges will be just a little shy of 300,000 words when all is said and done. Now comes the hard task: editing.

When I finished Destined, I started rewriting A Soul to Kill. The rewrite is going very well, and I should finish it in the middle of this month or so.

Oh, on July 1, I got some fantasy/sci-fi tattoos. My first ones! The three stars tattoo is from the Harry Potter books and is on my left wrist, and the other on my right ankle is the Earth/Tau'ri symbol from Stargate. Now I'm considering the Deathly Hollows symbol on my left ankle. Hmm...

My August goals include:

- Finish the rewrite of A Soul to Kill.
- Revise my outline for A Soul to Reap.

- When the rewrite is done, I plan to write "The Folding Point" for Spirits in the Water (UR anthology #4, forthcoming 2017). This story will be set in my Paperist world, like my stories "Paper Lanterns" in Mayhem in the Air and "Folds in Life and Death" in Parallels: Felix Was Here.

- Edit A Soul to Protect.
- Finish editing a friend's novellas. For real this time!

What are your goals for this month?

2016 Stats: 202,742 words written and 985 pages edited

BOOKS READ

A Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan
Flashpoint by Adam Quinn

BOOK REVIEWS

A Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan

Calla Larkenwood's world is ripping apart at the seams in Rachel Morgan's A Faerie's Curse. This novel is the finale to Calla's story, and boy, it is one fast-paced ride! I didn't want to stop reading. The end of Part One had me crying. The end of Part Two left me shocked. I even gasped at what happened in that part. The ending was sweet and touching, but Morgan also left enough questions unanswered for the next part of the Creepy Hollow series, which I'm already excited to read. What I love best about Calla is that no matter what she goes through, she does find a way to remain true to herself. Action, danger, romance, and more—A Faerie's Curse by Rachel Morgan has it all!

Flashpoint by Adam Quinn

Taylor Ghatzi must re-enter the world she'd left behind in order to stop another galaxy war in Adam Quinn's Flashpoint. Most of this space opera novel is told from Taylor's point of view. A telekinetic now working in emergency services, she embraces her military background, which makes her a strong character, although sometimes I felt a bit distanced from her. She lets down her mask, though, by the end. The other view point is from the diplomat Cherran DeGuavra. Cherran easily became my favorite character. Sometimes foppish in nature, he carries the weight of his father's legacy upon him with pride. The intricate world building took me a little while to get used to with many unique names and an alphabet soup of agencies, but I enjoyed Quinn's attention to detail as well as the technological advances he created. I found the galaxy politics rather relevant to what's going on in the world today, and I have a feeling we've just dipped our toes into the mysteries of this galaxy's inhabitants. Space opera fans will likely enjoy Flashpoint by Adam Quinn.

BOOKS RELEASING IN AUGUST

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Sign of the Green Dragon by C. Lee McKenzie

Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter

Shadow Born by Jasmine Walt and Rebecca Hamilton

Unbreakable by Liz Long

Unknown by Wendy Higgins

Flashpoint by Adam Quinn

Quantum by Jess Anastasi
Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott
Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith
Forever Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
Six Scary Stories by Stephen King and Others
Between Two Fires by Mark Noce

Come back on August 17 for a post from Mark Noce, whose book Between Two Fires releases in August. I should also have a review of Between Two Fires up by then.

366 Days. One Leap Year of Writing #IWSG | July Writing Goals | #SpecFic Bookworm News

IWSG was created by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other participants. July's co-hosts are Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte, LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott.

On July 1, 2015, I decided to apply my exercise goals to my writing. Basically, I would write for so many minutes a day, which started at a mere twenty-two minutes a day and built up to forty-five minutes by November 2015. A leap year later, I now have the results of writing a bit a day, every single day. The only writing words I counted included original fiction and outlines.

From July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, I wrote 326,642 words.

I completed the first drafts of Marked (26,095 words), The Mission (21,530 words), Forged (73,997 words), "Folds in Life and Death" (6360 words), "On Day 168" (7899 words), Determined (14,588 words), A Soul to Kill (40,908 words), and A Soul to Protect (14,349 words). I wrote the outlines to Destined (5248 words), A Soul to Kill (719 words),  A Soul to Protect (1115 words), and A Soul to Reap (8886 words). I'm still working on the novels Destined (87,431 words) and A Soul to Reap (17,517 words).

I hope to continue writing a bit every day. What I've learned the most is every single word adds up. The only downside, now I have to edit all those words. *laughs*

July 6's IWSG question: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

My answer: A reader and fellow author said she read my book (95,000-word novel) in one evening/night. I remember doing that with the Harry Potter books and to think someone read my book like that, it blew me away.

I can't believe we're halfway through the year already. I'm so close to finishing Destined, the last book in The Fate Challenges series, and I'm making progress in A Soul to Reap. I also finished editing the stories for the upcoming Untethered Realms' anthology Ghosts of Fire. Edited: Of course, last night (July 5), I realized I need to change things in A Soul to Reap. The best course of action is to rewrite A Soul to Kill and then modify my outline in A Soul to Reap before going back to it.

Here are my July goals:

• Finish writing Destined. At thirty forty-five minutes a day, I should finish Destined soon.
• Continue writing A Soul to Reap. Rewrite A Soul to Kill. Once I finish Destined, I will spend forty-five minutes a day on this short novel.
• Edit "On Day 168." My story for Ghosts of Fire is due to the proofreaders in August.
• Edit a friend's novellas.

2016 Stats: 172,770 words written and 883 pages edited

What are your goals for July?

BOOK READ

Parallels: Felix Was Here by various authors

BOOK REVIEW

Parallels: Felix Was Here by various authors

Parallels: Felix Was Here explores the realms of alternate history and parallel universes in ten short stories. In the title story "Felix Was Here" by L.G. Keltner, Betty learns her idyllic city has some serious secrets. What I loved best was how Keltner built in Betty's memories of Felix and her need to find if he was real or not. Harper tumbles into a parallel universe where the rain has deadly consequences in Sandra Cox's "Rainers." I enjoyed the chemistry between Harper and Noah as well as what an alternate United States might look like. "Rainers" is a frightening and pulse-quickening tale that will lead the reader in suspense. In "WIN," Sylvia Ney explores the cost of technology as young David must teach those without the WIN system how to function in the world. I loved how Ney shows how learning is still so important, even with information at our fingertips. Michael Abayomi's "Ground Zero" shows the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. The abilities Elijah has intrigued me, and I would love to read more. Quinn discovers what unplaceable really means in Yolanda Renée's "Ever-Ton," a chilling, post-apocalyptic story. I loved the world building jammed pack in this short story. In "Folds in Life and Death" by Cherie Reich, Tecumseh's curse claims Allyson's brother, and she's left to pick up the pieces. I can't judge this story fairly because I wrote it, but if you like origami magics and alternate history set in 2001, then you might like it too. A drug trial goes awry in Hart Johnson's "The Seventeen." Johnson tells quite the horrific tale with such a unique take on a drug that's contagious. Virtual reality has real life consequences in Tamara Narayan's "Scyring the Plane." This story has me rethinking how awesome virtual reality sounds, and I really felt for the family's slow internet problems. Narayan nailed the teenage voice too. In Melanie Schulz's "The Haunted," Andy can't escape the feelings of nothingness, even though she doesn't understand why. This ending of this story made my skin break out in goosebumps and was quite the haunting story. I enjoyed every single story in Parallels: Felix Was Here and recommend the anthology.

#SPECFIC BOOKS RELEASING IN JULY

A Balance of Power by Nicole Zoltack

The Secret Language of Stone by M.J. Rose

The Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale by Danielle E. Shipley

The Devourers by Indra Das

Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn

The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis

Whiskey and Angelfire Part One by A.A. Chamberlynn

Whiskey and Angelfire Part Two by A.A. Chamberlynn

The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

Fortune's Favor by Liz Long

Destiny's Favor by Dariel Raye

Live and Let Psi by D.R. Rosensteel
Son of Thunder by Libby Bishop
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Riverkeep by Martin Stewart

Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection is 99c for the month of July!

Amazon.com | Other Amazon Sites | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords

#IWSG: "And there's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait..."

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by the awesome Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other participants. The co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG will be Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!

"And there's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait, just you wait." That line is from the musical Hamilton. If you haven't heard the soundtrack, you must do so. The musical is up for 16 Tony Awards this month and is just brilliant. Hamilton has been playing in my car on my way to work since March 8. Yes, I almost know all the lyrics by heart. My favorite part to sing is King George's lines. He's so delightfully foppish. I hope to see the musical sometime this century. But I digress...

That line is also how I feel coming from May. So many things to do and so little time, but I will accomplish them eventually. I just need Alexander Hamilton's energy. Seriously. The desire to do ALL THE THINGS has left me a bit overwhelmed.

So I've decided I need to adjust some things so I can get more of what I really want to do finished. The blog will be a major change. Starting in July, I'm combining IWSG, my writing goals update, and #specfic bookworm news into one post on IWSG day so I have one planned post a month. It'll make the post a bit long, but you have all month to visit and comment. It will also free up the blog for a guest post or announcement at any ol' time. And maybe it won't take me weeks to catch up on visiting blogs and commenting like it has been the past few months.

A person can hope.

At this time, I also plan to not add a second writing project when I finish Destined. Although I may change my mind, it will be nice putting my writing attention on the Soul Reaper series for a while.

Do you have a million things waiting for you to do? Have you heard the music from Hamilton or seen the musical? If you have seen it, I am super-jealous, just so you know.

---

As for last month's goals, editing was a big bust. I had some time but none of the energy for it. I did, however, continue writing in Destined and A Soul to Reap. In Destined, I've completed 32 out of 41 chapters. Since I finished A Soul to Reap's outline in May, I now know I have completed 4 out of 43 chapters. I also finished writing the not-quite-so-short story "A Soul to Protect" at 14,360 words.

I did have two anniversaries in May. On May 24, I completed my goal of exercising every single day for one year. My next goal is to exercise every single day for at least thirty minutes a day for a year, which should happen on November 1. Also, on May 29, I've officially been blogging here for seven years. Wow! The time flies.

My June goals are:

• Write for 30 minutes a day in Destined.
• Write for 15 minutes a day in A Soul to Reap.
• Edit the short stories for Ghosts of Fire, UR anthology #3, which includes my story "On Day 168."

What are your goals for June?

2016 Stats: 145,698 words written and 780 pages edited

I'm running a 99c sale on People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors this month. You can pick up an e-copy at these retailers: Amazon.com, Other Amazon Sites, Google Play, iTunes, Kobo, Nook, OmniLit, and Smashwords. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you can receive A to Z Flashes of Foxwick for free.

#IWSG: The Pros and Cons of Writing Every Day | A Cover Reveal of Misha Gerrick's Endless

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants. The co-hosts are Megan Morgan, Christopher D. Votey, Viola Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Patricia Lynne, and Rachna Chhabria.

"Write every day" is common advice given to writers.

When I first started writing, I wrote most days, but I was only writing in other people's worlds via online roleplaying games and fan fiction. That dedication to writing most days changed when I started writing for publication. I wrote in spurts. Some months I would write 20,000+ words. Others, I was lucky to get in 2,000 words. On July 1, 2015, I decided to spend a number of minutes a day on writing.

Now I don't believe you have to write every day. It's what is working for me now, but that doesn't mean I won't skip a day or more in the future. Like all advice, writing every day has its pros and cons.

Three pros are consistent writing, easier to remember where you left off in a manuscript, and completing works in a timely manner.

Two cons are you never get a day off and the necessity of having a new project ready to go when you finish an old one. That last con is my big insecurity for the day. I'm a few weeks away from starting a new novel, A Soul to Reap (Soul Reaper #1). In three or four months, I will start a new series, To the Future (YA Urban Fantasy). I've been panicking the last few weeks and wondering how in the world will I be ready to write these new books.

What is your insecurity this month?

---

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a big overachiever. I finished last month's goals. Two months in a row! On March 14, I completed the first draft of A Soul to Kill (Soul Reaper #0). The first draft came in at 40,905 words. Of course, two days after I finished it, I've been wondering if the story should have been told in first person point of view instead of third. If so, then I have a big rewrite to do in April/May. *sighs* Destined (The Fate Challenges #3) continues to progress, and I've completed 17 chapters out of 41. I finished edits on "Folds in Life and Death" and the bonus woodwose section, which I  plan to make available for free on my website in the coming months. I also outlined "A Soul to Protect" and have been writing it since March 15 and am on scene two out of five. I've made some progress with marketing, but we'll see how it goes the next few months.

My goals for April are:

• Write for 30 minutes a day in Destined.
• Write for 15 minutes a day in "A Soul to Protect." When I finish this short story, I'll start writing A Soul to Reap.
• Outline A Soul to Reap.
• Edit Marked based off my first critique partner's notes.
• Start rewriting/editing A Soul to Kill.

What are your goals for April?

Current 2016 Stats: 90,027 words written and 705 pages edited

I'm over at the Parallels' blog today for the A-Z Challenge: Emotions. I have an excerpt from "Folds in Life and Death."

“First, do no harm.” Blake Ryan swore that oath to become a doctor. Ironic, given that he spent most of his thousand year life sucking souls out of other immortals. 

Things are different now. Using regular shots of morphine to keep his inner monster at bay, Ryan has led a quiet life since the Second World War. His thrills now come from saving lives, not taking them.

Until a plane crash brings Aleria into his hospital. Her life is vibrant. Crack to predators like him. She’s the exact sort of person they would hunt, and thanks to a severe case of amnesia, she’s all but defenseless.

Leaving Aleria vulnerable isn’t an option, but protecting her means unleashing his own inner monster. Which is a problem, because his inner monster wants her dead most of all.

Pre-order at AmazonUS | Amazon Universal | Apple | Nook | Kobo or add to Goodreads.

Misha Gerrick lives near Cape Town, South Africa, and can usually be found staring at her surroundings while figuring out her next book. Tumblr | Twitter | Google Plus | Writing Blog

To celebrate one year since its re-release, Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection is 99c for a limited time. Purchase at Amazon.com | Other Amazon Stores | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords.

#IWSG: A Tenative Marketing Plan #pricepulsing

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants. This month's co-hosts are: Lauren Hennessy, Lisa Buie-Collard, Lidy Wilks, Christine Rains, and Mary Aalgaard.

I have social and generalized anxiety. Despite taking medication to help tone down the side effects, I have pulled away a lot from social activities, particularly social media. My book sales, or lack thereof, show it. So far this year across four books, I've sold a whopping 4 copies and have had 2 free downloads.

So I've decided to take baby steps to promote myself more. I utilize my newsletter once a month or so. I enjoy blogging, and blogging two times a month is really working out well for me, but I need to do more than that.

Here is what I have planned so far:

• Price pulsing. I plan to lower the price of one of my books a month. This month A to Z Flashes of Foxwick is free.
• Advertising. Although I don't have much money to advertise my books or enough reviews on three of them to advertise them on paid sites, I can create promo images, post in Facebook groups that allow ads, and mention my books once in a while on Twitter with the goal of not spamming people. (I think the last time I mentioned my book(s) on Twitter was back in November or something like that.)
• Mention my blog posts on my Facebook page and Twitter.
• Talk about my works in progress more on my Facebook page and Twitter.

My goal is to do a little more without edging into the spamming people side of promoting, and I hope to find a way to share more of my interests too that relate to the realm of speculative fiction. We'll see how it goes. One step at a time.

What do you do to market yourself and your books?

---

In February, I actually completed every single one of my goals! I think that's a first. I also decided to switch my main and secondary projects, and the decision worked out well. I wrote for thirty minutes a day in A Soul to Kill and have 13 out of 16 chapters written. As for Destined, I wrote for fifteen minutes a day and have 10 out of 41 chapters completed. I finished editing a friend's novel, another edit on "Folds in Life and Death," and outlined Destined. I also finally sat down and edited Marked, which is with my first critique partner. Man, I don't know why I waited so long to edit it. The story was maj and read well. Of course, I could be delusional. *laughs* I've also edited my short story "On Day 168" for the upcoming Untethered Realms' anthology and have sent it to the editor.

My March goals include:

• Write 30 minutes a day in A Soul to Kill.
• Write 15 minutes a day in Destined.
• Final edits on "Folds of Life and Death."
• Outline the short story "A Soul to Protect" for the Untethered Realms anthology Spirits in the Water (Forthcoming 2017).
• Edit the bonus woodwose section for the forthcoming boxed set of The Fate Challenges.
• Implement my new marketing plan.

What are your goals for this month?

Current 2016 Stats: 59,469 words written and 577 pages edited.

Galactic Empires

Eight Novels of Deep Space Adventure

Adventure, war, intrigue and survival in the far reaches of space. Novels include The Backworlds by M. Pax, Ambassador 1: Seeing Red by Patty Jansen, Alien Hunters by Daniel Arenson, Hard Duty by Mark E. Cooper, Bypass Gemini by Joseph Lallo,  Sky Hunter by Chris Reher, The Galapagos Incident by Felix Savage, and First Conquest by David VanDyke.

FREE at Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook

#IWSG: Passion, Projects, and Plans | Cover Reveal Parallels: Felix Was Here

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click here to visit the other IWSG participants.

Today's post seems to be brought to you by the letter P. *laughs*

My writing projects Destined (The Fate Challenges #3) and A Soul to Kill (Soul Reaper #0) have been on my mind a lot lately. I've noticed how I light up when I talk about A Soul to Kill and the Soul Reaper series in general. When it comes to reading, I want to dive into all the urban fantasy books. It's not that I don't enjoy Yssa's story. We've been together for ten years, after all, but I'm all excited about Soul Reaper. This passion has led me to ponder whether I should switch my projects #1 and #2.

And this idea has led to my insecurity for this month. I've made a commitment to finishing The Fate Challenges. People have read Reborn (The Fate Challenges #1) and I'm sure at least three of them are looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Destined is the last book, and I just have to finish that first draft to have the series written. Will I be letting them down if I take even longer with writing Destined? Will I be letting myself down?

I feel guilty for considering switching the two, yet I also want my main passion to be my main project. It's not that I'll stop writing Destined. It'll just take me a few months longer to finish that first draft than I first thought.

So for this month I'll switch them and see how it goes. If I don't chicken out and switch them back midway through!

What are your insecurities this month?

As you might have seen on the IWSG blog last month, my story "Folds in Life and Death" is one of the ten stories in the IWSG anthology. Thank you so much for your congratulations and kind comments. It had been a few years since I last submitted a story, so I was shocked to find out my story was one of the ten chosen.

We also have a title and cover art! Parallels: Felix Was Here will be out sometime in Spring 2016. Isn't it an awesome cover!?

Science Fiction/Alternate History

Enter the realm of parallel universes!

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Cherie Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

---

In January, I wrote in Destined and A Soul to Kill and outlined A Soul to Kill. I also edited "Folds in Life and Death" and a friend's novelette and short story. I'm working on edits for another friend's novel. Unfortunately, I keep striking out on finishing the outline for Destined as well as editing Marked (The Fate Challenges #1.5).

Here are my goals for February:
Write 30 minutes a day in main project (A Soul to Kill).
Write 15 minutes a day in a secondary project (Destined).
Finish editing a friend's novel. I plan to finish it this week/early next week.
Edit Marked. Seriously! I've put this off for way too long.
Edit "On Day 168."
Outline Destined.

Current 2016 Stats: 29,868 words written and 214 pages edited.

Realms Faire Winners / Bookworm News / Writing Update: December Goals / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 13

This year's Realms Faire is over. Thank you, everyone, who participated, hosted, and was a sponsor during the event. I have the winners for the Riddle Me This prizes.

Riddle #1 - Answer: Dragon - Winner of River Fairchild's Diamonds and Dust: Patricia Lynne

Riddle #2 - Answer: Phoenix - Winner of Christine Rains' The 13th Floor Complete Collection: dolorah

Riddle #3 - Answer: Centaur - Winner of Cherie Reich's People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors: Patricia Lynne

Riddle #4 - Answer: Dryad - Winner of Ellie Garratt's Passing Time and Taking Time: T.B. Markinson

Riddle #5 - Answer: Peryton - Winner of Cherie Reich's Reborn: Samantha Geary Jones

BOOKS READ

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors by Cherie Reich (me!)

The Fire Seekers by Richard Farr

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

A Diva in Manhattan by Aubrie Dionne

BOOK REVIEWS

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Mackie Doyle is caught between worlds in Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement. I could understand Mackie's  plight as a changeling and unable to fully be within our world and not really belonging in the one he originally came from. He tried hard to be invisible, even though people noticed him. I love Yovanoff's world she created and how she took the idea of the fae and changelings, or whatever you wish to call them, and made them her own. The pace went smoothly and the story was well written. For a new take on changelings, I would highly recommend The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff.

The Fire Seekers by Richard Farr

A new religion sweeping across the globe will change everything for Daniel and his friends in Richard Farr's The Fire Seekers. Having studied the Ancient Near East, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece as well as comparative mythologies, I was immediately sucked into this novel. Undecipherable ancient languages, ancient manuscripts, Greece and Mesopotamia are likely to pique my interest, and I often felt like I was reading about old friends throughout the course of this book. The mystery swept me in further. Who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory, after all? But the characters sealed the deal. Daniel is likable and heroic. The cast as a whole is quirky, and I loved them for it. The adventure is intense, and toward the end of the novel, I was holding my breath in anticipation for what would happen next. A fast-paced story, The Fire Seekers by Richard Farr is quite the fun thrilling story. I'm looking forward to the next book in The Babel Trilogy.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tea-time with a wizard and thirteen dwarves turns into an unexpected adventure for Bilbo Baggins in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. I first read The Hobbit back in 2002 after having seen the first of The Lord of the Rings movies. With the final movie of The Hobbit coming out in December, I wanted to read the story again, and it didn't disappoint. I'd forgotten many things and remembered others due to watching the movies. Tolkien writes this story as if he's telling you the story with asides and foreshadowing. Bilbo is a character to cheer for as he grows from a timid, flustered hobbit to a bold burglar worthy of a fourteenth of treasure. This story is lighter in narration and sometimes a bit silly than Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien again and now I really want to read his Lord of the Rings again too.

A Diva in Manhattan by Aubrie Dionne

Alaina Amaldi must change her image if she wants to keep the role of Pamina in Aubrie Dionne's A Diva in Manhattan. A brash diva, Alaina often gets what she wants, except when it comes to love. Brett Robinson uses his tragic past as a barrier to keep from loving again. I wondered how he and Alaina would ever work out, even though they seemed perfect for each other. The dual points of view kept the tension high throughout. As I have read most of Dionne's work, reading this book was like coming home. I particularly loved the opera/music teaching parts since I once was an opera singer. With tender moments and intense ones, A Diva in Manhattan by Aubrie Dionne is a must-read story for readers who love sweet romances!

COVER REVEAL

The super-talented Erin Dameron-Hill has created the cover art for Untethered Realms' boxed set collection Fantasy Uprising. This collection will release in early December.

A collection of nine fantastic, spine-tingling stories. Magic. Mystery. Murder. Heartbreak and Hope. Defeat and Victory. Fantasy Uprising delivers a heaping serving of the best of fantasy.

Reborn by Cherie Reich: To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

Fireseed One by Catherine Stine: On a devastated Earth in 2089, the son of a famous marine biologist must travel to a lethal hotzone with his worst enemy who helped destroy the world’s food source, to search for Fireseed One, a mythical hybrid plant that may not even exist. 

Givin' Up the Ghost by Gwen Gardner: In the haunted modern day medieval village of Sabrina shores, Indigo Eady must help a ghost solve his murder before she and her gang become the next victims.

The Marquis by Christine Rains: A retired demon must become the beast he loathes to save the woman he loves.

The Alpha by Christine Rains: A werewolf hunted by her pack must find a way hide or fight a battle she believes she cannot win.

The Rifters by M. Pax: In a strange wilderness town, a misplaced city gal must deal with a secret organization, a man from 1888, and a head-stealing phantom to save her missing sister.

Neverlove by Angela Brown: A tormented suicide survivor must find the power in her pain or risk the Devourer robbing her of a second chance to live, a first chance at love, and her very soul.

The Fall of Shaylar by River Fairchild: Magic is real. So is betrayal. Rivalry, jealousy, a desperate attempt to grab the magic of Shaylar—all converge to bring about the end of the precarious balance between the Five Kingdoms.

Diamonds and Dust by River Fairchild: Magic is real. So is betrayal. Two heirs. A Kingdom of dust on a troubled world. One might resurrect it. One might destroy it all.

BOOKS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER

Burdin of Choice by Alexander Nader

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

Yakuza Territory by Milo James Fowler

Captured Love by Juliana Haygert

The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni

The Trouble with Falling by Rachel Morgan
Tarkin: Star Wars by James Luceno
The Chronicles of Ara: Creation by Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard
Wickedly They Dream by Cathrina Constantine
A Diva in Manhattan by Aubrie Dionne
From the Cradle by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards
Until the Debt is Paid by Alexander Hartung
No Strings by Mark SaFranko
Presumption of Guilt by Marti Green
The Child's Past Life by Cai Jun
Revival by Stephen King
Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Blue Labyrinth by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Legion by Brandon Sanderson
Taken with a Grain of Salt by Aaron Galvin
Married by Midnight by Talli Roland
You Cannot Kill a Swan: The Love Story of Lyuba and Ivan by Ursula Hartlein
Blood on the Badge by David Huffstetler
The Attic of Sand and Secrets by Medeia Sharif
The Unhappening of Genesis Lee by Shallee McArthur

Happy Wednesday!

I've been making very little progress this month on any of my November goals so that means no working on Fall of Gravity or the outline of Destined.

It's a good thing I didn't try doing NaNoWriMo, even though I really missed not doing it this year! I've been having dry eye problems again, and reading and staring at the computer screen for 8+ hours a day sometimes leaves my vision blurry. When that happens, I have to take a couple days away from doing much eye work. Because of this issue, I've decided to take it easier on myself and not expect to do too much for the rest of the year.

Because of the upcoming holiday in the US, I won't be posting next week. I'll be back on December 3rd's IWSG post.

Here are my December goals:

• Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection - I've decided to work on this one for the rest of November and December. I hope to have the second edition of Once upon a Nightmare (originally titled The Nightmare Collection) ready by January.
• Format and publish Fantasy Uprising. This boxed set features authors (me included) of Untethered Realms.

What are your December goals?

2014 Stats

45,420 Words Written

2631 Pages Edited

*Stats taken from 1/1/14 - 11/18/14

And it's also time for another chapter of Reborn to go up on Wattpad. To read from the beginning, click here. To read Chapter Thirteen, click here.

Don't forget there's still time to pre-order your copy of People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. You'll save $3.00 by purchasing now. Pre-order at Amazon / Google Play / iTunes / Kobo / Nook / OmniLit / Smashwords.