Writing Update: September Goals / Promotion Help / Cover Reveals for two Unrealmers

 

Happy Wednesday!

I must admit I'm so looking forward to September. It'll mean we go back to the regular schedule at the day job, which means more sleep! Yay!

Here are my September goals:

• Write "Mourner's Lament" from Neighbors of Foxwick. As I mentioned last week, I'm changing up the release date for Neighbors of Foxwick from October 2013 to February 2014. This way I'll have more time to make it the best collection I can.
• Create a map of Foxwick. I found some map-making software. I'm trying out the trial version to see if I like it.
• Write Part I and half of Part II of Reforged. I hope to be finished with this novel by the end of December.
• Finish editing Reborn, Book One in The Fate Challenges. I need to send this novel to my beta readers sometime in September, so they can get it back to me by December 1.
• Final edit, proofread, format, and publish of my prequel short story in The Fate Challenges titled Magna's Plea. This fantasy short story is the same one I've been giving to newsletter subscribers. I'd like to make it free, so I can draw more interest in the forthcoming Fate Challenges. This short story will also include a sneak peek of Reborn.

And that's it for September. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? What are your September goals?

2013 Stats

117,238 words

1681 pages edited

Stats taken from 1/1/2013 - 8/28/2013

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Also, like I did for the release of Men of Foxwick, I'd like to do a promo post for the free release of Magna's Plea during the week of October 21st. You'll have your selection of a short, medium, or long post or create something yourself from the information I'll provide you before the cover reveal/promo. If you're interested, please sign up on the link list below. Thank you!!

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It is with great pleasure and a thrill in our hearts that Gwen Gardner and I (Angela Brown *hugs*) reveal the covers for our follow up stories to our currently available novels: Givin' Up the Ghost (Gwen) and Neverlove (Angela)

*cue drumroll*
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A GUILTY GHOST SURPRISED by Gwen Gardner (Add to Goodreads)

An Angel Among Us

Paranormal happenings at the Eady household are the norm. Recently, things have become downright peculiar. Childish giggles at odd hours of the night lead Indigo Eady to her little cousin, Bryan, a guileless cherub spirit, complete with Spider Man pajamas and a set of faux angel wings. The problem is that Bryan died nearly three years ago in a hit and run that killed him and his mum. The driver was never found.  Now the gang must solve the mystery of his death in order to send him back to heaven.  But where to start when the trail is three years cold?

Indigo Eady

Indigo Eady is not clumsy. At least, that’s what she keeps telling everyone. Can she help that the overactive spirit community of Sabrina Shores causes her psychic abilities to short-circuit? It’s unfortunate that her cute friend Badger is often on the receiving end of her mishaps. At times, she is positively hazardous to his health. Even so, sparks fly in more than one direction.

THEY ALL FALL DOWN by Angela Brown (Add to Goodreads)

Abby and Basil: New love reaches new heights as they finally give in to their lust and desire for each other.

Q: Consumed by the Devourer within and his base need to claim Abby as his own.

The crave: What it all boils down to. A crave for souls. A crave to keep love intact beyond betrayals. A crave for a second chance. A crave for power and The Fall of mankind.

“Love can conquer all” is put to the test and salvation may be impossible when it’s “ashes, ashes…they all fall down.”

About Gwen

Gwen Gardner is a native Californian living in sunny San Diego, where her love of reading and writing led to a BA in English literature. Life is now complete with her husband, two dogs and a daily call from her daughter.

Since ghosts feature prominently in her young adult Indigo Eady Paranormal “Cozy” Mystery series, she has a secret desire to meet one face to face - but will run screaming for the hills if she ever does. Gwen adores travel and experiencing the cultures and foods of different countries. She is always up for an adventure and anything involving chocolate - not necessarily in that order.
Haunt at the following: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

About Angela

Angela is a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness. Steampunk, fantasy and paranormal to contemporary - mostly young adult - fill her growing library of books. Mother to a rambunctious darling girl aptly nicknamed Chipmunk, life stays busy. Her favorite quote keeps her moving: "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Haunt at the following: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Wednesday's Writing Update: August Goals

 

Happy Wednesday!

Since I'm taking a vacation from the day job next week, I've decided to take a blogging vacation too. My next post will be on August 5th.

July's been very busy and trying month. I've fallen so far behind in everything it's pathetic, and I just can't seem to catch up where I should be, so once again I'm rearranging my goals. It hasn't helped that I've been having some eye problems since April. I have dry eye--probably caused by my allergy medicine and spending 8+ hours a day on the computer doesn't help either. The eye doctor said the average person's tears break up around fifteen seconds; mine break up around three seconds. I'm taking OTC drops and flax seed oil pills, and while that does help, when I'm tired, my eyes refuse to work. It's slowed down my writing and reading a lot more than I want to admit. So I'm a big Camp NaNoWriMo fail for the first time since I started participating in NaNoWriMos. *sighs* I'm still hoping to get at least Part I in Reforged finished as well as four short stories in Neighbors of Foxwick this month.

Also yesterday was my dad's 59th birthday and my parents' 36th anniversary!

Here are my August goals:

• Edit Reborn. So far, I've gotten no editing time for Reborn, but I still have August to finish it up. I plan to send Reborn to beta readers by early September (after Labor Day).
• Write Part II of Reforged. Right now I have a bit of a rewrite on Part I that I hope to accomplish in July, but I'd like to have Parts I and II finished of Reforged by the end of August.
• Finish writing the short stories in Neighbors of Foxwick. I want to have this done by the end of July too, but if I have a short story or two left over, then I can finish them in early August and still be ready to publish the collection in October.

What are your August goals?

2013 Stats

111,310 words (21,191 words this month)

1581 pages edited

Stats taken from 1/1/2013 - 7/23/2013

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Also, Smashwords is once again having its Summer/Winter Sale. Through the end of July, you can purchase the ebooks of Gravity: The Complete Trilogy and The Nightmare Collection for $1.50 using the coupon code: SSW50. By the way, I've been playing around with the ebook covers for these two books. What do you think?

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I also have two unedited excerpts. The first is from "Siren's Call," a short story in the forthcoming Neighbors of Foxwick.

“Keep an eye out for rocks, so we don’t run aground.” She shifted the wheel toward the island.

“Aye, Capt’n!” Jamsey saluted.

Thunder grumbled like an ornery old man. Another wave swelled and lifted the ship high in the air. Tamarlyn held her breath as they crashed down.

“Hold on!” She cried out.

Water swept over the deck and knocked her feet out from under her. Pain raced along her arms as she held onto the wheel. The ship swirled widely toward starboard.

Strong arms righted her and steadied the wheel. “You should get below deck, Capt’n.”

Tamarlyn glanced back at the bulked-up Brutis. Her fingers tightened upon the wheel, and she ignored the heat radiating from him against her. “I’m not some fair maiden. Go tie yourself to the ship, so you don’t wash overboard.”

This second excerpt is from Reforged, and it introduces some new characters to book two, not that most of you have met the old characters from book one. *laughs*

“Come up for air, you two.” Ferris knocked against Sari and Karn.

Karn’s face changed from its yellowish-tan color to red as he accepted his drink.

“You’re just jealous.” Sari grabbed her drink and rolled her eyes.

“Oh, yes, I want to make out with Karn all the time.” Ferris made a smoochie face at Karn, which made the other boy even redder.

“You’re terrible, Ferris!” Bea slapped his arm.

“And you know you love it.” Ferris winked at her.

Bea giggled.

Wednesday's Writing Update: Help Wanted for December Blog Tour

 

Happy Wednesday!

A quick writing update this week, I'm editing Nightmare Ever After. My goal is to edit two chapters a day, which will have me finished the edit by October 25th. Then, I can proofread it that weekend. Then, I hope to format and press publish on Monday, October 29th, so I can announce the purchase links by October 31st.

And now I come to you with a request. I would like to do a one week blog tour from December 3-7 for The Nightmare Collection. This horror/thriller collection will be available in print and ebook formats toward the end of November. Here is what The Nightmare Collection is about:

A legend is hungry tonight.

A child monster will gets its first taste of blood in Nightmare at the Freak Show.

Four friend will enter the forest on December night, but only one can survive in Once Upon a December Nightmare.

Almost ten years after Cassie's December nightmare, the monster awakens to hunt again in Nightmare Ever After.

You can add it on Goodreads here. I'm looking for people to review, reveal the cover, and host me during the blog tour. If you're interested, then sign up on the form below. Thank you!!

Wednesday's Writing Update: The Dark Knight Rises and Writing

 

Happy Wednesday!

Thank you to everyone who has commented on the Gravity trilogy covers yesterday. I will still announce my winner of the trilogy on Friday. And if you haven't entered, there is still plenty of time.

My sister and I went to the midnight viewing of The Dark Knight Rises. I am saddened by the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, but I do hope people won't let that stop them from seeing this fantastic movie. It's the best Batman movie I've seen, and I didn't know if it could top my love for The Dark Knight, but it did. Hope seemed to be a key theme of the movie and rising from the darkness. As a writer, I was very impressed by the storyline, particularly how backstory was introduced. It's so seamless that it doesn't halt the plot. Now, I hope to be able to see it again before it leaves movie theaters.

As for writing news, I've received my critiques for Pull of Gravity. I'm slowly editing it and still hope to publish the last of the Gravity trilogy sometime next week. By the end of September, I plan to compile the three novelettes, add epilogues for each of them, and make them into a print book called Gravity: The Complete Trilogy. I figure it'll be around 200 pages or so.

Next Wednesday, I hope to begin writing Nightmare Ever After, the sequel to Once Upon a December Nightmare. I've outlined the story (comes in around 28 chapters), but I'm not yet certain how long it'll be. I'm thinking novella length, since I lean toward shorter chapters, but we'll see.

I'm also proofreading and formatting a novella for a friend (hope to finish by Friday) and working on a client's manuscript (hope to finish that by August 3rd).

I guess I better get back to work then. Heh.

So what are you up to this Wednesday?

Changes in Blogging in 2012

As a new year unfolds, I figured it was time to do some changes to the blog and the blogging schedule. I'm keeping to my five days a week, but I'm changing a few things.

Mondays

 

That's right. Promo Mondays are no more. Now we have "Book Chat." It's more open than promos, and I hope to have more discussion about books. Of course, all interviews and giveaways will occur during Book Chat too.

Tuesdays

 

It's time for some fantasy in your life in Fantasy Tuesdays. I mainly write fantasy, so I'll be talking about fantasy. For those that come around for Teaser Tuesdays, don't worry. I'll be doing those on my book reviews blog, Surrounded by Books Reviews.

Wednesdays

 

Yes, Wednesdays will continue with a writing update. Also, I've joined Alex's awesome Insecure Writer's Support Group, so the first Wednesday of each month will be a post relating to it.

 

Thursdays

 

Every 1st and 3rd Thursday as usual. Bring on your editorial questions.

 

And what's a blog without a personal story here and there? I'll have them every 2nd and 4th Thursdays.

Fridays

 

And a new year, new flash fiction on Fridays.

So 2012 will bring in the old, the new, and much more. The schedule is subject to change as always. Also, in April 2012, I'll be participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge again, so stay tune to 26 days of flash fiction in April.

Bloggers, do you like to change things up? Keep to a schedule? Or just post whatever, whenever?