Authors, what are you working on?

This thread is for us all to sort of keep on what everyone is writing and where they are in their projects. So, authors, please be kind, and keep us all updated. Every other week or so, visit this thread and give us a progress report.

And don't forget to include touchstones to any relevant works of yours that you end up mentioning. :)

And I guess I ought to do it too. :)

At the moment I am working on final edits and production design for the first volume (out of three) of Across a Jade Sea. A romantic adventure set in roughly the 1920, in a world similar to our own, but with different geography. Most people consider that technically fantasy, but there's no magic or other fantasy elements, so it reads more like a historical, except that its a historical set somewhere that doesn't exist.

And all this mucking about with Across a Jade Sea is driving me absolutely batty, because it means I can't work on the story I'm supposedly in the middle of writing, which is Volume 3 (out of 5 or 6 ) of a much more standard fantasy epic (Song of Asolde), with questing, and magic items and gods meddling in the affairs of mortals, and a most deliciously snide prince. And I want to get back to it, darn it!

So, what are the rest of you up to?

What a good idea!

I'm teaching at the moment, so my own work is taking a bit of a back seat, but the plan is to spend to first six months of next year saying no to everyone else and just concentrating on getting the manuscript of the second collection ready to send to my publisher. I have roughly half the material that I'd like actually written, and slightly less than the same amount again in various stages of incompleteness.

It feels a bit strange to be talking about a new collection, but the more I do the more real it's starting to feel. I've got the rough shape of it now starting to come together – putting a funding proposal together forced me to face that task, so even if the funding doesn't come through, I have got some concrete work done in that respect.

The working title is "Janus", for the Roman god of doorways and transitions, but also playing with the concept of doubleness and opposition. The middle series is called "The Ministry of Sorrow" which will contain the earthquake poems, as well as elegies for my grandmother.

I'm also planning to continue the Cowarral sequence from The Summer King* – I like the idea of linking something back to the first book, and I'm still writing them.

So at the moment it's a lot of preparatory jotting, with fingers crossed that I'll get funding to let me shut the rest of the world out for six months.

* is it ok to touchstone my own work in this context, or does it come too close to self-promotion?

Yes, please do touchstones. I've already edited the starting message saying so. :)

The only reason I didn't, is because nothing I've mentioned is actually in the LT system yet.

Oh, and I just want to say that I think Janus sounds like a very cool concept to be working around for a collection.

Ouch! Life get in the way. I've finally replaced my publisher and found a larger Canadian publisher to take my three book fantasy series, but details take time. I'm glad that is over ... well a new beginning.

I also have a SciFi novel with another publisher being evaluated. I'm waiting to hear back. fingers crossed

Although I mostly write Fantasy/SciFi, I finished a non-fiction semi-biography of the Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. This has been challenging. Now I'm working with the University of Oklahoma on providing their requested format. It looks like they are going to publish it. Yeah!

But, all this is taking away from my writing time for a Fantasy YA series I started some months ago. I'm anxious to get back to it, as I love the story line and characters. I love it when the characters push you to tell their story.

I have recently started a fourth novel, but I don't want to mention the title in case someone steals it before publication ( as you know, I hate duplicated titles) I have just been to a talk where it was suggested that novels have three or four viewpoints, maximum. As, at present, mine only has two. I was thinking of adding a third and wondering whether to make hers first person - so you can see this is very early days. Trouble is, she is not the most important person in the story. The other two need to be balanced so I can't change them. This should keep me occupied for the next 18months!

>6 oldstick: My personal preference is for author's to limit the number of viewpoint characters, also. When a book starts out by introducing me to six different viewpoint characters one after another, I end up putting the book down. I just can't engage with that many people that fast.

Maybe if you don't want to use the title you could come up with some really short three or four word description to use instead, just so we have something to hang on to? I know one writer who often doesn't know the title of a story when she starts to write it, so she tells us all she's working on "the Book Currently Known as George", or suchlike. :)

I have it on the computer as Book 4 but it could easily be 'Broken Family.' A middle aged woman runs away from her husband and tries to adopt a completely different identity. I juggle between the two of them, but their daughter could also be pivotal. In fact I'm working on that now. It's just that, geographically, they are all in different parts of the country and I want that to be reasonably accurate. (without travelling there)
Must concentrate on preparing for a workshop on self publishing I am taking on Wednesday - more my experiences than up to date information, but the marketing side should be useful to the participants, I hope.

My sleep....

I'm busy with the promotional phase of publishing for The Druid's Son (on amazon now!) and preparing to pick up where I left off last year with the fourth Storyteller novel, The Fallen Stones. btw, I'm still looking for reviewers for The Druid's Son.

Actually, I'm waiting for the first round of galleys for "Scarborough" from the editor. But I could use some sleep. I want to work on a prequel to Armor of Light but I just don't have the inspiration right now. This may be the Spirit telling me to take a break...

Wow, everything everyone is working on here looks great! I took a break last week, from promotion marketing, writing life in general and being attached to my computer like a life line. It was only because of the divine intervention of a deer that did it in by totaling my car and putting me mentally out of commission. Yesterday, I was back at it though. I was supposed to be working on editing "The Sight" for publishing in late summer, but instead my mind went to the WIP that keeps distracting me no matter what I start working on. It's my first New Adult novel, as I normally write YA. It's paranormal romance and mixes Greek Mythology and Christianity with the Fates. I'm pretty happy with it thus far!

Did NaNo 2012 in18 days. Will work on that manuscript in 2013. Hoping to whip it into shape as a YA SF/F

I'm finishing up a novella for one of the characters in my first book Bewitching Season--the main characters' little brother, Charles. I've gotten a lot of reader mail asking if he'd ever have his own book; I'm hoping my publisher can be convinced to sell it as a digital-only release to coincide with the paperback release of my most recent book next August.

>13 NineTiger:, 18 days...wow!

CGiovanni: Thanks :) I just wanted to be done before Thanksgiving :)

You did an amazing job than!

CGiovanni: The amazing job will be whipping the manuscript in shape for pub next year. It is a YA in the SF&F genre. The writing was a struggle, so I think of what I have produced as a very fat outline. :)

I've been on vacation biking and hiking in New Zealand--and, yes, I visited Hobbiton, but not any of the other LOTR outdoor locations. I've come back to a pile of writing/publishing tasks. On-going are some small changes to my second novel requested by an agent. I've been reluctant to tackle the job because I'm wavering on whether I want representation. She's well-regarded in the industry, but the contracts offered by the traditional publishers for new authors are so terrible, I'm not sure that's the direction I want to go. Also am setting a couple of smaller ebooks (one non-fiction, the other a collection of fantasy stories) up as paper books--ebooks are still only 25% of the market! My beta readers have finished with my third novel, so next step is reviewing their comments and making any final changes before sending it off to a copy editor. Currently researching possible smaller publishers for this one. It's historical fiction, but has a lesbian theme, so might find a good small press that specializes in that. Need to finish a short story that is half done and put another collection of shorts together for an ebook. My next big project is a companion book (not a sequel because the action takes place in the same time period with some overlapping characters) to the second novel. I have five chapters done and an outline, but need to put butt in chair and fingers on keyboard for several weeks and finish the first draft.

<18: Fat outline or finished book, it's still quite the feat!

I'm plodding my way through Book 2 in my series Emma & the Elementals (Book One is Root Bound). Outline is done, and I've got the book in my head. I have a shoulder injury, though, so it's taking longer than I'd like to make it materialize. Word by word, though. I'm getting there.

I've changed gears - rather than work on the prequel to Armor of Light (I'd like George of Grasmere to get some rest after battling the demons and his parents, and Richildis), I've got a new story that, are you ready? Takes place in the months after the Battle of Bosworth Field, in 1485 in northern England. I know, I know, another 'Tudor' book - and after I made snarky comments about the world not needing another one. This book is about that gray area between Plantagenet and Tudor England. I've already sent the first few chapters to the Library Congress Copyright Office to protect it as a work in progess.

And it's a black comedy.

> 22 "I know, another 'Tudor' book - and after I made snarky comments about the world not needing another one."

Tut, tut, Ellen, what were you thinking? >;)

::clears throat::

... I've got a vampire in my current project.

Ooooh, LShelby, a Tudor Vampire? Please say yes!

>24 EllenLEkstrom: "Ooooh, LShelby, a Tudor Vampire? Please say yes!"

Uh, sorry, it's actually High Fantasy.

But now that you've said that, the part of my brain that can't stop fiddling with things has just started trying to figure how to fit vampires into my alternate history fantasy world. Noooo, brain, don't! I don't want a Tudor Vampire story. Ack!

Fortunately I've got lots of other stories waiting to be written in that world already, so even if this one materializes it will end up so far down the queue that there's a good chance I'll die before I get around to writing it. ;)

>25 LShelby: Not if you're a sparkly Tudor vampire - and just think of the great outfits you'll get to wear!

Okay, behaving now - sort of.

I'm also working on the marketing and publicity for "Scarborough." I really have to knuckle down for this. So far, I've made it a giveaway here, and I'm going to offering bits of the story on my Facebook page up until the launch date of December 19. Sorry for the self-agrandizement (sp?) and promo. I promise to behave - sort of.

I have to write a script for a recording I have been asked to do. That will be something different!

Scripts are actually easier to write than stories.

Hi, I'm P.J. (Pletcha) Webb. I write under the name P.J. because I feel my name would be hard to remember. I'm currently trying to promote my first book, which is a lesson to be learned in itself. I find it more difficult than writing the book was. Prince of the Blood is the name, and it is the first of a series. The second book has also been written and is going through a final edit. It should be out soon. The story is about a Vampire, named Sebastian Blood, who must learn to live with what he's become and in so doing, developes a new species. You can learn more at www.amazon.com/dp/B0082OXY2M. The book is free to all Dec. 4th and 5th.

Hi, PJ: Welcome. What inspired you to write a vampire book? I'm always curious about why people write what they do.

I read a book called Interview With The Vampire and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the writing. I went on to read all of Anne Rice's books. I became enchanted by her vampires and wanted to create a character that would be as memorable as hers.

Once I finish this project, I have something else in mind, though, it will still be within the paranormal realm because, more than any other reason, fantasy is such fun to write.

Hi, Pletcha: I agree! Fantasy is so much fun, because you create realms and creatures, people, and aren't bound by history or fact. Good luck with your project and I hope to see it available soon.

I'm working on my new Amish murder mystery series, set in Middlebury Indiana. I hope to be done near the first of the year!

Also edits on The Christmas Quilt (Oct 2013) and A Wedding for Julia (Aug 2013). It's nice being busy.

Vannetta - I have visiions of 'Witness' coming to mind. Are the murders of Amish citizens, or set in the community?

I'm working on a novel set in Great Britain. It's almost a travelog. Also trying to revamp a trashy romance I wrote some years ago, plus a collection of "love through the decades" short stories to be published in collection form...before Valentine's Day.

Hi Ellen.

They're BOTH. And yes, Witness does come to mind.
Have you seen that recently? Harrison Ford is a baby...

:)
V

You sound very busy! Keep us posted on how those are going.

Right now I'm in the final hours of the editing for a book my publisher is releasing tomorrow - last minute things.

Good Luck, Ellen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

It was an issue with lyrics - the industry does not allow it without permission. So I dove in and pulled the lyrics, wrote some really fast and good prose to replace it. I may need nitroglycerine for my heart, though.

I'm about ready to return to my serialized P&P sequel, Mary and Kitty: A Tale of two Sisters. I took a break for several months after posting one chapter every 3 weeks, and find that I still have a lot of hits -- so time to pull myself up out of this morass I've been wallowing in. Poor Mary and Kitty have been stuck on the road to adventure, and I've begun to worry about them getting into trouble without me.

Here's something I've been mulling on -- I published my first books as Mary Chase Comstock, divorced Comstock, and hesitate about just going on as Mary Chase. MCC has a nice ring, but there is occasional confusion with the Mary Chase who wrote Harvey (although she's been dead a long time). Do you think it matters? Maybe I should try numerology...

Add your middle initial, maybe? Use a cool middle name with a "C?"

I'm having a tough time prioritizing at the moment. I am most of the way through my fifth novel. I got sidetracked finishing the first draft of my sixth novel during November, jumped right into the first draft of my seventh novel.

So I'd hoped to finish my fifth novel by the end of the year, but that hasn't happened. And once I've finished that one, and the seventh, I'm swamped in rewrites for five other finished, unpublished novels. It feels like the workload never gets any smaller.

One of my projects is nearly ready for publication, though! I'm hoping to finish the last set of rewrites by February.

That's a good idea, Ellen -- something classical, like Clytemnestra? ;-) Circe?

MaryChase, Circe would be best - don't know how many people could pronounce Clytemnestra, or spell it.

Nicolas (who spells his name in the same manner as I spell my youngest son's name), oooooh, I know what you're going through. I am on a self-imposed break, though, to re-focus. We shall see what gets finished first.

2013 is the year I celebrate 60, so I'm hoping at least to have book number 6 published in the coming year - again, we shall see what gets finished first. I have the newly-decided series that started with Tallis' Third Tune last year, or I can focus the muse on a prequel or sequel to Armor of Light.

Fifth round of edits in the run-up to the release of The Infinite Grey (the final book of the trilogy), a novel involving Russian cybernetics and contemporary social engineering tentatively titled "B1t-B0t," a modern adaptation of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde entitled "Recto Verso."

In the academic context, I have to meet my deadline for a book on Information Metastability/Metastasis, perhaps plonk down stuff on Datapolitik (a text that attempts to graft Debord on contemporary ICTs), and about 15 or so journal articles ranging from phytosemiotics, astroturfing, Simondon-Information, Monsanto and genetic drift as reterritorialization for a conference in Portugal, the role of digital portraiture in social networks, and perhaps something on casualization of academic labour. If that were not enough, plenty of speaking engagements coming up, the usual full roster of courses to teach, service commitments, editorial responsibilities, and two academic books to co-edit (one on the collapse of the centrist political discourse, and the other on Deleuze and Economy).

Sleep will be the hardest item to schedule, methinks.

KXF, when I read the "Inifinite Grey" title, I thought oh no...and then continued reading your post.

Wow. Good luck with that sleep. I know what you'll be going through...your schedule sounds a bit like mine, although I get to share writing with secular job and vocation.

I turned 60 this year also -- it's the year I outlived my mother. An odd feeling.

MaryChase, my mother died at the age of 39, and the sister who raised me after that died at the age of 38, so this is going to be one big thanksgiving for the years granted to me. It is strange when I realize I've outlived my mother, my favorite sister.

These anniversaries can be depressing or comforting -- we choose. Have a fabulous year! That's my plan :)

Comforting is how I look at it now - there's a reason I'm still here. You have a fabulous year, too! I've started thinking of the next book in the Midwinter Sonata series. This series has given me new energy.

Researching for "Lemurian Medium." Reading about Lemuria, astral travel and crystals. Fascinating, especially the books on Lemuria. It is the second in the "Reluctant Medium" series. G G

http://www.librarything.com/work/13380538/summary/93346725

Right now I'm writing (well, FINISHING, actually) a mystery novel called Eyes of Diamond, Hair of Gold, it's a sequel to Murder at the End of the World. It's got a creepy automaton, a house with moving rooms, and a bunch of people who don't really like each other. Hard to want more than that, isn't it?

Last night I finished the first draft of Summerfield # 3: Winter Warning. I'm now looking through notes I made on two other novels and seeing which one I want to work up and then write.

Hi, this is G G Collins. I'm writing the 2nd in my "Reluctant Medium" series. This one is called "Lemurian Medium." I'm more than 1/2 finished writing it, but of course there will be re-writes. "Reluctant Medium" follows Rachel Blackstone's experience after she returns the dead. She wanted to talk with her father, BUT the Native American ceremony went a bit wrong. An evil entity returned instead and she must do her best to return it.

Here are some tags to identify "Reluctant Medium": paranormal, mystery, evil spirit, ghosts, spirit animal, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Native American, medium, psychic, shapeshifter, female sleuth, humor, mild horror effects

So back I go researching the lost continent of Lemuria and astral travel--the only way to go this time for Rachel.

I also write 2 blogs and continue reporting on a part-time basis.

Thanks for your interest.

I am surfing the web for bookstores in places that I never knew existed for the purpose of alerting rabid readers that my masterpiece of fiction is floating around inside Kindle for their delight, amazement, and praise--so far "nothing has resulted from my efforts." I discovered how difficult it is to promote a book that nobody except for a few relatives who have moved into the distant-relative category have read. Just knowing that my 3 works are among the (ref. bottom of page) 78,524,224 books on this site gives me hope. I have to go now--got to buy a lottery ticket.

No. 58 - but you wrote it, put it out there for public scrutiny, and you can honestly say you're a writer. Given your 'numbers', I'm there with you. Welcome to Middle Earth for Authors.

I'm gearing up for next week's blog appearances, especially the Valentine Love Letter Event hosted by www.cocktailsandbooks.com on Thursday, February 14, 2013. I'll be offering love letters between the two protagonists of the "Midwinter Sonata" Series, Tallis' Third Tune, Book 1, and Scarborough, Book 2: Quinn Radcliffe and Alice Martin. It's been fun to think like a teenager in love again and write these missives, remembering some real ones of my own!

Ellen, re #59, Since my last post (yesterday) the number of books on here went from 78,524,224 to 78,470,040, a decrease of 54,184. Therefore, dividing 78,470,040 by 54,184 gives a result of 14,482 (rounded) and when divided by the number of days in a year (512) it gives me an answer 28 years before my book reaches the top spot on the rankings. All I have to do is wait.

I'm working on writing a second fantasy novel while waiting for my first to be rejected. I saw this advice on some major publisher's submissions page: why not write your next novel while you wait to be rejected - so I took it. ha.

Like belltooter I am swimming in the sea of anonimity that greets most writers once there first work is self published.

I am revisiting a dystopia I started several years ago. One of those near future things in which society has broken down and various cities have become independent enclaves and live safe, secure lives inside their walls. No prisons now. Misbehave and you're thrown out into scumtown. You don't want to be in scumtown. The other science fiction element to the novel is that a Wiccan healer in scumtown had discovered a spell by which she can stop time for everyone around her. When time is stopped she can enter the enclave and steal medicines for her patients. But in the enclave a student artist, a realist painter, isn't affected by the spell. For a realist painter to have time stop, the light values not change, the model not move, allows him to create extraordinary works. I'm having alot of fun revisiting it and new scenes are coming to me and that's a good feeling. My writing is all over the genre map, but my other dystopia, "Rabbletown: Life in These United Christian States of Holy America," cracked the Kindle top 100 for Christian fiction, futuristic.

Writing blurbs for cover copy and pitches. A whole different writing skill set, which I dust off a couple times a year and forget in the months between. Like writing fiction--crappy first drafts with polished copy only after lots of editing. (PASSIVE VOICE BEGONE!) As poets know, it's much harder to write short than long.

Finally getting down to business and have stopped goofing off now that it's been two months since the last book launch. Started working in earnest (I mean it, really. Seriously) on Midwinter Sonata, Book 3 - Still playing around with the title of this book, but 'Duet' seems to be right. Will keep the style of the first two books after stumbling and doing a face plant with other styles of storytelling. They didn't work.

Joined a writing challenge for the month of March--a mini WriNoMo--to finish a novel (fact based historical set in 5C Imperial Rome) started several years ago. Have six chapter already, hoping to crank out another 30-50,000 words for the crappy first draft, so I'll have something to work on for a few months.

Just hit the milestone of page 300 in the 2nd of the series, The Word Mispoken. Hit a wall for a while and had to walk away but I'm back into the story now!

I'm working on a large gear shift.

I'd spent two years preparing to write a collection of short stories as a follow-up to a short novel I published.

Wisdom finally arrived and I decided I should pour the information from the stories into my blog as a Behind The Scenes weekly feature post :-)

I'm writing articles for the guest spots week after next at several blogs on my blog tour. Eventually, I get back to the business of writing the next book in the Midwinter Sonata series.

Oh, this seems like a fun topic!

I've been working on a mystery series for a few years called Halls of Ivy.

I work as a university administrator and wanted to reflect on all my experiences on higher education in a fiction format. People suggested I make a nonfiction textbook or how-to guide, but it just sounded so boring to me. I wanted to make a book series that took place entirely on a college campus, which teaches students about college life and the things associated with it, while entertaining them with a lighthearted mystery.

Anyway, I just finished writing up the 2nd book and am currently in the editing phase. I'm hoping to have it released this summer. Marketing your book is so difficult when you have to juggle a family and a full time job. Book writing is a full time job all in itself!

Oooh, that sounds like a fun book, Nunez!

I've temporarily shelved a novelette about a university student to focus on a short story for an anthology, but I'm looking forward to when I get back to that. It needs another draft or two before I get to the polish, so the break is actually quite welcome. ^_^ I'm also slowly going ahead with collecting all the free fiction I've posted into an ebook. I finally got to contacting people about the cover art. (Eeeee!)

Meaning to e-book my next novel and wondering whether I should spend money on an editor. She was great for the first three books but I'm trying to do this on the cheap. Decisions, decisions!

lynnoconnacht- That sounds great. I've noticed there is a severe lack of media (whether books, movies, or TV) about university life, unless it involves partying or such. It'd be nice to see more stories about university students that doesn't resort to typical cliches.

Probably why I'm excited for Monsters University coming out this summer. Seems like something right up my alley!

I just sold a book with a university setting, but don't have the release date yet...

>75 Marissa_Doyle:, Congratulations Marissa_Doyle. Must feel great. And, I've always loved university settings...... Keep us posted as you things progress.

Finished my writing challenge and typed "the end" on my really bad first draft of a 5C novel. The challenge kicked me out of my rut and got the juices flowing again. Such a good experience, I'm doing it again in April with a companion book. That will give me the summer to get two books in shape for sharing with my writer's group.

Also put a print copy of a free non-fiction ebook up on Create Space and sold two copies with absolutely no marketing. The book's been out for a year with over a 1000 downloads, but I suspect few folks have actually read it. "Free" tends to go to the bottom of the TBR pile.

#74, Have you read Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, Nunez? I'm going to guess, based on your library that you're at least not immediately turned off by the genre. I'm not sure how well it'll avoid the cliches, but I liked it quite a lot. Marie Brennan's Lies and Prophecies is also set at a university, albeit one for magic. I've only read the prequel novella, Welcome to Welton, though. That's all about finding your bearings as a new student.

Mine's a quiet little slice-of-life type of thing for a bit of a loner student doing research. *prods it a bit* I should be done with it by early summer? I think? I feel like a failure at project management...

I hope Monsters University will be everything you're hoping it'll be!

#75, Congratulations, Marissa! That's fantastic news!

#77, Congratulations, MarysGirl! And good luck kicking the books into shape!

#78, Thanks lynno, I'll definitely check that out! I've been looking for some new things to read that weren't for a class. It's been years since I've been able to read for pleasure.

I've just finished my second novel Winston - A Horse's Tale which is one for the horse lovers. My first book. Missing in Egypt is a romantic travel mystery so this is a complete change of genre. I've sent it to a few publishers but so far only rejections. I plan to self-publish again in the middle of the year. Its hard to find time for promoting, marketing and writing!

Currently editing my second book, the follow-up to A New Dawn Rising. Being new to self-publishing, I am also currently navigating my way around the complicated world of marketing an e-book on the web. I would agree with rchapman1. It is definitely difficult to find the time to be an author and self-publisher. Especially as a novice!

I'm struggling to complete book 4 of a series, Retirement Planning for Mercenaries. The first three were Time Management…, Conflict Resolution…, and Community Organizing… ~4oK done of 70+K.

Problem is I'm bored with the premise and have four other things started, all of which I'd rather be working on.

>71 nunez882:: Oh the stories I could share regarding the full time family and job. I learned to write when everyone was asleep and before everyone got up in the morning. I wish you every success - and you're in my favorite part of writing - the editing phase.

>82 DaiAlanye:: Sounds familiar. I gave up trudging along with a project that bored me because I wanted to get it done. When boredom sets in, I put the project aside and work on something else. I've got several things going right now. Eventually, all the projects will be finished. Of course, if you're under a deadline or a contract, that advice I gave would be of no help...

Survived the Holy Week liturgical marathon, battling shingles. Fortunately, I don't have a dog that ate my homework. In other words, it's time to get back to writing. The blog tour is done for now. Giving pages to beta readers for their criticism as I keep working on Midwinter Sonata and other, as yet unnamed projects.

What am I working on?

Final proofing of Sean Yeager Hunters Hunted print version - nearly completed

Plotting Sean Yeager book 3 which will be called 'Claws of Time'

Plotting a new adult orientated novel idea based on a short story to see if it has legs

I also did an analysis of Fifty Shades to understand what attracted so many readers to it. My conclusions were
- viral marketing and hype, romantic writing and an attraction to smut / to see what all the fuss was about.
Reviewers seem to like the insights into a flawed, strong male character and whether the female would win out in the end.
Concluded that I could not write that kind of book (too repetitive and silly), but I can include key elements for characters and readers in future writing.

I also entered a writing competition recently as a bit of fun. Based on this I'm considering
writing under another name in a different genre.

Best

D.M. Jarrett
Author of Sean Yeager Adventures

At the behest of my publisher, I've been motivated to start the sequel on the Planet Janitor series. He's been asking about it for a year, so I finally took the first steps about three weeks ago. I'm now about 110 pages into it, with a terribly long way to go. I have to divvy up my writing time between client and content articles and the fiction. I hope to have this done in three or four months but the tasking looks daunting.

chris

Shingles have gone away, and for this I am truly grateful. A new project presented itself and is due out soon. I'm writing under a pen name.

Now that I've finished my second novel, I'm working on a few projects to help promote it.

For example, I'm working on a book trailer to showcase the series and what it's about. I'm hoping to have that finished by May. Additionally, since my entire mystery series is based on a fictitious college campus, I've created a 3D miniature model of what that university would look like.

Here's a picture of the model I'm planning on showcasing in a few days of Sun Valley University:

http://i.imgur.com/pMGOtRg.jpg

It's not finished yet. I still need to label every building to give it a "campus map" feel. All 4 books take place within that perimeter, so I thought it would be fitting to have a visual cue of where everything is. The next step is to create twitter accounts for several of the protagonists of the book and update them as the story progresses.

I've completed the second draft of my sequel, Kydona: From Ashes and I'm currently combing through the manuscript. The third book is outlined but not yet written. Editing one book and marketing another (Book 1) is almost a full-time job on its own.

I actually did a little book trailer for my travel memoir. Still approaching my latest NaNo effort. It is in the barely edited stage. Enjoy the video :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1OIR2AM3W8&feature=share&list=UUa4T9stOm...

MGP

I am filling a notebook with ideas for my third book in my Gicken series. I don't even have a working title yet. I also have a short middle grade fiction book called Frances the Haflinger Horse, that needs to get to the illustrator so it can be out In a few months. I have to keep telling myself- ONE THING AT A TIME!

--88 A bad case of shingles is one of the worst tortures, although some get off easily. A severe case can have serious side effects. Fortunately a cheap inoculation has been available for a few years, and everyone who had chicken pox as a child should get it.

Except masochists, of course.

Hello :-)

I am working on publicizing my first thriller The Girl Who Put Out The Fire, and at the same time completing the first draft of my second thriller featuring protagonist Kari Erntemann. I'm also publishing short works on Wattpad.

Regards,

D. K. Janotta.

Spent April finishing my first draft of a 5C historical fiction book. Letting it rest now before serious rewriting. Spending the time researching and getting a print copy of a collection of fantasy stories out (already available as an ebook).

Was told by my MD that you have to be 65 and older for it, unless you get the Shingles, and then you are told it is mandatory - and you get the shot six months after the outbreak subsides. I've got a few months to go.

Working on a romance novel for my publisher's imprint while I take a break from Midwinter Sonata, and I'm doing some research on Harold II of England.

The pen name issue was a non-issue. I am keeping my genres separate with separate publishing imprints of the same publisher.

When I'm not revising my second book, I'm working on getting reviews for my June debut book.

I'm giving away 50 digital review copies of He Belongs to Me, to the first 50 people to request it, in exchange for honest reviews.
Catherine Boyd will do anything to regain custody of her young son . . . Even reconcile with the husband accused of killing their son’s twin.
For more information and a chance to review He Belongs to Me, click HERE (http://eepurl.com/ynT3D)
Happy Reading,
Theresa

MY novel has gone to be edited so now I'm working on trying to understand the computer! I may try a short story to keep busy until I get my MS back.

Building a Language Arts and Science curriculum for my book Olivia Brophie and the Pearl of Tagelus

Visiting classrooms that have read the book.

Editing Book #2 in the series which will be released in January.

Writing Book #3 right now.

Working a full-time job.

My wife (Susan Howard Solar) has written 3 cozy type mysteries so far. She is currently writing her fourth (Fatally Fair) and last in the series. It has the same two older widows (Wendy and Amie) who travel and find murder where they go. Although it is a series they do not have to be read in order. She calls it the Four Season Mysteries, one of each season. They are Lethal Leaf Peepers (Fall), Sinister Snowbirds (winter) and Murderous Magnolias (spring) and are available on Kindle and (in print) from us directly at fourseasonmysteries.com. She has also written a novel (Who Will Water the Flowers) based on our neighbors life (lived to 103), about life in rural New England. It is an historical fiction.

Working on the first draft of my third book set in 5C--not a series--three Empresses who ruled at the same time and significantly impacted Western Europe and the Early Byzantine period.

Hi Authorlinda.ande7714

Interested to see you have found time to write Frances the Haflinger Horse inbetween your series novels. I'll keep a lookout for that one as I finalise Winston - A Horse's Tale.

Missing Hobnob discussions - but feeling guilty because I should be editing and I don't feel like it. It is a good job I don't have a publisher breathing down my neck so if the book comes out in 2014 instead of 2013 it doesn't matter. When I'm not gardening or recording I am arranging a book signing with a group. We are going to try out a session in the Information Bureau on Saturday but there is a lot going on in town and I doubt whether many folk will be interested.We are hoping to appeal to writers as well as readers. I'll let you know how it goes!

I have the material, now I need a publisher. As a companion work to my book 'Syria. Will the killing ever end?' I have a series of 80 images to make into a photo book of my time in Syria as well as the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan.

I'm editing my novel Seventh Night and writing a free serial called "Horse Feathers" that updates weekly. "Horse Feathers" along with "The Girl With No Name" are part of a set of 4 prequel stories for Seventh Night.

Seventh Night is a bit like The Princess Bride plus unicorns.

I'm working on a YA trilogy. "Sign of the Throne", the first book, will be released this September, and I'm currently working with my publisher on final revisions to the second book, "The Rabbit and the Raven". The third book is called "The Sower Comes" and I'm still writing that one.

Here's a very short description of "Sign of the Throne":
Abby is haunted by dreams of blood-thirsty monsters and a striking stranger. When Abby encounters David, the doppelgänger of the mysterious young man in her dreams, she realizes her nightmares come true, and she and David must save a magical realm, even if it means losing each other.

My publisher is currently giving away 10 print ARCs for the first book on Goodreads (deadline to enter is 7/17/13): https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/56169-sign-of-the-throne

Thanks!

The deputy mayor bought a copy of my first novel and we found some possible new members for our writing group. Best thing that happened to me was a contact with a book club member. They may take my books so I must get on with writing discussion questions.

Just posted a review on my blog (and a shorter version here at LT) of a remarkable book: Daughters of Copper Woman by Anne Cameron. It's been around for thirty-two years, but has worn well: http://faithljustice.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/book-review-copper-woman/

My editing schedule is a nightmare. Right now, I'm editing a long short story, a novella, a screenplay and three novels, two of which a publisher is considering and one I'm going to self-publish. It's a labor of love, though.

Just putting together my second magazine script for our talking newspaper. 40 minutes is a long time to fill but I have a lovely interview with Wendy Hughes about stickler syndrome and some delightful poems from Honey and Humbug. I'm reading a book on poetry to fill a space in my knowledge but, boy, does it get harder to learn as you get older!

I'm just about to start on a science fiction novel called Quiet Post, about a very wealthy young lady named Martia Rosenthal who wants a career in the (very) foreign service in the Quasiverse of unreality. Her father, wanting to protect her, sees that she gets posted to an office where he's assured nothing dangerous or exciting ever happens....

I write and illustrate art instruction books that teach children (and any adults who are interested) how to draw their own cartoon characters. There are 11 books in my "1-2-3 Draw" series from Peel Productions, and "Draw Crazy Creatures" has just been released by Impact Books (an F&W imprint). Yesterday, I received the galley proofs for "Draw Awesome Animals", which will be hitting bookstore shelves in late February, 2014. I'm in the middle of pitching a book aimed at a slightly more advanced group of artistic readers, as well as several children's activity books. Eventually, I hope to write the next "Great American Novel".....but then again, doesn't everybody?

>112 SteveBarr: Eventually, I hope to write the next "Great American Novel".....but then again, doesn't everybody?"

Uh, actually... no.

But since that's what's you want to do, I wish you all the best with that.
And all the best with that book pitch, too. (I've got a handful "artistic readers" in my household, so we're always on the prowl for books that will help us improve.) :)

Hi. I just signed up. I recently published a book on Smashwords.com. It's called Lucien's Mate and it's FREE! I hope you will take time to read it and give me some feed back.

New book of columns... and published The Beat on Ruby's Street this year - novel for readers aged 10 and up about a young girl growing up in a Beat family in 1958 who is trying to meet Jack Kerouac - but runs into many, many obstacles along the way. www.jennazark.com

I'm waiting on a proof for my second book Winston - A Horse's Tale, which is one for horse lovers. A publisher requested the full manuscript but it has been four months with no word from them, so I'm going to self-publish and have it out in time for Christmas.

Hi LShelby - There are lots of great drawing instruction books out there. In mine, which are aimed at folks who are just starting out or at an intermediate level, I always try to encourage creativity and experimentation. I don't necessarily want the readers to end up drawing exactly like me. I want them to develop their own individual style as they progress. When I visit schools and libraries, I love watching the kids go crazy and get really creative as they mimic my instructions but then add their own touches to their sketches. Igniting a creative spark is what it's all about. I often recommend other authors' art instruction books as well as my own, because all of them have interesting techniques and unique lessons of their own. I hope the handful of artistic readers in your house enjoy any of the books that you get for them!

I am wrapping up research and will probably start writing in two or three weeks the first scene of a historical novel about the encounters of English explorers and colonialists and Algonquian natives at and near Roanoke Island (North Carolina Outer Banks) from 1584 through 1586.

Almost a year later, I am still working on cleaning up Across a Jade Sea for publication, and providing the extras and so forth. I've just finished the fifth map of six. But I have gotten to the last book, finally, so hopefully the end is in sight.

All this not-writing activity was driving me so crazy that I took a week off to write the first draft of a 40K novelization of my graphic novel Flag in Flames. I'm still having seriously strong writing withdrawal symptoms, though. I've been trying to stave them off by working on a "Visual Novel" in my spare time. The inherently piecemeal nature of the medium makes it easier for me to work on in bits and scraps than my still-in-stasis fantasy epic project would be.

Got a novel boiling right now. Stalled a bit, unfortunately. Stalled, oddly enough, on the "good times" part of the characters' relationship. The terrible parts were easier to write. Trying not to analyze that too closely.

Finished a short story yesterday as an effort to get back in the grove after writing (first drafts) of two novels this spring/summer. The story is part of a series I'm working on based on my own family stories. I think I'll be signing up for NaNoWriMo this year and trying to get another first draft done. That will give me lots of rewriting work.

I am almost finished with the final story in a science fiction collection based on the Arabian Nights Entertainments. I will begin editing next week and have beta copies available around November 1st. I hope to receive a few more reviews of my novella, "Orphan's Gold" before releasing the new book.

If you might like to review "Orphan's Gold", or simply want to read it, the free eBook is available at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Indigo, and other online bookstores. I really appreciate your stars and comments.

If you are interested in reviewing or beta proofing the new book, please download the free one to sample my style. "Orphan's Gold" now contains a preview story from the new book. For your convenience, the eBook contains a contact link (daveloeff@gmail.com).

Doing an audio recording of my travel memoir Full Tank & No Damage: Three on a Sicilian Odyssey in lieu of doing NaNoWriMo this year. It is as much of a marathon as that literary endeavor.

MGP

I've just published Winston - A Horse's Tale so I'm busy trying to promote it whilst waiting on my ordered copies to arrive from the U.S. I find it easier to promote the paperback than the e-book.

I have just been given an editing task. It is a kind of travel adventure but the author has mixed past and present tense throughout and I'm not sure which to ask him to stick to. In fact, I'm inclined to go over it again and suggest he puts some of it in italics or a different font - then he can keep the immediacy of some sections with the story telling of others. Do you think that might work?

>125 oldstick: I think it might work, but it would need to be carefully done, with good transitions to and from the differentiated text.

Italics tends to set off text better than a different font, but it's wearing on the eyes if it goes on too long.
IMHO. YMMV.

Guys found this amazing book online. If you are into environmental awareness and climate change, this is the most simple easy to understand book out there. Titled 'Wake up Mangalore... or be damned!'

Love this forum. It makes me feel normal!

My life presently revolves around promoting my new book "The Assassination of Michael Collins: What Happened at Béal na mBláth?"

I've had to do work like this before, but I confess I've never loved it as I do now. It's a labour of love. So time flies by.

Lucky thing because it's a herculean rock of sisyphus: it's never done, and I have little hope of ever being able to do as everything that needs done, I'd like to get done, etc.

Michael Collins
Ireland history
1916
War of Independence
Civil War

I'm working a Twitter (retweet) contest for my new sports book, The Golden Egg, which is being released tomorrow. The Golden Egg is Friday Night Lights with a romance, only the small town racism is replaced by big city overconsumption.

Editing a travel book which the author wants to put out as an e-book. I'm not sure about that as the photos are great and he thinks they will be OK at the back. It's all so different from printed books! Any advice?

> 130 Ebooks can do images, and I personally see no reason why great photos should be relegated to the back. Why can't you just leave them in the where you would have them normally?

Normally, in a printed book, they are in the centre to aid the printing process and those I have seen in paperbacks are rubbish.
Of course, if he could afford to have them printed in hardback it wouldn't be a problem, but it is quite short and he wants to make money.
Anyone know an example of a travel/memoir on Kindle that I could see?
Thanks,J.

> 132 Sorry, I don't know of any.

But I have to say that going by what has already been done may not be your best move. My daughter who has a kindle, freely admits that the ebooks I make look better than many of the ones she's purchased. The difference... I CARE about what they look like, whereas the people who converted the "professional" books for the publishing company clearly only cared about getting a paycheck.

My inclination would be to put a small photo section at every chapter break (assuming that there are chapter breaks). As a reader, I prefer to have the photos as close as possible to the bit in the book that talks about whatever it is that got photographed. On a small eReader there really isn't room for the photos to be inserted into the text as they would in a glossy coffee-table book. Putting them at the chapter break seems the best compromise between keeping them close to where they are relevant, and not getting in the way of the text.

If there are no chapter breaks, then I guess putting them at the back is the sensible way to do it.

Thanks for that. Next job will be marketing to people who don't usually read!

Hi,
Sounds like a good story.

So what's a "Twitter contest (retweet)" and how do you do one for your book?

Great question and I would love to know more about Twitter contests, too. As far as what I am working on - it is more of a business book (high finance, real estate and high drama) for adults - a complete departure from The Beat on Ruby's Street, my middle schoolers' novel about a girl growing up in a Beat Generation family.

I'm working on my 3rd book about the anteater! They are surprisingly uninteresting despite the exotic appearance :)

Thanks for starting the thread, LShelby, and to everyone for sharing your experiences. I'm a new LibraryThing member so if I make any missteps please let me know. Anyway, I just released my first novel Accidents & Incidents (a teen romance) on Kindle, Nook, & Kobo, so I've spent the last couple of months getting it ready and now looking for ways to promote it. I'm going to offer free e-copies to reviewers but am waiting on my author status to come through before I post that in the Giveaway section--I forgot to request it until today.

Anyway, I promised myself I'd get back to regular writing by December ... which is in just a few hours now : ) I write fanfiction under a different name and I have a story due so I guess I'll be working on that tomorrow. And then it's back to work on my second novel, which I started this summer. It's a YA contemporary set during the Amendment One vote in NC, so I'm hoping to have it finished in time to get it out there before May, which will be the 2-year anniversary of the vote.

Thanks for starting the thread, LShelby, and to everyone for sharing your experiences. I'm a new LibraryThing member so if I make any missteps please let me know. Anyway, I just released my first novel Accidents & Incidents (a teen romance) on Kindle, Nook, & Kobo, so I've spent the last couple of months getting it ready and now looking for ways to promote it. I'm going to offer free e-copies to reviewers but am waiting on my author status to come through before I post that in the Giveaway section--I forgot to request it until today.

Anyway, I promised myself I'd get back to regular writing by December ... which is in just a few hours now : ) I write fanfiction under a different name and I have a story due so I guess I'll be working on that tomorrow. And then it's back to work on my second novel, which I started this summer. It's a YA contemporary set during the Amendment One vote in NC, so I'm hoping to have it finished in time to get it out there before May, which will be the 2-year anniversary of the vote.

Dealing with a shoulder injury that has me typing one-handed, so mostly editing and formatting my ebooks. Did put up a new post at my blog reviewing an LT ER book Princesses Behaving Badly: http://faithljustice.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/review-princesses/

I'm in PT now, so hope to get back to writing fiction soon. BTW, does anyone hear use voice recognition software for their writing? I tried it several years ago when it was in its early phases (and I was recovering from another shoulder injury!) and it wasn't good enough for my purposes. I've heard that it is considerably improved, but would like to hear from some folks that have actually used it.

Hi MarysGirl--I don't use voice recognition, but I think a few people on kboards do and like it. You might want to do a search there and see what people think. Hope your shoulder gets better soon!

In progress now are my first collection of short stories and my seventh novel, a satiric look at social classes in America.

Very sorry to hear about your shoulder MarysGirl!

I haven't used voice recognition myself. I have a writer friend who does, but all I remember her saying about it, is that it takes a while to teach the software to recognize your voice/accent/speaking style, and so you have to be very patient with it at first, but it gets better.

Good luck on your story Riley_Graham, and your novel MaryPatHyland.
Welcome to the group! Make sure you check in on this thread every few months or so, and keep up to date. :)

As for me, I am on the final extra for the third and final book of Across the Jade Sea. If I'm not back to writing again by next year at the latest, I will be very disappointed.

My name is Max and this is my first posting on LT. I skimmed through the messages above and in respect of voice recognition software what I can say, based on my own experience, is that having spent hours training it to recognise my voice . . . I couldn't think creatively and dictate at the same time. For me, there is something about the act of tapping keys or handwriting that stimulates the flow of words, teasing sentences into shape as I write. Maybe it's just me . . .

The other thing I wanted to say is that after two years of writing, I thought that my first novel, The Sister, would be ready for publication by the end of October 2012 . . . It took another year of polishing before I finally published on amazon last month.

I'm now working on a spin-off novel following the lives of several surviving characters from The Sister to be released soon.

Thank you for starting an interesting and engaging thread, for allowing my post the time of day and for your patience while I'm building my profile and finding my way around. Below is the link to The Sister and from there, if you are interested, you can find a 20k word preview on the amazon kindle link.

http://www.librarything.com/work/14522971

Max

I just published (29 Nov. 2013) a novella that IMO is the best and most likely the last I'll ever write. I wrote it for readers of all ages. It's somewhat difficult to categorize because Historical Fiction/Sea Stories/humor/instructional is not a generally accepted (except for tags) listing. It's Free on Kindle 13 and 14 December 2013. The title is Last Pirate at Fort Matanzas by Charles Frankhauser. I would be interested in any/all reactions to the work. As of this writing, nobody has read it. You might be the first? http://www.librarything.com/work/14507607/book/104088695

> 144 Hi, Max_China, welcome to LT. I hope you like it here. :)
You might want to post in the Author Introduction thread as well. And if you've got a 200 word snippet from your novel that has something to do with gift giving, maybe you could add it to our snippet game. But no rush, or anything. Adding some books is probably more important. :)

>145 belltooter: Belltooter, How can you possibly have written anything for "readers of all ages"?

Hello, Everyone;

My name is A.R., I recently joined LT. I really like the site and look forward to contributing. I had just published my second book (Gabriel's World) in my series in September, and I've started work on the third, which is called The Book of Joel. It is Mystery/Thriller/LGBT, which switches time frames and perspectives from a murder investigation in the present day, to a character's past events in life that play upon his present day circumstances. I wish everyone well!

--AR

I am currently working on two genealogies for families in Texas. One is trying to complete his application for admission to the Sons of the Revolution and the other is trying to gather some information for her grandfather who has suddenly taken an interest in the family genealogy.

I'm currently working on filling my creative well. I went through a horrible trauma last year (got my first book contract the day after the world crashed around me) and I've been unable to write much. I finally figured out that I haven't been reading enough and that's why I haven't been inspired to write. Books fuel me up and I've been totally out of gas. Now that I'm reading again, I'm ready to finish polishing the award-winning WIP I've worked on for five years and hopefully find a happy publishing home for it.

>149 AceHansen: I didn't get much writing done for over a year after my youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia (she's been cured). But it does come back. Wishing you all the best with your WIP!

Just released 2nd in series, "Lemurian Medium" A Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mystery.

For more details: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HE18XES

I'm 10,000 words into a noir mystery featuring a strong female protagonist who is the bartender/manager at a strip club named The Fat Cat. Here's the first paragraph:

I hadn’t seen that good-lookin' motherfucker for almost a year when he walked in with his partner to ask me about the dead dancer found that morning in our dumpster.

I'm working on a massive multibook scifi set in 2450 in our solar system while waiting for my first to come out this March. I'm hoping to finish 2 books this year!

I stopped working on prepping books for publication long enough to write 3500 words this week, but then it was back to book prepping again. But I really am down to the piddling little stuff... I expect to be back up to my regular pre-publication-book-prepping wordage in a couple weeks. :)

Proof reading my next novel and choosing a cover - great fun!

I finally decided to gather all the piles of photocopies stapled together, which were the research for my book, and organize them in a binder; with dividers!

It's a wonderful feeling. And finding all sorts of research that I need and forgot I had.

>156 SM_Sigerson: Sounds like a good job well done, SM! :)

In spite of my attempts to get as much of my story notes into digital format as possible, I find that I'm still a devotee of binders and clear plastic page protectors. They're so handy! You can put anything that's flat in them: photo-copies, computer print-outs, note paper, envelopes, paper-napkins... :)

I've written the first six pages of chapter one of what I hope will become my second historical novel, this one focusing on Algonquian characters during the visitations of the English at Roanoke in 1584 and then 1585 and 1586. It's been awhile since I've had to write anything fictional from scratch. Rather daunting.

Giving the final brushup to a short story based on outtakes from both novels 1 AND 2 about the troubled relationship between a mother and daughter, both psychic. The daughter made good. The mother is caught in backwater of poverty, unhappiness, and promiscuity.

Also working on the third book in what seems to be my dystopian trilogy, though it is a very different third book from what I originally envisioned. Emotionally, this one (working title: ANGEL) is the most engaging for me.

First two: Cel & Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story and Warning: Something Else Is Happening.

Hi, I'm new here, but I just finished a manuscript today, so I feel like tooting my own horn a bit. It's an homage to the play Much Ado About Nothing, set in a small, remote town in Montana in the present-day, and it's called, unimaginatively enough, Much Ado in Montana.

At any rate, I just sent it off to my editor, and have started working with a cover designer for the first time in my life. I made my own covers for my other five books, but I want to see if a professionally-created cover will make a difference in my sales.

Anyway, if anyone's interested in what I write, I've got a three-novel-and-a-short-story series that's time travel set in the Old West, specifically Yellowstone National Park and Yukon Territory, and a non-fiction travel narrative about a three-month journey I took alone across the U.S. just before the turn of the millennium. My website is http://mmjustus.com, and if you got this far, thanks for listening g.

>160 MM_Justus: "I just finished a manuscript today, so I feel like tooting my own horn a bit"

I know the feeling. Congrats!
And I hope that the cover designer works out well for you.

I'm working on The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire book 2. This follows young Witch, Peri, in her quest to escape her father and his sect, the only way seemingly for her to confront him and his immense magical power! It also follows her journey with The Wolf and The Vampire - her love for both and theirs for her. Am at chapter 15 at the moment and going to try and get some more done today, fingers crossed!

Just finished a couple of courses on book design (for POD and ebook) and putting the finishing touches on a collection of short stories that should be out in a couple of weeks.

I'm working on writing and testing books 2 through 6 in my series "The No-Homework Women's Bible Study: Group Hug". Before I release a book, I put it through real-world group testing to make sure the ice breakers are fun and play out they way they are planned. Group testing also provides feedback for me to fine-tune the discussion section. Book 2 will be finished with testing and released by the end of March. Book 3 is all ready written and ready to roll right into group testing. If all goes as planned, the entire series will be released by the end of 2014.

It's not really something I'm working on, because I didn't get any work done today, but I did get my first ever totally out of the blue extremely positive response to one of my books from someone I didn't even know had a copy. (I'm not used to that yet. Not knowing who has copies, that is. It's a new thing for me.)

Congratulations! That's fantastic! It's such a great feeling when someone lets you know you made a positive impact in their life. And yes, it is a strange feeling not knowing where your book is or who has it. Writers put a piece of their soul on paper and offer it up for public review. Such a strange blend of the very personal with the very impersonal.

Hello, folks! :-) I'm currently stuck on Chapter 1 of what I thought was the logical next book in my series (it'll be #5 if I can just get it going), Silver Sagas. I've tried writing it from his point of view and from hers, both times with the idea of starting them off a lot further apart (emotionally) than they were in the last book. Then today I tried starting with them in the same room, talking. I'm getting nowhere!
Ordinarily, I take a vivid character and tell their story. At worst I'm expected to provide a challenge or an escape here and there. This feels very forced to me. But I can't tell if that's bad and I need to take a breather, maybe try writing one of the other stories that belong in this series - or if it's fine and I just need to knuckle down like with any tough spot. lol... I may have to resort to writing an action scene and working the story forwards and backwards from there.
Luckily, book #4 hasn't been released yet, so I can keep tweaking it as I realize this or that needs setting up for the next book.

Maybe introducing a new character into the plot?

If introducing a new character doesn't work, then how about a new location in which to place your existing vivid characters? That might spark something.

Recently I have finished my book, "Creatures: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems" here is the link if you would like to read it: http://www.amazon.com/Creatures-Collection-Short-Stories-Poems-ebook/dp/B00I2FHX...
Other than that I am working on my second horror book. Right now I am very busy with school, so it will probably take till summer to finish it.

Thanks dkhiggin and LShelby. Those are both great suggestions. Oddly enough, I introduced a character at the end of the last book, more or less just establishing his existence, and now he's part of the problem! lol, I don't know much about him so I've got that "is that really what he would do?" problem.
And they're in a city the stories have never visited, but it's a royal city, so I've got to figure out the customs, etc., of the Sky Fairy Court. With my first few books it was almost like writing about a place I've been to, people I know. This is a new challenge for me! Keep the ideas (or encouragement) coming, I can use it! ;D

I am in the editing stage for my novel Seattle in Shorts. It was released as a work-in-progress on Smashwords during NaNoWriMo 2013. When it is finalised it will probably go exclusive on Amazon for at least 3 months (after all, Amazon are a Seattle success story), but those who had previously bought the work-in-progress on Smashwords will be able to download the final version even after I temporarily unpublish it at Smashwords.

Blurb
Martine Brown, a Seattle ex-pat, leaves London after a mental breakdown to move to Poulsbo, Washington State. First, she is spending November 2013 in Seattle, where she plans to re-visit old haunts, in the hope of recovering her mental health. That plan goes awry, but she finds help from new (and renewed) friendships. Each chapter is a Day in the Month of Martine.

As an interlude to each chapter, there is a short story vox pop from a member of one of Seattle's minority communities talking about the past or present suffering of another Seattle minority community.

The novel was inspired by the 2012 commemorations in Seattle of both the 50th anniversary of the World's Fair and the 70th anniversary of Japanese Internment.

I recently finished a small writing piece, called Poetic Puberty, to help novice poets develop into professional poets. I am now working on my very first novel, called A Wandering Soul, and I would like to accomplish this by the beginning of next year. Wish me luck, everyone. :)

Got sidetracked editing and designing my daughter's latest book. A project that should have taken four hours took four days!

Good luck! It sounds like a long time away, but the year is flying by.

Thought I'd bump this tread up because I always enjoy seeing what everyone is up to. I set up an independent imprint (http://www.raggedymoonbooks.com/) and am about to launch my second novel. I'll have more details as the date gets closer. I just came up with the title for this one and the as-yet-to-be-written sequel. Looking forward to leaving the publishing/marketing world and getting back to writing.

Planning my fifth novel, now the last one is out in paperback and e-book. Also blogging about my progress on (http://www.juliecround.wordpress.com.) At least, I think that's how to get there! I usually expect people to find it through my website.

I hesitate to add anything to this page because I am only now working on my first novel Simon Sinclair. It is historical fiction set in the early 17th century and will cover many countries as the main character's adventure unfolds. It begins in Scotland and ends in Norway.

Novel writing updates count as "what you are working on". :)

I'm currently working on covers and other publishing type stuff instead of doing any writing myself. But I did finish the first draft of Vol. 3 of my EFP Epic earlier this year.

Trying something new--audio books. Putting my toe in the water with a collection of short stories. I read for a radio service for the blind and my daughter engineers several segments, so we're teaming up on this one. If I like the result, I'll do another collection, then think about hiring some real talent for my novel.

Ooooh, that sounds really exciting, MarysGirl! I hope it works out!

I've just finished the rough draft for the last story in a small collection. Time for a short break to focus on something else before I start editing. ^_^

My debut novel, Legend of the Mystic Knights was just released: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MNKNI9U/

I am getting everything together for book 2 of my new series, A New World.
It is a middle grade fantasy about Jessa, a Faery queen, who fights against Ancients and Trolls.

Book 1: Harvest Moon

Struggling with a word count question. How many chapters can I seriously devote to a single day? lol, I've got about six chapters (say 18,000 words) describing a day. Granted, a lot happens. The villain is introduced, the hero finally makes it to the doctor's, and the plot takes at least one twist that caught me by surprise...but how much is too much to spend on too little?

>184 lcarter11:
You can have a the whole book happen in just one day, if you've got enough stuff going on to make it interesting, and there's some kind of conclusion at the end.

I haven't managed to do that myself yet, though.

The closest I've done, was a 107 000 word novel that covers four days, and a 26 000 word novella that covers one.

My first (and only) novel takes place entirely on one day, but the one I'm writing now (YA science fiction) takes place over a week. The one after that covers 35 years :)

I didn't set out with a time period in mind for any of the stories, so I don't give any thought to how many words I need to cover a particular period. The story and scenes will dictate that aspect.

I'm working on my first novel, a sci-fi. I missed NaNoWriMo (Ok, so I forgot) but am going ahead with starting my own 50,000 words in 30 days adventure to get this puppy moving a bit more!

Always have my second poetry collection nagging in the back of my mind so as I shift between fiction and non-fiction I do so with poetry as well. In addition I've got an idea for a series of non-fiction articles/interviews. Working on my blog and in non-writing news trying to improve and learn more about photography. And I need to reignite promotion of my first collection of poetry from last year.

:D CHeers!!
eLPy

>187 eLPy: "I missed NaNoWriMo (Ok, so I forgot)"

I always skip it quite deliberately.

As for what I'm working on, I've got Cantata in Coral and Ivory out, and am working on the cover, edits, and glossaries to the "same world sequel" Pavane in Pearl and Emerald.

Wonderful! Are you doing readings and what not for Cantata in Coral and Ivory out?

>189 eLPy: You mean, like readings in bookstores and things?

I haven't tried any yet. I'm not totally opposed to the idea, but because I have environmental sensitivities and ME/CFS, they kind of get booted down the priority list due to the strain they would put on my health.

What I really want to do is put on a concert. But that is probably impossible. :(

Good luck on your 50K words in a month, eLPy! :)

I'm done with the writing part of my newest book, now I'm waiting on the proof from the printer so we can get this baby printed! But of course the work isn't over, now I'm focused on marketing and setting things up for the launch, etc.

the story of the unique sheep

I just released the first book (Hopebreaker) in my new steampunk fantasy series, The Great Iron War, and am hard at work on the sequel, Lifemaker.

Ah, I see, well I wish you better health in 2015!

A concert eh? That would be interesting for sure, and who knows it might be possible too. :)

Thank you for the well wishes. I'm a little behind but I have no doubt I'll make it...well, it's not doubt that I have it's anxiety!! I went ahead and bumped it up to 60,000 and downloaded the "Writeometer" app just today, it's really quite wonderful!

Laura good luck that can be a trying yet beautiful time. Marketing takes a lot of work, admittedly I didn't do enough myself but I'm not giving up.

Dean, congrats & best wishes on the sequel!

:D

>193 eLPy: "it's not doubt that I have it's anxiety!!"

Oh, boy am I familiar with that one. :)

It looks like I'm not going to make one of my own writing goals for the year, and I've been being all anxious about it, and my husband is all "look, nobody said you had to do it before the end of the year other than you, so if you CAN'T do it, don't fret!"

But if setting a goal didn't create that desire to actually reach it, what would be the point of setting the goal?

(I really need to go back to not putting time limits on my goals, though. I already learned from painful experience that deadlines don't work for me, but when I started publishing, deadlines seemed so inherently a part of the process that I did a bit of backsliding.)

Anyway, as for what I'm doing. My writing related project for today is to draw flowers. Seriously. I'm hoping to use some of the drawings in the actual book, as my chapter/scene break art, and maybe some in the glossary as well. And the rest will end up on my website.

(The characters in the book I will be releasing next use flowers to send messages to each other -- not using our world's version of a "flower language" where each flower has a specific meaning, but by using a color based system that was inspired by an African beadwork tradition, instead.)

That sounds like something my boyfriend would say! I let myself go there long after I failed to meet the goal but then it tears me up because I start thinking that if I can't stay committed to my goals with a sense of integrity then what's going to stop me from not following through in the future!! So maybe we need to have a closer look at your goal and why you didn't meet it. Could be there's a lesson there for you. ;-)

Sorry if I'm repeating myself but my goal in doing the 60,000 in 30 days has more to do with my desire to get a stronghold on my story than anything else. I mean come on, 60,000 words later and I should have something substantial right? 30,000+ and I still feel like I'm kind of all over...huh... shooting for 8,000 words today...

Wow, sounds like you've got a heck of a creative project at your hands. Interesting, flowers for communication. May I ask where you inspiration for this came from? I've learned all too well btw that writing a book requires a lot more than just writing so I'm not surprised you're drawing for it! My poetry book btw included black and white photos of mine and as I call them "Poepics" or poetry infused images. So getting that book together required some visual art as well.

>195 eLPy: "So maybe we need to have a closer look at your goal and why you didn't meet it."

I wanted to get Cantata in Coral and Ivory, Pavane in Pearl and Emerald and Velvet Lies out this year. They were already written, and they share a setting (although the stories all stand alone), so it made sense to release them together, and I just needed to do edits and covers and etc. I gave myself about five or sixth months. (First I wanted to write the rough draft of the next volume in my fantasy epic, which I did.)

But the first cover took longer than I expected, and my health did a nose-dive this fall/winter, which is a time of the year when it's usually reasonably stable. I got Cantata and Velvet Lies out, but Pavane still has some final edits and a little bit of interior art to go, and it isn't going to make it. Not with only two days left in the year.

Because I never know how much energy I will have, I can't really predict how long it will take me to get anything done. Giving myself a deadline doesn't seem to make me work any faster or harder -- it just makes me depressed when I miss it. Not helpful.

If had I just left off the "this year" part of the goal I would be doing fine. :)

Interesting, flowers for communication. May I ask where you inspiration for this came from?

Well, inspiration for flower arranging to be a common activity in my story came mostly from the earlier book where I described the setting's gorgeous gardens full of flowers. And it fit my hero so well -- exactly the sort of thing I could picture him doing.

That flowers can mean something is a real world concept that I just happened to already know about. You can look it up online: daisies mean one of thing and lilies mean another, and so on and so forth. If such a "language" existed in his world, I knew my hero would make use of it -- but I didn't want to just copy the idea over directly, because copying is boring. I wanted to give it a unique twist that would better reflect my setting.

So then I bumped into an article on Zulu beadwork, and how they use it to create messages based on the color of the beads. And I thought to myself: Flowers come in different colors... :)

"My poetry book btw included black and white photos of mine and as I call them "Poepics" or poetry infused images. So getting that book together required some visual art as well."

Cool! My youngest daughter does something that might be similar, only she draws pictures rather than taking photos. All four of my daughters write and draw, but she's the only one who regularly expresses herself in poetry.

Well those sound like some lofty goals, good for you. At least you seem to be pretty close to target. It'd make more sense, you picking on yourself, if you were way off the mark. Plus it sounds like you've had some of life's unpredictable nonsense come your way. Not that I'm trying to "pamper" you and just make you feel better about missing your goals but realistically sounds like you should be too hard, just uh, give yourself an extension. :D

Yes I have heard about different flowers, and different colors, symbolizing different things. Sounds unique.

Good for your daughters! I wish I could draw. Hope they can make great use out of their talents.

>197 eLPy: "I wish I could draw."

It's just a skill. Work on it for 10+ hours a week, and in a couple years, you'll be totally astonished at what you can do.

... but you still probably won't be able to make a living at it, because you'll be competing against all the people who have been working at it even harder or longer.

Artists aren't people who have a unique gift for making art, they are people who are driven to keep making art, whether they are gifted or not: and lo and behold, because they are constantly working at it, they become good at it.

Just like writers.

Well said!