Oh Sookie...

This will be a short #ROW80 update:

Editing. I've been eating, sleeping, dreaming my book and I still have to pass it on to my editor - I think I've lost 3 pounds (not because I'm deliberately not eating, I just haven't had time to go to the grocery store!)

I've already put in 3 hours this morning and I'm about 60% done with edits. So the rest of today I plan on doing laundry, go to Starbuck's and work for a few hours (a nice change from my couch), clean the house, and go back to editing. True Blood is on tonight, so I want to get at least to the 75% mark by the time Sookie makes her appearance.

That's it kiddos! Have a great writing week!

Going on Tour

Why do I always feel like I'm running behind. PARALLEL is still in the editing phase and it's taking longer than I originally planned. I really have my work cut out for me on this one. So while my beta's will be getting their new copy a bit behind schedule, it's still on-track for a August release, even if it means August 31st!

My ROW80 goals were pretty simple: write everyday. Even during the editing phase, I still find myself adding new scenes, so that counts. But I also have a promotion goal, especially when PARALLEL comes out. So, after a lot of research, I decided to contact Kismet Book Touring to organize my blog tour. You might recognize this dynamic duo as two of the contributors over at Bewitched Bookworms. These gals certainly have it going on and I am honored to be working with them on this project. For now, it looks like I will be on tour in October and I will keep ya'll posted once things get underway.

That's it for now!

Post Breakdown

Feeling better since my mini-break down earlier this week. I actually had another one, where I emailed all my beta readers and begged for them to let me send them another copy of PARALLEL. I had gone back to edit and it was riddled with typos/errors/plot holes. My beta's were very understanding (thanks guys) and supportive. I've already got feedback from Kate Copeseeley (you're the best) and I feel better about my story. You can fix your writing, but you can't fix your story...

I've been editing and polishing off PARALLEL and it's taking damn near forever. I swear it's taking 2-3 hours per page! I'm only half way done, and I've been editing since Thursday. But I actually managed to add another 3,000 words to it. It will probably end up being a total of 10k words more than what I originally intended.

And thanks to everyone for all your supportive comments this past week! That's what ROW80 is all about, right? I feel much better knowing I'm not the only one who's gone through this!

Kate - I'm breathing again!

Channeling Ernest Hemingway

With PARALLEL already in the hands of my trusted beta readers, I spent the last few days since Monday happy as a clam. But now the fear has set in. What if my book sux? I was confident a couple of days ago, then I go and read a great book (ahem, Glow by Stacey Wallace Benefiel) and now I'm nervous. Now, I read great books all the time, even as I'm writing my own, but something about reading a book a day after sending mine out to get critiqued has given me a great case of the terrors!

So this week I am taking a little mini break from writing and plotting the outline to Book 2 until I hear back from my beta readers at the end of the week. Of course, I am still keeping my goal of writing everyday...an application to HGTV to renovate one of the rooms in my house counts, right? This is one of the hardest writing "assignments" I've ever done: "Describe what you want your dream room to look like...be imaginative." Um, I want to turn my study into a relaxing cabana-type lounge that even Ernest Hemingway would have wanted to hang out and write in.

Great News!

PARALLEL is finally finished! I worked all night and took the day off work today (no silly readers, I didn't call in sick, I took a legitimate day off) and wrapped up the end of Book 1.

I have just a few tweaks left and I will be sending it to my wonderful beta readers later today! Hopefully they'll offer up some constructive criticism and feedback so I can then send it off to my awesome friend and editor, the talented Stacey Turner, in the next couple of weeks for proofing and edits.

Thanks to everyone who were supportive in your comments and emails these last few months!!

Christmas in July

No, not really. But it feels like Christmas. PARALLEL is almost complete and ready to be sent out to my beta readers in the next couple of days. All that's left is for me to decorate my Christmas tree! That's how I envision my book. The chapters and the body are the tree, and the editing process is a lot like adding ornaments. Once my beta's get a hold of it, I'm sure I'll be adding the tinsel, and when my editor does her magic, the star that goes on top.

Now that I'm almost done, I do feel a little like a girl opening gifts on Christmas morning. In between edits, I've been working on a rough outline for Book 2.

I'm hoping to put up some preview chapters soon so you can tell me what you think. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Post Vacation Update Blues

I feel as if I just posted a ROW80 update...but here I am again filling everyone one in on my progress so far. Well, even though the first week of this challenge fell during a holiday, I did get some quality writing done on PARALLEL.

Monday - By the 4th, I was already fried by the sun, so I stayed inside the pop-up four a couple of hours watching Real Housewives of NYC (yes, you can get cable tv at a campground on the beach), and wrote a couple hundred words before the evening fireworks extravaganza! 

Tuesday - With a little foresight, I charged my laptop in preparation for our 4 hour - turned 7 hour - trip back to VA. I managed to get in 1,000 words on the way home, in-between keeping the pugs settled and eating a Sonic burger. After we got home, I finished off a chapter before turning in for the night.

Wednesday - Still too soon to tell what I'll be up to tonight, but I did manage to write a whole paragraph this morning. Wrote and sent in my inspirational post to Kait (one of my requirements as a ROW80 sponsor).

**For my fabulous beta's, I should have something for you by Sunday or mid-week.

Camping, Writing, ROW80

Greetings from The Outer Banks (NC)! I hope everyone is having a blast this Fourth of July weekend! The hubby, pugs, and I have spent the last five days at the beach and in-between fun and sun, I’ve actually managed to write, read, and post my goals for Round 3 of ROW80.

Before I get to my goals for this round, I wanted to share some pictures of our trip. Some may scoff and turn their noses, but we actually camp when we come to the OBX. Our little pop-up rocks and we always meet the most interesting folks while camping. Last night we were treated to a seafood extravaganza hosted by a fellow camper and ended the evening with s’mores while watching Pirates of the Caribbean, using a projector with the side of an RV serving as our screen. Tonight, we are going to spend the 4^th devouring venison burgers with my sister-in-law and her friends who rented a beach house just down the road from us (her boyfriend claims our pop-up is nicer than their rental).

Notice the skulls? We actually have a Jolly Roger flag and skull lights that hang from the awning, but we had to take them down due to the high winds today.

The hubby chillin' with the pugs on the beach.

Patiently waiting for the internet to pick back up as I write this post. It's taken me two hours!

Okay, I'm done messing with the wireless connection here at the campground, so excuse any typos, grammatical errors, etc. Time to make a sandwich and relax on our last day here. Have a great holiday and ya'll will be hearing from me soon!

Now for my Round 3 ROW80 Goals...

1. Write everyday. This is a goal I have kept since Round 1 of ROW80 and I found this to be a must have goal, especially if you want to keep publishing books. I don’t set word limits, but writing everyday keeps me disciplined enough to get me to the finish line.

2. Finish PARALLEL. I have two chapters left, one last push for final edits, and send to beta readers. I’m still keeping my deadline of an August publication date.

3. Work on prequel to THE FURY. I have already started on the first and final scene and I hope to have a good draft done by the end of this round. I hope to have at least 15,000 words for this novella.

4. Start Book 2 of the Traveler Series. I have already begun a very minor outline to guide me in the last couple of chapters of PARALLEL.

5. Promote PARALLEL. I would like to do a blog tour sometime in September and have already checked out some blog tour promotion sites.

As long as I stay focused on Goal #1, everything else will all come in to play.