Dragon 5 update

I'm halfway through page two of three pages of notes I made for editing. At this point, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact the vast majority of this book will be entirely rewritten by the time I'm done.

Already, the minor addition that was supposed to be the beginning has ballooned into eight mostly new chapters. Even those scenes I kept were pretty much rewritten from scratch. I've thrown out multiple entire chapters, salvaging only bits and pieces.

Also--fun fact-- I never really wrote the ending because I knew I'd gone very far off course in the first draft. Good thing too, because I'd probably have to toss that too.

I keep telling myself--today we'll reach the old stuff. Then another day drags on where I write entirely new stuff.

Writing isn't always a linear process. I know that. Just because you put words on paper, doesn't mean those words will stay. Most of the time I embrace that method. The pressure of being perfect tends to immobilize me until I get nothing done. I prefer operating under the "let's just try it and see if it works" method. It can lead to a lot of dead end rabbit holes, but you also find some diamonds in the process. Usually, it's not this extreme.

I don't know if the pressure of this being the last book of Tate's story got to me or if it's the fact I haven't really had a vacation in a year and a half. Or maybe the disruption from Covid. Whatever the case, I'm back on track now.

As dour as this post seems, there is a silver lining. The rewrite has made me fall in love with these characters all over again. There've been moments where I've giggled to myself over their antics . Moments like these remind me of why I love writing. It makes all the rest of it worthwhile.

Just A Reminder

Below are a few house keeping items since I've been getting a lot of questions lately.

There are audio books planned for both Wayfarer's Keep and Rules of Redemption. They are currently in production. I do not have an ETA on when they will be available, but I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Broken Lands 4 is planned for release in September/October. This will also have an audio book and a print book.

I am currently working on the second book in the Firebird Chronicles (Rules of Redemption). I hope to have it available around the first week of December, but there are some things happening that have made progress very slow so it might be delayed until January. We'll see.

Aileen 5 will be the next book planned after Firebird 2, but this could change based on several factors.

The Dragon Ridden Chronicles will be put into print format hopefully before the end of the year.

I think that's it for now.

Warning - ARC Ahead

Edit: Looks like we've just about hit our number. Thanks to everyone who signed up. For those who didn't make it this time, I will probably be doing an ARC for the next time and you are welcome to try then.

All right, I've finally got all my ducks in a row, my edges squared away, and a method to corral the madness. Hopefully.

As those of you who read the blog or visit Facebook know, Destruction's Ascent, book 3 of the Dragon Ridden Chronicles, finally has a preorder date of May 1. That means I am ready to do an ARC for the first time ever.

Disclaimer 1- I'm kind of winging it here so please be patient if this process is a wee bit unorganized. I've done my best to make it as easy as possible, but there may be some hiccups since this is my first attempt.

I thought of a lot of ways to distribute the ARCS-running a contest, going through everyone who has reached out to me in the past year expressing interest, just posting a link and then running and hiding. I don't think I'll do any of those. To be as fair as possible, I'm making it a first come, first serve.

Below is a link. Click on it and fill out the form. Once you've finished you'll receive an email from me containing the link to download. Right now I have it set at twenty five so the first twenty five people to respond will receive a copy.

Ready. Set. Go.

Click Here To Begin

A Grand Reveal

Yes, I know I promised an ARC would be released. It is still coming. But first, a cover reveal and preorder link.

A little background:

Tate's story is very near and dear to my heart. Her journey began while I was deployed to Afghanistan. Most people who have never been deployed can't imagine the amount of boredom that sets in after a few months. Things become very routine, very quickly. Day in, day out, you go to work, do your job, work out, eat dinner, then go to bed. Yes, there were missions and danger and even moments of sheer terror, but there is also a monotony that can pray on the mind.

I knew I needed something to keep my mind occupied and away from everything going on around me. Thus, Tate and her world was born.

I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning. I gave her a dragon tattoo, but I had no idea that sucker moved or talked until Ilith started speaking to me. Nor did I realize that Dewdrop would become as integral to her story as he did. He is the little brother she never had, the sarcastic backup that makes me laugh. This story is as much about them and their relationship as it is about the overarching situation they find themselves in.

I hope you enjoy this trip into their world.

When the past rises, the world burns.

Newly conscripted into the Emperor’s dragon corps, Tate Fisher is still trying to figure out all that her new position entails. Along with an elevation in status comes dangerous enemies. Enemies who would rather see the dragons fall into ruin than remain in their current place of power.   

When a dragon goes missing, followed by a child close to her, Tate is forced to confront the hidden agendas of those in the highest seats of authority. Her search for the truth takes her deeper into the maze of tunnels that lie beneath the city. It’s a place where secrets lurk and dangers abound.

There, she’ll uncover a plot whose origins stretch all the way back to the beginning of this world—one that can only end in the destruction of everything she knows and loves. The key to saving her city lies in her uncertain past. If only she could remember what that was. 

The preorder is live so get your copy now.

Updates

If this first month is any indication of how the rest of the year is going to go, I am going to be very, very busy. Not just on the writing front, but in my personal life as well. For starters, I've finally finished my move, and my condo is being prepared to be put on the market. Factor in that I've made significant headway in wedding plans, and you're looking at someone who is surviving on very little sleep or reading time. (Note- Wedding planning is not for the week of heart.)

In addition to all the personal kerfluffel, I've managed to proof and upload the final, final, FINAL copy of Moonlight's Ambassador to Amazon. This is probably the closest I've cut it to the publishing deadline, so it is a huge relief to know it's up and that I don't have to do anything else to it. No more proofing, formatting, or stressing. Just the soothing knowledge that it's done. Unfortunately, I don't know if it makes sense to do an ARC since we only have a week until it goes live. I may have to wait until the next book to put that idea into production.

In other news, Dragon 3 continues to chug along. I have roughly 35,000 words left of the first draft, maybe more. I'm entering the climax and trying to bring to fruition all those seeds I planted in the first part of the book. I'm at the stage where I have no idea if the story I've written is working and I'm just desperately trying to finish. There are so many tangled threads right now that I'm having serious anxiety about whether I'm going to be able to weave everything together into a cohesive whole in the few words I have left. A lot of things are supposed to happen this book. Now it's a matter of making those things happen without forcing or short changing them. It's harder than it sounds.

The crazy thing is I've been here before on other books. The worst was probably Pathfinder's Way. It's why it took me almost 3 years to finish. Since taking that long isn't really an option anymore, it means having to find my way through the weeds. It can be difficult, but I have faith that the finished product will be worth the struggle. If nothing else, I'll just have a really extensive editing cycle this time. I guess that's a silver lining of a sort.

Shifting Seas - Final Chapter

It's here!!!! The final chapter of Shifting Seas - the story of how Jost met Tate. I hope you had as much fun exploring the world of the Dragon Ridden Chronicles as I have. If there are other short stories or scenes you'd like to see, drop a note in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.

For now, happy reading!

Shifting Seas - Chapter Seven

Shifting Seas Chapter Six

As promised, I'm posting Chapter Six of Shifting Seas a little early this week. I'll be channeling my inner Shea over the weekend as I set off on a 32 mile backpacking trip. 0_o There will be zero connection to internet or phone so if you message me a question, I will be MIA until Tuesday.

I'm still not quite sure how my family convinced me this would be fun. Silver lining though, I'll get some great experiences to draw from for the next Pathfinder book. I'm also looking forward to indulging my photography hobby with all the amazing scenery we'll get to enjoy.

Wish me happy trails and I hope you enjoy the next installment in Jost's adventure.

Shifting Seas - Chapter Six

Chapter for Your Sunday

It's been a busy couple of days since the release Of Bone and Ruin Book Two in the Dragon Ridden Chronicles. Though the release has been exciting, it doesn't mean I have stopped working. I'm in full steam ahead mode on the next book I'm working on and Chapter Five of Shifting Seas is ready to read. Enjoy!

Shifting Seas - Chapter Five

It's Finally Here

I'm excited to announce Of Bone and Ruin - Book Two in the Dragon Ridden Chronicles is now up on Amazon. This book has been a long time coming so I'm excited that it's finally here. It was never my intention to wait so long between publishing Dragon Ridden and its sequel. Somehow time got away from me and before I knew it several years had passed. I promise not to wait so long to release the next book in the series. I hope you have as much fun with Tate and the crew as I did.

An ancient discovery has been made close to the city of Aurelia—one that promises wealth and power equal only to the dangerous secrets lying at its heart.

With three powerful groups vying for control of the discovery’s unlimited potential, it will take a delicate touch not to tip the scales toward war. Something Tate Fisher, a newly accepted dragon-ridden with a bit of a memory problem, has never been known for possessing.

Tate must learn to navigate the undercurrents of this society if she wants her friends and empire to come out the other side in one piece. Because these secrets involve Tate, and they don’t intend to let her go so easily.

Click here for a sample and to learn more.

Mother's Day and Chapter Four

To all the mother's out there, I wanted to wish you a happy Mother's Day. I hope you have a wonderful day spent with your families. For the rest of us, I hope you took a moment to tell your mother and grandmother how much they've meant to you over the years.

In other news, chapter four is ready and posted. Enjoy!

Shifting Seas - Chapter Four

Shifting Seas Chapter Three

Next chapter is up on the blog. Click on the link below for a look.

Shifting Seas - Chapter Three

A Not So Lazy Sunday

Ah, Sunday, a day to relax in preparation for the coming week. Maybe for some people, but not for me. I have so many things I need/want to get done today that I doubt I will sit down to relax until about two hours before bedtime. I compromised this morning, though, and took the time to get donuts with my boyfriend. Now, it's after noon and there's not a moment to lose if I want to accomplish even half of what I need to.

On the "To Do" list today:

Finish baking the cake I'm making for Valentine's Day. It's a devil's food cake with raspberry filling and a raspberry sauce on top, which is covered with chocolate ganache. Sounds delicious? Oh, it will be. It's also very time consuming to make. The cake itself isn't too difficult, but the filling and topping complicate things. You have to puree the raspberries and then strain the seeds out. Then you have to cook it with sugar in a saucepan until it thickens. Then you have to repeat the steps to make the sauce for the top, only this time it doesn't have to be as thick. It can also be quite messy, which is why my kitchen kind of looks like a murder scene right now 0_o.

Clean. Especially the kitchen. See above as to why.

Do laundry so I have something to wear next week.

Write blog.

More editing in current book. I'd like to get this draft done before the edits from Pathfinder's Way come back, and I have to switch my focus back to that.

Work on cover for Pathfinder's Way again. Lucky for me, I know a graphic designer who can help fix the rough spots.

Prep work for week's meals. This way I don't binge on fast food, and I have a semi decent chance of eating something healthy.

Edit photos for the tea tasting my friend would like to post on her blog.

Oh yeah, and celebrate Valentine's Day with my boyfriend.


0_0 Busy. Busy. Busy!

When your brain doesn't want to work

Writing can be hard. It often feels like an uphill climb on a never ending mountain. Today, I'm reminded of just how hard it can be. I've stared blankly at my computer screen for the past half hour, willing my brain to churn out something, anything and haven't written a single word yet. At times like these, I'm stuck asking questions like 'Do I give up and hope it comes tomorrow or do I push on and force the issue?' My writing goal was high today as it's a Saturday. I even cleaned part of my house yesterday and dodged plans with a friend so I could concentrate on writing. I don't want to walk away from my desk with nothing to show for it.

I've learned over the past few book that a large part of writing is discipline. It's pushing through the initial brain soup and persevering on yourself. If I waited for inspiration, I'd still be working on my first book. There are times, though, that it doesn't matter how I push and pull on my imagination, nothing comes. I really hope today isn't one of those times.

Sometimes I can jump start my brain by distracting it with social media, goodreads or checking out other author blogs. Sometimes the process of brewing loose leaf tea with its precise measurements and methodical preparation relaxes my brain enough that the words inside can escape. Also, I just like using my really pretty cast iron tea pot. Other times, I switch my writing hats and work on something writing related (like this blog) before going back to the book.

Hopefully, complaining on here will have gotten the gears turning so I can achieve some progress today. Wish me luck.

Ghost, Goblins and Witchs

It's that time of year again. Halloween. Where you get to dress up and pretend to be any sort of creature or thing you want. The more creative the better. I think that's why I like this holiday so much. It's such a rich holiday for the imagination whether that be creating a costume or decorating your home. That's why, for the second year in a row, I'm throwing a Halloween party.

My slight obsession with Pinterest has come in handy lately as I've managed to source a lot of great ideas for do it yourself decorations. It's also where I'm getting all the ideas for spooktacular recipes. Since I'm not made of money, I thought I'd think outside of the box and try to create several things from relatively inexpensive materials.

The below were created with construction paper and a stencil I created by printing the outline of a bat off my computer.

Poster paper and tracing my hands.

And the last image - streamers, poster board and tape.

I don't know why but it gives me an awesome feeling seeing the things I created out of such simple materials. Maybe it's because I've never considered myself particularly crafty. I'm excited for the party and hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!

Back In the Writing Seat!

I know I've been out of touch for the past year or so on this blog. Oh wow, just checked and it's been over two years. Way longer than I thought. How time flies when you're busy working, writing, and living. My only defense is I've been hard at work at what matters. Writing.

In that time I've managed to finish the project I was working on, edit it, and start querying potential literary agents. I've recently started a new book and have made decent headway in the narrative. My goal is to finish the rough draft by the end of this year. Don't know if I will make it but need to challenge myself. I'll never get all of the ideas cluttering my head space down on paper if I don't start writing faster.

Right now my progress feels strong and I'm getting word count most days but the real test comes when I get to the middle section of the book. That seems to be where I usually get bogged down. This time I have a new plan of attack and have created an extensive outline that should help me find my way again.

Wish me luck and stay tuned. Below is a video I found that made me laugh. Enjoy!