Without a Voice is Free on Smashwords. Use coupon code XF24Z. (I'm putting it here because here I can take it down). Remember to look for Lauren Ritz, because the other Without A Voice book is about child prostitution in Africa. Totally different. :)
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Spring update
It's spring. The last few weeks I've been spending a lot of time outside, trying to get everything ready for summer.
One day at a time, I suppose. A big yard is a lot of work, but it's so worth it.
Writing is a lot of work as well, but unfortunately it's not seasonal. I'm guessing that each book takes me about 150 to 200 hours to write, and the rest of the process (editing, cover art, formatting, etc) takes about two years for each book. In the meantime I've finished half a dozen more, which then need to be edited...
I really enjoy the process, but I wish I could afford to hire someone to do some of these chores.
The problem is the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to bring a book from thought to production.
So at the moment I have four published books of novel or novella length, as well as some short stories. And then about 20 finished novels that I've set aside and I do the editing a little at a time. I really have to focus on one, or nothing would ever get done. I'm currently working on finishing another five (although three of them are at a standstill).
At the same time I have all these hobbies that keep poking at me, trying to demand a share of my time.
It's not so much the life of a writer as the life of a perpetually confused eclectic. :)
If you haven't read Parallel yet, go get a copy, and I'll meet you back here to answer any questions you have.
Maybe.
One day at a time, I suppose. A big yard is a lot of work, but it's so worth it.
Writing is a lot of work as well, but unfortunately it's not seasonal. I'm guessing that each book takes me about 150 to 200 hours to write, and the rest of the process (editing, cover art, formatting, etc) takes about two years for each book. In the meantime I've finished half a dozen more, which then need to be edited...
I really enjoy the process, but I wish I could afford to hire someone to do some of these chores.
The problem is the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to bring a book from thought to production.
So at the moment I have four published books of novel or novella length, as well as some short stories. And then about 20 finished novels that I've set aside and I do the editing a little at a time. I really have to focus on one, or nothing would ever get done. I'm currently working on finishing another five (although three of them are at a standstill).
At the same time I have all these hobbies that keep poking at me, trying to demand a share of my time.
It's not so much the life of a writer as the life of a perpetually confused eclectic. :)
If you haven't read Parallel yet, go get a copy, and I'll meet you back here to answer any questions you have.
Maybe.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Parallel is Free!
Parallel is free today!
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We are legion
In universe 197439 the Earth is dead, decimated by an unidentified plague. No one moves in the streets. I still live there, but I've fallen silent. In universe 81345 the Earth is abandoned. No one knew of me to take me with them. In our own I hear the tales of nations quarantined as the disease sweeps across the planet.
If it is not stopped I may be the only survivor.
There are those who don't want it stopped. They may kill me, but they work without a full understanding of my greatest strength.
I am never alone.
.jpg)
We are legion
In universe 197439 the Earth is dead, decimated by an unidentified plague. No one moves in the streets. I still live there, but I've fallen silent. In universe 81345 the Earth is abandoned. No one knew of me to take me with them. In our own I hear the tales of nations quarantined as the disease sweeps across the planet.
If it is not stopped I may be the only survivor.
There are those who don't want it stopped. They may kill me, but they work without a full understanding of my greatest strength.
I am never alone.
Friday, February 6, 2015
I Don't Recognize Boredom
I didn't recognize it as boredom, since I've very seldom experienced that state. But in the Demons Bay world I've written The Guardian (2 books), the Demonborn Series (four books so far), Baystorm, Courier (2 books), FiaDeRoche, Oden, Hachi, The Heart of the Castle, No One Argued with the Mountain, Tradition (two books), several short stories, and started dozens more novels that are just waiting for me to finish. All in the same world.
The world itself is fascinating, the people, the culture, I'll never get tired of all the possible nuances. But writing in the same world for thirty years running...It was too much.
So yesterday I pulled out another story that I'd put away, one that isn't in the Demons Bay world, and suddenly I was excited again. I dove back into it with my old enthusiasm. I have other possibilities, so many other things crowding my back-brain, wanting their turn to shine. The urban fantasy world of Spirit (I still want to write Moma's story), the cross-genre world of the Shapers. Even a few stories that may turn out to be mainstream (anything's possible). I'd love to revisit Shalaylia, and I see ways that it could intersect with the Spirit world.
With hundreds of possibilities, why did I stick so long with one? Probably mostly habit. This world is old and familiar and comfortable. Every story brings out something new that I didn't know before, or a new way of looking at old information. The history is fascinating and their culture is opposite of ours, with the servants in control and the aristocracy kept as powerless wards. I love it.
But just as I sometimes need a break from writing (odd as that may seem) sometimes I need a break from a particular world. I've never needed a break from this one before, so it didn't occur to me.
So today I write on Spirit Ring and the editing for Tree Spirit. The plot edit for GloryRoad will be next, and I need to make sure that whatever project I start next isn't in the Demons Bay world.
At least, not until tomorrow. :)
The world itself is fascinating, the people, the culture, I'll never get tired of all the possible nuances. But writing in the same world for thirty years running...It was too much.
So yesterday I pulled out another story that I'd put away, one that isn't in the Demons Bay world, and suddenly I was excited again. I dove back into it with my old enthusiasm. I have other possibilities, so many other things crowding my back-brain, wanting their turn to shine. The urban fantasy world of Spirit (I still want to write Moma's story), the cross-genre world of the Shapers. Even a few stories that may turn out to be mainstream (anything's possible). I'd love to revisit Shalaylia, and I see ways that it could intersect with the Spirit world.
With hundreds of possibilities, why did I stick so long with one? Probably mostly habit. This world is old and familiar and comfortable. Every story brings out something new that I didn't know before, or a new way of looking at old information. The history is fascinating and their culture is opposite of ours, with the servants in control and the aristocracy kept as powerless wards. I love it.
But just as I sometimes need a break from writing (odd as that may seem) sometimes I need a break from a particular world. I've never needed a break from this one before, so it didn't occur to me.
So today I write on Spirit Ring and the editing for Tree Spirit. The plot edit for GloryRoad will be next, and I need to make sure that whatever project I start next isn't in the Demons Bay world.
At least, not until tomorrow. :)
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Heart of the Castle Launch Party
Welcome, friends! Welcome to my launch party!
Here's the last puzzle piece. Link back on the facebook Party page or copy and paste it into a post.
If you're just visiting, and it's still December 23rd, come visit!
One point for everyone you invite who attends the party and posts your name on the party page. Everyone attending will receive a door prize, and the author will be there to chat and answer questions.
Here's the last puzzle piece. Link back on the facebook Party page or copy and paste it into a post.
If you're just visiting, and it's still December 23rd, come visit!
One point for everyone you invite who attends the party and posts your name on the party page. Everyone attending will receive a door prize, and the author will be there to chat and answer questions.
Friday, December 5, 2014
I got my book proof!
I got my book proof! I'm giggling as I do a happy-dance around the house. In the dark, and tripping over my cat. Instead of writing on my new story I've been gloating over the one I just published.
The Heart of the Castle is currently available in e-book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as Smashwords. Probably other retailers, but I haven't gone to check yet.
I got my book proof! In a few weeks (or less, if I can manage it) it'll be available as a paperback as well.
Happy sigh or happy dance, take your pick. :)
The Heart of the Castle is currently available in e-book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as Smashwords. Probably other retailers, but I haven't gone to check yet.
I got my book proof! In a few weeks (or less, if I can manage it) it'll be available as a paperback as well.
Happy sigh or happy dance, take your pick. :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Heart of the Castle
I promised The Heart of the Castle would be out on December 1st, and December 1st it was.
Sort-of.
Doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month) and trying to launch a book at the same time (as well as writers group stuff and critiquing stuff and looking for a job and illnesses and Thanksgiving and my winter garden...well, you get the picture) was insane.
Next year I need to add a 13th month that has NOTHING planned. I'll use that month for book launches. Suuuurrre. :)
So I finished 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo on November 28th. 27th? Whatever. I finished NaNoWriMo and got my book all ready to go, and submitted it (the process actually went better than I expected) and waited. And waited. The book is up on Amazon, and on Smashwords as of this morning, but it hasn't been approved for their premium catalog which means it hasn't been sent to BN or Kobo or any of the other vendors that Smashwords submits to. I'm going back to check the status about every three minutes (a slight exaggeration) hoping it will be sent this morning. Then it takes a while for some of the vendors to process...
I decided with earlier books that I didn't want to submit in January, April, or July. Now November. I really don't think there's a good month for a book launch.
On the other hand, Heart of the Castle will be available in a hard copy! It's over 70,000 words, so it's a relatively standard sized novel. It'll be large--Createspace judges the cost by the number of pages so it's cheaper for me to make it 6x9 and fewer pages than to make it 5x7 and more pages.
Sort-of.
Doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month) and trying to launch a book at the same time (as well as writers group stuff and critiquing stuff and looking for a job and illnesses and Thanksgiving and my winter garden...well, you get the picture) was insane.Next year I need to add a 13th month that has NOTHING planned. I'll use that month for book launches. Suuuurrre. :)
So I finished 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo on November 28th. 27th? Whatever. I finished NaNoWriMo and got my book all ready to go, and submitted it (the process actually went better than I expected) and waited. And waited. The book is up on Amazon, and on Smashwords as of this morning, but it hasn't been approved for their premium catalog which means it hasn't been sent to BN or Kobo or any of the other vendors that Smashwords submits to. I'm going back to check the status about every three minutes (a slight exaggeration) hoping it will be sent this morning. Then it takes a while for some of the vendors to process...
I decided with earlier books that I didn't want to submit in January, April, or July. Now November. I really don't think there's a good month for a book launch.
On the other hand, Heart of the Castle will be available in a hard copy! It's over 70,000 words, so it's a relatively standard sized novel. It'll be large--Createspace judges the cost by the number of pages so it's cheaper for me to make it 6x9 and fewer pages than to make it 5x7 and more pages.
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