NaNoWriMo was a No-Go

During the month of November, authors everywhere participate in NaNoWriMo, where authors strive to reach and/or exceed 50,000 words during the month. I truly considered joining in the fun this year, but I just couldn't make myself do it. For one, I really want to work on a Primordial Guardians novel again, and since I've already started that particular book, there was no point in trying to add 50K to it (especially since I need to re-read what I've already written). A few other books have been nagging me, but I really need to give some love to my Guardians.

That being said, I need a royal kick in the butt to get me into gear. I've been slacking, and it's been driving me crazy.

Well, off I go, hopefully to get some words written tonight. ;)

Puzzle-piece cover reveal!

As many of you know, I've been hard at work writing the first book in a new series. I started the book two years ago, but it went on the back-burner while I worked on other Primordial Guardian novels. I decided that I'd like to have it release within the next two weeks, just in time for my first book-signing. I'll have some paperbacks on-hand for the signing on October 12th, 2013. In anticipation of this upcoming release, I've decided to do a daily cover reveal. Here's the first piece. I know you can't see much, so make sure to come back every day for more.

And who knows...some days there might be chances to win a free copy of the book. ;)

Enjoy!

Scrivener update and a great writing day!

If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I got laid off six months ago. When I lost my job, I lost my motivation to write. All of my goals for the year flew out the window. It wasn't for a lack of trying, though. I did start up my computer every day and open my various WIPs, waiting for inspiration to strike. Unfortunately, scenes only hit me at night in my dreams and washed up as soon as I woke for the day. This time should have been flooded with time to write, and I should have been able to release more books than I did last year.

Yeah, didn't happen.

It's now the last day of August. There are only four months left of the year. Back in July, I did a post on a writing program called Scrivener. I'd heard a bit about it from other authors and decided to download the trial version. Right away I was impressed with the program. I went through the tutorial, and as soon as it was over I dove in, importing one of the Primordial Guardian novels I'm working on. My favorite things about Scrivener are that you have a visible synopsis of your entire story on the left side of the screen. I imported scene by scene, labeling the general gist of that part, and lo and behold...a synopsis. Instead of hopping back and forth in a Word doc and trying to piece things together that way, I can just fit scenes right where they're supposed to be with a click-n-drag.

Surprisingly, it got me excited about writing again. I didn't have to remember the entire story to work on scenes, I could look at that section on the left, click on where I wanted to write, and...well, write.

Another thing I love about this program is that I can take screenshots of my scenes before/after changes. There is also a section for notes. I do use that section randomly throughout the scenes, but for the most part, I go to the tab for the whole document and make reminder notes there. For example, I'm currently working on a Highlander novel, and if I forget to add in some detail before moving on to new scenes, I just go into the main doc and add my note there. I'm almost done writing my first draft for this novel, so when I'm ready to go through the entire book again, all I need to do is check my notes (I'll probably print them, the list is soooo long now), and check them off one by one.

Not only has it motivated me, but it also organized me. I've even told my Writer Chic group about it, and I know that one (if not more) is giving it a try now.

Alrighty, now I'll move onto my news of a great writing day. As previously mentioned, I'm almost done with my first draft on my Highlander novel. I always seem to get into serious writing mode when I'm this close to the end, but I'm pleased with the progress I made yesterday. In the past, I've had 7,000 word days, but it's been quite a while since I've had that type of motivation (and the time to use it). Lately I've been averaging somewhere between 1,000-2,000 words, but last night I wrote a little over 3,500.

I guess my hero and heroine are finally ready to tell the rest of their story so it can be shared with the world.

Wake up, lass. Ye dinna need any sleep.

To start off, no, I don't know why I gave my title a Scottish accent. I guess I was compelled to from the overly pushy Highlander currently running rampant in my brain. Anyhoo... on with the post.

Sometimes I wish I was one of those people that could not only survive, but thrive on just a few hours of sleep every night. If I could, then I'd be able to give my characters the attention they deserve, without taking away from my family time.

Last night, I was lying in bed, minding my own business and probably snoring up a storm, when BAM! New. Story. Idea.

And a loud one at that.

It woke me up it was so loud, and I laid awake for at least an hour, even spoke the idea into my phone so I could go back to it later, and rolled over onto my tummy and tried to catch some zzz's. (Ha-ha-ha...)

Yes, I'm already trying to keep my Guardians as happy as I possibly can, and I'm trying to give some TLC to my Highlander, but now... oh jeez ... now, there's a new Alpha in play and he's making life inside my head a freaking whirlwind. It's 6:30 at night and I haven't been able to get this new guy out of my head. He has a story to tell, and a heroine to claim.

So, hey... now I guess I get to try to appease all my characters, and push the not-so-pushy ones off for another time (despite the fact that they've been waiting months, if not years, for me to tell their stories).

All I can do is shrug and be grateful that they've selected me to write their tales.

Nighty night all, I'm going into my writing cave.

Birthday bash contest, and tribute to moms!

Not many people know this about me, but I was born on Mother’s Day. Every year on my birthday, my mom would tell me how happy I made her the day I was born, and on those years where my birthday shared space with Mother’s Day, I felt even more special to share that day with my mom.

So, I’d like to hold a contest, both in celebration of my birthday (Hey, I like to share presents!!) and to honor those special women in our lives: those who gave us life (and those who didn’t), those who raised us and held us and rocked us to sleep.

Here are the rules:

Leave a comment on who your awesome mom is (or grandma, stepmom, mother-in-law, friend’s mom, or whoever) and why she is so special to you. Be as creative and sincere as possible, and I will pick my favorite. If there is more than one favorite among the entries, I’ll let my sweet little baby pick the winner at random. And who knows, your mom’s first name/personality traits could make an appearance in a future Primordial Guardians novel!

One entry per person for this contest. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time) on May 12^th, 2013. Winner will be randomly selected on or before May 15^th, 2013.

What’s up for grabs?

The winner of the contest will have their choice of one of the following:

• An autographed copy of Dark Seduction (Primordial Guardians, Book 1) or Passion Ignited (Primordial Guardians, Book 2).
• An eBook copy of one of my Primordial Guardians novels: Dark Seduction, Passion Ignited, Born of Silence, or Rapture.
• $20.00 Amazon Digital Gift Card.
• $20.00 Evernight Publishing Digital Gift Card.

I’m also holding another contest on Facebook, so be sure to stop by the Primordial Guardians Facebook page for details.

Have fun, and good luck!!

It's been a 'poopy diaper falls off the baby' kind of day

I feel like I've been a slacker the last couple of months. I'm guessing that getting laid off is to blame, but who knows if it's that or just a "writer's block" situation here. It's bugging the crap out of the me that I haven't been writing as much as usual (which means, well... my writing is practically non-existent), so I woke up super early this morning so that I could work on book number five in my Primordial Guardians series. And I totally would have attempted to get something written, but my sweet little baby decided that he'd wake up twenty minutes after me and want to hang out.

I probably should have known how the day might go right then and there...

I brought him downstairs, to the room where my computer was ready-and-waiting for me to put some fingers to the keys, and changed his diaper. Normally he's all squirmy, so I should have known something was up when he stopped moving and went all silent.

Pee. Everywhere.

Yep, I slid the new diaper under his little bum and got my hand soaked. It also got the new diaper, his jammies, and the carpet underneath.

What happened not twenty minutes later? Well, I picked him up because I smelled that tell-tale sign that he went number two. I must not have attached the dang diaper tight enough because it fell off of him as I lifted him up, and that poopy thing fell right off, glanced off my leg and landed on the floor.

Fun fun...

Haha. I need to make this a better day STAT. And because I'm having zero luck writing, I figured that I might as well plan out a contest I want to start within the next few days. I have an idea of what I want readers to do to win a prize, but I'm trying to figure out what fans would like as prizes.

So, what types of Guardian-esque things would you like to try to win? Any and all answers welcome. :) I'd love to hear what you think!

New Character Picture section

I updated my website again, and this time I added a section for pictures of the Primordial Guardians. I only have four pics so far, so if you'd like to submit what you think one (or more) character looks like, let me know.

Hmm... Maybe it's time to do another Dreamcast contest?

Stop by my site and check it out!

Not a trilogy anymore, folks!

I really should have posted this last night, but to be honest I've been exhausted since even before my root canal a couple of days ago. I have been internally happy-dancing around my house since it happened (my face still hurts too much to really do it), and I woke up bright and early this morning, ready to share the news... Primordial Guardians won't have just three books in the series for long.

I just signed the contract last night for the fourth novel in the Primordial Guardians series, Rapture. I've been contacted by a few fans ever since Born of Silence released, and it seems that everyone is curious about what happens to different Guardians. So, I have a question: Which character(s) do you hope Rapture is about?

I still can't believe my fourth book is contracted. It has been such a crazy year, and I couldn't be happier that I've been able to spend as much time with my boys as I've been able to.

Immortal Guardians Series Name Change

It's been an interesting week for me. Not only has my little baby been sick for a week, stressing me out beyond belief, but my husband and I have been sick as well, having different symptoms of that flu that's affecting the population. Oh, and I have tooth pain to boot - I'm pretty sure I'll be having a root canal shortly.

As stressful as those things have been, there was yet another thing that hit: I was informed that I could no longer use Immortal Guardians as my series name if I wanted to avoid problems. This came as quite a shock,  and was very heartbreaking especially considering that my boys have been the Immortal Guardians since I started writing about them in 2009. It doesn't feel right that someone can take it away from me, but it still happened anyway.

So, to my fans who know and love my Immortal Guardians, the series still lives on, it's just called "Primordial Guardians" instead. Dark Seduction, Passion Ignited, and Born of Silence are still available, they're just under the Primordial Guardians™ series name now.

Check back in a few days, I should (hopefully) have some fun news to share. :o)