I have finished the first draft of my third YA manuscript. Looks like I'm making a habit of this writing biz, yeah? *g*

Excuse me while I just dance around the room for a minute. Heh. Maybe that's not such a good idea as I had a terrible migraine (AGAIN!) last night. But anyway...

Thanks to all my LJ-friends for cheering me on to the finish line. Although I was supposed to be giving up wordmeters, for what it's worth my final total wasn't as big as I thought it would be:

BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS

62305 / 60000 words. 104% done!

Though I did break it. ;P

I still need to write an epilogue, but I can't do that until I make some significant changes during revisions. Not least of which is going to be a shift to 1st-person POV. I think I'll be leaving it in past tense, although I love present tense and am hugely grateful for all the feedback and recs on my previous post. I've already ordered a couple of those YA books narrated in 1st-person, present tense! I still have birthday vouchers to spend...

I will be taking a writing break until the weekend - revisions begin on Saturday. *goes in search of chocolate*

ETA: I just checked, and I began this draft on May 5th, so it took exactly 7 weeks to write. Not bad, what with Day Job stuff & migraines to contend with. ;)

I'm not posting at the Deadline Dames today (more on why later on in this entry), but I'm afraid there's no escape from my ramblings. I've been a bit quiet on here since my return from Orlando and all the fun I had at RT with reneesweet. Partly, that's probably just because it took me a week to get over the jetlag and feel halfway normal again.

But now my head feels like it's finally on straight, so I can think about writing and where I want to go with my projects over the next few months. The Eternal Kiss releases in a few months time, and I really want to have at least the first draft of a new novel-length manuscript done by then. That means I have to dig in and get on with the work. I have been writing lately, but it's been just a little bit here and there on various projects - I know that the thing I'm lacking is focus.

On the one hand, this is a good thing because I'm in the ideal position to play around with voice and style and different characters and worlds. I have an agent; we're on submission with a book I still love and believe in; one of the supporting characters from that novel is the 'star' of my short story, 'Falling to Ash' (the anthology piece). I have another novel with Agent M, almost ready to go, and a ton of ideas and new projects simmering. This is all Very Good. I know that. And it allows me some freedom to experiment before I have deadlines to keep on top of. But I also need to focus if I'm going to finish two complete novels this year (which has been my aim since 1st January).

So Black Neon Dreams isn't grabbing me in the way that it should do. And the adult novel (UOW) has a great premise, and I've written some scenes I like, but despite all the research I did I just don't think I've got the setting right yet. Which means I'm working on something new-but-not-so-new. It's a project that I've wanted to write for over a year, but have held off from committing to for various reasons. I have at least a few people who want me to write this book (I'm looking at you brian_ohio, Renee and my anthology editor, Trisha Telep). So even if it turns out not to have a market - which I think it does - it'll be one of those books I'm writing for myself because I have to write it. If I believed in writing 'The Book of Your Heart' and those kinds of things, then this might very well be mine.

This is the only book I'll be working on until the first draft is done, hopefully by the end of July. I can't wait! I wrote 1,200 words to start things off this morning, so I'm going to keep a word meter going here to make myself more accountable. It looks a little sad and pathetic right now, but despite the Day Job I hope to improve on it as quickly as possible...

Untitled YA urban fantasy:

1200 / 60000 words. 2% done!

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So now that I've got that out of my system, today is fellow Dame - and the person who invited me to join that talented group of ladies - Devon Monk's (devonmonk) big day. Her second novel, the second book in the brilliant Allie Beckstrom series should be on shelves TODAY. I enjoyed the first book, Magic to the Bone, so much because of the orginal premise and worldbuilding. And Allie's a great protagonist - I really felt invested in her life and wanted everything to turn out okay for her. Check out the cover blurb and purchase info here. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!



You should also check out the Deadline Dames website later as Devon will be posting to celebrate her new release. :)

First of all, the fabulous Dame Jackie has awesome news. She's sold her first YA book. Go read all about it - it sounds awesome! Yay, Jackie!! :)

The other great news was that Dame Keri's latest book made its debut at #6 on the NY Times Bestseller list! How cool is that?

Yesterday, Dame Rinda posted the next Readers On Deadline feature. Make sure you check out the brilliant artwork and join in! There will be prizes... ;)

And while you're over there, why not check out Dame Toni's latest post in her 'Confessions of a Contest Judge' series?

Over and out.

ETA: P.S. I am really behind on my emails - sorry if I am late replying to you. Um... that's quite a few people. *facepalm* Migraine of Doom(tm) has been threatening all day but hopefully a good night's sleep will sort it out, and then I have the long Easter weekend off from the Day Job. Lots of time to catch up with everyone. Yay! :)

I can't believe my luck!! I have a new job - finally! And guess where I'll be working?

*clears throat*

Murder One bookstore in London. To say I'm happy about this would be an understatement. Not only is it just the right amount of hours for me, I'll be helping to run the Romance department in particular, which of course includes their ever-expanding Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy section. Getting involved with the buying and events side of things is going to be a lot of fun!

I start next week. Thanks so much for everyone's good vibes recently - I think they must've helped! :)

I'm going to be thinking extra-good thoughts for all the people on LJ who have been job-hunting alongside me. Maybe some of my luck will rub off on you...

Head on over to my friend Becca's LJ (bec_fitzpatrick) and find out her AWESOME news. She's spilled her Big Secret and I am so, so happy for her! I love it when fantastic people sell their fantastic books. :)

Read all about it!

I am feeling pretty unwell, so there will be pictures to make this post more sparkly than I currently feel.

First of all, I just read Patricia Briggs' novella Alpha and Omega in ON THE PROWL:



I've had the collection on my shelf for months, but am glad I waited until now to read Ms. Briggs' story - her new series just came out featuring the main characters, Anna and Charles, so I won't have to wait long to read more. I've heard great things about CRY WOLF - only the other day relliott4 blogged about it - and if Alpha and Omega was anything to go by, I won't be disappointed.

Secondly, in writing news I have returned to my new YA project for a while - now that the outline to TIW's sequel is done - and am enjoying fleshing out these new characters. There are still a lot of things I need to figure out about the story but, for me, that usually comes from the characters. Once I know more about who they are and what they want - what scares them - it becomes easier to create just the right challenges and conflicts. Also, Greek mythology makes me very happy. ;)

Finally, I wanted to offer massive congratulations to my friend stephanieburgis, who yesterday announced the sale of three books in her YA series, beginning with Kat By Moonlight. I'm very excited to hear more about these books, and can't wait to follow Steph on her journey towards being a published novelist.

OK, that's all I can manage for now. *goes to lie down*

...to my great friend and CP reneesweet, who finished the first draft of her novel (127k - nice!) in a final burst of energy while on vacation!!

I'm proud of you, Renee.

Um... what are you all waiting for? Go say congrats! ;)


[ETA: also, for anyone who commented on my last post, I think I got to most of the comments before I somehow deleted the whole thing. *facepalm* Sorry. Maybe it's fate? Perhaps the Universe is trying to tell me something about not making writing schedules! LOL.]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

bec_fitzpatrick has just snagged herself a truly Amazing Agent. There's an inspiring 5-year story of the manuscript's journey, too. Go check it out! :)

Good News HERE

Caitlin Kittredge's debut novel, Night Life, should be on the shelves today... Yay!!! Congratulations, Caitlin (our very own blackaire), I can't wait to read it! :)



Anybody thinking of buying it, please do so this week as the first week of sales are crucial to all authors (maybe even more so when it's a debut). In case you're still undecided, here's the blurb:

The first book in a thrilling, addictive new series by a talented new voice in dark fantasy. Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night...

Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she's just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders-a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend...until now.

But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can't resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimitri will need to rely on each other as they're plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity...

Quick! Go out and buy it!!

My friend Rachel (raeputtputt) has three poems and a story, 'Needs Must When the Devil Drives', up at Pen Noir for the whole month of March. Yay! Go Rae!! :)

Please take a look at some of her stuff, and then maybe stop by her LJ or main blog to congratulate her. The story is fantastic - I highly recommend it if you're into post-apocalyptic fiction.

Here's the link

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Another reason to celebrate: Today is carriejones' birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARRIE! I hope Grover is taking extra-special care of you... ;)

...to reneesweet for hitting 30,000 words and achieving the target we set for the month of November! You've worked so hard - I know it hasn't always been easy - but you got there! With 3 days to spare. :)

sora_blue is hot on her heels, so there will be more champagne to follow shortly.

Great stuff, fellow harem writers! We did it!!