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. :)