FRIDAY STIR FRY - A New Direction

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Received the news this week that my publisher, Breathless Press, is closing shop. Financial reasons were the explanation. With many authors going the self-publishing route through Amazon and offering their work at an inexpensive price, it's difficult for a small press publisher to charge enough per book to make any money. Especially after they pay the editors and cover artists. It's understandable, but sad.

About this time last year I was in the midst of final edits for Beyond The Horizon. It was all so new and exciting. A dream come true. I had a publisher, a fantastic cover and an editor I loved. Now, I have to begin all over. Well, not quite. I don't have to write the book again since I'm getting my rights back.

Many of my writer friends are urging me to self-publish. Some have even offered to help with cover art and formatting. Bless their hearts. I already published Briefs and Shorts on Kindle, so I think I could do the same with my book. I've set up a Create Space account to print a paperback version. Onward and upward. I can do this. I think.

So (fingers crossed), in about a month, Beyond The Horizon will be back out there with a new cover, a paper edition, and a lower price.

Big Easy Blog Hop

                                         

I'm participating in the Big Easy Blog Hop today thanks to Shirley McCann. http://shirleymccann.blogspot.com/

I'll answer four questions. I was supposed to get three other authors to participate, but most of my writing friends had already done this. So instead, at the end, look for links to blogs I enjoy and don't forget to check out Shirley's blog. Here goes.

What am I working on?

I just finished edits on my debut novel Beyond The Horizon coming out June 27th from Breathless Press. So now I actually have time to get back to my new novel. The working title is Coming Home. It's about a woman returning to the small town she grew up in after her mother's death. She's been gone ten years, but she discovers some things never change including the heat between her and her ex high school sweetheart.

How does your writing differ from others?

That's a hard one. I don't think any two writers are alike. Everyone has their own voice. We all have our favorite authors.You can attempt to write in the genre and style of Janet Evanovich or Stephen King, but it will be different because it's your voice, not theirs.

Why do I write what I do?

I don't do paranormal or erotic which seem to be the hot sellers right now. I guess I'm more old school. Romance with some suspense and a happily ever after ending. That's what I enjoy reading. I believe if you try to write what's popular and it's not what you're into, people can tell, and you will fail. I just want to tell two people's love story.

What is your writing process?

I work full time at a stressful, demanding job that leaves me pretty tired at the end of the day. My writing happens mostly on weekends, unless I get a burst of energy and inspiration mid-week. I'm a pantser - in other words - no plot and no plan. I just write the first draft straight through letting the characters and setting speak to me. And then I revise and revise and revise. I enjoy the revision process. It's kind of like polishing a raw diamond. At the end, you hope you get a shiny piece that people will want to buy.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and check out these other blogs:

http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com/

http://sherivelarde.weebly.com/books-and-more-blog/welcome-breathless-press-author-h-k-sterling

http://www.ptierneyjames.blogspot.com/

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Can't Say I Don't Have Anything To Do

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Nope. In fact, I'm bordering on too much to do. I'm still waiting on line edits for Beyond The Horizon (the line editor's computer crashed, so she had to start over - bummer).

But, waiting doesn't mean lying around doing nothing. The publicity person at Breathless Press e-mailed me 12 - yes 12 - blog hop tours I need to compile and return to her. They are scheduled for the month of June. Apparently my release date will be sometime during the month!! Believe me, I will shout the date from the rooftops as soon as I know.

I still need to write a story for the Sleuths' Ink contest - check it out here.   http://sleuthsink.blogspot.com/p/whodunnit-guidelines.html
Only 2 days left, but, by golly, I can do it and so can you.

I hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaining, because I'm not. I'm thrilled beyond words. I couldn't have asked for a better or more supportive publishing house. The story and characters I love will soon be born to the world. I will be famous. Well, maybe not famous, but my name will be on a book. How cool is that!

And finally, this time next week I will be another year older. Here's to hoping I have a little time to celebrate.

Now, please tell me how busy you guys are because I know I'm not the only one.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Oops

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Yep, I forgot to post last week. Hope somebody noticed.

My reason? I took off work last Friday. I needed a mental health, me day. Anyway, I post this blog while at work. (ssshhh) Don't tell anybody. So, since I was off, it totally slipped my mind. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

I really need to make a to do list. Especially as Beyond The Horizon's release date gets closer. So much to think about and do. I received some publicity forms from Breathless Press that I need to complete and am expecting line edits soon. Then there is my end of the publicity spectrum I need to get going on. Like starting an author page on Facebook, sprucing up my Twitter account, sprucing up this blog. I've also been looking at promotional give away items for book signings.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting more stuff about my book. How I came up with the idea, maybe a character interview and a few excerpts. I hope it will be interesting and interactive. That's what I'm aiming for anyway.

Do you make to do lists or are you like me and muddle through and forget stuff?

FRIDAY STIR FRY - So Exciting

Yippeee!! I received my cover art for Beyond The Horizon this morning. And it's perfect. Can't share it yet, but I couldn't have asked for anything better. They really captured my characters. And, I also received my final content edits. OMG this is really going to happen. I almost cried when I saw my name on the cover.

My friends at work (yes, I have some) are almost as excited as me. They've seen the ups and downs of this whole process. The frenzied National Novel Writing Month when I first wrote this book, to my rejection letters and finally to my contract with Breathless Press. I can't believe it's been five years since this idea came to life. That seems like a long time, doesn't it? Such is the writing life. You write, you edit, you submit, you re-write, you re-edit, you re-submit. I've had people ask me why I would want to spend so much time on something that may never amount to anything. Why do artists of any genre put so much energy into creating?

Because we must.

Our town has a monthly First Friday Art Walk, where people flood the downtown area to mingle and meet artists. I bet if you ask anybody displaying their work, why they do it, you would get the same answer or something similar.

In the next few months I'll share more of this experience, but for now I just want to enjoy this moment in time. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Learning Curve

So, I received my first round of edits from Breathless Press for my novel Beyond The Horizon. Wow. Talk about intimidating. I have to learn how to use Track Changes in Word. I'm sure it's not that hard, right? After all, I wrote an entire novel, surely I can do this in a few days. Yep, that's right, my deadline is less than a week from now.

I also found out there are different styles of quotation marks - straight and curved and you can pick which one Word uses. Who knew? I had to Google how to do that, because the ones I used are wrong and need to be changed.

Mind you, I'm not complaining. After all, I've dreamed of saying the words edits, publisher, and deadline for a long time. It's exciting! I just have to keep telling myself that. It's exciting! Plus, I have so many people pulling for me and cheering me on. I can't fail. It's not an option.

I need to load up on caffeine, chocolate and pizza. See you next Friday.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - YEA!!!!

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/871147

Many of you already know my BIG NEWS. But, for those who don't . . . I signed a publishing contract for my book Beyond the Horizon!! Can you tell I'm excited? Breathless Press is my publisher. Check them out here  http://www.breathlesspress.com/

It's been a long journey. I wrote Beyond The Horizon during 2009 National Novel Writing Month. It seemed like a good way to get words on the page. I managed 50,000 words that month. Of course it wasn't complete and needed lots and lots of work. Instead of finishing it, I started three more books each of the following NaNoWriMo's.

Three years ago an agent and editor were invited to Ozarks Romance Authors conference and offering to take pitches. In order to take advantage of that opportunity, I needed a complete work. So I rolled up my sleeves and finished Beyond The Horizon. The editor I pitched to, asked me to send it to her. Wow! I thought I was on my way. Then the publishing house she worked for sold and she left and my manuscript landed back in my lap. So much for overnight success.

To tell the truth, it wasn't easy keeping my head up and pushing on. Thanks to my writer friends and their encouragement and belief in my abilities, I kept working on my craft and submitting my work. If you would like to become a part of these amazing group of people check them out. I couldn't ask for a better support system.

http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/      and     http://sleuthsink.blogspot.com/

Twelve heart wrenching rejections later, I've found my home. I'm looking forward to the next chapter (pun intended) as I work with my editor polishing my baby until she shines.

I'll keep you posted.