And so it begins….

Yep, I’ve decided that if I can update my author page on facebook as often as I do then I’m going to aim to update my blog more often as well.

Stay tuned, I’m aiming for once a week.

Really Bad At Updates

Ugh! Sorry everyone… seems I update facebook more than I do my blog. I’ll try and fix that in future okay?

Since the end December, I have had 2 short stories “Cursed” and “Dark Desire” rejected. But I have also submitted 3 peices of flash fictions which I am waiting to hear back on.

Work on 4 pieces: “Once”, “Love and Clockwork”, “Mistreatment” and “Intangible” are on track to being completed.

Novels in the works at present include: “Bo”, “Bloodletting” and the sequel to “The Winter Princess” otherwise known as Zoe/Zooey.

Also for those interested, “The Winter Princess” along with a rough copy of the first chapter of “Bo” are available for free download at Smashwords.com

I stress that both are by no means perfect, but I had such an adventure with writing Zooey that I had to share it.

Submissions, Novels and Getting Noticed

So… the last week has been a busy one.

4 kids under 6 is the main reason and Christmas is the other.

That said, I have managed to complete one short story for submission “Dark Desire” and I’m writing a whole heap of other things, both short and long fiction.

As well as having put up THE WINTER PRINCESS on Smashwords.com for FREE!

I enjoyed writing it, but it is very much a first draft…

Should you be interested… pop on over to… http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108738 and you can download it.

 

 

It’s turning into a very busy Decemeber

I have a dozen or more projects on the go at the moment. Several that need to be completed by 31st December 2011.

And having submitted my rough first draft of THE WINTER PRINCESS to Smashwords.com for free I’m pleased to see the positive 4 star reviews I’ve gotten so far. In case you are out of the loop I am very guarded when it comes to my writing, mainly because I lack confidence in my ability to pen a good story.

 

Publications

So, I have two short stories being published in an Anthology with Pill Hill Press… going to print on the 5th December. Freya and Blood Sacrifice and I cannot wait.

I’ve also put up The Winter Princess on Smashwords.com as a free e-book until December 1st.

And I have several other projects in the works… will update my projects page momentarily.

Over the moon

So, I got word today that my flash fiction “Freya” is going to be published as part of an anthology. I am stoked… and just for kicks I submitted another story “Blood Sacrifice”… will wait and see how that goes.

I’ve also submitted “Cursed” to another publisher… so I’m hoping to hear back on that one soon.

Cannot believe I got published. My dreams are becoming a reality.

NaNoWriMo, Submissions and more…

Forgive me for going AWOL… a lot going on in November…

Namely, NaNoWriMo is in full swing… I am currently 30,002 words into my novel which is Arthurian Steampunk. It’s plodding along. Not sure I will ever do anything in particular with this piece but it’s been interesting to write all the same.

My novel “Zoe” is in the process of being edited, and the sequel is underway, albiet only just.

And I’ve written a flash fiction entitled “Freya” and submitted it for Publication, with Pill Hill Press. We’ll see how it goes. It’s about a faerie and ties into the Norse Myths about the Goddess Freya. I’m just hoping it’s dark enough.

And in between all that writing I’ve found time to watch the Secret Circle and Once Upon a Time. Two series I highly recommend. If you haven’t heard of them, try Google.

Day #1 Nano

I have written a total of 5,261 words throughout the first 24 hours… going to collapse into bed and get up to write more words tomorrow. I have no idea exactly where my story is going… or who my main characters are. So many pushing to the fore front at the moment.

WIPs

Okay, so Zoe is clocking in nicely at just shy of 52,300 words – not a bad effort at just over a months worth of word; shame it took a year to get to this point. The story while almost complete will follow on with Fox… so those following shouldn’t be too upset with how things wrap up.

 

My other novels have been put on the back burner for now, and I have a few smaller pieces in the words… will keep you informed as to how they all pan out.

Zoe

So, I’ve been rather busy working on my WIP Zoe… otherwise known as THE WINTER PRINCESS and I’m happy to state that’s the first draft (one of about 7 incarnations) is almost completed. I will be working on editing it in December, after I get through this years NaNoWriMo.

 

Submissions

Sent off “Cursed” with the hope that it may be accepted. Can only hope I suppose. Stay tuned I’ll know more by the end of October.

Dragons, Publishing and a Realm of Other Things

So, I’ve started work on another project… entitled The Accursed Dragon. It’s 100/3,000 currently. Starts off strong enough and the idea is working. Deadline is September 15th so we’ll see if I can keep at it enough to finish it.

Red Rose Castle is currently being worked over more thoroughly as I have found a Publisher that has an interest in Romance. It’s currently clocking in at 51,002 words, however there’s at least two chapters that will now need cutting, as they don’t fit the original feel of the novel.

Still slogging away at Zoe despite knowing I don’t plan on doing anything with it I cannot seem to put it down. So perhaps maybe I should. The premise of the story is okay, but not great… maybe with work.

Decisions

So, I currently have 4 novels open on my desktop that I keep flicking between. Zoe is one that I am constantly playing out in my head. A habit I’ve had ever since I started to write.

Red Rose Castle is coming along. 40 words shy of 51,000. Which means I’ve managed to pen 395 words today alone. Impressive when you consider I’m pieces together missing and half finished scenes of a novel that took shape in November 2005. Actually considering it’s been almost 6 years it’s not really that impressive. The joys of 4 children under 6. I miss the days where I could devote my free time to writing.

Also, a new really short piece Heartbreak has been completed. There’s quite a bit of emotion behind it. Rather like that of Birth and Bereavement. Trying not to dwell, but do so anyway. If you can’t write from your own experiences what can you write from?

As for the main purpose of this post… I have decided that at least one of my novels will be completed by October 1st. I’m leaning towards Red Rose Castle however difficult it may be. Although, in saying that, I really enjoyed editing and continuing on with The Sidereal Rose throughout the first 6 months of 2010. So it might just win me over. At least I don’t have to reformat that one.

Inspiration Comes From Strange Places

So while I was delving into the relationships of the Norse Goddess Freya, looking for names and possible family connections a slight change in plot occurred to me.

Freya is still Faerie, but she’s gained a twin brother, Frey. Yes it’s going to be mildly confusing.

The twins themselves are not Gods, they are purely just named in honor of them. The novel is now going to have heavy Norse Pagan influences. You know, just to be different.

Character Names

If anybody else is like me you’ll know how much of a struggle it can be coming up with names that stand out.

I’m currently in the process of naming the main characters in my latest novel Blood Letting and have decided that Ruby no longer suits the female MC and so now she’s Freya after the Norse Goddess of Beauty. Now Norse Surnames are inherently more tricky, however I’ve decided to stick with Winter, isn’t actually that much of a stretch when Vinter is the Norwegian Equivalent of Winter.

Now Freya’s love interest is interesting. Nothing at all about him has jumped out at me; neither has anything in regards to her so-called best friend. So naming them will have to wait.