Category: For by Grace

A Lenten Fast #blogging #life #writing #newreleases #editing

Well, it has been a long time since I’ve been on this blog. I unintentionally gave up blogging for Lent it seems. Go figure. I ran into one of the busiest few months of my life, even busier than wedding planning and moving across country and starting a new job. I’m not sure I thought that was possible. But yesterday was Easter, and that means fasting — whether intentionally or not — is over. So I’m back.

It’s a bright and beautiful Monday morning. Typically that means on my blog that I get to talk about Broken Taboos. But I think I’m just going to take today to catch you all up on what I’ve been doing. Which hasn’t been much in the writing world, I’m afraid.

I haven’t really truly written since January, although there have been a few moments of quick writing here and there. I did start a sci fi short story about this very interesting character. It’s written in first person POV, which is not my norm at all, but I wanted to experiment a bit and what better way to do that than in a short story? It’s been loads of fun, but I do need to finish it. Cheska agreed to help out this scientist while they try to discover patterns and more information about geomagnetic storms in space. So yeah, pretty cool. I’m hoping it’ll be accepted for an anthology.

I’ve been doing a lot of copy-editing since January. I don’t know why, but the copy-editing side of my life has boomed. I’ve had about two pieces a month to edit, which while I love copy-editing, it means I don’t write as much. I do believe that once the SO gets a “real” job, meaning one that pays more than half of what I make a month, then I’ll drop the copy-editing down to minimal so I can focus on writing some more.

Other than that!! Life is amazing! Books are amazing!

I’ve got three releases coming up between May 1 and June 1. Which includes parties and so much more! I’m finally getting around to you know, answering emails and such, and setting up some promo. Now that I can focus on stuff not day job related for awhile.

So…since I’m on the promo kick! I’ll put it out there.

I have a HUGE, and I mean HUGE, release party for Memoir in the Making happening May 1-8. I’m looking for a ton of people to takeover the event. I’m also looking for donations if that’s more your thing. Memoir in the Making is a romance, so if you’re intro writing romancey things, this one might be good to join in on. Here’s the link to the sign up.

Since I’m releasing Fallen from Grace (Spirit of Grace #2) June 1 (see? I told you–so many releases). I’m looking for people to read and review For by Grace to try and up my reviews on Amazon. There are multiple reasons for this, which if I do get enough reviews, I’ll share in a blog post later. The sign up sheet or rather, information collecting sheet, is right here for this one.

My third release for this insanity is a short story in an anthology. Young Love, Old Hearts. It’s a May-December, Old-Young anthology. This is probably my favorite short story I’ve every written. It just feels like I hit the nail on the head with it, and that happens so rarely. I get bubbly every time I think about this short.

Anyway! Enough of the business side of things.

At home!!! We got a new puppy! Well puppy is my term for her. She’s a seven year old chocolate lab mix, she’s adorable, she knows how to roll over and spin in circles, and she listens, and is snuggly. She loves my pittie! They get along fantastically, and I really couldn’t have asked for more in a dog (well, maybe better breath). So I think that completes our furfamily. Two dogs and two cats is plenty!

The SO is graduating with a BA in May! I’m so excited and proud. Can’t wait to see the SO walk with cap and gown. It’s been a long time coming. That also means the SO has to start looking for a career rather than just a job to pay the bills. Which I’m sure the SO is uber happy about. =P

On another note, I’ve been crocheting scarves a lot lately. I’m waiting to see if the idea I have in store will come to fruition, but I’m thinking an author and fan charity donation of knitted and crocheted scarves to one particular group (yes, I’m being a bit vague on purpose). What I noticed, aside from all of us authors having furbabies), is that a lot of us love to crochet or knit. No idea why, but it’s something pretty common among the community. I figure fans are also the same way since reading and crocheting/knitting seem to go hand in hand. The donations would go to women who are leaving domestic abuse situations. Which is something I’m very passionate about.

It’s something I’ve tried to bring to light a few times in my Spirit of Grace series and in my personal life. There is a second organization that would before foster care kids who are in college, which is also something I’m passionate about bringing awareness to. But…this one is still in the works, but if you’re interested, let me know!

Wow! This turned out to be a long post!! Love you all! Missed you! Can’t wait for WIPpet Wednesday!

Christmas Eve isn’t as relaxed as it used to be #ROW80 & #WIPpetWednesday

Christmas Eve isn’t a break for me like it used to be. I was just telling the SO the other day that it’s a bit weird not having a Christmas break from like when I was in school because I don’t really know when everyone is done for the semester.

Today is one of my busiest days of the year. And today…oh boy today…It starts around 5:30 in the morning and goes until close to midnight. So I won’t be checking on blogs today, or probably tomorrow. I might get to them on Friday, but I get to drive my mom to the airport Friday, which is a 2 hour drive one way. And Saturday I have a funeral.

Long busy week for this writer! =P

But the good news is, I have been writing. So here’s my ROW80 check in.

1. Write 1667 words a day.

Sun: 0
Mon: 2683
Tues: 2476

2. keep up with all blog posts ROW80, WIPpet, Open When and add in 1 extra post a week

I’ve managed this so far! Just need to finish Open When twice this week. Tomorrow and Saturday. =P

3. Edit at least one chapter a week on something.

I’ve edited two chapters from Amya’s Take Out, my short stories that are companion pieces to For by Grace.

4. crochet one round of border a week

Now, for WIPpet Wednesday ::rubs hands together::

This excerpt is from Grace but not from Grace. I’ve decided to write a series of short stories in companion to For by Grace. I’m not sure if I’ll do it with the other two books in the series. I might, but … who knows. I might know more when I actually do the final edit of Fallen from Grace which should be happening soon.

Anyway. Thus far this week, I’ve written two of these short stories and edited to more. So I have like 5000 words to pick from! Yay! Today you get 3 paragraphs from “Office Hours” for the 12 month because 1 + 2 = 3

I must admit, it’s crazy weird to be writing from Amya’s POV and it’s crazy weird not to have Grace in some of the stories at all. I think that’s why I’ve put off writing these stories for so long. It’s just weird not to have the MC in the world you’ve created and written solely from for YEARS not be there at all.

Anyway, here you go! 3 paragraphs.

Grace turned to leave the room, but Amya couldn’t let her go at that. There was something in the air that hadn’t been cleared, something that needed to be. Amya tugged Grace back, walking into her body and pressing her against the office wall. She cupped Grace’s cheek with her free hand, keeping the one still entwined with Grace’s in place.

“I really like you, Grace.”

When Grace said nothing in response, Amya thought she had stepped too far over the invisible barrier they were fighting with, but when Grace slid a hand up her back, she knew she’d done the right thing. Grace’s mouth descended onto hers, and Amya let out a small moan when they touched. Grace pulled Amya tightly into her, and Amya relaxed, waiting to feel completely taken over by Grace, more so than she already was.

Thanks for stopping by! If you’re interested in joining in WIPpet Wednesday, write up a post with an excerpt from your current work in progress. Make that excerpt somehow correlate to the date and then link up the blog post with all the others right here.

Such a travesty … #WIPpetWednesday & #ROW80

So I haven’t really written since last Saturday–like at all. I’ve been busy with an assembly, with church stuffs and with working my regular job, and just with being plain exhausted. I’m hoping to change the outcome of this since I went to be around ten last night but only the rest of today will tell. I’m tired of being tired.

I also don’t really have any one project to work on. NaNoWriMo starts this coming Saturday, and since I’m clearly nowhere near finishing the project I was working on, I’m debating on what to do. I can easily do NaNo and this project at the same time until I finish it. It would mean writing about 4,000 words a day for awhile, but I could do it.

So what do you think?

4,000 words a day to finish Amya’s Take Out and start my NaNo novel

OR

Just focus on NaNo and come back to Amya’s Take Out

I do want to mention that both my NaNo novel, Grace through Redemption, and this project, Amya’s Take Out are in the same universe, so it’s not like I have that to deal with. One is just more action than the other.

On top of all of this, I have a 50,000 word copy edit sitting in my inbox and another one coming in about 15 days. It’s going to be very interesting to try and keep up with all of this as well as Advent, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed about it. Anyway, enough about this. Let me get to the real update.

1. Write 1667 words a day.

I’ve written nothing…

2. keep up with all blog posts ROW80, WIPpet, Open When and add in 1 extra post a week

Did this so far! Extra post this week is a guest post from Ruth Nestvold, and I still have to write my Open When.

3. Edit at least one chapter a week on something.

I did a beta this week for a zombie story, and I did 2 chapters of my own, Unbound, to send to second run beta, and then I did a beta chapter for a friend.

4. crochet one round of border a week

Have not done this…*sigh* I’m really going to get to get on this one if it’s going to be a Christmas project.

ONTO WIPPET!

WIPpet Wednesday is wonderful thing where we get together and share excerpts from out WIP (Work In Progress). The only hard fast rule is that the excerpt has to in some way relate to the date. Then you go and post your excerpt on this linky do thingy here and read the rest of the awesome WIPpets.

My math for today — this is the beginning of Amya’s Take Out and comes from the first short story in it called “Flirtatious Jive”. 10+2 + [(2×4+1) – 9] = 12

So here we go. And much against what I said in my ROW80 update on Sunday, this is a romantic novella and is heavily on the romance side of things. PS This is the project I want to be working on alongside with NaNoWriMo.

Amya’s body buzzed. She hummed as she wandered back home through the streets, vibrating with each step. She sighed when she reached the first corner and leaned against the brick wall. The bar was an entire block away, and Grace…she sighed again…Sheriff’s Deputy Grace Halling was well on her way home. Amya smiled and lifted her hand, fluttering her fingers over her lips.

It was perfect. Well, not perfect, but it was perfect for them. She chuckled and started walking again after pushing off the wall and wrapping her jacket tighter around her waist. It truly was close to a perfect moment. If she closed her eyes, she could see Grace laughing and enjoying herself, the atmosphere of the bar fading into the background. They were drinking, listening to a band that would never make it, and having a grand time while they passed the hours. She smiled again, brushing her hands over her lips one more time, remembering the feel of Grace’s pressed up against hers.

There you have it! See you all next week!

Holla! It’s WIPpet Wednesday!

Hey all! It’s a crazy busy time of life for me right now. I’ll share more next week (hopefully). I’m still not ready to give out that part of the news yet. However, I’m leaving this weekend for a mini-trip that might be a make it or break it trip (again, more later), so that means getting to WIPpeteers this week is going to be difficult. I’m going to do something I hate doing. I’m only going to go to your blog if you go to mine first. *hides* I also probably won’t get to your posts until Tuesday of next week, so if I don’t show up right away, that’s why.

Now, onto WIPpeteering!

Today you get the opening of “Flirtatious Jive” another Amya short that I’m sort of working on. This would be the first in the series of shorts and happens close to the beginning of the book. You get 5 sentences for the month of May.

She’d kissed her on a whim. Amya’s heart had beaten so fast and her head spun from the alcohol. Everything in the moment was set and perfect. They had been at the bar, listening to a band that would never make it, and Amya couldn’t stop thinking about it. She had to do it. Three beers down, in each of them, and she was feeling really good.

And there it is folks! Don’t forget the Sunday is the release of For by Grace! The book that all these awesome little shorts are based off. =P I’m so excited for this release. Got a party going on that Monday and everything. It’s so crazy exciting!!

If you would like to join in WIPpeteering, feel free. Just post an excerpt of your current WIP (work in progress) that somehow correlates to the date. Then all you gotta do is link it up with the rest!

WIPpet Wednesday May 14, 2014

I was having a really hard time deciding whether or not to post a blurb or an excerpt from a short story I wrote this week. I decided to go with the short story. This story isn’t quite a stand-alone. I’ve had it in my head to write outtakes for For by Grace from Amya’s POV, and well…I wrote one. Now I have about 15 of them in my head and listed out, and I’m going this is gonna be a freakin’ novella! Not cool…My publisher just laughed at me when I told her.

So, I wrote the first one, which is not the first on in order, but it was the one I wanted to write. I titled it Trident, which you’d get if I gave you the whole piece.

I have a rafflecopter going right now! If you want to enter! So easy… You can get a whole slew of books from not just me. Here’s the link to the giveaway. a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t know what WIPpet Wednesday is, it’s where a bunch of us writers get together and post excerpts from our WIP (Work in Progress), and then we link them all together and read through them. The only hard fast “rule” is that the excerpt has to correlate with the date in some fantastical way. Today my math is easy. 14 sentences for the 14th of May.

This is the opening to the short.

Amya ran her hands through her hair as she rinsed the conditioner from the long strands. She let the hot water stream down her body, the conditioner running over her legs and down the drain. They had a date that night, one of many that they’d had, but Amya wanted this date to be perfect. Cupping her hands, she filled them with water and ran it over her face.

Grace was gorgeous. Amya hummed as she mentally ran through her partner’s body. Curves that were soft and slender, arms and legs to match. Amya knew Grace worked out on a regular basis, she had to—she was a deputy after all. Amya bit her lip and smiled at the thought. She was dating a cop, which was against regulations and had been off her list in any prospective partner. But there was something about Grace.

Opening her eyes, Amya stared at the green tiles of her shower wall. Heat rushed from her chest to her cheeks and down lower. God—she’d been daydreaming.

If you would like to join, make your own post and head over to KL’s page and link it all up.

For by Grace COVER REVEAL #authorcorner

Today is the cover reveal for my newest novel For by Grace. This is the start of a new series called Spirit of Grace. I can’t believe it’s going to be released in one month. And I can’t believe how hard it was to wait to reveal this cover to everyone. It should be available for pre-order soon.

I hope if you’re a big part of the book world that you see this cover multiple times today!

Cover Full

Being a Sheriff’s Deputy is not all about saving lives and arresting criminals, and each day Grace wonders if she’ll make it home.

While kids at the schools Deputy Grace Halling visits see her as the knight in blue-cotton armor, people involved in the cases she is dispatched to have a different opinion. She has every confidence in her ability to do her job and arrest criminals. She easily takes down a knife-wielding woman and a drunken combatant teenager without hesitation. Everyone—victim, suspect, or witness—has a story to tell or to lie about, and Grace is never perturbed by their tales.

That all changes when she looks down the barrel of a gun. She loses confidence in her ability as a deputy, she loses trust in herself and fellow officers, and she struggles to stay afloat as shift after shift passes. Grace cannot find her rhythm of being a deputy again. And when the Police Chaplain unexpectedly barges into her life, her personal and professional lives are flipped upside down. Grace struggles to find her even ground, worrying that the next time she stares a murderer in the face will be the last.

There is a rafflecopter giveaway for this reveal too!

Enter Here!

WIPpet Wednesday!!! March 26, 2014

I’m back!!!!! So sorry I didn’t comment on anything the last time. I was overwhelmed and stressed with a lot of things and had to give multiple things up in order to just make it through. Unfortunately, blogging was one of those things and rather abruptly one of them. But I’m back! And I’m going to be around for a bit! At least in theory.

I’m not writing anything new right now, but it’s definitely coming back to me. I’m feeling the urge to write *starts singing the “I’ve got the urge” from Herbal Essences commercials*. I just have to finish editing some things first. I have three novels coming out this year. Holy Crapola!! I probably won’t have that many next year, due to my lack of writing already this year, but I’m aiming for at least two next year (I secretly have two books that are about 2/3 of the way to being finished…I just have to actually sit down and finish them).

For by Grace, which is the first book in my new Spirit of Grace series, comes out June 1! I’m finishing up final edits on it this week, so that’s what the WIPpet will be from. I’ll also be doing a cover reveal soon, so keep a look out for a sign up. It’s my favorite cover of all mine so far.

Ashes Fall, which is the third and final book about James Matthews, comes out September 1. I’m still in the starting edits on that, and I will be hustling along with those edits just as soon as I finish two other things. I will also be doing a cover reveal for this come…lets say July.

Across Worlds: Collision, a standalone with a co-writer comes out sometime this year. We don’t have a date yet, but are awaiting final edits back from the publisher. Will also be doing a cover reveal for this! Let’s say….in June sometime.

So I’m insane, it’s official.

 

Back to WIPpet Wednesday.

For those of you who don’t know what WIPpet Wednesday is…it’s a very awesome thing. =P  I should just leave the description at that. But I won’t. It’s a place where writers get together to share some of their WIP (Work In Progress). The only hardfast rule is that the post has to in someway correlate with the date. It can be easy maths, or it can be crazy hard insane jealous (where did jealous come from? hmmm *shrugs and goes on) maths.

For example. Today’s post comes from For by Grace you get 198 words! Oh boy, crazy maths day. …

201 + 6 – 2 – 3 – 4 = 198

This excerpt comes from the chapter called “Breaking it Down” which follows an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) Grace, the MC, was involved in. Grace is hanging out with her pseudo-girlfriend, trying to work some stuff through her thick skull–she unfortunately is not like Olaf and does have a skull and bones.

Her thumb stroked over Grace’s cheek. “You did what you were supposed to do. There is nothing that will change what you did. You cannot change it. I know it sucks, but that’s how it is.”

Grace nodded. She wiped away her tears and sniffled. “Okay. I did what I was supposed to do. There was nothing else that I could do. It happened.”

Her decision had been made; she wouldn’t second-guess herself anymore. She let the quiet permeate the room before she spoke again, not sure if Amya was still awake, but she had a feeling that the woman wouldn’t sleep until she did. Sniffling, she wiped her cheeks again.

“I miss him.”

“I know,” Amya whispered and reached for Grace’s hand. “I know, and you’re not the only one.”

Grace licked her lips and stared at the ceiling until she saw light from the window. When she turned over, Amya was still awake, watching her carefully. She kissed her softly before burying her face in Amya’s chest and letting out a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around Amya’s back, pressing as close to the other woman as possible.

She fell asleep just as the sun rose.

Updates from the Beyond

Yes, I have noticed that I haven’t been around in the last few weeks. It’s honestly because I’ve been so busy, and not busy with fun stuff. My blog posts for my author’s corner have dwindled the past three weeks, all failing to be given to me and thus not shared with you. I’ve been traveling a great amount and thus unable to write or post for WIPpet Wednesdays, something I sorely miss. I could probably manage to post, but no way would I be able to manage to actually read my fellow WIPeteer posts, and thus I don’t feel comfortable posting without being able to reciprocate.

So here’s a bit of what’s been going on.

1. I’m looking for people to fill spots for the rest of the year on my blog for Author’s Corner. Right now, I’m only looking for LGBT authors or authors who write LGBT (or both, if someone happens to fall into both of those categories like me). I have a post up and coming next week from James Crawford, and I sincerely hope it actually happens.

2. I’m recently engaged!! Which is crazy exciting, but now think about the fact that we chose a wedding date six months out. Wow…so much planning. And I really hate planning. So now that most of the big things are planned, I can finally start to relax a bit. Also, I’m graduating with my Master’s degree in May, so I’ve been planning for that as well.

3. I have two books of my own that need to be edited, and I thought I would finish at least the first edit on Ashes Fall before I had to start on the final edit of For by Grace. I was wrong. For by Grace comes out June 1st and I really need to get the final edits to my publisher. Sadly, Ashes Fall is once again taking the back seat. These two books are coming out this year, along with a third that I co-wrote. I need to get kicking on writing in order to have anything coming out next year.

4. Due to the desperate need for money, I took on an editing job. Which will be awesome! I’m also searching for a part-time to full-time job in retail, because apparently I think there are more hours in the day than there actually are. This editing job is amazing though. It’s for debut author Tammy Morea and is a YA novel. I can’t wait until she publishes it for you all.

5. I’m still chugging along in school and my other job that doesn’t actually pay anything but gas money.

So this be my life for the past three weeks which I haven’t posted here. No interesting reads as of yet, though I did get started on Kristen Duvall’s Femme Du Chaos which is a great read so far! Wish I’d finished it before life got in the way again. Hope to see you all soon! Maybe Wednesday with a WIPpet post!

My Editing Schedule

Mar 24 – Ch 0, 1 (FbG) Ch 1, 2 (August Moon, TM)
Mar 25 – Ch 2, 3, 4 (FbG) Ch 3, 4 (August Moon, TM)
Mar 26 – Ch 5 (FbG) Ch 5 (August Moon, TM)
Mar 27 – Ch 6, 7 (FbG) Ch 6 (August Moon, TM)

Mar 30 – Ch 8, 9 (FbG) Ch 7, 8, 9 (August Moon, TM)
Mar 31 – Ch 10, 11, 12 (FbG) Ch 10, 11 (August Moon, TM)
Apr 01 – Ch 14, 15 (FbG) Ch 12 (August Moon, TM)
Apr 02 – Ch 13, 14 (August Moon, TM)
Apr 03 – Ch 15 (August Moon, TM)

Here’s to really hoping I’m able to stick to this editing schedule, and yes, I realize how ambitious I am. Either way, in the next three weeks, both these novels will be edited!

Tiaras, crowns and the royal throne!

I thought that I should give you all an update on what’s going on book-wise. I’ve been posting excerpts for awhile now, but I think a succinct post on them all might be helpful.

To bring it all down to the basics, I’ve been editing a lot lately and not writing. This has got to change. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a slump or just because I wrote so much in the past that now I have to catch up with all my editing, but it seems to be overwhelming. While I love editing for other people, I also enjoy writing. I want to find a good balance. Since NaNoWriMo is coming up, my balance is still going to be off. I’ve taken an oath to do NO editing during that month.

For specific novel updates…

Dying Embers will be released on December 1st. It’s all ready and set to go. I will have a blog tour going on for the last week in November for this. If you are interested in participating (which would be awesome since I need at least three more people), you can go here and fill out the form. I’ll send everything pretty soon. Dying Embers is the prequel to Forever Burn and looks more closely at Addison and how she got to Norwich.

For by Grace is in it’s second editing stage. I’m in theory going through that this week *snorts and giggles* It’s not actually happening though. Maybe in the next two weeks. This novel is one I’m really excited about. It’s scheduled to come out June 1, 2014 with Supposed Crimes. So excited! I just picked the cover, and I’m waiting on the final proofs for it. It’s gonna kick some ass. Likewise, during NaNoWriMo, I will be writing the sequel to this novel titled Fallen from Grace.

Ashes Fall is in the first editing stages. I’ve gotten it back from my beta’s and just need to take the time to go through it. It’s not scheduled for release until September 1, 2014, so I do have some time. My guess is that I’ll be editing it over Christmas break…you know, when I don’t have that pesky thing called school to take up all of my time.

Across Worlds: Collision is in the final, final stages. My cohort and I need to go through it one more time before it goes back to the publisher. It’ll be released, hopefully, sometime next year. This is our first erotica novel, and it’s co-written, which made it tons of fun and a great experience.

Emma’s Story, which still doesn’t have a name and I really do need to name it, is still in the process of being written. I will be taking a break from it in order to write Fallen from Grace in November. I’m hoping to have this novel done and completely edited by May of next year. I would love to be able to take it to DFWCon and perhaps meet with an agent over it. If not, I’m not going to cry. I have a publisher and I love her dearly.

 

That’s the quick and dirty update. Now to bring the title of the post in, I’ll be going to my throne room and disappearing into some much needed royal work! ttfn.

 

Excitement and more!

As most of you know, I spent two weeks traveling around the US from the East Coast to almost the West Coast. What you don’t know is that on my way back from Montana to Texas, I had an amazing visit with fellow WIPpeter and friend, Sarah Hart. She met up with me at the airport, and we had a great thirty minute conversation during my layover. Sarah is beautifully spirited and a wonderful person!

Sarah & me

Yesterday afternoon I spent some time talking with my publisher. She IM’d me to say that she’s really enjoying my novel For by Grace and that she wants to publish the series! Yay! It’s been a few weeks since I had sent it to her, and I’m always nervous that she won’t like it. But she wants it! *does the happy dance*

Secondly, she told me that she had nominated my novel Forever Burn for the 2013 Rainbow Awards. She put it into two categories, debut novel and paranormal romance. I doubt I’ll win anything, but I’m completely appreciative of the nomination and the confidence that she has in me.

We were also talking about the publishing company itself. In April, I will hopefully be traveling to Tampa, FL for the very first Rainbow Con. While I’m not going as a writer but as a general admission, I still think the experience will be great. I should have goodies from my stuff and goodies from my publisher as well (apparently she’s a tid bit shy about going to cons).

So far, 2013 and 2014 are looking to be big and great years for me! I’m hoping for the release of three novels next year: Ashes Fall, For by Grace, and my co-written piece, Across Worlds: Collision.

I have also copy-edited seven books since May, which I didn’t think was a lot until I really sat down to look at it. Since May, I’ve done those seven novels, edited one of my own, written one of my own and started that editing process, and edited my co-written piece. I am BUSY!

I’ll keep you notified of any further updates. Also! I’ll be posting my book reviews of my last summer reads as soon as I find the time.

Keep it strong, people

Interview with Aaron Speca & Cover Reveal for “Dying Embers”

Hey y’all (I can say that since I live in Texas). I was interviewed by Aaron Speca, an amazing, amazing person. The interview went live today. I have to say, this is was the funnest interview I have done so far. He did a great job on it.

ALSO!!!!! On a more exciting note, there’s a cover reveal for DYING EMBERS in this interview. So go check it out and see what my new cover looks like. I’m totally in love with it.

Find the interview here!!

Here’s a preview of the interview…

If there is one character you would really like people to meet, who would it be?
This is such a hard question because I have a lot, though many die (NOT a spoiler, I swears it!). Only one? Yeesh. I’m going to have to say Peter from For by Grace. Mostly because he reminds me of me in one sense, and in another someone that I would be best friends with. It’s a tossup between him and Addison from the James Matthew’s series. Addison stole my heart and hasn’t given it back yet.
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The tagline on your website says “A Torch in the Wind”.  I’m wondering if this phrase has some sort of special meaning to you?
The meaning is symbolic. There is always a light somewhere, and something is always threatening to put it out. However, if the light is strong enough, tenacious, willing, and brave enough, it will always prevail. Yet, it must also come to an end and die out. I don’t expect writing to always be this close to my heart. I do have a career that I’m working toward which is my number one passion.

Paving the way…

I am paving the way toward professionalism in this little world called writing. Yesterday, I was awarded (it’s a bidding thing) the job of copy-editing someone’s novel. And they’re actually going to pay me for it! I’ve been copy-editing and beta reading for people for the last few years, all for free. This is a grand new revelation to think someone would actually pay me to do the same work that I was doing for free. Hmmm…it sounds a lot like ministry.

So, now that I have this free-lance copy-editing thingamajig on my record, it has been said to me that more copy-editing jobs will come. Maybe that’s true, maybe that’s not. I don’t really know, but it would be awesome if it did. I mean two to five of these jobs a month and I’d be making the income that I want to make–not so sure how that would work with school, though.

Secondly, I’m paving the way back into author-hood. Last night, I emailed in FOR BY GRACE to a new publishing company with query letter all neatly typed and gone over a half-million times. Hitting that send button was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I didn’t really sleep last night because of it (note to self: send in these query emails early enough to have a few shots of hard liquor before attempting sleep).

This new publisher is fantastic, and I can’t tell you how excited I would be if they chose to publish FOR BY GRACE. However, I still must wait. Their site states they will get back to me by July 1. Well, that’s a damn long time to wait for an answer, and we all know that I am NOT the most patient person in this world–or even this tiny apartment complex. So, I’m set to wait until at least July 1, where I can finally give up the hope of them liking FOR BY GRACE.

There was a huge debate last night before I sent in my query letter as to what name the letter should bear: legal name, nick name, or author name. After much discussion, I chose: legal first name “nick name” legal last name.

If you have any other suggestions on how to do this, please tell me. I’d love to be informed for the next time (and yes, we all know that I am a glutton for punishment).

ttfn!!

Finish Line

I can see it. Almost taste the joy of crossing that line and being done with the first major round of editing on this novel. There’s another finish line that I want to write about today, too.

Sarah Hart is publishing her first novella called “The Coin.” It’s an uplifting and in-depth story. Everything for this novella will be available April 26th, ebook and print copy. The cover is amazing, so check it out.

Sarah Hart’s THE COIN

Now…back to my own editing!

Getting back into it

I have not worked on FOR BY GRACE since last Monday. Oh. My. God! It’s insane! I had one whirlwind of a week between class assignments and extra events. My friend had an art show in Friday night, then two of my friends got married on Saturday (to each other, not two different weddings), then Sunday was filled with church, job applications, and going to Ennis, TX to look at the blue bonnets.

But…today is Monday. This means editing (which I should be doing right now instead of writing this blog post) and writing group tonight at the Gingerman. I’m so excited for this writing group.

I’ve also started to explore the world of online dating…now, I’ve done this before and it’s just as tedious now as it was then. I’m sure I’ll be able to tell many stories of the dates or conversations I have with these individuals. I mean, things can get pretty freaky. =P Maybe I’ll put it into a book sometime.

So back to editing. But I’ll leave you with a picture from yesterday looking at blue bonnets. Btw, my friend I went with, Amy Bush, is a photographer. Check her out here. Or on Facebook, here.

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Productive Procrastination

I have a ton of stuff to do today. None of it is actually “due” but I need to get it done. So, why am I blogging? As a procrastination method. One of my really good friends told me the other day… “Adrian, even your procrastination is productive! What even?!”

Well, it is. So what exactly am I procrastinating you ask? That sermon I have to write a exegesis for, fourteen journal entries, a manuscript and preach; various readings for my other classes; and probably actually thinking what my final paper for religion and immigration is about.

So my “to do list” has none of that on there. Ill save it for Sunday and Monday. =P

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For by Grace TIDBITS!

“It is. I’m holed up in the security office if you ever want to stop by.”

“My section is on the other side of the mall. You know, that part by Santa. Why do parents have to go all insane? Why can’t everyone just stay calm and have a good time anymore? It’s all about being first in line and being the best—it’s ridiculous.”

“Hey, Grace?”

“Yeah?” Grace stuffed a few more morsels of fruit into her mouth, chewing.

“I’m in my uniform.”

The smile that broke out on her face was huge. Grace settled the phone on her shoulder. “Are you, now?”

“I am. So, stop complaining about society and park those cars.”

To continue on romance…

In my current novel, from the first few chapters, it should be pretty obvious that this is NOT a romance novel. I work with a website called Project Team Beta to find my beta readers and editors. This is the third novel that I have pushed through their site and it might possibly be the last. While I love working with them, and they do often catch many mistakes, often times, I feel as though the entire point of the story is missed.

For example: after explicitly stating that this was not a romance both when asked the genre and when describing what I wanted the beta’s to look at. I still get comments like this…

“I enjoyed the slice-of-life feel of this chapter, but I felt that too much time was spent on the run-in with the drunk man and the woman with the flat tire, especially in comparison with the scenes with [REDACTED].”

and

“I also would like to have seen more interaction between Grace and [REDACTED].  As the first run beta said, if this story is meant to be about them and their relationship, I’d spend more time focused on their evening.”

Their evening takes up the last thousand words of the chapter (which is about 7 thousand words long). It is not a large part, but it is necessary for the rest of the novel to move forward. This book is about Grace and her life, which includes romance, but is not solely focused on Grace’s romantic interests.

Romance is a part of life, not the entirety of it.

On romance in a not romance novel….

Okay peoples! Sirena wrote this in a blog post, and I feel the need to reiterate the fact that NOT EVERY NOVEL HAS TO BE ROMANCE! and that NOT EVERY NOVEL IS A ROMANCE NOVEL.

I have some wonderful beta’s right now. Before I got them, I had to send my chapters through “transit.” Basically, I don’t know who will be getting my piece to beta and who will not. In the novel, FOR BY GRACE, there is romance but it is NOT a romance novel, by any means. There was one chapter I got back where all my beta’s said was, “Oh, well the action is great, but we don’t care so much about that. We want to see the relationship and interactions between Grace and [REDACTED] because it’s what the story is about.”

I really wish they could have seen the look I gave the computer screen. This girl was not a happy camper. That is not the point of my novel.

While there is no sex, currently, in said novel–I don’t think their relationship has developed enough to get to that point yet–there is romance. They hold hands, they get flutters in their belly. But it is NOT the point of the novel. The novel is about a Sheriff’s Deputy who works hard to keep her cool in the face of the negative events she is sent to on a daily basis and who suffers through great loss.

Read Sirena’s post: she’ll say much the same.

Sirena N. Robinson: On romance in a not romance novel…..

Super Secret Project (that’s not so secret) Title REVEAL!

I have let it slip a few times what the actual title of this novel is, but this is the actual 100% totally awesome reveal! Are you ready? Are you really, really ready? All right…The title is………….

For by Grace

=P This novel follows the life of Deputy Grace Halling and her day to day routine in the Sheriff’s Department. She meets Amya Stone, a previous police officer turned Law Enforcement Chaplain.

Now, does that explain the title any? No? hmmm…okay.

Ephesians 2:8-10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”

Does that explain it any better? No? Let’s try a quick synopsis.

Being employed in the Sheriff’s Department is not as glorious a position as the television shows make it out to be. While the kids at the schools Deputy Grace Halling visits see her as the knight in blue-cotton armor, those she is dispatched to visit have a different opinion. She has every confidence in her ability to do her job and arrest criminals. She takes down a knife-wielding woman and a drunk combatant teenager, tackling both. Everyone—victim, suspect, or witness—has a story to tell or to lie about and she is never perturbed by their tales.

That all changes when she looks down the barrel of a gun. She loses confidence in her ability as a deputy, she loses trust in herself and fellow officers, and she struggles to stay afloat as shift after shift passes. Grace cannot find her rhythm of being a Deputy again. And when the Police Chaplain unexpectedly barges into her life, her personal and professional lives are flipped upside down. Will she ever be able to find her even ground again? Or will the next time that she stares a murderer in the face be the last?

 

That should about do it!! Look for more news on what is happening with this novel.