Never Say Never...When Goals and Plans Change

Plans change and goals shift. Sometimes for the better. Last night I was talking with another writer about some plans I made that I thought were solid. Ending a series and putting a few book into a box set had been one of my goals. After talking it out I realized it wasn't really what I wanted to do.

Just like reading you story saying stuff out loud, whether someone is listening or not, can help you decide if you're going in the right direction. I count typing it out here and on a forum I belong to as talking out loud. Basically seeing the words and hearing them can push away all the distractions and make you take stock in what your real goals are.

So in this case it has pushed me to make some changes. I've decided to add a novella to one of my series as a wrap it all up with a bow story. It's a slight change to the schedule I had planned, but it'll be better in the long run.

Along with changes I've made I was going to release the first book in a new series, but I decided to see if a certain publisher was interested in it first. I'm currently working on book 2 in the series so eventually it will be released, just not sure with who.

I've also started a project that sounds great, out loud and on paper. So plans for that sexy fun series are in the works. Hopefully it will start off with a dozy of a holiday story. 

All in all I'm going to be pretty busy over the next few months, which makes me happy. Hopefully it'll make readers happy too.

Editing Process

Do I need edits? Yes. You know what you meant to write, but that doesn't mean you wrote it. A good editor will find your weak spots. For me that's commas. They'll also point out typos, flow issues and anything else they think you might want to  know. Like when your hero is being a jerk. ;)

So how does the editing process work?
This is something that is different for every writer. Sometimes it can be months between when you submit a book and when you actually start edits. That can make it a little difficult if you've moved on to a new story and you head is in a different place. But that is also a good thing. You'll be looking at the story from a new perspective. 

So here's a basic layout of how I handle things.

Step 1: Write and submit book, either to publisher or directly to editor if I'm putting the book out on my own.

Step 2: Work on something else until you get the edits back. For me this isn't a problem. I usually have 2 projects going at once. Still sometimes the waiting with have you checking you email a couple of times a day.

Step 3: Edits arrive. Do you just dive in? I read all the comments first the start at the beginning. Sometimes, if you're lucky, along with all the requested or advised changes you'll find little positive comments. 

Step 4: Okay you've done all the hard work and hopefully you story is better for it. Those red pen marks and comments are supposed to be there to do that. But what's next?

Step 5: You've just finished you edits and you're back to knowing what you wrote. You could just send it back if it with a publisher and be done. You could start getting that baby ready for release. I do neither. I put it aside for a day or two. This time I don't work on anything else. That doesn't mean I do nothing. I read. Not my own stuff. I choose a couple of books, I'm a very fast reader, and for the 24-48 hours I dive in. Reading will get your head out of your world and into someone else's.

Step 6: Final read through. I read my book straight through. Sure I stop to fix little things here and there, but hopefully there's no big glaring mistakes. Reading out loud helps with this. Now it's done!

Step 7: Now it's back to the publisher, or off to formatting. 

So there you have it. Like I said before every writer has there own way of doing it, but that's mine. Now I'm off to format so I can have this book out on time.

My Summer Bucket List

When thinking about a bucket list what comes to mind? For me it's a few things.

1st: Crazy impossible stuff I'd like to see happen.
2nd: Stuff I can actually make happen.
3rd: Stuff that needs to happen.

So here is the list I made at the end of May (~ means I've either done it or am doing it)

Summer Bucket List

Crazy: 
Get 30 Celebrities to take their picture with my book. Who wants to be first?

I Can Do:
Take day trips. ~

Find a waterfall. ~
Join Instagram ~
Start a #. (I have one in mind, but need to start using it)
Submit to a big name publisher. ~

Needs To Happen:
Release book 5 in Heiresses In Aprons.
Clean and Organize my office. ~
Start using my planner to focus on what needs to be done. ~
Establish a new schedule for myself so people know when not to bother me.

See I don't have that much I wanted to do, but I only have like 16 days to finish it all!

Tuesday Timeline & To Do List (me being a happy author)

Even though one of my resolutions for this years was to try and blog daily I quickly realized I wasn't having fun with it. I'm a big believer of enjoying what you do. In that frame of mind I have changed things around (this probably wont be the last time) again. My new schedule can be found over on the right. Here goes.

It's Tuesday. This is the day when I sit down and go over how things are going. This is broken down into 4 categories. Family, Writing, Admin, Me.

Family: (I'm the family secretary, yet unpaid and unappreciated at times) Who has appointments? Hubby has a few dentist appointments, son has one, and I have few more doctor appointments coming up. Car goes in for maintenance this weekend, daughters car is in now because her alternator in the Jeep she's only had since September has to be replaced. Stuff that needs to be done? Getting hubby ready for his golf tournament in April, which at the end will become a family vacation to visit family in Tennessee.

Writing: Have I kept to my schedule? Almost. I had a few things pop up and derail a few days. Did I make my daily word counts? Only 4 out of 7 days last week. But I did write everyday. How about weekly word counts? 2k short, but I'll make them up. Is my story headed where I want? Since I'm a hybrid pantser I'll never know for sure. Are you asking what the hell a hybrid pantser is?It's pretty simple to explain. I don't plot out my stories so that makes me a pantser. But I do make a list (as you can see I like list) of something that I want to happen in each chapter to move my story forward. So as long as I hit the points I want to happen I'm happy.  

Admin: Am I on track for releases? I'm actually 2 months behind. Cover art request made? Yup. How's it going? Image for 1 is bought, looking for the other. And I need to find a waterfall to use on the back of the books of new series. I hope to be able to a cover reveal soon. Talk about edits? Round one (content) is done. Working on line edits now. How are my sales? March has sucked so far! (I have to consider all these questions for my self-published and the titles I have out with publishers.) Is book ready to be formatted or is it done? Not at that point yet, but soon. Have I updated the back matter in my books to include my newsletter and other links? I really have to do this before I release the last book in the Heiresses In Aprons Series. Is my new letter ready to be sent out? I'm working on this. Surprises may be included.

Me: Am I keeping track of my food log? Yes. Wow I drink a lot of water. How are the sugars (I'm diabetic, so have to watch this)? Now that I'm back on meds and watching my diet (This means eating at as close to  the same time each day as I can.) Exercise? I haven't been doing well with this. Any new goals here?  Exercise for 30 minutes a day. Either on stationary bike, or go for a walk.

After I go through all of this I make a weekly to do list. I then break it down by day and hope to get it all done. I have to say this has gotten a bit easier to deal with thanks to the Passion Planner my daughter got me for Christmas.

Strangest thing on my list for this week is: Shave the cat! He's got some mats that have to come off.

Day 11: Getting Back To It.

I've come to realize today that skipping days is not a good writing process for me. I write romantic comedies and contemporary romances and normally have two projects going at once. This process allows me to work on one I'm having trouble with the other work in progress. Right now I'm solely working on one story. Okay I'm making dozens of notes for the new series, but I am not writing it.

Getting back into the flow of the story isn't hard, because the characters are driving the story. My problem is I keep think I already wrote parts of the story that I had meant to, or in my foggy brain dreamed I had. Anyway I had to go back and reread the last six pages to figure out how badly I screwed up. Tomorrow I will hopefully make some headway.

Sneak peak of Gina and Wes (unedited):

“I’m going to tell you something I don’t think anyone else ever has.” Gina doubted that.  “And I want you to listen to me.”

Whatever he was about to say she’d most likely heard in one or more of the many lectures she’d gotten from her father and sister. “What’s that?”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Gina just started at him until he laughed. “I told you. Gina, take it from someone who knows you better than you think, you've come a long way in a very short time. You’re going to make mistakes. We all do. And there’s nothing wrong with blowing off a little steam from time to time.”

“I was reckless.”

“Did you use protection?”

His question took her by surprise for just a second. “Of course.”

“Then you weren't reckless. A little impulsive, but hardly irresponsible.”

“But what if someone saw me sneaking out of there?” Oh how she hoped no one recognized her.

Day 10: Good Intentions VS The Flu (or whatever this bug is)

Okay goal for the blog this year was to post something everyday. Yes EVERYDAY! Whatever popped into my head or I felt like talking about. Unfortunately that plan has gone to poop. And yes that is how I feel. I've been sick since late Tuesday night, which make today day 5. By far yesterday was the worst and I was so bad I missed posting. I'm going to have to start scheduling post in advance when I can. Today I can breath through my nose. So even though my chest is still tight and my whole body aches I'm hoping I'm on the uptick. 

I really don't like being sick. What makes it worse is haven't even been able to take advantage of the down time and get some writing in. Usually I can push through a cold or whatever and keep writing, but this thing has kicked my ass and wiped my brain of all coherent thoughts. Seriously I think in the past four days I might have gotten 1000 words written, and none of those were from yesterday. 

What does this mean in the long run. I'm about 6000 words behind where I wanted to be in Wes and Gina's story. 

On the upside my family really pitched in to keep things running smoothly. Hubby kept fridge stocked with plenty of OJ, and my daughter cleaned and did the laundry.

I'm hoping to waking up tomorrow feeling a bright shiny new penny. Then I can dive back into the current mess Gina has gotten herself into. Wish me luck!

Day 8: Important Decision To Make.

Well the decision has actually been made. What I need to do is tell the other person involved of said decision. I'm still sick and really don't feel up to dealing with the fallout today, but I know the sooner I do it the better for everyone involved. Yes I'm possibly going to be letting some people down, but I do think it's the right thing to do for me at this point.

I believe if you make a commitment you stick to it unless there is no other recourse. So I hope I will be forgiven.

Day 7: Wednesday Words Are Coming Hard

To my right is a bottle of water and box of tissues. To my left is a bowl of beef stew that I can barely taste. In front of me is my computer . I have my current work in progress open and the cursor is linking at me as a reminder that I am supposed to be writing. The words are slowly struggling to get out of the dense fog that has drifted in and settled around my mind. 

Who and what is to blame for this? The answer is plain as day, and one look around my house would show you the answer.

First my husband brought this crappy cold home. Luckily I didn't catch it completely just a stuffy head. So I blithely went on about my life thinking I was in the clear. WRONG! 

Why? Because my youngest (who will be 21 soon, yes I'm that old, and today I feel it!) came down with it only a few days later. Now my middle son got it even worse (he's about to be 25, but with this bug he's acting more like 15). If dealing with 2 sick men wasn't bad enough between the two of them they managed to make sure I got the damn thing. So hoping my oldest doesn't catch it. She's not a pretty sickie!

The youngest is starting to feel a bit better, the middle is managing with theraflu. As for me the dishes are done, I could really care less if the laundry gets done today, I'm eating, and trying to write.

I should probably give up and go to bed. I'll most likely just purge anything I do get written today. Then again who knows it may be some fabulous stuff that oozes out of the haze.

Day 2: Project Management, A Positive Jump Toward Rainsing Productivity.

New Years Eve I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with another author and talk. This author also wears an editing hat. We talked about goals and what I want to accomplish this year, We both laughed at some things, but she totally got where I was going.

We discussed what is realistic goals and milestones. There are some really awesome things that I have already done and things that I wish I have done. Several of the issues we discussed were having a good support system, being organized, and what direction I wanted to take my writing in. So I'm going to break those down a little here. Remember this is just my take on how I have been performing and would like to this year.

Support System: My family comes 1st. They are the ones I depend on to honest and helpful.

I have writer friends, but sadly most of them don't live close enough to see often. Which is why I'm contemplating joining RWA again. MAYBE. I really didn't get much out of it the first time, other than reaching my PAN status. But now that my local chapter meetings are only an hour away, instead of four, it might help. There's also a chapter in NH I can get to easily. And I just found out about a group in RI I might check out.

I also lurk on a few forums. Romance Divas is very valuable. I've been a Diva since 2008 and have learned so much. I really need to stop lurking and talk more. But that falls back to me getting out there more.

Being Organized: I think this is super important for me. If I have everything, notes-research-ideas, where I think it belongs I don't waste time trying to  put stuff in order before I start writing. I can just go and if I need something I know right where to find it. I also write better when my desk isn't completely cluttered. Usually with other peoples stuff.

Direction: Okay this is where it gets super tricky. I would love to get a deal with a publisher that would get my books into bookstores and maybe Target And Walmart. This is not going to be a quick or easy thing to do. I need to put some serious research into finding the right publishers and then there's no guarantee that they'll have a spot for me in their stable. So right now though I think I'm going to stick to the path I've laid out in front of myself. I'm 90% sure focusing on my Kismet Falls series is the right thing to do.

So to wrap up this post I'm going to dive into my organization and start really thinking about getting a solid support system in place. What do you guys do?

First Steps = Accountability, Productivity, Discover-abilty

Day 1: Accountability

This isn't my 1st attempt to find a way to keep track of my goals and make myself accountable for getting them accomplished. However I'm going to go harder, deeper, and longer. In fact this project is going to last a full year. I'm going to list my goals and hopefully get a lot done this year.

         : Productivity

I'm still working on Book 5 in ht Heiresses In Aprons series. This will be the final book. It's going to feature Gina Foster, Sophia's younger and wilder sister, and Wes Moreland. Right now it sits at almost 12,000 words. I hope to have it finished and out by the end of the month.

Also I'm starting a new Series called Kismet Falls. This series is going to be different from the series I normally write. Kismet Falls will actually be host town where a few series take place. Some will contemporary romances and some will be romantic comedies, so there will be full-lengths (50k words and up) and novellas(up to 35k words). I'm hoping that will allow me to get more stories finished and out for readers to enjoy.

         : Discover-ability

This is going to drive me crazy until I figure out what the hell I'm doing wrong. I may even be doing some stuff right and not knowing it. Don't consider this whining, because it's not. Really what I'm doing is learning and that shouldn't be confused with complaining. If I do complain its only going to be about me. I know I can't compare myself or my writing career (yes, I do consider it a career not just a hobby or job) to anyone else's, but I can hope to someday reach the status of some fabulous writers.

Books! Fabulous readers! Awesome authors! What more could a girl ask for?

 

Sleep. I'm kidding, because I'll go without that for a good time. 

 

So I thought I'd let everyone know I made it back from my trip to Atlanta in one piece and with only a slightly muddled brain. We packed a lot of action in a six day trip.



Kids at Denny's for breakfast before
 hitting Stone Mountain.

I'll break it down a little. We left Massachusetts on Wednesday morning and drove down to Georgia. Stopping along the way to visit Dinosaur Land in Virginia. We arrived Thursday and after going to Stone Mountain and the Atlanta Zoo hubby dropped us off at the hotel in Atlanta around 11am. Then he and our youngest went to Tennessee to visit hubby's mom and Bill for a few days.





They went to see the dam that Harrison Ford jumped off in the movie The Fugitive. Sunday morning they picked us up and we drove home.

Friday we spent the morning setting up my space for the book signing. Friday night we went to the Georgia Aquarium with a bunch of authors and readers.







Saturday was the signing from 10am until 5pm. To the left is my table and to the right is the goodie basket I gave away. I had a great time at The Novel Experience Event book signing and parties. I got to meet some new authors and visit with some I already knew. The readers were wonderful.

After that we had dinner at the Hard Rock with Nina Gooden, Diana and Sara York. Diana and I shared a big decadent Brownie Sunday. She deserved it and I never turn down ice cream.

It was my daughter's birthday and the waitress had them turn down the music and everyone in the restaurant yelled "Happy Birthday". Later I got to hang out with Brandy Walker, and Fitzpatrick sisters Jackie and Rhonda.














We stopped at the Natural Bridge but it was closed. I did get a few pictures from inside the gift shop.






So now that the TNEE2014 craziness is over I can gear myself up for my appearance in August. I'll be attending Authors After Dark in Charlotte. More info on that awesomeness to come soon!

Manic Monday

Today started off like crap and steadily got worse. The roofers started banging at 7 am, as they have for the past week including Saturday and Sunday. The electrician turned the power off to do the much needed upgrade to the system around 9am. At close to 2 in the afternoon my son and I couldn't take it anymore, no fans= hot house.

So since my hubs had my car my mom came over and rescued us. Now this is subjective, because her house is FULL of my nieces and nephews. 12 of them to be exact, ages 3 thru 15. I think we would have been fine, and even had some fun. BUT!

We weren't there for a half hour when my daughter called. Her car lost its wheel as she exited the toll booth on the MassTurnpike. Lost as in it fell off and rolled away. Luckily no one was hurt. Her, her brother, and their friends probably had a good scare thought. The studs that hold wheel on broke off. My hubby's ex-boss sent out a tow-truck asap and my sister and I drove to pick them up and bring them home.

3 hours later everyone was home safe and sound, the car was tucked away at the shop awaiting my husband to repair it in the morning.

There was a highlight to the day. My sister cooked awesome steaks on the grill for everyone. I whipped together the salad. Now I'm home and catching up on some TV and hoping to get some writing done.

My New Release: Sacrifice Turned Seduction

     I happy to announce my newest release with Siren Publishing is out now. This is book 2 in my What Are Friends For Series

   Dianne Killbrew made a deal with Gage Dillinger. He did his part, and now she has to spend a week being wined and dined by him. She’ll have to make sure his smooth sexy ways don’t get under her skin and hope he doesn't see past her sparkle and glitz to the shy girl hiding beneath. There is a lot at risk, but she’s made a deal, and she’s going to stick to it.

        Gage can't ignore how much he wants Dianne. It is more than physical desire. He wants to get to know everything about her. The problem is she avoids him whenever possible. So when he is given the chance to put her in a position where she owes him something, he chooses her. Now he’s going to do whatever it takes to get her to see he’s not the player everyone thinks he is.

You can read more HERE or buy HERE

And if you missed book 1: Doing Her Way now is the perfect time to pick it up because Siren Publishing is offering it for 15 % off this week.

Lainey Miles wants nothing more than to marry her sexy fiancé Jace Cannon. She’s been putting off setting a date because she doesn’t want the big white wedding her mother’s counting on. Jace isn’t hiding the fact he’s getting antsy either. She knows something has to be done and fast. So she recruits her friends to plan a surprise wedding that Jace will never forget.

Jace doesn’t understand why Lainey won’t even talk about setting a date for their wedding. If she changed her mind, he wished she’d just say so, but with the way they were burning up the sheets he didn’t think that was the problem. He was determined that as soon as he got back from his business trip they were going to sit down and work things out. One way or another he is going to get an answer out of her.

Want to read more go HERE or BUY

My Summer Movie Project is underway.

No I'm not making a movie. However my family is big on movies, whether on  the big or small screen. So here's the deal. In April I started making a list of all the movies coming out that I wanted to see before the end of the summer. September 7th is my deadline. Why Sept. 7th? Because it seemed a good idea to have a cutoff point or the list would just keep growing. And that's my Dad's birthday so I know it won't sneak pass me.

So here's my list. The movies are scored solely on how much I enjoyed them.

My Summer Movie List

The plan is as I see the movies on the list I'll come back and update the grades. If it's as good as Fast Five was I'll even put up the Trailer.

Feel free to tell me if you think I'm right or wrong. Or just give me your opinion if you want. At the end of the project I'll do a contest to celebrate.

My Lori Foster Get Together Adventure

I'm ready to dish on my trip to Lori Foster's Reader and Author Get Together in Ohio last weekend. It has taken me a week to collect my thoughts, upload pictures, and recover from spending so much time driving.

Thursday June 1st
The con ran from Friday the 3rd thru Sunday the 5th, but my daughter and I headed out a day early so we could take our time. The drive from Massachusetts to Ohio took us around 13 hours. We left about 2:30am got in around 4pm. Once we got there I needed to stretch my tight muscles so we went to IKEA. Neither of us had ever been there before and loved it (even though I took us about a half hour to find the exit). They had some really cool stuff. I picked up something for my son.

the view of IKEA from our room, had no idea how big it really was until we went.

 Friday June 2nd
The conference didn't kick off until 4pm so we decided to spend the morning at the Cincinnati Zoo. along with all the animals we saw we also watched the The Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience.  We even had quite the experience feeding a giraffe. 

 Then it was back to the hotel to freshen up and register for the conference. After getting our goodie bags we headed to the ballroom for the opening ceremony and Pizza party. We sat at the table with the fabulous Steam Punk centerpeice (which my daughter won) made by authors Mari Freeman and Samantha Kane, who also sat at the table along with author Kristin Daniels. Book bloggers @thejeepdiva, @jade_mermaid, @zombvmpr were at the table too. After dinner we played games and mingled until midnight

playing pin the tag on the dog-tags.

Saturday June 4th
The day started early at 8am for breakfast in the ballroom. Then it was off to the workshops. First on my list was the presentation with Secret Cravings Publishing. Then we went to The Joys and Struggles of Being Different with Leanna Reneee Hieber. Once the morning workshops were over we did some mingling and had lunch.

some of the 181 gift baskets for the charity raffle

We kicked the afternoon workshops off with COS and Fresh Fiction. We talked about what readers were looking for when the visited author and other reader websites. Lots of info given in a short time. :) Then we took a much needed, but quick break before heading back to the ballroom for raffle drawings and author group photos before dinner.

all the authors that attended

Saturday night we went to the Sock Hop thrown by Author Island. There was games, great music, and more mingling with awesome readers and authors.

Sunday June 5th
We took time for breakfast then hit the road for home. Another 13 hour ride most of it through the Pennsylvania mountains and we finally made it. We had a good time, met great people, and I even started a collection of romance trading cards.

Rebecca (Adele Quinn) won the steam punk centerpiece with Mari Freeman, and Samantha Kane