Summer Fun Web Hunt from Night Owl Reviews

 

The Summer Web Hunt has begun!

 

Stop by Night Owl Reviews for a summer of reading and winning as they host another author scavenger hunt. It's so easy to enter...simply download the entry form, fill in the blanks by checking out authors and their books, and Tweet to win!

 

This year, I'll be supporting my latest urban fantasy novel release, BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2).

 

The prize package?

Signed copies of BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) and BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2)Demimonde tee shirt & swag

and Amazon or Barnes and Noble 50$ gift card   

Total prize worth $100

 

Goodreads and Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 

Sophie doesn't believe in happily ever after. These days, she'd settle for alive after sunrise.   Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can't shake, and a relationship with her ex's family that redefines the term complicated. And then there's her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.   Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy - one she never dreamed of facing - it will take everything she's ever learned in order to survive.     Share this with your friends...Click to Tweet! "Looking for new reads and a chance to win hot loot? Join in the #NOR summer web hunt!" "Night Owl Reviews SUMMER WEB HUNT--Your chance to find new books, new authors, and great prizes!"

 

 

 

Bewitching Summer G!veaway: W!N a Kindle Fire HD!

Do you like to read?

Do you like to win?

I have a feeling that you'll want to keep reading, then, because Bewitching Book Tours is hosting a Sizzling Summer Giveaway that you don't want to miss.

I'll try to keep this post lean. There are so many prizes you might drown under them all. #awesomewaytogo

Details are all on the giveaway page...you'll find the breakdown of each of the prize packs. You can also see whose goodies are up for grabs by looking at the pictures.

Now, here's the biggie: There are four different giveaways going on so be sure to enter them all. Just click on the links below each photo to go right to the Rafflecopter form.

GIVEAWAY ONE: Kindle Fire and Swag packs!

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY TWO: Print Books

Including the Demimonde series:

Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) &

Blood Rush (Demimonde #2)

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY THREE: Young Adults books

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY FOUR: Ebooks

Including the Demimonde series:

Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) &

Blood Rush (Demimonde #2)

 

 

If you'd like to share any of these contests, be my guest--the share links are also on the main giveaway page tab on top.

 

 

Since one of the contest entries is to leave a blog post comment, let me give you some food for thought...what book are you looking forward to reading this summer? Is there a book on this list you'd love to win? Let's hear your recommendations so we can build our TBR lists.

 

Cheers and good luck!

 

 

 

#FastDraft and The Journey to The End of This Book

Last week, I embarked on a huge buddy write project called #FastDraft. A group of writers get together on Twitter everyday for writing sprints, encouragement, and mild tomfoolery (because we are, after all, supposed to be writing.)

The purpose? To leave off with excuses. To get rid of the distractions. To get the words written.

This opportunity could not have come at a better time: my writing goal this month is to complete the first draft of Wolf's Bane (Demimonde #3). Thanks to #FastDraft, I might just do it.

Here's an update on my progress--hopefully it will inspire other writers to get their own word counts up.

First, I must add the inimitable Liv Rancourt @LivRancourt to the #FastDraft Pack. Be sure to follow her because she is fantastic.

Second, I made my daily goal of 1200 words every day, even writing ahead some days to compensate for the days I had to go to the day job.

I also did a hard look at the book, marking out the passage of time so that the story made sense. I researched lunar phase calendars, printed-and-Post It-ed the manuscript, and evaluated the overall project. It was something that had to be done for some time and, now that I did it, I have to say--the manuscript is right where I wanted it. Maybe even in a better place. It's no longer a series of scenes and sequences and poor transitions and clumps of plot.

It's a story now.

Since I started the #FastDraft on Saturday (five days ago) I accomplished a staggering 13,700 words worth of Wolf's Bane. I even passed the 70K mark!

Best part? Life went on. I went to work. I got laundry washed and dinners made. I went to Boy Scout and Girl Scout meetings and three karate classes. I got to do all my Real Life things and still got a ton of writing done.

And it wasn't just the manuscript--I also did guest posts and blog posts.

If this sounds like bragging, it's not--it's just amazing to list out everything that happened this week, thanks to the inspiration and the encouragement I received from #FastDraft. Those amazing authors are really helping me on my Journey to the End of This Book.

Since I got in nearly 2000 words today, I thought I'd take a break from the Were and the demivamps (sort of) and get my next newsletter out. This is the one I promised would have an exclusive first look at a prequel to The Books of the Demimonde. Just a little "thank you" to everyone who subscribed to my mailing list. Watch your inboxes!

If you haven't yet signed up, you can do so by using the form on the right-hand side of this blog page or by clicking here. Don't miss out on this and other shiny things that only newsletter readers will receive.

Thanks for your support...stop by Twitter and look for #FastDraft...and have a great weekend!

Getting the Job Done: Buddy-Writing with the #FastDraft Six Pack

I recently wrote about a buddy write event, one I was invited to join by my friend SK Falls.

The purpose of #FastDraft is to get the writing done, to cheer on our team mates, to have an excuse to sit down and put our stories first.

And I am loving every minute of it.

I wear a lot of hats--I have a full-time job outside the home, I have two kids, a husband, and a dog (okay, four kids), and I've been the household deity since we signed the deed. A part of me always feels a little guilty when I sit down to write because there is always other work waiting for me.

That's why it's all too easy to come up with an excuse to avoid writing. Unfortunately, however, it's not a hobby anymore. I have deadlines.

This #FastDraft project is writing time. It's inspiration. It's fun. And it's an excuse to get the words out of my head and into the document, where they belong. I'd never have gotten so much writing done, otherwise.

And...in case you are thinking What's with all the hashtagging? it's because we are all busy checking in on Twitter. We announce writing sprints, check in on each other's goals, and pretty much just pal around. The best part is that we are all doing this around the interruptions of our lives and our responsibilities. (For instance, I had to duck out today to perform litter detail/road clean-up with our local Boy Scout troop. Yesterday, I went to see Star Trek. My eyes are still tingling from the awesomeness.)

But these "interruptions" made it possible for me to see a new potential pattern for my writing. Usually, I opt for several hours when no one else is home, then enduring long writing black-outs when I go to work or when my family is home. But these little sprints showed me something else--I can write throughout the day in short bursts, getting a scene done here and there. My word counts don't have to freeze just because someone came home.

So, I'd like to introduce you to the #FastDraft writers. These are the gals who have been helping me get the job done.

 

FAST DRAFT SIX-PACK:

Adriana Ryan @skfallssc

A.G. Henley @AG_Henley

Ash Krafton @ashkrafton

Jennah Scott @jennah_scott

Kristin McFarland @KayMcFarland

Shauna Granger @dyingechoes

If you are on Twitter, please follow these writers and even drop us a note of encouragement. Remember to use #FastDraft in your Tweet.

And if you are a writer, and we've encouraged you to get some writing done, join us in a sprint or two. The more the merrier! Make time for you and your story, one sprint at a time.

Hope you'll join us!

Whipping Out A Novel

I’m going to finish this novel.

I say that a lot these days. Right now, I’m completing Wolf’s Bane (Demimonde #3). I’ve technically been completing it for some time now, but recently I imposed my deadlines. It’s time to get down to business.

Problem is, there are too many distractions.

I can’t be the only writer holding her own horsewhip, threatening a stinging blow, if that’s what it takes to get the job done.

I’ve been getting some decent word counts done on my writing days. However, my enemy right now is time. I have a full-time job outside the home, I have a family that works me over-time, and all the responsibilities of a multi-book author that seem to be on my mind all-the-time. I’m terrified that I’ll look at the clock one day and there will be a fist-full of hands, sweeping away the precious hours, reducing my writing time in favor of duties that claim priority.

But those mornings when I’m home alone…out comes the horsewhip. Get typing! Put down the phone! Close out the Internet! And, for the love of editors, shut off the TV!

I’m a stubborn lady. I don’t like to be bossed around, not even when it’s myself doing the bossing. That’s why I spent time charting out my deadlines on my calendar. It’s not bossy; it’s simply enforcing work guidelines.

I also recently picked up a copy of “90 Days To Your Novel” by Sarah Domet. Although I am about 60% done with the first draft of Wolf's bane, I thought that this book may help me stay on track with my own deadlines (although I definitely don’t have 90 days to finish this book!) I have a subplot to flush out so I’m looking forward to re-writing my outline—yes, rewriting it, because the book had the nerve to go off on its own half-way through writing.

In addition, a few days ago I got an email from my writer friend SK Falls (she’s also published under the name Adriana Ryan). She and another author are going to embark on a Fast Draft—a summer camp buddy-write—and she invited me to join in. When I saw that the proposed dates for the Fast Draft fell right smack-dab in the middle of my first draft writing time, I could have squealed.

Serendipity, I love ya, you little muse! This is exactly what I needed. We’ll get our word counts in, we’ll encourage each other, and we’ll Tweet about the process. I can’t wait to see who else joins in.

So, this is where it begins. Currently I have 56622 words into Wolf’s Bane (goal is 90k for the first draft). I have my deadlines marked in Sharpie, I have my outlining tool (90 Days To Your Novel), and I have my buddy write that will cement it all together—because a buddy write means, above all things, ACCOUNTABILITY.

I’ve got a solid plan to finish this novel. I’m feeling confident that I can leave my horsewhip in the closet.

And, because I’m a pay-it-forward kind of writer, I’ll be blogging about my Journey to the End of the Book in the hopes that I might encourage another writer to do the same thing.

Give us a shout out—are you writing? Are you reading? Closer to the Fast Draft, I’ll let you know who else is writing it so you can follow our progress on the social media.

Don’t give up and don’t let us give up. We might just be writing the books you really want to read.