Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 32
May 9, 2012
Finishing The Book
The windows have been thrown open to let the breeze cut through the quiet house today. The dog is lying behind me and I've got a cat curled in my lap. It's a pretty good day. I've got Apocalyptica playing on the computer and the washing machine is humming in the background. My email inbox is empty (for the time being) and my manuscript is waiting. It's time to get back to the editing.
I'm down to the last 100 pages and I'm hoping to get the bulk of it done today so I can drop it in the mail to my editor ... AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Which is kind of funny, because this has been the book of the moving deadlines. Originally, the book was due in mid-February, then all the deadlines for the other book and novellas got shifted so the deadline for Book 2 got moved, at my request, to mid-April. And then there was more shuffling, resulting in another move to mid-May. But it's done now and I am VERY happy with the finished product.
Is it perfect?
Oh, heavens no! There's no way to get perfect on the first attempt. Or the second. But you keep going in, making changes and tweaking things until it all lines up. I think the plot is solid, but I think the problems may lie in some motivations and descriptions. I'm reaching the point where I need another pair of eyes on the book and a break so I can look at it fresh. Right now, I'm too close to the book. I can no longer see the big picture. The fact that I can read the last line of Chapter 17 and still think that not only is this AWESOME but HEARTBREAKING means that I'm too close.
This hasn't just been the Book of the Moving Deadlines. It is also:
The Book with No Title
The Book that Refuses to Plot
The Book with No Sex ... Oh, wait, never mind, I found it.
The Book with Too Many Plots/Subplots
The Book that Won't @#$^&%# End
But this might also prove to be my favorite book, but then I say that for every book that I finish.
I can't wait for you to meet Gage. Though, the poor guy is starting to have some doubts himself. His life seems to be getting crazier the longer he knows me (I can't imagine why). So, after we finish Book 2, we're going to take it easy for a month. We're going to plan out some promotional things, complete some interviews (if he's still willing to talk to me), and maybe I'll be able to talk him into working on another book.
I've already got some great things in the works! And don't worry. I've got some new stuff coming out soon. In fact, we've got less than two months to go until the next story is released. THE ASYLUM INTERVIEWS: BRONX is slated for release on July 3. Hold on, it's gonna be a wild ride.
I'm down to the last 100 pages and I'm hoping to get the bulk of it done today so I can drop it in the mail to my editor ... AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Which is kind of funny, because this has been the book of the moving deadlines. Originally, the book was due in mid-February, then all the deadlines for the other book and novellas got shifted so the deadline for Book 2 got moved, at my request, to mid-April. And then there was more shuffling, resulting in another move to mid-May. But it's done now and I am VERY happy with the finished product.
Is it perfect?
Oh, heavens no! There's no way to get perfect on the first attempt. Or the second. But you keep going in, making changes and tweaking things until it all lines up. I think the plot is solid, but I think the problems may lie in some motivations and descriptions. I'm reaching the point where I need another pair of eyes on the book and a break so I can look at it fresh. Right now, I'm too close to the book. I can no longer see the big picture. The fact that I can read the last line of Chapter 17 and still think that not only is this AWESOME but HEARTBREAKING means that I'm too close.
This hasn't just been the Book of the Moving Deadlines. It is also:
The Book with No Title
The Book that Refuses to Plot
The Book with No Sex ... Oh, wait, never mind, I found it.
The Book with Too Many Plots/Subplots
The Book that Won't @#$^&%# End
But this might also prove to be my favorite book, but then I say that for every book that I finish.
I can't wait for you to meet Gage. Though, the poor guy is starting to have some doubts himself. His life seems to be getting crazier the longer he knows me (I can't imagine why). So, after we finish Book 2, we're going to take it easy for a month. We're going to plan out some promotional things, complete some interviews (if he's still willing to talk to me), and maybe I'll be able to talk him into working on another book.
I've already got some great things in the works! And don't worry. I've got some new stuff coming out soon. In fact, we've got less than two months to go until the next story is released. THE ASYLUM INTERVIEWS: BRONX is slated for release on July 3. Hold on, it's gonna be a wild ride.
April 30, 2012
Stick A Fork In Me
As I stated in my previous blog entry, I tend to lose my mind just a bit as I rush toward the end of a book. I get caught up in the book's momentum and it becomes a struggle to walk away until I finally can't. I give in. I let the book wash over me, consume me until there is nothing left of me. I stay that way until I type those last two magical words: THE END.
I typed those two words on Sunday. I started typing at roughly 10 am. I had two chapters ahead of me. I knew where I was going, I knew how to get there, but I was still on the lookout for surprises. The second to last chapter was slow going. It felt like I was tiptoeing through a mine field blindfolded with a broken leg and a walker while being followed by a marching band. In short, boom was gonna happen. I was trying to get my character through it without getting trapped. I thought we were in good shape, but the bad guys ended up with a surprise I hadn't expected that left me shaking my head and biting my lip as the chapter ended.
By this point, it was nearly six in the evening and I still had a chapter to go. This was the sum up where I tied the last threads neatly together. After Gage and I had suffered through the last chapter, I decided to push through because it was supposed to be a lighter chapter. It started good. We got one last visit from a new character who made me smile, but by the fourth page, I stopped myself. I was stunned to find that my heart was pounding, my throat was tight, and I was blinking rapidly. It dawned on me. Oh my god, I was fighting not to cry! (But I won't tell you if they were happy or sad tears. Mwahahahaha!)
I pushed forward and at 9:05 pm, I typed the last two words and let out a shout that stopped the walkers passing by my open office window. I was done.
In one day, I wrote more than 10,350 words that resulted in two new chapters. For the rough draft, the book currently sits at 110,459 words and 347 pages. But it has no title.
When I walked out of the office, I was laughing with my arms wrapped around myself. I laughed because I was afraid I was going to start crying. I don't know about other authors, but when I finish a book, my brain feels numb and sluggish. I'm emotionally drained from pouring everything I've got into those final chapters. After such a long day, it's hard to get my mind to sync back with reality. Everything feels just a little surreal and disconnected.
So, the plan? Monday, I am unplugged. Smoke is still trickling out my ears and I keep smelling burned toast. My brain needs a rest. I may briefly appear on Twitter or Facebook, but otherwise I am curled up with a book or video game until Tuesday. On Tuesday, I start revisions for the second Asylum Tales novella. That should take 2-3 days at most and then I clean up the rough draft of the new book for the next week.
I am tired, but oh so very happy.
I typed those two words on Sunday. I started typing at roughly 10 am. I had two chapters ahead of me. I knew where I was going, I knew how to get there, but I was still on the lookout for surprises. The second to last chapter was slow going. It felt like I was tiptoeing through a mine field blindfolded with a broken leg and a walker while being followed by a marching band. In short, boom was gonna happen. I was trying to get my character through it without getting trapped. I thought we were in good shape, but the bad guys ended up with a surprise I hadn't expected that left me shaking my head and biting my lip as the chapter ended.
By this point, it was nearly six in the evening and I still had a chapter to go. This was the sum up where I tied the last threads neatly together. After Gage and I had suffered through the last chapter, I decided to push through because it was supposed to be a lighter chapter. It started good. We got one last visit from a new character who made me smile, but by the fourth page, I stopped myself. I was stunned to find that my heart was pounding, my throat was tight, and I was blinking rapidly. It dawned on me. Oh my god, I was fighting not to cry! (But I won't tell you if they were happy or sad tears. Mwahahahaha!)
I pushed forward and at 9:05 pm, I typed the last two words and let out a shout that stopped the walkers passing by my open office window. I was done.
In one day, I wrote more than 10,350 words that resulted in two new chapters. For the rough draft, the book currently sits at 110,459 words and 347 pages. But it has no title.
When I walked out of the office, I was laughing with my arms wrapped around myself. I laughed because I was afraid I was going to start crying. I don't know about other authors, but when I finish a book, my brain feels numb and sluggish. I'm emotionally drained from pouring everything I've got into those final chapters. After such a long day, it's hard to get my mind to sync back with reality. Everything feels just a little surreal and disconnected.
So, the plan? Monday, I am unplugged. Smoke is still trickling out my ears and I keep smelling burned toast. My brain needs a rest. I may briefly appear on Twitter or Facebook, but otherwise I am curled up with a book or video game until Tuesday. On Tuesday, I start revisions for the second Asylum Tales novella. That should take 2-3 days at most and then I clean up the rough draft of the new book for the next week.
I am tired, but oh so very happy.
April 23, 2012
Rolling Down Hill
Is she still alive?
She doesn't return my emails, my phone calls, or answer the door.
Yes, I'm alive, but I'm not quite functioning at human levels at the moment. But it's okay. This is normal. I'm finishing a book.
Sorry for the extended silences on the blog and elsewhere. It's going to get a little worse, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am closing in on the end of the second book of the Asylum Tales series.
I don't know about other writers, but a strange thing happens when I close in on the end of a book. The writing speeds up, I lose all sense of time, and it becomes physically painful to actually walk away from my computer. It's like jogging down a steep, long hill. At first, you've got it under control but slowly you start to speed up and then somewhere along the way, you stumble. Next thing you know, you're tumbling head over feet down the hill. You can't stop it or control it. You just go loose and let it happen, hoping that you don't crash into a large pointed rock before you hit the bottom. It's frightening and exciting all at once. At the end, you're dazed, dizzy, confused, and ecstatic that you've come to a stop.
During the last 20,000 to 30,000 words of a book, I get completely wrapped up in what I'm doing. I forget the basics of life such as eating, sleeping, bathing, email, and coherent spoken conversations that aren't with myself. When I start a book, an average writing day is between 2,000 and 3,000 words. Now, I do that in a single sitting and the final word court for the day is between 5,000 and 7,000 words without batting an eye.
Luckily, my O.H. has been around for almost five books. He knows the process and the signs, like an old witchdoctor throwing bones or reading the weather. He knows to keep a wide distance from my office. He sneaks in like he's trying to slide past a sleeping tiger, leaving behind iced tea and sandwiches because I can't be bothered with this whole nourishment thing. And when I'm stuck glaring at the computer screen, he kisses my head and says confidently that I'll figure it out.
The end is close. I have several chapters to write and only one major fight scene. I may have it finished by Friday.
Is this process healthy?
Not at all.
Will I be physically exhausted and emotionally drained at the end?
Without a doubt.
Will I be happy?
Definitely. And to me, that's the most important part. Regardless of how messy or exhausting or frustrating it is, I love my work. I love writing stories. And even if I never published another book, I would still write.
She doesn't return my emails, my phone calls, or answer the door.
Yes, I'm alive, but I'm not quite functioning at human levels at the moment. But it's okay. This is normal. I'm finishing a book.
Sorry for the extended silences on the blog and elsewhere. It's going to get a little worse, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am closing in on the end of the second book of the Asylum Tales series.
I don't know about other writers, but a strange thing happens when I close in on the end of a book. The writing speeds up, I lose all sense of time, and it becomes physically painful to actually walk away from my computer. It's like jogging down a steep, long hill. At first, you've got it under control but slowly you start to speed up and then somewhere along the way, you stumble. Next thing you know, you're tumbling head over feet down the hill. You can't stop it or control it. You just go loose and let it happen, hoping that you don't crash into a large pointed rock before you hit the bottom. It's frightening and exciting all at once. At the end, you're dazed, dizzy, confused, and ecstatic that you've come to a stop.
During the last 20,000 to 30,000 words of a book, I get completely wrapped up in what I'm doing. I forget the basics of life such as eating, sleeping, bathing, email, and coherent spoken conversations that aren't with myself. When I start a book, an average writing day is between 2,000 and 3,000 words. Now, I do that in a single sitting and the final word court for the day is between 5,000 and 7,000 words without batting an eye.
Luckily, my O.H. has been around for almost five books. He knows the process and the signs, like an old witchdoctor throwing bones or reading the weather. He knows to keep a wide distance from my office. He sneaks in like he's trying to slide past a sleeping tiger, leaving behind iced tea and sandwiches because I can't be bothered with this whole nourishment thing. And when I'm stuck glaring at the computer screen, he kisses my head and says confidently that I'll figure it out.
The end is close. I have several chapters to write and only one major fight scene. I may have it finished by Friday.
Is this process healthy?
Not at all.
Will I be physically exhausted and emotionally drained at the end?
Without a doubt.
Will I be happy?
Definitely. And to me, that's the most important part. Regardless of how messy or exhausting or frustrating it is, I love my work. I love writing stories. And even if I never published another book, I would still write.
April 2, 2012
Paper or Plastic ... I Mean Digital?
I am down to the last few pages of edits and I'm still loving the book. At this stage, I usually read the manuscript so many times that I can no longer see the story amidst all the words. It's all about weighing whether this word works here and does my main character seem like too much of an asshole in this scene. At this point, I've usually forgotten what I liked about the story in the first place. Not this time. Angel's Ink is all new and the story seems fresh every time I read it. I find myself looking forward to certain chapters just so I can see a favorite character again. I can't wait for you to read this one!
In the meantime, we have a new story to tide us over until the next book has hit the shelves. Yes, Bound to Me is hitting e-readers next Tuesday! It's just over seven days away. I know because I have finally created a countdown clock. I feel like I should be throwing a huge party because this is the last Mira story I'm ever going to write. But then I thought Burn the Night was going to be the last Mira story I was ever going to write and the nightwalker proved me wrong! I guess that's what you get when you work with the undead. They just won't rest.
I made a surprising discovery with Bound to Me not long ago and I'm still waiting on some details, but I am going to at least make you aware of it. When the release of the novella was first discussed, we were only going to be releasing it as a e-book and I was quite content with that. There are a lot of people who use e-readers and you can also download the story to read it on your computer if you don't have an e-reader.
However, there are some who still prefer books (and I can totally understand that since I love the paper copies as well). Well, we've got a way to make the paperback readers happy as well. Bound to Me will be released as a paperback as well! Yes, because of it's length, my publisher is doing a print-on-demand version of the story. I am not yet sure if it will actually appear in stores, but you can order it online. Amazon has it available for pre-order. It looks like Barnes and Noble will have it as well, but you can't currently pre-order it. You can only pre-order the e-book at Barnes and Noble.
E-book Details:
Released on April 10
On sale for $0.99
Approximately 100 pages long (this, of course, depends on the size of your font)
On sale at:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble Nook
iBookstore iPad/Pod/iPhone
Paperback Details:
Released on May 1
On sale for $2.99
Approximately 128 pages
On sale at:
Amazon
(Barnes and Noble coming soon)
Yes, I know that date is slightly later for the paperback version. I am sorry about that, but it's only a small wait and then you have a new Mira story.
Yes, I also know that the paperback version is $2 more expensive, but the paperback version also costs more to produce that the e-book version.
But for less than the price of a gallon of gas, you can get not only the untold story of Mira's love affair with one of the world's sexiest vampire, Valerio, but you also get the first two chapters of my new series. Do you really want to miss out on that coolness? Complete your collection of Mira stories. Find out how she acquired Valerio's ring.
And when it's all over, pop by Asylum and meet Gage. He can give you some nice ink at a fair price.
In the meantime, we have a new story to tide us over until the next book has hit the shelves. Yes, Bound to Me is hitting e-readers next Tuesday! It's just over seven days away. I know because I have finally created a countdown clock. I feel like I should be throwing a huge party because this is the last Mira story I'm ever going to write. But then I thought Burn the Night was going to be the last Mira story I was ever going to write and the nightwalker proved me wrong! I guess that's what you get when you work with the undead. They just won't rest.I made a surprising discovery with Bound to Me not long ago and I'm still waiting on some details, but I am going to at least make you aware of it. When the release of the novella was first discussed, we were only going to be releasing it as a e-book and I was quite content with that. There are a lot of people who use e-readers and you can also download the story to read it on your computer if you don't have an e-reader.
However, there are some who still prefer books (and I can totally understand that since I love the paper copies as well). Well, we've got a way to make the paperback readers happy as well. Bound to Me will be released as a paperback as well! Yes, because of it's length, my publisher is doing a print-on-demand version of the story. I am not yet sure if it will actually appear in stores, but you can order it online. Amazon has it available for pre-order. It looks like Barnes and Noble will have it as well, but you can't currently pre-order it. You can only pre-order the e-book at Barnes and Noble.
E-book Details:
Released on April 10
On sale for $0.99
Approximately 100 pages long (this, of course, depends on the size of your font)
On sale at:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble Nook
iBookstore iPad/Pod/iPhone
Paperback Details:
Released on May 1
On sale for $2.99
Approximately 128 pages
On sale at:
Amazon
(Barnes and Noble coming soon)
Yes, I know that date is slightly later for the paperback version. I am sorry about that, but it's only a small wait and then you have a new Mira story.
Yes, I also know that the paperback version is $2 more expensive, but the paperback version also costs more to produce that the e-book version.
But for less than the price of a gallon of gas, you can get not only the untold story of Mira's love affair with one of the world's sexiest vampire, Valerio, but you also get the first two chapters of my new series. Do you really want to miss out on that coolness? Complete your collection of Mira stories. Find out how she acquired Valerio's ring.
And when it's all over, pop by Asylum and meet Gage. He can give you some nice ink at a fair price.
March 23, 2012
Link-tastic: Blogs You Don't Want to Miss
I'm getting to my Friday blog post really, really late today. As you saw in my last blog entry, I'm up to my eyeballs in writing and editing during the next couple of months so my Internet presence might dwindle just a bit. After Wednesday's info-splosion, I really don't have much to report, so I think today is going to be a series of links to cool stuff.
First, I found on HarperCollins/Voyager blog that an indie bookseller now has a e-reader app. If you would like to support more independent booksellers and still get your books as e-books, please click on the following link to get more cool details. Please click here. Also, it doesn't hurt to bookmark this Voyager blog as they supply great updates on things happening within the Sci-fi/Fantasy world.
Elsewhere, I stumbled over some cool news. One of my favorite authors is coming to my neck of the woods. Do you love vampires? Do you love vampire romance novels? If yes, then you should definitely be reading Kerrelyn Sparks. I love her Love At Stake series and she has a new book (Wanted: Undead or Alive) comes out on Tuesday, March 27! She is going to be making some appearances to celebrate the release of the book and she's coming to my hometown of Cincinnati on March 31! Check out her website to see if she's coming to a town near you and then mark your calendar!
Congrats goes out to Kim Harrison! Her newest book spent three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and her first book, Dead Witch Walking, just appeared on the list. Dead Witch Walking is on sale for a couple more days. Jump on it now! Click here for some more details. This is a great series and you need to start it if you haven't.
Earlier this week, the lovely Vicki Pettersson discussed making the move from mass market paperback to trade paperback with her new series. Stop by and read her brilliant comments. This blog entry hits home for me as I will be making the same move with my new series later this year. Vicki is another person you should be following. Fantastic writer. Funny woman.
Want a quick, funny read? Stop by Ilona Andrews' blog for her thoughts on Herding Cats. Great pictures and great dialogue. And I thought I had problems dealing with two cats and one puppy!
And finally, you should always stop by Supernatural Underground for great updates and thoughts about books and events in the paranormal world. This band of fantastic authors keeps you abreast of their upcoming releases as well as some of their stranger interests.
Well, that should keep you busy for a little while. I'm diving back into my edits for a couple more hours before treating myself to a book. Have a great weekend!
First, I found on HarperCollins/Voyager blog that an indie bookseller now has a e-reader app. If you would like to support more independent booksellers and still get your books as e-books, please click on the following link to get more cool details. Please click here. Also, it doesn't hurt to bookmark this Voyager blog as they supply great updates on things happening within the Sci-fi/Fantasy world.
Elsewhere, I stumbled over some cool news. One of my favorite authors is coming to my neck of the woods. Do you love vampires? Do you love vampire romance novels? If yes, then you should definitely be reading Kerrelyn Sparks. I love her Love At Stake series and she has a new book (Wanted: Undead or Alive) comes out on Tuesday, March 27! She is going to be making some appearances to celebrate the release of the book and she's coming to my hometown of Cincinnati on March 31! Check out her website to see if she's coming to a town near you and then mark your calendar!
Congrats goes out to Kim Harrison! Her newest book spent three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and her first book, Dead Witch Walking, just appeared on the list. Dead Witch Walking is on sale for a couple more days. Jump on it now! Click here for some more details. This is a great series and you need to start it if you haven't.
Earlier this week, the lovely Vicki Pettersson discussed making the move from mass market paperback to trade paperback with her new series. Stop by and read her brilliant comments. This blog entry hits home for me as I will be making the same move with my new series later this year. Vicki is another person you should be following. Fantastic writer. Funny woman.
Want a quick, funny read? Stop by Ilona Andrews' blog for her thoughts on Herding Cats. Great pictures and great dialogue. And I thought I had problems dealing with two cats and one puppy!
And finally, you should always stop by Supernatural Underground for great updates and thoughts about books and events in the paranormal world. This band of fantastic authors keeps you abreast of their upcoming releases as well as some of their stranger interests.
Well, that should keep you busy for a little while. I'm diving back into my edits for a couple more hours before treating myself to a book. Have a great weekend!
March 16, 2012
Less Than a Month Until Valerio
It’s getting closer.
Each day gets us one step closer.
Just over a year ago, fans asked for a peek at Mira’s
relationship with Valerio. I listened. My publisher listened. And now, you have less than a month to wait until you can get your hands on Bound to Me, An Original Dark Days Story.
The story will only be available as an e-book. If you don’t have an e-reader, I am pretty sure that you can still download it and read it on your computer. The story is fewer than 100 pages long and costs only $0.99.
For only $1, you can travel back 200 hundred years and enjoy an adventure with Mira and Valerio through London, Venice, and Spain. For only $1, you can visit many characters who appear throughout the series, with a surprise guest or two.
For more of my thoughts on Valerio, check out my recent Supernatural Underground blog entry. If you’d like to pre-order the book, which comes out on April 10, here are some links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Each day gets us one step closer.
Just over a year ago, fans asked for a peek at Mira’srelationship with Valerio. I listened. My publisher listened. And now, you have less than a month to wait until you can get your hands on Bound to Me, An Original Dark Days Story.
The story will only be available as an e-book. If you don’t have an e-reader, I am pretty sure that you can still download it and read it on your computer. The story is fewer than 100 pages long and costs only $0.99.
For only $1, you can travel back 200 hundred years and enjoy an adventure with Mira and Valerio through London, Venice, and Spain. For only $1, you can visit many characters who appear throughout the series, with a surprise guest or two.
For more of my thoughts on Valerio, check out my recent Supernatural Underground blog entry. If you’d like to pre-order the book, which comes out on April 10, here are some links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
February 24, 2012
Praise for Angel's Ink
I’m sorry about the extended silence. The mix of internet issues, copyedits, articles, interviews, and a new book to write have largely kept me away from the blog and many other places. I will still be about, trolling all my usual spots, but it just might take me a
few extra days to respond to any questions or comments.
So, the work continues to flow. I have finished the copyedits for Angel’s Ink and returned the manuscript to my editor. I believe I have two more edits of the book before I can never touch it again. I am happy to see that I still love the book. For the previous six books, I started to hate the manuscript somewhere between the revisions and the copyedits. It’s a sad thing. Somewhere along the way, I stop seeing the
bigger picture – the great story – and I can only see the words. You read each entence, weighting every word as to whether it does what you need to it do. (And with a 115,000-word manuscript, that’s a lot of words.) The emotion gets sucked out of the book.
But my love holds true for Gage and his friends.
In the meantime, I am thrilled to say that a couple authors have read the book and quite enjoyed it. This is the scary time for a writer. The book is finished and now it’s being sent out to authors that I admire in hopes of getting some positive comments that
can be placed on the cover. For the Dark Days series, Kim Harrison was kind enough to say that Nightwalker is “A must-read addition to the urban fantasy genre.”
Well, my editor sent Angel’s Ink to Kim Harrison and she was kind enough to read it. Her reaction was:
“Jocelynn Drake’s writing holds a wonderfully wry humor akin to dark chocolate: bitter but irresistible. With a unique and fascinating magic system, Angel’s Ink is a new take on traditional and urban fantasy themes, spinning a tale of personal vendettas, mob bosses, and just a touch of romance.
“Gage is an engaging, sympathetic character with curiously twisted problems that he brings upon himself despite his best efforts. Keeping secrets from his friends works … until the hapless Gage makes the largest, and perhaps best,mistake of his life. Now he just has to survive it.
“Angel’s Ink is an other-earthly blend of magic and technology in the best tradition of urban fantasy that refused to let me go. The continuing Asylum Tales promise to be intriguing and wildly inventive.”
That made my day. Seriously. Kim is a fantastic writer and when you can impress and delight someone you admire, it is a great accomplishment.
But I’m not done. No, we reached out to another author I greatly admire and he read the
book as well. Simon R. Green is the amazing author of the Nightside series as well as several others. I fell in love with the Nightside series about the time I started writing the Dark Days series. There’s something twisted and insanely brilliant about that series, so I immediately started hyperventilating when I heard Mr. Green would read Angel’s Ink. Here’s what he had to say:
“Bright and breezy, with fascinating characters, and a background with hidden depths. Drake puts the ink in incredible.”
To answer your question: Yes, you can die of happiness. I died a little when I read
both quotes, my heart exploding with joy in my chest. Thank you, Kim Harrison. Thank you, Simon R. Green. I know your time is precious and I am honored you agreed to read my book.
I’ve got three other authors who have agreed to read the book and my fingers are crossed that they like it as well.
Stay tuned as more new develops for the series.
few extra days to respond to any questions or comments.
So, the work continues to flow. I have finished the copyedits for Angel’s Ink and returned the manuscript to my editor. I believe I have two more edits of the book before I can never touch it again. I am happy to see that I still love the book. For the previous six books, I started to hate the manuscript somewhere between the revisions and the copyedits. It’s a sad thing. Somewhere along the way, I stop seeing the
bigger picture – the great story – and I can only see the words. You read each entence, weighting every word as to whether it does what you need to it do. (And with a 115,000-word manuscript, that’s a lot of words.) The emotion gets sucked out of the book.
But my love holds true for Gage and his friends.
In the meantime, I am thrilled to say that a couple authors have read the book and quite enjoyed it. This is the scary time for a writer. The book is finished and now it’s being sent out to authors that I admire in hopes of getting some positive comments that
can be placed on the cover. For the Dark Days series, Kim Harrison was kind enough to say that Nightwalker is “A must-read addition to the urban fantasy genre.”
Well, my editor sent Angel’s Ink to Kim Harrison and she was kind enough to read it. Her reaction was:
“Jocelynn Drake’s writing holds a wonderfully wry humor akin to dark chocolate: bitter but irresistible. With a unique and fascinating magic system, Angel’s Ink is a new take on traditional and urban fantasy themes, spinning a tale of personal vendettas, mob bosses, and just a touch of romance.
“Gage is an engaging, sympathetic character with curiously twisted problems that he brings upon himself despite his best efforts. Keeping secrets from his friends works … until the hapless Gage makes the largest, and perhaps best,mistake of his life. Now he just has to survive it.
“Angel’s Ink is an other-earthly blend of magic and technology in the best tradition of urban fantasy that refused to let me go. The continuing Asylum Tales promise to be intriguing and wildly inventive.”
That made my day. Seriously. Kim is a fantastic writer and when you can impress and delight someone you admire, it is a great accomplishment.
But I’m not done. No, we reached out to another author I greatly admire and he read the
book as well. Simon R. Green is the amazing author of the Nightside series as well as several others. I fell in love with the Nightside series about the time I started writing the Dark Days series. There’s something twisted and insanely brilliant about that series, so I immediately started hyperventilating when I heard Mr. Green would read Angel’s Ink. Here’s what he had to say:
“Bright and breezy, with fascinating characters, and a background with hidden depths. Drake puts the ink in incredible.”
To answer your question: Yes, you can die of happiness. I died a little when I read
both quotes, my heart exploding with joy in my chest. Thank you, Kim Harrison. Thank you, Simon R. Green. I know your time is precious and I am honored you agreed to read my book.
I’ve got three other authors who have agreed to read the book and my fingers are crossed that they like it as well.
Stay tuned as more new develops for the series.
February 6, 2012
A Busy Week
It's a quiet day.
Well, quiet other than the bulldozer running next to my house, but you know what I mean. It's just me and the computer as I push through the book, trying to decide which city to destroy and which person to kill and which to save. My main character Gage and I have been spending a lot of time staring at wall, thinking. It seems that I've created quite a mess for him and we're both sitting around, thinking WTF?!?! We'll find our way out of this dark wood, but it may take a little time.
While we're fumbling about, I've got a few reminders:
It is my understanding that today is the last day to pick up the Nightwalker e-book at its reduced price of $0.99. Spread the word! Tap your friend! Tell a total stranger. The world needs to be reading this book and what better way than to pick it up for less than a dollar. Here are some links if you're interested:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google e-books
In addition, there's a prequel novella that was released last week called "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten." It originally appeared in the Unbound anthology, but it is now available as a stand-alone e-book for only $0.99. If you haven't read the anthology yet and need a little more Mira, this is a great way to get your fix! The novella is a something of a murder mystery set roughly a month before the events of Nightwalker in Mira's home domain of Savannah. A nightwalker has been murdered and Mira must quickly discover the identity of the killer before her domain descends into chaos. The story was a lot of fun to write and gives readers a sneak peek at some of the characters that appear in the series in later books. Her are some links if you're interested:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google e-books
Also, regardless of whether you're just finding the series now or have been a fan from the beginning, you can always stop by The Dark Room discussion board to leave comments and questions. I haunt the board several times a day and try to respond when I see a comment. I will be posting information on the board at the end of the week about the new series that will be hitting shelves and e-readers later this year. The discussion board is also a great place to chat with other fans of the series.
And finally, don't forget that I'm doing a book signing and discussion at Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Thursday, February 9 from 7pm to 9pm. We'll be talking about the Dark Days series and giving information on the new series as well. In fact, I will be giving both the title and date of the release for the final Dark Days novella, featuring Mira and Valerio. I don't currently have any other plans to travel this year, so this may be my only time out and about signing books. If you're anywhere near the Cincinnati area, please stop by for the fun!
Now, I'm off to write my blog entry for Supernatural Underground, which will appear on the site tomorrow, Tuesday, February 7. If you're not checking out this blog, it's a great place to keep up with some great urban fantasy/paranormal romance authors.
Well, quiet other than the bulldozer running next to my house, but you know what I mean. It's just me and the computer as I push through the book, trying to decide which city to destroy and which person to kill and which to save. My main character Gage and I have been spending a lot of time staring at wall, thinking. It seems that I've created quite a mess for him and we're both sitting around, thinking WTF?!?! We'll find our way out of this dark wood, but it may take a little time.
While we're fumbling about, I've got a few reminders:
It is my understanding that today is the last day to pick up the Nightwalker e-book at its reduced price of $0.99. Spread the word! Tap your friend! Tell a total stranger. The world needs to be reading this book and what better way than to pick it up for less than a dollar. Here are some links if you're interested:Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google e-books
In addition, there's a prequel novella that was released last week called "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten." It originally appeared in the Unbound anthology, but it is now available as a stand-alone e-book for only $0.99. If you haven't read the anthology yet and need a little more Mira, this is a great way to get your fix! The novella is a something of a murder mystery set roughly a month before the events of Nightwalker in Mira's home domain of Savannah. A nightwalker has been murdered and Mira must quickly discover the identity of the killer before her domain descends into chaos. The story was a lot of fun to write and gives readers a sneak peek at some of the characters that appear in the series in later books. Her are some links if you're interested:Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google e-books
Also, regardless of whether you're just finding the series now or have been a fan from the beginning, you can always stop by The Dark Room discussion board to leave comments and questions. I haunt the board several times a day and try to respond when I see a comment. I will be posting information on the board at the end of the week about the new series that will be hitting shelves and e-readers later this year. The discussion board is also a great place to chat with other fans of the series. And finally, don't forget that I'm doing a book signing and discussion at Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Thursday, February 9 from 7pm to 9pm. We'll be talking about the Dark Days series and giving information on the new series as well. In fact, I will be giving both the title and date of the release for the final Dark Days novella, featuring Mira and Valerio. I don't currently have any other plans to travel this year, so this may be my only time out and about signing books. If you're anywhere near the Cincinnati area, please stop by for the fun!
Now, I'm off to write my blog entry for Supernatural Underground, which will appear on the site tomorrow, Tuesday, February 7. If you're not checking out this blog, it's a great place to keep up with some great urban fantasy/paranormal romance authors.
January 23, 2012
Things To Come
The "To Do" list is growing to frightening proportions -- both things that need to be done around the house as well as writing-related items. I've been working steadily recently so I'm not quite sure how things suddenly got so crazy. I think it just happens that way regardless of my careful planning.
Things coming up:
Novella Release
"The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten" will be released next week on Tuesday, January 31. It is an e-book novella that is a prequel to the series. It is a re-release as the novella originally appeared in the Unbound anthology. If you know someone who hasn't started the Dark Days series yet, this is a great way to get them introduced to the series. The story runs about 100 pages (at least it does in my Word document) and costs only $0.99.
Order at Amazon
Order at Barnes and Noble
Order at iBooks
Book Signing
The book signing event at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hills, Kentucky is fast approaching (Thursday, February 9 at 7pm). I have started practicing signing my name as well as gathering together my magnets. These may be the last of the magnets I have for the Dark Days series before I turn my attention to promotional items for the new series. I am also looking over a few things, trying to decide if I will read something from the new series. In addition, I am planning to announce the date and title of the next novella release at the book signing. I am hoping to announce the title of the first book in The Asylum Tales series. We're going to have a lot of fun at the signing so you don't want to miss it. I'll be answering questions about both the Dark Days series and tells little secrets about The Asylum Tales.
In the meantime, I'm working on...
1. Writing book 2 in The Asylum Tales series
2. Working on compiling a list of people who might be willing to read the first book for blurb purposes
3. Cleaning my office (it's gotten frightening even for me)
4. Working on notes for the website redesign
5. Starting to think about doing my taxes (this is a slow process and the first step is to convince myself to call my tax accountant)
Wish me luck and I hope to see you at the book signing!
Things coming up:
Novella Release
"The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten" will be released next week on Tuesday, January 31. It is an e-book novella that is a prequel to the series. It is a re-release as the novella originally appeared in the Unbound anthology. If you know someone who hasn't started the Dark Days series yet, this is a great way to get them introduced to the series. The story runs about 100 pages (at least it does in my Word document) and costs only $0.99. Order at Amazon
Order at Barnes and Noble
Order at iBooks
Book Signing
The book signing event at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hills, Kentucky is fast approaching (Thursday, February 9 at 7pm). I have started practicing signing my name as well as gathering together my magnets. These may be the last of the magnets I have for the Dark Days series before I turn my attention to promotional items for the new series. I am also looking over a few things, trying to decide if I will read something from the new series. In addition, I am planning to announce the date and title of the next novella release at the book signing. I am hoping to announce the title of the first book in The Asylum Tales series. We're going to have a lot of fun at the signing so you don't want to miss it. I'll be answering questions about both the Dark Days series and tells little secrets about The Asylum Tales.In the meantime, I'm working on...
1. Writing book 2 in The Asylum Tales series
2. Working on compiling a list of people who might be willing to read the first book for blurb purposes
3. Cleaning my office (it's gotten frightening even for me)
4. Working on notes for the website redesign
5. Starting to think about doing my taxes (this is a slow process and the first step is to convince myself to call my tax accountant)
Wish me luck and I hope to see you at the book signing!
January 20, 2012
Book Signing & New Love
Before I get into the rambling section of my blog post today, let me announce that I will be doing a book signing on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7 pm at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview, Kentucky. Here's the contact information if you are interested:
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2785 Dixie Hwy.
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
At signings I typically answer any questions you might have regarding the books or my writing process. Also, I am planning to bring along some new work that hasn't been released yet. If no one has questions, I might do some reading of the new work. I'll try to bring some other goodies as well. I hope you can make it.
Now to the ramble...
The book is coming a bit slowly this week. The first six chapters seemed to fly from my fingertips and I have a feeling that the other 20+ chapters will do the same as soon as I get the rest of the story outlined. My main concern at the moment is that there is a lot of talking in the first few chapters. It's all really important information but I'm afraid that there isn't enough tension, fighting, and general violence. The next chapter I have planned should help fix that as well as give Gage some "private" time with Trixie.
Sitting on the floor, starting up at my wall calendar while listening to music yesterday (this is how I outline books), I had two new characters sit with me. One I just refer to as the "laughing madman" and the other is a woman with an odd habit when it comes to names. I don't know if they're going to appear in the new book, but I hope so. They're ... different. I'm beginning to learn that in this new world, there's this enormous gulf of gray area between what is considered sane and insane. Let's just say you could fit whole cities in the gray area and still have room for some suburbs and ample parking.
A separate ramble...
I'm a gamer. Not one of those hardcore gamers who has played every hot video game to come out for a system, but I do like a good video game. In truth, I got started in gaming kind of late; not getting interested until the release of the PlayStation 1. Somewhere along the way, I picked up Final Fantasy 8 and fell in love. I've played Final Fantasy 7-13, except I didn't play the online one and I haven't finished 13. I've played Guitar Hero and Rock Band, as well as a scattering of other games. Years ago, we used to get a large group of friends together to play a first-person shooter called Time Splitters.
I'm not a great gamer. I don't have fantastic hand-eye coordination so AA (action-adventure) games are hard for me, but I still love them. I watched my brother and O.H. play both the Batman games as well as all the Uncharted games. I've spent hours watching Devil May Cry, Prince of Persia (who later became an inspiration for our own beloved Danaus), and lots of Resident Evil.
After recently getting sucked into some online play, I've attempted my first AA game solo, and I've found a new love. His name is Ezio Auditore di Firenza. For me, a great game is more than killer graphics and a strong combat engine. A great game has to have a great story at its core along with heart-gripping characters. I believe that Square Enix (the makers of Final Fantasy) have some of the best storytellers in the business, but recently, I've come to realize that Naughty Dog (Uncharted makers) and Ubisoft (Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia makers) are excellent storytellers as well. More importantly, Naughty Dog and Ubisoft make amazing, memorable characters that you love. I like Tidus, Cloud, and Yuna from Final Fantasy, but I love Ezio and Nate Drake (from Uncharted).
I finished Assassin's Creed 2 last night, and I have to admit that I was a little heartsore when the credits rolled. Through the passage of 20 years, you followed this character through heartbreak and triumph only to be left with more questions. I understood why he did the things he did, but at the end, I wanted to walk up to him, place a hand against his cheek, and ask him, "Was it worth it?" I think he would give me his patented little smirk, and say that it was, but I still feel sad for him.
Naturally, I've started the next game, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but I'm debating whether to stop there and not go on to Revelations. There's something in me that doesn't want to see the character at the end of his life. Sort of like he won't get older and can't die if I don't play that part of the game.
But then, I still get a little heartsore when I think about how infrequently Mira and Danaus visit with me now.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2785 Dixie Hwy.
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
At signings I typically answer any questions you might have regarding the books or my writing process. Also, I am planning to bring along some new work that hasn't been released yet. If no one has questions, I might do some reading of the new work. I'll try to bring some other goodies as well. I hope you can make it.
Now to the ramble...
The book is coming a bit slowly this week. The first six chapters seemed to fly from my fingertips and I have a feeling that the other 20+ chapters will do the same as soon as I get the rest of the story outlined. My main concern at the moment is that there is a lot of talking in the first few chapters. It's all really important information but I'm afraid that there isn't enough tension, fighting, and general violence. The next chapter I have planned should help fix that as well as give Gage some "private" time with Trixie.
Sitting on the floor, starting up at my wall calendar while listening to music yesterday (this is how I outline books), I had two new characters sit with me. One I just refer to as the "laughing madman" and the other is a woman with an odd habit when it comes to names. I don't know if they're going to appear in the new book, but I hope so. They're ... different. I'm beginning to learn that in this new world, there's this enormous gulf of gray area between what is considered sane and insane. Let's just say you could fit whole cities in the gray area and still have room for some suburbs and ample parking.
A separate ramble...
I'm a gamer. Not one of those hardcore gamers who has played every hot video game to come out for a system, but I do like a good video game. In truth, I got started in gaming kind of late; not getting interested until the release of the PlayStation 1. Somewhere along the way, I picked up Final Fantasy 8 and fell in love. I've played Final Fantasy 7-13, except I didn't play the online one and I haven't finished 13. I've played Guitar Hero and Rock Band, as well as a scattering of other games. Years ago, we used to get a large group of friends together to play a first-person shooter called Time Splitters.I'm not a great gamer. I don't have fantastic hand-eye coordination so AA (action-adventure) games are hard for me, but I still love them. I watched my brother and O.H. play both the Batman games as well as all the Uncharted games. I've spent hours watching Devil May Cry, Prince of Persia (who later became an inspiration for our own beloved Danaus), and lots of Resident Evil.
After recently getting sucked into some online play, I've attempted my first AA game solo, and I've found a new love. His name is Ezio Auditore di Firenza. For me, a great game is more than killer graphics and a strong combat engine. A great game has to have a great story at its core along with heart-gripping characters. I believe that Square Enix (the makers of Final Fantasy) have some of the best storytellers in the business, but recently, I've come to realize that Naughty Dog (Uncharted makers) and Ubisoft (Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia makers) are excellent storytellers as well. More importantly, Naughty Dog and Ubisoft make amazing, memorable characters that you love. I like Tidus, Cloud, and Yuna from Final Fantasy, but I love Ezio and Nate Drake (from Uncharted).
I finished Assassin's Creed 2 last night, and I have to admit that I was a little heartsore when the credits rolled. Through the passage of 20 years, you followed this character through heartbreak and triumph only to be left with more questions. I understood why he did the things he did, but at the end, I wanted to walk up to him, place a hand against his cheek, and ask him, "Was it worth it?" I think he would give me his patented little smirk, and say that it was, but I still feel sad for him.
Naturally, I've started the next game, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but I'm debating whether to stop there and not go on to Revelations. There's something in me that doesn't want to see the character at the end of his life. Sort of like he won't get older and can't die if I don't play that part of the game.
But then, I still get a little heartsore when I think about how infrequently Mira and Danaus visit with me now.
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