Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 34
June 15, 2011
E-readers, Excerpts, Names and Anniversaries
I meant to post a blog entry on Monday, but sometimes best intentions just don't pan out. It also doesn't help that it's a gray day and my throat is sore and I've got a pile of new books. I just want to lay in bed and read all day. Hopefully, I don't succumb to that evil urge.
In the meantime, I've got lots of announcements!
1. E-reader
I think I've finally chosen an e-reader. Sort of. Thank you for all your wonderful input. All that fantastic information made it so hard to choose. In the end, I actually had to go to a store and hold the items. I've noticed that with gadgets, I have to play with them first to get a feel for if I will like it. It was very close and I think that I would actually be happy with any of them. But for now, I'm going to start with an iPad 2. Not only can it function as an e-reader, but it will let me access graphic novels and comics, which I want to get back into, as well as work on other things while I'm on the road. However, I will be keeping on an eye on the Kindle. After comparing it to the Nook Color (which is very awesome), I have a feeling that Amazon will release a big update soon to stay competitive. I wouldn't be surprised if I get a second reader in another year or two.
2. Excerpt
A large excerpt for Burn the Night should be posted soon on HarperCollins' site. I am checking with my editor and I will announce something soon.
3. Name That Character Contest Winner
Wow! This was really hard to choose. Everyone came up with such fantastic names and it took me a little while to wade through everything and consider them. I'm a little torn on how to award the winner and I'm trying to be fair. So, here's what I came up with.
I chose the name "Simon Thorne" which was suggested by Raven. Raven, please send me an email at Jocelynn DOT Drake AT gmail DOT com with your mailing address and the name you would like me to use in the acknowledgement for the Tattoo Artist book.
Now, here's the snag. Lisa Coder was technically the first one to suggest "Thorn" in the contest. I didn't want to use just Thorn because he was a vampire in Nightwalker. However, I did use Thorn as part of his name so I would like to send Lisa a signed copy of Burn the Night. Lisa, please email me your mailing address so I can get you a copy of the book. Thanks for all the suggestions! There will be more contests soon!!
Now, here's some random thoughts on the names:
**All the names were very unique, rare, original, and a little strange. I wonder if that's because you know I use strange names or because we feel a little more uninhibited when we're naming fictional characters.
**These names were suggested more than once: Sebastian, Balthazar, Marcus, Percival, Victor, Orion, and Damien. Very unique choices to be popular among readers.
**Suggested: Thanatos -- I can't remember if I mentioned this anywhere, but this is the name of Danaus's father
**Suggested: Charon -- already used in the Tattoo Artist book. Ponder that one.
**Suggested: Nathaniel -- this is the name of a close family member and I've very picky of when I use it.
**Suggested: Alucard -- HA! Dracula spelled backwards, name from the Castlevania game series, conjures up too many images of vampires for me rather than warlocks, but I love it.
4. Anniversary
On Monday, June 13, it was my four-year anniversary of receiving my first contract offer for Nightwalker. In four years, I have had approximately 6 books published along with 1 novella in an anthology with other fantastic authors. In addition, I am sitting on two more contracts that cover two more books and three short stories!
My entire published life has been spent with the wonderful people at HarperCollins, particularly with my amazing editor Diana. In addition, I have spent that entire time with my awesome agent Jennifer Schober from Spencerhill Associates. They are so amazing and have made the past four years simply heavenly. I wouldn't be here without them.
In addition, one of my greatest joys has been conversing in person and over the Internet with all the fans of the Dark Days series. Thank you so much for the time you have taken to tell me how much you like the series. Your input and support have been very important to me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am hard at work on the new series and I really hope you like it as well.
In the meantime, I've got lots of announcements!
1. E-reader
I think I've finally chosen an e-reader. Sort of. Thank you for all your wonderful input. All that fantastic information made it so hard to choose. In the end, I actually had to go to a store and hold the items. I've noticed that with gadgets, I have to play with them first to get a feel for if I will like it. It was very close and I think that I would actually be happy with any of them. But for now, I'm going to start with an iPad 2. Not only can it function as an e-reader, but it will let me access graphic novels and comics, which I want to get back into, as well as work on other things while I'm on the road. However, I will be keeping on an eye on the Kindle. After comparing it to the Nook Color (which is very awesome), I have a feeling that Amazon will release a big update soon to stay competitive. I wouldn't be surprised if I get a second reader in another year or two.
2. Excerpt
A large excerpt for Burn the Night should be posted soon on HarperCollins' site. I am checking with my editor and I will announce something soon.
3. Name That Character Contest Winner
Wow! This was really hard to choose. Everyone came up with such fantastic names and it took me a little while to wade through everything and consider them. I'm a little torn on how to award the winner and I'm trying to be fair. So, here's what I came up with.
I chose the name "Simon Thorne" which was suggested by Raven. Raven, please send me an email at Jocelynn DOT Drake AT gmail DOT com with your mailing address and the name you would like me to use in the acknowledgement for the Tattoo Artist book.
Now, here's the snag. Lisa Coder was technically the first one to suggest "Thorn" in the contest. I didn't want to use just Thorn because he was a vampire in Nightwalker. However, I did use Thorn as part of his name so I would like to send Lisa a signed copy of Burn the Night. Lisa, please email me your mailing address so I can get you a copy of the book. Thanks for all the suggestions! There will be more contests soon!!
Now, here's some random thoughts on the names:
**All the names were very unique, rare, original, and a little strange. I wonder if that's because you know I use strange names or because we feel a little more uninhibited when we're naming fictional characters.
**These names were suggested more than once: Sebastian, Balthazar, Marcus, Percival, Victor, Orion, and Damien. Very unique choices to be popular among readers.
**Suggested: Thanatos -- I can't remember if I mentioned this anywhere, but this is the name of Danaus's father
**Suggested: Charon -- already used in the Tattoo Artist book. Ponder that one.
**Suggested: Nathaniel -- this is the name of a close family member and I've very picky of when I use it.
**Suggested: Alucard -- HA! Dracula spelled backwards, name from the Castlevania game series, conjures up too many images of vampires for me rather than warlocks, but I love it.
4. Anniversary
On Monday, June 13, it was my four-year anniversary of receiving my first contract offer for Nightwalker. In four years, I have had approximately 6 books published along with 1 novella in an anthology with other fantastic authors. In addition, I am sitting on two more contracts that cover two more books and three short stories!
My entire published life has been spent with the wonderful people at HarperCollins, particularly with my amazing editor Diana. In addition, I have spent that entire time with my awesome agent Jennifer Schober from Spencerhill Associates. They are so amazing and have made the past four years simply heavenly. I wouldn't be here without them.
In addition, one of my greatest joys has been conversing in person and over the Internet with all the fans of the Dark Days series. Thank you so much for the time you have taken to tell me how much you like the series. Your input and support have been very important to me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am hard at work on the new series and I really hope you like it as well.
May 13, 2011
Wistful Thoughts: For The Love Of Writing
I have quiet days on Twitter, where I read the posts, but don't say much, and then there are other days when I'm a "Chatty Kathy," commenting on so many things that I see. Shiny objects catch my attention and draw me away from writing. I don't fight it too hard as so many of these things lead to new thoughts for books and characters that I have yet to meet.
Today, I had a couple of wistful moments that I don't mind sharing in a blog. The first sprang forth from a link that I picked up from @HarperCollins. It was a link to a page filled with pictures of Writers and their Cats. I loved the page, because it was such a humanizing moment for a number of the authors that I grew up idolizing during college. These wonderfully dark and grainy photos of authors sitting in the private sanctity of their homes with their beloved pets was so heart-warming. You could see the simple places in which so many inhabited, their faces alight with wonder and love as they watched their cats. You could see it in the way some of them held their cats, or relaxed with their cats as they worked. So many great brains churning away on the human problem while at peace with their felines.
My thoughts then hitched on many of the Beat writers that were pictured and my love of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road". And suddenly I wanted to read the book all over again, something I hadn't touched since I was in college. My mind kept spiraling, and I soon wanted to go through my literature classes all over again. I missed sitting in a classroom, pouring over the intense wording of books and poems, wondering at their meaning and the consequences of their arrangement, the curious thoughts about the society that brought those words together and the impact those words had on society. I longed to go back to some of my literary pursuits and my own literary novel that I am constantly putting on the backburner.
And then the urgency fades just a little as I realize that even in the depths of a college classroom with mountains of wonderful books around me, my own characters and dreams would not dim. My mind would drift back to daydreams of magic and horror and things that creep out in the night. At the root of it all is just a love of writing. Romance, paranormal, literature, horror -- to me it is all the same intoxicating drug that leads to dreams of what could be.
Even in the depths of frustration when a story refuses to move forward, my mind is always lost in the land of "what if?".
The second fancy to catch my eye was a little quiz posted by a friend. The quiz lists 30 quotes and asks you to name whether Batman or Shakespeare said it. Sadly, I did not score too well. I don't think it was so match a matter of not knowing my Shakespeare, but more of a biased love for Batman that made me hope that the Dark Knight was more elegant in his speech than reality allows.
I could go into verbose detail on how deep my love runs of Batman, but I will try to save it for another post. For now, I would rather tie it back to the ramblings above and an idle dream I have. When I started actively reading Batman, I purchased a trio of anthologies filled with stories from authors, who, for all I know, have never written a word in the Batman canon, but were able to create such magical tales that I was enthralled. It also gave me hope that I could one day pen a published tale of Batman, whether it be for a comic book or an anthology, it didn't matter.
I want to add my voice to such an amazing history of storytelling, walking with a character that has such wonderful depth. I've written my own fan fiction of Batman that will never see the light of day, but I can dream.
For the curious, here are some of the anthologies that got me started reading Batman.
Tales of Batman
Legends of Batman
Adventures of Batman
Today, I had a couple of wistful moments that I don't mind sharing in a blog. The first sprang forth from a link that I picked up from @HarperCollins. It was a link to a page filled with pictures of Writers and their Cats. I loved the page, because it was such a humanizing moment for a number of the authors that I grew up idolizing during college. These wonderfully dark and grainy photos of authors sitting in the private sanctity of their homes with their beloved pets was so heart-warming. You could see the simple places in which so many inhabited, their faces alight with wonder and love as they watched their cats. You could see it in the way some of them held their cats, or relaxed with their cats as they worked. So many great brains churning away on the human problem while at peace with their felines.
My thoughts then hitched on many of the Beat writers that were pictured and my love of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road". And suddenly I wanted to read the book all over again, something I hadn't touched since I was in college. My mind kept spiraling, and I soon wanted to go through my literature classes all over again. I missed sitting in a classroom, pouring over the intense wording of books and poems, wondering at their meaning and the consequences of their arrangement, the curious thoughts about the society that brought those words together and the impact those words had on society. I longed to go back to some of my literary pursuits and my own literary novel that I am constantly putting on the backburner.
And then the urgency fades just a little as I realize that even in the depths of a college classroom with mountains of wonderful books around me, my own characters and dreams would not dim. My mind would drift back to daydreams of magic and horror and things that creep out in the night. At the root of it all is just a love of writing. Romance, paranormal, literature, horror -- to me it is all the same intoxicating drug that leads to dreams of what could be.
Even in the depths of frustration when a story refuses to move forward, my mind is always lost in the land of "what if?".
The second fancy to catch my eye was a little quiz posted by a friend. The quiz lists 30 quotes and asks you to name whether Batman or Shakespeare said it. Sadly, I did not score too well. I don't think it was so match a matter of not knowing my Shakespeare, but more of a biased love for Batman that made me hope that the Dark Knight was more elegant in his speech than reality allows.
I could go into verbose detail on how deep my love runs of Batman, but I will try to save it for another post. For now, I would rather tie it back to the ramblings above and an idle dream I have. When I started actively reading Batman, I purchased a trio of anthologies filled with stories from authors, who, for all I know, have never written a word in the Batman canon, but were able to create such magical tales that I was enthralled. It also gave me hope that I could one day pen a published tale of Batman, whether it be for a comic book or an anthology, it didn't matter.
I want to add my voice to such an amazing history of storytelling, walking with a character that has such wonderful depth. I've written my own fan fiction of Batman that will never see the light of day, but I can dream.
For the curious, here are some of the anthologies that got me started reading Batman.
Tales of Batman
Legends of Batman
Adventures of Batman
April 18, 2011
New Books, New Series
I’ve been notified that the news officially hit Publishers Marketplace last week so I can make my own announcement here. I’ve sold new books for a new series! While the Dark Days series has been officially put to bed, my evil brain has turned its attention to a new set of victims and heroes.
The Tattoo Artist
The title of the series is just a working title so I have something to save the files under on the computer and is subject to change. Also considering that the first book hasn’t hit my editor’s desk, things in the books are still subject to change. However, I can try to give you some highlights.
With the new series, I wanted to do a sharp change for the Dark Days world. Where everything is hidden and secret in the Dark Days series, everything in the Tattoo Artist world is out in the open. The world was broken open centuries ago and now elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and dozens of other creatures walk free and happy among the humans. They live in relative harmony with each other. However, there is one group that hovers like a dark shadow over the rest: the warlocks and the witches. These magic users are dangerous and cruel, monitoring the use of magic by anyone other than themselves. They are the gatekeepers, the judges, and ultimately, the executioners.
Now understandably, the humans would occasionally feel at a disadvantage in this world filled with other magical creatures. They would need to find their own edge here. So they turn to the tattoo artists. Tattoo artists are more than just artists of the flesh. They are also potion stirrers, putting them outside the realm of the warlocks. Need a little good luck? Want love? Want revenge? The right ingredients mixed in the ink along with the right symbol etched into the skin can get you your heart’s desire. Of course, this all comes with a price.
The series follows the tattoo artists at the Asylum as they encounter some interesting clients and battle their own demons.
So far, two books have been sold for this series and there is an interest for a pair of novellas to be released along with the books set in the same world. I am currently chipping away at the first book. No release date has been officially discussed, but I believe we are aiming to keep me on the same release schedule that I am currently on, so we are looking at the first book being released in Summer 2012.
I will be posting updates and tidbits on the series as it comes. Also, don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Burn the Night: The Final Dark Days Book. There are now fewer than 71 days until the release!
The Tattoo Artist
The title of the series is just a working title so I have something to save the files under on the computer and is subject to change. Also considering that the first book hasn’t hit my editor’s desk, things in the books are still subject to change. However, I can try to give you some highlights.
With the new series, I wanted to do a sharp change for the Dark Days world. Where everything is hidden and secret in the Dark Days series, everything in the Tattoo Artist world is out in the open. The world was broken open centuries ago and now elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and dozens of other creatures walk free and happy among the humans. They live in relative harmony with each other. However, there is one group that hovers like a dark shadow over the rest: the warlocks and the witches. These magic users are dangerous and cruel, monitoring the use of magic by anyone other than themselves. They are the gatekeepers, the judges, and ultimately, the executioners.
Now understandably, the humans would occasionally feel at a disadvantage in this world filled with other magical creatures. They would need to find their own edge here. So they turn to the tattoo artists. Tattoo artists are more than just artists of the flesh. They are also potion stirrers, putting them outside the realm of the warlocks. Need a little good luck? Want love? Want revenge? The right ingredients mixed in the ink along with the right symbol etched into the skin can get you your heart’s desire. Of course, this all comes with a price.
The series follows the tattoo artists at the Asylum as they encounter some interesting clients and battle their own demons.
So far, two books have been sold for this series and there is an interest for a pair of novellas to be released along with the books set in the same world. I am currently chipping away at the first book. No release date has been officially discussed, but I believe we are aiming to keep me on the same release schedule that I am currently on, so we are looking at the first book being released in Summer 2012.
I will be posting updates and tidbits on the series as it comes. Also, don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Burn the Night: The Final Dark Days Book. There are now fewer than 71 days until the release!
April 12, 2011
Playing Catch Up
I accomplished nothing this weekend. A big fat zero. Sure, I cleaned the kitchen, and visited the parents, and bought a new vacuum cleaner, but I didn't get any writing done. I don't think I actually checked my email beyond just glancing at the subject lines on my phone. All weekend the sun was shining and the weather was warm. I didn't feel like spending massive amounts of time behind my computer. I guess I was just due for a little time off.
This morning is off to a better start. I've got my bills paid and in the mailbox. I've caught up on some emails and I'm now blogging after an extended silence. Today, I will be launching back into my Work In Progress (WiP) and it will feel good to visit with these characters. After writing six books and two novellas in the Dark Days world, it didn't think I could fall in love with another set of characters. I had poured so much of myself into Mira and Danaus. I pour everything I was into their world. I didn't think I had any room left in my heart for my new characters.
I was wrong. I love the new world that I am playing in. It's so big and strange, with fantastic things that are just waiting to walk through the door at every turn of the page. I love my new characters. They're broken and flawed, but they have a strong sense of self and loyalty to their friends. That's a concept that I'm working on in this book more: friends. Mira didn't have a lot of friends in the Dark Days series, which meant that she didn't have a lot of people that she could depend on for help and compassion. I'm hoping to give Gage and his friends a somewhat warmer place to live in, though it won't be without it own perils.
But I will be spilling more on the new books later this week. I'm waiting for the news to be officially released before I leak anymore news. So stay tuned to this blog for more news.
In the meantime, I blogged on the Supernatural Underground last week in case you missed it. Here's a link for those interested. It's just a little insight into my writing habits.
I will also be presenting a peek into the other half of my world when I officially launch my new blog on Forbes.com. Stay tuned for a link to that as well.
This morning is off to a better start. I've got my bills paid and in the mailbox. I've caught up on some emails and I'm now blogging after an extended silence. Today, I will be launching back into my Work In Progress (WiP) and it will feel good to visit with these characters. After writing six books and two novellas in the Dark Days world, it didn't think I could fall in love with another set of characters. I had poured so much of myself into Mira and Danaus. I pour everything I was into their world. I didn't think I had any room left in my heart for my new characters.
I was wrong. I love the new world that I am playing in. It's so big and strange, with fantastic things that are just waiting to walk through the door at every turn of the page. I love my new characters. They're broken and flawed, but they have a strong sense of self and loyalty to their friends. That's a concept that I'm working on in this book more: friends. Mira didn't have a lot of friends in the Dark Days series, which meant that she didn't have a lot of people that she could depend on for help and compassion. I'm hoping to give Gage and his friends a somewhat warmer place to live in, though it won't be without it own perils.
But I will be spilling more on the new books later this week. I'm waiting for the news to be officially released before I leak anymore news. So stay tuned to this blog for more news.
In the meantime, I blogged on the Supernatural Underground last week in case you missed it. Here's a link for those interested. It's just a little insight into my writing habits.
I will also be presenting a peek into the other half of my world when I officially launch my new blog on Forbes.com. Stay tuned for a link to that as well.
March 24, 2011
Think. Think. Think.
To quote Pooh Bear: "Think. Think. Think."
The taste of spring that I was enjoying has died on my tongue today as the weather has quickly shifted from 70's and sunny to 30's and overcast. For the first time in days, the heater has kicked on in my house and I searching out a sweatshirt to wear while I work. The trees and shrubs in my yard are slowly turning green and it gives me hope that this might be one of the last really cold spells before spring takes over completely. One would think that I would enjoy today's nasty weather as I have no longing to play outside and should easily get some work done. However, the gray skies have put me in a blah mood and the words are reluctant to settle on the page.
Work on the novella slowed this week. I started off strong, but the energy toward writing quickly flagged as other issues popped up, demanding my attention. I wish there was only the blank page and me, sometimes. I wish I could keep my mind locked in worlds of my own creation and didn't have to worry about business decisions. Unfortunately, I find my life sitting at an important crossroads as there has been a sudden, but expected, change regarding my dayjob. Glittering opportunities have fallen into my lap and they are very tempting, but I hesitate as I try to evaluate the usage of my time as well as what is the most important to me.
My life had fallen into a nice, predictable flow for a long time, so I can only guess that I was overdue for some life-altering decisions. These are the truly scary moments in life. At some point, I'm going to have to jump and take a risk or suffer losing all the opportunities before me. If I've learned anything, it is wise to thoroughly evaluate all your options and the consequences of your potential decisions, but don't hesitate too long or you will lose everything.
The taste of spring that I was enjoying has died on my tongue today as the weather has quickly shifted from 70's and sunny to 30's and overcast. For the first time in days, the heater has kicked on in my house and I searching out a sweatshirt to wear while I work. The trees and shrubs in my yard are slowly turning green and it gives me hope that this might be one of the last really cold spells before spring takes over completely. One would think that I would enjoy today's nasty weather as I have no longing to play outside and should easily get some work done. However, the gray skies have put me in a blah mood and the words are reluctant to settle on the page.
Work on the novella slowed this week. I started off strong, but the energy toward writing quickly flagged as other issues popped up, demanding my attention. I wish there was only the blank page and me, sometimes. I wish I could keep my mind locked in worlds of my own creation and didn't have to worry about business decisions. Unfortunately, I find my life sitting at an important crossroads as there has been a sudden, but expected, change regarding my dayjob. Glittering opportunities have fallen into my lap and they are very tempting, but I hesitate as I try to evaluate the usage of my time as well as what is the most important to me.
My life had fallen into a nice, predictable flow for a long time, so I can only guess that I was overdue for some life-altering decisions. These are the truly scary moments in life. At some point, I'm going to have to jump and take a risk or suffer losing all the opportunities before me. If I've learned anything, it is wise to thoroughly evaluate all your options and the consequences of your potential decisions, but don't hesitate too long or you will lose everything.
March 13, 2011
Is Spring Finally Here?
I know that it's still too early to ask this question of the Cincinnati area, but is Spring finally here? After a moderate dusting of snow on Thursday, I woke this morning to sun-filled skies and 60-degree temperatures. Kids are running around the yards in jeans and T-shirts or riding bikes. I've thrown open a couple of the windows and turned off the heat to air out the house just a little bit. I want Winter to finally be gone. I need to be free of the grip of snow and frost and frigid temperatures. Winter just seemed to last too long here and I'm ready for the sun to finally return.
However, despite the nice weather, I've pulled the blinds in my office and I've settled in behind my computer to get some work done today. I have yet to decide on what project that I what to turn my attention to. I'm rotating between three books that I love almost equally and I have yet to decide which I should be working on. It also doesn't help that I'm toying with a short story idea. Someone at the recent book signing suggested a short story that I should write for Mira before the final book is released and some ideas are finally starting to congeal in my brain. I haven't made any final decisions yet. I'm hoping to make a decision soon. We shall see.
However, despite the nice weather, I've pulled the blinds in my office and I've settled in behind my computer to get some work done today. I have yet to decide on what project that I what to turn my attention to. I'm rotating between three books that I love almost equally and I have yet to decide which I should be working on. It also doesn't help that I'm toying with a short story idea. Someone at the recent book signing suggested a short story that I should write for Mira before the final book is released and some ideas are finally starting to congeal in my brain. I haven't made any final decisions yet. I'm hoping to make a decision soon. We shall see.
January 15, 2011
Still Alive
I can't believe it took me this long to make my first post of the year. My focus has been somewhat shattered recently by illness and just random flights of fancy and work that has captured my attention.
What have I been up to over the past few weeks?
I celebrated my brother's birthday with my family. He received an awesome pirate game for his birthday and we spent some time drinking, playing games, and ringing in the New Year.
I received a book blurb request (through the proper channels) and I've started reading the book. The blurb is due back to the publisher by the end of February so I've got plenty of time to read the book.
I've been working on a little on a trunk novel that has haunted me over the last several years. I completely re-wrote the beginning and went through several chapters, but I've recently decided that I need to dig deeper into the chapters that I've already proofed. In fact, I need to go back and read some more in the genre again before I do some serious work. I feel too out of touch with that storytelling style.
I have also been working on one of the books that is on proposal with my editor. My fingers are crossed that I will be hearing something back within the next few weeks regarding the two series that I have proposed to write. Keep your fingers crossed.
Finally, I have just been sitting back and relaxing a bit. After having the pressure and rush of finishing books last year, I am enjoying having some free time to play and daydream.
What have I been up to over the past few weeks?
I celebrated my brother's birthday with my family. He received an awesome pirate game for his birthday and we spent some time drinking, playing games, and ringing in the New Year.
I received a book blurb request (through the proper channels) and I've started reading the book. The blurb is due back to the publisher by the end of February so I've got plenty of time to read the book.
I've been working on a little on a trunk novel that has haunted me over the last several years. I completely re-wrote the beginning and went through several chapters, but I've recently decided that I need to dig deeper into the chapters that I've already proofed. In fact, I need to go back and read some more in the genre again before I do some serious work. I feel too out of touch with that storytelling style.
I have also been working on one of the books that is on proposal with my editor. My fingers are crossed that I will be hearing something back within the next few weeks regarding the two series that I have proposed to write. Keep your fingers crossed.
Finally, I have just been sitting back and relaxing a bit. After having the pressure and rush of finishing books last year, I am enjoying having some free time to play and daydream.
September 7, 2010
Haunted by First Loves
There’s something about your first love that seems to haunt you for life. It’s the first time that you let yourself completely go. You open your heart and soul in such a way that you are completely vulnerable and exposed for the first time in your life. There is a sweet, once-in-a-lifetime naivety to it that will never come again that you will look back on with a wistful smile of different times.
After that first love is broken and lost, you go through life with more experience. You love again, but almost never with that same selfless abandon. You never fly quite as high again and you never trust again with the same overwhelming blindness.
There are so many things about my past that have become blurry with time, but I remember my first love with a startling, frightening clarity. I remember the first meeting with absolute confidence. I can recall his smile, his smell, the color of his eyes, the touch of his hand, and the gentleness of that first kiss. I don’t look back with regret, but with a sad smile of a lost, perfect moment in time that will never happen again.
I’ve loved again, but the intensity has always been different. The lightning bolt is gone, replaced with a slow, gradual burn. The new loves are not less in value, only different.
For me, that first love extends to books as well as men.
Last night, I revisited the first book that I ever wrote. It is an epic fantasy novel that I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I started writing it when I was a freshman in high school. I have extensive notes, maps, and character lists to keep track of all the details. Amazingly, it’s as long as any of my Dark Days novels and if not more complex in its storytelling.
I sat in the dark in my office last night, lit only by my computer screen, staring at the start of that book. I told a friend about the plotline of not only the first book, but the second book, which is more than half written. As I spoke, I recalled how much I loved this book and these characters. It was the same selfless, blind abandon of a first love. There were no worries about rejection or failure. There was only the story and me.
Time passed and I wrote other stories. I moved on to urban fantasy after I was filled with fears that the epic fantasy wasn’t original enough. I got published with the Dark Days series, but I never forgot about my first love. I envy now those early days of reckless abandon behind a keyboard without deadlines and editors.
Most of the time, you can’t go back to that first love. It’s lost to life and time and experience. But I plan to go back to this epic fantasy one day. I will have a wealth of experience to bring to it and stronger storytelling skills that will only help her. However, despite my new view and knowledge of writing, I will say that the one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of this story. The electricity is still there. That first kiss. Those startling blue eyes and crooked, unsure smile.
First loves leaves us, but they almost always help define us.
After that first love is broken and lost, you go through life with more experience. You love again, but almost never with that same selfless abandon. You never fly quite as high again and you never trust again with the same overwhelming blindness.
There are so many things about my past that have become blurry with time, but I remember my first love with a startling, frightening clarity. I remember the first meeting with absolute confidence. I can recall his smile, his smell, the color of his eyes, the touch of his hand, and the gentleness of that first kiss. I don’t look back with regret, but with a sad smile of a lost, perfect moment in time that will never happen again.
I’ve loved again, but the intensity has always been different. The lightning bolt is gone, replaced with a slow, gradual burn. The new loves are not less in value, only different.
For me, that first love extends to books as well as men.
Last night, I revisited the first book that I ever wrote. It is an epic fantasy novel that I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I started writing it when I was a freshman in high school. I have extensive notes, maps, and character lists to keep track of all the details. Amazingly, it’s as long as any of my Dark Days novels and if not more complex in its storytelling.
I sat in the dark in my office last night, lit only by my computer screen, staring at the start of that book. I told a friend about the plotline of not only the first book, but the second book, which is more than half written. As I spoke, I recalled how much I loved this book and these characters. It was the same selfless, blind abandon of a first love. There were no worries about rejection or failure. There was only the story and me.
Time passed and I wrote other stories. I moved on to urban fantasy after I was filled with fears that the epic fantasy wasn’t original enough. I got published with the Dark Days series, but I never forgot about my first love. I envy now those early days of reckless abandon behind a keyboard without deadlines and editors.
Most of the time, you can’t go back to that first love. It’s lost to life and time and experience. But I plan to go back to this epic fantasy one day. I will have a wealth of experience to bring to it and stronger storytelling skills that will only help her. However, despite my new view and knowledge of writing, I will say that the one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of this story. The electricity is still there. That first kiss. Those startling blue eyes and crooked, unsure smile.
First loves leaves us, but they almost always help define us.
September 1, 2010
The House That Mira Built
In my endeavor to be a better blogger, I am putting up an entry today without really knowing what I'm going to say. I like to have a topic in mind before I start babbling, but hey, sometimes things just don't work out that way.
I dug in deep today and "finished" chapters four and five of Burn the Night. Chapter 4 didn't need much work; just a little spackle and a fresh layer of paint to clean up some of the less-than-perfect spots. Meanwhile, Chapter 5 received a small room addition in the form of an added scene between Mira and Danaus. Yes, they finally got a moment ... alone ... in the woods. Go for it! Let your imaginations run wild. It was a fun scene to write and it allowed me to release some of the emotional tension that I've had building in my brain for far too many books.
Overall, I think the revisions to this book are much like rehabbing a house. For the most part, I think the structure and the foundation are still sound, which is a very big deal. If you have to rebuild the structure or the foundation of where the story is built then you've got a very big job ahead of you and it means losing most of the pages that you've written.
However, just because the foundation and structure are sound doesn't mean I don't have a big job ahead of me. Certain characters that lived now need to die and other characters that weren't in the book now need to make an appearance. In essence, I'm tearing down walls and then putting up new ones. In fact, I'll be adding on a whole new floor with the addition of a previously unplanned plotline, while searching for ways to make Mira more proactive rather than reactive.
Have I totally lost you with this revision/house rehabbing analogy. I think I better stop before it gets any worse.
I dug in deep today and "finished" chapters four and five of Burn the Night. Chapter 4 didn't need much work; just a little spackle and a fresh layer of paint to clean up some of the less-than-perfect spots. Meanwhile, Chapter 5 received a small room addition in the form of an added scene between Mira and Danaus. Yes, they finally got a moment ... alone ... in the woods. Go for it! Let your imaginations run wild. It was a fun scene to write and it allowed me to release some of the emotional tension that I've had building in my brain for far too many books.
Overall, I think the revisions to this book are much like rehabbing a house. For the most part, I think the structure and the foundation are still sound, which is a very big deal. If you have to rebuild the structure or the foundation of where the story is built then you've got a very big job ahead of you and it means losing most of the pages that you've written.
However, just because the foundation and structure are sound doesn't mean I don't have a big job ahead of me. Certain characters that lived now need to die and other characters that weren't in the book now need to make an appearance. In essence, I'm tearing down walls and then putting up new ones. In fact, I'll be adding on a whole new floor with the addition of a previously unplanned plotline, while searching for ways to make Mira more proactive rather than reactive.
Have I totally lost you with this revision/house rehabbing analogy. I think I better stop before it gets any worse.
August 3, 2010
Wait for Dusk is Out
If you finished Pray for Dawn and were left needing yet another fix of Mira and Danaus, I've got it for you in the form of Wait for Dusk. The fifth book in the Dark Days series returns to Mira's point of view as the nightwalker and her companions are forced to travel to Budapest to take on some naturi that are causing some problems. It also doesn't help that Macaire is scheming some nasty plots to destroy are daring heroes.
I really enjoyed writing Wait for Dusk as it finally allowed me to give away a secret I had been holding since Nightwalker. It also gave me the chance to move Danaus and Mira's relationship further along. All around, a fun and exciting book.
In the meantime, I finishing up the last of my promotion for the two books while I dive into edits for book 6 of the series, which is due for release next year.
I really enjoyed writing Wait for Dusk as it finally allowed me to give away a secret I had been holding since Nightwalker. It also gave me the chance to move Danaus and Mira's relationship further along. All around, a fun and exciting book.
In the meantime, I finishing up the last of my promotion for the two books while I dive into edits for book 6 of the series, which is due for release next year.
Announcements
A place to keep updated on the latest happenings in my world.
- Jocelynn Drake's profile
- 2872 followers
