A.M. Ruggirello's Blog, page 11

HEY YOU. You Aren’t The Most Important Thing In My Life.

I hope that wasn’t an Earth-shattering revelation, and if it was, well . . . #sorrynotsorry.

And I don’t mean to come off brash, but it’s the honest truth, and something I feel like a lot of clients in any industry don’t seem to fully grasp. But they’re not necessarily wrong in thinking they come first. Anyone who has ever worked in customer service knows it’s important to make the client feel as if they are the center of the universe. But there’s another side to that coin, the one where the service provider exists for more than just editing your book, making your website, photographing your product, etc . . . etc . . .

As a creative, we all know what we’re getting ourselves into, and for the most part we love what we’re doing (that’s why we do it). And we know you love what you’re doing, which makes it even more important because you’ve selected us to be a part of that something you love. But let me let you in on a little secret: we have lives, priorities, families, significant others, hobbies, friends, illness, emergencies, other projects, [insert pretty much anything here].

It’s very common for a client to think they’re the only project you’re working on, and you should spend every waking hour of your day (and part of your unconscious life) doing something for them. In my experience many creatives already go above-and-beyond for their clients, which typically means clocking in 50, 60, 70+ hours per week, sacrificing family time or a social life just to make sure things get done. Why? And why would this blog post be applicable, then? Because when we take a night (or heaven forbid two) off to do something for us, we feel bad in more ways than one. Getting an email pandering when something is going to be done doesn’t make us feel any better, and doesn’t make it any easier for take the much needed time off we need—we deserve. A refresher, and I can assure you we’ll come back stronger and better than ever.

A good friend of mine shared her struggles finding a work-life balance, especially when working from home. If you haven’t seen it floating around on social media yet, you need to check it out: Why I don’t work weekends (anymore).  I think the most important line Nicole says is:

I can’t keep writing books if I’m not out experiencing the world. I also can’t edit people’s books if I’m being resentful for being at my desk. So me taking some days off, it may delay someone getting their work back–but that’s okay.

Let me reiterate: We LOVE what we do. But we also love not doing it, because sometimes you just need a break. That doesn’t mean it won’t get done, that doesn’t mean we’re outright ignoring you, we just need some time not working, and not feeling bad about it. I know for me, personally, I compartmentalize my day and my workload. Just because you see me online doesn’t mean I’m available to be working on your project. There’s a lot of admin, time management, organization, etc . . . work that also goes into being a creative, so I have to set aside time during the day to focus on one of those other aspects. Not to mention I’m not the type of person who will just blatantly ignore you—more likely your email has fallen under an avalanche of other, newer, emails and a simple nudge will push it back onto my radar.

Did I mention we love what we do?

I don’t want this blog post to come across as cynical, but actually more of a PSA. We live in a world of instant gratification and, unfortunately, some things just don’t work like that. I’ll be highlighting my cover art process in a future blog post, but you’ll see that inspiration is sometimes hard to come by, and you can’t force creativity. It’s a fluid entity you have to respect and nurture, and actually pushing for something to get done sooner will likely mean a lesser quality product. Then no one’s happy.

And, most importantly, remember this quote:

Work to live, don’t live to work.

 

It’s My Blog, I’ll Blurb If I Want To.

Yeah, I know I just blogged on Friday. Yeah, I know today is Monday. Yeah, this isn’t exactly the blog post I had planned for the week. But you know what? It’s better. Today is the first time in forever (cue Frozen music) I can say I actually have an editor-approved blurb for my novel—A Valley of Blood and Bones. In my last post I mentioned how I’ve been working on AVBB for over seven years, so this is a big milestone of my publishing journey. Endless thank yous go out to my wonderful editor, and very best friend, Kisa Whipkey (who is available for freelance hire, here).

So instead of continuing to talk about it, here’s the actual thing:

For centuries, vampires were only believed to be one thing—the embodiment of death; a predator perfected. Devoid of more than just their life, they are a leech on the living, lurking in the shadows and . . . going extinct.

Fewer and fewer individuals possess the required DNA to change once bitten, leaving an entire immortal race struggling to find a way to survive as they teeter on the line dividing never-ending life from permanent death.

No one expected the key to universal immortality would be found in one young, impressionable twenty-three-year-old. But this young woman can biologically unlock the vampiric curse, and the prospects of a solution to their dwindling numbers calls out to other vampires, turning control over life and death into a deadly race.

A Valley of Blood and Bones brings vampires out of the darkness and into new light, where the world of the undead runs parallel to the world of the living and the lines are often blurred beyond recognition.

That’s Castle Bran in Transylvania in the header image incase you were wondering. One of these days I’ll visit, but for now I’ll live vicariously through the photos and my characters. If you haven’t already, go read the Prelude (yes, I have one), First and Second chapters of AVBB, and don’t forget to add it to you TBR list on Goodreads!

The Crutch of a Never-Ending WIP

I’ve been thinking a lot about this since of my works in progress has been a continual work in process since 2008—that is an insane amount of time, especially when you hear that there are many authors who are able to write a book in less than a year, a talent I can’t help but envy.

Having worked on this WIP for over seven (SEVEN!) years, I’m starting to feel as if it has become a crutch. What I mean by that is it has become a story with the admirable future goal of finishing, but one that always seems just out of reach, and so it sucks all my time, energy and inspiration away from other, potentially more successful, stories. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a proud momma of my story. I want to nurse it into the best it can be, but I’m doing just that: nursing it. Nursing it like a bottle of beer warmed by the palm of my hand, one where there’s always a sip left, and you never finish it. Because yuck, warm beer.

(I’m from Wisconsin, you had to expect a beer analogy, right?)

And, while I love my WIP, I know that the sooner I let it go, allowing it to become whatever it was always meant to be, the sooner I can move on to bigger and better things. But just like a first born child, I don’t want to let go. I can’t let go. And that’s how my never-ending WIP has become a crutch. It’s familiar, safe, and an easy fall-back when I find myself struggling in other creative aspects of my life. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way about some aspect of their life. Your crutch could be anything. It could be a job, a friend, a bad habit . . . Because I consider myself as a creative in all sorts of medium (and writing just happens to be what I feel the strongest pull toward deep in my heart), my crutch is my story. A story I just. can’t. let. go.

So that’s the inspiration for today’s blog post. Since this is a big struggle of mine, I thought I’d try to work through some solutions for transforming your crutch into more of a motivator.

 

Ridding Yourself of the Crutch*

*Whatever if may be.

1. Stop idolizing your crutch // You know the saying, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. I’ve found this can easily happen when working on a new project, especially if it’s your first. That’s exactly what’s happening with me right now. I’m currently working on completely re-writing my first novel, and because it’s my first, it will always occupy a special place in my heart, a place no other manuscript can ever fill. But, because of that, it’s harder to realize something might not work. You want so badly for the pieces of the puzzle to fit together that you forget you’re not writing a story that’ll change the world, or figure out the cure of any number of incurable diseases. You’re writing fiction (in my case); it’ll never be perfect, it’ll never be universally accepted, but it will always be yours. Which leads me into my next point.

2. Put things into perspective // Like I mentioned above, your fiction story isn’t (likely) to win the Nobel Peace Prize, or find a cure to cancer. It’s fiction. It’s meant to be fun, emotional, echoing real life or transforming the norm in some fantastical way. Trying to make it something it’s not will always spawn failure, and with the thoughts of failing a dark cloud on the horizon, guess what? You’re more likely to self-fulfill that prophesy. So take a step back, analyze what you’re doing from the distant eyes of someone on the outside, and realize it isn’t the end of the world. If you leave the manuscript unfinished, it isn’t the end of the world. If you write something and have to completely scrap everything and re-write it, it isn’t the end of the world. At the time it may seem like it, but trust me, it isn’t the end of the world. Period.

3. Take a break // I know this seems counter intuitive, but bear with me. The biggest hurdle I’ve found in trying to finish this particular WIP is forcing the story just for the sake of completion. And you know what that creates? Stress. Frustration. Thoughts of inadequacy. All of which shouldn’t be part of doing something you love. Is writing hard? Yes. Are you always going to succeed writing? No. But the process should always be somewhat enjoyable. When you start to loath what you’re doing, that’s when you know you’re doing something wrong, and you have to hope, pray, plead you haven’t crossed the point of no return.

 

 

So, what in your life would you consider a crutch,

and how have you overcome the obstacle it causes?

#CoverArtTip Collective.

Back in March I decided to start tweeting #CoverArtTips; a tidbit here or there that I’ve learned over the years as a cover artist (both for REUTS and my freelance company).  Since things move quickly on Twitter, I decided to compile a collection of my #CoverArtTips right here! I hope they’re of some use to the authors and designers out there in the process of working through a cover art project. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments!

You don’t have to fit every reference or symbolism from your book into your cover art. Simplicity is key. #coverarttip

— 10:05am · 27 Mar 2015

 Help your designer out and send examples of covers you love love love, AS WELL AS covers you can’t stand. #CoverArtTip

— 9:34pm · 27 Mar 2015

 Stick with the brand you’ve created from book one. Inconsistency looks unprofessional. #coverarttip

— 10:53am · 28 Mar 2015

Thumbnail size is important, but don’t design specifically for thumbnail view. #coverarttip

— 2:09pm · 28 Mar 2015

Referencing an ambiguous section of your cover design? Pull it into MS Paint and highlight (or number) your comments. #coverarttip

— 1:00pm · 29 Mar 2015

DO give honest feedback about your design. It won’t hurt your designers feelings. Promise. #coverarttip

— 7:22pm · 31 Mar 2015

Trust that your designer knows what they’re doing. Questioning every little decision is creatively stifling #coverarttip

— 9:54am · 1 Apr 2015

DO ask to see a few variations to an element. DON’T ask to see every option under the sun. #coverarttip

— 2:19pm · 2 Apr 2015

Make sure you pick a cover artist with an aesthetic you like. Technical expertise is great, but style is more important #coverarttip

— 12:11pm · 3 Apr 2015

Don’t send another artists interpretation of your book to your cover designer. #coverarttip

— 10:19am · 6 Apr 2015

Don’t strive to have your cover look exactly like someone elses. You need to stand out, not blend in. #coverarttip

— 8:10am · 7 Apr 2015

Use descriptive words in your feedback. Asking to make a design “pop” is useless & doesn’t mean anything to a designer. #coverarttip

— 10:01am · 7 Apr 2015

Inspiration is a limited resource. Don’t push your designer to the brink of creativity and expect them to put out a quality design #coverarttip

— 12:42pm · 10 Apr 2015

If your designer isn’t able to read your full ms, make sure you give them some design direction. A title can only offer so much #coverarttip

— 9:19am · 20 Apr 2015

 The first comp might look like crap. Try not to judge it by aesthetic, but by concept. Polishing will be done at a later date. #coverarttip

— 6:53am · 19 May 2015

Guest Post // 5 Tasty Tips

I love food.

Whether that comes as a surprise or not, now you know for sure. Food is an important part of my life, and not just as a form of sustenance. It’s the silky smoothness of a spoonful of gelato, or the perfect balance of salty and sweet when you dip dark chocolate into peanut butter. Good food is a gift from God himself, and I’m thankful every day when I’m able to experience something so perfect and harmonious it causes my taste buds to sing the Hallelujah Chorus. That’s why I hope to talk about food on this blog. A lot.

Returning from an international adventure of my own, these tips about local cuisine will certainly came in handy. And it doesn’t matter if you’re traveling across the globe, or somewhere a couple hours away. These tasty tips can apply in almost any situation, and I hope you find them as useful as I do!

5 Tasty Tips

by Loreal Sade

 

Once I began traveling without my family, one of the most frequently asked questions was, “how was the food?” And honestly, I did not have an answer. I was too afraid to try something new. As I began working in the food service industry, I had to start trying foods, not because I wanted to, but because I had to be able to describe them in a way that was relatable to the consumer. That’s when my palette opened and I started tasting the world. So now when I go anywhere, I am sure to try somewhere new. So I came up with a few tips to help me taste buds go on an adventure wherever I go.

1. Do some researching BEFORE you arrive.

Get on the internet and research. Look for what the place is known for in terms of food and drink. For example, going to Maine, you should definitely look for some lobster. In Boston, you have to try clam chowder, or in Jamaica- jerk chicken.

2. Now that you have arrived, look for the locals.

There is always a tourist area that will stick out like a sore thumb. Talking to the locals will definitely help with that. Don’t be afraid to ask, as most of them want you to experience their authentic lands- their style. Not to mention the food is usually cheaper.

3. App it up.

Find apps that work for you. Personally, I use Yelp!, Around Me, and Open Table. I look at price, pictures, and reviews. Read the reviews! Most are honest from service down to plate presentation and prices.

4. If you have a special diet, always ask.

I found that sometimes there are vegan, vegetarian, and GF options available even IF they aren’t advertised.

5. Stay away from chain restaurants.

To a certain extent, I avoid eating at chain restaurants that are near my home- although there are exceptions. I went all the way to Jamaica and ate a Margaritaville—nothing ravishing about that. I went to Aruba and found a locally owned quaint restaurant where the owner and his son go out and catch fresh fish to serve daily—now that’s something to share.

Happy Eating!

About Loreal

L’oréal first fell in love with travel when she studied abroad in Mexico. Learning about nutrition, she was able to work with parents in the community and local healthcare professionals to not only learn about nutrition but to aid in creating a nutrition teaching experience for children at the local orphanage encouraging the influence of eating healthy. After graduating with her Bachelors in Language Studies, she returned to the states, where she continued her 8-year journey of working for Walt Disney World in Food & Beverage. While there, she was able to learn about food allergies, food preparation and plate presentation which inspired her passion for food. She was able to work as a F&B Manager, creating dishes for guests with food allergies and intolerances.

Tired of missing out on the joys of life, she quickly learned that part of great memories in travel is not just about going somewhere and basking in the ambience, or going to that one ‘must see’ place. It is also about trying new foods. Travel also provides experiences that can be applied life after returning home. The world is more than was is seen in the backyard. By train, plane, bus, or car, Success.Eat.Travel. is meant to provide an inside perspective to her tasty and fulfilling journey through her travels.

When asked how does food, travel, and success coexist and what is the point of this blog was asked, she replied, ” Life is about eating your way through the world and savoring every moment. One of the greatest success of travel is not going to a new place physically, but appreciating cultural differences and utilizing them in a way to reach your ultimate destination of success. For me, that would be creating a multi-faceted organization and foundation that permits low income neighborhoods with the opportunity to learn about nutrition and how it ultimately affects their overall quality of life. Even something as small as learning how to read an ingredient label could make a great difference.” L’oréal’s passion has inspired her to pursue a Master’s of Public Health degree, which she hopes to complete by the end of 2016.

Follow Her Online

Website  //  Twitter

Guest Post // Top Ten Tips for Writers

As I work to create my own content for Eventide & Barley, I’ve enlisted help from some of my friends to fill the gaps. It’s just the nature of writers to ebb and flow when it comes to their writing. If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably seen my complaints towards my own writing recently. There’s nothing “easy” about writing, and we’re often times our biggest critic. That’s why today I have fellow author Annika Sharma, and her article highlighting the top ten tips for writers. Some things seem obvious, and they are, but every once in a while we need to be reminded of them and how to apply them to our own writing life.

Top Ten Tips for Writers

by Annika Sharma

10. Revise. Rewrite. Do it again. And again.

Your book will never be 100% perfect. It doesn’t hurt, however, to change anything and everything you can so it gets as close to flawless as can be in your hands. Does it suck cutting paragraphs that seem like works of art not seen since Michaelangelo? Yup. Get to it! If you love what you’ve written but have to part with the words, save them in a “Cut Material” document—who knows when it will come to use?

9. Trust yourself. Trust your story.

If that story about the penguin brigade who storms mid-western America with ladles full of jelly is speaking to you, write the hell out of it. It may be the one an agent or editor is looking for. Like Stephen King says, “Write with the door closed. Edit with the door open.” Write your best story on your own. Then open the door for edits, changes, and adjustments.

8. Learn!

I’m going to quote Taylor Swift here (yeah, I know, don’t judge me): If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Use Twitter, Facebook, Literaticat, Writers Digest and every other resource out there. They’re out there to help!

7. Make friends.

I know writers have a reputation for being secluded introverts who couldn’t talk themselves out of a paper cup, but reach out. Like I said, Twitter, Facebook and blogs are all awesome—and coming from someone who had NO IDEA where to go…you can make friends quickly. The writer community is incredibly supportive. You learn so much and it never hurts to have people on your side if things go south.

6. Make mistakes.

When I first queried, I thought my story was ready—but the pacing was still an issue until I finally rewrote the entire thing. The final version is a hell of a lot better than the first—and the story itself didn’t change that much. Be willing to admit when you’re wrong (it happens!)

5. Read it out loud.

Word search for “that” and “of” and cut any instances that don’t require them. Have a critique partner—whether that’s your best friend or someone with twelve books under their belt, someone else should point out what they love and don’t about your story. If that’s not the angle you’re going for, it’s a prime opportunity to change it. Spell check. Learn the rules of grammar. Find ways to tear apart your manuscript—because sometimes when you sew it back together, it flows smoothly.

4. Appreciate all forms of art.

When you’re ready to pitch your story in the trash or throw your laptop out the window, take a break. Go watch a sunset. Listen to music. See a movie. Visit an art exhibit. Do something to get your creative juices flowing that doesn’t involve your own work. The clarity it’ll provide will only help you.

3. If you aren’t invested in your characters, no one else will be.

That doesn’t mean they have to be likable, perfect, or even nice. It just means they have to be human in a way that makes people begs for more. And the only way to create that is to let yourself care about them, too.

2. You are a writer.

It took me forever to call myself one because I felt like a fraud—first when I didn’t have an agent, then when I didn’t have a publisher yet, then when I realized how many people have multiple books compared to my debut. We spend far too much time telling ourselves what we aren’t. Do you put words to paper? Congratulations, you are a writer! Don’t let anyone take that away. And while we’re at it…every great writer, actor, artist, scientist, doctor, lawyer, businessman, and laborer started when they were none of those things.

1. Have a healthy disregard for the naysayers.

We’ve all been there, right? “You write books? Like (insert name of the most criticized book you’ve ever heard of)?” or “You can’t make money doing that.” or the ever-popular “So you’re the next JK Rowling? You probably made a ton of money right?” No, actually, dude, I’m lucky I can afford a toothpick. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying to build a penthouse through realistic expectations and hard work. Come up with a plan and go—no one needs to be satisfied at the end of the day but you. If you have a dream, it’s yours and yours alone. Go chase it. I can’t wait to watch you do it.

About Annika

Annika Sharma was born in New Delhi and brought up in the United States, where she moved with her parents as a baby. A proud alum, she graduated from Penn State University with dual degrees in Biobehavioral Health and Neuro-Psychology, and minors in Biology and Human Development and Family Studies. She received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education before pursuing her dreams of becoming a writer, landing her agent Stacey Donaghy of Donaghy Literary Group while daylighting as a preschool teacher. The Rearranged Life, her first novel, was written in the month before graduate school.

Annika, a Gryffindor and Scorpio, spends much of her time dreaming of adventure, working on her next book, going on Starbucks runs with family and friends, shopping online and watching superhero movies.

The Rearranged Life will hit shelves on May 15th, 2015, published by Curiosity Quills Press. It follows the love story of Nithya and James. Nithya, a type-A college student with ambitions of medical school, has never needed anything but the love of her family and her accomplishments. When she meets James St. Clair, her world is rocked. There’s just one problem: James is American and Nithya’s traditional Indian family has high hopes of an arranged marriage. Now, Nithya has a decision to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride or step away from centuries of culture and forge her own path.

Find Her Online

Website  //  Facebook  //  Twitter  //  Goodreads

 

Cover Reveal // Off Book by Jessica Dall

Today is an exciting day for multiple reasons. First, it’s my kitten’s birthday, so a very happy 3rd birthday to my ‘little girl’ Dexter Chloe. She’s without a doubt the best cat I’ve ever met, and I’m thankful to call her mine. Not to mention she’s an adorable goof that loves belly scratches . . .

And I have a book cover to reveal! (Reason #2 today is exciting.)

Off Book caught my eye as soon as we received the submission over at REUTS. I’ve become a huge fan of meta-fiction, or in this case, meta-fantasy which is what Off Book is classified as. It takes book characters and makes them real. Have a look-see at the blurb:

Twenty-year-old Eloise has learned all she can from the School, where characters live until joining their novels. No one knows genre and plot structure better than her, but despite her knowledge, she’s yet to be assigned to her own story. All her friends are off starting their lives with their authors—and if Eloise doesn’t get assigned soon, she’ll fade away, forgotten by all.

When she is offered a job at the Recording Office, instead, she takes the chance to write her own future. Suddenly living among the post-storied, Eloise meets Barnaby Fitzwilliam, a former romance novel hero who hasn’t lost any of his in-story charm. But just as their relationship begins to get serious, Eloise is sucked into a novel she was never meant to be part of, turning everything they thought they knew about their world upside down.

Now, caught where the only rules are made by authors and truly anything is possible, Eloise must find her way back home—or her life might end before she ever gets the chance to live it.

Set in an intriguing, unique world, OFF BOOK explores the story beneath the stories we all know and love, taking readers and characters alike on an adventure just waiting to be written.

So designing for this one was fun, and most definitely meta.

Off Book will be available at all online retailers April 28th, 2015, and then out in paperback soon after that.

Pre-order Off Book on Amazon  // Add to Your TBR List

Jessica Dall finished her first novel at age 15 and been writing ever since. She is the author of such novels as Grey Areas and The Bleeding Crowd, the Broken Line Series, and a number of short stories which have appeared in both literary magazines and anthologies. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and creative writing teacher in Washington, DC.

Find Her Online

Twitter  //  Facebook  //  Goodreads

 

 

Cover Reveal // The Best Kept Secret.

I’m a sucker for a well-designed book cover. Heck, this is my second cover reveal in one day! But it’s totally worth it because this cover is swoon-worthy. From the bright pastel colors, to the tracked out, san-serif font, I’m in love. Throw the author name in the middle of it? *dies*. But enough from me, here’s the blurb, and the cover below it:

In high school, everyone has secrets. Even well-brought-up Emma Fraser.

Emma’s sophomore year started out all wrong. First, her best friend Andy confessed to losing his virginity leaving Emma all alone in the V-Club. Then the rest of her friends got weird and suddenly Emma finds herself feeling like the people she knows best have become total strangers. And total strangers are becoming friends.

When Deegan Burke, a rich, gorgeous senior, asks Emma to be his date for the prom, Emma thinks her luck has begun to change. But rather than being able to bask in this newfound glory, her whole world starts to unravel. And when secrets that once seemed so innocent start to take a very dangerous turn, Emma discovers that true friends are friends no matter what…and some secrets aren’t worth keeping.

See what I mean? *dies*

 

Wendi Nunnery is the author of The Mayfield Family Story. She is also a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and The Simply Beloved, a lifestyle website for women of faith. She is a proud alumna of Georgia Southern University and, at any given time, you can find her with a cup of coffee and a book. She lives, loves, and mothers in Atlanta, Georgia. The Best Kept Secret is her first novel.

 

FIND HER ONLINE.

Facebook  //  Twitter  //  Instagram  //  Pinterest  //  Blog

Cover Reveal // Deceptive Cadence.

Back in February, REUTS signed and announced a duology from best-selling author Katie Hamstead. You can read the full press release here, and the blurb:

Cadence Anderson has the perfect definition of happily ever after . . .

Until she doesn’t. A freak earthquake shatters her life as surely as her home, taking away everything she holds dear. She wakes in a hospital to find that her beloved husband and infant daughter have been killed, crushed by the earthquake’s wrath. Disoriented, injured, and alone, Cadence refuses to accept the loss. So when a man claiming to be her guardian angel appears and offers her a chance to go back in time to save her family, she doesn’t need to give it a second thought. She accepts.

Thrust back eleven years, she now faces the ordeal of high school all over again. But this time, she’s armed with all the knowledge of her adult life and the determined to do everything better, from preventing the loss of her best friend to avoiding her original, drama-inducing boyfriends. She’s focused solely on Austin, her future husband, and is content to bide her time until she meets him again.

But then James Gordon crosses her path. Cadence wants to remain single, but James has his sights set. He is determined to win her over, and he’s very hard to resist. As Cadence starts to develop unwanted feelings for him, she realizes he threatens to disrupt everything, changing the future and distracting her from her original goal. Now, Cadence must choose: deny the unpredictable and exciting path James offers her, or stay true to the life she had and is trying desperately to resurrect. Second chances are more complicated than they seem.

Deceptive Cadence combines the soaring emotion of a heartfelt romance with the innovative storytelling of magical realism, crafting a uniquely moving, intricate tale about love and loss that asks: what would you do if given the chance to right all your wrongs?

Not only did I have a chance to Deceptive Cadence (and its sequel, Diverging Cadence), but I was able to design both of the covers for Katie, creating a fluid concept and brand across the two. Today, however, I’m only able to reveal the cover for Deceptive Cadence, but hopefully it satiates* you enough to wait for the second cover reveal later this year (:

I’d feel weird saying something like “isn’t she a beaut?” because I’m the designer, so for now I’ll just leave this here. I’m excited to share, and I hope you’re excited to see (and read) Katie’s heart-wrenching, but beautiful story.

 

 

*Such a weird word. No wonder I don’t use it very often . . .

In my notebook.

I figured for my second post it might be acceptable to highlight the writing projects I’m currently working on. For those who don’t know, I’m a pantser when it comes to working on a manuscript, and a slow one at that. Scenes don’t have to be perfect, but they have to be good enough to wipe the cringe off my face just for me to continue onward. That means it takes me forever to finish a book. But I’m working on it—two, to be exact . . .

In my notebook  // 

A Valley of Blood and Bones. This story has been in the works since 2008. Simple math brings us to seven years. Seven years. It’s been written and re-written more times than I can count. The story has since changed dramatically, and I hope (I repeat: I hope) I can have it done in time for a release next year. It’s the story about a woman who has the stereotypical run-in with a vampire, with a very non-stereotypical outcome.

I like to consider it a unique blended cocktail that is one part Matheson’s I Am Legend and one part McKinley’s Sunshine, shaken—not stirred—with a splash of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, challenging vampire genre norms with one woman, trapped between the mortal and immortal realms, who holds the secret to eternal life within her veins. Though she tries her best to live a normal life, living doesn’t get any easier when her heart stops. She’s able to prove humanity exists even in the monstrous, and the line between the two is oftentimes blurred beyond recognition.

I’m still working on writing the skeleton of this story, and then it’ll move into beta reading and edits (with my fabulous editor, Kisa Whipkey). Interested in potentially signing up as a beta reader? Read the first chapter and then contact me!

Oupia {A Temporary Title}. This one has effectively been pushed to the back burner while I work on bringing A Valley of Blood and Bones up to where it needs to be. I began working on this one in 2010, and with only a few beginning lines, built a post-apocalyptic Earth, one divided into three planes of existence: Verluth, the uppermost portion, where everyone lives; Oupia, the lowermost portion, a frozen wasteland; and Sin, sitting right in the middle, an infected land, destroyed and now inhabited by super-evolved animals. I love this story. I think it best represents me as a writer and storyteller. The one problem? The plot direction has been causing me some trouble, which is why I’m letting it rest and focusing on AVBB. Hopefully when I return to it I’ll be able to pick up the broken pieces and craft together a story you’ve never seen before.

Have I piqued your interest? Read the first chapter here!

The Four Corners of Night. Just a quick mention of this project. It’s the sequel to A Valley of Blood and Bones, which I actually have a loose outline of in my head. About three chapters have been written, however I’m waiting to continue the story until I have AVBB finalized and released out into the world. I’m excited about this one, which features a duel POV and more new twists on the vampire mythology.