Devon Monk's Blog, page 26

Knitting and Canning

My sister is awesome and has canned lots of fruits and veggies this year. In exchange for letting her use my extra jars, she’s given me some of the food she’s putting up for winter. My empty canning jars weren’t doing anything sitting in the basement, so I am totally making out on this deal.

But I wanted to give her something in return. Something silly and whimsical to brighten up her pantry and make her smile. Maybe something knitted. Since I’m on a very tight deadline to turn in my latest...

Q&A

Comment on the blog:

“Forgive me if you’ve posted this elsewhere, but why is it the LAST Allie book?”

I’m not sure if I’ve gone into the specifics of why MAGIC FOR A PRICE is the last Allie book. For the record, the decision was mine. Way back when my marvelous editor picked up the first three books in the series, I sat down and thought about what kind of series I wanted to write. I knew the story I wanted to tell–Allie’s story–needed about nine books, or three sets of three books, a beginning...

Wednesday Rambling

You know what I should not do? Blog before coffee. I have started this blog eight times, and erased it each time. So this time I’m just going to ramble about stuff. Apologies in advance.

Ramble #1: I am currently working on COLD COPPER, book 3 in the Age of Steam steampunk series. Deadline is creeping my way on tiny brittle feet, fangs bared. Each of my moments are marked by the tick, tick, tick of its approach. Happily, the draft is almost done, and I can manage very quick revisions when I’m...

The Last Grasp Summer Vacation

A few weeks ago, I scheduled a couple days away at a hotel so I could put my head down and get some serious word count done on my novel. When I book a hotel for work…I do just that and only that. I bring my own food, get a room with a kitchen or kitchenette, and do not go see the sights or visit friends or leave the room for the entire time I have reserved.

I just work.

Unfortunately, I came down with some sort of flu-like thing, so while I did get a lot of work done on the novel (the next stea...

Last Chance for One ARC

One winner* did not contact me for their copy of Magic For a Price. Therefore, I am giving it away right now on my blog. I can’t come up with a clever way to do this, so I’ll make it easy.

First person to leave a comment on this blog post, gets the ARC (previous winners of an ARC of Magic for a Price excluded.)

*Other six winners, I mailed your copies yesterday, so you should be seeing them on your doorsteps soon.

IF you don’t win, please don’t despair! I should get copies with the pretty cover...

Winners!

Thank you all for the kind comments and wishes in the last post! The random number generator has chosen seven winners of signed advanced review copies of MAGIC FOR A PRICE. And the winners are:

1. Sarah Jerome, who wrote: “I am desperate to be one of the first to know what happens – I will die if I don’t win Ok – won’t die, but I will be very sad….almost as sad as knowing it’s the last one….PLEASE pick me ”

2. Jennifer W., who wrote: “I’m so excited there’s another chance to win and ARC!! I lo...

Want a Free Book?

Today I am giving away advance review copies of MAGIC FOR A PRICE. This is the *last* book in the Allie Beckstrom series (although there will be a spinoff series featuring Shame and Terric. More on that later.)

MAGIC FOR A PRICE won’t be out until November 6th. But right here on my shelf are seven (7) uncorrected, plain-cover copies that I am giving away!

Here are the rules:

Leave a comment here on this blog
I will draw winners THIS FRIDAY, September 14th before midnight my time
That same day (Fri...

Good News

I have some good news I’ve been keeping hush-hush, but can finally reveal. Ready?

Book #3 in the Age of Steam steampunk series is a go!

Title: COLD COPPER

Release: July 2013

Format: Trade paperback and ebook

I am so excited to continue the adventure with Cedar Hunt, Mae Lindson, Rose Small, Captain Hink and those wily Madder brothers! As a matter of fact, this is the current book I am working on, so I can tell you with some measure of certainty that it has been great fun so far.

But wait! There’s m...

Writer’s Journal and Apple Butter Hats

Canned apple butter this weekend. Knit a silly hat for the jar, as one does when cooking apples.

A few weeks ago, writer and fellow Deadline Dame, Karen Mahoney mentioned that she was going to use Facebook as a sort of writer’s journal–a place to keep track of her daily writing progress. I liked that idea, and thought I might give it a try.

So last week, (well, Monday – Thursday) I kept a writer’s journal on Facebook. I also, (of course) came down with some sort of flu thing, so was feeling pr...

Saturday at the Monk’s

So I’m taking a break from the day’s word count and decided to whip up some banana bread. Hubby, being a useful guy, is outside trimming back some overgrown brush.

He comes in for a quick break and to “quality control” (taste) the batter. Declares it delicious, then back outside he goes.

Wanting to get a few more words written while the bread bakes, I go to my desk. As soon as I sit, husband returns, and triumphantly says, “Look what I found!”

“It’s the biggest spider I’ve ever seen in our yard!...