Piper J. Drake's Blog, page 7
March 19, 2016
Into the Mountains
I’ve written many, many words in the last year.
HIDDEN IMPACT released in November 2015 as the first Safeguard novel via Carina Press.
EXTREME HONOR released in January of this year, the first in my True Heroes series from Grand Central Publishing’s Forever imprint.
I’ve completed and turned in developmental edits for DEADLY TESTIMONY, the second Safeguard novel. And I’ve completed both my developmental/line and copy edits for ULTIMATE COURAGE, book 2 in the True Heroes series.
That’s four novels, a lot of words.
I have two more contractual deadlines this year and have still more words to write. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Matthew J. Drake and I drove into the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee today and we’ll be two of about twenty writers in an intensive writing retreat.
There will be many words.
The post Into the Mountains appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
January 31, 2016
EMEPiper Ep 3: Prioritizing and Urgency
Prioritizing and urgency via deadlines are at the top of my mind as I kick off 2016’s run of #EMEPiper at the changeover from January to February.
Last year was full of deadlines, possibly the most challenging year for writing I’ve ever had. As a result, I’ve got five books releasing this year, as well as two or three short stories as PJ Schnyder.
For the coming year, I’ve got even more planned and I want to manage my time so I can do all the things, enjoying them along the way. There are going to be some tough choices ahead and a lot of prioritization.
Highlights
Why is Piper podcasting about time management?
Nifty friends with creative ideas, coordinating dates with writerly deadlines
Setting daily word count targets to hit the deadline
“Word count” and the publishing perspective
Rewire the brain: word count target vs. chapter target
NaNoWriMo and drafting, not editing
On contracts and pitching and writing the next book
Importance of deadlines, even self-imposed
Word counts and genre
Lessons Learned from Writerly Life: Don’t ignore publisher standards for word count
Time Management Trick: Plan Your Day and Prioritize the To Do
Shout-outsBook Trailer — The Diamond Conspiracy: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
In their Own Worlds
NaNoWriMo
Scrivener
The post EMEPiper Ep 3: Prioritizing and Urgency appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
January 25, 2016
Extreme Honor – Release Week
Extreme Honor, the first in the True Heroes series, releases tomorrow! This is my first book available in brick & mortar stores and I am incredibly excited.
Buy it in Print:
Buy it in eBook:
Seeing this book on bookshelves out there will be a huge milestone for my personal writing dreams. If you happen to be in a bookstore and see this cover, please do tag me if you post a pic of it. 
January 10, 2016
Alter-Identity Update: In Their Own Worlds
The fact that I write science fiction and paranormal romance, plus steampunk, as alter-identity PJ Schnyder is not a secret so much as a way to help keep my very different genres easily sorted.
Sometimes, though, I’ve got a project so nifty that I’ve got to share what my alter-identity is up to. And in this case, representing romance in J.R. Blackwell‘s In Their Own Worlds project is incredibly nifty.
J.R. has provided a teaser image from the project. Me, as PJ Schnyder, in the world I created: the London Undead.
You can read more about the project over on PJ’s blog.
For now, look! It’s amazing:
The post Alter-Identity Update: In Their Own Worlds appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
January 2, 2016
2016 Plans, Appearances, and Whoa!
Happy New Year! This is going to be a big year for me as Piper J. Drake so I figured it’d be good to do a quick preview of this years plans, appearances, and All.The.Things.
Coming soon…The first of the True Heroes series, Extreme Honor, releases on January 26 in bookstores everywhere! This title is a big milestone for me: my first print book in traditional bookstores.
Two more books are scheduled to release in 2016 for the True Heroes series, so if you enjoy Extreme Honor (and I very much hope you do!) then watch for Ultimate Courage in July and Absolute Trust in December.
For those of you who enjoyed Hidden Impact, released last year, the Safeguard series also continues with Deadly Testimony in May and Contracted Defense in November.
That’s 5 books releasing this year.
Yup. o.o
Appearances…
No book tours scheduled yet, but I will be at RT Booklover’s Convention in Vegas and the Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon in Wisconsin this spring. I’ll be updating my Events as the year goes on as well.
Goals…
Both the True Heroes and Safeguard series were originally contracted for 3 books each. I haven’t heard yet whether either of these will continue with more in the series but I do have outlines ready in case there’s a request to continue them.
In the meantime, I’m preparing a proposal for a new romantic suspense series to be ready for my agent in Q1. It is different and edgy with quirky characters and dark heroes. I’m very much hoping to share more in the near future.
In 2016, I also have personal goals to improve my health and get more fit. These seem fairly mundane, but they’re incredibly important to the success of my plans for the year. I’ll be continuing to travel for the day job and I need to keep up my stamina as I dive into plans to write even more stories.
The post 2016 Plans, Appearances, and Whoa! appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
November 19, 2015
True Heroes Sneak Peek & Cover Reveal
Switching gears here from celebrating the release of the first in the Safeguard series to spotlighting the first in the upcoming True Heroes series. Extreme Honor releases on January 26, 2016 from Forever Romance.
This will be my first book in print available in brick and mortar book stores. As much as I love digital books and the convenience of being able to carry a single ereader with me in my travels, loaded with hundreds of books, there’s something very special about holding a print book in your hands.
Today, my publisher and I are doing a blitz to share two treats with you all, a sneak peek excerpt of Extreme Honor, first in the True Heroes series -plus- the cover reveal of Ultimate Courage, second in the series.
COVER REVEAL!
Here’s a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the blitz:
The Book Disciple
Books to Breathe
SOS Aloha
Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind
Taking Time for Mommy
That’s What I’m Talking About
The Jeep Diva
Life With Two Boys
Read-Love-Blog
Long and Short Reviews
Herding Cats & Burning Soup
Good Choice Reading
LitStack
The Book Hoarders
Mommy’s a Book Whore
Wicked Lil Pixie
Joyfully Reviewed
Giveaway!
Forever Publishing is generously giving away five (5) advance review copies of Extreme Honor to five winners. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter.
The post True Heroes Sneak Peek & Cover Reveal appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
November 9, 2015
Hidden Impact – Release Day!
Yay! It’s release day for Hidden Impact, my debut romantic suspense. I’m so excited to see this book out in the world. Here’s hoping you all enjoy it!
Purchase the eBook:
Available now from Carina Press!
To celebrate, we’ve got a blog blitz scheduled this week in addition to the blog tour scheduled by the Carina Press team. Every blogger on this blitz has unique behind-the-scenes insight into the writing of Hidden Impact.
Monday 11/9
Just Books & Rainne’s Ramblings
Moonlight Rendezvous
Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets
NIkkis Books Books and more Books
Tuesday 11/10
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
Wednesday 11/11
Thursday 11/12
Friday 11/13
The post Hidden Impact – Release Day! appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
October 30, 2015
Hidden Impact Blog Tour!
Celebrating the release of HIDDEN IMPACT and my debut in romantic suspense, Carina Press has set up a great blog tour starting next week!
Join me and these wonderful blogs as we share teasers and insider info on HIDDEN IMPACT and the Safeguard series.
Monday, November 2nd – Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, November 4th – Blushing Reads
Friday, November 6th – I am Shelfless
–
Monday, November 9th – Moonlight Rendezvous
Wednesday, November 11th – Supernatural Snark
Friday, November 13th – Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets
–
Monday, November 16th – Fic Gal
Wednesday, November18th – The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass
Friday, November 20th – The Book Swarm
The post Hidden Impact Blog Tour! appeared first on Piper J. Drake.
September 19, 2015
All Aboard! 2015 Out of Excuses Writing Workshop and Retreat
Piper’s last trip to Cozumel was 2003
In less than 48 hours, it will be all aboard the Independence of the Seas for the 2015 Out of Excuses Writing Workshop and Retreat for a Western Caribbean cruise!
The summer, it isn’t over yet.
I am about to embark on a nautical adventure of epic proportions with such great company as Mary Robinette Kowal, Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells. I admire all of these people, not only for their writerly works but also for their podcast: Writing Excuses.
I’ll be working on Deadly Testimony, a Safeguard Novel, on the cruise because if I don’t, my editors at Carina Press may be incredibly angry with me. (I’m on deadline!) Somewhere in there, I also hope to record the next episode of #EMEPiper. There may be a Piper Travels or Piper Notes video coming out of the cruise too. Hopefully.
But first and foremost: WRITING.
I’m looking forward to several of the workshops scheduled for the cruise. There’s sessions on description, worldbuilding, revision, giving critiques, deconstructing structure, writing with multiple viewpoints, dialogue, and much more.
It’s been more than a decade since I’ve been on a cruise and I’m delighted to be leading a discussion on one of the excursions at Grand Cayman as well.
There’s so much nifty about this coming week, I can’t even hope to describe it all. So there will be pictures and video and podcasting involved. 
September 3, 2015
Passion Planner Giveaway! Celebrating September
Deadline adventures continue as we head into September and the end of summer. Where the heck did summer go? We’re coming up on Labor Day weekend and it’s my birthday month! (Thus the Passion Planner giveaway to celebrate, but more on that below.)
It’s the start of a new school year for people of all ages, though it’s been a long time since I’ve graduated…various levels of education. But I still love September to start new projects and planning initiatives. It’s like Back to School without the new bus schedule.
I’m planning to finish the year strong with 1 more contracted manuscript to turn in (Deadly Testimony, a Safeguard novel) and 2 short stories before diving into NaNoWriMo to start drafting the final books in each of my romantic suspense series: Safeguard and True Heroes.
I’m still really enjoying using a paper planner to keep my writerly tasks clear in my head. In fact, I’ve been looking at great features of other planner systems (though I’m still using my Erin Condren planner!). For example, I’m loving the concept of inkWELL Press‘ mission boards. There’s also the clean, simplistic look of Passion Planner’s Academic layout with the area for mind-mapping and thoughtful doodling.
These nifty features are helpful to keep monthly or weekly goals in mind as well as encourage brainstorming. Trust me, I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming recently. September is travel heavy and I want to make the most of my writing time. Optimizing the use of my paper planner is key. Plus, I want to enjoy all of it as I go and playing with washi tape and stickers in my planner makes me happy.
