L.E. DeLano's Blog, page 26
January 15, 2018
I stare at myself in the mirror . . .
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The memories burst inside me of recitals and competitions, spinning and flying through the air as my partners lift me or I leap impossibly high. I throw my arms around myself and laugh out loud. “Oh my God!” I say. “I can dance!”
#LoveLines
Topic: “Lift”
From: TRAVELER
January 10, 2018
That scar is one of my ugliest . . .
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I don’t remember much about the wounding, other than I was very young, and it was a dagger. When I cried out, mother held my chin in her hand, squeezing hard, and told me I would end up dead if I didn’t learn to hush.
#1linewed
Topic: “Young”
From: WIP
January 8, 2018
What To Do When You’re Sick As A Dog And A Deadline Is Looming
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I spent the whole weekend being sick.
I mean, really, really, badly sick. My acute upper-respiratory infection decided to drop down into my lungs. I was coughing, congested, sneezing, and aching over every single inch of my body. I wanted to guzzle NyQuil and curl up on a heating pad.
But, of course . . . a deadline. At the suggestion of my editor (and it was a good one), I decided to drop one of my major characters and her storyline to simplify things a bit on this next book, and that required a rewrite. I almost had it finished over the holiday break, but just needed to polish it up a bit more.
Alas, by Friday, it was clear I was just too freaking sick. So I sent my editor an email, promising her I’d have the latest revision ready on Monday. I medicated myself and went to bed, and Saturday I woke up even sicker. By Sunday morning, there was still no respite in sight. But guys – I had a deadline.
So I got up early, took a long, hot shower, slurped down some hot tea and swallowed some DayQuil. And I wrote. And wrote. And wrote.
I sat on a heating pad, and my hands shook from my chills here and there. I was writing with a Kleenex stuffed in each nostril at one point because I couldn’t stop my nose from running. I had such a bad coughing fit, I spilled hot tea all over myself but somehow missed the laptop (thank God). But I got it done. Deadline met.
This is the difference between a writer, and a person who likes to write. Writers finish.
No matter how crappy they feel, no matter how hard it is to stay motivated, they finish.
Then they crawl into bed and sleep until the next deadline rears its ugly head.
January 4, 2018
I’m On MTV! Check It Out!
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Well, my book cover is, anyway. And well-deserved, if you ask my completely biased opinion. TRAVELER is just gorgeous and a definite eye-catcher, so I was pleased but not outrageously surprised to see it on MTV UK’s list of 20 Of The Most Beautiful Books In The World.
Of course, all I did was write the story. This magnificent design credit goes to Kathleen Breitenfeld and Rich Deas in the art department at Macmillian, and I owe them the world for giving me a stunning YA debut!
January 3, 2018
January 2, 2018
My 2018 Writing Goals
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I really hate writing goals down because they make you accountable. It’s a good thing, but still – I cringe. I need to do this for me, though, and if I don’t hit them all, so be it.
I’m prioritizing (of course) any of my YA books because they’re contracted items and those deadlines will be met. The rest is wishful thinking and hopefully a lot of careful executing.
Here we go:
Plan and execute successful launch (and follow-up marketing) for DREAMER.
Land as many book signings/panel discussions/mentoring opportunities as possible
Finalize 2019 book by spring (can’t give more detail than that yet)
Finish the first draft of 2020 book by early fall.
Prep marketing/outreach for 2019 book
Finish 2017’s nano project and submit (different genre)
Write a Hallmark Christmas novel and submit here
Blog at least twice a week
Get more active/interactive on Goodreads
Fall down, go boom
Here’s hoping I can get most of that done in all that free time I have. HA!
What are your goals for the new year?
December 29, 2017
2017: My Writing Year In Review
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I can’t believe this year is drawing to a close already. Even crazier than that, I became a traditionally published author this year! I still have a hard time believing it! And now with a second book breaking in 2018 (and more on the way!) I guess I need to stop pinching myself and get to work because next year is gonna be a doozy. In the meantime, here are the highlights of my unbelievable year:
In January, my first run copies arrived on my doorstep. My daughter snapped this photo when I pulled my book from the box and held it in my hand. I think my face says it all.
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Then came February, and my book launch! Blog tours were dropping reviews right and left, my guest blogs were being shouted out all over the internet, and cool Instagram and Twitter tidbits started appearing:
My launch party at Towne Book Center was simply outstanding. They even created a signature coffee drink to honor TRAVELER!
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And another set of signings at two different Barnes & Noble locations:
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Then my book started showing up on bookshelves and in reader’s hands (upper row L: New Jersey, Right: Toronto – bottom row L: With Allisa at Casa Bonita in Denver, CO and with Elizabeth on the London Underground).
Then the edits for DREAMER started eating my life, and the early summer passed in a blur. The cats were a big help keeping me on track. (That was sarcasm. A LOT of sarcasm).
Once DREAMER was in the can, it was time to look forward (or should I say “Eastward”) to my next project. But first, a trip to the Big Apple to hook up with some of the Swoon Squad! And then I was off to the Flatiron Building for a powwow with my editor to pitch my next book. Let the writing begin!
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So I wrote like a madwoman and rewrote and rewrote and turned in and held my breath, and then it all came out in a yell when the advanced copies of DREAMER showed up!
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Fall saw me double-booked at Barnes & Noble for B-Fest!
And then in October, TRAVELER made an appearance at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt:
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November and December have seen me in first revisions for the next book (details on that one soon, I promise) and still counting my many, many blessings. It’s been one helluva year. Here’s to a rocking 2018 for all of us!!
December 27, 2017
What’s Up Wednesday: Revising A Revision Before The Next Revision
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I’m in the middle of a holiday week at the day job, which means I get extra writing time (hooray!) and I’m determined to use it wisely. I had planned to start blocking out book 2 of this next project, but then I got an email from my editor commending me on my latest revision but gently suggesting that I might have too many characters coming in right off the bat.
She’s right. And I’d actually entertained this notion myself. I am now hard at work combining two characters into one, revising my earlier revision, and then this gets turned in so my editor can generate an edit letter that generates yet another revision.
Because that’s what writing is, kids. It’s revising. A whole lot of revising. But this is how a good book becomes a great book or even a fantastic book, so off I go.
Not sure I’ll be blogging much this week – I’m using every minute I can get, here. Happy New Year, everyone! 2018 is coming, and so is DREAMER!
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