R.D. Vallier's Blog, page 5
October 7, 2016
PW, Giveaway, & Homestead
I was just notified that the editors at Publisher’s Weekly have considered Darkshine for a review. I will most likely spend the next 12 weeks hyperventilating.I said I wasn’t going to illustrate the current Giveaway. But I just couldn’t help myself... I’ll probably do written-in commentary on the next giveaway with illustrations, because, well, I like to ramble. :)
My internet has been practically nonexistent, but we’ve been kicking butt on the off-grid homestead. We should hopefully have water hooked up and a kitchen this week. I’ll post photos later. None of our cabinets matched (trying to save money), and I was nervous about how it would look. But we painted them a dark purple and it looks surprisingly bad ass in my opinion. We might have a studio to move into before winter. Yay! I’m so sick of the 19’ travel trailer.
September 21, 2016
AU Dark Fantasy Bestseller List
Hey, Australia! Thank you for surprising me yesterday by getting Darkshine on your Bestsellers list for Dark Fantasy. :) It totally made my day!!
Hey, USA! Your Goodreads Giveaway is still active. It looks like I will be gone when it ends, though, but I will get it shipped out about 3 days after the giveaway ends.
My schedule went weird and I am losing 3 weeks of work time. I’m still going to try and hit my current goal (getting the book readable by the end of October ... although not “pretty”), but I’m not sure I will be able to make it with that big of a hit.
Hey, USA! Your Goodreads Giveaway is still active. It looks like I will be gone when it ends, though, but I will get it shipped out about 3 days after the giveaway ends.
My schedule went weird and I am losing 3 weeks of work time. I’m still going to try and hit my current goal (getting the book readable by the end of October ... although not “pretty”), but I’m not sure I will be able to make it with that big of a hit.
September 15, 2016
Roadside Motel # ... Eh, I Lost Count.
A contract ended, and thus we have moved onwards to another location. I didn’t post more pics of the last town’s motel stops because the guy who owned the place with the magnificent clock ended up giving us a hell of a deal and we just stayed there. Nothing exciting to note, except for a roving band of carnies. They came into town the last night of one of our weeks (my husband had to treat broken bones because two of the carny women got into a drunk brawl). They filled the motel the week we were gone and left the morning we returned. When we got into our room, tucked against the bed’s leg, I found a pair of woman’s cotton underwear with a flat razor. The carny’s underwear was large with a rosebud print, severely worn, and crusty. The razor was rusted. I have no idea how they related to each other, but I wish I could make this shit up. Maybe I should’ve taken photos, but I was too busy constructing a glove out of the drinking glass’s plastic wrapper to get it the hell out of there. (I hold no fault to the inn keeper; they’re a tiny, family run show and were stressed to the max).
Anyway, onwards. Here’s the latest place. Nice, clean, and lovin’ the northern atmosphere. I doubt I’ll get anything too exciting out here; there seems to be a lot of pride in the establishments, a trend I tend to see in country towns.*
*Although, the tackiest motel I ever stayed at was in a country town. I got to stay a total of 18 nights in various rooms--each wonderfully horrific in their own way, both in looks and events that transpired. It was glorious, and I wrote about the place at length elsewhere.
September 12, 2016
$0.99
Darkshine's ebook is on sale right now for $0.99. It will be on sale until ... well, I dunno. Probably until next Friday, unless I can't get online to change it, or my mommy-brain takes over and I blank the fact I lowered the price. It's not a countdown deal or anything like that; it's just "because." (I'm not the best marketer, if that isn't already completely obvious.)
Anyway, it can be found here.
Anyway, it can be found here.
September 10, 2016
USA Giveaway
Good morning, USA; Goodreads has launched your Darkshine Giveaway. Thank you, Goodreads! I totally appreciate this awesome service. (And Good Morning/Afternoon/Night rest of the world. :) )
I said I wasn't illustrating them this round, but something tells me I won't be able to resist a doodle or two ... My fingers already are a'itchin'.
I said I wasn't illustrating them this round, but something tells me I won't be able to resist a doodle or two ... My fingers already are a'itchin'.
September 7, 2016
Giveaway Win/Launch
Congrats to Kim in the UK for winning the latest Giveaway. :) I'll have your paperback in the mail tomorrow!
Darkshine's USA giveaway will start on the 10th. Two paperbacks available.
Darkshine's USA giveaway will start on the 10th. Two paperbacks available.
September 4, 2016
Finished Fox in a Book
Here’s the finished fox in a paperback for the international Giveaway. I think the thinned out snout looks better ... more “foxish.” I also made the tail bushier.
Only 2 more days until it finds its new home. I love thinking about it traveling across the globe. I wish I could curl up into the envelope with it, and see the new places it will see. :)
September 2, 2016
International Giveaway Test Sketch (Fox)
Here’s what I am playing with for Australia, India, and UK’s Paperback Giveaway. Now that I look at it on the screen, I think I need to make the snout pointier. It looks too rectangular and stiff to me. Hmm. Pencil and ink sketches also shown. Giveaway ends in 4 days!I’ll be launching another Giveaway in the week, but this will be my last illustrated one for awhile, since I have so much on my plate.
August 26, 2016
Life & Writing Quirks
Life quirks often pop up when writing. Coincidences occur that make me pause. I've had some funny ones, but the current one I keep coming back to is location.
My first thought regarding Darkshine took place on the bank of a yellow, Appalachian stream, which makes complete sense. My life then felt out of control and I had no idea what the future would bring. So the story started, and grew ... then, completely unintended, I found myself on the road a lot. Most of that book was written in seedy motels and dark parking lots, a few greasy spoons. I'm grateful for the workers at the Panera who let me stay well past closing for those 6 weeks in San Jose.
Now I'm on to Book 2, and I've known where it would take place way back in those parking lots and west coast motels. But my life now is vastly different than what I had anticipated. I'm living in a mountainous, alpine forest, completely off the grid. Oh, and guess what Book 2's setting (mostly) is? Yup ...
I thought this story would be two books, but I have a trilogy. (At least. Who knows what surprises number 3 might throw at me. I'm tempted to off-shoot, too). So now I'm wondering (fearing?), what the heck is going to change in my life?? Will I get another parallel for number three?
If that's the case, maybe I should figure out how to get all the characters on a world-tour cruise. Or better yet, their own private island. ;P If only they'd cooperate!
My first thought regarding Darkshine took place on the bank of a yellow, Appalachian stream, which makes complete sense. My life then felt out of control and I had no idea what the future would bring. So the story started, and grew ... then, completely unintended, I found myself on the road a lot. Most of that book was written in seedy motels and dark parking lots, a few greasy spoons. I'm grateful for the workers at the Panera who let me stay well past closing for those 6 weeks in San Jose.
Now I'm on to Book 2, and I've known where it would take place way back in those parking lots and west coast motels. But my life now is vastly different than what I had anticipated. I'm living in a mountainous, alpine forest, completely off the grid. Oh, and guess what Book 2's setting (mostly) is? Yup ...
I thought this story would be two books, but I have a trilogy. (At least. Who knows what surprises number 3 might throw at me. I'm tempted to off-shoot, too). So now I'm wondering (fearing?), what the heck is going to change in my life?? Will I get another parallel for number three?
If that's the case, maybe I should figure out how to get all the characters on a world-tour cruise. Or better yet, their own private island. ;P If only they'd cooperate!
August 15, 2016
Office Build, Event, Progress
I’ll be at Vanderford’s Books & Office Products in Sandpoint, ID with other authors on August 20th from Noon-2:00PM. So come on by and say hi if you’re in the area. :)
I am so behind on, well, everything. The office is done, but I don’t have the most updated photos ... these should give you an idea, though. Above is the finished front, minus the gutter and dirt roof. I was too slow, and a critter moved in. I think it’s a chipmunk, so I have to figure out how to get it out before I finish. That purplish thing to the left is a solar panel my husband made from scraps.
It’s only 35 sq/ft inside so it’s hard to get good pictures. I now have shelves hung up everywhere, but this sorta shows what it is like inside. It regulates its own temperature nicely thus far. (I also have an indoor, portable propane heater.)
My not so great attempt at getting a shot of the desk, window, and the 1st shelf.
My happy accident of a door knob.
I took this from the floor looking up at the ceiling. There are still pine cones attached in some places, and the green is now brown and slowly dropping off. I need a shop vac...
And that’s about it.
The house is coming along nicely. I’ll try to post some of those pics later.
I’ve been the cliche writer for the last few weeks. You know the one: hides alone in the remote forest and hisses at society. My tunnel vision clicked on and I’ve been Book 2 obsessed (I think I’m sticking with the title Dark Ember ... it seems fitting). I want to be able to put it in a Kindle and have it make sense by October. I think that’s
[stressful]
realistic. And I want it ready for my beta readers by January ... That I won’t hold my breath on.
Audiobook is getting there, but I’m extending it out to manage my stress levels and my perfectionist issues.
One step, then another ... just keep going ...
