Terri Pray's Blog, page 4
January 8, 2012
Edits!
The title says it all. I'm knee deep in edits for another Under the Moon manuscript. This time from Esther Mitchell as part of her Underground series. The first two books, Tamia and Mindkiller are already on sale from Under the Moon (www.underthemoon.org) and the third, Terminal Hunter, will be released at the end of the month. Well, now I'm working on the fourth book, Hero's Hope.
I've never regretted the decision to launch Under the Moon, nor do I regret keeping the imprint small and personal. It allows me the time to work on each novel without being rushed. We are small and will remain small for a long time to come.
In between the edits, we've been working on Jack's reading. Jack is our youngest, 8 years old, and he has a form of high functioning autism. He loves reading, but he's a little behind on where he 'should' be. So, we spend time every day curled up with a book. He slowly tries to read the page and he's improving each day.
I'm also trying to find a little time to practice my artwork - as I'm trying to learn how to draw and paint. It's something I'm enjoying as it's a calm down time for me, and allows me to work on something creative even when I don't have time to work on a new story.
On top of all of this, the oven decided to play up! New one is now ordered but won't be here until next month. I can cope until then, as long as I don't try and do anything too fancy!
For those who don't know, I live in Minnesota, and normally this time of year means we've got several feet of snow out there. Not this time. There's barely a scrap of snow out there, though we've had a few small snow falls, and we've been hitting record high temperatures. I keep expecting to wake up one morning with ten foot of snow on the ground and Mother Nature laughing at everyone. It hit 52F a few days ago!
Back to edits!
I've never regretted the decision to launch Under the Moon, nor do I regret keeping the imprint small and personal. It allows me the time to work on each novel without being rushed. We are small and will remain small for a long time to come.
In between the edits, we've been working on Jack's reading. Jack is our youngest, 8 years old, and he has a form of high functioning autism. He loves reading, but he's a little behind on where he 'should' be. So, we spend time every day curled up with a book. He slowly tries to read the page and he's improving each day.
I'm also trying to find a little time to practice my artwork - as I'm trying to learn how to draw and paint. It's something I'm enjoying as it's a calm down time for me, and allows me to work on something creative even when I don't have time to work on a new story.
On top of all of this, the oven decided to play up! New one is now ordered but won't be here until next month. I can cope until then, as long as I don't try and do anything too fancy!
For those who don't know, I live in Minnesota, and normally this time of year means we've got several feet of snow out there. Not this time. There's barely a scrap of snow out there, though we've had a few small snow falls, and we've been hitting record high temperatures. I keep expecting to wake up one morning with ten foot of snow on the ground and Mother Nature laughing at everyone. It hit 52F a few days ago!
Back to edits!
January 1, 2012
First Update of 2012
I'm still working out how Goodreads picks up my blogger, as it's not updated the 'read'. So, until it does, here's the link to the first update of 2012.
http://terripray.blogspot.com/2012/01...
http://terripray.blogspot.com/2012/01...
New Year, New Beginnings
The last few years have been a little rough, in one way or another, but with 2012 a few things have changed. Some hard choices, some not so hard choices.
On the writing side, well right now I'm primarily focused on writing for the upcoming RPG's, as well as a few short stories. I'm hoping to find the time to write and submit a couple of novella's and at least one full length novel, but that is truly dependent on time!
There will, of course, always be edits and emails for the Under the Moon imprint, and I also work with my husband, Sam, in the physical creation of the books for Under the Moon, Mojocastle Press, and the game side of the company Final Sword Productions (including the imprint, Adastra).
With the licensed games for S.M. Stirling's Emberverse(Dies the Fire) and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar also in the works, there are times I truly feel as if I need to find a cloning device.
On the difficult choices, well there have been some ups and downs with my eldest in the UK, and we were told, clearly, that he couldn't come and visit us (despite promises) unless my parents changed their entire plan, reduced the stay, and traveled during either the Independence Day weekend OR Labor Day weekend. Now, anyone with common sense knows those two weekends are taking your life in your hands, and increase the cost of the flights dramatically. In the case of my family, it would have meant an increase in cost of over 2000 pounds (close to $3000). When this was explained to the powers that be there was a 'so what' attitude.
I completely back my parents choice, and all being well I'll get to see my son in the coming years. But it won't be at the beck and call of the UK Social Work team, who truly appear to have lost all connection with reality.
Reading wise, well I finally joined Goodreads and my to be read list has jumped, dramatically.
Editing, I'm currently editing Remnant in the Stars by Cindy Keopp, and should have it back with her within the next few days. We're then gearing up to release Esther Mitchell's Terminal Hunter with Raven Bower's Rag's Beneath following a month later.
So, 2012 has started at full tilt for me, with no sign of slowing down!
Hope your 2012 is a good one!
On the writing side, well right now I'm primarily focused on writing for the upcoming RPG's, as well as a few short stories. I'm hoping to find the time to write and submit a couple of novella's and at least one full length novel, but that is truly dependent on time!
There will, of course, always be edits and emails for the Under the Moon imprint, and I also work with my husband, Sam, in the physical creation of the books for Under the Moon, Mojocastle Press, and the game side of the company Final Sword Productions (including the imprint, Adastra).
With the licensed games for S.M. Stirling's Emberverse(Dies the Fire) and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar also in the works, there are times I truly feel as if I need to find a cloning device.
On the difficult choices, well there have been some ups and downs with my eldest in the UK, and we were told, clearly, that he couldn't come and visit us (despite promises) unless my parents changed their entire plan, reduced the stay, and traveled during either the Independence Day weekend OR Labor Day weekend. Now, anyone with common sense knows those two weekends are taking your life in your hands, and increase the cost of the flights dramatically. In the case of my family, it would have meant an increase in cost of over 2000 pounds (close to $3000). When this was explained to the powers that be there was a 'so what' attitude.
I completely back my parents choice, and all being well I'll get to see my son in the coming years. But it won't be at the beck and call of the UK Social Work team, who truly appear to have lost all connection with reality.
Reading wise, well I finally joined Goodreads and my to be read list has jumped, dramatically.
Editing, I'm currently editing Remnant in the Stars by Cindy Keopp, and should have it back with her within the next few days. We're then gearing up to release Esther Mitchell's Terminal Hunter with Raven Bower's Rag's Beneath following a month later.
So, 2012 has started at full tilt for me, with no sign of slowing down!
Hope your 2012 is a good one!
August 9, 2010
And now - the good news
After a meeting today it's been decided that I'll have greater level of contact with my son in England. This is his wish, and I'm delighted with the news.
There'll be more phone calls, and web cam contact - something that we've both wanted for some time now, and actually have been working toward for almost a year.
Even though I had to 'deal' with my ex during this meeting, I came away relieved and pleased. My son is getting what he wants with contact, and I will be able to enjoy that greater ...
There'll be more phone calls, and web cam contact - something that we've both wanted for some time now, and actually have been working toward for almost a year.
Even though I had to 'deal' with my ex during this meeting, I came away relieved and pleased. My son is getting what he wants with contact, and I will be able to enjoy that greater ...
For My Ex
This post goes out to a specific person, better known as my ex. As he appears to be under the impression that the Hague Convention, signed in 1980, doesn't apply to him. Now why am I using this form of communication - simply because he let it slip today that he still reads my blogger.
Now, before I continue, please note - I am not accusing my ex of kidnapping/breaking the law. I don't know if he's ever removed our son from the country prior to this time. So, dear ex, kindly stop trying to rea...
Now, before I continue, please note - I am not accusing my ex of kidnapping/breaking the law. I don't know if he's ever removed our son from the country prior to this time. So, dear ex, kindly stop trying to rea...
June 1, 2010
Investigating a situation
Someone posted, via my son's account, an lewd message on his facebook wall. Which meant I spent a fair amount of time today investigating the situation.
Now, until I get some information cleared from the social workers, I'm kinda tied on what I can say, and where I can say it. But I've got a good idea who is behind the nasty message because of how the message was posted. So, I've done all I can do for tonight, and I get to play follow up on this situation tomorrow.
I'm not happy with the entir...
Now, until I get some information cleared from the social workers, I'm kinda tied on what I can say, and where I can say it. But I've got a good idea who is behind the nasty message because of how the message was posted. So, I've done all I can do for tonight, and I get to play follow up on this situation tomorrow.
I'm not happy with the entir...
May 25, 2010
Last Name - WIP
Part of the very rough opening to my current WIP, same setting as the soon to be released Starfire
Pain exploded across her left cheek, the force of the blow enough to send Corina stumbling back against the bar. Breath left her body in a gasp even as she pushed away from the hard edge behind her back and stepped left, ducking at the same time. The second punch flashed past her left shoulder, her attacker little more than a blur of beige tunic and large fists to Corina's dazed vision.
...
Pain exploded across her left cheek, the force of the blow enough to send Corina stumbling back against the bar. Breath left her body in a gasp even as she pushed away from the hard edge behind her back and stepped left, ducking at the same time. The second punch flashed past her left shoulder, her attacker little more than a blur of beige tunic and large fists to Corina's dazed vision.
...
April 28, 2010
Still waiting to hear back...
Still no news from social services, which is annoying at best. So, if I've not heard anything back by tomorrow, I email again and light a fire beneath his tush.
The entire wait and hang around until this one gets back to me is a re-run I don't want to go through again. This particular SW is a royal pain who's ability to communicate is lacking to the nth degree.
I spent, at one point, nearly two years trying to get a simple piece of information out of him, and never got it. So...yeah, not holdin...
The entire wait and hang around until this one gets back to me is a re-run I don't want to go through again. This particular SW is a royal pain who's ability to communicate is lacking to the nth degree.
I spent, at one point, nearly two years trying to get a simple piece of information out of him, and never got it. So...yeah, not holdin...
April 26, 2010
Dealing with Social Services
Once again the Social Worker has changed for my son in the UK, and I wasn't informed until today. Just when it happened is a guess, and the person back in charge of the case is less than helpful. I'm hoping that said SW has learned how to communicate, and will not go back to trampling over my rights as a parent...again.
So, the email has been sent off, and all being well I'll actually hear from the SW in a timely manner, with answers to my questions, but I'm not holding out any hope.
What led t...
So, the email has been sent off, and all being well I'll actually hear from the SW in a timely manner, with answers to my questions, but I'm not holding out any hope.
What led t...
October 13, 2009
Starfire - WIP
Hoping to get this finished - first draft anyway- by the end of the week.
I entered a first paragraph competition, but I'm hosed on that as my first paragraph is only one line!
Oh well, just for fun, here's the first couple of paragraphs.
"You arrogant son of a bitch!"
Fenris stepped out of the way of the oncoming plate with an exaggerated ease, and set his cup of coffee to one side before he turned to face the oncoming storm packaged in the body of a slender, blonde woman.
...
I entered a first paragraph competition, but I'm hosed on that as my first paragraph is only one line!
Oh well, just for fun, here's the first couple of paragraphs.
"You arrogant son of a bitch!"
Fenris stepped out of the way of the oncoming plate with an exaggerated ease, and set his cup of coffee to one side before he turned to face the oncoming storm packaged in the body of a slender, blonde woman.
...
