Rachel Vincent's Blog, page 8
March 30, 2012
My new challenge (+ winner)
I’ve been thinking about the fact that I seem incapable of writing a book that takes place over a period of more than a week, even though I’ve seen it done by other authors hundreds of times. I’ve been trying to figure out what my problem is. And I think I’ve figured it out.
If a story took place over a greater period of time, that would mean there were large blocks of time I’d have to skip over. And the only reason I’d skip over large blocks of time is if nothing important happened during those blocks. But…why would my characters do nothing important for days/weeks/months on end, when someone’s life is in danger, or someone’s been kidnapped, or someone’s trying to open a door between our world and the Netherworld?
They wouldn’t.
That understanding of my own story-telling process has led me to wonder if my books are, in fact, plot-driven. Not just plot-driven, but actiony-plot-driven. Before today, if someone had asked me, I would have said they were character-driven. But surely if they were character-driven, I wouldn’t have any trouble summarizing the times between self-realizations and relationship breakthroughs, like I currently summarize the sleeping and bathroom (and sometimes classroom lesson) portions of the story, which are the only times my characters aren’t doing something you need to see.
Which may explain why writing the romance elements is so hard for me. Because, on the surface, when they’re falling in love, they’re not doing anything. Which is why they have to fall in love in the middle of the action. But…the action shortens the time span of the story, which means they have to fall in love really fast. Which may be why both Faythe & Marc and Liv & Cam were exes—the background chemistry was already there. They were falling back in love, which is much easier to write than when the characters have to go from strangers to lovers in a matter of days.
It’s so much easier for my characters to kill each other than to fall in love with each other. (And it’s easier for me to write them killing each other than falling in love with each other.) Which is probably why most of them seem to fall in love with someone they—at one point—wanted to kill, just a little bit.
So, obviously, I have a new challenge. I now have to write a book that spans more than a week in time, just to prove to myself that I can. At the moment, I’m not sure how to lengthen the time span without slowing things down, which I don’t really want to do. When things slow down, many readers put the book down. (I know, some of you will say you like some “down time” in a book, but the vast majority of reader-reviews I’ve read indicate that most readers will, in fact, put a book down if the plot/action slows. Or if it doesn’t begin immediately. I blame video games and violent television. ;) )
But! I will figure it out! And when I do, you’ll hear about it!
For now, you’re going to hear about this week’s International Edition winner. And that is…
Caleigh, whose comment began: "Can’t say I have. But I plan to change that in the near future."
Caleigh, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your choice of prize from the list of books found here, and we’ll put your prizes in the mail.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and don't forget to check back next week for the new giveaway. And, check in next Wednesday, April 4th for:
If a story took place over a greater period of time, that would mean there were large blocks of time I’d have to skip over. And the only reason I’d skip over large blocks of time is if nothing important happened during those blocks. But…why would my characters do nothing important for days/weeks/months on end, when someone’s life is in danger, or someone’s been kidnapped, or someone’s trying to open a door between our world and the Netherworld?
They wouldn’t.
That understanding of my own story-telling process has led me to wonder if my books are, in fact, plot-driven. Not just plot-driven, but actiony-plot-driven. Before today, if someone had asked me, I would have said they were character-driven. But surely if they were character-driven, I wouldn’t have any trouble summarizing the times between self-realizations and relationship breakthroughs, like I currently summarize the sleeping and bathroom (and sometimes classroom lesson) portions of the story, which are the only times my characters aren’t doing something you need to see.
Which may explain why writing the romance elements is so hard for me. Because, on the surface, when they’re falling in love, they’re not doing anything. Which is why they have to fall in love in the middle of the action. But…the action shortens the time span of the story, which means they have to fall in love really fast. Which may be why both Faythe & Marc and Liv & Cam were exes—the background chemistry was already there. They were falling back in love, which is much easier to write than when the characters have to go from strangers to lovers in a matter of days.
It’s so much easier for my characters to kill each other than to fall in love with each other. (And it’s easier for me to write them killing each other than falling in love with each other.) Which is probably why most of them seem to fall in love with someone they—at one point—wanted to kill, just a little bit.
So, obviously, I have a new challenge. I now have to write a book that spans more than a week in time, just to prove to myself that I can. At the moment, I’m not sure how to lengthen the time span without slowing things down, which I don’t really want to do. When things slow down, many readers put the book down. (I know, some of you will say you like some “down time” in a book, but the vast majority of reader-reviews I’ve read indicate that most readers will, in fact, put a book down if the plot/action slows. Or if it doesn’t begin immediately. I blame video games and violent television. ;) )
But! I will figure it out! And when I do, you’ll hear about it!
For now, you’re going to hear about this week’s International Edition winner. And that is…
Caleigh, whose comment began: "Can’t say I have. But I plan to change that in the near future."
Caleigh, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your choice of prize from the list of books found here, and we’ll put your prizes in the mail.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and don't forget to check back next week for the new giveaway. And, check in next Wednesday, April 4th for:
March 26, 2012
Link salad (+giveaway)
Thanks so much to everyone who helped me try out my new chat room last night in the Blood Bound spoiler chat. I'd hoped to archive the chat for those who couldn't make it, but, alas, I didn't figure out how to do that until it was too late. I do apologize for that, but (!!!) about a month after Shadow Bound comes out (May 22, 2012, in the US/CA) we'll have a Shadow Bound spoiler chat, and you can ask both Blood Bound and Shadow Bound questions there.
Today I have several links for you, and, of course, this week's International Edition giveaway.
First, my website Extras page has been updated with two different versions of the transcript of the My Soul To Take spoiler chat, both compiled by the amazing Fiktshun, your awesome Soul Screamers Reading Challenge host. The first is a complete transcript, with all non-MSTTake spoilers removed. The second is the Q&A portion of the chat only, and it's super easy to read, because she's lined up the Qs and As (which didn't happen, in the live version--I was always several Qs behind) and has grouped them by conversation. You can find both versions of the transcript here, or you can read them on Fiktshun's blog.
Second, the Appearances page of my website has also been updated with the following:
There may be another event or two added soon, and if/when that happens, I'll post an update.
And, third, for those who keep insisting that e-piracy is practically the same as borrowing a book from a library (or simply don't understand why that's not true), John Green has written an excellent post explaining. Please read. For those who won't take the time, here are a few highlights.
And, finally, re: Oath Bound, I am finally almost done with the rough draft. Here's where it stands:
81,040 / 100,000
(81.04%)
What this means is that very soon I'll be disappearing into my cave to speed-write the last bit of the book. I apologize in advance for my absence, but I will re-emerge just in time to meet friends and readers alike at RT and TLA (see my appearance schedule above).
Now for this week's International Edition giveaway. To enter, leave me a comment in the corresponding Wordpress post answering the following question: Have you ever attended a signing or conference, where you got to meet an author? If so, what was the event?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:
One entry per person
This contest is open to both domestic and international entries
This contest is void where prohibited
If you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you win
Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping
You must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prize
Prizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s name
Please DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
Today I have several links for you, and, of course, this week's International Edition giveaway.
First, my website Extras page has been updated with two different versions of the transcript of the My Soul To Take spoiler chat, both compiled by the amazing Fiktshun, your awesome Soul Screamers Reading Challenge host. The first is a complete transcript, with all non-MSTTake spoilers removed. The second is the Q&A portion of the chat only, and it's super easy to read, because she's lined up the Qs and As (which didn't happen, in the live version--I was always several Qs behind) and has grouped them by conversation. You can find both versions of the transcript here, or you can read them on Fiktshun's blog.
Second, the Appearances page of my website has also been updated with the following:
Romantic Times Booklovers Convention
April 11-15
Chicago, Il
-April 11, 3:30pm-4:30pm-
The Kids Are All Right Panel
-April 14-
Teen Day
Giant Book Fair
Texas Librarians Association Annual Conference
Houston, TX
April 18-19
-April 18, 12:00pm
YART Texas Tea
-April 19, 10:30am-
Texas Teens for Libraries (TT4L)
Murder By The BookHouston, TX
June 30, 4:30pm
Signing Shadow Bound and Before I Wake (with fellow author Jaye Wells)
There may be another event or two added soon, and if/when that happens, I'll post an update.
And, third, for those who keep insisting that e-piracy is practically the same as borrowing a book from a library (or simply don't understand why that's not true), John Green has written an excellent post explaining. Please read. For those who won't take the time, here are a few highlights.
"Libraries buy books. Lots of them. And there are tens of thousands of libraries around the country. That is good for me and good for my book."
"American public and school libraries play a huge role in preserving the breadth of American literature by collecting and sharing books that are excellent but may not be written by YouTubers with large built-in audiences."
"And this is the most important: I believe that creators of books should have control over how their work is distributed. [...] It’s not because I’m a greedy bastard or want to keep my books from people who might otherwise read them. It’s because I believe books are valuable. Right now, on Amazon, my brand new hardcover book costs about $10, which represents 1.2 hours of work at the federal minimum wage. I believe books are worth 1.2 hours of work."
And, finally, re: Oath Bound, I am finally almost done with the rough draft. Here's where it stands:
81,040 / 100,000
(81.04%)
What this means is that very soon I'll be disappearing into my cave to speed-write the last bit of the book. I apologize in advance for my absence, but I will re-emerge just in time to meet friends and readers alike at RT and TLA (see my appearance schedule above).
Now for this week's International Edition giveaway. To enter, leave me a comment in the corresponding Wordpress post answering the following question: Have you ever attended a signing or conference, where you got to meet an author? If so, what was the event?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:
One entry per person
This contest is open to both domestic and international entries
This contest is void where prohibited
If you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you win
Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping
You must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prize
Prizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s name
Please DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
March 24, 2012
Live Chat Tomorrow! (+ winners)
I apologize for being late to announce this week's International Edition Giveaway winners. This week got away from me. But...I have the winners names now...
The winners are:
Katie Savidge, whose post began, "Yes I have and it was with the wonderfully missy Rachel Caine [...]"
and
Steph H., whose post began, "I participated in my very first live chat on Twitter a few months ago."
Winners, please email me (adminATrachelvincentDOTcom) with your full name and shipping information, and your choice from the list of books found here, and we'll put your prizes in the mail.
Also, I mentioned earlier that I'd like to do a live chat this weekend, to test out the functionality of my new chat room. I'd still like to do that, but I didn't get to announce the time as early as I wanted to, so no worries if you can't make it. If only three people show up, they'll get to ask all the questions they want. But if you can make it, the chat will be at 6 pm (Central) tomorrow (Sunday, March 25, 2012) and will last for one hour. The topic is Blood Bound, so spoilers from that book ARE allowed. You can also ask me questions about writing in general, and you can try for some Shadow Bound spoilers, but I make no promises on that front.
If you want to participate, check back here after 5:30 pm (central) tomorrow, and there will be a link for you to take. Please keep in mind, though that this chat is doubling as a functionality test, so we will be testing out the features as we chat. I'd appreciate your time, if you can come and help me get used to the new chat room. But if not, no worries.
Oh, and at the end of the chat, as a thank you, I will give away one signed copy of Shadow Bound, to be shipped as soon as I get my author copies.
So...I hope to see some of you there!
The winners are:
Katie Savidge, whose post began, "Yes I have and it was with the wonderfully missy Rachel Caine [...]"
and
Steph H., whose post began, "I participated in my very first live chat on Twitter a few months ago."
Winners, please email me (adminATrachelvincentDOTcom) with your full name and shipping information, and your choice from the list of books found here, and we'll put your prizes in the mail.
Also, I mentioned earlier that I'd like to do a live chat this weekend, to test out the functionality of my new chat room. I'd still like to do that, but I didn't get to announce the time as early as I wanted to, so no worries if you can't make it. If only three people show up, they'll get to ask all the questions they want. But if you can make it, the chat will be at 6 pm (Central) tomorrow (Sunday, March 25, 2012) and will last for one hour. The topic is Blood Bound, so spoilers from that book ARE allowed. You can also ask me questions about writing in general, and you can try for some Shadow Bound spoilers, but I make no promises on that front.
If you want to participate, check back here after 5:30 pm (central) tomorrow, and there will be a link for you to take. Please keep in mind, though that this chat is doubling as a functionality test, so we will be testing out the features as we chat. I'd appreciate your time, if you can come and help me get used to the new chat room. But if not, no worries.
Oh, and at the end of the chat, as a thank you, I will give away one signed copy of Shadow Bound, to be shipped as soon as I get my author copies.
So...I hope to see some of you there!
March 21, 2012
New Poll (+ giveaway)
I'm super late with this week's giveaway, I know, and I'm sorry. But I blame it all on work and the fact that I have what seems to be the same head cold I got this time last year (stupid Texas allergens!) which is morphing into the same deep chest cough I also had this time last year. Both of which suck. (And before anyone asks, no, I don't smoke. I never have.)
But...as promised, we'll have two winners this week, since I didn't do a giveaway last week.
In other news, last week, I used my web cam for the first time! And I've only had it a year! I shot a video requested by my UK publisher, and it went pretty well, I think, so I might do some of those here on the blog in the near future. When I feel like being seen again. ;)
Also, for those of you who missed it, we held the first of the Soul Screamers Reading Challeng spoiler chats last week, and I think it went well to! Since then, No. 1 has gotten my personal chat room up and running, and we'll be hosting the next SS spoiler chat (spoilers for MSTLose, MSTTake, and MSTSave) ourselves, very soon. But to test the system out, I'm planning a spoiler chat for Blood Bound this weekend. All are welcome, and if no one comes, I'll be there chatting with myself, as pathetic as that sounds, because we do need to test out the new chat feature.
If you're interested in chatting about Blood Bound (or trying to pry info about Shadow Bound out of me), please take the poll on my wordpress blog to help me determine the time that can accommodate the most people.
If you're not sure what those times are in your time zone, you can use this handy time zone converter.
And...this week's giveaway.
To enter this week’s International Edition Giveaway, leave me a comment in the corresponding Wordpress post answering the following question: Have you ever attended a live chat with an author? If so, who was the author?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:One entry per personThis contest is open to international entriesThis contest is void where prohibitedIf you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you winPlease allow 2-4 weeks for shippingYou must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prizePrizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s namePlease DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
But...as promised, we'll have two winners this week, since I didn't do a giveaway last week.
In other news, last week, I used my web cam for the first time! And I've only had it a year! I shot a video requested by my UK publisher, and it went pretty well, I think, so I might do some of those here on the blog in the near future. When I feel like being seen again. ;)
Also, for those of you who missed it, we held the first of the Soul Screamers Reading Challeng spoiler chats last week, and I think it went well to! Since then, No. 1 has gotten my personal chat room up and running, and we'll be hosting the next SS spoiler chat (spoilers for MSTLose, MSTTake, and MSTSave) ourselves, very soon. But to test the system out, I'm planning a spoiler chat for Blood Bound this weekend. All are welcome, and if no one comes, I'll be there chatting with myself, as pathetic as that sounds, because we do need to test out the new chat feature.
If you're interested in chatting about Blood Bound (or trying to pry info about Shadow Bound out of me), please take the poll on my wordpress blog to help me determine the time that can accommodate the most people.
If you're not sure what those times are in your time zone, you can use this handy time zone converter.
And...this week's giveaway.
To enter this week’s International Edition Giveaway, leave me a comment in the corresponding Wordpress post answering the following question: Have you ever attended a live chat with an author? If so, who was the author?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:One entry per personThis contest is open to international entriesThis contest is void where prohibitedIf you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you winPlease allow 2-4 weeks for shippingYou must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prizePrizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s namePlease DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
March 17, 2012
Live Chat update 2.0
I've been without home phone, internet, and cable for the past 2.5 days. As it turns out, when AT&T installed new service for someone else in our neighborhood, they accidentally severed our connection. But, now I'm back online, and the My Soul To Take spoiler live chat is ON for tomorrow. Here are the details:
March 14, 2012
Live chat tomorrow!!!
I had company this week, so I've been mostly offline since Sunday, which means there will be no foreign edition giveaway this week. But I'll draw two winners next week, to make up for it. ;)
My company has just left, and I'm spending the rest of today with No. 1, but tomorrow I'll be back at work on OATH BOUND and...
Tomorrow (Thursday, March 15th) is the first Soul Screamers Reading Challenge spoiler chat! I apologize for the short notice. I had planned to have my own chatroom up and running for this chat, but haven't been able to set that up yet, so Fiktshun, your challenge host has stepped in to help. Here are some of the details, copied from Fiktshun's post. Click here for the rest of the details.
Since this is the My Soul To Take chat, you can ask me/say anything you want about My Soul To Take (and "My Soul To Lose" too, I believe, since that's a prequel) and I promise to answer, but there will be NO SPOILERS from later books/stories in the series. The next chat will include spoilers from the first two novels and the first novella (MSTLose), and that one shouldn't take so long to set up.
Come late, leave early, or whatever works for you. I'll be available for about an hour and I don't mind answering questions about publishing, writing, cover art, etc too, so long as we don't stray too far from the MSTTake theme of this first chat. So, if you're interested, mark your calendars! Or set reminders on your phone. Or write the details on your palm. Or whatever. Hope to see you there!
My company has just left, and I'm spending the rest of today with No. 1, but tomorrow I'll be back at work on OATH BOUND and...
Tomorrow (Thursday, March 15th) is the first Soul Screamers Reading Challenge spoiler chat! I apologize for the short notice. I had planned to have my own chatroom up and running for this chat, but haven't been able to set that up yet, so Fiktshun, your challenge host has stepped in to help. Here are some of the details, copied from Fiktshun's post. Click here for the rest of the details.
DATE: Thursday, March 15th
TIME: 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific
LENGTH: Approx. 1 hour
WHERE: Here on the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge blog. A page called SSRC Chat will be published on chat day shortly before the event.
WHO: Anyone is welcome to join in, even if you aren't participating in the challenge.
DETAILS: This spoiler chat will ONLY be for spoilers from the first book in the series, My Soul to Take. So, please keep your questions limited to the events and characters in that book only.
Since this is the My Soul To Take chat, you can ask me/say anything you want about My Soul To Take (and "My Soul To Lose" too, I believe, since that's a prequel) and I promise to answer, but there will be NO SPOILERS from later books/stories in the series. The next chat will include spoilers from the first two novels and the first novella (MSTLose), and that one shouldn't take so long to set up.
Come late, leave early, or whatever works for you. I'll be available for about an hour and I don't mind answering questions about publishing, writing, cover art, etc too, so long as we don't stray too far from the MSTTake theme of this first chat. So, if you're interested, mark your calendars! Or set reminders on your phone. Or write the details on your palm. Or whatever. Hope to see you there!
March 10, 2012
Winner!
I have family coming into town this week (my little brothers are on spring break!) so I might not be blogging regularly next week. But I do have this week's winner to announce. Sorry for the delay...
LeahCorrine, whose entry began, "If it is by an author that I know and love; it doesn’t matter what format the story is in, I want to read it."
LeahCorrine, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your choice of books from this list, and I'll put your prize in the mail.
A note to the past couple of winners: We're a little behind in mailing prizes, but hope to get caught up this week. Thanks for your patience!
LeahCorrine, whose entry began, "If it is by an author that I know and love; it doesn’t matter what format the story is in, I want to read it."
LeahCorrine, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your choice of books from this list, and I'll put your prize in the mail.
A note to the past couple of winners: We're a little behind in mailing prizes, but hope to get caught up this week. Thanks for your patience!
March 8, 2012
2012 Travel Plans
People have started asking, and conference season is almost at hand, so here's where I know I'll be this year:
The 2012 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, in ChicagoThe Texas Library Association's annual conference, in Houston
In writing news, I'm still plodding along in Oath Bound. I expect to hit the halfway point in the rough draft today, and I'm hoping the second half will go much faster. My goal for the rough draft is 100,000 words, but this draft has been pretty sparse so far, so I expect to both tighten and add details in the rewrite, which should put the book around 110,000 words. Blood Bound and Shadow Bound were both published at 120,000, but I'm hoping this one will be a little tighter. We'll see. ;)
I'm having fun with Kris and Sera. More fun than they're having with each other at the moment, but that should start to change soon, as I pass the half-way point and they start to hate the bad guys more than each other. Both previous viewpoint couples (Liv & Cam, Kori & Ian) are heavily featured in this book, as are several of the secondary characters (Kenley, Van, Anne, Hadley, and others) so I'm really working with an ensemble cast, which makes this feel kind of like writing the Shifters books did. Only way harder. ;)
Here's my progress as it stands now:
47,351 / 100,000
(47.35%)
I have some errands to run today, then I'm diving right back in. Wish me luck!
The 2012 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, in ChicagoThe Texas Library Association's annual conference, in Houston
I'm considering at least one other large event, and I may do a few TX-area signings this summer, one in the DFW area, one in Houston, and one (possibly) here in San Antonio. If there's enough interest.
-----
In writing news, I'm still plodding along in Oath Bound. I expect to hit the halfway point in the rough draft today, and I'm hoping the second half will go much faster. My goal for the rough draft is 100,000 words, but this draft has been pretty sparse so far, so I expect to both tighten and add details in the rewrite, which should put the book around 110,000 words. Blood Bound and Shadow Bound were both published at 120,000, but I'm hoping this one will be a little tighter. We'll see. ;)
I'm having fun with Kris and Sera. More fun than they're having with each other at the moment, but that should start to change soon, as I pass the half-way point and they start to hate the bad guys more than each other. Both previous viewpoint couples (Liv & Cam, Kori & Ian) are heavily featured in this book, as are several of the secondary characters (Kenley, Van, Anne, Hadley, and others) so I'm really working with an ensemble cast, which makes this feel kind of like writing the Shifters books did. Only way harder. ;)
Here's my progress as it stands now:
47,351 / 100,000
(47.35%)
I have some errands to run today, then I'm diving right back in. Wish me luck!
March 6, 2012
The pathology of my creative process (+ giveaway)
I got a little bit of good news yesterday, but I'm still waiting on the all-clear to share that, so please be patient with me and know that I didn't mean to tease people. Much. ;)
And...for those in the UK who've been asking for the ebook novellas in your territory, I have good news! Mira Ink says that "Never To Sleep" will be available June 1, and that "Reaper" will follow at some point. Right now, "My Soul To Lose" is only available as a World Book Day exclusive, but once that's over, Mira Ink will be publishing that story too. So...your wait will soon be over!
In writing news, I've recently come to accept something I've kind of vaguely known for quite a while: my books have personalities of their own. I don't mean the characters or the story itself. I'm always really hesitant to personify the aspects of novel-writing because I feel like that understates how much hard work actually goes into writing a book. I don't believe in muses, and my characters don't "talk" to me (though of course, I do understand what other writers mean when they say that). Sometimes it feels like they talk through me, but I am always in complete control of my own stories. Or, at least, if I'm not in control, neither are the characters. ;)
But the composition process itself has grown a little...finicky lately. For lack of a better way to describe it. My most recent few books each seem to want to be written in their own time and space. If memory serves, Blood Bound was a nighttime book. I could write bits of it during the day, but the creative floodgates never really opened before the sun went down. Before I Wake was a daylight-in-the-office book, disciplined and dependable, once I got going.
Shadow Bound was an unpredictible beast, flowing at odd times and stalling just as often, regardless of time a day or computer type. But that one would ONLY be revised and edited in bed, on my laptop, with the door closed and the rest of the world firmly locked out. I had no luck concentrating on those revisions at all in my office. For four days, I hardly left my bed and rarely turned on more than my bedside lamp.
Oath Bound is an office-book. It seems to require my ergonomic keyboard and large desktop monitor. I have no idea why. But the side project I'm working on (only on weekends, and when I've already met my Oath Bound goal) is a laptop book, regardless of the time of day or night. It wants to be written in short bursts on my MacBook Air, on the smaller, tighter keyboard and screen, then agonized over in my spare moments for days on end, until I can get back to it. The large screen and clunky ergo keyboard seem to terrify that book like the outside world to an agoraphobic.
I've decided this whole thing is very strange. I've also decided it is not to be questioned. Whatever makes the words flow is what must be done.
Okay, enough about the pathology of my creative process. Let's give away a book.
To enter this week's International Edition Giveaway, leave me a comment in the Wordpress version of this post answering the following question: How likely are you to read a short story or novella that is available in electronic format only (keeping in mind that they can be read on computers, not just portable devices). Does that likelihood change for full-length novels?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:
One entry per personThis contest is open to international entriesThis contest is void where prohibitedIf you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you winPlease allow 2-4 weeks for shippingYou must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prizePrizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s namePlease DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
Also, I had fun looking at some concepts for the WITH ALL MY SOUL cover yesterday, and I can't wait to see what HQTeen does with them!
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And...for those in the UK who've been asking for the ebook novellas in your territory, I have good news! Mira Ink says that "Never To Sleep" will be available June 1, and that "Reaper" will follow at some point. Right now, "My Soul To Lose" is only available as a World Book Day exclusive, but once that's over, Mira Ink will be publishing that story too. So...your wait will soon be over!
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In writing news, I've recently come to accept something I've kind of vaguely known for quite a while: my books have personalities of their own. I don't mean the characters or the story itself. I'm always really hesitant to personify the aspects of novel-writing because I feel like that understates how much hard work actually goes into writing a book. I don't believe in muses, and my characters don't "talk" to me (though of course, I do understand what other writers mean when they say that). Sometimes it feels like they talk through me, but I am always in complete control of my own stories. Or, at least, if I'm not in control, neither are the characters. ;)
But the composition process itself has grown a little...finicky lately. For lack of a better way to describe it. My most recent few books each seem to want to be written in their own time and space. If memory serves, Blood Bound was a nighttime book. I could write bits of it during the day, but the creative floodgates never really opened before the sun went down. Before I Wake was a daylight-in-the-office book, disciplined and dependable, once I got going.
Shadow Bound was an unpredictible beast, flowing at odd times and stalling just as often, regardless of time a day or computer type. But that one would ONLY be revised and edited in bed, on my laptop, with the door closed and the rest of the world firmly locked out. I had no luck concentrating on those revisions at all in my office. For four days, I hardly left my bed and rarely turned on more than my bedside lamp.
Oath Bound is an office-book. It seems to require my ergonomic keyboard and large desktop monitor. I have no idea why. But the side project I'm working on (only on weekends, and when I've already met my Oath Bound goal) is a laptop book, regardless of the time of day or night. It wants to be written in short bursts on my MacBook Air, on the smaller, tighter keyboard and screen, then agonized over in my spare moments for days on end, until I can get back to it. The large screen and clunky ergo keyboard seem to terrify that book like the outside world to an agoraphobic.
I've decided this whole thing is very strange. I've also decided it is not to be questioned. Whatever makes the words flow is what must be done.
Okay, enough about the pathology of my creative process. Let's give away a book.
To enter this week's International Edition Giveaway, leave me a comment in the Wordpress version of this post answering the following question: How likely are you to read a short story or novella that is available in electronic format only (keeping in mind that they can be read on computers, not just portable devices). Does that likelihood change for full-length novels?
The list of available prize books is here, but please don’t leave your entry in that post. That is a static page, which will be updated as books are chosen or donated to libraries.
The rules:
One entry per personThis contest is open to international entriesThis contest is void where prohibitedIf you’re under 18 yrs of age, you must have a parent’s permission to enter and to provide your shipping information if you winPlease allow 2-4 weeks for shippingYou must come back to this blog on Friday to see if you’ve won and claim your prizePrizes not claimed within two weeks will be awarded to a redrawn winner’s namePlease DO NOT leave your email address in your entry. I don’t need it (if you win, you email me to claim your prize) and I’m sure you don’t need the spam that inevitably comes with posting your email address online.
Okay…go!
March 2, 2012
The final Soul Screamers title (+ winner)
If you're a part of the madness that is Twitter and FB (and you follow me either place) you already know that yesterday I got permission to reveal the title of the seventh and FINAL Soul Screamers book. And if you read my previous blog post, you know why the seventh book is the last. That was the plan from the beginning (though I did toy with extending the series from another character's POV for awhile, then decided against it) and I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to sell all seven books to HQTeen, who pretties them up, then pushes them out into the world to be read.
First...a little bit about the existing titles in the series, to help explain the choice of the seventh title...
When I wrote My Soul To Take, way back in 2008, its working title was Soul Song. But Marjorie M. Liu had just put out a VERY different a book by that same name, so before I submitted it, I changed the title, borrowing from the famous (and a bit creepy) children's prayer.
Three other Soul Screamers titles followed, using that same theme, and the pattern got confusing to readers. Reviews for books appeared, labeled with the wrong title. A lot. The titles were also confusing for me, because one of them (I can no longer remember which) was written under the title "My Soul To Steal," then published as something else. Then MSTSteal was used for the fourth book, so I actually have two rough drafts on my computer with the same original title.
For the fifth and sixth books, HQTeen decided (and I agreed) to shake things up a bit. So we took another two phrases from the children's prayer that had inspired the first title. And I have to say, I think that If I Die and Before I Wake (books 5 & 6) fit best, of all the series titles.
But since the seventh title is the last, we wanted to tie it in to the original title theme, without getting stuck in that title confusion rut again.
MANY titles were suggested and passed back and forth, and in the end, I believe this final title is the only one (other than the novella "Never To Sleep") that wasn't one of my original suggestions. But I think it's PERFECT for the ending of the series. And hopefully it'll be perfect for the book itself. Which I don't know yet, because I haven't actually started the manuscript yet.
Yes, in this case they needed a title before I've written the book. Happens more than you might think, with tight deadlines.
So. The title of the seventh and final Soul Screamers novel will be:
WITH ALL MY SOUL
What do you think? If memory serves, it's strikingly similar to one of the French titles. In the near future, if you see me mention working on WAMS, you'll know what I mean. ;)
Before anyone asks, I don't yet have a release date or any cover art information at all. The book will be out sometime in 2013. Spring, I suspect, but don't quote me on that.
Oh, yeah. I also owe you guys a winner. The winner of this week's Foreign Edition Giveaway is:
Tasha, who (on leap day!) wrote, "Tough choice, indeed. I think I’m going to have to go with My Soul to Steal. Something about that butterfly’s colors and the text. The blues. I just love it."
Tasha, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your shipping information and choice of prizes from this list.
First...a little bit about the existing titles in the series, to help explain the choice of the seventh title...
When I wrote My Soul To Take, way back in 2008, its working title was Soul Song. But Marjorie M. Liu had just put out a VERY different a book by that same name, so before I submitted it, I changed the title, borrowing from the famous (and a bit creepy) children's prayer.
Three other Soul Screamers titles followed, using that same theme, and the pattern got confusing to readers. Reviews for books appeared, labeled with the wrong title. A lot. The titles were also confusing for me, because one of them (I can no longer remember which) was written under the title "My Soul To Steal," then published as something else. Then MSTSteal was used for the fourth book, so I actually have two rough drafts on my computer with the same original title.
For the fifth and sixth books, HQTeen decided (and I agreed) to shake things up a bit. So we took another two phrases from the children's prayer that had inspired the first title. And I have to say, I think that If I Die and Before I Wake (books 5 & 6) fit best, of all the series titles.
But since the seventh title is the last, we wanted to tie it in to the original title theme, without getting stuck in that title confusion rut again.
MANY titles were suggested and passed back and forth, and in the end, I believe this final title is the only one (other than the novella "Never To Sleep") that wasn't one of my original suggestions. But I think it's PERFECT for the ending of the series. And hopefully it'll be perfect for the book itself. Which I don't know yet, because I haven't actually started the manuscript yet.
Yes, in this case they needed a title before I've written the book. Happens more than you might think, with tight deadlines.
So. The title of the seventh and final Soul Screamers novel will be:
WITH ALL MY SOUL
What do you think? If memory serves, it's strikingly similar to one of the French titles. In the near future, if you see me mention working on WAMS, you'll know what I mean. ;)
Before anyone asks, I don't yet have a release date or any cover art information at all. The book will be out sometime in 2013. Spring, I suspect, but don't quote me on that.
Oh, yeah. I also owe you guys a winner. The winner of this week's Foreign Edition Giveaway is:
Tasha, who (on leap day!) wrote, "Tough choice, indeed. I think I’m going to have to go with My Soul to Steal. Something about that butterfly’s colors and the text. The blues. I just love it."
Tasha, please email me (rachelkvincentATgmailDOTcom) with your shipping information and choice of prizes from this list.
