Cherie Reich's Blog, page 12

Writing Update: April Goals

Happy Wednesday!
A while back, I mentioned I was going to the doctor about my wrist. Well, a couple weeks ago, I had a nerve conduction study. It's confirmed I do have carpal tunnel. The good news is it's mild and hasn't caused any permanent nerve damage yet. My day job is working to make my work space more ergonomic. I also discovered I have osteoarthritis, which accounts for my joint/back pain. Because of these problems, there will be times that I'll have to go slower on my writing/editing and have already removed Destined (The Fate Challenges 3) off my 2015 goals list.
As for the progress on my March goals, I've been pushing through the pain to get things done. I finished editing my friend's novel (It was so good, and I think people will enjoy it!). As for Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, I completed the content edits, line edits, and Kindle proofread. Starting today, I'll be formatting the collection for print. I haven't made much progress in writing "On Day 168," but I'm still hoping to finish it by the end of March or early April.
Here are my April goals: Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection  - I have the print proofread, incorporating changes in the print and ebook documents, final formatting, and publishing. This collection will be published in April.Once upon a Nightmare Blog Tour - A few people inquired about promoting the collection. I plan to create a promo post with options for them. Also, I am going ahead with the you-choose-your-horror-ending type blog tour. My goal is to write up the story and find hosts (I have a list of those who have said they'd be interested in helping out). You'll see the blog tour sometime in May.Revamp the Blog - A while ago, I decided my author tagline should be "Feeding your inner bookworm." I've been meaning to change the blog to reflect my tagline, but I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. A lot of the images I want to create involve drawing them too. If I want to get them done at some point, then I have to add them to my to-do list. Marked  - If time, I want to get back to writing Marked (The Fate Challenges 1.5).If you're interested in helping promote Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection (paranormal horror/thriller; approx. 46,000 words) or review it and haven't already told me so, please let me know. I must admit I'm so proud of the progress I've made with this collection and am so happy I decided to create a second edition and republish it. I've added over 8,000 words to it since January and think the stories are now told the way they should've been all along.

What are your goals for April?
2015 Stats (1/1/2015-3/24/2015): 14,131 words written and 811 pages edited

Falling for #SpecFic: A Date with the Lady from Christine Rains' Of Blood and Sorrow / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 21

THE LADY“Summer has filled her veins with light and her heart is washed with noon.” C. Day Lewis

You'll wake in the morning to the wonderful smell of waffles and coffee. The Lady will greet you with smiles as she sings along with the radio and serve you a breakfast fit for royalty. She's a lovely young woman with a love of life and a 1950s fashion sense.
But don't linger in the kitchen, no matter your appetite. Just before noon, you might notice she has aged ten to twenty years. Run now. You don't want to see The Lady in her midday form. She's at once beautiful and terrifying, radiating golden light. This is when she's most powerful and the least tolerant of those who vex her.
Before the sun sets, she takes on her final form: a white-haired old woman that doesn't always make sense when she speaks. There is wisdom hidden in her words, and maybe you'll spy a plate of brownies left on the kitchen counter. She'll shuffle off to retire for the night and sleep as if she does not exist.
Favorite line from The Lady: “I do like that demon. It’s a pity he won’t come into my house. It’s not like I bite the heads off my mates anymore.”
Tidbit from the author: The Lady was inspired by the Slavic myth of Pscipolnitsa, the Lady Midday. She could be a young girl, a beautiful woman in white, or an old hag. She would bring heatstroke at noon to workers in the field and sometimes madness.
Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.

When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate.
Add it to read on Goodreads.

Purchase on Amazon / Kobo / Nook / Smashwords
About the author:Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She's married to her best friend and fellow geek living in south-central Indiana. They have one son who is too smart for his parents' own good and loves to pretend he's Batman. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. (South Central Indiana Fiction Interface). She has several short stories and novellas published. Of Blood and Sorrow series is her first urban fantasy novel.
Please visit her website and blog.

You can also find Christine on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Read Chapter Twenty-One  here  or click  here  to start from the beginning.

Untethered Realms hosts #SpecFicChat on Third Fridays on Twitter.

Next chat begins March 18, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. GMT/12:00 p.m. EDT
Topic: Build a better hero/heroine.
Use #SpecFicChat to join the conversation any time.
The chat is ongoing.

Bookworm News

BOOKS READ
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye QuinnThe Legacy Human by Susan Kaye Quinn
BOOK REVIEWS
The Locksmith by Susan Kaye QuinnZeph's world of mindjackers unlocks in Susan Kaye Quinn's The Locksmith. This short novella grabbed my attention from page one. Having read Open Minds set in the same universe, I loved delving into a new aspect in the world of mindreaders and mindjackers. It's easy to relate to Zeph. He's unique and different and yet he longs to be normal... just like everyone else. The tension ramps up throughout the story, and the ending brought tears to my eyes. I was as choked up as Zeph. I recommend reading Open Minds before this story because of spoilers, although this one is a standalone tale. The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn is a must read and a great addition to her Mindjack universe.
The Legacy Human by Susan Kaye QuinnElijah Brighton longs to ascend to something better in Susan Kaye Quinn's The Legacy Human. This novel has a glimmer of The Hunger Games to it with a dystopian world, haves (Ascenders) and have nots (regular humans), and a highly competitive and dangerous games (Creative Olympics), but Quinn transcends the story from the familiar to the extraordinary. There is more to Eli, the artist and main character, than even he realizes. He's brave and compassionate, prone to jealousy and anger, and wants more than anything to save his mother from the disease that's killing her--that can be cured with ascenders' gen tech but denied to her because she's human. The friendship and love of family Eli has adds to the tension of the story. The stakes are high. This story is so intense I felt I couldn't get a proper breath. This novel seeps into a person's subconscious. Quinn's futuristic world feels real. The Legacy Human by Susan Kaye Quinn will stick with you after you finish reading and leave you pondering the question of technology and what makes up our humanity. I'm looking forward to the next book!
INTERVIEW AND REVIEW
Christine Rains' geeky erotica novella is out. It's the first in the Dice and Debauchery series, and it's a fun, sexy read. I asked Christine, "If you could live in any geekdom, which one would it be and why?"
Christine says, "And if I could live in any geekdom, you know where I'd live: The Harry Potter World! The magic and wonder in every day life as a wizard or witch. To be able to go to school in a castle! A castle that is a character itself. I'd want to get to know every nook and cranny of Hogwarts. (I will refrain from rattling on how much I love that world! *LOL*)"
Who wouldn't want to live in Harry Potter's world after all? I know I would love to, as long as I'm a witch. Muggles are so boring.
I gave Loose Corset five out of five stars. Here's my review: Morgan's online role-playing game life comes to a head against reality in Christine Rains' Loose Corset. The strength in this novella lies with the characters. Morgan is smart and beautiful yet insecure and comes across as very real. Gorgeous Dean is a very sexy match for her, and yet I worried their real life obligations would get in the way of their budding desires. I laughed so many times at the geeky jokes Rains has sprinkled throughout. For erotica, the sex was steamy and inventive, but the plot was really what drew me in. I had to know what would happen to Morgan and Dean. Loose Corset by Christine Rains is a fun, steamy affair that'll titillate the geek in all of us.
Geek girl Morgan Reid has been to many conventions, but none that had her wishing it would never end.
Dressed as their characters from the online game Steampunk Quest, Morgan and her best friend meet the other players for the first time in real life. Morgan's attraction to the gorgeous Dean Bradley is immediate, making it difficult to breathe in her tight corset. Even after a few dice shattering orgasms, she doesn't believe this can be anything more than a con fling. But Dean is making her feel things she's only read about in books. Can Morgan let go of her cool-headed logic and allow herself to fall completely for the perfect geek guy?
Purchase links: Amazon / Nook / Ellora's Cave / Kobo
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. Please visit her website and blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
PROMO AND COVER REVEAL


SPOILER ALERT! THE FOLLOWING BOOK DESCRIPTION CONTAINS SPOILERS OF CARBON COPY AND TIN ROOF!
Silver Lining is the much anticipated conclusion to the Carbon Copy trilogy. Silver Lining picks up where Tin Roof, the sequel to Carbon Copy, leaves off. Lilly Allen and Grier Garrison are bound for Scotland and their new lives at Castle Garrison on the Isle of Skye. Lilly and Grier, now the new Marquess of Garrison, plan their lavish wedding which will make Lilly a marchioness! But first, Grier wants to rescue all the clones and bring them to the safety and freedom of his castle and tenant farms.
Silver Lining is full of surprises and new discoveries. Before they can even leave for Scotland, Grier’s father, Dr. Michael Garrison, drops a bomb which could keep Grier and Lilly apart. Before this is resolved, Lilly sneaks in a few passionate kisses with her beloved cameraman, Joe. Lilly is tormented with indecision between the two loves of her life—Grier and Joe. Who will she choose?
Purchase on Amazon / Kobo / Nook / Wild Child Publishing
The companion book to the Carbon CopyTrilogy from Luke’s point of viewComing soon from Wild Child Publishing What if someone cloned you? And then abducted you twenty five years later? In Luke’s Lithium, handsome Luke Allen, a witty, yet shy trust brat, volunteers at the FDNY with his firefighting comrades. Luke has it all, except for love. Abducted by Create Life Technologies, along with 5000 others, Luke learns the shocking truth behind their cloning research and their evil intentions. But the loss of his freedom comes with a silver lining, he falls for beautiful Gretchen, another abducted Create Life Clone. Luke’s Lithium is full of surprises, new romances, rescues and a switcheroo. But will Luke and Gretchen ever be free of Create Life?
Luke’s Lithium is the much anticipated companion book/spin off of my Carbon Copy Trilogy, written from Luke Allen’s point of view. Luke is the twin brother of Lilly Allen, the heroine in the Carbon Copy Trilogy. Luke’s story covers the time frame of all three books in the trilogy, Carbon Copy, Tin Roof, and Silver Lining. 
Terri Talley Venters received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Florida. She is a licensed CPA and a Second Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She lives on the water in Florida, with her husband, Garrison, and their two sons.
Carbon Copy is the 1st thrilling novel in the Elements of Mystery Series. The title of each novel will contain an element from the Periodic Table of Elements.  Carbon Copy, Tin Roof, Silver Lining, and Copper Cauldron are available from Wild Child Publishing. And Terri’s romantic/suspense novel, Body of Gold, is available from Freya’s Bower. Luke’s Lithium & Sulfur Springs—The Fountain of Youth are coming soon from Wild Child Publishing. Terri recently finished writing Cobalt Cauldron and Europium Gem Mine and is currently writing Calcium Cauldron.
For more about Terri’s upcoming releases, including purchase links and social media links, please visit her website http://www.elementsofmystery.com/ Terri is the daughter of Leslie S. Talley, author of Make Old Bones and Bred In The Bone which are also available from Wild Child Publishing.
Terri also posts free short stories on her blog website and blog. Follow her at http://www.territalleyventers.blogspot.com/as she weaves her way through the Periodic Table of Elements.
BOOKS RELEASED IN MARCH
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce
The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
In Wilderness by Diane Thomas
Repeat by Neal Pollack
The Dead Key by D.M. Pulley
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly
The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig
The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
Prairie Fire by E.K. Johnston
Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine RainsQuest of the Artisan by Donna Hosie
Hunted by Liz Long
Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
Do the KIND Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately by Daniel Lubetzky
Love and Other Ways of Dying by Michael Paterniti
Stuffocation by James Wallman
Never Argue with a Dead Person by Thomas John
The Great Divide by Thomas Fleming
Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp
One Hundred Thirty Stars by Shelley Sly
The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M.J. Rose
Dark Screams: Volume Two by Robert R. McCammon, Richard Matheson
Cost of Life by Joshua CorinThe Kill Shot by Nichole Christoff
The Legacy Human by Susan Kaye Quinn
The One That Got Away by Simon Wood
Terminal by Kathy Reichs
The Lost Herondale by Cassandra Clare
Red by Alyxandra Harvey
Sacrifice of Greatest Price by Cyndi Tefft
Above Us Only Sky by Michele Young-Stone
Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale
#Player by Cambria Hebert
Ugly Young Thing by Jennifer Jaynes
The Night Crew by Brian Haig
Critical Vulnerability by Melissa F. Miller
Skewed by Ann McAneny
Key Witness by Sandra Bolton
Sisters of Blood and Spirit by Kady Cross

#IWSG: That Horrible M-word / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 20

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the other participants, click here.

Today I'm talking about that dreaded, horrible M-word: Marketing.

I don't feel like I know what to do about marketing. I'm often afraid to mention my books on social media because I don't want people thinking I'm spamming them. I might put up a post saying I have a new book out, but that's it. Unfortunately, that doesn't really help with sales. In April, I plan to republish my paranormal horror collection Once upon a Nightmare. I want the book to do well, and I think it's really awesome, but when I think of marketing, I freeze. What should I do? How can I market the collection?

Novels are easier to market because people read novels more. Once upon a Nightmare consists of a novelette, a novella, and a short story all featuring the same monster and is around 45,000 words in length. I considered a standard blog tour and do feel like they're useful to get the word out, but I want something different, unique.

A reviews tour? Maybe. Reviews are really hard to find for collections. I've considered creating a MailChimp newsletter for people who would like to read and review my books. Publishers do that, but I haven't come across authors who have them. I have to find some way to garner reviews because without reviews, a book sinks quickly into the abyss. If anyone wants to read and review, let me know. I'd be more than happy to send an e-copy.

Then, I had an idea. What if I wrote a choose your own adventure horror story? Horror is all about the choices characters make. Those choices can kill a character or make the person the lone survivor. So that's what I'm considering doing. Sometime in May or early June, I'd like to have a blog tour of the choose your own adventure horror story featuring the monster from Once upon a Nightmare. The posts will be short (probably 300 words or fewer). The beginning will start on my blog, and then I'll have a blogger for each choice. Their blogs will have two choices that will send people to the next blog for the story. I don't know how many bloggers I'd need yet (got to figure out the story first), but I think it could be fun and different. I don't have signups yet, but I will soon.

Perhaps thinking outside the box a little bit with marketing can help. Maybe. *shrugs*

Do you like marketing? Any tips?

By the way, Sunday, March 8th is my birthday. I'll be turning thirty-three. I like repeating numbers, but I was a little depressed while reading Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, which said, "At that time Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three." I don't think I'm ready to get out of my tween years. *laughs*

Read Chapter Twenty  here  or click  here  to start from the beginning.

Writing Update: March Goals

Happy Wednesday!
Although I have been productive this month, I haven't gotten too far in most of my goals. This month was spent working on other people's work from proofreading and formatting in print/ebook formats a friend's novel to formatting and designing a cover for a friend's poetry print book. I'm also currently editing another friend's novel. I love having the opportunity to help out friends, even if it means my own work falls to the wayside.
What I did accomplish was my self-edit of "Paper Lanterns," and I should finish my content edit of Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by the end of the month.
Here are my March goals: Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection - I have line edits (I start on the last page and work my way to page one so I can focus on each line without getting caught up in the story), a Kindle proofread, and formatting the print book."On Day 168" - I would like to finish writing this short story in March.I will finish up my edits on a friend's novel in March as well. I'm taking a break from Marked because I want to publish Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection in April and need my main focus to be on it.

What are your March goals?

2015 Stats (1/1/2015-2/24/2015): 10,541 words written and 217 pages edited

Falling for #Specfic: Are You DC, Marvel, or Both? / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 19

DC, Marvel, or Both? Can you choose a side?
Picture found here.I love superheroes. A lot of people are probably getting tired of all the movies and TV shows coming on featuring superheroes and villains, but I must admit I'm not tired of it at all. In fact, it makes me want to read more books and comic books featuring my favorite heroes and villains. But do we have to pick the DC universe or the Marvel universe or can we be fans of both? Marvel, to me, is a bit more relaxed and uses more comic relief. DC tends to be much more serious and gritty.

When asked the question "DC or Marvel," my first thought is I'm a DC girl. Batman is my homeboy. I grew up with Batman in comics, movies, and cartoons. On my shorter lunch breaks at work, I watch Batman: The Animated Series, which debuted in 1992. Yes, I remember watching it when it originally came on. I was ten at the time. We sang "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" on the bus that year. In sixth grade, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have answered Catwoman--or would have wanted to answer it that way if I thought grown ups would understand. I also love how in the Justice League Batman, even though he has no superpowers, always seems to be the guy to save their butts.

The Flash is my second favorite superhero. Whereas Batman is dark and gritty, the Flash is lighter, more comical. I love, love, love the new TV show on CW. Barry Allen is perhaps the perfect guy, and I must admit I have quite the crush on him, even though he doesn't have the wealth that Bruce Wayne does.

Because of the Flash, I am now getting into Arrow too. I've started watching the TV show on CW, but I need to catch up on the previous seasons.

So I'm clearly in DC's camp, right? Well, not completely. I've never been a big fan of Superman or Wonder Woman, although I'm very interested to see how Wonder Woman works out in the upcoming Batman v Superman movie. Superman kinda grates on my nerves. He is too goody-goody and seems rather stuck up.

As for Marvel, I do have a soft spot for some of their characters. I've always loved Spider-Man, even though I'm not fond of spiders. *laughs* Peter Parker has a wonderful geeky and awkward side. I've enjoyed the movies I've seen as well as the cartoons. I absolutely loved The Guardians of the Galaxy movie and now want to learn more about them. I am Groot. And I have enjoyed the X-men as well as the Avengers, although I've never been a fan of the Hulk or Captain America.

As for villains, I'm sorry, but DC has Marvel beat in my book, although Marvel does have a few good villains out there like Loki and Magneto.

In the end, although I may lean toward DC as a favorite universe, I do enjoy Marvel too. It might be 60-40 for me.

What's your favorite universe: DC or Marvel? Or do you enjoy both?


Read Chapter Nineteen  here  or click  here  to start from the beginning.
Untethered Realms hosts #SpecFicChat on Third Fridays on Twitter.
Next chat begins February 20, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. GMT/12:00 p.m. EST
Topic: What makes #fantasy believable?
Use #SpecFicChat to join the conversation any time.The chat is ongoing.

Bookworms News / The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

BOOKS READ
Firefight by Brandon SandersonOf Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains
BOOK REVIEWS
Firefight by Brandon SandersonEverything David thought he knew about Epics is not even the half of it in Brandon Sanderson's Firefight. David is a strong, intelligent, and sometimes rash character. He has a tendency to get into trouble and find a way out. I love how he thinks for himself and doesn't go along with the Reckoners' plans. The book is fast paced. I didn't want to put it down and had to find out what would happen next. The revelations about Epics sometimes made me gasp, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the world David lives in. Firefight by Brandon Sanders is an epic sequel to Steelheart. Can 2016 hurry up already so I can read Calamity (book three)?
Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine RainsLetting a vampire loose on the city may be one of the best and worst things demon Erin Driscol has done in Christine Rains' Of Blood and Sorrow. One of the things I love the most about this book is Erin, a Phage demon. Her insecurities make her relatable, and her growth throughout the story made me root for her. Quite the handsome hero, Nicolas is quite a match for Erin. He breaks the vampire mold. The Putzkammers are the family anyone would be lucky to have, and I loved the mysterious of the characters Abdiel and the Lady. The story is fast paced, action packed, and quite emotional. Erin could've supped on my own sorrow over some things that happened in the story. Rains makes vampires and demons feel new again. I enjoyed delving into the world she created again and again. If you're looking for something unique amongst vampires and demons, then look no further and read Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains.
COVER REVEAL
A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.
Disappearances every ten or so years make little impact on the small town of New Haven, Virginia. Hikers get lost. Hunters lose the trail. Even when a body is discovered, the inhabitants’ memories last about as long as the newspaper articles.

No one connects the cases. No one notices the disappearances go back beyond Civil War times. No one believes a legendary monster roams the forests in Southwestern Virginia.

I don’t either until the truck breaks down on an old mountain trail. Cell phones won’t work in this neck of the woods. It’s amazing how much a person can see by starlight alone. So what if we can’t feel our fingers or toes as we hike toward the main road. How many more miles left to go?

Crrraaack!

Hear that noise?

Amygdala Design created this pre-designed cover that I thought was perfect for Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection. I'm looking forward to seeing the print version too as soon as I have that information available to give to Ida.
A legend awakens...April 2015Paranormal Horror/ThrillerAdd on Goodreads.
BOOKS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY
Polar Day by Julie FlandersDon’t Forget to Breathe by Cathrina ConstantineDefying Reason by Elizabeth SeckmanSaltwater Cowboys by Dayle FurlongThe Wonders by Paddy O’ReillyThe Death of the Detective by Mark SmithBlanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara NeelyHeart Collector by Jacques VandrouxEverything Burns by Vincent ZandriFinding Sheba by H.B. MooreAlmost Dead by T.R. RaganFollow the Leader by Mel SherrattThe Venus Trap by Louise VossShady Cross by James HankinsMonday’s Lie by Jamie MasonThe Glittering World by Robert LevyTiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp by Jenn NixonWide-Open World by John MarshallIt's What I Do by Lynsey Addario
The Great Time Lock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie
Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen
The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout
By the way, this is my 1000 post!



Tyrean Martinson awarded me with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I consider her a dear writer/blogger friend. She always has a way of making me feel special. She's the author of the Champion Trilogy, which you should check out if you haven't already.
The rules for accepting this award are as follows:1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
2. Display the award logo.
3. Nominate at least 15 other blogs (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found.
4. Then, go to their blogs, leave a comment to let them know they have been nominated, and where to find the information they need to accept (rules).
5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.

Three things that have inspired me recently:
1. The new cover art for the second edition of Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection. A lot of people may say you should leave a published book alone, but I'm so pleased that I am doing another content edit and such and republishing it with a new title and new cover. I feel like I'm finally doing this collection the justice it deserved, and the cover art inspires me to keep working.

2. This being my 1000th post. When I started blogging in May 2009, I never really thought I would reach ten posts, much less than one thousand.

3. I know it's probably cheesy, but all of you inspire me. Your posts, your comments, your encouragement throughout the years. If I hadn't met so many great friends through the blogging and writing communities, then I doubt I would still be here. My blog is my one comfortable spot on the web, and that's because of you.

As for nominations, I really, really hate to nominate people. I don't want anyone to feel left out. It's like having to choose between chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake, and donuts. Don't make me choose. If you want the award, consider yourself nominated.

#IWSG: No More Excuses / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 18

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the other participants, click here.

My motto this year is "No more excuses."

Last year and really since I've finished the rewritten draft of Reborn back in April 2013, I found tons of reasons to excuse myself from writing. I often used reading or social media as a way to avoid the writing/editing I was supposed to do. I was too tired, too bored, too uninspired, too yada yada yada to write.

There are real reasons why writing/editing might not get done as planned. The day job might throw more work at me. I usually only write/edit during the day job as I do need to unwind from the day for my mental sanity. Writing is not unwinding for me. I don't write much on the weekends for the same reason, although I am trying to make some time on my longer (more than one day) weekends. Health reasons are an acceptable excuse for not writing. I've been sick and injured. It's really hard to write those days, and it's okay not to write on those days. I've also had more joint pain and probably have carpal tunnel (doctor's appointment next week about it), which slows down the writing. To me, those are acceptable reasons to slow down and maybe not write for a day or two.

But no more of those flimsy excuses. No. More.

Okay, true, it's a work in progress, but I'm doing better. That's why I've been slower to respond to blogs and social media. Making writing/editing a prerogative means I sometimes don't get around to blogs/social media every work day. Sometimes I'll take a work day to just catch up on blogs/social media. So far it is working out better that way, even though I don't stop by as quickly as I used to.

What's your motto for this year? Do you find excuses not to write/edit?

Read Chapter Eighteen here or click here to start from the beginning.

Writing Update: February Goals

Happy Wednesday!
Although I'm already behind where I'd hoped to be, I am very pleased with the progress I've made. I'm over a third finished with the second edition content edit of Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, and I'm very happy with the two chapters I've written in Marked and the one scene in "On Day 168." I'm hoping to kick things into a higher gear in February, and I'm crossing my fingers that the day job will be calmer than it has been in January.
Best of all, I'm loving writing again. It's energizing me and getting rid of the clutter in my mind. I remember now why I write and feel in a better place with my writing. This is very good because there were a lot of times last year I really considered stopping the torture I was putting myself through and quitting either by taking everything down and acting like being a writer never happened or finishing up The Fate Challenges (I do hate leaving a series hanging) and never publishing anything after that. Sometimes we need a break to refocus and reorganize what we want, and I'm happy that I still want to write and share all these stories in my head.
Also my writer anniversary came up in January! On January 15, 2009, I decided to write with publication in mind and wrote my first chapter of Reborn, which I published in May 2014.
That said, here are my February goals: Once upon a Nightmare  - I want to finish the second edition content edit. I still have line edits and two proofreads (one on my Kindle and one print proof) left to do before publishing. Once I finish the content edit, I'll be taking down the individual stories and the collection (ebook/print) from other retailers. I wasn't going to do a print version at this time, but I found the perfect pre-designed cover art and getting both ebook and print covers together cost the same as getting either print or ebook. I plan to publish the ebook in KDP Select for a limited time and publish the print book everywhere. Marked  - I will keep writing Marked."Paper Lanterns" - This short story will be in Untethered Realms' anthology Mayhem in the Air (Forthcoming 2015), and I would like to complete my self-edit of it before sending it to our first editor (I'm the second editor of the anthology). I haven't said too much about "Paper Lanterns." The story is futuristic fantasy, and the premise is how far would a person go to destroy the one he loved who betrayed him. The story involves paper magic and takes place about twenty-five years before a New Adult series I'd like to write one of these days."On Day 168" - If time, I'd like to write another scene in "On Day 168," which will be in UR's anthology Ghosts of Fire (Forthcoming 2016). "On Day 168" is epic fantasy and is set in the Amoran universe but in Norvadia (the Great Beyond) instead of the Kingdom of Amora.What are your goals for February?

2015 Writing Stats (1/1/2015-1/27/2015): 7748 words written and 61 pages edited

Falling for #SpecFic: The Hobbit - Book and Movies / Wattpad Wednesdays: Reborn Chapter 17

After watching The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in movie theaters, I decided to read the books. I read The Hobbit back in 2002 and followed it up with The Lord of the Rings. Last year, I re-read The Hobbit so I could compare it to the movies.

I must say I had forgotten a lot between reading the book in 2002 and watching the first two movies before re-reading the book, including who died at the end. I enjoyed re-reading the book. The movies didn't stray too much, with some exceptions.

What I loved about the book and movies equally:

BilboThe dwarvesGollum, the riddles, and how Bilbo gets the ringThe eagles
What I loved in the movies more than the book:The elvesSmaugOrcs/goblins
What I loved in the book more than the movies:The lack of the love triangleThe focus on Bilbo's story
What I disliked about the movies:The love triangleThe battling of the Necromancer (It was a little anticlimactic for me.)The splitting of the book into three movies (Two would've been better.)The way the third movie lacked a beginning, middle, and end and felt more just like the endRadagast (Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy this strange little wizard, but I felt his scenes were a bit too long.)
What I loved about the movies that wasn't in the book:Tauriel (So I didn't care as much about the love triangle, but she was pretty kick@ss in general.)I liked the earlier Necromancer scenes, just not the final oneThe connection with The Lord of the Rings (Now I want to re-read The Lord of the Rings and re-watch the movies!)
Have you read The Hobbit or seen the movies? What did you think of them?


It's time for another chapter of Reborn to go up on Wattpad. Read Chapter Seventeen here or start from the beginning here .

And speaking of Speculative (Spec) Fiction (Fic), Untethered Realms will be hosting #SpecFicChat on Fridays on Twitter.

Next chat begins January 23, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. GMT/1:00 p.m. EST
Topic: Punking it up. What's the attraction of Steampunk?
Use #SpecFicChat to join the conversation any time. The chat is ongoing.