Alex Laybourne's Blog, page 98

Late Late ROW80 Check-in

I had no time yesterday for a check-in and am writing this just before taking my son to school.

I hit my 750 a day target, and even managed just over 1000 both Tuesday and Wednesday so I am feeling good about myself. I am beginning to become away that the story is dragging a bit so I have flagged the section for a bit more intense editing once I am done and am speeding things up. I'll smooth out the links a little later.

I am continuing my Halloween 2011 blog tour today by appearing on two blogs. Yes, you get a double whammy of my crazy notions. Feel free to check for the posts when they appear over at the homes of the wonderful Susan Bischoff and Jennifer Wylie

 

I also had a brain wave idea for possible two different series that I would love to explore further, but that is about 13 novels away so I have more than enough time to think about them.

Well, that's it for now as I have to run. Thanks for stopping by.

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The Halloween 2011 Blog Tour Continues At Fate Fixed

Today I am honored to be the guest over at the blog of the talented YA Para-Romance author Bonnie Wheeler

Without giving anything away, my post today talks about Horror (what else) and how, while it has a bad reputation, deep down inside I believe everybody likes horror. Those that claim they don't, well….. you're just gonna have to click here to find out.

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Highway to Hell: Halloween Tour 2011

Today it is my absolute pleasure to announce that I am guest posting over on the incredible blog of Andrew Mocete. If you don't follow this man, or at least read his posts from time to time, then you don't know what you are missing. This is after all a man who has a fan convention named after him. Fandrewcon.(Just ask either Kait Nolan, Susan Bischoff or Lauralynn Eliot and they will explain all I am sure.)

Andrew is a cup half full person. He believes in the silver lining of every situation, and actually writing my post for his site kind of change my own viewpoint in life. Learn a lesson every day is a new thing I am trying to keep myself positive and looking on the bright side of life.

When I approached Andrew, the first thing he said was that he didn't want the post to talk about writing but something else. So I came up with a post about character development. But wait… it's personal character not the ones we pluck from out minds and transpose onto paper.

I talk about some difficult moments and experiences in my life and put a positive glance on them. A fresh perspective and you what. Andrew might just be right. There is a silver lining and a positive way to look at things.

Without further ado Horror Author Alex Laybourne Is Here!

 

Stay tuned for some more guest posts this week as my Halloween tour continues.

ROW80: Check-In Time Again

Another week of writing has been completed, and I am in a great mood. I semi lowered my daily target to factor in my vacation and reduced writing opportunities, but still managed to exceed my target every day this week.

Also I did it without too much extra effort. In so far as without the 5am wake up and the 30 (sometimes 45) minute lunch break of uninterrupted writing time, I was faced a reduced writing period. TO top it off the program my wife watches once the kids go to bed finished and that was my main writing time when at home. I still wrote in this time, and for 30 – 45 minutes once my wife went to bed. So all in all I have reduced my writing time and still hit my targets. This can only mean one thing. I should be raising my target. I won't do it just yet, I have another week of vacation first and then I will see how things go when I am back on my working schedule again.

I also managed to read a good chunk of James Tallett's Tarranau last night, as the film choice of the evening was not a good one. The script made my cry in several places and not because it was emotionally written.

Sunday: 727

Monday: 1244

Tuesday: 905

Wednesday: 925

Thursday: 773

Friday: 829

Saturday: 933

This gives me a grand total for the week of: 6336 words.

This score keeps me on track to achieve my goal of finishing the first draft of the novel this round. I have officially decided not to enter the NaNoWriMo this year, because I would rather get this novel finished than create something new. As I know that the pressure of NaNoWriMo can easily lead to a Quantity over Quality scenario and at the end of the day that is not what I want, and I don't trust myself not to get carried away.

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Put A Leash On It

This is an older story of mine that I just loved the concept of, so I thought I would share it all with you.

The spot light came from the top of the police cruiser bathed Ray Edwards and his colleague Matt Hardy in a brilliant light. The patrol car came to a gentle stop and the light was extinguished.

"Evening gentlemen," The officer spoke to them. He was friendly enough, they were causing no trouble, just heading home following an after work beer.

"Can we help you officer?" Ray asked, unsure as to why they had been stopped; neither of them was drunk, not even slightly.

"We got an alert going off down at dispatch. You know what night it is Mr… Edwards." The cop asked, pausing to read the name from a page in his notebook.

"Yeah I'm heading home now; we just stopped off for a quick drink after work." Ray answered honestly. It was warm out, especially for a spring evening, but the hairs on Ray's arms stood erect, even more so when the slight breeze brushed against them. It made his skin tingle, as if somehow charged.

"Ok, but you know the rules, on a full moon you have to be inside before sundown. So hop in I'll give you both a lift." The cop said getting out of the car and opening the rear door to allow both men to climb inside.

"I'm really sorry about this." Ray said to him as they drove. "I've got my ankle tag on, I thought that was supposed to keep my under control." This was no lie. When the tags were introduced all sufferers were told that the charged band would help stem the urges pull of the full moon on their bodies.

"Well yeah, but it's only intended for home use, to keep families and loved ones safe. Out on the street, well it's just too intoxicating for guys like you once… once the moon is out I mean." The cop answered, stammering slightly.

"It's ok office. You can say it. I'm a werewolf. Matt here knows all about it. "And I really did think the band would keep me straight. You need to turn left here, and it's the house on the corner." Ray added as they approached his house. He could feel the band on his leg tingling as its electronic pulses were sent through his body counteracting the lunar pull.

The cop pulled the car up at the bottom of Ray drive and let both men out. "It's not a problem sir; just remember for the future when it's a full moon, home before dark. Sounds childish I know but it is in everyone's best interest." The cop told them, shaking both of their hands before getting back in his car and driving off.

"Well I'd better get inside then." Ray said to his friend. "I'll see you Monday." He offered his hand to Matt, who shook it and smiled.

"No, I'm off, the girls are on holiday and I promised to take them to the zoo Monday. I'm back in on Thursday. Have a good weekend buddy." Matt said, calling back over his shoulder as he went on his way.

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Waskracht: An Advertisement.

Taking a leap and trying to make your mark in the world by setting up your own business is no easy undertaking. There a lot of factors that need to be considered. Yet at the end of the day there are rewards on offer that just cannot be found by working for someone else.

My brother-in-law is someone who has thought things through and taken that leap. He has founded his own graphic design business, Waskracht

I know that the site is in Dutch, the best way to contact them is via email, and my brother-in-law Eelco Wijnands is perfectly fluent in English in both conversational and working terms so it won't be a problem.

To summarize their website, they offer (Diensten) :

Graphic Design:
Advertising (Online and Offline):
Logos:
Websites and Hosting:
Animation and Videos (Including Book Trailers):

Throughout every process the client is kept involved so that they have not only the chance to express their own individual style but can be involved in every step of the process to ensure that this vision is not lost at any point along the way.

Waskracht is a young company, eager to make their mark, their prices are more than competitive, turn around times are fast and satisfaction is guaranteed.

If you are interested; maybe you have been thinking about creating a book trailer but don't know where to begin, or would like some posters made up to promote your book launch, just drop an email to mail@waskracht.com. Feel free to tell them where you found their information.

Below is the book cover that Waskracht designed for me, and I am now saving up of them to make me a book trailer too.

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It's official: Children Give You Superpowers

It is no secret that children change your life. Nothing is ever the same once children come onto the scene. We can kid ourself as much as we like, but it is true. This doesn't mean that children are bad. Far from it. My kids are the greatest thing I have done. All I mean is life is no longer the same. You have people dependant on you, you have responsibilities and roles to fulfill. There is a great weight on the shoulder of parents, especially in the peril filed world we live in today.

Does that sound like anybody you know? People have been saying it for years about mom's (and Dad's – the ones (who like me) get involved in the raising of children, change the diapers, get up in the night etc. – they are superheros; running a house, raising children and still enjoying their own private time.

However, it was only tonight that I really gave thought to this phrase and realised that there is more to it than just the heroic background story. Being a parent does actually give you superpowers.

Let me explain:

Super Hearing: I can sleep through anything. I don't sleep long but I sleep deep. Fire alarms, police sirens, thunderstorms and hurricane strength winds. None of these ever enter into my dreams as a background noise. Yet the moment one of my children so much as breathes heavily I am awake and ready for anything.

Super Eyesight: I can walk into a room in the middle of the night, no lights on, sleep clouding the brain and yet I can spy a pacifier (Speen for my dutch friends) from fifty yards without even having to double-check. Then in one graceful sweep can gather it up, glide around the toys and other trip hazards a child filled home can bring, to effortlessly slip the thing into the crying babies mouth and diffusing the situations and saving the sleep for all concerned. Only to slink back into the covers of darkness without a word of thanks from anybody.

Super Stamina: We go out for a meal after work, miss out working day bed time and then the next morning wake up like bears with a sore heard because of the missed twenty-five minutes from the night before. Enter children; welcome sleepless nights. Midnight and Three am feeds, nightmares and toilet visits (for the potty trained eldest), lost pacifiers, nightlight requests. You name it, not a day goes by without at least a selection of these incidents being thrown your slumber interrupted way. Finally you drift off to sleep only for the alarm to sound ten minutes later. We get up, fresh as a Daisy and head off to work. This we can keep up for months.

Super Strength: I always used to go to the gym, often twice a day, but since the kids have arrived I have become superhuman, and this is all the more noticeable for those that do not carry a hidden workout obsession (tell that to the extra 20 kilos I am carrying). You can load me up. Strap a child to my back, one in each arm and one having a tantrum holding onto my legs, and I'm still good to go. I could walk for days without so much as slowing down. Try asking that of a mere mortal.

In short, I am seriously considering ending my finest office clothes to the tailor to have a bit of room made for my leotard underneath. I already wear glasses so there is my disguise, and how hard can it be to sew a patch onto a Spandex vest. Super Dad*. One of a kind, accept no imposters. Good for about 21 years of service before a regular check up is needed. Passcodes and Identification badges recognized in family members only.

 

*Super Dad is limited to one per household… extenuating cirumstances prevailing.

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ROW80: Smooth Sailing

I am loving my vacation. I am sleeping great, only an extra hour a night but it is making all the difference. The kids are behaving. Well two our of the three. My eldest is a hooligan, but he is four. I would expect nothing less.

On to my figures (as I know you are all just brimming with anticipation)

Sunday: 727

Monday: 1244

Tuesday: 905

The numbers are lower than in recent weeks, but as I said in my update on Sunday, I fully expected my numbers to go down during my vacation and as long as I get 600 words done then I am fine with it.

I have managed to catch up on some reading. I finished Revelation one of the short stories in Clive Barker's books of blood and made my way deeper into the rather perilous world of James Tallett's Tarranau

I don't think I will, but I would love to get this book finished this vacation. I love it and can't wait to see what happens, and also have a large list of books to be read on both my kindle and my bookshelf.

That's about it for this check-in. I will keep it brief and wish you all a great Wednesday and lots of inspiration.

Thanks for reading.

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Living In Limbo

I am on vacation now. Two glorious weeks away from the office to do nothing but spend time with my kids, write and hopefully catch up on some reading.

However, there is of course one other thing that vacation time is useful for. FIxing up the house, carrying out those odd jobs that you put off weekend in and weekend out because you only have two days off and don't want to give one away to some arduous task.

We have a few things that we would like to get done in the coming fortnight, but for the most these are items of general housekeeping that often get shelves. Vacuuming and mopping under the sofa and the beds, sorting through the clothes and disposing of junk etc.

Don't get me wrong there is plenty that I would love to do in the flat, and just as much my wife would love to see done. Such as decorate the boys bedroom. They moved into the large bedroom just before out daughter was born, as we only have three bedrooms in the flat and through the boys deserve the bigger room as they will be sharing and quite frankly have more stuff than we do. Consequently their room is a purple colour while ours is blue with a child's decorative border and a few Dora the Explorer stickers that are stuck the wall and refuse to come down. I would also love to replace the flooring through the entire flat because it was left to us by the previous owners 3 years ago when we moved in, and it was no even close to new then.

The main problem however, besides the cost of such a large-scale upgrade, is that fact that we rent this flat and are hoping to be eligible for a house early next year. Either through the renting system that is in place here in Holland, or because we will qualify for a house or a property with a garden as a result of our youngest son's Autism. Whatever the reason, the likely hood is that within the next 12 months we will be living in a house / larger place. Therefore we see no reason in investing in this flat when we should be saving the money to decorate the (potential) house.

So until then we are kind of living in limbo. We keep the house clean and tidy of course we do, and we invest the money where it is needed, but to fix it up purely out of a matter of taste and an old-looking floor is simply a waste of funds. We are happy, out children are healthy and that is all that matters, but at the same time, I for one am looking forward to being able to say this is my home, I can invest in it, I can improve it for me, and not for the people who will move in after us.

 

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ROW80: Short and Sweet

Well, I am now on vacation for the next two weeks. Not going anywhere but just enjoying some time away from the office. The only thing is that it will mean I am much less productive in my writing. I lose the 5am wake up call (unless I get up at 5 am in my vacation which is much harder than it sounds.) I lose my lunch break and quiet moments, and am reduced to a short writing window around 19:15 – 20:00 while my wife watches a TV show she follows.

So I apologize if this update feels somewhat 'light', it is just that I really want to finish the chapter I am working on tonight.

Sunday: 1113

Monday: 1522

Tuesday: 455

Wednesday: 1228

Thursday: 1374

Friday: 1693

Saturday: 493

This gives me a total of 7878 words for the week, not including a few blog posts of around 2000 words in total. All in all very good numbers, and it puts me on target to not only hit my ROW80 goals this round, but to do so with some time to spare. My aim is to hit the 750 a day during my vacation, but may lower it to 600 for the next two weeks. It's not an official change, but more of an accepted lowering of the target due to extenuating circumstances.

To finish on an even bigger high, Highway to Hell has received its first 5 star review, check out the posting at Amazon here.

I hope you are all having a great weekend. Thanks for reading.

 

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