Amanda L. Davis's Blog, page 8

No Writing Getting Done . . . So

Here's a picture of my blanket.


Now this isn't just any blanket, mind you. At my house this is referred to as 'The duck blanket'. For reasons I'm sure you can surmise. ;)

This blanket is with me when I do most of my writing. It is very heavy, with a furry feel to it, and I like to spread it over my lap as I write. It protects my knees from my laptop. See, when I write, normally I sit cross legged on my with my laptop on my knees--It seems to be the most efficient writing posture for me.

Since I use this blanket while writing, I thought I'd show it to you. It's 21 years old and still holding strong-no holes or anything. One of the ducklings did try to detach itself from the blanket late last year, but I reattached it, I don't think it would have liked being separated from the others. ;)

Buried Under Sewing

Writing has been put on hold again.

Seems like this has been happening a lot, hasn't it?

Anyway, I have two cousins 11 and 15 who are in 4-H. They compete in sewing event each year, and I am their teacher. Since I'm their teacher, I'm rather busy helping them get ready!

We have three projects going on at once in my tiny little office.

These projects are due on April 20th, and we're sewing like mad bunnies.

This means no time for writing at the moment.

Noble Imposter Is Available For Pre-Order

Though we don't have an exact release date yet, I know that Noble Imposter should come out in the late spring or summer. I've made it available for pre-order on my website and will ship out any orders whenever I receive my first copies of NI.

www.amandaldavis.com


CBD.com also has NI for pre-order, but you don't get an autographed copy that way. ;)


In other news, I'm still working on book 3, the final book in the trilogy. I've had a few set backs, being sick, being out of town, etc. Our well went out on Saturday, so we had no water over the weekend. It was repaired this morning, however, so we're doing much better around here now.

Those of you who use city water don't have to deal with this kind of thing, but those of us on well water don't have to deal with chlorine in our water. ;)

Now back to writing I go!



Number of Speaking Events Total: 102
Number of Signings: 18
Number of Interviews : 15

Noble Imposter's Cover Is Here!

I'm pleased to announce that we now have a cover for Noble Imposter! I think it looks excellent and really reflects the scene that it's depicting.




Does it raise questions for you? I hope so.

I think it's my favorite of the two covers. What's your opinion?

With Hands Like These . . .

It's hard to write.

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but my fingers are swollen because of the chicken pox.

But don't worry--I'm on the mend and will start writing again soon.

Now This is Unexpected

Remember the allergic reaction I mentioned in the previous blog post?

Well, I was wrong. It isn't an allergic reaction.

It's chicken pox. Yes. Twenty years old and I get the chicken pox. It's double frustrating because I had the vaccine as a child. Apparently, it didn't do me much good.

So I'm stuck feeling miserable for a week or so until it runs its course. Who knew chicken pox could form on one's eyeballs? They can and do, if you were wondering.


So writing CCB3 is postponed for awhile until I feel better.

Illinois

Here I am in Illinois. Rockford, Illinois, to be more precise.

We're doing a 5 hour long seminar today. Well. My dad is. I'm manning the book table. It's easier that way. He's a better writing teacher than I am anyway, since he's been doing it for 10 years and I . . . haven't.

Currently, I'm battling an allergic reaction to some mold I came in contact with. Hives from neck to toe -- not fun, I can tell you that. Fortunately, I don't have any on my face. Yet. They're still working their way down my arms, too. I'll spare you any more itchy details.

While I sit at the book table while my dad speaks, I am working on the Cantral Chronicles book 3 (CCB3).



Updated number of speaking events.



Number of Speaking Events Total: 102
Number of Signings: 18
Number of Interviews : 13


Places Spoken In:

Florida
Kansas
Texas
New Mexico
California
Washington
British Columbia
Montana
Colorado
Nebraska
Missouri
Indiana
Wisconsin
Michigan
Illinois
Georgia
North Carolina
Maryland
New York
New Jersey
Virginia


Places signed in:


Georgia
Texas
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
British Columbia
Colorado
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Michigan
Florida
Maryland

Thanks

Thank you everyone for your interest in being pre-pub readers for Noble Imposter.

I now have a list made with more readers than I would ever be allowed to let pre-read, but thank you for your interest! I haven't been given the go ahead to pick from my list yet, but once I am allowed, I will contact whoever I chose and let you know if you are a pre-pub reader.

So please don't email me asking if you can be a pre-pub reader, because unfortunately, the spots are all filled. Thanks for all your interest! It's really encouraging to know so many people would like to read Noble Imposter!

Gluten Free, Pecan, Oatmeal, Banana Bread

Now usually I keep my blog for writing purposes only, but then I figured that that would get boring pretty quickly and thought you guys really might not mind so much if I posted about other things.

Am I right?


The verdict is out.


Anyway.

Yesterday my doctor's daughter posted on her gluten free blog, (Yes, I follow my doctor's daughter's blog, but I've known my doctor since I was born, so it's really not that creepy.) and she posted this delicious looking recipe that I decided I just had to try.


Gluten Free, Pecan, Oatmeal, Banana bread.

It's as delicious as it sounds. I made one loaf yesterday and it's already almost gone. We have three gluten free people in my house, so it was an easy undertaking. ( I am one of those gluten free people, if you were wondering.)


Then the gluten eaters (That sounds insulting, doesn't it.) decided that they needed some banana bread, too. Fortunately, we had enough frozen bananas for two loaves, so I made another loaf. We also have three gluten eaters in our house, but 1 person wanted nuts in it, 1 person didn't care, and 1 person really doesn't like nuts. So I made a mini loaf for the nut hater and put pecans in the main loaf. ;)


This was all on a few short writing breaks. I wrote 1,500 words on the third book in the Cantral Chronicles (CCB3) yesterday and hope to get some more done today.


Oh, and the recipe from the blog itself!

http://glutenfreejulieb.blogspot.com/2012/03/banana-pecan-oatmeal-bread.html?spref=fb

Pre-Publication Readers for Noble Imposter

Would anyone like to be a pre-publication reader for Noble Imposter?I would like to make a list of people who would be willing to read NI before it is published. If you want to sign up, here are the stipulations:

Just because you're on the list, doesn't mean you'll get to read the book. I don't know for certain if my publisher will do pre-pub readers. This is just so I'll have a list if I need one.
You must write up a review of the book and send it to me.
I'll need your email address and possibly your mailing address, depending on if we do digital versions of the book or hard copies, so if you're under 18, get parental permission first.

--

I'm looking for people between certain ages to be potential pre-pub readers. I have some ages covered already.

I need 2 girls between the ages of 10 and 15 and 1 boy between the ages of 10 and 15.

I also need one person who has not read Precisely Terminated to read Noble Imposter to make sure it is clear even if you haven't read the first book.

Meet those requirements? Send me a an email (see address below) with your email address, name, and age and I'll put your name on a list. But remember, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get to read NI before it's published.

Not between those ages but know someone who is? Tell them about it and they can contact me at amanda(at)daviscrossing(dot)com. ( Replace the (at) with an @ and the (dot) with a period.)

Meanwhile, a picture from my front yard.

Along with my cool socks.