Tabitha Levin's Blog, page 4

Experimenting with First Person

So far, all of the stories that I’ve written have been written in third person. I’ve been comfortable with that style for awhile, but lately I’ve been more and more drawn to stories written in first person.

I’ve become a huge fan of HM Ward who writes in first person present, and my all time favorite series is the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz (first person past). (The first Odd Thomas is myfavoritebook of all time.)

So with my next story, The Brute, which will be published sometime next mon...

Updating Stranger Delight

Since I wrote Stranger Delight two years ago, I’ve grown as a writer. I’ve learned how story structure works, what makes a good character, I’ve done courses on cliffhangers and openings, and while I’m still not bestseller status (much more practice is required), I’m improving all the time.

It’s for that reason that I wanted to rewrite some of my earlier stories, especially Stranger Delight. I didn’t want to change the story in any way, but I felt it wasn’t doing it’s job effectively anymore.

So...

Feathered Bliss is LIVE

Yah! Feathered Bliss has been published. I’m really excited, nervous, tired, all of the above.I put so much sweat and tears into this book, and hope it shows through.

There will be one more book after this and then the Feathered Trilogy is done and I can start a new series (I’ve got some ideas for a contemporary romance that’s been buzzing around my head).

But I can’t get ahead of myself when Feathered Bliss is here. Woohoo.

For launch week – both books in the Feathered series will be marked dow...

Title and Cover Reveal

We’ve got a title! We’ve got a cover! We’ve got a release date!
First let’s start with the title.

Two weeks ago, I was still unsure about what I wanted to call Feathered #2. I was playing around with the idea of marriage or joining. But nothing really seemed to feel right.

After a quick brainstorming session I’ve finally found the title I love.

FEATHERED BLISS

(It’s a play on ‘wedded bliss’.) What do you think? Do you love it as much as I do? I hope so.

Now for the cover

We used the same feather det...

Feathered 2 – Help Me Choose The Title

I’ve just finished the second draft and the book is with my beta reader. They should get it back to me within a week, which means it’s getting closer! After that I’ll incorporate any changes they suggest (if I agree), copy-edit, proof and format it. I’m estimating around two more weeks.

So now it’s time to finalize the title so I can give it to my cover designer. We’ve already settled on the overall image (it will use feathers like the first book, but this time in a heart shape) but we need th...

Feathered #2 First Draft Complete

I finished the first draft of Feathered #2 (yet to be named) late last week. I had planned on getting the second draft done over the next two weeks before I send it to my beta readers (okay beta ‘reader’ since I only have one ) and then make any changes and push to final editing.

But this week went haywire!

Firstly I’ve been having total computer nightmares with my hunk a junk not switching on properly (probably due to it being over five years old – which is ancient in computer years), and tha...

Feathered #2 – Half Way

I hoped to be further along right now, but life got in the way this month and I only averaged about 620 new words on the novel per day. But at least I’ve reached the half way mark.

At the current rate I won’t get it finished for another six weeks — which is completely unacceptable, so I need to up my productivity.

I can do over 2,000 words on a good day, so if I increase my word count to double or triple my current average, I could bring it down to just a few weeks (and an extra week or two for...

Feathered #2 – 19,000 words

I’ve had a very slow writing week this past week, mostly due to school holidays (the kids driving me crazy) and that my mother is in town and staying with us.

As a result I haven’t had a chance to get to the computer much, so I only managed a mere 5,000 words.

Today I did buy a keyboard for my iPad though, so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to steal some minutes here and there while I’m sitting on the sofa. That’s the plan anyway. Although I’m not sure how my writing process is going to work yet u...

14,000 words into Feathered 2

I’m 14,000 words into the first draft of Feathered #2 (still a bit of an uphill slog to go) but I’m feeling good about the direction the novel is going.

There isn’t as much ‘actiony’ stuff going on, as there was in the first novel. I wanted to focus more on the relationship between Zan and Ruby in this. You also get to see more of Zan’s point of view as well – which we missed in the first.

The cover is all but done. The designer is just waiting for me to decide on the actual title first I’ve g...

What’s Your Reason for Writing?

I love Pink and everything she stand for.

I was watching P!nk on TV last night and was overcome with how bloody brilliant she is, not only as a songwriter, but as a person.

I’ve always liked her music. Her stories that permeate passion and angst (depending on the song) and how she can say something I’m feeling and make it come alive with such beautiful lyrics and music.

So yeah, I love her.

But also I love what she represents. She stands up for her beliefs, isn’t afraid to tell someone if they...