Cate Morgan's Blog, page 25
December 31, 2011
Year Of The Writer Monkey
Or, Times, They Are A-Changin'
According to the Chinese calendar, I was born during the Year of the Dragon. This apparently means several things–that I'm highly creative, am secretly a loner despite having no trouble making friends, and have a nasty little habit of making ambitious plans and wanting to accomplish them all in one go. It also means I'm fiercely loyal and something of a fighter. (Funny–I just thought I was Irish.)
Fast forward 11-12 years when the Year of the Dragon swings round again. It's a difficult period in my life. Hitting puberty and all the angst this implies, in a hurry to be an adult, seeking approval from someone, anyone. Not great in school, a natural musician but without the inclination (let alone drive) to become truly great. I played both piano and clarinet, entered a top level junior high that was highly competitive and more like a high school, and epically failed to belong (a pattern I was unable to break three solid years until I discovered the threatre). In the struggle to find myself without much support from home I managed to give myself an ulcer. I was twelve.
Again, 11-12 years later, Year of the Dragon. Now destiny begins to take hold. I have a day job in a field I never would have imagined coming into, one I'm good at but don't particularly like. But it gives me my weekends and evenings free, with the added bonus of a two-minute commute consisting of walking across the street. It is a relief to live alone in peace and quiet, amidst a thriving theatre district. Between my apartment building and my office building is a qaint, quirky little bar. This proves convenient for meeting my future husband the same day my long-distance relationship breaks up without ever really taking hold. Whoever said everything happens for a reason knew what they were talking about. Hubs and I started talking that night and haven't stopped since.
I think someone's on to me.
In January 2012 the Year of the Dragon will arrive yet again, carrying on until February 2013, and the theme of change continues. Hubs and I not only moved out of state, but to an altogether different part of the country. I'm still in the same field of business, and once again we domicile across the street from the day job. But I've published my first story with a great publisher, with more on the way. By the time the Year of the Dragon comes around again I want, so badly, to be able to say my day job is my passion–writing. It was always books that carried me through the changes, good and bad.
Here's to making the Year of the Dragon the Year of the Writer Monkey. Not just for me, but for all of us who live in books.
December 1, 2011
MonkeyWatch-December 2011
What a long, strange trip it's been.
Brighid's Cross
Big, soppy, glorious THANK YOU to all who helped my launch my maiden voyage this month. The reviews haven't been half bad, and the interview experiences over with Moira Rogers and Number One Novels was thrilling, the commenters without equal. Big Author Hugs to all. You are all Fuh-mazing.
Marked (Keepers #2)
A (very) rough draft is in the trunk, with airholes punched in. Lovely, Intrepid Editor has left Samhain Publishing to much wailing and gnashing of teeth on my part, and I'm sure I'm not alone.I'm already in touch with Shiny New Editor, whom I must find a worthy moniker for.
Big Dang Projekt
Closing in on the home stretch. December 31 is fast approaching. Cross your fingers and utter prayers to the dear and fuzzy lord of your choice and the 'Verse at large on my behalf, folks.
Looking Ahead To 2012
Workshop/Edit/Polish/Shop Big Dang Projekt
Spin the "Wheel of "Projekts" to determine next year's er, Big Dang Projekt.
Use my Little Black Book of Story Ideas ™ and Official Random Idea Chooser* to determine which three novellas I'm going to develop for the year.
Get back on the Online Writer Workshop paddy wagon asap. Time to spread some good karma, since I've been such an overwhelming recipient myself.
12-week bloggity blog series on acquiring/maintaining balance (no to mention sanity) in the writing life, based on principles of the Franklin Covey. I'm a huge fan, and it occurred to me that while FC focuses on all life, I wanted to narrow it down to the Writing Life. I guess this means I should begin prepping now. *grins*
Continue ROW80 as a participant and a sponsor. Because the Awesome does not stop.
*dartboard
October 31, 2011
November 2011-Monkey See
November 1: Brighid's Cross Launch
It's HERE!
And HERE. And THERE. And OVER HERE.
*speechless*
November 1-30: Author Q&A on Goodreads
All month long I'm answering questions, hosting contests, and helping folk fight off zombies in the apocalyptic ring.
November 4: Apocalyptathon
Dream Team Moira Rogers features lil' ol' me during thirty-days of (literally) world-shattering romance. Undead armies of writers, battlefields of apocalypses, hellfires of giveaways. HELLFIRE, I say!
There will be more as reviews and giveaways become available, but for now I'd say we're off to a head-ripping start.
See you at the barbeque!
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October 10, 2011
Brighid’s Cross Launch Party: Seven Degrees of Awesome
Who: YOU
What: Brighid’s Cross Launch/Halloween Party
When: Halloween, October 31–all day long
Where: Twitter
How: #keepers (@typemonkeytype)
Halloween is my favorite holiday.
Halloween is also known as Samhain.
Samhain Publishing is releasing Brighid’s Cross on All Saint’s Day, the day after Halloween.
COINCEDENCE? I think NOT.
So. In honor of this Halloween Sauce made of Awesome, I am throwing a Twitter party on 10/31, all day. Share your Halloween shenanigans, post pics, and have any number of chances for a free copy of Brighid’s Cross as a big ol’, tear-filled THANK YOU for helping me slingshot my first publication into the scary scary world.
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Brighid's Cross Launch Party: Seven Degrees of Awesome
Who: YOU
What: Brighid's Cross Launch/Halloween Party
When: Halloween, October 31–all day long
Where: Twitter
How: #keepers (@typemonkeytype)
Halloween is my favorite holiday.
Halloween is also known as Samhain.
Samhain Publishing is releasing Brighid's Cross on All Saint's Day, the day after Halloween.
COINCEDENCE? I think NOT.
So. In honor of this Halloween Sauce made of Awesome, I am throwing a Twitter party on 10/31, all day. Share your Halloween shenanigans, post pics, and have any number of chances for a free copy of Brighid's Cross as a big ol', tear-filled THANK YOU for helping me slingshot my first publication into the scary scary world.
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September 30, 2011
October 2011 – Cate Watch
Spotting the elusive Writer Monkey in the wild . . .
Brighid's Cross:
One month until launch! Where does the time go? o_O We have cover art and pre-order capability is engaged (see my Keepers of the Flame page for linky-links). Also, I now have an Author Page on Amazon and am fixing to launch a Facebook page for the Keepers series, so keep (ha) a weather eye on the horizon for further updates throughout the month. Shelfari actually has the first chapter available to try, so feel free to come round and have yerself a gander.
I also need to get a Goodreads event or three in gear. Anyone have a line on a good countdown widget? Leave it in the comments.
Keepers of the Flame #2:
Book 2 now has a working title of Marked. I'm buzzing through the rough draft, utterly missing my self-imposed deadline, but that's okay. I didn't sell Marked on proposal (even though Lovely, Intrepid Editor has agreed to let me submit it directly to her, even if all her spots are filled), so I can enjoy the sound of ballistic deadlines zooming past my head. I do, however, want at least a rough draft done before launch of Book 1.
Big Dang Projeckt:
Alls I can say is, oof. Still pecking merrily way, but there are going to be some serious revisions happening once I get to the end. Ser-ee-ous. But that's okay. There's a time for revisory endeavors, and after the first draft is pounded out in a lump of blood, sweat, and cursing is that time. I haven't gotten much past Midpoint, honestly, but this is always the slowest/most frustrating part for me–the torturous climb to Plot Point 2. On the upside, most of Climax to Closing Scene is already pretty much written. I think the initial draft is going to end up clocking in at around 100K words, but as I'm not one for keeping track of word count, that's just a rough guesstimate.
ROW80:
Round 4 of the writing challenge that lets you have a life (and thank goodness for dat) is just around the corner, and once again I'm helping sponsor, because I believe in giving back. I've been very, very blessed this year, especially on the writing front, and I give thanks for every day I get to do what I love most. This is my chance to pay it forward.
September 28, 2011
Brighid's Cross – Now Available for Pre-Order
You know you're dreaming when . . .
Or, if you prefer . . .
It doesn't get much better than this 
September 27, 2011
Literary Rambles: Guest Post
Greetings, shiny-happy readers! Still plugging away at Keepers of the Flame #2 and Big Dang Projeckt, but in the meantime you can check me out over at Literary Rambles for their weekly Tip Tuesday feature. Chocolate alert!
September 12, 2011
Brighid's Cross Update-Cover Art!!
I heart Kanaxa. Raaaally, I do.
ALSO: Mark the date! I will have another guest post up on Literary Rambles for their Tip Tuesday feature on September 27. W00T!!
