Lisa Logue's Blog, page 12

I'm back! (I think)

There's no better way to recover from running around like a madwoman than going back to work! Seriously, I'm kidding. I'd take running around to sitting around any day. Not to mention, I get more time with my kids. But I digress.



How was everyone's holidays? My Christmas was pretty good. The hunny bought me a new necklace with real diamonds and he was very proud (as he kept reminding me) of the great job he did :). Even without diamonds, Christmas with those I love would have been good enough. It's not about the gifts as much as the quality time. But gifts are a plus :). I was pleasantly surprised with how well New Years went. It was very mellow with only a few beers and lots of laughs. Those are the times I enjoy the most. The kiddos were away for a week, but they're home now and resting up for school tomorrow. 



As you might have guessed, I've been pretty busy. Unfortunately, Soul Covenant has not yet been completed. That is one of my goals for this month, so be on the lookout for that very, very soon. I hadn't expected December to be such a busy month for me. Another thing on my to-do list is to be more efficient with my time. I'll keep you posted on how that goes lol. I'm projecting not very well, but only time will tell!



I could probably ramble on all night, as it's been too long since my last blog, but I need sleep! Going back to work after two long weekends is kicking my butt! I'll be back tomorrow to fill you all in on some pretty cool stuff coming up very soon. Nite nite!



xoxoxoxo

Merry Hobbit-days and Happy Christmas!!

Blah, talk about a long week! I haven't really gotten a whole lot done this week, aside from some cosmetic changes to my website and a social media blitz. I'm exhausted, but it'll all be worth it someday! At least that's what I keep telling myself- haha. I've been trying to cram as much "stuff" into my day as possible. Does anyone else think we need an extra day somewhere in there? I'd probably still complain about not having enough time, but I digress.



On another note- it's almost Christmas! Just to show you guys how much I <3 you, all of my books will be free on 12/25-12/26. That's right all of my books. I figured it's a pretty good way to end out the year and get my butt in gear. There is a lot in the works for next year! Currently, we're aiming for Legacy of Secrets to be completely finished by this time in 2013. It's bittersweet, but necessary. I'll also be working on a few more projects and, quite possibly, will have some completely new books before the end of next year. I normally have a hard time working on more than one thing at once, but I'm going to see what I can do about overcoming that. I hope you all don't mind being the guinea pigs!  


Aside from all the writing stuff, I went to go see The Hobbit yesterday. Epic!!!! I remember having to read the book years ago and it took forever for me to get into it, but this movie made me want to go read the book again! It was fantastic! There was emotion, action, adventure and a beautiful sound track. It was such a wonderful production. I've let my inner fangirl show herself to such an embarrassing degree that I think it's time to go back to something more productive :D.



Have a great holiday if I don't see you all before- Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!



xoxoxoxo

Lazy News

I don't know about you all, but I haven't been doing much of anything lately. I think I might be getting some type of sinus bug, so I will be heading to Kroger tomorrow for some much needed medication. Due to feeling weird, I haven't gotten much done. I'm bummed by that, but I also didn't mind it at the same time. I don't have many lazy days with my schedule anymore!



But, I do have a few new things coming up that I wanted to let you guys know about, so here it goes!



Indie Author Network (IAN)

- Contests running through 12/15 for some swag prizes, free pdf book copies (Binding Secrets is included and it's signed!), and more!


Paranormal Book Club

- Votes for the "Best of 2012" going on through the end of the month! Vote for your favorites already listed, or add those you think should be in the running. 



Yezall's Serials

- Good friend and author buddy of mine, Yezall Strongheart, is offering free serial reads on her website. It doesn't hurt to check them out!



New Tumblr Blog

- I've set up a new blog roll on Tumblr for inspirational photos, music, quotes and so on as it pertains to my writing journey. Follow me to join in the fun!



New Cover Release

- I'll be releasing the new covers for Soul Covenant and Fiery Secrets before the end of the month. Char and I are working on the finishing touches for the Soul Covenant cover and once it's done I'll be dropping it for all to see!



Soul Covenant Release

- I'm in the middle of writing this one right now, but I'm shooting for the end of the month. Everything is on track and we're editing as we go so it shouldn't take any time at all. This will be a completely different experience for everyone and I'm completely stoked!



Love During Death Release

- My good friend and author buddy Rachel A Olson will be releasing another book in January 2013 that she co-authored with Jessica Humphrey. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to beta for her, but I've heard good things so far and can't wait to snatch this up! I'm in the middle of reading The Seventh Layer right now and I know I won't be disappointed. :)





I think that's just about all of the news I have tonight. It's after 11:00 pm where I am and I have to be up for work at 7:00 am. If tonight is anything like last night, sleeping should be fun! (NOT)



Good night folks!



P.S.- We decorated our Christmas tree last night. What do you guys think?





 

One year later...

So I talk a lot about what I'm doing in the writing area and some little things, here or there, about myself and the family, but I never really discuss where I am now compared to a year ago when I started this blog. The day to day doesn't seem to change, but looking back it seems like a completely different time and place. 



Where am I now?






    My current books are published only with Amazon, but I'm branching out from that program very soon. The first two books will be available on Barnes & Noble around the Spring of 2013. I'm excited for them to be available there and I hope it will broaden the spectrum for some of those who've wanted to read the books but are not on Amazon. It's all about giving the public what they want and I strive to keep my fans happy however I can. 

    There will be two more installments of "Legacy of Secrets". Fiery Secrets is book three and Shattered Secrets is book four. I am debating on another novella in between. Really, that depends on what the characters have to say! After Shattered Secrets, I will plan to release my first Sci-Fi novel (more about that coming soon!). So many exciting things!

    I am also a co-admin of Indie Author Network. We strive to bring good books and information to readers and writers alike. Currently, we're working on a line-up for next year's Author Spotlight. We'll feature some of the biggest names out there right now and some lesser known, but equally talented indies. One of the most important things to remember is that everyone starts out as an indie, even if they don't remain one for long. Writing isn't an overnight deal. It takes years to hone your skill and become something greater than you were. All of us are learning and evolving, no matter if we're traditionally published or otherwise. Ultimately, I don't care which books you read as long as you promote reading and literacy! 

    Lastly, I am perfectly happy being indie for the time being. I don't have plans on submitting anything to a publisher or seeking an agent because I enjoy this little piece of the pie. Sure, I'd love the bank roll that comes with a publishing contract, but unless I am approached with a phenomenal offer, indie is the way for me. So much of my heart goes into my work, I don't want to take away from that this early in the game. Not to mention, I'd rather not have to endure the agonizing process of hurry up and wait when it comes to submitting anything to a publisher. We'll see, though. Maybe I'll continue to be smiled upon by whichever God(s) and be able to further my dream and, by extension, my journey. 



xoxoxoxo

Bit & Pieces & A Sample!

So for the billionth time, I'm trying to write this blog post. I have probably erased and rewritten this about five times now, trying to figure out what exactly I want to say. It's so funny how I can write for three or four hours straight without so much as a hiccup, but writing a blog takes days. But I digress.




I've been toying with a few ideas in my head, mostly some dreams that I've realized could make pretty good stories. I think I might start posting some bits and pieces in between major writing on LoS. It seems once I started writing, I haven't been able to stop! Of course, that's not a bad thing. I'd rather have too many ideas than not enough. Also, I'll be debuting the cover for Fiery Secrets and Soul Covenant soon which I'm super excited about.




Speaking of Soul Covenant , I promised a preview like last week and unfortunately I had been too busy to deliver. So, I've decided that now is better than never. This is the first draft, a very rough one, so please be gentle!





Soul Covenant: A Legacy of Secrets Novella {Sample}


“They’ve
sent a messenger just this morning, my lady. The prince will be
expected in three days time with his army. How shall we proceed?” the
magistrate asked his queen.
 

Her
eyes shifted about the room, looking to the faces of her subjects.
Their fear was palpable, tasting like thick molasses on her tongue. Of
course she wouldn’t let on her own fears. As queen, she wasn’t allowed
the luxury of fear.
 

She
drew the goblet of purple liquid to her lips and relished in it’s
sweetness before speaking. “Send word to my sister. Let her know of the
prince’s message and rally her to meet in The Valley. We don’t have too
many soldiers, but we must orchestrate other methods. Also, we shall
seal the Soul Wells tonight. I’m sure the prince is seeking power and
I’d rather he not have mine.” The magistrate bowed low murmuring, “Yes,
my lady,” and exited the room.
 

It
was supper in the palace, but it felt more like a last meal. She knew
their chances of winning were slim. If she was honest with herself, she
knew there wasn’t a chance at all, but if her faith taught her nothing
it was to have hope when all seemed lost. As she rose in her chair, each
and every man and woman rose and bowed low in respect. Their worried
faces broke her heart.
 

A
bubbly, blonde haired boy bounded after her, giggling as he fluffed her
dress while she walked. She giggled herself, looking at the rosy face
of her little boy. He was the only diamond in a sea of coal that had
become her existence. She loved him dearly, just as she had loved his
father before his death. Oddly enough, it would be six years to the day
he’d been lost at sea when the prince arrived to slaughter her and her
people.
 

“Mamma, can we go to the gardens today? I want to feed the birds!” his bottom lip pouted slightly as he looked up at her.
 

She
smiled sweetly, “I think that’s a lovely idea, Austin. Why don’t you
run along and get changed. I’ll have Oscar come get you soon.” His
brilliant blue eyes lit up like the sun and he hugged her thigh in his
strong little arms. Her heart swelled at his affection.
 

“Please
don’t take too long, Mamma. I don’t want to miss the firebugs and
songbirds like we did last time,” he exclaimed in minor agitation. She
knelt to his height and held his chin softly, “I shall not keep my son
waiting long. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the man of the house, now
would I?”
 

He
puffed out his chest slightly, making a very serious, yet incredibly
adorable scowl, “That’s right! Time is of the of the essence and I want
to see the firebugs!”
 

“Yes,
my lord,” she bowed while trying not to laugh. “We shall be readied
immediately for our departure. Hurry along now, Austin. Daylight is
fleeting.” With that, the boy blew his mother a kiss and set off to find
his nanny. Perhaps the hardest part of the prince’s coming was knowing
she wouldn’t be able to save the only person left on the earth she
loved. He was doomed by his blood, just as she was.
 

A single tear slid down her cheek as she walked the long corridor to her chambers. Queens don’t cry,
she chastised herself and wiped the tear away quickly. If her husband
was still alive, she wouldn’t need to fret about such things. He would
have arranged the army and rallied with the other elven people without
her having to know about any of it. Sadly, that luxury was not one
befitting of her. Even after so long, she missed him dearly.
 

“Please tell me it isn’t true?” her youngest sister’s voice greeted her as she entered the chambers.
 

“I’m
sorry, Celia. I wish it wasn’t. The magistrate received the orders this
morning and in three days, the prince and his army will be here. I’m
sending word to Rene to meet me in The Valley,” she held her voice
steady, despite the tears threatening to spill over. She was a queen,
and queens show no weakness.
 

“Luz,
you cannot be series! They will swallow us whole, spit us out and do it
all over again if for nothing than to prove they can. We must leave
here. We have cousins, aunts and uncles who would keep us safe. Surely
you see this?” Celia touched her sister’s arm gently. Luz was always
brave, but she wasn’t stupid.
 

Luz
shook her head somberly, “There aren’t enough places for us to go. The
prince will only move to overtake those we love for the sake of another
banner to hang on his wall. We can save the others if we stay put. Even
if we cannot win, we can do our part to weaken the blow to the other
clans.”
 

“The
other clans? What about our clan? What about Oscar and Judith? Or
Olivia and Ronald? You’d sacrifice all your people to protect who
exactly? You’d sacrifice your son?” Celia was breathing heavy. Her lungs
felt hot and thick, like she was suffocating.
 

Luz
rounded on her with an anger Celia had never seen, “Go if you must be a
coward! Gather what little you have and flee from here! I will not stop
you, sister. This war is bigger than you and I. It’s been waging for
years, killing some we love dearly. You forget who’s husband perished
while fighting in our armies so many years ago. You haven’t lost
anything, Celia. Those you are trying to protect mean little to you. My
son shows more bravery in one little finger than you in your entire
being. He will not be endangered, and if things go as planned, neither
will anyone else. Leave me, before I decide to run you through with
Father’s sword!”
 

The
shocked and distant expression in Celia’s eyes was something Luz
wouldn’t soon forget. She backed out of the room slowly, chest heaving
with the tears she tried desperately to hold in. Betrayal was etched on
her face, and while it hurt Luz to have cut her so badly, there was a
reason Celia wasn’t queen. She shut the door firmly behind her, finally
leaving Luz alone.
 

Her
thoughts would constantly drift to her long, lost husband. Without him
the road was hard, but she’d never had to face war before. Their clan
was the most prosperous and also the largest. Usually, the other clans
would send messengers weekly for supplies and trade. Luz helped to build
the system, only to see it’s fall in the wake of her people’s fear.
 

A
knock at her door roused her, “Come in,” she rasped. Several maidens
entered, carrying wash basins and new clothing for the outing to the
gardens. She smiled at the thought of her precious little boy chasing
the firebugs and songbirds.
 

“My
lady, Sir Oscar is requesting an audience,” a maiden said quietly. Luz
nodded her head, granting access to one of the few men she trusted since
her husband’s death. He’d never shown her and Austin anything other
than kindness and was sure to silence those who didn’t obey. He bowed
low after entering the room and Luz smiled politely. Even after so long
as queen, she didn’t feel comfortable with people bowing to her.
 

“To
what do I owe this pleasure, Sir Oscar?” she nodded her chin slightly.
He slipped his hat gingerly onto the top of his head before speaking,
“It seems the little one is terrorizing the help again. He said you
wouldn’t keep him waiting and won’t take no for an answer, it seems.”
 

Luz
laughed and her cheeks reddened, “You know, I am set to punish him for
such things, but it is adorable. I am hopeful he’d make a good king one
day. He’s much like his father.”
 

Oscar’s
expression fell slightly, as it always did when Luz mentioned her late
husband. It was a shame. No matter the lengths he went, her love for
Isaac was always stronger than her appreciation for Oscar. It saddened
him, but he respected her position. “He’d make a fine king, my lady.
Shall I tell him it will be much longer?”
 

She
looked around at the various maidens, fluffing, primping and
straightening anything they could to make her look regal. “I am so
sorry, Oscar. Would you keep him occupied for a time more while we
finish here? We three shall then go. Is that suitable for you?”
 

“Of
course, my lady. We’ll wait in the foyer.” He withdrew from her
chambers with a rather disappointed temperament. His efforts towards Luz
were heartfelt and courteous, but always for naught. Countless times,
he even held her while she cried over the love she lost, but he was seen
as nothing other than a brotherly confidant.

Turkey Day...What's Next?

So here I sit, at 9:37 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day with a full belly and sleepy lids. The children are tucked in, but most likely not sleeping (I don't care as long as they're being quiet). I desperately want to sleep, but I can't help thinking there could be better, more productive things to do with my time off. Granted, it's only a four day weekend, but if I was motivated- key words- then I might be able to do a lot of the things I've been saying needed to get done. Alas, here I sit...you know the story.



Since it's technically a holiday vacation, I've been debating on writing or reading. I probably should read, but it almost feels like work that my brain is desperately screaming not to do. Writing would give me a head start on more than just one project, which could be a great thing, but also a lot of work. I guess I'm one of those people who has to have something to do. I never imagined myself to be a workaholic before, but publishing a few books and gaining some pretty awesome fans kind of pushes you. 



I guess I got my answer! Thanks for listening (reading)! See you guys in a few days and I hope your holiday is plentiful and fun!



xoxoxoxo

Writing & Breaking Dawn: Part 2 in review....

So as I work on Soul Covenant , I'm finding myself immersed in a completely different time and place. The other books in the series have touched mostly on the present, with Fire & Ice delving into the past only momentarily. This one, however, exists almost entirely in the past. A necessary part of Austin's story is figuring out how things came to be; why he is in the position he's in. I've started painting a pretty interesting picture thus far, but I'm not quite ready to share it yet!



As soon as I have the cover for this one, I will be sharing with the world! I'm pretty excited about it, as I say about pretty much any of my stories, but this is so far out of my element it can only be epic. It's hard to explain the feeling when you know something you're working on is leaning toward greatness, but trust me when I say it's a high like no other. (I'm a nerd, I know).



On another note, the boyfriend and I went to see Breaking Dawn: Part 2 yesterday. I was a bit torn, mostly because the reviews were less than impressive. I know, though, that there are a lot of people that simply bash anything Twilight, which is fine. I enjoyed the books for the love story's sake, but the movies sort of ruined it for me. I have to say though, I actually really enjoyed the finale. The surprises were FANTASTIC and it was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not a fan of the screenplay, which has been pretty consistent throughout, but it could have just been the way it was portrayed by the actors. 



Now, I'm not saying I dislike the actors in general, just the acting in these movies. I'm not a huge fan of


But I digress...I must head off to greet the rest of cyber-space! Thanks for reading my informal review. I think I'll begin posting movie and book reviews more often. After all, I can always talk about myself!!



xoxoxoxoxoxo

Writing & Junk & Stuff...

So Thanksgiving is coming up soon and I'm actually pretty excited about it. I don't normally love this time of year because of so much money being spent and so on, but I'm just generally in good spirits this year. There comes a time in everyone's life when things just sort of fit together in such a way that is unmistakably right and nothing can change your mind. This is where I am right now.



I don't have much going on aside from gearing up for the holidays. I've been writing the novella here and there, toying with some new methods. I won't go into detail as to not give too much away, but I will be definitely posting some previews shortly. I'm happy to say that I feel like the series is coming along nicely and we have some very exciting things up ahead. Be prepared for some surprises as new characters are introduced in the next installment. My heart beats a little faster just thinking about it!



But I digress. Hopefully I will have more interesting things to talk about next time. I'm not a very interesting person, so digging up noteworthy things to talk about is sometimes difficult. Oh well, such is life! Thanks for sticking with me folks, and be sure to follow me for the typical nonsense that I call news. You may feel robbed of a few minutes of your life when you're done reading my posts, but I feel as though we've bonded in even the smallest of ways. Oh yes, I went there.



Stay awesome and happy reading!!! :D xoxoxoxo

For the love of books...

Hello, lovelies! Today is Friday and I am oh so thankful for that! This week has been busy and I didn't sleep much, but I'm alive and kickin' and ready for the weekend! In case you missed it (and are living under a rock), Binding Secrets was released on Tuesday. My very good friend, and apparent fan, Rachel A. Olson left a wonderful review for me on Amazon. She read it in about two days and text me often to gush about the characters and happenings. I was flattered and excited that she enjoyed it and I can only hope anyone and everyone else reading it feels the same way. 



On another note, I will have the cover reveal for Fiery Secrets before Christmas. I'm flippin' excited!!! Char, my graphic designer, is amazing and always manages to pull through for me with mind-blowing designs. I couldn't have done these covers on my own. I <3 her!



My next book will be another novella, centered around the back story of our wonderful friend Austin. There is a rich past that needs to be explored. Love him or hate him, everyone has a story to tell. His is one of great pain, but a story nonetheless. I've already started on this one despite the promise to myself to take some time off. Apparently the story just cannot wait. I will be mixing it up a little in this one, so be sure to follow me for updates on it. I'm looking at a release date near Christmas for Soul Covenant and a summer release date for Fiery Secrets. 



There will be a swag pack giveaway soon, although it is not set in stone yet. Also, I've been thinking of creating a Legacy of Secrets store on Zazzle for folks to purchase swag whenever they want. If I have enough people interested, I will start production on those soon so there can be lots of gift appropriate items. Who doesn't like swag?



Well, folks, I'm off! I have work to do (apparently that's why I have a regular job) and lunch to be had with my hunny shortly. Have a marvelous weekend! xoxoxo

Binding Secrets available now!!

After a very long, very draw out process, Binding Secrets is finally released! It dropped today in ebook only on Kindle for $2.99. So far, it's been well received and I'm looking forward to hearing from you all in the coming days. I'm so very excited that you're all able to continue on this journey with me! Click below to get your copy now!!!