C.J. Duggan's Blog, page 11

Knowing Your Limits.

Ah, hello crazy eyes!!

Well I said I would report back.

How did I go? Well...This is awkward.

There are no words...no seriously there are no words. My head is in so many spaces I wonder if I am wearing too many hats?

1. The day Job.
2. The NaNo writer June adventure that will have me piece together second WIP.
3. Wrapping up and preparing edits on BoS
4. Preparing day job, home for 5 week absence.
5. Preparing for 5 week holiday.
6. Painfully aware as each day passes, that 'to do' list feels more and more suffocating.

I know you're all collectively rolling your eyes and telling me to 'suck it up' I am sure there are other peoples itinerary's out there that blow mine out of the water. There is probably a woman balancing a bub on her hip, mopping the floor, painting a picture, working on her teenagers science project, and manifesting world peace all while cooking a sumptuous, well balanced, nutritious meal for her family.

Kudos to you woman!

I am not complaining but I see the clouded vision of my work colleagues as I stress about my epic trip to America. I know their inner monologues are screaming:

"Boo-freakity-hoo, a trip to America for 5 weeks...pffft I hate you!"
But I do worry, and I usually pride myself on being relatively worry free. I worry about my animals, about my mum who is going to house sit for us, what if someone can't find the correct form at work? Do I pack to little or to much? It's all trivial, but stressful and hence the creative block I am suffering from...NOT WRITERS BLOCK! Remember I denounced that devil and I wont believe in it's existence.

I don't think I will feel at ease until I am on that plane. I have potentially signed up for NaNo at a very poor time of year when so many things are happening in my life. And when writing doesn't come easily to me that stresses me out more than anything as I feel at least that is the one thing I can control (Or so I thought.)

So I think I need to take step back, take a deep breath an accept the things I can not change, and just use the power of elimination to whittle down that 'to do' list and free up some much needed space in my mind.

No I am not complaining...I am just stressed! *Ugly cry*

Moving Heads.

Nobody said it was going to be easy.

With December publication for The Boys of Summer, I am currently in the process of seeing it through it's multiple layers of editing and re writes. Gross you say? Eh, its something I don't totally hate as I get to watch it transform and grow into something tighter and stronger. That in it's self is a great joy to witness, my work be the best it can possibly be. It's a long meticulous exercise but it's apart of the process, and a stage you simply can not skimp on.
I have been nervously hashing out another story, nervous in a way that has me standing next to a punch bowl anxiously looking on at the party, hoping to see a familiar face.
I have left my characters from the BOS.  I know them so intimately and have such an emotional connection to them. I have graduated from that world into new and exciting territory. New characters, new story, new obstacles, all of which I have to get to know and follow down the path they are taking me.
I am essentially moving out of my old head space and shacking up in another. (Not always easy) I have a very defined story to tell in my new YA Romance, I have everything pretty much figured out. If anything it is quite fascinating as my lead protagonist is so very different to any other character I have developed. Getting inside of her head is interesting, and the other supporting characters are a real joy to get to know. 
The problem?
It's not coming easy. I feared this might be the case in fact I even predicted it in an early blog post.


WHY I WAS IN TEARS.
The Boys of Summer was developed by a long standing idea and it was an absolute pleasure to write, not to say I am not enjoying the process of my current WIP but I fear I am expecting too much euphoria that may not come in a while. I always said I would be open and honest about my writing process's, not everyday you are struck with light bulb moments, and not everyday you will frolic with a song in your heart. Some days are hard, bloody hard, some WIP take longer and more emotion to develop.
My protagonist starts out rock bottom and through a series of events climbs upwards towards happiness, and acceptance, hence a very different emotional head space to move into.
But that's writing isn't it? It's not all sunglasses and autographs.
Best go and see how my lead character is fairing today? I must say and maybe this is the turning point things are getting VERY exciting in my WIP so shall I check back in tomorrow and tell you how goes it? Oh I think I must!
Here's a mood setter for you. If you haven't discovered Bon Iver yet RUN don't walk and go and discover them. They have been somewhat of my musical muse while writing lately.
This is why...
Bon Iver Beth/Rest

And the WINNER is...

The WINNERS have been drawn!

Drum roll please....

Congratulations to the following, you will be contacted by the Author of your prize pack within 48 hours. 


• Claire Frith (You are the winner of my prize pack. I'll be emailing you shortly)
• Tejasvini Rao
• Demitra Giote
• Emma 
• Merisha Henderson-Abbott
• Alexandra Louk
• Barbara Kerr

A big thanks to the lucky winners and to all who supported the blog tour. 
It was so great to be able to offer you all an exclusive sneak peek at The Boys of Summer. Remember for all updates on my debut YA Romance you can follow the following links...
Twitter WebsiteFacbook Fan PageGoodreads
DECEMBER 2012 

The time has come!

As the Taste Test Blog Tour comes to an end (I know-I know, pull yourselves together, I am devastated too) But all good things must come to an end, so I thought I would wrap it up to by giving a shout out to the remaining Authors who showcase their amazing Novels in the Sampler. 
Say HELLO to...
 Sarah Billington


Sarah Billington is an Australian writer and editor who likes to write stories with love, laughs, suspense and zombies. Sometimes all in the same story. Her favouritest thing to write about are those horrendously awkward moments that come with being a teenager. Or a human being. Sarah was extremely accident-prone and klutzy as a kid and teen, so her cup runneth over with experiences of horrendously awkward moments to draw from in her writing. Thankfully, she has grown out of her klutziness. Mostly. She is, however, still an embarrassment.
She loves a variety of random things, which include doggies (hers as well as yours), Swing Dancing, Ice Hockey, Roller Derby and she is a bit obsessive about paranormal investigation shows and channel E!. She writes light-hearted works under Sarah Billington, and darker, scarier and more torturous stories under her pen name, Edwina Ray.


She also runs an editing, cover design and ebook formatting company Billington Media.
Social Links
TwitterFacebook Fan PageBlogWebsiteGoodreads
 Veronica Blade


Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and children. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives -- and they are always way hotter.
Social Links
TwitterFaceBookWebsiteGoodreads
Laura Eno

Laura Eno lives in Florida with a very tolerant husband, three skulking cats and two absurdly happy dogs. After spending years immersed in English literature courses, she now writes novels late at night with the help of muses from the underworld.

Social Links
TwitterWebsiteFacebookGoodreads
These lovely ladies complete the amazing line up to "A Taste Test" Sampler. It has been a true pleasure and privlidge to work beside this truely talleneted Authors, it is also really special to collate a body of work amidst other YA writers and provide readers a little something for nothing. The blog tour may be over but you can still download your FREE copy of the sample



DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY HERE!!!
A HUGE!!!! Thank you to every single person who downloaded, tweeted, blogged, Facebooked, followed, liked, entered the Blog tour! You guys are AMAZING!
Seriously I have epic love for you! 
Winners of the Blog Tour will be announced shortly! 
Good Luck everyone!

A Taste Test Blog Tour. Meet Melissa!

Last and most certainly  not least in the Blog Tour is the lovely Melissa Pearl. The driving force in this very sample and the almight leader in this Blog Tour. There are not enough words to express my feelings for this awesome chic! She is a very tallented, special person I am so proud to have my work associated with her. She is a serious star!


Mica and Lexy have been best friends and next door neighbours since they were eight years old. They share everything and have no secrets from each other until... Tom arrives on Mica's doorstep - a gorgeous exchange student from England. And Lexy is smitten.
Suddenly both girls are keeping secrets. Mica is hiding news about Tom's English girlfriend and Lexy hasn't got the heart to tell her best friend that her brother Eli, the guy Mica is mad on, thinks of her as only a friend. After a massive fight, the girls decide the best way to mend their friendship is to spend some quality time together. And what better way to do this, than go camping away from their parents... and why not invite along the guys they are crushing on.
So the four teenagers embark on a geo-caching expedition into New Zealand's native bush expecting a long weekend filled with flirtatious fun; instead secrets are exposed as they stumble across a hidden marijuana crop and its gun-wielding watchmen. Forced apart they spend the next forty-eight hours racing blindly in opposite directions as they fight to find each other before the hunters do.

Like the sound of Forbidden Territory? You can get a further sneak peek by downloading 'A Taste Test' where Forbidden Territory is featured in the sampler...And it's absolutely FREE! 
What's not to love?
Download HERE!


Melissa Pearl and Brenda Howson have been best friends for about 12 years. Both mothers of two young children, both married to school teachers and both lovers of writing, they have a lot in common. Having spent many vacations away together, they have become as close to sisters as two girls can get. It was on one of these holidays away that the Mica and Lexy Series was born.


Melissa is the author of the Time Spirit Trilogy, which was published at the end of 2011. She is a fully trained elementary teacher, but is lucky enough to stay home and watch her kids grow. She is also spending every spare moment trying to turn writing into a full time career - and loving the process.



Blurb of the First Story You Ever Started Writing
Oh no! That's embarrassing!
I started writing a story when I was ten about a young girl who lives on an army base. Her Dad is a helicopter pilot and he takes her for a flight one day. She leaves her sweater in the helicopter and runs back to get it. She slips and bangs her head and the helicopter takes off with her hidden in the back. When she wakes up, she is on this island with all these scary weapons... it turns out the bad guys are smuggling guns! She has to try and escape and ends up meeting a boy who helps her.
Funny! I can't believe I still remember that!
I think I got up to chapter three before giving up :)

Future Plans
My next book is Betwixt, which I'm hoping to release in December this year.
It's about 17-year-old, Nicole, who is hit by a car. As she lies lost and dying in the forest, her spirit leaves her body in search of anyone who can help her. Unfortunately the only person that can hear her is a guy at school, Dale, that can't stand her. Caught between life and death, Nicole must convince Dale to find her before it's too late.
Thank you so much Melissa for stopping by and being a guest on my Blog today! For all things Melissa Pearl or you fancy your luck in entering to win some awesome Blog Tour prizes, head on over to Melissa's BLOG!
A huge thanks to Melissa who is an amazing author, but above all a very professional and driven person who I have the pleasure to call friend. Seriously look her up! I would follow her anywhere.

A Taste Test Blog Tour. Meet L.M!

Day Five of A Taste Test Blog Tour and check out this gorgeous cover!! I remember seeing this and just thinking WOW! Now meet the awesome lady, behind such an awesome Novel.
Today I am happy to host the very tallented L.M Preston. L.M is not only an amazing writer but also a very generous person, constantly happy to promote her own as well as other writers, L.M has been such a pleasure to work beside on this tour.


Revenge has met its match and she's got someone worth fighting for. In order to find the mastermind behind the threat to all she cares about, Shamira must give up the one person who's found his way into her guarded heart, Valens. But Valens, refuses to back off easily and joins forces to deal with a new enemy who seeks kill everyone in Shamira's life that dared save the missing kids on Mars.



LM. Preston loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl.  With a thirst for knowledge she  worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years.  She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids.  Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.  She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.
Now L.M has been generous to answer the following questions...


4 Questions
Are you working on anything new? I’m editing FLUTTER OF LUV (July 28th ebook release) - A short story about a tomboy named Dawn who falls in love with the new football jock, Tony.
I’m finishing up PURGATORY REIGN (Spring 2013) - About a boy named Peter Saints who reveals a hidden secret to save the life of the girl he loves only to unleash an evil that’s salivating to meet him.
And writing, BANDITS-WASTELANDS, the sequel to my Teen Pirate tale.
Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)Being able to talk and mentor younger kids has been a pleasure and a desire that I wanted to pursue.  Writing has given me a vehicle for doing so.
How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who've made a strong impression on you that you can't forget?One of the ways I try to reach out to my fans is by visiting schools.  I really enjoy seeing the kids that read my books face to face, and to encourage them to dream and achieve the impossible.  I also donate books to schools and libraries.
What's a weakness of yours?I am usually very hard on myself when it comes to my writing projects.  When I write a novel I get really absorbed, and I sometimes take it rather hard when my husband reviews something and doesn’t like it.  However, after I get over the initial pouting, I realize that he was correct, and I come up with a much better approach.by LM Preston, YA Author, www.lmpreston.com

A HUGE thanks to L.M Preston for stopping by and shedding some light on the lady behind 'The Pack' -Retribution- If you need to read more than just this deliscious teaser of L.M's YA Novel you can download A Taste Test for FREE, where 'The Pack' is featured. Download HERE!
You know the saying, 'You got to be in it to win it' So very true, so make sure you stop by and enter to be in the running to win some fabulous Blog Tour Prizes!

Enter to win HERE and GOOD LUCK!

A Taste Test Blog Tour. Meet Brenda!

Day Four of A Taste Test Blog Tour and I am very excited to host a guest spot for Brenda Howson, co Author of Forbidden Territory.


Mica and Lexy have been best friends and next door neighbours since they were eight years old. They share everything and have no secrets from each other until... Tom arrives on Mica's doorstep - a gorgeous exchange student from England. And Lexy is smitten.
Suddenly both girls are keeping secrets. Mica is hiding news about Tom's English girlfriend and Lexy hasn't got the heart to tell her best friend that her brother Eli, the guy Mica is mad on, thinks of her as only a friend. After a massive fight, the girls decide the best way to mend their friendship is to spend some quality time together. And what better way to do this, than go camping away from their parents... and why not invite along the guys they are crushing on.
So the four teenagers embark on a geo-caching expedition into New Zealand's native bush expecting a long weekend filled with flirtatious fun; instead secrets are exposed as they stumble across a hidden marijuana crop and its gun-wielding watchmen. Forced apart they spend the next forty-eight hours racing blindly in opposite directions as they fight to find each other before the hunters do.
How amazing does that sound? If your keen you can jump to Smashwords download the FREE Sample that features Forbidden Territory. HERE!

The lovely talented Authors Melissa Pearl and Brenda Howson. 
Now are burning question for Brenda...

 Favourite Character You've Ever Written and WhyTy is one of my favourite Characters in a book I’ve written called Three Blind Mice. It’s not published yet, but hopefully one day in the future. It’s chick lit. Ty is feisty and sexy and he challenges the protagonist Sabine in all the ways she needs. He’s strong and confident and a little arrogant at times but has a softer side too that comes out in the story. I love him and he looks like Hugh Jackman. Yum! 
A huge thanks to Brenda for stopping by and if you want to get a chance to win some prizes associated with the Blog Tour...click HERE!
For more Forbidden Territory news, stop by Brenda's Blog!

A Taste Test Blog Tour. Meet Heather!

Day 3 brings another awesome Author my way. 
Today I introduce the amazing Nolia McCarty (Heather Marie Adkins)                 



Ever O’Connell prides herself on being a good Wiccan and tries to follow the path of the Goddess with love and light.  But, the “dark” witches in school—the BlackMags—finally manage to push her over the edge, and Ever finds her coven in the midst of a war.
Cade Bourdain was raised by his father with a thirst for power, and that often draws him into darker areas of magick. Despite his irrational dislike for the “Fluffy Bunny” Wiccans, he feels an unearthly connection to Ever.
When the two strike up a secret relationship, the real magic between them is ignited, and the power generated catches the attention of a dangerous warlock, determined to take them for his own.Trapped beneath the evil of the warlock, Ever and Cade’s conflicting covens must work together to stay alive, despite seemingly irreconcilable differences—or they will be destroyed by a common enemy.The line between light and dark has never been so unclear.
Like what you see? You can download a FREE sample of Wiccan Wars on Smashwords.


Nolia McCarty is American by birth but Irish by heritage and heart. Her dream is to live on a small cottage in Ireland where she can watch the sheep outside her window and write all day. “Heaven Below” is her debut young adult novel.  She has several releases planned for 2012 including “Wiccan Wars” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Nights.”  In her real incarnation, Nolia is author Heather Marie Adkins.  Under this (real) name, she has written several novels, including paranormal romances “The Temple” and “Abigail”.  Find more information on her at heather.bishoffs.com.

Now it's always nice to get to know the person behind the book, and Heather has kindly answered the following random Top 10 questions.
Top 10 1.      ‪Dogs or Cats?          Dogs2.     ‪MMs or Skittles?      MM’s3.      ‪Favourite TV Show  Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations4.      ‪What books are currently on your nightstand?  HAHAHAHA!  Um.  Let’s see.       Joanne Fluke – Cinnamon Roll Murder      Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Browne/King      Daughters of Maeve – Gina Sigillito      Seneca Falls and the Origins of Women’s Rights – Sally McMillen      The Best Travel Writing 2008, ed. by Anthony Bourdain      The Hedgewitch’s Way – Rae Beth      The Spiral Dance – Starhawk      (I consistently have this many books that I’m reading at once...)5.      ‪Favourite kind of date?  Pizza at home with my honey6.      ‪Guilty Pleasure?  Lady Gaga’s albums7.      ‪First book you remembering devouring? The Giver8.      ‪Boots, Sneakers or Stilettos?  Boots9.      ‪The last song you sang along to? This Ole Boy by Craig Morgan10.  ‪Where do you like to sit in a movie theatre? The row at the front of the back, where the bar is so I can prop my feet up and kick back ;) 
Thanks Heather!
I never get tired of saying there are AMAZING prizes to be won as apart of this Blog Tour, entering is easy...to find out more about the blog schedule and enter... click HERE!

A Taste Test Blog Tour. Meet Michelle!

Day Two of the Taste Test Blog Tour see's the delightful Michelle A. Hansen stop by my blog. Michelle is the talented Author of Painted Blind that featured in the Sampler, that can be downloaded for FREE at Smashwords.

Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Now everyone—especially her dad—can see it. And yet, somehow, those are the mundane things in her life because she is about to fall unexpectedly, head-over-heels in love with Erik, a mysterious young man who rescues her from a crowd of admirers, and who she’s never actually seen because…he can make himself invisible.
As strange as this may seem, it’s about to get even stranger. Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Overtaken, intrigued, and still not wholeheartedly believing he’s real, Psyche is going to have to decide if she can love him blindly; because if she can’t, she may lose him forever.




When you’re not writing, what do you do?
I am a crafting junkie. I make my own soap and lotion and make up. I make jewelry. I love painting ceramics and wood projects. Someday soon I want to learn to bind my own books. I bought a DVD on how to do it, but I haven’t let myself invest in the supplies. I don’t know where I would store them, and I have enough hobbies to keep me busy for a lifetime.
A huge thanks to Michelle! For all your Michelle news and updates, check out her site http://www.michelleahansen.com
And for the chance to follow the Tour schedule and win some seriously cool swag from The Taste Test Tour, just click HERE it has never been so easy! 
Have fun and good luck!

A Taste Test Blog Tour

Today marks the official kick off to A Taste Test Blog Tour, and let me tell you I am rather freakin excited about it, y'all! (See! Southern accent alert, I must be really excited)

What can I say? There are just so many things to be excited about.
Not only will you get a chance to get to know some of the most exciting, up and coming YA Authors of 2012, you will also get a chance to win some Ah-Mazing prizes!
It's easy!
Follow the Blog schedule and see what's up for grabs 
HERE!

 I am also very excited to give everyone an exclusive sneak peek at my debut YA Romance. The Boys of Summer, that's featured in the sample.

It seemed only natural to nickname them the “Onslow Boys”. Every time they swagger in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’ s work. Their laughter loud and genuine as they settle onto their bar stools. I peek through the Restaurant partition; a flimsy divider from my world to theirs. I can’t help but smile when I see them, see him.... Toby Morrison.
            Quiet, 17-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of High School and have fun with her best friends before dreaded senior year begins.Summer is when everything happens. Riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show, and water fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.How did she let her friends talk her into this?
            Convinced nothing good can come of it after first shift disasters, rude wealthy tourists, and a taunting ex-boyfriend. Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’ who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer, and not worry about curfews. Tess’s world expands into a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love, and heartbreaking chaos.                          All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.
It will be a summer she will always remember.

Warning: Sexual references, and occasional course language.

The Inspiration behind the story:
I always tend to say that the Boys of Summer was born from NaNo month (National Novel Writing Month) however it stems from something much deeper than that. Yes, it was absolutely given life in an amazing NaNo session last year, but it stemmed from a story I have had floating in my mind since I was 11 years old.
It was an amazing discovery that this very story was something that has always been in my subconscious after all these years.
I wrote a blog post about the penny dropping moment called"Why I was in Tears"You can read the original post here:
http://can-duu.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/why-i-was-in-tears.html
Some stories are destined to be told, after 18 years I am finally able to make it a reality for that little girl who was brave enough to jot down an idea. For that reason the Boys of Summer will always be very special to me.

What do you love about writing?
There is an element of cringe-worthiness when I say writing to me is an extension of who I am. I know it’s rather cliché, but it is so deeply ingrained in me, and has been for so many years, it’s impossible to contemplate not doing it. In all my creative secluded wisdom, I must say I had never thought of it as something to share with others, never thought of it as a career, it’s not about sitting down at the desk to churn out a best-seller and retire from that check in the mail. For me, it’s not a job it’s just what I do; to be honest, I had never given it too much thought.
So why now? 
Because there is this immense satisfaction of being able to channel that creativity with others in the writing/reading community, being able to share and discover new talent and realize I am not alone! Cue the dreamy music and let me tell you about a little ditty called “Blog” a word my husband still can’t get his head around, but I assure him it’s a great thing. And it has been for me! A platform to vent and share my work to a group of like minded people who also help inspire you to believe in what you are doing. It has challenged me and made me take responsibility of my work, it’s all very new, exciting and oh yes overwhelming.
As I enter this new phase of embracing my inner writer, I have been able to network my writing through the wonderful world of blogging, where I discuss the trials and tribulations of independently writing my first book: 'The Boys of Summer'. By offering an insiders look at the struggles a writer goes through in order to put those words on paper. Being independent I write from the heart, no deadlines, no big bucks rolling, no movie deals, but that’s O.K. like I said it’s not what it’s about! The response has been over whelming and having been able to link into the Indie community has been truly inspiring. I look forward to giving you an insight to the wonderful world of Independent writing, the good the bad and the ugly. (Hopefully not too much of the latter)

For all the latest C.J Duggan news visit http://cjduggan.weebly.com/
Or Download a Sample of The Boys of Summer for FREE
HERE!

And above all enjoy the Blog tour!! x