Erin Ashley Tanner's Blog, page 6

SETBACKS, DELAYS AND CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD

SETBACKS, DELAYS AND CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD              It's been a while I know. I'm still alive and kicking. Life has just really gotten in the way of my artistic pursuits. I'm currently in school pursuing the completion of a Licensed Practical Nurse program and let me tell you requires massive testing everyday, which requires me to devote all of my little free time to studying. As a result I have not written anything since completing my 5th book back in August. So now that I've caught you up on the life that is no longer my own, let me get to the real reason for this post.        On the way to my dream of having my novel in print, in a store, I have experienced a major setback. My agent has been beyond impressive with the list of places she has sent my first novel in another paranormal romance series. I mean, majorly impressive. Unfortunately, everyone has passed on it. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. I thought (maybe naively) that having an agent would allow me to cross the final hurdle to my dream a lot faster. Apparently I was wrong. I was wrong about a lot of things and as I go on I learn.       So for now it seems my other paranormal series is back at the orphanage and out of prospects of finding a forever home. But maybe a miracle will happen. You never know what the future will bring. Either way I've learned that waiting is a very large part of life. A fact that I am also facing is that stories featuring people of color are an enormously hard sell to "the powers that be."       No, I'm not just blowing smoke out of my ass. Lately there has been a lot of pressure for my diverse books and while "some" have claimed that they rarely received novels featuring people of color, that is a flat out lie. I have met many fellow authors of color who have taken the plunge and submitted the traditional route with the same outcome as me: thanks but no thanks or no response. The truth is sadly that traditional publishing does not seem ready to open the doors up for more of us to come through anytime soon. But again, miracles do happen and maybe the second novel my agent has will have better luck. I can hope, but right now it is not the worry and source of constant stress it has been for me.      I find myself at peace. Just as there are people in the world who will never like and accept you for who you are, publishing is pretty much the same. You are blessed if you find your niche, but if you don't it is not the end of the world. If your dream is to write, then there are other avenues open out there to make that happen. I'm done spending all of my time trying to write to please "the powers that be." Instead I am returning to what worked for me when I first picked up a pen...writing for myself. That's right. I'm going to write the stories that I want. I'm going to submit to smaller publishers like I initially started out doing and I'm going to self publish. Enough of allowing others to dictate what I write. I have a gift and no one is going to tell me how to use it. So while I've had setbacks and some long delays, I'm going to continue moving forward and putting the stories I want to write out to the world, one way or another.

THINGS THAT BREAK YOUR WRITER'S SPIRIT

    I love writing. I really do. With all my heart and all my soul. So now that I've made that clear I can honestly say that for the past few weeks I haven't wanted to write. And no I'm not talking about just a little case of needing a break. I'm talking about the serious soul searching pondering you do when trying to decide if you ever want to write again. Yeah. It went that deep. So what happened you ask? What nearly drove me over that cliff?

1. THE WAITING AND NOT KNOWING IS DRIVING ME INSANE- When I jumped into this writing dream feet first I had no idea what to expect and apparently as I go along now I still don't. My amazing agent has sent my novel into the world in search of a book deal. I'd heard that getting a NY publisher takes a long time, but I was totally unprepared for just how long. I want to pull my hair out, stomp my feet and pout like a child (too bad it won't do any good. LOL.) So while I'm in limbo, waiting and wondering how am I supposed to continue on with writing the second book in the series when there is a potential the first will not sell? This has been eating at me for a while. I think about working on it and I just can't. I love the story. I love the characters but until I know something concrete I just don't want to invest any more time into it. And I haven't.

2. THE "MARKET" IS DICTATING MY WRITING- People say write what you want. That's well and fine if you're self publishing or sending your novel to a smaller e-book publisher, but if you're trying to see your novel in print and possibly on a shelf somewhere, you need to give the top dogs what they want. I'm upset by this. No lie. I'd planned to write all of my paranormal/fantasy novels first before I transitioned into contemporary romance. With the market changing and the demand for paranormal from new authors trickling away I'm having to re-evaluate and change my writing plans. I'm not happy. Not in the least. I love paranormal. I feel it is a more liberating form of storytelling, but there's no point in me spending the majority of my time on it if it. So with sadness and many tears I put my paranormal and fantasy romance ideas on the backburner for a while.

3. I'M RESENTFUL OF PEOPLE WHO CAN WRITE WHAT THEY WANT- What do I mean? I mean I'm starting to get angry that I simply can't just write a novel. With every novel I create I have to worry whether or not people will even want to read it because there are black and multicultural characters in my novel. Yes. I'm throwing that out there. I'm growing envious of those  who can just write their books and know they will find an audience. All I want to do is write what I love and send it out knowing there will be an audience who wants to read it.

So yes, I've been pretty frustrated. I haven't written anything in the past couple of weeks. So unlike me. But I've decided to take on my frustrations. I don't know what it's going to be yet, but I'm going to self publish something. I believe it will put some of the power back in my own hands as well as give me something to focus on while I wait for the slow NY publishing process. I also decided that I'm going to write, write, write. The more novels I have completed, the more work I can share with the world one way or another.

It took a long time for me to listen to my writer's voice. The last thing I need to do is let my tendency for everything at microwave speed silence the voice I waited so long to find.

What are some things that attempt break your writer's spirit and how do you fight back?


7 THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN ABOUT WRITING AND PUBLISHING BEFORE I STARTED

   Greetings world. Yes I'm still alive and kicking. Still waiting for news on a lot of fronts. But you know as I continue to wait for news on the publishing front I've been doing a lot of thinking. Remembering how I got started on this crazy road to becoming an author. And as I learn more and more there are so many things I wish I'd known before I decided I wanted to be an author.

1. PLEASE HAVE MORE THAN ONE NOVEL FINISHED- Yep. You heard it here folks. When my first novel, Goddess of Legend was published in October 2013, it was the only novel I'd completed. Yep. You heard right. In hindsight I wish I had finished the series GOL belongs to before I started querying. Why you ask? Because how was I to know it wasn't a fluke that I wrote a complete novel? How did I know I could do it again and start a career as an author? What if all I ever managed was the one book? I would've been a one hit wonder who wasted my time and that of people who liked my first book and wanted more from me.

2. DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIO- What do I mean? Let me give you an example. I am a die hard lover of all things paranormal. When I decided to take the leap and start writing I knew I wanted to create paranormal stories as well and not just your average vampire, werewolf or zombie story. I was thinking gods and mermaids. Pretty different right? Yep, but what if paranormal is not what publishers are looking for at the moment you finally finish your novel? You're left with two options: If you are bound and determined to pursue traditional publishing then you need to shelf that baby and wait until it comes back in style. If not, then jump into self publishing feet first and put out your novel yourself. But if you want to be traditionally published then you need to have a backup plan. A story in another genre you are working on that will likely hold some appeal for what editors are looking for. I know you may think it screams of not being true to yourself, but how do you know you're not? Unless you try another genre, you may very well miss out on creating a masterpiece in another genre. Don't be afraid to try something different.

3. WRITING IS SUBJECTIVE- Meaning what? Meaning that just because an agent, editor, or reader doesn't like your work does not mean it belongs in file thirteen. We're all different. We all like to read different things. Writing is not a one size fits all thing. As famous as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is there are people out there who don't like it (mind you I don't know anyone who doesn't like it but you get my point.) So if you love to write then continue. Don't stop, regardless of how discouraging it can get sometimes.

4. FIND A MODEL AND STUDY THEM- My greatest inspirations for becoming a writer are owed to the late L.A. Banks and the fantastic Jackie Collins. Because of these ladies I wanted to write. Ever since I have discovered Jackie Collins I have done my best to pay attention to her career. To how she promotes and interacts with her fans. To her publishing schedule and how she writes. I feel like I've learned a lot. So I say to you if there is an author that has a career and writing you admire study them. See how they got to where they are. What do they seem to be doing that keeps readers begging for more? How are they whetting that appetite? And by no means am I only referring to traditionally published authors. No way. Look at Jasinda Wilder. She's not traditionally published and is selling novels like you wouldn't believe. Or hybrid authors like Marie Force who have a traditional deal and also self publish. Just find somebody to be your guide.

5. TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING TAKES A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME- Lord I wish someone had told me this! When your query makes its way to the wonderful editor at the publishing house you've dreamed of being published with the wait time is anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Yeah. Not only does the editor have to like it, but so does everyone else involved in the process. In addition to that you have to add money to the mix. After all they have to figure out if your novel is going to be profitable enough for them to bother with. And even if you are blessed to get the deal you've been dreaming of in some cases you still have to wait anywhere from a year to eighteen months before readers will ever see your work. Be prepared to wait. Be prepared to keep yourself busy so you are not pulling your hair out.

6. SOMETIMES YOUR MUSE WILL LEAVE YOU HIGH AND DRY- Amen anyone? I know because it's happened to me and many I know. Whether you're on a deadline to have something turned in to an editor or just trying to work on the next story brewing in your head, some days you will just not be able to write. Some days the drive will not be there. Or you will be ready to go and the words just will not come to you. It happens to everyone. Be prepared for it. Don't get mad. Don't throw things. Just take some time off. Chances could be you are burned out.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO TRENDS- Some will say it's not important, but really it is. Whether traditional or independent, you need to have some idea of what readers are currently craving. You can't afford just to stick your head in the sand and remain oblivious. If you're self-publishing you want to find out what people are craving to read and appeal to them when your novel comes out. If you're going the traditional route then pay attention to what editors and agents submission calls. If you do you'll be better informed as to what's selling and where your work fits on the scale. You will also know if you have a chance of being published now or if you will have to be on the next merry go round.

Now that you've heard my list, what are some things you wish you'd known about writing and publishing before you started?


WHY I WRITE ROMANCE

     


    What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic. Always have been. I firmly place the blame for that on Disney. After growing up seeing my favorite princesses get their happily ever after I believed the same thing would happen for me sooner than later. Fast forward many years later. I'm 26 and a half with no romantic prospects in sight. Yeah. I'm being completely honest. Even post high school and college it's hard to escape the "smart girl only" label.

     You might say, "Well if your love life sucks you should hate romance." That is a very valid argument but I'm just the opposite. Because I have spent so many years alone I decided if I can't do anything about my own romantic destiny, then I sure can do something about someone else's. Hence my desire to write romance was born.

    I love to read in pretty much all genres, but there is just something about romance. The joy of discovering a new attraction. The angst between two people as they try to deny their feelings but eventually have to give in to them. The dawning of new love. Yes. That is romance and why I love it so much.

   In all honesty there are times when I do get frustrated with the genre. There have been times I have thrown a novel down and lamented that a handsome billionaire hadn't come to sweep me off my feet. But that's life. You have to roll with the punches. So until my billionaire/Prince Charming/reformed bad boy comes along to help sweep me off my feet I will continue to write romance.

   With every new story I come up with, I've come to see that every heroine has some aspect of my personality, whether it is wondering if she is pretty enough or her naivety about life. Every hero has some aspect of what I'd like to see in the man what finally sweeps me off my feet. So in a way, writing romance allows me to give myself the happily ever after I have not yet found. So in a sense I am in control of my own romantic destiny and I love it.

   We all want to be loved and appreciated for who we are and as long as the stories continue coming to me, there will be many more happy endings to come.

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT WAITING

    It's been a while since I blogged. I thought the next time I typed up a post I would have exciting news to share, but that hasn't happened yet. Instead I'm trying to allow myself to learn a valuable lesson...Life is all about waiting.

   We have to wait to grow up. We have to wait to find the perfect job, to find the perfect mate. (I am still waiting on both.) You'd think with all the waiting that we have to do, that something would come quickly for us. When I first started writing I naively thought that becoming a successful writer might fit that bill. Boy was I wrong. Everything requires a wait.

   I had to wait until I found the first publisher willing to publish my debut novel. I had to wait for said novel to then be edited and given a release date before it made its way into the world. I had to wait a long time until I found my agent. You see where I'm going with this?

   So now, I find myself waiting again. Waiting for my hard working agent to give me the news that every author waits to hear: A publisher wants to buy your novel and give you lots of exposure. Yes, I'm waiting on this news with bated breath, on pins and needles, all those fantastic clichés.

  In the meantime I am trying desperately not to drive myself stir crazy. I'm trying hard to keep my focus on writing the next novel in my series and not giving in to all the other characters demanding that I finally give them their own story.

    But for now, all I can do is write. After all I'm still going to have to wait so I might as well make the most of it.


WRITING PROCESS BLOG TOUR- SHELLY ELLIS

       MY WRITING PROCESS BLOG TOUR-SHELLY ELLIS

         Today I am happy to put the spotlight on a fellow author and great lady who has been out here in the writing world a lot longer than I have, Ms. Shelly Ellis.  Shelly was gracious enough to stop by my humble blog and share a little bit about her own writing process.

  What are you working on now?I’m working on two projects simultaneously, which is turning out to be a very interesting juggling process. I’m working on the first book in the second series that I’m writing for my publisher. It’s a follow up to my Gibbons Gold Digger series and it’s about a wealthy family. It’s set in a small, fictional town in Virginia. My editor compares it to the TV show, The Haves and the Have Nots. I’m calling it the modern, black version of Downton Abbey. My other project is a paranormal YA that I’m writing just for fun. I’m not sure if it will ever see the light of day but I’m hoping that it’ll keep my creative juices flowing. How does my work differ from others in that genre?That’s hard to say. I think every writer would like to believe that their work is distinct and groundbreaking, that they’re their own special little literary snowflake. But, let’s be honest, most stories that are written now have already been written. Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he said, “All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.” We’re simply rehashing the same old stories with a slight spin or with a new perspective/voice—and some of us aren’t even doing that!  But I guess if there is anything of myself that I bring to my writing (which focuses primarily on African American romance and women’s fiction) it is my quirky and sometimes dark sense of humor—it comes through a lot in my dialogue. Why do I write what I do?I write because I feel compelled to do it. Even if I never got published at all or published ever again, I’d be writing stories. I’ve got to get it out. I’d go crazy or become depressed if I didn’t. I write romance and women’s fiction specifically because I grew up reading those books. I grew up idolizing authors like Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts, and Debbie Macomber. It was either write romance or horror novels. (I’m also a long-time Stephen King and Dean Koontz fan.) And who knows what the heck I’d put on paper if I let that dark side fly! How does my writing process work?My writing process has definitely evolved over the past few years. I used to be mostly a pantser, meaning I didn’t use chapter outlines. I’d have a basic overview of how the novel should go (maybe a two paragraph synopsis in my head) and work from there. I’d write chapters according to what mood I was in with no respect to the chronological order of the story. (I might write the last few chapters first, the middle chapters second, and some of the beginning chapters last. I’d add a line or two between chapters reminding me to put a scene here or there to bridge the gaps.) It was a great way for me to prevent writer’s fatigue and keep up the mood/momentum of the story so the novel wouldn’t sag in the middle, which is a continual battle as an author. But now that I’m under contract with a publisher, and contractually obligated to come up with a more detailed synopses/chapter outlines, my pantser days are pretty much over. I have a set idea of what’s going to happen, how many chapters are required to hit word count, and what scenes will go where. I still jump around in my writing, but now instead of just draping fabric on a dress form and assembling the chapter pieces based solely on impulse and feel, I’m working from a set dress pattern that I've pre-designed. I’ll diverge from the chapter outline on occasion, but I stick to it overall.  I thought my new method would be inhibiting, but it seems to be helping, particularly because the new novel I’m working on is told from four different characters’ perspectives. Making sure each character’s storyline gets ample attention as well as paying attention to the cohesiveness of their stories overall, would be hard for me to do if I was flying by the seat of my pants. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shelly Ellis began her romance writing career when she became one of four finalists in a first-time writers contest at 19. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published more short stories, a few novels, and was chosen as a finalist for the 2012 African American Literary Award in the romance category. Shelly released the first book in her critically-acclaimed Gibbons Gold Digger series in 2013. The latest book in the series, Another Woman's Man, will be released April 29th. When she isn't writing novels or editing and writing articles for her day job as a magazine editor, she and her husband are chasing after their 1-year-old daughter and catering to their tabby cat. www.shellyellisbooks.com/blog

MY WRITING PROCESS-- BLOG TOUR

Today is Blog Tour Day on my humble blog. This particular "writing process," blog has been circulating around for a little while and I am honored to have been tagged by my fellow agency mate Kelly Lyman. You can check her out here: http://www.kellylyman.tumblr.com/. So allow me to humbly share my writing process. It's actually great that I've been tagged in this as some things have changed since the last time I shared my process. http://erinashleytanner.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-writing-process.html

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

Right now I am currently about three-fourths of the way finished with Goddess By Chance, the second novel in my Demi-God Daughters urban fantasy romance series. I am also working on a romantic suspense novel called Dirty Little Secrets.

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN ITS GENRE?

My work differs from others because all of my novels feature people of color in stories that are normally only written for a white audience. As a young girl I was a vivid reader and read everything I could get my hands on, but the thing that bothered me the most was I never saw any heroines or heroes that looked like myself. So when I decided to get serious about writing I vowed to myself that I would write and showcase characters of colors in genres they normally would not be seen in such as urban fantasy, fantasy romance, ect. I think my work is also different because I am not afraid to push the envelope or go outside of the box.

WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?

I write what I do because at a later stage in life I finally realized writing is my calling. It's something I enjoy doing too much to ever stop. Some of the stories I write because they are stories I would like to see told. The writers I idolize most in the world are Jackie Collins, the late L.A. Banks, James Rollins and Steve Berry. Just like all those fantastic writers are not afraid to bring to life the stories they want to see, I am not either. I enjoy everything from romance to historical fiction so eventually I would love to have a story out in all the genres I so love.

HOW DOES YOUR WRITING PROCESS WORK?

As I'm learning your writing process can change as you learn new things. I start with flashcards. On the first card, goes what the basic premise of the novel will be about (fantasy romance, urban fantasy, etc.) On that same first card goes a list of dramatic situations I might want to include such as the healing power of love, vengeance for a loved one, etc.

The next flash cards are devoted to character profiles of my hero and heroine. It includes their age, physical description, what character archetype they most identify with and any little quirks about them. I try to include an aspect of myself in every heroine I write.

The next flashcard contains a list of possible plots that might be woven into the story. (FYI: There are about 20 plots that are used to comprise almost every novel ever written.) Examples include: Temptation, Transformation, Forbidden Love, etc.

The last flashcard is a list of things or scenes that come to mind that I would like to include in the novel.

The last thing I do before getting started is a new tool that was recommended to me by my fellow agency mate CJ Matthews, The W. Method. This method is basically a way for you to keep track of the important places in your story. You include: Regular Life, Inciting Incident, Challenges, Turning Point, Bigger Turning Point, Conflict, Black Moment and the Resolution. After I've filled all these things in as best as I can I'm ready to start. On a sticky note I usually jot down what I think will happen in each chapter as I write the chapter. Now I'm finally ready to write.


COMING NEXT

Check back next Friday when I will be sharing best selling author Shelly Ellis' writing process.


Shelly Ellis- Shelly Ellis began her romance writing career when she became one of four finalists in a first-time writers contest at 19. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published more short stories, a few novels, and was chosen as a finalist for the 2012 African American Literary Award in the romance category. Shelly released the first book in her critically-acclaimed Gibbons Gold Digger series in 2013. The latest book the series, Another Woman's Man, will be released April 29.
 When she isn't writing novels or editing and writing articles for her day job as a magazine editor, she and her husband are chasing after their 1-year-old daughter and catering to their tabbie cat. www.shellyellisbooks.com/blog



MUSICAL INSPIRATION- Goddess By Chance Playlist

MUSICAL INSPIRATION   I know there are a lot of writers that say they listen to music when they write to help put them in a particular mood. I'm not usually one of those people, but for the fourth novel I am writing, Goddess By Chance I decided to give it a try. These are a few of the songs I listened to while writing. Leona Lewis- Happy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1l3JbBRpA8  Jessica- Damn About Me  Janelle Monae- You Are My Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGnp4D8mzSw  Fergie- Clumsy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKoGOkOSpq0  Bobby V- Never Give Up On Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTNB27PGw0E  Monica- Everything To Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayE5Tsa_DmE  Dionne Farris- Hopeless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Zp67eoAG0  Janelle Monae- Can't Live Without Your Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0L4TPC9fFc  Fergie- Losing My Ground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RJxFEA8Rxg  Are any of these some of your favorite songs? Drop me a line and let me know. Or please share some of your favorite music to listen to when you write.  

NEVER STOP LEARNING

NEVER STOP LEARNING
      A few days ago I realized that February of this year marked 2 years since I started seriously writing. And in two years I had wrote 3 novels, had 1 of them published, and was blessed to be signed by an agent who is doing her magic and gifting me with her knowledge as we edit my second novel. During this two year period the one thing I have never stopped doing is learning.     Yes. Just because I am a published author does not mean that the learning stops. Some people (although I'm not sure who) may think that what they have in front of them is how the novel started off. It is surely not. Nobody writes a perfect first draft. Nobody. As you go through edits and you continue to read, you start to pick up on many things you shouldn't be doing at all and a lot of things that would really improve your manuscript.    I thought I'd picked out all of my bad writing habits. Boy was I wrong. But you know what? I am so happy these things are being pointed out to me. With every novel you write, your writing improves and you learn new things. As my agent works with me I'm learning new things about my own writing habits and I'm making a careful list so I can look out for these things in the future.    I have always considered myself a storyteller first and a writer second. So while I may be great at telling you a story, when it comes to the technical things I welcome any help that is offered to me. As a writer you must never stop learning. Someone has some technique or template or advice that is sure to make your writing life easier. So don't be afraid to try new things. Some may work for you. Some may not. But as long as you tried that's all that matters.    Also don't be afraid to take advantage of the resources out there. You can find all kinds of books about writing written on different subjects. If there is an area you are struggling with or would like to know more about, then grab a book and get to reading. You will only learn something that is sure to help you along the way. Or how about picking up a book from your favorite author and studying it? Take a look at how the book is formatted. Take a gander at their word choice or where the action picks up. You can learn a lot to improve your own writing just from doing that.    The point I'm trying to make is that just because you're a published author now doesn't mean you know everything or that the work stops. You still need to read and pick up what you can to improve your craft. So NEVER STOP LEARNING!

IN THE WORKS

IN THE WORKS          It's been a while since I blogged. Life has a habit of getting in the way. But now that I'm back (so to speak) I thought I'd give a quick update as to what has been going on with me writing wise.        My second round of revisions for my upcoming paranormal mermaid fantasy romance are in the hands of my agent. Currently waiting to see if another round is required before the big submission process to publishers. I'm on pins and needles.      I'm hard at work on the second urban fantasy romance novel in my Demi-God Daughters series, GODDESS BY CHANCE. I'm about 15 chapters in and currently wondering if this book will be longer than the previous Demi-God Daughter book as I have not yet reached the first major arc of the story. I'll keep writing and see what happens.       And also I'm working on another story and (drum roll please) I'm actually writing it on my laptop. Shocking yes. If you've read any of my previous blog posts you know that I predominately write in longhand using journals. So me creating a story on my laptop is completely out of the norm and quite surprising to me. The new story is tentatively titled DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS and it is not in the fantasy romance realm from which I usually write.       After starting to read some romantic suspense novels, I decided I'd like to try and do something different than the genres I usually write in. The start of the novel was born from one simple sentence replaying over and over in my mind: "Last time I checked, it was my name on the door." Yep that pretty much started it. I don't know how the story will end up as I do not even have any of my usual few small planning tools I use per novel. This one will really come from the seat of my pants.      So far I'm about 10K into DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS and I'm really enjoying writing it. Again, no idea how long it will be or what will ultimately happen at the end but I'm excited to see where it goes and even more excited my muse is speaking to me as I stare at the computer screen. I will share with you the current tagline I'm trying to keep in mind: Ava Nicole Hill's carefully ordered world is about to be turned upside down and she is powerless to stop it.      In addition to trying to balance two novels at once, I also have purchased three writing resources I'm trying to find time to read: Showing & Telling; Bullies, Bastards & Bitches; and The Writer's Guide to Character Traits. I don't know about you but I believe a writer should never stop learning or trying to improve their craft. Do you have any resources you can't live without? Are you working on one or more projects? Drop me a line. I'd love to know.