Writing update! Going to be a busy August…

"You have MAPS??"

That was my J.R.R. Tolkien-addicted fiancé's reaction to seeing me surrounded by my Spellbound notes when we were sitting in Starbucks. I was working on the sequel when he glanced over and spotted the hand-drawn maps of my fictional countries, Nevermore and Adara.

"You should publish those! You'd have a cult following."

Now, having my own cult sounds awesome, but so did his idea. My publisher agreed. So, the maps of Nevermore and Adara are going to be published in Spellbound by Fire. Depending on where adventures take Billy, I might publish a few more maps in Spellbound by the Sword.

I have never read Tolkien's work, though I have heard much about it from my fiancé. Tolkien was a literary genius from what I've been told; an extremely creative man who created his own world, languages and everything. And he had maps. According to my fiancé, "maps rule."

Interaction with readers is a big thing. It's why writers put so much effort into being on Twitter and Facebook so much. Social media has opened up so many doors for interacting with readers, but has that undermined the interaction that should continue inside the pages of the book? I don't think it should. Hearing about Tolkien has made me think about ways to interact with readers within the book. Tolkien did this in an advanced way that many writers today don't think to do. I didn't even think to do it. But that's one reason I love my better half's creative mind. He picks up on some things I don't.

In other news…

Spellbound by Fire undergoes the extensive and tedious editing process this month. The cover art for the book will also get started this month. I am very excited, especially for the latter. I've seen some of the covers that have come out of Hellfire Publishing and I love the art! And it's only a month and a half until it's released!! Sept. 15!!!

Spellbound by the Sword, the sequel is undergoing some rewrites from chapter 3 on. I had to add some other events from Billy's younger years into those early chapters. Everything flows better. My self-imposed deadline on the first draft of the sequel is New Year's. Basically, any time I don't spend working, marketing Spellbound by Fire, and doing stuff for She Wasn't Allowed to Giggle will be devoted to writing like a mad writer. Um, not that it would be any different than normal…

As for She Wasn't Allowed to Giggle, I have found a cover artist for it and am currently seeking a professional editing service for it as I have finished my own edit of the book and just have to assemble the poems and other stuff in there as I prefer. I am hoping to have this out for October at the latest.

I am getting five or so poems published in a Domestic Violence anthology. It is a non-profit book for which the proceeds will be going to various charities dedicated to the same cause. I am honoured to be part of this and to do something to help the cause.

And lastly, two things: my mother is doing better. She is home from the hospital and recovering. She still can't see out of one eye but it's a one day at a time thing.

Finally, I am thinking of just taking a bunch of books next summer and travelling to every writer's festival I can and marketing the bejesus out of my books! It would be an excuse for a road trip for my fiance and I because we love road trips, and it would be an experience to market books and network face-to-face with other writers. I love the idea!