News, Books, and the Latest

While I haven't been around blogger lately, I have been keeping busy. After a long and thorough set of edits, GD, my YA Paranormal (one I'm so in love with), is finally off to the world's most amazing crit partners. YAY! And now instead of twiddling my thumbs I just have to decide what to work on while I wait for more revisions to roll in. So I haven't exactly decided yet, but I have several options. I'm leaning toward firing up my mostly-plotted YA sci-fi (codename: W) and writing until my fingers bleed.

Also, I've finally finished my A-Z reading challenge. What a whirlwind. And now that I've read all my required reading, I'm enjoying some great reads I've been looking forward to. Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready. I'm almost halfway through it. This is how you write an emotional read, people. Uh-mazing! And, by the way, The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade was also a great read. Fun and surprisingly deep. Now all I need is the sequel, Queen of the Dead.

Now I'm sure I don't have to tell you so many great books have come out over the summer and release soon. While my book addiction is...uh, let's call it problematic, there are so many books on my wishlist right now. Seriously. In case you're interested, I've got a wishlist tab on my goodreads.

An amazing bit of news that I almost forgot to mention, my critique partner just signed a contract with Entangled Publishing for her Sci-Fi Romance, Queen of Swords. I'm beyond thrilled for her. And trust me, you will want to get your hands on this one when it releases.

Great news all around! And I'll be seeing you all around a lot more lately.

Take that Manuscript to the Gym

Now while I was almost expecting a post-holiday hangover (the kind where you feel like doing nothing, leftover from an awesome weekend), I'm actually just glad to get things back to normal. Back to my routine. Back to the hair-pulling frustration and sweet-tears-of-joy madness that are revisions.

Edits, rewrites, revisions, call them what you will, just don't skimp on them. There's no better way to get your words (you remember, the ones you worked so hard on not so long ago) into shape. Unfortunately you can't take that first chapter to the gym to work on its hook or shout at that sagging middle through a thousand crunches or even kickbox that ending into submission...or can you?

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that every writer has their own process. Me personally, in the past I would never do less than three rounds of edits before allowing another set of eyes (critique partner or beta reader) on my pages. But this time (another thing I probably don't have to tell you, writers adapt) I'm sending a chapter after only two rounds. Side note: this is because I feel I've worked hard from plot to first draft and through two very substantial and thoughtful edits.

Are my words still under there somewhere?

And man is my CP tearing it apart. If this is where you expect me to cry and whine, then you must not know many writers. I'm loving all the bleeding my poor pages are doing. And I'm prepared to resurrect the first few chapters (and maybe--heh--some of my ego), rewrite, and look forward. Because red ink (or pink comment boxes) mean the reader found something off or wrong in the pages. And I'd rather work hard fixing those holes than leave them there to make myself feel better, to live in denial. Being a writer means persistence and hard work. Work I'm willing to put in. What I'm not prepared to is put out something I'm not a hundred percent proud of.

What that means is a lot of time and frustration for me...and a short blog post for you. :)

But before I go, sometimes we all need a little revision pick me up. Mine is obviously coffee (in the mornings), sandwiches (for lunch), and the occasional cookie in between. Oh, and you can't beat the affection of a darling kitty or two. So, what picks you up when you're down in the revision slumps? What keeps you going?

Kitties A and B

Finishing

So the other day I finished a round of edits on on Graceful Death (one of my more recent works in progress). And man does it feel good. No matter how many times you type "The End" or finish up a round of edits, nothing beats the rush it gifts. Writers, you know what I'm talking about. I would imagine it's like graduating with honors or having kids. While my edits are far from done, even one round on them makes the manuscript a hundred times better.

Plus, working on something else while you're out on submission really takes the edge off waiting for your email to ping. Am I right?

Anyway, I was wondering what else you guys might compare finishing edits or a first draft to. Learning to ride a bike? Scoring the last goal/point of a game? Crossing every thing off your huge To Do list? And does it matter whether or not it's a short story of 10-20k or an entire novel of 60-120k? Are the levels of different for every book or story written? What about comparing the completion of a first novel to, say, a fifth one?

I LOVE this project!

I'm heading to the Giants game tonight, so this is going to be a quick post.

A post on what, you ask?

As I'm coming close to finishing a round of edits on GRACEFUL DEATH, a YA project I'm excited to talk about but not yet comfortable doing so, I'm getting that feeling again. You know, that feeling you get when the writing is done, and the story isn't perfect yet, but you're still SO excited about it. The idea is fresh. The voice is unique. And I may be tooting my own horn here, but I love this one. Each book I write, I'm honing my skill, getting closer to where I want to be. And I love it all!

There's a lot of work left to do, but I just had to share my excitement. I love every bit of the writing process and editing (even when I know so much more work is needed) is a huge part of that process.

And...GO GIANTS!

Epcot

While I could post ever single picture of my trip and feel less than no guilt about it, I figure better to post the best.

While we won't talk about the plane ride (which wasn't so bad, considering a few years ago boarding a plane would be out of the question) because nothing great happened. Oh, and it took something like twelve hours to get there with time change and a layover in Houston.

Epcot

 Beautiful, right? Now, if you're anything like me you know next to nothing about the Florida Disney Parks. Epcot is an adult version of It's a Small World *cue the loop of sappy music*. Basically, you can go around the world by walking around the lake.

Up first, Mexico. Don't worry, I won't breakdown every country. On the left is a huge recreation of a Mayan temple. Inside is a nighttime marketplace with ponchos and day of the dead figures for sale among many other things. These were my favorite.


Crazy hand-painted beautiful ceramics. All shapes, sizes, and colors. Also in this marketplace, strung through with lanterns, were restaurants, a ride, and...a bar.

Disneyland for adults, remember?

 My second favorite thing in Mexico? Ridiculously amazing margaritas! From left to right, my mom's classic (read: boring), the bf's Blood Orange (that's also supposed to be his shot, but he let me take half, more on that in a minute), and my Passion Fruit. MARGARITA! *shakes maracas* And the shot of tequila came with salt, lime, and a little salsa chaser. Weird, but so good! 

As you can imagine, since this was lunchtime, lunch was great. And...maybe we were a little buzzed for the next few hours.


Next up, China.

Here is a recreation of the famous Terracotta Warriors. History lesson? Check here.

 Even the gardens were beautiful.

This promo for Disney's latest masterpiece was all made of sand. And it was huge. I have about four more pictures to complete one panoramic view.




 How about the pagodas of Japan?

Reading Challenge Update and Goodreads

Here's my latest update for my alphabet reading challenge hosted by Steph @ Thoughts of a Book Junkie.



A - Assassin Study by Maria V. Snyder
B - Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
C - Chime by Franny Billingsley
D - The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
E - The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
F - Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block
G - Going All In by Jess Dee
H - Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey 
I - The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
J - Jonas (Beautiful Dead #1) by Eden Maguire
K - Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf
L - Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
M - Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
N - Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
O - Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
P - Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Q - Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan
R - A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
S - Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
T - This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
U - Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
V - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
W - Wither by Lauren DeStefano
X - XVI by Julia Karr
Y - You by Charles Benoit
Z - Zombie Nights by Tom Lichtenberg

Only six books left. *glows*. I can't wait to get to some of these books. I've heard some great things.

Has anyone around here read anything I have to add to my to-read pile? I love book suggestions! Or is there a book I should definitely stay away from?

Also, I'm a huge Goodreads fanatic! I can't stop tending my account. It's like my own personal Tamagotchi. Come on. I know at least some of you remember these little digital pocket pets that you have to feed and play with otherwise you come out of math class and find your little Tamagotchi has kicked the bucket.

But I know my Goodreads account won't die or wither, but it's so much fun to add books and update where I am on the books I'm reading. My beloved Goodreads account <3! Anyone else on Goodreads or any other social book tending sites?

Finally Home

I just got back from one of the best vacations I've ever taken. Disney World. That's right. Take it all in. And yes, it was just as amazing as it sounds. As a big kid who loves Disneyland, this trip to Florida was everything I hoped for and more.

The point here (as I will be posting a few select pictures in a day or two) is that I'm back. Expect more posts coming soon!