It Never Rains but It Pours

I hit 20,000 words on my sequel today! 20,000 words! Words are flowing fast and free, and characters are dropping like flies... or something like that.

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 5: 2,466 words. Done.

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 4

Still that nasty real-life stuff getting in the way. A mere 1,046 words from me today, and I'm about to crash in bed. Goodnight.

Real Life is Boring

So boring that I got a measly amount of writing done today. Wait for tomorrow to get some actual news. :)

You See What Happens When You Challenge Me?

I have this problem when it comes to writing: I'm insanely competetive. And when someone challenges me to a word war (timed writing race), ain't nobody going to stop me.

That said, many word wars over the last two days have led to a complete 16,269 words. Yes, that is an uneven number. No, I'm not writing any more today.
I was going to stop at 15,000, but what can I say? Word War!
During these word wars. Marie Wench, my main character, has sailed across an ocean. She's met her twin brother face to face for the first time in their lives.
And she's still alive. For the moment.

What about you? What are you insanely competitive about? What challenges you the most?

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 1

Camp Day 1 is over and done...
Well, sort of. I probably have time to write some more words, but after 11,651 words today- yeah, you got that right- I'm ready for a break.
What did I learn today? That characters sometimes take their stories into their own hamds, doing things the author never imagined them to do. *hinthint, General Raphael*

What about you? If you're participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, how did you do?

If not, what fictional character (by which author) surprised you? Was it in a good way or a bad one?

April Camp NaNoWriMo

Camp NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow, which means... yes, you guessed it, much writing! This year I've decided to do something different and blog my updates at the end of each day. Keep an eye out here and watch my wordcount soar!

Shadows of the Hersweald

Happy Vallegrande Day to everyone! (Not that anyone outside of Bolivia cares, but still…)

If you’ve been paying any attention to my Facebook posts lately, you’ve probably caught on to my obsession with one Hope Ann. She’s a homeschool graduate, also the eldest of a large family, and has self-published multiple fairytale retellings on Amazon. Her latest book, Shadows of the Hersweald, an awesome retelling of Hansel and Gretel, released just this last week. Here’s the blurb:

They would have to come that afternoon. Haydn glared at the rutted road twisted away from the gate beneath him, slithering into the shadows of the Harsweald. And what was the flaming idea behind leaving him in charge? Tregaron in the hands of a criminal… that would put them all in the good graces of the province governor, no questions asked.
A battered soldier from a defeated army, Haydn knows there is only one end to the arrival of the Prince’s governor. Except he hasn’t counted on the Prince himself. Or the pardon which his recent foe has declared to acquit all those who fought against him.
A pardon Haydn detests.
A pardon that refuses to punish the rebels now threatening his own village. And his sister.
Guilt-ridden from his own actions during the war, Haydn knows there are others who have no conscience at all. Others who are using the freedom of the pardon to forward their own desperate schemes.
With enemies closing in on all sides, a pardon that refuses punishment, and nightmares of murder and fire haunting his every thought, will Haydn recognize the truth or will his fear condemn everything he loves to destruction?
Perfect for those who love fantasy, but don’t have the time to sit down for a full-length novel, this third novella in the Legends of Light series presents the story of Hansel and Gretel as you have never read it before. Full of danger, loyalty, and betrayal, all tinted red from the shuddering glow of the firecarn, this is more than a mere retelling of a favorite fairy tale.

And for more of a treat, my dear friends, I have… (*whispers*) a sneak peak. Wanna see? Here goes…

Footsteps crunched through the gate. Hasty, firm treads. That hadn’t taken them long.

Haydn bit his lip. They would drag him away soon, pardon or no. His eyes trailed the words engraved on the pavement. Words of promise. Words his father loved. Useless words, like the pardon, but strong words nevertheless.

Who hath believed our report? The Oath of the King shall never fall. His promise to those who rebelled will stand completed…

“You destroy and reject the pardon of the Prince, yet you come here for refuge?” The familiar voice carried a hint of amusement. “Don’t you find that a little ironic?”

“Should I?” Haydn asked without lifting his gaze.

Traveon sighed. “That is all I get? Two years at war on opposite sides, and you won’t give me more than two words?”

Haydn dragged his gaze upward.

Traveon raised one eyebrow. “Come now. I don’t look that bad.”

Haydn snorted, but his lip curved into a faint smile. “You look like you spent the last year scrounging for food in the Hersweald. Didn’t the Prince’s army feed you?”

“More than they fed you, apparently.” Traveon took a step forward, holding out a hand. “As for sleep, however…”

Haydn clasped his comrade’s sinewy forearm. “We kept you busy?” He smirked.

“Oh, no. It was trying to figure out how to deal with blockheads like you once the war was over that kept us around the fires.” Traveon shook his head, but his smile faded. “What were you thinking? I mean, I’ve seen you do foolish things—”

“Most of which were your idea,” Haydn reminded him.

Check it out!

https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Hersweald-Hansel-Novella-Legends-ebook/dp/B01MSB6S6C

When the Music Fades Project Update

A minstrel girl finds relief from her troubled past in her alcohol and singing, but when her hearing abandons her, she must decide between contentment in silence or taking her own life.

I wrote this story—complete at nearly five thousand words—in four days for Kendra E. Ardnek’s contest over at knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

Maeve and her brother Ealar have been journeying throughout the whole land of Éire for six months now, masked as minstrel lads. Though even Maeve cannot deny her growing addiction to alcohol, life is going well.

Until this night.

This night, when the ringing of her ears grows unbearable.

The next morning, when she learns the dreadful truth.

When the Music Fades has been a wonderful way to put myself into Maeve’s shoes, to imagine my own reaction in the same situation.

The winner of the contest will be announced on the twenty-fifth. So close… yet so very far away.

2017…

Bolivian Time

Bolivia has a different concept of time than the U.S. does. In the States, “on time” is, well, on time. “On time” in Bolivia is twenty minutes late. This post is a month and twenty-three days late! Bolivian time…

2017 is sizing up to be a very busy year on my side of the universe. Here’s the rundown:

January:

       Real Life: Two weeks of camp preparation and camp itself, preparation for classes starting.

       Writing Life (the fun stuff): Basically nothing.

February:

Real Life: Bible Institute classes started. So did my nighttime beauty classes (that sounds like something from a fairytale—anyone agree?).

Writing Life: I completed the first draft of Roshanara and the Dragon and started revising. I Slapped My Prince Charming is on revision number 10. Hopefully Revision #11 will be the last. Also, I started When Music Fades for a contest whose deadline is the last day of the month. Praying that I can get it done in time. J But isn’t that cover—the prize—gorgeous?

Publication Stuff: I Slapped My Prince Charming’s information is off to Tremani Sutcliffe, the cover designer. I’m planning on self-publishing this one. J

I’m not sure whether to put this under writing or publication, but I have gotten involved in Project Canvas which is—I quote—“a collaborative writing project. Vision: to create a book of writing advice and inspiration for fellow writers.” Check their website out at projectcanvasbook.weebly.com if you’re interested. I am writing about the topic of discipline and time management, which as you can see is something I’m constantly trying to improve on.

March:

       Real Life: Translation for a medical team in the big city, which means a week away from home, work and classes (yay!) but also a week away from writing (not-so-yay). But the translation job is always fun.

       Writing Life: By this time, I will hopefully be 100% done with I Slapped My Prince Charming and also Roshanara and the Dragon because…

       Publication Stuff: My ideal publication date for Roshanara and the Dragon is March 31, 2017. Look. I have said this online. Now I have to meet that deadline.

There you are—my schedule for 2017’s first quarter—halfway through said quarter. What can I say? It’s Bolivian time.

Rags to Riches, Marie Justicius

       In the last post, I introduced Marie Justicius, protagonist of my latest WIP, I Slapped My Prince Charming. Today, she’s joined us for a little interview.

Q: Hello, Marie, and thank you for joining us. I know that, now that you’re here in the palace, your time is valuable, so I will not take up too much of it. Please tell us, what did you do for fun back in your home, in Aucum?

The most exciting times of my life happened after darkness fell, when the stars glistened up in the sky. During the summer, Jolie or Terrell and I would run outside, barefoot, and throw ourselves along the grass. We would try to count the stars, just like Jolie and her father always had when he yet lived. In the springtime, I would sneak alone into Lord Gaston's garden to smell the roses. I was never caught. But the best times came during the winter, when Papa and I cuddled down before the fire in our little cottage. If he was particularly talkative, he would tell me stories. Sometimes he told me stories of my mother—before I knew she was Queen Tansy. The connection I used to feel for her vanished not long after actually meeting her in person.

Q: (No spoilers, Marie!) Before coming here to the palace, had you ever traveled outside of Aucum?

No, I had never left the outskirts of the village.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about living in the palace?

The eternal shadows, night and day. Most people know them as bodyguards. I understand the need for them, in principle, yet surely they know I can take care of myself!

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in the palace?

My favorite thing about living in the palace has little to do with the palace itself. I love that our moving to the palace gave me, in a way, a close relationship with my sister, Iris, and with Constant. There was always something in me that wanted a family, and now I had it.

Q: Would you have been happier to have grown up with Constant instead of being an only child?

Who can say? I say now that I would have been happier, but if I had grown up with Constant, I would also have grown up with Tansy. Would that mean that I would be just like her? I already inherited so much from her-- her mannerisms, her stubborness (although that could come from Papa as well). Living in the same palace with her could have made me an exact replica of her, which is something I could never want to be.

Q:  If you had grown up with him, what would you two have done for fun together?

I know that if Constant grew up here in Delmar, the two of us would have taken field trips to Aucum, just as we did right before the time of Danielle's passing. The two of us probably would have sneaked out of lessons and spent much time on horseback. Though none of that is something I would admit to Lord Algernon or, God forbid, to Farran.

Q: What is your faith like?

Ever since I was a little girl, I never doubted there was a higher power, something or someone that created the universe. All those nights lying on the grass, looking up into the stars told me that. The beauty of stars is not something crafted by a human's hand. I don't even know when I began to call that higher power God. Was it something I heard in the manor, a word used in strong emotion? I know not.

Thank you Marie for joining us, and thanks to Annie Pavese for the questions!