My Tiny Human started school in September this year. She and I went from being together 24/7 for all four years of her life, to being apart for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Now. This is where I could tell you that I cried the day I dropped her off and I've missed her and she had terrible separation anxiety. But I'd be lying.
It is GREAT! She loves school, her teacher is fantastic, and I have 6 hours to exercise, write, read, whatever I need to do. I told myself that my revisions would be done so fast and my house would never be cleaner, but yeah, that hasn't really happened. Still, this extra quiet time has done wonders for my mental health (and physical health, since I've had time to exercise).
But the downside to having school aged children, is remembering all the special dates. Good golly. And I volunteer for things, so I need to remember those dates, times and places as well. Oy!
I've been asked to come in and do a school visit next week with her class and talk about writing, so I will definitely let you know how that goes!
Anybody else with Tiny Humans that started school this year? how are you spending that time? Writing, I hope!
And we have a new tangle started by me at Tangled Fiction if you're in the mood for some short fiction and crossroads demons. I might just do an impromptu ARC giveaway (I may or may not have in my possession, an ARC of THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwabb and it is fantastic) or something to some random person who reads and comments on the Tangled Fiction Blog. Either at Livejournal, or Blogger, either one is fine. Happy reading/writing!
Showing posts with label tangled fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tangled fiction. Show all posts
Updates! And Apologies.
Have you checked out Sisters in Scribe lately? We have another fab giveaway happening! Up for grabs is an autographed copy of BAD TASTE IN BOYS by our zombie-loving friend, Carrie Harris! We're only selecting one top entry for the book, but I MIGHT have something special for our second and third faves. *wink*
In other news, you remember back in April when Natalie Parker, Valerie Kemp and I (Tangled Fiction) said we were taking a spring hiatus, and we'd be back in May? And then May came and went. And then so did the rest of the summer? Yeah. About that. We feel TERRIBLE for abandoning the blog for so long, but we've had good reason! You already know my news, but Valerie and Natalie have had their own share of excitement this summer! We have an update up on the TF blog, so be sure to check that out! We are STOKED to be back in the saddle. We've missed you guys! Also on blogger.
My agent, Sara Megibow, now has a monthly blog spot at Romance University! Even if you don't write romance, I still recommend giving Sara a read. I'm a little bias, yes, but she is awesome!
As for this blog and all it's patheticness, I'm afraid that'll continue at least until September. I'm super busy with edits (Sara cracks a mighty whip) and summer vacation! And I hope you are too. ;)
In other news, you remember back in April when Natalie Parker, Valerie Kemp and I (Tangled Fiction) said we were taking a spring hiatus, and we'd be back in May? And then May came and went. And then so did the rest of the summer? Yeah. About that. We feel TERRIBLE for abandoning the blog for so long, but we've had good reason! You already know my news, but Valerie and Natalie have had their own share of excitement this summer! We have an update up on the TF blog, so be sure to check that out! We are STOKED to be back in the saddle. We've missed you guys! Also on blogger.
My agent, Sara Megibow, now has a monthly blog spot at Romance University! Even if you don't write romance, I still recommend giving Sara a read. I'm a little bias, yes, but she is awesome!
As for this blog and all it's patheticness, I'm afraid that'll continue at least until September. I'm super busy with edits (Sara cracks a mighty whip) and summer vacation! And I hope you are too. ;)
Announcement of Awesome!
For a friend. This particular announcement is not my own.
Remember when we (Valerie, Natalie and I) decided that we were going to write one story a week at Tangled Fiction? And everyone said we were crazy?
Natalie has proved to be the craziest of our bunch. Stop by her blog and congratulate her on her big announcement, and to partake in her blind joy!! You don't want to miss it.
Remember when we (Valerie, Natalie and I) decided that we were going to write one story a week at Tangled Fiction? And everyone said we were crazy?
Natalie has proved to be the craziest of our bunch. Stop by her blog and congratulate her on her big announcement, and to partake in her blind joy!! You don't want to miss it.
Deadlines Don't Have to be Damning
Writing for Tangled Fiction has taught me a lot in terms of character and plot structure, but also self-discipline. The only time I'd ever written under a deadline was when I'd gotten my editor's notes for Parallel, my short story that was published in the Rebel Moon anthology, and that was a piece of cake compared to TF deadlines.
Twenty-four to forty-eight hours is not a lot of time to come up with something out of the blue, especially when it has to match what's already written. And if you aren't in a writing mood, it's that much worse. I'm all for stepping away from the manuscript, distancing yourself until you're in a more relaxed state of mind and you can let the creativity flow, but sometimes that isn't an option. Sometimes you're faced with a deadline. And if you aren't burdened by deadlines now, someday you will be!
I've written things that have come off as harried, and I've written things I've been much more proud of. I wish that I had some magical piece of advice that would give you exactly what you need to prevail in the face of evil thought-crushing deadlines, but I don't. All I can say is that deadlines don't have to be damning. Do not fear the deadline! But I think it's a great idea to condition yourself now so that when that five or however-many-page editorial letter comes, you're ready for it. You can do this. You can write something great even when your brain says you can't.
And if YOU have that magical piece of advice, I am so ready to hear it.
Rivers and Railroads
As I mentioned before, this week is individual shorts week at Tangled Fiction . I posted my short UNTOUCHABLE this morning.
These are some pictures of the river and railroad near my home town, one of which was used as the visual for UNTOUCHABLE.
Thanks for looking!
These are some pictures of the river and railroad near my home town, one of which was used as the visual for UNTOUCHABLE.
Thanks for looking!
The Fatty Ratties
Back in January I had a birthday, and my gift (that I practically begged for for four years) were two little boy rats. This is them then, at about 5 weeks old:
And this is now at about 9 weeks old:
Aren't they adorable?
This week is individual shorts week at Tangled Fiction. I'll be posting my short UNTOUCHABLE a little bit later today. I grew up near the Susquehanna River and spent a lot of time on the railroad tracks and swimming in the river. I was feeling quite nostalgic when I wrote this short. Hope you'll come by and give it a read.
Aren't they adorable?
This week is individual shorts week at Tangled Fiction. I'll be posting my short UNTOUCHABLE a little bit later today. I grew up near the Susquehanna River and spent a lot of time on the railroad tracks and swimming in the river. I was feeling quite nostalgic when I wrote this short. Hope you'll come by and give it a read.
Match Made in Zombieland.
I just got this text from Husband and it's too funny not to share with you.
"I was just in the bowels of a building in Manhattan. I had to climb two flights of stairs and then walk around with a flashlight. It was AWESOME. I kept thinking it would be a perfect place to hide from zombies."
This is the man that I love. <3
Also, this week is individual short week at Tangled Fiction. Natalie posted her short titled BUTTERFLY GIRL on Monday. Valerie will post hers on Wednesday, and I post mine on Friday. I suppose I need to go write it. >_<
"I was just in the bowels of a building in Manhattan. I had to climb two flights of stairs and then walk around with a flashlight. It was AWESOME. I kept thinking it would be a perfect place to hide from zombies."
This is the man that I love. <3
Also, this week is individual short week at Tangled Fiction. Natalie posted her short titled BUTTERFLY GIRL on Monday. Valerie will post hers on Wednesday, and I post mine on Friday. I suppose I need to go write it. >_<
Evil bug sack! And a TF Short
Ok, so I cleaned my garage yesterday, because the weather is FINALLY looking spring-ish, and I found this bag full of micro-fiber cloths that Husband uses to clean his motorcycle, the car, etc. I brought them in and threw them in the wash. Today I take them out of the washer--I know I should've done it yesterday, thanks, Mom--and guess what I found in the washer?
One of those roach egg-sac things!!!!! So I am completely skeeved-out now. I cleaned out the washer and flushed the evil baby bugs down the toilet, washed my hands a few times and ran the washer with nothing in it, just to be sure. Ugh. How gross is that?
Anyway, spring is in the air! But before you leave February in the garden soil, go check out the final tangled installment of HART'S RIDGE over at the Tangled Fiction blog! http://community.livejournal.com/tangledfiction/14468.html
One of those roach egg-sac things!!!!! So I am completely skeeved-out now. I cleaned out the washer and flushed the evil baby bugs down the toilet, washed my hands a few times and ran the washer with nothing in it, just to be sure. Ugh. How gross is that?
Anyway, spring is in the air! But before you leave February in the garden soil, go check out the final tangled installment of HART'S RIDGE over at the Tangled Fiction blog! http://community.livejournal.com/tangledfiction/14468.html
Fiction and furry things
I know I've been MIA from here for a while, but things should start to settle down soon. Dec/Jan are always crazy months for me.
This past week was individual short week at Tangled Fiction. Each of us posted an un-tangled full short. Stop on over to check those out! :D
Also, I got this for my birthday:
For this:
And this:
And their serious cuteness has taken a lot of my attention. :-)
They're names are Poe (after Edgar Allan) and Dowell (after Alexander Beliaev's sci-fi novel, Professor Dowell's head--one of Husband's favorite novels.) they're brothers from a litter born on Christmas and they are cute, and furry, and they are mine. :D
This past week was individual short week at Tangled Fiction. Each of us posted an un-tangled full short. Stop on over to check those out! :D
Also, I got this for my birthday:
And their serious cuteness has taken a lot of my attention. :-)
They're names are Poe (after Edgar Allan) and Dowell (after Alexander Beliaev's sci-fi novel, Professor Dowell's head--one of Husband's favorite novels.) they're brothers from a litter born on Christmas and they are cute, and furry, and they are mine. :D
Aquarius is the superior star sign
There, I said it.
My birthday is coming up! January is a great month to be born. When you're a kid, your birthday parties are limited to indoor activities and it is often too cold or snowy for your party guests to actually show up. I was always envious of my June-born sister. But not anymore! Because January is a month made of awesome.
Tangled Fiction is back from our holiday break with a brand new story about arse-kicking girls in hoods, wielding axes, knives, and bows. And there's giant, smelly wolves.
Also, I've gotten over my writing funk, mostly, thanks to Natalie C Parker, and my Sisters in Scribe, Valerie Kemp and Kristi Helvig. I am now back on track with awesome ideas for whipping Greyskin into shape!
Any other Aquarians out there?
My birthday is coming up! January is a great month to be born. When you're a kid, your birthday parties are limited to indoor activities and it is often too cold or snowy for your party guests to actually show up. I was always envious of my June-born sister. But not anymore! Because January is a month made of awesome.
Tangled Fiction is back from our holiday break with a brand new story about arse-kicking girls in hoods, wielding axes, knives, and bows. And there's giant, smelly wolves.
Also, I've gotten over my writing funk, mostly, thanks to Natalie C Parker, and my Sisters in Scribe, Valerie Kemp and Kristi Helvig. I am now back on track with awesome ideas for whipping Greyskin into shape!
Any other Aquarians out there?
Snow Days!
Hope everyone that celebrated had a wonderful Christmas! If you're celebrating Kwanza, Happy Kwanza!
NYC got hit with a major blizzard over the weekend and Husband had an extra day home from work. We spent it throwing snowballs at each other and the kids (Big A totally betrayed me and teamed up with Dad, but Little M was loyal and threw a great many powdery puffs at the both of them! Huzzah!), and chucking each other into snow banks. Much fun.
Until we had to be grown-ups and actually shovel the driveway and dig out the car.
I am back to the writing grind today and cleaning up my house in between line edits, so I will probably disappear on you again for a few days. At Sisters in Scribe we are still taking entries for our December Giveaway (international, ends Dec 31st) and over at Tangled Fiction we have our first public round table discussion, so hop over there to see wtf we were thinking when we started our tangles and to chime in with what you thought might have happened!
Happy New Year!
NYC got hit with a major blizzard over the weekend and Husband had an extra day home from work. We spent it throwing snowballs at each other and the kids (Big A totally betrayed me and teamed up with Dad, but Little M was loyal and threw a great many powdery puffs at the both of them! Huzzah!), and chucking each other into snow banks. Much fun.
Until we had to be grown-ups and actually shovel the driveway and dig out the car.
Happy New Year!
Holiday Giveaway and a New Short!
Over at Sisters in Scribe, my scribe sisters and I are giving away 3 autographed YA books to 3 winners, ends Dec. 31st! Hop over there for the details and if you know of any other contests around the web, feel free to post it in our Mr. Linky meme.
In other news! Part 1 of BETHLEHEM, by me, is up on the TF blog! Here's a sneak peek! Hope you enjoy!
The last winter that time recorded started just like today, with a sky so bleak that you couldn’t tell where the earth ended and it began. It was the last winter I spent with my family in this same apartment, staring out this same window watching fat snowflakes fall. The last winter that would ever matter.
But it doesn’t matter today. Today I need food and things to burn. It’s light enough to start looking, but without the sun I can’t even guess the time. The sky is so thick and so gray, the city street so empty and muffled by snow, that it feels like I’m stuck in someplace in between.
In other news! Part 1 of BETHLEHEM, by me, is up on the TF blog! Here's a sneak peek! Hope you enjoy!
The last winter that time recorded started just like today, with a sky so bleak that you couldn’t tell where the earth ended and it began. It was the last winter I spent with my family in this same apartment, staring out this same window watching fat snowflakes fall. The last winter that would ever matter.
But it doesn’t matter today. Today I need food and things to burn. It’s light enough to start looking, but without the sun I can’t even guess the time. The sky is so thick and so gray, the city street so empty and muffled by snow, that it feels like I’m stuck in someplace in between.
Full Shorts Week
This week at Tangled Fiction, the girls and I have decided to each write 1 full short story to share with you all! I kick us off today with a short starring Jack and Charlie, the two main characters in my wip, GREYSKIN.
Here is a small teaser, but to read the full, you'll have to hop over to TF and check it out!
Here is a small teaser, but to read the full, you'll have to hop over to TF and check it out!
Jack stands beside me, mouth open, eyes wide, as we stare down into an empty trunk. The heat of the exhaust burns my leg through my jeans, but I can’t move away from it. The trunk is empty.
“Where the hell’d it go?” Jack asks.
I shake my head. “How’d it get out?”
Jacky slams the trunk closed and turns around to lean against it. I do the same. The cicadas buzz so loud out here at night it’s impossible to hear anything else, so there’s no point being on guard. Besides, not even Jack can outrun a pissed off vampire. After being knocked over the head with a tire iron, wrapped in silver chains, and thrown in a trunk, I’m sure I’d be pretty pissed too. Vampires aren’t known for their happy-go-lucky attitudes.
Thanks for reading! And I hope you check out the full story.
Happy Monday!
http://community.livejournal.com/tangledfiction/
http://tangledfiction.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday!
http://community.livejournal.com/tangledfiction/
http://tangledfiction.blogspot.com/
Tangled Fiction Fulls
We now have an archive page on the TF blog where we will post links to the full stories as well as each individual part. lhttp://http://tangledfiction.blogspot.com/p/story-archive.html Sneak peek of IN THE CARDS, started by me, continued by Natalie C Parker, and concluded by Valerie Kemp!
The caravan sat up against an old wooden fence, covered in rust and moss like it had been puked out by the earth. Vintage, her older brother Lem had called it, but Nim knew better. Vintage meant trash.
She pulled her shawl around her shoulders, but the wind still bit her skin. She couldn’t go inside yet. Lem hadn’t given the signal. Tonight’s girl was blonde, her skin bronzed by the sun. Nim looked down at her own milky white hands. She’d never have tan skin. She’d never have anything the girl in the caravan had—money, friends. It wasn’t in the cards for her.
Follow the above link to read more of this one, and our second 3 part short, WHAT WISHES ARE MADE OF! Thanks for looking!
The caravan sat up against an old wooden fence, covered in rust and moss like it had been puked out by the earth. Vintage, her older brother Lem had called it, but Nim knew better. Vintage meant trash.
She pulled her shawl around her shoulders, but the wind still bit her skin. She couldn’t go inside yet. Lem hadn’t given the signal. Tonight’s girl was blonde, her skin bronzed by the sun. Nim looked down at her own milky white hands. She’d never have tan skin. She’d never have anything the girl in the caravan had—money, friends. It wasn’t in the cards for her.
Follow the above link to read more of this one, and our second 3 part short, WHAT WISHES ARE MADE OF! Thanks for looking!
Official Announcement!
I've mentioned here recently that there were going to be some changes at Tangled Fiction. As October comes to a close (with one of the coolest holidays ever), we've made the official announcement on the Tangled Fiction blog! Hop on over there to check it out!
Change is a good thing.
Tangled Fiction
My contribution and the finale to UNCHARTED, our second collaborative short is up on the Tangled Fiction Blog!
There will be some changes made on TF! Starting November 1st, we will be posting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, giving you one full story a week instead of a month!!
We'll kick things off with a piece started by me! Don't miss it. Um...Please.
What's Happening?
Over at Sisters in Scribe (a blog I share with my two fantastic crit partners) we are hosting Andrew Jacobson, co-author of The Familiars, on his Haunted Blog Tour! A copy of the book is up for grabs to one lucky commenter. There is also a clue for the scavenger hunt! Contest ends October 30th and is international. That gives you time to get the book, read it, and play!
There is always something over at Sisters in Scribe. Writing advice, book chats, giveaways. So please, give us a read. You know. If you want. :)
We have a new story up on Tangled Fiction! New stories start the first Tuesday of every month. Each week after a new portion of that same story will be continued by a different author! Part 1 of our current story is written by Valerie Kemp (one of my Sisters in Scribe). Part 2 by the lovely Anne Marie. Part 3, airing next Tuesday will be written by the amazingly talented Natalie C Parker. And the conclusion, Part 4, will be written by myself. Don't miss it! Lots of creepy goodness over there. We're all very twisted. And tangled. Har-har!
Tonight, 9PM EST, Jessica (Confessions of a Bookaholic) and Lisa (A Life Bound By Books), are hosting a Haunted Halloween twitter party! There will be book and swag giveaways, author's stopping by to chat, trivia, etc! Lots of fun so don't miss that! Follow the link for the deets.
Happy Thursday!
Tangled Fiction Tuesdays!
Brand new story started by Valerie at the TF blog!
or
A little preview of UNCHARTED (Part I)
There was no way to untangle what was left of Mason from the tree, but the rest of us crawled out the back of the van to where we stood now, trapped between a dense forest and a sheer rock wall, hundreds of feet below the road. So far down that I couldn’t even make out the edge of the cliff in the dark. A grim thought sent a chill down my spine. Mason was the first to die, but he might not be the last.
Insert Witty Title Here
I won't be posting much, slogging through revisions and I've got a new novel begging to be written, sooo don't forget to check out Tangled Fiction tomorrow for a BRAND NEW story! Part I will be written by Valerie (one of my Sisters at Sisters in Scribe).
TF is also mirrored on blogger.
Creepy children, dead things, and tart-eating monsters.
Tangled Fiction, the short story blog shared by four young adult writers, myself included, finished our first ever collaborative short story--The Importance of a Strawberry Tart-- yesterday.
Please stop by and check it out! Posts are sorted newest first, so make sure you scroll to Part I before reading anything in Part IV!
Next week (Tuesday October 5th) we will start our second story. Part I will be written by Valerie, Part II by Anne, Part III by Natalie and Part IV by me. Don't miss it!
Sample of TIOAST PartIV:
Georgia stood still, her whooshing skirts and leather boots silent for the first time all day, not daring to enter the kitchen alone. Darkness had finally engulfed the house, as the sun had set an hour past, and none of the gas lamps or candles had been lit on the first floor.
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