Yeah, so I'm still waiting for my lovely final editors to send me my corrections. I'm a total of seven chapters edited! Get excited! No really, I mean it. I'm getting really good feedback from my final editors. Both good and bad, the combination of which doesn't leave me in a writhing mess on the floor. I'm actually liking the slower pace. I'm not feeling overwhelmed and my creativity was gone through the roof.
Want proof? Last week I wrote over a hundred pages in the Blood Heritage series. Good stuff, dark stuff, the kind of stuff I was talking about writing. The kind of stuff that won't need me to go in and do intensive surgery later on. Famous last words?
I've also been buying stuff. It has to happen sometime.
Bottom line is: The mechanic that I went to a couple months ago told me I needed to get Y replaced on my car and it would cost X. After saving X amount of money up to fix Y, I took my car to a different mechanic. The new mechanic can't find anything wrong with Y, but there is something wrong with the muffler. I have a lifetime warranty on the muffler (thank Monroe for that). And my once six hundred-something job came down to less than three.
The bottom line is that Moore's lies to their customers and Monroe is awesome!
So, I got some extra money. I bought new shoes. Steel toed workin' girl oxfords that will protect my toes from falling archive boxes and collapsible bagel walls. I heart Doc Martens. I also purchased Sherilynn Kenyon's audio-book version of Acheron on clearance. I'm excited to have it on my iPod at work and in the car. I also got a new helmet for riding the Harley. I went for my first ride yesterday and my butt officially hurts.
And my car is fixed...with enough left over for a new windshield. I'm very happy today, can you tell?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Time Goes By
Man, I need Blogger to send me a reminder that a week has gone by. I keep forgetting to update! That's just because I'm having a life.
So I started reading The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.
I heart Brent Weeks with all types of glomps and squees.
I'm fairly certain that I can say that I love Brent Weeks' action scenes in this series (The Way of Shadows at least, I'll get back to you on the other two when I'm finished). He has a clear cut and simple style, but his use of description is like finding a sweet plum in a rice cake: surprising and satisfying.
There were actually parts when I literally stopped reading and thought: "Wow, what a great way of saying that." or "That's a beautiful description." But at the same time, I wasn't feeling like I was being drown in eight syllable words and grotesque verbosity. I love when a book can be conversational and simply written but intelligent and cavalier at the same time.
In addition to that, his main plot line is unique and dark. The life of a street rat turned assassin. I loved Azoth from the mud in his face to his vibrant denial of wanting to 'fuck' Elene. And of course, like every good novelist learning her craft, I've gotten some great ideas from reading as well.
After the Will of the Fallen series is published, I'm going to try for the Blood Heritage chronicles. Blood Heritage is something I've been working on for...ten years? Obviously, it will need a major overhaul, but Brent Weeks has inspired me to take a darker turn with Gwyn, the main character of the first trilogy.
You may be thinking darkness is nothing new since the Will of the Fallen series is fairly dark. But, Amaya is a character that has a brilliant way of turning things in her favor (IMHO) and I want Gwyn to get down and dirty with life.
So, while the Muse has got me, I've been working on the Blood Heritage chronicles in the free time I have between edits to That Which Lies in Darkness. That Which Lies in Darkness is coming along slowly but surely. I have two more people doing final reads. So far I've gotten some outstanding feedback in both the approval area and the tiny-nitty-gritty-perfecting-details area. I'm hoping that my readers will be done by the end of the month and I'll try sending some queries out. :)
Wish me luck and go read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks!
-A.L.
So I started reading The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.
I heart Brent Weeks with all types of glomps and squees.
I'm fairly certain that I can say that I love Brent Weeks' action scenes in this series (The Way of Shadows at least, I'll get back to you on the other two when I'm finished). He has a clear cut and simple style, but his use of description is like finding a sweet plum in a rice cake: surprising and satisfying.
There were actually parts when I literally stopped reading and thought: "Wow, what a great way of saying that." or "That's a beautiful description." But at the same time, I wasn't feeling like I was being drown in eight syllable words and grotesque verbosity. I love when a book can be conversational and simply written but intelligent and cavalier at the same time.
In addition to that, his main plot line is unique and dark. The life of a street rat turned assassin. I loved Azoth from the mud in his face to his vibrant denial of wanting to 'fuck' Elene. And of course, like every good novelist learning her craft, I've gotten some great ideas from reading as well.
After the Will of the Fallen series is published, I'm going to try for the Blood Heritage chronicles. Blood Heritage is something I've been working on for...ten years? Obviously, it will need a major overhaul, but Brent Weeks has inspired me to take a darker turn with Gwyn, the main character of the first trilogy.
You may be thinking darkness is nothing new since the Will of the Fallen series is fairly dark. But, Amaya is a character that has a brilliant way of turning things in her favor (IMHO) and I want Gwyn to get down and dirty with life.
So, while the Muse has got me, I've been working on the Blood Heritage chronicles in the free time I have between edits to That Which Lies in Darkness. That Which Lies in Darkness is coming along slowly but surely. I have two more people doing final reads. So far I've gotten some outstanding feedback in both the approval area and the tiny-nitty-gritty-perfecting-details area. I'm hoping that my readers will be done by the end of the month and I'll try sending some queries out. :)
Wish me luck and go read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks!
-A.L.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Ten Reasons to Follow Someone on Twitter.
Ten Reasons to Follow Someone on Twitter.
1. They are hot. If they were famous, you'd buy the People's magazines with the latest scoop on their cellulite. If you had their address, you'd mail them you're dirty underwear; if you had their cell number you'd text them R rated photos of yourself. You'd browse Google images for naked pictures of them. You might even spend that extra five bucks to get their amateur porn from fifteen years ago.
2. They pone you in every way possible. They say the shit you wish you had thought of first. They have a better icon than you. They have more friends than you. They make you feel cool just by reading their material.
3. They're your friend. You have an obsessive concern with their personal hygiene and must know exactly when and how they are brushing their teeth. You have to know when Sally broke up with Jimmy. And you have to know if he scored first.
4. They are famous. Whether they are on the A list or the D list, or they are famous from a glitched twitter bot that just gifted them with a million followers, everyone loves them so you might as well jump on the band wagon.
5. They are your family. You'd like to pretend that Herman Melville the Third, the super-black sheep of your family, doesn't exist; but he just keeps friending you on Facebook and RTing your Tweets. You feel kind of obligated to at least return the favor. I mean if you don't follow him, who will?
6. They followed you first. Eh, if they are that interested in what's going on with you then maybe you should as well. It's not like you have anything better to do anyway. Or maybe you're just really nice.
7. You're trying to get famous. You'll follow just about everyone, cause those #6ers are out there somewhere and your books and cds wont just sell themselves in this crap economy. Who's interested in sustainable rutabaga gardening or copper tea-pot jazz in New York City? You need to reach your target audience.
8. They are you're news source. Face it, these days, no one has time to read those lengthy New York Times articles. You need fast reliable news in 140 characters or less. How else would you have found out Iran was having an election or that Michael Jackson had died? And who the hell is Farrah Fawcett? Talk about cultural enrichment!
9. They are interested in the same stuff as you are. In a world that is now dominated by Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, it's hard to find another Harry Potter and Hermione Granger 'shipper. We've got to stick together or loose to the forces of vampiric evil and Fanfic sites!
10. You are looking for love. It's so hard to meet people after you graduate. Especially if you are an RPG playing, Mac toting, triple-bypass surgery suffering, ex-DDR champion who's addicted to pocky. Besides, do you know how hard it is to find another Furry? Especially a badger?
1. They are hot. If they were famous, you'd buy the People's magazines with the latest scoop on their cellulite. If you had their address, you'd mail them you're dirty underwear; if you had their cell number you'd text them R rated photos of yourself. You'd browse Google images for naked pictures of them. You might even spend that extra five bucks to get their amateur porn from fifteen years ago.
2. They pone you in every way possible. They say the shit you wish you had thought of first. They have a better icon than you. They have more friends than you. They make you feel cool just by reading their material.
3. They're your friend. You have an obsessive concern with their personal hygiene and must know exactly when and how they are brushing their teeth. You have to know when Sally broke up with Jimmy. And you have to know if he scored first.
4. They are famous. Whether they are on the A list or the D list, or they are famous from a glitched twitter bot that just gifted them with a million followers, everyone loves them so you might as well jump on the band wagon.
5. They are your family. You'd like to pretend that Herman Melville the Third, the super-black sheep of your family, doesn't exist; but he just keeps friending you on Facebook and RTing your Tweets. You feel kind of obligated to at least return the favor. I mean if you don't follow him, who will?
6. They followed you first. Eh, if they are that interested in what's going on with you then maybe you should as well. It's not like you have anything better to do anyway. Or maybe you're just really nice.
7. You're trying to get famous. You'll follow just about everyone, cause those #6ers are out there somewhere and your books and cds wont just sell themselves in this crap economy. Who's interested in sustainable rutabaga gardening or copper tea-pot jazz in New York City? You need to reach your target audience.
8. They are you're news source. Face it, these days, no one has time to read those lengthy New York Times articles. You need fast reliable news in 140 characters or less. How else would you have found out Iran was having an election or that Michael Jackson had died? And who the hell is Farrah Fawcett? Talk about cultural enrichment!
9. They are interested in the same stuff as you are. In a world that is now dominated by Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, it's hard to find another Harry Potter and Hermione Granger 'shipper. We've got to stick together or loose to the forces of vampiric evil and Fanfic sites!
10. You are looking for love. It's so hard to meet people after you graduate. Especially if you are an RPG playing, Mac toting, triple-bypass surgery suffering, ex-DDR champion who's addicted to pocky. Besides, do you know how hard it is to find another Furry? Especially a badger?
Revision on Elm Street
Holy Mulligans. Talk about being bitten by the Muse. It's like Revision on Elm Street over here. Except it's A.L. hyped with caffeine on Fairfield Way. Regardless. There's more chopping, copulating, and secret plots than I can shake a stick at. Or rather, a dull machete. And there's blood. Yes, blood. Hooray for vampire-like religious fanatics! Or rather - Converts into a vampire-like religious cult! Hooray for In This Moment's album, The Dream, this is the tenth time listening to it today, compliments of a YouTube playlist.
Anyway, my tea rings are reminding me of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and I've got way too much to talk about. Mainly, I've given up on the whole squished book thing. It's stifling my creativity. I feel like As Above, So Below is holding me back from publishing That Which Lies in Darkness. And honestly. I'm apathetic to what agents and publishers want right now. What about what I want? I want my not-so-stand-alone That Which Lies in Darkness to get published. Cause it's awesome. Anyway, most of the readership think that it could be a stand-alone anyway. So, the Siamese twin, The Will of Night Rain, is out (It was a bad name anyway) and The Will of the Fallen Trilogy is back in with book one being the promising New York Times Bestseller: That Which Lies in Darkness.
Obviously I've been going back and polishing That Which Lies in Darkness and publicly avoiding As Above, So Below like it's the ugly, bastard, black sheep step-child. I'm probably going to end up re-writing most of it after That Which Lies in Darkness gets published.
Other than that, it's hot and muggy and Twitter is lying about my followers. Hope you have a sparkling day Ladies and Gentlemen, 'cause That Which Lies in Darkness is about to descend (or ascend) upon you all! (hey that's a catchy hook...)
Anyway, my tea rings are reminding me of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and I've got way too much to talk about. Mainly, I've given up on the whole squished book thing. It's stifling my creativity. I feel like As Above, So Below is holding me back from publishing That Which Lies in Darkness. And honestly. I'm apathetic to what agents and publishers want right now. What about what I want? I want my not-so-stand-alone That Which Lies in Darkness to get published. Cause it's awesome. Anyway, most of the readership think that it could be a stand-alone anyway. So, the Siamese twin, The Will of Night Rain, is out (It was a bad name anyway) and The Will of the Fallen Trilogy is back in with book one being the promising New York Times Bestseller: That Which Lies in Darkness.
Obviously I've been going back and polishing That Which Lies in Darkness and publicly avoiding As Above, So Below like it's the ugly, bastard, black sheep step-child. I'm probably going to end up re-writing most of it after That Which Lies in Darkness gets published.
Other than that, it's hot and muggy and Twitter is lying about my followers. Hope you have a sparkling day Ladies and Gentlemen, 'cause That Which Lies in Darkness is about to descend (or ascend) upon you all! (hey that's a catchy hook...)
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