Happy New Year!

Ah, New Year's Eve. I always contemplate lots of things and like to look back on the year ending and look forward to the year ahead. I had a great riding lesson on my horse today so that was a nice way to wrap up the year. I've also finished the outline for Huntress at War, the third and final book in the Timekeeper's War series.

2017 was a good year for books, much less busy than 2016, but still robust. I hosted my first Zyanniversary in April, for all you Zyan fans. Huntress Found was nominated for a Rone Indie Book award. My agent and I went on submission for my YA fantasy Of Blood, Earth, and Magic (and the verdict is still out on that). And of course, I released Huntress Lost and that's off to a great start.

2018 will hopefully hold a book deal for OBE&M, and I'll be releasing Huntress at War mid-year or so. Towards the end of the year I may even release the 4th Zyan book, but we'll see how those first two things play out.

What are your thoughts on ending 2017 and beginning 2018?

P.S. Final 2 days of Book Holly-Days KU promo and giveaway at fantasybookgiveaways.blogspot.com!

My Ubiquitous New Year's Post + New Year, New Reads Blog Hop!

I think my New Year's post each year is my fave to write... I love looking back and planning ahead. But before I dive into that, if you are here for the New Year, New Reads Blog Hop, look no further!

All of my books (excluding my recently released boxed set) are 99 cents, actually, so if you like urban and other contemporary fantasy, check out my Amazon page. Also, some writing friends and I just concluded an epic 99 cent sale of our own, featuring over 25 fantasy books. While the sale officially ended on 12/31, I know a lot of the books will still be discounted, so check out fantasybookgiveaways.blogspot.com for lots of goodies :)

But back to me :) Huntress Found, book one of my new series, The Timekeeper's War, can be found here for 99 cents. It's an Artemis/Dr. Who mashup, fantasy with a pinch of steampunk and sprinkle of sci-fi. 

Also, if you're a fan of classic urban fantasy, part one of the first book in my bestselling Zyan Star series is actually free on Amazon. 

And that's actually the perfect lead into my New Year's post for 2016: the year of me releasing ALL the books. The beginning of the year started slow, but then March hit and it was off to the races and has been full speed ever since. Here's a rough timeline:

• March: A fun trip to Boston; preparing to launch Martinis with the Devil
• April: Martinis parts one and two release; I also help head up a stage at a huge literary and music festival in my city and sell the house I owned with my ex husband I'd been trying to sell for two years (at a huge loss, alas, but at least done with)
• June: My best friend gets married in Colorado
• July: Whiskey and Angelfire parts one and two release
• August: My son starts marching band at school and I head up the fundraising committee (seeing his love of music blossom has been SO awesome)
• September: Vengeance and Vermouth parts one and two release
• October: A trip to Chicago for work
• November: I launch a new series, The Timekeeper's War, and start fantasybookgiveaways.blogspot.com with two writer friends
• December: I release the first three Zyan novels in a boxed set, as well as a Zyan origin story novelette, the Holiday Book Feast (our first event for the new blog) occurs, and I finish a brand new book for my agent (December was busy!!)

Actually, I JUST finished the first draft of the book for my agent (like, less than two hours ago). I wrote roughly 200,000 words in 2016. It has been a wild ride of a year! So far, the plan for 2017 is as follows:

• Whip my first draft into something decent for my agent by the end of February
• Write and release the second book in The Timekeeper's War series
• Write and release the fourth book in the Zyan Star series
• Hold events at fantasybookgiveaways.blogspot.com at least every other month

If you've read this far, you rock :) How was your 2016? Plans for 2017? 

My Ubiquitous - but Sparkly and Awesome - New Year's Post

I love sitting down on New Year’s Eve or Day and thinking about the year retrospectively, as well as the year ahead. Why do we do this? I don’t know. Maybe because it’s kind of cathartic to look at two big chunks of time simultaneously – the faded past, the hopeful future – and reflect. I’m the queen of reflecting and analyzing and planning, so a NYE post is perfect for that.

And blogging is actually perfect for looking back on your year because you’ve written down all the important stuff.  So that’s what I did before I started writing this. I looked back and read through many of my 47 blog posts from 2012 and had fun letting the year unravel before me. The first few months of 2012 were occupied with editing Martinis with the Devil, and then me and hubs went to Italy in March (click here for lots of pretty pics). After that I started querying, and got zero agent responses – vamps really are a tough sell now. I think it’s a terrific book, but I was able to let it go, because in May (May 7^th to be exact) I started Everdream, which has an incredibly unique premise. With hopes that it could be “the one” I was willing to let Martinis go on the back burner while I worked on Everdream. In July I got a big promotion at my day job, so that was very exciting (Oh, and I turned 30. Not quite as fun). And this fall has been filled with writing contests and editing Everdream. I made it into GUTGAA with Everdream, made it into the semi-finals of Write Club with Martinis, and got chosen by the mentor I wanted for Pitch Wars (with Everdream). That last one is still unfolding – I got awesome feedback from my mentor on the whole manuscript, and just finished those edits. The agent round is at the end of January.  So, all in all a very exciting year. I didn’t get to my last writing goal, which is to completely rewrite Countless, my first book, from third to first person. I started playing around with it, but Pitch Wars took precedent. Oh, and random aside, this is probably my fave post that I wrote in 2012.

So, looking ahead to 2013. I find myself in an odd place for writing goals this upcoming year, because they all depend on factors that are somewhat beyond my control at the moment. So, I’ll just talk about what I would like to happen, and what could subsequently happen after that. I’d like to find the perfect agent for my writing career early in 2013. I need someone who represents and loves both my middle grade work and my adult urban fantasy stuff. They are kind of night and day, so this person will need to be as ying-yang/multi-faceted as me to enjoy both. If I find this agent and this agent finds a publisher for both Everdream and Martinis, my main goal for 2013 is probably going to be writing the second book for both of those series. I have the second books for both loosely plotted in my head. I would also like to work on revamping Countless when I have time. I’ll be optimistic and not write about Plan B (not finding an agent). I already wrote about that in this post, so no need to repeat myself. Other goals: read more and develop better timelines for editing (blog posts to come on that topic). Learn to live in the present moment. Focus on gratitude. Train my horse. Travel somewhere awesome. Keep exercising regularly and even more. Dance. Sing. Enjoy the beauty of life.

Wow, so I’ve written a pretty long blog post. I usually try not to do those, since we all have lots of stuff to read and do. But anyways, let me know in the comments if you’ve written a New Year’s post and I’ll totally come read your long introspective retelling of 2012 J Happy New Year everyone!! I love this writing community, and I’m super thankful for you all as we head into 2013. Let me know what your plans are! 

Happy New Year! Some Reflection, Goals and Shiny Ideas

I hope everyone is having a great first day of 2012! No cataclysmic world-ending going on yet, I presume? I've had a glorious break from work, and have been doing some research for Noir, which involves Seattle, the glacial caves of Mt. Rainier, and angels. I even wrote the first couple pages of my middle grade fantasy, just because I had the itch to write something new.

So, this is of course the day that I reflect on everything that happened last year, and what I want to accomplish this year. Reflection first:

In January I hit 100 followers and had a fun blog party.

In March I went to my first writing conference, a local one in Tallahassee. I got to meet Chuck Sambuchino of GTLA fame! Me and hubs also went to Savannah, Georgia later that month.

In May I finally gave in and created a Twitter account. Are you following me yet??

In July I started my urban fantasy newsletter, and also wrote a dramatic death song for Borders. I'm still pissed with you for leaving me, Borders...

In October I went to D.C. for work and also World Fantasy Convention in San Diego. What a blast!

December I finished the first draft of Noir and held my second annual Heifer International fundraiser! By the way, your comments raised $30 to help fight world hunger! I made an additional donation as well, and purchased an earth gift basket, which is comprised of bee keeping supplies and tree seedlings.

And interspersed in all that was a bunch of querying for Countless, for which I got several partial and full requests, about 100 pages written on the second book of the Countless trilogy, and a fantasy novella written for my son.

On to goals! I have three big goals for 2012 (complete with loose timelines):

1) Edit Noir and start the query rollercoaster over again (Finish edits by March)
2) Write first draft of my middle grade fantasy, tentatively titled Land Without Dreams (March - June)
3) Completely rewrite Countless from third person to first person (September - December)

So, what about you? Let me know in the comments if you did a New Year's post and I'll pop over! Happy New Year and I wish you the best for 2012!

My Top 10 of '10

Top 10 Writing Experiences of 2010

10. Learning the joys of editing, editing and more editing. And by joys I mean brain-scrambling masochism.

9. Learning how to write a query letter and synopsis and properly format sample pages.

8. Having the guts to put myself out there, and learning from my query mistakes.

7. Reading Janet Reid’s Query Shark blog in its entirety (like several hundred blog posts but worth every bit of time it took).

6. Choosing my top pick agent as my first query to send, getting rejected and crying my heart out. Followed by significant amounts of comfort food.

5. Growing a thick skin from that one rejection (putting on my big girl pants).

4. Getting a partial request from an agent!

3. Getting rejected on the partial request, but getting feedback that validated my own thoughts on the weak points of the book, thus leading to the biggest rewrite of them all.

2. Starting this blog and getting to know all of you awesome writers!

1. Finishing my first whole novel!

Here’s to a 2011 with writing dreams fulfilled for us all!

Happy New Year!

I said I would post my Top 10 writing experiences on New Year's Eve, but as it seems that most everyone is still on a blogcation, I will save it for Monday.

Have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and Day and I'll talk to you lovely writer folks in 2011!