Back to Norm, (with some magical memories)

It’s been almost two weeks since I returned from the holiday on the cruise, I am back to norm. I finished writing my memories down, sorted out the pictures and relived moments. I am thankful that Princess Belle took my business card - she does like reading after all - and I am glad for the opportunity to talk about my career even if it was in passing or second hand. There wasn’t a week break, I went back to my regular writing workshops, continuing on a Chapter in my fifth and final book of the series.

The Author and the Princess that likes to read

My plan is to finish writing Book number 5 by middle of the year and then start to edit it and see how long it takes to get it done. I will be doing the two days a week and more of writing, all depending on how much, I get done each week.

As the new year is here, I would like new material for social media and promoting, if you have a book at home, please send a picture of the book in some environment. With a pet, with a cup, outside, indoors, please the various new images I get the more I can promote my book.

Have a Wonderful 2024

First blog for the year, I have been on writing break for the past few weeks, may have put a few things down on pencil to be typed later. Mid-January, I went on official holiday and left Australian soil to step onto foreign land as well as spend 6 nights upon open ocean and take photos with characters out of movies and books. During this break I did manage to give my business cards to a few people on the trip and it is a way to advertise my career in a new means. Now that 2024 is almost one month into it, I am hoping that everyone has a wonderful 2024, full of adventure, mystery, romance and a little bit of drama.

Feel free to ask questions, comment or even just say hi.

Last Blog for the Year

This December has been eventful, after I finished the NaNoWriMo, I returned to working on the fifth book of the series. I planned a stall for the Market in Wollongong and juggled everything else that needs to happen as the end of the year approaches.

Yesterday, I attended the Crown Street Markets in Wollongong and it was a warm day and it was quite busy. I had a few sales and several conversations. I still have over 30 books from the first 100 I printed off to sell. If you know anyone interested, let them know.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, a safe Christmas and all the best for 2024. Thank you for reading my short blogs and look forward to telling you more in the new year.

The final stretch

4 weeks, today is the second last day of National Novel Writing Month and I have written over 48000 words in the last 29 days. I have written at all hours of the day from 8:30 in the morning to 9 p.m. I have written in one session or over two or three. I have only 1660ish words left to write for the final day. The fifth chapter of the novel is almost complete and that is only half of the story or so. The writing process has been crazy, some days draining, other times satisfying. My head hurt some days from the thoughts, other days I was emotional. The whole month of November has been a crazy ride. I am on the final stretch, the last mile (1.035204 miles if each meter was a word).

Today I wrote during wind, rain and thunder. I completed the 1667 words while it poured overhead. With threat of loss of power. I wanted to make sure I completed the goal for today. With one day left, I have done over 30 scenes, each with a different length of words. Every 6 days, I tried a new tactic. I am pleased with my result. When I return to this story, I don’t know but it has started and that is all because of NaNoWriMo.

Click the link above to see what NaNaWriMo is all about. You have 12 months to prepare.

Give it a go. It’s worth the challenge.

Three Chapters in 3 weeks

Another week of writing like crazy, and the highs and lows of writing. This time I had to write on a bus, due to trackwork and I wrote at a public library due to an appointment. I completed a chapter on day 18 and that led to struggles of starting a chapter when I am entering new territory. Writing about a future time period in a country I have no visited. Research and trying to make it sound authentic. I decided to write the beginning and the end of the chapter first and then fill out the rest. Two days during the week, I didn’t finish my 1667 words until 9:30pm. I am motivated to complete the 50,000 words, but my mind isn’t coming up with ideas fast enough. I may have a timeline but I haven’t done enough research.

During this week, I plan on researching before my writing hour and have notes ready to use to help make this story work. This is also the third week of using scrivener and I still haven’t figured it all out. I am learning as I go. I am trying to work out if it is worth going beyond the the 30 day trial. My friends use it, my writing group people have it. But can I master it?

In less than three weeks, my fourth book will be available to purchase, pre-order is available on iTunes and Amazon.

Halfway through the NaNoWriMo

It’s been another week of writing and I am halfway there. Another week of writing in different place, finishing the untitled chapter two and starting on chapter three. It has been a roller coaster of writing, either it flows freely like a downhill train or it’s an uphill battler taking longer than anticipated. Sometimes it takes almost three hours to complete the 1667 words. I try to start at 5 p.m. but other priorities come up and I have to pause. Thanks to a timeline, I am slowly progressing through the 50,000 words.

25K Badge

Today is the halfway point and that means 25,000 words complete. I have stuck with it and only have two weeks and a day to go. I have wrote random times of the day from early morning to late at night.

I am curious how much I will get through and will I resume this again in 12 months. I have been going through a series of events in the story. I have had this idea for a few years and now I have a motivation to start it.

NaNoWriMo week 1

7 days, 11667 words, several locations. I have been doing National Novel Writing Month for the past 7 days. I started at 5pm on the 1st of November, writing in my bedroom, at cafes, on a train and at the Tradies. I decided to do this challenge, write a spin off for my series, and get started with 50,000 words. At 5 p.m. each day I would write and I discovered that doing that in an hour was impossible. I had to divide the writing. I wrote about 500 words at one time and the other 1166-1167 another time or into three parts.

Current progress.

Counting my blessings

Yesterday I was out of my house for a 9:00 Country fair and set up my small table and with my books, banner and hidden cover for the locals and those who wish to visit our town. The first 90 minutes was friendly catch-up and waiting for sales. It wasn’t until around 11:00, did I have my first sale.

I am happy to have sold 5 books yesterday. That is five new readers, the first was a reader with a need for a new book, the next one was young girl interested in the genre. The third was a gift to a husband, the fourth was to a young reader and the final book was in someone interested in my achievement and wanted to support me. I spoke to other people, told my process and at 1 p.m. I revealed the cover of the fourth book, live on Instagram and using social media. With the fourth cover now out, I can plan when to release it at the end of the year. The first three are available on Amazon, iTunes and Lulu.

National Novel Writing Month is only days away, soon I will be working on a novel (a spin-off to the Immortal Legacy Series) I have a timeline, I have a plan, I just need to have a way to start.

Final Few Days (and a Week)

This weekend, in only a few sleeps, the cover for the fourth book will be revealed. Over the last month and a half, I have posted clues on what will be on the cover. At 13:00, I will be revealing the cover to those who are my closet followers on Facebook and those in person at the Country Fair. There I will be selling my book as well as signing them. After yesterday at the Literacy Lunch, I am very excited to see how far my book will go.

First three book of the series

Next week on the first of November, I will be partaking in the NaNoWriMo, 50,000 words in 30 days. I have planned a timeline for the book I am writing. I have arranged major plots, I just need to dedicate 60 minutes of writing every day.

Countdown Continues, Chapter almost Complete

Okay readers, in less than two week, the cover for my fourth book as well as it’s title will be revealed. On the 28th of October, I will be revealing the cover. It will happen during my community fair in my local area where I will be signing my first book.

What have I been doing in the mean time, I have been working hard on the next chapter of my fifth book. I have spent almost every two days writing some part of the chapter. I have slowly wrote paragraph after paragraph for this chapter. I wrote on a bus, in a club, a RSL, on a train. When I had time and a place, I wrote some. Over that week I wrote about 3500 words, now if I am going to commit to something in November, I need 1666 words a day.

Next month is NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month) and I plan on spending the 30 days, writing about 50,000 words for a new project.