2012 Recap, and 2013 'Resolutions'

So 2012 was a pretty darn good year, if I do say so myself.

I finally got off my ass about being serious about writing, and braved the rejection filled world of submissions.  I learned that patience and perseverance are key to making it in this world, as well as a tough skin, but not one so tough that you can't see the joy in each rejection, because each one is another step towards that goal of being able to hold you head high and squeal like a little girl when you see your work in print.

And out of the rejections I acquired this year, I was lucky enough to get a couple that were more than your stock rejections, and two contracts for publication.  So yes, it's been a good year spent focusing on my writing, and my dream of being an author.

I also managed to survive another year in retail, which is always good, since that's another brutal world. XD

I read 220 books, successfully completed my 10th year of NaNoWriMo, making it my 7th win, participated in a 5K run/obstacle course with zombies, and while I crossed the finish line as a zombie I was able to get up the next day and move, and I started the process of reconnecting with my stepfather.

All in all, a good year.

~*~

As for 2013; well, here's my tentative list:

Try not to freak out completely when Jan 23 sneaks up, and Rock n Roll Seraphim is released into the wide world.

Finish the rewrite of 2012's NaNo monstrosity, and submit it.

Submit to as many of my, currently 15, submission calls as possible.

Sign up for, and participate in this year's Run For Your Lives 5K, this time trying to cross the finish line as a human.

Start working with my Da on our joint writing project in between my other writing projects.

Keep the blog updated, regularly, not just willy-nilly like this year.

Take two on trying not to freak out when August rolls around, and Put You in a Song comes out.

Rewrite The Alighieri, or add more to this world; not sure yet.

Attend a couple more conventions.

Make this year's AM2 the most amazing thing Ash and I can.

Be happy, and proud of myself, no matter what anyone says, because I'm worth it, and eventually I'll find that special someone who'll be able to accept my writing, my quirks, and will sweep me off my feet. XD

~*~

Happy New Year everyone!  May it be a fantastic year for you and yours!

Tackling the NaNo and New Cover reveal

As we race, flailing, towards the end of the year - or, the end of the world, if you follow that - I've begun work editing what I wrote last month.  My still untitled monstrosity is going to be submitted to LT3 for their upcoming serial deadline, and I'm really hoping they like it as much as I hate it. XD No really, I do like it, it's just that I've spent so much time with these characters that I'm kind of sick of them for the time being.

See?  It's ginormous! And to think I wrote all of that in a madcap 26 days. *is proud and a bit afraid* So I'm breaking out one of my Christian Bibles, my roomie's random file of psychology notes on the Bible and being gay, and my editing cap. I know I'm going to be cutting a good portion of what I wrote last month because it doesn't fit where I want this to go currently, but I'm sure I'll end up using the scenes sometime. :3

In other news, I got the cover for the volume/round of Rocking Hard that my story 'Put You in a Song' is being included in.  

Isn't it pretty? I'm not ashamed to say I'm totally in love with it. :D 'Put You in a Song' doesn't release in the serial line-up until August; which means, once I clear the nervousness of 'Seraphim' being released into the wide world, I've got a number of months to recoup before having to do it again. XD

Now I know I said I was going to release another short into the world for Christmas, but I'm sad to say that it isn't going to happen this year.  The characters refuse to cooperate with the rewrite, so I'm setting it aside for now, to work on other projects, and will try tackling it at a later date.

~*~*~

The Alighieri

Apparently when I said next week what I really meant was today...sorry to be misleading and all. XD

Now up on Smashwords:

The Alighieri

Desperate to escape his demon of a step-father's control, Ivan accepts a temporary job as a runner for the annual Samhain Convention at The Alighieri; the only first-class resort in Hell. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the current holidays, but I didn't feel like holding onto it until next October.  So nya, you get a free 2.5K short set at a resort in Hell.

Enjoy!

Edits for the short set in Hell are almost finished. :3 I'm hoping to have it up in a week as an early Christmas gifty. <3

Post-NaNo babblings

I've officially validated my monstrosity of a NaNo novel, and have cleared the 50K mark this year with 53021. *giddy dance of exhaustion*  I'm now so sick of that world and it's characters that I'm gleefully shoving them in corner until the middle of December. XD  It's not that I'm not happy with what I churned out, because I am, it's that I've spent 30 days in tight quarters with these boys and I need a freaking break from them.  Don't worry, come two weeks from now I'll allow them out of time out and begin rereading and seeing what all needs to be done to make the spaz rough into something I feel comfortable releasing on the world.

In the mean time, I've also managed somehow to write a really short story set in a resort in Hell...go figure where that one came from.  It's off with my pumpkin, and I'm hoping to have it back within a week to fix it up all nice for a free December read to offer everyone.  And no, I haven't forgotten about 'Peppermint', it's just got a ways to go before I'm less likely to cringe when I read it. ^^;  But I'm pushing for a Christmas week release on that too, and of course, it'll be free for you all, being that it's the holidays.

That's about all that's happening in the world outside of the hell that is retail at this time of year, and I promise not to bore you with that.  *scampers off to write more, so she'll have something to talk about in a week*

Of NaNoWriMo and other things

So, it's the middle of November, which means that in the past 15 days I have written a whirlwind of 25000 words of unintelligible typo and gaping plot hole filled story.  25015 to be precise, and yes, it is quite crappy right now, but you know what?  I've written half of a Brave New World length rough draft in just over two weeks.  And it's a rough draft I actually hope plan to use to create my next submission for the lovely ladies over at LT3.

Speaking on those lovely ladies, have I mentioned that I have two, yes two, pieces being published by them?  I do; the initial story Rock n Roll Seraphim and the story that's a pseudo sequel, tentatively titled Put You in a Song.  Seraphim has a tentative release date of 23 January 2013, a mere two months-ish away.  Freaky yes?  I'm actually currently working on reading through the post-editor story before I give it back with a thumbs up.

It's been an interestingly fantastic learning experience to go through the process of publishing, from initial idea to the almost completed product.  I can say that I've loved the high I got with each completed step, and seeing the cover for the first time?  So awesome!

Speaking of, here's the proof of awesome coveriness;

I'm in volume three of the Kiss Me at Midnight collection, and to add to me gleeful new author high, I'm up on Goodreads. :3

But now, I have to get back to my NaNo and see if I can pound out another 1667 words...see you in a week if I'm on schedule, or in December if I'm not. XD

Best laid plans of mice...

I knew I had 3 separate projects already crammed into this month, and I was all set to deal with them; but then I get this e-mail saying I've had another story accepted, and that my contract is on its way...

*dances*

So, I've scrapped my initial timeline for October, and am hastily creating a new one to reflect the second story going through serious edits in the next 28 days.

I'm dead set of getting as much, if not all, of these 4 projects done before November because I know myself during NaNo, and while I can think fairly coherently for the first week or so, by the time I hit the middle of the month I'm a high caffeinated lunatic who spouts gibberish both out loud and via word.