Big News!

(In which my Trefury saga starts to resemble the interstellar phenomenon that connects worlds in the first book ... Virtual brownies to the person who can tell me the name of that phenomenon in the comments below!)

I'm excited to announce that Book 2 will not be released by itself. Book 3 will be right on its heels! In fact, the two of them will be companion novels, happening simultaneously. Which means there will be a Book 4 which brings everything back together for the conclusion.

What sparked this?

As I and my critique partners have been going through the process, I realized that keeping both main storylines together would give everyone a very large, (although not inflated as to content), book to read. It started to make more and more sense to split each storyline into its own novel. I had all of you in mind, dear readers. It will not only keep page counts down, but it will be easier to keep track of what is going on. It also gives me a little more wiggle room to flesh out the characters' journeys so the pacing doesn't seem rushed.

All-in-all, this splintering has alleviated a lot of stress and spurred new excitement into the process. I'll continue to share developments as they come, including the title of Book 3.

Writing Update for October

After a writing hiatus, which included all things writing (like blogposts) I am getting back to work. Health problems have dogged me all year. While the break was a welcome change, I'm not happy for long if I don't write. When I left off I was facing a block, when I returned I smashed through the block.

So what have I been working on?

I eased back into writing by working on two side projects. One is an older story in the MG - YA bracket (over the course of the series). It was very good for me to look at older work and see how much I've improved and learned. It was also very good to realize that way back when I first wrote the story I had a good thing going. Some stories get shoved in a file or shelved, never to be presented to the public eye. But, the good ideas, characters, places, and even events from those can be recycled. I found myself pulling from shelved stories to supplement this older story and I'm very excited about the direction it's going.

The other side project is one I work a bit on every autumn because it's an autumn styled book. Some stories just have a way of feeling like dear friends, and this is one such story. It also has some recycled elements from old ideas, things I knew to be good, original, or fun and I didn't want to let them go.

But now I'm back to work on Trefury Book 2 again. I read through what I'd written this past year, half dreading it would be awful. I was very relieved and happy to see that it was the opposite. This going slower and being more thorough method is working out beautifully! I hope to start getting beta reader feedback on the first chapters soon.

So I'm back on track. I'll be blogging more often again, I hope.

How about you? How is your writing journey going?

And don't forget that National Novel Writing month is days away! I'm looking forward to the concentrated time. It's the one time during the year that my family knows to give me plenty of writing space and time.

Writing Update for May

Have you ever felt so stressed about writing that you couldn't write anything? 😖 That was me a month ago. I had set a goal, I had people encouraging me enthusiastically to get book #2 done, I had a successful draft completed just prior to then, and I choked. 😭 The story was there. It was in my head and heart and I wanted to write it. But I'd sit down to work on this polishing draft and all the pressure of getting everything right killed my ability to write. 😱

Being stymied like that is depressing. The last thing you want to do is go on social media because you'll see your writer friends noting their progress on their stories, you'll see other writers giving advice and encouragement, and you'll see a barrage of new novels making the rounds for people to see. 😊 Depressing. 😞

Well, I didn't go on social media. I've scaled back quite a bit from that scene, hoping to get more work done. I didn't want to fill up my time with useless attempts to get inspiration or recapture my writing mojo. And it turns out I didn't have to pull out my hair or beat up my computers either. 😡

I got sick. I became really really sick. 😝 (Please note, I didn't get sick on purpose, nor did my not being able to write make me sick.) I caught a horrible superbug that turned into bronchitis. I went down for a month. I was coughing a lot, I was constantly tired 😴, I had little appetite, I ached, I got feverish one moment and chills the next 😰, I couldn't hear out of one ear because there was so much fluid built up in it, and I certainly didn't have the brain power to write. 😳 So I let writing go. There are times when you have to let go of everything just to get better.

And you know what, getting sick did the trick. Now that I'm nearly better, I've relaxed and I'm writing again. It's fun once more. 😁 I'm not feeling pressured or stressed.

So what did I learn from this overall experience? Be patient with yourself. Take breaks, long ones even. And that you can destroy your story by forcing it and by second guessing every decision you make. 👿 When I write now, I'm not envisioning So-and-So who will critique the novel when it's done, or Fan A who has been hounding me for the sequel. It's just me and my story. And that's the key. 😲

So the next big question is: How's it coming?

It's coming. 😉 Right now I'm not worrying about what everyone else thinks, remember. Stay tuned for the next update post!

Writing Update for February

Hi everyone, I'm back!

The downside to having surgery is pain and having to spend weeks in bed. The upside is that you get a lot of writing done. In fact, I'm happy to announce that Trefury: The Secrets of Callorin is written! At least the next draft of it. I've already plunged into my polishing draft, which means beta readers should get it in their hands in a few months and then the final leg of another book begins. It's exciting.

You think that writing that first book is quite the accomplishment, but to get up and write/finish a second one takes just as much effort. The big difference is the newness of the process is no longer a novelty. I expect it's the same with every subsequent book that you get done.

So I have a nice fat 3-ring binder and a nice fat notebook containing all the inside interviews with characters, the brainstorming sessions, the detailed descriptions, and the story itself. It's not in chapters yet, but separated by scenes thanks to my scene profiles. Remember me talking about those? Can I just say that I wish I'd known about making scene profiles years ago? They were a lot of time and effort, but they really helped me streamline the story and get it down on paper. It was super easy to follow through on object/character/plot threads, to take notes, to make sure I didn't have any gaping plot holes to fill. And the best part is that I can organize my information and notes easily for this next draft.

So what does the polishing draft do? Well, this is where the details come out, dialogue is refined, the plot is trimmed even more, and I make sure I don't have redundancies, tangents, or other no-no's. Basically, at this stage, you want to make the novel your best current effort. And then you give it to other writers to read ... I've blogged several times about that stage.

If you've got a moment, tell me how you are doing. How goes your writing journey? What stage are you at?

Writing Update for December

One of the tools I like to use is a chronological chart of happenings, paralleling each character's thread. I'm looking at the chart for Trefury: The Secrets of Callorin and I'm near the end. It's a good feeling. Five months ago I felt I'd never get to this point. I've faithfully kept a writing journal as I've plodded through my current rewrite and the dismay of an empty 3-ring binder and a brand new notebook has given way to a sense of satisfaction as they both have filled up. In fact, I may need a second notebook before I'm through. My scene profile files on my computer are grouped based on plot threads and it's handy to be able to read through them and make sure that information and action are where they need to be.

Basically, a daunting, humongous task has become less Herculean due to persistence and hard work. I don't have the luxury of having several hours a day to devote to writing. I snatch an hour or two where I can, sometimes only half an hour. The little bits add up and I'm glad that I documented them as they compiled.

Writing is so solitary an endeavor and I often find myself tucked away from the rest of the writing world as I'm in the middle of creation or revision. I poke my head out once in awhile and make sure I keep active on my writing forum because writing contacts and friends are important too. What I think I enjoy most is the self-discovery part of writing, the omniscient feeling. And the realization that how I picture my worlds and characters will never translate perfectly through words doesn't disturb me as much any more. As writers, we create alone, then give away what we write to the imaginations of those who read. Wouldn't it be scary and cool if there was a way to perfectly translate the story we see in our heads? Kind of like plugging up everyone else to the movie in our heads, including the strength of our emotions and how we feel about what is going on. I'm sure someone will create a movie about that concept someday.

It's interesting to reflect and chart your own growth as a writer, too. The absorption of technique, critiques, brainstorming, and improved skills is exciting to see. I don't think that makes each story we write any easier, unless we are following a set formula, but we're not the clumsy beginning artists we once were. There's a little more confidence, fewer paths down tangent roads that eat up time and make us feel like novice idiots. We've learned rules and when to break them. We've learned that there are very few hard rules in fact and that we can move creatively forward without incurring the wrath of people we once thought of as experts on pedestals. We've learned the difference between indulgent writing for ourselves and the slavery of writing to everyone else's expectations, and hopefully chosen a place in between.

We present our work to the world, have our PR time, then go back into the cave of solitude to create another story. And that's where I am. I've had my break from writing, gagged the internal editor, and am blissfully reworking a story I feel passionate about.

I'm having surgery today and I'm excited about it. I look forward to finishing this year and starting the next spending my recuperation time finishing up this draft before doing my final rewrite (the one before I solicit beta readers to help me iron out the bugs). I hope those of you who write or work in other creative endeavors have a great New Year and if you take anything from this obscure blogpost from this obscure writer, I want it to be hope that even if your circumstances are not ideal as to time and means to pursue your creativity, that you know even the small moments add up. Don't give up or give in to frustration because it isn't happening the way you want or in the time you want it to. Do give your best and work hard. Push yourself; it's so worth it.

Writing Update for November

Did any of you try out scene profiles after reading my last post? I'd love to hear about it.

I'm pleased to say that I've completed a lot on Trefury: The Secrets of Callorin in the past couple of months. There has been chopping out, and adding in, exploration into side stories in order to make scenes richer, and character twists and quirks which have surprised me as they've come to light. Writing a sequel is challenging at the best of times, only in this case, I'm writing a continuation of Trefury: Mendi's Curse. The original book was cut in two. So this half will be high-powered and darker than the first, in preparation for the big revelations that come with book three.

There are moments when I'd love to put this story aside and work on something else entirely. For a long time I was blocked, not for lack of plot or character development, but in trying to figure out what should be shown and how to show it. I broke that block last week thanks to scene profiles. You can imagine my happy dance when that happened. That block had prevented me from being on deadline by several months. Now I'm bursting ahead to catch up.

Have you ever had a bad block before? How did you get past it? How did you feel afterwards?

I'm grateful I got past mine. I'm grateful for the support of family and friends with my writing endeavors. I'm grateful to be able to develop my writing skills further. And I'm grateful for those who have read Trefury: Mendi's Curse and have shared their reactions with me.

Writing Update for April

April's been a pretty good month. I devoted two weeks to writing and made significant progress on Trefury: The Secrets of Callorin. But even the best made plans don't always pan out as you hope they will. I had hoped to have the book done by mid-April. Life has a way of intervening, as usual.

I have learned that even if you have a story written, and even if it's technically good, you can usually make it better. And sometimes making things better derails what you've already written. That bothered me a lot when I wrote the first Trefury book, but this time around I'm ripping out original or recently revised material without a second thought. I suppose that's a sign of writer's maturity? While the essence of the original story remains, it doesn't control the wonderful new directions the story has taken. If you don't let go and try, you'll never know how good it might have been. Just make sure you keep a copy of the old stuff in case the new bright idea doesn't pan out after all.

The last week and a half I set aside my novel to read someone else's. I'm always so grateful for these opportunities, especially if I enjoy the writing style of the person I'm critiquing for. While evaluating and trying to help them make their story stronger, I'm always taking notes in the back of my mind. Things like, "Oh yeah, I make that same mistake too!" or "Look how well this person handles (fill in the blank); I need to work on that." And I'll admit, because I try to be honest in my critiques, I go through several days, after turning it back in, of inner anxiety and misery. I'm always scared to death that the other person's going to hate me or think I'm crazy. The overall goal is to help them out and I always try to find good things to note as well as voicing my concerns. No one has sent me hate-mail yet. And I have to admit, I get a thrill out of seeing books I got to read before they were published, in published form. If only Goodreads would let me count them for my yearly books-read count.

Now I've got to swing back into writing mode for a couple of weeks before I get to beta read again for someone else. And I found out a couple of days ago that I get to do some copy editing and formatting for my mom as she gets ready to submit/publish her first books. I'll admit, it's awesome to look at my bookshelves and see novels written by family members. You see a different side of a relative when you get into their creative mind. At any rate, collectively, we're amassing an impressive family history collection of novels. I should mention all the artwork done by relatives too. To top that, my daughters have begged me to teach them more about creative writing and we've done some serious workshopping together this week. It's a growing legacy, and something I'm so happy to be in the middle of.

So that's it for now. Thanks for reading. I'd be delighted if you wanted to post your own writing update in the comments section. And as always, happy writing to all of you.

Writing Update for January

I'm up to my head in intricate astralgic negotiations, summer rain forest season versus a volcanic winter, constant peril, and changing relationship dynamics. It's been a busy writing month. Sometimes I have to sit back and be still for a long time in order to digest the mad whirl going on in my imagination. It's heady. (lol) And while I'm trying to take it slow and in careful stages, I catch myself tripping ahead sometimes.

January has been a month of hard decision making. What to write, what to cut, what to change, what to insert, and what to rewrite. Oh, the rewrites! I groan as I realize I need to do it, I fight it, but I know that I'll always like the end result better than the original.

Save for a couple of these rewrites and one insertion, I've finished the first third of the book. The first third can be so exciting to set up the world for the reader, but also the most trying. It's all that introduction, first attempts and failures to be reckoned with. In a publishing time of slim mini-skirts, I'm attending the party in full 1700's ballroom regalia and I'll tell you what, it can be tricky navigating those narrow doorways in a crinoline. I trimmed back quite a bit this month and now find myself wondering if I've left too many holes and gaps. Parts of the story seemed skimmed over rather than fleshed out and it leaves me feeling wanting.

I'm writing an epic, I'm writing an epic ... (I have to constantly remind myself.) When I visit the library each week and glance through books I smile at the other epics on the shelves. They're my friends. They say it's possible and everything doesn't have to be in mini-skirt fashion. It's all about recognizing your genre and sticking to it.

I never used to suffer from so much hesitation and self-doubt until I became serious about publishing. Granted, I'm grateful for the research and feedback I gained, but I also gained a fear that never leaves my shoulder. It's easy enough to say, "Chuck it," to that fear, but once it's taken root you can't kill it. Fear that every choice I make is wrong. That despite how much I may like something I've written it will never be accepted by anyone else. I'm sure you know what I mean. If your reading this post, you're probably deep in the publishing waters and going through the same thing.

So I've labored with the fear on my shoulder, the ideas bursting in my head, and my emotions see-sawing between elation and dejection as I write and rewrite. Topping it off is a growing sense of isolation. To dive deeply into writing is to set yourself apart from others, and in my case, with the writing community. I pop up to the surface once in awhile to say hello or answer an email, but the overall sensation is that of sitting on a rock in the middle of the ocean while the party boats go by with their fanfare and camaraderie.

I have enjoyed my time writing and tend to lose track of the time and place when I'm in the zone. The great struggle to get the words down as they tumble out, to express emotions and places and events as they are in my head, I've loved it. Even as it has stretched me and caused me to lament at times.

I'm about a third of the way through the second book I'm simultaneously working on. That one has taken a back seat the last week since Trefury 2 needed more rewrites. When I get too bogged down or stuck in one world I have the other to jump into. Developments there give me a constant thrill as I work on it. The two main characters are very real and dynamic to me. Their worlds are so abstract and shifting I never get tired of settings. I know I'll feel a deep sense of loss when I reach the point of saying, "This one's done."

Do you ever feel the pull of several stories clamoring from their rough draft files towards you? I do. The more I work on one, the more I understand how they all connect and enhance each other. I thought writing on two books at once would calm the commotion. It did for a little bit, but the other stories are there, jostling for priority and position in the back of my mind, staring out at me from their 3-ring binder covers on my office shelves or their icons on my desktop. It's too much, yet I love it. How I ache to have the time, ability, and energy to write and write and write.

Common sense comes into play: "If you write all the time, Joyce, you will have no life to draw from. You love your life. You love the people in your life. Keep the balance."

So in the end, here I am, another tortured, artistic person striving to feed the creative beast, striving to be better as a writer, yet also trying to be the best and most well-rounded wife, mother, friend, daughter, neighbor that I can be. I wish I didn't tire out. I wish I didn't have to sleep or eat. There's too much I want to do and not enough life-time to do them in. At least the road is never boring or without drive and purpose.

Writing Update for December

How did I do during NaNo? Okay. I didn't reach 50K words, but that was due to getting sick. And I'm still sick. However, I can't gripe too loudly because I have managed to get the first third of the book into a cohesive format. My focus now is editing and filling in gaps. That's good news for my beta readers because I'll have something for you to read soon.

I admit I've struggled a bit with book 2, even though I already knew where it was going and had many key scenes written out long ago. When you write a first book, you set a bar. You then have to go higher than that for the next book, and then the next, and so on. The moment you don't go higher, you lose readers.

Book one had some great world-building experiences for me, great discoveries with the characters' personalities. Book two is suppose to take those same elements and go deeper, farther, and better. One nice thing about writing a sequel is you already know the characters and the conflict. You slip back into writing them as easily as putting on a favorite jacket. Making sure they are experiencing growth and change, and not becoming redundant is the harder part.

I know a couple of people mentioned that not everything was resolved in book 1, or that some things weren't explained satisfactorily. So I find myself smiling as I work on book 2 because those things unfold there. That's where they were meant to. Book 1 and 2 were originally one book.

I've had people ask me when the ebook version is going to come out for book 1 (Trefury: Mendi's Curse). The simple answer is, not until book 3 is written. Ebooks are easy to download and consume. Considering the nature of this story, which comprises three books, you'd find it more frustrating to zip through an ebook version of book 1 then have to wait for the rest. I know it slows sales and buzz momentum, but I've always said story comes first. I want to write a great story. It takes three books. And they won't be ebooks until I have the whole thing done and presentable.

Last week I was deep underwater in the story. I was exploring legends and necessary backstory. And I rewrote my TOC based on the corrected timetables I had to draw up to keep things straight. This week, if my cold goes away, I expect to be meeting survivors on an outer Callorin island and getting back into the battle of wills between Cortnee and Thssk. For the latest up-to-date news on my writing progress be sure to follow me on Facebook.

Reflections: One Year Later

Today marks the one year anniversary of the publication of my debut novel, Trefury: Mendi's Curse the first book in the Trefury trilogy.

No big hoopla, no big internet splash planned. I'm a rather simple person at heart. I'm marking the occasion with the release of the book in trade paperback format. You can find out the details by clicking on the Trefury button at the top of the page or clicking on the sidebar cover to enter the giveaway.

It's hard to believe it's been a year. I remember how stressed I was, how much time was consumed in the production of the book. All the details that go into a publication ... just wow. And I'm by no means an expert on the subject. Donning editor-mode for so long nearly killed my love of writing anything new. To make the switch from demanding perfection of yourself to freely spilling word vomit in a rough draft is hard. It took me months to let go of the iron fist.

I want to thank again those who contributed time, expertise, and a sympathetic shoulder to my endeavor. Sometimes writing is a very solitary process and it's easy to feel alone, abandoned, or forgotten. You're constantly mixing reality with the fantasy scenario and world going on in your head. People ask what is preoccupying you and then have a ho-hum attitude when you enthusiastically or shyly admit you're writing a novel. Everyone's a critic. Some people love the story concept. Others just don't get it. The world continues to move on with their day-to-day lives whether you meet your deadline or not. So it's the wonderful few who support and encourage you that make all the difference.

I've been asking other people for years why they write what they write and what inspired them. Lately I've turned the interrogation on myself. Why? Why did I write this book? Why do I intend to finish the other books piling up on my desk? And why in the world did I decide to publish? There is a difference, you know, between writing a story and publishing one.

I literally dreamed up Trefury a little over twenty years ago. I was a teenager, already engrossed in writing novels, sometimes with friends. I wrote a very short, very summarized rough draft as soon as I woke up. The first official draft came soon after. I wanted to share this cool idea of an invisible girl and the living whip she worked with to protect a country and the young man destined to lead it, with my circle of friends and family. I remember sitting on my bed with my sisters at the other end listening as I read it out loud to them. I always end up reading out loud to someone. Seeing and hearing how excited they'd get with each development in the story made my day. Trefury was the first story that got enthusiastic approval from my cousin, who was my harshest critic and first teacher in the art of good storytelling. That felt wonderful. To have her care and even demand more of the story meant more than any review, rating, or high-acclaim I might receive now. I had reached my audience and touched them.

Trefury went into a 3-ring binder and took up space on a shelf while I pounded out several other novels in the years that followed. Then I took a ten year hiatus from writing. I jotted down a descriptive sketch or brief scene or two, but for the most part I was too involved with living life and learning from it. It wasn't until soon after my third child was born and I was cooped up at home, because he was under quarantine for six months since he was a preemie, that I pulled out some of my old novels to read. I wanted to see if they were as entertaining then as they had been when I was younger. I'd like to say I'd been a brilliant writer in my youth, but I'll be frank, some of those manuscripts were awful. The stories were pretty sound but the execution *shudder*.

I didn't have a circle of writing friends at the time. They'd all grown up and moved far away. Every once in awhile one of my sisters would ask me about her two favorite stories. I read through the critiques I'd been given for Trefury and decided that if I were to jump back into writing, I'd pursue doing it professionally, not as a hobby. This manuscript had received the highest praise. It was a good place to start.

Many drafts ensued. Many revisions. Many heartaches and sublime moments where the inspiration was so good I surprised myself. I developed an online community of writing friends. And I'll admit I'm terrified of most of them because of their talent, ability, and the way they can socially navigate the online world a million times better than I can. I had moments where I felt like a total fake, a fraud, like dross among so many stars. Always in the back of my mind I felt grateful for the kindness of these other people, all the while worrying they knew how inept I was and were too polite to say so. Well, some did come out and say so in critiques, but that's good. You want to know where you are inept so you can fix your writing.

I had a lot to learn, but I'm a pretty motivated person once I set my mind to something. I dived into the pool of learning with both feet. I read blogs, books, followed authorities, experimented with so many different techniques. Sometimes I think Trefury ended up being a patchwork of these things. I hesitated to let people read it. I was a small fish. I knew I could always make my writing better. I didn't want anyone to read it until I deemed it palatable. Eventually I did let others read. How my heart skipped a beat when the first two critiques came in after reading my first three chapters! While there were things to fix, my two beta readers were mostly impressed. I climbed to the sky then.

Of course that didn't last long. My opening chapters weren't as well received by the next couple of beta readers. I went back and made cuts and changes. The feedback was better. New people read. Everyone had suggestions. It got to the point where I didn't recognize chapter one anymore at all. It was no longer fun to read or work on it. I was a hack who apparently wrote in alien gibberish because no one understood what was going on. I put it aside and finished up the rest of the book. The next beta readers were as enthusiastic and excited as the first two. They loved the opening. They loved the rest. I was ready to pull my hair out.

Back and forth, back and forth. I didn't know who to believe and came to the conclusion that clearly this book wasn't a mass appeal book. Either you're going to love it or it's not going to be your thing. I had to come to terms with that. I revisited the beginning and put the love and fun back in. I had reached the point where I knew the story was what it was and that was enough. Like dealing with me in person, you're either going to want to love it or keep your distance.

I was Thssk. I was Cortnee. I split my personality and then let them develop in their own directions, becoming less like actual me. Anyone who communicates with me will find traces of both their vernaculars in my writing and speech. That was fun. They had to have very different and distinct voices. How I agonized over Ientadur! He's a necessary and huge part of the story, yet my first chapters with him were wooden and lackluster. I remember writing on a sticky note: Make myself care about Ien. And I did. I drew deeply from the people around me composing the other characters, especially Damon. Without realizing it at first, I copied many of my father's mannerisms into him. It became especially poignant as I neared publication and my dad died of cancer. He'd helped me often with research and making sure I wasn't too far fetched with the science-y things I included in the book.

I went for hardcover first, which is the opposite of what writers are advised. You have to understand, I wanted the best version of this book for my own bookshelf and for the bookshelves of my core, original audience. I knew it would mean very limited sales because of the cost. My marketing budget was ... well $0.00 and still is. I wanted to give free copies to those closest to me, I just couldn't afford to do more than a couple of giveaways. The paperback version's cost allows me to do a bit more this time around and when the ebook comes out, there will be a lot more giveaway options.

I got lucky with editing help. I also took a crash course, building upon what editing skills I already had. I had to do extra jobs to earn the money to pay my cover artist, although she gave me a fantastic first-timer deal.

Basically, publication represented a mountain with sheer vertical sides and very few handholds. But I climbed it and I have the scars to prove it. I proved to myself that I could finish a writing project completely. The view on top of that mountain has brought me enormous peace, even though I know my view is not as breathtaking as it is for others, yet I'm content.

I learned a lot about myself and what my priorities are. For so many years I was convinced I had to get an agent and a traditional publisher, especially to get vindication that I wasn't a fraud and a hack. I did the research, I went through the query trenches. And then I discovered I was miserable and not because of the inevitable rejections everyone gets. I wasn't connecting to any of the people I queried. The ones I thought would match up with best, I found that the other books they were putting out I didn't like at all and they certainly weren't like my story, or the agent's personality and goals clashed with mine. We didn't fit. I couldn't find an agent who did so I stopped querying. I didn't like the dating feel of the whole process. The trending, the favoritism for certain elements and styles, and all the suck-up courting going on from writers. The thought of actually signing with someone and dealing with publication negotiations made me physically ill. I realized I didn't want the traditional route, vindication or not. I dreaded the thought of possible book signings, public appearances, all that extra marketing, the short deadlines that would stifle my creativity and clash with the pressing schedule of my actual life ... I absolutely don't want it and I'm no longer envious of anyone who has chosen to go that route. If that's what my friends wanted and got, I was happy for them. But I don't feel one bit jealous.

So where am I now? I'm a writer who has learned to enjoy the ride again. If I never make it onto anyone's list, that's okay. If my stories resonate with you, they will. I don't seek for online reviews and ratings, I got my five stars long ago. I intend to keep on learning and improving my craft, to strive to put out high quality projects but not at the cost of my self-respect, my integrity, or my sanity. Writing should be a joy. Sharing what we write should also be. The world is large enough for many more stories and more types than the trends and bigwigs of the business allow. Perfection and what is deemed professional quality - the standards are always changing. Give me a story to read that I can connect with and I can forgive a number of things on the technical side.

Once upon a time ...

It's still magic.

Trefury: Mendi's Curse Book Birthday Giveaway!

Sept. 30th marks the one year anniversary of the publication of my first book, Trefury: Mendi's Curse. To celebrate, I'll be launching the book in paperback the same day. For the best prices offered on either the hardback or paperback, be sure to click the Trefury tab at the top of this blog or click the cover of the book in the sidebar. It will save you time and money.

Is this story right for you?

Cover art © 2014 by Nicolle R. Murray

An ancient legend is about to be remade.

The land of Callorin is dying, cast off from divine aid and adrift in cold seas, with dark powers swooping in for the kill. As they have for thousands of years, Callorin turns to Thssk to fix the problem, but Thssk wants to avoid everyone. He failed last time, and his human handler put a curse on him as he abandoned her on a battlefield. She would be avenged through the next girl Thssk forced to become his handler.

Thssk is sent on a mission to another world to rescue the long-lost heir of Origiba, in the hope of developing outside support for Callorin. While there, he tries to thwart the curse by taking Cortnee, a tech savvy, arts major as his new handler, it is only when Thssk has gained the upper and over his enemies and everything seems to be working out for a change that he discovers he is not the game changer any more—Cortnee is.

On a world where starships are born, homes grow, and flowers can flatten entire cities, millions of lives are at stake. More importantly, Thssk's notorious past comes back to bite him. The girl who has become a catalyst politically and astralgically won't communicate with him, and she has some crazy ideas about how to get their job done. With her, Thssk may fail for a second time, without her, he may never attain the great future he was promised.

“Trefury is a mental feast for those who crave science fiction with well-crafted world-building, intriguing characters, and an unusual partnership which defies the odds.” —Angie Sandro, author of the Dark Paradise series.

Read other reviews on Amazon.com.

Recommended age: 15 and up

Genres: science-fantasy, adventure

Profanity: none

Sex: none

Violence: yes, non-graphic

Tags: bio-engineering, alien worlds, magic, weapons, mind manipulation, ghosts, invisibility, cultures, home schooling, geology, war, kidnapping, natural disasters, political struggles

Want to read before you buy? No problem.
Read a sample.
Or enter the giveaway (Please note that giveaway copies are ARC proof copies and there may be some minor differences in the cover than shown above):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Update for September

This month has been less productive writing-wise. I've had a lot of family come up to visit as well as a death in the family. Most evenings I've been too exhausted to think straight let alone write. I haven't let myself get too frustrated though. I used to get so uptight when I'd gone a handful of days without writing. There was an invisible taskmaster hovering in the back of my mind shouting at me that if I didn't take the time to write nearly every day that I'd fall under condemnation. Condemnation for what? Well, that's the thing; I don't have a set date to have book 2 out. I know when I'd like it to be, but I'm not going to put myself in a bad mood (and consequently make life miserable for my family) by trying to force the words.

I use to. Force the words, I mean. Then I found that I wrote a lot of drivel and in return had to spend three times as much time editing it. I'm taking a different approach, one that requires more thought and planning so I'll have less to edit when I'm through. The other thing I'm trying to do is relax and have fun. A story tends to be blah when you don't enjoy what you are writing. One of the major storylines has been singing to me. Ironically, it was the storyline I struggled with most in the first book. Enthusiasm for the storylines have flipped and now I'm analyzing why and coming up with strategies to learn to love my main storyline again.

Of course, all that is practically gibberish to you. Sorry. Unless of course you've read the first book and have a better grasp of what my storylines are.

Getting a copy of Trefury: Mendi's Curse is about to become more affordable. Check back in next week to find out why and how. I've at least been able to spend some time and effort on that.

Have you ever had to struggle to like a storyline or a character? Do you give up on the project at that point or have a strategy to persevere through? If you could summarize in one word what you look for in a story to make it enjoyable to you, what would that word be?

Update for August

Summer is winding up and I'm trying to catch my breath. My mom's last surgery went well and I spent a couple of weeks with her. When I had down time, I was working hard on Trefury: The Secrets of Callorin.

Writing complex novels with multiple POVs and storylines is no easy task. I find it very rewarding when those lines intersect or connect. It's how I get my kicks I suppose. But it takes time, lots of brain power, lots of do-overs and back tracking in order to write the best possible story and to make sure the right characters are telling it. When I pull out my original draft of this trilogy of books there are very few things that have stayed consistent. Little did I imagine then how this story would evolve and become so engrossing.

I remember when an up-and-coming author of big, epic fantasy put out his first book. His publisher gave him a two year deadline, I believe, to write the next book in the series. The deadline came and went. His growing concourses of fans grew impatient, salivating for the next installment. He'd set the bar pretty high for himself with the first novel. More time passed. Fans grew even more impatient. I remember jumping on a reading forum and coming to his defense, not so much because I was a devoted fan, but because I understood the writing process better than most readers do. When you write a series, each book has to be better and stronger than the last one. And if you're writing things on an epic scale, you can just dash through it and send it off to a publisher. This author clearly needed more time because he was trying to make a stronger second novel.

When you think on other book series, how many of them have eventually grown to be a disappointment because the author didn't take time to exceed the novel(s) before? I think readers are too impatient in this day of instant gratification, and too quick to judge when they get what they demand on their timetable but it doesn't meet their expectations. Writing a novel, especially one with depth - a re-readable novel - can't be done in six to twelve months. Most authors have day jobs and families. We're not robots.

Some people write quickly, some are slow. Some go through many drafts, and others have it nearly perfect on the first try. We're all different. I believe that is something to be celebrated rather than a pivot for contention.

In other news, the paperback version of Trefury: Mendi's Curse is going through the proof stage and I should be able to announce a giveaway or two very soon.

I hope you all had a great summer and that this autumn will be very productive and rewarding for you.

Mid-Month Update for July

I'm in between surgeries for my mom and soccer and performing arts season is on for my daughters. But hey, how cool is it that even though these activities eat up a big chunk of my week, I'm adapting thanks to my good old clipboard and a pack of sharpened pencils. No, I don't have any electronic devices to carry around with me. I don't have internet access when I'm on the go. And that means fewer distractions in order to write.

I recently re-read Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, a classic how-to for writers and it's especially good at helping you get rid of blocks, inhibitions, and procrastination. You sit and you start writing. About anything and everything. The internal editor is not allowed to squawk over things like punctuation, plot holes, or grammar. You relax and let go for about half an hour and it's amazing how it frees you. You get in the zone faster.

Personally, I always predetermine to write about something regarding my book. It could be a place description, I might jump right into the middle of dialogue between two characters, or start describing a tense action scene. I don't write linearly, I just write what hits my brain first. And you know what, I've come up with some really good stuff. Stuff that needs editing of course, but I've discovered new angles to my characters' personalities, come up with unexpected ways to present what might be predictable plot material, and have harnessed raw emotions without worrying about how anyone else was going to interpret them.

The other plus to my current writing method and madness is that I'm not always in the same location when I write. That frees creativity too. I've loved getting outside more, especially when there are so many plant-based elements in my story. I find new inspiration every time I write outside.

So within the 1-3 hours I now get nearly every day to write like this, I'm churning out material faster than when I'd try to force myself to take a half-hour in front of my computer. Maybe it's because I've published one novel already; I just can't turn off the editor when I'm at my desk from all the editing I did with the first one. I was subject to feedback and rules and expectations for so long when I used my computer. New creativity became a chore, a Herculean task.

How much have I gotten done between the last update and today? My beginning's pretty solid, my ending is nearly written out, and I have a fair chunk here and there of what goes in the middle. My outline index card system has kept me on track and since I have a very old, basic rough draft already done, the new developments are easy to insert. I have chapter files created on my computer. After a week's gone by, I take a day to type up what I've written directly into those files. Then I'll tweak my outline if I need to.

Each book I write goes through a different process and I find it fascinating. Have you read Writing Down the Bones yet? If not, and you're struggling to even get started each time you sit down to write, maybe you should check the book out and see if it will help you too.

Mid-month Update

2015 started like any other year, a fresh page. I had no idea how it would explode on me into the busiest year ever. I'm also calling it the year of surgeries because I've been through 2, my daughter 1, my sister 1, my mom 1 with another upcoming. I've been juggling my own household as well as taking care of my mom while she recuperates. My kids have reached the age bracket of doing more outside our home. We limit the number of extra-curriculars and I'm by no means the epitome of the soccer mom, but man, I had no idea how much time gets sucked up in even one extra activity, let alone three. My husband's gone from a part-time college student to a full-time in order to get done faster. Guess who helps him proofread his papers and who explains music theory to him? Yep, me. I also have other commitments both in the writing community and my local community. "I'm swamped!"

Not that I mean to sound like a wet blanket about all of that. I'm happiest doing things with and for my family. I'm involved with good things. But I have to wonder in the few private moments I get these days, if there's too many good things fighting for my attention and energy. How do I prioritize without letting people down? And where did I go in the midst of all this?

I've snatched brief bits of time to scribble down notes or bits of scenes while in waiting rooms. I brainstorm while doing two sets of household chores. But as to actual writing time ... *sigh* When the evening rolls around I'm too exhausted to even think straight. That frustrates me too.

It's all a learning experience, of course. I have limitations. And when you go for long periods of time without a substantial break, you get burned out easily. Vacations aren't even in my vocabulary. Me-time is a luxury other people get. I'm sure I'm in a crowded boat with all of the other busy people loaded with obligations and no time for themselves.

So what has this to do with writing updates? Book #2 in my Trefury trilogy is coming along, albeit at a snail's pace this summer. I'm mindful of those who are anxiously awaiting more of the story. I promise I'm lining up some really good stuff for you. I'm excited for how the revisions are going, how the characters are developing, and the criss-crossing plotlines are getting tighter. I know I'm anxious to get this one done so I can write the concluding book.

Book #1 will be released soon in paperback format, so be sure to watch for news here, on Goodreads, or on Twitter for new giveaways.

I have two other novels ready for revisions prior to beta readers also scratching at the back of my head. It's very hard to suppress the urge to work on them. I don't lack for material to work on or ideas. If only I could keep up! Lol.

If anyone has a magic bullet or some good practical ideas on how I can scrape together some surplus energy and time, I'm open to suggestions. 

Tidbits and Reminders

Today is a housekeeping post.

Contest!
For members of the Speculative Fiction Group on Agent Query Connect, this is the last week to submit your short story for our Anniversary Contest. Remember, it's a Halloween (or equivalent) theme. The top prize is a partial critique from an agent. Second prize is a collection of books published by fellow group members. Third prize (depending on the number of entries) is a partial critique from me. Details are in our forum.

NaNo!
National Novel writing month is eleven days away; are you ready? If not, you might like my post from last year regarding the Easiest Outline Ever. Instead of pounding out a first draft this year, I'm going to set goals to try to get through a second draft. The second book in my Trefury trilogy is coming along. We'll see how much I can get done by the end of November.

Other posts to get you brainstorming ahead of time:
Because: One of the Most Important Words a Writer Can Use ...
Outlining: The Simple Version
Fun Ideas and Tips #7: Mix and Match
Fun Ideas and Tips #5: Find Your Truths
Fun Ideas and Tips #3: POV Reversal

Regarding My Book!
There's still time to enter to win a free copy of Trefury: Mendi's Curse on Goodreads. It's open to people living in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. The giveaway ends November 1st.

If you've marked Trefury: Mendi's Curse as want to read on Goodreads but are having a hard time locating a copy, that's because it's in the queue for distribution for places like Amazon. At the moment, you can get a copy directly from Lulu.com. I'll be sure to announce it when it becomes available elsewhere. Want to read a sample? There's a preview link under the cover picture of the book on Lulu.

After you've read Trefury: Mendi's Curse, try your memory with one of the three quizzes I've set up on Goodreads. You can also ask me questions on my profile page.



... And that's all I have for the writing side of my life. Be glad you're not seeing the housekeeping for everything else. ;) Have a great week everyone. Happy writing!

Release Day for Trefury: Mendi's Curse! Info, Soundtracks, and Quizzes

Copyright 2014 Nicolle Raty Murray; original artwork

My debut novel, Trefury: Mendi's Curse, is now available for purchase in hardcover format.

The land of Callorin is dying, cast off from divine aid and adrift in cold seas, with dark powers swooping in for the kill. As they have for thousands of years, Callorin turns to Thssk to fix the problem, but Thssk wants to avoid everyone. He failed last time, and his human handler put a curse on him as he abandoned her on a battlefield. She would be avenged through the next girl Thssk forced to become his handler.

Thssk is sent on a mission to another world to rescue the long-lost heir of Origiba, in the hope of developing outside support for Callorin. While there, Thssk tries to thwart the curse by taking Cortnee, a tech savvy, arts major as his new handler. It is only when Thssk has gained the upper hand over his enemies and everything seems to be working out for a change that he discovers he is not the game changer anymore—Cortnee is.

On a world where starships are born, homes grow, and flowers can flatten entire cities, millions of lives are at stake. More importantly, Thssk’s notorious past comes back to bite him. The girl who has become a catalyst politically and astralgically won’t communicate with him, and she has some crazy ideas about how to get their job done. With her, Thssk may fail for a second time, without her, he may never attain the great future he was promised.

You might like Trefury if you are into:
1) Adventure stories.
2) Stories spanning multiple worlds.
3) Diverse characters in both gender and race.
4) Fascinating, exotic, and mind-boggling settings.
5) Entwining plot lines.

 Trefury also fits into a rare niche, it's clean speculative fiction. No sex, no profanity, no graphic violence. The readership age range is from 15 on up (based on vocabulary and themes in the story).

While I am very excited to finally share this story with everyone, I am mostly feeling a sense of relief and calm. It is very satisfying to complete a project like this. And it's also nice to realize that achieving a dream is neither a summation of who I am, nor is it a place of arrival. This is a milestone in my life and I'm grateful that I have it as a foundation for writing future novels and improving my talent as a storyteller.

I want to thank the many people who helped me brainstorm, revise, edit, and who supported me in this effort. You've made me a better writer and have helped me make this story something to be proud of.

And to finish off my writing soundtrack, at least the big highlights, here are the last two tracks, including the song that epitomizes the whole thing.

First up, "Whiplash" by Selena Gomez. (No pun intended, for those of you who have read the book.)

This song became my "Trefury mode" anthem.

And here is the song that is my book, "What You're Thinking (Pure Energy)" by Information Society. While I listened to the original version a lot, the remixed version is my favorite. If you listen to any of the soundtrack songs, make it this one.

Original Version:

*Remixed Version:

For more soundtracks and previous Trefury posts click here.

And finally ...
Read the book and think you know it? Try out one of the new quizzes about Trefury: Mendi's Curse on Goodreads.


Today's the last day to enter for a free copy here on my blog, but starting tomorrow you can get a second opportunity to snag a free copy on Goodreads. The link in the sidebar will be updated to direct you.

Trefury: The Other Side of the Story

By now you've probably read the official story summary of my book, Trefury: Mendi's Curse, but what many of you don't know is that that summary only spells out one side of the story. There is another big storyline going on and there are other character threads which are woven into both sides.

May I introduce you to three of those other main characters?

1 - Ientadur
He's a young adult with a heavily-monitored medical condition who just wants to marry his childhood sweetheart and become independent. But his parents don't approve and are doing everything they can to prevent him from marrying. Then Ien's old history teacher gets in contact with him and reveals that everything he's been told is one big lie and that Ien has a genetic legacy that will allow him to save the lives of thousands of people as a war with another country threatens his home. Life will never be the same again. He is separated from the one he loves, estranged from his family, and hunted by the most powerful and dangerous group on the planet. Ien must grow up, become pro-active, and face obstacles and decisions that could tear him apart. If he does, everyone else needs to watch out. The legacy of the half-murlynn is nothing to be trifled with.

2 - Sabriel
Everyone's heard of the damsel or princess in distress, well this time the one in distress is a man. Sabriel has just graduated from university, ready to take on a career as a composer. He's handsome, young, and independent. But then he's kidnapped twice, nearly dies in transit, stuck in a life-support chair, and people are trying to kill him. He can't catch a break. Well, except one. He's got a girl with a powerful weapon who has stepped up as his bodyguard. Maybe together they can piece the clues to find out why someone's after him and more importantly, who. If the bad guys don't get to him first.

3 - Damon
Haunted by his wife's mysterious death, Damon is a single-parent determined to make a decent life for himself and his daughter. But then his life starts unraveling. Financial accounts are closing without his permission, his job is being taken from him, and both friends and strangers are bringing up his wife's name. On top of that, his daughter has become a target as her anonymous involvement in a drug sting is leaked. When she goes missing, things get really surreal. Damon is soon forced to leave his world for another, forced to rely on strangers to track his daughter's whereabouts. It's hard to know who to believe and who to trust. Lies unravel and new lies are formed. For Damon, only one thing is clear, he's got to do whatever it takes to get his daughter back and find out the truth about his wife's death.

Hee hee, and now you're probably wondering why these aren't separate books and how in the world they fit in with the main storyline. Trust me, they all come together and are interwoven. I take a lot of pleasure in working with complex storylines, but I won't lie, it isn't easy or quick to do. Trefury has been a massive undertaking, I mean years of development and revision. And this book is only the first part of the story. There is more to come. I hope you enjoy it.

There's still time to sign-up for a free, autographed, hardcover copy of the book. Click on the picture of the cover in the right sidebar to find out how.

Behind the Scenes #3: My Writing Soundtrack for Trefury, Tracks 9 - 10

There's still time to sign-up to get a free, hardcover copy of my debut novel, Trefury: Mendi's Curse. Just click on the picture of the cover to your right and it will take you to all the details.

Continuing to highlight some of the music that helped me stay in the zone while writing the novel, both of these songs were done by Delerium, a group I highly recommend for mood music.

These songs had that international, especially eastern vibe that I wanted. This is a reflection on the country and planet my character Cortnee comes from. I had a fun time meshing different eastern cultures, while retaining some western foibles and customs in this half of my world-building.

Trefury is a novel taking place on two very diverse planets. That meant I had more than the average amount of world-building to do. Fortunately, I've been working not only on this story but many others from two different (yet connected) collections of worlds for over thirty years. It's not something I just threw together overnight. There is a giant scheme behind every planet I've made and they are all connected through a special passageway that I call, in simple English terms, The Beltway. (It has another name in one of my made-up languages.)

I've found it's good not to overuse my languages and dialects because it can alienate readers. A smattering will do, and eventually, the more they read my books, they will be able to handle more and understand more. But the point of world-building and making up languages is more for originality and authenticity rather than reinventing the wheel, and the focus of my novels is telling the story rather than showing off what worlds I've created.

So first up is "Terra Firma," a song many of you have probably heard before:

The second song is "Remembrance," which probably isn't as widely known. I love the deep horns at the beginning. They were an inspiration to me for the "prayer horns" that go off every night on Cortnee's world. The song then evolves into eastern/western mix and then goes techno. It couldn't be more perfect.

I'm very excited to share a very small piece of my world-building with you. Those who have already read earlier versions of the novel, or who have followed the blog for awhile know that world-building is very dear to my heart. And while world-building is a magnificent skill to possess, bear in mind that it is no substitute for storytelling. I've read many manuscripts where the writer put all their thought and effort into creating their world and the story (what little there was) dealt with showing the world and everything in it to the reader. A tragedy. Worlds that well drawn should have great stories revolving in them and characters not only unique but that are relatable and compelling populating those worlds.

What do you think?

You may also like to read:
World-building: Think Big, Be Creative, Have Fun!
How Much World-Building Do You Need?
Falling in Love with Your World
What Justifies an Epic Series?
What Makes Epic Fantasy Tick

Cover reveal for Trefury: Mendi's Curse, including book summary.
Behind the Scenes #1: Forbidden Without Knowing Why
Behind the Scenes #2: Let's Talk Hair
Behind the Scenes #3: My Writing Soundtrack for Trefury, Track 1 
Behind the Scenes #3: My Writing Soundtrack for Trefury, Tracks 2 - 3
Behind the Scenes #3: My Writing Soundtrack for Trefury, Track 4
Behind the Scenes #3: My Writing Soundtrack for Trefury, Tracks 5 - 8 
BOOK GIVEAWAY ON THE THIS BLOG from Sept. 2 - 30, 2014 

Giveaway with No Strings Attached

Today starts my blog giveaway for my debut novel, Trefury: Mendi's Curse. Trefury comes out in hardcover Sept. 30th, with a paperback edition to follow and eventually an ebook version. I prefer the good, old hardcover for my personal library, but I know they can be expensive. So if you're serious about wanting to own this book and want the best print version of it, you'll want to sign up for the giveaway.

No strings attached. Simply enter to win through any of the available options. I'm not asking for reviews or ratings. If Trefury sounds like the kind of book you want to read, then read it. If it doesn't, then don't. At the moment I'm offering one free copy of the book here through my blog, but if there are a lot of entries, I'll add more.

And to my writer friends: You're under no obligation to buy or read my books just because you know me. In fact, if after reading the story summary you're truly not interested, I prefer it if you don't. Life's too short and there are too many books out there; no one should have to read fun novels by obligation. I write because I enjoy telling stories and I'd rather reach my target audience than a superficial one. Thank you for the support and help, but know it won't hurt my feelings if you pass on my novel.

If you read Trefury, love it, and want to help promote it, thank you. The best promotion is simply word of mouth. If you want to read the book, but aren't sure you want to plunk down the money for a copy, request it through your local library.

Here's the story summary:

Meet the oddest, most-likely-to-fail partnership the planet Niyhel has ever known. He’s cunning, intelligent, and dangerous. She’s slow to trust, reckless, and loyal. And both of them have their own ideas about how to do things.

Thssk, a six-thousand-year old norhendra, has unwittingly caused the near extinction of his kind. Then he abandoned his handler, momentarily forgetting that she was an astral. She curses him as he flees the battlefield: the next handler he chooses will avenge her. Hunted by his past, it takes a divine summons and a volcanic eruption to rekindle Thssk’s competitive spirit after a long hibernation. Racing against his enemies to rescue a boy from another planet?—he’s the only one capable of pulling it off. But there’s a catch, he has to select a new human partner to work with.

Tech savvy Cortnee Feyandihar is tracking down the people responsible for her mom’s death while trying to gain a footing on a career path in the fields of music and dance. But when she goes too far with a corruption exposé, a last-ditch effort to salvage her future sticks her in the middle of an inter-world showdown and right into Thssk’s coils.

On a world where starships are born, homes grow, and flowers can flatten entire cities, the fates of two lands hangs in the balance, as do the lives of millions of people. Yet it all pales in comparison to Thssk confronting the repercussions of discarding his previous partners as he struggles with his unpredictable new one. Everything Cortnee thought she understood has turned inside out and she must utilize every skill in her arsenal to get a grip on her new reality. If they can’t learn to communicate and work together, he won’t achieve the great future he was promised, but if they do, Cortnee could fall like her predecessors—into madness.

If you enjoy books with multiple points of view, complex plot lines woven together, detailed world-building, intense adventure, and characters that aren't strictly good or bad, then you'll probably enjoy this one. And this book is clean: no sex, no profanity, and no graphic violence.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don't win this time around, there will be a second opportunity through Goodreads that starts at the end of the month. More details to come. 


Contest is closed.
And the winner is ....









 Angie!

 Congratulations! I'm sending you an email with the details.