September 2018 – Writing Wrongs

Free Fiction Friday: Just a Matter of Time

Just a Matter of Time was first published in Sucker Literary Magazine, Vol. III, April 2014.

Sadie Lin: High school junior Sadie is desperate–to maintain her GPA, to score high on the SATs, for her dad to return from Afghanistan. Time seems to crawl and slip through her fingers all at once. She thinks it’s all in her head.

It’s not.

Gordon Bakersfield: Gordon–Sadie’s ninth-grade epic crush–has plenty of time and knows where to get more. He knows someone has been stealing Sadie’s time. And while he’s not sure how to make it stop, he’s hoping to try. But can Sadie trust him?

Only time will tell.

Today’s offering is too long for the blog. Click the link or the book cover to download it from your favorite retailer.

Weekly writing check-in: renovation (whew)

A quick check-in this week, because we’re doing a little renovation around here (painting and floors and such–nothing structural, thankfully), and I’m tired.

Make that very tired.

But I did pass the 10,000-word mark in The Trouble with Doppelgangers. I’m pretty sure it won’t turn into an actual novel (although, if it does, I can always make it the second book in the series).

I also set up a few promotions, and I’m certain I did some other things as well. At the moment?

Whew.

I’m tired.

Free Fiction Friday: Ebookaroo

Looking for some great free and discounted books, new releases, and specials? Look no further than author Patty Jansen‘s Ebookaroo email list (and while you’re at it, visit Patty’s website and get her starter library for free, too).

Weekly writing check-in: In which I have a series name!

I’m so excited. At long last, I have a name for the series I’m writing and titles for the books in said series.

My cup runneth over this week.

Without further ado, I give you:

Tea & Sorcery

A while back I joked that calling this series Tea & Witches would be very, very on brand (considering Coffee & Ghosts and all that). So, yes, this is close. But this series name is actually more expansive than simply witches (although there will be witches in this series, but also a great many other magical beings).

Not only that, but I have a naming convention for the books (number to be determined) in the series. So far, I have:

Book 1: The Trouble with Necromancers

Book 1.5: The Trouble with Doppelgangers (this will be the bonus novella for newsletter subscribers)

Book 1 is done (well, the second draft–I have some more work to do on it), and as of today, the novella has 6,100 words. And seriously, I could spend years filling in the blank after The Trouble with.

In other news, I’m working to get all my print titles into IngramSpark for expanded distribution. Once that’s done, I’ll move my titles off of CreateSpace (which is closing) and into KDP Print.

Weekly writing check-in: more short stories, novella, and Photoshop

I am diligently trying to keep myself out of the Photoshop black hole. Fortunately (or, perhaps, unfortunately), I don’t have a title for the first book or the series it’s supposed to be in, so there’s only so much cover designing I can do.

Yeah. I need a title, especially since I’d like to publish this year.

In other news, not only did I complete the outline for the novella, but I started the draft. I finished up revising/editing two short stories that I plan to send off this week as well.

All in all, it was a good writing week.

Free Fiction Friday: The Bargain

The Bargain was first published in issue #2 Spirit’s Tincture.

It’s a drabble, a story that is exactly 100 words long.

Mirabella stood tethered to the pole, throat clogged with sulfur. The cavern yawned before her. Behind her, villagers crouched, trembling with anticipation.

The yearly bargain was underway.

A roar. Earth-shattering footfalls. Talons scraped the earth. The dragon closed its wings about the pole; a stream of fire sent the villagers scampering.

In their wake, Mirabelle sighed.

A single talon sliced the ropes. She pulled a key from her bodice, worked it into the shackle around the dragon’s ankle. He bowed his head, in agreement, in gratitude.

She straddled his neck, clutched him tight, and together they rose into the air.

Weekly writing check-in: short stories, novellas, and Photoshop

Checking in late today. I fell into a Photoshop black hole, and I’m just now crawling out of it.

I splurged on a couple of Photoshop actions, and let me tell you… that’s hours of fun right there. Worth every cent.

I’m still looking for the right stock photos for my covers. The models don’t need to look exactly how I see the characters in my mind, but it helps if the attitude is right.

Then you need a supply of poses, preferably on an isolated background (or one that’s fairly neutral), and, and, and … you get the idea.

In actual writing news, I finished the short story I was working on. I’m now letting it rest a bit before I revise and send it off.

I also started outlining the companion novella. The main challenge here is to keep it at novella length. I hope to start writing it soon, possibly as early as this coming week.