This week’s giveaway has the most awesome name of Scales and Tales. Click on through to scoop up some fabulous fantasy reads.
Monthly Archives: May 2019
Weekly writing check-in: a bump in the road
Not an actual representation of a plot bump
Hit a bit of a bump in the road–or plot as the case may be–with The Trouble with Necromancers. It seems that I have some … trouble.
So, this week, I looked at a new structure for the novel, and yes, that may take some (major) rewriting/re-drafting.
But I’m hoping this time I finally have what I need to tell this story.
However, I did manage to write a short story this week, one that was a lot of fun.
And that’s about it. It was a quiet, contemplative week, writing-wise.
Filed under Tea and Sorcery, Weekly Writing Check In, Writing
Free Fiction Friday: Swords and Sorcery
If you like sword and sorcery fantasy fiction, you’re bound to find something to read in this giveaway.
Filed under Free Fiction Friday, Reading
Happy 10th Birthday, Geek Girl!
We interrupt your regularly scheduled weekly writing check-in to bring you a special birthday post.
“Sweet, funny, and heart-warming, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading truly makes you want to cheer!”
~ Author Elizabeth Scott
“This novel is contemporary, laugh-outloud funny, and positive.”
~ Florence H. Munat, VOYA
On May 19, 2009, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading launched herself into the world. Two months early, no less.
Our original publication date was July. But. Barnes and Noble had a geek book promotion planned, and they wanted to include Geek Girl. Simon and Schuster said yes and subsequently bumped up the release date. (Because back then, when B&N offered you a promo, you always said yes.)
From our launch party
Once upon a time, Geek Girl was also a cake (courtesy of my co-workers)
On the shelf at Barnes and Noble
I fully expected to be celebrating Geek Girl’s tenth with Darcy, and it’s hard reconciling that she isn’t here to celebrate. Darcy knew how to throw a party, in real life and online.
I’m missing her, not just today, but every day. I hit a writing snag this week and wanted nothing more than to talk it through with her. I was this close to shelving the current series. And then this morning, after I opened up this post to finish writing it, inspiration struck.
Almost like I did talk the whole thing through with Darcy.
Once again, I’m going to encourage everyone to read some of her work:
THE GEEK GIRL’S GUIDE TO CHEERLEADING
- 2012 Popular Paperback pick in the Get Your Geek On category
- First Place: 2010 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence
- Available on: Kindle Nook Kobo Apple GooglePlay Print
DATING ON THE DORK SIDE
- 1st Place: 2016 International Digital Awards, Young Adult Novel
- Available on: All e-retailers Print
LESS THAN THREE
- Darcy’s solo YA novel
- Read for free on Wattpad
ON LEARNING TO SWIM AGAIN, IN AUTUMN: A SHORT STORY
- A contest-winning short story
- Available for 99 cents on Kindle or read for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Filed under Geek Girl's Guide, Weekly Writing Check In, YA
Free Fiction Friday: Steadfast
So I found out this week that my flash fiction retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier won second place in the Women on Writing Winter 2019 Flash Fiction contest.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier was always one of those fairytales I wanted to retell … with a happy ending. Steadfast is a contemporary retelling with a gender flip (she’s the soldier, he’s the dancer). Even better, it has an unapologetic happy ending.
You can click on through to the contest page to read it, along with the other two terrific stories that placed first and third. If you’re in the mood, you can keep going and read the top ten.
Filed under Free Fiction Friday, Reading
Weekly writing check-in: meet our new family member
Introducing … Milo!
Yes, we’ve added another four-legged member to our family (this makes three dogs and one cat if anyone is counting).
Milo is an American Bulldog, and he’s the sweetest dog you’d ever want to meet. American Bulldogs are often called a large-breed lapdog. Um. Yeah. He’s totally that. And everyone is (more or less) getting along as well.
In writing news, I not only completed the “book map” for my trip through expanding The Trouble with Doppelgangers into a novel, but I started work on it as well.
I also played around with some cover concepts for the first book and the series.
In audio news, I approved the audio for the first season of Coffee and Ghosts. Now the fine people at Findaway Voices will do all their technical checks and get it into the distribution system.
Filed under pets, The dog, Weekly Writing Check In, Writing
Free Fiction Friday: Short Adventures
Looking for more short reads? Like adventure mixed in with your science fiction and fantasy? Well, then this is the giveaway for you, presented by author Patty Jansen’s Ebookaroo.
Filed under Free Fiction Friday, Reading
Weekly writing check-in: done and done!
And yes, I drank a lot of coffee this week.
This week, I was not too optimistic. I completed the edit of The Trouble with Necromancers and the audio review for Coffee and Ghosts 1: Must Love Ghosts! I even managed a note or two for the second book in the series.
As far as progress goes for the week, I am pleased.
I can’t wait to share the audio of Coffee and Ghosts. The narrator is one of my all time favorites. I knew she’d do a fantastic job, but I’m completely blown away by her performance. She’s captured Katy’s voice completely, and even the minor characters shine.
That’s it for this week. (Except for prom–but that’s a whole different story. I may need to go back to writing YA one of these years. So. Much. Material.)
Filed under Audio Books, Coffee & Ghosts, Tea and Sorcery, Writing
Free Fiction Friday: Short Story Extravaganza
Something short, something speculative: it’s all here. Fantasy, horror, science fiction. Pick a genre and have some fun.
But hurry, this giveaway only lasts until May 15th.
Filed under Free Fiction Friday, Reading
Writing Wrongs 