Category: Writing

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the ghostly pre-order

Well, would you look at that! An acceptance. So I’m pleased about that. Otherwise, I took some time this week to work on the formatting and layout for the Coffee & Ghosts, Season 2 series bundle in both e-book and print. It’s the print layout that takes the longest. The e-book is a simple matter of combining the three episodes into one.

On the other hand, the print version I do in Adobe InDesign, and that requires a little more work. It isn’t hard (well, I don’t find it all that difficult), but it does take time searching out orphans and widows and wonky hyphenation, and so on.

But, it’s done! The e-book is on pre-order and I’ll get the print proof to review in a week or so.

Writing Work:

  • Brainstorming and outlining Coffee & Ghosts, Season 3
  • Photoshop tutorials
  • Craft work
  • Print and e-book formatting and design for Coffee & Ghosts, Season 2 series bundle

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • A Most Marvelous Pair of Boots

Acceptances:

  • Chicken Fat and Whipped Cream

Publications:

None, but look what’s up for pre-order!

Coffee and Ghosts 2 Ebook cover

That’s right! The series bundle for Season Two of Coffee & Ghosts will be available to read on April 11th, but it’s already up at Amazon. The print proof is on its way to my house. So if you like your coffee and ghosts in one place, you won’t have to wait for long.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with thirty fantasy books

Hey, no rejections this week and I sent three stories back out. I also made some progress on season three of Coffee & Ghosts, both outlining and actual writing (although I’m not done with either).

I also did a bit more with Photoshop and design and dipped my toes into a little writing craft work.

Not only that, but it’s the first day of spring!

Writing Work:

  • Writing ~ 2,400 words
  • Brainstorming and outlining Coffee & Ghosts, Season 3
  • Photoshop tutorials
  • Craft work

Submissions:

  • The God of Bright Red Things
  • Chicken Fat and Whipped Cream
  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Fantasy-E-book-GiveawayNone, but be sure to check out the fantastic fantasy giveaway: 30 fantasy books and a Kindle Fire could be yours!

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with The Wedding Ghost

Four rejections this week. Is that a personal best? I think it might be a personal best. It was a busy week, so I haven’t had the chance to turn those back into submissions. That’s something I can do this week.

However, I did write a standalone Coffee & Ghosts short story of 4,200 words. And The Wedding Ghost is out in the world. So, there’s that.

But between dance competitions and Day Light Saving Time, I’m just a little bit tired. I may spend the rest of the day reading.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Chicken Fat and Whipped Cream
  • The Life Expectancy of Fireflies
  • Like Bread Loves Salt
  • The God of Bright Red Things

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The Wedding GhostThe Wedding Ghost is out in the world.

You can read more about that in my post from yesterday.

Now available! The Wedding Ghost!

The finale for Season Two is now live!

Wedding Ghost_small

 

Something old. Something new. Something deadly.

It’s been months since the Midwest Necromancer Association came to town, courting Katy with promises of wealth and power. Her only concern now is how to contain a couple of mischievous sprites and keep her ice-pink bridesmaid dress coffee-stain free—at least for the wedding ceremony.

But weddings have a way of bringing strangers to town, and when strangers come to Springside, trouble follows. Especially since Katy has a secret, the sort that inspires betrayal and murder, and one that can unleash untold destruction.

This time, the stakes are higher than Katy ever imagined. This time, to keep Malcolm, Springside, and even the world safe, Katy must do the one thing she vowed never to do.

And once she does, there’s no turning back.

And for one week only, grab the episode for 99 cents over on Amazon.

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the busy Sunday

Quick post this week. We’re starting the dance competition season. I have my phone glued to me in case they move up the call time.

I did some brainstorming and outlining work on Coffee & Ghosts, Season Three along with working out a possible standalone short story in the Coffee & Ghosts world.

Sent out three submissions and got three rejections, so it came out even this week (more or less).

And that’s all I got for this busy, busy morning.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts, Season Three: brainstorming an outlining
  • Coffee & Ghosts: standalone short story: brainstorming
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • The Perfect Canvas
  • Auld Lang Syne
  • The God of Bright Red Things

Rejections:

  • The Perfect Canvas
  • Straying from the Path
  • The God of Bright Red Things

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the new pup

Oscar4It was one of those weeks where I didn’t get a whole lot done. Between all-day training at work, Girl Scout cookie activities, and gearing up for dance competition season (for my daughter, not me), my regular routine was knocked off kilter a bit.

Add in a new dog? Well, we spent the week building up a new routine that includes our new family member.

Meet Oscar (there on the left, that’s Mattie in the background–note the matching bow ties).

He’s one of a thousand rescue Chihuahuas that have arrived in Minnesota from California. He’s actually a Chihuahua/terrier mix and is fitting in very well. He’s still a little skittish, but warming up and has the funniest, sweetest personality.

In actual writing work, I did make it all the way through the listening proof of The Wedding Ghost. So, there’s that.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts, Season Two: proofing The Wedding Ghost

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Ghost That Got Away

So, this week, along with formatting, reviewing, and publishing The Ghost That Got Away, I continued the  content edit/listening proof on the third episode. This helps me keep the story details and world building fresh. I also worked ahead on the cover for both The Wedding Ghost and the season two bundle, even though those won’t be out for a while (The Wedding Ghost in March, the bundle sometime in the spring).

I also pulled together everything for the taxes! And sent out three submissions. Plus, we were all sick here (strep! colds! kennel cough!).

No wonder I’m just a little bit tired.

Writing Work:

  • Content edit/proof on episode three of Coffee & Ghosts
  • The Ghost That Got Away formatting and publishing
  • Cover work for The Wedding Ghost

Submissions:

  • Straying from the Path
  • A Measure of Sorrow
  • Chicken Fat and Whipped Cream

Rejections:

  • Straying from the Path

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The Ghost That Got Away is out in the world.

You can read more about that in my post from yesterday.

Now available! The Ghost That Got Away

Here you go! A belated, ghostly valentine, the second episode in season two of Coffee & Ghosts.

The Ghost That Got Away

Coffee. Ghosts. A kiss for Valentine’s Day.

Katy Lindstrom knows that the ghosts of past loves don’t limit their haunting to Valentine’s Day. Even so, she’ll serve up a two-for-one eradication special with a smile and plenty of Kona blend.

But this Valentine’s Day, the past comes to Springside—in human and otherworldly form—and it threatens to derail everyone’s happily-ever-after, Katy’s business, and even her relationship with Malcolm.

When a powerful necromancer launches an attack meant to force Katy into a decision, she will need to make a choice. If she wants to keep Springside and its ghosts safe, she will need to make a sacrifice of her own—one that involves her happily-ever-after with Malcolm.

And for one week only, grab the episode for 99 cents over on Amazon.

Coffee and Ghosts

Curious? Missed out on Season One? Check out the episode list or jump straight to the bundle. The episodes and the bundle are available to read for free in Kindle Unlimited, or if you’re buying, grab the bundle and save 30%. The series bundle is also available in print.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the cookie booth

 

coffeeheartIt’s Girl Scout cookie time! We went out last weekend and my daughter sold 60 boxes in the neighborhood. She’s selling like crazy at school, and later today we have a cookie booth as well. It’s pretty much all cookies, all the time around here.

Otherwise, proofing and revision work on Coffee & Ghosts, Season Two, some messing around in Photoshop. And that’s about it for my week.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts, Season Two: proofing and revision
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • With Hair of Teeth and Claw

Rejections:

  • The Perfect Canvas
  • Chicken Fat and Whipped Cream

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with all the snow

snow

This was the week with all the snow. Well, a foot of snow, anyway. It was a good week for doing some revision.

At first, I didn’t think I did that much work. Then, I added it up.

I revised The Ghost That Got Away, did a content edit/light revision on The Wedding Ghost, and for the sake of story/world building continuity, reread Ghosts of Christmas Past.

Um. Yeah. That’s close to 90,000 words total.

That’s a lot of words. And a lot of ghosts.

This upcoming week I hope to put the final touches on The Ghost That Got Away and unleash it into the world. Stay tuned.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts, Season Two: Revision/editing, etc.
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Rejections:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None