Weekly writing check-in: the one with a new book (to read)

WomenHeroesWWIIA new book! To read!

Women Heroes of World War II—the Pacific Theater landed in my mailbox yesterday. And I can’t wait to read it. Review forthcoming.

I also have a new book of my own (well, technically a novella). I’m closing in on the end of the very last episode of Coffee & Ghosts. I’m thinking I’ll finish it up this week.

I’ve been working through Vellum as well, and as it says below, lots and lots of Vellum (because I have lots and lots of books to format).

I even sent out a couple of submissions.

Not bad for the last week of summer.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~ 7,500 words
  • Photoshop and Vellum, lots and lots of Vellum

Submissions:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms
  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with Deep Magic

deepmagicSo, I’m not exactly sure what happened to summer. One more week, and then it’s back to school time. (Well, not for me, at least.)

I finally went ahead and bought Vellum. Holy cats, people, is this program great! But now, I have a mountain of reformatting to do. On the positive side, this program is so freaking fabulous that it won’t be that difficult. Still, it takes time to reformat, check for any glitches, and upload all the files.

To paraphrase  Anne Lamott, I’m going to take it book by book.

Got lots of writing in this week on episode three of Coffee & Ghosts–almost halfway done. (I think; that can always change.)

And last, but not least, the August issue of Deep Magic is in the wild and ready to be caught. Head on over and pick up a copy on Amazon, or if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can read for free.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~ 7,000 words
  • Photoshop and Vellum, lots and lots of Vellum

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Gretel and Hansel in the August issue of Deep Magic! 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with dog days of August

OscarAs everyone knows, the best place to hide from thunderstorms and firecrackers is in the faux fur blanket, as Oscar is demonstrating.

This is what our dogs do during the dog days of August.

In other news, I started the draft for the third episode of season three of Coffee & Ghosts and came up with 6,000 words, which isn’t a bad way to start off. I have layers to pull back and story threads to tie together. If nothing else, I’ve learned that writing a series is rewarding, fun, and challenging.

I also started formatting my e-books with Vellum. Oh, how I love this program. True, I haven’t clicked on Purchase. Not yet. But I plan to. In the meantime, I can get a feel for the program and learn all its options–a true try-before-you-buy opportunity. I’m pretty much sold already.

Additionally, Chicago Review Press contacted me and offered up an ARC of Women Heroes of World War II—the Pacific Theater: 15 Stories of Resistance, Rescue, Sabotage, and Survival, which I can’t wait to read. I loved the other two in the series (and reviewed them on my blog as well).

So, writing, formatting, books to read. It’s been a good week.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~ 6,000 words
  • Photoshop and Vellum

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

None, but get ready for the August issue of Deep Magic on August 16th! Or you can simply pre-order now.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the beginning of the end

Not as dramatic as it sounds, but I started the third (and final) episode of Coffee & Ghosts this week. Now mind you, if I think up something for a season four, I’ll totally write it. But for now, I’m wrapping up most (if not all) of the story threads.

It’s a bittersweet sort of thing. I’ve been writing about Katy, and Malcolm, and all the ghosts for more than a year now. I’ve been writing a little bit slower because I’m going to miss them.

It’s also the beginning of the end of the 99 cent launch price for The Shapeshifter Chronicles. So you might want to get yourself a copy.

Otherwise, just some tutorials and some reading.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~brainstorming, outlining
  • Photoshop and Vellum

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Shapeshifter coverLast few days to get the The Shapeshifter Chronicles for 99 cents! The price will go up mid-week, so grab your copy now!

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

Shapeshifter coverIt’s here! It’s here! The Shapeshifter Chronicles is live over on Amazon, with a print version coming very soon!

The anthology includes my short story With Hair of Teeth and Claw, which is a retelling of Rapunzel. There are some nice, early reviews on Amazon, including this:

A refreshing and original take on a classic fairy tale, flipping traditional conventions on their ear while remaining an enchanting and mesmerizing story about unconditional love.

I’m so thrilled to be part of this fabulous anthology. And it’s only 99 cents for the time being, so go grab a copy!

In other news, I finished episode 2 in the third season of Coffee & Ghosts and started brainstorming the third. Plus! I sold a short story this week as well.

It was one of those weeks where I have something in every category. I like those weeks, even the rejections–it’s all part of the process.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~3,000 words, brainstorming, outlining
  • Learning Vellum

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • The Bargain

Publications:

With Hair of Teeth and Claw in The Shapeshifter Chronicles.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the very delicious food

2016-07-21_184229684_759F0_iOSI didn’t quite finish up Coffee & Ghosts. Tomorrow, definitely. This weekend? We’re heading out for some fun, taking some out-of-town guests to the Mall of America (which is really the only time I go, more or less).

We will probably eat some delicious food, although not the sushi burritos. I haven’t tried them but they sound like the perfect food for my son.

Next week brings some fun things. I have a story in a forthcoming Future Chronicles title, the Shapeshifter Chronicles, which will be released on July 30th. So part of this week I spend reading the advance author copy for any last-minute fixes and formatting issues.

More about that later in the week. In the meantime, I hope everyone in the northern hemisphere is enjoying their summer. Stay cool!

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~3,000 words
  • Formatting and prepping to go wide
  • Future Chronicles reading
  • Photoshop work

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the summer slowdown

summer dogsI have a whole lot of orange in my submission tracker. I suspect summer is the culprit and everyone is doing what the dogs are doing–napping on the screened-in porch.

Another quiet week with some writing and formatting and other things that aren’t all that exciting.

Despite the slow and steady pace (or maybe because of it), I’m in the home stretch of episode two of Coffee & Ghosts, and I really hope to finish it this week and start brainstorming the third (and final?) episode.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~4,000 words
  • Formatting and prepping to go wide

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

It’s Christmas in July!

July_KindleLooking to cool off with something to read this summer? Look no further. Hop on over to author Stacy Claflin’s site and celebrate the holiday early this year … very early with free and 99 cent e-books.

There’s something for everyone in multiple genres, including:

  • Romance
  • Mystery/Suspense
  • Paranormal/Fantasy
  • Humor/Heartwarming/Family

And there’s even a couple of children’s stories as well.

Happy reading!

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Tupperware

tupperwareflea

Another weekend at the lake, and what do I discover? Tupperware!

For those of you not familiar with Coffee & Ghosts, the main character, Katy, uses Tupperware to catch ghosts (and coffee, usually Kona blend).

I’m pretty sure I’ve uncovered the spot where Katy buys her Tupperware, at least some of the time. Just look at the sign. It was, after all, voted the best flea market in Minnesota.

And look at all that lovely, rainbow variety of Tupperware!

Otherwise, a quiet week for a little writing, some formatting and promo work, and I did manage a submission.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~3,000 words
  • Formatting and prepping to go wide

Submissions:

  • The Saint of Bright Red Things

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Fourth

porchThe dogs have decided a good place to spend the summer is on the screened-in porch, watching the kids.

This is also an excellent place to read (for me, not the dogs).

Some writing this week, some formatting work, and so on. Lots of reading.

It’s summer, after all.

One rejection, and I have a few stories I should send back out again, which I hope to do this week or next, along with some more writing.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~4,600 words
  • Photoshop tutorials
  • Formatting and prepping to go wide

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • The Saint of Bright Red Things

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None