Buy Fallenmore on Paperback

It is finally here! You can now purchase Fallenmore, book #2 in the Feathermore Trilogy here!

 

 

$10.99 plus Shipping & Handling

 

 

When darkness consumes you; will it be hard to find the light? After Jade's world was torn apart, she is unsure of where she belongs, if anywhere at all. Deceived by those she trusted the most, she must now accept her fate and the life that lays before her. The voices are back but this time, they are trying to lure her into the darkness. But could they be telling her the truth? That the only person she has been able to trust since the death of her boyfriend, Avan, is lying to her too? If the voices are right... Could she really trust him? In Fallenmore, the second book in the Feathermore Trilogy, Jade will embark in a quest through the pits of Hell. The question now is: once she is in, will they ever let her out?

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Hola!

I know, I have been MIA for quite some time and for that, I am sorry. To be completely honest, summer is kicking my butt! Last year, I wrote Feathermore during these two months of summer. However, this time, it's the opposite. I don't know if it is because my kids are older and they need different (and more) things to entertain them or what, but I find myself with zero spare time.
Luckily, I am up to 55k words on the new Fallenmore and I am hoping to finish it by the end of next week. Yes! I know, finally, right? Of course, then comes edits and revising and betas, etc. But at least, it will be done. I cannot wait for you guys to read it! I do believe losing my first MS may have been a good thing as I think it to be more kick ass than before. Hopefully you'll think so too!

What has everyone else been up to so far this summer? Have you been writing? If so, what are you working on? Have you been reading? What have you read or are you going to read? I've read the Vampire Academy series and loved it. Can I get a Demitri for myself? Please? I am going to start Possessed by Kira Saito and Back to You by Annie Brewer soon :)

Hope everyone is having a great, safe and fun summer!

XOXO

Can someone plug me back on??

I have been doing plenty reviews lately so I thought I'd come on and just chat a bit. I have sent my Death By Chocolate story to be reviewed, critiqued and possibly torn to shreads. *Begins to hyperventilate* So it has become the game of waiting. Checking your email every hour to see if anything has arrived.

Once I was done with that I decided to give "Feathermore" another try. I began by merging it with a newer WIP but did not get far. Everything has been so hectic that the need I usually feel for writing has been suppressed for quite a bit now. I am hoping it will pass soon as I am very eager to finish the first draft. "Feathermore" is something I haven't read before and think you could all love it. *crosses her fingers and prays to the writing Gods to give her her mojo back*

How do YOU deal with something like this?

XOXO

"Carrier of the Mark" by Leigh Fallon

           I had been eyeing this book for quite some time. I know I say it all the time, but it is so true! The cover just grabbed my attention, the swirling blues made something inside of me flutter. Too pretty!
           I began reading "Carrier of the Mark" one chapter at a time. I had really enjoyed the first one and wanted to attempt to delay the inevitable. I read chapter one and put it down. I read chapter two and reluctanly put it down. I read chapter three and didn't stop until chapter eleven. Then it was all downhill from there.. I took the kids to the park, and even with the strong gusts of wind that kept wipping my pages around I finished it off.
           I was devastated.
           I had tried so hard! But it was too much.. I had to know what happened next, and next, and next.

          Anyway, here is the wonderful cover I was speaking off and the blurb to get you started:

"Their love was meant to be.

             When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

            But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."

          Ok, chapter 1-3 had some similarities with Twilight. Some being, Megan being told not to waste her time with the darkly handsome Adam and/or his family; Megan waiting outside the school to confront Adam; What she comes to find out about him and his true self. But then again, many books that I read at some point have something similar to another.
           The story follows Megan, a teenager that lives with her father, Caleb, and has gotten used to him switching jobs every time the anniversary of his wife's death comes around. She would never get the chance to create roots in one place as she knew it would not last long, but when they move to Kinsale, Ireland. She immediately connects with a girl, Caitlin, and soon after with her whole gang.
            If you finally found the one that makes everything make sense, could you give it up?
            That is what Megan is presented with. Her relationship with the handsome Adam begins rather abruptly but I have grown used to it by now in YA.
            I have recently read quite some bit on mythology YA's ("The Willows: Haven", "Knight Trilogy") and really enjoyed the theme of "Carrier of the Mark." It was very interesting to read about the elements. I also loved that we got to experience a different setting. I have been, for a long time, wanting to go to Ireland, and in some ways I feel like I know it a little bit better now.


             I was stunned beyond comprehension when I found out this was her DEBUT novel. Her writing was impecable, easy to follow and easy to get along with. Some books the writing doesn't appeal as much, but if I hadn't read otherwise, I would have thought she had been doing this for a lifetime.
            I cannot express how much I am waiting for the second book in the Trilogy, but Leigh told me today it won't be until late 2012, early 2013... Can she really make us wait that long? I guess so!

           So, if you haven;t read it yet, go to your local bookstore (or purchase online) and get it. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

XOXO


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I started out life in South Africa. A year later my parents moved home to Dublin, Ireland. When I was older and realized my parents had moved me from exotic Durban, to sedate Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, I was rightly ticked off. I fantasized about the amazing life I could have had in South Africa, and that fantastic accent that could have been all mine.

Instead, I got myself a fine Irish brogue growing up in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains where I went to a convent school and had to contend with uniforms, gabardines, and nuns.

During college I met a dashing sailor who swept me off my feet, all the way to Cork in the south of Ireland. I worked in corporate treasury and traveled Europe doing all sorts of fun finance stuff.
When I had my children I decided to take a career break, and soon discovered a love of writing. That career break became a career change when I wrote my debut novel, Carrier of the Mark.

I posted Carrier of the Mark on a HarperCollins website called inkpop. Within weeks it was voted into the top five books of thousands on the site, and was reviewed by a HarperTeen editor. Two months later that same editor offered me my first publishing contract.

My husband swept me off my feet again, this time in a westerly direction, we landed in Massachusetts, USA, where we now live with our four children and one double pawed cat.

Book Review - "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" by Katie Salidas

**Please note that this story contains some explicit material and it is better intended for audiences 18+**

"Becoming a Vampire is easy.

Living with the condition, that is the hard part."

"Walking back home through the badly-lit campus of UNLV, twenty-five year old Alyssa is brutally attacked by two savage men. By the time a handsome stranger intervenes, Alyssa has almost bled to death, and doesn't even struggle as her new protector sinks his sharp teeth into her neck.

Alyssa wakes to a harsh new reality, and to a raging thirst she's never felt before. Lysander, the sexy yet aloof man who turned her, must now teach her the way of the immortals - and with such a desirable teacher Alyssa starts to realize that her fate is not as dark as she first feared.

But, just as sparks begin to fly between the pair, Lysander is alerted that his enemies are on the move and determined to destroy them both.

Led by the cunning and ruthless, Santino Vitale, the fanatical Acta Santorum have vowed to hunt down and destroy every last immortal in God's name, and they have the vampires of Las Vegas in their sights.

Meanwhile, after seeing that Lysander has taken a new mate, the beautiful and pitiless Kallisto, is out for revenge. Alyssa soon finds out that hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.

Together the pair must face two separate enemies determined to destroy them. It's time to, Carpe Noctem, or submit to final death."      

I have read multiple Vampire books over the years and as a huge "Twilight" fan (no, I do not approve of the retarded shimmery vampire shit Meyers wrote about) I completely adore anything Vampiresque. There are a million reasons and ways for them to be created, as well as a million ways for them to live.

I had read, quite some time ago, an excerpt that Katie Salidas had posted on her blog and had loved it. Not only her writing is exquisite, but the mystery that surrounded the story itself.
I have to admit that, "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" is THE best Vampire story I have read thus far. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the way she explained how Vampires came to be. She stuck to the myths and made it work so perfectly.

This story is packed with action, passion, romance and a lot of stubborness. Katie will have any reader on the edge of their seat. I actually found myself holding my breath multiple times as I read on waiting to see what would happen next
.
It is an extremely entertaining story that will keep you begging for more. You will not be able to put it down, let me assure you!

Here is a Sample Chapter:

    "Darkness surrounded me. A voice spoke softly in my head. Do not die, young one. Be strong. Do not die.

I became painfully aware of liquid pouring down on me, each drop like an icy hammer hitting my sore skin. Movement echoed in my ears, telling me that I wasn’t alone. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Harsh light blinded me. My mind was fuzzy. I struggled to recall any small detail that might clue me in to what had happened and where I was.

I reached up to wipe the splattering water from my face. I chanced opening my eyes again. As I looked up, I spotted the source of the water, a showerhead on the opposite wall. Confused by this odd location, I struggled to penetrate the blackness of my memory and figure out how I had ended up in a bathtub.

Where the hell am I?

I tried to focus on the bright, unfamiliar surroundings.

My vision, it seemed, had become remarkably sharp while I was unconscious. I couldn’t remember ever noting so many details in such simple surroundings as these before.

Cream-colored tiles covered the walls, each rippled with tiny imperfections. Each held an individual pattern, making them unique and special. Yellowing, porous grout, framing the tiles, appeared to be littered with dots from small air bubbles that had come to the surface, creating different patterns and shapes.

Even the plain white curtain that separated me from the rest of the room seemed unusually detailed and perfectly woven. I saw each tiny strand that had been tightly bound together to form this heavy, durable cloth.

Small specks of mold building up in the corners of the porcelain basin weren’t able to escape my new sight either.

The amazing level of detail I experienced didn’t hold my attention for long. Freezing water still poured down on me. I needed to reach the handle and end the cold assault, but it seemed so far out of my reach. I eased myself up to a sitting position, my muscles aching with each small movement. Looking down, I saw my beaten body. The water had washed away some of the grime, but what was left of my shredded clothes was stained and clinging to my skin.

“Uggh!” I moaned.

“Oh, good, you’re alive,” said a male voice from behind the white curtain.

The voice seemed strange and yet somehow familiar. I searched my fuzzy memories to place the voice with a face. A wave of fear came over me as I remembered the attack.

Had I been kidnapped? Was I a hostage of some kind? I struggled to recall the events of the evening.

“You’ve been out for a few hours. I was worried I might have lost you,” continued the voice.

“What?” I called, still not sure who I was talking to.

“It doesn’t always work. Some people can’t be turned,” the voice said matter-of-factly.

“Turned?” What the hell is that supposed to mean?

I again tried to run through my memories of what had happened. I remembered blood, and the feeling of my body burning from the inside.

“I’ll explain it when you’re done in there. I’ve left some clothes on the toilet. I hope they fit.” The voice trailed out of the bathroom.

I tried to stand. My muscles ached. Gripping the edge of the tub, I moaned as I pushed myself up. My legs didn’t want to cooperate; they shook as they tried to support my weight. It was as if I was learning to stand for the first time.

I felt weak and a little dizzy. I leaned against the wall, using it as a crutch to help me to balance while I removed what remained of my shredded and blood-stained clothes. I shuddered, seeing more of the wounds that covered my body.

I remembered the two men. Flashes of memory showed me images of the struggle: the man on my stomach laughing, the knife waving in front of my face, teeth biting me, a stranger drinking my blood.

Each bruise I saw invoked a terrible memory. I turned the shower handle to hot and let the water run down my back. The warmth soothed my sore skin. I rested my head against the wall and tried to rationalize what had happened. I blamed myself for walking alone. I knew better. I should have asked someone to walk with me or drive me. I cursed myself for relying on a stupid keychain of pepper spray as my protection.

Some of the events that flashed in my memory were so bizarre I could hardly believe they had happened. I saw myself lying on the ground, drinking blood from a strange man’s arm. 

What was his name? Was I really drinking blood? Why was I even alive? Did that man save me?

The thought of blood caused an ache in the pit of my stomach.

      I pinched myself a few times.

Maybe this was all just a really bad dream and I just needed to wake up.

None of it made sense

Maybe someone had slipped something into my coffee at the café. I hadn’t really been drinking blood, had I?

My mind wouldn’t stop focusing on the blood I had drunk. A sweet, sticky taste crept up from the back of my throat. I gulped at the water pouring down from the showerhead, trying to smother the flavor. My stomach retched as I swallowed, causing me to sputter and spit the water to the ground. I tried to ignore the nagging ache in the pit of my stomach. I needed answers first. I needed to know why I was here and where here was. I needed to know what the hell had happened to me.

I finished rinsing, turned off the water, and slid open the shower curtain. The light seemed brighter in the rest of this room. I squinted, letting my eyes adjust a little. The rest of the bathroom was small and narrow. Nothing more than a simple toilet, shower, mirror, and vanity sink. The only real color in the room came from the red towels hanging on the towel bar and the bath mat on the floor.

I grabbed one towel and wrapped it around myself and then noticed the clothes left on the toilet seat. They appeared to be new and for a brief moment, I wondered where he had gotten them.

“I guess this will have to do,” I mumbled as I pulled on a simple green spaghetti-strap tank top. I slid my legs into a pair of blue jeans and pulled them up. Fastening the button, I felt a small pinch in my back. I reached around, touched a hard scab, and winced, remembering the pain of the knife that had been stabbed into my back.

How was I even alive? I certainly shouldn’t have been after the ordeal I’d been through.

I checked myself out in the mirror. Most of my wounds were already healing. Bruises that weren’t covered by clothing had started turning yellow. The cuts on my back and face had scabbed over too. I noticed something on my neck. Brushing away the wet strands of my red hair, I saw a half-ring of small bruises and two very deep-looking holes.

Lysander, I thought, suddenly remembering the stranger’s name.

My memory flashed again. I remembered the pinch as his teeth sunk into my neck. I shuddered again as a chill danced down my spine.

      What…who was this Lysander? He couldn’t be a…No. That’s silly; they aren’t real.

I gave the rest of my body a quick once-over in the mirror and suddenly I stopped in shock.

     “My eyes,” I gasped. “Oh, my God!”

I couldn’t believe it.

How is this possible? Those are not my eyes.

All the color had disappeared. Large gray eyes stared back at me from the mirror. They were pale and cloudy with hints of blue, no longer the emerald green they used to be. These were the same eyes I looked into when I got my first glimpse of Lysander.

     Wondering what else had changed, I surveyed the rest of my face: ears, hair, lips, all seemed the same. Thinking of the bite on my neck, I opened my mouth. Gone was the five-thousand dollar, perfectly straight, smile —that had taken me four years to pay off. My eyeteeth appeared to have grown larger, crowding the surrounding ones. The new, slightly larger, canine-like teeth poked down below the others, reminding me of fangs— the kind vampires from Hollywood movies were famous for. I playfully licked at them, noting how much sharper they felt as they scraped across the surface of my tongue.
     "This can’t be possible.”

It was time to find this Lysander guy and get some answers."

The Immortalis Series goes as follows:

Book 1- Immortalis Carpe Noctem
Book 2 - Hunters and Prey
Book 3 - Pandoras Box

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am Super Mom!

Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can’t even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. I try so hard to do it all, (be super mom, wife, & author) and at the end of the day I fall face forward into the couch.

Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch. It’s a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter. Imagine waking up to your little child yelling, “Mom slept on the couch again!!!”
Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch. It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.

Writing is my passion. It’s a part of me. More than just a hobby, it’s a compulsion. I have to do it. If I don’t do at least one writing related thing each day I get cranky.

Hopefully, my passion can be your entertainment!

Visit Katie's own Publishing Rising Sign Books

Book Review and Giveaway- "Bound" by Kira Saito

"Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college.

When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees.

However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined."

When I saw the cover of Bound I was completely intrigued by it. It consists of everything I love in a cover. It is dark, eerie and you can see certain sadness exude from the woman. Then, I proceeded to read the blurb and I was in. I wanted to know what it was all about.
Mind you, I have absolutely no idea of anything voodoo and was a little scared of being put off by any of it. After all, voodoo to me was making weird looking dolls and stabbing them with needles. But what I came to learn was far more magical than I had expected.
It took me a little bit to get into it, and mostly I think it was because of Arelia's obnoxious best friend, Sabrina. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, some of my favorite books it took me a few tries until I really got into them. Eg: "The Unquiet" by John Connolly and "Marked" (book #1 from House of Night) and was so hooked  once i got into it I read the first six books in a span of a week. True Story.
Sabrina, you will come to see is a rich princess and what I get most from her is that she honestly feels she is entitled to things and people. She just struck a nerve with me.


Anyway, the story follows Arelia, a sixteen year old that lives with her grand-mere Bea and struggles to get by, money wise. During summer, Sabrina tells her about tan invitation she has gotten for a job at the Darkwood Plantation. Although Sabrina is rich, she finds this could be the perfect place to meet a rich LePlante man and eventually marry. Sort of like a stepford wife. For Arelia the pay is great, more than she could have ever hoped for and so, against her Grand-mere Bea's pleads, she sets off to her new job.
Here she meets some obnoxcious guests and a handsome boy named Lucus. He is mysterious and a total gentleman. Not the type of boy she has grown accustomed to.
Spirits have always talked to Arelia but she never paid them any attention, but now, here at the Darkwood Plantation she is faced with the truth about her past and her destiny. But will she stick around to see it fullfill or will she ran away, like her parents did?


Ah! See that is the question.. And you will need to read Bound to find out. I have laughed, I have cried and most than anything, have wanted to punch Sabrina square in the face multiple times. Kira has done an amazing job with this story, not only is it greatly entertaining but also, very educational! I have learnt a lot about voodoo and voodoo queens and I cannot wait to read more. It is all so interesting!


Now come on Kira, get going with book #2 of the Arelia LaRue Stories! I am dying to know what happens next!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Kira is a Canadian who currently resides in Brazil, with her Husband. She is also a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Jasmine, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza. Hopes one day her books will be made into movies.


** That is my dream too Kira! For yours and mines to be made into movies!**

**BIG NEWS**

Hola mis amigos!

I’ve got some great news that I have been keeping under wraps for a week or so, but, I am now at liberty to share with you all!

I have been asked to participate in the upcoming “Death by Chocolate” Y.A. Paranormal/ Romance Anthology. I am one of six writers. The Anthology will be published in February 2012 and it will be FREE. Nothing better than free, right? Scratch that, THIS book will be better than that.  I am also happy to reveal the cover! (See below)

Are you all as excited as I am? You should be.

My story, at least for the moment being, is called “Bloody Valentine.” I will be posting the blurb for it, along with the other five blurbs.

XOXO,

Love you all!

Scene Writing Tips

Hi guys,

I just checked out my newest blog follower's own blog and I have to say, I am in love! She has some excellent tips for any aspiring Author. She is currently working on a Romantic Suspense Novel and is also a manuscript editor, writing coach, copyeditor and proofreader.

Check out the link below and I am sure you will follow her blog. I am certain you will all love it!

*Lynnette Labelle* @Chatterbox Chitchat: Scene Writing Tips - Part 2

Xoxo

Life goes on- Thank God!

Hi Guys!

I am so happy to be feeling better and being able to, once again, take my life back into my own hands. It has been the second time, as I previously said on the “Sick of being Sick” blog (http://bit.ly/oEIaBi ), that I get these incredible and nasty migraines. I have NEVER and I do mean NEVER been one to get sick, so it has been really challenging when you are left with nothing to do but agonize in bed for days on end. However, I seem to be better now – although the computer screen does make my eyes hurt a bit (dizzy), which means my 20/20 sight may not be so perfect anymore.. Vision appointment to be made soon along with a new Neurologist appt. I have heard marvelous things about him so I am crossing my fingers!

When I began feeling sick I was overcome, literally, by a new idea for a story. The waking minutes and hours I spent every day I plotted this story until I had it pretty much all set up, waiting for it to be written. Since the computer screen would make me sick, I started taking notes.

First, I made an outline with the chapters. I gave them all names so I will later on know what I was supposed to write.

Then, I assigned three pages to every chapter and wrote ideas, phrases the MC would say, feelings that needed to be expressed, etc.

And now, I am ready to write it all more in depth. This little system seems to work quite well I will say. I obviously haven’t started writing yet, but I already KNOW all that I need to know.. all there is left to write it neatly and for it to actually make sense.

I am pretty sure I will go back and do this for my already WIP (Work in Progress- for all you non writers) and even though I only have one chapter left to write, I will go back and most likely re-write some of it. It is the first full book I have written, EVER, so it is bound to have mistakes. I am excited to see what else I can uncover and add to “Feathermore” and make it even better than I believe it to already be.

What system do you use to write? Do you just get an idea and go from there? Do you outline? How do you outline? I have zero education in Literature and anything related to writing. I am solely basing it all on my imagination and love for books. All of your help will be greatly appreciated!
If you haven’t already, check out the Prologue, or may end up being Chapter 1 for “Feathermore” here: http://bit.ly/oRYakw

Thank you guys for your continuous support with my blog, through Twitter(@luceduceswing) and with my #amwriting :)

Luvs you all!

XOXO

Sick of being sick.. ugh

Hi-Yo!!!

If any of you listen to Elvis Duran and the morning show you will know what my greeting means. If you have never heard of them.. well you must! http://www.elvisduran.com
I know I know.. I have been MIA for quite a while now. I have been in what seems to me like my death bed. Since last Saturday I have been experiencing pounding headaches, nausea and the occasional dizzy spell (which, if physically possible, I would have loved to punch last night.) The Dr. Appointment has been scheduled for tomorrow morning and hopefully we will put all of this to rest. I am just so sick of being sick. I love taking care of my kids and being well to drop them off or pick them up.. This sucks!
It is with utterly effort I am writing at the moment. Glimpses at my phone or anything that makes my eyes strain make it all worse. So here lies my question: How do authors write when they are sick beyond belief? I have had plenty of time to think and dream and have come up with amazing new stories as well as new ideas to add to my almost done book.. but I can barely look at the screen (most of what I am writing is with my eyes closed. I know, I am so talented)

I have also seen on my twitter feed (@luceduceswing) many people I follow are sick as well, but in my case, unfortunately it is the second time the same symptoms disable me. The first time lasting for over a month.

So how do you guys work through it all? Do you just carry on and endure the pain?

Please leave a comment as I am intrigued by other writer’s methods!
Hope everyone has a great day and I cannot wait to be ME again!

Xoxo,
Lucy

Improve your writing

I, for starter, am doing everything I will talk about below. That I am succeeding? Well, that may be a different story. I have no training in writing, nor have I taken any classes other than ENC1101 (Composition I) in college about six years ago and it has all since then been forgotten.
When I began writing my book it was incredibly hard. Sure one thinks "It's only writing! How hard could it be?" Well, very hard, let me tell you!
You may have an idea in your head and you will start writing it, but it doesn't come through the way you expected it and you are not happy with it. You will probably re-write it a good amount of times before you are mildly satisfied and can move on.
Other times you will stare at the page or blank word document and will wonder where the heck to start. What are you trying to bring across? It has happened to me where NOTHING I write pleases me. But I did read from one of the Authors I like to not think about it too much, and just... write. Whatever comes to your head just type it, even if it looks something like this: "Don't want to get up and cook, Poop what to do? Kids stop fighting let’s all be nice I need to clean." Yup, it's a mixture of my thoughts and no grammar correction, JUST WRITE. Once you start implementing this, it will slowly but surely become easier to let go and let it flow out of your mind. When I began writing I was so concerned on my spelling and my grammar. Was that comma in the right place (most of the times it wasn't). Now, I am not a pro at all of this, but I am just passing down some of the tips that have helped me writing the 65,389 words I already have for my book.

Let me just write a list of things that have helped me, how is that? Ok, here we go:

1. WRITE EVERY SINGLE DAY! (I cannot stress this enough. Even if it is a shopping list, what you have done during the day, what caught your eye if you were out and about? Anything, it will help to make it easier later on)

2. Don't go crazy over grammar and spelling. Once you are all done with what you wanted to write, THEN go back and edit and re check everything.

3. Read, and read widely. You have to read as much as you possibly can in your genre as well as those you may not like so much. It will open your mind to new ideas and different styles of writing.

4. B.I.C - If you haven't seen my first post ever, it means Butt In Chair. Sit down and write, it is the only way to get it done. Minimize your distractions (trust me I haven’t mastered this one yet. Its summer break and I have my kids with me 24/7, so i attempt to write during the day at times and other times, i stay until 4am trying to get it done)

5. Find a comfortable spot where you can write. I sometimes seat in the couch and my butt goes numb in less than an hour, my back hurts... yes, comfortable spot a must! Right now I am happily typing from bed.. ahhhhh!

6. Keep pen and paper next to your bed. A lot of times you will wake up with an idea or a dream that was nothing short of amazing and tell yourself you will write it in the morning. Well don't. You will most likely not remember it or won't remember those all important details about it. So keep that pen and paper handy and just scribble it down. I am not saying write a whole page, but just what it was, how it made you feel, any details of the setting you may remember, etc.

Well guys, I sure hope this is helpful! Please add to the list if you have other tips :) You are always welcome to leave comments!

Have a wonderful day!

XOXO

Kids

Hi!!

Does the apple ever fall far from the tree? I didnt think so. As i sit quietly on the couch and all that fills the air is the clicking on the laptop, my daughter kneals on the floor and writes her own story on her little notebook about Rapunzel. She keeps turning back at me and asking about spelling and excitedly tells me she already has eleven lines filled with words. Every once in a while makes me read it out loud to make sure it makes sense and then gets back to writing.
"Mommy, have you writen as much as i have?" And she shows me her notebook.
I look over at my laptop screen and look at the page number i am on, 140.
It is amazing how everything we do rubs off on them. I have already told my husband, Erin make a great writer one day. She has the craziest dreams and stories to tell ever. One dream consisted of vampires, sharks, fairies and giants. A 7 year old mind is full of great things, i may need to start writing it all down. For future reference, of couse.

Here she is busy at work.

What a wonderful day i am having today and i only hope, you are too!

Thanks for reading!

My writing Soundtrack

Being a mother of two I seem to only find peace and quiet in the still of the night to write, when everyone is fast asleep. The silence, however, can sometimes be mind blocking (at least for me), so here is a list of some of the songs i keep on replay while writing. Enjoy!

Lucy

Within Temptation - The Howling
Evanescence - Like You
Fireflight - Wrapped In Your Arms
Dashboard Confessional - Stolen
Thriving Ivory - Unhappy
Evanescence - Good Enough
Evanescence - Sweet Sacrifice
Skillet - Awake and Alive
Blue Foundation - Enemy
Nickelback - Burn it to the Ground
Plumb - In my Arms
Colbie Caillat - I never told you
Within Temptation - Angels
Skillet - Lucy
Plumb - Beautiful History

B.I.C pains

Hello all!

As a good writer once said, when writing it is all about BIC (Butt in Chair), so much so that I will need a butt donut after this weekend. I have been stuck at home all weekend while the hubby went off to work in the Fire Station, leaving me carless- as mine has broken down. What to do on a rainy weekend? Allow the thunder storm to inspire you and get to work on your unfinished novel. Or at least that is what I did,
Sat on the couch with a nice hot cup of coffee and let the fingers do the rest, however, my butt is not too happy with me today, sore every time i sit down- how sexy of me!

Anyway, next time you hear about BIC, make sure to take breaks in between, your behind will appreciate that.

I am taking my butt to the gym now!
Have a wonderful day.

PS, I finished reading Lynsay Sands "The Reluctant Vampire" Wa wa wee wa! Funny, sexy and all around brilliant! Make sure to pick it up!

XOXO,


Lucy Swing