EDITS & Other Things

I've spent most of the morning doing 1st round edits for Fireborn Publishing on my series HIDDEN HEARTS 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe. I've done and sent them back to the Amazing Jamie D Rose.

Also I've applied to attend a convention here in Australia on the Gold Coast, so only about 2 hours away from where I live. the convention is Readers & Writers Down Under. I'm just waiting to hear back from them to see if I got in or not.

I'm still waiting on MLRPress to send me galley proofing on THE LINES OF MARSDEN 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces. The book is due for Release on November 6th. I'm hoping to receive them over the next couple of days.

Cover Reveal

Fricken Hell & Then Some...

Why is it when one appliance goes in the house the others seem to drop like dominoes?

My TV has been dying for about a year... the voice box is going on it... so when Harvey Norman was having it's VIP sale we went to get one... plus we had to buy a new washing machine... the control panel is going in mine... but now I notice the toaster is playing up as is the jug... I just can't bloody win.

WRITING NEWS:

I have seen the covers for the Hidden Hearts series so I can't wait for them to be approved so I can show them off to you all... Tracey Soxie Weston has done a fantastic job on them.

Also I've been hooked into writing a mystery/crime series with some other wonderful authors... John Wiltshire, JP Bowie,  & Liz Strange. we are doing A season each... I have Summer... I'm still trying to figure out what I'll write about, all I know for sure is there will be a photograph in it... I have some questions to ask and hopefully someone will have the answers as I've never written a mystery/crime story before.

Is there a love story thread in mystery/crime stories?

What should I write about... murder, theft, or something else?

Are these good character names: Odin James, & John Gibson?

Coming Up...

Okay, for starters today I picked up my new glasses... I can tell you this multi-focal lenses will take a bit of getting used to, but at least I can see again, and not have to be swapping between three pairs of glasses each day. they say it takes about 3 months to get used to wearing them... so the rest of this year is pretty much bupkis for me.

Other than that I'm taking part in another MLRPress multi-author series... I can't tell you much about it, actually I can't tell you anything as we've only just started talking about it... But as soon as I know I will pass the info onto you.

Still no word on when we are starting on the Hidden Hearts series cover art wise... again I will let you all know what's happening when I can.

Updates...

Been in discussions with Melody A Pond (cover artist with MLRPress)... about the cover for The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces... as soon as the cover gets approved by Laura B I will be able to show you all.

As for the Hidden Hearts series at Fireborn Publishing soon as Tracey Soxie Weston gets them to me I will be able to show them off as well.

As You Can Tell...

As you can tell I've taken the time out and revamped this blog... It took me all day, and I think I'm finally happy with it... I'm still waiting on my new glasses ~ so instead of writing like I should be. I've basically been mucking around and updating everything... I couldn't believe how out of date my tab pages were. I'll try not to let it get so bad again.

Also I've messaged Fireborn asking about editors and I'm hoping to hear back from them soon... as there is only 2 months to the first release of the Hidden Hearts series and I've yet to start edits. I'll let you all know when I find out.

Also I've added a new Tab Page ASK ME where you can ask me questions and I will try and answer them... If there is anything you want to know about my books or future releases this is where you can have your say.

New Glasses & Other Things

My eyes are playing up, and I've been having headaches for the last couple of weeks. So I figured it was about time that I got new glasses... I'me getting one clear set and one pair in Sunglasses so I should be able to see again whether I'm inside or out. It will be good to see what the hell is in front of my face again... things have been a tad blurry for a while now.

Once I get everything back to normal I'll be able to concentrate on writing again. Mind you, we still have a touch of the dreaded flu that has been running rampant in Australia... I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I'm not sure if the full on headache I have is from the flu or because I need new glasses (which I pick up on the 23rd of this month).

Once that happens I will get back to writing... for now I just do little bits at a time... Still no word on cover art from MLR on The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces... or from Fireborn (Tracey Soxie Weston) on Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe... 2: One Last Kiss Goodbye.

What's Up...

Well for the last two days I have been doing edits on The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces... Hopefully now they will go out to formatting and galley proofing--just got an email from Christie N and Yes--we are off to formatting.

I have a touch of insomnia again and the odd moment or two I do sleep. I have had the strangest dreams. So each morning I get up I've been writing out notes on my dreams... hence the reason I have pulled Flagstone Creek Pridelands... I have been writing notes all 3 books in the series:

1) Battle Scars

2) Waiting For Superman

3) Liam's Lullaby

I've also been dealing with End of 2014 Financial Year Taxes... and I'm not happy about the result as I have to now pay the ATO a shitload of cash. Let's just say with what I've paid throughout the year on Quarterly BAS and the final bill the total is over 100K ... So once again I will be saving like crazy after I pay this bill...2015 hasn't even been done yet... fingers crossed it isn't as damaging.

I've also been working on other stories as the jump out in my mind. Sadly I probably have 6 stories on the go at the moment It's more for most of them I have been making notes on where the stories are headed and making sure I have the series notebooks filled in and up to date.

1) The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes
2) The Gaean Prophecy 1:Admetus Gaea
3) The Freedomers 1: Zephaniah's Chance
4) Flagstone Creek Pridelands 1: Battle Scars
5) Day Walkers 1: Real You

6) Expeimentals 3: Messages From The Dead

What's Happening

I've managed to snag a computer long enough to give you an update on what's happening in my life...

1) I'm still without my computer...my Surface Pro 3 died after 79 days. I'm hoping to hear from Microsoft soon, as to whether they could fix it or they have to give me a whole new one.

2) The hubs is still in New Zealand working. So life is hectic as I try and be both parents at home... as well as get all the jobs done around the house that need doing before we get the wind storms we do every year.

3) The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces is at proofing (I think)...I'm waiting on first edits for both Hidden Hearts books 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe, and 2: One Last Kiss Goodbye.

4) While without my computer I have been writing up Notebooks on all the series in my WIPS and my Back Burner book file... it will make finding information on past books a hell of a lot easier.

5) Been kicked out of the home office by the kids... they say they need it more to spread their school/uni home work. who knew they would take up so much space. so I've been relegated to a little part of the lounge room... only problem is the cats now think it's their god-given-right to share my space. even right now Droogie & Toby are each taking up residence on the arms of my recliner.

Busy...Busy...Busy...

Okay, I have been busy as all get go... between finishing up the Australian taxes and getting taxes for the hubs in New Zealand... Sorting/ separating and filing to the right places... By the end of the year I will be down to two lots of taxes instead of three... so looking forward to that day...

Why is it when you're as busy as fuck characters try and hi-jack the brain. Here I was happily--okay--grumbling as I organised dockets... when all of a sudden Benj Marsden has decided to screw Michael over as the next book in the series is going to be his and Christian story. With Maffa and Keely (who are not a couple) tagging along. So in between everything else I was doing he dictated to me exactly how the The Trail Of Red Roses is going to start.

So today I have to finish up everything before I need to for the hubs and then I can get back into writing. I am working on The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes... also... The Freedomer's 1: Zephania's Chance... also apparently... .The Lines Of Marsden 4: The Trail Of Red Roses.

More Updates...

Today I'm doing Line Edits on The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces... mostly overused words such as (that/just/—).

I'm hoping to have these finished and sent back to Christie N at MLRPress by tonight. Tomorrow I'll be out as Em has a Dr appointment about her foot and then she has a dress fitting for the dress she is wearing to the Vampire Ball she is attending.

I also had to fill out new Cover Art and Book Information forms for Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe, and #2: One Last Kiss Goodbye and send them back to Fireborn Publishing. I must have done something wrong with the first lot as they only showed up half the info—fingers crossed it will work this time. I think when I sub the next one I will just use the new versions of the forms.

**SIDE NOTE** #2 is an extensively reworked and expanded storyline. I apologise that you will need buy the new copy but the original will no longer match the storyline.

Just Subbed & Updates Galore

SUBBED YESTERDAY to Fireborn Publishing & received contracts today with tentative release dates.

Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe (20/11/2015)

Hidden Hearts 2: One Last Kiss Goodbye (01/01/2016)

MY EDITS:

Just did QA edits on Hollow's Trouble [DRitC story] Not sure where it goes from here.

MY BOOBS:

I went and had my extra tests done and have gotten the all clear... which is a load off everyone's mind in  my family.

MY FAMILY:

Emily has started her second semester of her business degree in her first year of a business degree. she goes four days a week... Ethan is still in year nine of high school, plus he's building himself some trike thing...The Hubs goes back to New Zealand this Sunday so I will settle back into my writing schedule... Mum is doing okay as am I.

MY WRITING:

I'm working on The Freedomer's 1: Zephania's Chance... once the hubs is back in NZ I'll get back onto The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes.

Beautiful According To Me

Character Inspiration...

No clue who this guy really is, but he is how I see one of my main characters in The Freedomers... He is how I see Chance Hastings.

Again No clue who or where from, but he is definitely how I see my other main character Zephania.

I will keep you updated on all other characters as they come to mind. I will gather some pictures of how I see both worlds I may have to draw how the two worlds interact but it should give you all he gist of what's in my head... right now all I can say is thing of a cat ball. You know one of those hard plastic cage dealies with a tinkle bell inside.

Done, & About Bloody Time.

Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe, and HH 2: One Last Kiss Goodbye are done and at my beta reader James A... then back to me and then to my beta reader Jessica H and then to Fireborn Publishing.

Now I'm back to writing on The Freedomers. I have to write on a book today where I can stop and start as my hubs will need help unloading trucks.

Today I Am....

Today I am determined to try and get Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe finished. I've shut down all social media for the day so I can try and get the job done... I know I get distracted way to easily.

Now if I can only get my family to shut up long enough for me to get some peace and quiet (the kids are on school holidays... whether the be in high school or uni, they still think their drama should be at the top of my list of things to care about). I have half an hour of freedom left before they get up for the day.

At the same time I am fixing up parts of HH2: One Last Kiss Goodbye... mainly the timeline.

What's Happening...

This is the kind of look I get in my eyes when I get a new story idea, even if it is for an old story.

EXAMPLE: A story I haven't touched in years is called The Freedomers...It's kind of a futuristic... set on a very different, but still our Earth... with hints of sci-fi.  I already had 18.5K written on the damn thing but one of the main characters decided he needed a name change and he need the story told from a different angle. So Joshua Anderson became Dayne Mills and he wants his story told.

I still have 6K to write on Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe, and some changes to make in HH2: One Last Kiss Goodbye, just so the timelines follow on. I thought it would be easier writng a prequal second as I already know where the couple ends up, but let me tell you it's fricken hard as I keep having to go back and change stuff already written.

I'm also still working on The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes... in between everything else. I'm taking my time with it so that I get it right. I want to do Ray and Viv justice and not come off seeming like I rushed the next instalment of their families story.

Why Me?

Why is it every time I start writing these last 7K of #1: Harder & Harder To Breathe... I wind up going into #2: One Last kiss Goodbye... and changing things around?

Why is it when I finally have time to myself one of the family (mainly the kids) has to come and annoy the crap out of me? I feel like I never get anything done because I have to help everyone else out.

Why is it as soon as I settle in to write my cats (I have 3: Droogie, Willow, and Toby) all decide they need to lay all over me?

Why is it people use the last of something and then put the empty container back into the fridge? My hubs is really bad at this.

Okay that's the end of this weeks rant... Thank you all for listening.

My Life This Week

I still have the dreaded flu which is kicking my arse. I wish I could get rid of the headache and stop sneezing for at least five minutes. I've sneezed so much I think I've dislodged half my brain.

UPDATES: The Lines Of Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces is off to line edits. So no idea when I'll get them back, but it's getting closer to being released. I can't wait until I get the cover so I can show it off to you all... I love receiving new covers.

Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe, I still have 10K to write and hope to get it done by the weekend. as soon as it's done I will be sending #1 & 2 off to Firborn Publishing. Wish me luck.

This Is My Day

Okay, I have received and returned to Christie N at MLRPress my 2nd edits on The Lines On Marsden 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces... doing these edits have given me some ideas for #4: The Trail Of Red Roses...

I have to go to Toowoomba this morning to pick up Emily's text books from the University of Southern Queensland for her next semester of uni (they had to order them in from the factory). She is so excited she did well in everything except accounting which she has decided to re take so she gets a better understanding of the subject.

When I get back I will be back onto the last couple of K for Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder To Breathe. Then I will do one last read through of both it and #2: One Last Kiss Goodbye just to make sure all the names match up, as does eye and hair colour. I always tend to stuff those things up.

With the hubs being home writing has become hard as I've had to help him out with getting things done. Lucky for me school holidays started last Saturday and so until the 12th of July he has the kids to help him out and I can get some writing done. He should be heading back to New Zealand around July 20th.

What's Going On

I still have at least 15K to write on HH1: Harder & Harder To Breathe > I have been going through HH2: One Last Kiss Goodbye and making sure they mesh. I'm so close to finishing I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Though I have found out I really over use the word that... I've been through and changed a whole heap of them in HH2 and I'm sure I will have to do it for HH1.

With my hubs finally being home from New Zealand for the next few weeks I've been yanked away from my writing to deal with more stuff to do with the change over of our company. I'll be glad when it's all over and done with and our lives can get back to normal. 

As soon as I'm finished with HH I'll be back onto finishing The Connelly Chronicles 2: Beautiful Goodbyes. We'll learn more about the lives of Ray and Chris (Viv) Connelly and there ever growing family. I won't go into too much detail as I wouldn't want to spoil the read. I can't wait to get back to writing this story as I love the dynamics of this family. They remind me so much of my own. Though, this time  I've promised my family I won't use them for inspiration... Well I mostly won't use them, because believe me some of their antics are funny as shit. I'll leave you all guessing which parts are fictional and which parts actually come from my family.