Guess What I Just Did?

So, after thinking about it for months and months, debating whether I should do it or not, I decided to just go for it…

I booked my flight and bought my ticket to UtopYA (I’m dancing around the room while trying to type)!!! Both tickets are actually nonrefundable so I have to go!   :)

I’ve wanted to attend UtopYA since I first read about it a few years ago but it’s in Nashville… nowhere near where I live. So, I just watched and listened from the sidelines, thinking about how cool the whole event sounded and all the amazing authors who attended.

But now, I get to go and see all of those amazing authors, attend great workshops and meet new people! Not to mention, I love the tagline: Take Me to Your Reader. The little aliens are also very adorable.    :)

Have any of you gone to UtopYA? What did you think about it? What was your best/favorite memory? What advice do you have for newbies? Are any of you going this year?

Now, I’m off to plan my trip!

Until next time ~

Secret News!

Hello everyone! 

Anyone who reads this is one of the chosen ones. That's right! Because you have read this blog post, you are in the know! I have secretly updated my "My Writing" tab on this blog.

Under that tab, you will find two links that will lead you to where I have posted an excerpt of my debut novel. I have posted a short excerpt on Wattpad and a longer excerpt on my Facebook fan page.

How exciting is that?!    :D

 
I will be periodically adding more excerpts to both websites and I may even post different material to each site.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave comments on this blog post about the excerpt. You can also contact me through the Contact form or send me an email if you would like to discuss the book sample.

Happy Reading!

Until next time ~

 

Writing Doesn't Have To Be Solitary

Hello! Today has been a fun day for me.

As a writer, I tend to get stuck in my story world and forget that there are other people out there that are just like me: writers and novelists who spend lots of their free time dreaming up fictional worlds.

Today I broke out of that mold and decided that it was time to pull my head out of my pages and actually interact with other writers.

And let me tell you, it was GREAT! I hadn’t had the opportunity to attend any writing conferences in a while and I forgot how much I had missed this – missed talking about books, the characters, reading, writing and sharing.

I met some very interesting authors today and I can’t wait to follow their stories and their worlds (fictional and realistic).

So, even though it’s the middle of May, I am making a new goal for myself: I will interact with at least five authors a week and make connections with other people in the world of reading and writing. 

How about you? How often do you peek out into the Land of Interaction and talk to the living humans? Do you find it difficult to make those connections (time-wise or other reasons)? Do you only venture out when it’s absolutely necessary or do you schedule time in your day?

On that note, I am going to climb into bed and read a new book I just bought from a new author I just met.

Have an enjoyable evening!

Until next time ~ 

To Beta Read or Not to Beta Read...

So, how’s it going? 

I’m anxious and excited at the same time. I’m excited because I have a finished manuscript and I have sent it out to a tiny portion of the world. The Beta readers still have my book and while I have gotten some feedback, I am anxious because the majority of them haven’t said one word about it. Not one word. Ugh!

Do I take that as a bad sign (that they hate it and don’t want to tell me)? Did they get bored and stop reading it? Did the length scare them off? It's actually double-spaced so it’s not as scary as I thought. Are they too busy to read it? Did they read it and not know how to critique it? I want to ask them all of the above but I want to give them time and not feel rushed.

Is there anyone out there who is willing to take a look at it, really read it and give it an honest critique in a timely manner? Yes, when I mean honest, I mean HONEST. Don’t hold back: if it stinks, tell me. If parts need to be chopped out, tell me. If scenes need to be rewritten, tell me. If it’s too over-the-top, tell me. If parts don’t make sense, tell me. If… well, you get my point. I can take it. All I ask is that you don’t be rude and offensive in your critique. Otherwise, tear it apart or shred it if you have to. But, on the other hand, if you really like something, don’t be afraid to tell me!  :)

I also think I should get a teen’s perspective (or two) on my book. Are there any teens out there who want to do a Beta read and critique the book? First come, first served!  :)

I’ll be posting an excerpt on my blog soon so keep checking under the My Writing tab for your first sneak peak of my novel.

In the meantime, I will go back to rereading/partial editing/writing the prequel novel and try to focus my energy on something constructive while I wait the Beta readers to get back to me.

Patience can be a maddening virtue.   :)

Until next time ~