It's Official

Yipeeeeee!!!!! 
http://www.textnovel.com/story/The-Raven-and-the-Wolf-Finalist/2218/

The Raven and the Wolf is a Textnovel Finalist.  The winner will be announced October 31st.  All your visits, comments and votes have help my story get this far.  But it's not over yet.  Keep clicking away to help me show the judges that the story is commercially viable and has a following.  I will keep working on ferreting out all of those pesky typos, punctuation errors and any other mistakes.  If you spot one PLEASE tell me. 

If I am selected the prize is $1000 and representation by the Stan Soper literary agency.  Stan Soper is a lawyer turned agent and the founder of Textnovel.com.

My job over the next few weeks is to get my manuscript ready for submission to publishers.  The benefit of having representation is that it will open the way for my novel to reach the desks of many more editors than I can reach on my own.

Writers Block

I sit here staring at the screen with little in my head but when it can hit the pillow and end today.  For weeks now I have been working on an outline of scene for the second novel of my Raven/Wolf series.  I have one first draft that no long syncs with how I have improved my original story.

I have scenes I love and great chemistry between my characters.  Despite enthusiasm and praise it has received from those with whom I have shared portions of it, I find the narrative sprawling and lacking direction.  The mood is still intact and my characters are more or less behaving as I expect them to, the plot is thin and lacking in subtext.

I have listened to music, watched movies and read other books for inspiration.  Nothing.  Now at 9 p.m. and barely able to keep my eyes open-voila!  It hits me.  The entire outline came to me in like three minutes.  It now sits on in front of me, written on the back of a discarded print out in red sharpie.  I am a little whew that was a good sniff, about the smell coming off the page. 

I couldn't even write it in a linear form.  My points run diagonal and side was with arrows crossing over one another.  I have my villains, my surprise twist, my cliff hangers for all my heroes, a noble sacrifice and a painful compromise. 

What can I say?  Sometimes your best work and only solutions come from mind numbing exhaustion.  Sorry for typos and run on sentences that I know must pepper the preceding. You can expect me to unblock and punctuate on 4 hours of sleep a night.  But I promise you will love the prose.      

It's Alive

Yes it is true Textnovel is up and running again, or perhaps I should say limping along.  Nevertheless, the links work.  You may read, vote and comment-for the most part.  Yesterday there were some snags in creating new reader only accounts but you don't have to have one to read a story and leave a comment.

The "winner" listings were a little random on page one and I guess a few were missing from the cue when you click through them.  Fortunately The Raven and the Wolf is not one of them.

Enjoy and sorry for the technical difficulties.  Finalists will be announced at the end of September. 

Textnovel down

Yes it is true.  Textnovel has announced its semi finalists and promptly crashed, repeatedly and for extended periods of time.  It has now been down since the wee hours of Thursday morning and there has not been a glimmer of a resurrection. 

The owners of the site are working through the issues but in the meantime for all of you who tried to use the link I have posted that is the reason for the clocking et cetera.  Thank you for your patience.  I hope the site will be up soon and I will be sure to announce any news on my blog.

Happy Saturday!

Textnovel Semi-Finalist!!!!!!

            Textnovel announced the list of the Top Twenty Semi Finalist today.  I am honored to say that The Raven and the Wolf has made the cut.  Thank you for all the fine reviews, votes and subscriptions to my little opus.  This is exciting.  I am in shock.

http://www.textnovel.com/story/The-Raven-and-the-Wolfe/2218/


I have two weeks to finish fixing any bugs, typos and plot holes until the list goes down to ten.  I need all the eyes I can spare to help me catch typos and glaring inconsistencies so that I know what I have put out there is the best it can possibly be.  Let me know if you see anything that needs correcting.

Even if you have already voted, comments and views are considered in their  selection process.  So with great appreciation for the support you have already given, if you have enjoyed my story share the link with a friend who you think might enjoy it too. 

Fan Appreciation

As I contemplate writing one more query letter for The Raven or the Wolf, or tackling yet another hour spent in editing-perfecting Box Five, I began to ponder how many countries have been reached by these two stories.  Putting together a list was a bit mind blowing, because these are only the ones I know of.

Box Five has been clicked on by people from 20 different countries on one site.

The Raven and the Wolf- is posted on three different online venues with worldwide readership but not every reader discloses their location but I count at least 10.  Though this story has been posted for 9 months now and has thousands of hits and at least 100 comments/critiques.

There is no greater satisfaction than having my stories read and my characters followed and perhaps even thought of long after the reader clicks off.  It does not pay the bills in the world of free online publishing.  Still it gives me a thrill of satisfaction each time I open one of those sites and see that some one has clicked on one of my stories.  It keeps me motivated and lets that artistic inner self have a moment of glory knowing that I have touched some one.

So this is a tribute to all of my readers, subscribers and commentators.

Thank you for helping me keep the passion alive.  And thank you for wading through all the rewrites, typos and technical difficulties.  You are all beautiful.

Textnovel contest

August 31st has such a daunting ring to it these days.  My fellow textnovel followers and contestants know what I mean.  August 31st is the cut-off date for entries.  Thus will begin the harder part, finding out if any of my entries have made the top 20-30 cut to be a semi-finalist and begin the long march to November when the winner is announced. 

While I know in the grand scheme of publishing as a business, textnovel and indeed the textnovel contests are what the industry is referring to as virtual slush piles.  While I acknowledging a basic truth in that analogy, I would like to now expound how it is so much more than the sum of its parts, or contest entries. 

What textnovel has done for me is allowed me to push past personal fears, build confidence in my writing and grow.   I have received a wide range of encouragement and help every step of this journey.  My stories are being read and reaching people all over the world via the internet.  At first I was afraid of having my story stolen or losing my copy rights.  At the end of the day what I craved most was reaching an audience. 

Now I am not saying my desire for a published novel, all my precious words tucked between 2 covers has lost any of its allure.  If anything my appetite for that kind of success has only been whetted since beginning this journey.  My respect and appreciation for marketing to a reader has grown, and hopefully my skills in that arena continue to do the same. 

More than anything I value the wonderful habit of writing nearly every day.  I have posted 2 complete novels and a novella!  I have 2 others currently in early draft stages.  The opportunity I have had to be mentored and mentor and encourage others has helped be grow as an artist and word smith.  Now if they only had a miracle cure for my bad spelling and typo's. 

Thank you to all who have supported and continue to support me.  It is getting down to the wire.  Votes, comments and views (just clicking on a story) all help me gain the attention of the contest judges. 

My three projects are:

The Raven and the Wolf    - Complete  (So many drafts into it I lost count)


Box Five: Opera Ghost    - Complete (2nd draft stage)

The Strange Tale of Rose Berg   - In progress  (1st draft)


I am a little worried that I might not make the 50,000 word quota on Rose Berg but there is still time and I have 2 weekends left.  So let me know if you have a favorite that you are rooting for.  It is hard for me to pick a favorite child but The Raven and the Wolf is my first "born" and the result of 15 years of starts and stops.  It broke the barriers of not believing in myself and lead me to textnovel along with a great pitch for the site on Linkedin by a fellow author.

I wish all the best to my fellow and favorite textnovel authors (ladies you ought to know who you are by now) I continue to learn by your comments and examples. 

Happy Writing!

Leave it alone or work it to death

I have come to the conclusion that there is no right answer for this.  It is possible to over work things but it is equally possible to discover something wonderful after mining the same concept over and over again. 

There are some stories which continue to unearth layers upon treasures, like an archeology of the subconscious mind.  Where as others spring fully grown out of your head complete and fully formed.  All that is required is a light touch to perfect the language.

I made the mistake of trying to convert a story from one writing form instead of sticking with my original concept.  I did it not because I felt the story lacked, but for the very worst reason possible.  I wanted to make it more marketable.  But the tale does not work in a traditional form.

Therefore I admonish knowing when to let it go and trust yourself and your writing.

I'm back

So it has been a long and strange summer.  I thought I would take some time to explain the long wait between posts.  I apologise to all of you who have been waiting and wondering.  Since the last post I have started a new job, Mom was in the hospital (thankfully home again) not to mention having a house full.  My sister and I planned a 40th wedding anniversary for my folks.  We were grateful for the privilege.  It doesn't happen as often as it used to or should.  So we feel honored to have parents who have continued to make it work.

On the writing front:

I have been submitting The Raven and the Wolf.  No takers yet but I did get at least one request for chapters so I know that my queries are getting closer.  I have also begin the second draft of the sequel.  The title for the new novel is The Hunter and the Healer.  I have 10 sample chapters up on textnovel.com.  If you are following me there stop by and leave a comment.

I have finished Box Five and am currently editing two versions.  One in the original concept of the cell phone novel which can be found on www.textnovel.com.  The other version I am converting the jaunty phrases into more traditional prose.  Though I am merging the concept of Erik's voice staying in the poetic format and hers taking on the more traditional narrative.   I have posted a few of these chapters on fanfiction.net.  I have never used this site before so I am on a learning curve.  I chose it because there I can tap into the very specific fanbase  of Phantom to get their reaction.  They have never read the cell phone version and I don't have to face comparison with myself (my worst fear).

The Strange Tale of Rose Berg.  I have left my title character such an enigma it is difficult to write her story.  She only whispers to me sometimes, but when she does I am startled by the emotion and imagery.  I can't lead her and her pacing is a little slow.  So what I thought I was writing has turned into something else completely.  But I have lots of other projects so I don't need to force it.

Now I am off to that new job.

The Cell Phone Novel

In pursuit of the fact that one of my favorite sites is www.Textnovel.com, designed to highlight the new genre of the Japanese Cell phone Novel, I decided I need to try my hand at something new.  An artist must always grow and try new mediums of expression.

I have taken an idea that I have had rattling around for some two decades.  Those most of the cell phone novels I have read are truly YA.  Mine is more universal.  It is I confess more of the fan fiction fare, which is why I have not tackled it before.  There are few who do not know the story of The Phantom of the Opera, melodramatic in it original form-as French literature of the time tended to be.  And a bit of fan fiction itself only with an unhappy ending, if you pick up on the rather obvious Beauty and the Beast themes.

In my defense, when I first read the novel I was struck by all the unanswered questions that Gaston Leroux left us with.  Most notably, who was the mysterious lady he plied to Madame Giry to retrieve a footstool for, who left behind gloves and a fan.

As he gave us no answer but to assume it was a delusion of the phantom, I conceived my own idea of who she was and how she effected the events of the story.

Box Five - tells her story.

Please enjoy these first few chapters.  You may follow the story and sign up for updates on your cellphone at www.textnovel.com  Amazingly I have already posted more than two hundred chapters.  So you will have some catching up to do if this sparks your interest.

Chapter 1:- Mademoiselle

A black and terrible beauty lived inside him.

Those deaths were not his fault.

I was to blame.

He killed to find me,

to protect me.

Chapter 2:- Headlines

RETIREMENT GALA FOR MM DEBIENNE AND POLIGNY MARRED BY HANGING

Chapter 3:- Headlines

INQUEST RULES THE DEATH OF JOSEPH BUQUET WAS A SUICIDE

Chapter 4:- Mademoiselle

I was not sorry.

Joseph was no friend.

Erik has remembered after all these years and has avenged me.

I ought never to have prevented him in the first place.

Perhaps it this a message

Chapter 5:- Headlines

CAN THE OPERA'S NEW MANAGEMENT MANAGE THE MYSTERIOUS O.G. AS DIVA REFUSES TO PERFORM?

Chapter 6:- Mademoiselle

I laugh and wonder.

They ought to listen to him.

He just wants to make sure I am watching.

I am listening.

I always hear you.

Virtual Slush Pile

So in the quest for feedback from fellow writers and the odd chance of garnering an editor or agent's notice I have embarked on yet another way to build my fan base on the web.  The sight is sponsored by Harper Collins and called Authonomy.

It has worldwide membership and from what I can tell more traffic to the site than textnovel.  Also the focus is on actual novels verses the Japanese cell phone novel.  I am only posting a portion of The Raven and the Wolf.  There are no contests just a lot of great constructive comments from some very polished and talented writers.  This community is very serious.  The caliber of work on the site is staggering.

It is populated with a worldwide pool of talent, published and unpublished authors alike.  In less than a week I have received nearly 100 backings and dozens of comments, including helpful criticism of my pitch (the dread of any author).  All novels must be in English.  Every month the top five stories make it to the editor's desk.  Nevertheless, even without this notice many in the industry view the site.

Stories have been picked up for publication of representation from exposure on Authonomy.  While you will receive help from the community to polish your work, this is definitely the place to put your best foot forward.  I recommend the most polished manuscript you can post.  

You will be asked to write a short pitch of 1-3 sentences or 25 words, and a long pitch of no more than 250 words.  To be considered for the monthly editor's desk selections you must post a minimum of 10,000 words.  If you make it to the desk, they will read the first 10,000 words of your novel (even if you have more posted) and give you a professional assessment of your pitch and your story.

There are no guarantees for publication for working your way to the top.  It will require hard work and a readiness to reciprocate reads, reviews and backings.  However, it is a great way to learn about building a fan base, working with literary community and making valuable connections.  Writing, as any author should know, is not simply the art of what you put on the page.  It is also a business and like any business you have to be able to sell, connect and adapt.  Of course what you have to sell ought to be worth the buying.  So yes, while Authonomy maybe HarperCollins version of the virtual slush pile, at least this one 'talks back.'

Happy writing to all and perhaps I will connect with some of you on www.authonomy.com or on www.textnovel.com.

Would they?

So as I tentatively test the concept of Twitter, and knowing full well that by some standards I am about 100 years behind times, I thought I would explore what modern day concepts some of my classical literary heroes might have observed.

And since I must begin with the bard-

William Shakespeare -  Youtube

Edgar Allen Poe -  Blogger

Lord Byron - Twitter

John Milton - Satellite radio program

Charles Dickens - Cell phone novels

Jane Austen - Kindle

Mary Shelley - Fan fiction sites

Alexander Dumas - Gamer

Fyodor Dostoevsky - Independent press - pay as you go and in his case I hope it's not by word

Ernest Hemingway - Online columnist (secretly in league with Man vs. Wild and Rick Steve's)

Sorry the list is not much longer but I was trying to limit myself to one author per electronic publishing format.  I would love to hear about anyone you would like to add to this list.

Oregon Coast part 2

The Oregon Coast was hit as hard as any part of the country during the 1930's.  Jobs were scarce.  Newport boasted a bustling population of 750.  With tourism down there was little relief and many merchants simply shut their doors.  A group of merchants formed the Newport Relief Society.  They deposited whatever money they had and printed Newport Script in 1933.  This was used as currency in lieu of cash and recalled after 100 days.  Each script had a corresponding cash value and redeemable date.  Each read:

Newport Script

Issued and redeemable by the Newport Relief Committee

Good only for Trade in Newport

Good only for redemption on or before (dated)

At the office of the Treasurer of the Newport Relief Committee.

The objective was to keep the currency flowing in Newport and discourage going outside the community.   However well intentioned this strategy was, the real relief came with the announcing of the Yaquina Bay bridge project built with funds from the PWA.  This bridge along with four other bridges was part of the effort to connect Highway 101, Roosevelt Highway, from Astoria to Brookings.  The building this bridge brought many needed jobs to Newport.  They broke ground in August 1934 and the bridge was dedicated on October 1 1936 and replaced the ferry system.  The last ferry to cross the bay was the Sadie B.  

-research courtesy of The Bayfront Book by Steve Wyatt and Newport, Oregon-The First 100 Years by Robert and Rose Troxel.

Looking south toward the Marina

This view looking toward the South jetty.  

In this detail you can see the Art Deco influence in the concrete.

The Sights

I spent last weekend down on the Oregon Coast to shoot pictures and do research for my latest novel The Strange Tale of Rose Berg (formerly Rose Berg for you regular followers.)  It is set in Lincoln County, more specifically Newport Oregon during the Great Depression before the Roosevelt Highway project announced their plans to finally connect all of the now Highway 101.

Fingering heavily into the narrative is also the historic lighthouse at Yaquina point, now a national park.  In an endeavor to keep my muse alive and be authentic I shot 35mm black and whites with my father's camera.  Incidentally it's about thirty years old.  I experienced some technical difficulties including the camera popping open inexplicably at one point.  So I had a fair amount of damaged film but managed to salvage a few gems.

I know when it comes to blogging we don't just want to read we want to see.  After struggling a bit with topics over the last year I am going to using the next several posting to document my research.  There are so many interesting bits of history I am gleaning that I cannot use it all in my story.

Yaquina Lighthouse - The first lighthouse was commissioned in 1871.  In 1874 it was abandoned and figured in the disappearance of a young girl.  The next lighthouse was to be built in Cape Foulweather but the materials were accidentally delivered to Yaquina Head so the confused Army Corps of Engineers built it there.  That is the lighthouse you see pictured above.

This is the oil room inside the lighthouse.

A view from the top.  This is looking south from the lighthouse and down the coast toward Yaquina Bay.  About a hundred yards from the lighthouse there are stairs with several look out landings leading down to the beach.  The beach itself is full of round black rocks, a local tourist told me that there was an underwater volcano near that beach to explain all the black rock.  If you have ever been to the Oregon you know that it is know for its sandy beaches along its jagged coastline.  So the black rock is a bit of an anomaly.  I hope to discover this geological mystery in my continuing research.  I think the volcano theory is far more interesting than the idea they might have simply shipped it in for the tourists.

The Strange Tale of Rose Berg

Harold knew every turn and every pothole in the road as they barreled on down and caught up with the main road he thought about all the whiskey in the back. He hoped he hadn’t broken anything, not on this run. Every one of these bottles was spoken for. He looked over at the young woman. She was shivering worse than before. He remembered his first aid training about what to do for hypothermia. His face was hot thinking about it but the practical turn of his mind realized that beyond the awkwardness a life was at stake.

“I think you may be suffering from hypothermia or will be if you don’t slip out of that wet,” he paused for the right word. “Those wet close of yours. If you feel around behind the seat there should be another blanket.” He laughed nervously as the girl looked over at him. Her blank stares unnerved him. “Wish you’d say something so I’d know whether you speak English.”

The girl nodded and felt around until she found the extra blanket.

“Round here breaking down can happen quite a lot on these roads. Evelyn is always too cold so she stashes those things everywhere.” Harold kept his eyes fixed firmly ahead humming Ain't She Sweet, the only song he could remember. Then he recalled the words and stopped. Oh he would deserve every poke from the springs from that sofa tonight. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the wet blanket and her dress hit the floorboards of his truck.

The girl tapped his shoulder.

“Good. Good. You should be warming up now.” He finished under his breath. “Got help me if not.” The next step in his first aid training was not something he could ever explain to Evelyn, even if she was the one who told him about it. Again he heard Evelyn’s voice in his head.

“It isn’t much further now." He explained. "It may seem kind of strange but I’m going to have to turn the headlamps as we head into town. I’m hauling some cargo of a sensitive nature. It’s better if people don’t notice my truck at this hour. My wife and I run a local hotel. Nothing so grand as the Gilmore but we take care of our own. We got a pretty piece of an ocean view. You’ll like it. It’s the off season so Evelyn, that’s my wife should be able to set you up with a find room for the night till we can sort out what happened to you. If you ask me though we have the prettiest spot on the bay.”

Harold continued to prattle on about anything that popped into his head. He didn’t even know what he was saying anymore but the more he talked the more settled his nerves were and the more peaceful she became became. Her shivering stopped and the last time he looked over her chin was resting on her chest. 





-follow the link to www.textnovel.com and read the rest of the chapter.  If you are a first time user you will need to register.  It's free and there is no spam.  Don't forget to vote and check out my other stories.  My pen name is the same as my blog-


Just as with the first installment of "Rose Berg"  this story is in raw first draft form.  Comments, constructive especially, are always welcome.  


http://www.textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=2218

Textnovel

Textnovel

So this is the link.  The one in the previous post isn't working.  It will take you to the main page.  To search for The Raven and the Wolf simply type the title in the search box or go to my name.  My pen name is the same as my blog Athena Lyso

Shameless self promotion

An unnecessary evil of this world is requiring artists of all disciplines to self promote.  In the information age it has become increasingly easier and more difficult simultaneously.  We can reach more people therefore we are required too in order to compete.  Further precious artistic energies are burned in this pursuit.  If they fail in this or don't possess the gift of marketing along with talent, they blush unseen.  For it is only after some success-or independent wealth-that they can afford to delegate these demands.  Though,  I have a feeling that is illusory.

That said, be forewarned, I am on a campaign.  Whether I win the textnovel contest or not (yes I am back to that again).  I am determined to prove The Raven and the Wolf as marketable.  I need votes and subscribers.  Do not think of it as a chore but consider that it is great entertainment.  Here are some of my reviews so far from some fellow text novel authors:  (You may read all remarks on the site and visit their personal pages through links on the site.)

“Simply put, fantastic writing.”

- on 2009-12-26 Luckydaniel

  

“Vivid and emotional. It is a beautiful story and I am loving reading it.”

- on 2009-12-13 Jessica Phillips-Breznican

"I'm not a fan of fantasy normally, but if anyone changes my mind, it will be you... Your work should be shared with others." 
- on 2010-01-14 Samantha Grace

So enjoy the story.  It is in serialized form so I will be making regular updates, usually two or three each week.  Remember to vote, leave a comment if you like or send a private message if you prefer.  You will have to sign up to vote but email addresses are not sold for spam.  Use the below link to go directly to the story.

http://www.textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=2218

Hope

I am moved this morning to take a departure from my usual literary fair to acknowledge the pain, suffering and devastation of our poor brothers and sisters-everyone-in the aftermath of Haitian earthquake.  I feel like I am watching and reading about 9/11, the tsunami or Katrina victims.

This is me taking a moment to reflect on what and how I should pray for them.  It is the most powerful thing I can do to help so far away.  May their physical and spiritual needs be met.  May they have comfort for their losses and the terror that still haunts everyday as mass graves become the resting places of their loved ones, neighbors and friends.  May their prayers be heard and peace come upon their hearts despite living in this present nightmare.

It is difficult for those who are far away and it seems all the reports only go from bad to worse.  Some (understandable) will be angry at God, yet he is not the author of these tragedies and is the only one to extend a real solution.  He feels as we do when he sees these horrors.  We are after all made in his image.  How can the dim reflection feel more than the original?  The pain the Haitians are now suffering is truly beyond any of us to comprehend.

Yet while that may be true let us admire their fight to survive.  Let us acknowledge that while few of us can comprehend what it is they are going through, our loving concern links them to a worldwide family.  And do not under estimate the comfort and strength of prayer.  Even when we feel anger or fear at the the things we see, we have a powerful ally.  "Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him," Psalms 145:18 New World Translation

(Please note these are personal reflections, though reaching a broader audience than a private journal.  It is not my wish to draw undo attention to myself or my own thoughts, simply to express.)

A new look

So after some helpful hints and considering that I have posting on this blog for close to a year now-I have given it a face lift.  Just trying it out.  Let me know what you think.  The softer colors and losing the drop out type face should make it much easier to read.

Vampires, werewolves and witches, oh my

Let me preface by saying that most of my friends can attest that while having a great love for science fiction and fairy tales, it does not follow that I am enamored with the current trend of paranormal, urban fantasy.  I don't question the economies of it all for they are staggering the banks.  It is just that I cannot fathom picking up and reading the back jacket of one more teen romance-vampire-werewolf extravaganza or female detective who sees dead people while she is fighting crime.  Perhaps a warning sticker on the front jacket saying this is another paranormal - urban fantasy book, so I don't strain my wrist.

Really something new please.  I say it with great sympathy.  I suppose it is inevitable that most authors have one or two ideas that easily fit into this uber trend.  Perhaps the success of it is rooted in the need to escape and explain the darkness in the world.  Sadly, the evils in many of these books pale when compared to the local evening news, making all these books some how vanilla for all their teeth bearing and hungry looks.

To illustrate what I would like to find, simply look consider Picasso's Guernica and you know what I mean.  I do not even like Picasso, yet I cannot deny the power of this one work.  Has anyone other than the Russian authors of previous centuries, written that book.  Could it be a trend in whole or part?  It is powerful in its pathos, its eerie in imagery harkens a frightening moment in time.  That is what fantasy should do.  It should be allegory at it's best, a mirror to reality.  Truth is at the root of most fairy tales a and hence why they have endured through the centuries.  I don't blame Stephen Meyer or Charlaine Harris or even Anne Rice.  I am just weary of it all.  It's like hearing Michael Jackson in the nineties.

While I do not mean begrudge everyone their fun or deny them their favorite safe flavor.  I do however wish to walk into a book store and find something a little more interesting that rows and rows of vanilla ice cream in the stacks.  I was never fond of vanilla ice cream in the first place.  Nor do I want too much of the next trend, whatever that may be.  I simply want a choice.

As the industry suffers the shock of E-readers and Indy publishing, I hope they learn when not to listen to the marketing analysts and take a chance on something new.  Or a few somethings new, anything-just a new trend please.

Textnovel

Textnovel

New stuff for The Raven and the Wolf and For Sarah

From Writer's block to Writers ADD

That's right I have gone from one extreme to the other.  I am trying to faithfully put up posts every few days or at least once a week.  Rose Berg was a bit of a cheat since I had already begun it.  In my defense however I am doing a full remodel on the downstairs.

What a plague, writers have to be real people too.  As a result my mind keeps slipping between tales.  I have moved past Farmville (my poor virtual cows) and on to reading snips of every story on the Textnovel site, even those I am not interested in.  From there I drift between research, obsessively posting mini chapters for the stories I already have started.

Today I spent about three hours reworking cover art.  Not that I mind.  I only wish that along with the joy of having my stories read that I might be able to pay the bills someday.  Then again, when that happens there is always the temptation of artistic compromise.  When you're a starving artist you have no such moral qualms.  So I suppose I ought to count myself rich.  At least for as long as the lights are on and the internet still works.  Soon I promise too be back to my impulsive self.  Just give me a few more days.

And if you have checked things out already go to the site www.textnovel.com and look me up.  I have three stories going presently.  They have all had brief mentions in my blog.  I am hoping to expand my cyber presence in the future with a facebook page solely dedicated to my writing and separate from my personal page.

I will let you know the name as soon as my head clears to think of one.  Hopefully I can be smart from there and use the same name for a web page etc. etc etc.  I know along with the joy of writing is the happy burden of marketing myself.  I am open to clever suggestions from any of you dear followers (Coralie?)