tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61653932882839878382024-03-25T13:15:26.180-04:00tony's miscellaneaIrregularly updated thoughts on writing and rants based on news from an improving writer.
The content is entirely mine, and is my personal opinion, unless otherwise noted. Your opinions are welcome in the comment section below.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-90745582172530025912024-03-25T13:13:00.000-04:002024-03-25T13:13:08.853-04:00One Pole At A Time and Part II of PWA and AutoCrit<h2 style="text-align: left;">First up, <i>One Pole At A Time</i> is available for pre-order.</h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This story is the closest to a stand-alone entry in the Dragons Run My World universe, so for the pre-order period, until April first, I chose to offer the e-book at $0.99 everywhere. The paperback is also included, but it’s priced at $9.99, about as low as I can price it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxS9vFNeDMlrtFjCMfgpWR4JwzNvZkRK-uPsm_lRuv6yBQhrjFHK94pQcmUbNjADRNEUUt768bq-sP2IH44pza_Lpk5JZrxd_4ixm-hJHZB5EBQbdviu9msYnvyy1SM3PmXzBryHwuifI0jDHkA9APUerOWQ0j-FrdpSOy-ET1lIB8jl8itY7m7lpbREI/s2400/OnePoleEbook_Test3a_2k_flat%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxS9vFNeDMlrtFjCMfgpWR4JwzNvZkRK-uPsm_lRuv6yBQhrjFHK94pQcmUbNjADRNEUUt768bq-sP2IH44pza_Lpk5JZrxd_4ixm-hJHZB5EBQbdviu9msYnvyy1SM3PmXzBryHwuifI0jDHkA9APUerOWQ0j-FrdpSOy-ET1lIB8jl8itY7m7lpbREI/s320/OnePoleEbook_Test3a_2k_flat%20copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Blurb for <i>One Pole At A Time</i><br /></h3><p><b>The pitfalls of not being prescient.</b><br /><br />The fake lord is in Lord Vang’s prison, the rebellion is over. At the least, Tanial, Falcon Queen, believes the threat of uprisings has ended.</p><p>The Premier makes good on his promise to send rénmen with the practical knowledge building the telegraph will need, and Aedyt, self-appointed ambassador to the Consolidated States, returns from Zūzhōu City accompanying the first four of the experienced rénmen.</p><p><br />The rén engineer will choose a factory or two to draw wire and fabricate tools, keys and sounders for the system; the woman seeks small stature bodynoli to climb the poles and string the wires. Nimah and Tanial direct the final two to survey the telegraph’s first route, between Kongens By and Slot Minear.<br /> </p><p>The uprisings foiled in Slot Minear are not the only actions Free the Experiment takes; the surveyors find more than trees and suitable paths.<br /><br /><b>The surprise is the one that leads the way. Not only to the Queen.</b><br /><br /><i>One Pole At A Time</i> is the tenth book in the Dragons Run My Life series, continuing the epic sweep of Tanial’s adventures.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Pre-order at</b><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY2JHP4D" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mgYWrX" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> (epub3) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY95WHP2" target="_blank">Paperback</a> (Amazon)<br /></p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">AutoCrit and ProWritingAid Part II</h2><p><br />Wherein we look at the interface each of these tools provide. Again, colored by my experiences and specific requirements.<br /><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">PWA</h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once you load a project, you have a screen like this. I’m using the desktop version of PWA.<br /><br /><img alt="PWA Open screen" border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1306" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2NYEgXadP1zlncdA26z6PjxE7kWb39T8Oy-bYxq5RjpCm7k1yDkSRRmA-Mbcn0gihJJk_kLAdq6xZaFkQFAwTeB5CjGtc63nLwhzp0OB8Ir1o2qkVg0Rm8klwZrg27hn1s1AHk2xmXiLaKngWxyfKK2UDveGEWcBCpz4JQ8YS0TQ_IPzzAHsNpC_g8gd/w640-h347/240325%20open%20proj.jpg" title="1 PWA Open screen" width="640" /></div><br /><br />Don’t forget, I work in Scrivener, and the whole project is loaded. The highlit entry, “12 28 Jasel Launch” is selected, so that’s the one PWA will work on. I cut it off, but in the bottom status line, the word count: 917 and the character count: 4080, are also given.<br />Remember I said large chunks of text bring a warning. Here it is,<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOacBtjn4bhyphenhyphen9DPvn7cCFfksAYKByknroNymLwTYpuEzE4wlcH_CH8jMo0Cvai4Bjlo3WfBFHN_snFXqtmI-BAytvycPcUKmwQ3OtMvJbJ_8s44sqVOOI_yFZ9d3bOhqVhlYdkzDAUw55_ZjhQTEr-7yeXJNIZr1iscg-y7VkvUFXNPhFN2vfnI94yTFl/s1308/240325%20Large%20chunk%20warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PWA Large chunk warning" border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1308" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOacBtjn4bhyphenhyphen9DPvn7cCFfksAYKByknroNymLwTYpuEzE4wlcH_CH8jMo0Cvai4Bjlo3WfBFHN_snFXqtmI-BAytvycPcUKmwQ3OtMvJbJ_8s44sqVOOI_yFZ9d3bOhqVhlYdkzDAUw55_ZjhQTEr-7yeXJNIZr1iscg-y7VkvUFXNPhFN2vfnI94yTFl/w640-h392/240325%20Large%20chunk%20warning.jpg" title="2 PWA Large Chunk Warning" width="640" /></a></div><p> The highlight “Vest Lindebalgh” has, based on the status bar, 10,041
words and 43,647 characters, which exceeds the 10,000 word suggested
limit. My experience is that analysis of the text chunk proceeds, but
the time grows. I haven’t done much with overlarge chunks, so I can’t
say if the app crashes or otherwise fails with those larger chunks.</p><p>Back to the first figure; click Reports, center top.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOND75ZRI4WTwlnIMRuoKF6_0TC7ku32cLHzI_UZQHVyDgKj7Te-lfX4xnF7mP6azw4JqwEYv8uTrtsnv1KH4Xp17QqYqAhHaUNe_MP2A6PmKBo6UPOmHuHDTmiibs5ygDawrscZvWZtFiLGz85_n2lbDagYIuIPohQsP8HvqCKLtegPhkWLJH-luNSKy5/s1302/240325%20Reports%20first%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reports - first view" border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="1302" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOND75ZRI4WTwlnIMRuoKF6_0TC7ku32cLHzI_UZQHVyDgKj7Te-lfX4xnF7mP6azw4JqwEYv8uTrtsnv1KH4Xp17QqYqAhHaUNe_MP2A6PmKBo6UPOmHuHDTmiibs5ygDawrscZvWZtFiLGz85_n2lbDagYIuIPohQsP8HvqCKLtegPhkWLJH-luNSKy5/w400-h84/240325%20Reports%20first%20view.jpg" title="3 Reports - First View" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /> These are some of the reports PWA offers. The (…) More Reports button provides access to another sixteen reports. Some of those are included in others, and some are less frequently used, I guess, in PWA’s opinion.<p></p><p>All, however, are included in the Summary report, to the left of the Reports bar. Click that.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmk5kvx4gZ053aFtGhyphenhyphen6hhSflWPZE9zZA7i_ZgbgPB_dg8cRZ16pgXttmRrwyKPVmjofvDWjDy3Xw2bmXph330DvJSKy1ZZf8w-Sw_AYymgwcaVdEV3QIb2nEWjHcP4e1qaa5Ku14f15w-3MIK3-Fq3ssvrRG6RqO1xKuqZ7cS80_gDadHKzMfxrsvkr4/s1291/240325%20summ%20first%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PWA Summary Report First View" border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1291" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmk5kvx4gZ053aFtGhyphenhyphen6hhSflWPZE9zZA7i_ZgbgPB_dg8cRZ16pgXttmRrwyKPVmjofvDWjDy3Xw2bmXph330DvJSKy1ZZf8w-Sw_AYymgwcaVdEV3QIb2nEWjHcP4e1qaa5Ku14f15w-3MIK3-Fq3ssvrRG6RqO1xKuqZ7cS80_gDadHKzMfxrsvkr4/w400-h229/240325%20summ%20first%20view.jpg" title="4 PWA Summary Report First View" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /> Kind of self-explanatory, yeah? This s/s is the tip of the iceberg, so
to speak. Scroll down through it for top level readings on the main
topics, and below that, details where they think it useful. Printing it
will produce (in my specific case) a fifteen or sixteen page document,
the top of which looks like this.<br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHihoOkTgXYDZ5oa2wDmHv_qgy5JxbNtCHxKwwRXKXK6p7Om4jSvOyDq3deNXB-g4P3YLyccS_-rio6VpAwYg8Y8-TPFwFg2cJPgsVi4_8589nS3hXSgYQHORYYplVokdBUfidvxQp3-8fXLo6nEFAtDMZJVE4ogY7t6N8oHsGFImK0L1V669SwmPAqEpv/s1162/240325%20PWA%20Summ%20over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PWA Summary Overview" border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1162" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHihoOkTgXYDZ5oa2wDmHv_qgy5JxbNtCHxKwwRXKXK6p7Om4jSvOyDq3deNXB-g4P3YLyccS_-rio6VpAwYg8Y8-TPFwFg2cJPgsVi4_8589nS3hXSgYQHORYYplVokdBUfidvxQp3-8fXLo6nEFAtDMZJVE4ogY7t6N8oHsGFImK0L1V669SwmPAqEpv/w488-h404/240325%20PWA%20Summ%20over.jpg" title="5 PWA Summary Overview" width="488" /></a></div><br /><br />Scrolling down either the Summary report screen or the printed version, you may see something like this: the detail of a thing they flag as a problem.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIPM3Mq2Z2lF2-QJivSqlMXXNnmRmdZ8BmJqrrT_1Zy_3jQxC9MqHfbQFsK_EB1NIU9IdwkMmzDK8MihIyKIftFIWYLbpYuXiYxIDQl0ufMjI5E2-DocomubAZK1yzuMmS3Xk3mkcuShq4uaPEWfRW1ey8wi9XOIlKPx_g5w2U2fsHLyY50_-ffkaceMt/s1356/240325%20GrammSpell%20det.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PWA Detail of Grammar Spelling Flag" border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1356" height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIPM3Mq2Z2lF2-QJivSqlMXXNnmRmdZ8BmJqrrT_1Zy_3jQxC9MqHfbQFsK_EB1NIU9IdwkMmzDK8MihIyKIftFIWYLbpYuXiYxIDQl0ufMjI5E2-DocomubAZK1yzuMmS3Xk3mkcuShq4uaPEWfRW1ey8wi9XOIlKPx_g5w2U2fsHLyY50_-ffkaceMt/w640-h527/240325%20GrammSpell%20det.jpg" title="6 PWA Detail of Grammar Spelling Flag" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br />You are shown the two Grammar errors they’ve flagged and why, and then
two spelling errors. I may or may not agree with the two Grammar
suggestion, but the Spelling suggestions are spot on: Frea is a name not
yet added to the dictionary, and “diety” is just wrong.</p><p>These are
information only, go back to the full Report bar and select the “ABC
Grammar” icon; the corrections can be made there. We’ll visit that
later.<br /><br />First, AutoCrit deserves a look. That will be next time. I'm worn out trying to get Blogger to put images where I want them.</p><p>Comments are welcome, especially if I've been unclear or you think more information would be helpful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-74036889482668056842024-03-18T09:00:00.001-04:002024-03-18T09:00:00.339-04:00Ruling, and Part I of PWA and AutoCrit<h2 style="text-align: left;"> First, it’s release day for <i>Ruling</i>, the ninth book in the Dragons Run My Life series.</h2><p> </p><p>Click the link you like to acquire a copy.<br /><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YvKyt8jJ1z21qYmKO2y3ksHxYYsmWA-ohtTMEHZlWkj0snDu07LYdRvbkDGJpDDSSf7v49u3H_7_n2jdunTO8RwVuh2SEpOVqYu1Lz8MPDu_mzUlSMJuFpLKbohYly-tUPc8qBUh1cU-SZHL6755p2vm4Nhf2oRuJXu4mwo8pLjwdKqvjeMCM0i6u4J8/s2560/220612%20Book9new_v3trial10_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover image for Ruling" border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YvKyt8jJ1z21qYmKO2y3ksHxYYsmWA-ohtTMEHZlWkj0snDu07LYdRvbkDGJpDDSSf7v49u3H_7_n2jdunTO8RwVuh2SEpOVqYu1Lz8MPDu_mzUlSMJuFpLKbohYly-tUPc8qBUh1cU-SZHL6755p2vm4Nhf2oRuJXu4mwo8pLjwdKqvjeMCM0i6u4J8/w225-h320/220612%20Book9new_v3trial10_flat.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p><br />Buy at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW18TLKM" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mZYvjy" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> (epub3) or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXP3D5Z1" target="_blank">Print</a> (Amazon)<br /><br /><i>One Pole At A Time</i> is coming along nicely, and if all goes to plan, it will be available for pre-order just after <i>Ruling</i>’s release, and released on April first.<br /><br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">AutoCrit and ProWritingAid Part I</h2><p><br />If your not interested in the nuts and bolts of editing, feel free to clock away to whatever pursuits are important to you. Otherwise…</p><p>I almost wrote "versus" in the title and heading, but that's not really true. There are comparisons, but not in the sense of choosing one over the other. As you'll see, I use both; this may explain why I make my choices. YMMV.<br /><br />These are two software attempts to ease the writer’s editing tasks, kind of taking the middle ground between the writer’s first read-thru after typing The End, and the bevy of first readers, beta readers, editors of all descriptions (and prices) that proceed the release to Amazon or to one of its competitors, or if you’re into self-inflicted pain, before you begin sending your query letters to agents for representation.</p><p>As I said last week, these are software, not a magic bullet, though for the prices they charge, you might be forgiven for thinking different. A human with a mind that remembers that a description from the beginning of your work probably still applies as you approach the climax, for example.</p><p>Let me digress to say how I do things, being fully aware that my techniques shouldn’t be applicable to any other person. This is more so you can understand where my decisions rise, and why I might complain about some things and not others. I use Scrivener as my main writing tool. Since I distribute through Amazon’s KDP for Kindle e-books and POD paperbacks, and Draft2Digital for the wide world of epub3 compatible reading device e-books, in Scrivener I use different Front and Back Matter to differentiate the three output files. The difference between Amazon and D2D e-books is primarily the sales links allowed in each. For Print, the links are replaced by qr codes. I produce an rtf file which Nesus Writer Pro then tweaks before creating a pdf file to go to the Zon.</p><p>PWA accepts as input my Scrivener project, as is. With multiple trials, Scrivener has never failed to open the file that PWA produces, and the changes are accurately reflected. There are interesting anomalies in PWA’s display of text, but they don’t affect the final version.</p><p>AC accepts rtf files (and a couple others: [MS Word(.docx), rich text (.rtf) or plain text (.txt)]), but I’ve not tried any but the rtf, since it’s already in my work flow.</p><p>Here I’ll say a word about versions. I’m sure you have a way to keep track of where you are, so I won’t tell you it’s important that you do. But because (unlike PWA) I can’t easily bring the AC output file back into Scrivener, when I make a change to the text in AC’s editor, I have to make the same change in my Scrivener source file. It’s a pain, but okay. Keep track of the files you use for anything, especially in the case where the file is an off-shoot.</p><p>I said last week that they both work on chunks of your manuscript, rather than the whole thing. I need to recant a little.</p><p>PWA might work on the whole of a 50-150k-word ms, but it provides a dire warning message for any document bigger than about 10k-words. You’ll find it faster, it says, to analyze smaller sections of the document. As result, I haven’t tried to run over the whole of one of my books.</p><p>AC, on the other hand, won’t analyze a slab of text more than 20k-words. Less than that and for the Story Analysis and Fiction Analysis functions, the piece is considered a short story. I’ve done little with short fiction, and have no gleaming insights. </p><p>For files of book length—I’ve used between 70 and 100 k-words—for the Story Analysis and Fiction Analysis tools, the work must be chapterized. What that means to me as a user: I have to check that I have breaks in the text (which I do, that’s not an issue), that the breaks are called “Chapter” (this was a minor aggravation, requiring me to change my source file, more later) and then check each of them is less than the limit (this required me to add three or four pseudo-chapters (named Chapter thus and so, of course) that I then had to remember to remove at the end of the exercise.</p><p><br />Their help video points out that you don’t have to have chapters in the text, and if you do but they’re not named “Chapter”, that’s okay, because you can go through the ms, either finding what you did call your chapters (you did call them something, right?) or just blocking it off in 5-10 k-word chunks. Like I said, I decided it was less effort to fork the source file and make one special for the AC experience.</p><p>Turns out that’s necessary but not sufficient. I still had to take my chapterized ms and after inputting it, tell AutoCrit that there are chapters and they are called chapter, so it can find them. That’s done by clicking a button called Find Chapters (I think; I don’t have it open right now) and it does that, lickety-split. You’ll get a warning if one or more chunks exceed the limit; you have to go back and add chapters, or exercise the procedure I mentioned just above.</p><p>That’s what I was thinking of when I made my blanket statement. For the Story Analysis and Fiction Analysis tools, the chapterization is required.</p><p>However, all the other checks are done on the complete ms. This is good and bad.<br /><br />Part II - the information and displays provided by the software comes next. It takes several screenshots to convey, so, shortly.<br /><br />Comments always welcome, especially if I’ve been unclear (as if!).</p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-68760298600478207372024-03-11T17:40:00.006-04:002024-03-11T17:40:59.219-04:00And Now It's Over<h2 style="text-align: left;">Big thanks to everyone who downloaded one of my books during the sale at Smashwords last week.</h2><p>Some 230 books out the door!</p><p>Hopefully everyone enjoys what they got, even if it was someone else's work. Reviews are welcome!</p><p>Leave a comment if you wish.<br /></p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-21103082802211214072024-03-11T13:12:00.000-04:002024-03-11T13:12:19.681-04:00Not What I Promised<p>Rather than write a post about ProWritingAid and AutoCrit and their differences and similarities, I spent the time using them both to revise <i>One Pole At A Time</i>, the book due for release on April first.</p><p>One top-level comment: both of these tools work primarily on chunks of your manuscript rather than the whole thing at once. You will need a human editor or reader to detect problems in the overall story.</p><p>It's not what I hoped for; I'll continue to work on the comparison and publish it as soon as I can, likely in pieces.</p><p>I hope your days and weeks are going well as the seasons move along. Comments welcome, as always.<br /></p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-73920798663534682352024-03-04T14:03:00.001-05:002024-03-04T14:03:43.092-05:00A Couple Things for a Monday<h2 style="text-align: left;"> First, <a href="https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos" target="_blank">Happy Read an Ebook Week!</a> </h2><p style="text-align: left;">To help you find a book to
celebrate, you can find my entire collection FREE at @Smashwords from
March 3-9. Find my books
and many more at https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos
#ebookweek24 #Smashwords Both series starters and anything in between, though series enders have not yet been published. Sorry, not sorry!</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Second, Today, at Amazon and wide,</h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i>We Are Not That Girl</i> is available.</h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj2zI4VmcOfdSN91p1wSfyo8jAkalMNE__jZjaYSEOAhPe1MmN4eruHP2jET3Bey8kjdMDsXiM2GNN2uWErmcvA-n45RFcVUS5LCBkMGoN_s1G0wqdw0JjeHysIl3_AVV2scwy5k0cSYJNE4KvvPhGvS0d4CmWEQsJbA6NTUK_673MdykVWEqYWWmYxeo/s1200/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj2zI4VmcOfdSN91p1wSfyo8jAkalMNE__jZjaYSEOAhPe1MmN4eruHP2jET3Bey8kjdMDsXiM2GNN2uWErmcvA-n45RFcVUS5LCBkMGoN_s1G0wqdw0JjeHysIl3_AVV2scwy5k0cSYJNE4KvvPhGvS0d4CmWEQsJbA6NTUK_673MdykVWEqYWWmYxeo/s320/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" width="212" /></a></div></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;">Buy it at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW22F3FL" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4XYjVa" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> (epub3) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW3856TD" target="_blank">Paperback</a> (Amazon)<br /></h3><p style="text-align: left;">As mentioned above, at <a href="https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, it’s free until March 9 in their Read an Ebook promotion, so go and check it out.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Next, the ninth book of Dragons Run My Life, <i>Ruling</i>, will go up for preorder by Friday the 9th and will release on Monday March 18th, as promised earlier. Links for that will be available by Friday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The last of the books I have ready, <i>One Pole At A Time</i>, will be available for preorder by March 22, and then released on April first.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of being ready, two Rebecca Jamse Thrillers books, <i>Hacked!</i> and <i>The Girl In The Bag</i>, will follow <i>One Pole</i> in April. <i>Hacked!</i> on April 15 (at least it’s not Tax Day here in Massachusetts), and then one week later for the <i>Girl In The Bag</i>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I’m reading with dismay and uncomfortable voyeuristic interest about the conflict in Israel, and I’ve about decided before I can release <i>Girl In The Bag</i>, I’ll have to rewrite the couple of scenes set in June, 2024 which take place in Tel Aviv and traveling to Syria via Lebanon. Fortunately, Beckie and Ian are on relatively good terms with the IDF.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I’ve been using both ProWritingAid and AutoCrit to prepare manuscripts for release. Next week, I’ll share some thoughts about both of them, reflecting the way I use them. I hope it will have some utility to you, but, maybe, maybe not. Or as they used to say, YMMV.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Comments welcome.<br /></p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-27637506104673680662024-02-26T13:37:00.000-05:002024-02-26T13:37:40.376-05:00Coming up: Happy Read an Ebook Week! And More.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Promo image for Smashwords Read an Ebook" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVin-M-TSKkhMfxcmUboVl1xZK50YXvZ0hZXhilF4kijXQ2qAemblpDYOtalCm6m8DNtrG8FsHEs7kCDD4ZlyzmdtHe-rTS7cxNzDMMDN0VE3u_6yJD2zSxyM9woYfXesPNRAXuxZyeFJe6-gEmhT3f6luHUdHvaGe3jI64SoYVNK9teyTQHsoH3BMqn9/w320-h320/promo_ebw_insta3_72.webp" title="Smashwords Happy Read an Ebook Week" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p><b>Happy Read an Ebook Week!</b> Don’t miss the massive celebratory sale going on next week @Smashwords! There are deep discounts on thousands of books, but only between March 4 and March 9. Check it out at <a href="https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos/" target="_blank">Smashwords Promo</a>! #ebookweek24 #Smashwords<br /> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Promo Image Smashwords Read an Ebook" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGyGV3oKl-JnasFWGn50lIWMVc3BhDTXXL9x6WvmkA9TKRRE6x9pWHpHnKnQQCuysjZBLXc2V31Mj341fA6EhLI2fwpalKYUsprgHB_7Q4olEeDh7FKdkcHOKXhOqXx8jREXaQ7Y1Tp9yJNunykvvbAADtsXrv28ptWdTTkcvv4tBwIHYpIE-6_gYC338/w320-h320/promo_ebw_insta1_72.webp" title="Smashwords Happy Read an Ebook Week!" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So, obviously Smashwords, the book distributer, is running a sale from March 4 through the 9th. Authors or publishers choose what discount (ranging from 25% off to free) will apply to their books. I signed up to allow all my books to be free, and I’m waiting to see if that works. More next week. Whether or not, go and see what you might like!<br /><br />As expected, <i>We Are Not That Girl</i> came together pretty quickly, and it’s available for preorder now, with the release on March 4, as I said in an earlier post.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPG56eebmsJJcR34ygYLbEkTARndC3nkdpKNi5XDHFIcNYZtYP24bnw8VuN625GlOvFJstKqyaJ5vfwUy_I5S5equo8VJV3Yt49mzUboKOnet9ZVZkYk5-zWGK6maJ_ZundZwrCyWZBoiNi5VL-gl_BbDxDx0JxecVzpOYauO2JkzvczWuwepgE1wn-4q/s1200/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPG56eebmsJJcR34ygYLbEkTARndC3nkdpKNi5XDHFIcNYZtYP24bnw8VuN625GlOvFJstKqyaJ5vfwUy_I5S5equo8VJV3Yt49mzUboKOnet9ZVZkYk5-zWGK6maJ_ZundZwrCyWZBoiNi5VL-gl_BbDxDx0JxecVzpOYauO2JkzvczWuwepgE1wn-4q/s320/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" width="212" /></a></div><br /><br />Preorder at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW22F3FL" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span> </span><span> </span><a href="https://books2read.com/u/4XYjVa" target="_blank">Books2Read</a><span> </span><span> </span>in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW3856TD" target="_blank">Paperback</a> (Amazon) <br /><p></p><p>Today, the plan is to release the last two Dragons Run My Life books at two week intervals, so <i>Ruling</i> on March 18th and then <i>One Pole At A Time</i> on April Fool’s Day. While the two following those have been written, I fear they’ll need more work before showing their public appearances. Also, I need to make some decisions affecting the future.</p><p><br />The thrillers, Rebecca Jamse’s stories, have two more mostly written. Some may recall my earlier comment about the conflict between Israel and Hamas interfering with the story in <i>The Girl in the Bag</i>; it is no less true now. Hazards of writing in a largely true-to-life setting into the future. Oh, well.</p><p><br />Part of the issue with the novella that precedes <i>The Girl in the Bag</i> is that it needs substantial rewriting, and that’s something that I’ve never been able to do. Once I’ve written something, it’s gone. So if I can’t overcome that, I’ll have to provide the backstory for the several characters some other way. My problem, not yours, unless you’re anxious to read about Síne, Larysa and Tarquin.</p><p>Comments and questions welcome, as always! <br /></p><br /><p> </p><br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-13942303554233416852024-02-19T11:04:00.000-05:002024-02-19T11:04:45.134-05:00It's Monday, and there's a little news.<p> So, while the northeaster this week was kind of a disappointment right here, the two books in the Dragons series are available for purchase as Amazon and wide. Links are below the cover images. They open in a new window. The Print link takes you to Amazon, but not to the Kindle page.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-62n9V-9wAKD-N4t0PDseqZ2X_ozTmWqx09PA6qoxoXh3yeUcaZ3yeNk_ywf-v7WfVQLT3JydiNY8CFX-6qdZM7ubsS68NJLf_iWDTBTwDRIs6Xhy2gAeGJVNY6BeZBI9IaI8tqlWY7xBpfeGzXhzcyIZXPttaq-4TXZB-TR7RqkTGoHle9cHYpzXLRE3/s1200/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-62n9V-9wAKD-N4t0PDseqZ2X_ozTmWqx09PA6qoxoXh3yeUcaZ3yeNk_ywf-v7WfVQLT3JydiNY8CFX-6qdZM7ubsS68NJLf_iWDTBTwDRIs6Xhy2gAeGJVNY6BeZBI9IaI8tqlWY7xBpfeGzXhzcyIZXPttaq-4TXZB-TR7RqkTGoHle9cHYpzXLRE3/w200-h320/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" title="Cover of The Prophecy" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4L4X2L" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mq9g98">Books2Read (epubs)</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVF3YQXM" target="_blank">Print</a><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZwHP9UkpLAkUGJx1vPkaH_mm1sMhsU618jf8oGZtWzmjrm_t7vBZVwXe7fq_6QA6Yoj2XFM1PhSXKMTyJ9TV4qdnrk-IsO1eophp-bgD3laVy8HSHqK_KyyZUhUrsV132rcwNw1tvFULSDdArALU3AvUhEGXvRkYeY8vZJRNOfc_SmYjEX54geiVF2Wx/s1200/07%20Lovers%203i_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZwHP9UkpLAkUGJx1vPkaH_mm1sMhsU618jf8oGZtWzmjrm_t7vBZVwXe7fq_6QA6Yoj2XFM1PhSXKMTyJ9TV4qdnrk-IsO1eophp-bgD3laVy8HSHqK_KyyZUhUrsV132rcwNw1tvFULSDdArALU3AvUhEGXvRkYeY8vZJRNOfc_SmYjEX54geiVF2Wx/w200-h320/07%20Lovers%203i_flat_rs.webp" title="Cover ofg Lovers Reunited" width="200" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4LNL3S" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href=" https://books2read.com/u/bPDxnA" target="_blank">Books2Read (epubs)</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV5WVLXK" target="_blank">Print </a><br /></p><p> </p><p>On March 4, the next book in the Dragons series, <i>We Are Not That Girl</i>, will be released. I plan to open the pre-order on the 26th. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_hFwAcFMIgPcxZRDpCzVr7Qb-0QXKOdXo84O4fPurpVEnVtSSk-dxhK4jO2O_B3fuA-LGRP0j0fAPzSkzKYMw3cL_UQLrIlYlsVZD-_-lVFPDM4-9eoGpSgq2gMdx7f5vgoBIaAqwLYhsN1S6H7Cfw-iXiAPaJe9cxErFbASxYiYMDuSHPxRcQciBp2S/s1200/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_hFwAcFMIgPcxZRDpCzVr7Qb-0QXKOdXo84O4fPurpVEnVtSSk-dxhK4jO2O_B3fuA-LGRP0j0fAPzSkzKYMw3cL_UQLrIlYlsVZD-_-lVFPDM4-9eoGpSgq2gMdx7f5vgoBIaAqwLYhsN1S6H7Cfw-iXiAPaJe9cxErFbASxYiYMDuSHPxRcQciBp2S/w212-h320/08%20WANTG%20C6_crop_flat_rs.webp" title="Cover image for We Are Not That Girl" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>The two books that follow so far, <i>Ruling</i> and <i>One Pole at a Time</i>, will be dropped at two week intervals.</p><p>I’ve been working on a pair of collections to reward people willing to sign up for my newsletter. Also, determining the best way to do the newsletter sign-ups.</p><p>Comments and questions welcome! <br /></p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-63809863962296538022024-02-12T14:14:00.001-05:002024-02-12T14:14:48.564-05:00The Promised Monday update.<h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Bona Nova Bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Update:</span></span></span></h2>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">As the Superbowl winds down. In addition to below, I did a
read-through of Book 8 of the Dragons series, <i>We Are Not That Girl</i>, and it looks pretty
good. I’m contemplating releasing it the first week of March, part
of a three week promotion. More details as they appear in my mind.
Thanks for reading and best of luck whatever your goals may be.
Reminder, also last Friday, I posted the sales links for the new
releases and the couple of re-releases.</span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Comments welcome, or email me at tony(at) tonylavelyauthor.com if you like.<br /></span></div>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
</p>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I
repeat the links for the two books that I didn’t have links for the
paperback versions here.</span></div><p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">For the pre-order of <i>Father’s Day</i> (2/12/24). <b>Note</b>: This was previously published as <i>Low Places</i>. While the cover and title have changed and the front and back matter revised, the story has had inconsequential changes.</span></span><br /><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV21J46M" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/meevoZ" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVF681VX" target="_blank">Paperback (Amazon)</a></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKta50L5dmoS9GjHbrm8hm5PDxI65laobGy7eXt1SDr6F7ewOMKEx4XpkJZYrFF3K6pSS0xsH4UtApnQhLFbwMwkpiNyiszuOF93rnaK_PrWzO28zl7M8_lZk44SPeumu3MeNGQpDgI_Yl9527XPgqrO35CgUfGlswiUcpDnIdYmOc6iGHPxMbORJ6WcS/s1200/07%20Fathers_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKta50L5dmoS9GjHbrm8hm5PDxI65laobGy7eXt1SDr6F7ewOMKEx4XpkJZYrFF3K6pSS0xsH4UtApnQhLFbwMwkpiNyiszuOF93rnaK_PrWzO28zl7M8_lZk44SPeumu3MeNGQpDgI_Yl9527XPgqrO35CgUfGlswiUcpDnIdYmOc6iGHPxMbORJ6WcS/s320/07%20Fathers_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For the pre-order of <i>The Prophecy</i> (2/19/24):</span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4L4X2L" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mq9g98" target="_blank">Books2Read </a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVF3YQXM">Paperback (Amazon)</a></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5a7d7HrU0mmpO8ek7A36CjvTo6HRRz37biDkPXKQSI6ESjWnGnu0CT0epPqax35dzgmxUusZHCR3Tor_m7zCKTaQAG4iS7RdF6aHZPXgO_105Rb76ah5DklAWchaIYqwqL1JUINn6MGVws5_Tb086pmz2o97B_d9yXTvTY5mc5z6IKPnqDLFx7Qb_N3R/s1200/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5a7d7HrU0mmpO8ek7A36CjvTo6HRRz37biDkPXKQSI6ESjWnGnu0CT0epPqax35dzgmxUusZHCR3Tor_m7zCKTaQAG4iS7RdF6aHZPXgO_105Rb76ah5DklAWchaIYqwqL1JUINn6MGVws5_Tb086pmz2o97B_d9yXTvTY5mc5z6IKPnqDLFx7Qb_N3R/s320/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><h1 class="western"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times Roman;">What
else happened this week?</span></span></h1>
<h3 style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Bona Nova Bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday,
2/5</span></span></h3>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">First,
<i>Nursing Girls</i> went live on Tuesday the fifth. Because it’s a
revision, Amazon doesn’t allow delayed release, so the ebook is
live. The print version isn’t yet approved.</span></p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Father’s
Day</i> is now live to pre-order, going live on Monday, February 11.
Again, the print version is on its own schedule.</span></p>
<p align="left" style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For
D2D, who handle the distribution of epub3 books (Nook, Kobo, Books on
your Mac), I’ve launched a question to discover what the best
practice is for retiring a listed book and replacing it. We’ll see. [Answer 2/8: since the story hasn't changed perceptibly, edit the books as they are currently listed.]</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<h3 class="western" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Bona Nova Bold;">Friday,
2/10</span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">In
the Dragons Run My Life series, <i>Father Maman</i>, the novella between <i>The
Journeys Home</i> and <i>Queen Immured</i> has been republished with a revised
cover and updated front and back matter, and minimal changes to the
story. Both in ebook and paperback. Additionally, books six and
seven, <i>The Prophecy</i> and <i>Lovers Reunited</i> are set to release on
February 19 in both ebook and paper at Amazon and via Books2Read,
in wide distribution. Both are accepting pre-orders until then.</span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The
Rebecca Jamse Thrillers series hasn’t been neglected. Status at
Amazon and wide. As I reported above <i>Nursing Girls</i> is live. <i>Blood
Moon</i>, the sixth story in the series starring Amy Rose Ardan, mostly,
is set for release on Wednesday, Valentine’s Day. You can pre-order
it at Amazon and those other retailers that do pre-orders. <i>Father’s
Day</i>, since it’s a new edition, is set for release tomorrow,
February 12, in ebook. The paperback is still in process.</span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Bona Nova Bold;">Going
forward.</span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I
am putting finishing touches on the novella that comes next in the
Rebecca Jamse Thriller series, and waiting and watching to see how
much the idiocy in Israel, Gaza and Syria damages the story of <i>The
Girl in the Bag</i>. It’s finished, but may need revision or a strongly
worded statement that the setting is only an approximation to the
real world! In any event, those are the next Rebecca Jamse stories,
and not ready for prime time, yet.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Dragons
stories eight, nine and ten, <i>We Are Not That Girl</i>,<i> Ruling</i>, and <i>One
Pole at a Time</i> are ready, save final passes and back matter updates.
I haven’t decided on a release schedule for them yet, or if I want
to try reduced prices for them or the other books in the series, to
celebrate getting ten books and two novellas in front of you.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">There
are at least two more books in fair condition, once I decide the
direction of the series following them.</span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I repeat, comments welcome! </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<p><style type="text/css">h1 { line-height: 109%; text-align: left; orphans: 0; widows: 0; margin-top: 0.18in; margin-bottom: 0in; direction: ltr; background: transparent }h1.western { font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold }h1.cjk { font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold }h2 { line-height: 109%; text-align: left; orphans: 0; widows: 0; margin-top: 0.18in; margin-bottom: 0in; direction: ltr; background: transparent }h2.western { font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold }h2.cjk { font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold }p { line-height: 115%; text-align: left; orphans: 0; widows: 0; margin-bottom: 0.1in; direction: ltr; background: transparent }a:link { color: #000080; text-decoration: underline }</style></p><br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-76311774951216333642024-02-09T14:51:00.001-05:002024-02-09T14:51:35.073-05:00<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Update with Sales Links.</h2><p>As of Friday, February 9, 2024. Links open in a new window.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Rebecca Jamse Thrillers releases.<br /></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN7ri1Pb51OSiqJMsrESNs0LwKeGspt5KiXh2AKVJHTtNopMHmbmYCMrNJbWXBnXiitjizEk2Tkt8ytXNENZRucfQEB0g-3JN_d9jwpWR8jc6ceG5rg0eBpnTfdsVlPfUoXk7USn5xQrMnexyyeZXnbrhNcLOgqzU6FtwVWCusCiUoLJ4HXCkWLrL8L-N/s1200/05a%20Nursing_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN7ri1Pb51OSiqJMsrESNs0LwKeGspt5KiXh2AKVJHTtNopMHmbmYCMrNJbWXBnXiitjizEk2Tkt8ytXNENZRucfQEB0g-3JN_d9jwpWR8jc6ceG5rg0eBpnTfdsVlPfUoXk7USn5xQrMnexyyeZXnbrhNcLOgqzU6FtwVWCusCiUoLJ4HXCkWLrL8L-N/w200-h320/05a%20Nursing_rs.webp" title="Cover of Nursing Girls" width="200" /></a></div><br />For the revised <i>Nursing Girls</i>:<br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HVTVMSX" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3Jj1nQ" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HTF1LFT" target="_blank">Paperback (Amazon)</a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AqN2MG0MZUVXFpZVGvRef7d463KGhM7L8TGHYVfavIqHGqb9DORIXhM2GUQhGgzQb2mqZEAXK2uzzqy86T8ml31yAQCqwrMxjhqTgHfrX08SGfeQwQvadqjCgtHvSenkOiD3VKH2yVhU298GpZVUD86Nu-EiPVGpV6-SHeS2tao9ONWe-3HH7DQDjW5/s1200/06%20Blood%20Moon_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AqN2MG0MZUVXFpZVGvRef7d463KGhM7L8TGHYVfavIqHGqb9DORIXhM2GUQhGgzQb2mqZEAXK2uzzqy86T8ml31yAQCqwrMxjhqTgHfrX08SGfeQwQvadqjCgtHvSenkOiD3VKH2yVhU298GpZVUD86Nu-EiPVGpV6-SHeS2tao9ONWe-3HH7DQDjW5/s320/06%20Blood%20Moon_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>For the pre-order of <i>Blood Moon</i> (2/14/24):</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV3YC7XS" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bWYr00" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4MXCFR" target="_blank">Paperback (Amazon)</a></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWt_0Wa9UYkSvyeWdcmbktHDniN-qKMK3ySGP2ok_w9FcnTKdq7AElMeOgN-LLanCAfbHJ_PAxrzCto16hD9jj9vBUIRXA5ZZ4ZJ1xFngR99bykAAsIWjoWAanUDQmR2uVzErJ0If0iYrI2Dl31JhRg3rp5K2p5k1zgeTydZXXqaJGoZ5p_hkB8N1wtNh/s1200/07%20Fathers_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWt_0Wa9UYkSvyeWdcmbktHDniN-qKMK3ySGP2ok_w9FcnTKdq7AElMeOgN-LLanCAfbHJ_PAxrzCto16hD9jj9vBUIRXA5ZZ4ZJ1xFngR99bykAAsIWjoWAanUDQmR2uVzErJ0If0iYrI2Dl31JhRg3rp5K2p5k1zgeTydZXXqaJGoZ5p_hkB8N1wtNh/s320/07%20Fathers_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><p>For the pre-order of <i>Father’s Day</i> (2/11/24). <b>Note</b>: This was previously published as <i>Low Places</i>. While the cover and title have changed and the front and back matter revised, the story has had inconsequential changes.<br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV21J46M" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/meevoZ" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> Paperback (Amazon)</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Dragons Run My Life releases.<br /></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ejifIvekHKhTFz_4n2N-KyKf02cIumfEavXNOsR0rBCx0ClM9ASn2NyERi3pwmgboktykgOsxxCXaL0HMUwT50mvjlYUwckakXuRoGDQio7gkp_ihBiEBAYZRkbdhjzIDL7h6QxCXNV41H6MiXyp9t79b1dUBly1YUNtRyGPiZ1iU60fxGoXh9OoDD7E/s1200/03.1%20FatherMaman_8_c_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ejifIvekHKhTFz_4n2N-KyKf02cIumfEavXNOsR0rBCx0ClM9ASn2NyERi3pwmgboktykgOsxxCXaL0HMUwT50mvjlYUwckakXuRoGDQio7gkp_ihBiEBAYZRkbdhjzIDL7h6QxCXNV41H6MiXyp9t79b1dUBly1YUNtRyGPiZ1iU60fxGoXh9OoDD7E/s320/03.1%20FatherMaman_8_c_flat_rs.webp" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />For the revised <i>Father Maman</i>:<p></p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MP7SRJK" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.) </a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4XRLBg">Books2Read</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1095819747" target="_blank">Paperback (Amazon)</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpjt8EVJzpAI4kY5Fd_rR9SUVDq_pJPFAuIxWhJIhJfe28WVp6x6NQB555V2HICtGE8yxViMTqtLX7loddMcUgtmuG2OnXEbfaEcKL8Pxxnd2crEGlDnAK3FBu0feBKrt_pvDm_iBvk1j1QhyCqvkk94i7pgBRhnKRpSkZtjUkLPkqpH80AGL1h2pUtOR/s1200/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpjt8EVJzpAI4kY5Fd_rR9SUVDq_pJPFAuIxWhJIhJfe28WVp6x6NQB555V2HICtGE8yxViMTqtLX7loddMcUgtmuG2OnXEbfaEcKL8Pxxnd2crEGlDnAK3FBu0feBKrt_pvDm_iBvk1j1QhyCqvkk94i7pgBRhnKRpSkZtjUkLPkqpH80AGL1h2pUtOR/s320/06%20Prophecy3d_flat_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><p>For the pre-order of <i>The Prophecy</i> (2/19/24):</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4L4X2L" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mq9g98" target="_blank">Books2Read </a> Paperback (Amazon)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC6U3a2gPbee8ot8b4zFyV6c-8vP7I0C2rJF6QFUlwsPxVqIBJQtOQEMeZomPCG0FZilpZyZSAHPYLpcSSIrgztOiDJRMfvaktX5T1ziv31eY2i8UBM-eVPnK17o8kyonq5T5WHZ2cV4Lw7_8-aSQ3hQgg_I3K_9-Yj9v6DpB7m_yO8B-G1T7_mmnftNc/s1200/07%20Lovers%203i_flat_rs.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC6U3a2gPbee8ot8b4zFyV6c-8vP7I0C2rJF6QFUlwsPxVqIBJQtOQEMeZomPCG0FZilpZyZSAHPYLpcSSIrgztOiDJRMfvaktX5T1ziv31eY2i8UBM-eVPnK17o8kyonq5T5WHZ2cV4Lw7_8-aSQ3hQgg_I3K_9-Yj9v6DpB7m_yO8B-G1T7_mmnftNc/s320/07%20Lovers%203i_flat_rs.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br />For the pre-order of <i>Lovers Reunited</i> (2/19/24):</p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV4LNL3S" target="_blank">Amazon (Kindle, etc.)</a> <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bPDxnA" target="_blank">Books2Read</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV5WVLXK" target="_blank">Paperback (Amazon)</a></p><p><br />Don’t hesitate to click through any or all of them for descriptions or (of course) to purchase one or more.</p>The two missing paperback links are coming soon.<br /><br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-27368025230046413862024-02-04T15:45:00.000-05:002024-02-04T15:45:46.107-05:00<h2 style="text-align: left;">Brief update and Plans</h2><p>It has been a long while since I visited here.<br />Added: even longer now!<br /> </p><p>With everything going on, I spent more time writing than communicating as directly as I do here To the good, I have three Rebecca Jamse stories (two long and one novella) ready to put up at various retailers. The Dragons Run My Life series has five books in the continuing series.<br /> </p><p>I came to a stopping point with Dragons, and I still am unsure where the story needs to go from this point.<br /> </p><p>I’ve been working on my web site; that has been a learning experience!</p><p>My wonderful first reader has moved along in her life, which has left me trying to follow Dean Wesley Smith’s advice to not have anyone read your work except to proofread. And I use ProWriting Aid for that, mostly. If there are any volunteers to be a first reader, send an email, please. <span> </span>Over the next week, beginning Feb 12, ’24, I plan to release the following books:<br /><span> </span></p><p>On Monday, a new edition of <i>Father’s Day</i> (formerly <i>Low Places</i>), wide. A new cover and reworked front and back matter, the story has had only a few inconsequential edits. <br /> </p><p>Also on Monday, a similar new edition of the novella, <i>Nursing Girls</i> will appear, Amazon willing. As with <i>Father’s Day</i>, the new <i>Nursing Girls</i> sports a fresh cover, revised front and back matter, and inconsequential edits to the story.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6JnqXICx2KADePyNEBGuB8RoZyN_rMqLQpWv1vga3kWtOIalDiRzYKpQQErD8NMAMlprfTLa3gePCBrQDiNckW2ir5Oym6H0TOhO34UYarcfYjheclHcv9luAzGKfbtfCOnbbUBPvcttIMT2AT6QaJ6thbq_QiQGsy0kpeAJdRDPYvce7RAy53Ut1le-/s1280/07%20Fathers_ebook%202n3_72%20sm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Father's Day." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6JnqXICx2KADePyNEBGuB8RoZyN_rMqLQpWv1vga3kWtOIalDiRzYKpQQErD8NMAMlprfTLa3gePCBrQDiNckW2ir5Oym6H0TOhO34UYarcfYjheclHcv9luAzGKfbtfCOnbbUBPvcttIMT2AT6QaJ6thbq_QiQGsy0kpeAJdRDPYvce7RAy53Ut1le-/w200-h320/07%20Fathers_ebook%202n3_72%20sm.jpeg" title="Cover of Father's Day." width="200" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Father’s Day</h3><p>Beckie and Ian accept a standard “cost plus half-spoils” contract to prevent a Mexican prosecutor from receiving a Father’s Day present he doesn’t want: his daughter’s head, gift-wrapped.<br /> </p><p>Both the girl and the drug cartel - the one the prosecutor’s working to eliminate - provide lots of opportunities to save her life. One of those ‘opportunities’ may allow the “half-spoils” clause to go into effect while exposing a blackmail operation that has few qualms about under-age prostitutes.<br /> </p><p>Sonora state in Mexico provides a beautiful setting for action that hardly stops for the life of this contract.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Father’s Day</i>, the seventh book in the Rebecca Jamse Thriller series, is a thriller set in an approximation to the real world. While it stands alone, readers unfamiliar with previous books may find the history preceding Father’s Day of interest. Real language is used; it is recommended for 15+.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJnb25ZVIh48gIg1V_9HZ53GfS_dn8_4Z_KPAPNH0CvnMXIaao5yH4JO_EPF_8ToiGgwSFhs2-nSJyK1IuipylU1DzFYh2KO9zOn6iOHsnG3fUt5VxG660ZfYzPlYS-RyhlQ4F52OfoM-UGgQyyq1jhPfm-oQ_gXeDrQD9esiJPozGsycNbecq5N63LGA/s1280/05a%20Nursing%20ebook%20cover3d_72%20sm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Nursing Girls." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJnb25ZVIh48gIg1V_9HZ53GfS_dn8_4Z_KPAPNH0CvnMXIaao5yH4JO_EPF_8ToiGgwSFhs2-nSJyK1IuipylU1DzFYh2KO9zOn6iOHsnG3fUt5VxG660ZfYzPlYS-RyhlQ4F52OfoM-UGgQyyq1jhPfm-oQ_gXeDrQD9esiJPozGsycNbecq5N63LGA/w200-h320/05a%20Nursing%20ebook%20cover3d_72%20sm.jpeg" title="Cover of Nursing Girls." width="200" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Nursing Girls</h3><p>Consensual sex: fun, but comes with consequences. Hardly unexpected but infelicitous none the less.<br /> </p><p>Angel, unmarried, and her friend Tammy, married, both pregnant, faced poverty even without the babies.<br /><br />Rebecca Jamse, widowed, must travel to Pakistan to support her team. Not a suitable environment for two month-old Ralf, her son.<br /> </p><p>Shalin deVeel knows the Imam of Tammy’s mosque strives to assist girls like these; she mentions Beckie’s need for a wet nurse. Since he has just assisted Angel and Tammy finding a Women’s Shelter, their availability is clear.<br /><br /><i>Nursing Girls</i> solves Beckie’s problem and introduces Angel and Tammy and their families. The key action runs parallel to <i>Discoveries</i>.<br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Back to plans</h2><p>Next following those two are two more, one from Rebecca Jamse Thrillers and the second from Dragons Run My Life, the epic fantasy following three red-haired sisters as they attempt to save the world as they know it. Or keep the rate of change acceptable.</p><p>The plan, then, is for the long-delayed Book Six of the Rebecca Jamse Thrillers, <i>Blood Moon</i>, to appear on Tuesday, when Friday the thirteenth comes this February, followed by <i>The Prophecy</i>. You knew the prophecy from Forbidden Islands wouldn’t just fade away, didn’t you?<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_L73wc3MlhrQhw3jPBU1y3uyScA6sd16QizDS4wiQc0pY6vLm8jVhWbahS-luxQwZNkd6_u86ufHXmiTdlwc51ACvxdPi4lfan7Lj5iC9yHKR_ZfQ9C4pOkP3SFT45bHBHS0WS4bfDv1l5ynmsSHhdDrm1mm0Ljv0h-Y44uiWJ6jd160WqLDnVlvfcp/s1280/06%20Blood%20Moon_Cover_V2_2b_72%20sm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Blood Moon" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_L73wc3MlhrQhw3jPBU1y3uyScA6sd16QizDS4wiQc0pY6vLm8jVhWbahS-luxQwZNkd6_u86ufHXmiTdlwc51ACvxdPi4lfan7Lj5iC9yHKR_ZfQ9C4pOkP3SFT45bHBHS0WS4bfDv1l5ynmsSHhdDrm1mm0Ljv0h-Y44uiWJ6jd160WqLDnVlvfcp/w200-h320/06%20Blood%20Moon_Cover_V2_2b_72%20sm.jpeg" title="Cover of Blood Moon" width="200" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Blood Moon</h3><p style="text-align: left;">South of Maidstone, England, Wendel Tate’s mum dies. Wendell’s reaction is disbelief; she wasn’t sick! Months railing against the Establishment has little effect, so he plans a more direct protest. The upcoming lunar eclipse suits him perfectly.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Before she disappears, Cecilia Stone’s friends interfere with Wendel’s plans.<br /><br />Amy Rose Ardan wants a tractable assignment from Beckie and Ian to help her decide her future with Dylan. Beckie believes looking for Cissy Stone suits.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">But Cissy unintentionally leads Amy to strange events that send her on a day trip to Pakistan and enlighten her about her past. A little, at least.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">A kidnapping followed by finding, then losing, what she didn’t know she had galvanize her search for an answer to Dylan’s question… and hers.<br /><br /><i>Blood Moon</i> is a romantic political thriller dealing with lies, self-delusion and growing up in an approximation to the real world. It is intended for 15 up; it includes real language.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rUpNJqWjyswkISgVP6cB1AtHEwjcFsNSbzDWA3Gki0OiOVKzstiY4k7jfczHTULE3x1rq9IUk2GD0hqnfFCbxKrcAkabPr8dVdjDldWPhBtICZbxAb6lWuTwT2DznIlI50PuINOHTCnjd2dFRQ6m3-rfvDVGGrw-mqwCPKcbJYI5bd-6o0UJF4qFIic3/s1280/06%20Proph_ebook_3d_72%20sm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Prophecy" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rUpNJqWjyswkISgVP6cB1AtHEwjcFsNSbzDWA3Gki0OiOVKzstiY4k7jfczHTULE3x1rq9IUk2GD0hqnfFCbxKrcAkabPr8dVdjDldWPhBtICZbxAb6lWuTwT2DznIlI50PuINOHTCnjd2dFRQ6m3-rfvDVGGrw-mqwCPKcbJYI5bd-6o0UJF4qFIic3/w200-h320/06%20Proph_ebook_3d_72%20sm.jpeg" title="Cover of The Prophecy" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Prophecy</h3><p><br /><b>End of the world prophecies: so prosaic. Unless it’s your prophecy.
</b><br />Three red-headed sisters worry it’s theirs.<br /><br /> ◦ Princess Tanial returns from the Forbidden Islands with a dire prophecy: unless she and her sisters prevent it, war will bring the death of all the residents of their lands.<br /> ◦ Queen Miriajona wrestles with her doom: to rule until her mate rejoins her.<br /> ◦ King Jenoele cannot abide the thought that her continued rule may require giving up control.<br /><br />They believe a threat to Miri and Jenoele from the religious cult calling itself Ny Regole has been quashed. Tanial then makes her first foray toward Maman’s home in Slot Minear, the largest city in the Lindebalgh on the western slopes of the mountains dividing Jenoele’s kingdom.<br />Maman awaits there with her own mysteries. So, too, do the Ny Regole.<br /><br />The prophecy reminds Tanial that she misses Maman and her wisdom. Her advice, not so much; she is young.<br /> </p><p>Even in a land where travel and communications are limited to the speed of walking or at best, horseback, calamities rise with fearsome speed.<br /><i>The Prophecy</i> is Book Six of the Dragons Run My Life series.<br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Going on</h2><p>I plan to post weekly. We’ll see how that goes.<br /> </p>tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-75215387133753948442021-03-24T21:51:00.000-04:002021-03-24T21:51:18.511-04:00Hello and yeah, been a while. How about a political rant?<p>This is close to the text of an open letter I sent to President Joe Biden, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and Representative Stephen Lynch, relating my opinions of Louis DeJoy. There are some minor differences between this and the ones sent through the various contact forms, mainly for the President, since that one has (apparently) a 1500 character limit on its messages. At least they don't (yet) use the abysmal captcha asking you to pick photos of dog crap to post.<br /> </p><p>Dear ;</p><p>I am aware of many of the problems facing the country and the government as well as the Government. However, when I read this headline and the article on cnn.com the other day, <br /><b>Postmaster General announces 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours</b><br />By Kristen Holmes, Liz Stark and Devan Cole, CNN<br />Updated: Tue, 23 Mar 2021 18:50:32 GMT<br />Source: <a href="https://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_2e24e68bf2f2a38a5afc20df1a2bc958">CNN</a><br /><br />my first thought was how stupid is Louis DeJoy? He doesn’t need ten years to do that; he’s been doing a brill job since he was installed to do just exactly that.</p><p><br />Then, I realized that it’s the death of a thousand cuts. He figures, over ten years, we won't notice. He’s planning the demise of the Postal Service as a useful organization; one that can therefore be wiped off the face of America, replaced by DeJoy’s Message Service™ (Only a 50% increase in rates [today] over that useless entity that can’t even buy gas powered vehicles to keep our economy strong!”</p><br />I have a personal issue with DeJoy’s improved service from the end of 2020, though based on news reports I am one of a great number, and my issue is petty in the grand scheme of things. And it’s a first world problem; the package was finally delivered. Attached below is the image of the USPS Tracking Results which show this package required two plus weeks and visits to Brockton,MA; White Plains, NY; Jersey City, NJ (five times); Kearney, NJ, and Springfield MA to make the trip from Mountainside, NJ to our home in Stoughton, MA. I’d have to say Mr. DeJoy is doing a bang-up job!<p><br />If your desire is to have the postal service vanish and all its equipment, etc., trashed the way DeJoy had sorting machines sold for scrap (I don’t think he actually had them sold, just disassembled them and discarded the pieces in parking lots.) during the run-up to the elections last year; and a substantial fraction of the employees trashed along with the equipment (’cause so many are gurls, you know, and not only that, they’re not pure-blooded European descendants, and what does a good ’Murrican company need with those?), then keep Louis DeJoy in his position, where he can continue to follow trump’s orders to get rid of that blight on good American Capitalism.</p><p><br />In other words, do the right thing:<br />One: Eliminate the need for the Postal Service to self-fund its future pension needs til beyond the date when the climate has destroyed even the most ardent nay-sayer.<br />Two: Get rid of the person who wants to kill you. In case you’re keeping score, that would be Louis DeJoy.</p><p><br />Thanks for your attention and concern.</p><p> </p><p>Your thoughts and opinions are welcome. <br /></p>
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tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-21834921626003517122019-01-31T11:24:00.000-05:002019-01-31T11:24:56.579-05:00Now Ready For Purchase<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Available Now!</span></b></div>
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The first two books in my Dragons Run My Life fantasy series, plus the short story that reads best between them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book One. Click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDLGXRF">Here for Amazon</a>; click <a href="https://books2read.com/u/4DZXqQ">Here for other e-tailers (epub version)</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Intermediate Story: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MHDB58Q">Click Here for Amazon</a>; Click <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3RV9eL">Here for epub versions.</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book Two. Click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDLJS2P">Here for Amazon</a>; Click <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mg29nq">Here for epub versions.</a></td></tr>
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The Dragons Run My Life series is set on the planet Toile. Follow the trials, heartache and joys of red-headed three princesses urged by beings they call ‘dragons’ to avoid continent-wide war, something they don’t even understand.<br />
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The desire to understand their world and the taboos they live with drives them. Of course, they have responsibilities, too, their families, their friends and compatriots.They are princesses, after all. Conflicts, assassins, ordinary day-to-day tasks all must be managed; none can be set aside for the quest.<br />
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The dragons speak to a few, without revealing their plans, or especially their nature. Their guidance, to use the term loosely, seems to lack any rationale; the few must make their own choices whether to accept the advice or not. Predictably, they follow when the direction given matches their instincts and hopes. How the dragons will react when their words are not heeded remains to be seen. Perhaps they know well enough how to couch their counsel so it will always be palatable.<br />
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Family, friends, country and joy of discovery drive the actions of those we see; others are equally driven, perhaps to seek the same goals. <br />
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The first two books, <i>The Faux Princess</i> and <i>The True Princess</i>, along with <i>The Warden's Tale</i>, are available now at your favorite e-bookseller. If you don't find them, please let me know so I can extend my reach.<br />
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<i>Book Three: The Journeys Home</i> will be available at the end of February. Pre-orders will be up soon.<br />
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Thanks for reading. Comments, as always, are welcome.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-59416074158414366512019-01-10T12:43:00.000-05:002019-01-10T12:43:14.720-05:00Personal Feelings About MailChimpThis is my experience. I hope yours is different.<br />
<br />A the end of November, I signed up for a free account with MailChimp, to have something to do with the email addresses I got from participating in a BookFunnel promotion.<br />
<br />The sign-up was not particularly difficult, though a bit arcane for me, never having tried that sort of service before. I added my mail list, worked for a while on my first message, and sent a couple of test messages to myself.<br />
<br />Instantly (in internet time), I received a notification that my account had violated the TOS, and was suspended until… Never was clear until when. Or how to cure. So far, the answer is 'until forever'.<br />
<br />I responded to the notice the way it pointed to, saying I apologize and what exactly did I do and how do I get reinstated?<br />
The message: Read the Terms of Service.<br /><br />
I did, several times. I still couldn’t figure out what I did. But there’s no way to contact them to ask that question and all the FAQs I found don’t address it either.<br />
<br />I had no response for two weeks, either to what I did wrong or what I had to do to be reinstated, so I closed the account and went to MailerLite. Even now, a month and a half later, nothing from them.<br /><br />The warning I have is that, in my experience, MailChimp either has no customer service to speak of, or too much business. I can accept that a free account might well not raise any interest, but to ignore a request for help still seems to me a bit egregious.<br />
<br />Your experience may well be different. I hope it’s better.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-5936700685991696512018-12-04T19:20:00.000-05:002018-12-04T19:20:42.340-05:00Congratulations! Also, After a Missed Update, Here We AreFirst, congratulations to all who participated in National Novel Writing Month, AKA NaNo. Even bigger congrats if you made your goal, no matter how big or small. You Rock!<br /><br />The election is over, and had good and bad outcomes, as well as Republican sore losers who won’t give up no matter how the vote goes.
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So the writing didn’t do as badly as I feared. Conversely, much time I could have been writing was filled with things like editing and you know, the other things that are needed to make a book come into being.<br /><br />Over the past two months, <i>True Princess</i> questions have been satisfactorily resolved, as have similar questions with <i>The Journeys Home</i>, the third book, which is pretty much ready for the final read-through and collecting of the front and back matter.<br />
<br />Also, <i>Father Maman</i>, the novella that fits between Journeys and the next book, is off to my reader, for her opinions and assistance.<br />
<br />And the book which follows <i>Journeys </i>and<i> Father Maman</i> has had The End typed where it belongs. Those of you who follow this may recall <i>The Lovers </i>and<i> First Indications</i>. As I read them through, it became obvious that, unlike <i>Father Maman</i>, those two were in fact a single story, dealing with the Queen’s life during the trip home and in the palace. So <i>Queen Immured</i> (which may not end up being the title) came to be, now at not quite ninety-one thousand words.
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Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.
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Updated December 3, data from 30 November.
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<br />As of (10/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:
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<li> <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 109 words. No major change.
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<li> <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 278 words. A few additional changes.
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<li> <i>The Journeys Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 128 479 words. The back and forth with my reader is done. I don’t expect more than minor changes.
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<li> <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. Unchanged.
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<li> <i>Queen Immured</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 90 767 words.
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<li> <i>Father Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 19 757 words. Finished except for things.
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<li> <i>Forbidden Islands</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Five) zero words. The file is named.
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From two months ago, here’s September’s update:
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As of (10/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:
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<li> The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 114 words. No major change.
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<li> The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 286 words. My reader returned it the 10th of September, and I made most of the changes she pointed out.
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<li> The Journeys Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 127 860 words. It went to my reader on September 23rd.
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<li> Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No changes. Obviously not complete.
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<li> Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. Unchanged.
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<li> First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 10 709 words.
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<li> The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 44 281 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe. Both this and Father Maman are complete except for things I or my reader find wrong.<br />(First Indications and The Lovers have been combined in Queen Immured.)
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<li> Father Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 20 539 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.
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Here’s October’s work. Added 11 537 words, bringing the Y-T-D total to 177 515 words.
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Here’s November’s work. Added 30 667 words, bringing the Y-T-D total to 207 849 words. <br />
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What happened, then?<br />
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Overall, I wrote 42 100 words, about 700 words per day. For days I did write, about 1000 words each of those days.
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In addition to the editing and other tasks, I opted to put <i>Faux Princess</i> into a giveaway, mentioned here earlier in November. I was pleased with the response, but now I have to follow through. I thought to use MailChimp for my bright shiny new mailing list, and did something that they feel violated their TOS. It’s been five days now, and they still haven’t responded to my request asking what I did wrong and can I be reinstated. If they don’t answer in the next day or two, I’ll find another provider.<br />
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I’ve received comments and suggestions on <i>True Princess </i>and<i> Voyages Home</i>. <i>Father Maman</i> is with my reader now. Recall (if you can) I had one big question last time: would the three stories, <i>Father Maman</i>,<i> The Lovers </i>and<i> First Indications</i>, work better as a single book? I put them together into a single volume, and then read it through to the end (as far as it was then) and decided while <i>Father Maman</i> didn’t fit, the other two did, and make a better story than the two individually did. In my opinion at least. We’ll see what others think as time goes on.<br />
<br />I made the time to move my books to Kindle Direct Publishing (It didn't take long!), but I have to do other things, like new covers and so forth.
I decided to drop <i>Blood Moon</i> and publish <i>Low Places</i> in December.
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In addition to the routine complaints (trying to figure out where images will appear in the blog, and the annoying having the point of view skip to the bottom of the file whenever a new line is added), now Blogger has forgotten how to import bullet lists, making it necessary to find each one of them, clean up the bullets and spaces that the original had, and then put them all on individual lines (see above about adding new line frustrations) and then use Blogger's bulleted list command. I have too many to spend my life doing that. For now, I've dropped the history section, and I'm looking for a new platform.<br />
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As always, comments and opinions welcome.
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The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).
tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-19363713055202799912018-11-15T14:55:00.000-05:002018-11-15T14:55:20.502-05:00A Great Group of Books, FreeFor a limited time, free for the signing up, and you can unsubscribe if you don't enjoy the book.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/firstcontact"><span style="font-size: large;">Click here for the Giveaway.</span></a></td></tr>
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<br /><br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-76640094437639008672018-11-06T08:55:00.001-05:002018-11-06T08:55:57.584-05:00But First, Two Critical Words<span style="font-size: large;">Go Vote.</span><br />
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Unless you have already. While I care how you vote, this isn't that rant. I ask you to voice your opinion in the only way we have to set the direction of this country.<br />
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It's important. Let me repeat:<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go Vote!</span></span><br />
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Thank you. The routine monthly update will be along soon. If you're doing NaNo, keep those words flowing! If you're not doing NaNo, keep those words and other things flowing, too!tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-77718157223735541192018-10-05T22:34:00.000-04:002018-10-05T22:34:58.254-04:00Truly a bad month, continuing to this very day.Not personal for me more than anyone.<br />
<br />A brief political rant heads us off this month.<br /><br />
I wonder if anyone has any respect for honesty, especially under oath. After the Attorney General, charged with the responsibility of the Justice Department, lied to Congress and was still confirmed, some of us (unenlightened, naïve even) watchers considered it a fluke. Well, after the sham that Bart Kavanaugh just put not only the Senate, but credible witnesses and the American people through, and the Republicans to a one [possibly excepting Sen Murkowski (R-AK), since the vote hasn’t happened as I write this] have accepted this orgy of lying, self-entitlement and privilege the likes of which have seldom been seen outside fiction and “upper-class boarding schools.” In fact, they’ve rewarded it.<br /><br /> I digress. I suspect that the bad taste of this ‘hearing’ will echo in the form of loss of respect for the rule of law, since at the highest level, there is no penalty for out-right defiance of laws that do not suit the moneyed, and the privileged. In fact, lying to the Senate provides rewards: Appointment to Attorney General to further the white supremacist, evangelical belief that Sessions’ version of Christianity is the only true way, anti-immigrant policies that Jeff “I lied under oath” Sessions believes and wants to force all of us to live by. Confirmation (unless some miracle happens tomorrow—please god, who- or whatever you believe her to be) to a lifetime seat deciding rules that brown and black people, and women, and all the rest of us, too, no matter what we believe, will have to live by.<br /><br /> Or he could be impeached after the Senate has been taken back.<br />I don’t necessarily want Democrats to be in charge, but I’d like people who think for themselves, who are not bought and paid for by billionaires (I know, I know, some of my best friends…). That means repealing Citizen’s United, too. <br /><br /> I hope I’ll be able to break the habit of giving the finger to the television because a director decides a shot of the orange menace will fill the empty space between my ears as well as it does his.<br /><br /> But think back and tell me why any citizen would give up all that by telling the truth? When will that honor be restored? Asking for a friend…<br />/rant<br /><br />Not as much writing, again; September was filled with angst and disappointment (see above). <i>True Princess</i> came back from my reader with her comments and suggestions (which were <i>not</i> a source of disappointment), most of which have been implemented.<br /><br /> When I got it, I had just realized a minor difficulty in my world-building: that while I’d modeled my characters on earth-based humans, with attendant aging specifically, the world of Toile has a year that’s only 77% of an earth year. So the ages I included, whether called winters or years or whatever, were low by that amount. The place I found it was calculating the length of a pregnancy. The nine months or 270 days, approximately, of an average pregnancy on earth translates to almost an entire year on Toile: 243 of the 256 days, or 30 and a quarter otto'dars of the thirty-two in a Toile year. For other age comparisons, I made this handy chart for the Author’s Note, to help explain it.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earth age| 8 10 15 20 23 30 31 40 70<br />Toile age | 10 13 20 26 30 39 40 52 91</span><br /><br />I realized that problem just as <i>True Princess</i> came back, so I made the corresponding corrections to <i>The Journeys Home</i>, and sent it off to my reader.<br /><br /><i>The Lovers</i> is finished, except for discoveries like the one above.<br /><br />Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.<br />Updated October 5, data from 30 September.<br /><br />As of (10/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 114 words. No major change.<br /> • <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 286 words. My reader returned it the 10th of September, and I made most of the changes she pointed out.<br /> • <i>The Journeys Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 127 860 words. It went to my reader on September 23rd.<br /> • <i>Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. Unchanged.<br /> • <i>First Indications</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 10 709 words.<br /> • <i>The Lovers</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 44 281 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe. Both this and <i>Father Maman</i> are complete except for things I or my reader find wrong.<br /> • <i>Father Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 20 539 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />
From last month, here’s August’s update:<br />As of (9/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 183 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 270 words. By the 21st, it was off to my reader again.<br />
• The Journeys Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 127 887
words. Finished til the next round of comments. It was ready to go to my
reader on the 21st.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. Unchanged.<br /> • First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 7 737 words.<br />
• The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 34 773
words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel
from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • Father Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 20 313 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br /><br />Here’s September’s work. Added 24 714 words, bringing the Y-T-D total to 166 106 words. <br />
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What happened last month, then?<br /><br />Overall, I wrote 24 714 words, just over 820 words per day. For days I did write, about 1370 words each of those days.<br /><br />Aside
from the dismay caused by politics, the change in time was the biggest
thing to show up and it took two or three days to puzzle through. (Could
I posit that my characters’ development was sped by the shortened year?
No.) Then, figure out what changes were needed and make the changes.<br /><br />As
I said, The Lovers was intended to be about the same length as Father
Maman, about 20Kwords. Finished, I managed to hold it under 45Kwords,
barring any other changes that show up.<br /><br />The plan was to get
comments back on True Princess, Voyages Home and Father Maman. I’ve
gotten True Princess completed, and Voyages Home is with my reader.
Father Maman and The Lovers are both ready, but one big question I have
is: would the three stories, Father Maman, The Lovers and First
Indications, work better as a single book?<br /><br />A look at this image, the time spans for the seven books that exist in one form or another, may show the genesis of that question.<br />
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The top line is <i>Amerith</i>; the second, <i>The Faux Princess</i>; the third, <i>The True Princess</i>, the fourth, <i>The Journeys Home</i>; the fifth, <i>The Lovers</i>, the sixth, <i>Father Maman</i> and the last, <i>First Indications</i>. <br />
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While CreateSpace has shut down, I haven’t made the time to move my books to Kindle Direct Publishing. In the plans for October. <br /><br />I haven’t completely decided, but I may just drop Blood Moon and publish Low Places. I have been unable to decide where it should go, and as a result, can’t gen much interest in it.<br /><br />As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br /><br />The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br /><br />Earlier updates<br /><br />From last month, the July update:<br />Here’s April’s update:<br />As of (8/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 114 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 253 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; earlier comments are now included. By the 17th, it’ll be off to my reader again.<br /> • The Journeys Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 123 131 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. It will go to my reader by 8/17, after finishing and rereading.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No major changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. The new version back and changes made. Ready for publish one Blood Moon is done.<br /> • First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 7 982 words.<br /> • The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 17 216 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • Red Hot Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 15 646 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br /><br />From two months ago, here’s the May update:<br />As of (5/1), the WIPs are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 112 338 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 676 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; it’s back with my reader (April 25) to see what problems I’ve left in.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 113 529 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. In the hands of my reader (April 28), to see what problems she spots.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 784 words. After my reader’s suggestion the rethink the ending, again, added and subtracted words for net reduction of about three thousand words. The new version is back with her (April 25) to point out places that don’t match or still don’t work.<br /><br />Added three new WIP. Titles are working titles only. More hours spent with Aeon Timeline, to lay out the plots for these:<br /> • First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 1 394 words.<br /> • The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 5 453 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • Red Hot Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 1 424 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />From a quarter ago, here’s January’s update:<br />As of (2/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 909 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 103 135 words. A few changes. New version now in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 94 601 words; Continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 110 405 words. Added and subtracted per my reader’s comments. Returned the changed pieces for her review on January 28.<br /><br /><br />As of (1/1/18), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. <br /><br /><br />As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br /><br />As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br /><br />As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br /><br />As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br /><br />As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br /><br /><br />As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br /> • The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br /><br />As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br /><br />As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta reader by 3/31.<br /><br /><br />As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.<br />
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tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-18769956490633703012018-09-08T11:19:00.000-04:002018-09-08T11:19:57.311-04:00Here It Is Setember; Time for August's UpdateNot as much writing, again; August was filled with editing and reading. I finished (in that temporary sort of way that allows me to go back and make changes) <i>The True Princess</i>, <i>The Journeys Home</i> and <i>Father Maman</i> (formerly Red Hot Maman). <i>True Princess</i> I sent to my reader on the 21st. She preferred to wait before I send the other two, so, I wait. <br /><br />The change from <i>Red Hot Maman</i> to <i>Father Maman</i> reflects Maman’s state better. She hadn’t told me her plans when I chose the first name.<br /><br /><i>Blood Moon</i> hangs fire, still. The driving force behind the story seems wrong, and while I still noodle over how to improve it, nothing’s come flashing into my head to help point me true.<br /><br />Most of the writing I did was on <i>The Lovers</i>, which overlaps the end of <i>Journeys</i>, following Miri and Rhion back to their palace.<br /><br />Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.<br /><br />Updated September 8, data from 31 August.<br /><br />
Here’s August’s update:<br />As of (9/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 183 words. No major change.<br /> • <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 270 words. By the <strike>17th</strike>21st, it was off to my reader again.<br /> • <i>The Journeys Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 127 887 words. Finished til the next round of comments. It was ready to go to my reader on the 21st.<br /> • <i>Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • <i> Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. Unchanged.<br /> • <i> First Indications</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 7 737 words.<br /> • <i>The Lovers</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 34 773 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • <i>Father Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 20 313 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />From last month, the July update:<br />Here’s April’s update:<br />As of (8/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 114 words. No major change.<br /> • <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 253 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; earlier comments are now included. By the 17th, it’ll be off to my reader again.<br /> • <i>The Journeys Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 123 131 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. It will go to my reader by 8/17, after finishing and rereading.<br /> • <i>Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 59 686 words. No major changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. The new version back and changes made. Ready for publish one Blood Moon is done.<br /> • <i>First Indications</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 7 982 words.<br /> • <i>The Lovers</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 17 216 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • <i>Red Hot Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 15 646 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />Here’s August’s work. Added 24 534 words, bringing the Y-T-D total to 141 392 words.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI1Id-t3wNfLF-h0tkMBvPuWhJYWf4qsYdfZdJavS3ag7Z6s33gnFhpJSosnIU5dhmxVKmO0KFYhuy0C14hM8XIKyCnXDTCa5EEu5OAMv0Uk0bHuds-ScefRmBdxnfc2_sZYh_5Tjih9E/s1600/180901+Progress.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="550" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI1Id-t3wNfLF-h0tkMBvPuWhJYWf4qsYdfZdJavS3ag7Z6s33gnFhpJSosnIU5dhmxVKmO0KFYhuy0C14hM8XIKyCnXDTCa5EEu5OAMv0Uk0bHuds-ScefRmBdxnfc2_sZYh_5Tjih9E/s640/180901+Progress.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />What happened last month, then?<br /><br />Overall, I wrote 24 534 words, just under 800 words per day. For days I did write, about 1170 words per day.<br /><br /><i>Father Maman</i> grew a bit, as I completed <i>Journeys</i> and started work on <i>The Lovers</i> and <i>First Indications</i>, and found, along with the length of time things take in this world (horsepower and walking are the only means of transportation, and communication is similarly restricted), some changes were needed. Those have been incorporated, accounting for the increase in length.<br /><br /><i>The Lovers</i> was intended to be about the same length as <i>Father Maman</i>, about 20Kwords. It has outstripped that mark, though, and still has a lot to accomplish. The trick will be to keep it under 45Kwords, I fear.<br /><br />The plan last month was to send <i>True Princess</i>, <i>Journeys Home</i> and <i>Father Maman</i> off to my reader for her thoughts and suggestions by the 17th of August. <i>True Princess </i>was sent off on the 21st, and the others were ready, and still are.<br /><br />CreateSpace has shut down, so this month I’ll have to do some work there.<br /><br />As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br /><br />The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br /><br />Earlier updates<br /><br />From two months ago, here’s the May update:<br />As of (5/1), the WIPs are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 112 338 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 676 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; it’s back with my reader (April 25) to see what problems I’ve left in.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 113 529 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. In the hands of my reader (April 28), to see what problems she spots.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 784 words. After my reader’s suggestion the rethink the ending, again, added and subtracted words for net reduction of about three thousand words. The new version is back with her (April 25) to point out places that don’t match or still don’t work.<br /><br />Added three new WIP. Titles are working titles only. More hours spent with Aeon Timeline, to lay out the plots for these:<br /> • First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 1 394 words.<br /> • The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 5 453 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • Red Hot Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 1 424 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />From a quarter ago, here’s January’s update:<br />As of (2/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 909 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 103 135 words. A few changes. New version now in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 94 601 words; Continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 110 405 words. Added and subtracted per my reader’s comments. Returned the changed pieces for her review on January 28.<br /><br /><br />As of (1/1/18), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. <br /><br /><br />As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br /><br />As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br /><br />As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br /><br />As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br /><br />As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br /><br /><br />As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br /> • The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br /><br />As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br /><br />As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta reader by 3/31.<br /><br /><br />As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-403089746414569602018-08-08T09:00:00.000-04:002018-08-08T09:00:14.886-04:00As Promised<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I finally typed what is the last intentional word in <i>The Journeys Home</i>. This also incorporates changes from my reader’s suggestions and comments on the last version, completes Jenoele’s arc to her coronation and adds a new character who will be useful later on. Slightly over 123Kwords, so a bit longer than the others, so far.<br /><br />A lot of my time for the past three months has not been writing. Mostly, it’s been editing and reading. Reading my stuff; reading my reader’s work and reading books from others. <br /><br />My TBR is still stacked sky high.<br /><br />The writing I did get to, aside from rewriting, which mostly reduced word count, came close to finishing the draft of <i> Journeys Home</i>, virtually finished <i>Red Hot Maman</i> and worked on <i>Lovers</i> and <i>First Indications</i>. Those three make up the next stage in the Dragons saga.<br /><br />I also planned for <i>Blood Moon</i>, since <i>Low Places</i> awaits its release. It’s time to get going on it, since the title event has happened!<br /><br />I spent more time working on the map, and on the front and back matter folders, now kept in a separate project called Master Common Elements. That now includes the Author’s Note, which attempts to give a baseline understanding to a few of the characteristics of the setting. Part of the map-making exercise was to create front matter maps that zoom in on the area specifically where the current story is set.<br /><br />Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.<br /><br />Updated August 8, data from 31 July.<br />
Here’s April’s update:<br />As of (7/31), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 114 words. No major change.<br /> • <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 253 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; earlier comments are now included. By the 17th, it’ll be off to my reader again.<br /> • <i>The Journeys Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 117 251 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. It will go to my reader by 8/17, after finishing and rereading.<br /> • <i> Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly <i>Princess</i>: 59 686 words. No major changes. Obviously not complete.<br /> • <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 506 words. The new version back and changes made. Ready for publish once <i>Blood Moon</i> is done.<br /> • <i>First Indications</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 7 982 words.<br /> • <i>The Lovers </i>(Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 17 216 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • <i>Red Hot Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 15 646 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear. This is essentially complete<br /><br />From a quarter ago, here’s the May update:<br />As of (5/1), the WIPs are:<br /> • <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 112 338 words. No major change.<br /> • <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 676 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; it’s back with my reader (April 25) to see what problems I’ve left in.<br /> • <i>The Voyages Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 113 529 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. In the hands of my reader (April 28), to see what problems she spots.<br /> • <i>Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 784 words. After my reader’s suggestion the rethink the ending, again, added and subtracted words for net reduction of about three thousand words. The new version is back with her (April 25) to point out places that don’t match or still don’t work.<br /><br />Added three new WIP. Titles are working titles only. More hours spent with Aeon Timeline, to lay out the plots for these:<br /> • <i>First Indications</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 1 394 words.<br /> • <i>The Lovers</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 5 453 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • <i>Red Hot Maman</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 1 424 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />Here’s July’s work. The Y-T-D total is 116 228 words through July 31.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5ByW1VE9BmMMkNcgUQTb8ffU6db1mRn_BRwspAjJk8RvT4VhcTLa2F8SXV6-rmLl4_7QagJXnJOefyYsLWPoX6sXPGQrsOqqChkKPt0GPC9mvH07E7pv0zXK8CB6BkLcKNYkpaawV7uG/s1600/180801+Progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5ByW1VE9BmMMkNcgUQTb8ffU6db1mRn_BRwspAjJk8RvT4VhcTLa2F8SXV6-rmLl4_7QagJXnJOefyYsLWPoX6sXPGQrsOqqChkKPt0GPC9mvH07E7pv0zXK8CB6BkLcKNYkpaawV7uG/s1600/180801+Progress.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />
What happened this quarter, then?<br /><br />Overall, I wrote 43 361 words, just over 14 500 words per month. Better than the last quarter, but far fewer than the 40 000 per month I hoped to get, but didn’t set time aside for.<br /><br />I packed the CreateSpace pdfs, Amerith, Faux Princess and True Princess to travel with on our Rhine River cruise over the end of June, and did read and mark-up errors and things. Those have been incorporated in the mss.<br /><br />As you saw above, I finished Voyages now renamed Journeys, since as my reader pointed out, none of them take a boat for an appreciable trip, making journey more accurate. Close, but no cigar, as far as the end of month update is concerned.<br /><br />I had comments on Faux Princess, True Princess and Journeys to incorporate, after going back through my mail to make sure I got all of them. They’ve been incorporated, too.<br /><br />After one last read-through of True Princess and Journeys Home, I’ll send both off to my reader for her thoughts on this latest version. That should be before the 17th of August.<br /><br />The planning for Blood Moon still hasn’t finished. I’ll probably wait til Voyages is complete, a week or two after I get the comments on the current draft.<br /><br />Red Hot Maman is virtually complete. It may slot into the Book Four opening. However, while it starts just after First Indications, it includes a scene or two that need to be read as part of both. The trick will be inserting a break in Book Four that says, in effect, Now go read Red Hot Maman, then come back and continue here. Probably that’s not viable.<br /><br />Lovers did the first growth, since a chunk of it came from Journeys, but the change in Journey’s ending will cause ripples through Lovers and First Indications, so that’s to consider, too.<br /><br />As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br /><br />The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br /><br />Earlier updates<br /><br />From a quarter ago, here’s January’s update:<br />As of (2/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 909 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 103 135 words. A few changes. New version now in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 94 601 words; Continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 110 405 words. Added and subtracted per my reader’s comments. Returned the changed pieces for her review on January 28.<br /><br /><br />As of (1/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. <br /><br /><br />As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br /><br />As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br /><br />As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br /><br />As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br /><br />As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br /><br /><br />As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br /> • The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br /><br />As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br /><br />As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta reader by 3/31.<br /><br /><br />As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.<br />
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<br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-17159473462128075552018-08-07T12:46:00.000-04:002018-08-07T12:46:51.212-04:00Better late…Or so they say. Who knows. As DWS says every year, the time of great forgetting. We’re in it now.<br /><br />Last post, I told you I’d publish the two missing months. Here they are, unadorned.<br />
<br />Next post will be the August first update, as if the intervening months had never happened.<br />
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For June:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnw0p1cwi4VUcjFiQRAb2WIyNKrCZO6u0Zi4ZV6SNKn0V9sropkcegbgmgaprs-NS81UFIoXj3csM_ztBSMmRYf1uOzN0mOdmcrYnsJl1-BJZr9i2tZY6KKRT99Uai9djStnwTlnJxZQW/s1600/180601+Progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnw0p1cwi4VUcjFiQRAb2WIyNKrCZO6u0Zi4ZV6SNKn0V9sropkcegbgmgaprs-NS81UFIoXj3csM_ztBSMmRYf1uOzN0mOdmcrYnsJl1-BJZr9i2tZY6KKRT99Uai9djStnwTlnJxZQW/s1600/180601+Progress.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading. Comments always welcome.<br />
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The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-44383458912300325332018-07-13T17:05:00.000-04:002018-07-13T17:05:30.600-04:00Look, it’s Friday the Thirteenth! And Another Quarter.Big deal. So far, in my decades of experience, nothing particularly bad, or good, to be fair, has happened on a Friday the 13th. So, another old wives’ tale? For me, seems so. YMMV.<br />
<br />I haven’t come back to admit I’ve decided not to post my progress or lack thereof; however, a few words of explanation seem to be in order. First, I’ll post the charts for May and June in a few days.<br />
<br />What happened was a lot of non-writing writing tasks. Reviewing my reader’s comments on three stories, responding and making changes. Having the opportunity to read and comment on her work, as well.<br />
<br />In other fun things, we did this:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaL4Q9kwfeMpOgBS5-at_Sm9VtJSrAKQM0xF0AOXv_ksKO0VwSgGlRFZGNpM82DogTCSZP98PFKdKcJ89BAin8onFkLPAIBw10CTPV8KSFw6690X60ke9F-340j2a_HZq4BzIyo9cEZb6/s1600/IMG_0137+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaL4Q9kwfeMpOgBS5-at_Sm9VtJSrAKQM0xF0AOXv_ksKO0VwSgGlRFZGNpM82DogTCSZP98PFKdKcJ89BAin8onFkLPAIBw10CTPV8KSFw6690X60ke9F-340j2a_HZq4BzIyo9cEZb6/s640/IMG_0137+copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Docked on the Rhine River, Kehl, Germany</td></tr>
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<br /><br />A ten day trip which included a week-long cruise from Amsterdam, NL to Basel SW. Very nice and highly recommended. However, since I wasn’t going to take any significant electronics through US C&BP returning, all writing was pencil and paper.<br />
<br />However, the plane rides to and from Europe, and down time in the cruise itself, allowed not only a little original writing, but—remember those three proof copies I ordered from CreateSpace back in February? I finally went through all of them, marking errors and such. I’ve even gotten changes for two books folded into the original files.<br />
<br />All in all, this quarter is shaping up to be one that supports the writing effort with ancillary (though editing isn’t really ancillary) tasks.<br />
<br />My goal, as of today, is to have four books in the Dragons Run My Life series available for sale by October 1. Now, all I have to do is do it.<br />
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Comments welcome.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-58802356088170710832018-05-03T12:56:00.001-04:002018-05-03T12:56:48.958-04:00Look, A Whole Quarter’s Gone By <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And what do I have to show for it?<br /><br />First, congratulations to every one who did Camp NaNo last month. Here’s hoping you made good progress on whatever your goal was.<br /><br />My time for the past three months has <i>not</i> been spent writing. Mostly, it’s been editing. And reading. Editing and reading my stuff; reading my reader’s work and reading books from others. I recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elle-Casey/e/B006SUPLO6/">Elle Casey</a>, especially the War of the Fae series of nine books, so far. And only one a novella. Book ten in July, IIRC.<br />My TBR is stacked sky high.<br /><br />The writing I did get to, aside from rewriting which reduced word count, moved Voyages Home to the final stages, although it’s not complete as yet. Also, I spent about a week working on an updated map of Territory Two on Toile (where the Dragons series is set).<br /><br />Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.<br /><br />Updated May 3, data from 30 April.<br />
Here’s April’s update:<br />As of (5/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 112 338 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 99 676 words. A third version following the reader’s comments on the earlier version; it’s back with my reader (April 25) to see what problems I’ve left in.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 113 529 words; continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up. In the hands of my reader (April 28), to see what problems she spots.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 784 words. After my reader’s suggestion that I rethink the ending, again, added and subtracted words for net reduction of about three thousand words. The new version is back with her (April 25) to point out places that don’t match or still don’t work.<br /><br />Added three new WIP. Titles are working titles only. More hours spent with Aeon Timeline, to lay out the plots for these:<br /> • First Indications (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four): 1 394 words.<br /> • The Lovers (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three addendum): 5 453 words. Following Miri and Rhion, and Sanne and Gareth as they travel from Rendekebing to Traenthe.<br /> • Red Hot Maman (Dragons Run My Life, Book Four addendum) 1 424 words. A trip to seek out Tanial’s maman in Slot Minear.<br /><br />From a quarter ago, here’s January’s update:<br />As of (2/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 909 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 103 135 words. A few changes. New version now in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 94 601 words; Continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 110 405 words. Added and subtracted per my reader’s comments. Returned the changed pieces for her review on January 28.<br /><br />Here’s April’s work. The Y-T-D total is 72 597 words through April 30.<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ZuvugV-fURsjeWyCs1ec9FizFkkW1BP-VyhXMbHz09iWj1OZpSTcJ82S77xekdFH6012e8GiPRQwMoTyHVne4jgCTx_zkY77vW7weBGwudC-tDsQj0b2hBk8HMsdFlU7YtNUgd05n1f/s1600/180501+Progress.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ZuvugV-fURsjeWyCs1ec9FizFkkW1BP-VyhXMbHz09iWj1OZpSTcJ82S77xekdFH6012e8GiPRQwMoTyHVne4jgCTx_zkY77vW7weBGwudC-tDsQj0b2hBk8HMsdFlU7YtNUgd05n1f/s1600/180501+Progress.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />What happened this past quarter, then?<br /><br />Overall, I wrote just under 35 500 words, or not quite 12 000 words per month. Far fewer than the 40 000 per month I hoped to get, but didn’t set time aside for.<br /><br />The exercise in getting pdfs ready for CreateSpace was completed, and on Feb 5, the proofs were approved and shipped. They arrived about a week later. I’m about halfway through Amerith. True Princess has been set aside (since the ms has undergone significant revision since then), and Faux Princess awaits.<br /><br />As I’ve often said, I’d thought to finish Voyages. It is close, but I decided to try ProWritingAid’s app on it and on the newer sections of True Princess. I’ll wait to see what comments my reader may make, but from my viewpoint, its suggestions have just enough merit to keep using it despite all the ones that don’t help so much. Also, it’s not clear why their suggested comma placement just sounds wrong to me, since they follow the ‘rules’. Oh well. With all that, probably two weeks went into that exercise, during which no original writing was done.<br /><br />The planning for Blood Moon still hasn’t finished. I’ll probably wait til Voyages is complete, a week or two after I get the comments on the current draft.<br /><br />As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br /><br />The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br /><br />Earlier updates:<br /><br />Here’s December’s update.<br />:<br />As of (1/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. <br /><br /><br />As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br /><br />As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br /><br />As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br /><br />As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br /><br />As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br /><br /><br />As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br /> • The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br /><br />As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br /><br />As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta reader by 3/31.<br /><br /><br />As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.<br /><br />Posted by tonyl at 8:23 AM <br />Labels: Blood Moon, Carol Buhler, Lillith Chronicles, Low Places, Svenja, The Faux Princess, The True Princess, The Voyages Home, updates <br /><br />
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<br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-79580987186946801222018-02-03T09:00:00.000-05:002018-02-03T09:00:28.649-05:00Dragons Run My Life Cover RevalsAs promised, probable covers for the first four <b>Dragons Run My Life</b> stories, along with blurbs for each. Opinions and suggestions in the comments are requested, welcomed and appreciated.<br />
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Might have looked better if Blogger would allow changes to text, like center alignment, but not today, I guess.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book One - <i>The Faux Princess</i><br /></b><b>Description:</b></span><br /><br />
A muddy walk to the store earns Tanial a headache and a not to be denied opportunity to stand in for a dead Princess.<br />
<br />Because Liam’s man killed the Princess instead of preparing her for examinations to confirm her as suitable for marriage to the King, Liam is most anxious to make amends. A whisper in his ear sends him across Tanial’s path; he recognizes her uncanny similarity to the dead princess and instantly delivers Tanial’s headache from atop his horse. <br /><br />
Being wed to the King of the far-off land excites Tanial not nearly as much as Liam does during their ride to his camp.<br /><br />
To survive to love Liam, Tanial must befriend her new sister, dupe the King’s examiners, avoid an assassin and endure a journey of five hundred leagues on horseback.<br /><br /><i>The Faux Princess</i> is the first book in a multi-book series set on a continent on the planet Toile. The desire to understand their world and the taboos they live with drives them. Of course, they have responsibilities, too: their families, their friends and compatriots. Conflicts, assassins, ordinary day-to-day tasks all must be managed; none can be set aside for the quest.<br />
<br />The dragons speak to a few, without revealing their plans, or especially their nature. Their guidance, to use the term loosely, lacks any rationale; the few must make their own choices whether to accept the advice or not. Predictably, they follow when the direction given matches their instincts and hopes. How the dragons will react when their words are not heeded remains to be seen. Perhaps they know well enough how to couch their counsel so it will always be palatable.<br />
<br />Family, friends, country and joy of discovery drive the actions of those we see; the others are equally driven, perhaps to seek the same goals. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Faux Princess</i> Cover:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOex0KO9_OjUp9C0V8DR_4cgVfWEnadNVnHsngpjVfXPi3tKeNL9por64mV2Jzr0yW4piVsxGnPOnHzOJaa2gNdqZ-zmuk-PgH8icArBQVDoMZDbJl-8vfUzmolMh4K5qsuk632wGj0qZ/s1600/Cover_Final_3_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOex0KO9_OjUp9C0V8DR_4cgVfWEnadNVnHsngpjVfXPi3tKeNL9por64mV2Jzr0yW4piVsxGnPOnHzOJaa2gNdqZ-zmuk-PgH8icArBQVDoMZDbJl-8vfUzmolMh4K5qsuk632wGj0qZ/s640/Cover_Final_3_flat.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Amerith</i> - A Dragons Run My Life Short Story<br /><br />Description</b></span><br /><br />The
girl Amerith grows up to be a skilled thief and then a world-class
assassin, named after her profession, Dunver, until she takes the title, name and role
of Mistress Warden Marshal to the Princesses of Lindebalgh. Her mentor
and her debt will return, to wreak havoc on the Warden’s life.<br /><br /><i>Amerith</i> is a short side trip that adds to the experience of Toile and its characters. It is best read between Book One, <i>The Faux Princess</i>, and Book Two, <i>The True Princess</i>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Amerith</i> Cover:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXrGcJ67J6Xx37ESgH0Wp7kiR5AUysGQ6whXaXIgF73oXYPP_lB6oSv4EvTL6ZK6lusPt8A8yeN7iPopAwPq2oJJMM4SbGWTzTQzdr4iWjDSW0vy_ys1dqTh7zLfsirSUEuPF8HGpFjj/s1600/Amerith_cover_1_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXrGcJ67J6Xx37ESgH0Wp7kiR5AUysGQ6whXaXIgF73oXYPP_lB6oSv4EvTL6ZK6lusPt8A8yeN7iPopAwPq2oJJMM4SbGWTzTQzdr4iWjDSW0vy_ys1dqTh7zLfsirSUEuPF8HGpFjj/s640/Amerith_cover_1_flat.jpg" width="423" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b> </b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Two - <i>The True Princess</i><br /><br />Description</b></span><br /><br />King Esben travels to seal his alliance with the King of Aberystrad through the marriage of his daughter, Princess Miriajona, to that King. Esben’s youngest daughter, Princess Jenoele, unwillingly accompanies him and his Queen. To gain some benefit from her reluctant trip, the ten-and-a-half-year-old princess elects to confront her older sister, Saitanne, about her sudden appearance two otto’dars earlier. That encounter ends with less drama than Jenoele expects, but her decision marks her as prey for assassins seeking red-headed princesses.<br />
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Larger phenomena are about to change her life even more than the assassins.<br />She just wants to go home.<br /><br />Miriajona
is caught in the whirlwind of dresses, gowns and fittings in
preparation for the wedding, and prevented from being alone with the
King.<br />She just wants to love him.<br /><br />Tanial leads her motley team of… well, friends is best. She has yet to learn they can’t all be friends.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The True Princess</i> Cover</b></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN6AENs-_Buec1GEVqOWaJyRAZ2IB0Xfwm5wBcktI_jKB-LzAWFwbi8rrEagSdBeebx07tSYY_zFl4OD2IdNr2j3ZdIPbCr37sOqZWojLe_-8FN6fzzp47eSkZH34in48aL6XeDgUpqVR/s1600/Final+ebook_Bk2_Lic_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN6AENs-_Buec1GEVqOWaJyRAZ2IB0Xfwm5wBcktI_jKB-LzAWFwbi8rrEagSdBeebx07tSYY_zFl4OD2IdNr2j3ZdIPbCr37sOqZWojLe_-8FN6fzzp47eSkZH34in48aL6XeDgUpqVR/s640/Final+ebook_Bk2_Lic_flat.jpg" width="438" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Three - <i>The Voyages Home</i><br /><br />Description</b></span><br /><br />Jenoele rides with her Regent Tanial and a few trusted friends to Rendekebing and the Lindebalgh palace. With her da, the King, dead in the waters off the coast, she and Tanial will take the throne and control of Lindebalgh, and await their sister Miri, ready for a dual coronation party.<br /><br />Miri and Rhion intend a peaceful, boring thir’dar trip from Sianel Dnias to Rendekebing. That’s their plan.<br />
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Their plan works out better than Jenoele’s; they aren't kidnapped by a revenge-seeking former minister.<br /><br />
However, at least three others ride north after them with different goals in mind.<br /><br /><i>The Voyages Home</i> is the third of the Dragons Run My Life series. Will Jenoele and Tanial actually arrive home… Do they know where ‘home’ is?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Voyages Home</i> Cover</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7GDVD6nutfdqdDX_HUu90aUNpH0GTnLxp7UGoA5D3bu0oz4RTXutl1T97FnVBnCJBl1xHND8LTd1IbokaxOvdXEjes6GluJmNTNL_tG84aPxLsLQtPAV80hzl4kQNS9RLq1L7KDBkfyK/s1600/180127+trial+cover+Bk3_7_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7GDVD6nutfdqdDX_HUu90aUNpH0GTnLxp7UGoA5D3bu0oz4RTXutl1T97FnVBnCJBl1xHND8LTd1IbokaxOvdXEjes6GluJmNTNL_tG84aPxLsLQtPAV80hzl4kQNS9RLq1L7KDBkfyK/s640/180127+trial+cover+Bk3_7_flat.jpg" width="430" /></a><br /><br />Artwork is all © Howard David Johnson.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-76028175765435817912018-02-02T11:23:00.005-05:002018-02-02T11:30:56.509-05:00So, Is the New Year Better?<br />
Not so far, but it's not worse, either. Well, except in Washington, but this isn't a political blog or rant.<br />
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Most of my writing in January landed in <i>The Voyages Home</i>. I’d hoped to finish it in January, but, no. I'm looking at about 125-130K words I think. The end game is taking longer to play out than I’d expected; I’ll have to wait to see how much seems superfluous in the coming days and weeks. Once I finish.<br />
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Latest updates on top. Older ones are below.<br />
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Updated February 2, data from 31 January.<br />
Here’s January’s update:<br />
As of (2/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br />
• <i>The Faux Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 909 words. No major change.<br />
• <i>The True Princess</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 103 135 words. A few changes. New version now in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br />
• <i>The Voyages Home</i> (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 94 601 words; Continuing this draft. Still incomplete, two threads to tie up.<br />
• <i>Blood Moon</i> (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. No change. Obviously not complete.<br />
• <i>Low Places</i> (A Beckie and Ian story): 110 405 words. Added and subtracted per my reader’s comments. Returned the changed pieces for her review on January 28.<br />
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From last month, here’s December’s update.<br />
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As of (1/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br />
• The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br />
• The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit.<br />
• Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete.<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. <br />
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Here’s January’s work. The Y-T-D total is 37 136 words through January 31.<br />
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What happened in January, then?<br />
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While I wrote 37 136 words in twenty-four days (not quite 1550 words per day for writing days), on the other seven days I read or, for four or five of them, worked on formatting pdf files for <i>Faux Princess </i>and<i> True Princess </i>and<i> Amerith</i> for CreateSpace. Originally, I’d hoped to have Voyages Home complete, to do those four at once, but later today, I’ll shove the three into CS’s interface and see if they approve them. If you’re interested, cover reveals for the four will post tomorrow if all goes well, now that I’ve actually gotten permission to use the art.<br />
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As I’ve said, I’d thought to finish <i>Voyages</i>. I did finish the overall planning and many of the details (most of which come while I write), and that was done on schedule… actually a couple days early, on the eighth of January. The planning for <i>Blood Moon</i>, however, still hasn’t finished, and will probably wait til <i>Voyages</i> is complete, near the end of February. That draft should follow by the ides of March.<br />
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The revisions to <i>Low Places</i> were finished and have been sent to my reader. She still has <i>True Princess</i> for reading; I’ll hope it’s worthy of a more positive response than the first draft.<br />
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I have done some reading for my reader. She writes at the edges between fantasy and science fiction, and you can find her books, all in The Lillith Chronicles, at her author page, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Buhler/e/B00QLEPRTS">Carol Buhler Author</a><br />
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As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br />
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The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br />
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Earlier updates:<br />
As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br />
• The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br />
• The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br />
• Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br />
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As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br />
• The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br />
• The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br />
• Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br />
• Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />
Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br />
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As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br />
• The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br />
• Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br />
• Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br />
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As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br />
• The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br />
• Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br />
• Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br />
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As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br />
• The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br />
• Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br />
• Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br />
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As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br />
• The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br />
• Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br />
• Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br />
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As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br />
• The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br />
• The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br />
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As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br />
• The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br />
• The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta reader by 3/31.<br />
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As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br />
• The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br />
• The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br />
• Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br />
• Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-43717198963177652762018-01-02T13:16:00.000-05:002018-01-02T13:17:21.010-05:00The New Year! (Can hardly be worse than 2017)<br />I got some work done during December, though most of it doesn’t show up in word counts. Editing, providing suggestions and comments on my reader’s own work and reading for fun.<br />
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For the year overall, a couple of screenshots are below the December Word Tracker image.<br /><br />Updated: 2 January, data from 1 January.<br />
<br />Since Blogger won’t properly handle an internal link, I’ve reordered the updates to put the latest on top. Older ones are below the text.
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<br />Here’s December’s update:<br />As of (1/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 140 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 102 272 words. Comments on old draft received early in December, triggering another round of revisions, which continued through Dec 15. New version now (Dec 16) in the hands of my reader, when she gets to it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 59 038 words; draft underway. Not done by mid-December, but one major point has been hit. Outline to be complete by 1/10; draft by the end of January.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 50 924 words. Reduction in word count is due to leaving out double counted sections and annotations. A few words, but not much. Obviously not complete. Outline for the end to be finished by 1/15; hope to have the draft by end of February.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 108 027 words. Got my reader’s comments back on Dec. 15th, and began addressing them. Plan to complete them by the fifteenth and return comments and questions to my reader<br />
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When we did this last time:<br />
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<br />From last month, here’s November’s update.<br />As of (12/1), the WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 491 words. No major change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 104 131 words; minor changes in draft. Revisions finished October 23. My reader has her own life to worry about, so I haven’t sent it.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 52 045 words; draft underway. Parts of this story went very well; others were slower. Still have a couple major points to hit. I still hope for mid-December to have the draft complete.<br /> • Blood Moon (A Beckie and Ian story) formerly Princess: 54 313 words. I’ve committed to a direction but haven’t put much flesh on those bones. I will probably finish the draft of Voyages before coming back to Blood Moon, which will put it into January.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 107 954 words; haven’t heard back since my reader has a life.<br /><br />Here’s December’s work. The Y-T-D total is 321 935 words through December 31. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTqriFwBEI8_j7AnaWKM0e919yejc5VPl5u217iaIfRqu_zHn6S7xMpIBwjPvPGape7nY9ivQnuGTFY_c1brivwhO4QXIONz9OColkJnlrNwwRFAd9rjkvGita0nVnOXkutMlTW5WHQ0d/s1600/180101+Progress.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTqriFwBEI8_j7AnaWKM0e919yejc5VPl5u217iaIfRqu_zHn6S7xMpIBwjPvPGape7nY9ivQnuGTFY_c1brivwhO4QXIONz9OColkJnlrNwwRFAd9rjkvGita0nVnOXkutMlTW5WHQ0d/s1600/180101+Progress.png" /></a><br />
<br />For those who like graphs:<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87xlb7YaoA2klXW3jnSnoGZD5FGPzRd_hQ7qDxlD9zXhyphenhyphenFDS8M-s92UCeEI4vmEAZSDX55tgaDoXCkUv-csCSKQoGrq2sXkShdowbRuJr35BtARa7CeOdNw9ACqi9mUsBkFYmUNROxj0W/s1600/2017+graph.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87xlb7YaoA2klXW3jnSnoGZD5FGPzRd_hQ7qDxlD9zXhyphenhyphenFDS8M-s92UCeEI4vmEAZSDX55tgaDoXCkUv-csCSKQoGrq2sXkShdowbRuJr35BtARa7CeOdNw9ACqi9mUsBkFYmUNROxj0W/s1600/2017+graph.png" /></a></div>
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And the data the graph is based on:<br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N5Ygmdd_K9qsF0_U7i5gG6FLbebs7Wxi_co2Xe44DEpxP11dkBR6i2J7wzGwoW4moE5JLQSARHYf8O0VT9TpDaM9r8p3EA6PfQL1q9Le3LyTfsoi5ARx240aV4q1CcAtKNq69RZ4OgO/s1600/2017+chart.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N5Ygmdd_K9qsF0_U7i5gG6FLbebs7Wxi_co2Xe44DEpxP11dkBR6i2J7wzGwoW4moE5JLQSARHYf8O0VT9TpDaM9r8p3EA6PfQL1q9Le3LyTfsoi5ARx240aV4q1CcAtKNq69RZ4OgO/s1600/2017+chart.png" /></a><br />
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For the year, I hit the target (41-42 Kwords per month) the first four months of the year, and close to 75% of the target in three more. September and October were remarkably low; in November, even with two weeks driving not quite 5000 miles and visiting friends and relatives along the way, I still found 60 hours in which to write.<br />
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What happened in December, then?<br /><br />
While I wrote 6455 words in five days (208 words per day for the month), the other twenty-five days were spent (3-6 hours per day) editing and revising, which mostly meant deleting words or repurposing ones already there, so I don’t count them. Other days, that time was spent on other peoples’ writing, commenting on my reader’s work or reading, so none of those words really count either.<br />
<br />Finally, I took a fair amount of time doing what for me passes for outlining: using Aeon Timeline to map out the next stages of my characters’ travails. I still need to do more of that for both Voyages and Blood Moon.<br />
<br />I had thought to finish Voyages, but haven’t actually planned, except in a most general sense, how it will end. I will have that outlining done by the tenth, and then, I hope to have the draft done by the end of January. The outline for Blood Moon will be completed after Voyages’, so by the fifteenth or so; the draft should follow by the end of February.<br />
<br />The revisions to Low Places should be complete by the fifteenth also; I don’t expect them to be sufficient to necessitate my reader seeing it all again, merely the excerpts. She also has True Princess for reading; I’ll hope it’s worthy of a more positive response than the first draft.<br />
<br />I expect and hope to have some reading to do for my reader; I enjoy her work and hope she has time to complete the stories in her head, too.<br />
<br />As always, comments and opinions welcome.<br />
<br />The spreadsheet: Created by Svenja. See svenjaliv.com for more info and resources, including a free online word meter. All images are © 2011-2016 SvenjaLiv (http://svenjaliv.com).<br />
<br />Earlier updates:<br />As of (9/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. No change.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. On 9/1, received comments back from reader; problems. I’ve started a new version as a result. Plan for revisions to be done in September.<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Three): 22 255 words; draft underway, although on hold for now, til True Princess is revised, as the changes will affect it as well. I hope for mid-October to have the draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 508 words, the first breakthrough occurred; now to put some meat on the bones. Plan to finish draft in October.<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 109 912 words; sent the first half (57 000+ words) back on 8/15 to see if the issues have been addressed. On hold til those comments are back.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 word; no change.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; no change.<br />Amerith and Rhion have had no attention paid them; I’ll drop them from the updates.<br /><br />As of (8/1), the WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 490 words. Took care of the few questions and said, that’s done.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 106 324 words; draft is complete. Reread and revised, and sent to beta reader on August 5.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 336 words, the understanding of where the story is isn’t complete. <br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 104 578 words; Received comments back, fixing is started.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 900 words; last questions answered and it’s done.<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 042 words; done.<br /><br />As of (7/1), the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 111 343 words. To my reader on June 6; comments back and revisions complete. A few more q for the reader, and this one will be finished.<br /> • The True Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 94 750 words; draft is not complete. Two more scenes; I can see the end. The title has changed because I liked where the characters ran off to. Update July 6: Draft complete.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 49 370 words, began understanding where the story is; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 100 178 words; almost no work. First read to beta by July 6.<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated; Q’s back to reader by July .6<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; sent to beta June 6. Comments received and incorporated.<br /><br />As of 6/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess (Dragons Run My Life, Book One): 115 518 words. Did the revisions, but need to reread, then to my reader by June 5<br /> • The Voyages Home (Dragons Run My Life, Book Two): 62 162 words; draft is not complete. Now plan by June 30.<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by July 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 247 words; corrected most significant problems; revising. First read to beta by June 15,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 848 words; proof and send to beta by June 5, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 018 words; proof and send to beta by June 5.<br /><br /><br />As of 5/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 110 651 words. Found even more holes with the aid of my reader; plug them with the revision to beta by May 15<br /> • The Voyages Home: 37 735 words; draft may be complete by May 15, but more likely, the 30th;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by June 30,<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 99 053 words; found significant problems; revising. First read to beta by May 30,<br /> • Amerith (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 19 854 words; proof and send to beta by May 15, and<br /> • Rhion Prequel (A Dragons Run My Life Addenda): 6 013 words; proof and send to beta by May 15.<br /><br />As of 4/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are<br /> • The Faux Princess: 108 807 words. Went over notes from my reader. Revisions complete by April 20; return to beta by April 30.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 13834 words; draft complete by May 15;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 96 958 words; proof and send to beta by April 15.<br /><br />As of 3/1, the four WIPs, along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 954 words was sent to beta reader Jan 30; notes came back by 2/12 and have lain waiting for Low Places to be complete. Goal is to have it ready to publish by 3/31.<br /> • The Voyages Home: 8382 words; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 81 365 words; failed to complete draft by Feb 15. The goal is now to have the draft by 3/15, and on to my long suffering beta ready by 3/31.<br /><br /><br />As of 2/1, the four WIPs along with my plans for them, are:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 90 956 words, sent to beta reader Jan 30;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, no change; draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, no change; draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 65 932 words, still on track to complete draft by Feb 15.<br /><br />As of 1/23, the four WIPs along with my plans for them:<br /> • The Faux Princess: 91 300 words, to beta reader by Jan 31;<br /> • The Voyages Home: 2500 words, draft complete by April 30;<br /> • Princess (A Beckie and Ian story): 51 000 words, draft complete by April 30, and<br /> • Low Places (A Beckie and Ian story): 50 000 words, draft complete by Feb 15.<br />tonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com0