Two Weeks

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It's amazing how time can fill up, even when one thinks it's wide open.  I've been working on editing my boy's chicken books and am close to done with them.  However, I haven't had a lot of time for other writing tasks because my two day jobs seem to eat all the time that being a mom doesn't.  My illustrator's tablet is still down for the count, so I guess I'll be cramming my two-week holiday full of drawing, revising, editing, and just trying to do all those things I haven't had time for recently. 

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Tomorrow, my nephew will come over and help me work out Scrivener, so I can launch into an overhaul of all 10 of my books at once.  I also have some feedback from beta readers and editors to work on.  I'm not sure how I'll cram it all in two weeks, but I'm going to do my best.  We're not likely to do very many things over the holidays, so here goes nothing.  I'm still wanting to bring you those awesome books my boy and I have been working on in the near future. 

Beta Readers and Roadblocks

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There's good news and bad news.  The good news is I'm about to have a break in my work schedule due to the holidays, so I will have serious time to work on my books.  Most days, I only get some editing done on my boy's books at the end of a day filled with hours of other work.  It would be so nice to do this full time.  Also, I finally have found some readers for my books, so I've at least had most of the first half of my series read by someone else and have had feedback given.  Two of them are willing to tackle more. 

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The bad news is my illustrator has had serious technical difficulties and may not be able to proceed much further with illustrating.  She was all but done with the second book.  This leaves 8 books to illustrate and 9/10 needing serious revision (the first one is mostly done with revision, though it still needs some).  But I have time for a while to knock out illustrations, figure out Scrivener in order to work over the whole set, and have been told by a handful of readers that they've really liked what they've read.  This all gives me hope that in the next month, I can really accomplish a lot, possibly get this first set ready to go.  Here's hoping. 

The Newest Plan

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My days have opened up a bit with some cancellations on my schedule.  I'm still not where I need to be with my books, but I have a plan.  My nephew has been helping me see the importance of the 12-point structure story, basically a codification of the hero's journey used by writers and movie makers everywhere.  There are 12 story beats most stories need to hit. 

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Also, I went to Authorcon recently, where I heard a writer describe the dramatic structure it takes to make a satisfying structure (described in my Writer's Reflections).  It occurred to me that if I hit most of those beats in the 12-point structure, one per chapter, and make sure to reshape the stories according to dramatic structure, my stories will be more readable and engaging.  In order to be able to see them all at once and make the structural change, I need to figure out Scrivener.  It also makes the most sense to illustrate them myself to save money. 

So, now, I have a plan.  I just have to make it happen.  I hope to make a lot of progress now I have more time. 

Awards and Delays

[First illustration for Misadventures of the Just Us Chickens.]

My son and cowriter of Doomimals: Extended books (pseudonym: Ax the Narrator) started writing his books when he was 13, earlier this year.  He began with short stores and then started writing novels like they were short stories, one small mini adventure at a time.  I helped him polish the first of these novels, The Misadventures of the Justice Chickens, and then he submitted it to the children's book writing category of the League of Utah Writers' annual contest.  When I first entered several years ago, I got a few prizes, first and second place.  But I was an adult, not 13, and already had a degree in English.  Ever since, I've felt lucky to get an honorable mention, as I did this year for my essay and the last two weeks of my nephews' mom's life, "Battered Wings."  This is a competitive contest, with lots of entries, most of them written by adults, some with degrees like me.

[2nd place!]

I say this to help you understand why it was so amazing that my boy's first novel achieved second place in this children's book writing contest.  It's a very good book.  Instead of heavy critiquing, the judge recommended a few line edits and begged that we find a way to let him/her know when it's published, so he/she can buy a copy.  That's downright high praise for the book written by a 13-year-old.  I want to get this series (and mine) out to you, but life has gotten complicated and busy.  I still need to finish polishing and illustrating my books, so they're all ready for you.  The first three books in the Just Us Chickens series will appear as bonus material at the end of my first collection, and then my books will appear as bonus material at the end of his.  It may be we'll be publishing both sets at roughly the same time at this rate.  I'll keep you posted.

Time Flies By

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At the beginning of the summer, I had a rosy view of what I could accomplish and how quickly I could do so. I thought I could get the first drafts of the first ten books in my series (plus five bonus book for my boy's series) done by the end of the summer.  That, I was able to do.  But I further had the hope that I'd have time to jump right into editing and get it done within a month.  Sadly, my regular work started toward the end of August.  I get to arrange my own schedule, but with the way work came in this time around, I ended up slowly booking up all day, every day, and sometimes the evening as well.  In addition, I teach courses online.  I've been so busy the last month that I have scarcely been able to look at editing, let alone restructuring or illustrating.  

I have a new plan, and I hope I'll be able to stick to my goals this time, now that reality has set in.  I plan to do at least a quick review of my books, including what feedback I've received so far.  I'll then look to outside help in the form of a paid editor and illustrator. I'd love to be able to do all of his myself as planned, but reality will not cooperate.  I have to block out my schedule as is and make myself focus on my work during the times I have blocked.  My new goal is to get my first publication released by Christmas.  Here's hoping all goes well.  

Latest Chat with my Publisher

[An amazing drawing by Gostelle, my illustrator.]

I had a chat with my publisher recently, after my boy and I finished drafting the 15 chapter books in our first collection (the first nine in Doomimals plus a bonus backstory from a major character, and as an added bonus, the first three books in my son's Just Us Chickens series, a backstory for one of the chickens, and the first in another series he'll write, Key Lime Python.).  She's enthusiastic about my boy's clever, quick-thinking prose and would love for him to host a Roku-type TV series and possibly even be her co-host in another show.  First, I want to get our books edited before I can even start taking on another monster project.  She's working with so many serious projects that his whimsy and humor are a refreshing change of pace.

[illustration from one of the Just Us Chickens books]

 My struggle right now is to polish the books as well as I can then to find beta readers willing to give me feedback on the seven of my books for which I haven't found readers yet.  I want to make sure they're all polished as well as they can be.  The goal here is to help kids of that age fall in love with reading.  I really think my boy's books can do that, even better than mine.  If anyone wants to be a reader for any of my books, let me know. 

Drafting Done!

[Cat vs chicken from book 1 of Doomimals by my niece, Ghostelle]

I set out to complete my first draft of the first nine books in my chapter book series Doomimals (about three kids and their super pets protecting the world from the evil Dog of War) plus a bonus book.  I also set out to have my teenage son complete the first three books in his spin-off series, Just Us Chickens (about zany super chickens, which reads like Captain Underpants), a backstory for one of those characters, and the first book in another spin-off series, Keylime Python (about a swashbuckling, world-traveling snake).  

I've been blogging about these all summer.  We finished the last draft a few days ago, just in time for the end of summer vacation.  In other words, between the two of us, we've written 15 separate books (less the two I had drafted before) in one summer.  I'd say that's fairly good, even if they're short chapter books (10-13,000 words long).  .  

[One of my illustrations from Just Us Chickens.)

From there, I need to prepare this entire children's chapter book collection for readers like you as well as children 7-12.  This entails illustrations (I'm almost done illustrating my son's books, while my niece has completed illustrations for book 1 of my series and has started book 2), major revision for consistency, increased humor and heart, line editing, etc.  

I want to make sure it is consistently fun, funny, and compelling.  I want it to appeal to kids in the target age group as well as older kids and/or adults who enjoy sci fi/fantasy.  I'd like to make sure it could be read by a hi-lo readership, kids who want to read fun and engaging material but whose reading level is not all that high.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to achieve all of this, but I will do my best.  I'll keep you posted as we get things done.  

Making Progress

(Deathlayer, one of the Just Us Chickens)

I'm racing the end of the summer to at least get my first set of books drafted.  My teenage boy has now drafted his part of the bonus books, the first three of his zany super chicken series, Just Us Chickens, his backstory for his Supermanish chicken, Impeckable, and the first of his other series, Keylime Python, the swashbuckling snake.  He's now just taking some time off and enjoying summer vacation.  I'm almost done with illustrating the Just Us Chickens trilogy.

[Illustrations from Doomimals: Book 1]

Meanwhile, I am wrapping up book 7 of my 9-book set.  I'll then write a back story to a major character.  I'm shooting to have it all drafted by mid-August.  I'm a little behind but am still hoping to catch up and finish on time. I've finished a draft in a few days before.  I can do it again, especially now some of my other obligations are done for the moment. 

Most excitingly, book one's illustrations are now complete.  Huzzah!  Thanks again, Gostelle. 

Of course, now we get to the hard part: revising to the point where readers will enjoy reading them.  I always seem to stall there.  I have an editor's review of book one, which I hope will be useful on the others.  I have friends reading a couple of them and finding major issues on which I need to work.  But I need a way to have outside eyes go over the rest.  I'm working on formulating a plan for that.  Oh, and the rest need illustrations, too.  So, on one hand, it feels like I'm getting close.  But if I really think about it, the hardest parts are yet to come. 

Sneak Peeks: Updates Toward My Series

[A sneak peak at my niece, Gostelle's, beautiful art for Doomimals]

 As I've said before, I have a hybrid publisher standing by, waiting to help me get my chapter books and my boy's chapter books published.  The plan is to include the first nine books from the Doomimals series, about three kids and their animal companions protecting the human race from the evil Dog of War and her animal armies.  I will then include several bonus books. 

[My illustration from book 1 of Just Us Chickens]

One will be a backstory to a critical character, which I will write soon.  Another three will be the first three books from my boy's spinoff series, Just Us Chickens about a zany group of super chickens, as written by my 14-year-old.  Another will be his backstory for one of those chickens.  The last will be the first in his other spinoff series, Keylime Python about a swashbuckling, world-traveling hero snake.  We'll also include games and such to get readers immersed in the world. 

[My concept design for Cat-a-clysm.]

We've been working hard on these series.  I just finished book 5 and am starting book 6 of Doomimals.  My niece is almost done illustrating book 1.  I have drafted CockadoodleDOOM, Cat-a-clysm, Goatyphoon, Hisstruction, and Kangaruin and have four more to do.  I will then revise and edit them all. 

[Another illustration from Just Us Chickens]

My boy, meanwhile, has the first three books drafted from Just Us Chickens, and I'm halfway done illustrating through book 3.  He's also drafted a shorter backstory for one of his main characters and is close to the halfway mark in drafting Keylime Python book 1.  We're closing in on our goal to be done with at least drafting the books by the end of the summer. We've had beta readers of various ages reading them (kids in the target age range up to adults with families) and have gotten fairly positive responses.  We look forward to sharing them with you. 

3, 2, 1 launch!

I just launched a book my friend, Gillaire, and I wrote about a French Bulldog named Cali.  It's called Cali the Silly Frenchie Goes for a Walk.  It's a picture book you can share with dog lovers and small children.  It contains photos of my friend's dog as she goes on her favorite daily adventure, a walk.  It's cute, sweet, and short.  You can share it with any lovers of dogs, pets or Frenchies. 

Additionally, I entered a short story in a contest.  It's called "Before the Pruning Shears."  It's a dark[ish] story of a dystopic future.  Feel free to vote for my story if you'd like under contests. 

Remember as well you can still get my "Puss in Boots" version, "If You Give a Cat the Boot," for free.  It's a funny sci fi version that opens up the world of my upcoming chapter book series, Doomimals. 

You can also get (so far on certain websites but not yet Amazon) my essay of the last two weeks of my nephew's mom's life, Battered Wings.  It's a stream-of-consciousness story from the point of view of one who crosses over. 

Very soon, I will also launch Iggy's Quest, a children's book about a bored hamster going on a quest with his friends.  That should be up within a week or two. 

Remember that by going to my website, you can sign up for my newsletter and receive yet another short story, "Shopping for Herself," about a woman's voyage of self-discovery.  I would love it if you'd also send me a review.  Thank you or your interest in my budding career.  I would love to hear from you on any of these stories. 

New Releases and Coming Soon

My first indie-published short story, "If You Give the Cat the Boot," an adaptation of "Puss in Boots," did fairly well with its launch.  It got close to 100 readers in its first week.  It's still sitting at 6 reviews, 4/5 five star reviews.  One reviewer said, "This prelude is a fantastic start to pique the reader's interest."  Sarah Boucher, indie writer of three fairy tale adaptations, said, "The author has cleverly opened up an entirely new universe for young readers to explore."  If you haven't had to read and review it, please do.  It's still free.  It will set you up for the two series my boy and I will publish toward the end of the summer or beginning of fall.

In the first volume of Doomimals, you'll be able to read nine sci fi/fantasy chapter books.  Three kids and their animal allies are trying to protect humanity from the evil forces of the Dog of War.  It's funny and fast-paced, fun for kids and entertaining enough for adults.  My adult nephew read it through the night, keeping his wife up with his laughter.  My ADD friend, mother of two teenagers, said she can't read books, but she loved CockadoodleDOOM!  I just finished book three and will launch right into book four.

The bonus material will include a backstory for Grandma Fuzzypants, the ultimate crazy cat lady and the kids' mentor.  You will also get a bonus of three books and a backstory from my son's series, a spin-off of Doomimals called Just Us Chickens.  It's about a zany group of super hero chickens who will save the world if they can only stop tripping over their own feathers.  He will also sneak peek a second spin-off series, Keylime Python, all about a swashbuckling galactic hero snake and his traveling companion, Zara, the shapeshifting alien cat introduced in "If You Give a Cat the Boot."  Oh, and their bumbling teenage boy sidekick, Joe King.  Also included will be games that will engage readers young and old.

Currently in the process of getting published everywhere is "Battered Wings," the story of the last two weeks of my nephews' and niece's mom's life told from her point of view.  It's available on Barnes and Noble, among other booksellers, and it's free.

Very shortly, you will also be able to get a copy of Cali the Silly Frenchie Goes for a Walk, the first in a series of books for young children, which a friend and I will write about her dog's adventures.

Following that, you'll be able to find the picture book Iggy's Quest, a hamster with a big imagination who drags his friends on a quest to find a magical wish-granting lake.  After that, you'll be able to read the Dillicious trilogy, three picture books about the adventures of a boy who befriends a talking pickle.  The first is about embracing your own weirdness, the second about befriending those who may seem a little different, and the third about facing bullies.

All of this will be shortly coming to an online bookstore near you.  Some of it may even find its way to shelves.  I'm excited.  I hope you are.  Spread the word and share the joy.

Launched and Counting down to another Launch

You're welcome to read for free my snarky sci fi/fantasy version of  "Puss in Boots."  It's entitled "If You Give a Cat the Boot."  You're also welcome to leave me comments here to let me know what you think of it.  I'd also love it if you would leave a review.

This story will be a prequel to Doomimals and Just Us Chickens to be released late summer. which are fun and funny sci fi chapter books for kids, though adults enjoy them, too.  The first several books of each series will be released in one collection, so for one low price, you can get several books.

My next piece, to be released later this week, will be the story of the death of my nephews' and niece's mom, "Battered Wings."  It is a stream-of-consciousness and poetic account of the last two weeks of her life, told from her point of view.

Within two weeks, I will start to launch my picture books, starting with Iggy's Quest.  Afterward, I'll move on to a trilogy of whimsical picture books about children who befriend talking pickles.  If you think of a kids' book you'd love me to write, let me know in the comments.

In the near future, you will also be able to read my poetry collections and LDS romances.  For details on the romance novels, see my webpage.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Picture Books: To Amazon We Will Go

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As I have been working on one one class on writing, getting and using feedback, building a webpage and following, and publishing mostly for young adult and adult audiences, I've also been taking a class on writing and publishing on Amazon for children. 

I have already written several children's books over the years, some of which have won prizes.  I'm polishing them up and will be illustrating them preparatory to publishing them on Amazon, with an eye toward filling in the gaps while we're working on our larger volumes of Doomimals and Just us Chickens.  I will announce them as they come out, first to my subscribers and those who read these blogs, then toward the public at large.  The first will be a picture/counting book for very small children called Peek-a-baa.  The second will possibly an early reader chapter book about a bored hamster called Iggy's Quest.  Either of these books may occur on the world of Doomimals, though a reader doesn't have to know one to read the other. 

I have several other books, which I will announce here and to my subscribers as I get them ready for publication.  Watch for when they become ready.  Also, keep in mind that if you want a short story I have already made available to the public, you can click here for a limited amount of time to get an award-winning short story called "Shopping for Herself."  I will shortly swap it out for my sci fi retelling of "Puss in Boots."  Stay tuned. 

Setting the Stage

As I said last time, in the very near future, I will be publishing a short story that is a snarky and sci fi version of "Puss in Boots" that will kick of my new chapter book series, Doomimals. Doomimals is about three children and their animal companions saving the world from the evil Dog of War.  Each book will follow a fairytale, Aesop's fable, folk song, or some other familiar story that most people know.  For instance, the first book in the collection I will publish is called CockadoodleDOOM and will adapt "Chicken Little" into a crazy, funny sci fi/fantasy adventure.  The second book, Cat-a-clysm, will have the three little kittens losing their Mittens of Cataclysm.  The kids have to retrieve them before the Dog and her minions use them to destroy the world.  

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This new "Puss in Boots" tale is called "If You Give a Cat the Boot."  It will be set in medieval England. However, the language reflects modern speech so as to remain readable to young people for whom the series is written.  Characters spend time in the woods and in castles, as you'd expect of a story set in such times. However, the story makes clear there are other amazing places within our world that we've never heard of, namely, a place called Jerf, a high tech paradise for animals, led by the Great Leader, a giant (in the real world, extinct) snake also called a Titanoboa.

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This story will offer a peek into the world I will explore more fully in Doomimals. My son will explore this world in his earlier chapter book series, Just Us Chickens, a zany romp about a super chicken group. He'll revisit it in his chapter book series for older kids, Keylime Python, a series about a snarky, world-traveling and sword-fighting snake.  It all begins with "If You Give a Cat the Boot," which I will publish and make available for free in the next few weeks.  The first volume will include the first several books from Doomimals. As a bonus, it will also offer a few books from Just Us Chickens and a cross-over introduction of Keylime Python. I will publish this collection in the next few months.  Stay tuned for more information. 

Coming Soon

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With an Eye toward Sharing My Stories with You

I have made an award-winning short story available to you.  Here is  a link to my landing page to sign up. 

I have just started two classes on getting published, one about publishing children's books on Amazon and one about publishing short stories and novels.  By the end of the children's books class, I plan to start publishing picture books.  By the end of the other class, I will have a short story published and linked to here.  In the future, I will review these courses for other interested writers.

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See My Website 

In this short story, I retell "Puss in Boots," with a sci fi twist entitled "If You Give a Cat the Boot."  I look forward to sharing this short story for free upon its publication, with anyone who is interested.  As you meet Zara,  who appears to be a cat asking a peasant for boots to help him achieve his dreams, you'll enter the world Doomimals Extended.  This is a place where aliens regularly hide among us as a cat, a bird, or your neighbor, waging a war for control of the galaxy under our very noses.  This short story will set the groundwork for several series and solo stories I plan to write, many of which I've thumbnailed on my new website here.  Some of them will be written by my teenage son, including a series about zany super chickens called Just Us Chickens. 

[1st Draft of CockadoodleDOOM cover, by me]

About the First Series

In the first book of Doomimals, CockadoodleDOOM, based on "Chicken Little," three kids and their animal allies have to warn their mayor that the Dog of War is sending an evil animal army to attack their town.

[1st draft of Cat-a-clysm cover, by me]

In the second book, Cat-a-clysm, based on "Three Kittens," three kittens have lost the Mittens of Cataclysm to the Dog's minions, and the kids must get them back before the Dog uses them to destroy the world.  Both of these are in draft form and are being revised with an eye toward publication as quickly as is possible.  Other projected titles in the series include Cow-lamity, Alpaca-lypse, Arachnageddon, Ragnar-octopus, and DoomsDuck and are similarly inspired by familiar tales and songs.

I am looking forward to bringing all of this to you and will keep you posted right here about how all these things go.  Stay tuned.

Update: This last week, I found a hybrid publisher who will be working with me to release Doomimals in sets of ten as my romance novels.  Watch for future developments.

Updates

Since I last wrote in this blog, I have been busy working toward a writing career without yet breaking into print.  However, I have been ramping up to move in that direction. 

Last summer, I spent several months getting feedback on my short stories (I have roughly 10 or so, many of which have won prizes), so I can start submitting them for publication.  I sent a few of them out, one of them to magazine after magazine with no success, even though it won a first prize from League of Utah Writers and an honorable mention from the Writer's Digest contest.  I've since learned that a fraction of a percent of short stories actually make it into the top publications.  My focus has turned elsewhere, but I'm still determined that they see print. 

I also sent the first of my chapter book series for 7-10-year-olds, Doomimals book 1: CockadoodleDOOM (about kids and their super-powered pets saving the world from the Dog of War), out to a few of the handful of agents who work with this age group and genre, also coming up empty.  I decided at that point to back up and get the feedback of a freelance editor, as I did with my first romance novel.  I am now working through that feedback. 

Just in the last couple of weeks, I started listening to the free webinars that have been sent through various sources to my email.  I figured a free webinar may enlighten me as to something I may be missing.  The first made it clear that I need to do a lot of marketing, myself, no matter how I break into print, self-publishing or otherwise, and gave me some clues about how to do it.  I totally recommend such webinars, even though they all end in a sales pitch. 

Another of these webinars, given by The Write Practice, offered to take me through the process of writing, networking and marketing, and actually publishing a book either through conventional or self-publication.  This seems an offer I could not pass up.  I have just started following its instructions in assembling a webpage, linking to my extant and future writing.  I will forward the link as soon as it's done. 

Another most exciting development in my life is, after struggling with the conventional publication process and balking at the prices companies want to help you get self-published, I may have hit upon something in between, a new kind of publication that features the best of both worlds.  It is in its fledgling stages, but I will write about this in the future as well if it comes to fruition. 

In other words, it finally feels like I'm very close to breaking in print besides local presses and my theses on Amazon.  I'm not sure where, how, and what will come first, but I'll keep you posted as it happens.