writing life on hold-wedding and day job have taken over

Sigh . . .my writing life is on hold. That's not the way I want it to be.  Now that my day job has started up again, my days are eaten away.  The evenings are dominated by the wedding.

I did originally suggest to my fiance that we elope and get married in this great old castle in Scotland.  I'm wishing we did that.  Every day we have one to five glitches with the wedding.  Today my seamstress canceled my dress fitting for the third time in four weeks and the replacement batch of bubbles came half-evaporated like the last batch.

Of course, at least this isn't as bad as two weeks ago.  The day was my first one back to full day working and on that day my matron of honor resigned her post via a note in the mail, an ex-boyfriend e-mailed, and my wedding band was screwed up three ways by the jeweler.  Since then utter chaos has surrounded the wedding.  I'm not sure if I will replace my matron. I'm thinking I just may go with my two bridesmaids and be done with it.  It's not like my matron helped me with a single thing.  She resigned because she didn't know she had to come to a rehearsal.  Ugh.  She's married and been a matron before.  You would think she would know this.

I won't even get into the catering and baker issues. That is an epic in itself.

My fiance said the other night that wedding planning is made so hard because it tests the relationship. I guess, but some of what is going on is beyond what I think should be happening.

Wish me luck for the next coming weeks of planning please.

Writing and Wedding

My life has become consumed by the wedding.  I'm still deciding on wedding colors. Since a shortage of formal gloves exists where I live, I have ordered three pairs on-line. When they arrive, I will pick the color I like for my bridesmaids and order more.

My crinoline arrived yesterday.  Now I can properly try on my wedding gown, then take it to a seamstress for the final alterations.

The venue is secure.

My mind now races with thoughts of securing a baker, a florist, and a caterer.  I feel like I should be singing "Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub . . ."

The writing life has slowed a bit. I did work on my church article today. Yesterday I wrote in my journal and edited a friend's piece.  Deep inside I hunger to get back to the Conrads and science fiction writing.

I am glad to notice someone is reading my blog. That is better than my poor friend Echo Ryan.  Nobody has touched her blog in several weeks.

Wedding plans!

I'm feeling the urge to write about more than my novels.  After all, my life is more than my books and writing. One things currently on my mind is my wedding. I'm in the process of planning it.

The wonderful part is the church and priest are all settled.  My fiancee and I have picked out a venue. We are going to solidify it this week.  We have narrowed down the wedding invitations to four designs.

I have purchased a dress (for a stellar price that was too good to pass up), but it isn't my dream dress. My dream dress does not seem to exist. I was looking for something with a high back, lace up, long sleeves that are tight fighting and flare out.  I wanted a bodice top with beads and "jewels" that flared out around the hips.  I came close. I just couldn't find any gowns with high backs and long sleeves.

On the market I found only two types of long sleeve dresses: those with high collars to the throat and those with high fronts, but no backs.  I searched hard. I looked at over 10,000 dresses on-line and tried on more than 40. This has been a real quest.

I am going to try to work with the dress I have. I'm going to see if I can at least get capped sleeves added (it does have spaghetti straps).  I also need to be able to bustle up the train. Right now all it has is the string for holding it around my finger.

Wish me luck.

Writing away

I finished the final edit and changes to Realizations this morning. I'm ready to do a dance of joy.  I can now move forward. My critique partner is already beginning to edit the third Conrad book Rejections.  He found it very dark and that took him by surprise.

I've also wrote out the two rough drafts of my next two columns for St. Alban's Tidings.  I'm always glad when I have those written and out of the way for a month or two in advance.

I figure I should share a little of my writing on here, instead of just writing about writing.  Here's a bit from chapter 1 of Realizations.

Chapter 1:  Dreams

    She heard only the sound of her heart pounding and her feet thumping.  The air burned her nose and throat.  Gloria ran as fast as she could. Ebony strands of hair wiped her back. Her dark brown eyes locked on the two figures standing among the wavering, ankle-high grass. Nothing else mattered to her. "No!" she screamed.  She watched the translucent purple-violet shield spring up around them. Stumbling, Gloria fell to her knees.  Tears flowed down her wind stung face.  A searing pain blocked all her thoughts . . .
    "Gloria?" Regal’s warm voice called out to her through the darkness of her closed eyes. He pressed a strong calloused hand against her bare shoulder. A connection was made.  He experienced her dream as if it was his own.
    "No," Gloria whimpered.
    "Gloria?" Regal spoke a little louder.  "It's only a nightmare. Wake up."  As he kept his hand upon her shoulder, Regal sent his yellow energy into his wife’s body. Her heart beat steadied as the warmth of his energy cuddled her.
    With sudden alertness, Gloria's eyes opened.  Instantly, she rolled over and gazed at Regal, her husband and keeper of the yellow energy.
    "It's okay," Regal soothed.  He rubbed a hand up and down Gloria’s left arm. 
    Gloria absorbed the calming energies he directed into her body.  Sucking in several deep breaths, she steadied her pulse.  Gloria then closed her eyes again. Dear Light, she silently prayed, please protect Thera.
    Regal’s eyes opened when Gloria’s did. He had prayed silently along with her. She had not guarded her thoughts from him.
     Regal then rose from the bed and lit the granum oil lamp.  When Gloria had first screamed, Regal's instinct had been to power pray for a floating light.  But then he had remembered their agreement not to use Conrad abilities that could be seen.  The simple fuel lamp would have to do.
    "She has to win," Gloria whispered.  She scooted up as Regal returned to the bed.  He handed her a glass of water.
    Regal sat down on the thin mattress. "And we will continue to pray to the Light that she does."  Gloria cuddled up against him.  He turned his gold speckled brown eyes toward the ceiling of their cottage.  Shutting his eyes Regal inhaled deeply.  He took comfort in the straw scent, as well as the faint smell of Gloria's vanilla-almond perfume on the side table.
    Regal couldn’t help but recall how soon they would depart Karna.  If he had his way, they would stay forever.  He loved the small farming community that had been their home for the last four cycles.  Gloria and he had lived in many such villages, but this one felt the most like home, almost like the planet Aleron.
    "I can't even imagine what I will do if she loses." Gloria brushed three fingers across Regal's thick beard.
    Regal sensed the apprehension radiating from her fingertips.  Lovingly he picked up her left hand and expertly drained the tense energy from her body.  When he finished, Regal lightly kissed Gloria's smooth forehead.  "Better?"
    "Yes."
    "Good."
    "You don't want to leave, do you?" Gloria asked, looking up at her husband and soul mate.
    "No," Regal solemnly replied.  "You know I want to stay here.  I want to raise our future children here."
    "We can't stay. They will get suspicious," Gloria pointed out.
    Regal sighed.  Often he longed to be anything but a Conrad:  to always look thirty-five, and never appear to age, was a curse.  He ruminated over how most of the remaining Conrads were engaged in teaching the humans of Karna the technology lost to them after the Conrad elders' flight to Aleron.  Yet, Regal accepted that it was their duty to prepare the humans in case Xavier won the Death Duel.  For if Xavier defeated Thera, he would return to Karna with an immense Carmine force and continue his human annihilation plans.
    "Besides, I miss Zeplan," Gloria stated, interrupting Regal's contemplations.
    Regal smiled. He too missed Zeplan, his brother-by-marriage.  Zeplan was the sole Conrad remaining aboard the Galactic Falcon, their ship, which continually maintained orbit around Karna.  It had befallen Zeplan to make certain none of Xavier's followers had decided to return to Karna before the thousand cycle Death Duel ended.  Only 328 cycles remained.
    "I know we must move on," Regal said, recalling the hundreds of communities they had made their home, only to move on after a few cycles.  "But I would find it easier if we had a family of our own."
    Gloria pulled free of Regal's embrace.  Her dark eyes assessed him.  "You know we can't."
    "Why not?" Regal questioned, despite knowing the same old argument was about to ensue.  He just wished she would change her mind.  "Rassar and Disa each have two children of their own. Since they are now married, Sherwin and Kinara are planning a family as well.   Why not us?"
    "You know why," Gloria accusingly stated.  Her teeth dug into her lower lip.  Her eyes narrowed.  "If he should win, he will come after me."
    "But Thera could win," Regal argued.



That's enough of a teaser for now.

More writing

These summer days find me steadily writing. Again, I was at work on Realizations. 

I also looked in to Kindling a book. I have a young adult manuscript I am seriously considering testing out as a Kindle. I wish I had an illustration for a cover.  I do have a sketch to go with it, but it was done by an ex-boyfriend. Using that sketch doesn't seem right.

My friend, Echo Ryan, just Kindled her first book on Amazon.com.  I am wondering how it will do. She has such a unique voice and topic.  I just can't imagine the mindset needed to write A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch.

Editing

Hoorah!  I spent a couple of hours editing the second Conrad novel today.  I managed to squeeze it in around watching my friends 9 ducks, rabbit, and cat, tending my own home and dogs, and the rest of my life.

Unfortunately, my critique partner called today. He's been sick all week, so we probably won't meet this weekend.

On the positive side, I did get the corrections mailed off to the editor at Quixote Press. Am I being to hopeful thinking this book may be out before Christmas?

Publisher Called

The editor I have been working with for over two years now called bright and early this morning.  If I hadn't crawled into bed at 4 a.m. after celebrating a friend's birthday party last night, I would have been more awake for the 8 a.m. call. Once I realized it was my editor I woke up fast.

The great news is the illustrations for this book are almost done.  They should be finished by next Friday.  From there the cover art is designed.  Then the book is ready to print.

Few people know about this book yet. The topic is different than my normal science fiction/fantasy writings.

The publisher I am working with is Quixote Press.  I find it wonderful to have an actual editor who calls me and whom I can reach when I've needed to.

My fingers are crossed. I'm hoping this book will be out in the fall.  If so, that will be three published books under my feet.

Books on Sale

Lulu.com is offering a 20% discount on books right now. That not only includes my novel Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna, but also my friend Echo Ryan's new book, A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch.

You can find both our books at www.lulu.com. The code for the sale is Bigger305.

Thanks for reading.

Congratulations to my friend, Echo Ryan

Congratulations to my friend, Echo Ryan, on successfully publishing her first novel.  A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch is now available through Amazon.com, as well as the publisher, and for order in book stores. This humorous tale is modestly retailed for $10.99 (That's cheaper than my books!).

If you are interested, you can check it out on Amazon.com or through Lulu.com or contact me for more information.

Way to go, Echo Ryan!

So I didn't get to writing

Yesterday I never managed to get to work on Realizations.  After promoting my friend's book (Echo Ryan-A Tale of Butts: The Story of a Couch), I ended up sucked up into the world of household tasks.  I did make arrangements to meet with my critique partner, John.  We spent a solid hour on the phone yesterday discussing the publishing world.  He is writing his very first novel.

I find I write more when I'm not at home.  For some reason my best first drafts and editing are done in a coffee house, and not on a lap top. I write all my first drafts by hand. I feel the pen and paper add to the experience. I've tried writing straight to a computer before, and the words don't flow as easy.

Tomorrow I am making a date with myself to go to a coffee house. I wish my small town had more than one, but at least we have one.

Creating and promoting

Creating is a glorious process.  The absorption of the mind so that it focuses on something beyond itself is a wonderful feeling.  Unfortunately a writer has to break away from that magical spell to promote his/her writing these days. So here I am.

Currently I have two books published.  One though, will be out of print shortly (Thank God, it's been with an evil publisher for way too long.  They actually thought they could sell a trade paperback for $27.95.  I love the book and wouldn't pay that much for it).

Thus, the book I am here to promote is Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna.  Here's the excerpt from the press release.

“The Light knows. There is a plan.  Release the past.” –Raphael, the first Conrad of the Light

The planet Karna has suffered for generations under the rule of the corrupt High Kings. Pollution fills the seas.  Mountains have been toppled. Deserts encase much of the land.

It is to this world Light calls Raphael to be the first Conrad: a human gifted with the power to call and transform energy.  Yet Raphael will not follow Light alone, others will join him and Conrad Communities will be formed.

This collection of short stories plunges the reader into the world of the Conrads and reveals the trials and struggles of the Conrads as they battle to heal their homeworld.  Within these pages you will journey with Raphael, Bruner, Serenity, and the other Conrads of Karna as they find the strength to follow and obey the Light for the betterment of their planet.


Intrigued?  I hope so.

Callings is available at lulu.com, amazon.com and through  most book stores using the ISBN number (ISBN: 978-0-557-09712-8)

Now I'm off to do more creating.  I am going to drift back into that glorious bubble and work on the Conrad novel Realizations, as well as helping a friend promote her own novel.