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Ahem... ANNOUNCEMENT

30/4/2018

Good morning, readers!

This piece is by deviantart.com user RobertoGatto. Pretty cool, right? They've got other great pieces, so click the image to check them out.

I CAN FINALLY TELL YOU ALL.

FYI, my eNewsletter readers have known this for a while.

So... Skylark has at last found a home. Renaissance Press has very kindly offered to publish it, and I, of course, accepted. The contracts were signed last night. Here I am, entirely too excited about it:

So yeah.... That happened.

I'm thrilled to be working with Renaissance Press again. They did such a good job with Daughters of Britain and I'm confident leaving Skylark with them.

But now I have a new problem...

Now I have to write a blurb.

Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I suck so much at writing blurbs. Le sigh.

Also, I have no idea what I want the cover for this book to be. For Daughters of Britain, I had such a clear idea. Nothing this time. Zip, zilch, zero, nadda.

PANIC!

But yeah, I had a great day yesterday. So today I've decided that I was pro-actively buying God of War as a celebratory gift to myself.

Oh, by the way, I bought the new God of War game for myself. I've seen some game play and I became desperate to play it. It will be live-streamed. I'm almost finished Assassin's Creed: Origins, and the next two games on the list, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Rise of the Tomb Raider are both shorter games. I'll be playing God of War after that. Naturally, there will be a review.

I have thoughts already.

Right, I have... actually nothing to do today. WTF. I should turn my mind to blurb writing though. I may be asking advice. I suck so badly at it.

Ciao!

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Fingers Crossed!

26/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This image, by deviantart.com user clockbirds, reminded me so much of The Secret of NIMH. Click the link to get more beautiful art from the artist.

So, I'm about halfway through my manuscript. The stage I'm in right now I've dubbed "bedtime story" as I'm having the computer read the text back to me. This picks up a tonne of small errors (typos, wrong word usage, etc) but it also highlights some big things. Like, Storm Crow has dark eyes, unlike his sister, Dark Wolf. But somewhere in there I got it mixed around. It also helps point out timeline inconsistencies and other pretty big plot stuff.

I highly recommend taking the time to have your computer read your manuscript back at you.

Also, hilarity may ensue. Sometimes, the computer mistakes the end of a sentence for an abbreviation, and will say the entire word aloud. And just try and listen to the computer try and work out fantasy names without laughing.

In any case, I'm almost done this phase. Then I have to send out an email to my long-suffering first beta reader to see if she's up for another manuscript so soon after finishing the last one.

I'm super keen to get this one done. I'm really happy with how it's turned out, and having it read back to me has made me excited about it again.

I still don't have a title for it, though.

Grumble.

Right, I have to get to work. I really want this manuscript done by 3pm. Fingers crossed!

Because at 3pm, I'm watching more God of War. Guys, this game looks fantastic, and I am saving up to get myself a copy of this game (a physical one). This is, of course, the new one released for the PS4 this month. I have a lot to say about it already, but I want to play it for myself before I get stuck into my impressions of the game. It should stand on it's own though, when I say I want to own the game.

Right, I have to go.

Ciao!

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The Wrath of Atticus

25/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This image has nothing to do with anything. I just think it's super cool. It's by deviantart.com use 88grzes, and their stuff is continually amazing. Click the image to see more brilliant art.

Be a character in The Wrath of Atticus! Escape into a world of magic realism and intrigue with an unusual and compelling guide. Viper is a villainous protagonist caught between the mystery of her immortal past and the malice of mortals in the present. Her journey is a re-imagining of Celtic folklore in a seamless blend of historical and contemporary fantasy for a mature audience. Backer pledges contribute directly to what every great story needs: an editor! Nina Munteanu is an award-winning writer, editor, and creative writing teacher who's back to edit the sequel.

Rewards include a limited edition autographed portraits of Viper by renowned Canadian comic book artist and writer Kalman Andrasofszky, digitally signed booked cover artwork by Mirella Santana, vinyl stickers of glyphs inspired by Viper and Pictish art, and exclusive deleted content with author commentary to the first 50 backers. The manuscript for The Wrath of Atticus is missing one thing:YOU! Chose a reward to be a character in the novel, be featured in a novel of your own, or work with Lesley to design a plot-involved character for the final conclusion in book 3. One person can own the original, signed, hand-drawn, black and white portrait of Viper by Kalman Andrasofsky! You could have a working lunch with Kalman and Lesley in which they'll discuss a sample of your work with you and explore your questions about the comic book and publishing industry.

A friend of mine is writing her next book, and she has a kickstarter up to help her get it out into the world. It looks like a great one... and I'm not just saying that because it involves Boudicca.

No, honestly. It's not the only reason. But it's a pretty strong one. What can I say? I adore ancient Britain.

Anyway, The Wrath of Atticus is the second book of the series by author and awesome human Lesley Donaldson. We met at Can-Con a couple of years ago and she genuinely is awesome, and I'm not lying when I say this series sounds aweome. I haven't read it myself (yet), for full disclosure. But I will be.

Let's get you caught up.

Book 1: The Queen's Viper

Matt Moore, co-chair of the Ottawa Chiaroscuro Reading Series, says, "The Queen’s Viper gives us a complex anti-hero—she is both merciless and compassionate, wields considerable powerful yet relies on her cunning. Don’t look for simple good versus evil here."

Time heals all wounds. Except hers.

Viper stumbles across the young Tudor Princess Elizabeth and a Crown Jewel that unlocks Viper's repressed memories. To secure a path to her past, Viper ensures Elizabeth's safety, setting the threatened princess upon the Throne of England. Viper's journey leads her to Annys, an unexpected enemy who imprisons her for 400 years.

In 2012, Viper is inexplicably freed from her magical prison. With the help of her Foundling Owain, and his eclectic cadre of helpers, Viper sets off for revenge upon the descendants of those who imprisoned her, starting with Queen Elizabeth II. All the while, a malicious figure exerts his influence from the shadows.

Will immortal Viper overcome the power surging within herself even as Queens of Britain try to control her

Sounds cool, right? Here's the book trailer. Even better, you can get the first seven chapters of that book for free. Yeah, you read that right. Here's the link.

Book 2: The Wrath of Atticus

(That's the one being kickstarted currently)

Immortal anti-hero Viper may have forgotten her past, but it's about to catch up with her.

Grudgingly obligated to help mortals prepare for a prophesied war, Viper's torn between helping her allies and pursing her own selfish interests. Visions of the past reveal that the mysterious Atticus has hunted Viper since the Iron Age, when Queen Boudica rebellion against invading Romans. Before Viper uncovers the truth about Atticus, an assassin arrives from Veyandra, the Otherworldly home she has never seen. He gives her a warning she can't ignore. Viper must choose her path before new enemies determine her untimely fate on the summer solstice.

Uber cool, right?

So yeah, you can get your name in the book as a character, you can get awesome art, or a working lunch with the author... there are a shit tonne of really cool perks with this kickstarter. I'm taking notes in case I want to do one.

If this sounds like your jam, follow this link to the kickstarter page and help out.

Now I have a manuscript to finish combing through.

Ciao!

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Making Progress

24/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This beautiful image is by deviantart.com user IgorDyrden. Isn't it fantastic? The the link to see more gorgeous images by this artist.

I'm rushing around this morning, trying to do the stuff that I should have had done yesterday. In my defence, it was mostly all work yesterday. I got caught up in my writing, and forgot all about the stuff I needed to get done for ComicCon. That's happening now... or it would, if the frakkin' computer would work. It's slow. Work won't spring for a good one, so any replacements I get are substandard, given what's available out today.

It's frustrating. In any case, that's what I'm doing today. I will be getting the artwork out today, and then go back into editing/writing my current WIP. I think I'm done with the writing part, except for to add or change scenes later on, so it fits better with what I've just written.

I'm really excited, because I think that after this, I can go through for a deeper edit, and then send it off to my first, poor beta reader, who has just done a lot of work for me on a different manuscript... Sorry!

In foot news, yesterday, there were three small cracks in my foot, resulting in a slightly easier time walking. This morning, there was a small crack, and things are easier still. It's still not great. I still can't walk properly. But there is improvement. I will continue my little stretches until things are back to normal. I'm annoyed, because my workouts have to be altered.

Things I cannot do: Run. Lunges.
Things I can do: Elliptical. Squats.

I'm annoyed I'm not running, but I did do a pretty intensive interval workout on the elliptical as a replacement. I couldn't do the back lunge twist in my post run workout, but I did do squats and a modified Russian twist as a replacement.

Still, I'm frustrated.

That is my current default mood, it seems.

Anyway, I have to restart the computer now, because it's slowed too far down and the mouse cursor has an irritating delay. I can't work like this.

Ciao!

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Stupid Foot

23/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This beautiful scene is by deviantart.com user RedBeatha. I particularly like the artists' name, because Beatha is the name of a character in my unnamed WIP that still needs finishing. If you want more by the awesome artist, click on the image.

Welp, I've hurt my foot. It's not broken, but I do suspect that a number of the bones in the top of the foot have slipped from their position. If it was broken, there'd be bruising and swelling and there is none. Just pain and an inability to walk properly. Weirdly enough, though, the elliptical proved no obstacle at all. I was able to use it virtually pain free this morning. Getting to the gym and onto the machine was a different story.

Swimming is wonderful exercise because it's off my feet. I will be shuffling there today at lunch.

I hurt my foot playing bubble soccer. I was knocked off my feet, as you are. I didn't land oddly. I wasn't thrown a great distance. It was a normal fall. But something crunched in my foot, and there was a lot of pain, and I had to sit the rest of bubble soccer out. I'm sad, because bubble soccer was fun, and I feel like I let my team down.

So there's that.

Otherwise, I'm very well. I'm annoyed at the injury, because I can't go running - AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE OMG!

Seriously, though. It's supposed to be going up to 18 degrees today. I'm a happy camper. My feet are freed of boots! I wore flip flops today, and I will be until September, damn it.

Today on the agenda; fixing up some art for ComicCon, organising some rock climbing, and more writing.

Fingers crossed I get it all done today.

I still can't find a title for the book. I'm tempted just to call it Avalon Volume One with the following books being Avalon Volume [insert appropriate number here]. I'm so DONE with trying to figure out a title for this. Maybe if I can interest a publisher they'll come up with something appropriate.

I must also turn my mind to figuring out possible book covers and a blurb for Skylark. If I do decide to publish it myself, I need these things. If someone else publishes it, they will need these things. So my mind will be working on that problem too.

Right, I have a tonne of work to do. What's on your agenda today? Let me know in the comments.

Ciao!

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Let It Snow (I Wish I Was In Bed)

19/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This beautiful piece is by deviantart.com user algenpfleger. Click the image to see more by the artist. They have some stunning piece up.

It's snowing in Ottawa today.

Unrelated: I want cake.

I know everyone is sick of it, and some warm weather and sunshine really wouldn't go amiss, but it's honestly really pretty and I don't mind it so much. On days like this, I find myself wishing I was independently wealthy, sitting in a lakeside cottage somewhere without neighbours for miles around, sitting by the window with a steaming cup of tea, watching the flakes float down.

It is April, and winter doesn't seem to want to leave, but it really is pretty.

Aaaaaanyway, enough of dreaming of things that are unlikely. I have work to do.

I've been procrastinating a bit, as I usually do when the end of a project nears. Honestly, if I had been more diligent, I would have finished the manuscript by now.

On that note, I should really get to work... or more procrastination... whichever.

What's on your plate today? Let me know in the comments.

For now, though, ciao!

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Almost Done For Real This Time

18/4/2018

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Good morning, Readers!

This stunning image is by deviantart.com user sandara. Isn't it gorgeous? Click the image to see more by the artist. It's well worth it.

Despite not writing as much as I wanted yesterday, I'm almost done writing my current WIP. Which means I need to find a proper title for it. This is the most pressing thing about the book currently. I don't have a good title and it irks me. Titles aren't usually the thing I struggle with, but it's actually the hardest part of writing this thing.

That's weird.

And annoying.

Still, being almost done is nice. It's also weird. With such a small word count - my smallest to date - it doesn't feel finished. That's odd. Usually the book feels finished when I write 'the end.' This makes me wonder if the book is actually finished or not. I'm going to say yes and send it off to my beta readers anyway. They'll be able to pick out stuff that's wrong, or doesn't work, or feels unfinished.

I'll just have to trust them to figure out what I can't with my own damned story.

Life is otherwise uneventful. I'm still working out in the mornings, though my protesting thighs stopped me from doing so most of last week. I'm still fighting to get those chin-ups and pull-ups. I'm not sure I'm any closer, though I do feel like my form is improving. The correct muscles are engaging, at least. I can tell because they're sore today.

Ooooh! Ooooh! A friend of mine guessed my weight was actually 20lbs less than I actually do last night. That totally made my night. Not that I want to be skinny, but that I look like my goal weight. By the by, my goal weight is still 25lbs heavier than my supposed ideal weight using BMI.

That's one of the major clues that BMI is utter horseshit.

You know, I'm actually starting to enjoy waking up early to go work out. It's a really good way to start the day, and I feel better when I finally sit down at my desk.

Now if we could get some sunshine here, we'd be golden. I'm a little tired of the vitamin D supplements I have to take. Also, I'm tired of boots. I would love to be wearing my flip flops about now. If I could be shoeless all the time, I'd be in heaven. I hate shoes.

And that's life up till now. I have to go write now. Have a great day!

Ciao!

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Ahem... ANNOUNCEMENT

Fingers Crossed!

The Wrath of Atticus

Making Progress

Stupid Foot

Let It Snow (I Wish I Was In Bed)

Almost Done For Real This Time

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