It’s the start of Camp Nano. I failed at it in April, mostly due to the edits required on Blood Red Roulette and the end of the semester. I’m not exactly upset by that of course. It’s a good reason to fail. I should have no real issues in July. Even if edits on Purrfect Holiday come in, that’s not a very long story (unlike the over 300 pages BRR).

I’m working on two projects but only one under this pen name. It’s a solarpunk post apocalyptic. I have a local fellow who’s the farmer/fisher type with some scientific background and from the city, a scientist who has some messed up DNA thanks to the alien trying to decide can he live so remotely.

the beginning is rough because it’s more of an info dump for me that I’ll smooth out later (mostly I was pantsing it without a lot of notes, creating as I go). Hopefully it’ll get done for the anthology deadline. I do like these characters but I need to take some precautions with Sam. Yes, he’s into green tech and sustainable living but he’s also Native American and I don’t want him to look like a stereotype.

And have about three weeks worth of writing links

From around the web: A Celebration of the Generous Spirit of Indie Authors and the Self-publishing Community

So You Want to Be A Writer

Creating a Book Trailer That Sells Books I’m interested in this one

Creating An Audiobook As A Self-Published Author

Every Writer Should Attend At Least One Writers’ Conference. Here’s Why. I might have shared this one before

Look For Ideas In All The Wrong Places

Why You Should Put Your Books On Subscription Services

What writing rules do you live by (and which ones do you break)?

First Things First – Why Book Marketing Doesn’t Trump Writing Craft

FREE ONLINE BOOK MOCKUP MAKER

What Makes Stories Go Viral

Six Tips on Writing from John Steinbeck

Learn from The Incredibles: How to Write Super Characters

Write Confidently and From the Depths of Your Heart

What Goes On A One Sheet?

How to Make Your Sentences More Descriptive I could use this

Create Drama with Your Character’s Desire

6 Ways For Writers To Find Inspiration In A Graveyard

podcast fight-scenes

How Can I Write a Tight Story That Takes Place Over Years?

Five Underused Character Archetypes

Start Your Novel with a Bang! 12 Ways to Hook Readers

Non-Verbal Communication in Writing

It’s All About Perspective /2143216.html”> here

I’ve been quiet again. I was racing the clock on a holiday story. I sent it in Saint Augustine Florida. I have to admit, I lived 3 1/2 years in Florida and didn’t like it much. I’m very sensitive to heat so that played a role. It was also the worst time of my life (after my surgical career ending injury). In spite of having great friends there without whom I wouldn’t have lasted there, it was rough for me.

That said, I loved Saint Augustine. I don’t really see me retiring to FL but I would consider St. Aug. Some of the research I did for the story included things that either weren’t there when I moved there in 2001 or I didn’t have time/money to investigate when I was there. Now I sort of want to go back. I think I’ll wait until the proposed Star Trek land is made and the Star Wars hotel (and hit Diagon Alley on the way).

It’s funny that I wrote a contemporary Christmas story (my holiday stories are often pagan) but almost all the holiday open calls are for ‘other’ holidays instead of Christmas. Mine was meant to be Saturnalia. That was even the file name. I researched it with a Llwellyn author. No dice. My brain’s a jerk.

I’m trying to write a post apocalyptic solarpunk but I’m not sure how well it’s going. wish me luck.

And I’ve decided to post writing links I’ve gathered from various places around the web, mostly from my friends.

How To Read, Edit, and Evaluate Your Writing With Fresh Eyes

Use Book Excerpts To Promote Your Book This one I do!

How to Spot Self-Publishing Scams This just came up, not as a self pub but an ‘indie’ publisher. Some of them are predatory too. Just google writer beware as well and check out the various websites that warehouse these jerks.

FONDA LEE: SO, YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW TO WRITE A SEQUEL

Book Marketing: How Smart Collaboration Between Authors Helps Sell Books – A Case Study I’ve been seeing this a lot lately. Let me add, please don’t send out a newsletter daily when you’re doing this

Book Production: Bookbinding Options for Print-on-Demand Self-published Books

Older Authors Refuse to Fade Away: May 2018 AskALLi IndieVoices Broadcast

The 5 Stages of Editing Grief OH do I know these well

Synopsis: Why All Writers Need One Even Though They Hate It Loathe is a better word