tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27461876339406484592024-03-14T06:56:40.523-04:00Madeline FreemanMadelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-32244008374500628572014-08-21T22:03:00.007-04:002021-05-06T11:56:13.338-04:00Welcome<!--MailerLite Universal-->
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hello!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'m </span>author Madeline Freeman. Welcome to my online domain! If you love YA books with elements of the paranormal and romance, then you're in the right place. Thanks for stopping by!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Feel free to click around the site to get to know me better. Details about my latest releases can be found below, along with links with details about where to purchase. Whether you shop on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Apple Books, iTunes, iBooks, Kobo, Android, or Google Play, you're sure to find my stories. Most are also available in print!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks again for stopping by!</span></span><br />
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-madeline</span></span><br />
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Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-41791095810592999532014-02-21T13:47:00.001-05:002014-02-21T13:47:49.555-05:00things I do when I'm supposed to be writingRight now, I'm facing down doing some revisions to Episode 5 of SHIFTED, which means I want to do anything but. One of my least favorite things is cutting out words I've written and replacing them with new ones, even when I know the new ones will be so much better.<div><br></div><div>Lots of exciting stuff going on since last time I posted. Most importantly, of course, is that my daughter turned 2 earlier this week. And there was thundersnow here in the D yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh, and I got the draft of <i>Crystal Magic: Clearwater Witches Book One</i> to the editor on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>!!!</div><div><br></div><div>I'm really excited that the draft of <i>Crystal Magic</i> is done, and I'm really excited to get the edits back (which probably won't be for another couple weeks, and, let's face it, I'll probably be a lot less excited when I see the mountain of work that awaits me). I'll hear from my editor this weekend on the projected turn around time, but I'm still hopeful for a March launch.</div><div><br></div><div>Things are moving fast right now, and contrary to that being a bad thing, I feel very liberated. Taking a cue from my friend Rachel Schurig, I mapped out a writing schedule for the rest of the year. If I'm able to stick to it (and we'll see how well that works once I get edits back), it's possible that I'll be able to write 8 books this year (with the rest of Season One of SHIFTED counting as one book). EIGHT BOOKS. Part of me thinks that's insane--I mean, in the past it's taken me a solid year between books. But the fact is that I've already got one book with the editor. And writing episodes of SHIFTED is typically a quick process. And though I've scheduled 6 whole weeks to work on <i>When I Need You</i>, it's possible that I won't need that long because so much is already written.</div><div><br></div><div>For the first time since August 2011 (when <i>Awaking</i> was published), I actually feel like an author.</div><div><br></div><div>So, if you haven't signed up for the newsletter yet, you should so you can keep up with the latest information. </div><div><br></div><div>And you should tell me to stop writing this blog entry and get back to, you know, being a writer.</div>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-13930417476754373042014-01-18T20:55:00.001-05:002014-01-18T20:55:47.553-05:00works in progress and other mysterious beastsJanuary has been good to me, my friends. Or maybe I've been good to it. I'm not sure which. What I <i>do</i> know is I'm producing more words more quickly than I ever have before (except maybe back in the late '90s when I tried my hand at Hanson fanfic... But let's leave that in the past). <div><br></div><div>I'm taking full advantage of this whole working-part-time thing. Monday through Friday, I use my writing time to the best of my ability and I'm hitting my daily and weekly word count goals. Well, <i>killing them</i> is more like it. And I'm liking the feeling. </div><div><br></div><div>My current project is one that has a long history. A <i>long </i>history. I wrote the first draft of this story back when I was in the ninth grade (when I was about 15). Loathe as I am to admit it, that's more than half my life ago. I <i>teach</i> kids in the ninth grade now. But I digress.</div><div><br></div><div>The original MS was pretty good--for a 15-year-old. And since I started on this journey with <i>Awaking</i> back in 2011, I've had it in my mind to revise the story--one day. Well, that day is here.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, I know it will disappoint the friends who read the original draft of <i>The Crystal Society</i> back in the mid-1990s, but the WIP I'm working on now resembles the original in only the tiniest of ways: it's still about witches and the main character is still named Kristyl.</div><div><br></div><div>So, enough beating around the bush, right? What is this new project?</div><div><br></div><div>Well, the new series is called <i style="font-weight: bold;">Clearwater Witches</i>, and the first book follows Kristyl Barnette as she moves to the small Michigan town of Clearwater and learns a bit about her family and its history--and about herself. I'm super-excited about this book and the rest of the series: it's the kind of story I like reading, so it's really fun to write.</div><div><br></div><div>As much as I love <i>The Naturals</i> trilogy, I feel like I've grown so much since beginning that project. I'm bringing that to this new project. And it feels good.</div><div><br></div><div>Concurrently with the <i>Clearwater Witches</i>, I'm working on the <i>Shifted</i> serial. I love Peter and Leigh, and I'm excited for some surprises they have in store. I'm also working on transcribing a draft I wrote serveral years ago. This other project, <i>When I Need You</i> is more in the vein of Sarah Dessen, and it's one I'm very excited to share with you. It's one that's very special and very personal to me. And it's got a FABULOUS cover!</div><div><br></div><div>So, long story short, I've got a lot of fabulousness on the way. No longer will it be a year or more between releases. I'm actually planning to launch book one of <i>Clearwater Witches</i> in March of this year. March! That's so close, guys!</div><div><br></div><div>I'll keep you updated on the latest developments, don't you worry!</div><div><br></div>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-24995035354338805682014-01-13T22:47:00.001-05:002014-01-13T22:47:07.963-05:00something old, something newFull disclosure: I am writing this when I should be working on my WIP. What else is new, right?<br />
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Well, there are a couple exciting developments in the life and times of yours truly. First, last week I was able to put down more than 18,000 words in my current project. That's nearly a third of a book right there! That's super exciting to me. Next, the second episode of SHIFTED is out--or will be in less than 24 hours. I'm excited to be putting out a new episode every other week until June. I think you guys will like where this serial is going. And then another development: I've got a third (THIRD!) project on deck. I wrote a book back in maybe '09. It may even have been '08--but I guess that doesn't matter. The problem? I wrote it out long hand on a giant sketch pad. I then worked on transcribing it. 55K+ later, it's still not done. I stopped working at transcribing it because I figured any time I had to dedicate to writing should be spent, well, writing. So, this story was put on the back burner.</div>
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Well, now that I've got dedicated time to write every day, the idea of taking some time in the evenings or on the weekends to work on finishing the transcription progress and then working on edits doesn't seem too big a deal. I've even got a cover lined up!</div>
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I'm really excited about this story. It's much different than my usual stuff. It's still YA, but much less paranormal. A bit more romance.<br />
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All in all, this year is shaping up to be pretty fabulous. If you want to keep up with the latest developments and releases, you can either check back here frequently or sign up for the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/DARP5.<br />
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As I finish this post, I've got a cat on my legs and one on my hip. I hope your day/evening is as awesome as mine!</div>
Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-5555374650335090032014-01-02T23:45:00.001-05:002014-01-02T23:45:30.453-05:00january, of all thingsWell, first of all, I'm watching The X-Files. For this, I blame my friend Mary: I went to her house a couple weeks ago and watched the first X-Files movie (Fight the Future). After watching that, I've had a craving for the rantings of Fox Mulder. <div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But that's not what's important at the present moment. What's really on my mind is January. I try not to be all crazy with the new-year-new-you mentality, but I'll admit I've been looking forward to January more than usual this year. Since going part time at my day job in late November, I have been testing the waters, so to speak, when it comes to using my new "free" time for writing. Come next week, when school starts up again, I'm going to be hitting the ground running (I hope!). My goal is to have the draft for the first book in my new series to be completed by the first week of February. I've already got episode 2 of SHIFTED set to go live on the 14th, and I'm working on getting episode 3 ready for the 28th. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In February, I hope to finish all (or most of) the remaining 12 episodes of SHIFTED so it can have smooth release dates every two weeks between 1/14 and 6/3. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Come March, I hope to be working on edits for book 1 of the new series and the draft of book 2. I would like to have the first book of the new series (more details to come in a different post) in late March or early April. And if the fates are smiling (or if I just keep writing and not making excuses), book 2 should be ready to fly come June. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As excited as I am for all of this, I can't help feeling the slightest bit... well... terrified. Since 2011, I've only managed to put out one novel per year, with 2013 being a banner year with one novel (Becoming) and one novelette (SHIFTED, Episode 1). In 2014, I'd like to put out eleven 10,000-15,000 word episodes of SHIFTED and three or four full-length (60,000-ish word) novels. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">To be clear, this is kind of insane. At least it's kind of insane for me. The idea of writing all this down and posting it online for anyone to see gives me pause. My old concerns rise up within me: What if I say I'm going to do this but I don't accomish it? In other words, what if I FAIL? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">If I don't do it? Whatev. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For real. The world won't end. Just allowing myself that grace gives me the confidence to move forward with my grand plans. If I don't succeed, I'll survive. If I don't try, I won't accomplish anything. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So, in short, in 2014, I'm planning to kick ass and take names. I'll venture into uncharted territory. I'll write. I'll write a lot. And I won't make excuses. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here's to 2014. More than that, here's to January. </span></div>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-41376993331786085322013-11-30T22:48:00.005-05:002013-11-30T22:49:40.096-05:00winning and the art of awesomenessI just did it. I validated my word count on the NaNo website (two, actually: the regular one and the Young Writers Program site, since I did NaNo with my Creative Writing kids this year).<br />
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Let me tell you, friends: It feels pretty darn good.<br />
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While I'd love to tell you I've written an amazing novel this month, that would be stretching the truth a bit. I'd even love to tell you I followed the guidelines set forth by NaNo (i.e., write a first draft of a new novel), but that would also be a lie. I did write some new stuff: I've got two and a half episodes of <i>Shifted</i> (mostly) written. Though they are, in many ways, even rougher than the first episode was despite the fact I only had a day to write the first one, I'm still excited about them. Tomorrow begins December, which is the month for revising (NaNoReMo?). In addition to these brand new works, I also did the final fixes on <i>Becoming. </i>Since I was already to the point where I was basically rewriting the scenes at the end anyway, I figured it fit in with the spirit of NaNo: writing new stuff.<br />
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So, do I feel like a winner? I do indeed.<br />
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I'm glad I took on this challenge. I mean, sure, it's fabulous that I was able to actually accomplish the goal I set, but it was also nice giving myself the option to fail.<br />
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Now that November is over, what's next? Well, moving forward, I'm officially down to half time at my day job, which means I suddenly have 3-4 hours a day to write. This upcoming week, I plan to see what kind of daily word count goal is attainable and sustainable, and then I want to make plans based on that. How often will I put out an episode of <i>Shifted</i>? How often will I put out a new novel? I don't know the answer to either of these questions for sure yet, except to say that <b>it will not take me a year or more to put out something new</b>.<br />
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That alone makes me do a happy dance.<br />
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Speaking of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Becoming</i>: It is finally done and for sale on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. It is <i>not</i> yet up on iTunes because for a reason unknown to me, iTunes takes FOREVER to publish stuff.</div>
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And this <i>Shifted</i> thing I keep talking about? So far it's just one episode of a larger piece. Since its publication at the end of August, it's been exclusively on Amazon, but that exclusivity has ended. I'm in the process of getting it up on Kobo, B&N, and iTunes. Kobo is giving me sass (though I won't complain too much since <i>Becoming</i> went on sale relatively quickly); iTunes is, as I mentioned, a bit sluggish; and I need to make some modifications to the cover to upload it to B&N. So, I'll let you know when Episode 1 is available for people who don't buy their ebooks through Amazon.</div>
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You can find links to all my books <a href="http://www.madelinefreeman.net/p/books.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-30788664555515333792013-11-19T22:53:00.001-05:002013-11-19T22:53:45.963-05:00changes on the horizonSo, some big changes in my life right now. I'm pretty excited, actually. <div><br></div><div>My day job is as a teacher. This year, though, teaching has been tougher than usual. So, here's the change: I'm about to go down to part time at my real job, and I'm about to devote much of that extra time to writing. </div><div><br></div><div>To say I'm excited about this change is an understatement. Don't get me wrong: I'm sad to be saying this temporary farewell to half my classes. I'm fighting the creeping sense of failure at not being able to be Super Woman and handle everything that's on my plate plus all the things I want to put there. But I'm okay with it. I need this change, at least in the short term. </div><div><br></div><div>In related news, I'm <i>thisclose</i> to having Becoming (The Naturals: Book Three) ready for publication. And I've got an episode and a half of SHIFTED written. Honestly, I haven't felt this awesome for a while. </div><div><br></div><div>So, friends, exciting things on the horizon. Stay tuned for updates. Sign up for the mailing list so you can know immediately when new books are ready for you!</div>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-36649969522492749992013-11-02T15:11:00.001-04:002013-11-02T15:11:58.474-04:00nano and procrastinationYesterday was the last day of the first quarter at school. What should I be doing right now? I should be assessing narratives and finalizing grades. What am I doing? Well, that's clear, isn't it? I'm writing a blog post.<br />
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Yesterday also began the month of November. There are several reasons this month is noteworthy: Thanksgiving (U.S.) occurs on the fourth Thursday, my sister will be turning 30 this year, and this month also marks the fifth year since my mother's death.<br />
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Oh, and it's National Novel Writing Month.<br />
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NaNoWriMo is something I've known about for years, yet I've never thrown myself into participating. I think a large part of what's kept me from doing so is the fear of failure. I don't like setting myself up to fail. When I choose to take something on, I generally like to have the opinion that it's something I can handle. NaNo scares me. What if I say I'm going to do it but I can't?<br />
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Something I'm learning right now is that I have limitations as a human being. The lesson I seem to have to learn over and over is that I am <i>not</i> the general manager of the universe: If I beg off, the earth will keep spinning. My actions (or lack thereof) will not lead to the destruction of the entirety of existence.<br />
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I know this seems like a silly lesson to have to learn, but it's one that my brain oftentimes refuses to accept.<br />
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So, how does this tie in to NaNo? Simply this: I've decided to ignore the voice that cringes at the though of committing myself to writing 50,000 in 30 days, the voice that demands, "What if it's too much? What if you can't do it?" I'm attempting to change my mindset. What <i>if</i> I don't finish? For real? Will the NaNo cops come get me? Will I be shunned from society? Will my cats refuse to snuggle with me ever again? No. Of course not. If I don't hit 50,000 words by November 30, the world will still be here on December 1. Will I have failed at the challenge I set for myself? Sure. Is it that big a deal? No. Will I have more words written by then than I do now? I hope so.<br />
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So, here, I suppose, is to hope. And grace.<br />
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And now, I should get back to grading things so that I <i>can</i> spend time writing later today.<br />
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Wish me luck.<br />
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Is there something in your life you're putting off doing because you're afraid you might fail? What is it? Do you think you can be brave like me and attempt it anyway? I'd appreciate some company on my journey.</div>
Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-91370839951258770682013-09-02T08:58:00.001-04:002013-10-17T13:13:14.548-04:00new coverBy the way, I've decided to change the cover for "Shifted." Now that I succeeded at the "challenge" of getting everything done in 8 hours, I can go back and tweak things. I've changed several grammatical errors, and now, there's a new cover!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEgfszUQUXNE2Xg1jZrXgknIlmPmnXZ3aEMKe0PMKheepO9-1P3X4OfyEYIx9YWZhsdPqrKpV40KhdtAZnQ438wzIDWUGva-9-pDx8IG_qLBP0wwRyhfxIUjUpNeU4-6izxxsjM1Qu3Q/s320/Shifted+ep+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EVLTFF0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EVLTFF0&linkCode=as2&tag=agisgowr-20" target="_blank">Available for Kindle!</a></td></tr>
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You noticed it, didn't you? Of course you did, clever girl (or guy): It says "episode 1." No, we're not talking <i>Star Wars</i> here (though <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GSESJA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005GSESJA&linkCode=as2&tag=agisgowr-20" target="_blank">Ris Perry</a> would love it if we were), we're talking episodic serial. I had so much fun writing about these characters and this world that I want to continue.<br />
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Okay, there are a few inherent drawbacks: One, I hadn't even thought about these characters until less than a week ago, so I'm still learning about them and their world and their story. So, plotting, etc, will take a bit of time before I can move forward. Oh, and I'm <b>still finishing </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Naturals</i><b> trilogy</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>too. So, give me some grace as I get all this worked out--along with the added bonus of school starting tomorrow and me having to get back to my "real" job.<br />
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If you don't hear updates from me on a regular basis, feel free to bother me. Here, Facebook, Twitter. Send me angry e-mails. Whatev. As long as you do it out of love, it's okay.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-18960372551459473682013-08-31T15:57:00.000-04:002013-10-17T13:13:38.488-04:008 hour ebook challengeOn Monday, Joe Konrath posted the <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2013/08/jack-daniels-franchise-and-8-hour-ebook.html" target="_blank">8 Hour Ebook Challenge</a>. The idea, basically, is to write, format, create the cover art for, and publish something in an 8 hour period. The purpose? To write for fun, because so often writing can feel more like <i>work</i> than it should.<br />
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I didn't see it until later in the week, but I decided to participate. What came out was a just-under-10,000 word scary story. And it was a <i>blast</i> to write. For real. It was so liberating to write with the mindset of, "I don't care if anyone ever reads this... I'm just going to write it and try something new."<br />
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Does that mean I'm a terrible person for wanting people to read my other stuff? Absolutely not. It's just way more stressful to have that in the back of my mind.<br />
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So, what's this new story about? Well, I'm glad you asked...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLkYLGv26EHdcfdtUoCeAg3fUDNotZTvM5zWzqtg1cJQvc3XCb8o8_3jJhLVzYo4Mh6G0a8nwJ3lTuz-2A6cvyxS6-LITlCY1mUBIWOO8Yqmq5gqPHjrn45Drt5hwLk37gWyETRAImEI/s1600/shifted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLkYLGv26EHdcfdtUoCeAg3fUDNotZTvM5zWzqtg1cJQvc3XCb8o8_3jJhLVzYo4Mh6G0a8nwJ3lTuz-2A6cvyxS6-LITlCY1mUBIWOO8Yqmq5gqPHjrn45Drt5hwLk37gWyETRAImEI/s320/shifted.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EVLTFF0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EVLTFF0&linkCode=as2&tag=agisgowr-20" target="_blank">Available for Kindle!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of course you should be afraid of the dark.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Leigh Evans is about to learn that not everything is what it appears to be. After a disturbing experience in the forest, she meets Peter and Mollie Monroe, transient twins whose knowledge of the unknown reveals a secret hiding in Leigh's hometown.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Best part? You can get it for FREE today (8/31/13) and tomorrow (9/1/13). After that, it's $0.99.<br />
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It's not like anything I've written before, and I really, <i>really</i> like it. I like the characters and I like what they do. In fact...<br />
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I think I'm going to write more of them.<br />
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These characters have more life to live and more stories to tell and I want to give them that. So, hopefully I can spare 8 hours every month or so and continue going on adventures with them.<br />
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Now, here's the thing that's really got me zinging at the moment: The story's actually being downloaded. By people. Likely by people I <i>don't even know</i>. Which is why I'm seeing sales rankings like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0XbUlFroqORFSJeWe7eGqU2UdLbXsxwphfaJDZAeQaDabvGyWZGKb9n2sAzcHbZw2beGfNGATvkzUzjA48YwAApf8XygRrQScDlJy90QBEzNxarb0bGuWeStcCl2XOmrOwKNqMLq3fI/s1600/3p+8-31-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0XbUlFroqORFSJeWe7eGqU2UdLbXsxwphfaJDZAeQaDabvGyWZGKb9n2sAzcHbZw2beGfNGATvkzUzjA48YwAApf8XygRrQScDlJy90QBEzNxarb0bGuWeStcCl2XOmrOwKNqMLq3fI/s640/3p+8-31-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is insanely encouraging. And, let's face it, it's just <i>cool</i>.</div>
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I've been doing a happy dance since I saw this. In fact, if I hit #1 in any category, I will post said happy dance here for your viewing pleasure.</div>
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Okay, two more things before I go: One, if you look to the right side of the screen (if you're viewing on your computer), you'll see a sign up for my e-mail list. If you want to be kept apprised of when I do crazy things like this, sign up for it. Promise I won't spam you. (If you're viewing on the mobile site and you're like "I don't see a sign up," go here: <a href="http://eepurl.com/DARP5" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">http://eepurl.com/DARP5</a>).</div>
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Here's the last thing: Check out some of the other 8 Hour Ebook Challenge winners. Make them feel special too! You can find them all <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2013/08/8-hour-ebook-challenge-winners.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And don't ask how I managed the #1 spot on the list, because I don't know. Must be my inherent awesomeness.</div>
Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-58147862585658964012013-07-13T21:48:00.001-04:002013-07-13T21:48:34.513-04:00excitement!So, I'm to the point in the drafting process where I feel like I've written most of what needs to be written. I know there are holes, I know that little things (and big things) still need to be added. But I've got a beginning, a middle, and most of an end.<br />
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In short, my dears, I'm drawing dangerously close to having a completed draft.<br />
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*insert happy dance here*<br />
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Right now (metaphorically, of course, as clearly I am writing to <i>you</i> right now), I am reading through what I have so far, making notes and catching simple errors. I'm getting a sense for where there are timeline issues and where I need to add information that I always <i>intended</i> to add but haven't yet gotten around to. I'd like to be 100% done with this initial draft by Friday--and it just might happen because my wonderful and amazing mother-in-law has chosen to come visit for part of next week, which means I might be able to steal away for some unfettered work time.<br />
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In other news, in a couple weeks I'm planning on attending another book signing with Mary Twomey and Sara-Beth Cole. I'll be sure to post the info here when I have more of it so that if any of you are local, you can come visit!<br />
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And in completely unrelated news, next weekend I'll be taking a motorcycle safety course. Since middle school, I've always had a secret desire to ride a motorcycle. Well, my husband has one now, so there's no time like the present to learn how to ride one--the safe way. I'll let you know how that goes...<br />
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Okay, it is rapidly approaching my bedtime (darn you, 5 a.m. alarm!). Looks like no <i>Dawson's Creek</i> for me. And no <i>My Cat From Hell</i> either (good thing I recorded it!). Also, I should probably close out my Vistaprint windows (there's another Groupon, y'all!).<br />
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I have an addiction.<br />
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G'night!!Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-75238079436231015762013-07-09T15:01:00.000-04:002013-07-09T15:06:05.764-04:003000+ words and vistaprint groupons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And now, for something completely different!</div>
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Today, I've decided to let you get a glimpse at the (wo)man behind the curtain, as it were. So, <i>voila</i>! Video blog today, chickens!!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2Vo6fUU9GA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So now, here's the question: Would you rather <i>read</i> a blog or <i>watch</i> a vlog? Are there some situations that lend themselves more to one than the other? Let me know what you think!Madeline Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10943559322257374017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-37325784912027308212013-01-03T19:48:00.004-05:002013-01-03T19:49:41.375-05:00resolutions, schmesolutionsI'm not really one for making New Year's resolutions. It seems that any time I've done so, they've fallen by the wayside by the end of January.<br />
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In fact, the whole concept of January being the beginning of the new year is kind of nebulous to me. What do you mean, this is a new year? My new year started in August. In fact, for as long as I can remember, it's always started in the fall. I guess a billion years of school will do that to you. My new year begins with the beginning of a new school year--and even that gets divided a bit, when you consider that my school year is divided into two distinct parts: first and second semester. Second semester doesn't even begin till the end of January.<br />
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So, you see what I'm getting at? A resolution beginning in January is arbitrary at best in the context of my life.<br />
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However, as it happens to be vacation time, I find myself doing more reflecting than I have time to do usually. And when I reflect, I find I'm not as happy as I could be.<br />
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I suck at time management. News flash. I can waste a day better than most people, I'm convinced. When I'm on a break, I complain that, because I have nothing "scheduled," I have a hard time getting anything done. I convince myself that when the break is over, I'll have more structure and therefore be more productive. But then, when I'm working, I jealously guard any free moment and decide that I "deserve" to be able to veg out and watch the same episode of NCIS on USA that I've seen approximately 20 times before. I'm tired. I'm stressed. I'm sad.<br />
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I'm lazy.<br />
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That's really what it comes down to. And then I look at others who aren't as lazy as I and I lament. Oh, if only I had the time to...<br />
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Wait, wait, wait. Do these others I speak of live in a magical world where the day is 25, 26, 27 hours long? Do they have the inhuman ability to survive on 45 minutes of sleep a day? No. They are limited by many of the same constraints I am, yet they are still able to accomplish the things I cannot seem to.<br />
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They're better at managing the 24 hours each day provides.<br />
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I'm a big fan of taking responsibility for things. If I make a delicious meal, I want the props for it. By the same token, if I get my car repossessed because I "keep forgetting" to make the payments, that's my responsibility too.<br />
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The piece of advice my dad always gave me is that "only you can make you happy." What will make me happy? Having <i>Becoming</i> written, edited, and published. Writing and publishing the next two books I've got planned before the end of the school year. Having another two or three done before the end of 2013. Well, guess what? Only I can make it happen. I can't hope enough, complain enough, dream enough. When the rubber hits the road, the fact remains that I actually have to do it.<br />
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So, I'm making a commitment. Every week, I will write at least 5000 words. I will not <i>try</i> to write 5000 words. I will actually do it. If that means I have to turn off the TV, good. If that means I have to stay up past my 9:30 bedtime (don't judge), so be it.<br />
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If I write five days a week, it's 1000 words a day. If I write every day, it's about 715 words.<br />
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Yesterday, I got up to 198. Not quite 715, but more than zero. I'll take that.<br />
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So far today, I'm at 1259.<br />
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I'll be posting on my FB page every day how many words I actually put out. If it's zero, I'll post that, too.<br />
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I hope that if it's zero for more than a day, someone'll call me out. But, really, I shouldn't rely on that, because only I can make me happy.<br />
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If you want to keep track of me, check me out at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/madelinefreemanbooks">http://www.facebook.com/madelinefreemanbooks</a>.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-31986301823276587262012-08-21T20:40:00.000-04:002012-08-21T20:40:07.205-04:00finally, book two!Frankly, it's been a long time coming.<br />
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Last year, I was convinced that I'd have the whole Naturals trilogy written and published by year's end. Alas, that didn't happen. But, finally, <i>Seeking</i> is finished and available for sale as an ebook. (Links below!)<br />
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I've already started working on <i>Becoming</i>, book three of the trilogy. I'm already 14,500 words into the first draft. (For reference, <i>Awaking </i>and <i>Seeking</i> are both around 65,000 words.) Tomorrow, I've got some dedicated writing time, and I'll get some writing done on Friday, but after that, I'm back to work. (I can't believe it's back-to-school time already!) It is my dearest hope, though, that it won't take another year for the last book to be finished.<br />
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We'll see how that goes.<br />
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<i>Seeking</i> is available as an ebook from these retailers:<br />
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For Kindle - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seeking-The-Naturals-ebook/dp/B0090L9DTE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1345595249&sr=8-6&keywords=madeline+freeman">http://www.amazon.com/Seeking-The-Naturals-ebook/dp/B0090L9DTE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1345595249&sr=8-6&keywords=madeline+freeman</a>
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For Nook - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeking-madeline-freeman/1112580477?ean=2940014803236">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeking-madeline-freeman/1112580477?ean=2940014803236</a><br />
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Smashwords - <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217448">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217448</a>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-68558973904524133672012-08-06T21:29:00.000-04:002012-08-06T21:29:05.262-04:00plottingWell, I'm pleased to say that <i>Seeking</i> is nearly ready for publication. I'm giving it one last read-through (or, rather, listen-through) to catch errors I might otherwise miss (I'm only on chapter five and have already caught three things). I'm really liking the way the book turned out, but I'm not gonna lie: the thing's kind of been an albatross. There have been many a time I felt like I wasn't ever going to finish the first draft! But I finally did, and it feels good to have worked out the kinks and turned it into something I'll be proud to publish.<br />
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And when will I be publishing it? Well, I haven't set a firm date, but I think it'll be next week! The hard copy, unfortunately, will be out a little later.<br />
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Now, I'm in the sticky position of plotting out the final book in the trilogy, <i>Becoming</i>. This book, for some reason, is proving to be the most nebulous. I mean, I know many of the things I want to happen. Still, there are some things that aren't clear to me yet. There are some things that need to be cleared up but that I'm not sure how I'll handle.<br />
<br />
About a month ago, I got a new laptop. My old one still works, but it causes me to turn green and yell, "Hulk SMASH!" on a regular basis, so my husband and I decided it would be in everyone's best interest for me to get a new one. Well, one of my first orders of business was to purchase Scrivener, a software that helps to organize a document.<br />
<br />
It's funny. I really, really like Scrivener, and I know it'll help me stay on track, but there's something to be said for my old standby way of plotting--stream of consciousness writing. It's the way I usually begin a novel (or, in most cases, an idea which will never become a novel). I open up a document for ideas about the story, and I basically start typing. Sometimes I ask questions, sometimes I describe characters, sometimes I lay out a basic plot. Most of the time, I do all these things. And, actually, I've done it (sort of) for <i>Becoming</i>. But--wouldn't you know it?--some of the things I wrote don't necessarily fit anymore. And other things are completely not addressed. So, tonight, my plan is to just start typing. I've already learned a couple things I didn't know, and I've already made some decisions that'll affect tiny smidgens of what I've already written in the draft of <i>Becoming</i>. And it's good.<br />
<br />
My goal is that next time I chisel out some time to write, my vision is more clear. It should make the rest of the writing much more smooth. And, with any luck, the first draft of <i>Becoming</i> won't take almost a year to write.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-15708048978926470812012-07-14T20:58:00.003-04:002012-07-14T20:59:14.501-04:00edits and revisionsA couple weeks ago, I finished the first draft of <i>Seeking</i>. It's rough, and I know it, but I've gotten some really good notes on it.<br />
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There's always room for improvement, and I'm glad I have people who are willing to help me out!<br />
<br />
I'm rather excited that I'm so close to finishing <i>Seeking</i> and putting it up for sale. I really thought I'd have it done last year, but that didn't happen. Now the challenge will be to get book three, <i>Becoming, </i>out in a respectable amount of time. I think I'll be able to do it. I hope I will. I've still got a month and a half of summer vacation, and I hope I'll be able to take advantage of it.<br />
<br />
What I've got is a new laptop and a desire to write, write, write! Let's hope it's enough.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-68350687213881357992012-05-26T14:27:00.003-04:002012-05-26T14:27:55.594-04:00epic winSo, the last two days have been excellent for writing<br />
<br />
I'm going back to work starting Tuesday. (Back to work for three weeks before summer vacation. A little ridiculous, but it's actually okay with me.) To prepare for this, I went in for a few hours on Thursday--just to make sure I could actually wake up and get there on time, you know? But when I got home, I learned that my daughter had been screaming for an hour, even though her dad and grandpa were there with her: Apparently even though she would take a bottle at night--and indeed did so Wednesday night--she would not take one in the morning.<br />
<br />
So, yesterday, my dad sent me out of the house so he could try again to get her to take a bottle. I sat at Starbucks for quite a few hours and wrote almost 3,000 words. Yesterday didn't go very well (though the girl did take a bottle after thirty or forty minutes), so my dad sent me out again today. I wrote over 3,000 words today and... wait for it... finally passed the 50,000 word mark!!<br />
<br />
Now, while <i>Awaking</i> is around 65,000 words and I assume <i>Seeking</i> will be of a similar length, I'm not naive enough to think that all I need to do now is write around 15,000 more words. I know I'm going to have to go back and fill in some things (for example, while I've been working on the climax the last two days, I'm not actually there yet in the story). I've also got some revamping and revising to do (I'm still not crazy about the pace at which the story is unfolding).<br />
<br />
But the fact is, I'm moving forward. And I'm getting closer.<br />
<br />
It's a good feeling.<br />
<br />
<br />
And, on a side note, remember my friend Mary E. Twomey and her upcoming series <i>The Saga of the Spheres</i> that I mentioned before? Well, if you haven't yet, check out her epic trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07zpDegBrOQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">here</a>. Remember, it goes on sale June 1, and it'll be something great to read while you're patiently awaiting <i>Seeking</i>!Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-55025083220377392432012-05-13T22:06:00.001-04:002012-05-13T22:06:07.908-04:00productivityI've written 1,046 words today. That's more than I've written in some time. In fact, I can't actually remember the last time I've written that many words in a day. (Not that that means anything; I can barely remember last night. I suppose not having slept for more then 4 straight hours in the last few weeks has messed with my memory.)<br />
<br />
I did a little math (because I find comfort in simple math sometimes) and realized that if <i>Seeking</i> ends up being the same length as <i>Awaking</i> (approximately 65,000 words), and if I write 1,000 words a day, I can have this draft done in 22 days. Of course, if I can get 2,000 words a day, that's 11 days.<br />
<br />
I'm not really sticking myself to any kind of timetable here. I've been lucky tonight because my daughter went down at 7:30 and has been asleep since (it's nearly 10 now). I'm hoping that during the summer I can get two hours a day to write. We'll see how that goes!<br />
<br />
It just feels really good to have written so many words today. I'm sure they're not all good words, but at least I'm moving forward. I've actually jumped ahead to the climax of the novel (which is what I did with <i>Awaking</i>). I hope doing that will get the juices flowing, so to speak, and that I'll be able to get moving from there.<br />
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In other news, my friend Mary E. Twomey (find her on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SagaOfTheSpheres" target="_blank">here</a>) will be publishing her Saga of the Spheres (a series of four books) beginning June 1st. While you're waiting for <i>Seeking</i> to be completed, you could spend some time checking out her books! They're young adult fantasy, too!<br />
<br />
And if you're into chick lit, my friend <a href="http://rachelschurig.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Schurig</a>'s new book, <i>In Search of a Love Story, </i>is now available for Kindle! I'm only in, like, chapter four, but it's really good so far!!Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-7471760754004612362012-04-25T13:07:00.000-04:002012-04-25T13:07:40.369-04:00The lilacs are almost in bloomThe first week of May is usually my favorite week of the year for one main reason: that's when the lilacs are in bloom. This year, since it's been unusually warm and I've barely seen a hint of winter here in Michigan, I was thinking perhaps the lilacs would come early, but it's looking like they'll hold off till next week. At least the ones in my back yard, anyway.<br />
<br />
There's no doubt about it: Spring is here. It seems inevitable that with spring comes a sense of renewal. So I'm looking at my life right now and checking out what things are new.<br />
<br />
One new thing: I'm not working and haven't been for the last eleven weeks or so. Not only am I not working at my day job, I'm also barely working on writing. But that, I suppose, is nothing new. This time last year, I was sure I could have the entire <i>Naturals </i>trilogy out by the end of the summer--September at the latest. Alas, we all know that didn't happen. And I feel as though I've made very little progress on <i>Seeking</i>, even though I am really excited for the climactic scene. (I'm stealing the bones of this scene from the original draft of what became <i>Awaking</i>--a draft so horrible it will never see the light of day again. But you could say the climax in <i>Seeking</i> has been about a decade in the making.) I've written perhaps a page or two in the last eleven weeks, and while I don't find that particularly good progress, I have many friends who are impressed I've been able to get even that done.<br />
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Mostly because I had a baby almost eleven weeks ago.<br />
<br />
I remember thinking to myself that once pregnancy-brain wore off, the baby would be asleep most of the day and I'd be able to write a lot.<br />
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Ha! The naivete of someone who's spent very little time with infants!<br />
<br />
So, in the category of all things new, this whole being-a-mom and having-a-baby thing ranks high. And while I in no way begrudge my little girl for stealing my time and brain power away from writing, I do hope that sometime soon I'll be able to start writing again.<br />
<br />
It's kind of funny: Even though I had hoped to have published more books by this time, I've still got one published. That means that my daughter will always know her mother as an author. It's kind of a cool feeling.<br />
<br />
Okay, I think I should finish this post and use the rest of Norah's nap time to continue working on (or, dare I say finish?) a Tesin-related scene. Though I know I'll have to do a bit of overhauling before it's satisfactory, just to get it out is a good feeling.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I'll even skip ahead to the climax and start working on that. Goodness knows that's what I ended up doing with <i>Awaking</i>.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-51705418789591255582011-10-08T14:31:00.000-04:002011-10-08T14:31:18.728-04:00back in the saddle... almostWell, my computer's finally working again, which means I've got access to <i>Seeking</i> again. Here's the problem: I'm having trouble getting back into the groove of writing.<br />
<br />
While I've been away from the draft, I've realized that some things need to change in the pacing. I was feeling it while I was writing it before, but as I was able to get some distance from it, it became more apparent.<br />
<br />
But now, I'm having trouble rearranging things. I think I just need to lock myself in my office for a few hours.<br />
<br />
It's just a little disheartening. I was thinking that once the computer was fixed, I'd be back on the road to writing.<br />
<br />
Yeah, I know I'm whining a little. Perhaps I should be locking myself in my office instead of blogging right now, huh?<br />
<br />
In any event, I'm seeking feedback from my BFF <a href="http://rachelschurig.com/">Rachel Schurig</a> about the draft so far. I hope she can give me some points to get me going.<br />
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Until then I'll be grading papers and watching <i>Cats 101</i>. Don't judge.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-53065501792065068302011-09-26T16:39:00.000-04:002011-09-26T16:39:49.374-04:00hiatusSo, yeah.<br />
<br />
My laptop died a few weeks ago. It was working just fine one evening; I was running a virus scan. I left it running as I was getting ready for bed, and Brian, nice guy that he is, closed the laptop's lid for me. And the next morning, it wouldn't work. The lights are on but nobody's home.<br />
<br />
And, yes, there is one working computer in the house (the one I'm writing on now). It's my sister's laptop and I hate it, so I avoid it most of the time.<br />
<br />
The long and short of that is that I haven't been writing much lately. I suppose I could write longhand, but it seems when I do that, the work never gets translated to an electronic version. So, instead I'm stalled.<br />
<br />
I think I've got most of the draft of <em>Seeking</em> saved on my external hard drive. To be honest, I'm too afraid to check. I'm afraid that the version I have saved will be from weeks before the computer crash.<br />
<br />
But I'm finding having this time away from the story is good for me. I'm able to look at it objectively without getting sick of rereading it over and over and over. <br />
<br />
I've realized I have to pick up the pace. I've known that I've just been writing bare bones, but those bones are old and moving slowly. I need to add some muscle and speed the pace a bit. And I've been thinking of ways to do it.<br />
<br />
So perhaps later this week I'll actually break out the portable hard drive. Maybe I'll just start moving forward from where I am (and hope the person I'm having look at my laptop can salvage the original version). But I know I need to move forward.<br />
<br />
In other news, I'm going to be at a local author event in two weeks. It's exciting! It's on Sunday, October 9 from 11 am to 5 pm at Leon & Lulu in Clawson, MI (96 W 14 Mile). My friend Rachel Schurig (author of <em>Three Girls and a Baby</em>) will also be in attendance.<br />
<br />
Huzzah! I'm very excited.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-59815313500907864392011-08-14T13:38:00.000-04:002011-08-14T13:38:42.809-04:00plansSo, my brain's always working. Brian can fall asleep within seconds of his head hitting the pillow and he's surprised that I can't. But my brain needs time to wind down. Within moments of waking in the morning, my brain's already thrumming away, generating new thoughts.<br />
<br />
Such was the case last night. Now, it's not that I don't have plenty of writing-related ideas already. But my mind is the mind of a storyteller. Last night, an idea came to me, and I spent a good portion of time brainstorming. While I've never been a particularly huge fan of the vampire genre, this idea is a vampire story. Though I can't say I've read a vast variety of vampire books, I'm thinking that my idea is kind of unique. With a genre that's so popular, coming up with an idea that stands out can somtimes be a challenge.<br />
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The problem now becomes the question of <em>when</em>. When do I write this book? I'm still working on <em>Seeking</em> (book two in the Naturals trilogy). So, I'd like to finish this series before I divert my attention. But, after this series, I'd been planning to revise an old, old MS--<em>The Crystal Society</em>, which I originally finished back in the ninth grade. But now I'm thinking I might bump that project in favor of the vampire story (tentatively titled <em>Hunger</em>--too on the nose?).<br />
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But, I guess it's better to have too many ideas than too few, right? I just wish I were faster at getting things written! Like a recently told a friend, if I could choose an offbeat super power, it would be the ability to touch a keyboard and cause a book to appear in its completed form on the computer. If only, right?Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-10075787448492569942011-08-11T10:21:00.001-04:002011-08-11T10:23:31.708-04:00and so it beginsSo, last night at around 10 pm, I finally submitted <em>Awaking</em> for publication for Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook), and Smashwords (multiple platforms). It's already available on <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80532">Smashwords</a> (which happens immediately) and on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awaking-The-Naturals-ebook/dp/B005GSESJA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313069690&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>. I'm hoping it'll be up on Barnes and Noble by day's end.<br />
<br />
Let's just say I'm very excited.<br />
<br />
The only thing that is <em>not</em> ready is the print version of the book. I'm hoping that in the next week or so, that will be available through Amazon's CreateSpace.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm not thinking about <em>Awaking</em> anymore, I can focus all my attention on <em>Seeking</em>, which, if I'm honest, has been slow-going. Too many things going on in my head, I guess. But now that one big thing is taken care of, it'll be much easier to focus on book two.<br />
<br />
I've got the whole day ahead of me with nowhere to go and nothing to do, so I'm hoping to get a bunch written. If <a href="http://www.rachelschurig.com/">Rachel</a> published another book before me...<br />
<br />
We'll see how it goes.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-8418045659033497532011-08-10T14:00:00.000-04:002011-08-10T14:00:12.332-04:00for real, nowI've gotten the edits back on <em>Awaking</em>, and I've had the proof copy for quite some time. My goals for today are to get through the proof copy, make the edits to the appropriate documents, and submit <em>Awaking</em> for publication.<br />
<br />
I'll let you know if I succeed.Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2746187633940648459.post-70589875767141737552011-07-27T18:06:00.000-04:002011-07-27T18:06:18.688-04:00so closeWell, let's just say I'm close...so close...<br />
<br />
My first book, <em>Awaking</em>, is so close to being published. I've received the proof copy of the physical version. I should really read through it to make sure everything looks good--and I'm sure I will. I'm waiting for final proofreading to be done. I've already got the MS formatted for ebooks. I'm getting really, really excited.<br />
<br />
Where I'm stalling out now is working on book two (<em>Seeking</em>). It's summer's fault. In a way, summer is so freeing for me because I have fewer obligations. On the other hand, it's so hot...and I'm so easily distracted...<br />
<br />
I'm about 20,000 words in to <em>Seeking</em>--approximately 1/3 of the way to a first draft. I really need to get back into the groove soon. It's almost August, and I'm already seeing back-to-school ads...Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840426243380685615noreply@blogger.com