First of all, let me direct you to all of the guest posts I’ve had this week:
John W. Howell- Maintaining a Character’s Core in a Series
Leigh Michaels- Writing a Lengthy Series
Oloriel Moonshadow- Mentally Maintaining a Vivid Fantasy World
Thank you to everyone who hosted me and submitted a guest blog in return. (Typing this would be easier if the laptop stopped zooming in and out of the screen. Think something is stuck here.)
After a month of being busy or blue or downtrodden or exhausted, I finally stepped back into Legends of Windemere. The 7th book, ‘Sleeper of the Wildwood Fugue’ is going to start its editing run in a bit and I’m hoping for an April debut. As usual, I expect the universe to mess with me. Alongside this, I’m starting to write ‘Tribe of the Snow Tiger’, which is Book 10. I did spend last weekend examining the outline and fine-tuning it to get my head where it needed to be. That’s one that I’ve found to help me write 1 chapter per day. At least if that chapter is 3 sections or less, which is most of the time. This means I got 4 chapters done this week. I lost Friday to errands, an important meeting, and attempting a new recipe. So my time management skills are rusty and they weren’t that great to begin with. My goal is to get this done before the Spring Break that begins on April 1st. That gives me a week and a half with the little guy to go over the outline for Book 11 and then I’ll start that one up. Basically, I want to get Books 10 and 11 in first draft mode before summer starts. I won’t be getting much done during that period beyond Book 8’s release (hopefully) and the short story adventures (hopefully).
I’m still a little nervous about touching the books. I get over it as soon as I start up since I’m exploring two new regions of Windemere. Also, Timoran Wrath gets to take the spotlight for once. He’s very low key, which is helping me get back into the swing of things. Nyx is proving to be difficult since she’s in a rather ‘immature’ moment after the events of Book 9. Kind of overcompensating for one thing and hiding her emotions about another. Maybe that’s for the best since I’m in the same boat. The two of us can get back to our centers together. Same goes for *redacted*, but I’m not really sure what to do about that situation.
Other than that, there’s really nothing else that went on. Sales ranged from meh to nada, which made the ranking jumps even more confusing. Not sure what to do about marketing at this rate being trying to push the next book, but that’s not an easy thing to do without cover art. I finally got an appointment next Sunday to get a new, more professional author photo. This means that a new marketing site that I wanted to sign up with will have to wait. I need to look over new blurbs for the books too. So far, I’ve had positive responses. The new one for ‘Beginning of a Hero‘ has been up for a while and no complaints. Those are all the small things going on. As usual, I get into writing a book and not much else happens. Though not writing a book tends to mean I’m just outlining or reading or goofing off with the kid, which isn’t really blog worthy either.
Goals of the week!
- Write 4-5 more chapters of ‘Tribe of the Snow Tiger’.
- Do a little outlining of another story.
- Cook dinners.
- Bike!
- Get new author photo and then switch it out with the old one.
- Examine blurbs again.
- Hunt for any other interviews, guest blog spots, and marketing avenues.
- Sleep when I have no choice.
I have to tell you about sending my author photo to Eat Sleep Write. I had put a fu manchew moustache on it for Prostrate Cancer awareness and sent that version by mistake. Adam ran it even though I sent the corrected one. What a hoot.
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Oops. Is it still up there? That would definitely gather some extra attention.
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Yup
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ROFL – that’s hilarious! 😀
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🙂
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Having been sick this week, I didn’t get a chance to work on a guest blog for you, but will work on it in the next few days if it’s still okay. Good luck with the launch and getting started on 10 & 11. I’m excited for you :-). I mentioned to the eldest about reading your books, and you should have seen the way his eyes lit up, especially when I told him you had 8 books and were planning on 15. He LOVES reading series. So I think you have a new fan coming your way ;-). Of course, he has a reading list for school that he needs to finish up, but he’s a quick reader and I’m sure will be lost in Windemere in no time :-D.
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Next few days is okay. I’ll put it on the next open Tuesday or Thursday after you send it over. Let me know if you want any links or pictures added.
Honestly, I’m trying not to even think about the launch. I still have to figure out a week of Hype posts and it all depends on how we progress on the missing ‘parts’. My habit of announcing a deadline and something going wrong has made me cautious. Some days I don’t even want to tell people I’m writing another book.
Hope he enjoys it. Just ask Fizzle for directions if he gets lost.
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Charles, you don’t have time to bike…you have to be writing! 🙂 Just joking…Glad to hear you’re back on the horse…
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To be fair, I have my outlines near the bike. So I eye them and think about how I’m going to write the scenes for the day while I’m on there. It’s a stationary, which makes things a lot easier. Though I really need to stop putzing around on the Internet after putting the kid on the bus. Probably get to the bike faster.
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I’ve got a couple projects that have repeatedly gotten put on hold, and I’m having trouble getting back into them. I’m glad to hear that you’re back into Windemere. 🙂
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Thanks. Mind if I ask what’s keeping you from the projects? I’ve found that returning only to play can help revive a stale idea. Or at least give it a final chance.
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Several diversions, especially as Amazon continues to unveil new tools. It’s hard to get back in the groove.
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They really are handing out a lot of presents to their authors. Making us wonder what’s next.
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Getting spoiled. 🙂
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I’m very glad to hear that you’ve ‘recovered’.
Ellespeth
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Thanks. 🙂
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best of luck, Charles. As ever, I admire your work ethic and think your output is remarkable. keep smiling and keep writing. sincere best wishes from baldy.
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Well the last month didn’t see much output. Getting back on the saddle is a little tougher than I expected. Good luck to you too.
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Good luck with the goals. Number 8 made me chuckle
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Thanks. It really is coming down to that some days.
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Wow. As usual, you make me feel lazy. Glad you’re back with Windemere. Hope you’re at least getting a few hours of sleep.
Um, what is the new recipe you tried?
I can so relate to Nyx. I have my two steps forward, three steps back moments too.
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To be honest, I don’t hit the goals as often as I’d like. Only so many hours in the day. Recipe was fiesta chicken with homemade tortilla strips.
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Glad to hear you’re getting back on the saddle, buddy 🙂
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Thanks. Wish the horse would stop bucking though. 🙂
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Now, where’s the fun in that? 🙂
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True. 🙂
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Your updates are my favorite part of your site. Have fun with your new author photo. I’m sure it’ll turn out great!
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Thanks. Really hoping it goes smoothly.
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