WIP 10-24-14

10-11-14 I'm starting the weekend out right by working on Outcast. Leigh, she is the main character of this novel (Yes, Leigh she has your name. I'm not sure who she looks like, yet. I'm only starting to see her personality.), is showing how strong and defiant she really is, which is a relief, considering how insecure and emotional Abby was in the beginning.
Here is a look at the chapter I worked on today: "When I think of my situation that way, I realize how much they do love me and how awful they must feel having to divide their loyalties the way they are."


Due to a tornado passing over my home, I had to skip last weeks' post, The above section was all I managed to work on last week. I did manage to get a good deal writing done this week. The following are excerpts from what I did this week...

10-19-14 So with the storm, my power being out for a few days, then no internet, and my laptop needing an operation yesterday to keep it alive, I decided today was a great day to get back in the writing mode. I really want to tell you that I wrote thousands of words, finished the ghost story, and got half-way through the first draft of the next ALONE novel, but I can't. Mostly what I've down is reread the last chapter I wrote, stare at the screen, look over my notes, stare at the screen some more, type a line, stare at the screen. I'm giving up for today. Here is a line from the page I did manage to get out: As she relaxed into her thoughts and the boring movie, Michael did something he had never done before; he slipped into her head. He wanted to know exactly how she felt about all of this before he did anything else.

10-20-14 This chapter is still not wanting to come out easily, but I'm still going with the new ending, so maybe I won't have many more chapters after this one to fight with.
Here is a little something from chapter 25: He couldn’t watch her be with anyone else, that much he knew for sure.

10-20-14 OUTCAST -- I love it when I give a character two names. I was reading through Outcast, trying to figure out where I left off, and noticed that I've named one of Leigh's little sister's Tabitha and Maddie. So which name should I go with? Both seem to fit the little brat. I guess, for now, I'll go with Maddie. What do you guys think? Which works better for a young girl who is petite, spoiled, and raised within a pack that that thinks they are superior to humans: Tabitha or Maddie?

Here is a sample of what I worked on today: I kept Daniele in my line of sight as she made her way to the front of the chapel, ignoring all the glares I felt boring into me. I didn’t even acknowledge Maddie’s smug look when Daniele stepped in front of her. I did feel the heated gaze of one of Dave’s groomsmen; the one who escorted me to my seat.

10-20-14 ALONE -- My muse seems to be on vacation this week. I've failed to write more than a few sentences on any one project for days. Today was no different. I did managed a few sentences on the next chapter but nothing more.

Here is a sample of what I did manage to write: Vera wrapped her best friend in her arms and held her while she cried and begged God to let her husband live.

10-23-14 I'm not sure what is wrong with me this week, but on two different occasion when I sat down to do some serious writing, my nose decided to bleed profusely...as if I didn't have enough distractions and delays these days. Anyway, after that stopped, I finally finished the chapter that has been giving me grief. I learned a lot about my version of heaven today, so that was a plus.
Here is a little peek at what I wrote today:
“I want your permission to use your body to break the news. I think it would be easier coming from someone, in a sense, she knows, and sense you are aware of me, I didn’t feel right just taking you over.”

10-24-14 Outcast - So I started working on Outcast today. Just as I was getting in the groove, my brain switched thoughts to a friend's housewarming party, which isn't until December, and derailed my entire train of thought. For some reason, the thought occurred to me that I'm sitting in a Stained Glass Studio and I could do something way cooler than a toaster for a gift. Now my brain if full of a different from of creative ideas. LOL! Oh well, at least I managed to get some writing done.
Here is a line from the section I wrote today:
"The humiliation started the second I got of the taxi, which had pulled up behind mom and dad’s town car."

10-24-14 - ALONE II - Spent most of my time doing research for chapter 1 instead of actually working on the chapter and reminding myself that we are now a few years into the apocalypse and things have started to expire. Trying to stay true to that world is hard when I'm surrounded my to many conveniences.
I did manage to get a little writing done. Here is a line from what I worked on today:
“Here, honey, take this,” Vera said, handing Eve one green and white pill and a glass of water.

IN THE DARK -- Coming October 26, 2014

This is your one week reminder that IN THE DARK will go live October 26, 2014. This short story will be available for download at Smashwords and Barnes and Noble for FREE.

WIP Update 10-10-14

Since I do #8Sunday on Sundays and Meet My Character Monday, I'm going to try to post this WIP updates on Friday, so here is my week:

Monday 10-6-14 -- This week is starting out well. I wrote another chapter in the ghost story. According to my outline for this novel, I only have seven more chapters to go before I finish the first draft. My goal is to finish the first draft by the end of the month, so pray my muse cooperates with my plans.
Now on to a sample of this chapter. Enjoy:
"Michael leapt from Ian’s body the instant they crossed the threshold of Ian’s apartment. “What the hell,” he yelled at Ian, but the other man couldn’t hear him."

Wednesday 10-8-14 -- Worked on the outline for Outcast and expounded on a few scenes today. Here is a peak at what I wrote:
"Daniele didn’t bother to acknowledge my father’s actions or the scathing look her soon-to-be mother-n-law gave her, she simply gave me another warm smile, and turned to face her future husband. She was absolutely radiant, and I chose to focus all of my attention on her and not the eyes boring into me. I had long since grown used to the way my family and Dave’s family detested me and didn’t care if they didn’t like that my sister still loved me despite their hatred."

10-8-14 Editor sent HIM back to me, so I'll be posting snippets from it soon. I started on her grammar notes and will begin her content notes soon. Yep, I have to add things, remove things, and rework things, but all of it will be for the best, I think.

She and I also talked about Immortal. Yes, I know I promised to post excerpts from it, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't like my writing. Kathryn is going to take a look at it though and give me her thoughts.

Friday 10-10-14 -- This ghost story just keeps surprising me. Since the day I wrote the outline for this novel, I only saw one ending, but tonight as I'm working on one of the last chapters, it has taken a slightly different turn. I plan on following it through to the end to see if I like it, but I'm keeping my notes on the original ending just in case. According to the outline I have four more chapters to go, but with the new ending, I don't know.
Here is the line that changed everything: "I’m not saying she doesn’t love you, but this isn’t what she wants.”

Well, that is it for now. Good night everyone. :)

WIP Update 10-5-14

I haven't gotten to do much writing this week since I'm getting ready for the upcoming release of my next short story, In the Dark. Check back daily for updates. I'm also in the beginning promotional stage with HIM, my suspense/thriller that I'm hoping to release January 2015. Peruse this site to see excerpts from the novel and the novel's amazing cover.

Update 1. I posted this about my ghost story on Tuesday: Another chapter done. Roughly another 8 more to go and the first draft of still untitled Ghost story novel will be complete. This was another stressful chapter to write. Lots of confusing emotions. Here is a sample of what I wrote today:
“Michael,” she whispered, scared that she had done something wrong.
“I…I have to go. I can’t do this with you.”

Update 2. I posted this about Outcast on Wednesday: In working on Outcast today, I had to answer a lot of whys. Why is there tension in this novel and in this family? Why is the main character an outcast? Why didn't her family chose her? Why? Why? Now my brain hurts, but I've figured most of it out and explained why we are where we are in the first chapter. Here is a sample from the chapter I worked on today:
The pack had given the Mr. Alexander a... choice: shun his eldest daughter or keep their middle daughter from being with the man she loves. Mr. Alexander didn’t want to lay the decision off on his middle daughter, but considering he wasn’t going to outcast one daughter just because another had a crush on a guy, Danielle would have to be the one to decide between her sister or her boyfriend.

Update 3. I posted this about the sequel to ALONE on Thursday: Finally, after days and days of mulling this over, I know where I want to go with chapter one. Yes, I know this seems obvious, and I am starting in the obvious place, but when I first started working on the outline for this novel a few weeks back, I went in a different direction. That direction wasn't working for me, so I'm going with the obvious and starting chapter 1 of part 1 minutes after the plane crash. Yes, I have a copy of ALONE sitting beside me as a guide. Hopefully, I don't mess up my own story too much. Here is a teaser from what I've worked on today:
"Sitting the very pregnant Eve in a chair just inside the door so that she could see when they brought Wes in, Vera went to the small kitchen to fetch Eve something to drink in the hopes of staving off the shock of seeing Wes’ body."

More ON First Friday

I'm all set up if the wind doesn't blow me away. I'm at 116 West Mobile Street, Florence, AL 35630. I've already sold a few books, and now only have 3 copies of ALONE. If you want a copy before my next shipment comes in, come see me.

First Friday

If the weather holds, I will be setting up for Downtown Florence's First Friday in front of Stained Glass Artistry (116 West Mobile Street, Florence, AL 35630). If you haven't gotten your copy of ALONE or SHIFTER, come see me and get an autographed copy. You also get to see my cute new haircut. :)

WIP Update -- 9-26-14

Normally, I post updates on the pieces I'm actively working on whether the piece is in the idea stage, the writing stage, the editing stage, or something in between on my Author FB page or in the case of the sequel to ALONE on ALONE'S page. I'm going to continue to do so, but I also wanted to find a way to put those short updates on my new website. What I've decided to do is every couple of days I'm going to post a WIP update. I'll gather all of those short updates, compile them in to one, and post them here on my new blog.

So, here goes this week's WIP update:

Last night I posted this about my untitled ghost story: Wow, that chapter really wanted to be difficult. Okay, maybe it took so long to write because I decided to watch episodes 8, 9, and 10 of Witches of East End while trying to write the last three pages. My time was well spent. I love that show. Nine more chapters to go, and the first draft of my still untitled ghost story will be done. I can't wait. Here is a sneak peak at what I worked on tonight:
“So, you’ve been studying my face, have you?”
“Pretty much. Stalkerish I know, but there it is.”

Earlier today, I posted this about Outcast, a supernatural romance set in SHIFTER'S world: Emotional day. Outcast is really pulling on my heart strings. I'm doing this to my character, yet I hate the way she is being treated. Sigh. Here is a bit from the section I worked on today: "He wanted her to see him, to know that he was watching her, to maybe understand that he cared even if no one else seemed to."

Finally, just a few minutes ago, I posted this about the sequel to ALONE: Chapter 1 is in progress. Here is peak at what I worked on today: "The day after the crash, Will took a group of people to the site to investigate, but the remains of the plane and its cargo were beyond identifiable. If someone had tampered with the fuel line, engine, or anything else, there was no way of knowing."

Oh, I almost forgot. My editor and I are discussing my fourth book. I'm hoping it will be the ghost story, but if I can't get a final draft ready by at least the end of January, I'm going to go with one of the three novel's of which I have completed drafts. HIM is the one I'm looking over right this second. I'm about six chapters into the novel. I haven't been posting snippets from it because I don't think it will be my next book, but just in case, I'll start posting updates and excerpts from it with my next post.

Meet My Character Blog Tour: Meet Eve from ALONE

Thank you everyone for stopping by my blog. This is my fourth day on this tour. I want to start my post as always by thanking Emmy Gatrell for inviting me on this tour. Don’t forget to stop by her blog as you make your rounds. 

Eve (2).jpg

Today, I want to introduce you to Evelyn Elaine Hays, Eve for short, from my modern-day, post-apocalyptic novel set in the Deep South, around Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi. Before the sickness that killed every man, woman, and child on the planet, Eve was your typical college student. She lived near campus with her best friend, was madly in love her boyfriend, and only had a tentative idea of what she really wanted to do with her life. After the sickness, Eve became a mother, a doctor, a lover, a wife, a killer, a survivalist, and a leader. She didn’t fall into these roles easily, but she knew if she didn’t make the hard decisions, her world would cease to exist.

Eve’s main conflict and her personal goal throughout the novel are the same: survival. She has to survive a sickness that wipes out over 99% of the world’s population on top of scavenging for food and supplies. She has to survive herself. Fighting the urge to give up, to take her own life, isn’t easy in a world where everyone else is dead. She has to fight against those who have gone insane and who are bent on tearing down what is left of the old world or simply want to satisfy their primal needs before they parish. She has to survive miscarriages, as the sickness doesn’t wait until a person is in the world before it kills them. In order to survive all of this and become the leader her new world needs her to be, she has to learn to become strong, self-sufficient, brave.

Want to know how Eve becomes the woman her people need her to be? Pick up your copy of Alone today. The eBooks are only $3.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Place, and Smashwords. To find out more about this novel, visit me on Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Stop by next Monday to meet another one of my characters.

Don’t want to wait a week to meet new and intriguing characters then stop by the following blogs:

Emmy Gatrell http://emmygatrell.com

Ashlei Daylen http://ashleidaylen.wordpress.com

Ashe Barker http://ashebarker.com/

D M Singh http://dmsinghwriting.wix.com/dmsingh