As You Close Your Doors – A Note To and About Secret Cravings Publishing

by | Sep 1, 2015 | Books, General, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing

In July of 2012 I was a little bit tired.

After seven years of trying this publishing gig, I had all but given up hope. Five years on my first series and a little over two on my second had worn me down.

scpaSecret Cravings Publishing took a chance on me, they offered me a contract on Changing Tracks in July of 2012. My book saw the published light of day in February of 2013 and even received an honorable mention RONE award.

Seventeen books later and I am still proud to say I am an SCP author.

I have met some fabulous people that I call friends. I have met some skilled people that have taught me many things. I have met an editor that I will hold on to with all my might until I near that “Misery” level of stalking (at which point I will apologize and slink away).

Mostly, I have had a publisher that has had my back, has answered my questions quickly, has worked the trenches with me, and always kept its authors informed. In this sometimes messy world of publishing, every single one of those things is so important.

Yesterday SCP’s owner, Sandy, posted a message to us all to let us know she was, effective September 1st, closing Secret Cravings doors.

It was a heartbreaking message for her, and for us authors. Of course, we will be sad to see our books taken down, but they can be restored.  What will be missed is the support of the staff, the community of authors, and the stability of a house that communicated with us at every turn.

Secret Cravings has been a great house to work for. I haven’t had a bit of complaint in my dealings with them. I know many others that haven’t been able to say the same about where they’ve been.

I can only hope that in my further endeavors in the publishing world I can find a house as good.

Thank you, SCP for taking a chance on me.

2015 Writing Goals – July Update

by | Jul 2, 2015 | Books, General, Goals, Writing

2015Whoosh, this year is flying by! I can’t believe it is officially half over.

My goals for this year were crazy lofty, and I have slacked off on so very many of them. In the past month I’ve really pushed to getting back into the game again. Words and ideas are flowing wonderfully now. Only thing I’m lacking is the time to put them into motion.

So without further ado or ramblings from my overworked brain…here’s the update!

First, the overall goals to set the tone for the year…

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2015. (really slacking. Only 198k as of 7/2/15)
  2. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion – including tours for my three series during the year. (Improving my numbers all the time. Have a great PR company getting my books out there. Had good numbers for a couple of months. The upcoming months will get even better.)
  3. I will regain my focus. (Finally making ground. Not perfect, but as my day job hours ease up again, and the craziness of my life eases a teeny bit, this will improve)
  4. I will detail at least one of the new series I have listed to play with. (Still nada. Maybe soon)
  5. I will decide by July if I’ll continue in Lake Point through 2016. (I did, I did!  I am moving into 2016.)
  6. I will plan the 2016 books and have my proposal into the publisher by August 1st (one month? Yikes!)

And next is my list of projects. The books in ORANGE are current works-in-progress. Books in RED are completed. Books in BLUE are new adds!

  1. Free Falling (Holidays in Lake Point 10) – 30k (done 2/28)
  2. Love for Hire (Holidays in Lake Point 11) – 30k (done 3/31)
  3. Haunted Hearts (Holidays in Lake Point 12) – 30k (2000 words)
  4. Mistletoe Mixup (Holidays in Lake Point 13) – 30k
  5. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  6. Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
  7. Dead Man’s Switch (Dominion Falls 7) – 100k
  8. The Virgin Madam (Dominion Falls 5.5) – 20k (This one is possible, but not definite)
  9. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k (40,131 words)
  10. The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
  11. The Town (The Tribe #6) – 85k
  12. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 80k (54k done)
  13. Changing Tracks (revamping/updating) – 100k
  14. Derailed (revamping/updating) – 100k
  15. Dark Territory (revamping/updating) – 100k

 

It feels good to be working again. I really hope that by next month I’ve got some good changes to my numbers. I do have to write Haunted Hearts ASAP as it’s due to the publisher in a month. At least I have the cover done. Now just to get the words on the page!

Speaking of which, time to get back to writing.

2015 Goals – April Update

by | Apr 8, 2015 | Books, General, Goals, Writing

2015I admit, my goals this year were crazy lofty, and I’m not quite as far this early in the year as I was last year. Part of that is because of what I’m working on, and part is because this month is the first month in 7 months that I have not had a book released. It’s been a crazy time in my life, and I know I don’t really have a breather, because another will release in May, and then July, then September, October and December. With any luck I’ll have at least 3 more releases this year.

That being said, I’ve made a bit of progress since I announced my goals, and added on some more tasks for myself–including revamping a series while working on further books in it.

I have yet to make a decision on what will become of Lake Point in 2016, I have to see how the year pans out and if my muse decides to fill in some blanks on who/what the subjects would be.

With all that being said – onto my crazy goals and where I stand with them!

First, the overall goals to set the tone for the year…

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2015. (128k in as of 4/1/15)
  2. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion – including tours for my three series during the year. (Doing good here. I am currently working w/ a PR company and have gotten involved in FB parties. Finding more fans)
  3. I will regain my focus. (Eh, not so good here. Trying really hard)
  4. I will detail at least one of the new series I have listed to play with. (Nope, not a lick yet. Want to finish my 2015 Lake Point books first)
  5. I will decide by July if I’ll continue in Lake Point through 2016. (Yikes, didn’t remember that July deadline. Guess I better get to work and figure that out!)

And next is my list of projects. The books in ORANGE are current works-in-progress. Books in RED are completed. Books in BLUE are new adds!

  1. Free Falling (Holidays in Lake Point 10) – 30k (done 2/28)
  2. Love for Hire (Holidays in Lake Point 11) – 30k (done 3/31)
  3. Haunted Hearts (Holidays in Lake Point 12) – 30k (100 words)
  4. Mistletoe Mixup (Holidays in Lake Point 13) – 30k
  5. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  6. Natural Selection – 40k (28,742 done)
  7. Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
  8. Dead Man’s Switch (Dominion Falls 7) – 100k
  9. The Virgin Madam (Dominion Falls 5.5) – 20k (This one is possible, but not definite)
  10. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k
  11. The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
  12. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 80k (54k done)
  13. Changing Tracks (revamping/updating) – 100k
  14. Derailed (revamping/updating) – 100k
  15. Dark Territory (revamping/updating) – 100k

I’ve been slacking a lot, hoping that once that Lake Point books are done I’ll really get some motion w/ the help of the bigger books I have got to work on this year.  I hope to have the first three books in the Tribe series released by summer or fall, and would love to have 4 ready to head to my editor when she’s done with those. I’m also hoping that Mary and I can finish EH this year and figure out what’s next. The addition of the revamping of my first three Dominion Falls series is new, but I plan to squeeze those in as they’ll go faster than a full on writing session.  I have two other series that I’ve been contemplating in the back of my mind, and several other items on the backburner.  It’s a matter of making choices this year, and I have a LOT of them to make.

Plus, I have to admit, fear is holding me back from one book. I’m afraid to dive back into it, afraid of what it could be, or how I could fail it. I will get over those fears and complete it.  Still, I think it’s making me go slower because I know the sooner I finish these Lake Point books, the closer I get to tackling the book that feels like THE ONE.

2014 Goals – September Update

by | Sep 3, 2014 | Books, General, Goals, Writing

editsBack with the latest update on my 2014 forecast. August was a bit of a kick ass month for me. I wrote over 100k words during the month, and finished all of the books I had scheduled to go to the editor. That means I have begun my list for 2015 already, and started on the books for it as well. Which means, of course, plenty of changes for this weeks list.

And now, onto the updates.

First, the overall goals. Not specific books, but all around goals..

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. ( 464,955 WC as of 9/2/14 10:47PM)
  2. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. A continuing work in progress.
  3. I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I did really well on this in August. Hoping to be able to continue in September, but it’s a busy month, so we’ll see how it goes.
  4. Plan 2015 Holidays in Lake Point series books. Done – and submitted to SCP as a proposal. Still waiting on work back.
  5. Plan 2015 book schedule. I’ve written down the know ideas I have, and have started on the first book for the year. Once I get an answer on my Lake Point books I’ll be able to plan dates better (having deadlines really helps my focus).

And for my list of projects. This I’m not removing the completed items, because I like seeing how many are done, however I did remove a couple I had to backburner for pressing deadlines. Items in RED are complete. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new.

  1. Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k
  2. Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 35k
  3. Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) – 48k – Named finally. Independent Brake
  4. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  5. Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k
  6. A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 23k
  7. Heartstrings & Hockey Pucks (Lake Point #7) – 30k (10,151 done)
  8. Luck of the Cowgirl (Lake Point #8) – 30k
  9. Natural Selection – 40k
  10. The Tribe (The Tribe #1) – 85k
  11. The Wolf (The Tribe #2) – 85k
  12. Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
  13. The Chief (The Tribe #3) – 85k
  14. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k
  15. The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
  16. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (22k done)

So thrilled  with the progress I made, and the plans I’ve made for the 2015 year. So many words to be written. I think I can make my 600k goal for this year, and maybe more!  I’ve got some crazy-busy months coming up to round out the year, but I still hope to get plenty of words in.

So here’s to heading into the final quarter of the year and on the path to ending the year with a bang!

2014 Goals – August Update

by | Aug 4, 2014 | Books, General, Goals, Writing

editsBack with the latest update on my 2014 forecast. July was pretty good, all things considered. I didn’t really bump up my word count too much, but I’d started a new job and the kids are home for summer, so things went slow.

But, August is a new month, my work hours have backed off and the kids go back to school soon! So, hopefully all of that will add up to a bigger update next month. For now, here’s the updates.

So first, the overall goals. Not specific books, but all around goals..

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. ( 347,465 WC as of 7/30/14 10:47PM)
  2. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. I am not doing enough with this. Need to get out more.
  3. I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I am working on this. Some days I do great, others not so much. Call me a work in progress.
  4. Plan 2015 Holidays in Lake Point series books. I have ideas jotted down, 1 title & 3 out of 6 story ideas set. I’ll also need to write the first 2015 book before I can submit anything.
  5. Plan 2015 book schedule. What I didn’t finish this year, plus others. Ideas are bursting on this one. I carry a notebook with me all the time now, and I think I have a good idea how/what to schedule for 2015.

And for my list of projects. This I’m not removing the completed items, because I like seeing how many are done, however I did remove a couple I had to backburner for pressing deadlines. Items in RED are complete. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new. Some of the new items are in blue with the progress I’ve made in orange.

  1. Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k
  2. Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 35k
  3. Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) – 48k – Named finally. Independent Brake
  4. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  5. Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k
  6. A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 30k (4300 done)
  7. Heartstrings & Hockey Pucks (Lake Point #7) – 30k
  8. The Tribe (The Tribe #1) – 85k
  9. The Wolf (The Tribe #2) – 85k
  10. Switchback (Dominion Falls 6) – 100k
  11. The Chief (The Tribe #3) – 85k
  12. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k
  13. The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
  14. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (22k done)

My focus remains on my three series – Lake Point, Dominion Falls, & The Tribe. Now with Lake Point I’ve got one book to finish for this year & the first for next year to write. Dominion Falls is in edit stages. The Tribe has two books written, and 1 more to write before the end of the year. The Raven needs done, but can wait while I finish up with Lake Point.

Escaping Humanity is always a work in progress at least until completion, of course. Both my co-writer & I have stories that are a priority right now, but I hope to add to that word count soon as A Thorough Thanksgiving is complete.

I have several other story ideas brewing for what will go onto my 2015 goal list, but they’re all in notes & I’m not going to list them here in my goals until the year comes closer to completion.

Fingers crossed the rest of the year sees me reaching these goals as I’d hoped for at the start of the year.

2014 Goals – July Update

by | Jul 8, 2014 | Books, General, Goals, Writing

_MG_6667I’m trying to be good and keep up on my 2014 forecast. June was a terrible month for me all around. For some reason when school let out, the world blew up.  Still, I managed to accomplish a couple of goals and get a pretty good word count.

That being said, one of my goals last month was to revamp my goals since I’ve managed to finish quite a few in the first six months of the year.

So first, the overall goals. Not specific books, but all around goals..

  1. I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. ( 323,517 WC as of 7/7/14 11:29PM)
  2. I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. I am not doing enough with this. Need to get out more.
  3. I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I am working on this. Some days I do great, others not so much. Call me a work in progress.
  4. Plan 2015 Holidays in Lake Point series books. I have ideas jotted down, but nothing set in stone. I’ll also need to write the first 2015 book before I can submit anything.
  5. Plan 2015 book schedule. What I didn’t finish this year, plus others. Again, I have some ideas, but nothing solid. Some half-started ideas lingering in waiting for me to have time to write them.

And for my list of projects. This I’m not removing the completed items, because I like seeing how many are done, however I did remove a couple I had to backburner for pressing deadlines. Items in RED are complete. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new. Some of the new items are in blue with the progress I’ve made in orange.

  1. Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k
  2. Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 35k
  3. Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) – 48k – Named finally. Independent Brake
  4. Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
  5. Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k (10k done)
  6. A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 30k
  7. The Tribe (The Tribe #1) – 85k
  8. The Wolf (The Tribe #2) – 85k
  9. The Dead Past (Dominion Falls 6-temporary name) – 100k
  10. The Chief (The Tribe #3) – 85k
  11. The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 85k
  12. The Child (The Tribe #5) – 85k
  13. Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (22k done)

Right now my main focus is in my three series. Lake Point, Dominion Falls, and The Tribe. For Lake Point I have two more books to write and one to edit for release this year. Dominion Falls still has another to edit. Books 1 & 2 of The Tribe series are ready to be sent to my editor when they’re due, The Chief requires rewriting and The Raven needs to be written (although The Raven is not yet on our editing schedule).  I’d love to get another Dominion Falls book or two out next year, but It’s at the bottom of the “do it now” list.

I’ve still got Escaping Humanity near the top, which I’m coauthoring. I love the book, but contracted deadlines are looming. Hoping to get some more written soon as Witch Way is done so I can hand it back to Mary for her next scenes.

Beyond that I’ve been dabbling in a few things for Tuesday Tales and here and there. I have too many deadlines looming to think past the immediate future.

Still, 2014 has been good for meeting goals so far. I hope the second half of the year is as successful.