Monday, July 25, 2011

The ticking clock

Have a deadline? Fear you won't make it?  I've felt this way for some time! My book has been finished almost a year now and I've hardly touched it for editing. I began editing it once and it terrified me! I read one page and wanted to cry! It was awful! no, it was AWFUL! It was so bad that it's creator didn't even want to be associated with it!

I felt sick with myself! How could I gush to all my friends that I was going to be a published author one day and I couldn't even write something that I liked! But recently I have felt that I needed to get back up on the saddle and try again.


I felt like it was time once more to start working on it. So I worked out in my head how many pages I had to do a day in order to finish by November first -now you might ask why November first- NanoWrimo of course!- Anyways, I figured that with 99 days, with roughly 250 pages, I needed to do two and a half pages a day! And now I find myself ahead of schedule and on a wonderful roll of never ending words as I write away the night! 

Thank you to all those who support me and help me when I need it most! Special Thank you to 
Katie Witt- My best friend and biggest support in the world!

Lizzy Hughes- My other best friend! Always willing to help out when I need it!

and last but by far not the least, Elizabeth Mueller- Wonderful friend! always helping me out when I need and always willing to listen when I need someone to talk to! She has been a wonderful inspiration!

These three women are amazing and the best of friends I could ever ask for! I wouldn't be where I am at without their help! 

Who's an inspiration to you? 
Who is your biggest support?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Getting back up on the saddle

It has been many many months since I have written! I tried to have my book finished before July but obviously that didn't happen. Now I am way behind but my new goal is November. If I have to stay up all night tonight to work on it, I will! Though I have already written three pages today and that is quite a bit considering I haven't been keeping up on it.

So my questions are:

What tools do you use to write quickly and swiftly to get a lot of writing done in very little time?
How do you set your goals?
What motivates you to work on your goals?
What inspires you?
If you have writers block, and a deadline/goal, what helps you get past that block?

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Giveaway time!!!!

And now. . .. it's time. . .to win a copy of Darkspell!!(Will not be sent until the release of Darkspell Fall of 2011)



Comment on this post and tell me what most intrigues you about Darkspell (whether it was something on my blog or Elizabeth's blog or another interviewer or simply because you are friends with Elizabeth and already knew all about it!)

Now, go share my blog everywhere you can and for every time you share my blog, leave another comment. For every comment you will have another entry. Leave comments clear through the end of this month. If you share my blog and one of your friends becomes my follower and also leaves a comment, both of you will get an extra five entries!

READY. . . .SET. . . SHARE!

**BONUS!- IT'S A SIGNED COPY!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Celebrating Darkspell! ~ Interview with Elizabeth Mueller

Elizabeth Mueller is an amazing Author and Mother! A great friend and over all one of the kindest people you'll ever meet! I had the privilege of interviewing her and I am glad that I can share it with you!  Come join in the celebration of  the release of Darkspell by a fabulous and award winning author!





Konstanz: Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?
Elizabeth: If you venture into Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic, on page 4, there is a writing prompt. It is the 5th one down if you want to see how Darkspell was born! As I jotted the prompt down, I let my muse take full control. Since I love romance, the first thing I thought was how would it be if the second person was a girl? And what if the first one fell in love with her? What if there was something special about her that lured him to her that she didn’t know? My mind deepened so wide, I didn’t think on the 2 dimensional level of these questions, but I felt them stirring as people bursting to be born on paper.
About Darkspell:
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.
As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her.  Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.
Will love prove thicker than magic?
Konstanz: How did you get interested in writing this particular genre? And writing in General?
Elizabeth: It was the prompt that pointed me into this direction. It provided the magical element and my muse did the rest. Writing has always been a source of escapism for me. It helps me to regroup on so many levels. I don’t know what I’d do without writing.
Konstanz: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Elizabeth: I interviewed a friend of mine on marathon dates for the prom scene. A marathon date is basically a date that extends the entire day, but you go home to change into the next set of clothes that suit the next stage of the date. For example, you change into something comfortable since you’re going bungee jumping. Then you change out of that into diving gear for your scuba lesson, then after that, evening gown for dinner, after that . . . You get the picture! I researched on what exactly a coven is and its purposes. I also read up onCopenhagen and its climate and setting and language. I also did tons of pondering for the names of the people in the coven and for each of their gifts.
Konstanz: What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?
Elizabeth: I have to admit that my work day has morphed into something entirely different ever since Darkspell was picked up. I used to dedicate every possible quiet moment to editing/writing. That was when the kids were either at school or sleeping for the night. Now, I am dedicating any possible chance at networking. Networking is fun, but it’s never ending with all the projects I have going.
Konstanz: What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Elizabeth: For me it’s finding the time. I can write an entire novel in 8 days if it was just me, but I would never trade my family away for a career. Why would I when I can do both? Since I never am left wanting for inspiration, I can still write a novel in a few months around my family’s schedule.
Konstanz: What’s the best thing about being an author?
Elizabeth: The satisfaction of achieving a huge dream and letting my kids see that it is possible.
Konstanz What are you working on now?
Elizabeth: I’ve been working hard on my networking. I’m celebrating Darkspell’s release with a pre-book launch throughout the month of July. Visit my website for updates!
Konstanz: What advice would you give aspiring writers? 
Elizabeth: Believe in yourself!
Konstanz Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?
Elizabeth: Kim Wilkins, Liz Kessler, Helen Dunmore, and Michele Bell.
Konstanz What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Elizabeth: If/when I become New York’s best seller, what do I plan to do with that influence? I would be like Oprah Winfrey. I would give of myself because God gave to me. I would do what I could to help others achieve their dreams—whether it would be as writers, as the struggling school systems, even empowering those who feel powerless. I would do my best to help others become stronger.
Konstanz: If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

Elizabeth: Dark Thorns, White Roses

Please join me in my celebration for Darkspell’s fall release all July long! A pre-book launch party if you will. Click here for details.


Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.

As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her.  Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.


Will love prove thicker than magic?








And now a sneak peak of Darkspell:



Alex reached out and took my hands. A spark of magic passed between us. I didn’t resist and his gaze deepened. Another wave tore through me and I felt his powerful drive to protect me and the desire to share the rest of his life with me. I could see forever, eternity was wide and deep.

I would never be alone again.

Having tasted Alex so strongly, so close, so dear, left me empty; a starving sensation that could only be filled by him. I had no idea he felt so intensely for me. His love washed away all doubt from me.

I leaned into Alex as my world spun fast on a crooked axis. I breathed him in. I was intoxicated with his burning hold, I was so alive. Every sound was louder, the wind richer as it flowed through me. I was so free, so alive, so untainted by any wicked thing. I closed my eyes, shivering with desire, and imagined the breeze encircling us; bringing us to our feet and drawing us closer like a child’s ribbon.

Just as I opened my eyes, he whispered, “Listen, Winter. Listen to me.”

He brought me to him and gently pressed my face to his heart. It was a wild thing, trapped and yearning to be free. My blood sang and my eyes drifted closed. It felt as if my feet lifted from the ground. One hand was soft in my hair as he caressed my back with the other.

“How have you come by such magic? Such power to control? Can I come into your world? Can you teach me?” I trembled, savoring every sensation. 

Find Elizabeth Online!
http://www.authorelizabethmueller.com
http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com
http://mormonmommywriters.blogspot.com
http://elizabethmueller-illustrator.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/author.elizabethmueller
http://twitter.com/ElizbethMueller
http://www.goodreads.com/elizabethmueller 


Friday, July 1, 2011

Darkspell release party!

    My great friend Elizabeth Mueller is published! And her book is coming out this fall! In celebration she's doing giveaways all month long as well as interviews with fellow bloggers! Come follow her and keep up with all of her interviews! Get entered to win great prizes and put 'Darkspell' on your list of books to buy this year!                                
                                               
I will be interviewing her on July 19th, but you don't have to wait for my interview to see what she has to say! Here's a list of the places you can find her all month!


July 1 Sue Roebuck



July 5 S. B. Niccum
July 7 Roland Yeomans


July 12 M. S. Hatch


July 14 Susan Gourley

July 18 Jo Schaffer

July 20 Melissa Kline

July 23 Lisa Turner

July 25 J. D. Brown

July 27 & 28 Anastasia V. Pergakis
July 29 Michele Bell

July 30 Rebecca Carlson


And don't forget to check out her blog frequently to win great prizes!