Another Rainy Day

Hi folks,

Well, we've got another rainy day here, great for the garden. Not so bad for the writing either. 

So, while everything outside is busy growing, here's another peek into the current WIP. A sequel to the Immortal Tigress. The revival of a vampire slain by fire.

New Cover

Hi folks,

Well, I’ve got a few things to report this week, but the most exciting is the new cover for my next book, Empire’s Advance. This is the second book in the Corelian Guard series and follows the exploits of Hunter’s characters as things take a turn for the worse. We hope to get the book out sometime in the next two weeks so stay tuned.

 Here’s the cover.

Our cover model is the lovely and very talented Emzilla. When Emz saw the cover she said, “Let me play with it; I can make it better.” She did. This cover is her work and you can find her and some of her work on Facebook here:

 https://www.facebook.com/emzillawful?fref=ts

Sunday Check-in

It’s been a good week and I’m pretty pleased with the progress. Before I move on to the goals, let me remind you a free copy of The First Key can be had from Smashwords in any e-reader format you desire. Just use this coupon code:  UZ27H

On to the goals:

1.      Blog twice each week over and above my ROW80 check-ins

I believe I did manage it, but if not I will get in two next time.

2.      Continue to read and comment on the blogs of my fellow writers

I’m doing well here. Happy with this one.

3.      Write at least 2K words on a WIP each week

Here’s where I’ve been focused this week. I’ve got over 3K words done and am pleased with the way it is going.  I am especially happy with this as we have had some beautiful Spring days and staying at the computer has been a challenge.

4.      I set out to publish six novels this year. I managed three last round, and two more between rounds, so that leaves me with one more novel to publish. I will see if I can get it out this round.

I have two manuscripts ready for the editor, so I’m right on track here.

5.      Read and review two or more first novels by new writers this round

OK, I didn’t get a lot of reading time in, but I am buying a book today and will start it this evening. No more stalling. I have asked if you folks have a book you want me to read, I can’t believe all you guys are so shy. Wow.

6.      Publish two or more short works (between five and twenty five thousand words

The First Key is up and ready, remember to use the coupon.  The second is in the works.

I also made an author page on Facebook where you can keep track of my progress. Here’s the URL http://www.facebook.com/Prudence.MacLeod.author  Please drop by, check it out, and remember to hit the LIKE button before you leave. Thanks.

Well, that’s it for me folks, how are you all doing with your targets? Are you doing more gardening than writing? Come on now, ‘fess up.

ROW80 Sign-up

Hi folks, it’s time to declare for the next ROW80 round. I had planned a lot for this, but Life seems to be slowing my down a bit. Ah well, it’s a sure sign of Spring. Over all I was pretty successful with the goals I set for myself last time. Perhaps now is the time to pull back, just a teensy bit.

Ok, here are the goals for ROW80, Round 2.

1.      Blog twice each week over and above my ROW80 check-ins

2.      Continue to read and comment on the blogs of my fellow writers

3.      Write at least 2K words on a WIP each week

4.      I set out to publish six novels this year. I managed three last round, and two more between rounds, so that leaves me with one more novel to publish. I will see if I can get it out this round.

5.      Read and review two or more first novels by new writers this round

6.      Publish two or more short works (between five and twenty five thousand words)

Well, there they are, another six goals for this round. Should be easy, right?

Ah, we writers have such a hard life.

Drop by and say Hi, I'd love to hear from you all. :)

Final Row80 Check-in

Hi folks, this is it, the final check-in for this round of ROW80. It has been a lot of fun and it has helped to keep me on track when life got bizarre and interesting. Will I do it again? Absolutely, where do I sign up?

How did I do over all? Better than I expected to do, some things got a bit derailed, but all in all I am pleased.

Refocusing

ROW80 check-in

It’s completely crazy; I know, but there it is. I’ve been banging my head on the desk in frustration for days now, you understand, you’ve all been there. Oh yes you have. Don’t lie to me, Buddy, I see you over there in the corner shaking your head. It’s written all over your forehead in goose eggs. You have been there, we all have.

ROW80 Check-in 04/03/2012

It’s check-in time again and this week went to hell in a hand basket.  This will be a sad little report, but I swear the next one will rock. Ah well, time to ‘fess up.

Goals.

One: Write something at least five times or more each week.

So far so good.

Two: Write a minimum of 2500 on my WIP words each week.

This week I only managed about eight hundred words. argh

Three: Publish at least six new novels in 2012.

Nothing new to report here.

Four: Read and review six or more first novels by new authors. (I don’t give bad reviews, so don’t panic, I’m friendly, honest. J

I did get a couple of reviews done.

Five: do more to be supportive of new and struggling writers.

I’ve been trying to read and tweet new author’s work.

Six: Publish a small collection of erotic short stories. Hey, I’ve been around for over sixty years, and this one is on my bucket list. I will make it happen in 2012.

This is still on hold indefinitely.

Ok, that’s about it for today folks. How is it going for you? Did you hit your targets? Let me know how it went for you.

Check out my Amazon page here:

 http://www.amazon.com/Prudence-MacLeod/e/B0079XOY8U

People watching and a ROW80 Check-in

It was a hurried trip across to the city on Friday. I actually hadn’t planned to go but ended up on the boat anyway. K and I sat with a couple of fellas she knows from work. I was being quiet, just enjoying listening to the gentle banter, but K knew I was cooking a people watching post.

Now, these two fellas are nice guys, soft spoken and with nice manners. I liked them both. As I said, I was enjoying listening to the three of them. The best part came when one man confessed he had never bought clothes for himself. His mother had done it until he married then his wife took over. He claimed to have over forty shirts in the closet at home. Say what?

Not to be outdone, his buddy confessed to having twenty nine shirts which he irons himself. He wears a fresh shirt every day until all are gone then it is laundry and ironing day. K suggested he buy no-iron shirts, and he admitted he had tried them, but he likes his shirts crisp, so he prefers to iron his own. Come again?

What’s going on here? Are not men always complaining of the money women spend on clothes? Do they not complain of wives closets full to the brim while they have no room at all? Really guys? I think we have just busted another myth here, don’t you girls?

All right, with that note of victory, let have a look at the ROW80 goals.

Goals.

One: Write something at least five times or more each week.

Nailed it this time.

Two: Write a minimum of 2500 on my WIP words each week.

I’ve nearly doubled that. Wheee!

Three: Publish at least six new novels in 2012.

I’ve only got a few more pages to finalize then the fifth book of the St. John’s Series will be ready to go.

Four: Read and review six or more first novels by new authors. (I don’t give bad reviews, so don’t panic, I’m friendly, honest. J

Finally put up that review of A Breath of Hope by Robert Taylor. Find it here:

 http://www.prudencemacleod.com/2012/02/book-review-breath-of-hope.html

Five: do more to be supportive of new and struggling writers.

See above!

Six: Publish a small collection of erotic short stories. Hey, I’ve been around for over sixty years, and this one is on my bucket list. I will make it happen in 2012.

I’ve got the stories in first draft now. Just need to tidy them up a bit. There has been a hitch here as PayPal is putting huge pressure on Smashwords to ban erotic fiction. To quote D.C.McMillen, "Paypal has decided to abuse its considerable position by imposing their moral beliefs on the self-publishing industry, forcing Smashwords, Bookstrand and other sites to remove certain categories of erotica from their websites. No corporation should consider itself a moral authority in any way, shape or form. This is a slippery slope, and even if this does not directly affect us as writers or readers...yet, we must stop censorship and book banning.

See petition here: 

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-censorship-2?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

Ok, that’s about it for today folks. How is it going for you? Did you hit your targets? Let me know how it went for you.

Check out my Amazon page here: http://www.amazon.com/Prudence-MacLeod/e/B0079XOY8U

ROW80 Check-in #15

It’s check-in time again and I’m feeling a lot better about my progress.  This is turning out to be a productive week. What did I do? Let’s see: