This is the year I make some serious changes for my writing career. First off, you will see that I no longer have a blog per-se, but rather this is now a News page where I will keep you updated on the what’s what in the world of Moira. Blogging, while beneficial to many, takes time away from writing. I would rather update you with something pertinent to my career and other bits of news relating to things I think you’d be interested in. Contests, happenings around the web, any shenanigans my critique group has going on. etc. To me, this would be far more interesting than the random ramblings that I often tend to post.
With that, I am so thrilled to announce that Blood & Moonlight is in the hands of an editor. Once I see how much work is needed and the brilliance my editor shines down on my manuscript, then it will be cover time while I work through edits. Oh yes, this baby is going to see the light of day but I’m not skimping on the little things. There will be much more to come as I begin to work on a new series as well. Lots to come in this new year. Be on the lookout!
Today I’m going to share five things I like about today. You ready? Hold on because its going to be quick ‘n dirty. Ah maybe not that dirty.
1. Starbucks – live for Friday Starbucks runs.
2. Closer to California Turkey Day trip.
3. Getting ladybug tattoo in honor of beloved and very missed grandmother.
4. Payday!!!!
5. Writing weekends are the best!
I swear I have one. For starters let’s talk blog. I’m going to be working hard to bring back some of my favorite features. Things like Music Monday, Temptation Tuesday, and the Friday Five. I’m especially excited about Temptaion Tuesday where I get the priveledge of chatting with my fellow authors and learning more about what they have in store for us.
Now let’s talk writing. The work in progress pile is looming over me and it is quite large to say the least. I need to narrow it down. Currently, I have someone looking over Blood & Moonlight. The second book has an opening and is slowly progressing. I also have a story in the works. First in a trilogy. A contemp western of sorts that will follow three brothers if all goes according to plan.
Excited? I am. Now if I could just find where my Muse ran off to….
Yes one does exist. I know – you had no idea right? Me neither. A friend of mine was helping me brainstorm and he says, what about a zombie love story? To which I reply, there is nothing sexy or romantic about body parts falling off at inopportune moments. Plus, I could’ve sworn I’d heard of a zombie love story. So I did what anyone would do. I googled it. To my amazement, quite a few things came up, but the one thing that I didn’t expect were the zombie song videos that popped for youtube. Being the curious being I am, of course I clicked on the link which led me to videos of a zombified Taylor Swift wannabe which was kind of funny and this little video which gave me plenty o laughs….
Yep, there you go. Zombie video of the week. And yes, I did actually think of something to write. Just one more thing of many to throw on my writing to do list. Happy Thursday everyone!
I have loved The Nightmare Before Christmas since it came out. Tim Burton is a genius, if not a wee bit odd. I think it is truly part of his brilliant artistic vision. This is the first year my kids are old enough to even show interest in watching it. So I’m super excited. I found this online and just had to share. It’s a little long, but of course if I didn’t think it was worth it I wouldn’t share. Plus I found it fitting since I’ve entered the poetry section of my English class. Not my favorite section, but this and Edgar Allan Poe might sway me yet.
Once you discover what your dream is, what would you do to achieve it? How long are you willing to pursue it? Is there something that would keep you from reaching that tasty sugar coated dream? I mean besides the brain eating zombies. Focus people.
Sometimes, it’s a matter of priorities. Where do your dreams rank among other things in your life? For me, the dream is pretty high up there. While I may not be blogging like crazy, I’m striving to achieve my dreams. Going to school to hone my craft while dealing with children and still working on novels is challenging at best, but will be so worth it in the end. I see the goal line and have every intention of reaching it. Nope dear readers, I’m just getting started, so stick around while I continue chasing my dreams. And while you’re hanging out with your Guinness or Triple Venti Irish Cream Latte, share your dreams and what you are doing to chase them down.
It’s been said before, I’ve got a huge thing for music that triggers my imagination to run wild, beats that send my characters into a frenzy, and lyrics that just give voice to emotions. Songs that stick with me and just brighten my day when they come on. Here is the most recent song to be added to that list.
I have this habit of printing out a manuscript and going through it by hand with a red pen, or even a black on. The color makes little difference to me. However, it is the act of sitting down and looking over the manuscript, away from the computer. For some reason, seeing it on paper seems to allow me the chance to see it in a new light. Well that and time away from the book.
We all do it. Authors I mean. Immerse ourselves so deeply in the work that we are unable to see it’s flaws. This manuscript is very dear to my heart. It took about two years on and off to finish. But it is truly my baby. No way could I look at it objectively at first. It took it being rejected and some time away for me to see the best thing I could do for my dear beloved characters and their story, was to allow it time to breathe. Time to vacation away from me.
It’s been eight months. I think I’m ready now. I’ve already begun to mark it up. There will be a new twist worked in. (I have a soft spot for characters with some sort of history no matter how small). Backstory is being cut. Words will have to walk the plank…face the firing squad… go the way of many words before them and vanish from the page. *Beginning to panic. Hyperventilating. Tightness in chest.*
I’m good now. This is all for the best after all. The good of the story must come first. Otherwise the story will not shine as it is meant to be. The brilliance of it will be masked by the wordiness that has consumed my manuscript. Yes I’m humble. Can you tell? Just you wait, you will see the method to my mad ramblings when the time comes. Until then, you like the characters, will just have to wait and see what shall become of them.
I have been gone for the summer. Not because I was truly being raised from the dead, but life got in the way. Yeah you’ve heard that before. However, this is where my life interceded…my kids needed mom time, I started college again, work has been all outta whack, and my schedule has been increasingly full. How I went from weekends with nothing going on but me sitting in front of netflix to barely a moment to breathe. It’s all good though and starting to wind down. Well all but school. That will be going on for at least another two years, but writing is the focus of all of this.
Before my hiatus, I had subbed my book to Carina and unfortunately, it didn’t fit their needs. That was a little disheartening until I looked through the book again. Amazing how our closeness to a piece muck up the perception of the piece. With a few months behind me, I picked up the book browsed through it, and started discussing my options with some close writing pals of mine. Kiara and Devlin are getting a slight makeover and hopefully, the end result will be oh so fantastic. That is what I am aiming for. Well, that and a return to a more normal work/writing/life schedule.
