Same Bat WIPpet Time, Same Bat WIPpet Channel

It's nearly midnight, and I've just realized that WIPpet Wednesday is mere minutes away!  Depending on the time zone this blog posts in, it may still read the 25th, but in *my* time zone, it's after midnight, so I'm posting!

This has been a successful week in writing.  I've figured out that goals feel more tangible to me when I define them as chapters I want to write and finish versus how many words I want to write.  Chapters give me a picture in my head.  So!  I have just finished writing chapter 8!  My goal is to also write Chapter 9 this week as well.  I'm not sure how attainable that will be. Thursday, Friday and Saturday all have things going on.  Nonetheless, I am feeling accomplished right now.

For my 'How You Found Me' series, I have decided on a title for book 1:  Spellbound.  See what I mean about feeling accomplished?  

So, without further ado, I give you 29 lines (at least, in Microsoft Word, the formatting makes it 29 lines.  It comes out to like 27 lines on blogger).  The formula I used to rationalize 29 lines was this:  26+3=29 (the 26th day of June, plus three for the 3 in 2013).  That allows my WIP to end nicely rather than in the middle of the paragraph. 

I give you the first 29 lines of 'Spellbound.'

* * * *

One word could just about sum it up: Akira.
 
She and her band of minions and beasts changed Harper’s Grove overnight.  They had all appeared out of nowhere during Harper’s Grove Annual Fair, turning merriment into devastation.  Citizens didn’t realize the danger standing before them when she interrupted the local musical entertainment on stage, demanding the people to kneel at her feet and submit to her will.  Oliver Greenwood, a brave young college-bound photographer—his name was etched on the dark granite of the city’s memorial wall – had snapped a few photos of Akira.  Although he hadn’t survived, his camera had. 

They were the only pictures ever captured of her, depicting a woman human enough in appearance, but not quite.  There were strange features that defined her, set her apart as— well, alien.  Among her long black shimmering hair were pointed ears that peeked out at the top of her head, and her dark buttoned nose resembled something more feline than human.  Her eyes, however, were the most stunning feature: they were large and almond shaped, glittering like brilliant emerald green gems with thin black slits.  Her skin was a deep olive tone, and though her limbs and hands were human, her finger nails could extend into sharp-clawed daggers.

Last year, Harper’s Grove had been just like any other budding metropolitan town.  It wasn’t so big yet that you instantly felt lost amid the hustle and bustle of crowds and tall buildings that loomed high above, but it was digging its heels into growth and industry.  It was a thriving, friendly town, filled with citizens that stopped on the street to help a stranger fix a flat tire, or to help little old grandma cross the street.  Surfers would mosey on down to the beach to catch the waves, and girls in bikinis would flock from behind, giggling and chatting about the view.  The weather usually kept to its warm, balmy temperature of seventy degrees, welcoming sun lovers to snatch up its warmth and rays.

Now, though . . .

The cost of death had taught its citizens to be wary.  One didn’t necessarily wander around after dark anymore, and something more sinister than traffic could make you late to work, if you even showed at all.  Mothers made sure to keep their children close, and the sound of an old car’s clanking engine rumbling down the street could be enough to scatter groups of people cowering for cover into buildings or clambering into their cars to get away, afraid that the noise represented someone more menacing. 

* * * *

There you have it!  Thanks to My Random Muse for hosting, and if you want to join in on the fun, post your own Work In Progress, then link your site and let everyone see what you've got going on!  Be sure to check out everyone else's WIPpets too:)  Your thoughts and critiques are, of course, always welcome. 
 

W-w-what?! It's WIPpet Wednesday!

Wow, it is half-way through the week already!  I can't believe it, and yet here it is.  Wednesday has come, reminding me that I have written very little.  Part of that is due to the fact that the hubby and I have just acquired a new bunny in our household.  I thought he was a mini rex, but I'm really not very good at telling breeds, and with a vet visit, I found out he is actually an English Spot. 

In any case, Bubba has been the reason I have distracted myself from writing.  I'm a great animal lover, especially when it comes to bunnies.  I own a lionhead bunny as well. 

Enough of that, though.  On to WIPpet Wednesday.  On this day, June 19, there is a part of me that would love to give you nineteen paragraphs, but seeing as how I'm only at around 15,000 words, I've got to space things out a little. 

What I would like to give today for your viewing pleasure (I hope) is the blurb I am working on.  It just so happens to be ten lines, which fits in perfectly for a math equation about the 19th: 1+9=10.  As always, I welcome your thoughts.  Thanks to My Random Muse for hosting.  If you want to join the WIPpet Wednesday WIPpeteers, simply blog about your current Work In Progress, then link your blog here so everyone can follow!

The series will be titled How You Found Me.  The first book doesn't have a solid sub-title yet, though I'm tossing around some ideas.

.......

Terry Owens has moved to Harper’s Grove with one mission in mind: to join the Defenders and battle against the alien force of Akira and her driving ambition to take over the city. There’s just one problem—becoming one of the Defenders isn’t exactly a position for hire. Determined and optimistic, Terry doesn’t let that insignificant detail stop him from hoping to be the first exception. With that sole purpose in mind, it is why he tries so hard to keep himself from falling for quiet, charming, devilishly handsome James, who just so happens to be the leader of the team—until James starts to show similar interest. It catches both by surprise. After all, neither of them had ever allowed that aspect of their lives to be open for discussion. In the meantime, little does Terry know someone else is eager to make his dream of becoming a Defender come true. With her own devious plans in mind, Akira seeks to give Terry all the power he could ever want—at the cost of his own free will.

.......


Okay, it was 11 lines.  The formatting from one place to another. . . you know how it goes.

When thinking about it, 15,000 words makes this a fledgling story still.  It really isn't much, but considering it is 15,000 words into my third re-write of this current Work-in-Progress, it feels like I am making significant headway.  The reasons for the re-write are due to writing style and plot/character/setting formula.  When I look back at my first draft... *shudders.*  I guess we all feel that way about the first draft, right?  I'm finally heading in the right direction and it's sounding like how I want it to sound, give or take. 

All right, feel free to disregard my loud inner thoughts.  Perhaps this blurb will help shed some enlightenment on the previous pieces I have shared with you, or... maybe it'll just make you curious to read more!  

Mwahaha! >:-)   

Some Tidbits of Information

Happy Sunday, and wishing a Happy Father's Day out there to fathers of all types.  There are the literal fathers who have children of their own, there are adopted fathers, there are single fathers, there are father-like examples, there are fathers of pets... there are lots of different types of fathers out there.  Today, I tip my hat off to all of you.  Thanks for being an integral part of someone's life.

Today, my husband and I became the proud parents of a second bunny.  His name is Bubba. 

Aww, isn't he cute?? *waits expectantly for everyone to nod yes* I knew you'd think so too!  He's a rex bunny, and we are slowly acquainting him with our first furry bunny child, Pippin (who's a lionhead).

I assure you, that really is a bunny underneath all that fur.  He's a cutie pie!  The next few weeks will be fun and filled with adjustments and getting to know our expanded family.  I have hope that these two guys will get along together, but we'll see.

In other news, I've added a page on here.  *points to the right of the screen toward the top*  See that?  It's a review page for "The Coin!" It has been free this weekend, and there's still a few hours left on Sunday before it goes back up in price, so if you haven't, hurry and head on over and download it.  I've been a bit horrible to advertise as much for it, I do apologize.  Getting a new bunny has been a bit time consuming to my thoughts today.  In any case, I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on it.  Putting in a review on Amazon helps out, but if you'd rather just come here and spill the beans, I welcome you to do so. 

Speaking of awesome books, my good friend Adrian has been interviewed for her recent published work titled "Forever Burn."  Want to know what it's about?  Mosey on down to Michelle Abbott's page and read the interview, PLUS join in for a chance to win some free stuff! 

I'll be seeing you guys for WIPpet Wednesday.  Toodles!

Aw yeah. . . WIPpet Wednesday is here!

*Toots the horn on the 'Little Engine That Could'*

Welcome aboard WIPpet Wednesday, folks!  Here is my second time joining in with the rest of some wonderful authors in sharing my Work In Progress.  Anyone can participate (click on the link to get yourself enrolled), and you get to see a great many tantelizing snippets of imagination-at-work out there.  Thanks to My Random Muse for hosting!

Now, today's date is June 12, 2013.  I will take day twelve from the month and give you 12 paragraphs.  Last WIPpet Wednesday I gave you a small teaser about the massacre at Harper's Grove Annual fair (not to be confused with the annual massacre of Harper's Grove Fair *wink*).  Well, that seemed to have whet quite a few appetites for details, so I am giving you the following 12 paragraphs immediately following that one short three liner from page two of the opening chapter that I 'tantelized' you with. 

To clarify, the massacre of Harper's Grove is a past event.  Terry, one of my main characters, is reflecting back on this story he's heard countless times.  He did not bear witness to the gruesome spectacle.  Akira's speech begins in the first paragraph:


“Kneel, and submit to my will!  Pledge your loyalty to me this day, and your lives will be spared.  You will know work and sweat and labor, but you will also know the freedom from frivolous argument and unnecessary warfare!  Follow me, and take pride in building a new nation that will not fall apart!” Her honey coated voice, enhanced by some sort of magic, rang through the air so all could hear.  Blank, confused stares turned into defiant expressions.  No alien was going to waltz in and declare herself ruler.    

Steve Cromwell, an older gentleman who had the reputation in town for being a heckler, shouted out, “You’re crazy!”

Almond-shaped eyes fixed their stare on him.  Akira said nothing.  Slowly, her lips pulled up in a feral smile that revealed fanged teeth while a growl rose from the back of her throat.  There was a flash, and a long bronze staff instantaneously appeared in her hands.  A half crescent moon sat on the top, hundreds of tiny emerald gems inlaid into the metallic surface.  The gems glittered dangerously as the staff pointed at Steve.  Brilliant green light shot out from the crescent moon center and hit him square in the chest.

The older man was blown backward through the crowd, the force of the blast knocking citizens down as his body carved a path.   He landed roughly on the ground, the crack of his skull echoing loudly as it smacked against the earth.  Blank eyes stared up at nothing, the jaw slanted and jutting out at an unnatural angle.  

Steve was the first casualty.

A terrible moment of silence passed, then Suzanne, Steve’s wife—her name also etched on the memorial wall—filled the air with the shrill keen of a widow’s despair.

Akira’s minions stepped out at that point, scores of them surrounding and trapping the crowd where they stood.  They were skinny, lanky gray creatures with oversized arms and hands, hard wrinkled skin similar to a rhino and just as tough. They had bald heads and melted faces with red beady eyes.

Suzanne’s cries were joined by terrified shrieks from several others, ripping the air with fear and disbelief.  Citizens scattered here and there, only to wind up face to face with one of the melted gray-faced minions, unable to escape.  Large, ape-like hands rose into the air, and when they struck down to the earth, human bone crushed and splintered. 

Stepping out next was a beast of mythical legend: the Minotaur—he was a fearsome creature with a black bull head and two great pointed horns that curved outward and were sharp as spears.  His rippling torso resembled something akin to a body builder on massive amounts of steroids, with thick stalky legs and cloven feet.  Clad in bright golden armor from the waist up and a helmet around his horned head, it wasn’t a surprise he went by the name of Goldore.  Those eyes glittered black coals of putrid and hate, targeting any human as the enemy.  Wielding his great golden sword high up in the air, devastation struck wherever it landed. 

So much bloodshed.   So much loss.

Scores upon scores of people died.  Screams echoed for miles as people scrambled to escape from a trap that snaked them in the further they tried to run.  Too many minions outflanked the citizens, holding them hostage while death claimed them in grotesque fashion.

Few found miraculous escape.  Very few, and not nearly enough.

****

There you have it!  I welcome comments and positive criticism. 

We Are All Human

"Noboday can avoid falling in love.  They might want to deny it, but friendship is probably the most common form of love."  - Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

A warm thank you to all of you wonderful writers who posted your comments last WIPpet Wednesday.  I had plans to visit each of your pages to return the kindness. I got to a few, but not to all.  My goal this upcoming WIPpet Wednesday is to do so. 

I want to give adequate warning that this post may not necessarily be witty or carry a message of inspiration or uplifting thought.  I wish to let you know that I am human. 

That has been a heavy thought to dwell on this week, being human.  It entails all sorts of meaning and opinion.  What I am after, though, is to let you know that among this screen of words lies a person who laughs and jokes and cries and gets upset and shows the rainbow of emotion. 

This week dealt with humanity for me.  It can be so easy to forget how human we all are.  When we don't get along with someone, it can be so hard to realize that inside both opposing parties lies a golden person who is loved and also loves.  That they, too, have the rainbow of emotion that we wish others to see in our own selves.  That we are capable of making mistakes that are worthy of forgiveness, that our actions, ill or positive, won't be etched into one tiny moment of time and branded on our skin as the only definition of who we truly are. 

It is so easy to find the negative.  Social media loves to broadcast it, because we love to find it.  We find it in ourselves, in the environment, in others, in everywhere.  It is a life-long lesson to learn how to find the positive and focus on it, to hold onto it and strengthen ourselves in betterment.  I repeat:  That is a life-long lesson. 

It really should be remembered in each other, that we are all on differing paths toward achieving that.  Some more than others.  Really though, hard as it may be, try just to focus on your own path of life-long betterment.  It's the only path you can control.  It's the only way negativity won't swallow you up and chew you into a thousand more shattered pieces. 

Why am I talking about this?  This might sound abstract, and it might sound vague and out of the blue. 

It is.

Death usually has that affect.  It's abstract, it's out of the blue, and so often times, it isn't expected.  You aren't prepared for it.

I knew someone who died last Sunday, June 2.  He was 74 years of age, he was a coworker, and he was a friend. 

I didn't often let him know the positive impressions he made on me.  I kept those to myself, ever the silent observer, keeping to myself. 

The point of this post isn't to discuss the person that I knew, however.  There are many of us that have experienced the loss of someone dear.  It causes the mind to grapple with life, with its fragility, and with its many varying aspects of negative and positive.  My point today, is to let you know that I knew a very fine human being.  My point is to let you know that I myself, am human.  I witness every day the acts of humanity.  We all do. 

That is a part of why I like writing, because I can explore some of those aspects.  Life is a very unique thing to experience.  There are exciting moments, boring ones, loving ones, scary ones, and so on and so forth.  I enjoy imagining different life experiences. 

This past week I reflected on a real life one.  There is something I wish to take from this small aspect of humanity I witnessed from my coworker:  We are all human.  We have a lot of potential differences.  That's okay.  We are going to get mad at each other.  That's okay.  We are going to love each other.  That's okay.  We are going to do something that causes someone else sorrow.  It may not feel okay, but that's still okay. 

What we need to come together and do, is try to understand that we are all human.  If we could learn to understand that we all feel similar emotions, maybe we could be quicker to forgive, quicker to understand, quicker to let go, quicker to love, quicker to see that differences don't have to equate themselves to negativity, quicker to. . . *fill in the blank.*  I think you see where I'm getting at. 

I may get mad at someone tomorrow.  What I hope to do, is to let go of that anger quickly.  I hope to view that person as someone who still loves, who is loved, and has goodness inside.  I hope not to brand someone by one moment of time that didn't set well with me. 

I saw my coworker do that.  It is my life-long lesson to figure out how he figured it out.

Stay tuned for WIPpet Wednesday, where I promise for something lighter and less heavier than the very puzzling aspect that makes up humanity. ;)  

WIPpet Wednesday

"Let's whip it, let's WIPpet Wednesday!" 

From my last post, hopefully I've got you wondering what WIPpet Wednesday really entails.  Well, it's a fun little way to give readers a taste of my current WIP: Work In Progress.  Each Wednesday, I'm going to reveal something about my project that correlates with the day's date.  Adrian has turned me onto this, and if you're curious, WIPpet is also going around at that site too. 

So, today is June 5, 2013.  I am taking the day's calendar date of 5, and using a simple math equation:  2+3=5.  So for my WIPpet today, on the second page of my manuscript, I am sharing three lines with you.  They are:

Terry had heard the story of the Harper’s Annual Fair Massacre countless times:  Standing atop the stage and scattering local entertainment, Akira’s large emerald eyes bore down onto the crowd, glaring with fierce determination, silently challenging anyone to defy her.

Well, there you have it!  Page 2, with three lines, equals 5. :)  Short and sweet, and. . . tantelizing, I hope?  I welcome any comments. 

Sunday and Wednesday will hold updates on this blog from me.  If you haven't, I encourage you to subscribe to e-mail updates.  If any one is more familiar with blogger than I am, is there a way you can view stats on users who have done so? 

I hope you guys have a great week, and thank you kindly for stopping by my itty bitty corner of the web.

Work In Progress: The Reveal of my Next Project

Happy Sunday to all of you!  I want to thank you for taking time out of your lives to mosey onto this itty bitty corner of the internet and read someone's musings.  Hopefully Little Dude's story was entertaining and worthy of your time.  If you have read The Coin, then you know that this mini story was a bit different in writing style and genre.   

Well, I am shifting writing styles/genres yet again and want to reward you with insight into my current WIP (Work In Progress).  I was tagged last week with a fun little game fellow authors participate in, which is answering a few questions about one's WIP.  I figured sharing this survey would be an appropriate way to reveal my new project with you.  My thanks to Adrian J Smith for tagging me!Without further ado...

1.       What is the name of your current WIP?

I am writing the first book in a five book series that is titled 'How You Found Me.' The sub-title is yet unknown.

2.       Give a short summary of your WIP.  

Terry Owens has moved to Harper’s Grove with one mission in mind: to join the Defenders and battle against the alien force of Akira and her driving ambition to take over the city.  There’s just one problem—becoming one of the Defenders isn’t exactly a position for hire.  Determined and optimistic, Terry doesn’t let that insignificant detail stop him from hoping to be the first exception.  With that sole purpose in mind, it is why he tries so hard to keep himself from falling for quiet, charming James, who just so happens to be the leader of the team—until James starts to show similar interest.  It catches both by surprise. After all, neither of them had ever allowed that aspect of their lives to be open for discussion.  In the meantime, little does Terry know someone else is eager to make his dream of becoming a Defender come true.  With her own devious plans in mind, Akira seeks to give Terry all the power he could ever want—at the cost of his own free will.

3.       Ready to do a cover reveal? 

 

        Not even close!  It’s on the back burner of my thoughts though, believe me.  I've got ideas stirring. 

4.       How many words are you into it? 

 

       About 13,200 words.  Because page count vastly differs depending on the format and size used (especially for the digital book age), giving a page count isn’t the most accurate way to gauge the size of an author’s story.  Though for those who are still curious, that puts me at about 31 pages in Microsoft Word.  I would like to add here, that this is my word count for a third (or is it fourth?) revision of this story.  It’s a project I have been working on for over a year. I do believe this latest revision is on the right track, which is why I am choosing to reveal it to you guys!

5.       Goal word count by the end of the week?

 

       I need to be better at setting goals, so to motivate myself, I have recently tried to set myself the task of 5,000 words this week, but we’ll see!

6.       Goal word count for the entire manuscript?

 

        60,000-70,000 words

7.       What genre does your WIP fall within? 

 

        Action/superhero, fantasy, romance, gay fiction.

8.       When would you *like* to publish this project? 

      
        My hope is toward the end of this year if I can get myself writing fast enough now that I’ve ironed out a lot of the kinks. Not all of them, but most.
 

9.       Go to page 5 of your manuscript and pick a sentence at random to share with us! 
       
        I’ll give you a little bit more than a sentence!  How about a paragraph?

Terry continued staring up at the monument, lost in the thoughts and memories swimming around in his head.  These were a group of highly skilled fighters, known for their magical abilities, but mostly for their message to defend, protect, serve, and not let the enemy win.   Six people—it seemed a little crazy that six people, extraordinary or magical—could fight the way they did against the alien forces of Akira.  It was true she hadn’t picked forces that had keen intellect, but strength was still strength, and her side had lots of it. 

10.       Will this WIP be turned into a series book?  
          
        You bet!  This will be a five book series at the very least.

11.       What has been the hardest challenge working on this WIP? 
          
       It originally was a fanfiction piece inspired by the Power Rangers (yup, I’m proud of that!).  You will see the influence as you read it.  It has been a challenge changing things around to make it enough of my own, hence the number of revisions it has gone through.

12.       What has been your favorite part of working on this WIP? 
          
        Writing Terry and James.  That’s about all I’ll say!

13.      Any special treat planned for when you finish the final draft of your WIP? 
            
        Oh my!  Well, since it’s a series, I’ll be eager to move on to the next book, but eating out and a back scratch from the hubby would be quite nice.  I’m relatively easy to please.

 

Stay tuned for WIPpet Wednesdays!  What is that, you ask?  Well, it is where I share with you an update on my WIP that somehow corresponds with the date I am posting on.  Don't really get it?  Come back on Wednesday to see what I mean :)

(Mwahaha! Come on, I've gotta leave you with a small semblance of a cliff-hanger!)