I've had readers asking about Surrogate so I figured I'd post an update about that novel.  At present, I just finished an extensive edit to accommodate a shift in the story idea which I think will really make a difference in the quality of the book.  I'm getting ready to go back over it one more time for story edits and then look at line edits before I release it.

I've also finished the first draft of Witness.  The first draft clocked in at just under 75,000 words, and it will be off to my editor as soon as possible.  I do have line edits to go through on the first chapter, and once I get that done, I'll put it up on my webpage, Facebook, and attach it as a bonus chapter with October Breezes e-books.

Lastly, the current novel I'm working on is Dreamer.  It's already outlined and the first chapter is almost done.  We'll see how long this one takes to get through

You can get either The Mach Band Region or Silent Scream free on Kindle.  Here's the links!

This is an older blog from my Wordpress site geared toward writers.  As someone who wrote twenty-four or twenty-five novels before self-publishing, I figured this post might help others put things into perspective.


I don't think there is a writer who has ever escaped criticism.  It's part of the packaged deal that comes with wanting to have people read what you write.  Yes, some comments can be downright hurtful and hateful, and writers typically do one of three things after getting a negative review.  They stop writing, they freeze up with writer's block until they can get some distance and perspective on the review, or they keep writing.

First of all, quitting shouldn't be an option, not if this is something you want to do.  That said, it may take a lot of work to make the dream happen.  It doesn't mean it won't happen.  It all depends on how hard you are willing to push yourself to get there.  The longer I write, the more I realize that a writing career isn't built on talent so much as it is tenacity.   We all make mistakes.  The trick is to learn from those mistakes.  And even when you do learn, you have to remember that you won't make everyone happy.  If you look at the authors who have very successful careers, you will find that they didn't please everyone either.  The best you can do is write a book that is solid and worthy of praise and then choose to accept that it will not always measure up to other people's standards.  Accepting this ahead of time will save you lots of head-banging.

Some writers freeze when rejection hits.  I've had this happen.  You can call the aftermath writer's block or self-doubt, or whatever you want.  The simple fact of the matter is that you have to work through all the negative to find the positive.   It may not be easy, but I don't know of much that is worth a lot that is easy.  Besides, you can get criticized for just standing around if you happen to stand in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I agree with Mahatma Gandhi when he said "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." 

Some writers, usually the experienced ones,  just keep writing, knowing that both rejection and praise will come.  The trick is to keep both of them in perspective.  Rejection is one person's opinion.  So is praise.  Neither of them affect the opinion that should matter--the voice inside that tells you to always be true to the story and always write it the best you can.

When it comes right down to it, there is a choice in how you accept what people say about your craft.  No, the choice isn't about whether or not a person can say what he or she wants to about  your book.  It's not even a matter of if they should say it.    The only thing you control about criticism is how you handle it.  You can't stop it and you can't rationalize it away.  All you can do is accept your role in this is to write and to enjoy that writing.  Isn't that the whole purpose?

All right.  Here's your chance.  If you own a Kindle and you've been eyeing Scattered Ashes, you can get it free today and tomorrow.

Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/Scattered-Ashes-ebook/dp/B006RQRQGW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327260878&sr=1-1.

Happy reading!

One of my favorite things to do is read.  Granted, I admit that I don't read as much as I used to, buI still love it.  So, as we leave 2011 behind, I thought I'd list some of my favorite books I'd read this year, and this is in no particular order, and if I were pressed for a favorite, it would be Jordan Dane's In the Arms of Stone Angels.

1.  One Day--David Nichols
2.  Hawkes Harbor--S.E. Hinton
3.  The Gods of Dream--Daniel Arenson
4.  Switched--Amanda Hocking
5.  Before I Die--Jenny Downham
6.  Mermaid--Carolyn turgeon
7.  Tempered Hearts--Pam Thibodeaux
8.  Halo--Alexandra Adornetto
9.  Hades--Alexandra Adornetto
10.  In the Arms of Stone Angels
11.  Prom & Prejuedice--Elizabeth Eilberg

In looking at the novels, I'd like to release in 2012, I have seven particular projects in mind, and of those seven, I have already completed the first draft of these four:

The other three novels are in various stages of completion:

I guess I'll see how far I get with each project.  Here's hoping for a wonderful year!

In planning what novels I'm going to be working on releasing this year, I looked back to see what I released in 2011.  Here's the breakdown:  five novels, one multi-novel set, one short story/poetry collection, and one straight poetry collection.  Not bad for twelve months.  I guess it helps that I'd written twenty-four novels before jumping into independent publishing.

Here's the covers of my 2011 releases and tomorrow I'll blog about what I'm hoping 2012 holds for my readers.

I'm giving away two print copies of Scattered Ashes over at Goodreads.  You can enter here.