I’m giving away a paperback of THE ALIGNMENT to five lucky winners who can start this series for free! Giveaway ends December 28, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
TOATM Update – November 21
Last night I hit page 248 in my edit of the already written 370 pages (up from 366) of THE OAK AND THE MOON.
This is the cleanest draft I’ve written. It won’t need the two hundred revisions book one needed, thank the elements. The first half of this TOATM draft was rough because I had to apply a major change (verb tenses…*shudder*), but now I’m past that nightmare so progress is moving fast.
Once I reach page 370 the fun begins: writing new material. I’ve been thinking it’ll need about 100 more manuscript pages, but now I’m thinking it needs more like 200 (which translates to about 300 in paperback form). Eek.
Who’s ready to read a 700-page book? Anyone? *tap-tap-tap* Is this on?
*crickets*
Hopefully my editor and I can do a LOT of cutting…
I might take tonight off from writing. 22 Jump Street is sitting in its Netflix envelope on my kitchen counter. *cough* Channing Tatum *cough*
Translations: THE TWO
For anyone curious about the translations of the Irish dialogue in THE TWO, keep reading. If THE TWO (or THE ALIGNMENT) is on your TBR, you might want to stop here to avoid spoilers.
Here’s a photo of autumn in Missouri as a protective buffer.
Content warning: explicit language
Translation of Irish dialogue from THE TWO
Imeacht gan teacht ort.
Go and never return. (This is a harsh insult, comparable to “Fuck off” in English. There’s an element of wishing the person dead in it.)
Tá mé i ngrá leat.
I am in love with you.
Cén t-am é?
What time is it?
Tá sé deich nóiméad tar éis a seacht.
It is ten minutes after seven.
Ceangailte go brách
Eternally bound
Bailigh as
Fuck off
Mo ghrá thú.
I love you. (Literal translation: You are my love.)
Bréagadóir
Liar
Diúl mo bhod.
Suck my cock. (This is used as an insult in the book. I’m not sure if it’s always an insult when said this way, so be careful. LOL)
Tá tú go hálainn.
You are beautiful.
Is mian liom thú.
I want you.
Tá mé ag iarraidh craiceann a bhualadh leat.
I want to have sex with you. (A very impolite way to say it. The literal translation is something like “I want to bang skin with you.”)
Tá grá agam duit.
I love you.
Beidh muid in ann a dhul amú oraibh go héasca ar an mbóthar.
We can easily lose them on the road.
Níl spraoi ar bith ansin.
There is no fun there (in that).
Feicfidh mé ar an mbóthar thú, a dheartháir.
I’ll see you on the road, brother.
A Fhearghuis, a leanbh na páirte,
Bí láidir; ná tarraing céim siar.
Is treascairt na tragóide é an crann greamaithe.
Tá grá agam duit,
Fearghus, my dear child,
Be strong; do not retreat.
A destiny embraced is a tragedy overcome.
I love you,
(His name changes from Fearghus to Fhearghuis when someone is addressing him in Irish. Weird, I know. And awesome.)
A chroí
My dear
Mo bheannacht ar do leanbh.
My blessing on your child.
TOATM Update – October 18
I just reached page 100 of 366 in my first revision of the first 75% of THE OAK AND THE MOON. I lost a few hours of work this week to a couple book-related things I had to do, which were:
-
– draw a floor plan of all three levels of the Moore estate
– research total lunar eclipses from 1964 through 1984
The floor plan was necessary to make sure these people weren’t walking around in an architecturally impossible house. The lunar eclipses…well, you’ll see.
I just woke up to an entire page of “ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd” inserted in the middle of a sentence, with my finger on the D key still pressing away. I’d say it’s time to call it a night!
Recommended Reads: THE WINTER WITCH by Paula Brackston
Rich in character, setting, and story, this is the type of book I’m always looking for. Topnotch writing and a powerful love story set in fantasy is a win for me every time, especially when the romance is an integral piece to a larger story. I usually crave more story than simply “will these two fall in love,” and this book has so much more. I have found a new favorite author.
THE WINTER WITCH by Paula Brackston
Amazon | Goodreads | Paula Brackston’s Website
So, Where’s Book Three?
THE OAK AND THE MOON is a hefty book. There’s a lot of story to tell, and a lot of ground to cover. I started the first draft years ago, plowed right into it after finishing the first draft of THE TWO. After over 100,000 words, I put it on pause–right in the middle of a poignant scene–to revise and publish THE ALIGNMENT, followed by THE TWO. I haven’t touched it since. I’m thrilled to return to book 3. It’s my favorite so far. It’s become something I never expected. This book is the third in the series but it’s…different. In a good way.
Book three is about 75% complete, but there’s quite a bit of work to do on that current 75%. I started (restarted) on it yesterday, at page one, reading and revising as I go. When I reach the end of what’s already written, I start writing new stuff. There will be no breaks until it’s done. Then I do a full revision. Then it goes to my editor. When, you say? I hope to give it to my editor in early 2015. Februaryish. Yes, I might be slow. But this book will be worth it. :)
Progress of THE OAK AND THE MOON
First Draft: In progress, about 75% complete
My revisions: Not started
Professional editing: Not started
Formatting: Not started
Cover art: Not started
Goodreads Giveaway – Ends October 12
I’m giving away a paperback of both THE ALIGNMENT and THE TWO to five lucky winners. TWO books, to celebrate THE TWO! Giveaway ends October 12, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win
THE TWO is Here
One family unifies, the other releases its army. And two people enter a war they can only survive together.
THE TWO, the second book in The Alignment Series, is now available on Amazon.
Sample or buy now: Kindle | Paperback
The Alignment is a contemporary fantasy series about two rival families and the people caught between them. If you haven’t read the first book, the Kindle version is free on Amazon right now.
TWO thousand thanks to the team who helped me publish this book: editor Jennifer Wingard, photographer Keith Lee, and the artists at DamonZa.com. I’ll be honest–I was worried about this book. The first draft was rough. My editor and I worked for months, polishing this thing into what I thought was impossible: a worthy sequel. And with gorgeous formatting and cover art, it’s made me very proud. I hope you enjoy it.
THE TWO
Book Two of The Alignment Series
Liv’s role in the war between the Bevans and the Moores is as solid as the motif carved in her protective amulet. The problem? She never volunteered. Her connection with Trey happened too fast. She can’t trust in love built by magic.
Trey’s place in the war has shifted. No longer the target, he’s just someone in the way. Not if he can help it. He’s packed and ready to return to the Moore estate. This time, he can’t bring Liv, but he can’t leave her to battle Moore-trained assassins alone.
Liv knows if Trey goes, the Moores will kill him. Trey knows their remote mountain home won’t be safe until he’s executed every Moore. And Liv has a secret that, if divulged, will propel Trey to the estate faster than his fifteen-year-old need for revenge.
The Moores don’t need Trey to come to them. They have a new strategy—an attack on the very thing Liv questions, the last thing Trey expects to be in their sights. Their love.
Sample or buy now: Kindle | Paperback
THE TWO is Weeks Away
THE TWO is being formatted right now, so it’s officially hands-off for me. I can’t touch it anymore. I wish I could turn the darn thing off in my head.
I’ve seen the first draft of the cover. The cover! OMG the cover.
This just might be the last update before it’s published.
Progress of THE TWO
First Draft: Complete (121,293 words)
My revisions: Complete
Professional editing: Complete
Formatting: In progress
Cover art: Photographs for cover art delivered, cover art in progress
Final Draft of the THE TWO is Here
August is here, and so is the final draft of THE TWO. I start proofreading it on my Kindle tomorrow. Give me (and my editor who’s also doing a final read) a week or two on that, then everything goes to the cover artist/formatter.
‘Cause guess what else is here. Photos for the cover. Stunning photos, I should say. My photographer is a wizard.
And we all love wizards, don’t we? Yes we do.
Final word count is 121,336. Here’s the progress report.
Progress of THE TWO
First Draft: Complete (121,006 words)
My revisions: Complete
Professional editing: Complete
Formatting: Starting very soon
Cover art: Photographs for cover art delivered, cover art starting very soon
Kay Camden 