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TOATM Update – February 15

IMG_9373Fifteen degrees Fahrenheit last night with 20 mph gusts of wind. Here’s where I was, working on THE OAK AND THE MOON.

It was more of a wrap-my-head-around-it session than a get-words-on-the-page session, but I got back in the forward motion of it right before I started nodding off. It should be easy to pick back up tonight and get a lot down on the page.

I bought myself a present yesterday. Sometimes you’ve just gotta splurge on the hardback.

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Progress of THE OAK AND THE MOON
First Draft: In progress (125,282 words and counting)
My revisions: In progress
Professional editing: Not started
Final Draft: Getting there slowly…
Proofreading: Not started
Formatting: Not started
Cover art: Not started

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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*

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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!

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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

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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

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Book Two Progress as of July 14

Can I say I’m feeling a bit excited about releasing this book? Maybe. Just maybe…

That final polishing I said would take a week ended up taking three. But it’s worth it. Some of these changes have really made this book what I hoped it would be.

We’ll see what my editor thinks. It’s in her hands now, for her final pass. And I’m going to take a much needed break à la a little Burn Notice or Orphan Black before my real vacation begins next week.

Because we all know taking two little kids to the beach for the first time ain’t gonna be no vacation.

Progress of THE TWO
First Draft: Complete (121,006 words)
My revisions: Complete
Professional editing: Editor’s final pass in progress
Formatting: Not started
Cover art: Photography for cover art in progress

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Book Two Progress as of April 9

Someone on Pinterest said THE ALIGNMENT is “truly a great book, and an even better love story.” I don’t use Pinterest, but thank you, person on Pinterest. :)

Editing progress for THE TWO: We’re working on big picture items right now, so I can’t really give a percentage of completion. As of today, my editor has taken a turn and I’ve taken a turn. Now it’s back with my editor again. Let’s call this Round 1. Of how many rounds total? I’m guessing 5. But don’t hold me to it.

I think we can consider cover art to be started, too. A couple weekends ago I dropped some props off with my photographer, Keith Lee. We examined the props and discussed my vision at a table in a packed Jimmy John’s and I’m pretty sure the other customers thought we were larpers. And no, I’m not telling you what those props are. Sorry. Keith is experimenting with different setups and lighting as we speak. He’s a bit of a photography god. I can’t wait to see what he does.

Progress of THE TWO
First Draft: Complete (129,282 words)
My revisions: Complete
Professional editing: Round 1 Complete
Formatting: Not started
Cover art: Photographer at work (shooting props)

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Book Two Progress as of January 4

Progress of THE TWO
First Draft: Complete (126,180 words)
My revisions: In progress (26% complete)
Professional editing: Not started
Formatting: Not started
Cover art: Not started

It’s still planned for release in the summer of this year.

The free Kindle promotion of THE ALIGNMENT ends today, so if you haven’t grabbed a copy already there’s still time.

THE ALIGNMENT has made it to #15 in the Top 100 Free of the Kindle eBooks > Romance > Fantasy category and #635 Free in Kindle Store. What a thrill!

I plan to do another paperback giveaway on Goodreads soon. Sign up with your email address in the sidebar if you want notification when the Goodreads giveaway begins.

And to all the awesome people who purchased THE ALIGNMENT on Amazon this week, happy reading! I hope you enjoy it!