Let me share a SECRET with you

book cover by arakawafan

You better believe I'm sharing a secret with you.  I'm going to tell you about Guard the Sacred, and how this book was once a mere idea and now is going to be in the works once Nano madness is over and etc.

Guard the Sacred won't sound familiar to you from the title, but I've actually talked about it in the past.  The book was originally titled The Guards of Fairyland --thank God I changed the title.  The second book in the Lights trilogy is one you'll be unlikely to forget, but hey what do I know?  I'm the author so of course I'll be bias like that.  How about I let you read the full pitch and you can decide for yourself.

Guard the Sacred

Book 2 in the Lights trilogy

Book: Adventure, Science fiction/Fantasy, Romance

Guard this place as if it means more than your life...because in some ways it does.  If you cannot accept that...leave.

Fifty years ago...

There were eight magicians who guarded at the gates of Fairyland, one of the most magical places in the world.  They suffered and fought for a place they knew little about but was aware of its significance.

______________

It has been four years since the followers confronted the Dark King.  Much has changed since that time, and now only a group of ten remain together.

A new enemy has revealed himself.  Malvagio, a Dark magician, sends a letter warning the followers.  He plans to take over the magical world, and he will eliminate any who get in his way.

Trisha and Keith join together again in this new adventure.  While they know advanced magic, they have not a clue of the terrors soon to come.

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Day 6 of the madness

Cover by Lycanthrope

As you can see there's a new cover for STRONGER.  I thought I would share this new image with you while I ramble on a bit about the fact that it's the sixth day of Nano's madness and I'm freaking out because I'm only at a mere 4,765 words.

One of the major factors I think we realize while participating in Nano is we set these goals for ourselves, yet we usually get caught behind what we want to accomplish.  Such as right now I should  be writing STRONGER but I thought first I should blog about this.  

And yesterday I bought 5 new cds and 2 books at Target, so as you can image those are just calling for me.  Unfortunately, though, I cannot start either of the books because I haven't finished The Bourne Objective yet.  (Yes, I have been that far behind.  It's pathetic.)

Now that I go to write STRONGER I'm listening to Enrique Iglesias, and then just to mix up when the cd is over you now what's going in next?  Keith Urban.  (Hey, the music might as well be irrelevant while all this madness is going on, right?)

No matter what your goals are or what kind of schedule you have for yourself, just remember to keep writing.  Even when you feel like what you're writing is crap or there is too much dialog --wow it's almost as if I'm addressing my own problems...oh wait, those are my problems among many others--force yourself to write more.  Nobody expects your Nano novel to be perfect, so keep on writing as if you have no life.  Turn up your boom box, turn on your iPod, pour yourself a drink, keep a book by your side, and start writing more.

Good luck!  (Because I know there's a lot of us --cough cough like me--who need it.)

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Ooh look what Lindsey did! *gasps*

I made the cover above myself, so yes I do expect for you --all of you--to comment at this unbelievable miracle.  Do not misunderstand; I did like the old cover, but I felt there needed to be a change.

I really must return to writing.  It's so hard just to keep my eyes open at this late hour.

More of a post about STRONGER tomorrow...I hope.

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

It's only the 3rd day?! Kill me...Now.

Yes, bloggers, it is only the third day of Nano --or rather in this case it's the third night.  All the same, it seems like so much time has gone by since the beginning of Nano.  How are is your novel coming along?

Maybe at times you too are begging for someone to "kill" you because let's face it...there is a lot --a lot--of madness that comes into play once you get involved in Nano.  For those of you who just began this year I guess you're realizing that now.  And this year Nano has set up a system where they tell you how far ahead you are or how far behind you are.  Remember, it's only so it will drive you even more crazier.

And here comes the part where I start rambling off about my progress with STRONGER.  Obviously I should be writing more for it now, but my blogging addiction has kicked in and here I am while Jocelyn is waiting for me to write that Kerrich has given her a robe.  (Don't ask; it won't make sense to you.)
I actually have gotten much farther with my novel than in previous years with other novels.  I think this is primarily thanks to Kerrich.  Every time I have a problem where I don't know what to do next I can manage to weave him back into the story and he just puts magic into the scene.  Not literally, mind you, but figuratively.  I've actually become obsessed with going into the depths of him and Jocelyn's relationship which is forbidden and goes unnoticed.  Despite this, though, I have not turned what began as an action/adventure book into a "oh God they are about to do it" book.  NO.  I simply telling you that I do very much like the interactions they have with one another and thankfully that helps me move along with the plot in times when I am struggling.
So far in the book --no, no I am not giving away spoilers--Kerrich has given Jocelyn the dagger while she has discovered why she is a target for assassination.

However, as I said, currently I am at a point where Jocelyn is waiting for Kerrich to give her a robe so they can go into the courtyard.  (No, whatever you're thinking is the reason it's not.  Trust me; it's not.)

Best of luck to you and keep on writing!

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Do you have a life while Nano is going on?

It's a serious question I must ask because I think because of Nano this year I am coming to these conclusions:

• My computer will not talk back to me.  No matter what I yell at it or how I plead it to help me with what I'm writing the response is always the same...silence
• Words will not simply jump onto Word. I actually have to type them as them come to me. *dies a little*
• I use *dies* a lot --according to this guy I know I've died about 3000 something times in my 16 years of life. Wow, I have many more times to die. 
• Writing 10K for Certain Fate was already madness.  Writing 50K for STRONGER...there is no word to describe it.
• I cannot work on Cursed with Power and STRONGER during the same time.  I cannot even have both files open at the same time or it will entirely ruin my focus.
• Kerrich --a main character in STRONGER--enjoys mocking me...almost too much.  He telling me, "You say you'll get this chapter done but you've only having a sentence finished so far."
• The rest of my family does not understand what Nano is, nor do they seem to comprehend why I'm throwing my hands up in the air while typing.  

How are you getting through Nano?  What is driving you crazy and how are you still managing to have a life while participating in this?

Or, like me, has the writing become your life?  Where you simply must be typing or you find it hard to breathe...And when you cannot type because of matters like school and work you're thinking about when you next can asap so you won't lose that great scene that just came to you.

Keep on writing everyone!

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Dear Lucky Agent Contest --where are my YA writers?

Do you write YA?  Are you, like me, trying and hoping to get your work published?  Inkpop contests just aren't enough?

Well my fellow writers you can thank Elena for telling me about this.  An official contest being judged by Tamar Rydzinski is being hosted until November 3rd.  All you have to do is go here and submit according to guidelines.
*Note: Your submission must be for a finished manuscript.*

Best of luck to any of you who enter!

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com

Character Blog Mondays: Today with Mary

Character blog Mondays

Character Blog Mondays are days on the blog in which a character "posts" to tell their opinion on a matter or give their own account of something.  Take these posts for what they are, but they are really an even better way for you to open yourself up to new characters.  Characters are chosen from my projects; information about them is brought forth before they begin speaking as they shall.  Please remember during these posts the character --not me--is speaking his/her mind so you are able to introduce yourself to them.  Also note that pictures are not accurate representations of characters,  but are merely for visual affects.  Enjoy!

Name: Mary Williams

Gender: Female

Age: Late 30s

Status: Married with one daughter

Current location of residence: England, late 1650s

Occupation: Homemaker

Religion: Quaker (Society of Friends)

Featured in the books: Writing Saves Your Thoughts

Go on the mailing list so you’ll know when the book is public to read more about Mary.

            I do not believe Lilian will ever forgive me for what I have done.   Though she knows it is God who tells us to forgive those who have wronged, she shall never truly forgive me.  I do not expect anything more of her.  For all I know Daniel has become a different person.  I can only pray he will treat her well.

          She’s so young she cannot understand what is occurring around her.  How do you explain hate to a 12 year old girl?  How do you tell her that other people view you as disgusting and sinful?  Even though she is miles away from me and I no longer have to tell her what is happening, I continue to ponder over it every day.  And every day I return to asking for God’s advice and His light that will guide me.  I have no one else I can confide in now since I am alone.

          Day after day I sit and watch the world pass me by.  Night by night I sneak to the place where we hold our meetings.  It is during the night I try to see the light in those who have become bitter and cruel.  Those who now burn our houses and arrest us to be thrown in jails.  I know there is a light in them, but it is very dim and soon to blow out.

          Time is of the essence.  I can feel it in the wind that enters my cold home now.  As I begin writing to Lilian I hear a noise…glass breaking…

Nano is here *waves goodbye to her life*

Yup, that's right everyone.  Nano has come and it is at last here.  The wait is over, and for the next 30 days yours truly will be trying to write her novel.

I'm writing the prologue to STRONGER as I post this.  How is it going?  Don't ask me right now...it's a work in progress.

Since I am in Nano I think I will put up a little notice just so you guys remember that besides school, work, and my usual writing, I will be doing extra writing.
It's madness. I agree with you.  But I have made a promise to my cat and to you guys.

I just had to show you guys a picture of my cat, Cally. (Her nickname is Muffin...amongst many other names lol.)

Anyways.... So yes, as I promised Cally, I will promise all of you.  I will only ONLY be writing Cursed with Power and STRONGER.  I shall not get myself involved in other books or short stories of any kind and if I do then I shall shun myself.  (Is that possible?)

Well blogger is acting up and I have to return to writing.  22 minutes into nano and I have 4 words.  wow.

Be there for the magic: www.themagiciansseries.blogspot.com