Let the Nanowrimo Fun Begin

Hello readers and writers alike. It is October...the month preceding the biggest challenge for a writer which until recently only happened once a year...now there are events three times a year. What am I speaking of?

Oh the horror...the stomach twisting nerves, the gut clenching insanity...okay you get my point.

If you aren't aware of what I'm speaking about, let me fill you in. I am speaking of Nanowrimo...otherwise known as writing a novel in a month. Yes, a whole novel. 50,000 words of creativity and mind numbing word craft.

Have I scared you off yet? No, well then come on in, pull up a chair and let me bend your ear. Coffee? Tea? Pumpkin Spice Latte? 

Nanowrimo is an event I've taken part in for the last four years, and I've won it by reaching my 50,000 word goal. But there is more to it than simply writing 50k, there's maintaining your mental and physical health, learning how to function with deadlines and goals. For myself, learning to forgive myself for not reaching my goal of 50,000+ words was tough. Real life kind of kicked me in the behind and I just wasn't able to do what I wanted.

I know this year is going to be hectic - heck, it's going to be insane. I'm doing two projects one as Elise Whyles and one as Patricia Bates. (I've got blog posts detailing Patricia's story) For Elise Whyles, I'm going back to Forsaken Heart, book one in #TheForsakenSeries and telling the story of two of the characters from the novel.

To ensure success, I'm building worlds, creating lives, and cultures, and really expanding on some of the cultural details revealed in Forsaken Heart while I'm also bringing the two characters forward into the current hostilities in Dreken. As I pondered this, I realized, I needed to be prepared. I need to have notes jotted down for quick reference, to ensure I can maintain my writing goals. As loathed as I am to plot anything, for November I realize if I am to have any semblance of success I'm going to have to plan for things before November 1st, and utilize some of my note taking resources.

I'm a huge fan of spreadsheets you can manipulate them in any number of ways to help you keep on track. Currently I have two open on my computer, one for the Forsaken Novella and the other for the Celtic Romance (See Monday's Post) ;). The one for the Forsaken Novella is a mix of information from now, as well as information from the Treatment for Forsaken Heart detailing the physical characteristics of the characters, the setting, and space for me to add in more details.

There are several sheets opened in each file, allowing for me to document character wants and needs, conflicts, goals, motivators, and more. Having everything in one place this way allows for me to color code details, move them around, and really get everything laser focused. I can hear some say, well isn't that what plotting is. And the simple answer is yes. The big difference I find is using the spreadsheets I can track things like correct spellings of names, if there's a recipe or dish being made I want to try making myself - of course making a demon or vampire dish is a little tricky but still...

I will be making a workbook of what I'm doing for the novella and offering it starting the 19th of this month when you sign up to become a patron. Becoming one helps me, my family, and supports the Distinct Author's channel. Fore more information you can find out about Distinct Author's here. 

Redemption: Book Thirteen Coming September 23, 2019

Forged in anger, freed by faith.

Vampire warrioress, Demetria has no interest in the war going on around her. She concerns herself with the lives of the children who have been displaced or tossed aside. A woman of secrets, she relies on her own wits to provide for her charges.

Naga prince, Talas is drawn into the war of immortals by an unseen force. When he comes upon a fiery woman protecting a small group of children, he acts to protect. He finds himself facing a woman unlike any he’s ever known, one who holds the secrets to his future.

Can a vampire and a naga find peace amid the carnage and chaos of war? And will they lose their hearts to each other in the process?

Content Warning: contains graphic sex, strong language, and some violence

Genre(s): Erotic Paranormal Romance

The Forsaken Series - Our Journey Began with a bang

The Forsaken Series has long been a baby of mine - and of co-author Ciara Lake. In 2010, when we first started talking about this project we had a vision of what we wanted it to look like. Unfortunately, for us, we had no idea where this project would lead us.

Ciara and I sat down and began to work on developing the series in its entirety. As we talked and plotted, and planned, we worked out a rough idea of what we were going to do. In our enthusiasm and eagerness, our vision was simple: Fill the rapidly developing, and smoking hot paranormal romance genre with a series of books. Sounds easy, doesn't it?




We discovered it wasn't quite that simple...or easy.

 Boy, did we have a lot to learn.



The journey itself has been filled with pot holes, self-doubt, frustration, anxiety, joy and euphoria. It hasn't always been an easy one, there have been learning curves, differences, and self-doubts. This project proved to be a challenge unlike anything we'd ever known, or anticipated. There were layers and layers of things we needed to do, tasks we had to master, and even when we thought we knew what we were doing. We have learned how to work as a team - even though we work independently - and overcome our own negative mentalities and egos.

I think we found the stories to be easier to write than we had anticipated, especially since both of us were familiar with writing. Ciara and I had already been published, and were familiar with the process in the sense we were comfortable with the story-telling. The characters were open and willing to allow us to tell their stories, and the worlds were fairly straight forward. It was only as we got further into the actual meat of the project where we stumbled.

However, that's for another post. As we near the release of book thirteen and the release of the second volume of our Boxed Sets, we are still learning, still developing our voices with each new book, each new character and really beginning to not only appreciate the journey for the journey's sake, but understanding the road we are on, is guiding us to yet another crossroad. As we near it, and stand upon the rocky ground, we can only trust ourselves to guide us on the next part of our journey...and we hope you'll come along with us.