Camp NaNoWriMo?

Hiya peeps! Happy Saturday! Hopefully you're having a wonderful weekend so far. =)

So, how many of you have heard of Camp NaNoWriMo? I hadn't until last November, with the better known NaNoWriMo competition. Apparently, the same group also hosts writing events in April and July, known as Camp NaNo! Being a fan of this type of event/group, I'm joining in this year.

It's basically the same thing as the November competition except you can set your own word count! They have it set as "anywhere from 30 to 999,999 words, hours, lines, or pages" for each writer. So if you don't want to write something as long as 50K words, you can set it shorter. If you want something longer, you can set the goal as high as you want, and write to your heart's content!

It's also cool, because they place you in "tents" with several other writers, and it forms a kind of short-term writers group! It's a neat idea, and it seems like it'll be fun.

Check it out - registration is still open, and it starts in April! If you want to do it in a few months, you can participate in the July event, with all the same perks!

I'm going to be working on the book I already started, and not actually enter it at the end, since it was started before hand. I've found though, that the short-term goals provided in the competition setting really help me focus, and get a book pumped out quicker.

So, I'm still working on that one I mentioned in my last post, and can't wait to see how it turns out! Hopefully I'll actually be able to get it done. O.O

Wish me luck, and if you join in for Camp NaNo, let me know in the comments below! =D

I've Started Another Book!

Hiya guys! It's another Monday - oh my! Any fun plans for this week?

I've got exciting news, and I can't believe I've waited this long to share it!

I've started a new book!

Whoot!!!

It feels soooo good to be back into a writing groove again. I missed it so much, and with life getting stressful again, I definitely need an outlet.

The book I'm working on now, is one I started several years ago. It is an idea I came up with probably five or six years ago, and actually wrote the first two chapters about three years ago. I let it drop though, needing to focus on some family issues. When I started writing again, it was for NaNoWriMo '14, and that resulted in Desi Pere, which turned into the Swirling Secrets series. Still can't believe I've got four books published. O.O

Well, I'm not nearly done writing yet! This book is going to be awesome! It's a young adult paranormal fantasy, instead of an urban fantasy like my last series. It will most likely have a sequel, although I'm honestly not sure yet.

I'm a little over 10K words into it so far, and I have no idea how long it will be. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated, and will most likely need some help picking a title, so keep an eye out for that post!

Wish me luck, y'all!

Excerpt Fun!

Hiya peeps! Happy Monday! =D

I'm working on some promo stuff today, mainly for Desi Pere. I have been putting it off for several months, and finally sat down and did it today! I love working on Photoshop and designing things like banners, teasers and promo pics, so it was definitely a fun day. Great way to start the week.

It got me thinking though - I don't share much about  my books, except the covers. As I figure out how to do this whole author-as-a-career thing, more things make sense as I go along. I wasn't sure how to share more, without feeling blah about it, and I've learned it just takes time. It also takes confidence, to start talking about your book to people, even on the internet. At least, it does when you're chronically, horribly, pathetically shy and socially phobic like I am.

Anyway, I want to share more about my books with you guys, so I'm starting today!

Here is an excerpt from Desi Pere, since I'm always talking about it.

“How can you not like eggs?” Lesley exclaimed, being her usual overly dramatic self.

“I just don't like them. They're bland, boring, and I'd rather have something else.” I replied, shrugging.

“Well that's why you add things to them to make them more interesting. Like cheese, or olives, or tomatoes, or bacon, or-”

“If I have to add a laundry list of stuff to make it worth eating, why would I want to eat it?”

“Because they're good for you.”

“Eh. Says some. Others say they're bad, so that argument fails.” I insisted, egging her on. Getting her flustered was always fun, and I'd grown to enjoy our ridiculous conversations when I was still in school with her.

“Ok, well, they are filling, and have hardly any calories, so you work it all off quick.”

“Except for all that bacon and cheese.”

“Argh! So, run a few laps!”

“They just gross me out, so it doesn't matter what's put with them.”

“Why do they gross you out? They're eggs.”

“Exactly! Eating dead, cooked babies – gross.”

She rolled her eyes at me, but I could see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She was enjoying this too. Good.

“Ok, I give up. Have your boring bagel, and I'll enjoy my fluffy, cheesy eggs.” She proved her point by inhaling a fork full of eggs.

I couldn't help but laugh as she made a dramatic and noisy show of enjoying her breakfast, drawing the attention of the other patrons around us.

“Oh my gosh, people are looking. Do we need to get you a room?”

“For these eggs, maybe!”

We both broke out in giggles, and for a moment, I forgot about my mission.

It was difficult for me to see this bubbly, friendly, outgoing person in front of me as someone who would kidnap and torture my mom. Or at least, work with people who would kidnap and torture my mom. Something just didn't feel right – something was off.

I had to figure it out, which still meant getting into Lesley's group.

I had a lot of fun writing that scene, and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

To check out more of this book, pick up a copy of FREE on Amazon!

More to come soon! =D

When Do You Stop Being A "Newbie" Author?

Hiya peeps! Hope you're having an awesome week so far!

I had a random question drop in my lap this afternoon, and I have no answer! So, I thought "Hey, blog topic opportunity!" Why not?

In your opinion, when does an author stop being a "newbie" in the community?

After a certain amount of time? A year? Two? Six?

After a certain number of publications? How many?

Once they've received a negative review?

Once they've had _____ happen?

Let me know in the comments below! I'd love to hear what you think, since everyone seems to have a different opinion!

February Update

Hiya peeps! Good grief! What happened to January? Feels like it was only a week long. =P

Anywho, I wanted to write a quick post to update what's been going on with my writing. Nothing major or Earth-shattering, I promise.

Really, the biggest update is I've had a difficult time getting back into writing. As always, my life seems to act like a roller coaster, with fluctuating highs and lows. In the lows, I have far more time and energy to write, and I generally pump out a book. In the highs, there is more going on, and I have far more things to focus on, besides writing. It really is a luxury at times, to be able to write.

At the moment, this year has started out on quite the high, and I'm not sure when there will be a break for me to fit in some writing. Lots of great things, with growth in several other areas, which is awesome!

I will keep writing though! I'm definitely going to be getting back to my books soon, once my other projects settle down a bit more. I'm still deciding between two manuscripts I have prepped. I just can't seem to choose between them! They're both so good, and would each be fun! Almost want to write them simultaneously...

I'm sure once I focus on writing again, and have time to bring it to the front burners, I'll be able to pick one. Hopefully. Maybe?

Anyway, hope you're all doing great, finding awesome books to read, and if you're a writer, I hope your writing is going better than mine! =D

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already, so you can be notified when I post again - hopefully with more exciting news than today! =)

Question for Reviewers Turned Authors

Hiya guys & dolls, hope your weekend is starting out great!

If you saw my last post, you'll know I'm getting back into reading this year. I missed reading last year as I focused on writing my own books, and I want to balance to two sides of book love this year.

What comes with reading though, is reviewing, because that's just part of me. As I get back into reading, my reviewing will automatically kick back up.

Something I've been trying to figure out the past few weeks though, is how to post reviews. I made separate accounts for my author business, since I'm technically writing under a pen name (Roze instead of Rose). What I'm finding though, is it's difficult to be active on sites like Goodreads with book activity on my author account, since everything I read is already being put as activity for my previous reviewer account.

I know I'm not the only reviewer-turned-author out there, and I know it's nearly impossible for reviewers like us to stop reviewing once we merge into the author side. What do we do?

Basically, I'm curious of how other authors have handled this situation. Did you keep your reviewer stuff going on it's own, or did you blend it in with your author stuff? When you post a review for a book now, do you post it as a reviewer/blogger, or as an author? Did you start separate profiles and whatnot, for your author business (on Goodreads, Amazon, social media, etc.).

I'd love to hear how you handle your reviews, or if you know authors who review books, how do they post them?

Leave a comment below, so I can figure out what to do this year! =D

New Year...Now What?

Hiya guys! Hope your year is starting out well. Can you believe it's 2017? Most people simply seem to be glad 2016 is over, but it wasn't bad for me. So really, this year will be a regular year, no special "we made it" feeling.

I've spent the past week pondering this year, and last. It's a ritual I do each time a new year begins - I analyze where I'm at now, versus where I was the previous year, five years, ten years, etc. It helps me grow, and figure out where I'm going from here.

Each year, it seems as though I get further from achieving goals I set, and yet, I set more goals. It's all part of the process of life, I suppose, but it's sometimes frustrating this time of year, with so many people talking about goal setting and resolutions.

This year, though, I'm going to do something different. I'm not going to make a resolution list, because really, I never stick to them. I want to, but it never happens. Best laid plans, and all that.

What I will do, though, is admit to some goals I am going to put more effort into making happen, while also admitting they may not, and that's alright.

So, this is my "I'm working on it" list for 2017, as it pertains to the book world, and this blog.

1) I miss reading. I want to read more. In years when my reading game is strong, I've read in excess of 500 books. When it's a poor reading year, I'm lucky to read one. Since I have no idea of whether this year will allow much spare time for reading, I'm going to set what seems to be a realistic idea for a goal. One book a week, with an overall hope of reading 50 books this year. Fingers crossed!

2) Picking up my YouTube channel for this blog. I need to get back into it, and keep it going.

3) Get back into blogging more, and get better at it. I've already committed to my review blog again, and decided to stick with it. That being decided, I need to work on some things to make it pop. Going to be working on that.

4) Connect with more readers. I used to have a good set of bookish friends. Granted, Shelfari going down early last year is a major part of those connections dwindling, but still. Not a good enough reason. I want to make more connections again, and be more active in the book community in general.

Four areas to work on, and each seems realistic. We'll see how it goes!

What are some of the goals you have for this year? Are you setting any resolutions? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for visiting! =D