Before the Lights Go Out... ROW80 Update

That's how it feels... leaving the country and being without Internet. Like I'm entering a dark room. It's kind of sad how dependent I've become on my Internet. 

Not only do I love connecting with writers and readers, I use social media as a lifeline. Every 2-3 years, I am new to a location and have to start over. But my online friends come with me wherever I go. Make a move from Maryland to California... no problem. My friends are just a password away.

Now, I'm heading out of the country. It comes at a perfect time for me to focus for a week on my family. But it's also going to give me some uninterrupted writing time... late at night and early in the morning in a dark hotel room, but I'm hoping my Muse won't mind (after all, I am taking her to a beautiful location).

My only A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) goals over the next week...

Write. Write. Write. 
Rejuvenate by Focusing on Family.

That's it. Pure and simple.

For fun, I'll share a picture of my writing space the other day. Lots more of this scenery to come.

And don't forget to check out my sponsor post this coming Monday, 8/5. I'll reply to comments when I get back in town. Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Changes Afoot: ROW80 Update

I'm about to lose Internet service for a minimum of two days. Then, I leave this Thursday to go to the Dominican Republic. I'm not so sure if I'll have Internet there, either.

I must admit... I'm equal parts terrified and excited.

Terrified because I'll be out of touch and need to pre-write a few more posts to cover the time I'm gone. But, I'm excited to take some time to recover from the last six weeks of travel and preparing for the August and September promotions for Chasing Memories.

So for the next two weeks, I have updated goals for A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80).

Write. Write. Write.

One of the benefits to not having Internet time is having more writing time. My laptop will be with me on vacation, and I hope to make some writing progress. I have been keeping up with my five sentences a day. But, sadly, just barely.

Market Chasing Memories

The #SizzlingSummerEvent was fun and productive, and I finished all eleven blog posts for my August/early September Tribute Books blog tour. Oh, and I had to film a video of me dancing with my book for September Indie-Credible event. Scary, I know. By the way, they are still taking authors until 7/31/13.

Blog

I am going to pre-write posts (and run a couple of old favorites) to cover the next two weeks, including my #IWSG (Insecure Writers' Support Group) post. I'll have to catch up on blog reading as I can. Speaking of that, would any of my ROW80 friends be willing to take over my sponsor responsibilities for Sunday, 8/4 and Wednesday, 8/7? It's simple... just visit my assigned posts on the Linky list for each day. Comment below if you can help out, and I'll send details. August 4th is my birthday, so consider it a birthday present. *smiles*

And my sponsor post goes live on ROW80 on August 5. I'll have to catch up on your comments when I get back.

Tomorrow, if all goes as planned, we will be moving into our new home in California. Wish us luck!

Girl Power -- Why Female Characters Appeal to Me

In my first book, Depression Cookies, the main character is a sassy thirteen-year-old who struggles to find her groove in a constantly changing environment (multiple moves). She's also faced with supporting a friend, Alyssa, who is wasting away to nothing as she fights anorexia.

In Chasing Memories, seventeen-year-old Reagan's world is turned upside down when she survives a horrible accident and her brother doesn't. Beyond the pain and suffering of loss, she is caught in the middle of her mother and grandmother and their different ways to help her heal. To further complicate her life, her dreams are hinting at more than a simple accident.

What both books have in common... strong female main characters.

As both a writer and a reader, I'm most intrigued with young adult female characters. Men are great, too, but I have a more intimate knowledge of women's choices, hopes, dreams, and power.

First, I am a woman. But more than that, I am the oldest of three sisters and the mother to three daughters. I live and breathe female strength. I have an amazing mother and was fortunate to know both her mother and her grandmother--both women way ahead of their time with strength coursing through their veins.

They say you should write what you know. Women are complicated creatures, beautifully so, so I can't say I "know" everything about them. But, I have had a lot of experience and I'm constantly challenged to want to know more. After all, I'm responsible for growing three strong women.

Today, I just wanted to share some of these women.

My Mom, Dad and 2 sisters

My husband and three daughters

My parents with their 8 granddaughters
 

What inspires your characters? What characters speak to you as a reader?

Chasing Hugh Jackman: ROW80 Update

This week is the #SizzlingSummerEvent Giveaway. Please check out my post from Monday for details... two Kindle Fires, one loaded with YA titles and the other with NA titles, are up for grabs. Check it out.

As part of the giveaway, I wrote a guest post about my dream cast for a Chasing Memories movie.

Want to know who Hugh Jackman would play? (Just so you know, he's my actor crush, and he'll always be a part of any dream cast!) To find out, please visit my guest post at My Life is a Notebook.

And today is Wednesday... time for A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update.

Write. Write. Write.

My new goal, thanks to Eden Mabee's inspirational post, is to write a minimum of 5 sentences per day. 5 sentences. So much of Book 2 is in my head, but I've used every excuse in the book (some quite legitimate, but excuses nonetheless) to do everything but focus on it. Starting small.

Market Chasing Memories

Kicking butt on this one, and I'm quite happy with the results. First, I had my Colorado book club event. A lovely group, 15 ladies, came out to talk about the book. It was amazing. I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures. *face palm*

And I'm in the midst of the #SizzlingSummerEvent. Next up is my August book tour with Tribute Books.

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Keeping up. Adjusting to the new time zone and best times to post.

Oh, and one more photo to prove my point about Hugh Jackman.

 

 

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Don't forget to enter the Sizzling Summer Giveaway.

Summer is Sizzling: Giveaway Details & ROW80 Update

It's finally here... the Sizzling Summer Giveaway. Amazing prizes. And, yes, Chasing Memories is included! Check it out...

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing the Sizzling Summer Giveaway event featuring 50 authors!  This giveaway event will take place July 22nd to July 27th.  The giveaway is 2 Kindle Fire HD's with e-book prize packs! (shown below)

On The Road Again

Oops. What happened to Friday? Heck, Saturday is almost gone, too.

Driving cross-country, and summer, are making me completely unaware of what day it is.

For fun, I thought I'd update my crazy Maryland to California trip in pictures.

We're now in Salt Lake City, Utah. Only 785 more miles to go until California. Wish me luck!

 

I must admit... I'm so inspired to write when I finally get settled. So many amazing places. As of tonight, our stats since 6/14/13: 13 states and 3 time zones.

Hope everyone is having an amazing summer!

Hydra Publications Summer Bash & ROW80

First up today, I want to share a fun summer giveaway. Please welcome Erin Danzer. Thanks, Erin, for sharing this with us.

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It's summertime! And what better way to spend time cooped up in an air conditioned house, time at the beach, or out on the water than with a great book? Hydra Publications is offering 30 e-book titles for FREE July 16 and 17! This promotion includes awesome fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, horror and mystery reads such as Deception Peak by Dianne Lynn Gardner, Chronicle of Destiny (newly released!) by Etta Jean, Love Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lyndi Alexander and my very own, Into the Spiral! Check out the full list of titles below. Click on the names to check them out more and to pick up your copy today!

 

Amy the Astronaut and the Flight for Freedom by Steve Donahue

Andraste by Marissa Mills

Anon by Peter Giglio

Blood of the Highland Moon by Morinda Montgomery

Bounty Hunter by Kate Lynd

Bridgeworld by Travis McBee

Chronicle of Destiny by Etta Jean

Dearly Departed by Rachel Rawlings

Deception Peak by Dianne Lynn Gardner

Empyreal Fate by Rachel Hunter

Eternal Patrol by Michael Wallace

Gnosis by Tom Wallace

Into the Spiral by Erin Danzer (that’s me!)

Love Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lyndi Alexander

Lure of the Vampire by Bertena Varney

Morning Star by Desiree Finkbeiner

Primal by Raven and Lain Bower

Raising Riley by Brick Marlin

Reality Check by Eric Garrison

Tale Spinner by David Donaghe

The Exile’s Violin by R.S. Hunter

The Fall of Onagros by Marian Allen

The Hand of God by Tony Acree

The Heart Denied by Linda Anne Wulf

The Know-It-All Girl by Joanna Foreman

The Universal Mirror by Gwen Perkins

The Wall Outside by James Percy

Ukishima by Nigel Sellars

Virginia Creeper by Blaine Pardoe

 

A little bit about my book:

Fifteen-year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Lambert wants to get out from under her older brother’s shadow. When Ronnie gets a tattoo and then is struck by lightning, she suddenly finds herself able to see and hear things in shadows that don’t appear to others. Then Ronnie meets Gavin Clearwater, the hot new guy in all of her classes and finds out he can see and hear the same things she can.

Gavin tells her about the Spiral Defenders, a group of warriors that travels through space and time to defend the planets of the Spiral. After meeting the Commander of the Spiral Defenders and realizing his intentions might not be pure, Ronnie struggles between following her destiny to become a Spiral Defender and trying to regain the life she had before being struck by lightning.

 

I hope you'll check out all of the books available. I truly believe there is something on this list for everyone!

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Now for my Wednesday A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update...

I know I said I would share more of my Chasing Memories cover tour, but I moved it to Friday so I could share the giveaway today. Please stop back by Friday!

I'm putting my goals on hold (except my MWF blog posts and sponsorship duties) this week while I enjoy visiting friends and family in Colorado. Wishing everyone a great week. Definitely check out the giveaway and pick up some free books.