I've decided to switch this to a more monthly thing since I just don't have the time to post once a week. We'll see how well I do with this structure.
Well now that December is here, NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) is over. I squeaked by with just a little over 50,000 total words, split between two novellas--I say squeaked because according to my word counter I ended with 50,001 words. Whew! And I couldn't really write more because I completed both stories and didn't want to add anything else just to pad my numbers. I was working on my word goal right up until about 6:30 Central Time on Nov. 30th though, so it wasn't like I ended up with a whole lot of extra time.
Here's what I've got planned for the month writing wise and also what I used NaNo to work on:
Tied to a Demon
I started this novella before November rolled around so the first chapter was written beforehand. It ended at a little over 25,000 words and is a paranormal romance with a fantasy setting. Shanna is a witch who has trouble completing even the simplest spell correctly. So it really shouldn't come as a surprise when she tries to conjure an imp and gets the demon Alecandros instead.
This novella is done, but I'll be spending December polishing it up and getting it ready for submission to my publisher. I find that it's a lot more helpful if I set goals and then do all I can to stick to them.
Personal Protection
This is also a fantasy novel, but it doesn't have any paranormal elements to it. It's still a romance, actually my first stab at m/m romance. After receiving a crippling injury in battle, Aric finds himself transferred to a more laid-back position, guarding the crown prince, Matthew. Aric thinks Matthew is a royal pain, until he gets to know him.
If all goes well I should be working on revisions for this one in January, and judging by how the first book ends, it will probably have a second one to follow. There's a bit of a cliffhanger there.
I'm really focusing on my writing right now to get some projects finished up, so with any luck I'll have more books out there in the near future.
Thanks for reading and happy holidays!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
NaNo kicked-off!
November is National Novel Writing Month, in which writers all over the world strive to write 50,000 words in the month of November. This will be my fourth year participating. I'm planning to finish off a paranormal short story and hopefully either work on finishing another one, or starting something else.
The story I'm working on right now is titled Tied to a Demon. A little info: Shanna is a struggling witch who can't seem to get the simplest spell right. When attempting to summon a basic garden-variety imp, she ends up with the demon Alecandros instead.
I've added the word count goal for this one to the left and I plan to have it be my next published book.
The story I'm working on right now is titled Tied to a Demon. A little info: Shanna is a struggling witch who can't seem to get the simplest spell right. When attempting to summon a basic garden-variety imp, she ends up with the demon Alecandros instead.
I've added the word count goal for this one to the left and I plan to have it be my next published book.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Free Read
Demon's Witch, the short story prequel to Demon's Torment is now available at Purple Sword Publications as a free download. That's right, free! Go pick up your copy here and while you're there, check out the info for Demon's Torment.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Blood Rage Excerpt
I just realized today that Tuesday came and went without me even realizing it. In my defense, my schedule at work has been crazy this last week, so I completely forgot about everything else, even when I meant to post a new entry. I really wanted to share an excerpt from Thief in the Night, which is the story I'm currently focusing most of my energy on. But the thing has taken on a life of its own, growing bigger than I'd originally envisioned, and there are more rewrites in store for it, this I know. So I thought I'd share the first half of Chapter 1 of Immortal Book One: Blood Rage, since I think the first chapter is sitting in a pretty good spot right now. This is an unedited excerpt, meaning only that it hasn't been touched by an actual editor, but I've proofed and revised so there shouldn't be any errors anyway. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think.
I knew my name long before I remembered who I was.
Elliot. My name is Elliot.
The thought circled in my head, but it refused to summon any more memories. Just that. A name. But who is Elliot? A featureless wall encircled my brain, locking away all traces of memory. Probing at it only drew frustration.
I am Elliot. My name is Elliot.
I was so thirsty. My throat screamed for liquid, until it was all I could think about. It felt like shards of glass embedded themselves in my throat. I needed something…
It was then I realized I wasn’t breathing. I hadn’t even noticed in my state of confusion and overwhelming thirst.
I am Elliot.
Breathing was important. I remembered that much.
Starting to panic, I drew in a great lungful of air. It burned going down and I choked on it, expelling it with a hacking cough that raised me from my prone position. The next breath hurt just as much, so I gave up, but my body didn’t protest. My lungs didn’t scream for air when I quit my labored attempt to breathe. My body no longer needed oxygen, though it had at some point. Some point in the not-too-distant past, I thought.
I stared down at myself, fascinated by the fact that my chest didn’t rise and fall. What had happened to me? Where was I? And the most troubling question of all. Was I dead?
I lay in an unfamiliar place—not a morgue as I half expected, but someplace much warmer. It was dark and no hint of light showed around the edges of the curtains, yet I found I could see everything. The draperies were a dark red, as were the pair of sofas in the middle of the room, but everything else was brown in varying shades—the carpeting, the other furnishings, the walls.
I swung my legs over the edge of the furniture I lay on. It took me a moment to come up with the words to describe it. A chaise lounge. Not sure if I’d ever seen one before. It wasn’t very comfortable, that was for sure. A stiff neck could attest to that fact, but within moments of noticing it, the stiffness disappeared as if it had never been.
My clothing was wrinkled, making me think I’d slept for far too long. Slept or been unconscious—I wasn’t sure which.
The label inside the suit jacket read Armani. High-end stuff. The white shirt felt like silk, but no tie hung around my neck and the first two buttons of the shirt were undone. Was this my idea of casual? Or my idea of dressing up? What had I been doing? Where was I? And most importantly: Why couldn’t I remember anything?
The slacks were gray to match the jacket, but interestingly enough I wore no socks or shoes. The plush carpeting felt good on my feet and I lingered for a moment, not sure what to expect in this dark place, knowing only my name and my taste for fashion.
Checking every pocket revealed no wallet, no ID of any kind. Just Elliot then. I couldn’t even remember my last name. I discovered a watch weighting down my left wrist, expensive, tasteful. It displayed the date in tiny black letters. November 3rd, 2009. The date meant nothing to me.
Blinking at the surroundings, I forced myself to my feet, trying to keep panic at bay. What good would it do me? I needed to take a look at the facts. First, I’d awoken in a strange place…
Wait.
How did I know it was a strange place? Maybe I lived here. Taking a closer look at the room didn’t help. I didn’t know this place, even if it was mine.
Second, I had amnesia. I knew just enough about the disease to know my memory could gradually come back, or might never return. What did I do until then?
I’d found a cell phone in an inner pocket of the jacket I wore, but trying to turn it on met with no success. Dead battery. Completely useless. I couldn’t even call anyone I supposedly knew to get a better idea of what I’d gotten into.
The third, and most important, fact I forced myself to take a look at. I wasn’t breathing. That was, admittedly, bad. I’d already patted myself down. I felt solid enough, so I didn’t think I was a ghost, but then again, how could I be sure? Ghosts didn’t always know they were dead, did they?
God, did I even believe in ghosts? A hiccupping laugh escaped me. Without air it was difficult to even make the sound. I frowned. Also bad. People needed air to speak. I couldn’t speak without breathing. Another glance around showed I was alone though. Who was I going to speak to?
Good point. I forced myself to focus on finding something for my feet. A short hunt turned up shoes and socks. They fit and I felt a little better once properly clothed. Now I just needed to find out where I was. This room held no clues, and nothing jogged my memory. I needed to proceed with caution, in case I truly wasn’t dead. Waking up on a strange chaise with amnesia and an inability to breathe didn’t strike me as a good position to be in. I didn’t know if I’d brought this on myself, or if there might be a perfectly innocent explanation for my state.
But how did I explain the ability to see in the dark? Maybe I really was a ghost…
Then she entered the room and my thoughts ground to a halt.
“My little pet’s finally awake,” she purred.
Immortal Book One
Blood Rage
Chapter 1
Blood Rage
Chapter 1
I knew my name long before I remembered who I was.
Elliot. My name is Elliot.
The thought circled in my head, but it refused to summon any more memories. Just that. A name. But who is Elliot? A featureless wall encircled my brain, locking away all traces of memory. Probing at it only drew frustration.
I am Elliot. My name is Elliot.
I was so thirsty. My throat screamed for liquid, until it was all I could think about. It felt like shards of glass embedded themselves in my throat. I needed something…
It was then I realized I wasn’t breathing. I hadn’t even noticed in my state of confusion and overwhelming thirst.
I am Elliot.
Breathing was important. I remembered that much.
Starting to panic, I drew in a great lungful of air. It burned going down and I choked on it, expelling it with a hacking cough that raised me from my prone position. The next breath hurt just as much, so I gave up, but my body didn’t protest. My lungs didn’t scream for air when I quit my labored attempt to breathe. My body no longer needed oxygen, though it had at some point. Some point in the not-too-distant past, I thought.
I stared down at myself, fascinated by the fact that my chest didn’t rise and fall. What had happened to me? Where was I? And the most troubling question of all. Was I dead?
I lay in an unfamiliar place—not a morgue as I half expected, but someplace much warmer. It was dark and no hint of light showed around the edges of the curtains, yet I found I could see everything. The draperies were a dark red, as were the pair of sofas in the middle of the room, but everything else was brown in varying shades—the carpeting, the other furnishings, the walls.
I swung my legs over the edge of the furniture I lay on. It took me a moment to come up with the words to describe it. A chaise lounge. Not sure if I’d ever seen one before. It wasn’t very comfortable, that was for sure. A stiff neck could attest to that fact, but within moments of noticing it, the stiffness disappeared as if it had never been.
My clothing was wrinkled, making me think I’d slept for far too long. Slept or been unconscious—I wasn’t sure which.
The label inside the suit jacket read Armani. High-end stuff. The white shirt felt like silk, but no tie hung around my neck and the first two buttons of the shirt were undone. Was this my idea of casual? Or my idea of dressing up? What had I been doing? Where was I? And most importantly: Why couldn’t I remember anything?
The slacks were gray to match the jacket, but interestingly enough I wore no socks or shoes. The plush carpeting felt good on my feet and I lingered for a moment, not sure what to expect in this dark place, knowing only my name and my taste for fashion.
Checking every pocket revealed no wallet, no ID of any kind. Just Elliot then. I couldn’t even remember my last name. I discovered a watch weighting down my left wrist, expensive, tasteful. It displayed the date in tiny black letters. November 3rd, 2009. The date meant nothing to me.
Blinking at the surroundings, I forced myself to my feet, trying to keep panic at bay. What good would it do me? I needed to take a look at the facts. First, I’d awoken in a strange place…
Wait.
How did I know it was a strange place? Maybe I lived here. Taking a closer look at the room didn’t help. I didn’t know this place, even if it was mine.
Second, I had amnesia. I knew just enough about the disease to know my memory could gradually come back, or might never return. What did I do until then?
I’d found a cell phone in an inner pocket of the jacket I wore, but trying to turn it on met with no success. Dead battery. Completely useless. I couldn’t even call anyone I supposedly knew to get a better idea of what I’d gotten into.
The third, and most important, fact I forced myself to take a look at. I wasn’t breathing. That was, admittedly, bad. I’d already patted myself down. I felt solid enough, so I didn’t think I was a ghost, but then again, how could I be sure? Ghosts didn’t always know they were dead, did they?
God, did I even believe in ghosts? A hiccupping laugh escaped me. Without air it was difficult to even make the sound. I frowned. Also bad. People needed air to speak. I couldn’t speak without breathing. Another glance around showed I was alone though. Who was I going to speak to?
Good point. I forced myself to focus on finding something for my feet. A short hunt turned up shoes and socks. They fit and I felt a little better once properly clothed. Now I just needed to find out where I was. This room held no clues, and nothing jogged my memory. I needed to proceed with caution, in case I truly wasn’t dead. Waking up on a strange chaise with amnesia and an inability to breathe didn’t strike me as a good position to be in. I didn’t know if I’d brought this on myself, or if there might be a perfectly innocent explanation for my state.
But how did I explain the ability to see in the dark? Maybe I really was a ghost…
Then she entered the room and my thoughts ground to a halt.
“My little pet’s finally awake,” she purred.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My Inspiration
Last weekend, one of my author friends, Anastasia Rabiyah hosted a chat at CoffeeTime Romance (this happens about once a month). Anyway, last weekend the main focus was inspiration. Where does it come from? What inspires us?
It's hard for me to come up with any one thing. I like reading, obviously. Lately I've been focusing a lot on paranormal books--anything and everything I can get my hands on. Vampires, demons, witches, shapeshifters. I don't care too much for witches and shapeshifters, and most demons, but I love vampires. Every time I sit down to read, it engages my imagination. I think that's my biggest inspiration--reading something and thinking about all the stories I'm currently working on and what I can do to make them better.
These days the best time for me to brainstorm occurs as I'm settling in for bed, just laying there and relaxing after a long day. This is my characters' favorite time to come out and tell me I've been neglecting them. They want their stories told now!
I also love this time of year. The days are getting a bit cooler, the nights a bit longer, the air is crisp. There's just something about fall that gets my creative juices flowing. I have always been a night person--I hate mornings, so more darkness also means more energy for me. I find that autumn is the best time for me to sit down and write, because the feeling in the air inspires me.
I also like listening to rock music while I'm writing. I used to need complete silence to write, but now I pop in the headphones, surrounding myself with ambiance, and I find it both easier to write and easier to concentrate. My husband usually has the TV on all the time, so I need something to drown that out. Music is both inspiring and relaxing.
I get random ideas everywhere. Some stories I don't even know where they come from. Demon's Torment was inspired by a contest I entered on www.writing.com. Avery and the Devil was inspired by something that I was going through at the time--a recently signed lease that we wanted out of so we could move. That made me think of contracts, which made me think of contracts with the devil. I know, it's strange how my mind works. I don't even know where I got the idea for Thief in the Night.
My current project--Blood Rage--started with the first couple paragraphs of the book:
I remembered my name longer before I remembered who I was.
Elliot. My name is Elliot.
These two lines haunted me for a couple weeks before I decided to sit down and start writing. Somehow I established that Elliot was a vampire (once again, I love vamps--obsessed with them), and that the change somehow stole his memories. Now I've got most of the first book written and the second one started. It's a planned trilogy, with a second trilogy to follow.
Within the next week or so I plan on posting the entire first chapter of Blood Rage. It will only be available to subscribers of my Yahoo! group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/racheldthompson/. But I will also be including a teaser here and on my website.
It's hard for me to come up with any one thing. I like reading, obviously. Lately I've been focusing a lot on paranormal books--anything and everything I can get my hands on. Vampires, demons, witches, shapeshifters. I don't care too much for witches and shapeshifters, and most demons, but I love vampires. Every time I sit down to read, it engages my imagination. I think that's my biggest inspiration--reading something and thinking about all the stories I'm currently working on and what I can do to make them better.
These days the best time for me to brainstorm occurs as I'm settling in for bed, just laying there and relaxing after a long day. This is my characters' favorite time to come out and tell me I've been neglecting them. They want their stories told now!
I also love this time of year. The days are getting a bit cooler, the nights a bit longer, the air is crisp. There's just something about fall that gets my creative juices flowing. I have always been a night person--I hate mornings, so more darkness also means more energy for me. I find that autumn is the best time for me to sit down and write, because the feeling in the air inspires me.
I also like listening to rock music while I'm writing. I used to need complete silence to write, but now I pop in the headphones, surrounding myself with ambiance, and I find it both easier to write and easier to concentrate. My husband usually has the TV on all the time, so I need something to drown that out. Music is both inspiring and relaxing.
I get random ideas everywhere. Some stories I don't even know where they come from. Demon's Torment was inspired by a contest I entered on www.writing.com. Avery and the Devil was inspired by something that I was going through at the time--a recently signed lease that we wanted out of so we could move. That made me think of contracts, which made me think of contracts with the devil. I know, it's strange how my mind works. I don't even know where I got the idea for Thief in the Night.
My current project--Blood Rage--started with the first couple paragraphs of the book:
I remembered my name longer before I remembered who I was.
Elliot. My name is Elliot.
These two lines haunted me for a couple weeks before I decided to sit down and start writing. Somehow I established that Elliot was a vampire (once again, I love vamps--obsessed with them), and that the change somehow stole his memories. Now I've got most of the first book written and the second one started. It's a planned trilogy, with a second trilogy to follow.
Within the next week or so I plan on posting the entire first chapter of Blood Rage. It will only be available to subscribers of my Yahoo! group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/racheldthompson/. But I will also be including a teaser here and on my website.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
My Writing Process
Currently I'm concentrating on revising/rewriting Thief in the Night, so today I was thinking about my writing process and what I usually go through for each book. At times I can be a horribly slow writer, but there are plenty of reasons for that. For one, I have a full-time job and other interests to occupy my time. But other things slow me down too, so I thought I'd share how I write a book from beginning to end.
Step 1: I come up with a great new idea and can't wait to get started. I can usually pound out between one and three chapters (each between 2,000 and 4,000 words long) before I get stuck and realize I need to come up with a plan for how the characters get from Point A: The Beginning to Point B: The Ending.
Step 2: Now comes the planning stage. I use a pen and paper for this step because I'd rather plot stuff out that way. It's easier to jot down random notes. Most times I have an idea of how long I want the story to be before I sit down in front of the computer, but that figure can fluctuate, so I don't worry about how many chapters I'll need to reach my word count goal. But I do have to come up with a bare-bones plot in this step. The plot might eventually change depending on what my character encounters, but it's good to have a plan, and a goal to work towards.
Step 3: Back to the computer. Now comes the frustrating part of getting my characters to jump through these hoops I've created for them. The middle of a book is often the hardest for a writer. It's easy for me to envision the beginning and the end, but oftentimes I have no clue what the middle looks like. That's why Step 2 is so important. Now armed with an idea of what's going to happen in subsequent chapters, it's easier to sit down and write the book one chapter at a time.
Step 4: The Ending. Don't think that means that the book is done. Not by a long shot. Once I've written it from beginning to end, and usually gotten a few critiques to let me know what works and what doesn't, I usually go back and start to rewrite the whole dratted thing. This involves more planning. I take into consideration the reviews I've received and implement the suggestions I've gotten if they make sense in the story.
Step 5: Rewrites. I'm never happy with a first draft. I always know when something needs work and it drives me crazy if I don't follow all the steps to make something the best it can be. I go through a rewriting stage, where I rewrite most of the book, sometimes from scratch as is the case with Thief in the Night, since I originally wrote the first chapter from a secondary character's point-of-view. After rewrites, it seems much more natural to tell it from the main character's point-of-view. I'm also working on huge rewrites with both Avery and the Devil and Blood Rage. This part doesn't usually take as long as writing the book in the first place though, because let's face it, the book is written. I know how the plot is going to turn out and what happens in the middle. This process is basically just for rewording. Sometimes I'll insert extra scenes or chapters to make things make sense. This is also my favorite step because next comes:
Step 6: Submission. I'm really looking forward to finishing up Thief in the Night and submitting it to my publisher of choice. Thief was originally contracted with Forbidden Publications, and sure it was an okay story when I submitted it to them. But after the revision process it will be a whole lot better. That's the plan anyway. Originally only five chapters long, with 11,000 words, I think it's going to end up being longer than that. I've rewritten two chapters so far, and arrived at the same point it took me one chapter to get to before. Does this mean it's wordier? I guess so, but in a necessary way as I dig deeper in an attempt to get to know my characters. Can't wait to share them with the world!
Step 1: I come up with a great new idea and can't wait to get started. I can usually pound out between one and three chapters (each between 2,000 and 4,000 words long) before I get stuck and realize I need to come up with a plan for how the characters get from Point A: The Beginning to Point B: The Ending.
Step 2: Now comes the planning stage. I use a pen and paper for this step because I'd rather plot stuff out that way. It's easier to jot down random notes. Most times I have an idea of how long I want the story to be before I sit down in front of the computer, but that figure can fluctuate, so I don't worry about how many chapters I'll need to reach my word count goal. But I do have to come up with a bare-bones plot in this step. The plot might eventually change depending on what my character encounters, but it's good to have a plan, and a goal to work towards.
Step 3: Back to the computer. Now comes the frustrating part of getting my characters to jump through these hoops I've created for them. The middle of a book is often the hardest for a writer. It's easy for me to envision the beginning and the end, but oftentimes I have no clue what the middle looks like. That's why Step 2 is so important. Now armed with an idea of what's going to happen in subsequent chapters, it's easier to sit down and write the book one chapter at a time.
Step 4: The Ending. Don't think that means that the book is done. Not by a long shot. Once I've written it from beginning to end, and usually gotten a few critiques to let me know what works and what doesn't, I usually go back and start to rewrite the whole dratted thing. This involves more planning. I take into consideration the reviews I've received and implement the suggestions I've gotten if they make sense in the story.
Step 5: Rewrites. I'm never happy with a first draft. I always know when something needs work and it drives me crazy if I don't follow all the steps to make something the best it can be. I go through a rewriting stage, where I rewrite most of the book, sometimes from scratch as is the case with Thief in the Night, since I originally wrote the first chapter from a secondary character's point-of-view. After rewrites, it seems much more natural to tell it from the main character's point-of-view. I'm also working on huge rewrites with both Avery and the Devil and Blood Rage. This part doesn't usually take as long as writing the book in the first place though, because let's face it, the book is written. I know how the plot is going to turn out and what happens in the middle. This process is basically just for rewording. Sometimes I'll insert extra scenes or chapters to make things make sense. This is also my favorite step because next comes:
Step 6: Submission. I'm really looking forward to finishing up Thief in the Night and submitting it to my publisher of choice. Thief was originally contracted with Forbidden Publications, and sure it was an okay story when I submitted it to them. But after the revision process it will be a whole lot better. That's the plan anyway. Originally only five chapters long, with 11,000 words, I think it's going to end up being longer than that. I've rewritten two chapters so far, and arrived at the same point it took me one chapter to get to before. Does this mean it's wordier? I guess so, but in a necessary way as I dig deeper in an attempt to get to know my characters. Can't wait to share them with the world!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I'm a winner!
Every week, Just Another Paranormal Monday chooses three paranormal book covers to showcase on its MySpace page. This week, Demon's Torment was a winner! Check it out here.
Also, Demon's Torment is still only $5.20 at All Romance E-books. Get it while it's on sale.
Also, Demon's Torment is still only $5.20 at All Romance E-books. Get it while it's on sale.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Purple Sword Sampler
Looking for something to read? Purple Sword Publications has released its first Purple Sword Sampler, a collection of excerpts from ten of Purple Sword's authors. Best of all, the e-book is completely free! Or buy it in print for a small fee. See what Purple Sword and its authors are all about. Here's the link to get your copy: http://purplesword.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=27.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Demon's Torment on sale
Demon's Torment is now available through All Romance Ebooks! Even better, right now it's on sale for $5.20, a great reason to get lost in the story of Ally and her demon lover. Please keep in mind when purchasing that this book is a sweet romance. Here's the direct buy link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-demonstorment-79578-140.html. Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
7th Anniversary
My husband and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday. Honestly I love him more than I ever would have thought possible, even when he annoys me. He doesn't understand my writing obsession, and I can't really call him my inspiration, but when I think of all the hard times we've been through, I realize how lucky we are to have each other. And I hope for many more years together.
Happy anniversary, hon!
Happy anniversary, hon!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Re-release
Demon's Torment is finally available in e-book format once again for those of you who like to save trees. It's published through Purple Sword and sells for $6.50. Here's the direct link to the book information: http://purplesword.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=22. Please go support this wonderful publisher and see what else they have available! They have wonderful authors contracted with them.
Of course, if you prefer the real thing, Demon's Torment is still available in paperback for only $10.99! Here's the link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/demons-torment/4112009.
Of course, if you prefer the real thing, Demon's Torment is still available in paperback for only $10.99! Here's the link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/demons-torment/4112009.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
After spending a couple of months negotiating with a publisher for Demon's Torment, after which I emerged without a new contract, the book is now contracted with Purple Sword Publishing and will release July 8th. Here's the new cover art:
It looks fantastic! I absolutely love it. To go along with the re-release of Demon's Torment, I've also revamped my website, giving it a new look. Go check it out: www.racheldthompson.com.
It looks fantastic! I absolutely love it. To go along with the re-release of Demon's Torment, I've also revamped my website, giving it a new look. Go check it out: www.racheldthompson.com.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Current Projects
I've added an expected word count for my works-in-progress in the hopes that it will keep me motivated to finish. I've grown especially fond of the series I'm working on right now and the characters involved, and I really want to see it become something people will enjoy. I'm tentatively planning two trilogies in the series, with a third one possible, depending on how it goes. The story arc features two brothers, both turned into vampires on different sides of the continent by completely different masters. Both must learn to cope with the change. While one embraces his new lifestyle, the other tries to deny it.
Elliot, the star of the Immortal trilogy, is a young playboy, with access to everything he could ever dream of, but still he wants more. To be young forever is an impossible dream, but when a dark beauty approaches him and offers him exactly that, he can hardly refuse her. But Elliot is about to discover that immortality comes with a price.
The eternal trilogy follows Elliot's older brother, Carter. Awoken to the vampiric lifestyle a full two years before Elliot, Carter's had more time to adjust--to embrace it. And he does just that with startling efficiency. A realist, Carter is used to doing what needs to be done, both in his career and his life. Surviving is no different. But he's changed since becoming a vampire, discarding his careful practices and embracing his wild side.
Elliot, the star of the Immortal trilogy, is a young playboy, with access to everything he could ever dream of, but still he wants more. To be young forever is an impossible dream, but when a dark beauty approaches him and offers him exactly that, he can hardly refuse her. But Elliot is about to discover that immortality comes with a price.
The eternal trilogy follows Elliot's older brother, Carter. Awoken to the vampiric lifestyle a full two years before Elliot, Carter's had more time to adjust--to embrace it. And he does just that with startling efficiency. A realist, Carter is used to doing what needs to be done, both in his career and his life. Surviving is no different. But he's changed since becoming a vampire, discarding his careful practices and embracing his wild side.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Snow Day
The entire state is shut down today, so I finished my March writing goals earlier than I thought I would. Plus I've reorganized my site, removing everything Forbidden Publications from it. Starting tomorrow I'll be starting the search for a new publisher. I think everyone who's supported me so far, and I really hope I have more out for people to read soon. Thanks!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Weather
I'm a little behind on my March word count due to the bad weather we've been having in North Dakota lately. Blizzards, flooding--it's a mess. But I have a few more days yet to reach my 30,000 word goal, so I'm still going for it.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sad news for the e-publishing world
It was announced yesterday that as of March 30, 2009 Forbidden Publications will be shutting down. This came as a shock to most of its authors, but it is not due to financial difficulties. In my opinion, Forbidden was one of the best e-pubs out there and they were a pleasure to work with. I am sad to see them go. Rights for all three of my books will be reverting back to me and I'll be shopping Demon's Torment around to other publishers as soon as April rolls around. I will probably hold off on the other two until I've found a new home. For anyone that was thinking of buying Demon's Torment, make sure you do it before the 30th. Otherwise you will have to wait awhile. Demon's Torment will still be available in paperback format through Lulu.com.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
MarNoWriMo
For authors in my writing group, March is another month of novel writing fun. While some writers treat it like November and shoot for another 50,000 words, I like to take things easy. One month of insane writing is enough, so I'm only shooting for 30,000 words this month. At the moment I'm right on track, and of course it would be nice if I could get more than that. It would help me finish up the book I'm working on right now--but even 30,000 words will get me close enough to my goal to make me happy. Well I'd better get back to it. If I can keep up the pace I've achieved throughout the first few days of the month, I'll hit 50,000 without a problem, but I don't think I can keep it up.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Release dates announced
Avery and the Devil: March 27, 2009
Thief in the Night: May 21, 2009
I received a new review for Demon's Torment, this time from Dark Diva Reviews who gave it 4.5 Dark Divas.
Ms. Thompson has crafted an excellent story and if you're looking for a well built paranormal romance, this book is definitely the one for you.
Read the full review.
Thief in the Night: May 21, 2009
I received a new review for Demon's Torment, this time from Dark Diva Reviews who gave it 4.5 Dark Divas.
Ms. Thompson has crafted an excellent story and if you're looking for a well built paranormal romance, this book is definitely the one for you.
Read the full review.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Valentine's Day Contest
February is the month of love--the perfect time to pick up a good romance novel. And I've got prizes for people who decide to buy a copy of Demon's Torment. So for anyone who purchases Demon's Torment anytime during the month of February, just send me a copy of your receipt and you'll be entered into a drawing to win free stuff as a thank you for supporting me. Just to be fair, if someone has purchased Demon's Torment during the month of January I'll include you too.
To enter, email me at rachel_d_thompson@yahoo.com with Valentine's Day Contest in the subject line. Remember to include a copy of the receipt and the address where you'd like the prizes to be sent. I will only ship to winners in the United States. However, if you live outside the US, you can still enter for a chance to win a couple of e-books.
The prizes:
A 3-pack of Chesapeake Bay scented candles
A 3-pack of Valentine's Day Sweetheart candles
A Demon's Torment magnet
Copies of two new e-books, Avery and the Devil and Bounty Hunters: Thief in the Night (**Note: these titles have not yet been released, but are coming soon through Forbidden Publications, so they probably won't be available at the end of the month with the rest of the prizes, but the winner will receive them as soon as they're published.)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Now is a great time to stock up on e-books at Fictionwise. To celebrate the fact that they've served over 3 trillion words to readers all over the world, they're offering a 60% Micropay rebate if you pay with credit card or Paypal. That brings Demon's Torment down to only $2.40.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
New edits
I've just received first round edits for my fantasy novella Thief in the Night, so I'll be working on that within the next couple of days.
Otherwise, I've just started back with my novel critique group on Writing.com to work on the vampire story I've been writing over the past couple of months. It's a project I'm rather proud of, so I'm excited that it's already so far along.
Otherwise, I've just started back with my novel critique group on Writing.com to work on the vampire story I've been writing over the past couple of months. It's a project I'm rather proud of, so I'm excited that it's already so far along.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Time to get serious
Whew! The holidays are over once again. That means it's time for me to start hitting the keyboard. I've got too many things whizzing around in my brain these days for me not to start seriously thinking about releasing them.
I'm working on getting an ISBN number for the print edition of Demon's Torment, but I have to buy a proof copy through Lulu first, so it will still be a little while yet before the print edition is available through Amazon. But reading through it again made me realize just how much I love this book. C'mon people! It's got a sexy demon who demands that Ally submit to him. What more could you want? I appreciate everyone that has supported me by picking up the electronic version, and the handful of people that have ordered the print edition. But I want a lot more people to experience this tormented demon. I think I'll be holding a contest in February--what better month to hold a contest for a romance novel, right? I'll be thinking up prize support during January, so check back here or on my website for all the details come February.
I've read through most of the books I ordered through Ellora's Cave last month during their special promotion. I've been really impressed with a few of them, not so much with others. But if you want to check out my thoughts and reviews on the books I've read, why not join Goodreads and add me as a friend? I love seeing what other people have read and looking for more ideas of books I'd like to check out. You wouldn't know it from looking at my list, but I haven't always been a fan of romance. My first love is fantasy, although lots of things have opened my eyes to show me just how many great books are out there. Just because you like a certain thing, don't close yourself off to other genres. You might miss out on something truly great.
My husband got me a new notebook for Christmas. As a writer I love notebooks...and brand new pens. It's a disturbing obsession really, but sometimes nothing beats an old fashioned pen and piece of paper, even if I do most of my writing on my computer these days. Still, this new notebook is heavy--made of some type of metal--and it's got a dragon engraved on the cover. Awesome, right? The perfect thing for a fantasy lover. I wasn't sure what I would write in it at first--of course I knew it would be a story of some type. I figured a paranormal one, since that's what I've been concentrating on lately. But as I was laying down to go to bed the other night, this first sentence just hit me. Wham! I couldn't believe it. I have trouble sleeping anyway, so I just had to get up and write it down before I forgot the exact wording. It was truly perfect you know. I wrote a few pages before going back to bed and that's how The Last Dragon was born. Just a few pages in, but I'm itching to write more, to find out more about Vrin, my main character. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I guess I'm similar to quite a few writers. I feel as if stories are just out there, waiting for me to write them. If something comes easily to me, then it's meant to be. Demon's Torment was like that. I didn't really struggle over anything when it came to that book. I think that's why it's so good. I think even my mom enjoyed it, and she doesn't really like romance books. I hardly plot out anything that happens in my books. Sometimes when I'm stuck I'll sit down and try to map it out, usually when the middle of the story hits and it all seems uphill from there. But for now, as Vrin's story is just beginning, I'll just let my mind go and see where his actions take him. It's always exciting to start out on something new...probably the reason I have so many unfinished projects. The beginning is always the best part. Getting to know your new characters. Finding out what makes them tick. It's the best feeling in the world. Before you know it, they've wormed their way into your heart. And if you're good, and maybe a little lucky, your readers will love them too.
Well I think I'm going to spend the rest of the night getting back into the spirit of writing by visiting my old writing stomping grounds, Writing.com to clean out my porfolio and join a new critique group to really kick 2009 off right. Hopefully this year will be better than the last. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
I'm working on getting an ISBN number for the print edition of Demon's Torment, but I have to buy a proof copy through Lulu first, so it will still be a little while yet before the print edition is available through Amazon. But reading through it again made me realize just how much I love this book. C'mon people! It's got a sexy demon who demands that Ally submit to him. What more could you want? I appreciate everyone that has supported me by picking up the electronic version, and the handful of people that have ordered the print edition. But I want a lot more people to experience this tormented demon. I think I'll be holding a contest in February--what better month to hold a contest for a romance novel, right? I'll be thinking up prize support during January, so check back here or on my website for all the details come February.
I've read through most of the books I ordered through Ellora's Cave last month during their special promotion. I've been really impressed with a few of them, not so much with others. But if you want to check out my thoughts and reviews on the books I've read, why not join Goodreads and add me as a friend? I love seeing what other people have read and looking for more ideas of books I'd like to check out. You wouldn't know it from looking at my list, but I haven't always been a fan of romance. My first love is fantasy, although lots of things have opened my eyes to show me just how many great books are out there. Just because you like a certain thing, don't close yourself off to other genres. You might miss out on something truly great.
My husband got me a new notebook for Christmas. As a writer I love notebooks...and brand new pens. It's a disturbing obsession really, but sometimes nothing beats an old fashioned pen and piece of paper, even if I do most of my writing on my computer these days. Still, this new notebook is heavy--made of some type of metal--and it's got a dragon engraved on the cover. Awesome, right? The perfect thing for a fantasy lover. I wasn't sure what I would write in it at first--of course I knew it would be a story of some type. I figured a paranormal one, since that's what I've been concentrating on lately. But as I was laying down to go to bed the other night, this first sentence just hit me. Wham! I couldn't believe it. I have trouble sleeping anyway, so I just had to get up and write it down before I forgot the exact wording. It was truly perfect you know. I wrote a few pages before going back to bed and that's how The Last Dragon was born. Just a few pages in, but I'm itching to write more, to find out more about Vrin, my main character. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I guess I'm similar to quite a few writers. I feel as if stories are just out there, waiting for me to write them. If something comes easily to me, then it's meant to be. Demon's Torment was like that. I didn't really struggle over anything when it came to that book. I think that's why it's so good. I think even my mom enjoyed it, and she doesn't really like romance books. I hardly plot out anything that happens in my books. Sometimes when I'm stuck I'll sit down and try to map it out, usually when the middle of the story hits and it all seems uphill from there. But for now, as Vrin's story is just beginning, I'll just let my mind go and see where his actions take him. It's always exciting to start out on something new...probably the reason I have so many unfinished projects. The beginning is always the best part. Getting to know your new characters. Finding out what makes them tick. It's the best feeling in the world. Before you know it, they've wormed their way into your heart. And if you're good, and maybe a little lucky, your readers will love them too.
Well I think I'm going to spend the rest of the night getting back into the spirit of writing by visiting my old writing stomping grounds, Writing.com to clean out my porfolio and join a new critique group to really kick 2009 off right. Hopefully this year will be better than the last. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
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