Dreams

Well, my chances of becoming a full time writer have come-a-knocking. No, I haven't gotten an agent yet. If only I was so lucky. It seems like the company I work for is having some troubles and I'm no longer needed. Technically speaking, I think I got laid off. No worries, my husband and I are moving to Las Vegas the end of May and it works out in the end, giving me the opportunity to work on my writing more than 3 hours a day. I'm a little excited for this chance and hope it brings good tithings.

Break? Not So Much

So what I thought would be a couple week break from writing turns out to be the opposite. I can't shut my brain off and so I've started the first chapter and outlining of my third novel, All or Nothing. It's another installment after All Because of You. I also heard back from one of the people who is critiquing All That I'm Living For and there are a few little details that need to be fixed. From there I'm going to be submitting!

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

As readers of Janet Evanovich's two previous books about funny, feisty, family-tied bounty hunter Stephanie Plum already know, she operates in "the burg"--a "comfy residential chunk of Trenton, New Jersey, where houses and minds are proud to be narrow and hearts are generously wide open." On this turf, Plum fights for justice and fashion points--this time in pursuit of a beloved neighborhood candystore owner who seems to be moonlighting as an anti-drug vigilante. Evanovich now lives in New Hampshire, but authentic affection for Trenton energizes her prose. Plums in paperback include One for the Money and Two for the Dough.

Incubus Dreams by Laurell K Hamilton

As consultant to the Regional Preternatural Crime Investigation Unit, Anita's called in on what appears to be a case involving a serial killer - a vampire serial killer - who may be preying on strippers. She's sure that none of the local vamps are responsible - but her judgment may be clouded by a conflict of interest. For she is, after all, the consort of Jean-Claude, the ever-intoxicating Master Vampire of the City - something that both her human friends and her ex, the alpha werewolf Richard, are quick to point out.

Surrounded by suspicion, overwhelmed by her attempts to control the primal lusts that continue to wrack her as a result of her passionate contacts with vampire, werewolf, and the shapeshifter Micah, Anita does something unprecedented. She calls for help...

It's Done!

All Because of You, the first draft, is now finished at 75,272 words (449 pages). Wow, I cannot even explain how relieved I am right now. There is a lot of work ahead for the MS, but just having the first draft laid out is a great accomplishment for me this year. I'll keep you updated when I start doing revisions for it, but until then I'm going to catch up on a lot of needed reading and exercise.

The Enjoyment Hour

I've decided not to enter my short story into any contests. There isn't any particular reason why, just don't feel like it. I am, however, still looking for a local critique group for my writing. I'm waiting for a review on my first novel, All That I'm Living For, and then I'm going to shop that around this year. I'm almost done with my second novel, All Because of You, so I'll be focusing on those two things this year instead of my dinky short story. That being said, I've posted it for all to read. Enjoy.

So Close...

1 more chapter, 30 pages, and then I'm done with the first draft of All Because of You. I can almost celebrate the success of finishing my second novel, but I'm drawing a blank on the one chapter that will complete the book. I know what I want to write about, it's just getting it all out on paper, or laptop, whatever analogy you want to use. Once the last chapter is written I'll print it out, all 450 pages and let it sit for a few weeks before I dive into edits and revisions. You're probably asking "Why don't you just get right to it, Natascha?" and I will tell you why. I'm tired! I want a break from having to do this or that for a little while. I want personal time to read or workout, cause I haven't been doing either of those for a few weeks. Of course, I haven't been writing either, but we'll leave that alone for now.

Something Fun

Well, I'm down to the past 30 pages of All Because of You. There is another installment after it, tentatively named All or Nothing. I'm also in the planning stages of my first try at a paranormal story. I don't have title yet, but the covers above are something that I've been playing around with and just thought I would share.

Hallalujah!

I'm down to the last 50 pages for All Because of You. Thank bloody goodness! This book has definitely been a lot harder to write. I'm not sure why, but All That I'm Living For came so easily to me. I had insomnia at the time from working retail and could stay up all night thinking out scenes in my head. This time I sleep soundlessly and don't have much time to work on it I guess. But I'm enjoying writing this book more. There's more action, more deceit, just more of everything. I'm hoping to finish at least one more chapter today. I only have 9 pages left in it (still sticking to 30 pages per chapter goal). I'll have 16 pages of the next chapter to finish and then only one whole complete chapter to plan out. It's the one where my main character has his revenge and I haven't quite figured out EXACTLY how he's going to do it. Once I have the first draft done I'll print it out and leave it alone for a while. This book has been so hard to write and I've spent so much time on it that I need to catch up on other things. Like my husband for example...

Lost World by Michael Crichton

Sequel to Jurassic Park, the first half of the book is just as boring as Congo. There are too many technical dialogues for this to be considered a good book in my opinion. It just takes away from the plot. I also found an interesting discrepancy. In Jurassic Park, Malcome is dead! However, he is one of the main characters in this novel, which is based six years after Jurassic Park. Michael Crichton's reasoning? He appeared dead. Not very convincing to me. I did, however, enjoy the last half of the book, where the team is actually on the island. In Jurassic Park the raptors were the main threat. In Lost World, they are still a threat, but the Tyrannosauruses are a major part and more dangerous now that they have offspring. I kept comparing the book to the movie and there is practically nothing in common. Glad I read the book and got the real sequel, since the movie was terrible.

Cerulean Sins by Laurell K Hamilton

I was absolutely awestruck by this installment in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. My favorite out of the series so far.

How the mighty have fallen! Once a sworn enemy of all vampires, Anita is now the human consort of both Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire, and Micah, the leopard shapeshifter. But her love life doesn't stop there. It can't. For Anita - not quite as human as she once was - is consumed by both the lusts of the vampire and the primal hungers of the wereleopards. Desires that must be sated - time and time again...

But it is Jean-Claude who needs her now. His oldest ancestor has sent one of her vicious and powerful underlings to St. Louis, putting Jean-Claude and his clan on the defensive. Unsure of where she stands with the interloper, Anita finds herself tested as never before - needing all the dark forces her passion can muster to save the ones she loves the most...

Break

I've been sick the past week or so. That being said, my goal of finishing the first draft of All Because of You by March 1st wasn't completed. I'm not too upset about it. I really feel like crap and my brain has gone sort of, well, dead. I'm still finding it hard to balance my time between working out and writing since I work from 9-5, Mon-Fri. That only gives me a couple hours a day of free time and I've been so stressed I've just been working out to relieve that stress. Catch 22, right?