No writing done, but ideas galore

I just returned from the Love Is Murder conference, which means I didn't have any time to do any writing for several days. BUT (and it's a big one, heh heh) I found the time away from my keyboard to be so very useful.

Why?

Allow me to tell you! I came up the titles for my next 3 books in my "good-bye America" series (the dystopian futuristic series). And I discovered the titles for each part of those 3 books, so 9 titles. Whee! I also had an epiphany about a couple more of my back list titles. I think I'll request the rights back and that led me to think of titles, and what do you know? I figured out titles for those AND what I want for cover art.

So stay tuned here -- looks like a busy few months coming up!

Ah, good intentions

Well, I meant to update my Welcome blog on a daily basis, but alas, life intruded. I got busy.

I am going to update it twice a week from now on. When I can -- for example, I'm traveling this weekend, going to Chicago for the Love Is Murder conference. So I probably won't update it on Saturday. But by gum, I'll try to update it on Wednesday before I leave!

As to book news: I'm working on 2 new books. One is a hush-hush secret because it's part of a new, um, type of murder mystery (and that's all I'll say for now). I hope to have it out later this year. It's like Twistered, in a way. It's called Woulds and I'm very excited about it.

The other is the first book in my dystopian America series. I anticipate 7 books in all for that series, spanning three generations of one family. Yes, it's ambitious, but I'm determined. I love these characters and the story, so I'm plugging away at it.

I go back and forth between the two, and it's working very very well. I usually focus on one book at a time, but I'm finding I have a fresh approach to each book after a day or two away from it. So stay tuned here for more about Woulds -- I'm curious how it will be received (lips are zipped, no more talk!)

As reviews come in for Mist, I'll report back here on my self-publishing experiment. I haven't been disappointed so far, but I haven't been wowed yet, either. But my stories are out there so I figure, it's all good. Ever the optimist, that's me!

Just book news, not me news

I'm going to be posting at my Welcome blog on a daily basis in 2012, updating my progress on life, writing, conquering my demons, and assorted nonsense.

I'm updating this blog as needed to give you writing news.

So if you want the latest news, go here.

If you want writing news, stay here....

11 books in 2011

Yep. I just tallied it up. 11 books. What the hell was I thinking? Well, in many cases, I had no choice--the publisher decided on my release dates. And with the books I self-published ... I don't know, somehow that just happened.

I am going to spend 2012 promoting these books, writing some new ones, and publishing one more book (Twistered). Then it's on to 2013, which is the 10 year anniversary of my vow to 'enter the publishing world'. That's my Big Evaluation Year, when I'll decide whether to continue on or not.

Stay tuned.


Anyway, here's the 2011 list:

• January: Leap of Faith
• February: Lie to Me (digital)
• March: Penance (re-release of an older title)
• April: Lilacs, Litigation, and Lethal Love Affairs
• May: Foxgloves, Fancy Fungus, and Fatal Family Feuds

Vengeance: (re-release)

• June: Daisies, Deadly Force, and Disastrous Divorce Disputes
• July: Shadow of Doubt (print)

Compassion(re-release)

• December: Mist (digital and print)

Lie to Me (print)

It's here!

Mist is now available for purchase from Kindle and I hope to have it ready via other mediums soon (i.e., Nook, print, etc.)

Here's the Kindle link. So excited! This is my first from-scratch self-published book.

Here's a link for the printed version.

Take wings and fly!

Almost there

I hope to upload Mist today and get it going on Smashwords (eventually Barnes & Noble and other outlets) as well as Kindle. The print version is going through a second proof stage. I wasn't 100% pleased with the first one.

This marks the end of my first year of my self-publishing journey. And to be honest: no, it hasn't been worth it. Don't get me wrong: I'm happy I did it. I got my History Patrol books out there with rockin' great covers. And I'm self-pubbing Mist, Twistered, and 2 more books. These are books that my former publisher might have picked up, but I doubt it. There just isn't enough romance, and you know what--I'm not into writing romance anymore.

In fact, I'm not sure I'm into writing any more. That's another topic discussed elsewhere, but suffice it to say -- this blog will be a bit quiet in the coming months. I'll still be writing and publishing, but my output has dropped dramatically and I wonder if I'll still be doing it in a few years.

I started this journey in 2004 when I promised myself I would try to get published. I get it 10 years, and 2014 is coming up fast. That's when I'm going to take a serious look back and decide if it's something I want to continue.

Until then ... on to the next book!