Well the kids are off to school and I thought this would be a good time to update people on what’s been up with me this summer.
First off as of November of this year I will be graduating from the Temple of Diana’s Spiral Door Program. Three years of magnificent challenges and spiritual growth. Because of them I had the courage to ignore the nasty voice from my past and begin to write, not just simply for my own pleasure, but to be published and share my words with others. One more step toward my ordination, and a giant leap toward being true to who Moondancer really is.
My novella Bloodstained Innocence won 2nd place in Stardust Press’ Creatures of Darkness contest, though the date of release seems to still be up in the air. Crossing my fingers and toes on this one that it will be by Halloween.
After being accepted by an editor with one publsiher, it seems my novel Ancestral magic did not make it successfully past their review board. But I’m not beaten that easily. It’s been submitted to PD Publishing and I have great hope for a positive reception there.
And after the heartbreaking rejection of World’s Collide (2006 nanowrimo project) and a rewrite based on the kind editor’s comment, as of today I have submitted it to Ellora’s Cave which I’ve heard excellent things about. Wish me luck!
Now the works in progress that are nearing to completion are
Oh It’s Magic, a m/m/f paranormal erotica novella I just completed that is now in the beta reading process (could use a few more reader if anyone is interested) J
and my submission for the EXtasy Books writing contest. They ask writers to come up with their best saga, series, serial and see it published on a monthly basis. They say all chapters (meaning episodes not as in book chapters) for these must be between 12 and 20 K. So I am working on preparing a fantasy novel I’ve been picking at FOREVER to see if it’s workable for this project. It’s been hard, but I am starting to think it might work well after all.
Links for both those WIPs can be found HERE
As well as the flashfic stories (7 in total) I’ve written to submit to the “Chilling Tales of Terror and the Supernatural” anthology a complication of GLBT themed flashfic horror/paranormal suspense stories written by GLBT authors. First of its kind according to Patty G. Henderson, editor for the anthology and author of the Brenda Strange supernatural suspense series, the Karnov vampire trilogy and former editor of “Flash Fantastic” online magazine.
Chilling Tales of Terror and the Supernatural
So all in all that has been my year thus far, with the exception of Natural Order which was offered a contract through Creatrix Books, but from what I hear they are on a publishing freeze until further notice. Maybe if PD Publishing likes Ancestral magic I’ll send them this too.
So lots has happened this year just since a weekend at Wiscon a little over a year ago and a supportive sisterhood pushed me to be more then I thought I could be. Who knows what the future holds. My workaholic muse has brought be more ideas then I know what to do with, and with both my kids in school again, I might even be able to breath some live into them this year. If nothing else, there’s Nanowromo next month. So in the meantime keep checking back and I’ll keep ya’ll posted. J
1) After nursing two kids I am far too top heavy to ride a unicycle in the circus.
2) With all the voices in my head yammering at me I have to put the ideas somewhere so they’ll shut up sometimes.
3) Writing is a great excuse to get the kids to find something else to do beside bother mommy. “Not now sweetie, see, mommy’s working.”
4) Since I live in Wisconsin, I have plenty of time indoors to find something to do to keep out of the cold.
5) You can type and drink hot chocolate one handed if you need to quite easily.
6) Being a writer, I can connect with other writers. It’s nice to know there are lots of people just as weird as I am.
7) When people used to ask what I did for a living, I said I was a mom. Now I say I’m a writer and it shuts them up quicker.
8) When you’re as opinionated as I am, its always nice to have people pay to hear what you have to say.
9) My grandmother used to say to get my head out of the clouds, that daydreaming would never get me anywhere. Ha! Showed her!
10) It keeps me from getting in hot water with the government for deviant behavior…well for now anyways.
11) Got tired of seeing no one like me in the books I read, so now I’d writing them my way.
12) ‘Cause magical creatures are just hawt and I get to spend all this time with them while I write.
13) And finally, it sets me free in ways I never dreamed possible.
There is a great sadness in the Drake house. My husband grew up with a hero, someone he believed stood for family, and for dedication, for hard work. Last night that hero was a victem…today Adrian has learned that hero was a killer. I can’t tell you how sad it is too see someone I love dealing with asuch a blow. I feel deeply for the sister who was taken from the lands of our goddess, may she find piece within the arm of the Great Mother. The boy who this monster killed was a year younger then our own son. I believe this most of all, this horrifing death at the hands of his hero has hurt Adrian most of all. I know it has certainly affected me, taking me to a very dark place for a time.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WRESTLER_DEAD?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
The artice above is imformative, but they make one mistake. The tribute done by the WWE was done BEFORE the whole story came out, when the world still thought Benoit was a victem. I feel for all those who knew Benoit as he protrayed himself to others, the acticle of fiction, for I see what that kind of deep soul felt disappointment can do who a person who truelt believed in him. As horrible as it was for Benoit to kill his wife and son, his reign of voilence didn’t stop with his own death. In the hearts of those who called him thier hero, or thier friend…the voilence has only begun.
This had be crying and cheering all at once. You go Mr Teacher! This guy rocks in so many ways. I wish the MPS schools had more teachers like him, but I am so thanksful for the good ones we DO have.
She holds my hand while we walk barefoot through the grass, and then breaks free to chase a dancing butterfly. He builds his brick palace for an epic battle, but when he and I fight, it ends in a sad hug. They are my gems and my aggravation, as they stumble though the world in courage and independence. I guide them as best they will let me, and they teach me much more than I can ever express. They are my heart and soul. They are my children.
I have been wracking my brain for weeks to figure out some of the setting details for the YA series I want to do. I know I wanted there to be a magical school, but I didn’t want to fall back on the Harry Potter, or Charlie Bone feel. The one commonality in the other books I’ve read involving magical academies was that the subject was treated as a science. But I see magic in a far more spiritual aspect.
Well this morning, after a night of rather productive dreaming, I came up with the core idea. I am right now scribbling note on the visual of a magic school based on education within the Goddess traditions. The whole school would be set up that way from the elemental/directional placement of the buildings, to core ritual done in the story, to the types of classes offered the students.
Yes, the main of this story is an YA adventure, but a clear foundation with the school for a lot of the character interaction I think will add a lot to the story as well. I’m sure you can all tell how I excited I am at this revelation. How many times have we dreamed of a place like this for our kids? Well back to work! Yippie!
http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1138325.html
Well it was a long fight, but this is a victory toward religious freedom for ALL. Even though in my opinion we shouldn’t have had to struggle for these soldier to be honored in this way, the fact that we did have this victory give me a bit of hope. Wouldn’t it be nice to one day for these sorts of battle to be unnecessary, and for all nationalities, cultures, religions, sexual identities, etc… to be accepted as simply brothers and sisters of one race…the human race?
There are levels of stupidity that go far beyond what can be tolerated. Bigotry in any of its foul and disgusting forms is a monster to be contained by any means necessary. Our sisters at Equality Ride have been recently attacked by this rampaging beast as you can see in this article
If this does not enrage you or touch you deeply, then I would be very surprised. I was fuming for quite a time before I could even bring myself to touch my keyboard. Four year old hugs do wonders for taming the fire of fury. I personally reach out to take the hand of these women and ask you consider doing the same. Lend your energy, whatever you can spare, to their struggle, for together we can push back that beast and cast the monster from the lands of our children.
Okay, after a bit of a break from writing to focus on family and recharging my drained creative batteries I return with a new inspiration. The new novel (possibly series) has gripped me so tightly that I am putting aside all other project outside of any editing of the two novels to be published to work on it.
As expected from any who know me, this novel is paranormal fantasy, however it is not a romance or even adult in content. The oldest character (there are 4 protagonists, three girls, 1 boy) is about 16 or 17 and is a lesbian. Yes, I know. This makes marketing this story a hundred times more difficult then it would be already, but to be true to the spirit of this character it is a fact I am not willing or able to change. Is there a market out there for alternative young adult fiction? Maybe. With there be romantic content? No in this one, but maybe sweet romance in the book in the series to cone for her. Am I crazy to even attempt this? Yeah, in all likelihood I am, but what ya gonna do? Give up on a story so lovingly presented to you b by an insistent muse? Not me.
So, there is an update on what has gripped me now and where I will be focusing. My challenge now is finding resources on in what ways (outside of the removal of romantic content) my writing must change for a young adult market. I believe our kids are much smarter then some books make them out to be, so I don’t want to dumb anything down, but I do what to write in a way easy for 8 (my son reads YA so I’ll include as young as him in my thoughts) to what? 16 or 17? That’s a big question for me. Is there a standard age that reads… I figure those are the age ranges that my characters should be.
So yeah, lots of question in my brain on book length, and any standard rules. As badly as I want to get in and get started on the tale, these are question I will have to answer before I can do that. Thanks to all who sent me well wishes during my absence and to any who may have some suggestions of resource, yes, please send them to me. I am driven to begin, but want to me very prepared.
And to all, have a blessed Equinox. Moon
Well after a break to recharge my creative battery I am near ready to start back on the new book again. There is some great news for some of the other novels I have completed.
The winners of the Creatures of Darkness contest done by Stardust press have been announced and my book Bloodstained Innocence won 2nd place. This means $100 prize money and a publishing contract.
I got an email from Intaglio yesterday and the LOVE my book Ancestral Magic and are excited at the idea of publishing it. It’s not just cool that they said yes but having a publisher excited about you book is a great feeling I just don’t have words to express.
Hugs to you all and I will keep you updated.
Moondancer
