Almost a month has passed since my last post. The sequel to Silence of Souls is nearing completion, and (if things go well this week) I am still on schedule to release it sometime between Christmas and New Year's.
The novel is better than the first, or at least I think so. It's much deeper, more emotional, and far different than any other zombie novel I've read so far. Hopefully, it'll gain a lot of readers, though I'm sure there will be people who hate it because of a certain event that takes place in the novel. This one is definitely NOT for children, and I think parents should be aware of what happens before letting their teenagers read it or not. Once it's released, I will put up a fair warning (while trying my best not to give away any important plot points) on the page so that people know it has mature content.
Thanksgiving was a fantastic long weekend. I spent the long weekend camping with family and friends and didn't get on the computer at all. I didn't force myself to think about work at all either. It was a good idea, because I came home with a clear head and an imagination yearning to get to work. As my mind cleared up, new ideas came rushing to me for the rest of Resurgence as well as for my next two novels.
The next novel is a vast expansion of The Secret Room and is going to be an epic battle between good and evil. It's going to have a lot of supernatural elements in it, and my ideas keep expanding and growing, and I'm loving where this is leading to. In all likelihood, this will be another series, which I am okay with. (Don't worry, zombie fans: The Silence of Souls series will continue!) As soon as Resurgence is finished, I'm getting to work on The Secret Room novel (though it won't be called "The Secret Room"; I don't yet have a title for it, though).
Part of me is considering taking on a challenge I've never done before- writing two novels at once. One will be The Secret Room novel, and the other will be the memoir I've been considering writing for a few years now (and more and more encouragement has come from friends and family to write it). Discipline will have to be a top priority if writing two at the same time, though one being fiction and the other non-fiction might make it a little easier. We'll see how things go after Resurgence is released. :)
Showing posts with label current projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label current projects. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Book Signing
Over the weekend, I had my first book signing event. It was at the local library, and they were also doing a book sale. (I got a box full of books for just $2- what a deal!) The library is only a couple years old, so it's a gorgeous building and very spacious.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Big things are happening!
Even though I was sick, this weekend turned out to be pretty awesome.
Friday morning, I went down to the local library where they were having a meet-and-greet with the new librarian (her name is Valerie, and she happens to be a friend and a wonderful woman). It was nice- Val talked about herself, her love of books, her experiences, and what she planned to do for the library.
After the introduction, there was mingling and some refreshments. The head of the Friends of the Acton Library committee was there, and she approached me and started talking about upcoming events. Long story short, she asked me to do a book signing at the end of October! I was thrilled.
Then, on Saturday, I had some major story revelations for Resurgence that I am pretty excited about.
Sunday was awesome, too. I discovered someone had posted a glowing review of my novel on a popular zombie-forum website! Here's a screenshot:
Also on Sunday, I found out that Silence of Souls has been nominated for book of the month over on a Goodreads group! Here's the screenshot of that:
It's very exciting, and I'm thrilled that Silence of Souls and Resurgence are gaining buzz!
One last thing- the Goodreads giveaway for autographed copies of both the novels is up and running. Be sure to enter and tell your friends about it!
Enter to win
Friday morning, I went down to the local library where they were having a meet-and-greet with the new librarian (her name is Valerie, and she happens to be a friend and a wonderful woman). It was nice- Val talked about herself, her love of books, her experiences, and what she planned to do for the library.
After the introduction, there was mingling and some refreshments. The head of the Friends of the Acton Library committee was there, and she approached me and started talking about upcoming events. Long story short, she asked me to do a book signing at the end of October! I was thrilled.
Then, on Saturday, I had some major story revelations for Resurgence that I am pretty excited about.
Sunday was awesome, too. I discovered someone had posted a glowing review of my novel on a popular zombie-forum website! Here's a screenshot:
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Also on Sunday, I found out that Silence of Souls has been nominated for book of the month over on a Goodreads group! Here's the screenshot of that:
 |
| Click to enlarge |
It's very exciting, and I'm thrilled that Silence of Souls and Resurgence are gaining buzz!
One last thing- the Goodreads giveaway for autographed copies of both the novels is up and running. Be sure to enter and tell your friends about it!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Silence of Souls
by Stefanie Oberhansley
Giveaway ends December 19, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Fictitious dreams that influence the future.
Last night, I had a dream about one of my characters from the Silence of Souls series.
First, an announcement: I've decided on a title for the sequel. It's going to be Resurgence.
I'm working on the sequel, and it's going to be so much more intense and emotional than the first. The first, in hindsight, was really just setting the stage for the series. In the sequel, there is a deplorable, absolutely horrible thing that happens to one of my characters. I debated for a long time, and spoke to several people about it, before I decided to actually do this thing in the novel.
Back to the dream... last night, I dreamt about this character whom something terrible happens to. This character was very sad, very hurt, and couldn't understand why this terrible thing had to happen. I held this character in my arms and comforted them as they sobbed. I told them they would be alright, and that times may seem hard right now, but they would get better in the future.
I promised my character that life would go on for them, and that it would, eventually, be great. I think, inadvertently, that I have (unofficially) committed to continuing the series for as long as the story keeps going. It may end after three books, it may end after twelve. We'll see. All I know right now is that my character is having a hard time understanding why this terrible thing had to happen to them, so I must continue on with the story until things get better for that character. It could take a while- there's a lot more hell they'll have to go to before they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The story must go on.
I'm doing a giveaway, so pass along the word. You could win autographed copies of Silence of Souls AND Resurgence!
Enter to win
First, an announcement: I've decided on a title for the sequel. It's going to be Resurgence.
I'm working on the sequel, and it's going to be so much more intense and emotional than the first. The first, in hindsight, was really just setting the stage for the series. In the sequel, there is a deplorable, absolutely horrible thing that happens to one of my characters. I debated for a long time, and spoke to several people about it, before I decided to actually do this thing in the novel.
Back to the dream... last night, I dreamt about this character whom something terrible happens to. This character was very sad, very hurt, and couldn't understand why this terrible thing had to happen. I held this character in my arms and comforted them as they sobbed. I told them they would be alright, and that times may seem hard right now, but they would get better in the future.
I promised my character that life would go on for them, and that it would, eventually, be great. I think, inadvertently, that I have (unofficially) committed to continuing the series for as long as the story keeps going. It may end after three books, it may end after twelve. We'll see. All I know right now is that my character is having a hard time understanding why this terrible thing had to happen to them, so I must continue on with the story until things get better for that character. It could take a while- there's a lot more hell they'll have to go to before they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The story must go on.
I'm doing a giveaway, so pass along the word. You could win autographed copies of Silence of Souls AND Resurgence!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Silence of Souls
by Stefanie Oberhansley
Giveaway ends December 19, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Great stories.
Over the weekend, we saw ParaNorman. It was fantastic! I loved the story, the twists, the humor, the characters, and the score. Most of the time, it's fun going to a theater full of kids because you get to hear some of those incredible, totally innocent reactions to the movie.
That's also the same reason I love going to the theater to see horror movies with a packed house- you get some crazy reactions, and sometimes they're hysterical.
Both situations involve a good story and interesting characters. That's how people get drawn in. If it was boring and uninteresting, then the kids would lose interest at the animated movie showings and the adults would feel bored at the horror movie showings.
I love it when you watch a movie or read a book and become so engulfed in what's going on that you completely forget that it's a movie or a book. That moment when you fall in love with or come to completely loathe a character. When you feel intense emotions one way or another toward a character, then you feel like you are living vicariously through them. When you indulge in great books and movies, you live a thousand lives.
The beginning of Silence of Souls 2 is underway, and I'm thrilled about it. I've received so much positive feedback about the first novel, and I'm very excited about working on the second one. The story outline is nearly complete- I just need to add some more meat to it. The second installment of the series is going to be even more intense than the first; at least, I think so. ;-) I'm working on developing the characters even further, creating some interesting conflicts, and putting out a unique story.
I have a real rough idea for a third installment, but I'm not going to force it if it doesn't want to happen. The second one is a definite thing, though! I'm hoping to release it around March or April, but I'll adjust the release date as the novel comes along. ;-)
That's also the same reason I love going to the theater to see horror movies with a packed house- you get some crazy reactions, and sometimes they're hysterical.
Both situations involve a good story and interesting characters. That's how people get drawn in. If it was boring and uninteresting, then the kids would lose interest at the animated movie showings and the adults would feel bored at the horror movie showings.
I love it when you watch a movie or read a book and become so engulfed in what's going on that you completely forget that it's a movie or a book. That moment when you fall in love with or come to completely loathe a character. When you feel intense emotions one way or another toward a character, then you feel like you are living vicariously through them. When you indulge in great books and movies, you live a thousand lives.
The beginning of Silence of Souls 2 is underway, and I'm thrilled about it. I've received so much positive feedback about the first novel, and I'm very excited about working on the second one. The story outline is nearly complete- I just need to add some more meat to it. The second installment of the series is going to be even more intense than the first; at least, I think so. ;-) I'm working on developing the characters even further, creating some interesting conflicts, and putting out a unique story.
I have a real rough idea for a third installment, but I'm not going to force it if it doesn't want to happen. The second one is a definite thing, though! I'm hoping to release it around March or April, but I'll adjust the release date as the novel comes along. ;-)
Friday, August 3, 2012
Onward!
Today I started working on my newest project. It's an idea I came up with about a year and a half ago- even before I came up with the idea for Silence of Souls. It'll be a short story, though I'm not sure exactly what I think the length will end up being. I'm venturing out on a new branch in writing- it's a comedic short story, unlike my previous works which have all been horror, thriller, and/or paranormal.
We'll see how it goes. I want to stretch my legs a little as a writer and see how I do with other genres. Initially, I would have expected myself to write drama, not paranormal, and I've done well so far. Because of that, I have high hopes. If it's absolutely terrible, I won't publish it.
When I turned on my computer this morning, I was surprised to find that Silence of Souls already has a review, and it's an incredible review! Apparently, I am a "talented and seriously disturbed author." I love it! I'm taking the "seriously disturbed" bit as a compliment to my work. Either that, or I'll use it as motivation to sell enough books to pay for therapy...
Anyway, I'm going to get back to writing now. I've got a number of projects planned, so onward to writing!
We'll see how it goes. I want to stretch my legs a little as a writer and see how I do with other genres. Initially, I would have expected myself to write drama, not paranormal, and I've done well so far. Because of that, I have high hopes. If it's absolutely terrible, I won't publish it.
When I turned on my computer this morning, I was surprised to find that Silence of Souls already has a review, and it's an incredible review! Apparently, I am a "talented and seriously disturbed author." I love it! I'm taking the "seriously disturbed" bit as a compliment to my work. Either that, or I'll use it as motivation to sell enough books to pay for therapy...
Anyway, I'm going to get back to writing now. I've got a number of projects planned, so onward to writing!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"Silence of Souls" Special Preview
Hello everyone! I'm back from Texas and am getting so close to finishing the novel. As a special treat, I'm giving you all a preview of Silence of Souls. Below the cut, you'll be the first to see the cover and read an excerpt from Chapter 1! I hope you'll like it.
Be aware, you're getting the raw, unedited version here. You might find some typos or errors that need to be fixed, and I assure you I'm working on it to give you the best product I possibly can. This is for your enjoyment, to get a little taste of what's coming soon. This is copyright Stefanie Oberhansley, so please respect my work and don't copy it without giving credit. (Otherwise I won't be able to do special previews like this in the future. However, please DO share the link to the page and invite your friends to come check out this special preview.
The book will be released early August 2012.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Zombies! Zombie apocalypse!
Lately, I've been spending more time on my computer than anywhere else. The good news is that I've been getting a lot of work done in preparation for the release of Silence of Souls. The bad news is that my eyes have been redder and dryer than ever before.
I can't stop working, it seems. I'll work during the day, then I'll get back on my computer after dinner for "just one quick thing" and it turns in to working until I go to bed. Yesterday, I got up at 5am and drove from Albuquerque, NM to Sachse, TX and was exhausted. I spent the evening with my in-laws and grandparents, playing a game and visiting. Around 11pm, I headed up to go to bed, but when I got in the bedroom I picked up my phone and thought of one quick email I wanted to send before going to sleep, so I laid in bed and started typing. One quick email turned in to checking out a zombie website, doing a little research, and a few other things. I ended up working for two and a half hours before I finally went to sleep a little before 2am.
Then, I dreamed about zombies. For the last week and a half or so, I've had nothing but zombie dreams. It's been horrifying (and in a couple of dreams, pretty funny).
I'm on the last leg of my book. It's coming along so fantastically, but I've been overworking myself to the point of confusion.
The zinger is that I don't want to stop. I'm tired, worn, confused, frustrated, and I love it. I feel like it's really coming together and that my goals are going to be hit.
In five weeks is our annual Beach Blast- a week at the beach with lots of great friends/family/friends-who-are-like-family, too much food and too much booze. It's a lot of fun. My goal right now is to finish and publish before the Beach Blast so I can actually take the week off and recover from writing my novel.
I can't stop working, it seems. I'll work during the day, then I'll get back on my computer after dinner for "just one quick thing" and it turns in to working until I go to bed. Yesterday, I got up at 5am and drove from Albuquerque, NM to Sachse, TX and was exhausted. I spent the evening with my in-laws and grandparents, playing a game and visiting. Around 11pm, I headed up to go to bed, but when I got in the bedroom I picked up my phone and thought of one quick email I wanted to send before going to sleep, so I laid in bed and started typing. One quick email turned in to checking out a zombie website, doing a little research, and a few other things. I ended up working for two and a half hours before I finally went to sleep a little before 2am.
Then, I dreamed about zombies. For the last week and a half or so, I've had nothing but zombie dreams. It's been horrifying (and in a couple of dreams, pretty funny).
I'm on the last leg of my book. It's coming along so fantastically, but I've been overworking myself to the point of confusion.
The zinger is that I don't want to stop. I'm tired, worn, confused, frustrated, and I love it. I feel like it's really coming together and that my goals are going to be hit.
In five weeks is our annual Beach Blast- a week at the beach with lots of great friends/family/friends-who-are-like-family, too much food and too much booze. It's a lot of fun. My goal right now is to finish and publish before the Beach Blast so I can actually take the week off and recover from writing my novel.
Friday, June 8, 2012
On The Road and an Announcement
This seems to be the year of traveling. Between March 2011 and now, I've done more traveling than I did during the entire period of 2006-2011. Alaska, Washington, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado have all been very welcoming to me.
Tomorrow morning I'll be heading out on the road again. This time, it's off to Texas; driving all the way there to deliver a car, and then flying home after a week of visiting relatives. I'm looking forward to it. The plan is to drive all the way to Albuquerque tomorrow, stay the night, then finish the second half of the trip and be in Dallas Sunday evening.
Appropriately, I'm reading a book right now called On The Road. It's by Jack Kerouac, and it's fantastic. It's written in first-person POV, all about this guy Sal who travels across the United States and meets different people along the way. He and his friend Dean and Dean's wife Marylou go through all sorts of places and do lots of different things. I'm loving it, and it really captures the simplicity of driving long distances with little money and how adventurous it can feel.
For me, every trip feels like an adventure. There's always something new to see, interesting people to come across, and places that have such a unique feel to them. I love driving long distances, especially when it's at a leisurely pace and you can stop and take notice of the sights. Even a small town, dusty diner can feel like a whole new world, and each person has a different story. I've come across people who have never actually seen the coast or dipped their feet in the ocean; I've come across people who have done things I could never see myself doing.
If I ever get the chance, I want to spend four weeks on the road, just going wherever the path leads. I think it would be so much fun and such an amazing experience.
If you get a chance, take a road trip and enjoy every moment of it,even especially when you're lost. If you don't get to do that anytime soon, at least read this book:
And now time for a special announcement: I've decided on a title for my zombie novel:
It's coming along very well, and I'm excited that the completion of my novel is just around the corner. The gentleman who is doing my cover has sent me the first draft of it, and I love it. I can't wait for everyone to see it!
Tomorrow morning I'll be heading out on the road again. This time, it's off to Texas; driving all the way there to deliver a car, and then flying home after a week of visiting relatives. I'm looking forward to it. The plan is to drive all the way to Albuquerque tomorrow, stay the night, then finish the second half of the trip and be in Dallas Sunday evening.
Appropriately, I'm reading a book right now called On The Road. It's by Jack Kerouac, and it's fantastic. It's written in first-person POV, all about this guy Sal who travels across the United States and meets different people along the way. He and his friend Dean and Dean's wife Marylou go through all sorts of places and do lots of different things. I'm loving it, and it really captures the simplicity of driving long distances with little money and how adventurous it can feel.
For me, every trip feels like an adventure. There's always something new to see, interesting people to come across, and places that have such a unique feel to them. I love driving long distances, especially when it's at a leisurely pace and you can stop and take notice of the sights. Even a small town, dusty diner can feel like a whole new world, and each person has a different story. I've come across people who have never actually seen the coast or dipped their feet in the ocean; I've come across people who have done things I could never see myself doing.
If I ever get the chance, I want to spend four weeks on the road, just going wherever the path leads. I think it would be so much fun and such an amazing experience.
If you get a chance, take a road trip and enjoy every moment of it,
 | ||
| "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac |
And now time for a special announcement: I've decided on a title for my zombie novel:
"Silence of Souls"
It's coming along very well, and I'm excited that the completion of my novel is just around the corner. The gentleman who is doing my cover has sent me the first draft of it, and I love it. I can't wait for everyone to see it!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Don't Be A Lazy Writer
Last night I could barely sleep, and for three reasons:
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
 |
| "I just want a hug. That's all." |
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Positive Results Breed Positive Motivation
When I first published The Secret Room, it was an amazing feeling to see so many people downloading and reading my work. During the first five days it was available, I put it on a free promotion in order to get the word out about it and I had about 1,800 people download it in the five-day span. Right now on this promo it's at 572 downloads, in just the first day!
When Shadows in the Window went up, I put it on a free promotion for its first five days, just like I did with The Secret Room. It sold around 1,200 copies during that time. In this promo's first day, it's already at 313 downloads!
Since it is a holiday weekend and many are off for 3 days, I decided to put both books on a free promo since Amazon gave me a few more promotion days to use. The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window both went up for free a little after midnight this morning. Now, they are currently BOTH in the Top 100 in Kindle's Horror section! Shadows in the Window is #67 and The Secret Room is #6! Having one book in the Top 100 is amazing enough, but to have TWO is completely indescribable!
I'd love to have this keep going, and if any of you would be willing to share the links to my books on your blog, FaceBook (check out the brand-new author page), Twitter (I'm @smober on Twitter), or anywhere else I would be most appreciative!
This has been such motivation for me to work more and work harder on my zombie novel. It's getting closer to completion, and I'm loving how it's flowing! Some of what's happened has even surprised me- certain elements and events just come organically when writing, seemingly out of nowhere. When that happens, I just let it come and see where it goes- if I don't like it, then I can change it, but most of the time when it "just comes to me" it seems to work much better than when I try to force something.
Even though it is a three-day weekend and most people are off, I'm spending my time writing my novel. I didn't get a chance to do any work on it on Thursday or Friday, so I've made this a work weekend. I love writing, and I'm so inspired based on what The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window are doing right now that I wouldn't want to be doing something other than writing! I am getting close to picking a title, and Danny already has some ideas for the cover. You'll all be able to read it very soon!
Maybe this will sound corny, but sometimes the story just takes you away and even though it's coming from your imagination, you're hanging on to the edge of your seat waiting to see what develops. Writing is a thrill!
When Shadows in the Window went up, I put it on a free promotion for its first five days, just like I did with The Secret Room. It sold around 1,200 copies during that time. In this promo's first day, it's already at 313 downloads!
Since it is a holiday weekend and many are off for 3 days, I decided to put both books on a free promo since Amazon gave me a few more promotion days to use. The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window both went up for free a little after midnight this morning. Now, they are currently BOTH in the Top 100 in Kindle's Horror section! Shadows in the Window is #67 and The Secret Room is #6! Having one book in the Top 100 is amazing enough, but to have TWO is completely indescribable!
I'd love to have this keep going, and if any of you would be willing to share the links to my books on your blog, FaceBook (check out the brand-new author page), Twitter (I'm @smober on Twitter), or anywhere else I would be most appreciative!
This has been such motivation for me to work more and work harder on my zombie novel. It's getting closer to completion, and I'm loving how it's flowing! Some of what's happened has even surprised me- certain elements and events just come organically when writing, seemingly out of nowhere. When that happens, I just let it come and see where it goes- if I don't like it, then I can change it, but most of the time when it "just comes to me" it seems to work much better than when I try to force something.
Even though it is a three-day weekend and most people are off, I'm spending my time writing my novel. I didn't get a chance to do any work on it on Thursday or Friday, so I've made this a work weekend. I love writing, and I'm so inspired based on what The Secret Room and Shadows in the Window are doing right now that I wouldn't want to be doing something other than writing! I am getting close to picking a title, and Danny already has some ideas for the cover. You'll all be able to read it very soon!
Maybe this will sound corny, but sometimes the story just takes you away and even though it's coming from your imagination, you're hanging on to the edge of your seat waiting to see what develops. Writing is a thrill!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
EPIPHANY!!
Sometimes when I'm driving and go on auto-pilot I get completely lost in my thoughts. That's one thing I love about driving- I'm not distracted by my phone, the Internet, or text messages- it's just me and the road, some good music, and my thoughts to keep me company.
While I was driving the other day, I had a totally epiphany about an aspect of myself and how I handle the relationships in my life. This epiphany, which had to do with how I conduct my relationships (friendships, spouse, family, etc), made me realize the reason why I feel so drained when it comes to relationships and why I'm not close with some people I would love to be closer with.
After realizing my flaw, I saw that I could really consciously do something about it to improve my relationships and make myself and the other people in said relationships a lot more fulfilled and happy. It was pretty satisfying to have this realization in itself, let alone be able to put it in play. I've already seen an improvement in some of my relationships, which is incredible.
No matter how long we live, I think we'll always discover new things about us. Sometimes it seems like the one person it is hardest for us to get to know is the one person we can never get away from: ourselves.
But I think it's not so much a matter of finding ourselves as it is a matter of defining ourselves. What do we think is right? What do we think is wrong? What are we willing to do? What are we not willing to do?
I love learning about myself and creating who I am. It's an incredible feeling to be so happy with the person I am and know that I still have so much more learning and growing to do. In my opinion, the people who think they know it all and have nothing more to gain from life are seriously missing out (unless, of course, they're old and have lived their lives, but still- my grandpa used to tell me that the first day you shouldn't learn something new should be the day after you die). Closed minds don't get the benefit and joy that open minds do. Closed minds seem to have trouble connecting to other people, to understanding things outside of their preexisting beliefs, and don't seem to gain as much joy from learning new things.
I also think that we can reduce so much stress, improve our relationships, and find a higher state of happiness when we give up the unquenchable desire to always be right. No one knows everything, and we can learn something from every single person. When we act like we know it all, we lose a lot of important parts of being human. First off, we lose a lot of credibility with others if they see that we spew a lot of B.S. because then they have no idea when we say something that's actually accurate. Second, we stop asking questions, and when we stop asking questions, our minds stop exploring. There's nothing wrong with not knowing everything. I mean, I think I know quite a bit about a lot of things, but what I know is barely even a frozen drop of water in the tip of the iceberg that is the knowledge of the universe.
Open minds also seem to be the most creative minds; probably because they're always searching and asking and trying to see things in a new way. Like Danny- he loves his job, and has probably one of the most amazing and insightful minds I know. He's been working on so many incredible projects, and I love hearing about them. Sometimes I feel a little jealous that he gets to work in such a creative environment at the studio, because he comes home every day and talks about what he did with such enthusiasm. He listens to everyone, and is never afraid to ask questions. I aim to be more like him; he's my inspiration to improve who I am.
While I was driving the other day, I had a totally epiphany about an aspect of myself and how I handle the relationships in my life. This epiphany, which had to do with how I conduct my relationships (friendships, spouse, family, etc), made me realize the reason why I feel so drained when it comes to relationships and why I'm not close with some people I would love to be closer with.
After realizing my flaw, I saw that I could really consciously do something about it to improve my relationships and make myself and the other people in said relationships a lot more fulfilled and happy. It was pretty satisfying to have this realization in itself, let alone be able to put it in play. I've already seen an improvement in some of my relationships, which is incredible.
No matter how long we live, I think we'll always discover new things about us. Sometimes it seems like the one person it is hardest for us to get to know is the one person we can never get away from: ourselves.
But I think it's not so much a matter of finding ourselves as it is a matter of defining ourselves. What do we think is right? What do we think is wrong? What are we willing to do? What are we not willing to do?
I love learning about myself and creating who I am. It's an incredible feeling to be so happy with the person I am and know that I still have so much more learning and growing to do. In my opinion, the people who think they know it all and have nothing more to gain from life are seriously missing out (unless, of course, they're old and have lived their lives, but still- my grandpa used to tell me that the first day you shouldn't learn something new should be the day after you die). Closed minds don't get the benefit and joy that open minds do. Closed minds seem to have trouble connecting to other people, to understanding things outside of their preexisting beliefs, and don't seem to gain as much joy from learning new things.
I also think that we can reduce so much stress, improve our relationships, and find a higher state of happiness when we give up the unquenchable desire to always be right. No one knows everything, and we can learn something from every single person. When we act like we know it all, we lose a lot of important parts of being human. First off, we lose a lot of credibility with others if they see that we spew a lot of B.S. because then they have no idea when we say something that's actually accurate. Second, we stop asking questions, and when we stop asking questions, our minds stop exploring. There's nothing wrong with not knowing everything. I mean, I think I know quite a bit about a lot of things, but what I know is barely even a frozen drop of water in the tip of the iceberg that is the knowledge of the universe.
Open minds also seem to be the most creative minds; probably because they're always searching and asking and trying to see things in a new way. Like Danny- he loves his job, and has probably one of the most amazing and insightful minds I know. He's been working on so many incredible projects, and I love hearing about them. Sometimes I feel a little jealous that he gets to work in such a creative environment at the studio, because he comes home every day and talks about what he did with such enthusiasm. He listens to everyone, and is never afraid to ask questions. I aim to be more like him; he's my inspiration to improve who I am.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
After being gone for almost two weeks, I'm back home now. It was wonderful getting to spend so much time with my grandma. :)
I've been thinking about risks lately. The phrase "The greater the risk, the greater the reward" has been bouncing around my brain.
There's a subtle safety in not taking risks- playing it safe and taking the easy route offer security and less stress, but it's not nearly as rewarding. Taking the road less traveled means harder work, more stress, and uncertainty, but it also has the greatest treasures waiting at the end of it.
When it comes to writing, I'm risking a lot by going for my dreams. More than I care to admit to, if I'm being honest with myself. I feel that this is my last chance to prove that I'm going to make something great of myself, that I can do what I set out to do. If it doesn't pay off this year, I think I might just have to give up putting my efforts into it and find something a little "safer" to do.
I feel in the deepest depths of my soul and with the entirety of my heart that I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I feel strongly that doing otherwise would be a mistake right now. I believe that, though the risk is quite grand, the rewards will be ten times better than I'm imagining they will be. I believe, with everything I am, that I'm not really risking anything because I feel this will pay off better than I believe it will.
But still, it's scary. It's an intense feeling to know there is a potential of actually failing and losing, then being forced to do something I don't want to in order to live life. I'm terrified of the idea that I might fail at writing and then have to settle into a 9-5 job where I'm just another replaceable cog in the wheel, doing something that does not satisfy me in the least, becoming another "working class hero" who lives for the hastily-fleeting weekend. But that's just me.
My zombie novel and my memoir are going to be my big sellers, I believe. I think that they will be the ones to put me on the map, especially my memoir. I can't wait to release them (zombie novel at the end of the month, memoir after that sometime) and see what people think.
I hope that this will work out. It would suck if it doesn't. Maybe I'm just getting worried.
I've been thinking about risks lately. The phrase "The greater the risk, the greater the reward" has been bouncing around my brain.
There's a subtle safety in not taking risks- playing it safe and taking the easy route offer security and less stress, but it's not nearly as rewarding. Taking the road less traveled means harder work, more stress, and uncertainty, but it also has the greatest treasures waiting at the end of it.
When it comes to writing, I'm risking a lot by going for my dreams. More than I care to admit to, if I'm being honest with myself. I feel that this is my last chance to prove that I'm going to make something great of myself, that I can do what I set out to do. If it doesn't pay off this year, I think I might just have to give up putting my efforts into it and find something a little "safer" to do.
I feel in the deepest depths of my soul and with the entirety of my heart that I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I feel strongly that doing otherwise would be a mistake right now. I believe that, though the risk is quite grand, the rewards will be ten times better than I'm imagining they will be. I believe, with everything I am, that I'm not really risking anything because I feel this will pay off better than I believe it will.
But still, it's scary. It's an intense feeling to know there is a potential of actually failing and losing, then being forced to do something I don't want to in order to live life. I'm terrified of the idea that I might fail at writing and then have to settle into a 9-5 job where I'm just another replaceable cog in the wheel, doing something that does not satisfy me in the least, becoming another "working class hero" who lives for the hastily-fleeting weekend. But that's just me.
My zombie novel and my memoir are going to be my big sellers, I believe. I think that they will be the ones to put me on the map, especially my memoir. I can't wait to release them (zombie novel at the end of the month, memoir after that sometime) and see what people think.
I hope that this will work out. It would suck if it doesn't. Maybe I'm just getting worried.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Author Spotlight and Writing for Me
Some exciting news- I'm being featured in the "Local Author Spotlight" in my hometown's literary newsletter for this coming quarter! The issue will be released in April and feature a photo of me, my bio, what inspires me to write, a description of my available works (The Secret Room, Shadows in the Window, and Silent Outbursts) as well as my upcoming releases! I may even being doing "An Evening With The Author" at the library where people can come and ask me about my works, my process, and anything else they want. I'll be the first self-published eBook author (there have been other self-published authors, but never for eBooks) and I'm sure people will be asking me about the process of publishing digitally. They will also be featuring my book (in digital format) in the library and promoting my work.
This may not be so exciting to others, but I think it's pretty cool. :)
My zombie novel is flowing very well, and I'm even surprising myself with some elements of the story. I had anticipated it would be a short novel, around 30,000-35,000 words, but I'm already at 26,000 words and only about 25% through the story, so I think it's going to be a longer novel. I'm aiming to keep it under 100,000 words or right around there because I don't want it to be too terribly long. But when it comes down to it, I need to tell the story and tell it well, regardless of word count.
I'm getting a little nervous about releasing my zombie novel. There's a lot of zombie stuff out there, and while mine doesn't redefine the genre, I think it's unique enough to stand out. I just need to make sure I give ample time for editing- I'm planning to devote 80 hours myself, maybe more if I have the time, and recruit a few volunteers to read/review/point out mistakes before I publish it.
Based on reviews I've read of other zombie novels, I think people will generally either totally love or absolutely hate my work- not many seem to be in the middle when it comes to zombies. Ultimately, though, I write for myself and those who love to read my stories, not the overbearingly harsh critics.
This may not be so exciting to others, but I think it's pretty cool. :)
My zombie novel is flowing very well, and I'm even surprising myself with some elements of the story. I had anticipated it would be a short novel, around 30,000-35,000 words, but I'm already at 26,000 words and only about 25% through the story, so I think it's going to be a longer novel. I'm aiming to keep it under 100,000 words or right around there because I don't want it to be too terribly long. But when it comes down to it, I need to tell the story and tell it well, regardless of word count.
I'm getting a little nervous about releasing my zombie novel. There's a lot of zombie stuff out there, and while mine doesn't redefine the genre, I think it's unique enough to stand out. I just need to make sure I give ample time for editing- I'm planning to devote 80 hours myself, maybe more if I have the time, and recruit a few volunteers to read/review/point out mistakes before I publish it.
Based on reviews I've read of other zombie novels, I think people will generally either totally love or absolutely hate my work- not many seem to be in the middle when it comes to zombies. Ultimately, though, I write for myself and those who love to read my stories, not the overbearingly harsh critics.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Take Care of Yourself
I've been going to dance class a lot these last two weeks, and I am feeling fantastic! My strength is improving, I'm sleeping better (except for last night, which was filled with zombie nightmares, courtesy of last night's episode of The Walking Dead), and feel so much more mental clarity.
Since we only get one, we should do our best to take the greatest care of our bodies. It's not always easy, and I haven't always taken the best care of mine, but it's worth it in the end. Hard work pays off.
There's so much more to taking care of yourself than just looking good- you feel great, you're healthy, and you gain confidence. When I go to dance class, I don't think of it as "working out" but instead I think of it as improving myself inside and out.
When it comes to taking care of yourself, we need to include mind and spirit. Having a healthy body, mind, and spirit makes a world of difference in how we live our life. We're happier, it seems. When I dance, I feel more in tune with myself and my body, and it makes me feel so much more in tune with the world around me. It's amazing, and I'm getting better with each class.
I'm off to work some more on the zombie novel before the Zumbia class I'm taking tonight. :)
Since we only get one, we should do our best to take the greatest care of our bodies. It's not always easy, and I haven't always taken the best care of mine, but it's worth it in the end. Hard work pays off.
There's so much more to taking care of yourself than just looking good- you feel great, you're healthy, and you gain confidence. When I go to dance class, I don't think of it as "working out" but instead I think of it as improving myself inside and out.
When it comes to taking care of yourself, we need to include mind and spirit. Having a healthy body, mind, and spirit makes a world of difference in how we live our life. We're happier, it seems. When I dance, I feel more in tune with myself and my body, and it makes me feel so much more in tune with the world around me. It's amazing, and I'm getting better with each class.
I'm off to work some more on the zombie novel before the Zumbia class I'm taking tonight. :)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Untitled Zombies Are Coming!!
Sometimes it feels like the more I need to write, the harder it is to get started. Today, I'm aiming to do 1,800-2,000 words to make up for lost time. (What am I doing on the Internet?? I should be writing!!) I'm a week behind schedule, and I'm still aiming for release on April 1st. If I have to, I'll push the release to April 7th because I don't want to put the novel out there if it's not ready.
The story itself and all the characters are done and hashed out, and the actual writing is coming along well (even though I'm behind schedule). I'm aiming to be done by the 17th and allow two weeks for editing and proofreading. I still need a cover and a title. A few ideas have come about what to title my zombie novel, but none of them seem to fit yet. I'm hoping it'll just come when it's ready to. It's currently saved as "Untitled Zombie Apocalypse Novel" but I don't think that title is really catchy enough to use for the finished product.
I'm not re-inventing the zombie genre, but I do think that mine is better than 90% of the stuff already available. There's so much zombie crap, really- stories with no action, no set "rules" of how the infection/undead mass acts, no realistic or relatable characters, and boring action sequences that seem entirely disconnected from the plot. I know my novel won't be absolutely perfect, and I know not everyone will like it, but I like it and I hope that others out there will enjoy it, too.
There's two things that have really helped me with this novel (and two things I use for almost all my work):
1. Pages of Notes. I have sections for characters, events, rules that must be followed (in this case, how the infection spreads, how it affects the body/mind, and how the undead act), things that I have mentioned that are important for continuity, specific pieces of dialogue I think of that I want to use at some point but not at the moment, town names, and anything else that I may need to quickly reference at any point in the writing process. I keep it very organized so it's easy for me to use so I can find what I need rapidly and get back to writing. This has helped tremendously on several occasions. Sometimes when I am stuck on the part I'm writing, I'll pop over into my notes, read a bit, maybe write a few things in there, and usually it breaks the writer's block.
2. Flashcards. I recently started doing this, but it's indescribably helpful! I write the main points of the plot (and even minor events that I want to include, or specific character developments that need to occur) on their own card, then I lay out the flashcards on a table and look at everything that will be happening. Then, I'll arrange the flashcards in the order that I think works best, read through them in that order, and see if it works. If it doesn't, it's really easy to move around the flashcards again and try out different orders. It's so interesting to see how just changing the order of things can affect the story so profoundly, and often the order of events affects character motivation for succeeding events.
Time to get back to writing- I'm off again to rendezvous with the undead.
The story itself and all the characters are done and hashed out, and the actual writing is coming along well (even though I'm behind schedule). I'm aiming to be done by the 17th and allow two weeks for editing and proofreading. I still need a cover and a title. A few ideas have come about what to title my zombie novel, but none of them seem to fit yet. I'm hoping it'll just come when it's ready to. It's currently saved as "Untitled Zombie Apocalypse Novel" but I don't think that title is really catchy enough to use for the finished product.
I'm not re-inventing the zombie genre, but I do think that mine is better than 90% of the stuff already available. There's so much zombie crap, really- stories with no action, no set "rules" of how the infection/undead mass acts, no realistic or relatable characters, and boring action sequences that seem entirely disconnected from the plot. I know my novel won't be absolutely perfect, and I know not everyone will like it, but I like it and I hope that others out there will enjoy it, too.
There's two things that have really helped me with this novel (and two things I use for almost all my work):
1. Pages of Notes. I have sections for characters, events, rules that must be followed (in this case, how the infection spreads, how it affects the body/mind, and how the undead act), things that I have mentioned that are important for continuity, specific pieces of dialogue I think of that I want to use at some point but not at the moment, town names, and anything else that I may need to quickly reference at any point in the writing process. I keep it very organized so it's easy for me to use so I can find what I need rapidly and get back to writing. This has helped tremendously on several occasions. Sometimes when I am stuck on the part I'm writing, I'll pop over into my notes, read a bit, maybe write a few things in there, and usually it breaks the writer's block.
2. Flashcards. I recently started doing this, but it's indescribably helpful! I write the main points of the plot (and even minor events that I want to include, or specific character developments that need to occur) on their own card, then I lay out the flashcards on a table and look at everything that will be happening. Then, I'll arrange the flashcards in the order that I think works best, read through them in that order, and see if it works. If it doesn't, it's really easy to move around the flashcards again and try out different orders. It's so interesting to see how just changing the order of things can affect the story so profoundly, and often the order of events affects character motivation for succeeding events.
Time to get back to writing- I'm off again to rendezvous with the undead.
Monday, February 27, 2012
An Uncontainable Idea
While watching the Academy Awards yesterday, a HUGE idea hit me. It lingered on my mind the rest of the evening and into the night, occupying my mind so relentlessly that I had to get up out of bed at 1am just so I could do some quick research on the Internet to see if it was even possible. As it turns out, it is 100% completely and totally possible, and I actually have the hardest part over.
I'm not quite ready to reveal the idea yet, but I know I have to jump on it because the timing is perfect. There's quite a bit to figure out about it, and I know that even though I have what most consider to be the hardest part already completed, this is not going to be easy. In fact, if I decide to attempt this, it will probably be the most challenging thing I've ever done.
The discouraging part is the money it's going to take- this idea must be completed by September (just 7 months away!) if it is to go where I want it to go, and I'm thinking it'll probably cost about $5,000-$10,000 to do. I refuse to do it if I can't get it done well, but I know that this project can and will change lives. I don't mean that to sound cocky, but I know it's true because it already HAS changed lives. This is so much more than I am, and I know that I won't be able to do it alone- I'll have to enlist the talents of people far more skilled than I am, because I want this project to not only be a product of me, but a product of humanity.
I don't have much time at all, so I need to decide quickly if this is something I want to take on or not.
I'm not quite ready to reveal the idea yet, but I know I have to jump on it because the timing is perfect. There's quite a bit to figure out about it, and I know that even though I have what most consider to be the hardest part already completed, this is not going to be easy. In fact, if I decide to attempt this, it will probably be the most challenging thing I've ever done.
The discouraging part is the money it's going to take- this idea must be completed by September (just 7 months away!) if it is to go where I want it to go, and I'm thinking it'll probably cost about $5,000-$10,000 to do. I refuse to do it if I can't get it done well, but I know that this project can and will change lives. I don't mean that to sound cocky, but I know it's true because it already HAS changed lives. This is so much more than I am, and I know that I won't be able to do it alone- I'll have to enlist the talents of people far more skilled than I am, because I want this project to not only be a product of me, but a product of humanity.
I don't have much time at all, so I need to decide quickly if this is something I want to take on or not.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Return of the undead!
Did you see the Walking Dead mid-season premiere? What did you think?
I've been reading the comics-- oops, I mean, graphic novels- the television show is quite different from the original books, but I'm sure they'll add in more elements from thecomics graphic novels as the series goes on.
I'm not sure how I feel about my zombie novel at the moment. I have the whole thing visualized in my head, and I like it, but when I actually write it I feel it might not be coming out as I pictured it. I'm pushing through to the end, then I'll go back and make changes. I'm aiming to have it up by April, if it's done and at a level of quality I'm satisfied with.
By no means am I reinventing the genre, but I think I have a story that is original enough to get some readers. There's similarities to other zombie works, of course, but the similarities go across nearly every piece of zombie fiction I've ever read or seen. (A virus, an outbreak, losing control, etc.) My main character is a woman- a mother, actually. She's not a bad-ass like in most other zombie works, but she finds a strength she didn't know she had. As the story evolves, it seems like the group of people she's with become more of central characters than side characters. Kind of like "The Walking Dead"- Rick starts out as the main character, and slowly we see more and more of the other characters come into focus. I like it that way, and I hope others will too.
A wrote a sentence yesterday that I think encompasses the entire meaning I hope to give through the story. It's not even in a full scene yet- just a note I made about a scene I want to write down the line.
Remember Kevin, the guy who was writing a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days? Well, he finished it! It came out to a little more than 50,000 words. I'm currently reading it now, and this will definitely be one you'll all want to read!
I've been reading the comics-- oops, I mean, graphic novels- the television show is quite different from the original books, but I'm sure they'll add in more elements from the
I'm not sure how I feel about my zombie novel at the moment. I have the whole thing visualized in my head, and I like it, but when I actually write it I feel it might not be coming out as I pictured it. I'm pushing through to the end, then I'll go back and make changes. I'm aiming to have it up by April, if it's done and at a level of quality I'm satisfied with.
By no means am I reinventing the genre, but I think I have a story that is original enough to get some readers. There's similarities to other zombie works, of course, but the similarities go across nearly every piece of zombie fiction I've ever read or seen. (A virus, an outbreak, losing control, etc.) My main character is a woman- a mother, actually. She's not a bad-ass like in most other zombie works, but she finds a strength she didn't know she had. As the story evolves, it seems like the group of people she's with become more of central characters than side characters. Kind of like "The Walking Dead"- Rick starts out as the main character, and slowly we see more and more of the other characters come into focus. I like it that way, and I hope others will too.
A wrote a sentence yesterday that I think encompasses the entire meaning I hope to give through the story. It's not even in a full scene yet- just a note I made about a scene I want to write down the line.
Remember Kevin, the guy who was writing a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days? Well, he finished it! It came out to a little more than 50,000 words. I'm currently reading it now, and this will definitely be one you'll all want to read!
Friday, February 10, 2012
We need more cowbell!
The little things in life make me so happy: I set my ringtone to the theme song from The Walking Dead.
I've been working on my zombie novel all day, and I'm very happy with where it's going. There was a scene that popped into my head last night when I was in bed, and I wrote it out today- it won't be until later in the book, but I think that in this scene there is one sentence that wraps up the whole idea I'm trying to convey in the book. I didn't even really realize it until I wrote it, but with it in mind, I think my story just got a whole lot stronger. I still need a title for the book, but I think that will be one of the last things I create.
In between writing, I can't help but check my numbers. (I'm trying not to become obsessive with it, but I'm so excited that people are reading my work!) Here's the latest:
Please help him climb! What a dream it would be to see Shadows in the Window in the top 100!!
And now, as I get back to work, I leave you with this video, which combines two things I have a strange love for: The Walking Dead and Christopher Walken.
I've been working on my zombie novel all day, and I'm very happy with where it's going. There was a scene that popped into my head last night when I was in bed, and I wrote it out today- it won't be until later in the book, but I think that in this scene there is one sentence that wraps up the whole idea I'm trying to convey in the book. I didn't even really realize it until I wrote it, but with it in mind, I think my story just got a whole lot stronger. I still need a title for the book, but I think that will be one of the last things I create.
In between writing, I can't help but check my numbers. (I'm trying not to become obsessive with it, but I'm so excited that people are reading my work!) Here's the latest:
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| Click to enlarge |
Please help him climb! What a dream it would be to see Shadows in the Window in the top 100!!
And now, as I get back to work, I leave you with this video, which combines two things I have a strange love for: The Walking Dead and Christopher Walken.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Zombie Withdrawals
It's been almost 3 months since the last episode of "The Walking Dead" aired, and I can't wait for the new episode on Sunday. (Just four days, four hours, and forty minutes until it airs! But who's counting, right? And whoa, what a strange time length: 4d,4h,40m. Lots o' 4's.) I got several of the comic books for Christmas, and I'm loving them! Completely devoured them.
I love zombies. I do, it's just a thing. They've fascinated me as long as I can remember, and I have absolutely no idea why. Some people like ketchup, some like mustard. Some people like vampires, I like zombies.
Although it's been about a month since I wrote a word for it, I'm still hoping to get my zombie novel done soon. I wrote the outline for The Secret Room: Beginnings today, but now I just can't seem to get zombies off my brain (pun totally intended). So I've made a decision: I'm going to take a little time off from SR:B and spend a little time with the undead. Think of it as my toast to the return of "The Walking Dead."
A while back, I started a blog from the perspective of a zombie named Alice. I like her, although I found I didn't have much time to put into that blog once I started writing novels/novellas/novelettes (not to mention school, working at the dance studio, and so on). The other problem was that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with Alice- I considered using her story as the basis for a play, and I started it, but never took the time to finish it. Maybe one day I'll go back to it.
But the whole point of this blog is to say two things:
1) I love zombies.
2) I miss writing my zombie novel.
I really can't decide which one I would rather complete first: the zombie novel or SR:B. The zombie novel (which is still untitled, but I'll worry about a title when I finish it) is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and I started it several months ago (breaking in between and taking care of other things first). But SR:B is something that people seem to be anticipating (and by "people" I mean the four family members and friends who've asked me about it).
I'm going to work on both at the same time, or at least try to. For the rest of the week, I'm going to work on the zombie novel. :)
read it, zombie lovers! you'll like it.
I love zombies. I do, it's just a thing. They've fascinated me as long as I can remember, and I have absolutely no idea why. Some people like ketchup, some like mustard. Some people like vampires, I like zombies.
Although it's been about a month since I wrote a word for it, I'm still hoping to get my zombie novel done soon. I wrote the outline for The Secret Room: Beginnings today, but now I just can't seem to get zombies off my brain (pun totally intended). So I've made a decision: I'm going to take a little time off from SR:B and spend a little time with the undead. Think of it as my toast to the return of "The Walking Dead."
"How about a kiss? No? Aw, I get no kisses since eating off my own lips."
A while back, I started a blog from the perspective of a zombie named Alice. I like her, although I found I didn't have much time to put into that blog once I started writing novels/novellas/novelettes (not to mention school, working at the dance studio, and so on). The other problem was that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with Alice- I considered using her story as the basis for a play, and I started it, but never took the time to finish it. Maybe one day I'll go back to it.
"I'm Alice. I died in 1989 and was reanimated in 2010."
But the whole point of this blog is to say two things:
1) I love zombies.
2) I miss writing my zombie novel.
I really can't decide which one I would rather complete first: the zombie novel or SR:B. The zombie novel (which is still untitled, but I'll worry about a title when I finish it) is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and I started it several months ago (breaking in between and taking care of other things first). But SR:B is something that people seem to be anticipating (and by "people" I mean the four family members and friends who've asked me about it).
I'm going to work on both at the same time, or at least try to. For the rest of the week, I'm going to work on the zombie novel. :)
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