Poisoned Apples and the End of Nanowrimo

I finished Nano!!!

You'll be pleased to know that there will be no more angsty posts about it from me.

I finished yesterday, stuff was piling up for me. I decided to get it out of the way. I didn't feel the big rush of relief that I thought I would. Mostly because Fool's Bet is 55,000 words in and only at what I thought chapter five would be. I reached 50,000 words, but I do not have a complete or coherent story. It's stuff I can use, so I guess that's nice. It got me writing again, and I proved to myself that I can do it. It's an accomplishment and that's what I'm going to try to focus on.

Though most of it was me eating, crying, and listening to same four songs on repeat. It was messy, not gonna lie.

 I also kinda did my own Inktober thing. I started drawing Count Olaf as a bit of a joke, I ended up keeping up with it till the 19th. I would've done more, but I started working on a Falling Snow painting for my giveaway which sadly still isn't done, but it's getting there.

Something surprising came out of my little sketches, the verified ASOUE Instagram account shared my art. A Series of Unfortunate Events is one of my favorite shows on Netflix right now, so I might have freaked out a bit. Thanks to them, I got a lot of traffic on my Instagram account. I reached 500 followers which was pretty cool too!

Suffice it to say I had an amazing week. I got my first review for Falling Snow!!! Thanks to the amazing Christine you can find her review here. It's the kind of review you dream of getting, and I got really emotional over it. Still am actually!

Tracey also shared about it on her story! I'm so thankful for her support, we've been beta reading each other's stories since 'The Five Enchanted Roses' contest. She's awesome!

Our Five Poisoned Apples launch party is coming up! You can find it here

You'll get a chance to win a paperback copy! You can ask us questions about our stories and help celebrate our release. All of the authors are hosting are own giveaways and I have to say the prizes are awesome.  I'm still working on mine, but I'll show you what I have.

The spray could only go to a fellow Canadian, because of shipping. So depending on who wins, is which prize I will send.

The other part of my giveaway is a painting. It's still a work in progress at this point, but it should be done for the first.

Lastly, Five Poisoned Apples is available for preorder!!!!

The other authors and I have been getting excited for this! They are an amazing and talented bunch. I've gotten to know each of them over this process, and they are some of the nicest people. I'm so proud of all of them! I have read each of their stories and think you guys will love each of their takes on this tale.

RAVEN'S HEIR—Jenelle Hovde

Taking her in could risk the lives of his rebel band—but how can Damien leave the young woman at the huntsman’s mercy?

Jenelle's blog

Her story is so descriptive, beautiful, and captivating!

THE FAIREST ONE—Cortney Manning

Her people look for the prophesied Fairest One—but can Livna find courage to step out of the shadows and save her nation?

Cortney's blog

This was such a unique take on the story, I loved the settings and magic!


RED AS BLOOD—Maddie Morrow

He’s been hired to assassinate the princess, no questions asked—but how can Zaig take the life of one so young, so innocent?

Maddie's blog


Maddie's is my favorite of the collection. It's deliciously Gothic, and Zaig has my heart!


SNOWBIRD AND THE RED SLIPPERS—Rachael Wallen

She longs to be worthy of the scholarship that changed her life—but can Jeong Hayan survive the bitter rivalry of a prestigious New York dance school?

Rachael's blog

She tells a beautiful and haunting story, I was entranced!



That is all. Sorry for such a long post, I had a lot to share.

Post Contest Happenings

I've been meaning to write about this for awhile. To be honest, it's a bit hard. My emotions are still scrambled about everything. I'm still trying to make sense of it. I'm so dramatic, my goodness.

I'm also up to my eyeballs in edits, so bear with me. To be honest, most of me editing is watching youtube, tv, and eating. Maddie sent me this the other day, and it's so perfect.

 First off, I'm really happy that I didn't win this contest the two previous times I entered, because I wasn't ready. Emotionally or mentally, and obviously my writing wasn't quite there yet either. I also have been able, to take a step back from my writing and look at it more objectively. I don't take critiques personally which was not the case a year ago. 

So this all happened at the perfect time. There is a post in here about God's timing that I should probably write. Another time, even though I am better than I've been with my writing. I still wasn't prepared for all that winning meant.

Anne was right when she said the journey was just beginning for us.
The first thing you receive after winning besides the confidence boost, praise, and a fabulous cover is a timeline.

Which was all amazing by the way and made me cry for practically a week. I'm lying, I'm still crying.

After the weekend we got our timeline. That wasn't too overwhelming, Anne included a really nice note and some encouragement. It was basically an overview of everything that was going to happen and when, up to the release. Along with a small list of things we could work on like author bio, dedication, and author picture.

These things weren't as easy to write as I thought. The author bio was the worst and I took awhile on it. Talking about yourself in third person is weird. I went back and forth on the dedication. I'm happy that everything is done in that regard.

We got a full month after that to basically relax and savor the win, before we were sent the edits. I'm  part of a group chat with the other winners. We all kind of freaked out when we got the edits. They are all super nice, its great to have a place to go to talk out about edits and stuff.

I had just seen Infinity War the night before, so my mental state was a mess I'll admit.

I was a bit freaked, when I first went through the edits, not because I was upset by them. I actually agree with most of them, but just at the sheer amount of work I have ahead of me. They send you a line edit, which wasn't bad and actually made me laugh a few times at how inconsistent my writing can be and some honestly funny comments made by the editors.
That's what I get for writing a majority of this story at night, covered in chip crumbs and lying on the floor. Just hold on to that mental image, because it still applies.

 I have eight big revisions that I need to work through. I'm not sure how many the other winners got, but I like to image that mine was the most extensive, mostly because I am a drama queen.

So far I've gotten through three of them. Well thanks to Anne, of course! She is one of the sweetest people by the way. You can tell that she really cares about our stories and us. She is always there with a boost of encouragement, brainstorming help, and puts me at ease about everything. All the while writing 5,000 words a day in her own book and I presume having a full day on top of that. She is fantastic and I'm in awe of her.

It's funny because none of the things I thought were going to be problematic were. I still have plenty to worry about though. I need to develop Snow more as a character, apparently I write better guy characters,who knew? The romance between Chayse and Snow needs work too, I guess me trying to come of as subtle turned out more like indifference. Which makes a lot of sense.

I have to tighten up my ending and possibly take out one of Chayse's abilities. All of this is way harder then it sounds.

I have gotten through one chapter and a good deal of the second one, so far. I have all the little edits done and just the bigger stuff that is tied to the revisions left. I also just started utilizing the 5,000 words. It's exciting! 

I am worried that I will procrastinate and not finish in time. Alas, I shall do it!

Funny things my parents have said to me in regards to all this.

"You can't be depressed, you won a contest!" -My Mom, rather incredulously. I might add.

I was moaning that I needed help.
"Mentally or Emotionally."- My Dad with the most deadpanned expression.


"I love it! Not just saying that because I'm biased, while maybe a little."- My Dad, about my writing.

I was gushing, because someone had said something nice about my story. "Well you're talented dummy."- My Mom, tough love is the only love my family understands.

I was freaking out that my romance failed. 
"You, of all people, have no business writing a romance. You hate love."- My Mom, she's right by the way.


Anyway hope you guys enjoyed that peek into the process. I almost didn't get a post out today. Been trying to write this for a week. I just can't seem to do anything.

Snow White Party

Something amazing happened this weekend, something I had given up on.

 I won 'The Five Poison Apples' contest!

 I am having the hardest time writing this post! I don't really know how to explain all the things I am feeling. I'm overwhelmed, I've been flooded with comments and congratulations! It all feels like a beautiful dream, that I'm going to wake up from. I'm hesitant to accept that my story made it! My friend Maddie's did too! I am so proud of her!

I have been trying to sort through all of my emotions. I wanted to write something to help the people who didn't make it. Because I've been there, believe me I've been there. Not just losing, but the rejection, the questioning. The constant thoughts that I'm not good enough and I should stop trying.  I've been writing for twelve years and it hasn't been an easy road.

Keep going, don't let anything stop you! Take everything in stride, critiques, rejection, and mistakes those things will shape you and help you grow. They will only make you stronger, don't let them break you. Put on the 'The Greatest Showman' Soundtrack and go conquer the world!

I promised to share my party pictures, so enjoy!

 I kept telling my parents that this was a pity party, because I figured we wouldn't win, so this was supposed to soften the blow. I had lost the previous contests and this was Elizabeth's first contest. I was hoping for an honorable mention.

Me crying when I found out I won... I'm not usually that emotional. Elizabeth gave me some beautiful fan art, her and her sister Isabelle did. I adore it!

I'm so happy Elizabeth was there, it made everything that much more exciting and fun.  She didn't win, but she was super happy for me, I don't know if I would had been able to do that if I was in her place.
 I'm so proud of her for entering and pouring her all into her story. It's fantastic. 

We laughed, cried, and talked for hours

It was a magical night! Thank you to all my amazing readers and friends! You guys believed in my story and kept me going. It means the world to me!

Beautiful Books 2017

I was going to skip this one, because I'm not doing Nano. It gives me an excuse to talk about my Snow White retelling, so I thought why not.

 Beautiful books is one of my favorite link ups created by the ever fabulous duo Cait and Sky

On to the lovely questions.

1. What inspired the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?

I created this for the Roogle Wood Press contest, so it was inspired by Snow White, and I have had the idea when the contest was announced, so sometime in June.

2. Describe what your novel is about!

It's about Snow, who is a circus clown in a fae ran circus. She wants to become a trapeze in order to eventually leave. She finds herself wanted by an evil queen and caught up in a deadly game with two enigmatic fae Princes.

3.What is your book’s aesthetic? Use words or photos or whatever you like!

Dark, grungy, with a wee bit of fantasy. I have a pinterest board for it  Falling Snow

4. Introduce us to each of your characters!

Snow- Tenacious and tough, was raised by a bunch of circus midgets and has never been handed anything in life.

The Queen/Madame

Beautiful and powerful, owns the circus and her workers. A fae queen, one should never trifle with. Doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

  Chayse/Huntsman- The Queen's son, lion tamer, and fire dancer. Also some sort of were-cat, an enigma at it's finest.

Cynfael/ Prince Charming- A northern fae Prince with questionable motives and morals.

 Midgets/ dwarves

Moe, Lenny, Ted, Sean, Ben, also two unnamed ones who may or may not be included. A bunch of chain smoking, cursing circus clowns.

5. How do you prepare to write? (Outline, research, stocking up on chocolate, howling, etc.?)

Wallow in self doubt and pity for a couple hours, then type until I have to stop for a snack break which is every five minutes.

6.What are you most looking forward to about this novel?

The contest feedback and my readers feedback, as for writing it probably the end.

7. List 3 things about your novel’s setting.

Bleak

Bloody

Hostile

8. What’s your character’s goal and who (or what) stands in the way?


 Snow's goal is just to find a better life, that changes towards the middle to just staying alive.

 9. How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?

Her whole life is turned upside down, and she sees the world in a different light.

10. What are your book’s themes? How do you want readers to feel when the story is over?

wistful and hopeful. The only theme is probably overcoming fear, and fighting back.


Well hope somebody enjoyed this.