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.

Know the Novel Part 2- Linkup

This is a link-up created by the magnificent and ethereal Christine  

Go follow her!

I didn't really have a post planned for today so this worked out splendidly.

1.How’s the writing going?

*Blinking wildly and laughing* Ummmm. Not good! I don't think I will ever do Nano again, simply because everything I'm writing is horrible. I'm not being modest or anything it's bad. I also feel like I'm dying, so there's that. That sounds really negative, I have had a few really good days. Writing everday has actually been a great habit, and it does get easier the more you do it.

The quality of the writing itself has been consistent though.

2. What’s been the most fun aspect about writing this novel so far?

Oh, these are hard. Probably the sarcastic inner monologue I have with myself as I'm writing. Like...

Oh so your going with that cliche how original.

How many times are you going to use the term 'seems to be' to add to your word count?

You don't even know your own characters names! This bodes well for your plot.

That has never been used as motivation for betrayal before.

Bloody Freaking Frick Frack Fantastic!

3. Has your novel surprised you in any way?

It's incredibly cliche, which was a surprise. Despite my best intentions, I can't seem to fix it.

4. What do you think of your characters at this point? Who’s your favorite to write about?

I'm a bit annoyed and delighted by all of them. They all have different personalities so that's been fun. Cynfael, he is my favorite. He is always plotting and vying for Snow's attention which has been fun to write. He's horrid, but we get along. 

5. If you were transported into your novel and became any one of the characters, which one do you think you’d be? Would you take any different actions than they have?

I guess I would be Snow, because she's the only human. I would probably never have gone to Rookshire. The Fae are not to be trifled with.

6. Give us the first sentence or paragraph and then 2 (or 3!) more favorite snippets!

-Smoke filled the air, and my lungs. A slow poison I chose to indulge, among a few other vices.

I didn't want to even look but I actually found some.

-I snatched the pearls back, fracturing her pleased face into one of surprise and shock.

"Cynfael." Her tone held a warning, like the edge of a sharpened knife.

I tilted my head, rubbing the pearls like a rosary, "Mother." My voice matched hers in severity. I was putting all of her admonishments and lessons to good use. I took in her perturbed expression with pleasure. I had never been able to catch her off guard.

- Despite what she thought, I wasn't worth saving and I never had been.

- I poured her a glass of whiskey, the last thing I needed was another distraught woman on my hands.

- I kissed her cheek. Her tears were salty and cold, I took my cigarette back from her. I knew all her uses and they had run their course, but I wasn't going to tell her that. In this state she might throw herself out the window, and that would be more then I could deal with.

7. Have you come across any problem areas?

Pretty much the whole thing!

8. What’s been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?

When I reached 25K that was the moment I realized I could do it.

9. Be honest, have you killed any characters off yet?

One, kinda she is a side character. There is still time...

10. Take us on a tour of a what a normal writing day for this particular novel has looked like. Where do you write? What time of day? Alone or with others? Is a lot of coffee (or some other drink) consumed? Do you light candles? Play music? Get distracted by social media (*cough, cough*)? Tell all!

I usually don't start writing till noon. I let myself be a bit lazy in the morning and try to prepare for all the writing. I usually down a large coffee. I don't have a desk so my bed or the floor has been my places lately, or sometimes in the car in a notebook or in my phone notes. I can write with others around as long as I have headphones. I write better alone. Oh gallons of coffee or tea or soda! I haven't lit candles yet, but that sounds nice. Music is a must, I usually listen to like 4 songs on repeat. Pinterest is distracting but also useful.

Sorry if this all came across as cynical or self deprecating... I am small and angry.