With the expected launch of Fated only days away . . .

I release the cover of Fated to my reading public.

I got Fated back for editing today!

Now I can make those suggested changes and then get it published and into your hands.

I printed out another copy of Keeper last night

To start the rounds of test readers. I hope all my test readers are looking forward to it.

The battle rages on

The storyline for Protector is progressing in my mind but I am still resisting writing it. I decided to read last night in an effort to give my brain something else to think about. It worked! Janet Chapman's new book is so good that it had me up until nearly 1 am reading it . . . . and I didn't even want to put it down to go to bed then!

There may still be hope

That I can publish this month. I expect to get Fated from the editor on Monday, if I can work hard on the edit, I might be able to do it. Cross your fingers!

I'm just not sure

I had hoped that Fated would be released this month but I am getting less and less sure of this as the month passes. I still have some hope, but I also think that I need to be realistic since there are only a couple of weeks still left in the month and it is still with the editor. I will get it out at the earliest possible moment after the edits are done. Until then, I remain cautiously optimistic that it will be this month . . .but I caution all of you who have been asking when it would be released to please be patient a little while longer. I have a feeling that you will think it is worth the wait. For all of my test readers, you already know that it is worth the wait! Thanks, again, for your patience.

And since I have already been working on the edits for Guardian, I don't anticipate as lengthy of a wait for it to be released. I anticipate that it will be released around 6 months after Fated.  

New Era Series Family Tree

On the request of a couple of my test readers (and the recommendation of my husband) I have included a family tree in the front of Guardian and Keeper. This is a practice that I intend to keep up with the rest of the novels so that it will help my readers keep track since there are new characters added in each book. So far, they have been a big hit since it is usually months between reading each book, so I have been told that this helps to refresh the ol' memory. It also may help to avoid confusion between the more similar sounding names. I was told by one of the test readers for Keeper that she loved, loved, loved the family tree! I'm always happy when I can make my test readers happy.

I'm stuck and could use help

I need to come up with a name for an evil character in Protector. One of my test readers said that it had to be intimidating and end with a sharp sound because he is going to be kind of an important bad guy. I will keep trying but if any of you have any ideas . . . . I'm all ears.

You know what's going to happen

In the continuing battle between my talent's desire to write and my desire to take a break, don't you? I think I do. I have to admit that I'm weakening. It is tempting to just start writing it down. Plus, I'm sure that once Keeper gets to more of my test readers, they will be asking when they can expect Protector.

BUT, with the amount of storyline that I have been receiving, if I keep letting it build up, then I will have this one written in a month. So maybe this battle isn't such a bad thing. A story that is so written in my head that it takes less time to write down would be nice. Hmmmmm . . . . now that is tempting also.

I guess that, either way, I and my merry band of loyal test readers, are the victors in this battle so . . . . Battle On! LOL

Success!!

I finally managed to make it up to- and past- chapter 7 in editing Guardian!!!! Granted, I'm only on chapter 8, but, hey, it's an accomplishment. I'm a' grinnin'. =o] Now, I will feel like I am making progress when I sit down to make the edits from this point on since I have now recovered all that was lost in the crash (for those new to the blog see earlier post regarding crash).

For all of those who are new to the blog . . . welcome! Let me tell you a little about the New Era Series. It is a fantasy romance series that will have Fates & Fairies, Goblins & Gremlins . . . along with a host of other "legendary" and "mythological" creatures, and humans as well. Each book will stand on it's own, as a love story and an entertaining read, but each will also add upon the series. I know that if fantasy romance is your preferred reading, you will enjoy this fun and enjoyable series. Thanks for checking out my blog. I'll type at you later.

I am so not right!

My husband tells me this jokingly all the time (and that I am short which then makes me have to comment about the size of his nose (which isn't even bad). LOL) but I bring up my not rightness because as I am sorting laundry  I am having flashes of the next book's storyline playing in my head. Ok, even I have to admit it was a way cool part that I am definitely adding in when I do write Protector. But while sorting laundry for Pete's sake!???? LOL

I had hoped to give myself some time off of writing since I finished 3 full length novels (after the boys were in bed) in under a year. Looks like I might be starting the 4th one before that year is up too . . . at least if the completely developed storyline flashes in my head win. I know my test readers are probably anxious for Protector also- at least the ones that have already read Keeper.

I will keep you all posted on the ongoing battle between my talent for writing and my will to have some time off from it. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the talent and all . . . it just isn't one that, since unleashing, I have been able to figure out how to turn off, or even down.

Happy Saturday!

The day I usually spend catching up on household chores before the work week starts again and enjoy spending more time with my family. I think (if the weather holds) that I might go for a walk at some point today with my oldest son.

Tonight, after they go to bed I have GOT to get to continuing the edits on Guardian. The problem with editing is that it is about as exciting as watching paint dry so it is hard for me to remain motivated. LOL.But since I am still 2 chapters behind where I had been when the crash happened, I really need to get a move on.

What I did do, was to redesign the covers of Guardian & Keeper (books 2 &3)

I don't want to . . . but I might have to

I was sitting today at lunch at work just trying to eat peacefully. I couldn't, however, due to the characters writing their storyline in my head. Now that I have finished Keeper, the next book in line, Protector, is making its story known. All kinds of tie ins to both these first 3 books and the last 3 books in the series were coming at me fast and furious the last couple of days for some reason.

I think that my brain is trying to tell me that it is ready to supply the story. It just can't figure out why I'm not writing it down. I said I would wait for a while to write this one, but it seems that the book and characters may have different plans. LOL

A rare moment alone

No one's home. That never happens! And I am sharing this rare moment with all of you. Do you hear that? It's silence. . . with 2 boys in the house it is unusual, so I am going to treasure it. LOL

I debuted the cover for Fated (book 1) last night

I debuted it to the facebook friends of the page for my books. If you are interested in seeing it, send a friend request to Addy Mason. Hope to see you there.

I just finished creating the cover of book 7- Conquer

It will feature a cool shield that was created for me by Tiffany Mann. It will be an awesome addition to the rest of the covers. I have decided that I like the simplicity of the last 4 covers so much that I am going to redesign the first 3 in the same vein. I can't wait until the debut of my books. I'm still hoping for this month, but I can't guarantee that it will happen this month. But it is awesome to know that I now have all of the covers done- for the most part.

First test reader is done with Keeper

She said that it was awesome and she had some helpful tips for me (because I asked) about what could possibly be expanded. At least one of the ideas I have been working on in my head ever since talking to her, and possibly a second also. I think that the addition(s) will make the book better.

Also, I had a great idea today that will help tie in Protector (book 4), and the rest of this series with these first 3 books. It came to me all of a sudden today. As I told someone, sometimes I have to really think of what needs to come next and sometimes it is like mental diarrhea and I can't control it. LOL

Nearly there!

I have re-completed the edits that I lost in the computer crash to Guardian up to Chapter 6. I only have 2 more chapters to go before I am caught up. Only 14 more to go after that. . . but we won't think about that now. LOL

Good afternoon/evening fellow readers

I think that since I have finished Keeper, and am not currently at work on Protector, that it might be an ideal time to go and look for some books to read for pleasure. I think that I might look up the rest of the series that I began of Janet Chapman's at the local library. I just love libraries, don't you?

Back to editing book 2- Guardian

I am still trying to catch up from the work lost when the computer crashed. I have a loooong way to go! Sigh!

The first test reader has book 3

I am so excited to hear what my test readers think of this new addition to the series. So far, so good. She said that she was on chapter 5 (or thereabouts) and liked it. She had a couple of questions and pointed out something that even though I know it in my head, it needs to be clarified for my readers.

That is why I have test readers, to help me know that even though it is explained later, it really needs to be clarified there, to avoid confusion. My test readers give me invaluable help in this and other areas. I am so grateful to them. I always look forward to their opinions and pearls of wisdom when they are done with the books.

After some computer issues, I am back up and running again

My husband tried to warn me. But since I write after my boys go to bed until late, I am usually too tired to back up everything right away. We knew that the computer needed some work so we had most everything backed up. I just asked the we wait until I finished book 3- Keeper before doing any of the required maintenance.

I finished Keeper on Friday evening and printed it out. Seriously glad I did that! On Sunday morning, after 2 1/2 hours on Saturday night spent editing Keeper, the computer went to a screen that I had never seen before. My husband tried everything he knew (a lot!) and it would not allow us to retrieve that information. I lost the last 2 weeks changes to books 2 & 3. Thankfully, I had finished Keeper on Friday or I would have lost over half of it. But I learned a valuable lesson from this experience. . . .no matter how tired you are . . . back up your work! LOL