Monday, January 11, 2016

I actually finished Caledfwlch this weekend and it feels pretty good.

So I've been working on the sequel to my book Oculus for about three years now, and it pretty much stayed at the 95% done mark for about 9 months. However, I just got this bug to finish it off and cranked out 24,000 words last week and voila...now it's done. First drafts are hard, amirite? I still can't believe I actually finished it. It's like I did almost an entire month of nanowrimo in like a week's time. Once it gets published, I'll only have two books left to write in the series. That's still giving me a double-take because when I first started this thing, five books seemed like SO MUCH.

I started editing it on Sunday, and I've already got some notes on things I should think about changing from an enthusiastic beta-reader who excitedly emailed me about this project in late December. Yeah, that email was totally a muse. And my friend Patrick Dilloway said he'd take a stab at editing it before I send it off to Double Dragon Publishing in the near future (I haven't sent Pat the manuscript yet because I don't want it to be a total mess with spelling errors and punctuation all over the place). I think I would like another beta reader though. I know most of my blog readers are not familiar with the story (and that's totally fine because we are blog buddies and not novel buddies and what I write is understandably "the cup of choice" for a very small minority of readers), but there might be one out there that's read the first two and legitimately liked them (and weren't just saying nice things because...well...you don't stab blog buddies in the back).

So, if you are one of those people who legitimately wants to immerse yourself back into the series with the next installment and see what craziness I managed to dream up in three years, please either leave me a comment or a message, and I'll send you a copy of my first draft in pdf format. Obviously, I'd like comment back on what's working, what isn't working, etc.

Please don't feel obligated to read my book because I've been supportive to you in the past. As this is the third novel, I really only want people who like the story to give me advice on what I should or should not change (if that makes sense).

And if you want to just leave a comment so you can move to your next blog, tell me about what you did this weekend. Did you do any writing or finish any projects?

19 comments:

  1. It was about time you finished it. Now if only GRR Martin could get so inspired.

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  2. Woohoo, congrats! When's the partey!

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    1. PS didn't finish any projects this week, but am in the middle of translating Pierce Brown's MORNING STAR

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    2. I haven't heard of Morning Star. Hopefully it's a great read. As for the party, I just went to coffee and had a celebratory chocolate chunk cookie at Starbucks LOL. If you'd been here Dezzy, maybe we could have gone to coffee together :)

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  3. Congratulations! Wow, two more? Quite the epic tale.

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    1. "Epic" or "Verbose" LOL. I guess it depends on which way you choose to look at it. My stories always seem to blow out of control. At least I'm not afraid to kill my darlings.

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  4. That's great. In order to write that fast, you must've known what you were going to write for a long time. Congrats!

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    1. I had it all plotted out. I just didn't know if the plot was something that I liked or not. It had to percolate in my head.

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  5. Congratulations! That's such exciting news!

    And if I had read the second book, I would offer to read for you because I really do want to know what craziness you managed to dream up in three years. I own the second book—just haven't read it yet. Sorry...I feel like I've failed you.

    But seriously, congratulations! That's a huge achievement.

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  6. I haven't gotten around to reading the second book yet, but I have read the first. Otherwise, I'd be all over beta reading for you.

    Congrats on finishing.

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    1. That's okay. I appreciate all the support you give my blog. You are awesome.

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  7. Yay on kicking out that ending. Always a good feeling to have that first draft done. :)

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  8. I started a MerryWeather retelling because I never have enough things to write. Apparently. Congrats on your finished draft and all the best with editing.

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  9. So glad that you finished one more volume.

    I got your first book, but could not finish it as my mind does not retain big volumes. It is a problem that a lot of old people have and I am improving.

    I got the first one and my daughter read it and she says that there is definitely a good story in there and a lot of imagination and science related matter ( which I could not grasp). She is looking forward to getting the second one as well.

    When our grandson is older may be he can read the sequel. He is only ten now.

    I like to save books and pass them down and our local library also takes fiction books. I rather buy books than too many clothes or jewelry.
    You are providing reading material and it is a good thing. God bless you.

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    1. Ten is a bit too young for my story. I think seventeen or eighteen would be a good age to read it. I write for adults.

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  10. It rained like hell on Sunday and I went to my brother's to play Minecraft which was pretty fun. Congrats on finishing!

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  11. I am so ashamed that I still haven't read your second book even though I really enjoyed Slipstream. And like M.J. above I have Oculus, so within the next few months I promise to read it. If not for that, I'd happily be a beta for you on your third.

    How very impressive of you to finish a manuscript in one tough, determined week. If only I were that good and fast! Anyway, if you still need a beta reader (or just a proof reader) once I finish Oculus, I'll be more than happy to say yes.

    Congratulations!

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