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About Toi Other

Happy 2nd Blog Anniversary! – An Interview, Part 3

anniversayGreetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors. It’s my anniversary and I thought I’d interview myself and share it with you. I’ve come a long way as a writer, blogger, reviewer, and interviewer and I’d thought it would be nice to share some of the things I’ve learned and tell you a little about myself, in case you don’t already know. Today’s the day; it’s official!

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So what do I have to share today?

c2a7b-nocoverWhile I’m constantly trying to promote my shorts (40 Days and Nights of Eternal Curse, The Legend of the Boy, and Unexplained), my first novel Eternal Curse, and my blog, I realize that I can’t stop there. I’m currently working to release my second novel, a contemporary romance completely independent of my Eternal Curse Series, entitled It’s Like the Full Moon. I’m also working on the sequel to Eternal Curse and another fantasy novel independent of that series. I’m really hoping to have something else released by the end of 2014 or at least at the beginning of 2015.

So here’s who’s starring is my 2 dimensional script read of
It’s Like the Full Moon:

nofemaleThere are four main characters and a whole bunch of other characters that are worth mentioning, but I will stick to the main four.

The protagonist of this book is Rebecca. Rebecca has just turned thirty and is living a comfortably boring life, and will probably marry her longtime boyfriend Virgil, if he ever asks her. Luckily for her, Rebecca has friends and family who aren’t so content with the current state of her life.

Teddy is Rebecca’s handsome and fun-loving younger brother. He’s recently passed the Bar and will be graduating with a degree in business and law. Teddy has many interests outside of law and the great outdoors is just one of them.

Lisa is Rebecca’s almost perfect opposite and also her best friend in the whole world. She’s a successful business woman who travels the world, but never forgets about the people she leaves behind.nomale

And then there’s Paul. He’s new to this trio of friend/siblings, but he’ll fit right in. A recent graduate with a degree in journalism and working as a freelance writer, Paul has his whole life ahead of him, but these three people are about to shake up his future.

What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

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This story is simple and sweet, but also complicated…Wait, does that even make sense?

I’ve tried to pretend that I don’t care much for drama, but what I realize now is that I like certain kinds of drama. This story, It’s Like the Full Moon, will be my debut into the world of what I call “sweet drama”.  This story isn’t going to pull in those readers who crave infidelity, substance abuse, black market deals, and divas behaving badly, but it does have something for a different crowd.

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This is a relationship book that tells a story instead of trying to teach a lesson. There’s a character whose been let down by a negligent father. There’s a character who’s lost his/her mother at very young age. There are characters who constantly make bad romantic decisions because looks are so hard to ignore, and there’s a love triangle, but it’s not what you’d image.

I admit and proclaim from the mountain tops that this story has been inspired by the films “Moon Struck”, “How to Make an American Quilt” and “A room with a View”, but this is something else altogether different at the end of the day.

Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to my writing?

I overthink things all the time. In some cases that really helps my writing process, but if I didn’t work on organization and time management, I’d never get anything done.

I’m an outliner. When I get an idea I write it down. I don’t believe in writer’s block. When I get stumped on one idea, I open up my vault of ideas and work on something else. I always eventually come back to the other thing I was stumped on.

Back to outlining; nothing that I write is spontaneous. The ideas may come to me like lightning, but the stories are developed from beginning to end through the development of outlines, timeline, and charts. I’m flexible on changes as the story develops, but I always know ahead of time, what I want the outcome to be. In the few rare instances where I don’t know the ending, I at least know every detail leading up to that point when a decision finally has to be made.

The development and writing process is a thrill, it’s everything that comes after that that becomes a chore, but I won’t bore you with all that right now.

What author(s) has most influenced my writing? Why or how?

I am influence by everything around me: blogs, movies, music, art, life. Every book I’ve ever read has left some kind of impact on my way, methods, and motives for writing. J.M. Barrie inspired me to want to create worlds and adventures when he made me fall in love with Peter Pan and Neverland, but he’s not my only inspiration. Unfortunately there are just too many to mention them all. I do however find that reading from modern, up-and-coming authors, as well as, those who are already established, is a good way to keep your skills sharp. That’s not to say that there isn’t still loads to learn from authors who’ve made their marks and have now passed on.

While everything I read is a potential learning experience, I find that when I let go and read for pleasure, I am more motivated to create and determined to be professional and accurate. Right now I’m enjoying the works of Stacey Rourke, Alex J, Cavanagh, Neil Gaiman, and George Mann.

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Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today…unless you have a question you’d like to ask me. 😉

Thank you for sticking with me these past two years. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for part four of this interview and hopefully enjoy some more of my insights.

This has been a

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Full Moon Sample Sundays

Sample Sunday 46

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Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

It’s Like the Full Moon chapter 4.2 (wip)

She rushed through the door and accidentally slammed it behind her. “I’m up, I’m up, sorry won’t sleep in late again,” said Lisa pulling the covers from her body and trying to stand up.

“Oh Lisa, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that,” said Rebecca sweetly. “It must have been an awful draft,”

“You sure about that,” asked Lisa still a bit shaken up. “Cause I’m up if you want me to be up.”

“Really, I am sorry Lisa, but it’s good that you’re up.”

“Why’s that good,” asked Lisa, yawning into one hand and scratching her head with the other.

“It’s good because it’s going to take you at least an hour to get yourself dressed and ready for the tour and by then it will be lunch time.”

“Oh yeah, I mean yay hooray…the tour; guess I’d better get ready.”

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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WIP Updates

WIP Update 16 – Writer’s Creed 5

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Hello everyone. I’m kinda in a good mood. My life, behind the scenes, is absolutely crazy and there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do about it right now, so I’ve decided to dive into my writing to comfort me. Thank goodness for comfort.

I have finally finished the first draft of It’s Like the Full Moon. This is a new story I’ve been working on for a while and have even gone back to rewrite to get the ideas just right. This is something completely separate from my Eternal Curse Series and probably doesn’t even look like something I’ve written. I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve finally completed this first draft. I will start conducting my first one or two edits and will then seek beta readers.

If you are interested in reading a contemporary romance, registering on the “sweet” scale, then you may want to check this one out. I’d love your feedback, so stay tuned to see when I put out the all call.

With one project down, I’m feeling motivated to revisit some others. I would like to release my second Eternal Curse companion guide before the second book, so I need to get on the asap. However there are two other projects that I’m really excited about.

Ideas have been running wild from my Solomon Sword story, so I think it’s time to put some more pages down for that one and…I have another story I’m working on, but I can’t say much about it yet. I need to make some leeway with it and do some research before I can even contemplate letting this cat out of the bag.

With blessings from above, hopefully I’ll have at least one other publication out by the end of 2014, but it’s still too early to say.

As for my Writer’s Creed…I’m feeling pretty good about myself.

I’ve been writing daily.

I’ve been editing and revising a lot lately.

I’ve been doing my best to help show support and support others.

I’ve featured a few authors on my blog with interviews and spotlights.

And I’ve even found some time to read, which I think ultimately helps me to get my creative juices flowing.

 

-Do you have a WIP update to share? Do you want to take on the Writer’s Creed 2014?

-Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates-Writer’s Creed, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords