As an author I’m constantly on the road to publication, but sometimes I lose my way. Fortunately for me, I keep these WIP Updates to help me get back on track and find my way. For most of the summer I was transitioning my site and blog to self-hosting and working on some other new projects. All that left little time for personal reading and writing. As much as I love to read, as a writer who wants to be a published author, it’s imperative that I write.
With that being said, I did manage to find some beta readers for two of my stories I’m working to release. I was going to try to release It’s Like the Full Moon around Christmas, but I think I might wait until February, but if the situation presents itself, it won’t put it off longer than necessary. I’m already working on a marketing plan for it. I have high hope for this story because I feel it has a more general appeal than my Eternal Curse story and really hope that people will give it a chance.
I’m working on a companion guide for my second Eternal Curse book. I’d like to have it out as a free ebook for a while before I release the second book, but I’m not in hurry on this. I have time to get that story just right before trying to release it.
One of my short stories will be released soon in an anthology so that should provide me with enough of a sense of accomplishment to keep me going. In the meantime, I’m slowly but surely making progress on my Solomon’s Swords story, and I can already see that a new working title will have to be considered.
-Do you have a WIP Update to share? I’d love to see it.
-Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search ToiBox Topics, WIP Updates, to get all caught up. Also check my Works In Progress 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
Greetings 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?
While 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:
There 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.
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?
Wikipedia
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.
Wikipedia
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
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
The Eternal Curse Series Blog Presents an interview with author: McCollonough Ceili.
So tell me, who is McCollonough Ceili?
I am an Irish/American who discovered a love for writing when asked by my American mother to pen my autobiography Noria, Since then I have not been able to stop writing, which has resulted in the publication of several books for all ages.
Wow, you’ve written an autobiography as well write fiction books for all ages; I’m very impressed. I can’t imagine trying to write about myself, I’m just not that interesting.
So whacha got for me today?
I have a book that started out as a dream, from there it went to a self guided tour of the history of Ocean lifeguarding, nnd finally ended with the book, “What Happened in Hallandale”. Some of the things you read in said book really happened, others did not. The main reason I wrote this book was so that I would stop dreaming about these character.
Below is what my editor had to say about the book. Which can also be found on the back of the book.
“Dive into a dreamlike world of love, courage, magic, and death. Twelve-year-old Piper can travel to the world of angels and, she learns, through time. Rushing back to the past to correct a terrible tragedy, she learns that there are things you can change – and things you cannot. This tale of love that transcends death, courage that transcends time, and the power of compassion will break your heart and heal it, and then leave you still longing for more.” – Summer Foovay, Editor
Small world, I think. I wrote my book for the same reason. I needed to stop dreaming about those characters. Dreams are powerful things…I love the description your editor offers. It pulls you right in.
So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of “What Happened in Hallandale”?
Piper, a magical child from the modern world is telling the story of what happened when she ventured to 1940s Hallandale Beach Florida. Ms. Piper went to Hallandale to try and stop a terrible mistake, though in order to do this she must break into an ancient Irish tomb and steal a spell.
Oh, so this is a time travel book. I really like time travel stories. I like seeing how people from different times react to the changes.
Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?
I write whenever and wherever I feel inspired, which basically means that I carry a pad and pen with me always. I also have recording program on my cell phone so I can speak aloud thoughts that come to me during a time when I should not be writing; example: when driving the car. I get most of my ideas from dreams that I have had and the world around me. I spend a lot of the week jotting down ideas, then come the weekend I put them together into a chapter or two.
I am currently working on the sequel to “What Happened in Hallandale”, titled “Awakening the Truth”
That phone app sounds clever; I need to look into that. Glad to hear you’re extending your story into a series; series are fun.
What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?
I am inspired by a lot of different writers, though when it came to writing “What Happened in Hallandale” I was inspired by the “Real Laurie” Real Laurie is the women for whom the character Lorraine was based on. She was a woman who had to change her name from Lori to Laurie jus so she could get into medical school. She lived in a time when women were not supposed to become doctors. I was also inspired by actress Nancy Valen whom I feel looks a lot like Laurie.
Valen played on the American show Baywatch. Every Time I would see Ms. Valen as Captain Thomas a memory of stories told to me about the real Laurie would come to the surface of my soul. It got so intense that I would find myself watching the show with the sound off and writing most of what became “What Happened in Hallandale” In fact she even inspired the title of the book, the “real” part of my story happened in another place in Hallandale. I discovered that name when I was reading about Ms. Valen.
I hope you won’t take this as an insult since she’s not Irish, but I get a Joan of Arc feeling from this Real Laurie character. I’m liking this story more and more; you just keep adding layers to it.
Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?
Okay this is a tough question. I guess I would have to say Mr. Dick Van Patten, I believe that we younger ones can learn so much from those of his generation, plus I love the light in his eyes, there be a wise soul beneath them.
Good man and a good show, Eight is Enough.
Who is so you and why?
No one that I know of, oh wait my American mom thinks I look like the woman who plays on Bones. Temperance Brennan. I but I honestly don’t see it.
You may not look like the actress who plays Temperance, but maybe you just have Bones vibe about you…but I can kinda see a resemblance.
What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?
GoodReads.com
I am at my wee desk in the kitchen of my home, I can hear the washing machine, I just finished eating an orange. The book that is currently on my nightstand is “Dear America Hear my Sorrow” the diary of Angela Denoto, New York City, 1909. It is hardback and I am excited to read it, because it is one of the few books from the Dear America series that I have yet to read. My ideal spot is my bed!
That sounds lovely. It has everything that reading should be: comfort, excitement, anticipation, and your referred reading medium.
What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?
The Dear America series was my favorite book series back then along with all of the books written by Betty Ren Wright. I love those type of stories so much but have yet to write one like them me self.
Wow, you read Dear America as a kid and are still reading it now. That’s dedication and it very pure, honest, and nice….
There is more fun and insights to this interview, visit the Eternal Curse Series Blog for the full experience. For more information about this author, McCollonough Ceili, please visit the links below.
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