I'm not dead I swear.

I know absentee blogger here. Good news is Ashes first draft will be done this week then it is off to readers and CP.

In other cool news I get to be part of Jeremy Hawkins from [Being Retro] for his books of art and design. I got to see them and think they are awesome. That post will be October 14th and I will be letting Jeremy have the blog for that day. So check back in for that.

In other, other news, the give away I mentioned a bit back is still happening hope to get you the details soon along with the new cover reveal. Until then I will be finishing up Ashes and preparing for its release. 


Anyway that is what is going on in my neck of the woods. As always have fun and keep writing.

Bruce Writer.

So writing is going well and by going well I mean I feel like that is all I have done for the past few weeks. I write in the morning, when I get free time and all through the night. I feel like I see a computer screen more than real people—probably because I do. Why do I put myself through this? Because I love it, I couldn't live without it, it is so a part of me that if someone tried to take it away I would not function so well.

So since we have established that I am addicted, I have been thinking about the intricacies of writing lately. Writing is not hard. I can sit here and write for hours with only my butt causing me to stop...maybe sore fingertips....but it is not hard. Good writing is hard. Great writing is even more elusive. Still, what makes quality writing hard? 

One of the things is perspective of character. If you are writing about someone you have to put yourself in that person's shoes, think like they would think, even if they are nothing like you. For me character drives my writing more than anything else. So obviously making all of the characters like me would get boring for me and the reader very quickly.

So yeah...that is hard. How do we become so many different types of people? Research, sure, our surroundings, of course, but maybe most important, having a flexible mind. So now I can get to why Bruce Lee is once again all over my post. There is a series of famous lines Bruce once said in an interview. He was speaking of Martial Arts at the time, but being the amazing philosopher he was it is easily applied to other parts of our lives. Not the least of which is how we go about writing.

He said: "Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend." 

With this way of thinking there is no you anymore when you write, only this character. You can write someone who is the complete opposite of you, who does things you would never dream of doing, because you are not judging. You are forming yourself to them. This results in real feeling characters who come alive on the page.

If you would like to hear the quote or see how awesome of a person Mr. Lee actually was watch this video below. Some say he was all hype...I beg to differ. 

Cover Reveal!!

Title: Kinetic

Genre: NA Urban Fantasy

Release Date: September 2013

Cover Design: Mae I Design & Photography

I am so happy to finally get to help reveal the cover for Kinetic. S.K. Anthony has been hard at work getting this amazing book ready for everyone to read. I personally can't wait for people to read it and it isn't even my book. Here is the synopsis. 

Synopsis:

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

 Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding. 

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

Meet the Author: 

S. K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn't busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!

Here are some links to help support and find the book.

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Thank You.

It is funny, I remember joining DL Hammon's Blog Blitz a few months ago and really thinking it was a great idea. Little did I know that in a time where I felt a decent amount of sadness and slightly overwhelmed that I would find myself Blitzed.

I really appreciate everyone who came and everyone who stayed. Not only did I get blitzed but nearly every single comment was personal and not some generic thing posted on a strangers blog. It was very uplifting and much appreciated. 

I usually like to reply to each comment comment given on my blog. Even if no one comes back to read it, I feel better taking the time to do so. Well I received quite a bit of comments on my IWSG and some on other post. Replying to all with my schedule would be hard, not that I still wasn't tempted, but I would at least like to post this saying thank you to all who stopped by. It actually was very touching and helped me a great deal. I smiled as I read each comment and I can't wait to come check out your blogs.

Also I saw an awesome trailer today at Being Retro for Alex J Cavanaugh's new book CassaStorm. Click on the link and go check it out, it's awesome. 


Anyway, I am going to get back to the family and hope you are all well. As always, have fun and keep writing.

IWSG

Come join us.

This is an opportunity—a safe haven— for writers everywhere to let their insecurities out and receive and/or offer support and guidance in return. Please click on the above link for a complete list of participants.

I am actually not feeling super insecure at the moment. I had someone read through what I have written on Ashes so far and was pleasantly surprised with their reaction to it. This has spurred me on to more writing and a bout of confidence much needed at this point.

While insecurity isn't an issue at the moment. Being overwhelmed is trying hard to take its place. In the situation I'm in I could push back a deadline if I wanted to. I also would never want to rush getting something out if it wasn't ready. Still my word is something that means a lot to me and I have said this book will be out by August and I aim to have it out and ready.

Sometimes life doesn't think your burden is weighty enough and that it can add a bit more pressure to your pile. I got news yesterday that my great Grandmother passed away. I have a lot of memories of her from my childhood and she was a big influence in my life. I am sad. I think as a writer we live off of our memories sometimes more than some people. So as I mourn the loss and celebrate the life, I feel my writing take on the emotion. 

Life doesn't stop for us to catch up, we have to rush forward and jump on the train or risk missing it. I do this by having the support of a great family and amazing friends. So this week I will not feel insecure or overwhelmed, instead I will rise to the challenge and make the most of the time I have here.

My Kids.

(Last Halloween)

I usually write about...well, writing. It is a big topic for me and when I sit down to do a blog I tend to focus on that subject. With Summer here once again the time I get to spend with my kids increases, bed times are later and they are home throughout the day. So I figured today I'd talk a little bit about the two awesome little people I share my life with.

Anastasia my oldest. She is me reborn as a girl.  Although lately she has reached the age that she is liking the more girly things in life. Still this is my movie buddy (since her brother can't stand anything scary) and she is a little cheerleader for my writing. I am always amazed by how focused she is, since she was five(I kid you not) she has wanted to be a chef. She will find recipes and get us to let her make them. Now I won't be shocked if she hits 18 and wants to become a marine biologist or a rodeo clown, but for now I get to reap the delicious rewards of her wanting to be a chef(did I mention she likes making cupcakes?).

Gabriel is quite different from me. He is more like his mother, which isn't a bad thing. Still if he got one thing from me it was his imagination. We have been reading The Rithmatist (Brandon Sanderson) together taking turns reading parts out loud. If you talked to Gabe you'd instantly fall in love, he has a way of saying things you wouldn't expect a nine year old to say. I remember when he was six I asked him why he colored on the wall, his response was, "I had not thought on it much past it being fun, though if I concentrate on it now I can see why you'd be angry." Not smiling at that moment was an impossible task.

I have said before how much these two inspire me to keep working hard on becoming a successful author. To be able to show them they can follow their dreams is every bit my goal as anything else.

Anyway that is some of my family, they are away at their grandmother's so that is probably why I feel all gushy about them at the moment.. As always have fun and keep writing.

CPs and Awards.

So I have been doing this writing thing for a while. I've even been serious about getting it out there for a few years now. I have had some really great people help me with it along the way. They have really been invaluable in keeping me motivated and helping make my work stay on point.

One of those people is a CP I met a few months ago. It is a hard thing to trust another person with work that isn't quite there yet. Not just trust them to read your stuff, but to be able to give you a critique that is valuable and helps you progress forward. I have heard horror stories about bad matches. Still I think it is the same as finding a new friend, when you know you know. I have been lucky with finding this person and can't wait to work through future projects.

So as a segue to that....

Mark over at Left and Write created a new award. The Super Blogger Award, an award for someone that inspires you in the blogging community. The rules are that the person presented with this blog has to reveal one secret about themselves then pass the award on. Simple and fun. I like it. And since I am talking about my awesome CP, I will have to give this award to S.K. Anthony.

She has been great in keeping me motivated and in check and getting to read her awesome story has been a huge inspiration. So there you go, the super S.K. Anthony.

Anyway, help Mark get his award out there and give it to someone who inspires you. As always have fun and keep writing.

Updates.

Decided to update on what I have been doing this week. I have been staying up late researching and working and editing so much, I am starting to feel like a writing version of Batman.

First, I am over half way done with writing the first draft of Ashes and have the rest of the story mapped out fairly well. So I'm expecting much smoother writing sessions in the next couple of weeks.

Also I got some of the final art for my second cover. I will be presenting that in about two weeks. Can't wait for everyone to see it. Also anyone interested in helping in the reveal, please let me know.

A bit back my book was added to the Wayman Publishing collection and I have seen a little bump in sales since. So thanks to Wayman and all who purchased the book, hope you are enjoying it.

I have some other things in the works like giveaways and such to be on the look out for soon.

Anyway, hope everyone is staying productive. As always, have fun and keep writing.

Inspi...Lasers?..what?

Okay two weeks in a row and no IF...what? Well As my time is being consumed with writing I tend to fail at other things. Like getting blogs up. I am blogging now, you say, why not just do the IF? Well my friends it is because I feel the need to share something new that is happening with my writing. Something that I am very excited about.

I need another project like I need an extra hole in my...well you get the picture. So what is this grand new project? Glad you asked. For a few years now I have had this story idea floating around in this jug I call a head. As someone who mostly reads and writes Fantasy, having this story was somewhat unique for me. Why? Because it is a Sci-Fi story.

I know, right? So why have I not tried to write it? Well I do enjoy reading Science Fiction. Still comparatively the amount of books I've read in the genre is quite small. While I enjoy the idea and characters I have come up with, I always feared some of the terms and tech might not come off as strong with me writing it. So on the back burner it sat.

Enter friend. So a life long buddy...like for real I have known him since I was eleven....gets to talking with me about my writing. He is also an aspiring author and guess what he loves to read? Exactly. So we just started brain storming and it has gone amazingly. The out put and story ideas are just flowing. So I get to add a new word to my writing life—collaboration. 

I am still focused on Ashes, but when it is done. I plan on spending at least a portion of my time working together to get this book in shape. I can't wait to share more about it.

So has any of you ever collaborated for a novel or something else? How did it go?

Anyway hope you are all enjoying your weekend. As always have fun and keep writing.

Man of Steel.....!!!!!!!!!

Okay short disclaimer. I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible for people that have not seen it, but I will be sharing my views. Also I will try not to make it too long, but I may gush about a few times.

One of my earliest memories is of me in my Superman PJs—cape included— jumping off of things pretending I could fly. So I knew if I was going to review the movie I watched Friday morning honestly, I have to think on it as two different people. The Superman fan, and the movie fan.

So I did the only thing rational there was to do...I went and saw it again today.

I had three fears going into this movie.

Lois Lane: I love Amy Adams, but I was worried she would not be the Lois I wanted to have in a movie since I saw Margot Kidder play her in the 1978 version with Christopher Reeves.

So in my opinion how did she do? Far surpassed my expectations. This to me will be the Lois I now set my standards by. She was smart and had emotion and never felt like she was waiting around to be rescued, even when she needed to be.

Clark Kent: If there is a Superman there must be a Clark Kent. He is Superman's mask in some ways and the real person he is in others. If Brandon Routh got one thing right in Returns it was his Clark. 

So how did it go? I don't want to spoil anything so I will say this. The jury of my mind is still out on this one.

The action: If there is one thing a reboot gives us is a chance for technology to try and aid in the story telling. To bring things from our imagination to life. It is so important that what happens aids the story and doesn't pull us out when we see it.

So how did they manage? This movie had the best action scenes from not only any comic movie I have ever seen, but from any movie I have ever watched. The CGI blended with the live action so seamlessly I couldn't tell you in parts which was which. Truly above anything else this movie's portrayal of the action was stunning beyond belief. It was heavy and real and had lasting consequences. 

So was it all good? Well for me there are two glaring moments that when I watched them the first time kind of hurt me. I don't want to spoil anything so I will say it like this. The "handling" of Jonathan Kent, really bugged me. Also there is a scene at the end and when you watch it you will know of what I speak. This was pulled from a comic so it isn't without merit, but the way they did it just had me shaking my head. 

As I watched it the second time, it was eased some since the shock had worn off and I feel it doesn't change my views of this movie.

So as a whole what did I think? This movie is the movie I have been waiting on. If you are a comic fan or a fan of the TV shows and movies there are so many little shout outs to what has come before. Including a scene that shows the space ship from the Donner movies in a retelling of the history of Krypton. I am not a DC fan or a Marvel fan. I am a comic fan and a movie fan. If I was asked to be honest I would say this movie has set the bar high for what can be done with a comic adaptation. I watched Avengers twice in theaters and I watched it once a day for a week after I bought the Blu-ray. Still it didn't hit an emotional core inside of me that this movie manages.

There is a scene where Superman is floating above the military. This image of him floating is not some new idea, but the way it was shot was nothing short of a masterpiece. There is another scene in which Superman has to overcome something that should have defeated him. When the music comes in and you see his determination it just fills you with emotion.

I recommend this movie to everyone. There is some language, so if you have small kids be aware of it, it is very little. I will probably go and see it again since I enjoyed it even more the second time around.

Once again I believe a man can fly.

Insomnia.

Hey first I want to say that I won't be posting an Inspiration Friday tomorrow. One because I would like to leave the interview up for a few days. Two, because tomorrow my brain will be filled with one thing and one thing only...Man of Steel. Okay onto the post.

It's been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me.
 
Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he's had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people's fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets--and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.
 
Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia's eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he's gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it's Parker.
 
Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Finn from J. R. Johansson's INSOMNIA.

1. Hey Finn, nice shirt. So what does it take to be friends with someone like Parker?

Thanks! I have uh...a lot of them. Being friends with Parker is never dull. He's not exactly predictable.

2. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?

Wow...one word is kind of limiting for someone as awesome as me. Let's go with - Loyal

3. How about Parker what else can you tell us about him?

Parker Chipp was born on August 17th in Oakville...oh, not what you meant huh? Haha, I don't know, he's a good guy. He's a good friend. Is there more to say than that?

4. Okay the dreaded desert island question, you're there you have three things, what are they?

Kung Fu movies, something to watch them on, and an endless supply of bananas. Also, when you send help, could you do it by helicopter? I had a really bad dream about a cruise ship once. 

5. Before we go, is there anything interesting you'd like to share about yourself or your friend?.

No...not him, let's focus on me. I like to take long walks on the beach, sip tea from the cups with the little saucers, and I write poetry in my sleep...with my toes. I'd like someone to hold my hand while I do those things...if she happens to be hot and wears a cheerleader uniform, I won't complain a bit.

Awesome Finn thanks for stopping by.

If anyone would like to know more about Insomnia or the author, here are some links, along with the two at the top(Author name and Book title :).) Go show some love.

TWITTER

GoodReads

Amazon

Barnes&Nobel

As always have fun and keep writing.

Summer Time.

Well the kids are out of school, the weather is hot and for me it is official—Summer is here. 

As a writer what this means to me is, it's time to change my habits again. No more taking the kids to school and getting some quality writing time in while they are there. I now tend to write at night when they go to bed, or early in the mornings when everyone is still asleep.

It is kind of nice to change things up. Still time moves on and it is bittersweet for me. My deadline looms, my first born will be heading off to middle school in a few months and my birthday comes to push me further into my 30s. 

Still, I am here. I am living my dream as a writer and I get to watch as my children take their steps toward becoming adults. Time to throw the ball(which ever variety you prefer) around, jump in a swimming pool, take a weekend vacation to the beach.

Summer is here and I hope you all find it an enjoyable one.

Oh and another thing, I got 100 followers, that is amazing for me and I am glad to have each and every one of you.

As always have fun, and keep writing.