Jumping back in and Behind the Song release day

Well, summer is disappearing and fall is filtering in. That means school is starting and my schedule finally gets back to normal. I do love being with my kids, but a schedule change is nice too.
It also means buckling down and getting some writing done. I'm still struggling on my fantasy. The thing is I don't have the heart to give it up. I like the darkness of it. It's a manuscript I work on here and there.

I do have some new ideas, but the characters seem a bit shy about showing me too much of who they are. This is what I should be focusing on. New stuff. The problem is my brain has other ideas. See below.

The one thing I will be tackling is a revision of a manuscript I wrote long ago. I can't get it out of my head, and once I figured out what the first chapter should be, I'm now hooked on making this book shine.  It has aliens, teen problems, and a little romance. Are some of those cliché? Probably, but you know what? I don't care. I'm writing this book for me. I have no intention of doing anything with it other than to use it to strengthen my writing skills. I need to work on something that has no rules because that is what keeps getting in the way. It keeps me questioning things and it brings on fear. This book is purely for me to have fun.

I started listening to the playlist I made for it way back when.  Here are some great tunes that fit this book.

-Letters from the Sky by Civil Twilight
-Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups
-I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
-Come Alive by Foo Fighters
-Knights of Cydonia by Muse
-No You Girls by Franz Ferdinand
-Tick Tick Boom by The Hives
-Get Free by The Vines
-Shadowplay by The Killers
-Mad World by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews

There's more but I think you get it. I need music to write. I've said it before that I have a playlist for every idea I have come up with. I'm not kidding. These songs are a little dated because that's when I started this manuscript. It actually feels good to play this list and the feelings come back again.

Another thing I'm excited for is this:
https://www.kmwalton.com/behind-the-song-hold



It is edited by the lovely K.M. Walton. Who is awesome! Congrats Kate!
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

A song to match everyone's heartbeat.
A soaring melody, a pulse-pounding beat, a touching lyric: Music takes a moment and makes it a memory. It’s a universal language that can capture love, heartbreak, loss, soul searching, and wing spreading—all in the span of a few notes. In Behind the Song, fourteen acclaimed young adult authors and musicians share short stories and personal essays inspired by the songs, the albums, the musicians who move them.
So cue up the playlist and crank the volume. This is an anthology you’ll want to experience on repeat.

There are so many amazing people in this anthology. It is released today! So go and get it!


So what are you reading?

What are you working on?

Have a great day!

Book signing--EMPTY by K.M.Walton

I love it when I see friends succeed. My friend, Kate Walton, just released her 2nd book, EMPTY. Kate's book release parties and signings are always a blast. Tons of people always show and there are always big smiles and great company. I snapped a couple of photos, but for some stupid reason my computer is being testy and will not let me upload them. Argh. Here's what the book looks like.

So pretty.

Frankie Diane Mallis snapped some more pics. Go here to check them out.
Congrats again, Kate. Thanks for being such a great friend and inspiration. You rock!!

Have you been to any book signings or release parties lately?

Sorry for the short post today. Darn sinus headaches again.
Have a great day!

Happy Book Birthday -- EMPTY by K.M. Walton

Happy New Year everyone!! I'm not officially back till tomorrow, but I had to wish Kate a happy book birthday. EMPTY is out so go and get it. I will be attending the release party this weekend. I can't wait. I'm so excited for you, Kate!! You are the best. I can't wait to read this book.

EMPTY

by: K.M.Walton



Blurb: Dell is relentlessly teased about her weight, and she’s devastated when a tender moment with her long-time crush turns violent. Distraught and isolated after the attack, Dell’s depression—and life—spins out of control.
Finding that food no longer eases her pain, Dell turns to her mother’s prescription pain pills. But what starts as a quick fix rapidly escalates. How far will Dell go to make the loneliness, the self-loathing, the heartbreak, the shame, and the name-calling stop?

Have a great day!!

Check this out.

I have a couple of links to check out plus a teleconference.

1. Adapting Story Structure For Any Project by Becca Puglisi

2. If you Hate Writing a Character . . . Don't Write Them by Roz Morris

3. How Stephen King Writes Imagery by Jason Boog

4. Creating Tension by the lovely Christina Lee

Tonight at 7 p.m. EST. K.M. Walton will be presenting a teleconference --"WRITING YA: HOW TO LET THE CHARACTERS' VOICES TAKE OVER AND KEEP YOU SILENT" To learn more about it out go here. You don't have to be present to take part. It's free, and once you sign up you can access the presentation for 24 hours after it airs.

Isn't she sweet?

That's all I got today.

Do you have any links to share?

Have a great day!

Fun Facts Friday

Yep, Fun Facts is back and I think I'm finally getting underway with things. September has been beyond unsettled so I'm looking ahead and moving forward. On with the facts.

1. I'm finished this, and oh my god, love, love, love. Can't say enough of how awesome it is. Yes, I'm bowing down to David Levithan.

Go to Amazon.com to look inside.

2. I'm thinking of rewriting, well, redoing the book I'm querying. It's been a hard lesson of it's-not-ready-yet and thanks to an amazing crit partner who has shown me what I didn't see and what needs to be done. I've been toying with just putting it away, and probably will, but I now know what needs to be done to make it better. So that means, I have to move on, and boy, this one hurts and is one of those moments of embarrassment.

3. Best advice I got this week: Don't let the goal overshadow where you are. Thanks K.M. Walton.

4. Fall shows are back: Ghost Hunters, Bones, GRIMM!! I saw some new episodes of Grimm, and yeah, that's a show I can't miss.

5. I love Fall. The colors, the weather, cool hats (I like hats and I wear them this time of year), apple cider . . . yeah.

6. My new manuscript is going and I'm loving it. I just have to get a big chunk of time to crank it out.

7. My new favorite song: Mean Spirits by Silversun Pickups. I'm writing a scene to it. Hopefully, I can finish it today. Like I said earlier in the week, this album is going to be the soundtrack to my new MS.


Do you have any fun facts?

Have a great weekend!!