Tag: writing

Monsters

Hi, peeps!

Been a few days. I’ve been battling a winter-time nasty cootie attack that involved feeling like crap for over a week. Some monsters aren’t visible to the naked eye, but they can lay you out just as easily as a zombie or werewolf or pissed-off MMA fighter.

And when I physically feel crappy, I don’t have the creative energy to work on my fiction writing. So I spent a lot of time watching movies and paranormal shows on Netflix and basically sleeping. In other words, spending a lot of time alone without being able to write or go outside and feeling generally icky.

For me, that’s a recipe for monsters.

Not the ones in the shows I was watching or the microscopic cooties that went to war with my immune system. And not these friendly, fuzzy ones:

source

Rather, the ones in my head. And those, my friends, can be worse than any external monsters we might have to face.

Continue reading →

by Categories: Life Stuff, Random WTF stuff, The Writing Crazy, Things that might make you thinkTags: , 12 Comments

On editing

Howdy, peeps!

Every now and again I ask readers and colleagues what they’d like me to blog about in an upcoming piece. This week, I’m addressing a question that a reader on Facebook posted to my “YO! WHUT SHOULD I BLOG ABOUT?” question.

That question is: “When you edit for others, what do you find most challenging?” Thanks, Joan, for posing that.

I think I’ll answer this question by first explaining a bit about how I edit a project. Once I have the project in my email box (because that’s pretty much how it works these days — if you want a trip down history lane, ask me how to do hardcopy editing), I download it and here’s what happens. . .

Source

Okay, maybe not THAT. Heh. But you never know. Anyway, let’s continue.

Continue reading →

by Categories: Editing, WritingTags: , 8 Comments

Left Coast Lesbian (Fiction) Conference & other stuff

Hi, all —

If you’re in the Palm Springs, California area and you’re interested in lesbian fiction and writing/reading, you might want to check this event out.

The Facebook page link is HERE.

There are panel discussions and presentations on lesbian-centric fiction, writing, editing, and publishing. Plus, lots of entertainment and fabulousness (full disclosure — I’m one of the keynote speakers). Thriller author Amanda Kyle Williams is a special guest speaker. And how about the opening reception? Check this out. Guess I’d better drag out the evening gown…heh.

Some more info can be found HERE.

I’ll be on the road mid-week for Palm Springs, and then I’ll do an update when I’m back.

In other news, the Golden Crown Literary Society has started taking nominations for awards. Information HERE. Your deadline to get fees and nominations in is JANUARY 21, 2014. For our overseas friends, 21/1/2014. 😀

In still other news, my fourth NM mystery, Day of the Dead, is slated for release in November.
DoD cover

I’ll be posting an excerpt as soon as I can. In the meantime, here’s a synopsis:

When a man is shot to death in his house near Albuquerque’s Old Town, homicide detective Chris Gutierrez is called to the scene with fellow detective Dale Harper to investigate. They soon discover that the murder victim may have been involved in human trafficking over the Mexican border, and that he may have attracted enemies in an underground network with its own code of honor. Did someone in that network kill him? Or did his past finally catch up with him? As Chris works to find answers, she also draws the attention of a local anti-immigrant blogger who will go to any length to post damaging and personal information about Albuquerque law enforcement officers, and she knows that her partner, prosecutor Dayna Carson, will be part of that campaign if the blogger discovers their relationship. She has to find a way to watch her back and keep Dayna and her friends and family safe from the blogger’s large audience and prying eyes, even as he dogs her every move.

From Albuquerque to El Paso, Chris is on the trail of a killer who seems to be able to disappear into the cultures on either side of the border, like a ghost or desert wind. Those along the border protect their own, Chris knows, but she has a job to do, even as she draws closer and realizes that sometimes, things aren’t what they seem.

Y’all have a fabulous rest of the day and happy reading, happy writing!

by Categories: Announcements, Awards, Conferences, New Releases, WritingTags: , , , 6 Comments

Angst

Hey, peeps.

All writers, I think, go through periods of angst.

Mine usually happen after I turn a manuscript in to a publisher (or, if it’s a self-published work, when I turn it over to the editor) and I start thinking that said manuscript sucks giant horse ass and WTF was I thinking, turning it in like that?


source

The angst gets even worse when I start another project or resume work on one. Generally, after I finish writing a novel, I usually take about a week or two off from writing, and let my brain and muses recover. Unless something is totally demanding that I write it.

In this case — with my latest bout of angst — I took about 10 days off and then started doing re-writes on a project I hope to publish in the spring.

And I’ve had nothing but angst with this one, even to the point of actually not being able to sleep. Even though I really like working with these characters and this story.

The thought that dogs me: is this novel good enough? It has a lot to live up to, because the novella on which it’s based is proving to be rather popular with quite a few readers. I really like these characters, and I’ve been with them, now, for about seven years. I want to do them justice, and I want to do their story justice, but I’m freaking out that I’ll totally drop the ball and deliver a suck-fest.

And then I remember that I do this every time I finish a book. I write two series, and when I start the next installment in either, I freak out that it won’t be good enough, and that it won’t even make it up to what the others delivered (which I hope is good).

So I’m battling angst as I work on this particular project. The funny thing is, I had a serious case of angst when I released the novella on which this novel is based. The same kinds of freak-outs, the same feelings that I was sending my characters out into the world to get their asses kicked.

Maybe it’s just these particular characters. I don’t worry so much about the other ones. Maybe I worry about these because this storyline has a very special place in my heart, and I didn’t want to see these characters get their asses kicked. That is, I know that there are people out there who are not fans of what I write, and they’ll find fault no matter what I do. So I knew my characters would get smacked around a bit. And I know they’ll weather the storm, just as I do, but this particular storyline has really made me angsty, though I absolutely love working on it.

Upshot? Yeah. I’m in a writer-angst period. But that goes with the territory, in this writing life. I generally try to back-burner the angst and continue working on the project, but sometimes, the angst gets the better of me. That’s when I watch movies.

Any other writers go through angst?

In spite of all that, I hope everyone had a great weekend and that you’re recharged and ready for the week.

by Categories: Random WTF stuff, WritingTags: , 9 Comments

What’s in a name?

Greetings, peeperas y peeperos —

Hope you’re having a groovy day. I got to thinking about names and characters after the Royal Baby’s was announced. His name is still garnering some discussion on social media. “George” has a long history in the British monarchy, so that wasn’t too surprising. And most of the comments about it were along the lines of “good name,” “strong,” “masculine.” That sort of thing. The prince’s next two names are “Alexander” and “Louis,” which also got approval from the peasant peanut gallery around the world. Same reasons. When he takes the throne, he’ll be another “King George” (though I rather like “King Alex” myself).

Anyway, point being, lots of people got into the name game with the Royal Baby hoop-dee-doo. People were probably betting in Vegas on which names William and Kate would decide on, and I saw lots of discussion on social media about naming the baby and what names would be good and which ones would kind of suck. That is, not sound “royal” or “kingly” enough.

Which just goes to show you, names are important. Remember that Johnny Cash song? “A Boy Named Sue“? A lot of baggage came with that name. The kid spent his time seeking revenge on a father who abandoned him but managed to name him “Sue.” And in a society as gendered as ours, we all know what happens when a dude gets what’s considered a girl’s name. He’s considered “less than” a man, somehow “feminized” (as if that’s such a bad thing) whereas a woman with what’s considered a guy’s name doesn’t have to deal with the same issues. But gender hierarchies and social structures aren’t really the gist of my conversation here.

Rather, I’d like to talk about how names are indeed important in fiction.

So come on. Join me.


source: mumsnet

-!>

by Categories: Writing, Writing tipsTags: , , , 2 Comments

Dude, where are the women in science fiction?

Hi, all.

Whew. Sorry about the delay; I’ve been crazy busy. I finished up the edits for the third in my sci fi series, The Edge of Rebellion. Cover coming soon as well as an excerpt. I’ll post them here and on my main site don’tcha know, so stay tuned.

I’m also sending the fourth in my New Mexico series, Day of the Dead, in for edits. We’re hoping to have that out by the end of the year. WOOOO! Stay tuned for a cover and excerpt from that, too.

Thanks again, everybody, for stopping by during the (blog) Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Much appreciated. I discovered some new authors, so I’m pretty stoked. Plus it was just really great to build a bit of community.

Anyway, I wanted to bring your attention to sci fi writer Kameron Hurley. By all means, read her work, but also, for the love of goddesses, read her blogs, too, because she is on point when it comes to dealing with how women are represented in fiction and science fiction. I just recently found out about what appears to be some major sexism at the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) not only through Hurley, but also through E. Catherine Tobler.

Keep reading…

Continue reading →

by Categories: Cool stuff to read, Inspiration, Science Fiction, Spec fic, Stuff that sucks, Super cool blogs, Things that make you think, WritingTags: , , , , , 7 Comments

Isn’t it romantic? Romance as a genre

Howdy, peeps!

So I released another romance novella, From the Boots Up, on March 8 on Kindle.

I’ve gotten quite a few nice comments about it, including a few that want more of the main characters. Well, have no fear. I do have something else in mind. 😀

Anyway, that got me thinking. I don’t really have a reputation as a romance writer. I do put romance in the mysteries and sci fi that I write, but I haven’t published a full-length novel that’s romance. The freebie short stories on my site here are romance (with the exception of one much racier one), and the two novellas I’ve indie published are romance.

So…what gives? Should I consider myself a romance writer, too? Or a writer who occasionally does some romance? I’m not entirely sure, since I’m never sure I’m writing to the formula that people want to read in a romance. Yeah, that’s right. Like space opera and mystery, romance has formulas, too. Actually, a lot of writing venues argue that there’s one predominant formula. I think that could be true in some circumstances, but things have certainly expanded over the years.

Where am I going with this? Click on!

Continue reading →

by Categories: WritingTags: , 6 Comments

Talking to Myself. Sort of.

Hey, peeps–

As some of you know, I write a mystery series based in New Mexico. You can find all the info and excerpts here on my site, if you’re so inclined. But one of the other things I do now and again is I’ll interview my characters. I’ve interviewed three from the New Mexico series.

K.C. Fontero is a sociologist and some-time college professor. She’s the main character in odd-numbered books. That is, so far, books 1 and 3 are K.C. Fontero mysteries. That would be Land of Entrapment and The Ties That Bind, respectively. Her best friend is Albuquerque Police Detective Chris Gutierrez. Chris is the main character in even-numbered books. Book 2, State of Denial, is her first and I’m hammering away at Book 4, which is titled but I have this weird superstition and I don’t release the names of the titles until I send the manuscript to the publisher. Photographer and woo-woo cowgirl/art chick Sage Crandall is K.C.’s love interest. All the characters make appearances in each other’s books, so nobody gets left out. So with all that in mind, here:

Chat with K.C. Fontero

Chat with Sage Crandall

Conversation with Chris Gutierrez

Happy reading, happy writing, happy Thursday!

by Categories: Interviews, WritingTags: , 1 Comment

Happy New Year!

Well. Happy New Year, everyone! I wrote some longer and perhaps more provocative thoughts HERE, if you’re interested.

Here’s what I’m up to, in the coming year:

Book 3 of the Far Seek Chronicles is at the publisher. I expect I’ll be going through proofs of it around the end of January or perhaps February. At that point, I’ll post an excerpt here on my site. I’m hoping for a publication date come March/April, if the stars align correctly.

I am hammering away at NM 4 (book 4 in my mystery series). I’m probably 2/3 through, but some of the scenes at the beginning I’m re-working. I’m hoping to send that off to the publisher this spring, for a possible fall/winter publication date.

I’m also finishing up a romance. What’s that, you say? Andi is writing a novel-length romance? WTF? It’s true. You can catch some excerpts from it here, in this order: ONE, TWO, THREE

I’m also re-tooling a romance novella that I hope to make available on Kindle this spring. Stay tuned for that, friends. 😀

I also have a couple other genres up my sleeve that I’ve been working on. MUAH HA HA. Hope you stick around.

And yes, I know. It’s been a while since I published a novel. Well, life happens, and sometimes you have to put some things aside in order to deal with what’s thrown at you. Since about May of 2011 life has thrown me quite a lot, but that’s just how things go. I think I’m saddled up again.

Having said that, I want to wish all of you a happy, happy new year and may you have a year filled with good works and good times with friends and family.

Cheers! And remember, The Walking Dead starts up again February 10th. . .

by Categories: Announcements, Holidays, WritingTags: ,

The End. NOT.

OMG, peeps. I’ve been working like a fiend at my day job so I could take a couple extra days at Thanksgiving and in between my X-Files overdose and assorted other things, I managed to finish the manuscript for book 3 in my Far Seek Chronicles. Which, in case you were wondering, is space opera.

Long story short, the past 18 months have not been conducive to finishing up projects, for a variety of reasons. So I was really glad to be done with this one, though I’m enjoying the series immensely.

The way my writing process works is that generally, I’ll do the linear thing. From start to finish, and the story kind of morphs organically during that process. I’ll take stuff out, add stuff, move stuff around, but always be headed forward. I knew last week that I needed to take some stuff out of this version, and sure enough I think I axed 10K-15K words (it’s okay–I had plenty of room to spare), re-tooled a few scenes, and finally got the ending. Whew.

Of course, it’s not finished. It’ll never really be finished, because six months down the line, I’ll think, “Oh, man. I wish I’d done that one scene a little differently.” Or, “Why did that character say that?” There’s an angsty kind of thing that I get when I finish a manuscript. A sort of, “Did I get it? Will this work? Or will it be a giant bowl of suck?” That’s part of the fun (ha ha) of being a writer. Anyone who does any kind of art (or inventing or whatever in any field) knows that feeling. You finish something, but you wonder whether you did it “right.” Whether it’s any good, and whether anyone else will enjoy it.

So I like to think of each manuscript I finish as another document of a particular time and place in my writing life. And, in some ways, in my own life. I’ll re-read something months later and I’ll remember what was going on in my life at the time I was writing it, and how I felt when I was working on a particular section. I like to see, too, how my writing has changed from project to project. What makes it “mine”? What makes it MY style and nobody else’s? Yes, in case you were wondering. I have a bitchy inner editor.

Anyhoo, I have to get the manuscript ready for the publisher, and then it’ll go into editing. So even though it’s done, it’s not really done. And then it’ll go into print/ebook format and start its journey beyond my laptop. And I’ll start working on the next installment in this series. And when that one’s done. . .well, you see how this goes.

Writers are never “done.” I suspect many people who have artistic pursuits or livelihoods understand that. I’m not particularly weirded out about it, since I’m excited to get on with the next story. But I like the idea that I finished this one up, and that it’s ready for the next stage. So to all of you out there who’ve finished something up that you’ve been trying to get out of your hair for a while, CHEERS! Take a little time to revel in that. Because as you and I both know, we’ll get right back on the horse in the morning.

Happy Monday.

by Categories: Random WTF stuffTags: , 2 Comments