Full Circle

Hey Everyone,

Wow, it's been a long time since I wrote a blog.  I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive and doing okay, all things considered.  There are a few personal things going on that are stressful, but I'm handling it pretty well.  (Mostly involving an unstable job situation which we're hoping will be resolved by the end of the month.)  The children are doing well, so I'm very grateful for that.  Pretty soon Faith will be walking and Eva has started potty training.  It feels like time is really flying by.

I've come to terms with my thirty fourth birthday.  I know that thirty four isn't that old, but for some reason my birthday really got to me this time.  I think it's because I realized my body is more achy than it used to be and, for a short time, I felt as though I was losing who I was to parenting.  Don't get me wrong, I love my children, but I don't want to lose sight of what makes me who I am.  Thankfully, I a have wonderful and supportive family and good friends that got me through it.  My sister, brother in law, and husband took me to Charleston to see Phantom of the Opera while my Mom watched the kids and it was just what I needed.  

In writing news, a few months ago my one contact in the publishing industry said that he really liked my mid grade horror series.  It seemed like I was finally going to get published, but the editor and chief couldn't get excited about the series.  It was the best rejection I ever had.  It's hard to explain, but having a "good" rejection is more painful than someone just disliking the story, but at the same time it feels so much better, like there's definitely hope for the future.  He said he liked the writing style and the story itself, basically telling me that it was very good and that I should get it published somewhere else.

So, long story short, once again I'm searching for agents.  Things are coming pretty much full circle, so I decided to own it.  I'm submitting "Scarecrow," the first book of the series, and I've already written two more and started the fourth.  In the meantime, while I'm waiting to hear something, I'm revisiting an old YA fantasy story I wrote years ago, "Everburn."

Everburn has a steampunk setting, but is definitely the fantasy genre.  It's mostly about a strange race of winged creatures that can summon elemental spirits.  There's a heavy romance element to the first book, so I decided to change the protagonist to female and am completely rewriting it.  (Don't get me wrong, I know some men enjoy reading books that are fantasy but have some romance as well, but I didn't really like my original main character and, admittedly, more women enjoy that than men, especially in YA.)

If/when I decide that I'm done with Everburn (assuming I have no representation for the mid grade horror series) I'm also going to revisit my "Blood Rain" series as well.  I need to finish the last book.  However, my husband brought up a good point that I might have to concede.  He told me I'm a better writer now than I was when I first started that series and thinks I should re-write the first and second book.  I have to admit, I'm more concise than I used to be and the books are probably overwritten, not to mention that there are some scenes I could probably cut and better scenes I could add.  Either way, before I revisit the series I need to think about it and decide what I want to do.  

I intend to continue writing mid grade horror, but I don't want to burn myself out on that series.  So far, I think it's some of my best writing and I want an agent to represent it.  If I can get one, that will be the best motivation for me to pick it back up.  I do my best work with just one word of encouragement.  Please, wish me luck and be praying for me.  I could use some good news right now.

Anyway, keep reading and writing.  I'll stay in touch.