Author Christine d’Abo

Oh boy did I have a good writing day yesterday. I didn’t plan to either, things just sort of happened. I sat down and was going to do some planning for NaNo and instead thought I’d peck away at The Bond That Consumes Us (Taber’s story). Well a few hours and 4678 words later, my husband pulled me away to watch NCIS.

Wow. Once I got into Taber’s head yesterday things started to really click along. He’s easily one of my favourite characters, and it’s great to finally be in his head and getting his thoughts on paper. And his girl, well, she’s a spit-fire bartender who’s going to shake him up big time. I have company visiting today (they are playing the Wii so I thought I’d sneak off to write this) and can’t work on this until later.

Most of my writing goals this week are going to center around NaNo:

• Write 2000 words a day for every day of NaNoWriMo

Basic, but straightforward.

Now my dilemma is this…for NaNo I’m supposed to start a brand new story. I’m only on chapter two with this one. Should I stop and not start again until Thursday, or work on this like crazy until then and start my urban paranormal for NaNo. ARRGGH!! Bond That Consumes will be 70,000 plus, so I’m not worried about not having room for the 50,000 words I’ll need for NaNo. But I don’t want to cheat either.

What do you think?

This next week is going to be an interesting one. I’ll be starting my new job tomorrow, so that means I won’t be online until later in the day. In fact, there are a lot of things that will be changing for me. Nothing major, but it will require me to adjust my writing/posting schedule a bit.

I didn’t do anything on the writing front last week. I only plan on doing a bit of planning out for NaNoWriMo this week, and maybe a paragraph or two here and there if I find the time. It’s going to be hard for me to write in my temporary accommodations, as there isn’t a lot of personal space. Four people in an apartment with two bedrooms doesn’t give a lot of breathing room. But it’s all good.

I did my final line edits for Sweet and Spicy Spells, so I’m anxious for that to come out next week. This one seems to have snuck up on my from a marketing perspective, so the word isn’t out there as well as my other. Let people know!! HUGS!

So goals for this week:

• plot out most of book for NaNo
• finish reading Amy’s book
• get newsletters ready
• rest

I think once I have a week in for my new position, I’ll have a better idea as to how much time I’m going to have to write. I think it will just mean I’ll be up earlier and staying up later. I have a feeling I’m going to lose my lunch hour writing time.

What are you up to this week?

Today being a holiday here in Canada, I was planning on writing up a storm. My goal is to get my novella finished so I can start planning out my next story for NaNoWriMo. I only have about 8000 words to go in this novella, and if I have a solid day of writing, I could get most of that done.

Of course, life never quite works out the way we have it planned. I’m now suffering from a pinched nerve in my arm. I can barely type with my right hand, and have even switched my mouse hand to my left.

*sigh*

I’m going to try and get a little writing done, just because I haven’t done any in a week. I’m not going to push it too hard though.

So this week, I’m going to try and get my novella done, plan out my paranormal, and maybe do a bit of writing on Taber’s story. I’m not going to go hard core writing on that one until after Christmas. Though Taber has been pounding at my head late at night recently. He wants me to get Fallon in his bed. Big time.

What a crazy, insane weekend. First off, we bought a house. We saw fourteen houses on Friday and out of all of those there were only two we liked. By the time we got around to making an offer there was only one of those left. Thankfully it was the house we wanted. We are super thrilled.

On the plane I got to read most of Lover Unbound. I’m not quite done yet (I’m reading fast Amy!!) and should be finished either tonight or tomorrow at the latest. OMG what a fantastic book so far.

Last week I managed to write about twelve pages on my novella and fixed a major problem with it. I’m hoping to get it finished this week so I can do some poking around in my paranormal. I had a dream about the plot last night, and was still thinking about it in the shower this morning. I really need to get to it soon. The wheels are starting to turn over time.

So I want to set my goals for this week.

• Finish the novella - approximately 10,000 words
• Plot out paranormal

I think with everything else going on, that will keep me busy.

What is everyone else up to?

Last night was the first night of new TV programming. Yes, I know some started last week, but none of them I watched. Heroes started, and it was…okay. I know they like to start slow and build the action up, but it found last night a bit slow. However, they have Peter and Nathan back in so I’m super happy. I’m not giving up on the show or anything, just hope next week the pace is a bit faster.

I also watched the new show Journeyman. Excellent! Very Quantum Leap ish, which was one of my favourite 80s shows. The acting was good, lots of action, gave me enough information to get me to turn in next week. On my stay list for now.

Tonight…HOUSE!!! I’m so excited about this one starting. Can’t wait to see what they are going to with his character and the ducks.

Yesterday, I made a few decisions about my writing schedule as well. I’m going to write the time traveling Duke’s story for NaNoWriMo this year. I only have one chapter written, and I plan on this being an 85,000 word novel, so I think that’s fair.

Between now and November 1st, I’m going to work on the novella (if for no other reason than to finish that puppy) and then concentrate on the urban paranormal. That one I’m also aiming at an 85,000 word count (or higher), so I really want to take my time planning out the sub plots.

Now that I have a plan I feel like I can get to work once more.

No news on the house front. *sigh*

As you know I was very excited on Friday thinking I sold my house…well it didnt’ go through. The people who wanted it couldn’t get their financing from the bank, so we’re back at the beginning. We still have the conditional offer and there is apparently another offer coming, but they are going to the bank first to find out if they will get the loan.

Finger crossing still required.

I haven’t settled on any one story to work on at the moment. I think on the weekend I worked on three seperate ones, never writing more than a page or so on them. Part of me knows it’s because there is so much going on, but I really need to get back into a writing groove.

So should I write:

• Time traveling Duke
• Taber’s story (Bond that Consumes Us)
• Urban paranormal
• Contemporary novella

Vote please! I need help. I plan to do NaNoWriMo this year, so that will help me focus too.

I’m also in the throws of trying to wrap up one job before I move on to the next one. Lots of things on my plate at work, but nothing I can’t handle.

As my mother said, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.”

Well I have a very busy week ahead. I found out last week that I got a promotion at my day job. That means I have to move my family again…and in a relatively short time frame. So we’re cleaning, packing and house hunting, all while working, writing and doing school stuff with my girls. My husband has been busy finishing the fourth bedroom in the basement so things will show well.

Now I just need someone to buy my house.

Having finished my submission for EC’s Caveman series, I’m ready to keep the momentum going and want to dive into another book. So I have my urban paranormal with me today and I plan on giving what I have done a good read over at lunch. (Amy, the song was Prayer by the band Disturbed)

Some people have asked me why I don’t take breaks in between writing projects. The answer is simply - I can’t. My brain races at 10,000 miles an hour. The busier I am, the more it races. I find by writing my stories, it helps me focus on just one thing (instead of the 20 that I have going on), and takes my stress level down a few notches. The more stressed I am, the faster I write.

Considering I’ve written 2 novellas, co-authored a novel, and wrote another novel, I’ve had a stressful year.

I did it!! I just finished my story that I’m going to be submitting for Ellora’s Cave Caveman anthology. It only took a week, but I have to admit I got lucky. Things just seemed to click into place with this one, the writing, the research…everything. Let’s hope the editors at EC like it enough to want to include it in the series this year.

With that goal checked off my list, I find myself getting ready to start another project. I think I’m going either dive into the urban romance more or bounce back and take another look at the Brava novella that I have started. Either way, I’m pumped and ready to go.

I love a good challenge. I love to push myself to see how much and how well I can perform, especially under pressure. I’ve been like that my whole life, always getting in over my head to see how well I can swim. Interesting character flaw that’s gotten me into trouble on a few occasions.

What this particular trait of mine has decided I should do right now, is write a story and enter it for consideration for the Ellora’s Cave Caveman series. The deadline is September 30th. I know a lot of my fellow EC authors are polishing their manuscripts, but I hadn’t even started thinking about it until yesterday.

So I wrote a chapter…and now I’m hooked. I’m going to try and push through the first draft this week, looking to have most of it done by Sunday. Then it will be off to someone to read over (because I don’t trust myself when I write this fast to catch all my mistakes), and off to the editor.

Crazy?? Maybe, but I’ll have a lot of fun.

As writers, we get lots of challenges every day, both internally and externally. My good friend Red was issued a challenge by a reviewer to write a hero who wasn’t as harsh. A kinder, gentler Alpha if you will.

You need to check out her amusing response on her website.

Finally, I found out last night that my EC Quickie Chasing Phoenix, will be released December 14th!! I’m so excited for this story to come out. It’s hot, spicy and good for a giggle.

Today is a super busy day for me. I have a lot on my plate, both at home and at work. The good news is I finally settled on a project to work on this week. I’m really happy to have found my groove again.

We are also almost done watching season three of House. Man, I love that show!! We should finish the last disk tonight, which means I’ll be all set for the season premiere in two weeks.

I’m also posting over at Six Degrees of Sexy today. Ironically, the topic is on Time Management and how I try to keep all my priorities in the air. Please stop by and say hello!