Hurry up and wait!!!

  I now have 2 beta reading groups. One adult and one teen. For those of you who do not know what a beta reader is.... it's like a focus or test group for a product, and this product is a book. I have delivered most of the materials they will need to help out and now we wait.... I never in a million years thought it would be this hard. I am very worried about the state of my nails, since I can't seem to stop nibbling nervously as I wait to hear their feedback... When you write a book, no matter what struggles you may encounter, you fall in love with the characters. You can't help but feel like you are a part of their world, the world you create for them daily. To send your book off to be judged is a harder thing than most think. I take deep breathes and remember that I asked them to be honest with me about it. What if honesty gets me a big fat negative response tho... am I gonna be strong enough and switch to my business minded self to accept this criticism and move forward, making the book even better? It's either that or I will hide in my fort with a glass of wine and read fairy tales to the kids lol!

for now... I will wait... and possibly wear gloves to save me from nibbling too far.... :)  

Fantastical Fourth!!

 Here I sit...trying to muster up the gumpshin to step away from the lap top and head out for the days activities, but as most writers know... when the mood.. or the plot... strikes..one MUST write...right? As I look at my kids faces and see that they will NOT put up with another day with mom in front of the screen... I must make this fast.... I wanted to share my favorite firework displays (as I have too many favorite fourth's to pick) with you.My all time favorite display was actually in a movie, and it had nothing to do with the fourth.... It was from The Fellowship of the Ring, where Merry and Pippin 'dipped' into Gandolf's stash for a little fun and mischief. What we got out of it was an amazing display including one firework I wish the pyrotechnics's of the world would figure out how to make!! Yes I am referring to the dragon! My favorite real life display is held on Vashon Island every year in Quarter Master harbor.... let's just say that display rival's the one at the White House!! If you EVER get a chance to go... DO! Well... now I'm getting the stink eye... so it's off to the parade with me.... Have a magical and safe 4th!

Would love to hear what your fav is!!

Ethreal or bust...

   After perusing my options on Google and countless blogs, as to whether I should self publish, which I think is the "new train" option, versus the "old train" option of acquiring a Literary Agent that in turn will help me land a deal with a publishing house, I am slightly closer to knowing exactly what I want to do. What I have to do, if I follow the lead choice, is give up (to some extent) a few things on my book bucket list. I'm seriously leaning towards the world of self publishing, and I'm considering doing this through Amazon. It is after all the leading company in the publishing world today, and seems to have the highest pay-out to writers, which is what my end goal should be ...right? To get paid? Then why is it that I feel a loss when I think I may be giving up seeing my baby (a.k.a. book) on a book shelf when I go to B&N or Target? Or When I think I would miss out on book signings where I get to meet up with the other people in this world who fell in love with the characters I have been carrying around with me now for many years? Can I pull my hair out yet? lol

My mom asked me "What is your end goal? That is what you should keep focused on. That should help you decide". Her answer was "To make money". I thought that was a little flat (having a hard time coming up with a better word to describe it)  So... I asked my self.... what is my end goal? Can "becoming Critic Partners with J.K. Rowling" be my answer? I know this won't pay the bills at the end of the month, so i ask the question again...this time answering "doing a book tour beginning in Enumclaw and ending in Ireland" ? That is the locations in the book so why not? Not only will that not pay the bills, I would have to come up with a substantial amount of money to be able to do that, so ya.... I guess she is right. It should be about making money and not the joy I get from seeing the enjoyment out of the readers faces, but I can still make that #2...right? Oh and if you tell her I said she was right... well, just don't cause I will never hear the end of it. ;)