For those who would like an autographed copy of Crossover or Dark Fire, I’ll be doing a book signing at Modesto’s Barnes & Noble bookstore on McHenry Avenue Saturday, 11/26 from 10am-6pm. I hope to see you there. AND if you come by, you’ll get a chance to see Firestar’s cover – it’s awesome!

Come visit with me at the Spirit of 76 bookstore in Marblehead MA where I’ll be signing both my book from 3-6. A great gift for the book lover on your list – and you can get a preview of Firestar’s new cover. Hope to see you there.

I’m guilty for being a lousy blogger. Not intentionally – I have the same problem with Facebook. So much going on that sometimes the important things like my book’s website isn’t tended to regularly, and suddenly I look up and go, ‘oh no!’, where did 3 months go?

So, to get back in the swing of things, what’s up with Firestar? It’s been pushed back to a Summer 2012 release. But all for good reasons. The book is longer than originally envisioned, because so much happens in it. And of course, continuity editing across 3 books is complex to ensure that you don’t run into disruptive snags as you return to Lampion and Nonetre. The cover is done and is awesome!

The publisher and I agreed that we would prefer to make sure the third and final book is even better than Crossover and Dark Fire, rather than rush for a holiday release.

I am sure you will not be disappointed.

One of the hardest yet most interesting aspects of being a writer so far is writing book 3. It’s far harder than #1 and #2 because you have to pull together every single thread, and check and cross check for continuity. I thought it would be easier, assuming (you know what that spells) because I thought I knew where the tale was headed. Wow, was I wrong! Firestar’s ending was totally different from what I expected.

There is also the realization that the tale has come to an end and an amazement that the thousands of hours you’ve poured into your work culminates in three books (with more on the mental horizon).

As I am going through the rewrite and edit process (and rewrite and edit), I’m excited about the response from readers when they read the final chapter. I had one reviewer tell me he could predict the ending – and I’ve already told him, ‘no you can’t'! Seriously.

I plan to post some excerpts now that I’m beginning to come up for air. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I know of few editing techniques that can improve copy then the great word shuffle. First drafts can simply be described as a true ‘stream of conscious’ – whatever pours out of your fingers. One might say it’s diar4hea of the fingers as well, because it’s so verbose. But that’s OK – it’s the first draft.

As I start my editing process, I watch for easy word shuffles as the first step to punching up my copy. For example, “She sprang off the branch, glancing over her shoulder for the redcrest,” can be tweaked with, “Glancing over her shoulder for the redcrest, she sprang of the branch.” As simply as that, a sentence has more action.

Whenvever a sentence leads off with he, she, they, it’s my first red flag it’s probably queued up for word shuffle.

Amazing things, these e-books.

I just recently published on Smashwords (smashwords.com), which converts a document into multiple platforms, since all e-readers do not run on the same basis.

Smashwords uses an intriguing algorithm they dub the “Meatgrinder” which literally chews up the manuscript, and determines its viabilty for such platforms as MOBI, EPUB and so on. If it doesn’t like it, it spits it out, and you have to figure out what’s not working. They’ve got a great Style Guide which I found invaluable in helping me to prepare both manuscripts.

It does make one wonder if printed books in another 2o years will be simply ‘vintage’ remnants of another time, much like papyrus scrolls are today. I hope not – I do love the feel of a good book.

It’s a brave new world, e-books. From an author’s perspective, it’s a complicated process. Because there are so many different e-platforms out there right now, a manuscript has to be incredibly simplified vs. the printed book. In the case of Crossover and Dark Fire, that means removing all the accent marks and special formatting.

While I appreciate the need for this, I do wonder how it impacts the reader’s experience. In the worlds of Lampion and Nonetre, the pronunciation and emphasis of words is part of creating a totally new realm.  It creates a tempo that runs under the story, and adds to the fantasy aspect. That does get lost to a certain extent when it’s modified to suit the e-reader world.

As I continue to develop my e-book presence and broadening the e-stores on which my book can be found, I’ll look forward to hearing from e-readers as to their point of view on this issue. Let me know!

Final book signings this year:

Borders Turlock at the Monte Vista Mall – 10-12 AM Saturday

Barnes & Noble Modesto on McHenry Aveune – 1-5 Saturday.

Happy Holidays!

As the first draft of Scroll 3 winds down, I wanted to share with all of you who have emailed me telling me, “I know how it’s going to end,” that I can say with absolute authority, “Honestly, no you don’t.” Because I didn’t either.

While I do a rough outline of a book, I am perfectly content to detour from it 100%, and go wherever the characters take me. I thought I had an idea of how the first three books of the Feyree Chronicles were going to end. Not!

Instead the characters revealed a totally amazing series of outcomes that left me amazed, sad, happy… a gamut of unexpected emotions that I am hoping you will enjoy when Scroll 3 is released early next fall.

Each book teaches me new lessons in writing, and this one is that don’t force your story in a certain direction – because it could take away from the magic of the tale!

Blogging is a luxury right now. I’m in the thick of Firestar, with over 400 pages written of the first draft, and the goal of having it finished (the first draft that it) by year end. It’s slated for publication Fall 2011. Far more challenging than I imagined, it’s writing itself in segments and I’m just going with the flow. This morning Saia decided she will challenge Danai as Lady of Feyree. Who knew?

Holidays mean book signings. In response to those asking for my schedule, here it is (and I hope to see you there!):

11/13, 11-1. Take A Look Books! 730 West F Street, Oakdale

11/13, 2-5. Borders Modesto

11/21, 1-5. Borders Turlock

12/4, 1-3. Borders Folsom

12/5, 1-4. Borders Elk Grove

12/11, 10-12. Borders Turlock

12/11. 1-5. Barnes & Noble Modesto

12/12. 1-4. Borders Modesto

12/18. 1-5. Barnes & Noble Modesto