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Wednesday 31 August 2011

THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE COMPANION by Charlaine Harris

The complete guide to the internationally bestselling Sookie Stackhouse True Blood books.

THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE COMPANION is a unique guide to Sookie Stackhouse and her dark fantasy southern-Gothic world, as well as an in-depth look at the award-winning HBO series TRUE BLOOD.

The book will feature a brand-new Sookie story and Charlaine's own map of Bon Temps. Other treats include: an introduction by Charlaine about the impact Sookie Stackhouse has had on her writing career and the influence on the genre at large; a large section on the award-winning HBO series True Blood; detailed summaries of each novel and entries on every important character, event and setting in the series, in Sookie's voice; an overview of Sookie's world, including information on the vampires, shapeshifter/wereanimal and fairie factions; interviews with Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball, as well as a selection of favourite Bon Temps recipes.

As you probably already know, I'm a huge Sookie Stackhouse fan. I love reading her stories, love the world, the many characters, and just losing myself in the latest installment. So, when I found out The Sookie Stackhouse Companion was going to be released, I couldn't wait to check it out!

I've been taking my time, slowly making my way through it during the last few weeks. It's jam-packed full of very interesting things about this world. I really enjoyed reading Charlaine's input into not just her writing process, but also how she eventually got Sookie out there into the world. I love reading the behind-the-scenes stuff, and there's plenty here. Not just about Charlaine and her many worlds, but also about the True Blood TV show and why Alan Ball loved it so much he had to make it a show.

There's some very cool stuff here--lots of valuable information.

Another thing that I particularly liked is the Life In Bon Temps section, which pretty much summarises all of the Sookie stories in order. This means that when hubby asks me if the latest True Blood season is (even remotely) close to the book, or I want to remind myself, I don't need to skim through the actual books, I can just check it out here. Awesome!

Oh, and after each book summary there are some conversations, notes, and emails between Eric and Bill, which are a great way to fill in the blanks of what's going on behind Sookie's back. Very cool.

There's also a new story included in this Companion.

Small-Town Wedding fits between Dead In The Family and Dead Reckoning, and takes Sookie and Sam out of Bon Temps and into Wright, a small town in Texas. They're going to attend Sam's brother's wedding, which should be a joyful event... but turns out to be another nightmarish incident in Sookie's life. After the werewolves and shifters came out to the public, a lot of people developed a new prejudice against them. And this town seems to be filled with those people...

I really enjoyed  this tale, and read it in one sitting. I particularly enjoyed spending time with Sam and Sookie, just being friends. Also, the closure she finally finds with Quinn was a great touch to the story.

Just like everything else in Sookie's world, The Sookie Stackhouse Companion is another excellent addition to this fantastic series. I had a blast reading it, enjoyed the author's insights, and I'm pretty sure that I'll be referring back to this book in the future.

It's going on my 'keeper' shelf, next to my other Sookie books. :)

The Sookie Stackhouse Companion: A Complete Guide to the Sookie Stackhouse Series, September 2011, ISBN 9780575097537, Gollancz Paperback

Tuesday 30 August 2011

SHELTER by Harlan Coben

The first in an exciting series of young adult thrillers from the bestseller, Harlan Coben.

Harlan's very first young adult project will link in with the storylines in his up-and-coming adult thrillers as Myron Bolitar discovers that his mysterious tearaway younger brother, Brad, has a son - now teenaged.

When our series hero's father, Brad, dies in a mysterious accident in South America, Myron is his closest, albeit estranged, relative left and is assigned to be his legal guardian.
Will uncle and nephew be able to live with one another? And will our hero be able to resist getting involved in solving a mysterious disappearance at his new high school?

This is actually the first Harlan Coben book I've ever read, and I have to say that I was totally hooked from the very start. Seriously, this book turned out to be a page-turner for me.

Mickey is the new kid in town, and he's living with his uncle. Getting stuck with an estranged uncle is hard, but with his father dead and his mother in rehab, Mickey has nowhere else to go. Besides, he's got an arrangement with Uncle Myron to keep him out of his business. Mostly. So, now he's living in the same place where his father and uncle grew up.

However, just when he thought he couldn't lose anymore, his new girlfriend, Ashley, vanishes. After losing so many people in his life, he decides to get to the bottom of it and tries to track down where she is and what happened to her. With the help of some unlikely kids from school, he sets out to uncover the mystery and instead finds himself caught up in a very dangerous situation, with very violent people. Things aren't always what they seem, everyone seems to be keeping secrests, and a deeper mystery--something a lot closer to his family, than anything else--slowly starts to appear. Making him doubt everything he thinks he knows, and making him hope for the impossible.

Before long, Mickey finds himself in a downward and very dangerous spiral that may/may not lead to some answers he's searching for... and others he didn't even know were possible.

OMG, this book was seriously awesome! Not only is it so well written that Mickey's an excellent narrator with a compelling voice, but I loved the mystery at the very core of the story. I also liked his friends Ema and Spoon, and even Rachel. There are some very heartbreaking scenes in this book as Mickey tries to come to terms with the truth of what his mother's become, and can't let go of his father's death.

Shelter turned out to be a wonderful surprise! It kept me guessing, and the suspense was killing me right until the very end! I really enjoyed it, and can't wait to catch up with Mickey and his friends again. Oh, and I can't wait to find out about the other secrets the Bat Lady has to share with him. She was also a nice addition to a very interesting cast of characters.

Shelter, September 2011, ISBN 9781780621180, Indigo Paperback

M&SRC books read: 17/12

Monday 29 August 2011

To-do list!

These are my favourite post-it notes at the moment. Although, I'm not fussy. I like 'em in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Well, it might be a new week but I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish today:

Do a yoga workout,
Re-read the four chapters I wrote on Friday,
Finish reading SHELTER by Harlan Coben.

And, I'm very happy that I've actually done all of the above. With one hour to spare before it's time to head out to my daughter's school. Yay. I absolutely love being productive.

The yoga workout, I did first thing this morning. Shortly after that, I finished reading SHELTER. So when I got back from dropping my daughter off at school (and my daily walk) I got stuck into the re-reading. I kept going until lunchtime, and was very excited about what I read. I actually ended up adding a few more words.

So... the Sierra Fox #2 first draft is now done. Total word count: 91,184. Phew.

Now, I can put it away for a bit before tackling the second draft. Though I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into it again. I'll also probably spend the rest of the week tidying up my notes--I've got them on post-it notes, as well as a notebook. I've actually got a nice A4 notebook that I'm looking forward to filling with all the series details.

I'd love to start that tomorrow. :)

Well, that's it for today. See ya later!

Saturday 27 August 2011

BLOCKADE BILLY (plus MORALITY) by Stephen King

Even the most die-hard baseball fans don't know the true story of William “Blockade Billy” Blakely. He may have been the greatest player the game has ever seen, but today no one remembers his name. He was the first--and only--player to have his existence completely removed from the record books. Even his team is long forgotten, barely a footnote in the game's history.
Every effort was made to erase any evidence that William Blakely played professional baseball, and with good reason. Blockade Billy had a secret darker than any pill or injection that might cause a scandal in sports today. His secret was much, much worse... and only Stephen King, the most gifted storyteller of our age, can reveal the truth to the world, once and for all.

It's no secret that I'm a Stephen King fan. After all, I have a copy of every book he's ever written--more than one format for some--and absolutely love the way he spins a tale. But I've fallen behind on my challenge to read 6 King Books this year. lol.

So, when hubby suggested I try this book, I shrugged and got started. I read the first 30 pages in one sitting, and was totally intrigued. Then, I found out there was another story included as well, which made me happier.

BLOCKADE BILLY: Tells the story of why Blockade Billy was wiped away from all the history books. It's told by Granny, now an old man and wanting to share his story with King, himself.

I'll start out by saying that I'm not a baseball fan at all, and in spite of the constant talk about the game, I still got wrapped up in the story of this young man who took the baseball world by storm but was hiding a bizarre secret...

In typical King fashion, I enjoyed finding out how it all turned out. Man, he tells an awesome story!

MORALITY: Wow, this story was excellent! What starts out as a story between two, happily married people having a hard time making ends meet, turns into a depraved story of violence.

Nora is a nurse and takes care of Reverend George Winston after he suffered a stroke. Chad works as a sub teacher and is also writing a book that may (or may not) sell. When the Reverend makes Nora an insane offer of getting a one-off payment that will help give them some financial freedom, they find themselves in a dilemma. Because what he wants her to do in order to get this money is totally immoral, and challenges them until they make a final decision.

And like every indecent proposal, no matter how much they say they'll stick together and will make it through, their simple lives are thrown into instant chaos--with some very violent consequences.

Man, this story kept me hooked right until the very end. Loved it!
SKC Books Read: 2/6

Friday 26 August 2011

A bit late, but oh well

<--- This is a pic of Loki. I took it several weeks ago with my phone camera. Which is why the quality isn't the best. Still, as you can see, when he sits on the desk right in front of me, I can't see a darn thing.

I know he does it on purpose, too. And this makes me laugh.

It seems like only yesterday--oh, okay about 4 years ago--when he could lie down across the desk and comfortably go to sleep on it. He's just too big now, and only does this when he really wants to get my attention. 

Anyway.

I've been busy today. Busy writing up a storm. Seriously, I'd written over 6k words by the time I headed out to meet hubby and daughter at her school. Then, later on, hubby went over to my MIL's house to help her with something and took my daughter too. I decided to add some more words, and ended up with 2k more. After dinner, hubby got stuck into watching the footy and I just had the epilogue left to write, so I wrote it.

All up, I added 10,234 words today. I think I might have beaten my own record. ;)

I couldn't help it, though. I was at a bit in the story where it was all playing out really fast inside my head and I was totally in the zone. So I let my fingers go nuts on the keyboard and got it all out. Now, I'm not going to look at it all weekend, but on Monday I'll read the last four chapters to make sure that it all makes sense, lol.

Word count is now up to 90,263. Not a bad number!

Phew. I'm so darn tired. Managed to squeeze in a weights workout tonight, too.

Now, I think it's time to take it easy. And then get some sleep soon!

Have a great weekend...

Thursday 25 August 2011

First round, done!

Well, yesterday turned out to be a super busy day! And I was exhausted by the end of it. I got edits done, went for a walk, did some domestic-type stuff, worked out, and even finished the book I was reading. Phew.

As far as the editing, I did something a little different. Instead of splitting the day in half as I'd been doing all week--between editing and writing--I got stuck into the editing, and kept going until I got to the end. Then, this morning, made a few final touches before emailing it back. So, that's right: the first round of edits for SINFUL are now done!

Which means... I can get back into the first-draft writing today. I'm up to a bit in the book that I'd like to write in one continuous flow. It's going to be a rough ride for Sierra, but I'm looking forward to it. (Cruel, cruel writer!)

That's about it for now. Have a great day!

Wednesday 24 August 2011

WORKING STIFF by Rachel Caine


Bryn Davis is new on the job as a funeral director, but even she knows that once you’re dead, you ought to stay that way. But Fairview Mortuary has a hidden backroom business: reviving the dead for profit, at extortionate rates.
Finding out may cost Bryn more than her life ... it may just take away her death, too.

I'm a big Rachel Caine fan, so when I heard she had a new series coming out, I had to get the first book. And man, am I glad I did! Even though I've still got the last two Weather Warden books on my TBR bookshelf--on purpose, because I'm just not ready to say 'goodbye' to that series yet :(--I knew this one wouldn't sit there for long. I wasn't wrong. ;)

When Bryn Davis goes to Fairview Mortuary for her first day of work, she sure as hell didn't expect it to become the day from hell! Seriously. Sure, her boss seems nice enough and is keen to train her thoroughly, but anything that can go wrong, does. Not to mention that she stumbles onto a disturbing secret big enough to get her killed.

But being killed is only the start of her ordeal, because she then becomes involved with Patrick McCallister and Joe Fideli, to take down the powerful pharmaceutical company, Pharmadene, before their evil plot can take hold with a revolutionary drug that will change the world...

OMG, I absolutely loved this book! Everything about it was fantastic. It was a very unique twist to the zombie genre, that's for sure.

I really liked Bryn. The poor thing goes from one bad situation and into another, becoming a pawn in a very dangerous game. Not to mention that she's not exactly human and has to deal with that every single day of her life. Oh, and McCallister. Yeah, he was cool too.

If there's one thing Rachel Caine can do very well is write memorable, strong heroines and mysterious, brave heroes. Then she likes to throw this winning combination into impossible situations. The tension in this book kept me guessing from start to finish, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Not to mention that even the secondary characters were awesome! Mr. French was a cutie. Oh, and Manny Glickman and Pansy Taylor from The Red Letter Days series make an appearance. I loved it.

Okay, I'm officially hooked on another Rachel Caine series, because this book was a total winner! :)


H&UFRC books read: 41/24

Wednesday, already!

Yikes!

I can't believe it's the middle of the week already. Although, I am very tired because of all the work I've been doing. O_o

When I finish writing Sierra Fox #2, I'm going to need a few days off, lol. Seriously, this book's a  lot of fun to write... but it's also mentally/emotionally tiring. And when you add edits to the mix, yikes!

Anyway, here's the progress update:

Sinful Edits: 108/155 pages
Sierra Fox #2: 75,073 words.

As you can see, I'm making steady progress on both counts. I should probably (hopefully) be able to get the edits finished sometime tomorrow, which is great because then I'll be able to spend all Friday adding new words. Yay. Looking forward to that. :) And Sierra's second book, well it's heading into horrible territory. She had a plan of attack... but things don't always turn out the way you plan them, right?

And OMGosh, I'm in the last stretch of this awesome book and can't wait to see how it all ends...

Okay, that's it for now. See ya later! 

Tuesday 23 August 2011

So...

I'm going to try and check-in every single day this week. :)

Yesterday, turned out to be a success. Yay. This is what I managed to get done:

Sinful Edits:     46/155 pages
Sierra Fox #2:  72,248 words.

That means I got my Monday goals met: I completed the first 40pgs of edits + added another 3k to my WIP.

Now, I just hope I can keep dong that...

This morning--because it wasn't a yoga morning, which takes time away from editing and/or writing--I got stuck into the Sinful edits first thing this morning, and got another 20pgs done. So, I'm now sitting on pg66/154. Not a bad start!

Oh, and last night, something about the next stage of my WIP popped into my head. It's about how the next chapter was going to go. I originally imagined it organised and with the characters' plan going ahead... now, I think I'm going to go another way. This'll completely throw everyone out, and will make things very bad for Sierra. :(

Anyway.

The sun tried to push past the clouds all day yesterday, and only managed a few times. I'm hoping that it does today. I'm tired of overcast and rainy weather. I need to feel that springtime vibe again. We did get a taste of it a few weeks ago, I'd like it back. lol.

Okay. Have a great day! 

Monday 22 August 2011

Good morning, New Week!

How was your weekend? We had another lovely couple of days. This was the second weekend in a row that hubby didn't work on Saturday morning, so we had a cool time relaxing, hanging out, going for walks, and catching up on some movies/shows. Very cool.

I also spent some time reading this book. It's no wonder that Rachel Caine is one of my most fave authors--she's got such a compelling voice, and intriguing stories that totally suck me in!

As I mentioned last week, my reading attention span has been a little restless lately... so it's really cool to get caught up in a book. :)

Well, this week is going to be packed with editing and writing. I have the first round of SINFUL to edit, and want to continue to add words to Sierra Fox #2. I got 9/151pgs edited this morning. That's not much, but it's because I also had to squeeze in yoga. I'll be working on the editing during the morning, and writing after lunch.

These are my daily goals: edit 40pgs + add 3k to WIP.

It's going to be tough work and it'll keep me real busy, but I hope it's doable. As of Friday afternoon, SF#2 was up to 69,106 words. That total put me 2 days ahead of my first-draft schedule, and by adding 3k/day this week, I can keep it ahead. So, fingers crossed!

I guess I'll know this afternoon, if these goals are realistic or not. Either way, I'm determined to have the edits emailed back by Friday, and want to cross the 80k-mark on my WIP as well. Very ambitious, huh? ;)

Okay, gotta get my daughter off to school soon! See ya.

Monday 15 August 2011

Misunderstood

So, how was your weekend?

The weather could've been better around here, but we still got a chance to go for our daily walks, which is always cool.

Sigh.

Some days are better than others. And although I had an awesome weekend with hubby, daughter and kitty--hubby actually had the whole weekend off this time, yay--the weekend ended on a bit of a sour note. Sometimes, speaking up just doesn't pay off...

Anyway. I don't want to go into it. I actually want to concentrate on the fact that it's a new week, and I've got a whole new bunch of words I want to write. I'm still very excited about the book I'm writing and refuse to let anything dampen my enthusiasm. :)

As of Friday afternoon, my word count was 45,782. That's 5k over my goal for the end of last week. Awesome, right? I also had to stop in the middle of a chapter, and could've kept going... but it was time to head out to pick my daughter up from school. But it doesn't matter, I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it today. As soon as I drop my daughter off at school and get back from my walk, I intend to get stuck into it again. Cool!

I've also started reading this book. It's really interesting, so far. I was going to read this book next--because I can't wait to read it--but when I cracked it open and realised it's in first-person POV, I had to push it back. See, I'm a bit weird... but when I'm writing a story in first person, I make it a rule not to read any books in the same POV. And vice versa, when I'm writing in the third person POV. I know it might sound a little strange, but it's just a rule I've had for many years and will continue to stick with it. :) 

Y'know, I think I've used today's pic before. Oh well. lol.

Okay. I better step away from the blogging and get my daughter some breakfast. :)

Have a great day!

Saturday 13 August 2011

DEMON BOUND by Caitlin Kittredge

Thirteen years ago, Jack Winter lay dying in a graveyard. Jack called upon a demon and traded his soul for his life… and now the demon is back to collect its due. But Jack has finally found something to live for. Her name is Pete Caldecott, and because of her, Jack's not going to Hell without a fight.
Pete doesn't know about Jack's bargain, but she does know that something bigger and far more dangerous than Jack's demon is growing in the Black. Old gods are stirring and spirits are rising--and Jack doesn't stand a chance of stopping them without Pete's help. 


After really enjoying STREET MAGIC last week, I decided to get stuck into the second book in the Black London series right away.

The POV shifts to Jack Winter, and I had a blast getting an insight into Jack's head, as well as learning so much more about him. He likes to keep plenty of things hidden from Pete, so delving into his inner thoughts was a great way to understand exactly why he is how he is, and why he's done all the strange and weird things that make him seem like nothing more than a strung-out junkie.

Jack and Pete have been living in his flat in Whitechapel, also working together performing odd jobs by using Jack's many freaky mage talents. When they take on a job that sends them away from the city and into the English countryside, things get really complicated. Because, not only is the demon Jack made a deal with thirteen years ago back to collect, but there seem to be a few other 'people' after him as well.

I loved this book! I'm also really enjoying the series. This installment takes us on quite a gritty ride through the London streets, then into the countryside, as well as in Bangkok--which gives the Black a whole new level of darkness. Once again, I like how Jack's addiction is portrayed so honestly.

I'm also finding myself totally swept up in the impossible--yet touching--relationship between Jack and Pete. It's so fragile, yet strong. Impossible, yet meant to be. Oh, and I loved the way it ended. There were a few surprises I didn't expect.

Can't wait to find out what happens next. I ordered the third book last night, as well as preordered the fourth. Yep, I'm a fan! :)

H&UFRC books read: 40/24

Friday 12 August 2011

Last day of the week!

This week has become a blur of words, trouble, and constant thinking about my current WIP. Yikes! It's totally consuming my mind. Which is actually a great thing. :)

I love getting so wrapped up in a story that the characters constantly whisper inside my head, and new scenes, conversations, as well as twists keep popping into my brain when I least expect it.

Yesterday, while I was walking with MCR plugged into my ears, the end of the book played out inside my head. Awesome! 

Actually, the soundtracks for this book are: Discovery by Daft Punk and The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. Both are absolutely perfect for the story, especially MCR's TBP, because some of the songs relate directly to some of the chapters I've been writing. :) Love that.

The Sierra Fox #2 word count has hit 40,653. That's my word count goal for today, so anything I add during my writing session when I get home from dropping my daughter off at school is extra word count. It'll put me in a good place for next week. And if hubby works tomorrow, I can squeeze in a few more too.

I'm loving every minute of writing this story, and am already thinking about the next installment...

Oh, you know what happened the other day? Just out of the blue, our LCD TV decided to play up. For some reason, there was this horrid smudge on the right side of it. Like the image was flipping. We thought it was odd, but what was odder was the fact that after a while, it would disappear and work just fine again. Yet, it did it every day after that. Yesterday, someone came in to look at it--it's under extended warranty--and we were surprised to hear him say it was a serious problem. He reckons the screen's gone.

WTF? Anyway, he took it with him and said he'd get back to us soon. Now, we've got our daughter's much smaller TV in the living room. It feels so strange, like something's missing. lol. Still, it's better than no TV at all, I suppose. Hope we hear back soon, and I'm wondering if it's something that'll be fixed, or if it'll need to be replaced. O_o

Okay. I need to get ready. It's time to head out, drop my daughter off at school, go for a walk by the river, and then get back to get stuck into some writing! Hoping for another productive run...

Have a good one!

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Didn't mean to stay away for so long...

But I've been super busy... writing!

Yeah, Sierra Fox #2 is really pouring out of me at the moment. It's such an awesome feeling, so I hope it continues. The story's coming very quickly, everything's fitting in together very nicely, and a few surprising things are popping up too. I mean, I've had the basic outline for this book written down for a while now, but when I actually sit down and write, it's a whole different story. lol.

It's like a movie's constantly running through my head and I can't wait to type the next chapter up. It's been a lot of fun so far. I'm currently sitting at 30,139 words. Today's target is 32,000 but I'm secretly hoping to get more than that. I managed to write 6k yesterday, which got me over my daily goal for Tuesday. Cool. Hoping to do the same today. :)

I've been trying to write 4k words/day for 5 days. Some days I meet that, other days I fall behind, and others I add more. I even missed out a whole day last week. O_o But as long as I'm thinking ahead and writing notes, it's all good.

Oh, and did you know that my stand-alone futuristic romance novel is now available. ;)  You can also get the Kindle version. Awesome! (Not sure when the print version will start showing up, but it should be in a few weeks.)

Okay. It's almost time to get my daughter off to school, so I better get going! See ya later.

Saturday 6 August 2011

STREET MAGIC by Caitlin Kittredge

Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete's eyes - or so she thought. Now a detective , Pete is investigating the case of a young girl kidnapped from the streets of London. A tipster's chilling prediction has led police directly to the child.but when Pete meets the informant, she's shocked to learn he is none other than Jack.

Strung out on heroin, Jack a shadow of his former self. But he's able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget's kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey. Even though she's spent years disavowing the supernatural, Pete follows Jack into the invisible fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget - and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago.

Firstly, isn't the cover of this book awesome? I think it captures the shadowy world Pete and Jack live in, perfectly!

It's been twelve years since Pete Caldecott saw Jack Winter. That's because he died, and she ran. Left to mourn his death but always haunted by his memory.

Well, she thought Jack was dead, until he turns out to be a valuable informant on the case she's working on at the moment. Pete's all grown up now, and is a detective who's recently escaped a bad relationship, suffered through the loss of her father several years before, and is estranged from her older sister. Her latest case thrusts her into a strange and dark world that borders ours, and only Jack can help her with his strange and wondrous power. But Jack is just a shadow of himself, constantly strung out on drugs because he can't handle what he can sense and see...

Wow. This was quite an amazing book! It was dark, gritty, and very edgy. It didn't shy away from the horrible things in life, and blended them well into a supernatural part of London filled with wicked creatures.

I loved both Pete and Jack. Pete, because she's strong and so determined to solve the case of the missing children, while trying to save Jack from himself. And Jack, because he's such a tormented man with the weight of the world on his skinny shoulders.

Yeah, I've enjoyed my first visit into Black London... and think I'll continue on my way into the second. :)         

H&UFRC books read: 39/24

Friday 5 August 2011

Hello!

Wow, I didn't realise I hadn't popped in here for days. But things have been super busy this week.

Remember how I mentioned we were going to see CAPTAIN AMERICA the other night? Well, we went, and OMG was it awesome! I absolutely loved everything about it. I seriously enjoyed it, and can't wait to see it again. (And not just because I'm a huge Chris Evans fan, either.)

Oh, and if you go to watch it, make sure you stay until the very end. I mean, don't move until the credits are done, because it's well worth it! ;)

I've been very impressed with the Marvel movies so far, and look forward to The Avengers movie next year.

Well, as of this morning, IRIS is done. I spent a big chunk of yesterday going through the proof, which meant I didn't get a chance to add many new words to my current WIP. So, for the last two days, all I managed to add was just over 2,000 words.

That means the Sierra Fox #2 word count has hit 10,882. Which, considering my goal for the end of today is 20k, isn't really that great. :/ Still, I intend to spend all day writing.

Realistically speaking, if I can reach the 15k mark, I think that would be great progress. I've actually got pages full of notes for the next three chapters, everything's really coming alive in this installment now... and I can't wait to get stuck into the thick of things. Poor Sierra, she's going to go through some pretty bad things in this one. Mean writer that I am! ;)

The weather this week has been outstanding, though. We've had clear skies and warm temps all week. I hope it continues, because I've got no problem getting stuck into spring a month early. lol.

Well, better get going now. Have a great weekend!

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Happy August!

Yikes. Can you believe it's the eighth month already? The year sure is going fast. As they always do.

Well, we had a great weekend. We went on some cool walks, had some lovely meals, hung out together, and caught up on our favourite shows. :) Which is always a cool thing. Now, if we could only do the same for BURN NOTICE! :/ I love that show, but we're a season behind.

Anyway. Since it's not only a new week, but also a new month... I've decided to start writing a new novel. It's the second book in my UF Sierra Fox series (the first one is already contracted with Samhain) and I'm super excited about it. She's been whispering in my ear a lot lately, and when that happens, I know it's time to tell her story. Her voice was pretty easy to get back into, and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into another one of her involved and dangerous stories.

The word count is up to 4,867. Not a bad start, I reckon. I'm aiming for a 90k-first-draft goal.

Of course, I don't know what else might hit my Inbox during the month, but I'm pretty much going to concentrate on Sierra Fox #2 as a priority. Edits will have to be slotted in as they come--if they come--but there's no point in sitting around waiting for them. Besides, I really love Sierra's world and characters. :)

It's almost time to get ready to drop my daughter off at school. When I get back, I'll be getting stuck into the new word count. And tonight, we're going to watch CAPTAIN AMERICA! Can't wait.

Have an awesome day!
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