On becoming a writer…

“If I had my career over again? Maybe I’d say to myself, speed it up a little.”

–JIMMY STEWART

When and how does a person know when it is time to actually publish his work…whether it is self-published or published by a traditional or ebook publisher? One peculiar problem I’ve faced is tweaking my work…checking…tweaking and re-tweaking some more…etc. Putting my work away for a few weeks after completing a particularly daunting chapter or two has given me better insight into the changes I’ve done or changes I’ve needed to do. Changes that were good…some that were bad. But, acting as your own editor cannot and should not be considered be the best route.

I believe this shows that using an editor to go over one’s work, to point out areas that need additions or others that need cutting back, are very important to the creative writing life. Don’t act as your own editor and don’t ask a close family member or close friend to be your final editor. Find someone who is well-versed in the editing of your genre. Being your own editor can leave your work severely lacking or, worse yet, confusing and choppy. A close friend or relative cannot always honestly judge your work to the point of perhaps giving a scathing review of the work at hand.

Do you hire someone to edit your work? Perhaps have an in-house publishing company editor? Or can you handle self-editing? This is one more phase of the writing process I am interested in these days.

Writing and tweaking!

KW

Quote for the month of May…

“Among the changing months, May stands confest The sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed.”  

~~~~~   James Thomason  

It is such a beautiful spring….friends, I wish much happiness and success to come your way! With sweet weather comes inspiration and motivation so use this month to accomplish as much as you can. What are you planning for May?

KW

Inspiration for this writer…

Alcott Home

Last week I had the privilege of visiting the Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott. Ms. Alcott was the author of many stories and books in the 1800′s and is well known for her classic, Little Women. She based this book largely on the things that happened to her and her own sisters as they grew up in America’s New England area.

While visiting the area and looking for something to do on a rainy day, we decided to take the drive from Boston to Ms. Alcott’s restored home. Along the way we stopped at Walden’s Pond (yes, THE pond of Henry David Thoreau’s writings). It was misting rain and an almost surreal aura was surrounding the pond and wooded area around it. But I must admit, just standing and absorbing the atmosphere is a great way to rejuvenate a writer’s senses.

Just a short drive from the pond is the Alcott home, restored to most of it’s former glory. Actual family writings, artwork, furniture…incredible. To stand in the foyer of the home of one of America’s most well-known authors, to see the room where Louisa May and her sisters (as well as her characters Jo and HER sisters) staged their plays and grew into womanhood, to feel that atmosphere. Amazing.

Visit www.louisamayalcott.org for further information on this great place to visit. Not only will you see a piece of history perhaps it will be an inspiration to you.

For this writer, who is fascinated with all things from that era, it has been a chance to not only experience a bit of history…but to feel the ambience of the Alcott home…ahhh… I am ready to write!

I will return someday to explore this place further,

KW

Meet author Wenona Hulsey…guest post for today!

Today I am turning over my blog post to author Wenona Hulsey. Do check out her books and note the links to her work…and be sure to look for more guest posts on later dates in my blog. Okay…no more talk from me…let’s meet Wenona!

Big thanks for letting me join you today.  I love doing guest posts because I enjoy meeting new people.  So after reading this, don’t be a stranger, I’m always hanging out at some social network table so come chat with me.  I’m leaving you the address to my favorite places at the end of this post!

How about I tell you a bit about me first? I’m Wenona Hulsey, mother of two and blue collar worker by day.  But at night I turn into Wenona Hulsey, master of words and worlds.  I’ve always written for as long as I can remember. I really got into writing about a year ago because I was searching for a creative outlet during a time in my life when I felt like I was living in a rut.  I sing terrible, I dance like I’m having seizures and my art looks like stick figures so I turned to what came easiest to me —writing.  I started working on my first novel, Burden of Blood, and it moved along remarkably fast.  I guess that could be contributed to my recent binge reading of all books labeled paranormal romances but I had an idea of what I wanted and I put it to paper.

As I was nearing the end of my writing frenzy on Burden of Blood a fascinating novelette idea popped into my head and Blood Awakening was born.  It works as a back story to two of the main characters in Burden of Blood, giving you more detail and insight into who Nicole Keenan and her best friend Kat were before their world was turned on its head.  I would consider Blood Awakening more of a thriller, suspense with a dash of paranormal and comedy thrown in.  But Burden of Blood is full on Epic Fantasy with hot warriors and gothic fairies in leading roles.

Now that I’ve sent both Blood Awakening and Burden of Blood out into the world, I’m working on book two in the Blood Burden series which is titled Blood of Fire.  I’m hoping to have this one published in summer of 2012.

Okay, I’ll stop yammering away and give you all the juicy details about my books and a bit on where you can find me if you want to chat.  Thanks so much for letting me join you today!

  Blood Awakening  

Nicole, a small town Alabama girl, and her best friend Kat take a weekend trip to Panama City, Florida. Kat looking to have a good time and Nicole hoping to escape the pain of losing her mother for a little while. Little did Nicole know, the escape would awaken an ancient power that is hidden in her blood.  A power that evil wants for its own and will do whatever it takes to have it.

This short story is a look into best friends’, Nicole and Kat, life before a centuries old grudge and Nicole’s emerging powers rips them apart. A power that Nicole wants no part of as it brings her to her knees and forces her to walk away from her small town life and everyone she loves.

Blood Awakening ebook can be found on Amazon  and B&N.

Burden of Blood

No one wants to know everyone’s darkest secrets, especially not police officer, Nicole Keenan. All she wants is a blissfully normal life in the small, Alabama town where she was born. But as generations of power running through her veins start to wake up, an ancient grudge is ignited that threatens to push her over the edge. She can hardly believe in what she is, let alone that a dark force will not stop until she joins them. Or is dead.

Nicole Keenan’s life enters into a dangerous dance with warriors and gothic fairies. Southern tradition collides with Irish folklore as she learns about love, heartbreak, and The Burden of Blood.

 Burden of Blood ebook can be found on Amazon.  Soon to be available in print.

Hulsey

 Meet the Author…

Author Wenona Hulsey is a lover of all things written. When she was a child, you could find her reading anything from Edger Allen Poe to the back of cereal boxes. Today you will find her with an ebook reader glued to her hands except for the times when she is writing or spending time with her family. She is also an avid social networker, who loves to meet new people. You can friend her on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/WenonaHulsey, like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/WenonaHulseyAuthor  or follow along on her Blog http://www.wenonahulsey.com/.

A day (or two) for love…

“Love is as much of an object as an obsession, everybody wants it, everybody seeks it, but few ever achieve it, those who do will cherish it, be lost in it, and among all, never… never forget it.” - By Curtis Judalet

Valentine’s Day 2012 is almost upon us. I imagine stores filled with significant others lining the greeting card aisles, reading cards…laughing at the funny ones and smiling at those sentimental ones, looking for that perfect one that conveys their feelings and hoping they find it soon. Flower shops and candy stores are likely to be heavy with shoppers too as gifts are purchased for loved ones.

I’m a sentimental person. I can remember the first ‘important’ chocolate-filled lacy heart I received…many moons ago. It was beautiful, red, with a plastic white rose glued to the lid. Gaudy? Probably. Fattening? Definitely. Expected? Not really. And yet I kept that empty lacy cardboard heart for a very long time. Just seeing it brought a smile to my face…someone took the time to actually give me a gift on that special day.

Buying a gift of chocolates or cards or jewelry or whatever…this is not a necessary component of Valentine’s Day. Make your own  Valentine…write a special note or cook a special dinner. Maybe share an evening talking over the things that mean something in your life, things that you love about your significant other. Perhaps you have a little one now…a living, breathing Valentine all your own. What more could be as important or as meaningful as sharing time, just being together?

A Valentine is just one way of saying “I love you” on that one day of the year….my challenge to you is to see how often you can make your own Valentines those other days of the year. Bring a smile to the face of your loved ones and warmth into their lives just by being you.

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day…or two,

KW

 

 

Guests, updates, new posts, OH MY…

For 2012 I’ve decided to expand my blog. Not only will I be posting updates to keep you abreast of my writing adventures and sharing more of my personal experiences but I want to add guest bloggers to my site.

Do you have a book coming out and want to let us know about it? Maybe you have an important award or contest you want to plug (or perhaps have won!). Maybe your book just reached #5 or #10 or #100 on your favorite book lists…share it with me and with others here!

For the most part my blog will continue to follow my writing … I plan to finally release some of my work … preferably through a publishing house, if not then through self-release via ebooks.

This is January…a new beginning of a new year…time for new hopes and new things,

KW

 

 

“Every man should be bor…

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.” ~Henry Ward Beecher