Tell Me Something Tuesday

Hello, everyone! Welcome to another week of Tell Me Something Tuesday, a fun weekly meme where Cambria Hebert asks a question and we answer. This week's question is:

Where would you go on your dream vacation and what would you do?

I feel like I have a bit of an unfair advantage on this question... I've already been on my dream vacation. In August of 2004, my husband and I went with my dad, aunt and cousin to Ireland for a week. We had a family reunion over there and stayed a few extra days. Lee and I could only afford to stay a week but my dad and aunt stayed another week after we left. So I thought I would share a few pictures of the places we went and things we did. My dream is to go back there to stay for at least 2 weeks (a month would be ideal) or even buy a vacation home there to escape to (this of course would happen after I make millions being an author). ;-)

One of my favorite places to go on our trip was to Killarney. Yes, we went pub crawling there (an experience I would love to do again!), but also... Killarney was where I felt most at home while we were there. I felt like I belonged there. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any of my pics from when we stopped, so I have to borrow a couple from the internet.

The streets of Killarney, Ireland

Killarney Castle

I also made a slideshow of some of the pictures I do have, mostly of our time in Dungarvan (where my family is from) and the Ring of Kerry bus tour we took. You even get to see a couple pics of me and Lee. :)

When I go back to Ireland, not only do I want to revisit the old family homestead and return to Killarney, I want to see the Cliffs of Mohar and stand at Tara (where the High Kings used to be selected). I want to go into northern Ireland and return to the Waterford Crystal factory. And of course, I can't go without seeing a hurling match. (This is all why I will need at least 2-4 weeks on my next dream vacation!)

I hope you all have enjoyed going on my dream vacation with me!

Happy Tuesday!
EM

Writerly Wednesday

Hi, everyone! Welcome to another week of Writerly Wednesday, where I share something writerly with you. Today's blog post is just an update of all the things I've been doing in my writerly ways. :)

Since I am still waiting to hear from my publisher about edits (and anxious to get to the actual edits), I've been occupying my time with editing book 2 of the Spiral Defenders series. I've come to realize that since moving a major scene from that book into book 1 (Into the Spiral), I have a lot of rewriting to do. I also keep coming up with small things to change in Into the Spiral. I'm very excited to jump back into Ronnie and Gavin's world (which is a good thing since I still need to rewrite the prequel short story, a second short story later in the series and the last two books of the series). And I really can't wait to share this story with you!

(Yesterday's Tell Me Something Tuesday post talked about book boyfriends and I did include Gavin as one of my boyfriends. You can check it out for a tiny preview of what's to come.)

hand drawn by Amanda Pfender

In addition to editing, I've been coming up with various merchandise ideas. And I'm very excited to say I have an artist on board. Her name is Amanda Pfender and she is a good family friend who also happens to be a phenomenal artist. She has been working on a cover for Into the Spiral since before it got picked up by Otherworld Publications and now she is helping me with merchandising ideas. I know this may seem a bit premature since I still have a little more than EIGHT MONTHS until my book is released, but I figure I might as well plan these things when I think of them. :) Amanda and I are already coming up with several "one of a kind" prize ideas. ;) Check out Gavin from her cover of Into the Spiral to the left.

And that's what's going on in my writing life lately. :) It's been an exciting week so far and I hope it keeps coming.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
EM

Writerly Wednesday - BookEnds, LLC

Today I want to introduce you to BookEnds, LLC, a Literary Agency. Why? Because their blog is chocked full of advice for writers. How to write a query letter? check! Not only how to write one, but read some real winners and have it explained to you what made it so great.  Worried about contracts (what's in store)? There's a three part segment on them! Information on book proposals, how to market your books (how to help sell your books), discussions to have with your agent and questions to ask before signing; it's all there. BookEnds, LLC, is the place I first went to when i was looking for advice on how to write my query letter. What I learned there seemed invaluable at the time.

You can check them out here: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Happy Writing!
EM

Another Year, Another Blog

Hi everyone!

I decided to start this blog because I believe it will give me everything I'm looking for in a place to put my thoughts, record my triumphs and talk about my defeats (not that I think there will be many of those).

One year ago, I started my first writerly blog on LiveJournal.com. It was the first step towards changing my life. Though I haven't published anything (yet), I have met numerous amazing author friends who I would not have met if I had not stepped out of my comfort zone and actually put myself out there to be found. In 2011, I wrote 3 complete novels, numerous short stories, and became a constant contributor for Literary Lunes online magazine, run by one of my favorite friends, Beth Ann Masarik. Of the 10 things on my New Year's Resolutions list I made at the beginning of 2011, I completed 8 of them. It was an amazing year! And here's hoping 2012 will be just as great!

My goals for this year include:
- finish writing all components of the Spiral Defenders series (2 more books and 1 more short story)
- revamp and recover the Mason Ridge trilogy (written by me in 2008-2010)
- write 2-3 blog posts a week
- help others write well
-support everyone, whether they traditionally or self publish
- continue building a platform for myself as a Young Adult Author

I'll admit it; towards the end of 2011, I became a little anti-social. I let my Facebook friends go. I haven't Tweeted in months.I had only a small group of people that I communicated with. This is my first step towards getting out of that box and throwing myself out there again. I hope you will like what I have to say.