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    Decisions, decisions …

    2 Comments

    So I finished my rough draft of my young adult fantasy, Quiver — it’s right at 50,000 words. And it’s pretty much all crap at this point (more like a long outline than anything else). I’ve got some good scenes, especially the big fight scene at the end. But the problem is that the beginning sucks and I have no idea how to fix it at this point.

    I’ve rewritten the first four chapters three times now. But every time, I feel like the setup for the story is totally cheesy. So I think I’m going to put it aside for a while and work on revising my Spy book , while I noodle on the beginning.

    Or I might try one more crack at rewriting the beginning of Quiver. What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment … :rolleyes:

    What about you guys? What do you do when you get stuck on something? Share in the comments.

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    One year to go …

    2 Comments

    One year from today, Feb. 3, 2010, the first book in the Assassin urban fantasy series will be released. At least, that’s the plan right now. I know it’s a long wait, but I really think it will be worth it.

    Since there’s a year to go now, things will start gearing up soon (finally!). My editor, agent, and I will be talking official titles for the first book and the series as a whole. That’s the first thing that will get nailed down and finalized, probably by April or so.

    I should get some preliminary cover art by June/July, and I’ll have to do copy/edits revisions probably around September or so. Advanced reading copies will start going out in November/December for reviews.

    Anyway, more to come, so stay tuned! :ww:

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    Quiver samples …

    5 Comments

    To give you guys an idea of what I’m talking about, here are the opening paragraphs for both the new and old versions of Quiver. (A caveat: The formatting is probably going to be wonky. For some reason, WordPress doesn’t like me posting in info from other programs, like Word. Ah, well): 

    NEW VERSION

     I never set out to be an outlaw.

    As Gwendolyn Frost, my days and nights were filled with the duties and responsibilities of any young duchess of my wealth and station.

    I never meant to become a vigilante, a ruffian, a fiend. Cheered by some, cursed by others, hunted by many. I never meant to rescue a hero, take down a tyrant, save a kingdom.

    It just sort of . . . happened.

    And it all started, innocently enough, deep in the forest with a simple bow and a quiver full of arrows . . .

    OLD VERSION“You’re going to miss.”

    The gruff voice sounded close to my left ear. Footsteps smacked on the cobblestones behind me, and a body leaned forward, brushing against my own.

    “And miss badly,” the flat tone continued in my right ear.

    I blocked out the voice. Blocked out the constant scuff of footsteps circling around me, the gloomy words of doom, the warm breath tickling my ears and nose with its sharp flavor of liver and onions. I blocked it all out until there was nothing left but the smooth bow in my hands and the small red smear of the target in the distance.

    I lifted the bow to my shoulder, notched the arrow, and drew back the string with one fluid movement. A comforting motion, as familiar to me as a waltz or reel might be to any other young lady of my station.

    “You’re going to miss,” the voice repeated, but it was a mere murmur now, a buzzing bee in the background of my mind.

    My green eyes narrowed as I studied the target, using the faint cool spark of magic that I possessed to pull it into focus, until the red smear filled my vision with crystal clarity. A breeze gusted through the stone courtyard, barely a whisper against my cheek, but I adjusted my aim accordingly. My fingers rested on the bowstring the way a musician’s might on a cherished violin.

    “You’re going to miss—”

    I let go.

    The arrow sliced through the air, a flashing silver blur, before hitting the target a hundred yards in front of me. Dead center.

    So what do you think? Good, bad, indifferent? Craptastic all the way around? Share in the comments.