So, I am pregnant….again Yes this is now three and we are so excited. We have a 12 yr old boy (Bailey) and Sylvia is two. We are two 1/2 months along and all is well. I am tired and swear I’ve gained 50 lbs already, but besides that I feel great.

Not only do we have the pregnancy, but summer is killing me! We have been so freakin busy. Family reunions, parties, graduations, BBQs, baseball games, golf, etc… It never ends! With that said, I have done absolutely no new writing. I’ve re-edited WICKED WHISPER like a million times but that is all.

Here is my dilemma, maybe you can help me. My full manuscript is out with Rachelle Gardner (agent). I haven’t heard back from her in months. I don’t know if she liked it or hated it. I don’t know if I should edit it or wait for comments. Should I e-mail her AGAIN, or just wait? I e-mail her once a month to check in and she hasn’t respond to any of the three. She seems super nice and I know she is also very busy this summer, so I am not offended, just concerned.

I haven’t sent the novel to anyone else. I really want some feedback. All the agents I’ve sent it to just say it doesn’t fit, bla, bla, bla. No one has said, “hey you suck stop writing” or “do this and that and stop doing that”. What am I suppose to do when I don’t know? I do know I need guidance, but where do I get it? I need a critique partner, but where do I find one?

Authors and aspiring authors, how do you know what to do next?

Current Mood: Confused

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I attended the Missouri Writers Guild 2010 conference this past weekend. It was great! I was so pleased with the people, the courses, the food, and the fun. I met some amazing authors and aspiring authors.

As soon as I sat down Friday afternoon, Jane and I clicked. She is an aspiring author writing a paranormal/romance novel. I think it was that genre. Actually the more we talked to people the more confused we became about genres. I thought mine was a paranormal romance, but it’s not for many reasons. I would say it is a paranormal Christian book.

Paranormal Christian isn’t a recognized genre, but I’m going start it with TRUE SIGHT. That is what I write, paranormal novels with a Christian tone. I don’t’ choke the reader with Christian beliefs but it’s in there. Our world is filled with good and evil, I’m helping put it on the page. I know this is what I am meant to do. Don’t ask me how, I just know.

My greatest inspiration is the Bible. It is the best supernatural book ever written! Burning bushes, parting seas, angels, half-god baby boys what is more supernatural?   

Typical “Christian” books have very specific rules. Rules that say you can’t curse, have sex, drugs and all the nasty real parts of life. I took a course this past weekend called “Writing the Faith Based Novel”, presented by Bobbi Smith. Bobbi Smith is a HUGE author of romance novels and has written two Christian books. She was super nice, very faithful woman and honestly just being around her I felt like a whore in church. Here’s how it went.

Bobbi

“We are going to give away this book, who wants it?”

Me

Hand waving like it’s on fire, “ohohoh me me me!”

The room decided to pick a number between one and ten, after like a million iterations we were finally down to me and another lady. We picked again and we were both away from the number evenly.

Me

“Aw Hell!”

Bobbi

“Did you say Hell?” crooked look in my direction.

Me

“Um, yes” giggle and twist in chair, eyes to the ground.

What the hell? I am 32 and can say what ever I want, but just then I was 8 and standing in front of Sister Mary Margaret getting in trouble for calling Elizabeth a poo-head at recess.

We are all blessed and made in his image; therefore a part of him is me (probably not the part that calls people a poo-head). He made me how I am and I love it. I don’t argue, to hell with that!  By the way, I won the book. The sinner is the winner! Hell Yes!

Ted Dekker

I curse, sin, and pray. What does that make me?

Just me, Brandi, the perfectly imperfect me.

 What has he made you?

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Ugh!

It’s only been two weeks and a day that the agent has had my full manuscript. It feel like a life time. I’ve been doubting myself lately. Maybe it’s not as good as I think. Maybe I can’t write. Maybe it’s all just crap and I’m a crap slinger.

When do you ever know your good? Is it when an agent likes it? When a publisher likes it? When the readers/magazines like it?

I never knew how tough the publishing business really is. I guess I thought I would write a book, everyone would love it, I would make millions and Stephine Meyer and I would have play dates with our kids. It’s not like that…at all.

March 26th will be the one year anniversary of the day that TRUE SIGHT came to me. I was driving home from work and was given the entire book. It was GOD, I know it, I believe it. I started writing that day. Yadda Yadda Yadda Here I am one year later. I have a manuscript that I love and a full read out. I had a partial but they passed (sad). I am sure it was for the best (that’s my way of coping).

What’s next? I have the outline for the next book in the SPARKLER series TRUE FRIENDS, it’s good. I am thinking about this summer and what my BIG project will be. Who knows maybe I’ll just sit around in the sun and read paranormal books like I love to do.  I just finished CITY OF BONES, it was really good. I will post a review later.

For now, I’m going to reread TRUE SIGHT and keep editing. I’ll figure out the next step, or he’ll let me know.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully the agent will love it and you will all be able to read TRUE SIGHT soon.

Nightworld is another really good books series…love it.

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 It’s nearing Valentines and love is in the air. What is more fun then a soul mate quiz. But here it’s a soul SPARK quiz. TRUE SIGHT is a novel about love and finding that perfect soul mate, the person that sparks your soul. Have you found your? I was one of the lucky and found mine.

Check out this quiz and see if you and your sweetheart are Soul SPARKS! Actually this quiz is called “True Soul Mates?” perfect huh?

And if you haven’t found that SPARK then check out this quiz from the author of THE SOULMATE SECRET, Arielle Ford.

Enjoy and let the love spark on!

This pic’s just because he’s cute and I am sure the want-ta-be soul mate for millions of girls. Oh Edward…..

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Last night I sat at my meet-up group. Friends all around, my mother by my side and typed the last sentence and the elusive “The End” to my first novel TRUE SIGHT.

I can not explain the excitement! My hands were shaking, my stomach turned, it was pure elation. Almost automatically the characters in my head stopped yelling and went quiet (I know sounds nuts). The story is out!

My wonderful and amazing husband congratulated me when I got home. He’s been so supportive. Some husbands would be like, “Glad that’s over” or “Now you can get back to life.” etc.. But, not my husband. He simply asked, “What’s next?”. He didn’t expect me to stop, he wasn’t jealous of the time I spend with my novel, he is the most amazing man. I know I have a great husband when I lay in bed thinking about how to be a better wife, not because I’m bad, because he’s that good. Not to mention my two beautiful kids, Bailey and Sylvia. You inspire me to be a  better mom every day!

I want to thank my mother, Bonnie Allen (author and publisher) with LeClere Books. She has been a great inspiration. I must of gotten this talent from her, because she is an amazing writer. She has always supported this dream. I can’t thank her enough.

In addition I want to thank my mother-in-law, Leigh Ann. She has read the entire book and has been a great support. I appreciate everything she does for me and my family.

There are so many friends and family I need to thank, Alex Boles, Jenny Boles, Carissa Conardy, Ron and Melinda Conardy, Tom Schmidt, Mary Beth Schmidt, Katie Schmidt (no relation but BFF), and so many more.

A special thanks to my computer!

So many nights have been spent at the laptop, thank you for not crashing!

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Inspire others with your words

This past weekend my eleven-year-old son, Bailey, filmed a short video called “Camp Spirit Ridge”. The video is being pitched to Nickelodeon. I’m sure they will love it. It’s about kids getting back to nature and the simple pleasures of life. What is so interesting about this event was the author of the script, Nicole. She told me her story of life and inspiration. She’s a woman taking a chance and following her dreams. All the while inspiring others to dare what they dream.

 I feel a connection to Nicole and her passion because I’m following a dream, my passion. March 26^th I started this journey uttering the first lines of “True Sight”. Ever since that day, I’ve worked diligently to complete the manuscript, changing my priorities and goals for life.

 How do I do it? Certainly not alone! I’m blessed with a great family and wonderful husband, they are supportive and loving. My church is wonderful, always pushing me to be successful but always keeping God number one. Everywhere I turn, someone cares about my goals and me. I’m truly a fortunate woman.

 It’s not all easy, sometimes you have to make hard decisions and leave those people that are not supportive, even if it is family. Making what you want important can be a difficult task. The kids, spouse, family, house, animals all count on you for something. I try to balance their needs and mine. When you’re happy with your life choices, those around you will be happy too.   

 So go out there and inspire someone by following your dream!

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