Here we go people, hold on to your hats it’s too exciting!

Monday – Work …sleep at 7pm

Tuesday – Work …speep at 8pm

Wendesday – Work…sleep at 7:30pm

Thursday – Work…sleep at 9:30pm (whoa!)

Friday – Work…pedicures…pizza…sleep?

You see what I see?

I work to damn much!

(PS – notice there was no writing listed.  It’s so sad, but true)

Tweet This Post

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

Tweet This Post

I am trying to get motivated to write and all I want to do is play outside and lay in the sun. Summer is about enjoying the outdoors not shoving your face in a laptop. Did you know it’s so freaking hard to write outside on a laptop? The sun hates my netbook. I can’t see a thing! Maybe there is an extra screen or something I could buy, but then again do I really want to?

My 12 year old son had spring fever really bad. He actually made some terrible decisions. He and a friend decided to leave 6th grade. Just leave at 10 and go to the park. Have you ever gotten a phone call that said, “Your son has left school and is now missing”. Let’s pray you never do. He was fine and we found him unharmed. Most people are surprised he lived once I found him and it was touch and go there for a while. He is now living in my our personal jail. NO privileges. I mean nothing. No TV, games, phone, that is typical. But he has nothing. Only approved clothes, no curtains, furniture but a bed. I kind of feel sorry for him, but just a little.

Sylvia is two and she loves the summer. She has a tiny pool and loves it. I layout and she “swims”, we make a great team.  Not to mention my hubby has golf tournaments and Cardinal games like every week. Then there is family, BBQ’s, parties, and anything else but writing.

You see, there is just not enough time in the day to play and work. UGH!

I’m going to stay positive and make priorities. It’ll get done, right?

Summer Goals: Blog weekly, write 1/2 of WICKED WHISPER, have oodles of fun with the kids and hubby!

Tweet This Post

I’ve been posting about my now not-so-recent 2010 Missouri Writers Guild convention. I wanted to tell you the rest of by story. Better late than never, right?

 After the first night, I knew I was going to like the group. We had so much fun, laughing and just being silly. I really clicked with a few of the writers. Saturday was the BIG day. The day we were pitching to the agents. I was as cool as a cumber that morning. I had it all down and I was going to do a fantastic job. I was so sure of it! Well, let me tell you I should have been more humble.

 I went to the fist session and it was all about pitching. I sat there while author Dakota Banks gave us tips and tricks. She was calm and gave great advise. At that moment all the self-doubt in the world fell on me. I was a mess! I was so nervous, I rushed to my hotel room just to look up my query letter and jot down notes. I glanced at the laptop clock and holy cow it was my time to pitch! I ran from my room and down the stairs.

Argggg!

 I got to the two “wardens” of pitching completely flustered. I gave my name, she looked at her list and gave me a “sorry but your late” smirk. That’s when I was informed that they gave my time away! I was so stunned and shocked. Any confidence I had left was shattered. I was “granted” another time and waited nervously. I wasn’t leaving, no way was I missing my chance again.

 I walked into the room and sat across from Suzie Townsend, Junior Agent with Fine Print. She was young, pretty, and fashionable. I was so nervous, I stuttered a greeting. The proceeded to ramble incoherently to this girl who just smiled and nodded. She said thanks and to send her 3 chapters. But, she asked that from everyone not just me, so it didn’t really mean anything exceptional. I left there almost in tears.

 I retreated to my conference friends, my head hanging low. Later that day, I pitched again to  Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Agent with Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation. It was better, not stellar, but better. The only reason it was better is because author and president of Missouri Romance Writers of America, Kimberly Killion, helped get my head together. She was super nice and spent some quality time with me. I was and am so grateful.

Kimberly Killion

 After the pitching nightmare I settled into the courses and had a great time. I learned a lot and loved every minute of it. The then president of MWG, Emily Hendricks, was so great. She was funny and charming. She invited me to the dinner that evening. There I was asked to be the “Member-at-Large” for the Missouri Writer’s Guild! I couldn’t believe it and was thrilled. Not really knowing what that entailed I of course said YES! We took pictures with the 2010-2011 board and should be in the journal soon. I will let you all know the details of my newly appointed position, as soon as I do.  

Disclaimer* I am not a full member of the MWG, only an associate member because I am not “published” …yet!

Keep Writing!

Brandi

May 11, 2010

Agent Rachelle Gardner (Literary Agent) just posted a great Pitch Post, check it out.

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/05/secrets-of-great-pitch.html

Tweet This Post

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?

Tweet This Post

Monday is the worst day of the week! Some people might argue Wednesday the crappiest, but Monday’s are really it.  Today, we woke up with only 3 hours of sleep. My beautiful daughter decided to cry all night. To her credit, there was a BIG thunderstorm and the lights went out. She spent most the night with me, snuggling, until the lights came back around 3:00am. Shuffled her off to her crib where she decided she was going to scream. I had to negotiate time in the rocker for her to stop. Can you believe that? Negotiating with a 22 month? Impossible. Wait till she’s a teen, God help us all.

Needless to say I am sloooooow today. I believe time is actually standing still because the day just won’t end.

I did think of some details in WICKED WHISPER last night. Sara (protagonist) is going to have a wild first few chapters. The night is filled with drunks, strippers, drugs, and a couple “Fallen” that will leave you wanting more.

Intrigued?

I am going to e-mail the agent that has TRUE SIGHT this week. Pray that it goes well.

Sylvia The Princess

Tweet This Post

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.

Tweet This Post

I am done with TRUE SIGHT, well done with the first draft. Now what to do??? I have a ton of different ideas, maybe you can help narrow it down.

1. Non-fiction Tween Book to help kids and parents communicate about life and all the ups and downs.

2. Non-fiction book for engineers with no personalities.

3. A YA book about a boy, his sister, parents and a NEW TOWN. Scary book with wolf/bears and sacrifices.

4. Sevens Series, books based on the seven deadly sins and how teens survive by the grace of God. YA books that are dark and interesting with a hint of faith and love.

5. A twist on immaculate conception. In my version it’s not the son of God that comes to earth, but GOD’S BEST FRIEND.

           OK – what do you think? I love them all.

Current Mood: Confused

Tweet This Post

I’ve stumbled onto my new obsession….Book Trailers. I know your asking yourself.. What is that? Well for those of you that have been living under a rock like I have, they are a wonderful way to get across your book visually and musically. I love putting music to a novel, it sets the tone for the reader. Here are a bunch of books on u-tube. Check them out! Some I want to read right away like Hush Hush and others are great trailers but not my taste. Of course you have the trailers that totally suck too. You will have to be the judge. 

Nathan Bransford,agent, had a guest blogger on today that wrote about how easy it was to do his own trailer. Now I have to do it! Oh course I will be spending the next month playing and obsessing. Damn you Nathan.

I would love to hear what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UsDkZ1Ej5I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kYv8Vc9tFQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWNGIRTU2u4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IpLhITWvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrZ7IsA79ck

This is a clip by Jakson Pierce – she is hysterical!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_-TOJhXXk

Note to self: Learn how to add an actual youtube video not just the links!

Tweet This Post

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!

Tweet This Post