Soccer, Soccer, and More Soccer…And Maybe a Little Writing

Phew, from the title you’re probably noticing a trend. Yep, it’s soccer season in the Purdy house. I LOVE watching my kids play. But I so hate going right from work to practices every night and not getting home until 8:00 pm. And of course, Saturday is spent traveling to and from games.

Needless to say my writing time has gone down (LOL). Which is kind of a bummer because I really want to crank out my current story (AMTS). It’s a contemporary YA and it’s coming along pretty well. I love the characters and the plot. Now, if only my motivation level would go up.

In the meantime, I’m still waiting to hear back on queries/partials/fulls on TFGF. It’s such an exciting/scary time. Strange how one small email can make or break your day. A request=giant squeeeeeee, dreams of contracts, and book covers, and movie deals. A rejection=multiple curse words and self-doubt and chocolate cravings (hehehe).

Querying is such a long process. From creating a perfect letter, to hitting send, to waiting for the responses. And all the while your mind goes a mile-a-minute. As writers we consider what we could’ve done differently or we second guess each word. Then we get that lovely request and the agent loves our voice and wants to see more. Or maybe it’s a rejection and the agent didn’t fall in love with it. But either way, we’re in it for the long haul. We become email/phone message obsessed. Maybe we even tell our kids to make sure they call us at work if a # from an agency pops up.

Most of all, querying is like a roller coaster. There are so many ups and downs. We go from crazy-excited because we finished our MS to frightened of failure when we send our “babies” out into the world. And this range of emotions happens in like .023 seconds flat. But that’s the life of a writer. No matter how many good or bad things happen a long the road, it’s simply about the journey. The obstacles we face to get to where we want to be. We grow stronger and I think that’s what’s most important. So as I hit refresh on my email, yet again, I’ll think about how much I love to tell stories, and that, right there, will keep me going…

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Good News and Talking Cliché

Okay, I’ll totally start with the good news (and no it has nothing to do with Star Wars or The Vampire Diaries—or, well I guess I could totally implement those two subjects. LOL).

In a Galaxy, Far, Far Away………

All right, I just signed a book contract with Noble Romance for my YA story Staking Shadows (woohoo). Totally geeked about this story. I wrote it a couple of years ago then shelved it. It’s a post apocalypse w/paranormal elements. And I have to thank my sister for telling me to send it out (LOL). It’s her favorite story of mine. I don’t have all the details yet, but when I do, I’ll definitely post them.

Secondly, the print version of my book My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters is now out through Amazon (see the sidebar below my book cover for link). Very excited to have an actual physical book that I can touch (too bad it isn’t Damon Salvatore—hehehe).

Third, well, I’m still waiting to hear back on my fulls and partial manuscripts I have out with agents for The Fairy Godmother Files. So hope I get some news soon (crossing fingers/toes).

And now, for the cliché part of this entry. Okay, I’ve been lurking around a lot of contests lately, reading entries, entering some of my own etc. One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of people have mentioned to others to start with more action. Hmmm…I might be in the minority on this, but I understand that first pages should be captivating, but is anyone else noticing the trend of too many books starting in the action? I enjoy a kick-butt scene as much as the next person, but I almost miss getting a chance to feel rooted in the story before all “hell breaks loose”.

I don’t mind getting to know the characters a little bit before they’re thrown against the enemy or have something earth shattering happen to them. I mean, I read the book blurb on the back of the jacket and if it sounds interesting I pick it up. Not for the smash-bang-kabow first 3 pages, but for the entire story. I want to feel invested in the characters/setting/situations/plot. And somehow if every story has to start in the action, I kind of feel like I’m losing that. In my opinion, I almost think the “crazy action” beginnings are becoming cliché. If I grab a book, I will read until I reach the action, it doesn’t have to happen in the first chapter to keep my interest. Now if I get 50-75 pages in, and nothing’s happened, then of course, I might question it. But I like the journey of getting to that action, seeing what builds up to it. Not have the action happen, then go back and explain to me why it happened.

Does anyone else have these same thoughts? Maybe it’s just me. But I love to read, and I don’t mind waiting a few chapters to be introduced to the main conflict.

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BLOGGING AT TOTALLY 4 YA TODAY!!

Hey everyone, I’m blogging at Totally 4 YA today. Feel free to drop in and say hi! Would love to see you! I’m dicussing friends…

AND ZOMG Did you see VD (Vampire Diaries) last night! Holy CRAP! Can I just say, that Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) is freaking awesome! I had to rewind my DVR just to see him tell Elena that he’d always choose her!! Totally LOVE HIM.

And wow, lots of plot twists again! So can’t wait for next week. I absolutely LOVE THIS SHOW…

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THESE ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR–Or IT’S FRIDAY!

 

Yes, I’m having a total Star Wars geek moment (LOL).  Today is one of those days where I wish I had Jedi mind powers. Like perhaps make my phone incapable of ringing. Or answer the phone and in my best Obi Wan Kenobi voice say, “I am not the enforcement caseworker you’re looking for.  You can go about your business.”

Or maybe, I could use it to make myself stop checking my email 40,000,000 times to see if I’ve heard back on my partial/full manuscripts out with agents (eek).

On a more realistic note (not that Jedi mind powers aren’t realistic, mind you) soccer season started this week for my kids (during spring break). Spent lots of hours at practice with my kids freezing. Might need to invest in a wookie to keep me warm (hehehe). But it’s fun to watch the teams work hard. Their first games are next weekend, and both of them are away.

And OMG VD is back (the Vampire Diaries TV show, not the disease–hehehe). It was SO SO SO good last night. Every time I thought I had things figured out, they totally threw another twist at me. So crazy. All I can say is that I want Elena and Damon to have their moment. And holy crap on the Alaric/Isabelle twist. Totally didn’t see it coming. I’m so excited for next week to get here so I can watch it! EEEK.

I’m part way through reading Torment by Lauren Kate and am really liking it so far. I think I like it better than Fallen, the 1st book in the series. After this book, I’ll either start Hex Hall or XVI, haven’t decided yet. Decisions, decisions.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! And here’s hoping I start hearing back on my requested materials (fingers crossed).

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