Writing Process

Hello my freaky ones-

today I turn my blog over to my writer Angel Edenburn (aka Gena Mantz). The amazing writing duo of C L Raven (check them out at  http://clraven.wordpress.com/) tagged her to participate in this blog hop. (Personally, I think it is wonderful!) And my writer has tagged SK Yule to continue this fun next week! I can’t wait to read that one… so here she is- my writer Angel Edenburn. Check her out

 

Hi all.

CL Raven( http://clraven.wordpress.com/) asked me to participate in this blog hop. Don’t judge me too harshly. CL gave me four questions- 1 What am I working on?  I am working on several projects at once. I have a novel with three of my characters nearly finished to send to Amos and Cassidy, I have the story of my character, Isis, and her family. (Thankfully, Isis agreed to let me use her page as well as mine http://angeledenburn.wordpress.com/  for this. I also have a werewolf novel I started almost 2 years ago, as well as one other short story in the works.

2 How does my work differ from others of this genre? I am not sure EXACTLY which genre I am. I have some action, some paranormal, some romance, a LOT of touchy/feely stuff, as well as character growth in my stuff. I want my non-stereotypical heroines to be themselves, not fit into a mold. My gals are a little more voluptuous, a little older, and not perfect. My mcs are NOT nubile, barely legal, size 2 girls.

3 Why do I write what I do? Well this is a multi-part answer. It feels right for me to write this. I write what I want to read and what I want my nieces and nephews to see and learn from. I don’t like some of what is out there that shows girls/women as very co-dependent. I want to show them something different and a better way to be. (BTDT co-dependent thing.) Also, when I sit down at the computer, this is what falls out. I love to write short stories as well as novels.

4 How does my writing process work? Right now, it is whenever I can squeeze it in. I write and edit almost anywhere. If I am riding in a car, at mealtime at work, when I’m mowing the lawn (I write in my head), or when I sit down at the computer. I plot when I do chores, I edit when I hit writer’s block, and the rest of the time I write. I have Scapple and Scrivener and use Scapple and lots of scribbled notes on pieces of paper to help  keep my ideas sort of organized. I get stuck, I just jump to another WIP until something breaks loose. Then, I jump back and keep going.

Okay, so next week is going to be the sensuous SK Yule, writer extrordinaire of the paranormal, and multi-published author.  Check out her stuff here  http://skyule.com/.

until next time,

XOXO

IsistheVampire

and

Angel Edenburn (Gena Mantz)

 

ps Most of this blog is reposted over at Angel’s Musings  (http://angeledenburn.wordpress.com/).

Cohesion

Hello my freaky ones-

The car in the photo belongs to my writer. It was a present from a former friend and her husband. (the former friend’s hubby is still friends with my Lukas and my writer’s hubby.) My writer knew the car needed a motor when she was gifted with it but didn’t care. She helped take the motor out of the car and has waited patiently for over 3 years to get a new motor.

Unfortunately, it seemed that every time she got even a few dollars ahead, she had to use that money for something other than the car. This year, her hubby made sure to save up. First thing on Monday morning, she left for one of her day jobs and her hubby left too. She returned after her day job to find her hubby here- with the motor.

My writer is so happy. She just needs a few more things to line up- her hubby home, the weather good, and a couple of days off so that she can help her hubby put the motor in.  At the time the car was given to her, being a writer was just a dream. She hoped to be published and hoped to have her car fixed. Fast forward. She has several pieces of her work published under her real name and her pen name. She has the motor for her 2000 Camaro dream car. The “Isis car” as her hubby has named it. (Personally I like the idea of her car being named after me.)

It will take a few more weeks before she can get the car on the road. A nasty little crack has developed in the windshield and she has had the car for quite a while and not paid taxes on it. She is willing to pay the fees needed. She just needs a few more weeks of saving to be able to do it. Meanwhile, she will keep writing, keep working, and feeling grateful for all she has. “Things are starting to come together,” she says.

This has been a long road. There is no denying that there are similar paths for my writer’s jobs, writing, and fixing the car. All have involved struggle, work, patience, perseverance, and even some disappointment. Somehow, the idea of a broken, hand-me-down car being made whole is so much more than it first appears. I can’t wait to see how the next chapter unfolds.

Well my freaky ones, I hope your lives are finding some cohesion.I also hope your year has taken a big turn for the better and that things are looking up for you. Sometimes, things seem to be one step forward, two steps back. But when you stop and take a moment to look at things from a bigger angle, they really are moving in the right direction. Hang hard onto the hope and the good.

xoxo

IsistheVampire

ps Be watching for an announcement about an upcoming release!Image

renewal- sort of

Hello my freaky ones!

I do hope this year has been kinder to you than the last. Not so much around here. My writer finally found a night job after months of unemployment and existing on a shoestring budget. Well, a shoestring budget was lavish compared to how she juggled things. Last week she also found another night job with stable hours, and she gave her notice to the first job. It has been difficult for her and it shook her self-confidence. I take that back. It crushed her for several months, (but don’t let her know you know!)

She is working on a vampire novel- not mine- and may already have a home for it. My first novel came back from the editor but my writer made the changes immediately and sent it back AGAIN! So I get to wait some more. But I see her point. “Polish, polish, and polish it some more so that it will be great, not just good.” (But I don’t have to like it.)

With the odd hours, multiple jobs, and not much free time, my writer thinks she is “behind schedule” in her writing. I think she is doing well with it. She has a werewolf novel she started over a year ago to finish, my books, this vampire novel, and she wanted to write at least three more short stories to have available for some anthologies opening up this year. I know she will be back in the swing of writing soon!

Oh oh! Gotta go! Here she comes looking for her laptop. Stay true to yourselves and don’t let the world get you down, my freak ones!

xoxo

Isis

 

 

Snowmageddon 2014

Hello all my freaky ones!

This is Isis the vampire. I know that most of the US has been hit with a rather nasty storm the last few days. It has dumped inches and in some cases, feet of  snow on almost everyone. I do hope you and yours are warm and safe.

My writer has been hard at work the last few days between doing edits on my story (YAY!) and digging us out. Lukas and my writer’s husband had to leave early the other night to beat the storms, and left us ladies here to hold down the fort. Good thing my writer’s son LOOVES to borrow her ATV and snow blade and has bladed us out twice in as many days.

The temperatures here in Kansas are supposed to be the coldest yet this winter overnight. I am glad of the technological advances we now have and it is much easier for me to stay warm than it has been in the past. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing like the warmth of a fire in the fireplace. It’s just that those old ones didn’t have things like inserts and blowers, and it tended to be pretty drafty and cold!

I do hope all of you are staying safe on these treacherous roads and in this brutal cold. Take your time!! LISTEN to the advisories! When you do go out (if you have to), please take a coat, gloves, hat, and warm foot wear. Tossing a blanket in the car with you can keep you warm in case of an accident. (Because not everyone drives as safely as they should, not because I think you are bad drivers). A shovel and cat litter are also recommended by the pros, and can get you up and going again.  Most of all, PLEASE BE SAFE!

I do hope you get a chance to throw some snowballs, make snow angels, go sledding, or just take a nice walk through a winter wonderland with your beloved. Please enjoy Snowmageddon 2014!

oh and thank you again for letting me chatter on!

until next time!

xoxo

Isis the Vampiresnowday1

it’s alive!

Today my writer has yet another story that goes live in an anthology. She is beside herself because she never thought she’d ever be published anywhere and to be published in two different anthologies with her vampire stories is mind-blowing to her.  The main editor, the awesome SK Whiteside, chose to move the release date due to several other books coming out on the same day. This way we get everyone’s full attention instead of being one of the many.

I’m excited to read these stories. They all deal with the Seven Deadly Sins. No surprise, my writer’s story deals with Wrath.  When my writer penned the story “Tranquility” she had no idea how it would take on a life of its own and open the door for so much more to happen. She had this short story kicking around and finally found the perfect home for it. This acceptance gave her the confidence boost to try for more and more anthologies.

My writer also has two short stories in an vampire erotica collection, Bloody Kisses 2, from Dark Moon Press. Her stories are not erotica, but they are sensual and steamy.

If you haven’t read any of my writer’s short vampire stories, then you are missing hunky guy vamps, curvy vampire chicks, hot cars, fast bikes, and interesting situations.  So I dare you to break out of your usual routine! Go read some of her stuff!!

Isis the Vampire

Do you NaNo (part 2)?

Hello my freaky ones,

I hope this fall has treated you well. Here in Kansas it feels more like late summer than fall. Slowly, we are creeping into cooler temperatures and longer days. This is a sign of winter, and for my writer, NaNoWriMo.

She participates in a month-long session of madness in which she cranks out 50,000 words in 30 days. She and the other foolish ones keep track of their progress, celebrate each other’s milestones, and grieve their losses. It is a contest against one’s own ability to stick to a deadline and finish a novel in a month.

My writer has done this for several years now and this year she has jumped in again. With no full-time job and too much time on her hands, this is exactly what she needs to stay motivated and not fall into another of her depressive episodes. I am enjoying how much time she has had to spend with me lately. 

My writer has been cranking out short stories this summer. She released “Tranquility” in Morbid Seraphic 2, through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, and “One Last Thrill” and “Second Thoughts” in “Bloody Kisses, A Vampire Erotica Anthology, Volume 2” through Dark Moon Press. My writer sent off two more stories to two more anthologies, but hasn’t heard back yet. She also has taken what was the start of a short story and is refusing to count the first 5k of it and intends to finish it for the NaNo.

I am proud of my writer. Every year for the last three, she has taken on a challenge to write a novel in 30 days, and conquered it. This year will be no different for her.

To all of you NaNoers out there- good luck and take heart! You have decided to try for the impossible and set the bar  high enough that should you complete this month of insanity, it will give you the reminder of how far you can go! Happy writing, my freaky darlings!

until next time, 

Isis the Vampire

Hard times and healing

Hello my darlings, how has this wonderful fall been treating you? I hope things are going well for all of you. This month has started off challenging for both my writer and myself. I have had to do some serious healing. A very deep issue from my past has resurfaced, and I have had to do some growing and some healing. It has been difficult for me to open up to my writer over it but she has been patient with me. Much more so than I would have been with myself if it were me.

My writer has had some issues to deal with as well. Her main day job, a big chunk of her income, has been eliminated. Her boss was promoted, and my writer was no longer needed. Simple, but difficult as well. My writer has taken a serious blow to her pride and income both and this in turn has shaken her fragile self-esteem. For her, having to apply for unemployment benefits was paramount to being a failure in her world.

I know she will not give stop looking for a job until she finds one. She has many skills, and is trying to capitalize on her favorites. She has kept her other two jobs, but these do not provide enough hours for her at this time. She went in to see the job services counselor on Friday and was told she is doing everything she can already and to keep doing what she’s doing. This has provided a bit of comfort for her.

I am encouraging her to write, write, write. She has three stories that will be out this month. One is through Dark Moon Press in a vampire anthology, and the other one, “Morbid Seraphic 2” (edited by the awesome SK Whiteside) will be out on my fave holiday- Halloween! I think my writer should stop beating herself up and use this vacation as a sabbatical to develop my story. I think she’ll come around eventually.

This month started out with big changes, but I believe they are for the better. Any time you can take a difficulty and use it for growth, then it is a success. Painful as this may be, I know we both will be the better for all of this. So my freaky ones, I am going to ask you- how are you handling the changes of this year? Are you growing? Are you healing? 

until next time my freaky ones!

Isis

crazy summer weather

Hello my freaky darlings!

I don’t know about your area, but here in Kansas the weather is strange. It’s July, almost August, and yet we haven’t had a long spell of hot temperatures like we normally would. IN fact, the last few days have been COLD. The temperatures are below normal, and the lows are right now in the 60 degree range.

My writer is sitting here, cuddled under a blanket and trying to stay warm. The intermittent rain is keeping her hubby in the house and watching movies. My writer is working on my stories and doing her best to stay warm and write.

None of us are complaining. Last year, the temps were around 90-100 degrees with heat indices above 100. The humidity was miserable and the AC ran constantly. This year has been nothing like last year. We are cool and have stayed cool with only a week or so stretch of hot weather.

I am bracing for more hot weather into September. I don’t trust this strange weather.

Until the temps climb and we have to shut  the house and turn on the air, I am going to enjoy it even if I have to wear sweatpants and jackets in July.

stay safe my lovelies.

oxox

Isis the Vampire

Spring? Maybe.

Hello my freaky darlings- 

this year has had an extremely cold spring. We have had snow TWICE in the last 6 weeks. To have snow in MAY is almost unbelievable. The trees and green things have taken it in stride. Some are a little touched around the edges, but mostly they just waited until it was finished. Now they are making up for lost time. Everything is green and lush. (and my poor writer is sneezing and having to mow the lawn.) This is my favorite time of year, a time of renewal.

so my darlings, are you renewing friendships? are you renewing any hobbies you couldn’t do over the winter? are you trying something new this year? This is a time of growing for everything. Let’s GROW.

until later my pretties

Isis

xoxo

Springing forward

This year has been colder than normal. Now this month, we are stuck in a wet and cold weather pattern. I am glad for this as we are in a sever drought and we need the rain. We will have a good hay crop for the first time in several years.

My writer has been busy as well. She has been busy writing short stories, starting a new story about werewolves, as well as working on my story. She has also taken on yet another part-time job in an effort to help meet the bills. I keep hoping she will make the “big time” and she won’t have to worry so much.

Anyway, she is finally asleep and getting some rest tonight. She’s had a hard last few months. She managed to rewrite one short story only to have it sent back. Instead of rewriting it yet again, she managed to write a totally new story and send that in within a couple of weeks. The second story was sent back. I don’t blame my writer for what she did next. She thought about the suggestions, and kept some of them. Instead of complying, she again rewrote and sent the story back. Now she is nervously waiting. She also worked up the courage to send off both stories to another anthology, knowing full well only one will be accepted. I am proud of her no matter what happens.

She has been working hard on my story as well. Tweaking, fussing, rewriting sentence after sentence, I think she will never get through this draft of my story. She is determined to polish and polish it until she has to send it to her editor. The second part has been written, and the third installment has yet to be started. She has two short stories of my adventures started as well.

Tonight, the waves of storms keep coming through and the sound of the rain helps my author to sleep. She needs the rest. I have to admit, the sound of the storms is making me sleepy. I have to get caught up on the news and social media. I can’t afford to get this far behind again.

Is your spring simply more of the same? Are things the same as last year? Are they the same as last spring? Or are you changing something? Are you trying something new in your life? If you don’t try and change something, you will get the same results you always have. You are pretty much guaranteed to maintain things as they are if you do not venture outside your little box, your little cage, and do something to shake up and change your life.

Well my little ones, I need to go watch a few belly dance videos and take some time to watch a few movies while I have the computer. I do hope you are “springing forward” in your life. 

best wishes, sweet Gothic dreams to all

Isis