Doubt

Hello Lovelies!

Again it has been awhile since I've written, there will be a day that I will be consistent. I hope everyone has been staying safe this holiday season. I know with my kiddos we have been social distancing and it has been making teaching different. I will give my kiddos credit they have been real troopers with coming into the building. I will not argue about safety and masks on here.

I started out doing nanowri this year, but I got distracted with an editing project. I have Beaker to Life which is a sci-fi young adult story that was calling to me. I edited it. For some reason I keep doubting this story and the relationships. So the story is about the first human clone and how she grows up. I worry since it takes place over seventeen years that I am timing jumping more than diving into the story. Then I wonder if I really skimp or it is my brain overthinking.

I am still working a little here and there on the third book in the Awakenings trilogy. It is fun getting to know all four girls by themselves on top of them learning about each other. I cannot wait to finish so you all can read the trilogy.

Also I was visiting a high school friend during the weekend and we were talking. Then she said the phase from the Bible, "beauty for ashes" or from. I love it and changed the manuscript "A Flower in the Ashes" to "Beauty from Ashes". They're similar but it's the meaning that I've been searching for. I love it and I'm trying my best to finish my young adult trilogy before going to my historical fiction story.

Stay safe Lovelies!

End of Summer

Hello!
I know that there is pretty much another month of summer, but for me as a teacher, I go back to work in two days. So summer is pretty much over. As always I had a mental list of things I wanted to accomplish this summer, and I'm pretty much sure I did close to none of it. Oops! At least the batteries are recharged? I also finished another Christmas Lites story today! It's been 9(?) years since it has started and I've had a story in almost every edition! It's crazy and I love being part of this big project every year! It is a short sweet story this year. I try to change it up every year. I think I already know what I want to do next year!

I did a Facebook take over the other day and I got asked what my next project is. It made me think. I did put out a few stories this year after a little hiatus. If you all could see my computer folder you'd know that I do have plenty in the works. However, editing fees does slow things down. I do have a few things in the works and I might try something new editing wise to help be able to put more stuff out quicker, without breaking the bank. As you know I got married this summer and the hubby and I have some financial plans for the future. He supports me and my writing, but I want to make sure that help out with those plans.

So what am I working question that got me thinking. Number one, Pirate story, I have been saying this for year, but I will be making this happen and I am looking at covers so it is real! I will just have to come up with a better title and edit it and that will be out late this year, early 2020! Who doesn't like pirates? Number 2, Invisible Bond (Family Ties 2), another title that I've been saying that would be coming out soon. I need to beef it up a little and edit it, but that will be released 2020 as well. I'm currently working on a titleless story that is a little different than my other stories. I am enjoying it, but I am not 100% sure if it will be a full-on novel or a mini novella series like Mistakes is. I did write out a small outline for them, but I am leaning towards a novella series for that. Oh, and I do have my clone story that I will go back and scan through before beginning the editing process. I am sure there are others that I'm not thinking about that I want to work on, but I'm sure more new ones will pop up!
Happy Readings!

It's a band thing

Hello!
Look at this, two posts in one week! Do you think it'll last? I hope so. Right now I'm listening to some 90s/00s music. I'm kind of in the flashback feel. I'm writing one story (which I'll come back to), but I've started editing a band story. It is a short story for now, maybe eventually I'll revisit for a longer story. However, I think short and sweet is better for it. I don't know if I've brought this up or not before, but in high school I was in marching band. From grades four right until I graduated high school I was in band with my clarinet. My last year I decided to add Jazz band and tried to learn Alto Saxophone for it, it was interesting to say the least.

When I was in high school I did most of my writing, if you can't tell with me continuously saying I'm going back to rework a story. I don't know if it is because I had more time on my hands, or I was more creative then. To be honest, I'm hoping it is the first option. I started a story about being in band. It got out and the beginning might have been passed around by a few people. It ended up in my band director's hands, yikes! He took it, but I never heard or saw that printed copy again. He never addressed it with me either. I doubted he read it, if I was, I probably would have skimmed it purely out of curiosity.

Like many of my stories I got into a corner and stopped. As I was going through my old files to make sure I got everything on my new computer I came across the band story. I like to open up old stories every once in awhile to cringe at the writing style, but curious to see what that story was about because sometimes I forget. The bad grammar (yes it used to be worse!) didn't hide the funny story behind it. I talked to my friend Amy (cover of End of the Line second edition, not Amy Eye, but another friend of my from school who has been mentioned on here before) about the story. Then little by little the past month I finished it. It was fun to go back through the past at a few select football games and try to remember those days. Much like the main character living through it seemed trivial, but look back changes the view a little.

Unfortunately one of the things I did to rewrite it was to trim back on the number of characters. Originally I was going to have more characters based on people who impacted my band years. However, for a short story I thought they were too many, plus, I didn't want to contact that many people randomly on Facebook to get permission. After I finished my draft, I sent it to four people who I was in band with and their likeness made it into the story. I wanted to make sure that they were okay with a character that was like them, and okay with how they were projected.

It didn't take for the people to respond. I was pleasantly shocked because two of them I haven't talked to in a long time. However, all four were surprisingly surprised with their feedback. They thought it was funny and were curious on when it would be released. Which brings me to, I'm currently editing the band story which will be one of a few stories to be released in 2019. Hopefully 2019 will be as productive as I hope it will be! So if you are ready to laugh and relive (or if you're currently living through) the band days, please keep your eyes out for the story that I called Band Story. I'm hoping to come up with a better title soon. Also, some events in the story are real, and some aren't, it'll be up to you to figure out which is real or not.

I am also hoping to include a couple of pictures in the back of the story as well. Maybe ;)

What's next?

Happy Monday!
Last night I finished the epilogue for Mistakes #5. I had finished that awhile ago, but the ending felt unfinished for me, which is one of my issues with short stories to begin with. Then in the midst of editing Call for Help I figured out what I wanted to do. Between all the other edits I put that on hold and finally was just now able to go back to it.

I know each story was a bout a different group and them finally coming together. So i gave each group their own ending in the epilogue. I feel much better with the ending now. Hopefully I can get that and a couple others to an editor soon. My financial situation kind of changed recently and hopefully will again soon so that I can get three stories to an editor soon. Plus getting stuff ready for my wedding in a few months. Wow that was crazy to say!

So until then, what am I going to be working on writing wise you may ask? That is a very good question. I'm debating on fixing up q scifi story I started in high school. After hanging out with some friends they suggested I write a horror story, apparently they thought I had a little sick in the head. I'll have to see what works out attention span wise and keep you all in the loop!

Until then, please come visit next weekend because I will be doing a cover reveal of Beneath the Scars 3, Define a Hero!

A long line

Good morning!
It is technically still before noon so I can still say that! It is Friday! Yes! However, also sad because it is also the last Friday off because I start back to full time on Wednesday. Back to balancing teaching and writing. Did I write everything that i had planned to this summer? No, but i got a lot of editing done which in the long run I knew was coming.

Which brings me to today's post. No it isn't a title of another End of the Line book ;) . It's what I have right now, a long line. So Call for Help (Beneath the Scars 2) is currently with my editor Jenn. She is a good way through. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did writing it. You'll get to meet a couple of the characters on Facebook this week as I do a character takeover this week.

Sadly End of the Line 2 Amy is not able to finish editing and that is fine. Jenn will be working on that within a couple of months. I keep going back and forth with the name I have two ideas for it Walking a Thin Line or Off the Beaten Path. I would love to see it as a trilogy, but i dont want to force anything either.

Talking about series, I went over the last Mistakes story and will be submitting it to an editor next so the werewolf story will be out in time for Halloween! Then Mistakes is done, which is weird to say, the five novella series done. I enjoyed writing paranormal, I don't touch it much as i probably should.

Okay that's three stories that are either at an editor or will be soon. My mom went through my pirate story that I wrote back in high school. I took it and refurbished it. I'm going to tweak the title, but here is another story that is in line for an editor. These characters might be more patient than the next character.

Who would have thought you'd hear the name Abby again? Invisible Bonds is my next for me to go through her edits then send to an editor. It is a little shorter and might end up being a novella instead.

Lastly, I just sent Define a Hero (Beneath the Scars 3) to my mom. We will see what she thinks when she edits it. She liked the second one. We'll see what she thinks of the third and last installment of the trilogy. The ending got me ;)

Haha like I said a whole lot of editing this summer! I started a new project which is a little different, but I'm excited to write again! Despite school starting up I hope to get some writing in as well.

Wow long post I'm sorry. Happy Friday!!

Mistakes and happenings

Hi!
Sorry I've been a little MIA, forgive the first year teacher! This week I had some paperwork, grades, meetings, and observations this week so my brain is really fried. I like to bake to relax, it might be weird, but I enjoy it, baking gets my mind elsewhere. So I was told I could put eggs in the freezer and the next day they would be fine. Yeah, I won't be freezing eggs again! As I tell my kids, 'everyone makes mistakes'. Yeah I did a doesy today! They were still slightly frozen, so I put them in the microwave after I took the shell off. I ended up with scramble eggs in my dough. I had to restart and use yogurt because those were my last eggs... vanilla yogurt don't worry! It tastes good last time I did that. Hopefully it will again, because I might trick my friend Ryan with them to see if he notices a difference.

Now you might be thinking, that I say I write to relax. I do, don't get me wrong, but I also like to cook even if I'm not the best at it. My Aunt has Project US and she will be editing that next! Hopefully it's worth the build up...and I've been editing little by little my pirate story again :) I swear I haven't forgotten about my writing!
~Ottilie

Interview ~ Jenn Waterman

Hey Lovelies,
For those who pay attention to the Superbowl, have fun! I was in marching band in high school and missed only one varsity football game in four years so I had my fair share of football for awhile. Keep your eyes out because this week I'll be posting information about a giveaway that I'll be hosting this month. It's no secret that Valentine's Day isn't a biggie for me and never has even back in Elementary school so before I get yelled out by people it isn't just because I'm single. I'll probably talk about that on the day I announce the giveaway (probably will be tomorrow).

Awhile ago I did an interview with Amy Eye who is one of the editors that I have used. Jenn is the other editor that I trust. Finding an editor can be hard, especially with the internet there are so many out there you are not sure who is real or who will run off with your money never to be heard from again. Jenn has worked on Family Ties and Beneath the Scars. Amy and Jenn both know their stuff, are able to break things down for me if I ask questions along the way, and have no problem pointing out holes in the plot if there are any. Here is her website and here is her interview.

1. For how long have you been an editor?

I've been editing for more than a decade. I started off as an intern at a local magazine, and just went from there.

2. Was it hard to start your own editing company?

It was hard to build a reputation and find work. Now it's gotten a little easier. A little :)

3. You've edited just about every genre out there, what's your favorite to work on?

I haven't really worked on any paranormal/urban fantasy stuff, which is what I read a lot of , the closest job was about dragons – that was fun. But I do like just about anything.

4. What is your favorite desert?

Oh man, I don't know. I love cheesecake, but brownies are definitely a favorite.

5. What is your favorite pet?

I'm simple, I love my cat and dog. I've never had any exotic pets, and I've tried keeping fish, but wasn't very good at it.

6. What is your favorite book? (Can be a book you haven't edited!)

I have no idea! I have a shelf on my GoodReads account for favorites, and there's nearly 200 on there.

7. What is your favorite movie?

Again, too many.  One that I found intriguing was The Nines, an indie with Ryan Reynolds and Melissa McCarthy.

8. You are a big supporter of strong female characters, who is your favorite?

Rylee Adamson from Shannon Mayer's books is one, Gin Blanco from the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep is another.  Kiera Hudson (Tim O'Rourke's books) and Ava Delaney kick ass too (Claire Farrell wrote that series).

9. What can you tell us about your editing services? Can you do a break down of the different types of editing services?

I do simple proofreading to line editing and content editing. Most of the work I do is extensive copy edits – doing all the copy work but keeping an eye on the consistency of plot and character, and tightening things up by getting rid of extra/unneeded words.

10. What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't working?

Read. I'm a total book addict.

11. What is your favorite season?

Autumn. Always has been.

12. Who is your favorite character of all time? Why?

Impossible to answer. There's just too many. Characters affect me in different ways, and sometimes ones that don't give me a strong reaction are my favorites over ones that do elicit strong feelings.

13. What is your favorite kind of muffin?

Blueberry!! Yummy!

14. What advice can you give for authors?

Don't think you're immune to needing editing or feedback from beta readers. They're not looking to tear your baby to pieces. For me, my goal is to help make readers love a work as much as the author. Good betas and editors have the same goal as you do, they want it to be the best it can. They're there to help.

15. What advice can you give for people who want to become editors?
Read a lot. Get involved in the author community. Always be open to listening and get to know the people you work with.

Interview ~ Amy Eye

Hey Lovelies!
Today I have a special treat. I did an interview with Amy Eye who is the owner of The Eyes for Editing. She is one of the two editors that I use. She is great, knowledgeable, and friendly. For me have trouble trusting services over the internet because you really don't know who is on the other end. With editing services too, you just don't know where you are sending your money or if the people will actually fulfill the services. Amy though, she will work with the writer and be what they need, straight to the point to hand holder. I love working with her and hope to do so in the future. She has worked on End of the Line second edition and Shadows from the Past. Here is an interview.

Interview

1. For how long have you been an editor?
I’ve been editing for as long as I can remember, it seems.  LOL  Some days it seems like it’s been decades, other days – maybe just a month or so.  Usually those days are determined by how quiet my kids are when I’m working, the pull of the moon on the tides and just how cranky I am that day.  :)

2. Was it hard to start your own editing company?
It was really scary, actually. You never know what is going to happen when you jump out into the world and start working for yourself, especially when you have three kids who depend on you to not mess up.  LOL And it was most definitely a challenge.  All I can say is THANK YOU to Journalstone Publishing for giving me a chance.  Had it not been for Christopher Payne, I never would be doing this for a living today.  No joke. 

3. You've edited just about every genre out there, what's your favorite to work on?
My absolute favorite is YA and Middle grade.  I love knowing that children will read what I am working on and, hopefully, encourage their love of reading throughout their lives.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
I would have to say raspberry cheesecake. That is heaven one little slice at a time!

5. What is your favorite pet?
My bearded dragon, Seraphina, would probably insist that I say it was her… but I love all animals.  I own a small zoo!  :P

6. What is your favorite book? (Can be a book you haven't edited!)
My favorite all-time books are the Harry Potter series. That book came to me at a time where I needed an escape from the world, and Hogwarts is my fantasy land. I love the interaction between the characters, the morals behind the books, the wisdom of Albus Dumbleore, the angst of Snape… I could keep going, but I think I’ve bored all of my friends enough for a lifetime.  LOL!!

7. What is your favorite movie?
I’m not a huge movie or TV person, but my latest favorite was The Hunger Games.  Favorite movie of all-time may be Clue.  Love Tim Curry!

8. You use to do Journal Jabber, how did you get started in that?
That would be another salute to Journalstone.  I was helping to book radio interviews for the authors at Journalstone, when Christopher thought I would be great at interviewing… as they say, the rest is history.  I began fumbling my way around the blog talk internet circuits on episode at a time until I really got the hang of it and found my stride. The show is still going strong, and one of my best friends Angela Yuriko Smith is hosting the show now, and I still pop in to conduct interviews from time to time.

9. You also work on Christmas Lites collection, which is a collection of short stories to raise money for the NCADV. What is your favorite process about working on that collection?
Knowing that I and the authors behind the book will be able to make a difference in the lives of people who need it the most.  The NCADV is an amazing organization that does so much to improve the lives of those who suffer at the hands of loved ones. This is just one way that we can all give to those who need it.

10. Can you tell us anything about the third edition of Christmas Lites?
That it is going to be absolutely amazing!  We have stories in there that cover just about every genre there is.  There is something in that book for everyone!

11. What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't working?
Well, I’m an avid reader, and I love to play video games. Right now, I’m blasting my way through Dragon Age Origins, and I try to eliminate zombies at least three times a week with my best friend, Mikey. I’m really a nerd in the true sense of the word.

12. What is your favorite season?
Spring.  I think that’s the case for a lot of people.  But I love when the chill in the air is replaced with the sounds of spring.  The birds pecking around in the new grass, the sound of kids yelling in the street on their bikes… After the heaviness of winter, the spring always feels like a new beginning.

13. Who is your favorite character of all time? Why?
Albus Dumbledore.  He was a patient, wise and good man. He gave unselfishly and knew his limitations.  Never before have I read a character who imparted such knowledge and wisdom, true wisdom, to not only the characters in his book, but to the readers.  He touched me as a reader in a way that none have before.

14. What is your favorite kind of muffin?
Poppy seed!  OOHHH, now, I’m hungry…  thanks a lot.  LOL!

15. It is fall, and everything is coming up as pumpkin flavored everything, do you have a favorite pumpkin flavored item?
I’m actually not a huge fan of pumpkin.  :P  I love to carve them and I love eating baked pumpkin seeds, but I don’t like the whole pumpkin flavor thing…

16. What advice can you give for authors?
Read, write and revise.  Reading helps give you an idea of what you like and what you don’t. It helps build your creativity.  You get to see what other authors have done and it really does help to give you the sense that anything is possible when you write.  Writing is important.  If you don’t do it, you will never improve. Writing is a skill that takes years to perfect, and if you don’t continuously write, your skills will get rusty. Revising is great for learning as well. Go through what you have written and look at it from an outsider’s view. How can you make it better?  How can you trim out extra words.  How can you develop your feel and tone with your choice of words?  These exercises will make a huge difference in your writing.  And the more you do it, the more it will become an ingrained part of your writing.

17. What advice can you give for people who want to become editors?
LEARN, LEARN, and then LEARN some more. Rules are always changing, the needs of the clients are always changing.  Learn the grammar rules, learn about the market you are working in, learn how to be patient.  Learn to have a thick skin.  Learn to love your job and your authors.  Without them, you are nothing.

webesite: http://theeyesforediting.com/

Title complications

Hey Lovelies,
It is no secret that I have trouble with titles. I'm working on a second New Adult novel. Beneath the Scars is currently with Jenn, she's worked on Family Ties both edition and is owner of Modern Electra Editing. So while she is editing Beneath the Scars I'm looking for cover ideas and writing other stories. I'm going to enjoy my time before classes start up once again. I don't know how much time I'll have for writing, I'm hoping some because I don't want to work myself into bad stress point like last time. I'm going to try to find the balance in grad school, that and I'll be working two jobs, yay. I do have an idea for the cover though :)

So the title problem I'm having is with my New Adult story The Four Purposes of Oil. I like the title, it is different, but I worry it might be too long. It is a bit of a mouthful. So do you guys like The Four Purposes of Oil or would you like Service and Repair better? Or is Service and Repair too corny? Figures I have a cover idea for this and I'm only a little over 13K into it...

The Four Purposes of Oil/Service and Repair

Chapter One Noah
Chapter Two Payton

Grad School

Hey Lovelies!
I know when I graduated in May with my BA in History Secondary Education from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) that I wouldn't go back to school. However I'm having a little trouble finding a teaching job in this economy so I decided to try what I had been toying with since high school, get my certificate so that I could teach Special Education. So applied to Georgian Court University by me, and I got in. So I'll get my certificate of TSD (Teacher of Students with Disabilities), but if I take 5 more class on top of the 7 then I get my masters on top of my teaching certificate. As much as I want to write for the rest of my life I also like teaching. I like being able to help students and to teach them, yes there are moments where I get frustrated, but it's a job you get what you put in. There will always be that one day, but what about the other days? I can't wait to get my own classroom, but till then I'll be subbing and earning my TSD :)

By the way on a side note Beneath the Scars was printed out on computer paper and I gave it to my Grammy to edit. I got too antsy waiting for a friend who has had it over a year and a half and I have been having trouble getting a hold of her as well. Bad combo. So my Grammy is going to give me comments and edit, I like to have someone else read it before giving my story to an editor go through it. More eyes the better! Thought I'm almost done writing the short story for Christmas Lites III which raises money for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, that and I have been already trying to picture Beneath the Scars' cover. You know getting ahead of myself...Welcome to both sides of my world, education and writing...
~Ottilie