Death Match Survival Mode, & IWSG

Isn't that pretty much how you feel about life? I found myself thinking today, "Oh well she only has 3 kids, so, you know." Ugh. I'm that mom. But there's some truth to it. Every time we add a new thing to our lives, there's an adjustment period, and it feels for a short time like we're going to lose our minds.

On that note, I'm here to lighten your mood and take some of the stress off--because heaven knows I need it too!

Feeling a little beat up?

Take a load off.

Put on some feel good jams and groove!

Break out your super powers

Find joy in the moment

And when things don't work out, don't be afraid to retreat to a safe place.

On a related note, how about the IWSG question for the month: How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/finish a story?

I go out to eat. Yup. That's the truth of it--or I leave the kids behind and go for a victory lap/drive. Oh, and I always post about it ALL over social media.

Huge thanks for hosting
Alex Cavanaugh, Mary Aalgaard, Bish Denham, 
Jennifer Hawes, Diane Burton, and Gwen Gardner!

Last month, Bethany Kaczmarek, editor extraordinaire, offered a first chapter edit and shared two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win.

The game:

1. I have a significant fear of waxed mustaches. As in, I close my eyes and back away rather than deal with them.
2. I write best when I'm in a room that's between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. I once put my sister's contact in her eye for her--with my spit.

The lie: #1. 

Bethany doesn't fear mustached. She thinks those are schnazzy--unless they're underneath crazy, unkempt eyebrows. Those? She will make an excuse and leave, do business over the phone, or do anything she can think of to politely get away from.

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Susan Flett Swiderski!

Congrats, Susan!

There is no giveaway this month, regrettably, because instead of being on social media, I've been feeding a baby her first solid foods, hosting family in my home for 2 weeks, and preparing for two family birthdays. Oh, and writing! *cheers* 

What big accomplishment have you made this month? Any parenting blunders you want to share? What are you boxing out in your person death match?

Squee worthy ANNOUNCEMENT, and an Editing Giveaway

GUESS WHAT?!?

I'm bursting out of my skin today because it's finally time to announce my debut novel, MOONLESS, will be released November 13, 2013 by Raybourne Publishing. Yippee!!! Who wants to celebrate by eating cheese with me?

Better yet, who is so incredibly awesome that they'll help me spread the word?

Sign up for the blog tour or cover reveal HERE. (Please?)


And now to the business of our Writerly Wednesday Truth and Lie game. *rubbing hands*

As part of last week's major giveaway including multiple awards, I offered a free ebook ($5 gift card to Amazon) for one lucky person who shared their favorite cheese and took a stab at guessing my random number.

Well, there were a number of awesome (and brazen) guesses, but the magic number was actually 49. Nice try people!

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Carol Riggs

Congrats, Carol!

On to today.

So, you've written a really great book. Everyone says so. (Your mom, your brother, your friends.) You want to publish it, but there's a nagging sensation at the back of your mind, a little voice that whispers, "You're not ready. It's not good enough. No one will want to read this."

How do you silence that voice?

The answer for me was acquiring an editor. Understand, I have the most amazing critique partners, and such fabulous beta readers. I've even been blessed to work with a writing coach who handled slush pile entries at a small publishing house, and many years ago, a wonderful literary agent friend.

But that voice rarely dims below a scream in my head.

So an editor. I received recommendations and researched probably fifty of them, searching for someone who specialized in ALL of my genres--someone who would be a personality match for me/my writing. This couldn't be just any editor. It had to be THE editor. You know what I'm talking about? The person who loves your work like you do, the person who strives to help mold your story by YOUR vision, the person who energizes you when you're ready to throw in the towel?

A synergist.

Narrowing it down to 10 editors who worked on books I adored, I started the "interview" (email) process. I had some wonderful and very professional discussions with several editors. There are so many fabulous ones out there, but I knew when I found the one. Her enthusiasm for the project was enough to silence that screaming doubt at the back of my mind.

Dead. Silence.

And it went that way for the entire duration of our exchanges.

It's with great pleasure that I recommend Bethany Kaczmarek at A Little Red, Inc. I can't say too much good about this woman--and the selfish monster sitting in my brain wants me to shut up right now so I can keep her all to myself, but that would be wrong. (Or would it?)

Bethany kept me laughing while editing, and sought to preserve and cultivate my vision for the characters/plot. Her communications were regular and timely. Her feedback came in pieces so I wasn't overwhelmed by the immensity of the entire project. These interactive edits left me feeling 100% certain I could stop listening to that voice at the back of my head permanently. And let's talk timetable here: this woman is wicked fast.

So, why do I tell you all that? Because if you need an editor (and you do), you have to find the one that's right for you--but you can't do better than Bethany. No, seriously.

And, lucky for you, Bethany is offering a free 5 page edit to the winner of our Truth or Lie game today!

So here we go! Can you guess the lie?

     1. Bethany tore her ACL watching a Steelers game. On her couch.

     2. Bethany has been bitten on the hand by a flamingo.

     3. She learned to drive stick on the dirt roads of a little place called Hell Hole Swamp.

Alright human lie detectors, which is the lie? And have you signed up for my blog tour yet? *batting eyes*

Editing Giveaway!

Do you need some help with editing? I ALWAYS do. In fact, I'm a firm believer in editing a book to death.

P.S. She didn't give me permission
to use this picture, but I wanted to use
a personal rather than professional shot.

I have an amazing friend and critique partner who has recently begun to offer her services professionally. Now, I have worked with a number of people over the years, but Rachel is by far THE BEST. She specializes in sci-fi and fantasy, but has been kind enough to branch out to historical, and even dabbled in romance for my sake. (You're the best, Rachel!) I swear the woman never stops reading, and her understanding of the whole story process/balance is mind-blowing. She's the first person I want digging through my mess of a manuscript, and the last stamp of approval I want before sending it out the door.

Right now Rachel is giving away

       1. A fifty page edit
       2. A ten page edit
       3. A 2-round query help

So how do you enter the giveaway? Hit her site and share word about the giveaway by tweeting, blogging, or leaving a comment about the contest. --But you have to hurry. Her giveaway ends on June 8th.

And that leads me to a point of curiosity. How many edits do you go through before standing back and calling it good?