Everything writing related from feathers to soaring
Today I’m celebrating the first review of Spiral of Hooves on Amazon.
My thanks to ‘Isabella’ for the great words and the generous five stars.
Thanks also to all who have taken the plunge and started reading my words, and for all the encouragement.
Keep the reviews coming.
Cover credit: Danielle Sands
Setting New Year Resolutions is a bad idea, and I’m entitled to say that after six decades filled with failed attempts. That is also the motivation not to make that mistake this year, so no resolutions. I promise.
On January 1st 2013 I wrote a post entitled How hard are the Three Rs. It was an attempt to look ahead at my plans and resolutions for 2013, and to reflect on 2012. I admit that even though I achieved a few of the goals – publication, an editor, new readers, and maxing two MMORPG characters – I failed at the harder tasks, like writing 100k in 100 days and getting more drafts revised.
Therefore for 2014 I have a very simple To Do List, with one item: write or edit a few words each day. In that way the ‘bait for the bull’ is less overt, and I might even get something finished, be it a novel like Wyrm Bait or a short story.
Back in December I made the rash decision to do 100k in 100 days again. My total last January-April was 15,411 and in the summer I improved that by writing 32k in 100 days. What was I thinking? Not a good idea. I knew that it was impossible with all the preparation for our move at the end of February/early March.
Perhaps, having written over 50k in November for NaNoWriMo, I had a false sense of my capabilities. At least then I had a clear outline for ‘Tortuous Terrain’, and I knew my characters plus the ending. Yes, the first draft of ‘Tortuous Terrain’ has joined the queue, and one day it will be revised.
A short story set in the fantasy world eluded to in Wyrm Bait did inspire 1,530 words over the first two days of January. But even with this post I will be behind on the challenge. And I haven’t even missed a day through ill-health.
However, I signed up for My 500 Words: A Writing Challenge, which is more manageable, especially if I can count the same words for both challenges. But maybe I am misinterpreting the rules since my 1,500 word story was written over two days, so I cannot carry the surplus forward… or even future shortfalls. Does that mean that I fail again?
Unless I waffle on for another 107 words.
Therefore I will end by saying that, although I will do one or two more Spiral of Hooves interviews, I am considering changing what I blog about. Since the future priority has to be getting another novel published, and Wyrm Bait is the most evolved, I will blog more about the fantasy, cyber-crime and gaming elements that I am researching for short stories being written against the same background. Short stories are going to have to be part of my future. I may even revise some really old manuscripts.
Or do you have any better suggestions?
Which of my post have you enjoyed most?
Should I take more photos and write less?
Or do you want to taste more fiction?
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 3,900 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.
horse pulled sled (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Listening to Christmas music from traditional Carols to Country & Western renditions, I know that it is Christmas Eve, and tomorrow is when many will celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. Family is also central to the festivities, and many will be gathered around beautiful Yule trees. And there will be presents. I will be with some of my family, although aware of the faces that are missing, especially my late mother, Nidia.
On the Solstice, I posted my initial greetings for this special and wondrous period of the year, plus some links to other words of wisdom and wit. In that spirit, I wish to say that my joyful thoughts and wishes go out to all my readers, however and whenever you choose to celebrate the great gifts that are granted to us.
However, the images of those that suffer cannot be ignored and my thoughts and prayers are with them. Whether they are hungry, struggling to make ends meet, in fear of their lives, or persecuted for their beliefs, we have to stand up and fight for their rights while we have food, money and love. Perhaps in 2014 there can be true Peace on Earth, and Goodwill to All Men,
Two Horsepower (Photo credit: Peter E. Lee)
Cover credit: Danielle Sands
Amazon International: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=spiral+of+hooves+ebook
Amazon United Kingdom: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=spiral+of+hooves+ebook
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spiral-of-hooves-roland-clark/1117653777?ean=2940149032099
Cover credit: Danielle Sands
‘Spiral of Hooves’, the first novel in the Chasseur series will be released tomorrow, Monday December 9th. It will be available at Amazon and at Barnes & Noble from tomorrow. I will also post further details of how you can acquire your copy here on Writing Wings, along with other tasty treats.
For openers, you are invited to come and celebrate this launch of my first novel in Cyber-Style at Facebook. Just click on the Party portal: https://www.facebook.com/events/670384243007052/?fref=ts
Join the Spiral of Hooves Party and mingle with lots of lovely cyber guests, indulging in cyber fun, food and drinks. It will start midday UK time and keep going for at least 12 hours, as I’ve got family and friends in the US, and beyond. As it goes on into the late evening, US guests can log in after work… if they haven’t dropped in while working. (Bosses are invited too.)
So you can just drop in on Facebook, say hi, chat about me, the book, the weather… and play some competitions that might win you anything from a rosette to an e-book signed by some author guy
The Party has a Horse theme, although the novel is a murder mystery as well. (Only people were killed in the making of the novel). So bring your favourite horse or pony; there’s plenty of cyber-space and food for four-legged friends. They might even win a rosette in one of the horse themed competitions. Riding attire optional.
Suitable attire
You don’t have to be there physically to attend our cyber party, or the cyber food and wine. And as an e book, ‘Spiral of Hooves’ will be available to all shoppers regardless of where you live.
And to whet your appetite, you will be able to download a PDF of the opening chapter for FREE. Watch this space as this tasty treat may provide you with the solution to winning a copy of ‘Spiral of Hooves’.
This is my first published book and I am so grateful for all the support and encouragement that I am already getting.
There will be more information on the Party page as updates so keep an eye out for them.
Thanks…you guys are all the best!!!!!!
For further information: Visit the ‘Spiral of Hooves’ page on this site ~
Or visit http://www.spectaclepmg.com/2013/08/coming-soon-spiral/
Planning and plotting the Party
Writing Wings 