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Showing posts with label critique partners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label critique partners. Show all posts

Monday, January 27, 2020

#Confession Time by Janice Seagraves

I have a confession...I haven't been writing anything new in two years.

However, I have been revising some old manuscripts. One is science fiction romance from my Chronicles of Arcon series and the other is something very old. My first book-length manuscript. I'm taking them both through critique groups and revising them.

How are you doing with your own writing? Are you writing anything new or revising something old?




Still free on Kindle Select:

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Blurb:
Morgan isn’t expecting romance when she accompanies her friend for a week of skiing, but when she meets Jared all bets are off.
Haunted by the loss of his parents, werecat Jared Catterick earns his keep working for the Catclaw Clan. Jared has secrets that he doesn’t mind sharing with a special lady, and he hopes Morgan is that special someone. When his past and present collide it’s worse than he imagined, and he’s forced to fight for his life.


Excerpt:
Auntie walked into the middle of the hollow. “We the Catcall Clan are gathered here together to witness a challenge. Called by Munch son of Tiger, who challenges Jared Catterick son of nobody.”
“I am the son of somebody,” Jared yelled. The sudden flow of anger had his heart pounding hard against his ribs.
“Who? What are their names?” Auntie crossed her arm and leaned on one hip and tapped a toe.
“I donna remember. I was too young when they killed them and took me away,” Jared muttered. “And she knows that.”
“Is Catterick your real last name?” Killer asked him in the canine speech.
“Aye. I donna remember much about me old life, but I never forgot me name.”
“Just tell her Mr. and Mrs. Catterick,” Killer said.
“Me parents were Mr. and Mrs. Catterick,” Jared said in a loud clear voice.
A few people around the hollow snickered.
Auntie gave a quick nod. “Jared son of Mr. and Mrs. Catterick. Munch challenges you for the death of his da, Tiger.”
Munch marched to Auntie’s side. He was every bit as big as his father. Well-muscled and not just tall but wide. Where Tiger’s hair was gray and white, Munch was blond and black. Another man accompanied him, his second, a tall, lanky male named Boyd. Jared knew him well, even though he was younger.
“Och. Here we go,” Jared told Killer and walked out into the middle of the hollow.
“He’s big,” Killer said in the canine speech.
“And ugly. I wouldna want to ride him into battle.”
Killer stayed at his side. “Psst.”
“Eh?”
“You can fight, right?” Killer asked.
“Aye.”
“Good to know.”
Auntie looked at both males. “Jared, as the challenged, you may decide on weapons and forms.”
“Human and no weapons,” Jared said.
“Very well,” Auntie said. “You may use your feet, hands, elbows and knees. Even your head if you feel the need.”
“What aboot sticks and stones?” Munch asked, his voice youthful.
“Will break my bones,” Jared said under his breath.
Killer snickered.
“No weapons,” Auntie shook a finger at Munch. “That includes sticks and stones.”
“Well,” Munch crossed his arms, “since I canna change into cat form, I think I should be able to use whatever I find in the hollow.”
“This isn’t a free-for-all, Munch. There is discipline to a challenge. You must remain in your human form and fight like a human. With this match, we’ll have a square go.”
“Not very cat-like.” Munch sniffed.
Auntie fisted her hands and leaned toward Munch. “You’re not a cat. You are a shifter. You shift between three forms. Now stay with one for the duration of the fight.”
“Doesn’t he understand?” Killer asked.
“A bit daft that one,” Jared muttered back. Munch doesn’t seem have a lot of self-control. Unlike Tiger who would have done exactly what Auntie said to the letter.
“Seconds, to the side.” Auntie pointed. “You may view the fight only. Do not interfere unless your partner is hurt or someone breaks the rules.”
Both Boyd and Killer trotted to edge of the clearing.
Jared stood facing Munch. Several feet separated them. Jared shook out his arms, moved his head from side to side, and loosened his muscles.
Auntie raised her hand and did a karate chop between them. “Now fight.”
“I swear on me da’s grave, I will end you!” Munch roared and the skin on his face boiled. His hands burst out of his gloves and feet from his boots. The shift made Munch bigger, tearing his clothes. He stopped in the in-between state, like movie werewolves of old, but in this case half-cat and half-human. The only thing that remained of his clothes was his black overall snow pants and even that stretched taunt across him. Extending his claws, he snarled and reached for Jared. “I want to see you bleedin’.”


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748CP9JH/

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Ups and Downs

This has been a week of ups and downs for me and my family. The lows include two close friends being diagnosed with cancers, my son (with whom we live) being laid off, and the death of our darling cat(we had her for 19 years). All rough patches. But there were high points too...The bookstore where I work held a book signing for me (and two other local authors) on Friday night. Though I had all three of my "print" books there, the focus was on my newest one, PRIME TIME, and I thought it went pretty well. During the signing, the local TV station came in and interviewed us and we made the 10:00 news. That was fun. My best friend and critique partner came over on Thursday and we spent several hours brainstorming and got problems worked out for both of us on our current works-in-progress.

That brainstorming session gave me the nudge (re: kick in the butt)to get focused. I was splitting my writing time between two stories, not into either one enough to really work on it much. According to my own logic, I was too concerned about my own issues to worry about a character's problems. And yes, I'm still worried, but I am also dealing, which I wasn't before.

My new story, a fantasy, is starting to shape up nicely. I've got the main characters named and fleshed out, the issues they're facing and when they're facing them charted out, and work done on secondary characters. I'm starting to love this book more and more with each day. The excitement of writing is back for me, plus, it's a bit cathartic. As I write my characters into - and out of - bad situations, I work through my own troubles. My characters are facing thing much worse than I'll ever face, and they're going to survive (at least, the two main ones will!) so I will too. Together, we'll all get through this. Like my characters in PRIME TIME, you can't hide from your problems, but have to face them. To find out more about PRIME TIME, or any of my other stories, click here. It will take you to my wordpress site where you can see both Vicky Burkholder, and Victoria Allen's stuff.

May you have a good day/week with more highs than lows.

Vicky/Victoria

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