WBelle Author

I’m all set for the writers conference being held this November on the gorgeous island of Kauai in Hawaii. Booked the conference, luau, my room and two fifteen minute pitch sessions with two agents.

Things are coming together for this; my book is in final beta reading and has been edited and edited. It’s about as ready as I can get it. A little more tweaking and I will try to not play with it anymore. Every artist knows there is a time in the process that you have to stop. At least for a while. Is there more to do? Probably, and I’ll be very happy to listen to an agent’s suggestions. It may be my book, but it’s their business and they know how to bring out the best in a manuscript.

Not only will I get a chance to meet face to face with some of my Hawaii Writer’s Guild friends [zoom works, but in person is best] but I get to rub elbows with famous authors and take classes to improve my work. Not to mention the luxury of the resort. As I told the guy on the reservation line, I wanted a room at the resort so I could be close to the events, I wasn’t going to hang out in the room. I don’t need a fancy room, just a comfy bed, hot shower and fresh towels for the pool. Oh, and wifi for writing. Can’t forget the writing.

Guess I didn’t think Calico Circus through well enough as a title. Apparently when people read Calico, they think of cats. Which is not what the book is about! The calico in the title refers to a multi colored garment/skin one of the important characters wears.

To prevent any confusion and to help focus on the main character, Addy, I changed the title to Dragon Dreams. After all, the story is about dragons and shapeshifting, not cats, multicolored or otherwise. Too bad, I really liked it as a title. But putting dragons in the title does point the kids who like dragon and shapeshifting type stories in the right direction; Mine!

And to think, if I hadn’t happened to speak to my grown son about the book, he would never have mentioned cats. And I would have used the wrong title for my dragon book.

RIP Chromebook

I did end up getting a new laptop. And this time I got a windows based one so I can use Word, or in my case, Open Office, which mimics word. So far I haven’t had any trouble. It was a pain in the arse recreating all my favorites but on the bright side, I was able to dump a bunch I never use.

Right now I’m editing You Are What You Eat and boy, is it a laborious process this time! I’m doing a development edit and got advice on improving static scenes and POV. It means a lot of re-writing so there is no telling when this might be ready. I’m also kicking around an idea for a new book to be started in NaNoWriMo. It’s a middle grade stand alone based on the Pied Piper but set in modern day Appalachian mountains. Lots of fun with research. Right now I’m learning how to hunt for mushrooms.

This is all dependent on PitchWars mentorship. If I get in, the YAWYA edit and MG book will be shelved. My shelves can handle it.

Laptop Not Charging

For about six months, I’ve been having an issue with the charger on my Chromebook. At first it wasn’t charging fully. Now it’s not charging at all. Living in a remote area of the Big Island in Hawaii makes getting replacements for such things difficult. I’ve checked the websites for Walmart and Target and they both carry chargers but, and it’s a big but here, do that carry the one I need? It’s not like I can go to the next story.

For this reason, I will likely not be on for a few days. If I’m lucky, I will be able to drive and hour to the closest Walmart and they will have what I need. Otherwise it will mean waiting for Amazon. 

Editing My Vampire Sequel

If writing has taught me one thing, it’s that editing is just as important as the initial creating. And, surpisingly, fun. My sequel to Eternal Diet is back from the editor and I am enjoying the challenges she set for me. I look at her suggestions and go “Yeah, how did I miss that?”

Gotta go. Lots of editing to do.

Arrrggghhh

A few months ago I had sent a version of Arista Doyle to several agents. Didn’t hear anything again and forgot about it. Now these past few days when I eagerly open my gmail every morning to see if any Mentors have reached out to me, no thought of earlier submissions exists in my head. This morning I saw an email with the words Arista Doyle in it and my heart rate jumped. Was this a mentor asking for more pages? Trembling finger pushed on the link. Nope. Not a mentor reaching out. An agent. And not even an agent, his assistant which is why I didn’t recognise the name. He passed.

I understand he doesn’t want it. But could the timing be any worse?? Tenter hooks are terrible things to be hanging by.

Just Realized

I’ve never really given a bio on here.

I was born in the suburbs of Long Island, New York, where I never truly felt at home. In 1986, my husband and two children moved to a small farm in the Shenandoah Valley Virginia. Now THERE I felt at home. We raised a few animals and added one more child to the family.

One of my favorite memories of the farm is milking the goats. On cold mornings, I’d briskly rub my hands together to warm them up before touching the teats [no one likes cold hands, especially in such a sensative spot]. I’d lean into the warm flank and enjoy the smell of clean hay, grain and warm milk as it streamed into the pail. Goats are quite intelligent and kind if you let them be.

The best doesn’t always last and in 2002 I moved to North Carolina and got a job in a library. Best job ever. Now I’m living in Hawaii with two of my three kids and a few grandkids. Maybe we’ll get goats, it is on the agenda.

My writing career began in sixth grade with my teacher Mr. Goodman. He fired me up to creating stories and taught me how to setup the story and deliver it. I never really stopped writing since, even though life did limit the time to indulge.

Serious writing began about a decade ago when I started my adult Vampire book Eternal Diet. The idea came when a few of my library co workers were joking about how book genre covers were always similar. Vampires always showed thin, graceful modelesque people. We postulated; What if something went wrong? You’ll have to read the book to learn more.

Arista Doyle and the Secret of the Bees actually started out as an adult murder mystery. It was about 1/3 done when I began to have problems figuring out how to have the MC solve the murder. One night, it came to me. Woke me up even. Give one of the minor characters, an autistic girl,  the ability to communicate with animals. Since the bees were blamed for the death, have the bees plead their innocence.

There were several drafts and edits and lots of agony over what to do and how to do it. This version is as close to my vision as I can get it.

So, here I am, living in paradise, waiting to see if my writing is enjoyed by others.

For Better Or Worse

I’ve submitted Arista Doyle and the Secret of the Bees to PitchWars. Now for the finger crossing. It’s as good as I can make it. I know it needs more help and I really, really, really hope a mentor picks me. I have one in particular, but I’m not gonna jinx it by writing it here. Sorry.