Sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the tasks I've set for myself. When this happens, I usually revert to a former version of myself. One that would with the click of a button, would give up any pretense of getting work done and become glued to moving pictures and sound. I cash it in and turn on the television.
And then I watch disaster flicks.
See, about two and half years ago I started turning on Pandora or Slacker or some other music service instead of turning on TV. I recognized that my free time was less about getting things done and more about zoning out and relaxing.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But that I wasn't getting anything done. My manuscript word count remained unchanged. The pile of projects I intended to create sat untouched. Something had to change. So, with almost no regret, we decided to discontinue our cable. Yes, I miss the History Channel and SyFy, but I get by without them.
Instead, I have sewn, read, written, edited, penguined (yes, it's a verb for me) and more. I have taken productivity to a new level. Check out my projects page to some details!
Sometimes, I just need a break. This usually falls on Sunday (#moviesunday on twitter), my most and least productive day depending. Enter disaster films. My favorite is The Day After Tomorrow followed closely by Twister, then Independence Day (Yes I consider this a disaster flick. Aliens are probably real.)
I don't always feel renewed at the end of one which means I usually watch Harry Potter or the Avengers to complete my journey. (Thor and Tony Stark usually do the trick!)
When Monday afternoon rolls around, after I punch the clock at the day job and finish up at whatever cafe I've decided to write in for a couple of hours, I come home and get to work. Sometimes I sew, sometimes I blog, sometimes I dance around the basement and sing along with my hair bush as my mic.
I can usually go about a month before needing a straight up veg out day. And that is completely acceptable to me.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Little snippets
Sometimes I get scenes that flash into my head. They don't belong with a character or in a book that I'm working on. I might use them in the future--MIGHT. I know, even if they never make it into a story, I have to write them down.
Rather than have them get lost in the piles of half used notebooks languishing in my office never to be looked at again, I thought I may as well type them up here. At least they will be easy to copy and paste should I decide to use them!
She could feel him staring at her from across the room, his gaze burning through her. She refused to look up and acknowledge him. She understood why he'd said the things he'd said and asked for space. Being the understanding, overly polite individual she was, she decided to give him what he wanted. She'd told him he'd have to help her resist, to not be so readily available everywhere she went.
He wasn't holding up his end of their bargain.
She sipped her tea and turned the page even though she hadn't read a damn word since he'd walked in. Like the shock wave after a bomb, she'd known as soon as he'd entered the room. After another ten minutes of staring at words she wasn't comprehending and clenching her jaw, she tossed the book aside and tipped her head back, aligning her gaze with his without much effort. She knew the very tilt of her head signaled the depth of her displeasure.
For good measure, she raised her brows.
He chuckled but made no move toward her. So this was how he was going to play it.
Rather than have them get lost in the piles of half used notebooks languishing in my office never to be looked at again, I thought I may as well type them up here. At least they will be easy to copy and paste should I decide to use them!
She could feel him staring at her from across the room, his gaze burning through her. She refused to look up and acknowledge him. She understood why he'd said the things he'd said and asked for space. Being the understanding, overly polite individual she was, she decided to give him what he wanted. She'd told him he'd have to help her resist, to not be so readily available everywhere she went.
He wasn't holding up his end of their bargain.
She sipped her tea and turned the page even though she hadn't read a damn word since he'd walked in. Like the shock wave after a bomb, she'd known as soon as he'd entered the room. After another ten minutes of staring at words she wasn't comprehending and clenching her jaw, she tossed the book aside and tipped her head back, aligning her gaze with his without much effort. She knew the very tilt of her head signaled the depth of her displeasure.
For good measure, she raised her brows.
He chuckled but made no move toward her. So this was how he was going to play it.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
DogStar Books: Cover Reveal for Mike Resnick
I'm a little late for the cover reveal but my intentions are good! Check out Mike Resnick's new book coming out this summer from Dog Star Books. I can't wait for the release!
BOOK: A Miracle of Rare Design
AUTHOR: Mike Resnick
ARTIST: Bradley Sharp
PUBLISHER: Dog Star Books
GENRE: Anthropological Science Fiction
SUMMARY: The best way to learn about an alien species is not only to live among them, but to become them in both physical form and function, but could a human really learn to think like an alien, and at what cost to his humanity?
Journalist and adventurer Xavier William Lennox becomes obsessed with the rituals of the Fireflies, an alien culture of gold-skinned inhabitants living on the planet Medina. When he gets too close to their mysterious society, he's captured, tortured, and banished for his curiosity, but vows to learn what it is that the aliens are so desperate to hide, even if it means becoming one of them.
But his curiosity doesn't end with the Fireflies. As opportunities arise to study more alien races, Lennox undergoes a series of cosmetic surgeries so that he can blend in with their cultures. But each time his humanity is stretched until he faces his biggest challenge—trying to return to the ordinary life of a man who has experienced the universe in ways he was never meant to.
RELEASE: Summer 2013
LINKS: Dog Star Books - http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.
Mike Resnick – http://mikeresnick.com
Bradley Sharp - http://www.bradsharp.co.uk/
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Cog Cover Reveal
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| In a futuristic world where personalities can be downloaded at will, who's a girl to trust? |
Cog is an amazing first release for Dog Star and I expect even better and brighter future to come. Stay tuned....
To find out more about Cog, check out K. Ceres Wright's website or check out the publisher, Dog Star Books.
Artwork for this cover was created by Bradley Sharp - you can find more information about his art here.
I can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Admitting
Admitting you can't do something can leave a bitter taste in your mouth. I have never believed that I couldn't do something. I still don't believe it. But there comes a point when you have to admit that maybe, with the limits of time and energy, you can't do something.
This is the place I find myself lodged this week.
I have several projects in my queue:
Last night, as I sat surrounded by little pieces of fabric, the brown tissue of the patterns and what was left of my willpower, I made the call. I will not be finishing the Halloween costume. I will not be working on the jacket. I MAY finish the Mustard dress but it's okay if I don't.
It's not okay if I don't finish the book. Just like that, priorities have been set.
Still, the unfinished projects haunt and taunt me. So know, if I can (meaning if I can do without a couple more hours of sleep here and there) I will finish the Jacket at least.....
PS: Did I mention I overslept last night? Methinks I push myself too hard....
This is the place I find myself lodged this week.
I have several projects in my queue:
- Finish my novel before World Fantasy (Nov 1)
- Make my Halloween Costume (Oct 27)
- Make my fall jacket--Cream Corduroy, 3/4 sleeve with over sized collar by Colette Patterns (which I hoped to wear on Oct 31st)
- Finish sewing buttons on my Asymmetrical Purple Pinstripe 40s dress. (Oct 31)
- Piece and sew my Mustard 40s dress (Oct 26)
Last night, as I sat surrounded by little pieces of fabric, the brown tissue of the patterns and what was left of my willpower, I made the call. I will not be finishing the Halloween costume. I will not be working on the jacket. I MAY finish the Mustard dress but it's okay if I don't.
It's not okay if I don't finish the book. Just like that, priorities have been set.
Still, the unfinished projects haunt and taunt me. So know, if I can (meaning if I can do without a couple more hours of sleep here and there) I will finish the Jacket at least.....
PS: Did I mention I overslept last night? Methinks I push myself too hard....
Monday, October 15, 2012
Will I be the next big thing?
Blog Hops The Next Big Thing - Week 16
Thank you to Heidi Ruby Miller ( @HeidiRubyMiller) for tagging me in this blog hop. Heidi is an amazing inspiration to me--she challenges me to write more and write harder everyday through simple words of encouragement and through her #WordWars on twitter. Check out her post, then hop on over and visit these authors.
John Edward Lawson (@bizzaroguy) - http://www.johnlawson.org
Mike Mehalek (@MikeMehalek) - http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com
Jason Jack Miller (@JasonJackMiller) - http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com
What is the working title of your book?
Unfathomable
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was driving north for work to deliver computer training to clinic lab workers. As I drove past all these Minnesota lakes, my mind filled with thoughts about the class I'd be teaching, I suddenly had a 'what if' moment. What if there was a species of lake people? And what if they were being tested and used for experimentation because of their abilities? What if.... my mind started racing.
Of course, I was driving at the time and the great state of Minnesota frowns on typing while operating a moving vehicle. Thank goodness for Siri!
What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy. It's a genre bender.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Gabby: Sarah Bolger
Ainsley: Emilie de Ravin
The Captain: Nathan Fillion
Marta: Jennifer Garner
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
After being ripped from her home in the middle of the night, Gabby must discover her hidden powers in order to rescue her mom and save her friends.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
We'll see how the dice fall....
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It's still in production, though the rough draft should be completed shortly. I have a November 1 deadline for myself...we'll see if I can make it!
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I'm not sure I know what to compare it to but it's probably a little Nicole Peeler (minus all the sex), James Dashner and maybe some C.J. Cherryh. A splash of water people mixed in with some run for your life adventure all while figuring out the conspiracy driving them.
Yes, that pun was intended.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I knew I would write this story eventually--see, I was working on something else when the idea popped into my head. John Edward Lawson slapped the gauntlet down and challenged me to finish this by November 1st. I don't like to say no to a challenge like that.
So I blame him!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
If you've never been afraid to swim in the water before, you might wonder after reading this, what is really down there?
Thank you to Heidi Ruby Miller ( @HeidiRubyMiller) for tagging me in this blog hop. Heidi is an amazing inspiration to me--she challenges me to write more and write harder everyday through simple words of encouragement and through her #WordWars on twitter. Check out her post, then hop on over and visit these authors.
John Edward Lawson (@bizzaroguy) - http://www.johnlawson.org
Mike Mehalek (@MikeMehalek) - http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com
Jason Jack Miller (@JasonJackMiller) - http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com
What is the working title of your book?
Unfathomable
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was driving north for work to deliver computer training to clinic lab workers. As I drove past all these Minnesota lakes, my mind filled with thoughts about the class I'd be teaching, I suddenly had a 'what if' moment. What if there was a species of lake people? And what if they were being tested and used for experimentation because of their abilities? What if.... my mind started racing.
Of course, I was driving at the time and the great state of Minnesota frowns on typing while operating a moving vehicle. Thank goodness for Siri!
What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy. It's a genre bender.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Gabby: Sarah Bolger
Ainsley: Emilie de Ravin The Captain: Nathan Fillion Marta: Jennifer GarnerAfter being ripped from her home in the middle of the night, Gabby must discover her hidden powers in order to rescue her mom and save her friends.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
We'll see how the dice fall....
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It's still in production, though the rough draft should be completed shortly. I have a November 1 deadline for myself...we'll see if I can make it!
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I'm not sure I know what to compare it to but it's probably a little Nicole Peeler (minus all the sex), James Dashner and maybe some C.J. Cherryh. A splash of water people mixed in with some run for your life adventure all while figuring out the conspiracy driving them.
Yes, that pun was intended.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I knew I would write this story eventually--see, I was working on something else when the idea popped into my head. John Edward Lawson slapped the gauntlet down and challenged me to finish this by November 1st. I don't like to say no to a challenge like that.
So I blame him!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
If you've never been afraid to swim in the water before, you might wonder after reading this, what is really down there?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Presence
I just attended the spectacular In Your Write Mind Workshop at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA this past weekend. Spectacular because I was able to reconnect with friends and fellow writers and also because I was able to build my network and schmooze with an amazing group of authors, editors and agents.
I only had one cringe worthy moment.
The blog should be my home base but instead, it was like my cabin. I only go there every once in a while when I have a free weekend and when the weather is nice. What I need to do is make my cabin my permanent residence. So I'll start here and hope I can keep up. In the meantime, I can be found on twitter @dlepsch and the In Your Write Mind shenanigans can be tracked there through #IYWMSHU.
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| Seton Hill University - Administration Building |
I only had one cringe worthy moment.
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| View of Greensburg from the Hill |
It was the moment when I realized I was not being authentic to my message. That message was about creating an online presence. I am quite active on twitter and Facebook and when I have to, I'll post to Google+ (which is the most worthless of all social media, IMO). I was not making a point to keep my blog updated.
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