Cog Cover Reveal

In a futuristic world where personalities can be
downloaded at will, who's a girl to trust? 

Today marks the cover reveal of K. Ceres Wright's new novel, Cog to be released in Summer of 2013.

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!

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:

• 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) 

Of those projects, only one needs to get done and that is to finish my novel. Yet I find myself completely distracted by all my sewing projects.

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....

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

  Dylan: Nicolas Hoult

  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?

Presence



Seton Hill University - Administration Building

 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.



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.

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.

Little known fact #4

When I write sex scenes, I'm constantly doing hand checks.

Close your eyes, and picture it.

Is it here? yes and his? And the left, right? Whoa, whoa, whoa, she's not that kind of girl. Or maybe she is but he's definitely not that kind of boy. And the other hand? No, not there, THERE.

You get the picture. It's quite mentally exhausting.

WHEW!

This year has been a busy one so far. Most of this "busy" stuff I'm talking about is self-imposed--I'm not happy if I'm not scrambling. I've decided I might have to cut back on sleep time again to get everything done.

Not that I sleep well. I don't.

If you recall, these are my 2012 goals.

1. Make 12 vintage reproduction dresses. I will post them here.
2. Finish the rough draft of my novel by the end of February and 2nd draft by April. Polished draft by June.
3. Learn to play guitar. I want to learn one Dave Matthews Song and one Civil Wars song. The rest is as we go.
4. Create a Places I go 2012 Quilt (which will really be more of a 2013 project, though I have to collect the memories this year).
5. Make my musical pillows (more on that later)
6. Focus on Quality of friendship not Quantity. Grow the good friends and weed out the bad.

So, up to speed....Here are my stats for 2012 so far:

1. Sewing: I am ahead in the Repro department and sewing is becoming like an addiction for me. DANGER!

• 4 dresses
• 2 skirts
• 2 baby blankets

2. Writing word count: 47,668 (and nowhere NEAR completion.) #2 is a fat fail so far, but I'm still plugging along, so that's okay, I guess.

3. Guitar. Eh.....stalled a bit on that one. I am not likely to learn a Dave Matthews song this year or maybe even next year. Damn that man and his damn spider finger chords!

4. Haven't gone anywhere yet so, I have nothing to report on number 4.

5. HA! Haven't even started this project....maybe this summer?

6. I feel like I'm heading the right direction with Quality of Friendship goal. It's been a painful process in some respects, but in the end I think I've done the right thing. More on that later.

This year has also turned into the Year of Music. The month of March kicks off a promising year of Concerts beginning with Gomez tomorrow night followed by Matt Nathanson on Sunday. I close out the month with 2 shows, The New Monarchs and Needtobreathe. This heavily music-ed month is followed by Social Distortion in April, James Morrison in May and Dave Matthews Band in July (YAY!).

My ear drums are going to be in heaven and agony all at once.

Little known fact #3

It is both crippling and liberating telling someone something you have never spoken of to anyone and never will speak of.

It is also crippling and liberating ending your sentences with prepositions.

Word.