Amy Kuivalainen's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Feb Update
Hi Everyone,
Where did January go??? Got a not so crazy feeling that this year is going to be full on!
Things are going down in the weird writing world of Amy. So far this year I have:
*Completed another re-write of Jael/Mychal book. I have a draft that I've proof read and while it still needs more work I feel like its FINALLY heading in the right direction. Exorcists are bitches to write. It's really one of the stories I've had serious doubts over but it has refused to let me go and that is generally a sign I should keep working on it. Once I finish the next round of changes it will go to the wise beta readers for plot/sensitivity/wtfAmy comments. I have a pretty exciting ending that leaves it way open for more stories.
*I've submitted a final assignment for uni which means that I'm now on a break for a whole semester (at least) and can have some breathing room to get more writing done.
*Today I've cracked out 1500 new words of Chapter Seven of KINGDOM, Book Three of the Blood Lake Chronicles. If you follow my social media you would have seen me lamenting yesterday about how my characters have already messed my structure up. This is pretty typical of this group to be honest. They like to surprise me and make work around them. In saying that its been FUN so far. It always takes me the first 20k words of a book to really find my groove but it is coming together. Hopefully I will get it finished during my uni break time. That's the plan anyway. There is lots of magic and ravens and wolves and cities inside trees and magical swords...all the good stuff.
*I have a New Release Mailing List! Hurray! Draft2Digital has been amazing so far and they also have a nifty feature of creating a sign up list for readers. If you want an email notification of when I release a new book please sign up here. At the most I release two books a year, so don't worry, you aren't going to spammed.
I've recently become obsessed with ( and HIGHLY recommend) the following:
*Ancient Magus Bride - This anime has knocked my socks off. Celtic myth, cool mages, DRAGONS, NORDIC MAGIC...I am so in love. Its like a Studio Ghibli created a whole series. Funimation has the English dub, Crunchyroll has subtitles so pick your poison and give it a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCaU...
*Uprooted - Naomi Novik. I know I'm the last person reading this. Its been on my TBR since it was released but I finally got a hold of the Audible version in January. It was on a Friday. Saturday I bought the book. Sunday I finished it. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Russian Fairytale vibe, beautiful perfect story. If you havent read it, give it a shot. It came along right when my creative well was bone dry and filled me up with magic and wonder and Dragons and forest magic.
That's pretty much all from me. A reminder that WYLT is Free for Valentines Day so if you want a bit of hot gothic fae romance in your life pick yourself up a copy here.
Where did January go??? Got a not so crazy feeling that this year is going to be full on!
Things are going down in the weird writing world of Amy. So far this year I have:
*Completed another re-write of Jael/Mychal book. I have a draft that I've proof read and while it still needs more work I feel like its FINALLY heading in the right direction. Exorcists are bitches to write. It's really one of the stories I've had serious doubts over but it has refused to let me go and that is generally a sign I should keep working on it. Once I finish the next round of changes it will go to the wise beta readers for plot/sensitivity/wtfAmy comments. I have a pretty exciting ending that leaves it way open for more stories.
*I've submitted a final assignment for uni which means that I'm now on a break for a whole semester (at least) and can have some breathing room to get more writing done.
*Today I've cracked out 1500 new words of Chapter Seven of KINGDOM, Book Three of the Blood Lake Chronicles. If you follow my social media you would have seen me lamenting yesterday about how my characters have already messed my structure up. This is pretty typical of this group to be honest. They like to surprise me and make work around them. In saying that its been FUN so far. It always takes me the first 20k words of a book to really find my groove but it is coming together. Hopefully I will get it finished during my uni break time. That's the plan anyway. There is lots of magic and ravens and wolves and cities inside trees and magical swords...all the good stuff.
*I have a New Release Mailing List! Hurray! Draft2Digital has been amazing so far and they also have a nifty feature of creating a sign up list for readers. If you want an email notification of when I release a new book please sign up here. At the most I release two books a year, so don't worry, you aren't going to spammed.
I've recently become obsessed with ( and HIGHLY recommend) the following:
*Ancient Magus Bride - This anime has knocked my socks off. Celtic myth, cool mages, DRAGONS, NORDIC MAGIC...I am so in love. Its like a Studio Ghibli created a whole series. Funimation has the English dub, Crunchyroll has subtitles so pick your poison and give it a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCaU...
*Uprooted - Naomi Novik. I know I'm the last person reading this. Its been on my TBR since it was released but I finally got a hold of the Audible version in January. It was on a Friday. Saturday I bought the book. Sunday I finished it. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Russian Fairytale vibe, beautiful perfect story. If you havent read it, give it a shot. It came along right when my creative well was bone dry and filled me up with magic and wonder and Dragons and forest magic.
That's pretty much all from me. A reminder that WYLT is Free for Valentines Day so if you want a bit of hot gothic fae romance in your life pick yourself up a copy here.
March Update
I'm running a bit late this month with the update but I am here! Finally!
Last month was HUGE both professionally and personally. I spent time as no #1 in respective Amazon categories for both Wylt and Cry of the Firebird which has brought many more readers into the Firebird Fairy tales world - Welcome! As always, I'm crazy grateful for everyone who buys, reads and reviews my books. I wouldn't be doing this without you!
Okay, to the stuff:
Work on KINGDOM is progressing at a fast pace. Now that I'm on a uni break and have locked away other projects and distractions (social media has been cut WAY back), I'm really hitting the word count hard. I'm about to hit the half way mark which is exciting and nerve wracking as I tie up a bunch of story arcs. It's been fun refreshing myself in Celtic myths and experimenting with different gods and characters. I've always found writing the Blood Lake Chronicles to be so therapeutic to my writer brain and this one is shaping up to be no different.
While I cant say anything too much, my SUPER SECRET UNNAMED PROJECT that I spent most of last year working on is almost ready to announce. SO much exciting stuff happening that I cant wait to tell you all about. I can say that it is based in a different 'world' to the Firebird / Blood Lake books which is exciting and nerve wracking but omg guys, I am so in love with it and I hope you will be too. At this stage its got three books planned (yeah I seem to move in threes, I know) and once KINGDOM is wrapped up I can really throw myself into it. Eek.
What I've been reading:
L.H. Cosway!! Guys. Why didn't you tell me the HEART series existed?? I mean illusionists and fire eaters? Hot romance? Engaging plots? GUYS WITH TATS. I read the first one Six of Hearts in a single sitting and consumed book two Hearts of Fire straight afterward. They were AMAZING and highly recommend if you are after a romance.
Check them out HERE.
I had to 'rest' the series because I seriously wasn't getting anything done. Definitely an author I'll binge read as soon as KINGDOM is sorted.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - Okay. I will be the first to admit I'm not on a YA fantasy bender at
the moment (I tend to go through stages) but I've waited ages to get my hands on this one. Holly writes incredible dark fairy worlds and this reverse changelings of humans raised in Faerie is no exception. There were things I really loved about it (the Court, general world building) and things that I felt a bit meh over, namely the many bullying scenes and highschool vibe in some sections. I fully understand its target market is YA but as someone who hated school and was bullied a lot it got old for me quick. The main story arc and character development is really great and you can tell that the series is gearing up for something BIG which will ultimately keep me reading. Definitely in the 'introduction to a bigger story arc' book category for me because I was only really getting into it before it was over.
Next on the reading list is Elizabeth Hunter's new one INK, which might have to wait til next weekend bec
ause she is a writer I DON'T STOP READING once I start. A book store and tattoos in one book? Yeah I'm so not going to put it down. Also, this is clearly a sign I need another tattoo...Right? In all seriousness, give her a shot if you are after solid storylines with awesome world building. Her Irin Chronicles? Seriously don't even get me started on how much I love them.
Check her out HERE
Okay so that's all for me for the moment, go watch Black Panther if you haven't already, it was fantastic. Also, expect me talking about Tomb Raider next update because I CAN'T WAIT for the new film to be released....Amy x
Last month was HUGE both professionally and personally. I spent time as no #1 in respective Amazon categories for both Wylt and Cry of the Firebird which has brought many more readers into the Firebird Fairy tales world - Welcome! As always, I'm crazy grateful for everyone who buys, reads and reviews my books. I wouldn't be doing this without you!
Okay, to the stuff:
Work on KINGDOM is progressing at a fast pace. Now that I'm on a uni break and have locked away other projects and distractions (social media has been cut WAY back), I'm really hitting the word count hard. I'm about to hit the half way mark which is exciting and nerve wracking as I tie up a bunch of story arcs. It's been fun refreshing myself in Celtic myths and experimenting with different gods and characters. I've always found writing the Blood Lake Chronicles to be so therapeutic to my writer brain and this one is shaping up to be no different.
While I cant say anything too much, my SUPER SECRET UNNAMED PROJECT that I spent most of last year working on is almost ready to announce. SO much exciting stuff happening that I cant wait to tell you all about. I can say that it is based in a different 'world' to the Firebird / Blood Lake books which is exciting and nerve wracking but omg guys, I am so in love with it and I hope you will be too. At this stage its got three books planned (yeah I seem to move in threes, I know) and once KINGDOM is wrapped up I can really throw myself into it. Eek.
What I've been reading:
L.H. Cosway!! Guys. Why didn't you tell me the HEART series existed?? I mean illusionists and fire eaters? Hot romance? Engaging plots? GUYS WITH TATS. I read the first one Six of Hearts in a single sitting and consumed book two Hearts of Fire straight afterward. They were AMAZING and highly recommend if you are after a romance.
Check them out HERE.
I had to 'rest' the series because I seriously wasn't getting anything done. Definitely an author I'll binge read as soon as KINGDOM is sorted.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - Okay. I will be the first to admit I'm not on a YA fantasy bender at
the moment (I tend to go through stages) but I've waited ages to get my hands on this one. Holly writes incredible dark fairy worlds and this reverse changelings of humans raised in Faerie is no exception. There were things I really loved about it (the Court, general world building) and things that I felt a bit meh over, namely the many bullying scenes and highschool vibe in some sections. I fully understand its target market is YA but as someone who hated school and was bullied a lot it got old for me quick. The main story arc and character development is really great and you can tell that the series is gearing up for something BIG which will ultimately keep me reading. Definitely in the 'introduction to a bigger story arc' book category for me because I was only really getting into it before it was over. Next on the reading list is Elizabeth Hunter's new one INK, which might have to wait til next weekend bec
ause she is a writer I DON'T STOP READING once I start. A book store and tattoos in one book? Yeah I'm so not going to put it down. Also, this is clearly a sign I need another tattoo...Right? In all seriousness, give her a shot if you are after solid storylines with awesome world building. Her Irin Chronicles? Seriously don't even get me started on how much I love them.Check her out HERE
Okay so that's all for me for the moment, go watch Black Panther if you haven't already, it was fantastic. Also, expect me talking about Tomb Raider next update because I CAN'T WAIT for the new film to be released....Amy x
April Update
Greetings from crazy writer land,
I am on the last 10-15k words of KINGDOM and I am super fried but trying to end strong. It has come together in a weird and wonderful way that I didn't plan for but somehow works better. This always seems to happen, my writing structural plan more or less hits its original high points but how I get to them always happens in a random organic fashion. I've learnt not to stress too much when things go a bit haywire but I tell you, sometimes its hard to relinquish control. It's fairly different from the other two of The Blood Lake Chronicles as most of the action takes place in Faerie, where we learn HEAPS about the Seren Du family origins and all sorts of shenanigans happens. I'm going to be a little bit (a lot) nuts by the time that it is done but I'm feeling good about it so thats a good sign. I do have plenty of the usual impostor syndrome voices going on but trying to do my best not to feed that troll.
The writer brain and anxiety has been a lot less this time around because I am simply managing my shit better. 'My shit' being my mental health in this case. I'm pretty new to yoga (only been practicing for about 10 months) but its seriously helping me keep calm and also provides a good way for my to untangle plots while I move. Sitting still is really hard for me so the concept of a moving meditation has done me wonders. I highly recommend Allie- The Journey Junkie on Youtube if you are a newbie and want to learn some yoga. Shes a great teacher and the online community is a good support. I also have had my first go of a sensory deprivation tank this month and I can't recommend it enough. I love a long bath and this was the bath experience heightened to perfection. I'm big on meditation and this gave me the deep calm of a really good meditation session. It helped clear a lot of the screaming in my head and general feelings of being over whelmed that comes with tying up a book.
Speaking of books (and this is SO overdue) but I have decided that I am going to do a relaunch of my Western Wars series. So, some of you might remember last year I ran a promo through Kindle Scout for a YA fantasy called 'Eastern Gods'...it didnt get picked up and I did release it as per the Kindle Scout rules, but then I took it down again after a month. WHY you might be asking? Well, a few reasons, some professional, some personal, but mainly I wanted to get it re-edited with US grammar (I'm Aussie so our grammar is different) and also I wanted to release it with the second book. The second book needed to be edited heavily and when I came to do it last August I was just too burnt out and wanted to throw the whole lot into a fire. Last year, I was mentally and emotionally burnt a lot and its taken me nearly 8 months to bounce back. Anyway, book 2 has sat there until the last month when I got some sound advice from a friend who really believes in the series (hey Kathryn) and convinced me to suck it up, do the work and get it released. As a result of this lecture, I have been doing edits on the second book when I've needed a break from KINGDOM. It's come together in a way that I'm finally happy with which is great, and while it does need to go off to the line editor, both books are scheduled to be released digitally this year. For a paperback edition I'd like to combine the books as it is one continuous story, but I'll keep you all posted on that. They are written in a different sort of style to my other books (they are epic fantasy after all) but I hope you will enjoy them if they sound like your thing.
The good news is it means you'll definitely get three books out of me this year; Eastern Gods, The Golden Queen, and KINGDOM. I don't know if the Mychal spin off book will be ready to go as it still needs a bit of re-writing and perfecting but I want to try and do this work as a palate cleanser between KINGDOM and the starting of book 2 of NEW SECRET PROJECT.
I'm sure there is other stuff I'm forgetting to add in this update, but I'm too off in writer land to remember everything at the moment. I'm sporadically on social media but mostly hiatusing until the book is finished.
See you on the other side,
Amy x
I am on the last 10-15k words of KINGDOM and I am super fried but trying to end strong. It has come together in a weird and wonderful way that I didn't plan for but somehow works better. This always seems to happen, my writing structural plan more or less hits its original high points but how I get to them always happens in a random organic fashion. I've learnt not to stress too much when things go a bit haywire but I tell you, sometimes its hard to relinquish control. It's fairly different from the other two of The Blood Lake Chronicles as most of the action takes place in Faerie, where we learn HEAPS about the Seren Du family origins and all sorts of shenanigans happens. I'm going to be a little bit (a lot) nuts by the time that it is done but I'm feeling good about it so thats a good sign. I do have plenty of the usual impostor syndrome voices going on but trying to do my best not to feed that troll.
The writer brain and anxiety has been a lot less this time around because I am simply managing my shit better. 'My shit' being my mental health in this case. I'm pretty new to yoga (only been practicing for about 10 months) but its seriously helping me keep calm and also provides a good way for my to untangle plots while I move. Sitting still is really hard for me so the concept of a moving meditation has done me wonders. I highly recommend Allie- The Journey Junkie on Youtube if you are a newbie and want to learn some yoga. Shes a great teacher and the online community is a good support. I also have had my first go of a sensory deprivation tank this month and I can't recommend it enough. I love a long bath and this was the bath experience heightened to perfection. I'm big on meditation and this gave me the deep calm of a really good meditation session. It helped clear a lot of the screaming in my head and general feelings of being over whelmed that comes with tying up a book.
Speaking of books (and this is SO overdue) but I have decided that I am going to do a relaunch of my Western Wars series. So, some of you might remember last year I ran a promo through Kindle Scout for a YA fantasy called 'Eastern Gods'...it didnt get picked up and I did release it as per the Kindle Scout rules, but then I took it down again after a month. WHY you might be asking? Well, a few reasons, some professional, some personal, but mainly I wanted to get it re-edited with US grammar (I'm Aussie so our grammar is different) and also I wanted to release it with the second book. The second book needed to be edited heavily and when I came to do it last August I was just too burnt out and wanted to throw the whole lot into a fire. Last year, I was mentally and emotionally burnt a lot and its taken me nearly 8 months to bounce back. Anyway, book 2 has sat there until the last month when I got some sound advice from a friend who really believes in the series (hey Kathryn) and convinced me to suck it up, do the work and get it released. As a result of this lecture, I have been doing edits on the second book when I've needed a break from KINGDOM. It's come together in a way that I'm finally happy with which is great, and while it does need to go off to the line editor, both books are scheduled to be released digitally this year. For a paperback edition I'd like to combine the books as it is one continuous story, but I'll keep you all posted on that. They are written in a different sort of style to my other books (they are epic fantasy after all) but I hope you will enjoy them if they sound like your thing.
The good news is it means you'll definitely get three books out of me this year; Eastern Gods, The Golden Queen, and KINGDOM. I don't know if the Mychal spin off book will be ready to go as it still needs a bit of re-writing and perfecting but I want to try and do this work as a palate cleanser between KINGDOM and the starting of book 2 of NEW SECRET PROJECT.
I'm sure there is other stuff I'm forgetting to add in this update, but I'm too off in writer land to remember everything at the moment. I'm sporadically on social media but mostly hiatusing until the book is finished.
See you on the other side,
Amy x
