Unlocking Books discussion

Have a project in the works? Tell us about it.

Currently writing? Hmmmm, right now I'm currently writing a fantasy novel. I have a goal of 100K for it and am at like 22K or 23K for it. I don't really have that great of a synopsis written up for it but everything is turning out a lot better than I ever could have hoped. I suppose I'll just give a small excerpt to make up for the lack of synopsis.


The entrance shook with the huge force The One had catapulted towards the doors. Hearing the earsplitting sound, The Guardians took an involuntary step back from the mouth of the cave. The metal bars were just visible from where Andy stood, two and half yards away. The doors shook again as The One stroke against his prison.

Andy’s heart pounded in his chest. He glanced back at his companions, who were all cowering behind the forest trees. No one wanted to get closer but they had to check the defenses. He took a hesitant step forward.

As if sensing his movement, The One beat more rapidly against the cage. The doors shook on their hinges but they held strong against the violence. Knowing that the sooner it was checked the sooner they could leave, Andy continued forward; he glanced over his shoulder. They were still behind the trees but their eyes now followed him and his journey towards the monster.

Interesting. You've got some nice strong verbs there: shook, catapulted, pounded, beat...

Tension is thick. I can almost feel the rattling cage as Andy steps forward.

I'm currently working on Songs, which is my sequel to the book Tears. I've got my outline in place, and it turns out to be a far more complex plot than I have written so far.

Now to type my first words...

Thanks. And I wish you all the luck, Rita. How big do you think Songs will be?

Maybe 400 pages. I have 21 chapters planned, but those are only the plot crucial chapters. More is needed for world and character building and for try and fail cycles.

Nice. I like long books....haha

My problem is that there is so much going on that I'm having a hard time clearing my schedule to work on it. I'm finishing up the last details for the anthology coming out this month, working on the web site for Robot Playground Inc, and writing a book with my husband. Oh, and my job has me on a big project for the end of the year. Hard to clear my brain to work on it.

Ah. That totally sucks. I hate it when you really want to do something but there always seems to be something else you have to do instead.

Rita and stephanie good luck with all your writing! sounds fun! I know how life can get so busy! I have two young girls that keep me hopping:-)

Right now I'm getting read to publish my first book! It is a YA Paranormal Romance and a retailing of Beauty and the Beast with a unique werewolf twist. It will be out spring 2012!
The Curse of the Beast Teaser

A dark shadow stalks the night, watching her--waiting to claim what is his.

Seventeen-year-old Tayla Jonas just wants to graduate high school, but life keeps making it increasingly harder to reach her relatively simple goals. Living with the grief of losing her uncle, who raised her from infancy, and struggling to deal with her aunt’s bouts of depression, Tayla is thrown into a new school and town.
Unaware of the ancient curse that threatens to take her very soul, Tayla reluctantly helps her best friend, Chel, to practice her lines in a play when Kyle Harrington ambushes her in the curtain wings. He’s the handsomest guy in school and the shallowest, but for some reason he wants Tayla to date him. Refusing him, she runs from his leering eyes only to be ensnared by the dark arms of a powerful werewolf. Will Tayla survive the force binding to the werewolf or will she die at his fangs?

You can visit my blog at www.ashleylavering.blogspot.com :-)

Rita, your book tears looks cool. love the picture. have it marked to read:-)

Ashley wrote: "Right now I'm getting read to publish my first book! It is a YA Paranormal Romance and a retailing of Beauty and the Beast with a unique werewolf twist. It will be out spring 2012!
The Curse of th..."

Werewolves. Beauty and the Beast. Sounds right up my alley. Looking forward to that one.

Your book sounds good, Ashley!

Thanks Rita and Stephanie!

hello there, I am currently writing a sequel UNFINISHED BUSINESS, it is tough as the first book THE PENANCE LIST was well received, a lot to live up to, but I am cracking it :-)

The protagonist is based on a serial attacker I once met (unscathed), the books have turned into a message/warning to others that we must follow our gut, listen to our children and listen to our instinct - evil is out there and can step in at any time. Ofcourse being me I have to add humour, it helps us humans deal with pressure.

See a little bit of bumpf about me and it below, thank you for letting me share.

AMERICAN PSYCHO meets BASIC INSTINCT meets SEX & THE CITY

S C CUNNINGHAM writes sexy thrillers teeming with twists, turns and intrigue, goose bumps one minute, laughing out loud the next. Her style is compared to that of Martina Cole, Karen Rose & Jilly Cooper (with the addition of great sex!). Her favoured writers are Cornwall, Connelly, Patterson, Child, Lee, Cole, Corbin, Christie.

Her skilled mix of fuelled tension, dark humour and pulsating sex scenes throws the ‘book’ at fans; fear, laughter, arousal, romance and thought provoking questions, leaving them wanting more. She advises readers to grab a glass of wine, close the bedroom door and read alone. And for those that devour her books in one sitting… a large box of energy giving chocolates.

CUNNINGHAM writes about what she knows, has worked in the exciting celebrity driven worlds her storylines portray; mixed with rock stars, royalty, footballers and maverick moguls, and safely crossed the path of a brutal serial attacker (the man that sowed the seed of protagonist David). Her diverse life and quick witted honesty afford her novels a level of authority and sincerity rare in fiction.

THE PENANCE LIST is the first of The David Trilogy. Revenge is sweet; we look through the eyes of sexual tour de force David as he grows from cherubic choirboy to psychotic killer, from adoring bi-sexual lover to spurned stalker. He experienced the debilitating power of loneliness, vulnerability, sex and shame at the tender age of 7 years; he now uses these tools to settle old scores. Innocent fun loving Tara, her glamorous girls, an ex SAS bodyguard, a premiership footballer, a prostitute, a priest and the British press have no idea that David is watching, that they are on a list… the worm has turned, and he’s only just getting started.

Available in print, eBook and audiobook download (Screenplay option, in talks).

www.sccunningham.com

I haven't written anything substantial for about two years, and right now I'm really resenting this. However, I'm struggling to connect with any of my old ideas, or pick up where I've left off. Hopefully I'll come up with something in the next few weeks, but right now I'm somewhat focused on rewriting some old things, or starting something new entirely.

It's hard to carve out the time and keep life from intruding on your projects. Some writers make a vow to do a set number of words a day. Even if you only do 500 words, it can pile up until you find you have a full story.

NaNoWriMo pushes people to finish a novel in a month. However, it is not really the act of finishing in a month that is important but rather finishing at all. To finish in a month takes about 1600 words a day. So 500 words a day means you'll finish in a little over 3 months. When you think that most authors put out a book or so a year, that's pretty good.

In other words, make small goals that are easy to stick to and plug away at a slow and steady pace.

I think that's what I'm going to start doing--set a goal for myself every day to accomplish. Considering it's going to be the start of my winter break in a few days, I should have more free time.

... I just need to come up with a good idea, now.

I find that I have the best success with weekly or monthly goals.

I finally started writing again! If any of you want to read it, the story is here: http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...

I'm looking for some constructive criticism and all that good stuff. The story is called "Saints of Our City" And I've been putting thought into it for years.