Hey, folks!
For anyone who’s been waiting, I’ve got the prologue for Torn posted up there in the blog’s “Free Fiction” tab!
I know, it’s confusing. The header says “Disregard the Prologue,” but this one’s actually important. So… not so much with the disregarding this time, hmm?
And enjoy. 🙂
Exciting title, no? It’s been kind of a crazy week, I’m a little off-kilter, and that’s actually the best I can do.
Quick update:
So pretty!
WIPpet Wednesday
I guess we only have a few weeks left when I can call Torn a work in progress.
Holy carp.
As always, potential spoilers ahead. I’m trying not to give away twists or surprises (or the main plot), but if you’ve read Bound, you might guess who’s being described here.
And be happy. I can’t be held responsible for that.
2 paragraphs from chapter 25 for 2/25, from the mysterious 3rd character’s POV. She’s just met some strangers, and isn’t feeling particularly warm toward them.
I guess you’ll meet her when we do the prologue reveal in a few weeks… 😀
One look at him told me I had better not let my guard down. It would be far too easy to be overcome by his obvious charm. Skin the same color as the woman’s, eyes like the depths of a lake on a summer day, black hair that he brushed back from his face in a gesture that was somehow bashful and self-confident at the same time. His smile revealed the hint of a shallow dimple at the corner of his mouth. I glanced lower, taking in the challenge. Broad shoulders, a muscular body obvious even under layers of clothing. Big hands with long fingers gripped the reins in an awkward hold.
I’d always had a weakness for beauty. We saw so little of it in Cressia.
Hmm…
For more WIPpet Wednesday, click here. The WIPpeteers (including our host, KL Schwengel) post snippets of works in progress every Wednesday, and it’s always fun to see what they’re up to. The only rule is that the snippet has to relate in some way to the calendar date. If you think that sounds like a good time, jump in on your own blog! We don’t bite.
Hard.
At last, the time has come!
I’m not going to tease, or make you wait any longer. I’m pleased as punch, proud as a peacock, and flipped-out as a fairy to present the cover and back-cover blurb for Torn (available now for pre-order through Amazon!)
cover art by Ravven (www.ravven.com)
Aren Tiernal knows that safety is an illusion, that his cruel and powerful brother will never forgive his betrayal. Still, returning to Tyrea to challenge Severn for the throne would be suicide. It’s not until Severn himself comes to collect what’s owed to him that Aren decides to risk everything in an attempt to bring down the most powerful Sorcerer Tyrea has ever known. The mission seems doomed to fail, but it’s Aren’s only chance to save himself, his country, and the woman who thawed his heart.
Rowan Greenwood has troubles of her own. Though she should be a great Sorceress, years of being closed off from her magic have left her unable to control her incredible power. When a pair of ominous letters arrive from her home country, Rowan has to choose between her new life and a chance at saving her family—and just maybe changing an entire country’s beliefs about the evils of magic.
Torn apart by separate quests, Rowan and Aren will have to discover untapped strengths and confront their darkest fears in order to overthrow a ruler determined to destroy them both.
Hmm. Four blog post drafts in my folder, and not one happens to be a WIPpet Wednesday entry for today.
Past me is such a jerk.
For anyone not familiar with the rules, on WIPpet Wednesdays we post a snippet of a work in progress that relates in some way to today’s date. I’m going to be boring today and post 2 paragraphs from chapter 18 of Torn for 2/18.
I’m removing a character’s name to prevent big spoilers, but of course, anything comes with the risk of telling you something about the story. You’ve been warned.
From Rowan’s POV:
[My captor] cleared his throat, and I opened my eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop now. They’ll go easier on you at the prison if you cooperate.”
I could have made a good guess at how full of excrement that statement was, but didn’t speak. My voice would have trembled.
I’ll give you a longer one some day. Promise.
OH, but speaking of Torn, and for anyone who missed it on Monday, I’m taking sign-ups if anyone would like to help with the cover reveal on February 23rd. E-mail me at kate.sparkes (at) live.ca if you’d like to help out on your blog. It’s gonna be fuuuuun…
Click here to see what the other WIPpeteers (including our host, KL Schwengel) are up to!
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ROW80 Update
Torn is with beta readers this week, which leaves me a bit of a self-doubting, insecure mess. It’s nothing to worry about. This is normal for me, and I suspect for most writers, at this stage. There’s more pressure to produce on a deadline this time, which isn’t helping my nerves, but it’s in good hands.
If all goes well, I’ll be announcing the release date with the cover reveal.
And the blurb/cover copy.
*squeak*
And maaaaybe a sale on Bound for anyone who hasn’t grabbed it yet. Because Monday is my birthday, and I’m feeling generous, and I know you’re all going to want to get caught up before Torn comes out. 🙂
(Yes, I still get excited about my birthday after almost 34 years. I consider every spin around the sun a gift, and it’s a great chance to look back on a fantastic year–even if it was a bit of a roller coaster!)
So other than freaking out, what have I done since my last update? I’ve booked a formatter for the paperback version of Torn, corrected a few typos in the same of Bound (which had already been corrected in the e-book, but PDF files are so much harder to edit) and re-uploaded the file, ordered a proof… walked my big dog… cleaned out a kitchen cupboard… cleaned up a lot of messes courtesy of a tiny dog who doesn’t want to do his business outside…
Okay, most of that’s not writing-related, but I’m a little stuck here. I don’t have time to get back into revising book 3 before my betas finish with Torn.
Reading. I should go read. With tea. And cats.
YAY!
ROW80 is a blog hop, and a lot of authors have interesting stuff going on. To check it out, for more information, or to jump in at any time during the round, click here!
WIP it… (duh nuh nuh nuh)… W-WIP it real good!
Sorry, I was tired of getting Devo stuck in my head every time WIPpet Wednesday rolled around. Thought I’d try Salt n’ Peppa. You know, instead of “Push It”.
It’s not actually better. Live and learn. *sigh*
WIPpet Wednesday is the day where we post a snippet from a work in progress that relates in some way to the day’s date. I’ve been having a lot of trouble participating lately, because a) I’m busy, and I don’t post if I know I can’t get around to comment (though I sometimes miss a few who post late–sorry! I’ll try harder!), and b) I’m seriously running out of spoiler-free snippets from Torn.
Like… even saying who’s in it is a spoiler, aside from the obvious suspects.
So here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to share a big snippet, and I’m not going to say who’s in it. The POV character (herein referred to as “I”) is female and a Potioner, and that’s all I’m saying. The other party in the conversation is a dude, and… we’ll call him Y here.
Warning: If you’ve read Bound and really don’t want to know whether certain species are going to show up again, skip it. You’ll probably guess. I doubt anyone will be disappointed, but there you have it. 🙂
Okay, it’s super obvious. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
19 (short) paragraphs. WIPpet math: 1+1+8+2+0+1+5 = 18, plus one to grow on.
—
I’d only need one more ingredient. I brought out one of the daggers that my unfortunate soldier friend had left behind.
“Can I help?” Y’s voice drifted from the trees behind me.
“You’re getting quieter,” I observed. “I barely heard you coming.”
Y stood up straighter. “I’m working on it. I don’t think I’ll ever be as graceful on land as I am in [awkward redaction], though. What are you doing?”
“Trying to be prepared. You might not want to see this.”
The shadows covered much of his face, but I caught the concerned furrow of his brow. “Do you want me to leave? Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
The firm set of his jaw and the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t lying. I wondered what he’d seen in his life. Such a strange man. I couldn’t deny I was glad to have his assistance, and his company. Something about him calmed my mind, even as his presence tended to do the opposite to my body. I could ignore that, though.
“You can stay, if you want to,” I said. “Hold the bowl for me.”
He stepped into the clearing and cupped the bowl in his hands, holding it out from his body. “Like this?”
“Perfect.” I slipped off my cloak, then tried to roll up my sleeves. They were too tight. The whole thing would have to go. I thought about asking Y to close his eyes. We didn’t need to complicate things further.
Don’t be silly, I told myself. You’re both adults. He’s seen more, and probably prettier.
Y’s eyes widened as I unbuttoned my shirt, then swallowed hard as I slipped it off, leaving me in a thin under-shirt in the cold woods.
I waited for his gaze to return to mine. “Don’t [oh, so very redacted] go around naked most of the time?”
“Yes.”
I raised my eyebrows, and fought back a smile when his eyes wandered again.
“It’s just different with you,” he said. “It’s fine. Carry on. Please.”
I took a deep breath and traced the tip of the dagger over the skin of my arm, trying to decide on the best spot to get what I needed while doing the smallest possible amount of damage. I settled on the top of my forearm and stroked the tip of the dagger gently over my skin once, twice, three times, building my nerve.
“Use my blood, if you want,” Y said.
“No. Thank you. I’ve had worse injuries.”
“So have I.”
Well, my work here is done. Smoothly done, Sparkes. SMOOOOTHLY DONE.
O.o
For more and probably less awkward WIPpet Wednesday fun, scoot on over here to the linkie, and feel free to join in on your own blog. Thanks to KL Schwengel for hosting!
But seriously, guys, I think I’m out for a few weeks.
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ROW80 Update
On the only goal that matters at the moment: Still editing. I think I have about eight chapters left to go, only two of which are full rewrites.
*cough*
Yes, it makes things harder. Yes, it’s more work than I thought I’d be doing two months shy of the projected publication date. It’s going to be worth it, though.
I’m done stressing about dates. Some people might be irritated if things are delayed by a week, but once the book’s out, no one will care. As I’ve said before, I’m not half-assing anything to meet a deadline.
My readers deserve my best. No shortcuts.
For the record, there will be no promises, speculation, or hints about the next book’s release date until after edits (professional, not self-edits). We’re looking at the same kind of space between books as we were this time, but beyond that, my lips are sealed.
Having a deadline is motivating, but it’s useless when it stresses you out too much to do anything.
Consider that a lesson learned.
ROW80 posts or to learn about the event, click here
Wednesday AGAIN? Sweet fancy Moses, that goes quickly. And this means it’s time for WIPpet Wednesday, and another snippet from _____: Bound Trilogy Book 3.
According to the rules of WIPpet Wednesday we have to choose a snippet that relates to today’s date. Let’s do some math so I can use the bit that I want (because that’s pretty much just how we Wippeteers do): October 22 = 2+2 = 4 short paragraphs.
Another snippet from Rowan. I swear the whole thing’s not from her POV, it just so happens that she’s had the entertaining and non-spoilery snippets recently. We’ll try for Aren next week. Or… Well.
Just for fun, no other context. Have fun with that. 🙂
Her scaly lips opened into a grin, and Aren pulled me a few paces away.
“I need to say this aloud,” he said quietly, “just so I understand. We’re about to entrust our lives to a dragon and the tensile strength of a bedsheet?”
“No. A sheet of canvas.”
He paled. “I see. That makes me feel much better.”
Poor Aren. At least his life’s not boring, right? Given what’s happened in the last few days, be glad this is a cute snippet.
For more WIPpet goodness, click here to see what everyone else is posting. We usually get a mix of romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and other good stuff. I think we had 17 contributions last week (and yes, reading them does cut into my other reading time, but it’s so worth it). Thanks to KL Schwengel for hosting. As I understand it, she has recently been to the stockdog races, and… wait, that sounds wrong. And yet, so right… *imagines souped-up stockdogs zooming around a track*
Ahem.
Row80 Update (goals here)
So it was another good week. Word counts have been good:
Wednesday: none
Thursday: ~2,000
Friday: ~3,000
Saturday/Sunday: (off–and away from home, and serious migraine, and finished beta reading, and LEAMME ALONE, GOSH)
Monday: 6,077
Tuesday: 10,289*
So pretty good, except for last Wednesday. Want to know why?
I spent Wednesday on 12 pages of hand-written notes, and in those I outlined the rest of the book.
Guys. I know how the trilogy ends. Down to the last line.
Maybe I’m delusional, but I think it’s going to be fantastic. Exciting, surprising, amusing, romantic, heartbreaking, bittersweet, satisfying. If you all have half as much fun reading it as I did outlining, I’ll have done my job. The next few weeks aren’t going to be easy for me, and someone might have to come scrape me off the floor with a shovel at some point because of things, but the end result is going to be worth it. I mean sure, there are plot holes and issues in this draft… but it’s all fixable. It’s going to get there.
Ugh, such surprises I want to share with you. For anyone who’s impatiently waiting for Torn and then this one… I’m right there with you, trust me. Like, going BANANAS waiting to get them to you. But quality first. Only the best for y’all.
So anyway, that’s my update. Yaaaaaay! Here’s the link to the other ROW80 updates. I don’t get around to a lot of strangers’ blogs to comment on this one, but enough WIPpeteers do it that I don’t feel TOO guilty.
Thanks for stopping by and listening to me ramble. I hope you’re all having a great week!
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*Most emphatically NOT a typo. Full disclosure: I’ve never done that before, and may never again. I have to stop and ponder too much to have a high enough per-hour word count. But things are getting exciting in the story as we near the climax, and I hit that zone you get into when you’re reading a book you really can’t put down. And then the word count hit 8,000, and I thought what the heck, let’s do this. I took breaks to feed the family and tidy the house, do a couple of loads of laundry and help with homework, and to watch a TV show with my husband. But otherwise, I was writing (see words per hour issue). It feels like a fine accomplishment, but I don’t think I’ll try for it again on a regular basis. I can’t have my kids watching this much Spongebob every day. Also, my wrists are KILLING me.
Hey look, it’s WIPpet Wednesday again! Which means it’s also garbage day… hang on.
*crashing noises*
*door slams*
*monster in the garbage can yodels with joy*
Sorry, I keep forgetting.
Anyway, for anyone who’s not familiar with WIPpet Wednesdays, this is the day when a fantabulistical group of writers shares a small snippet from a work in progress that relates somehow to the date, and we all link up here so we can share the fun. Today I have another piece from the third book of the Bound trilogy*. I wrote this last week, but it was too adorable not to share today. First draft, edited for spoilers. Rowan’s POV.
WIPpet math: 15 sentences for the 15th
We searched the house for clothes to wear while ours dried. All I could find was a soft cotton nightgown which covered me from neck to ankles in the least-flattering shape possible. I’d hoped to sneak back to my room without being seen, but Aren waited for me in the hall, arms crossed, leaning one shoulder against the wall.
He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. “Damn.”
“Don’t even talk about it.”
“No, really. It’s good. Leaves a lot to the imagination.”
I mustered what dignity I could and held my head high as I passed him. “Goodnight, Aren. Have fun with your imagination.”
“Goodnight, Rowan. I promise I will.”
He’d been joking about the attractiveness of the nightgown, but that didn’t stop him watching me as I walked away. I smiled to myself as I closed the door behind me.
So there we go. Much sweeter than some of the moments I’ve been getting from characters lately.
If you’d like more WIPpet fun, click here to see what the rest of the crew is up to this week, and be sure to say hi on their blogs. If you’d like to join in, please do! You know the rules. Thanks again to our host KL Schwengel, to whom I say, “See, I was nicer to Aren this week! Please don’t hurt the guy I love in your books. Or the other one.”
Writer friendships are kind of screwed up. O.o
ROW80
Word counts are on track. Last Wednesday: 5,000 words. Thursday: 2,500 (this was my day to go to town, so I wasn’t expecting any). Friday: 5,000 words. Saturday: 4,600 Sunday: 0, but did some planning. Monday: 4,898 Tuesday: almost 3000 TOUGH words. Why do words get embarrassed and hide from me when things get romantic?
Things are getting tricky in the story now that I’m starting to pull together all the loose threads, play the wild cards, bring out things that have been in the shadows… pick your metaphor. It’s exciting, but it’s getting to be delicate work. I have a plan, anyway.
I have started beta reading (yay!) and am aiming for 2 chapters a day.
Listened to one podcast, not two, because my phone’s being a jerk about listening to them when I’m walking right now. But that’s something, anyway.
So there you have it. I hope you’re all having a good week and accomplishing ALL THE THINGS.
——
*I’m totally going to give up the name soon, because I’m really sick of typing that.
BIG NEWS!
Okay, those of you on the newsletter mailing list know already. You’re excused. Or you can hang out. You guys are cool.
And some of you saw it on Facebook, but they don’t show it to everyone who liked the page, because Facebook.
For everyone else…
The audiobook version of Bound will be available on November 4, 2014!
*streamers, balloons, and confetti fall from the ceiling*
Guys… I’ve been sitting on this news for so long it was making my butt numb. Things were a bit up in the air for a while, but I accepted an offer from Tantor Audio to produce the book. It’s going to be great! They’ve produced audio versions of books by Jennifer L Armentrout, Lauren Kate, Jacqueline Carey (eek!), some lady named Suzanne Collins, and hundreds of others.
And for those who are wondering, curious, concerned, or otherwise all twitchy…
Aren and Rowan get their own narrators.
Aren’s chapters will be read by Paul Boehmer (sample here), and Rowan by Justine Eyre (sample here). Both are versatile and experienced actors/narrators, and I’m excited to hear what they do with this project.
The audiobook version of Bound is available for pre-order on Amazon now, here. It will be available through other retailers later, in CD and digital formats.
…and I guess that’s all the details I have for you, at least for now.
I think I need to go lie down.
*kicks balloons*
Oh, and for anyone who missed it or hasn’t entered, don’t forget about the paperback giveaway that’s running here until October 1! See this post for details.
Yep, I’m back.
Maybe not every week–I’m working on book 3 now, and spoilers abound. Not even just book three spoilers… book 2 spoilers, too. I keep forgetting that you all haven’t seen that yet. I guess the only spoiler here is for people who don’t want to be reassured that anyone survives book two. If you’re that into surprises, you might want to look away now.
.
.
.
Still here? Good.
Anyway, since I am, in fact, drafting something, I feel like I should be able to find a wee bit to share. (For those of you who are new to the game, WIPpet Wednesday is where we share a snippet of a work in progress that relates somehow to the day’s date. Six lines on the 6th, or something from chapter six, or something about a six-armed hooker… the possibilities are endless, really)
I’ve been going for dialogue and character interactions lately, so today we’ll try something a little different.
24 sentences from Rowan for the 24th. She’s just found herself in a dream, standing outside her childhood home. I’m speed-drafting here, I’ll fix it later. No laughing. And this is not the beginning of the scene, so don’t worry if you feel a little disoriented. You’re not alone.
I took a step toward the iron gates and tried to remember whether I had ever seen them closed. No. They’d always been open, a reminder when I was a child that my home was not a prison, even if it felt that way at first. And they’d remained open after I moved back with my parents, welcoming me every time I visited.
Here, in this dream, they were shut tight. A token gesture to be sure; the stone walls on either side were crumbling even more than they had been at my last visit, and wouldn’t keep anyone out. But those black gates closed tight against the road set my heart fluttering. The familiar had been made strange, and I didn’t like to think what it might mean.
I stepped forward and was relieved to find that this wasn’t one of those dreams where I moved like I was swimming through honey. The hard-packed dirt road felt solid beneath my feet, and I hurried toward the gates. No chain held them closed, but they wouldn’t move no matter how hard I pushed. I let my hands drop and stepped back.
Something crashed through the underbrush to my left.
“Aren?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. The wind blew, and the tree branches creaked in reply.
The broken stone bit into my hands as I vaulted my legs over a low spot in the wall and landed inside the property.
I gasped. The house could have been abandoned a century ago.
The roofline reached as high I remembered, but only at the ends of the building. The middle had caved in, leaving a jagged, gaping hole. Vines covered the stone walls, growing thick and wild. Narrow branches reached out through shattered window panes. As I moved closer to the building, I noticed piles of rubble and dust at the base of the walls.
The front door hung limp from its broken hinges like a drunkard stumbling into his home, and green slime filled the lanterns outside.
But it’s just a dream… right? Guys?
Guess we’ll see where that goes.*
If you’d like to see what the other WIPpeteers are up to, click here. As always, thanks to our host KL Schwengel, to whom I dedicate this very occasional use of the word “whisper.” And if you’d like to join in on the fun, post at your own blog (according to the rules, mind you), link back, and be sure to drop by and visit everyone else. It’s a good little community.
And with that I bid you farewell. Things got a little crazy after this snippet, and my characters have some big decisions to make.
Back to work.
PS- don’t forget about the Rafflecopter giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Bound! See this post for details.
–
*If anywhere. I might cut the scene, and you’ll be the only people to ever see it. 🙂
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disregard the prologue 