MichelleStephens.com

Je ne suis pas sage – I am not wise
Je suis très cruelle – I am very cruel
Mais aucun homme n’enrage – But no men enraged
Parce que je suis – Because I am
Très belle – Very pretty

Who is this woman? Why does she use her beauty to be cruel?

So many ideas. So many.

This cover is awesome. It is subtly sexy. I love, love, love those eyes!

I was chatting with fellow writer and friend Gina Maxwell yesterday. I’m beta reading her novel Desires of the Soul, which she plans to query after her final edits. After asking if she knew who she wanted to query, she turned the question on me.

“Oh, I don’t plan to query Through the Forest Veil.”

Naturally she asked why. Here’s the deal: TtFV is just one story, one book. I wrote it because 1) It was a story I wanted to write and 2) I intended my first novel to be a big learning experience.

My plan is to attempt to find an agent and hopefully launch my career with a series. I have two different series simmering in my brain and once TtFV is done I’ll be starting book one of whichever series I choose to go with first. I do intend to query that book.

Well Gina, being the blunt genius she is, asked me, “Why are you working on TtFV then? The goal is publication babe! Roll with your series.” Or something like that. She’ll smack me around if my quote is too far off.

When I read that message I was dumbfounded. Oh. I hadn’t even thought about it that way.

She’s right.

So now I’m wondering, should I move on from TtFV? Should I complete the rewrites I want done? When should I move on to my next project, the project I intend to really push for publication?

Right now I’m still planning on finishing the rewrites I want to do on TtFV. The story needs a little bulking up and there are some scenes that definitely need to be added. Plus, part of writing this novel was to learn. Not just about writing craft, but about my writing process.

Let me tell you, I’ve learned so much already. Because there are things I know I’ll do differently with the next project, the idea of getting to it sooner than I originally thought is very, very appealing!

Hmmmm.

Bummer. lol

The good news is that I can get back on my routine. Even though I had a lot more time last week, it all got filled very quickly with to-do items that have been on the list for ages.

So, I didn’t get as much reading or writing done as I had hoped. However, the hubster and I cleared up many errands that needed doing so it was still a productive week.

One nice thing, slightly writing related, is that we got a new dining table. We weren’t anticipating getting a dining table last week, but my aunt said she had a nice one that was practically new that she didn’t want anymore. So, on faith that we’d like it, the hubster and I made a day trip from Houston to San Antonio to pick it up. The trip pretty much wiped out one whole vacation day, but boy was it worth it! Check this beauty out!

Which means our old, tiny dining table can now be my new writing desk. We haven’t eaten at our dining table in a long time because it’s been covered with my MS and my huge pad of paper I’ve been storyboarding on. Well, now all that is out of the way. Nice!

This week I’ll be starting rewrites on TtFV. I’m excited. While reading through my MS I realize there are scenes that need bulking up and some new scenes that need added. Some of the writing is meh, but some I thought was pretty decent. I’m excited to move onto this next step and get the rewriting going. Hopefully when that’s done I’ll have my first round of beta reading. Eek! (I apologize in advance to those of you I’ll hound to read my novel. )

Adios for now!

So Shelly isn’t in stores yet (release date is set for February 2011), but I eyed this cover on a book reviewer’s website.

I think this cover is really lovely. The water looks so serene but the grey sky and deadend plank portray a sense of foreboding.

To keep Gina happy here’s Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles. I read the first book in this series, Gentlemen Prefer Succubi, and it was a fun and sexy read. I keep meaning to get this second book.

That’s right, peeps. I’m on vacation! WAHOO!

No big trip, cruise, or adventure for us, though. The hubster and I are staying home, relaxing, and working on our separate projects.

Jesse is a musician and currently has a new demo he’s ready to start sending out. Hopefully we’ll get all his packets put together and shipped out by the end of this week.

For me: TtFV read-through is my prime concern. I have no doubt I’ll finish the read-through on vacation and be reading to start in on revision writing by the end of the week or start of next week. I already see things I need to add (which is good) and other areas that just need cleaning up.

I’m also beta reading for my friend Gina Leigh Maxwell! Her Desires of the Soul MS is on its second round of beta reading and I’m happy to be helping out. So far, so good! I’m on page 40 of 441 (as of Sunday afternoon). Hopefully I will keep this rate up and have the MS back to her within the week.

Other than all that, we’re relaxing and enjoying some time off. Of course there’s a gazillion things I’d like to do around the house, but I’m doubtful they’ll all get done. I mean it IS vacation. Can’t all be work.

Have you ever seen the following video? If not, don’t try to understand it. Just smile, let the giggles come, and soak in the weird happiness.

Cause… it is weird. And happy.

Now that you’ve watched that, enjoy this cute kitty video!

A while back I started a collection. A collection of AWESOME COVERS!

Because when the day comes that I have a book deal the publisher will surely want an idea of what kind of covers I like? Right? RIGHT?

Well, a girl can dream at least.

Anyway, I still collect images of cool covers. You never know when your own opinion might come in handy. *snort*

First up in Covers I Love: Fallen by Lauren Kate.

When I saw the cover of this book I went nuts. Seriously, OMGZORZ I MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. I had no idea what it was about. I bought it anyways.

Lovely. That’s the word that springs to mind when I see this cover.

Le sigh, so lovely.

I can only hope to have a book deal cover as great as this one day!

Soooo…

Yesterday I decided I wanted needed a day planner. I gots buzinus planz 2 make!

So I went to the most obvious place when you have big business on the brain: Barnes & Noble.

What?

Since I just HAPPEN to be there, I picked up Kate Pearce’s new book Kiss of the Rose.

And. AND! I FOUND A MATCHING BOOKMARK AT THE INFO DESK!

Dudes. I love, love, LOVE matching bookmarks. All is right in the world when my bookmark matches my book.

It’s like warm macaroni in my belly. Bliss.

EVIDENCE!

That’s right, revisions start TONIGHT!

Eep.