Review News

The last month has been awesome! I've begun working for Slice of Scifi, http://www.sliceofscifi.com/in case you haven't seen any of my reviews, and their sister site, popculture geeks, http://www.popculturegeeks.com/. 

I've also begun working on their review site for books, http://www.writersafterdark.com/.
This has been a fantastic opportunity for me to write more and to build up a writing resume.  Not only that, but I think this group is awesome. They are all hard working and the content is both informative and interesting.  Even if my reviews weren't on there, I would recommend them, especially if you have movies, books or television you might be interested in, they can tell you more about whether you might want to see it or read it.

I hope you will check out my reviews because I think I'm doing a great job and I think it's some of my best writing. Certainly, I've gotten some feedback that it's well done and been enjoyed so that's exciting.  I know I have many more reviews coming out so all good there.

In other news, I'm once again coordinating the Free Fiction Writer's Workshop for Desert Rose Chapter of RWA, located at the Scottsdale Civic Center on November 5th from 10:30-4:45. If you are a writer, this is the perfect opportunity to learn and if you are a reader, we have many of our presenters who will be putting on a book signing between presentations.

I also will be working hard on my fiction writing. My next job is homework, reading short stories and working on building characterization.  Every thing I learn helps me be a better writer.

~“That’s the magic of revisions – every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows.”
― Kelly Barnhill

 

 

More Reviews

I have been super busy the last couple weeks.  I have been doing a lot of writing, mostly nonfiction but still working on my novels.  I've had a couple reviews come out on Slice of Scifi.  If you haven't seen my posts on Facebook or Twitter and want to catch those, here they are:

One is a review of a fantastic novel by Kat Howard, "Roses and Rot"  - http://www.writersafterdark.com/review-roses-and-rot-by-kat-howard/

The other review is of the Syfy show Dark Matter, 5 episodes in the 2nd season.  There may be minor spoilers but if you want to know what I think of this show, check it out here:  http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2016/08/12/5-episodes-in-dark-matter-season-2/

In other news, I am still working on rewriting one of my previous novels. I still like the concept enough to tinker with it, it needs major work but changing from third person to first person seems to have shaken some things loose and I'm going with that, a little bit at a time.

I'm also editing a novel that's been through a couple drafts prior. I think if I can sit down and do a shake through of each scene, I can polish it up enough that it might have a chance.  Shadow's Bane has been one of my favorite novels so far and I think I have some good ideas.  But still needs some work.  I have a couple beta readers ready to go when I finish my draft but if you are interested, I'm always looking for good beta readers.  It's paranormal LGBT romance. 

I have more nonfiction work to do next week so don't expect to see any interesting announcements in the next week but as soon as I have another review posted, I will put the link up here and spread the news. 

I am really loving writing non-fiction and let me tell you, I did not love it in college, so it's a new experience for me!  I must love giving my opinion!

Fantasy tells us truths

Andrea Rittschof

Writing News

So, if you are on Facebook or Twitter, you already know my good news for the week. I had an article published on http://www.sliceofscifi.com.  if you would like to read it, go to http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2016/07/18/50-years-of-star-trek-the-world-of-star-trek/ and check it out. i'm very pleased with how it came out after revision.

And in other news, I've been asked to write more for the site, so you will see more in the coming months. I'm super excited to be part of such a great team!

I'm currently working on revisions on two different novels as well as a short story. Right now, it's all about perfecting my work and taking more classes on my craft. I have a lot more work to do but I'm positive that I have some great stories that ca only get greater as I revise them.

I also am working on setting up the free Scottsdale Writers Workshop for the Desert Rose chapter of
Romance Writers of America.  Look for more news on that on in the coming months.  We will be posting on Twitter and Facebook.

Since I am writing more, I will be posting more regularly on here, trying to post at least once a week if I can.

Andrea

“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.” 
― Lloyd Alexander

Catching up!!!!

Wow

How long has it been?

If anyone was truly following this, I am so sorry.  I randomly post as I feel the need but my schedule has been truly busy and overtaken with the work of writing and so I've not given much thought to this blog. 

Honestly, since writing is what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm not upset about that fact. 

Work comes first, writing, my desert rose chapter. 

My husband's business. Supporting my fellow writers.  All these have been things.

How are things, you ask? 

Good. Writing more and more.

Current work:
Rewriting an project I worked on several years ago that has potential but needs serious gutting to ve viable. I was going to just leave it alone but the characters came out, hit me over the head and said I wasn't done yet, even while I was in the midst of another project. 

I've written a lot....lots of short stories, several novels, mostly rough drafts. Now I need to focus on editing.  I finished revising another short story and as I rewrite the current project, I have another novel that needs revising as well. There's no time.  I need some more, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

I will try to write more here, talk to the world a little more.

For now, I will sign off, saying writing is happening.  And the next post will be more details about said writing.

Dreams give us reality, we have but to shape them

Andrea

Ten influential books....

So I haven't posted in a while but thought I would take some time tonight.  I had a friend recently say she had been asked what ten books most influenced her.  She couldn't quite narrow it down to ten and she owns less books than me!  But I'm going to try.....

Hers was just a list but I'm going to add why or as much as I can tell you from my scrambled brain.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
I love the concepts and the exploration of both Welsh mythology as well as Native American.  In addition, the flying horse is really cool!  I like the whole series but this is my personal favorite.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis. 
Well, really all the Narnia books but again, this is the one I like the best because of both the wonder and the redemption in the story.  Here is the one I read first and the one that stayed with me the most.  I always look in closets to see if there might be a doorway.....

The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
This one is really the whole series.  I can't pick one I like the most, they're all good.  I love the rich mythology woven into them, please don't use the movie as a gauge, the books are sooo much better.  I've loved them since I was in junior high and had to buy them as an adult to read over and over.

Nancy Drew mystery series by Carolyn Keene
These influenced me to write.  Not well, terribly in fact, but my first stories were knock off's of these. I loved the mysteries and they truly were the first I read.  I've found better since but I still can't pitch the books I had as a child.  And I read these in fourth and fifth grade. 

Elfquest by Wendy and Richard Pini
Before you exclaim that these are not books, I will point to the fact that I have the graphic bound novels.  The art I fell in love with when I was ten and the stories compelled me when I grew older.  They were truly rich and beautiful stories and I still love them to this day.  And squealed when the authors were at a comic convention.  They had to go on my list because they are what propelled me into loving fantasy and elves.

Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
I read this in high school or possibly earlier.  The adventure and the knights I fell in love with.  I'm still a sucker for adventures like this and the three musketeers by Alexander Dumas.  I am putting these two together as I needed room on my list and they are a similar type of story and the same reason for enjoying them.

The short stories by Asimov
While I may not read much science fiction, he made me fall in love with his robots and I have loved science fiction since even if I don't always follow the science.  And I love my scifi shows!

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I really shouldn't have to say why I like this one but the language, the beauty, the tragedy and the joy.  And the unicorn...

God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell
I read this in college, it stayed with me twenty years and even when I half forgot the name of the book and the author, it stuck with me enough to make me track down the book and buy it.  I love the characters, their imperfections and their struggles in an imperfect dark world.  And yes, I highly recommend the series.

Prince of the Godborn: Seven Citadels by Geraldine Harris
Again all about the characters and the journey.  Also I read it in high school and had to find it twenty years later.  Still haven't bought it but I discovered tonight they have kindle versions and the prices are much lower than the limited editions I saw a couple years ago when I was broke so that may change. 

So that's ten and I bet you thought I was done...Well, there is more.

Shakespeare for sheer language and because there is Puck

Anything by Pratchett for humor and Neil Gaiman for whimsy and a certain darkness and sometimes humor.

The Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey. 

This one gets an honorable mention because I loved the character and her character influenced me in ways I am still discovering but mostly because it showed me there could be stories about people who were different than the norm and I needed that and I think so does this world.  Most of the stories I favor are about being different, so all of these have that in common.

I could go on, there are so many but those are some of the ones that influenced me the most.  Now, make your own list.  Don't think too hard and it can be for better or worse.  I picked better but that's me.  Tag, you're it!

NanoWrimo 2013

Just realized today that I haven't posted anything in quite a while.  Isn't amazing how when you're zooming along writing everything goes away?  I've had a couple issues, mostly a slow start to the romance on the new story but it is rushing along.  I think it's a good story, although the overall conflict will continue throughout at least another book.  But the romance will be resolved.  I like the characters despite my threats to one to beat him up when he doesn't cooperate but isn't that normal?  Isn't there one that drives you crazy?

We have also been busy with life stuff as well.  We have an inspection for the place we're renting plus news from work that they're closing down my call center.  The company is working with it's employees to find work in other business units but it was a bit of a blow since I love my coworkers.  But the good news is I have time and I want to stay so I think it will work out.

Other good news, past the 25,000 mark on new story, 27, 900 total

Have a great day!

Fiasco and other games

I had a blast this weekend.  We dragged my friend and her visitor as well as her roommate and also my friend out to our gamer buddies.  We had a board game day with all kinds of games.  First, we played Revolution which I did not fare well at.  Then we played a card game while others went walking.  Again, fun.  A break was made for food and when everyone gathered again, the true fun began.

My GM set us up at Fiasco.  It was me, Heather, Leah from Australia, and Cassie, Heather's roommate and Patrick the aforementioned GM.  Now, Fiasco is a cooperative roleplaying game with no GM.  It has settings and dice but you work together to build the relationships.  Everyone is related somehow to someone else and you build on those relationships as well adding in a couple needs.  Cassie was Patrick's grandfather.  Patrick was friends with Heather but it was a thin veneer.  Leah and I knew each other in the past, rivals with a bit of something extra involved but now she had been married and divorced from Heather.  Last, I was Cassie's apprentice.

It was set in China, Medieval China.  And it was a riot.  I  won't give you all the details but suffice to say we had so much fun playing off of each other.  We solved the mystery of Patrick's missing mother who ended up being Leah who was still alive.  She and I had been bandits but she'd run off with the tax collector, Heather.  I needed to get even and boy, did I.  By the end of the game, I died but went down into the legends as the mighty Bandit King (despite Leah being the true brains) and my love for her lived on down the centuries. Cassie died by accidentally eating poison that she had set out for the tax collector.  Patrick was a mighty warrior and I was his father.  It was very tangled and very amusing.  Cassie's character was skimming money off the top on taxes and had hidden it away only to find it stolen.  We all were devilish and it was magnificent!  I definitely want to play again!

Exotic Visitations

Heh, I'm getting fancy with my titles.  And I know, posting again so soon!  I'm just so excited and while talking about writing is cool, I wanted to talk about other stuff for a while. 

Work has been busy.  I tried for an opportunity to move into a Performance Coach position.  There were several good candidates, however, so I did not get the position.  I am disappointed but I will try to see it as an opportunity to work on my writing even more.  I have also been working a lot of projects and doing activities for a committee at work where we send information on our health insurance benefits out to our coworkers.

More exciting and the best news, is we have a visitor from Down Under.  My friend, Heather, no last names here, please!, has a friend who is visiting for a month.  We had a brief visit with her last time she was here but it's a longer visit and more stuff to do.  We have a couple trips planned and other visits so I am really excited about that.  I have to remember to post this so I remember to give out the details after we are done.  Tonight, we are going out to dinner at about the yummiest Asian place ever.  Love the fried rice!  And this weekend, we have board games planned with other friends included.  I like when I can get all the people I like in one room!

More later!

Writing news

Happy days, I have actually managed to remain productive so far this month.  This means I am looking good for the rest of the year.  I have been editing per my critique partner's notes as well as a beta reader.  I do so hope to collect more of those.  If any one has any time and would like to be experimented, cough, cough, I mean volunteer to help out, please let me know! 

I am also busy editing my partners work which involves reading a lot and analyzing a lot.  I had gotten a bit of extracurricular reading in but not the last couple days.  I have discovered I can either read for pleasure or read for writing but not always both on the same day.  So I have been reading my book on self editing. 

What else?  Hmm, work has been busy, the car tried to break itself but I got it fixed with the replacement of a hose.  Games this weekend and more next weekend!

End of Summer News

Wow,

            I really haven't posted in a while.  It has been a crazy stressful summer.  We did get my husband feeling better.  He's still seeing the doctor but every few months.  We did have a change in our living environment and while I will miss the person involved, I will not miss the drama or the negativity.  That is all I will say online.

          Now on to more fun news!  We went to Vegas again in July.  Yes, I am just getting around to posting anything now.  We got to enjoy the monorail and lots of walking.  Lots and Lots!!!  We also enjoyed the shark reef and the food.  We have plans to go back again, this time a bit fancier and a bit more time so we're not walking so many places all at once. 

           August opened up new opportunities at the day job, so I decided to take a risk and try a possible interim position.  I will have to see if I get it.  Also the month was fantastic in terms of my quality at work and I've got the best month yet as far as doing well at work. 

          It's been crazy, like I said.  We moved and I still am behind in unpacking.  I have been writing every day, a little but not much done editing.  But I did get stuff done on my crit partner's stuff.  I have a new piece to start reading on her work and she has been working on helping me with my Shadow story.  I got back into that today and I hope to have it better polished by the end of September.  We have her friend from Australia coming toward the end of the month though so it will be a busy fun month.  No specifics for now.  I want to have Shadow done, though and work again on Coyote and White Guardian in October for editing.  Then I will spend November writing a new novel, the sequel to Shadow.  So busy, lots of busy.  Keep you all posted as much as I can. 

Have fun!

Update

Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?  Life slammed me with some big stuff and some busy stuff.  We moved in May, well, officially but it got dragged out until the end of June.  That was when we turned in our keys to the old place.  In between, we had Phx Comicon which was a blast, hanging with friends and getting to see Captain Jack.  Wicked fun!  Then I went to Arizona Dreamin' which was equally cool and again, got to hang out with friends.
Then the summer cold hit and me and the hubby were down with that for a couple weeks.  Just when we recovered from that and during it, we had family stresses with the boy.  The boy is my husband's stepson and I won't go into to detail aside from stating that it was stressful and he lives with us. 

Right after that, punch, punch, punch goes life.  My husband was very sick and in the hospital with a gastrointestinal bleed caused by an ulcer in his intestines.  As he jokes, he felt like the Dread Pirate Roberts, only mostly dead.  He got 5 units of blood pumped into him and is mostly back to normal.  All his tests for his checkup came back good and he just needs to take his protonix, watch what he eats, no ibuprofen, and go see the doc in September. 

In the meantime, I have been writing but only little bits and mostly to keep my hand in.  I've been doing more revisions and critiquing for my writing partner and plotting the next novel, a sequel to my Shadow's Bane.  I hope to begin that by the end of July.

So there, all caught up and hopefully, no more drama for a while.  We get to enjoy some summer fun which I will talk about at the end of July and otherwise, we are staying out of trouble.  Have a good one, everyone!

Slacking

I really shouldn't do it.  I should be working and I will be tonight but instead of working today during the quiet times at work, I have been slacking off.  I am delaying the inevitable, the rewrite of the ending of Coyote.  Once I complete that, I will have no choice but to give it to people to read and find out if it works or if all my hard work is lacking, whether I will have to do more rewrites and more revisions and just more and I really, really, really want to this story finished, ready for readers and if I have to work more to get it there, then I don't really mind, I just hope, hope that it can be what it needs to be, hope that someone will like it and want to read it.  As much as I enjoyed writing it.  So I will be done with slacking tonight but for now, just a little bit more, so I enjoy the quiet, enjoy not knowing, bury my head in the sand for a tiny bit more.

Work in progress Coyote Weavings

This week I am working on revisions or should I make that still?  I am about half way through and should be finished I hope by next week.  I will still need to add in a layer of quotes for the character that references movies, not my skill area so I have to look up one for each time he makes a quote but I have marked out, rather like a map, where each one is.  And my critique partner/beta reader read the first "chapter" and only found one thing to comment on and since she is a much better writer than me, that actually makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and accomplished.  Yes, I know, too many ands but this is my place to be a bit informal.  I am also loving how the voice of one of the other minor character's is working now that I've made some changes.  Once I am done with what I think needs to be done then it will be time to hand it over to people and see what they think.  And likely wash, rinse, repeat.    But it's closer.

THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them.  I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy.  On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information on me and one of my books that I am working on and links to three other authors you can explore!

My gratitude to fellow author T. L. Smith for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following link to learn more about her work.  Website:  http://tlsmith-sfauthor.blogspot.com.

In this blog hop, I and my fellow authors, in their respective blogs, have answered ten questions about our book or work-in--progress (giving you a sneak peek).  We've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write--the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?

Coyote Weavings

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?  

I had a dream that is the kernel of the story.

3. What genre does your book come under?  

Modern Fantasy

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  

I don’t think I had anyone in particular in mind and still can’t think of anyone who could play this strange lot!

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  

You’re going to make me be brief, I see!  Fairies invade the southwest desert and a young, human photographer must work with a police officer, a Brownie, and Coyote, to defend her home.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?  

I am looking to have this sent to an agent within the year.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  

Um, several years!!!  It took me a while to get my act together and focus.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  

Jack of Kinrowan by Charles De Lint or American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?  

To be honest, the writing of Charles De Lint and Neil Gaiman with their incredible ability to merge the modern world with the creatures of Fairy were my influence for this story.  I really wanted a story that reflected that kind of world and I hope that I managed to create that effect in my story.  

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  

Hmm, the characters, especially Coyote.  He thinks the entire story is about him.  I’m not sure he’s wrong!  

Who’s next on the NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP?

So glad you asked!

Below you will find authors who will be joining me by blog, next Wednesday. Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on Works in Progress and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

[J.M.M.Czep] blog: http://czepwrites.blogspot.com/

[Deborah Baudoin] blog:http://deborahbaudoin.com/fiction/wp/

[Matthew Star] blog:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Star-Family-Series/326351510760725

Revisions

I am working furiously on revisions for chapter one of the current WIP or work in progress for my non writer friends.  What that means is I am deleting the extra fluff I don't need and adding in more detail on the character, transplanting crucial information from the 2nd chapter into the first because it is more important to have in the beginning, and adding detail to my descriptions.  I feel like it's more solid but I will have to have a another person read it for me to be sure.  Thankfully, I have a writer friend or two who are willing to take the time to check it over.  Next, I have to reprint the entire novel and go over it another time to check for the voice and flow of the story, check for more revisions that need to be done, and generally just give it one more look to ensure I don't have any grammar or spelling errors.  I also think the ending needs to be tweeked.  It seems a bit too easy and needs to be concentrated more on the main character and I'm not sure I carried that over as well as I wanted.  Still, maybe in a couple more months, this work that has taken me years....might actually be done.

RWA and Desert Rose

So far I have found it well worth my time to have joined RWA, which is the Romance Writer's of America for those of you who don't know the initials.  The newsletters have lots of information and there are online classes if I can ever find time to take one.  The local chapter is amazing.  So far, I don't feel like I need writing assistance but there have been lots of tips on that as well as plenty of information on publishing.  I feel like if I can get my story polished, I have a shot at getting it published.  I think after I get everything polished, I will utilize their mentor program where you can have an author look at the first three chapters and synopsis.  It's a small fee but they will give you critical feedback and I really feel like that will get me the next step.  And after that I can shop for an agent.  I was also invited to participate in a blog hop by one of my lovely friends so I hope others will find this interesting information.  Stay tuned for lots more information next week.

New Year

Happy New Year and hopefully, a few new things this year.  I have two goals.  Goal 1:  Edit my current manuscripts and get one published.  Goal 2: Continue eating healthier, exercising so I can lose more weight.  It would have been interesting if the world had at least changed on the 21st but at least I can work on changing things on a personal level and I look forward to the next year.

Conclusion to NanoWrimo

My stories are never done in 50,000 words, never.  That being said, I did complete the goal and my story, tentatively titled Shadow's Bane, is almost done.  Business at work has kept my word count lower as well as a healing finger.  Glue guns and I do not mix is all I will say.  The conclusion which includes a final confrontation with the bad guy who will be defeated has yet to be written.  I am setting up those chapters and I hope to be have it completed by the end of the year at most.  I just have to keep my inner editor turned off because I keep thinking of things that could use tweeking, deepening the relationship in the beginning, more time in the cells before they escape, clearer time line, and better descriptions.  But having said this, the pacing is much better and I like my characters better than most of my other stories except one.  And I think it is better written.  I have more tools in the toolbox, I just need to keep adding to the tools to improve my writing. 

Update on ShadowBane

So first, it is now Shadow's Bane.  Heh, heh, my husband somehow triggered this one.  I like it better, a bit more evocative of a romance.  I now have the rest of the story plotted out and just have to write it.  I am up past 40,000 and wrote 3,000 words today.  Work is very slow the day after Thanksgiving.  I would likely have written more but I had multiple side by sides for people interested in a job position on my team.  I actually didn't mind, I had time to let the plot percolate.  I am so excited that it is coming together so well and I can see potential for more stories depending on how well I flesh out minor characters in revision.  I have my best pacing ever, although I still need to tweek some of the pace of the relationship.  I think it moves a bit fast in the beginning but I might check out other authors just to see if I'm right about that or not.  I love the twists and turns it has taken.  I can't wait to have it finished and then give it to people to read. 

Update on writing

So, I haven't updated this thing in a while.  Probably because I've been super busy writing.  I have gone back and forth with my two guys developing something of a relationship and building trust issues.  I'm hoping to have the falling in love stage completed soon, especially since I've hit 25k words today.  They are about to have a huge fight and then make up so that will advance the plot quite a bit. Then I have to bring in the dangling plot elements and tie them all together with the happy coupe escaping at the end.  Sounds like a lot but I think it will write itself.  It's not dragging like it usually does at this point and I am happy with it overall.  There are elements I can see need fine tuning, no story is perfect on the first draft but I like it so far. 

In other news, one of my closest friends, who moved away a couple years ago, finally moved back.  Yeah, Heather!  And she brought a friend with her from Texas who my husband and I met back in February and we love Cassie!  We had dinner out with them last night and today we're going back to help with unpacking.  So yeah, things are going well. 

Real life and story life can all be good at once.