Editing is Happening...

Just printed my book, all but the last four chapters which are still in process. Starting editing/proof reading today.

Ma Chère Antoinne Main Character Dream Casting

If I could choose any actors to play the main characters in a movie adaptation of Ma Chère Antoinne, I'd select the ones shown below. Sadly, River Phoenix is no longer with us, but he is strong in my memory.

I love it when a plan comes together....

Exciting things are happening this week! I'm on a five day staycation, spending my time finishing up my novel. By the end of my time off on Tuesday night, I intend to have the first draft totally completed and be ready for edits.

In order to make it easier to make that happen, several things had to be in place.

On the Homefront:

After a very long wait, my new home office is completely finished and my furniture and books are all in place. No more blaming my surroundings for unproductive days. I love the colors, I love the furniture, and I love being surrounded by books. The room is comfortable and finished exactly the way I envisioned. I can't imagine a better space for writing than this, and I feel such a sense of peace knowing that now it's complete and I can focus my energies on more important things.

Layla insisted that there was not enough emphasis on dogs in the room, but now that I've added her bed to the space, she's forgiven me. She makes a good writing companion. She is quiet when I need it, reminds me when it's time to eat, and listens without interruption to my ideas. She also reminds me that sometimes you have to get up and walk around and get a little exercise too, and that helps me stay fresh and focused. Maybe someday I'll write a book about her, but she's okay with that project staying on the back burner...for now.

In my World of Pure Imagination:

I have been doing some more research and backstory creation for my characters, finding ways to flesh them out in my mind so I can do the same on paper.

• New Characters - There are a couple of new characters that I'm introducing into the text. One will be added to chapters I've already written, taking a character who was previously unnamed and barely described and giving her life. I decided that her character deserved more attention, and therefore she will be highlighted in places and given more time centerstage. She adds an element of authenticity and realism that I think enhances the storyline I've already written. The other new character is one that I initially wrote, then removed, and now have decided belongs in the story after all. It's a minor character, but still necessary for good storytelling, I think.
• Research - I've been doing some research for those characters based on historical figures, and I'm very excited with what I've found. One character in particular turned out to have a true story and myth surrounding her that almost exactly mirrors what I'd already dreamed up on my own. I love that my creative mind came up with something that is very nearly the truth, and I now feel that I have much more firm ground to stand on when filling in her backstory for my readers.
• Attention to Detail - It's important to me that I get my forensic details right. To that end, I had a long discussion with a professor of forensics who invited me to sit in on his course this fall. He also suggested some readings for me, and I'm taking his advice to heart. I hope that my story will benefit from what I learn, both in this book and in the sequel. Yep, you heard me. SEQUEL.
• Sequel - I'm certain that this book is a series now. I'd tried to talk myself out of that, but it started to feel rushed, and my characters have much more to say than one book's worth of material. This storyline is only just beginning, and I can see a lot more exciting things to come as they progress. You may as well settle in and get comfortable. Get a snack. I've got a long story to tell, and it's only getting more exciting with each chapter.

Reason #62343187984 why I love Josephine

Finally, the sneak peek of Ma Chère Antoinne is on Nook!

Nook users! 

You asked for it. You got it! 

The sneak peek edition of Ma Chère Antoinne is now available! 

Only $.99!

Click through to the Barnes & Noble Nook listing!

Busy Week!

No Vampires in Pop Culture Feature this Week

This week is hectic in the extreme, but soon the semester will be over and I'll have a little breathing room to do the things I really need to get done. In addition to finishing Ma Chère Antoinne, I have some reviews to write, my garden to get in, some doctor's appointments, and I'll be moving into my new office upstairs at last (photos to come). My Vampires in Pop Culture Feature will be delayed until next week, but I plan to make it a great one.

In the meantime, enjoy the lovely spring weather with all its radiance and splendor.

Nook and iBook and Paperback! Oh my! We're not in Kindle anymore....

I'm formatting the sneak peek for Nook and iBook as we speak.

Well, it's more like I'm waiting for them to verify my sales while I make another pot of coffee and keep hitting the refresh button, but you get the picture.

At any rate, people asked me about other formats, so I'm setting up my accounts and getting familiar with the formatting expectations and software peculiarities specific to those platforms. The learning curve is smacking me in the face right now. However, once I get through the process with this sneak peek version, it should make it much easier once I'm ready to upload the complete book since I'll know what I'm doing by then.

My CreateSpace account is set up and waiting as well, so once the book is finished, all I have to do is upload the file and paperbacks will be available too. I plan to pay the nominal fee to make them available through bookstore distributors.

The timing of all this hinges on whether I get a publisher/agent or not. I'm certainly hoping so, because I'd rather be writing than fiddling with technical issues of the uploads. However, if it doesn't happen this summer, I'll be selling the book myself while I keep sending in submissions. Either way, the book will be published, and I fully intend to keep on writing regardless.

So while I'm cursing the screen and searching for the last Oreo in the package out of frustration, I'm also really excited and happy. Even good change can be stressful. But this time last year, I didn't have a book at all and didn't have a thought of needing to learn this stuff. Writing was just something I did in my spare time. Publishing it was something I dreamed about but never thought I could actually do. I'm not sure what pushed me over the edge, but there was this little voice inside that said "It's time."

And so here I am, doing the thing I always wanted to do and trusting that there will be an audience who loves the story as much as I do. Trusting myself to tell it. And trusting that "someday" is almost here.

Thank you!

I am honored and thrilled that my one day only sale was such a success! Wow! Thank you to everyone who downloaded the book and to those who shared the link with others as well. By the end of the sale, the sneak peek was ranked #49 in Historical Fiction, and #1966 overall in Free Kindle books, so that makes me really excited and grateful.





I hope you all enjoy it. It's just a taste of what's to come in the full version, but I hope it's enough to whet your appetite.

The book is nearly complete. I plan to have the first draft done by the end of the month, then spend 2-4 weeks on edits. I'm still on track for a summer release, and though I don't yet have a firm date, as soon as I know when it will be available, I will let you know.

If you would like early notice, please email me at deliaremington13@gmail.com and I will add you to my mailing list.

You can also "like" my Facebook page to find out about events and giveaways I'll be doing as the time draws near.

Thank you again, and happy reading!

FREE! Cinco De Mayo Special this Sunday!

ONE DAY ONLY!

On Sunday, May 5, the Sneak Peek Edition of my upcoming novel, Ma Chère Antoinne, is free on Amazon Kindle!

If you haven't read it, there's no better time to check it out! And if you already have your copy, share it with your friends! It's free all day! 

Click here to download:
Sneak Peek Edition, Ma Chère Antoinne