Spooktacular Giveaway Hop Coming!

I've decided to participate in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted here: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/p/giveaway-hop_17.html

I've set up a page special for this, my first-ever, blog hop. You can click on 'Spooktacular Giveaway Hop' at the top of my blog! You'll find more information on that page as the hop comes closer!

I'm excited to try this! I hope I meet a bunch of new people!

Exactly How Do We Do It?

Well that is a good question. There comes a day in every Author's life that we are sitting in front of the computer and wondering just how the heck do we do this thing called writing? I love it when my mom talks about me and my writing, she always does her best not to call me strange, which I really am. Instead, she calls us writers unique, like that is any better. :) But, I have to agree, we are different from the general masses, we are creative, eccentric, forward thinkers and hot beverage drinkers.

Often times I try to think over exactly how I put these voices in my head down on paper. I know some authors who outline the whole stinken' thing, right down to the last page, then they fill in the good stuff and have an amazing book. I tried this once for a NaNoWriMo book I wrote: whole crap!!! Really! It was CRAP!!! My sweet husband read it for me after I refused to look at it again on December 1st. Finally after a couple of days I asked him what he thought. He hummed and hawed then said something like, "well it isn't the best thing you have ever done." Code for, "It was CRAP!!!" I really have to give him props for chewing through that thing, it really was a bad one.

I for one have to know my character. I find pictures of people who represent what I am going for, or pictures of places and other things to help me set the mood. I need to know a little bit about my character by doing a brief character outline, then I pretty much turn my body and soul over to the story.

I remember once I was writing on one of those few days when all my kids were gone, and by the time I was done I felt like I had been wrung dry. I didn't have it in me to even eat something. My poor family knows when I am in the zone because it looks like the house has been eaten by the clutter monster and we are having cold cereal for dinner.

Needless to say, on the day that I asked myself how, and why, I do this crazy thing, I knew the answer almost immediately. I do it because I love it. I love telling a story and knowing people are enjoying themselves, letting the clutter monster eat their house for a while as they sit on the couch with a hot drink and enjoy the story that I have written. I guess it's Love.

So tell me, what is your answer to the query: How the heck do YOU do this thing called writing?

First Book Review!!

I decided to get my name out there and I sent Sweetwater Springs to a book reviewer. It was scary to say the least but the review just came out and I couldn't be more thrilled. Thank you Liz for the wonderful review. You can find what she has to say here: http://fictionalcandy.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweetwater-springs-by-alex-taylor-wolfe.html

You can get Sweetwater Springs on Nook, Kindle and Smashwords, only $0.99.

Problem Fixed!

Well we had some issues with the file that I uploaded to Kindle and Nook. Apparently I put the wrong file up! As soon as I realized we pulled it down and both my Amazing Editor and myself found the right file and read though the whole thing to make sure it was right. Now the problem is fixed. You can find Sweetwater Springs for $0.99 here: http://www.amazon.com/Sweetwater-Springs-ebook/dp/B005KYIZ76/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316537062&sr=1-1 and here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweetwater-springs-alex-taylor-wolfe/1105610273?ean=2940013334076&itm=1&usri=sweetwater%2bsprings. Please read it and then rate the book. If you like it tell a friend.

Just a little longer.

It is taking longer than I thought for the Nook to publish Sweetwater Springs, but do not be dismayed, it will happen soon. But for now you can still get it at Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Sweetwater-Springs-ebook/dp/B005KYIZ76/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315602615&sr=1-1

I promise you will not be disappointed!!!

More News!!!

I have listed Sweetwater Springs for the Nook now. It will take about 72 hours to upload but then you can buy it for the great low price of $0.99. I will update when it is actually available!

Breaking News!!!

Sweetwater Springs in now available online!!!

You heard me right, after much thought and consideration I have decided to sell Sweetwater Springs though Amazon Kindle. I have tried to go though conventional publishing but for a while now I have felt that Kindle is the way to go. Things have been progressing well with my writing and I wanted a way to get my stories out to the world at my own pace, not that of a publishers.

So because I could not keep Sweetwater to myself any longer you can purchase the book for $0.99 though the Kindle store, or follow the link. Read it, enjoy it, and for Heaven sake, tell your friends about it. :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KYIZ76

Working on the Kingdom

Lana is forced to marry by her Uncle who is seeking good favor with the King, the only bad part about it is, her soon to be husband has no idea. Derik is a warrior and hero, but he is also the Prince and when his father informs him that he needs to take on more responsibility he is offered a bride. Neither one of them like the idea, but they have no choice. Forced into a marriage that neither of them are interested in, they must find a way to fall in love before the Kingdom is overthrown by invaders. It is a story of love and survival and ultimately taking their place in THE KINGDOM.

New Favorite Quote

“We will be judged by what we finish not by what we start.” Anonymous.

This typifies how I feel about writing. I have started a hundred writing projects over my years of writing. Some of them are great, some are not, but the fact that I keep starting is a good thing. I know it takes hard work and dedication to get a story to completion, but that needs to be the goal! Sometimes it takes a simple phrase to get one motivated, so here it goes, I am motivated and it feels good!

Writing and all that Jazz!

So there are a few things that are difficult about writing, the first is all of the stories that are vying for position in my head. You know those crazy people you see walking around talking to themselves, yeah, that is me. I will be in the shower having a conversation with someone in my head, talking about plot, conflict resolution, trying to figure out how to make them interesting. Sometimes I wonder if my family thinks I have lost it.

I did an experiment a couple of months ago, I just tried to ignore them all, but you know what, that just makes it worse. Pretty soon you start saying things that you would never say, and doing things you would never do, like stopping at a green light, or forgetting to pick up milk when that was the only thing you went to the store for. Finally it gets so bad that one night you wake up to knocking in your head, the only thing to do is drag yourself out to your computer and let all the craziness out. It is a small price to pay really, because if the voices ever went away all the stories would be gone, and that would be a tragedy.

The next thing that I find difficult is after all the sweat, and heat, and love, and tears and pouring out of your soul, NO ONE WILL READ IT. To date I have sent my first manuscript to over 30 agencies for representation. Countless friends, neighbors, and even people I have never met, tell me how much they love the book and want a copy when it is printed, but I can't get anyone to help me with that. It seems like the Publishing Gods have turned their backs on me, leaving me alone with the voices in my head. Now it would be really easy to give up, put the computer away, take meds for the voices and submerge myself in some pointless hobby like needlepoint, or Crockett (no offence to those who participate) but you know what, I can't. The stories are there, they need a voice, they need the love and attention I have to give them, so Agent or not I will keep doing what I love. So if you ever see me shopping in the soup section with MILK scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper just smile at me, head me in the right direction, and ignore anything I have to say about my latest character!