And on to the next phase....

We had a bit of a busy year last year. In lots of ways we still seemed to be suffering some continued fallout from the apocalypse that was 2015,  but there were lots of highlights. People often say to me "I would write a book if I had time....." which I always greet with a wry smile. I said in an earlier post how hectic life was, but I know what they mean. And last year, we were away every school holiday. In between everything else I didn't leave myself much time for writing. I didn't see my friends as much as I would have liked either, a fact I intend to address this year. This year then, we have decided to try to slow it down a little (the madness of life, that is....the opposite for the writing.) We were thrilled when we had the unexpected chance to go skiing last Easter as my son was working in a popular ski resort so we flew out to see him. We hope we might do the same this year (fingers crossed.....) but the whole family became so excited by the notion of skiing that we have booked for all of us to go and give it a try. Not 'till next February, mind, so everyone can save up, but we face the prospect now of lots of excited chatter and we are already shopping for ski wear......I feel a sense of childish excitement. We will visit Cornwall in the summer but apart from that are going to spend a bit more time at home. And writing.

So anyhoo....(I can't decide if that is a terrible term or if I quite like it....I like what my mouth does when I say it.....!)...back to the progress on the book. I submitted The Secrets to a publisher and I shall be completely honest about its progress. I was open about the fact that I had previously self published, to save us both from wasting our time. I have had a message saying that the submission had been forwarded to the editors so that fact had not meant immediate rejection. I am now waiting to hear their judgement. Meanwhile I had started re editing The Key but have left this to one side in recent weeks. I am finding myself pulled in the direction of the Third book and began sketching out ideas for where I would like the story to go. I have written the opening paragraph and have lots of bits of chapters and ideas, but I want to get started on it properly this week. Let's see what happens....the best laid plans and all that....

And of course I am busily picking out my dress for the film premier....
Well we can all dream can't we. 😇

web link....how to write a query letter

How to write a query letter

Very possibly true!

https://www.facebook.com/ChrisBrecheensWritingAboutWriting/posts/1090629297713038:0

To Boldly Go......

Captain’s  log January 2017………

Ok so I have to admit that I am a bit of a Trekkie. My favourite film is Star Trek lV, which I have seen dozens and dozens of times and it never gets old. That particular  story, however, has nothing to do with this post. No, I am referring to the next step of my journey as a would be writer and author.

I’ve not been shy on here about sharing some of my trials and tribulations as I ventured into the world of publishing. I have been disappointed with the printing of my second book….let’s just say that things had not turned out as I had hoped, and so after some lengthy consideration, I have decided to cancel the contract I have with my publishing company. This was delayed by the fact that I was having trouble scanning the documents I had to sign, until in a flash of genius, I discovered a free app that lets you scan from your IPad. Hey Presto, documents signed, contract cancelled. Somehow this makes my books rather more valuable as they are now out of print/less easy to locate….not entirely sure how that works but a lengthy email from the support team explained this…….it tickles me to think of them as collectors items…..but let’s not get carried away……..

So what are my next steps, I hear you ask in a chorus of curiosity. Well I’ll tell you…..

1 I have to remove all images I have had from the company from my publicity and marketing, and replace them with my own. This is in progress.

2 The Key is being redrafted. I have removed all the errors and made a few, very minor changes. I am also rewriting it in the third person to see if this works and will then decide which version I prefer. It will then also be thoroughly edited!

3 I have amended The Secrets by removing the prologue and epilogue. The  first chapter,which directly ties it to the first  book has gone and everything bumped up to make 30 neat chapters. It is much more succinct as a piece of work that will  a) stand alone or b) read comfortably as either a first book, or a prequel/second book after the first. (Well that made sense in my head…..)

4 I have written a cover letter and synopsis for The Secrets, have  selected chapters and now will double check submission formatting ready to go again.

5 I will resubmit to a  publisher who had accepted my work before  (sadly took such a long time getting back that in my haste, due to Dad’s ill health, I had already gone in another direction)

6 I will increase  my search for suitable traditional publishers and begin the round of submissions once more. Whilst I work on upgrading  The Key, I will submit The Secrets. All will need to know that I had already previously published so we shall see what response that brings.

And then there is the third instalment…

So we are kind of back to the drawing board, as it were.

I am feeling quite bold to have made the decision to jump ship and move forward on my own. Not quite Captain Kirk bold, but feeling a bit brave nonetheless. I have distanced myself from the Klingons, positioned myself in the Captain’s chair and I’m all set for the next adventure. Warp speed would be nice, but hold on tight anyway. We’ve come a long way….but there’s even further to explore!

Hiatus

I went back to work after the summer holidays, to a very much changed environment. It's not a myth that people in my profession often work 50, 60 and 70 hour weeks (and more!) and this was the situation I found myself in, trying to adapt to my new role and keep up with the work pace. Lots of new challenges. And so I found myself coming home from work and literally conking out on the sofa, too exhausted to move or even think. And yet there was this latest book to promote.....

However, I took the time to come to a decision about it's future, and have actively disengaged myself from the promotion process over the last couple of months. But I lovingly crafted the story of Albie and Edgar, the history of the house and the secrets and tragedies that developed. "The Secrets" took a long time to write and a long time to edit. Unfortunately in publication something was lost in translation regarding the printing of the book and I can't say that I am happy with the result of the cover. So there are changes afoot, and I will pop up with details of these soon. I am on a fascinating journey and I have been intrigued by the different directions I have taken with regard to venturing into writing and publishing. Publishing my first book was quite frightening and, in hindsight, done too quickly. The second one - well I have dragged my heels and I am still wavering. I can't say too much here until I have sorted it out, but I am in the middle of making a number of changes. The story, however, remains the same.

SO, it's available on Kindle at the moment, if you are curious to find out more. "Sadie's House; The Secrets".

My first book "Sadie's House; The Key" is being completely redrafted, and this is taking AN AGE!!! I have been heavily reassured by several sources that it is common to look back at your first writing with a very critical eye, but I hope I'm not losing anything by redrafting it in the third person, instead of the first. We shall have to wait and see.

And meanwhile, the family remain patient with me as I fling my way precariously between job, writing, cake making and trying to maintain my responsibilities and wife and mother, daughter and sister, friend and pet owner. I have been lucky enough to have quite a few holidays this year. But now the decorating needs doing, the Christmas shopping won't do itself, and there's another good series on Netflix.......

It's a busy old life. I love it :)

WARNING! No sex!

If you are looking for a slutty book, filled with sex and raunchy scenes, or where the helpless female is swept off her feet by the powerful charming businessman, then read no further. In fact you might as well move on now. My book is not for you.

And yet…..

No sex, no smut, no “overwhelmed with desire” (I can hardly even write that without blushing!) Sadie’s House:The Secrets is just a charming historical tale, and a love story with a bit of a difference. It’s the story of the history of a magic, living house, how it came to life and the story of the child for whom it awakened. It tells of two brothers, and desolate secrets that one of them must keep from the other for the sake of them all.  A dark and sad story of the house’s passion and desperation to have a happy ending. It may surprise. It may make you cry. And the awful revelations and huge plot twist will shock…….

So maybe take a look, then if the “Mummy porn” is more your cup of tea, then no harm done. But if your enjoy a  tale with drama, suspense, tragedy, romance and magic, spanning nearly  a hundred years, with twists and turns and the supernatural element of a house reacting to, and trying to influence its occupants, then this book IS for you.

The Secrets is my second book, the prequel to the first, Sadie’s House:The Key. As a fledgling author I am learning and improving all the time and this book has a personality of its own. You don’t need to have read the first to follow and enjoy the second (although, spoiler alert in chapter one. The full story begins in chapter two).

Available in the next couple of weeks. Look out for giveaway offers and freebies, and all links for purchasing will follow.

A Secondary Blog

I have come to realise that I write about quite a few different aspects of my life on here. This blog was originally developed so that I could chronicle my journey as would-be author, pretty much warts and all. Reading back, reflecting, learning and moving forward has been invaluable.

However, now my second book is complete and about to be launched, it seemed a good time to look at where I was going with it. I have two projects on the go right now. One is the redrafting of Sadie's House- The Key and removing the errors and inconsistencies. This will then be reprinted. The second is the third novel, of which I have begun chapter 1. I'm quite excited about both. So this main blog will focus on my writing.

The new blog "Behind the Scenes.....family, travel and cake" will be more personal and about other aspects of my life. I've explained on the blog, the link to which is above. So here we go again. Another journey, another adventure. Some people always seem to have it all figured out. I don't, I'm just making it up as I go along and sometimes this works and sometimes it doesnt. I don't think I'm alone in this.

So I hope you'll take a look, maybe even comment or like occasionally, but you are most welcome to drop by from time to time. And thanks for the continued support. You're fabulous!