December 16, 2006, was one of the hardest days I can ever remember.
It was on that day, exactly three years ago today, that my father passed away.
It wasn't completely unexpected. Dad hadn't been well for the previous 18 months, since surviving a heart attack. I guess you could say those last months were a bonus, as he hadn't been expected to live the previous year.
Nontheless, it was still a shock. And even after three years, it still hurts to think of him.
It's ironic that, as this "anniversary" comes around, I'm about to see my second novel published. Dad was always one of my staunchest supporters. He encouraged me to try my wings at anything and everything, and he was so proud of every little accomplishment any of his kids made. A self-taught man, he encouraged us all to read, to study and explore.
Yet he never lived to see my first book, In Sunshine or in Shadow, published.
As I write this, my second book, Coming Home, is in production. I hadn't planned to write a sequel to Sunshine, but the story had to be written, and as I wrote it, and realized that the father is an integral theme of this story, I knew I had to dedicate this one to Dad.
And when I finally hold Coming Home in my hands, and read the dedication I wrote, I know Dad will be watching over my shoulder, a proud smile spreading across his cheeks, and saying, in my mind at least, "I'm so proud of you, sweet'art!"
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Goals for 2010
With the release of my new novel, Coming Home, sometime in the coming year, my professional life is about to kick into high gear again, with all the anxiety and excitement that goes along with a new release.
With that in mind, in between getting ready for the holidays I've been doing a lot of thinking about my goals for 2010. I need to set clear, but achievable goals. And if I write them down, I figure they're more or less etched in stone, and I won't be able to deviate too far from them.
So here goes:
1. See "Coming Home" released, with a hefty dose of promotion and at lease one book signing.
2. Polish and submit "Playing For Keeps" to my editor. (PFK is the final story of the O'Brien family, featuring eldest sister Katie and her adventures in America).
3. Finish the re-write of "Deceptive Hearts" - first of the Wild Geese stories - by March 31.
4. Finish plotting "Keeper of the Light," and finish writing the first draft by September 1. KOTL is the second of the Wild Geese series.
5. Decide on the next installment of the Wild Geese. This will probably be "My Dark Rose," Roisin and Derry's story. I'd like to finish the research for this story by November 30.
So there they are - my goals for 2010. I don't know if I'll reach all of them, and depending on the release date for "Coming Home," all my other dates are subject to change. But I'm definitely going to try to achieve them all.
And, as a friend once said to me, "Remember, goals are like stars. We may not reach them, but they guide us along the way."
With that in mind, in between getting ready for the holidays I've been doing a lot of thinking about my goals for 2010. I need to set clear, but achievable goals. And if I write them down, I figure they're more or less etched in stone, and I won't be able to deviate too far from them.
So here goes:
1. See "Coming Home" released, with a hefty dose of promotion and at lease one book signing.
2. Polish and submit "Playing For Keeps" to my editor. (PFK is the final story of the O'Brien family, featuring eldest sister Katie and her adventures in America).
3. Finish the re-write of "Deceptive Hearts" - first of the Wild Geese stories - by March 31.
4. Finish plotting "Keeper of the Light," and finish writing the first draft by September 1. KOTL is the second of the Wild Geese series.
5. Decide on the next installment of the Wild Geese. This will probably be "My Dark Rose," Roisin and Derry's story. I'd like to finish the research for this story by November 30.
So there they are - my goals for 2010. I don't know if I'll reach all of them, and depending on the release date for "Coming Home," all my other dates are subject to change. But I'm definitely going to try to achieve them all.
And, as a friend once said to me, "Remember, goals are like stars. We may not reach them, but they guide us along the way."
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Rambling Around Ireland
I shared some of my vacation photos and memories with a friend this week, and it occurred to me that some of the best moments of that holiday were the ones that weren't planned.
Since I'd wanted to see Ireland since I was in my teens, naturally I had a list of "must-see" places. But we drove around the country (literally!), and while Google Maps is great, it didn't seem to take into account the gentle meanderings of the Irish roads, so that most of our journeys took about twice as long as predicted.
Oh, but it was so worth it!
One of the more memorable - and beautiful - "wrong turns" we took was on the way out of Galway City, the "City of Tribes." We were heading toward Kinvara, where I was able to visit Dunguaire Castle, which I think of as "my" castle, since it's the one on my first book cover. Only we took the wrong direction, and stopped once again to study our map. It was on the coast road, overlooking the seaside village of Salthill, and the view was absolutely breathtaking!
"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree..." Those words by William Butler Yeats evoke a paradise impossible to find anywhere on earth - except perhaps in Ireland, when you're not sure where you're driving and are perhaps guided by the wee folk.
We were searching for a small farm that belongs to my husband's aunt, when we drove by an absolutely lovely lake. Naturally I had to stop and take pictures while hubby checked our directions. It was only afterward that we discovered it was Lough Gill, the very lake where Yeats wandered when he wrote some of his best-loved poetry! That island you see in the middle lake really is Innisfree, at least according to the locals. And I'm willing to believe it!
Since I'd wanted to see Ireland since I was in my teens, naturally I had a list of "must-see" places. But we drove around the country (literally!), and while Google Maps is great, it didn't seem to take into account the gentle meanderings of the Irish roads, so that most of our journeys took about twice as long as predicted.
Oh, but it was so worth it!
One of the more memorable - and beautiful - "wrong turns" we took was on the way out of Galway City, the "City of Tribes." We were heading toward Kinvara, where I was able to visit Dunguaire Castle, which I think of as "my" castle, since it's the one on my first book cover. Only we took the wrong direction, and stopped once again to study our map. It was on the coast road, overlooking the seaside village of Salthill, and the view was absolutely breathtaking!"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree..." Those words by William Butler Yeats evoke a paradise impossible to find anywhere on earth - except perhaps in Ireland, when you're not sure where you're driving and are perhaps guided by the wee folk.
We were searching for a small farm that belongs to my husband's aunt, when we drove by an absolutely lovely lake. Naturally I had to stop and take pictures while hubby checked our directions. It was only afterward that we discovered it was Lough Gill, the very lake where Yeats wandered when he wrote some of his best-loved poetry! That island you see in the middle lake really is Innisfree, at least according to the locals. And I'm willing to believe it!
I can't wait to see where our meanderings take us on our next trip!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Dedications
With my second novel, Coming Home, soon to be released, I've had to come up with a back cover blurb (which I'll post here soon) as well as the dedication.
It took a long time to write the dedication for In Sunshine or in Shadow, my first novel. It seemed there were so many people to thank - everyone who'd helped me and stood by me through the long path to finally becoming published.
This time it was a little different. This time, because of the storyline - which features Ashleen O'Bien and her stepfather, Rory (hero of In Sunshine or in Shadow), as well as Cavan Callaghan, whose relationship with his own father - and stepfather - is very pertinent to the story. I knew when I wrote Coming Home that, if it was ever published, I would dedicate it to my father.
Sadly, my father passed away before In Sunshine or in Shadow was published. But that just makes the dedication all that more special.
One thing I noticed, though: as soon as I announced that Coming Home would be published, people started asking me if I was going to dedicate it to someone special. And they all seem eager to know the details.
I confess I loved to read other authors' dedications. But I have a hard and fast rule about my own. I write them and send them to my editor, but she's the only one who sees them. No one, least of all those who the book is dedicated to, is allowed to read the dedication until they hold the book in their hand.
And tht's how I plan to keep it, now and with any future books.
It took a long time to write the dedication for In Sunshine or in Shadow, my first novel. It seemed there were so many people to thank - everyone who'd helped me and stood by me through the long path to finally becoming published.
This time it was a little different. This time, because of the storyline - which features Ashleen O'Bien and her stepfather, Rory (hero of In Sunshine or in Shadow), as well as Cavan Callaghan, whose relationship with his own father - and stepfather - is very pertinent to the story. I knew when I wrote Coming Home that, if it was ever published, I would dedicate it to my father.
Sadly, my father passed away before In Sunshine or in Shadow was published. But that just makes the dedication all that more special.
One thing I noticed, though: as soon as I announced that Coming Home would be published, people started asking me if I was going to dedicate it to someone special. And they all seem eager to know the details.
I confess I loved to read other authors' dedications. But I have a hard and fast rule about my own. I write them and send them to my editor, but she's the only one who sees them. No one, least of all those who the book is dedicated to, is allowed to read the dedication until they hold the book in their hand.
And tht's how I plan to keep it, now and with any future books.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Keeping Busy
I've turned in the first edits for Coming Home, and I'm waiting to hear back from my editor on any further changes she might want. It's an intense process, making sure all your appostrophes are facing the right way, your formatting is correct, and any grammatical errors are corrected. And once I turned them in, I decided to take a little break.
Well, break's over. I haven't heard from editor yet, but while I'm waiting, I can certainly keep busy with other stuff, specifically, promotion for the book. I want to have it ready when the time comes.
I've already announced the sale on all my writing loops, as well as on MySpace, my Ning pages, and here on my own blog. And I've told all my friends and relations about it. Word of mouth, I've discovered, can be a wonderful selling tool.
I've also made a list of romance review sites to submit the book to, including Coffee Time , Night Owl Romance, and TCM Reviews.
I've begun work on a book trailer. I received permission from Will Millar, former lead singer of The Irish Rovers, to use another piece of his music, and I'm compiling photos and writing the script. I've drafted a press release, which I plan to submit to my local newspapers, as well as my local librarian. I'm hoping to schedule another book signing at our library. And I've designed flyers to advertise that signing, and invitations to it.
As soon as I have the final cover and cover copy, I'll see about having bookmarks and postcards designed.
The way I see it, the more I get done now, the less I'll have to do at the last minute. It's like I tell my kids: Plan ahea
d.
I think they've actually started to listen!
Well, break's over. I haven't heard from editor yet, but while I'm waiting, I can certainly keep busy with other stuff, specifically, promotion for the book. I want to have it ready when the time comes.
I've already announced the sale on all my writing loops, as well as on MySpace, my Ning pages, and here on my own blog. And I've told all my friends and relations about it. Word of mouth, I've discovered, can be a wonderful selling tool.
I've also made a list of romance review sites to submit the book to, including Coffee Time , Night Owl Romance, and TCM Reviews.
I've begun work on a book trailer. I received permission from Will Millar, former lead singer of The Irish Rovers, to use another piece of his music, and I'm compiling photos and writing the script. I've drafted a press release, which I plan to submit to my local newspapers, as well as my local librarian. I'm hoping to schedule another book signing at our library. And I've designed flyers to advertise that signing, and invitations to it.
As soon as I have the final cover and cover copy, I'll see about having bookmarks and postcards designed.
The way I see it, the more I get done now, the less I'll have to do at the last minute. It's like I tell my kids: Plan ahea
d.
I think they've actually started to listen!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Blogging Today
I'm blogging at Seduced By History about writing secondary characters, and how they can help - and sometimes hinder - the romance between a hero and heroine. Check it out here:
http://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/
http://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Excerpt from In Sunshine or in Shadow
Chicks of Characterization has published an excerpt from In Sunshine or in Shadow. Check it out here
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