Tara vs Tara vs Tara

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 I'm a self-confessed ditherer. I keep doing OTHER stuff - not even important stuff - rather than work on my next book. Now that I actually HAVE important(ish) stuff to do (like get as many of the 56 blog posts ready for the April A-Z - I signed up BOTH blogs... I keep having to remind myself about that. *shifty*) I have decided that now is the time I should work on the next book. *rolls eyes* Ah well, at least I managed the first week of posts for both blogs before I got sidetracked (though half of those were already done, in all fairness, so it's not such a great feat).

See, I had an idea pop in my head for the opening scene, and once it was there, it had to get out. This is not the first time this has happened, and I know from experience that if I don't get it written right away, it will poke and pester at me and drive me nuts.

This time, though, I am determined to keep going. In the last... year?... I have started the next book three times (not including this time), with varying degrees of success when it came to continuing with it. One draft was under five thousand words, little more than a chapter or two. The longest was over 25k, but I ran out of steam.

Now, a normal person would have backed these files up and revisited them, and I did. At least, for a while, at any rate. But during one of my (thankfully) infrequent dips into The Pit (I suffer with episodic depression), I went on a purging spree and deleted virtually everything from my laptop. Regretted it the following day, obviously, but when my Inner It comes for a visit, she's mouthy, pushy, and pretty hard to stand up to.

Anyway, as I said above, I have started the follow up to If the Shoe Fits, and this time I will email any and all progress to my sister for safe keeping. Just in case I have that Purge Urge again.

I'm also currently having numerous conversations with my multiple personalities about the title of my next book. The conversations are sort of like this:

Serious Brain Tara: It needs to have a beast in there somewhere. But not a beauty reference. Don't want it to be too bluergh. I want something snappy.

Serious Brain Tara #2:  Yes. How about what your friend suggested? To Beast Or Not To Beast?

Serious Brain Tara: Well, I like that, but I worry that potential readers might think it will be similar to a Shakespearean story, and really, I think the talking cat might shock them.

Serious Brain Tara #2: I see your point. What about Truly, Madly, Beastly?

Serious Brain Tara: Hmmm. Not loving it, but it's a start.

Serious Brain Tara #2: What about words that rhyme with beast?

Serious Brain Tara: Yes, that's a good idea! Feast! There's one! We could play with quotes that have feast in them!

Serious Brain Tara #2: A Beast for the Eyes, maybe?

Serious Brain Tara: Not enamoured, I have to admit. What other words rhyme with beast, anyway?

Silly Brain Tara: Yeast!

Serious Brain Tara & Serious Brain Tara #2: *blank stare*

Silly Brain Tara: I got it!! Beast Infection!!!!

*dies* Sometimes, I scare myself, I really do...

See you Monday, for the first April A-Z post!

Book Blurb Bloganza!!

I'm a bit scared... a little bit woo, a little bit wa-hay! Why on EARTH did I sign up for the A-Z on BOTH of my blogs?

*dies*

I'm pretty much fine over at my Furry Tale Chronicles blog, mostly because I'm limericking my way through the challenge, and they are easy peasy posts to compose. But as for this one, although I had the vague notion that I would make it related to the publishing side of writing, I was still pretty stumped for ideas for a lot of the letters.

But then I had a Blackadder moment.

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But let me backtrack for a sec...

A little while ago, I told my good friend, The Watery Tart, that I would be happy to help out with a promo post for her upcoming release (The Begonia Bribe, by la Tart's alter ego, Alyse Carlson). So I had my 'B' post (even though it was only when said Tart emailed me the details that it jogged my memory *is a Forgetful Princess at times too*).

Then, I also remembered that I'd signed up to do a cover reveal promotional post for Rhonda Helms - who, I should point out, I don't really know, but am Twitter-stalking, along with other Carina Press editors, due to my inability to patiently wait out the response period for my recent submission to them *shifty* - on April 18th.

I should ALSO add, that I only remembered THAT yesterday. *cough*

Anyway! With two posts firmly accounted for, I had a sudden thought. Or, in reference to my earlier Blackadder remark, I had a cunning plan!!!

Why not book blurb my way through the entire challenge?

With this in mind, and also remembering that I will be promoting my own book by limericking tasty teasers on my OTHER blog, I decided to ask my fellow Crimson Romance authors if they would like some promo next month.

These ladies - we are the CR Sisters!! - are fabulous. *nods* We chat, share advice, promote each other's books, and just generally support each other. We also post pictures of hot men - not always dressed - but that is besides the point. *whistles innocently*

Back to the point (yes, I'm rambling, I know). I asked my fellow CR Sisters if they wanted some book blurb love, and they have responded beautifully. I'm mostly using the alphabet letters to represent the author's name or book title, but where they didn't always fit, I have used my (slightly skewered) imagination. Now I just need to compose and schedule the remainder of the 52 posts. *dies yet again over signing up both blogs*

But why is this cunning? Well, because not only do I NOT have to worry about coming up with ideas for each of the letters, I am also able to kill two birds with one stone (well, not kill, as I like ickle birdies, but youknoworrimean) and share some promo love at the same time. Issallgood, like, innit?

Later, taters!!

(Note to self: Try to restrict using the word 'also'. Also, don't leave notes for yourself on a public page).

April Antics

Well, I did it, despite telling myself I wouldn't. I signed up for this years April A-Z challenge. *points at badge on the right* This will be my third year, though I failed last year, and didn't quite make it all the way through the alphabet. Still kicking myself that I never managed X. Y and Z, but there we are.

This year, I'm not going to do limericks. Well, there might be one or two, but I don't want to restrict myself. With my debut novel scheduled for release on April 29th, I really think I should take this opportunity to use the challenge as a sort of promotional lead-up to the big day. Still not sure how that's going to work, but I'll just do what I normally do and make it up as I go along... *shifty*

In other news, I've been participating in 'March Madness' - a sort of WriMo event hosted by my writer's group, except rather than the conventional 'write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days' challenge, it's more of a 'finish a project that's been bugging you' sort of thing. We like to bend the rules, you see. Me being me, I bent the rules further by choosing NOT to finish a current writing project, but instead work on a brand new novella.

This novella was in response to a specific submissions call by an e-book publisher, and despite the deadline being March 15th, I shocked and stunned myself (and probably my fellow writers) by writing, editing AND submitting my 20k effort in under a fortnight.

Clearly, somebody took over this Procrastinating Princess during the process.

Now I am putting most of my efforts into promoting If The Shoe Fits, but hopefully I can channel the Writing Fairy that took over me in the first half of March, and produce a decent word count on my next furry fairy tale before the end of the month.

Then it's April A-Z madness! Along with finding out whether my novella has been accepted or rejected on or around April 15th, followed by release day for my talking pussy-cat on the 29th.

Crikey, April will DEFINITELY be a crazy month...

Also, keep your eyes peeled on The Furry Tale Chronicles blog... there's going to be an update - with cover art reveal! -  post sometime this week!!

Image borrowed from here...

UPDATE!!! And Laura - blogger at Daily Dodo and Chick Lit Love - has just posted my first official promotional blog visit. Yaaaaay! Thanks, Laura! Check it out here: Dithering Debutante.

UPDATE #2!! I'm nuts, but I've also decided to blog through the April A-Z over at The Furry Tale Chronicles, where I will make up for not posting rude rhymes on here by limericking over there...