After many, many months of writing, editing, rewriting, re-editing (over and over and over again), it is done: The Storm and the Darkness is now in the hands of my beta readers!
It is somehow appropriate that I finished on Mother’s Day. I do not have children of my own, but my work–my characters and their stories–ARE my children. They will always be a part of me, and an extension of me, and telling their stories is a true labor of love.
For anyone who is following the progress, here are the critical dates coming up:
-
June 1: Expected to receive completed cover art.
-
June 15: Feedback due from beta readers.
-
June 15-June 30: Finish final edits.
-
July 1(or close to it): Click Publish!
So for the next month, while my story sits with my readers, I get to spend time catching up on all the other things I neglected. I’ve really missed my WordPress Reader. All my snobby historical dramas on the DVR are calling my name. The house might or might not need a little sprucing up. Groceries are awaiting purchase. The husband is tired of living like a bachelor.
And then, July starts another round of Camp NaNoWriMo, where I start work on Book 6. Come August, it will be time to begin the edits on The Illusions of Eventide, which is the third book in The House of Crimson and Clover Series.
The work never ends…and thank goodness for that!
...and then there was Sarah 
That’s awesome! Congratulations!
Thank you! I feel a hundred pounds lighter! 🙂
I wish I felt a 100 pounds lighter. Oh you should go check out the Off Topic forums on RCC, someone brought up some Lord of the Rings stuff that you might be able to provide feedback.
Ooh, I will try to do that on my lunch. Nothing gets me excited more than a LotR discussion!
Congrats. Must feel good.
Thank John. It feels great 🙂
Congrats! Bet you can’t wait until July.
Thanks! I thought I would be so excited for the time off, but now all I can think about is getting back to it.
Uh-oh. Someone’s got a writing bug. 😀
I nominated you for the Wonderful Team Member Award. Congratulations. Sadly, it doesn’t come with a free ride on Gandalf’s giant eagle taxi service. http://legendsofwindemere.com/2013/05/14/wonderful-team-member-award-part-5/
HUZZAH! Thank you! (and I’m sort of resigned to the fact that just because I support the eagles in their quest for being understood, they will not be my personal taxi service either)
Get yourself trapped on a wizard tower or in a burning tree. That should help. 😉
BUT BUT…I would STILL only be protected by the laws of coincidence. Like “oh hey, fancy seeing you here, I guess we’re headed east too, so let’s go.”
Fantasy is all about coincidence, so you’ll be fine. Unless you’re a minor character or nameless towns person #610. Then, you might be in trouble.
Right- the fantasy equivalent of the Star Trek redshirt.
Beats being a goblin. Poor, poor goblins.
I love the pic you chose for this block! It is very fitting for how all of us feel when we’re done with our books. Congratulations!
Thank you! I thought it was pretty spot-on myself 🙂
Yay, Sarah!!!!!
I’m just starting to get up the nerve to pull out my first draft and start working on it! Good job..you’ve got it going on!
Thank you! This one was actually my NaNoWriMo project from 2010 so I sat on it longer than I should. Going to keep myself to a better schedule now, though. I have 3 more NaNo drafts I can edit and publish, and many more Nano Sessions to come 🙂
I think I’m gonna skip on camp until November! Want to work on my draft I completed in first camp before I put myself through that again! 🙂
Yeah! So exciting 🙂
TYTY!
Congratulations!!! Looking forward to reading your story 🙂
Looking forward to your feedback! 🙂
I have awarded you with the Interesting Blog Award! Please check out my post to receive the award http://writingsnapshots.com/2013/05/15/award-interesting-blog/ This is a NO pressure nomination. You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I just wanted you to know that I am pleased to have you as part of my blogging world!
Congratulations! It’s a few days now, but I have some difficulties keeping up with my reader, as well.
Thank you! Its definitely a relief to have it finished 🙂
I guess that means you blew away the writer’s block.
Congratulations.
Writer’s blocks are for making houses. For writer, of course.
That is such a great way to think of it. It’s very “the sum is greater than the total of the individual parts” esque.
And thank you 🙂