Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

Wishing everyone a great holiday season, may Santa bring you everything wish for, naughty and nice.

I'm spending the holidays away with family, I may not get much writing done, I am hoping my brain will come back re-freshed ready for a great new year.

What year it's been, Five contracts in one year. I smile and think, I must be doing something right.

Oh, must not forget, Abducting Alice due out early Jan.

Dangerous Moonlight

At long last Dangerous Moonlight is now out and available at Cobblestone Press, who have been wonderful though the whole process.

I loved writing this book, the characters are quirky fun, and learned that writing humor was not an easy thing to do.
I hope I have mixed a nice mash of humor, adventure, danger and sexiness in with this book, and I am already in the process of writing Sin's story. There will be a few spin off stories as well, on I've just finished.
Go have a peek, as I'm looking forward to some feedback.

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/dangerousmoonlight.htm

What's In A Name?

Blood Rich has undergone a title change at the request of my publisher Cobblestone Press, who have expressed a wish to contract the book. I was never too fond of Blood Rich to begin with, so this is a welcome change. It will now be called Destined Heart's ... Vampires of Archalon.
Well considering it is a series. I've already outline book two. But there are many others in the way before I can get to the second instalment.

December and Christmas is approaching fast, I glance back over what has been an amazing year. Five books contracted. And Two releases. As Dangerous Moonlight is due out Friday YAY!!
Fingers and toes crossed.

Abducting Alice Cover

The artist did a fantastic job on the cover for Abducting Alice

I am looking forward to the January release of this book.

Slack again.

I am not the worlds best blogger, I forget to blog about stuff when there is so much going on and stuff I have to do and deal with in my day-to-day life.
I can hardly believe it's December already, where has the year gone?? In any case it's been one hell of a year for me.
I've gotten five contracts in one year! I set out with a goal to be published and here I am being multi-published!! Giving myself a pat on the back. LOL

Any hoo... Lets see good news Blood Rich has been accepted by Cobblestone Press. Dangerous Moonlight is due out on the 10th December, So look out for that.

Keeping Katie has been contracted with Rogue Phoenix Press.

I have almost finished my Dragon Down Under book, I am currently on the last chapter.

As I said before, busy, busy, busy!

I'm adding my Book Trailers to this post enjoy, I had a lot of fun making them.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7_j-7eKm68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBzAZyxYN0

Blue Fire Reviewed by Night Owl Reviews.

May be I am overly excited, but heck, I don't care, it is my right to be exited that I got a great review from Night Owl.

I have been biting my nails, wondering what others would say about my work, and thrilled to see that people actually like it! LOL.



Any Hoo.. here is the review link http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Yadkny-reviews-Blue-Fire-by-Angela-Castle.aspx


Read away!

A Great Sunday Out

Sunday was a great productive day. I travelled down by train to Melbourne to meet and join in with the Melbourne Romantic Writers guild. I found them a wonderful bunch of ladies, I learned so much, they helped me with something I groan and avoid doing at all costs, writing synopsis.

I can say that it's not so scary any more, I am even looking forward to writing my next synopsis, which i will be tackling with more enthusiasm very soon.

I am looking forward to my next meeting and learning even more.

On book news I have submitted 'Blood Rich' to the publisher and now once again on the waiting game. It seems things are different once you become an 'In House' author. They kind of let you skip through the other process, and want to read your word before non in house writers. That's fine by me.

'Dragon Down under has reached chapter Thirteen, although I am uncertain of some of the wording and flow, but I always heed the advice of my writing friend when he told me to just finish the book then check, change and edit after.

Today I'm going into look at getting some business cards printed out, so when I start verbally advertising myself and my books I have something to hand them as well.

Well time to get stuck into it.

Great Work!

There is nothing like the trill and excitement of getting your new book cover, the artist Cris Griffin, did a fantastic job, and yes, pun indented I am Over the Moon. September saw great book sales, and I am waiting on a review of Blue Fire, which makes me a lot nervous, but sometimes you have to get stick your neck out, in order to get noticed.

Hard Work

I realised today that, I was avoiding doing any writing on Dragon Down Under because, I was finding it difficult. Wishing I could get just go into dream land and let it flow out naturally.
Not going to happen each word has to be thought out and written down, little technicalities need to be worked out, and things need to be thought about. It all boils down to hard work.

Secondly I was thinking, ghee I'll never get it all finished, but again I was wrong. Like my other books they have been finished, that I need to ease up, learn some more patients and relax in the fact that they will be finished. I do have confidence in my ability to finish a book, because I have proven to myself over and over I can do it.

Living your dream

I know I am a new author and I can't spell to save my life, should small inadequacies put a halt to your dreams?
Just because someone loses a leg does not stop someone from running a marathon.

I come across many people who have great ability to do great things but they lack the self-confidence to try.

Over coming your own fears is the second step on the road to success, the first of course is actually starting.

Life is set with obstacles, choices intended to help us learn about ourselves and the world around us, You can't let every little bump, rejection and hard choice drag you down.

I've made some poor life choices in my time, but every mistake has only helped me learn and mold me into the person I am today, and give me the imagination I need to help make my world a better place.
Never give up your dream.

Learning the Tec stuff.

I'm learning how brainless I am when it comes to tec-stuff, blogs, websites, I am just managing to get by, when I know things could be a whole lot better. Trying to wrap my brain around 'how to' is another matter.

I want to create a new website, I guess the next month or so is going to be a steep learning curve.

Keeping Busy

Finding time to write is never easy when you have a young family and work p/t. I tend to snatch moments when I can, and in the evening when all the little ones are in bed.

I have a new WIP Dragon Down Under, it's not really new I started it months back but I like to get a fair way in before deciding to put it up on me WIP list. Once it's up there I tend to focus on it until its completed. Dragon Down Under is a spin off from Dangerous Moonlight but can easily stand on it's own.

I've done another photo in my small photo shop program to help inspire my progress.

In other news Dangerous Moonlight is among the October releases, so far I'm assuming it will be late October as I've only just been assigned an editor.

There's a lot to the Cobblestone press and groups I have to learn about, but that's what I enjoy doing, learning always helps improve me.

I also have done a new video for Dangerous Moonlight I've posted to YouTube but needs some more work to correct a few errors.

I've Addad the link to my interview on Rouge Phoenix Press Blog

http://roguephoenixpress.blogspot.com/2010/09/meet-author-of-bluefire-angela-castle.html

Blue Fire You tube

Here is my video of Blue Fire on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xE14RsEoGY

and my new one for Abducting Alice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj9PwQLXK6A

Thrilled.

Hard work sweat, well maybe not the sweat, but most certainly the tears have gone into my books, along with a lot of frustration, giggles, groans and disappointments. Sounds just like life hey? But at least I know that it is starting to pay off.

Cobblestone Press have offered me a contract for 'Dangerous Moonlight' I am of course thrilled. That is two books in under a week now with a contract.

After the wonderful news of Whisky Creek Press accepting 'Abducting Alice' I dove in to finish the second book in my Kelon series. 'Tempting Tara'. Which I have completed, and now into the editing phase.

I have already decided there will be a third book but probably no more after that. I want to then focus on the second book to 'Dangerous Moonlight'. Delving into the world of dragons. Should be fun.

More fun with the photo shop for my WIP of 'Tempting Tara.'

What a day.

Two wonderful things kept me on a lovely happy high yesterday. In the morning I got a email from Whisky Creek Press, with a contract for Abducting Alice, YAY! Yes, I did squeal like an excited girl! Making my kids look at me as if I'd lost my marbles.

Then by the end of the day, because the US is quite a few hours behind Australia, Blue Fire was released for sale. No girlish squeals but a feeling of achievement.

Now, Alice has been taken I can work on finishing Tempting Tara, the second in my alien series, it's gonna be fun.

Fears

September 1st is now the release date for Blue Fire, amid all the excitement of being published online, is also a fear, what if they don't like my book? What if I get a bad review? What if my writing is not as good as others?

For the part Rouge Phoenix Press have played in seeing value in my work I thank them whole heatedly. Through them I have learn so much.

The day I stop learning is the day I die, may the learning never stop.

One foot infront of the other.

Lets see what I've been up to, Blood Rich is finished, edited and now being looked over by my proof reader. Abducting Alice as been submitted to a publisher, and I am still waiting to hear back from another publisher concerning Dangerous Moonlight.

It seems my playing around in photo shop has paid off as I have turned out to be my own cover artist for my book Blue Fire. Which is great. But it also makes me wonder what someone else may have come up with.

My writing has slowed, although I have started another story. But as my writing style goes , in fits and blobs, sometimes I can have a great run writing a whole chapter, and some days I barley get a sentence out. But despite all that my books do seem to get written and finished. One foot in front of the other.

Oh and here is my cover for blue fire... Yes I am obsessed with the colour blue, and yes the guy is yummy. :)

I know, I know....

I am a terrible blogger what can I say, at least my web site has been kept up-t0-date.
I've had an awful time with sick family, juice spilt on keyboards and new ones needed, the list goes on.

But enough of unhappy news on with the happy stuff. I am happy that Dangerous Moonlight is now floating around in 'submission land' in the hands of those people who decide the life and fate of a piece of work you have poured your heart into.

Most excitingly is the release date of my book Blue -Fire. SEPTEMBER 15th YAY! (Jumps up and does a happy dance.) The manuscript has been bounced back and forth between publisher and I and now hopefully on the final run. I've been telling everyone! even if i know them or not, but my book is being published! I mean what's not to get exited about.

Abducting Alice has been giving a fresh face and a good work over so almost ready to send off to submission land also. I've got my fingers and toes crossed, twice for them!

Trying

It's hard to remember everything I have to do in a day, so blogging is probably last on the list. As the infrequency of my blogging.

So to what I have been doing writing wise, I have been working on another round of editing on Blue-Fire, (thanks to my editor have learnt a heck of a lot). I got chapter 10 finished of Blood Rich, and finally moved on to chapter 11. I'm having a few plot issues, so need to figure those out before I can move forward.

Also started a second instalment to Blue-Fire, but not sure where that is going either. I really must stop, starting new books until I have finished a heap of my other works in progress first.

Dangerous Moonlight was submitted to two separate excellent publishers, I got a email from on saying they have put it on an 'acquiring list' I think that means they will simply have a closer look at it, but that could take any where up to six months! Sigh. Yes, patients is a virtue. Until then I will keep my nose down and keep writing my next master piece, well one day one of my books will be a Master Piece. You have to have some confidence in your abilities to succeed.

I've added another of my Photo shop pics to help keep me inspired, this one is for 'Blood Rich'.

Addiction

It's taken me a few years to realise that I have an obsession with the colour blue! And, I have an addition to reading and writing, I can't seem to go a day without writing or reading something. I've lost count how many books I have in my library!

Blood Rich is going slowly but well, I recently got new part time job to help pay for my addiction. I will have to try and focus a bit more to get things completed.

Dangerous Moonlight is finished and returned from my proof reader, hopefully I will be able to submit it in the next day or two. Fingers crossed for this one.

I have been playing around in photo shop and created a picture to help keep me inspired, its on my website as well.

Learning Curve

Everything that I read and write is a continues learning curve. I work hard at trying to improve my craft with every step.

I've been reading editor blogs today, from various sites. Hoping to get that special 'tip' that will help make my next submission stand out from the rest.

Since I got serious about wanting to be published, I became more serious about my education especially concerning spelling, grammar and punctuation. Of which I am hopeless, but with hard work and dedication I am slowly improving. But I still adore the person who created spell check!

The last few days have seen me working hard on 'Dangerous Moonlight.' My proofreader has been great in clearly pointing out my main writing errors.

I've also been working slowly on 'Blood Rich' this book has a darker tone than 'Dangerous Moonlight' but still I haven't been able to help slip a few bits of humor in.

Story Flow

Sometimes it flows and sometimes it doesn't, which I think I've mentioned before. I have quite a few projects I have started and have struggled to get more than a few chapters in. I'm amazed I have actually managed to finish some of my books. But I do, even if those starts get left unfinished for a while.

A new book I started a few days ago, is going better than any of my previous 'starters' I feel inspired to just keep writing, and writing. All the while wondering if it going to be good enough.

I have to have a little more confidence in my abilities, with each story I start, I feel the learning curve happening, my work improving.

I'm proud to say I wrote over two thousand words yesterday, a whole chapter and a bit, I know it's only one chapter, but I had to keep going back over it to make sure it sounded right. Slow and painful at times but it gets the desired result in the end. A good story.

Editing Learning Curve

It's amazing what you can pick up after leaving your manuscript alone for a few days. You can stare at your work, and miss all those flaws, crutch words, purple proses and other things that shouldn't go near your work.

I haven't written a word in the last few days as I've had my head stuck in editing smoothing and polishing 'Blue-Fire' at the publishers request.

It's been a fantastic learning curve, it also means my next book 'Dangerous Moonlight' will be better and more thoroughly polished by the time I come to submit it.

The dreaded synopsis is getting there... hopefully gonna send it off to little critics team for evaluation, I know they are gonna rip it to pieces. But through the fire comes the most precious of metals... ooh gheehs talk about metaphors! eeek.

Sigh

I'd better get back to it, there could be plenty of hours in the day if I wasnt required to sleep!

Battle

Some stories flow naturally, and some have to be dragged out kicking and screaming. I'm having that problem with my new book 'Falling Dragons'. I have my characters, I have my plot, I have my conflicts. I have had to beat out the first chapter with sheer will and determination. I sat up till 1am determined to finally finish the first chapter. It's rough around the edges, but edits can come later when the whole book is done.

I am going to have to start sleeping with my computer! As my best ideas often come in the early hours of the morning while I'm half awake, half asleep in that dream state. As I said before it's a pity I can't wire up my brain at that hour.

The battle will continue today as I attempt to hammer out chapter two.

Year Mile Stone

I have loved reading and stories ever since I can remember, when I was twenty I struck upon my first full novel idea 'Dragons Blade' and spent a whole winter thumping it out. But more than likely will never see the light of day. The main point of this little story is I proved to my self I could write a book from start to finish even if it wasn't any good.

Life unfortunately gets in the way of ambition some times, it wasn't till 13 years later that I picked up the pen or the keyboard and started writing again, inspired by some of my favourite current writers.

It has been a year since I started Blue-Fire and now that dream idea, and story plot is being published. It is a thrilling experience to have your dream come true, I am going to continue to working at that dream, with each publication that dream is one that will continue to come true.

What Counts?

Word count, I've been told that you have to write every day in order to help keep up your writing skills, but I'm not so sure about that. Although I finished edits on 'Dangerous Moonlight' I found my self going over it again and again to check for my crutch words, purple prose and anything else I could think of to make sure it is punchy and not flat.

As for actual writing I started on a synopsis, of course I'd rather be pulling teeth, but hey Some times you just have to do it, and you might as well try to do it well.

I am going to force myself to leave it alone today, and do some actual writing, only dilemma I have is what do I work on first, I have four books on the go at once, and some times just don't know which one I should get stuck into. Ennie, Mennie, Minee, Moe?

Bouncing

Right! I've been neglectful again of my house, I'm surprised my poor family even get fed when I'm in writer mode, which is nearly all the time!

I'm determined to get my house all sparkling, and clean then I can go get lost in my writing labyrinth once again. Mainly so I won't feel guilt! Yes, guilt can be a powerful motivator.

I am very close to finishing the self-edits on 'Dangerous Moonlight' then it can be professionally glanced over. It's amazing how many mistakes you can miss in your own work, cos' you stare at it for too long. Once that is done I am going to work on the dreaded Synopsis. but you know what they say practise makes perfect.... I'm soo dooomed!!! LOL

Crazy Mind

My fingers can't seem to keep up with my mind, so many ideas so little time to write them down.
I'm thinking maybe I need something like Stephen King wrote in one of his books where a little machine takes the thoughts strait from the characters head and it types it self out... hahah would that be the easy way out. Not that it would make up for all the bad spelling and grammar ha!

No one said that being a writer was easy, it's darn hard work, and the most frustrating for me is patients. I have very little, I want to see all my ideas out and all my books written. But like the old sayings go... "Patients is a virtue and Good things come to those who wait.' I think in my case is good things comes to those who persevere.

I'm so bad with my writing, I was even sitting in church today jotting down plot notes for one of my new books 'Shadow of the Wolf.' getting the right twists and turns to keep it interesting isn't easy. I've never been good with conflict in my own life, so it makes it difficult for me to create them in my books. I hope I over come that little trait. After all you are only limited by your own imagination.

First Blog

I'm not much of a blogger, but under the advice of a few people they suggest it would be a good idea one to keep track of my general and writing progress. So hopefully I can make the random entry.

Had my birthday yesterday, it was a quiet event, I think after you get to a certain age birthdays become less important, and anti-age wrinkle cream becomes the priority. It was bad enough that I found my first grey hairs the other week.

I have been working sporadically on my book 'Dangerous Moonlight' in between house work and looking after the kids. Just in the editing stage I went over the 50,000 word count and it seems to be climbing, at this rate I'm going to have to add another chapter to fit all the changes in.

At first I was worried about my ending, but then inspiration hit me for a story for another book that will proceed. Sooo.... I will have two book that will proceed 'Dangerous Moonlight' but I've yet to figure out what order they will go into.
http://sites.google.com/site/angelacastlewriter/w-i-p/dangerous-moonlight