Busy is good, busy is good, busy is good

I think my last post was in June... which feels like a lifetime ago. The funny thing with life, is that it keeps you so busy that before you know it, months have passed by, and you don't even know where the time went. Since June, I have:

• participated in Guelph's Faery Fest - and yes, I wore a costume, read from Liminal Lights, and had a great time. 

• had the privilege of sharing an evening with several Morning Rain Publishing authors - a fantastic group of intelligent and creative women. 

(J.M. Lavallee, Heather Grace Stewart, Nancy Beattie, and me)

• moved my family from Quebec to Ontario - which was a difficult decision, but we're settling into our new home and meeting some wonderful people. 

• and participated in the Eden Mills Writers' Festival with Morning Rain Publishing - where we had the opportunity to meet other writers, independent publishers, and practice our skills at selling print books for The Word On The Street Festival in Toronto on September 21st. 

That's my summer in a nutshell. My mantra has been "busy is good, busy is good, busy is good" - but I have to admit I'm glad for the routine that autumn is bringing, the slower pace, and the chance to catch up on some writing projects I have in the works.

The Liminals are here!

Finally! The Liminals have arrived at the Morning Rain Publishing website. They're also on Amazon, Kobo, Google Books, and Goodreads.

I started writing this book three years ago for my boys. The plan was to give them something to think about, along with a bit of action, and a whole lot of fantasy in a world they can relate to. Sometimes I think we let our children grow up far too quickly. This book slows down the pace and lets them be kids for just a bit longer.

Anyway - it's really for the reader to decide if I have achieved this goal. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So you think you can NaNo... Day 4, 2013

I'm on target because I'm awesome like that!

Of course, I have "word wars" and "writing sprints" with Jaclyn Aurore to thank for today's success.

Distractions included, but weren't limited to:

• the refrigerator repair guy stopped in for a visit
• not one, but two boys missed their buses today, and 
• a short visit from a good friend. 

And then, there was this in the mail:

Hercules is a budgie... How he managed to send mail without using a carrier a pigeon is beyond me.

So - today's word count came to 1, 894, for a grand total of 6, 957 to date.

So you think you can NaNo... Day 2, 2013

Today is Saturday. I was up early to take a boy to write a high school entrance exam. While out, I ran some errands, and then returned home to fit some writing in.

Albolene distracted me.

All I did was search Google for the name of a good stage makeup remover. Who knew it could also be used to melt away fat? You just slap it on the problem areas (tummy, butt, thighs), encase yourself in plastic wrap, do your exercises, and presto... the pounds dissolve. It must be true. I saw it on YouTube.

This fascinating research was interrupted by a PeeWee hockey game (my boy's team won 3:2 - yay), followed by a quick nap (I think I might be battling the plague - more on that another day), and then a delicious supper made by my hubby (because I was busy napping).

Today's goal was 1600 words... I managed 1382. This gives me a grand total of 3044. It's still early, but I promised my boys we'd watch a movie as a family, and that means no computers, no notebooks, and no cell phones.

So you think you can NaNo... Day 1, 2013

Like many writers, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo. I don't have grand aspirations to actually complete a full-length novel, but I do hope to have at least 50 000 usable words by the end of the month.

Did I achieve my word count goal of 1600 words? - Of course I did.
Did I do it before noon. No - I did it the hour before midnight.

Instead, I spent the day looking for distractions.

I wrote book reviews, edited minutes from a meeting, uploaded family pictures to Facebook, cleaned the kitchen, and researched some interesting topics. One of which was how to remove pasties.

Every NaNo day brings something new. Today, it was all about Goo Gone, apparently, it's good stuff.

Tah-tah for now, my friends. I'll check back in tomorrow with more titillating bits about NaNo.

Mid-summer giveaway - "Reflections" FREE on Kindle

When I realized my KDP Select contract was coming to an end, and I hadn't used all the free promotional days, I figured I may as well string them together and put them out there. So - here it is, the great, mid-summer freebie you've been waiting for.

You asked; I answered.

Over the past six weeks, I’ve done a number of book signings. From trade shows to bookstores, it’s been a fun and exciting time. Along the way, I’ve been asked a few questions, so I thought I’d answer them here.

Question: As an independently published writer, how do you get your books in Chapters?

Short Answer: I picked up the phone and asked.

Long Answer: Each Chapters store operates differently. They all have the ability to stock books on consignment, but how they distribute those SKUs and handle author appearances is up to them. Polite phone calls, brief emails, and making a personal connection with the Events Manager all worked in my favour.

Question:  How long does it take to write a book?

Short Answer: About a month and a half.

Long Answer: It might only take 45 days to write a book, but it takes about a year (and sometimes more) to reach publication. The editing process is what slows things down. I rely heavily on beta readers, my editor, and other writers for feedback.

Question: How long have you been writing?

Short Answer: Since I was old enough to pick up a pencil and loose leaf.

Long Answer: As a teenager I wrote wonderful works full of angst and heartache. As an adult, I needed a job to pay the bills so I worked first as a proposal/technical writer and then as a copy writer. Four years ago, I started writing fiction again and it has become something of an addiction.

Question: How many books have you written?

Short Answer: Three.

Long Answer: Actually, I’ve written several books. Most of them are tucked away in a box, stored on a floppy disk, or have been used to start backyard fires. They make excellent fuel for roasting marshmallows and hanging out with my boys. At this time, only five books are worth sharing. Three are published (Remember Newvember, Reflections, Money, and Masks & Madness), one is with Beta Readers (Liminal Lights), and one is at the beginnings of the editing phase (Shadow Shifts). Currently, I’m writing the third book in the Liminal Trilogy (Seminal Souls) and doing some research for a sequel to "Money, Masks & Madness".

Question: Are your books about you.

Short Answer: No.

Long Answer: Honestly, I think every writer puts a bit of herself into each book she writes. A little piece of my soul is threaded through the text, linking the words back to the essence of me. The stories might not be about my life, but there are elements of my personality, character, morals, and beliefs embedded in them. 

Fame, Fortune and the “F” Word

Recently, a friend told me I have “a fear of fame”. At the time, I laughed and tucked his comment away into the dark crevices of my mind. Why would he think I’m afraid? Doesn’t every writer dream of fame and fortune? Isn’t that the ultimate goal? We can kid ourselves by insisting we write for personal enjoyment, that we strive towards lofty literary goals – but in all seriousness, what’s the point if there isn’t an extensive readership?  Self-gratification only takes you so far.

Unfortunately, my friend might have been right.

Publicizing my work scares the crap out of me. There. I said it. I hate advertising my books, I hate showing off my accomplishments, and I hate asking for reviews. Not because I don’t think my writing is good enough, but because I am afraid of rejection. Writing is personal – a little piece of my soul is weaved through every book I write, so in essence, when someone criticizes or rejects my work, I take it as a personal assault, even though I know I shouldn’t.

Fear is a powerful thing. It’s what prevents me from querying agents, spending money on marketing, and tackling the kind of writing that digs deep into the psyche. Fear paralyzes, it dissembles, and it makes writing difficult.

It also innervates the brain, helps produce astounding work, and propels us forward. This is when the adrenaline kicks in, your brain slips into overdrive, your emotions go into lockdown, and you’re forced to make an instinctual decision. Fight or flight. Go big or stay home. Use it or lose it.

Just do it.

I have a love-hate relationship with this sly, sneaky thing called fear. For now, I’m going to fold it up, stick in my back pocket and sit on it. It could very well be the kick in the ass I need to get things done. This is one F-word I plan to use to my advantage.

NaPoWriMo: Cherry Blossom Promise

April is National Poetry Writing Month. In celebration of poets everywhere, and to encourage those who are just embarking on their literary journey, I will be posting poetry (not mine) each day for the month of April. Please take a look and enjoy this special art.

For the last day of NaPoWriMo I'm sharing one of my poems. I wrote it for a friend a while ago. Go easy on me - I'm shy about this kind of thing.

Cherry Blossom  Promise

Before I knew our love would grow

A promise blossomed in my soul.

I will bring you to this place of peace --

Exchange a flower, love shall increase.

You’ll be my cherry blossom bride,

Forever and always at my side.  

The seasons did not make me change;

My heart stayed true, our souls engaged.

Your beauty beckoned, winsome and sweet,

Dark eyes, shy smile, fair face, all complete.

I brought you to this sacred place

Full of dancing, loving grace.

In Tsuruga, the moon shines high

Words of love escape on a sigh.

This temple, with its ancient secrets,

Holds our truth, simple and sacred.

A love song pure from two strong hearts

Lovers entwined, never to part.

Once we were two, now we are four,

Love combined, fragmented, made more.

The years have passed, the mountains remain,

Traditions abound, life is the same.

Painted  with love on life’s canvas,

This – my cherry blossom promise.

  
                                                      by Jennifer Bogart

April's Fool: NaPoWriMo, Camp NaNo & New Releases

April is going to be an insanely busy month. April Fool's aside, today marks the beginning of both NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) and Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - spring edition). Am I foolish enough to try both at the same time? You bet ya!

Of course - I'm not crazy enough to attempt it on my own - I do have my sanity, family life, and the outside world to consider. NaPoWriMo will be brought to you by a series of wonderful poets, complete with bios, pictures, and links to where you can read more of their work. You didn't really think I was going to subject you to my poetry, did you?

While these poets are entertaining you, I'll be diligently writing the third and final installment in the "Liminals" series. Where are the first two books? They are patiently awaiting polishing and tweaking for continuity (I'll give you more on that later).

To further keep you entertained - I'll also be releasing my third women's fiction novel, "Money, Masks & Madness".

In the meantime, watch this space for the promised poetry - or maybe write some for yourself, after all, that's what NaPoWriMo is really all about.

Penny for your thoughts . . .

Actually – you had better make that a nickel.

I’m probably not the only Canadian, steeped in nostalgia, who isn’t ready to say goodbye to this shiny bit of copper.

I know it costs more to produce a penny than its actual worth and I understand it has become a time-consuming nuisance in retail. While we aren’t the first generation to say goodbye to a small piece of Canadian heritage, wonder where it will stop.

What other bits of our daily lives will soon become obsolete, redundant, and no longer useful in our fast-paced world? I was watching “Fringe” with my son, and one of the episodes mentioned the rarity of ball point pens in an alternate reality. With all our gadgets and gizmos, it doesn’t seem too far off the mark. How many times do you write yourself a note on your phone or send an email instead of snail-mail? Children are more adept at typing than penmanship. The new trend in schools is to implement technology – including each child having his own laptop. I do fear that one day, pens and pencils may also go the way of the penny.

Unless, of course, you’re an artist.

So, “in for a penny, in for a pound”, it’s time to say goodbye to an obsolete coin. 

Two Simple Words

Some days, I sit down at the computer with the thought that today is the day. Today I’m going to write all day long, inspiration will take hold, my fingers will fly over the keyboard and magic will spill onto the blank page. On those days, I do write, for an hour or so, and then my imagination dwindles, my determination falters and the well of creativity trickles to a hesitant drip. The desire to write is there, but the words simply won’t present themselves.

To be honest, this doesn’t happen “some days”, it happens most days. I have writer-envy. When I see other writers posting their accomplishments for the day, week, month or year on various social networks, I grow green with envy, forgetting that they have also endured struggles to get the words onto the page.

On a good day, I can spit out three thousand good words; on an excellent day, I can produce over five thousand. Those days are rare and usually only occur if I’ve set myself a nearly impossible deadline. Oftentimes, my plans to write are thwarted by other obligations of my own creation. When I try to treat writing like a typical nine to five job, it backfires. Apparently, my muse doesn’t like to be told when to come out to play.

This week, I did something incredible. I typed two words that mean the world to me. Two simple words that put a song in my heart and let me know I can do this thing called writing, stay focused and the accomplishment will come. I wrote “The End” on the second book of the Liminal Lights series. Yes, I know I completed the second book before the first one. I’m also aware it’s in dire need of a solid edit. Putting the work that still needs to be done aside for just a moment, I can celebrate my accomplishment.

So, cheers to me – I did it!

And now, back to work I go. I have goals to meet this year, words to write, chapters to edit and dreams to turn into reality.  

It’s lucky 2013 and yeah, I have some work to do. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions I’m thinking I’m just going to set a few concrete goals for the coming year, do my best to meet deadlines and allow myself the freedom to dream big.

First, I need to write more. I’m not talking about books; currently, I have two to edit, one to complete and a fourth in the works. There’s more to writing than novels. I consider myself to be a long-distance writer, but I’m thinking there’s much to learn from delving into shorter pieces such as blog posts, short stories, flash fiction and maybe even poetry (although this is probably the biggest challenge of all for me).

Second, I need to figure out the whole marketing thing. I might even pick up a book or two, attend some webinars and get myself a bit of education. I know how to use Facebook, but twitter eludes me. I know book bloggers are very important to Indy writers, but approaching established blogs is much like sending out query letters. Of course, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Third, while on the topic of asking, I need to send out more queries, not just in Canada, but in the United States as well. Being independent is a lot of work, and I’ll admit I’m not so great at the marketing, selling and promotion part of it. Even with a traditional publisher, a writer has to make efforts to sell their work, but some of the pressure of constant promoting might be alleviated – might.

And fourth, I need to focus. It’s too easy to get caught up in what others are doing. I enjoy interacting with other writers and artists on Facebook. Blogs are intriguing, articles are inviting. Knowing what’s going on in the world of writing is essential, but there are times when hours pass by and suddenly I have spent the day trolling the internet in search of who knows what instead of working on my own stuff.

Last of all, I need to remember that I’m kind of good at this writing stuff. It’s okay to be proud of my accomplishments and show off my work. There might be days when I want to toss the entire lot in the bin, but I’ve had enough feedback to know my work isn’t half bad. With each new book, blog and bit of writing I complete I learn something new, both about myself and my writing.

So, in short, 2013 is going to be a good year for me. I feel the tingling in my fingers and excitement in my heart. Watch out world, here I come.