The 4th Book - Unnamed Novel

For those that keep wondering what the hold up with the 4th book is, I shall try to explain.

First of all, it's the normal time commitment.  I was able to pound out the 3rd book quickly over the course of two months because I was dedicating anywhere from 2-4 hours a day, 5 days a week, to the novel in the summer.  Right now I am working full time and still "settling" into our new home - yes, it has been nearly 4 months since we bought it, but with all the updates and changes our house is ever evolving and therefore constantly requiring time.  Just the domestic duties takes a lot.  Not so much doing the dishes for two, but it's the laundry and cleaning a massive home and just all that fun stuff.  Not counting the time I take out of the day to try to work out.  Not that I am complaining in the least.  I love the busy life style, and it will only get busier once we move Lily to the barn closer.  All I am saying is this: when I wrote the first three, I had the time commitments of a teen.  I had a lot less responsibility and a lot more time.

Second, this novel is slightly different than the others.  The conflicts are highly emotional, not so much physical.  It is a lot harder to write about loving a horse than loving a horse.  A lot harder to write about missing a grandfather dearly than hugging him.  A lot harder to write the emotions that drive a conversation than the conversation itself.  Words and actions need to be chosen wisely to explain exactly what it is that Sarah is undergoing.  Instead of covering the time span of a summer (so basically two months), this book covers more than a few short months.

Third, this book is more emotional for me alone.  It's the closing story for a character I have known for many years.  I have spent my teen years getting to know Sarah and London, growing with them as much as they grew with me.  So in a way, I am saying my final farewells to a part of me.  I want to write this last story to the best of my abilities and nicely tie up all the open ends.  I want to do Sarah and London proud and also make my readers proud.

With the closing of this series, a new one will start, but it will be much different, more than likely leading to a different reading base.  It will be for mature teens and adults.

I cannot make any promises with this final, unnamed novel.  All I can say is that if you are willing to spare me the time and wait patiently, I will offer my best in the end.

I am getting excited!

I am finding that extra little push of motivation.  I now have copies of Sarah's Promise and Summer Sunrise heading to two public libraries in Alberta.  That is two more libraries who will be updating their collection but that is also two more libraries that find the books adding enough value to the collection to continue to update the series.  That makes the future look even more promising for the fourth book.

Tonight I will be preparing these books for shipment and working on the website again.  Hopefully that will be ready to go soon.  I have given up on the HTML and am going to switch to a program.  That should make things easier.  I am still looking for layout designs if anyone has any suggestions of what they would like to see.

With all these extra things to accomplish and all this motivation to accomplish them, I cannot wait until Spring Break to be able to sit down all day (okay, half the day - Lily will be moved to her new home and I will be spending some time with her out there) to work on everything.

I read an old email from a young reader.  It was her response to my first novel.  I will be printing it off and putting it with my other, more recent fan mail.  It is the perfect motivation to keep working on the fourth book, and also the extra little push to print more copies of Saving London to share.  Thank you to those who have taken the time to share a nice word - or paragraph! - of encouragment.

I am signing out for now.  Maybe in the next few days I will have a website link for everyone!  Fingers crossed!

Time for another little update!

Well, this past week has flown by with personal things, but not so much book things.  So it's time to jump back on the horse, so to speak.  Hoping for a little editing on the first book today.  At least another chapter or two would be nice.  It's so hard to edit my own work, because I know the story well enough that I tend to skim without catching it.  And just in general, it's hard for me to read any of my own writing.  That's why I enjoy editing the least.

Today I am hoping to make a quick run out to see Lily.  Visiting her usually provides me with some writing inspiration.  She makes my heart happy and I write best when my heart is happy and my thoughts are with my horse. 

That is really about the extent of the update I can give for now.  Hopefully I have more to say later today or in the upcoming week.  Take care!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all those reading this a Happy Valentine's Day!  This can be a day of extreme happiness or pain depending on your situation (trust me, I've been on both ends of the spectrum, today being the first time feeling true bliss).  But in the end, it's just another day.  So for those protesting it or feeling hurt, it's just like everything else; tomorrow is a new day.  For those of you celebrating this year, enjoy!

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have something a little more relevant to talk about but for now, I will be putting the writing work aside for the day and taking time to focus on my loved one.

<3

Building a Website is Hard Work!

Whew!

Who knew building a website could be such hard work.  My biggest problem right now is just trying to plan out how it should look when it is all said and done.  I knew the HTML wasn't going to be a total cake walk, but I figured the designing would come second nature!

Anyone have any suggestions as to what they would like to see?

Back to the drawing board I go!

Just a totally random side note...

It still feels so weird, so cool, so...I don't even know...whenever I check out a copy of one of my books to one of the students at the high school here.  It's nice to see the first and second still circulating so much and to see the third being discovered.  I just had to share with someone. =)

The Authors Behind Their Stories

I will admit to being guilty of looking at a book, maybe reading it, but never once giving thought to the author behind it.  Half the time I can't even remember the author's name.  But the title, sure, no problem, I can remember the title and the story.

I work in a library.  I handle books all day long.  Really, since this collection is still in some senses new to me, I am discovering new stories and authors all day long.  In the past few months I have been repairing files at work in the fiction section.  I've been taking books off the shelves in alphabetical order, searching them by barcode (and when that fails, title), and then going through the entire catalogue record to clean it up.  All because when we switched systems, some glitch stopped the files from transferring nicely.  At first this was a major chore.  Seriously, I've been doing these repairs since I started work here in September whenever I have some free time and I'm only into the CANs.  This won't be a process that will be finished when my break comes in June.  This will be a many year ordeal.

But looking at all these books, I am learning about all these publishing companies, big and little, all these story ideas, and also all these authors.  These people that no one else would know existed in some cases, except for the proof in the book and on the cover that they do.

I repaired a file for two books written by one author.  The first book cover looks exceptionally ordinary with the usual illustrations and the usual back cover blurb.  The second also looks exceptionally ordinary, until you read the back cover.  The author had cancer and worked diligently to complete her novel but realized she never would.  Her request was that what was complete of her novel be published exactly as it was written.  And so it was.  How tragic and heartwarming at the same time.

Since then I have caught myself looking at these stories and wondering what the authors are like.  It's incredible how many different stories can be created.  Basically, if you can think it, you can make it a story.  But who thinks up these things?  Does a story about depression mean the author has witnessed it before?  Does a story about a cow come from someone with a farming background?  Was the last book you read written by a celebrity or an average Joe?  And if you were to compare two books written by two people from different walks of life, how would they match up?

My challenge to anyone wishing to accept it is this: next time you read a story, take just a moment at the end to think about the author.  To imagine what are the people behind these stories like.  Just imagining that is enough to create a story of your own!

The Upcoming Week

Well, it's Sunday night and I'm looking at my plans for the upcoming week.

Today I got a little bit done considering the busy weekend.  I've been in the process of mailing out some info to some of the libraries in Alberta that are carrying the first book but not necessarily the second or third to try to help sales.  I managed to get about 12 letters done today, a few more to get done tomorrow.  I also added the other books to the blog tonight.

I'm not sure if I will have time to do much tomorrow night.  I'm staying late after work to direct a play for drama and when I get home it will be dinner, meal planning for the week, grocery shopping, and hopefully taking Max (we are dog sitting for my parents) for a walk.  We'll see what I have left for time after that.

The rest of this week, I am hoping to putter away at editing Saving London.  I really need to finish that so I can get it off to the printers asap.  I have Thursday and Friday off and am hoping to take some time that day to start building a website.  I'm going to try to use HTML but we will see how long that lasts before I switch to a program.  Hopefully we can get a website up and going shortly.

I'm sure I'll also try to get in some time to work on the fourth book.  Hoping all my characters are willing to come back to help, I'm sure once I get going they will.  And if that doesn't work, I can always spend some time on this other story, though I'd really rather wait until the fourth book is done.

Hope everyone had an excellent weekend!  Thanks to those who have been following the blog.  It's pretty awesome and definitly exciting!  Please email me if you have any comments or questions for me or the company.

~~~ I just wanted to add, anyone is now able to post a comment on my posts, so please feel free to do so.  The more feedback, the better!  Thanks so much!

The Books - Summer Sunrise

Taken from the back cover:

One Girl,

One Horse,

One Summer...

Summer Sunrise

School is out for another summer and fifteen year old Sarah Miller has

every intention of spending the two months off with her best friend Jasmine.

Only a week into the summer break, Jasmine and her family are forced to

move. Sarah, feeling abandoned and lost, attempts to escape to her Aunt &

Uncle’s ranch.

The ranch, however, is not her ideal escape. Sarah must deal with a controlling

Aunt and a cousin she can’t seem to get along with. Much to her disdain,

she is also facing new emotions as she attempts to befriend one of the ranch

hands.

Sarah’s mountain adventure starts with only London by her side as she tries

to build new friendships. What she does not know is that this summer will be

her own personal sunrise.

Book Info:

Ages 9-14

Trim Size: 7.5” by 5.5”

ISBN:

978-0-9783307-2-9

Cost: $17.00

Includes illustrations, diagrams, and a glossary!

If you are interested in a copy or have questions, please email Pumpkin Head Publishing.

The Books - Sarah's Promise

Taken from the back cover:

One Girl,

One Horse,

One Story...

Sarah’s Promise

It has only been a few months since Sarah Miller rescued London’s Girl

from her cruel neighbour. In that time Sarah has turned fourteen and is preparing

for grade eight. Sarah intends to spend the remainder of the year

helping London’s Girl overcome her fears. However, shortly after school

starts Sarah finds out Beth Robinson, London’s rider from her showing

days, will be training at Cantering Winds. Sarah is finding it difficult to control

her emotions when London and Beth rekindle their old bond. An accident

during an autumn storm leaves Sarah without an instructor and Beth

without a horse to ride in an upcoming competition. Sarah knows she needs

help if London is going to overcome her fears, and Beth is the only one who

can offer that help. She also knows Beth is in desperate need of a horse

for the competition. Will Sarah be able to keep her emotions in check and

accept Beth in her life?

Book Info:

Ages 9-14

Trim Size: 7.5” by 5.5”

ISBN:

978-0-9783307-1-2

Cost: $17.00

Includes illustrations, diagrams, and a glossary!

If you are interested in ordering a copy for more information, please email Pumpkin Head Publishing.

The Books - Saving London

Taken from the back cover of Saving London:

One Girl,

One Horse,

One Dream…

Saving London

The only thing Sarah Miller has ever wanted is a horse of her own.

Then she meets a mare, London’s Girl, and falls in love. London’s

Girl belongs to Mr. Macros, Sarah’s abusive neighbor. Sarah knows

that the horse will not survive if she continues to live with Mr. Macros.

However, obtaining the horse proves to be a challenge. In a desperate

attempt to save and own the mare of her dreams, Sarah begins a

long struggle that tests her determination and courage. Will Sarah be

able to save London’s Girl?

Book Info:

Ages 9-14

Trim Size: 7.5” by 5.5”

ISBN: 978-0-9783307-0-5

Cost: $17.00

Includes illustrations,

diagrams, and a glossary!

If you would like to order a copy of Saving London, please email Pumpkin Head Publishing.

A little (okay, a lot!) about me...

Today I thought I would share a little bit about myself for the readers who don't know me on such a personal level.  Tomorrow I'll write about the books.  Although the two topics really do go hand in hand.

I am not positive, but I feel like I must have always loved horses.  I grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan until I was five.  We lived on the same property as my grandparents and Grandpa had me on a pony right from the start.  We moved away and I'm not sure what I did for the next three years of my life, but at eight I was offered to spend a day at a friend's house riding and from there all things horse was a passion beyond obsession.

Meanwhile, I started writing...well, I'm not exactly sure when.  I remember writing my first decent short story when I was in grade five, but I'm not sure what it was about.  I just remember my treacher telling me that I had well written details because my character did not just eat breakfast.  She stuffed a piece of toast in her mouth.  That's the only thing I remember from that whole story.

I wrote another short story in grade five or six.  It was about 20 pages and I used the names of the characters in my favourite horse series.  Except this story involved a puppy and the girl was horseless, like me.

Then at 13, Sarah and London came along.  We were updating my bedroom and I was in the basement for the time being.  The basement still kind of creeped me out then.  So I'm not sure if Sarah came along to keep me company or what.  But I was out of books to read and too scared to sleep some nights so I wrote the first chapter or so of their story.  When my bedroom was ready for me again, I settled back into it and tucked the horse and rider in a drawer.  I don't remember the exact timeline but I found their story one day, picked up a pen, and kept going.  Sarah and London came back easily, filling my mind constantly.  I thought about them when I walked to and from school.  I thought about them on long road trips.  In the evenings, when I brushed my teeth and before I fell asleep.  And suddenly their entire lives lay planned out before me. 

The first manuscript sat finished for a short while before someone put me in touch with Laural Grimes, a librarian at the Red Deer Public Library who was a self published author.  She took a copy, read it, and came back with news.  She thought I had a diamond in the rough.  With her careful patience, mentoring, and editing, Sarah and London became full, round characters.

At seventeen and the weekend after my grad, I held a book launch for my first book, Saving London.  My writing continued.  I took a year off between high school and college to work.  I worked at a drug store and lived with an aunt and uncle.  The year after, I lived on campus at SAIT in Calgary.  I was taking the Library Information Technology program. In December of 2008 I came home to launch my second book, Sarah's Promise.

Easter weekend of 2009 was a huge one for me!  I came home that weekend feeling rather sad because a horse I was quite attached to had sold and I never got to say bye.  At that point, I had spent too much time alone, not liking the city, and was desperate for equine contact.  That weekend I recieved a call from Sue Maull, a close family friend.  There was a quiet mare for sale and I was sure I was shaking when I got off the phone.  I never thought my parents would say yes.  The rule was, no horse until after college.  When we were on our own, we could have whatever we wanted.  The next morning I was looking at the mare that would become mine only a few hours later.  We moved my sweet Lily to Sue's where she still resides.

I continued writing and March 27th 2010 launched my third book, Summer Sunrise.  On April 10th I moved back home to complete the final part of my course, a three week practicum.  On April 13th, Lily gave birth to a stillborn foal.  We had lost a beautiful filly and with both our hearts broken, I couldn't bring myself to write happy stories so I backed off from writing altogether.  I finished my course the end of April and then moved in with Sue so that I was now living on the same property as Lily.

My immediate family had all moved into new homes at this point.  I was living with Sue, my parents sold the home my brother and I had grown up in and moved an hour away, and my brother had followed his heart to Manitoba.  It was a lot of big changes in a very, very little amount of time.

I started writing again, but it was sporadic.  Then I fell in love, which leads me to where I am now.  I am living in my first house in a town a half hour away from both my work and Lily.  I work as the only librarian at a small junior/senior high school.  We are in the process of preparing to move Lily closer in the spring, which will open a whole new world of adventures.

If you read my blog from yesterday, you know all the plans for the stories.  I have resumed writing, finally at peace with every aspect of my life.  I can't wait to finally be able to say I launched my fourth and final book in the Sarah and London series at 21 or 22 (depending on how long it takes me!) years-of-age.  I can't wait for the future and where life will take me!

This is too much to read through for editing right now so I'll go ahead and post it.  I'll edit and add a picture of Lily later.

PS - In case you are wondering, the background picture for this blog is my girl.

Welcome!

Well, this is my first time trying this for real.  By "real", I mean I've set a blog up in college for a computer class, but I've never created one with the full intent of using it.  But I thought maybe if I started this, it would be a new way to reach interested reads and supply updates on the company and the writing and just life in general.  And it'll be an easier way to keep a journal of everything that is going on.  It feels a little silly right now because I don't really know what to type, but I guess I'll do what I do best and let my fingers do the talking.

So today we are picking up our new all-in-one, colour laser printer.  It'll be by far the fanciest printer I have ever used.  I'm pretty excited.  The company has been sitting dormant for awhile without a working printer, so I can't wait to get that going.  Plus, right now it is waiting for pick up out where my horse, Lily, is so that means seeing my girl while I'm there.  And anyone who knows me knows that a visit with Lily is always a good thing!

I've been working on a few story ideas outside of the Sarah and London series.  I am hoping maybe they will lead to their own series.  But those books won't be a continuation of each other, just individuals within a set.  Some will be for younger readers while others will be for a more mature audience.  We will see how far I get with those, although I have one character who is quite insistant that her story be told.  She's a little like Sarah in that aspect.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to get some editing done on Saving London to take that back for a reprint.  I can't believe we sold all the copies we had!  Now to get the others moving so we have room for the fourth when it is ready.

The fourth is at a standstill until the first is reprinted.  And Sarah seems to have slipped back, perhaps feeling too crowded from the character I mentioned earlier, so I need to wait until she comes back to finish telling me her story.  Even though I know how it will end, right down to the last scene which is clear and vivid in my head, I need her to fill in all the parts between or it will be forced and just won't feel or read right.

I am also hoping to talk to my father (my publisher!) about creating a website.  I want to build it myself and am wishing I had created it right after finishing my web design course.  Now I need to see if I can locate my modules and try to refresh my memory.  But it really is time to get one up and going.  Hopefully in the next few weeks I can sit down for a few days and get things started.

I'll also work on the layout of this blog.  I can't wait to get some pictures on it and really personalize it, but I have to save that for when I am on my own computer and have access to all my files.

There is so much to do!  Sometimes I wish I could just do this full time, but for right now, I'll make the best with the time I do have.  Even just looking at my schedule for the rest of this week, tonight we get the printer and see Lily, then home to hopefully add pictures to this blog, and then sleep.  There is work tomorrow and then my parents and brother will be out.  I won't have time for company things then as quality time face-to-face with my brother is rare (come back to Alberta, please!) and I plan to take full advantage.  He will stay at our house over the weekend.  Monday nights are a write off for now with helping direct drama.  I don't get home until six at night and by then it's dinner, dishes, and catching up on everything else.  But after that, hopefully Tuesday will be free to get going again.

For now, take care!  I'll post again as soon as I can.