Early chapter of Tracing Shadows!

Hey folks! I’m taking some time off this weekend, so I thought I’d go ahead and post this chapter of Tracing Shadows a little early.

Part Six: The Potter

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thanks my editing/beta team for all their help with this story. Particularly Kristy Todd and Toni Cox, who have been instrumental in getting this story ready for the reading public.  Kristy has been reading and editing for me since I started writing, and Toni has lent her editing skills and artistic expertise to help make me sound like slightly less of a dilettante. Thank you both so much, ladies!

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

Five Things Pixar Taught Me About Writing

When you’re a parent, there are a few things that save your sanity when your kid is bouncing off the walls: a solid lock on the bathroom door, a quality set of noise-canceling headphones (my go-to baby shower gift), a shot of brandy in the sippy cup (you know your grandma did it, and your dad’s just fine—mostly), but for all you responsible purists—I mean parents out there . . .

There’s Pixar.

Ah Pixar! Those beautiful, merciful people who produce movies that don’t make me want to run screaming or bang my head against the wall. Thank you for treating children like real people who can understand subtlety.  Thank you for including that wicked humor that makes kids say to their parents, “What? What are you laughing at?” (You know Joss Whedon was one of the screenwriters for Toy Story, right?)

Thank you for telling a good story.

New Chapter of Tracing Shadows: The Assistant

Thanks to everyone who checked out the first chapter of my book yesterday!  I appreciate all the page views and comments.

Here’s Part Five of Tracing Shadows: The Assistant.

Have a great weekend!

E

New Book Cover and A First Chapter

Phew! I love you all, but my blog-cation has been kind of nice!

I have been working on more editing for A Hidden Fire and every chapter I get back from my editor makes me squeal a little. It’s not easy, folks. Sometimes you feel like your baby is being gutted, but the book is going to be so much better for all the hard work.

I’ve been playing around with a new cover, as well. While I liked the original image that C created, I didn’t really feel like the title popped out from the background, so here’s the new look:

It’s a little more dramatic than the first, and I like the gold lettering, but I’m curious what you all think, so let me know. (It’s a process, people.)

Also, I posted a little surprise for all of you who were curious what I’ve been  up to. I debated releasing the first official chapter of THE BOOK, but then I decided . . . I’m publishing indie so I could do what I want, right?

So, for all of you who were intrigued by the prologue and left me such lovely compliments, Chapter One of A Hidden Fire . . .

Thanks for reading,

E

New Chapter of Tracing Shadows

Hey folks! Happy Friday. I know I’m ready.

A new chapter of Tracing Shadows is up, and then I’ll be taking next week off blogging to spend some time finishing the first draft of Elements book two.  I’ll still post the next chapter of Shadows on Friday, but other than that, I’ll be giving all of us some time off from my rambling. I’ll probably be hanging around on twitter if you want to catch me.

Enjoy Part Four: The Painter!

Thanks for reading, E

Book trailer is done!

I know I’m posting way more than normal this week, but I just wanted to let you all know that the book trailer for A Hidden Fire is done! Thanks to C for his work on it. My husband really is quite talented, isn’t he?

Take a look when you get a chance:

Thanks for … watching!

E

Friday Fiction: New Tracing Shadows and a Winner!

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you all had a great week. I’ve posted new Friday Fiction, and we have a contest winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this past week. I enjoyed reading your comments and I’d like to congratulate reader, Cindy, on her win of The Vampire Relationship Guide, Volume One: Meeting and Mating! Thanks to all who commented. I think I’ll definitely have to do more contests in the future. If you have any ideas, let me know.

Also, for all you Tracing Shadows fans out there (and G&M fans, as well) Part Three: The Sculptor is up on the blog! I’m dying to know what you all think, so let me know.

Hope you have a great weekend and keep commenting! I love to hear what you guys think, what you’re up to, and what you’ve got going on, too. I’ll have a writing update on Monday for all of you and let you know some pretty exciting news about the second Elemental Mystery!

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

About Writing: Want/Need/Desire

want—have a desire to possess or do

need—require because it is essential or very important

desire—a strong feeling of wanting to have something happen or wishing for something

What do you want?

How does it drive you?

What do you need?

Do you know the difference?

Human beings are driven by wants, needs, and desires. They fuel us. We work for them. They make us reach far past where we ever thought we could go.

What do your characters want? 

Have you thought about it?

Read more …

New chapter of Shadows and a give-away!

I just posted a new chapter of Tracing Shadows late last night, so check out Part Two: The Photographer. Things in Kate’s world are certainly getting more complicated.

I’m also running a give-away this week! For the next week, every comment you make on my blog enters you to win a free copy of Evelyn LaFont’s The Vampire Relationship Guide, Vol. 1! It’s a fun and witty book that “takes a satirical look at what could happen if a clueless human chick really dated a vampire.”

From her website:

“Josie wants what she’s never been able to have—sex with a vampire. When she receives an invitation to a party thrown by one of the world’s richest vamps, she doesn’t stop to question her luck; she just jumps into her favorite stilettos and heads out to the event of a lifetime, secretly hoping that she’ll come home with a party favor in the shape of a sexy coffin dweller.

But the great undead, much to Josie’s chagrin, aren’t just pale sexbots with pointy teeth waiting to satisfy her carnal desires—they are dangerous…and sometimes cranky. With a single-minded focus on fulfilling her sole sexual longing, Josie unwittingly entrenches herself in the twisted and sometimes antagonistic world of vampire relationships with no one to guide her, but herself.”

So if you’re looking for a fun summer read with romance and a lot of laughs, check out Evelyn’s book on Amazon, B&N, and all the usual outlets. And remember, for every comment you make on my blog for the next week, your name will be entered in my very scientific coffee can drawing system. More comments, more entries!

Have a great weekend!

E