Coming in 2015: The Alliance Series!

It's time to share the announcement I've been sitting on the last few months! I'm pretty sure many of you guys will have guessed already...

I’m going to be self-publishing an adult contemporary fantasy series! 

The Alliance Series is set in a 21^st-century Britain with a twist… our world, Earth, is connected up to hundreds of others through Passages, guarded by the Inter-World Alliance. The story follows two protagonists, Ada, who lives under the Alliance's radar, illegally helping refugees from her war-torn homeworld hide out on low-magic Earth; and Kay, fearless Alliance guard determined to solve his supervisor's murder - and when their two worlds cross paths, trouble follows.

This is the book I’ve dreamed of writing for years, a sum of all the things I love: alternative universes (not parallel worlds, but an interdependent Multiverse system); magic that kicks back; complex characters and unlikely partnerships; a high level of sarcasm; monsters (of course) and some more unconventional things like centaurs, hover-boots and invisible walkie-talkies. It's a weird hybrid of fantasy and sci-fi, and it’s been an absolute blast to write! It’s also my first adult novel, though I would say it’s suitable for YA readers – the characters are aged 21+, but content-wise, it’s similar to my upper-YA Darkworld series. I’m self-publishing the first book, Adamant, in March 2015! It'll be up for pre-order on Amazon from late January, I hope. And you can add it on Goodreads now!

So… how did this come about? Well, I've actually been considering self-publishing as an option for over two years, but I knew my best option was to write a longer series, like Darkworld. I finished editing my quirky MG fantasy in June this year (which is set across multiple universes), and I was daydreaming/procrastinating one day when I thought:

"I want to write another multiple-universe story. Not middle-grade. Maybe YA? Or New Adult?"

"But it'd be really complex. Not a standalone. Not even a trilogy."

"I've wanted to write another longer series ever since I finished Darkworld..."

"There are quite a few sci-fi books with parallel worlds, but there aren't many multiple-universe fantasy series out there, especially ones with both modern-day technology and magic. I love that kind of thing. I want to read a book like that."

"Huh? The Alliance? Brain, where did that come from?"

"Wait. Holy crap. Oh. My. God."

*sudden idea lightning storm* 

*frantically grabs notebook* 

*scribbles 10 pages of ideas before remembering I'm supposed to be writing another book*

I'm a firm believer in the maxim "Write the book you want to read" - in fact, it's more like "Write the book you'd be first in line to buy if someone else wrote it"! I tried to be patient and wait until I finished my other project, but kept sneaking off to write bits of it until I could finally concentrate on this series.

Next thing I knew, the characters had hijacked my brain, throwing me head-first into this series and leaving all my other projects behind. It's fun, it's intense, and it's challenged me as an author more than any other book I've written. And there was never any doubt that I wanted to publish it. I wrote the first draft in only 24 days, which is a million times faster than I've ever written a draft before - I was convinced the story was writing itself!

So I finished the draft, revised, went through three rounds of beta feedback and revised again ( Thank you so much to Cole, Jessica, Erin and Laura for helping me with various drafts!). Meanwhile, I'd already started a prequel novella and the second book, which I finished in 34 days - proving it wasn't a one-time-coincidence. The series really wanted to be written. Since then, I've finished the third book (in 37 days) and self-edited the second one several times. Now I'm onto Book 4... and still power-writing!

In the meantime, I dealt with business-related things like obtaining ISBNs and tax stuff (fun!). And then I needed to commission cover art and professional editing, and learn how to format for ebook and paperback. I wanted to do this right, and put out the best-quality book I could manage. Now Adamant is with the proofreader, and I'm delighted to have been able to work with the talented Amalia Chitulescu (who designed my Darkworld book covers) for the cover art! ^_^

There will be six books in the series, and I’m planning to release a new book every 3-6 months. So, Adamant will be published in March, with the second book, Nemesis, following in June and the third book, Collision, to follow later. I'm hoping to publish a novella, Delinquent, next year, too. The wonderful thing about self-publishing is that I get to call the shots! I knew I didn’t want to put this series through querying, and that I wanted full control over the whole crazy Multiverse. And I've had my eye on the indie path for a while. When you write less-than-conventional books like I do, not to mention writing fast, it was probably inevitable! I love working with publishers (of course!) but I wanted a project just for me – one I had full control over. And this was a story I was adamant that I wanted to publish. (Sorry. I just had to make that pun at least once. :P)

Expect blurbs, covers, and other awesomeness coming up soon, and don't forget to sign up to my newsletter to be the first to see the cover and blurb for Adamant!

*disappears into a puff of smoke*

Release Day - Walking Shadow (Darkworld #2)

It's finally here! Guys, I feel like I've been waiting forever for this! But Walking Shadow (Darkworld #2) is now out in the world! *dances* I'll have a post up later this week about the long journey to publishing the second Darkworld novel, but for now... let's celebrate! ^_^

Buy now on Amazon!

When you have a connection to the Darkworld, nowhere is truly safe.

Ashlyn has found a new home in Blackstone, but when a spate of grave robberies across the country spark fears that someone is practicing illegal sorcery, she comes under the radar of the Venantium, the protectors of the Barrier between her world and the Darkworld, who are suspicious of any sorcerer unaware of their origins.

The trouble is, what Ash does know might just get her killed.

Sufferers of the dangerous condition known as the vampire’s curse are being brutally killed, and the latest victim is Leo’s guardian, the ex-head of the Venantium. Ash determines to help Leo find out what’s really going on, but it isn’t long before events are spiralling out of control. The dead are rising from their graves, and the barriers around Blackstone are threatened by a demon which looks exactly like Ash herself…

Add on Goodreads!

And here's more information on the first in the series, Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1)

Amazon    Barnes and Noble

Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone  - little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life - but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be...
 
Add on Goodreads
Read Chapter One.

Reviews

“In the vein of Buffy and Supernatural, DARKNESS WATCHING found that perfect balance between the freaky and the fun.” - YA author Jen Estes

"Demons, Sorcerers, evil, and secrets. Could you ask for a better supernatural suspense set-up?...It's full of suspense, danger, evil and dark humor. The plot is original, and completely gripping. From the first page, this book had me hooked." - Rose at Desert Rose Reviews

"A suspenseful first part to an intriguing new fantasy series." - Sharon Stevenson, supernatural author

“The story is extremely well-written with effortless, flowing prose, and the original magic-user mythology and Darkworld creatures are very entertaining. The author took what might have been over-done premise and twisted it into something very fresh and exciting.” - Lexa Cain, author of Soul Cutter

"This is a wildly different story than any I have read about demons...I loved it!" - Kathy at Bookmarks, Spoilers, and Happily-Ever-Afters

Fear's Touch: A Darkworld Novella is also available now!

Amazon

This is a standalone novella, intended as a prequel to the Darkworld series. As it takes place one year before the events of Darkness Watching, it doesn’t contain any spoilers (although it does hint at things which will come into play later in the series).

Freakish powers and staring demon eyes aren’t part of Claudia’s plans for the future – and neither is ending up stuck at the gloomy, isolated University of Blackstone. But bad life decisions are the least of her problems, when a split-second decision to help out another magic-user puts her in the crossfire of both the shadow-beasts and the creepy organisation which hunt them down.

Claudia’s never had to worry about making the right choice before, but every decision matters when you have a Darkworld connection. Soon, she’s going to have to make a choice: turn her back on the crazy and try to live a normal life, or take the monsters down.

But in a world where everyone seems to have secrets, can she really trust her fellow magic-users – or even herself?

Goodreads

And here's the epic giveaway! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal - Walking Shadow (Darkworld #2)!

It's finally time to reveal the cover for Walking Shadow, Book Two in the Darkworld series, set for release on the 1st December 2014!

*Squee* I think this might be my favourite yet! ^_^

And here's the blurb:

When you have a connection to the Darkworld, nowhere is truly safe. 

Ashlyn has found a new home in Blackstone, but when a spate of grave robberies across the country spark fears that someone is practicing illegal sorcery, she comes under the radar of the Venantium, the protectors of the Barrier between her world and the Darkworld, who are suspicious of any sorcerer unaware of their origins.

The trouble is, what Ash does know might just get her killed.

Sufferers of the dangerous condition known as the vampire’s curse are being brutally killed, and the latest victim is Leo’s guardian, the ex-head of the Venantium. Ash determines to help Leo find out what’s really going on, but it isn’t long before events are spiralling out of control. The dead are rising from their graves, and the barriers around Blackstone are threatened by a demon which looks exactly like Ash herself…

Add on Goodreads!

And here's more information on the first in the series, Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1)

Amazon   Amazon UK   Barnes and Noble
 
Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone  - little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life - but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be...
 
Add on Goodreads
Read Chapter One.

Reviews

“In the vein of Buffy and Supernatural, DARKNESS WATCHING found that perfect balance between the freaky and the fun.” - YA author Jen Estes

"Demons, Sorcerers, evil, and secrets. Could you ask for a better supernatural suspense set-up?...It's full of suspense, danger, evil and dark humor. The plot is original, and completely gripping. From the first page, this book had me hooked." - Rose at Desert Rose Reviews

"A suspenseful first part to an intriguing new fantasy series." - Sharon Stevenson, supernatural author

“The story is extremely well-written with effortless, flowing prose, and the original magic-user mythology and Darkworld creatures are very entertaining. The author took what might have been over-done premise and twisted it into something very fresh and exciting.” - Lexa Cain, author of Soul Cutter

"This is a wildly different story than any I have read about demons...I loved it!" - Kathy at Bookmarks, Spoilers, and Happily-Ever-Afters

Fear's Touch: A Darkworld Novella is also available now!

Amazon

This is a standalone novella, intended as a prequel to the Darkworld series. As it takes place one year before the events of Darkness Watching, it doesn’t contain any spoilers (although it does hint at things which will come into play later in the series).

Freakish powers and staring demon eyes aren’t part of Claudia’s plans for the future – and neither is ending up stuck at the gloomy, isolated University of Blackstone. But bad life decisions are the least of her problems, when a split-second decision to help out another magic-user puts her in the crossfire of both the shadow-beasts and the creepy organisation which hunt them down.

Claudia’s never had to worry about making the right choice before, but every decision matters when you have a Darkworld connection. Soon, she’s going to have to make a choice: turn her back on the crazy and try to live a normal life, or take the monsters down.

But in a world where everyone seems to have secrets, can she really trust her fellow magic-users – or even herself?

Goodreads

Fall Into Fantasy: The Darkworld Series (And release day!)

It's finally here! :D I had a lot of fun writing Fear's Touch: A Darkworld Novella, so I hope you enjoy Claudia's story!

This is a standalone novella, intended as a prequel to the Darkworld series. As it takes place one year before the events of Darkness Watching, it doesn’t contain any spoilers (although it does hint at things which will come into play later in the series).

Freakish powers and staring demon eyes aren’t part of Claudia’s plans for the future – and neither is ending up stuck at the gloomy, isolated University of Blackstone. But bad life decisions are the least of her problems, when a split-second decision to help out another magic-user puts her in the crossfire of both the shadow-beasts and the creepy organisation which hunt them down.

Claudia’s never had to worry about making the right choice before, but every decision matters when you have a Darkworld connection. Soon, she’s going to have to make a choice: turn her back on the crazy and try to live a normal life, or take the monsters down.

But in a world where everyone seems to have secrets, can she really trust her fellow magic-users – or even herself?

Now available on Amazon!

Add on Goodreads

And here's more information on the first in the series, Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1)

Amazon   Amazon UK   Barnes and Noble
 
Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone  - little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life - but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be...
 
Add on Goodreads
Read Chapter One.

Reviews

“In the vein of Buffy and Supernatural, DARKNESS WATCHING found that perfect balance between the freaky and the fun.” - YA author Jen Estes

"Demons, Sorcerers, evil, and secrets. Could you ask for a better supernatural suspense set-up?...It's full of suspense, danger, evil and dark humor. The plot is original, and completely gripping. From the first page, this book had me hooked." - Rose at Desert Rose Reviews

"A suspenseful first part to an intriguing new fantasy series." - Sharon Stevenson, supernatural author

“The story is extremely well-written with effortless, flowing prose, and the original magic-user mythology and Darkworld creatures are very entertaining. The author took what might have been over-done premise and twisted it into something very fresh and exciting.” - Lexa Cain, author of Soul Cutter

"This is a wildly different story than any I have read about demons...I loved it!" - Kathy at Bookmarks, Spoilers, and Happily-Ever-Afters

And I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and a Darkworld swag pack to one lucky winner! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget there's still time to sign up to the Walking Shadow cover reveal and blog tour here! :)

My editing process!

As every writer knows, the first draft is only the beginning. Once you have a complete draft, it's time for... revisions. If you’ve written straight through without going back and revising (which I try to do unless something really isn't working) then the draft is bound to be in pretty rough shape, unless you’re one of those rare people who can turn out a pristine first draft (if so, I'm jealous!). I always get a moment of paralysis before I start the first edit of a book – the moment when it hits me just how much work is still ahead if I want to get the manuscript into a readable shape. But that’s completely normal, and the best approach is to take it a step at a time. Bear in mind that I'm guilty of everything I'm pointing out in this post, and I think most writers are!

1: The Big Picture

Read through the draft in its entirety, and note down any plot and character-related issues, from inconsistency to confusing elements. Some writers like to note down particular pages/chapters and cross-reference, others might prefer a general list to refer to as they read. The key thing is not to worry about the quality of the actual writing at this point – this is effectively a macro edit, looking at the overarching story, before diving into the minor issues later.

Things to watch out for:

1. Plot.

• Look out for inconsistencies, plot holes, points of confusion and any unnecessary scenes that deviate from the main storyline. For instance, that random encounter with a gigantic invisible monster which never appears again probably isn't supposed to be there. (Totally random example. Honest! *shifty eyes*)
• Writers who don’t use an outline (and probably some who do!) might want to make a list of scenes at this point, in a spreadsheet. It’s an easy way to see if every scene needs to be there, and if they’re in the right order - each scene should build on what's happened before, and there should be a sense of forward momentum, not a string of disconnected events. Even though I start with an outline, the story often changes as I write, so I've found it helps to keep track of the scenes in this way.
• The crucial point is this: every scene must advance the story in some way, furthering the plot or a sub-plot and developing characters. A lot of writers tend to overwrite in their first drafts, including scenes that aren’t necessary to the story. I have the opposite problem in that my first drafts tend to be skeletal, often missing whole scenes for foreshadowing and character development. So in my spreadsheets, I look for gaps where new scenes need to be inserted, or what is already there can be deepened and extended.
• Make sure the plot and sub-plots are resolved (or, if there's a sequel, at least resolved enough that the reader doesn't feel cheated). 
• This is also a good time to check pacing, and to work out whether you're spending too long at one plot point or rushing through several at once. 
• As I write fantasy, I need to ensure that the worldbuilding also remains consistent throughout. Make sure that any rules aren't conveniently forgotten for plot purposes!

2. Character.

• Tied into plot revision – and equally important – is character. Ensure that characters’ motivations and goals remain clear and consistent throughout the story.
• The main character ideally has to undergo some kind of change over the course of the story, and their arc ideally needs to be the main focus. When editing, I make sure that the character is at the centre of each scene, and that they have agency - they don't just follow the plot, they are the plot. This is especially important if you write plot-driven stories (like I do) - I recommend this blog series, which is a great way to see how character development ties into story structure rather than acting independently of it! 
• Related: to push yourself even further, ask whether your main character is truly challenged over the course of the story. The harder their journey, the more compelling their emotional struggles, the more the reader will invest in their story. If you find opportunities where you can dig ever-deeper and really make your characters suffer, do! (*evil writer laugh*)
• I also try to look at the characters from a reader’s perspective and make sure their actions are logical. I want readers to sympathise with the protagonists, even if they're not conventionally likeable... (And, uh, with me, they usually aren't. I've been known to say, "Nice protagonists are boring". :P) And definitely ask CPs/beta readers for their opinions on this!
• For minor characters, even if they're only there for plot reasons, make them distinct. This can be difficult, as I've learned the hard way, when trying to introduce a lot of characters at once. Give them one or two memorable traits to avoid reader confusion.

2: Micro Edits

It's often helpful to do the big-picture edits first, but I've found that despite my better intentions, I always end up digging into minor issues in the first self-edit. So now I do several rounds incorporating a bit of both.

• This is the place to check pacing, emotion and tension: three things that are difficult to get right, but are essential if you really want to hook the reader. Try to read as a reader, and ask yourself whether you'd want to keep turning the pages (and definitely get other opinions!). Here, I cut out introspection and long passages in which nothing is happening, add in clarification so the reader can understand characters' decisions and worldbuilding aspects, tweak the pacing, and add in emotional responses and body language. Because I fast-draft, I have to build in these microtensions in the second and third drafts.
• It’s easy to fall into the trap of simply telling the reader what a character is thinking or feeling, but in revision, try to show this through their behaviour, interactions with others, responses to the environment.
• Note: as an editorial intern, one of the most frequent issues I saw in submissions was telling character emotion rather than showing it, and it really does make a difference to how the reader perceives and identifies with the character. The most common one seemed to be, "I was angry". How about showing some clenched fists, a snappish tone, glaring - even better if you can show how this particular character deals with the emotion, in a way unique to them. This can be tricky, but ultimately leads to a more 3D character. Read The Emotion Thesaurus for some golden advice on how to do this!
• One of my personal weaknesses is lacking detail in descriptions, so I take time to make sure they’re vivid and clear. I use this phase to add in the sensory details that really bring the story and the world to life, and make the characters seem like real people. On the other hand, if you’re the kind of writer who overdoes the description and details, now’s the time to look at each sentence and ask whether it needs to be there, or if the story would work just fine without it.
• Another weakness of mine is conveying information at the right time, especially with worldbuilding. It's hard to do this without infodumping, but massive paragraphs of information are a major turn-off for readers! Then again... so is being utterly confused and not understanding what's happening. Try to integrate key information into dialogue rather than exposition. Highlight sentences where you're telling the reader a piece of information, and ask yourself whether it needs to be there. And ask for readers' opinions, of course!
• Now is also the time to check things like sentence structure and repetition, remove unnecessary dialogue tags and adjectives, and ensure that the passive voice (a pet peeve of my publishers!) is kept to a minimum. This means: any verb ending in "ing" ("was running", "were walking", etc.).
• I use Word’s search function to highlight words I tend to overuse, including ‘was’ (nine times out of ten, active is better than passive- ‘ran’ sounds better than ‘was running’!); ‘that’; ‘had’; and other filter words such as ‘felt’; ‘heard’; saw’; ‘thought’… the list goes on! Filter words are best replaced with more concrete language (which is also related to showing rather than telling - instead of saying, "he felt sad", show us his reaction!). And adverbs! Keep them to a minimum. My worst is "just", and also "really". After a while, you start to become aware of which words you tend to over-use – critique partners can be a great help with this, too!

Is that daunting? Absolutely! It takes me 3-4 rounds of edits, including getting opinions from at least two rounds of readers, before I have a manuscript in decent shape. And there are roadblocks along the way. Sometimes it feels like playing Story Jenga, when you change one minor detail and it turns into a domino effect which threatens to topple the entire manuscript. And the fact is, it's human nature to overlook our own errors, so critique partners and beta readers are absolutely vital. Some writers share their work with critique partners as they go; others wait until they have a finished draft to start searching for beta readers, and others wait a few months, do several rounds of self-editing, and then send it to other readers. I find that it can certainly help to get others’ opinions before making major changes to your book - not to mention moral support! The best beta readers/critique partners are both tactfully critical and supportive.

There are many places you can find CP's or beta readers, from forums like Absolute Write to blog events (I know Maggie Stiefvater sometimes hosts a CP Love connection on her blog) to contests. It never hurts to ask around! A word of caution, however (from experience!): be sure you know what to expect before asking. There's nothing worse than receiving critique which is unhelpful - or worse, critical to the point of plain rudeness. Unfortunately, it happens, even in the writing community, and in a career which is emotionally unstable at best, the last thing you need is unnecessary negativity. Tactful honesty is important, but if the critique is delivered in the manner of a one-star reviewer, then, well, to put it delicately, it might say more about the critiquer than the manuscript! The important thing is that it's your story, and all suggestions are totally optional (I say this as an editor, too!). :)

How many edits do you need to do? I've heard different answers to this, ranging from three to ten drafts. I do one in-depth self-edit (or two, if I have a really messy first draft) before sending it to CP's/beta readers for feedback. My reason for this is: writer blindness. It happens. We all have our blind spots. Mine, for instance, are silly overlooked plot holes, character development/motivations, infodumping, telling, lack of descriptions and the dreaded passive voice... and self-editing isn't enough to catch out all the errors. Nor is only one opinion - I put each manuscript through at least 2 rounds of beta readers and it's not uncommon for the final draft to barely resemble the first! I always hit a point where I think the damn thing is never going to be good enough, but it's possible to edit endlessly.  At some point, you have to stop tweaking and put it out there, whether that means through querying, sending to your agent/publisher if you have one, or self-publishing (and in that case, hiring a professional editor).

Wow, that was a long post! Like I said, it’s different for every writer – some people love revision, others loathe it. Either way, it's a vital step on the way to the dream of being published, and a part of the process I've come to value highly - even when up to my neck in passive voice and trying to figure out another synonym for the word "looked"...