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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Donna Augustine's Writing Rollercoaster creating her UF book Karma ~guest post and #contest



I'm happy to bring my readers an interesting account of my guest Donna Augustine's writing process. Be sure to check out her new urban fantasy release, Karma, as well as her awesome giveaway at the bottom of this post.




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The Writing Rollercoaster
 by Donna Augustine

As I prepare for a new book to come out, people often ask if I’m excited. That single word can’t really encompass the range of emotions I feel. It had me thinking about the whole process of writing a book, from the first idea to the last word, and I thought it might be of interest to a few of you.

The very beginning of a new story usually starts at the strangest times. I’ll be driving along in my car, or shampooing my hair, when it hits. It won’t be anything much at that point but a glimpse into a scene. Over the next few weeks, or more likely months, it’ll start to grow into something with a real storyline. This is when the work begins.

When I first start getting it down, I’m filled with excitement and passion for this new idea and the words can’t come out quick enough. In this stage, I often believe this is going to be the best thing I’ve ever written. Then comes act two and with it, the inevitable doubts. By act three, I’m starting to debate whether the entire thing should be deleted. Having some books under my belt though, I know that this is normal for me and I plow ahead.

I start the rewrite process, which is pretty extensive for me. I shift through what I think is working, and invariably, some things will get cut and new scenes will need to be added. I start to feel better about the story again and after I’ve gone over it many times, start to feel like this is my best work ever.

Until I remember other people have to see it. All the doubts I had come slamming back into me. I’ve given it to a trusted group of readers, people I’m comfortable with and I still can’t sleep. They give me feedback, I polish it up to the best of my abilities and then it’s time to set it free.

For the first couple weeks after a book is released, I can’t sleep, I eat sporadically and I’m tense the majority of the time. Then I start to calm down. Not because of anything other than the knowledge that life goes on, whether people hate it or not. I start to throw my hands in the air and realize it’s out of my control and time to get back to work. Then I do it all again. 
 *~*~*

Karma
Karma Series
Book One
Donna Augustine

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Strong Hold Publishing
Date of Publication: July 9, 2014
ISBN: 0692248463
ASIN: B00LMNRWQ4
Number of pages: 344
Word Count: 72,000
Cover Artist: Donna Augustine

Book Description:

People say karma's a...well, you know. Personally, I don't think I'm that bad. It's not like I wanted this job. I wasn't even in my right mind when I accepted it. 

Now, I'm surrounded by crazy coworkers like Lady Luck, who's a bit of a tramp, and Murphy's Law, who's a bumbling oaf.

But the worst is Fate. He's got a problem with transfers like myself and I have to see him constantly. It's unavoidable, since we're hunting the same man, my murderer.

Available at Amazon


I was immediately drawn into the story and once I started I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book in the series. ~ Review by BookGirl

Excerpt:

“No. Just you. Everyone has their own department. You are Karma.” He pointed toward me dramatically, the way someone would try and accent a meaning to a person who didn't know the language.

“I'm not sure I'm adequately suited for this position. Even for a month. I'm more of a “bygones be bygones” kind of person. Don't you need someone a bit more vengeful?”

He looked down at the file spread on his desk. “I would disagree. Your file said you would be an excellent candidate.”

“May I see that?” I asked, eying up said file on his desk. How much did Harold know about me? Everything? That was an uneasy feeling. Even the best of us had our secrets and even though I considered myself a decent human being, I didn't think I fell into the saintly category.

The file didn't look big enough for my entire life to be in it. It didn't even look thick enough for a short story. Maybe just a highly edited Wiki version?

“No, absolutely not.” He shut the Manila folder quickly, as if I were going to jump up and try to peek. The guy took neurotic to a whole other level.

Okay, the file wasn't that important. I needed to keep the peace and simply explain in better detail how I'd made an error in judgment. Be nice. My southern mother had always said you caught more bees with honey than vinegar. She had tried to drill it into my head since I was a small child. It wasn't something I'd come naturally to, that was for sure, but it was a valid tactic, even if that wasn't the lesson my mother had meant to instill.

“Harold, when I agreed to work for you, I was under the duress of seeing my dead body. You can understand how jarring that can be, right? I wasn't thinking clearly at all.” It sounded logical enough to me, but I wasn't sure if he'd ever had the pleasure of dying and his manner didn't scream naturally empathetic.

He cleared his throat and I could tell by the set of his mouth that I wouldn't like the next words. “I'm sorry, but that's not how things work here. Like I told you, there’s a mandatory one-month trial period. An active one-month.”

He leaned back in his chair and pushed his glasses up closer to his face. His almost black eyes, artificially enlarged from the lens, stared at me in a bit of an awkward way. I wasn't sure if there was a bite to follow up his bark but his magnified beady gaze sure made the situation less than desirable.

Still, beady gaze and all, I had to try one last time. Perhaps a different angle. Regardless of my record, he clearly thought I was an idiot; maybe that was the way to go. I had no problem playing a stooge if it got me out of here quickly.

“As you stated, I'm a transfer. You really don't want me. I'm a horribly slow learner. The mistakes I've made in my life, geesh, you'd squirm if you knew.” I twirled a finger in my hair for effect and wished I had some chewing gum to smack.

“Yes, I'm well aware.”

He was? Hey, wait a minute; I didn't think I'd done too badly for myself. What were these jerks writing about me in that file?

“Fate will help you with that.”

And just like that, I had bigger problems. I wasn't just stuck here; I was stuck with him. “The guy who helped me so far?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“It has to be him.” Harold threw his hands in the air, as if why am I bothering him? Not his orders.

“Then I'll work alone.”

I'd be clueless but peaceful. There was something wrong about that guy. There was something too bossy or too intense. I couldn't even describe exactly what it was about him that was too much, but it was.

Even the brief moment I'd actually been in my right mind around him, it was as if his presence exerted some sort of gravitational pull, stronger than a normal person’s. As if his intensity could throw me out of orbit. And I didn't want to go out of orbit. I had enough things to handle besides ping ponging around.

“Non-negotiable. I've got orders.” Harold folded his hands and rested them atop his desk, littered with paper.

“From who exactly?”

“The universe.” His chin notched up a hair.

“Would it be possible to speak to this universe person? I'm sure they'll understand that there is a personality conflict.” It was time to bump my complaint to upper management.

“No one speaks to the universe.”

“Then how do you know what to do?” I leaned in a little.

“Simple. Through my orders.” His eyes started to twitch.

“Which you get how?”

“My memos.”

“Then you can send a memo to the universe. I won't work with him.”

“I'll file your complaint but it won't matter. And don't forget, as I've already explained, it has to be an active month.”

Twenty-five days. I've dealt with worse for longer. One case in particular came to mind. The guy actually tried to bite me when we lost. Harold didn't seem inclined to bite and he didn't get into my personal space. I could deal with him.

On the other hand, Fate looked like he might be the biting sort.

“Do the last five days count toward the thirty? Time served and all?”

“Yes.”

“These first days were highly unpleasant. Do you think I could get extra credit for those? Maybe, I don't know, you could knock off a day or two? Like they do in jail for good behavior?”He squinted his eyes and tilted his head. I was going to take that for a no.

About the Author:


Donna Augustine’s lifelong ambition was to become the crazy cat lady. Unfortunately, when family allergies cut short her dream of living in a house full of furries, she turned her ambitions toward writing. Combining her love of fantasy, scifi, horror and romance, she tries to string together interesting twists on urban fantasy.

A native of New Jersey, when she isn’t writing, or overdosing on caffeine, she can occasionally be spotted in disguise at the local dog park.


Tour Giveaway

5 ebook copies 
$25 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy and fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous, epic fantasy romance. Or enjoy a magical realism tale of a haunted yoga studio with SHADOWS OF SERENITY. For a FREE ebook sample of her writing, read her historic fantasy short story, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

2 comments:

Mary Preston said...

This sounds like it's going to be a great series. Love the cover.

Donna Augustine said...

Thanks for hosting me today!

Thank you, Mary!

Donna Augustine