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.
*~*~*
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
*~*~*
2 comments:
This sounds like it's going to be a great series. Love the cover.
Thanks for hosting me today!
Thank you, Mary!
Donna Augustine
Post a Comment