I'm Here I'm Here

Thank goodness for a snow day in NC. I can finally catch up on some stuff that I've been working on.

So what exactly have I been working on? Nothing much, unfortunately. My non-writer life has caught up and forced me to take a hiatus for a little bit. Just a few personal issues I need to work through--nothing serious. Tedious, but not bad. And before you say anything, they have nothing to do with inaction on my part. More like a case of when it rains it pours.

Anyway, the hiatus has given me a chance to think more about Space 51 and I realized I had a major problem that I need to work through. Writer's block on top of that doesn't help. I find the best way to get rid of writer's block is to start editing from the beginning of the story so I can work through the rough spots.

One thing is certain. I want this thing released within the next two or three months. Sooner, if I have my way about it.

In the mean time, I've gotten some more great reviews for Section 51 and couldn't be happier. I especially like the title of the most recent review from Mike D. who writes "If X-Files and Supernatural had a Child". Two of my all-time favorite shows; I couldn't be more flattered. :-)

Son of a B****

Overall, I have some really good reviews out there for the Project Solstice series. Readers have been really digging into the books, and overall, enjoying what they've read so far. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see the wonderful things being said.

However...there have been a few reviews that concern me. There's a lot or profanity in my books, which isn't typical of what comes off my tongue and more than what I hear in everyday life. What can I say? I write with my emotions on high, so I can experience as much through my characters' eyes as possible, but at the same time, my filter gets chucked to the curb. As one of my reviewers pointed out, the profanity is unnecessary. My goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, including young adults. Not put everyone off.

So for this, I sorry. I've already addressed the issue in each book on each platform. It'll take some platforms a little longer (i.e. iTunes) to make the change than others (i.e. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo). That's one fantastic thing about ebooks. You can change them and readers will be able to access the changes without any problems.

Now, that's not so say I deleted all of the swearing because there were some instances in which they were necessary, given the situation. However, I was able to cut about 90% of the "filler" words in each book. That's a lot.

So going forward anyone who has any concerns about the profanity, it's been taken care of.

A Fantastic Review for Section 51

Here's a fabulous review from Dead Trees Review for Section 51. Thanks for reviewing my book!

"First of a series, this science fiction/paranormal novel is about Ava Frost, part of a set of triplets. She has always had a strong empathic connection with her brother, Ian, until the day that he "disappears." She heads for the small town of Willow Falls to get some answers.

It all has to do with a bit of Native American folklore about people called skinwalkers, who can turn into animals, and back again. Ava knows, almost on arrival, that something is really wrong. She meets Ian at a local restaurant, but she knows that this is not her brother. The usual empathic connection is gone. She soon learns that Ian was killed two months previously, and his death was covered up.

Ava suddenly finds herself in the middle of a super-secret government program called Section 51 (yes, it's an offshoot of Area 51). It involves using genetic engineering to intentionally turn people into skinwalkers. She also runs into Colonel Briggs, the megalomaniac who runs the program. His intention is to create an army of such soldiers. Ian was working on a sort of skinwalker GPS system, and it's up to Ava to re-create his steps and bring it online. Briggs wants it very much, and there isn't anything he won't do to get total control over the skinwalkers.

This story is surprisingly good. It's very easy to read, it moves very quickly, and it will certainly keep the reader, whether science fiction or paranormal fan, very interested."

My New Favorite Show: Sleepy Hollow

I didn't have high hopes for Sleepy Hollow on the Fox Channel, Monday nights. Let's face it. The whole Sleepy Hollow thing sounded a little too over-the-top for me. At most, it would last about ten episodes before getting its plug pulled.

Boy, was I wrong. If this show gets canned, I'll be picketing all over Fox's network. This show is phenomenal! First, we don't have the stereotypical, militant African American woman. She's completely down to earth and nicely balanced with some skepticism and a healthy level of open-mindedness. As for Ichabod, I think he's awesome. Last night's episode with the post-it notes around his motel room to guide him were priceless. His reactions to certain things are right on point, given that he lived well over two centuries years ago. Oh, and did I mention how much I liked how they wove the Headless Horseman into the whole Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Now there's all of this freaky stuff that seems to be awakening in town and scaring the crap out of the residents. The only drawback that I find to the series is that they all know they live in Sleepy Hollow and they're very familiar with the whole Headless Horseman thing. Now, granted there are some discrepancies between the story and the way Ichabod tells it and he even admits to this. But even if I were living in that town and heard stories about people getting their heads cut off, I might be inclined to leave. Just a thought. But at the same time, there's so much good stuff going on here that I've found the perfect substitute while waiting for all of my other shows to start back up their new seasons. Next stop American Horror Story: Coven.

Rating: A-