Don't Give Caffeine to Dragons
Or...I wrote another novel over Labor Day weekend

For the 33rd annual International 3-Day Novel Contest, I pounded out 40,745 words of a young adult novel titled Problems Above Pangaea Moon. I don't get to tell you any more than that. Savvy visitors will recognize that it "feels" like a sequel to Problems on Eldora Prime, the first novel in the young adult, science-fiction/fantasy series to be released from Night Wolf Publications at the end of this month...possibly mid-October at the latest. Savvy visitors would be correct. Because I've turned the manuscript in to the admins at the 3-Day Novel Contest offices, I have to pretend my manuscript no longer exists until they announce winners of the contest in January.

I don't hold out a lot of hope for this year's entry. I drank two 2-liter bottles of diet Pepsi and a large ice cafe latte from Dunkin Donuts while typing those 72 hours. That's an awful lot of caffeine for someone who hasn't had caffeine (doctor's orders) for about 15 years. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

It was a long weekend complete with a 20,000-word day Saturday, a power outage Sunday afternoon, and a friend's visit to the emergency room Monday afternoon. I had quite a time of it trying to type amid the interruptions and the crazed dash to the store for stray food and the aforementioned Dunkin Donuts coffee. Somehow, Problems Above Pangaea Moon finished itself Monday afternoon and editing went fairly well into the night hours. I printed it out well before the midnight deadline and mailed it (with a witness statement) during the week.

Now we wait. All several hundred of us writers that put ourselves through the marathon of typing death...wait. :)

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: 3-Day Novel Contest, science fiction, fantasy, Problems on Eldora Prime, Night Wolf Publications, caffeine, dragon, Labor Day

Writing Contests, Book Tours, Literary Festivals, Signing Updates
Or...The Dragon should update more often

First, the 3-Day Novel Contest was a fantastic exercise. I completed a 50,072-word sci-fi horror novel by 1 p.m. Monday and spent the rest of the time editing, adding scenes, fixing strange things I'd typed during those "hallucination" hours (you know...3 a.m., 4 a.m.). I discovered something intriguing about myself. My subconscious does not appreciate the alarm on my alarm clock and will control my body to the point that "I" get up, turn off the alarm, and lay back down to continue sleeping until one of the characters in my brain starts screaming that we're "wasting time."

Second, my current online book tour in support of CHOICES MEANT FOR KINGS is going very well. We have a variety of guest blogs and interviews lined up through Oct. 4 at the different tour stops. We also have an opportunity for one lucky participant to win a hardcover, first edition, autographed copy of the first fantasy novel in my CHOICES series, CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. All you have to do is stop in during one of the tour dates and leave a comment at that day's fabulous blog to have your name entered in the drawing. (Remember to put your e-mail address in your comment so we can reach you if you're the winner!) A list of tour dates and blogs to visit is at the Goddess Fish blog site.

Third, I'm doing some IRL appearances this fall to support CHOICES MEANT FOR KINGS. I'll have more announcements about that and how these appearances are coming about...because it's that cool...as soon as contracts are complete and I have permission to blab. :) In the meantime, if you're in the Tampa area Saturday, Sept. 12, I hope I can see you at the Deep Carnivale literary event on the Hillsborough Community College Campus. I'll be set up in the Performing Arts building with my fellow ArcheBooks authors Jane Kennedy Sutton (The Ride), Tina Murray (A Chance to Say Yes), and Henry Hermann (Beginnings) to sell & sign books from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and would love to meet some new Florida readers.

I've just confirmed a book signing at the Waterside Shops Barnes & Noble in Naples, Fla., for Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon where I'll be signing all three of my titles. There are additional events listed on my fantasy Web site and I encourage you to check back there frequently for updates.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Deep Carnivale, fantasy, Jane Kennedy Sutton, Tina Murray, Henry Hermann, Barnes & Noble, Choices Meant for Kings

If the Computer's a-Rockin'...
Or...The Dragon is going off-line for the weekend

I figured out how to complete a 90,000-word manuscript for the 3-Day Novel Contest.
We start with 72 hours minus 3 hours for sea turtle duty Saturday morning minus 8 hours for sleep breaks, peeing and eating/drinking/a quick shower to refresh myself sometime Sunday night or Monday morning minus 5 hours to read and edit the completed manuscript = 56 hours for typing/creating. (Yes, I have the outline they allow you to start with.)
This means I need to type at 26.7857 words per minute.
I can do that.
I'm a seriously fast typist.

I've got the room set up. The iTunes is loaded. The motivating CDs are next to the CD player with extra batteries next to it (the obnoxious package is already open so I won't waste time with that if the batteries in the CD player should die mid-weekend). I have reference books picked out and set up. I have an alarm clock with a "nap" function set up and wake times already programmed. I have a bowl with some chocolates and Little Debbie Snack Cakes next to the writing area with paper towels. I have hot dogs and carrot sticks in the fridge. There's a straight shot from the computer to the bathroom. Washcloths are already next to the sink. Criminy...this has to work.

See ya'll Tuesday!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: 3-Day Novel Contest, novel, manuscript