AmiMaxine

80K for Lucy

My first draft for Lucy’s story was about 60K, and I was panicked. I love the idea of this story, and I was heartbroken that I felt I had reached the end but missed the genre’s minimum by 20K. I knew, of course, that I had rushed things and that there were subplots that neededContinue reading “80K for Lucy”

Sounds Like Me

The first time I heard Sara B perform, it was at an in-store signing/meet & greet at a Borders in MN. My significant other at the time had been a fan of Sara’s music ever since seeing her playing a song in the background of a movie called Girl Play. They had looked her up (aContinue reading “Sounds Like Me”

Beta Readers for Lucy

I went into the post office today. Normally, that’s not a sentence that is worth writing down – but considering I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been inside any such establishment since *checks watch* March, this was a big deal. I donned a mask. I went inside. I tried myContinue reading “Beta Readers for Lucy”

COVID and Reading, Part Two

I hit another reading slump after my frenzy back in August. Part of this might have been because on top of everything else, the Fall semester began. It would be several months before I would read anything other than student papers – but once again, I suddenly became ravenous for it. I opted to switchContinue reading “COVID and Reading, Part Two”

Reaching the End…Again

Ok. NOW I have a full draft of Lucy’s story, and it’s sitting at just over 76k. I have more of that “accomplished” feeling that I had with Alice, which feels rather lovely to feel once more. It’s a story of family, focused specifically on Lucy and her journey to discovering where it is sheContinue reading “Reaching the End…Again”

Reaching The End

I remember typing The End when I finished writing up All Falling Things. It felt like such an accomplishment – having written my first novel. A complete draft. I was exhilarated. Well, I just reached the end of Lucy. And I feel anything but exhilarated. While I have the story arc completely written down, thereContinue reading “Reaching The End”

Sometimes the Internet is a Wonderful Thing

In this time of COVID, especially, the internet can prove to be quite useful when it comes to research done from the comfort of one’s home. Like, did YOU know that the Chicago Public Library Digital Collections includes over 160,000 pictures and records given to them from the Chicago Park District? I didn’t. But nowContinue reading “Sometimes the Internet is a Wonderful Thing”

Things I’ve Learned on the Path to Publication

If there is anything that I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that there is no one set path to publication – though it can sure feel like there is a path and everyone is just keeping it hush hush. But there really is no chronological “to do” list that will guarantee publication – even ifContinue reading “Things I’ve Learned on the Path to Publication”

I Signed It

It has been twenty-four days since the email wanting to offer me a contract to publish All Falling Things arrived in my email inbox. It’s been one day since I signed this contract. It’s official – my manuscript is one giant step closer to being published. After many emails back and forth with the editor-in-chief,Continue reading “I Signed It”

What’s in a Name?

This post contains spoilers for All Falling Things. Though most of the characters in this book are connected by name only to AIW (mostly the secondary characters), there are a couple who are based more around characteristics. Because of this, I had a little more room to play with their names. I really like findingContinue reading “What’s in a Name?”