10 July 2013 | By: Unknown

Indie Life: Back on Track

The Indelibles

Hosted by the Indelibles, Indie Life is a monthly feature on the second Wednesday of the month.  This is a chance for indie authors to post about indie life, find each other, offer support, encouragement, news, helpful hints, and anything else that makes life as an indie author a little easier.

I’ve just recovered (still recovering) from a horrendous cold so if none of this makes sense I’m sorry. T_T An eighteen hour drive and twenty six hours without sleep is hard on the body.  I don’t recommend it.  

What am I talking about you wonder?  Well I drove to Nashville TN for the UTopYA event.  ^_^ (And I drove back.  Thus the impossible to get rid of travel fatigue.)

UTopYA was fantastic.  I’ve learned so much from others in the business and I’ve met a lot of others that I wouldn’t have the pleasure of meeting face to face otherwise.  It was definitely worth going however the drive is something I really am trying NOT to repeat. 

Next year in April I have Candy Coated Author event in Louisville that I will probably be taking the train/bus for (as it’s less expensive that way).  My body would die in protest from another long drive on my part.  Hopefully if I save the money (and have the sales) I’ll be able to fly and turn a 20 hour road trip into a four hour flight. *crosses fingers*

I’m thinking about UTopYA again but at the same time feel there probably is something closer that I can participate in.  I’m saddened a little because it was so much fun and I learned so much, but it’s not cost efficient for me to continue to go without the means.
Anyway, to continue.  

I finally finished the first draft of the second book to the Of Legacies series.  I’m going through second drafting now (I actually wrote it in first person so I’m switching it over to third to match the first book).  Once that’s done I’ll be reviewing the readers that read the first book and sending inquiries if they’d like to beta.  And then of course once betas are done and those changes are made it goes to an editor.  There’s a lot left and yet at the same time I’m excited that it’s almost beta time. ^_^

After Of Sparta goes to beta I think I’ll work on a contemporary piece to ease my mind.  Something simple, real world based with real world problems.  Probably YA but might end up being NA.  Not sure yet. 

Not that I don’t love writing in my paranormal/mythological based world but since it’s creation it’s been a wee bit of a *insert bad word here* to handle.  I haven’t even delved into true fantasy (as my world has a real world foundation) and I’m wondering how fantasy authors keep their sanity.  All the rules of the world and it’s people are noisy in my head.  I’ll be glad to step away for a bit. 

Other than that I have no really good inspiring news this month.  Just every day mundane stuff.

Oh and a question for everyone out there:  What do you think of a gender neutral cover in comparison to the “pretty girl” covers? (I was thinking on going gender neutral and want some thoughts.)
 

12 June 2013 | By: Unknown

Indie Life: UTopYA, and stuff...

The Indelibles

Hosted by the Indelibles, Indie Life is a monthly feature on the second Wednesday of the month.  This is a chance for indie authors to post about indie life, find each other, offer support, encouragement, news, helpful hints, and anything else that makes life as an indie author a little easier.


 Wow, another month gone.  Where is the year going?  I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. >_<  What a horrible feeling. Lol. 

Anyway.  Writing is actually moving slower than I had hoped at this point.  I'm twenty to thirty thousand away from completing the first draft of my second book Of Sparta and I feel like I'm pulling teeth every time I sit down to type.  It's ridiculous because I have an outline, I know what I want to happen... my characters though... they've had other ideas and roping them in has been harder than I imagined it would be. *sigh* But it will be done - hopefully shortly. ^_^

I've got my first convention as a published author at the end of the month. *enter hysterical scream here* I'm not a panelist - yet - but I'm still anxious as all get out. I've been to conventions before but NOTHING like this.  

So the convention is UTopYA.  It's being held in Nashville, TN.  I'm driving 15 hours with Mel from Girls Heart Books as my co-pilot. The driving part doesn't worry me so much as I'm going to be going as a PUBLISH AUTHOR. OMG. What if I make a total donkey out of myself? I know I"m certainly going to fangirl over a couple of my favorite authors that will be in attendance. 

Also, we'll be going to The Grand Ole Opry on the Friday we're there.  That's going to be just as fricking awesome as the convention itself.  I'm excited/nervous. 

I just hope that I learn a lot (I've got panels scheduled back to back) and that I have a great taken home experience. ^_^ I'm certainly going to get pictures with as many as possible. 

That's all that's new this month.  I'll certainly update with the valuable insight of the other authors next month. 

How is everyone else doing in the writer's world?


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12 May 2013 | By: Unknown

Cover Reveal: God's Warriors



Surprise!  I’m so ecstatic to be asked to assist with a cover reveal. ^_^ It’s beautifully simple and the book is intriguing as well. ^_^



God’s Warriors

Children of God’s  Book # 1 

By- L.P. Hidalgo

Expected Publication Date-September 18th, 2013

Blurb-

Jae Salvador is a college student dealing with the death of her older brother, Jason. But, her life changes when he comes back to deliver a cryptic message: the war of Heaven and Hell is upon us. It is up to Jae and her brother, Joel, to find God's warriors and along the way; they discover that their family is unlike most others. They are descendants of Son's of God who were put on earth in preparation for the war. However, Jae wields more power than anyone could imagine. She alone will decide the outcome of the war by convincing the Catalyst to choose Heaven over Hell.

Will she succeed in her quest for salvation or will she unleash Hell on Earth?

Links-








About the Author-

L. P. Hidalgo is the author of the “The Children of God’s” series, the captivating story of the war between Heaven and Hell with the heroine, Jae Salvador and her brother Joel, lead a quest in search of God’s Warriors, which is set to debut on September 18th, 2013. 

L.P. Hidalgo on her off time is a freelance graphic designer, mother of two children, and devoted partner to her fiancé. From an early age she began writing, which throughout adulthood turned into passion. The artistic writer was encouraged by family and friends to write her compelling stories.


Links-

Goodreads:

Facebook:




What do you think?


07 May 2013 | By: Unknown

Indie Life: Nice weather and Such...

The Indelibles

Hosted by the Indelibles, Indie Life is a monthly feature on the second Wednesday of the month.  This is a chance for indie authors to post about indie life, find each other, offer support, encouragement, news, helpful hints, and anything else that makes life as an indie author a little easier.


Wow.  Is it May already?  Time certainly does fly. I've been enjoying the nice weather since it's FINALLY gotten warm here in upstate New York.  I've found that the rest and relaxation is as much a necessary part of writing as actually writing.  

Those that read through last month's Indie Life know I joined a Fast Draft challenge.  (70k works in two weeks) The fast drafting didn't end well.  T_T  It ended with a migraine on my part.  I think what it comes down to, is pushing too hard much faster than I'm used to pushing.  ^_^ It fried my brain.  Though I did learn a lot from it.  Maybe I'll try ramping up to it sometime over this summer.  

I've been listening to a lot of audio books and doing some major reading.  I wish there was an audio book lending agency like Netflix.  One flat rate and as many books as I'd like to listen to in a month. Or it could even work like Gamefly - one flat rate and I get one book at a time but I get the next book as soon as I return the first. I'd be game for that. ^_^ (I've found audible to be kind of expensive for what it offers.)

On another note I've joined a local writer's group this past week as well.  As I'm progressing in writing I felt that it was time to find a group of other writers to critique and provide guidance so that I can better grow.  Even after only one meeting I feel I've learned quite a lot.  I'm very excited to keep learning from these people and to hopefully be able to provide my incite to help them as well. 

I am still on the hunt for an editor.  Once I finish Of Sparta and Terrene Gates I'll definitely need someone to go through it - other than myself.  I'm just not a good editor. 

Other than that I really have no news to provide.  I've been slowing it down and taking each day as they come.  I'm writing about 2k a week at the moment and have divided my attention between three projects (the other unmentioned one is a joint effort with a few writing pals) that will hopefully all be ready for release some time next year.  

Slow an steady wins the race.  And I'm certainly at that pace at the moment. How is everyone else doing?


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10 April 2013 | By: Unknown

Indie Life: The Challenge

The Indelibles

Hosted by the Indelibles, Indie Life is a monthly feature on the second Wednesday of the month.  This is a chance for indie authors to post about indie life, find each other, offer support, encouragement, news, helpful hints, and anything else that makes life as an indie author a little easier.





Hello everyone!  I have to apologize for the late posting. I’m going insane. >_< More insane than last month actually. 

Release day came and went of course.  It was a great relief and the two week blog tour after that was fun and entertaining.  I’ve got some great reviews out of it which pleases me. ^_^  I’ve also met some cool people and really enjoyed the interaction after months of solitary writing and editing.  

It probably wouldn’t have gone so well if I hadn’t had the wonderful Mel over at Girls Heart Books Tours.  She is so efficient it’s scary and rather relieving as well.  She’s definitely an indie lover which is great and her prices are SUPER reasonable which is weight off my shoulders. 

So now about the crazy part.  I’ve got my first book out, it’s reasonably loved, what could be so crazy now?  Well, let me tell you.

Shannon Delany, author of the 13 to Life series, and Weather Witch posted a challenge on her Facebook that she wanted to do with friends.  I’d be a fangirl poser if I called myself a friend, but we’ve had some decent chit chats so I’m not a stranger.  Anyway, I digress.  

The challenge is 70,000 words in two weeks or fourteen days if you’re looking at it the way I did.  In my arrogance (I’ve got a book out this shouldn’t be too hard) I took her up on it. Here’s a link for the exact details.  

Today is day four of this insanity and while I feel like I’m DYING I am holding my own pretty well. I set aside four hours to write everyday and with my outline I’m getting it done.  There are times, while I’m at work or driving when I think of the finer details of the chapter I’m working on but so far I’m staying consistent on the word count.  

As much as I’m in a love/hate relationship with this I’m recommend trying it for my indie friends.  Why?  Because if you’re like me and you work a day job to pay the bills you don’t have the luxury of getting stuck.  It really helps to put down the ideas.  Trust me it’s not pretty.  However, it’s very effective at getting a basic draft out.  Especially for the procrastinators.  (I am one, I take no shame in the claim.)

I’ll even do it again with you if you let me know when you’re doing it.  >_< Just wait until May/June so I can get some sleep first. ^_^ Who would like to volunteer first?

Much love,



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