Roll with the punches

First off Happy Thursday,

I really have learned through out my life to roll with it and just keep going no matter what. There are moments though when everything hits you like a cement wall and digging your way past it with a spoon is the only option. I think it is important to find the good in it all like the fact that you have a spoon to dig with you could have to use your hands and yet you could be thankful you have hands. 

I didn't get selected for agent treat but I did get a couple people to read a bit of my Manuscript and they gave me some great feed back. I was diagnosed with Dyslexia when I was in 5th grade up until that point I had struggled through school it was amazing being able to write a sentence completely backwards but only I could read it. I never let my ability stop me though. I kept writing and I kept learning new ways to cope and push forward. I admired Harriet the Spy and the show Ghost Writer if you were a 90's kid you get this. I just wanted to get my stories out there. So when I got my feed back I realized I had so much dyslexia no wonder they didn't pick me. My brain completely reads  every sentence correctly and it adds or changes it as I read it for some reason my mind doesn't see the errors even though they are very much there. I am going to use the advice and corrections I was given and try really hard to not miss these errors that swarm my manuscript. I was told I have amazing voice and my story is really unique and fun. That is where I will be in my free time grinding out my manuscript and getting it ready for an editor. I shall try to see where I am at the end of November and enter it for a contest called pitchwars but if it isn't ready I may have to sit this one out and thats okay.

My NaNoWriMo is coming along I haven't kept the word count I would have liked but I plan on writing at night when I can and trying my best. 

As a military spouse things change all the time. One day were moving the next were staying. One day were going here the next there. My husband has off and then he doesn't it is just life. I had planned to go to Romantic Times in New Orleans in May. I was finally going to meet my amazing online writing friends and my favorite author Aprilynn Pike. I don't talk about my children much but they each have their own special gift and require a very strict schedule. Sometimes the smallest change can cause weeks worth of progress to disappear. When I made my plans my husband was taking the week off to ensure their schedules stayed the same. Well those have changed and he will now be in a school that he can not take leave out of. To say this sucks would be a light way to put it. I cried a little I had such high hopes and excitement. I try to find the good in this to but for right now it is just a soar subject. I am a pretty selfless person I give and give and give because I love with all my heart and in that I do not take much time for myself and the time I do take is usually filled with guilt for not being with my kids and husband. This maybe was the first time I was going to be selfish in the last 8 years but I guess there is always next year. 

Like I said in life you have to roll with the punches you have to be able to pick yourself back up no matter how much it hurts. There is something important and amazing in every one and it could mean the world to someone you may not even know if you just share it. 

Aprilynn Pike released a new cover for her new book to her Earthbound called Earthquake it is pretty cool looking!!! 

Have a good Weekend and remember our VETERANS and their families!! 

Trying to Kill Time

Happy Friday!!! 

This week I submitted When Stars Collide to a contest called Agent Treat, Some really awesome ladies I follow on twitter who have become amazing writer friends are running it. Needless to say I have been checking and waiting and dying for next Tuesday to hurry up already and get here so I can see if I made the final 39 cut... 

In that time I have been organizing my NaNoWriMo for November. This is a million writers writing a new book in 30 days. The goal is 50k words. Yes you would think I would be starting When Worlds Collide but no I am going to take on a new adventure I feel a special Paranormal fantasy story coming on and no it does not involve Vampires, Werwolves or Zombies. I just see a lot of Ocean and teenage problems. 

Now that I am ready to begin that project, I have been forced to find other means of distraction to avoid twitter and not go insane during my daycare kids 2 hour nap break, they have included cutting fabric for a wash clothes, writing a separate project and extra proof reading on my submission. 

Below is part of my pitch to Agent Treat. Now to understand my #1, The contest has agents what are costumed so we don't know who they are but we had to explain which one our main character would be... Now I can see the wording isn't perfect and yes it is driving me insane but hopefully they will look past this and love my story just a little.

When Stars Collide

By: Keri Sue

YA, Science Fiction / Paranormal 50,000+ words

Stardust, human and a taste of alien DNA makes up 17 year old being Celeste. With her closest friends and allies united they become more powerful then even a quasar, on a vengeful path of suction towards their home planet Bied. At first though together they must cypher through the lies and charms used to railroad their destinies, all the while putting aside the levitating and telepathic talking to make room for force fields and time bending talents.

1)    

My main Character Celeste would be Princess Leia; fighting evil beings, traveling to exotic planets, and learning family secrets, while crafting celestulous and unique friendships, romantic relationships and sworn enemies.

2)    

High Definition vision, glowing skin, alien in DNA but human in form with a     hint of mystery, love and friendship makes my story unique. The stardust alone will make my story marketable, but if you need more we can add black holes and beautiful necklaces that wield power.

Have a super awesome weekend and follow me on twitter @kerigilles or 

 Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/KSPDWrites

Crazy in the Air

It has been a bit, I feel I start a lot of my blog post off by saying this... Welcome to my crazy life. Every day seems to come with daunting tasks most of them are fun they just take time. I have officially opened my in home daycare and take notes on the hilarious things my kids say to add in a book someday. Last week one told me thats fizangled I am not to sure where this word will go but it absolutely must be used. It is that time of year again where one year ago I had just finished my 50k word manuscript and all these contest were popping up. I really, really, really wanted to submit to them and learned in the midst that no amount of coffee or days with no end would be enough to polish my MS in time. I passed on a few and then I did submit to one because I really thought my MS was beautiful. It was a very awesome learning experience to say the least. I made a ton of online writer friends though who I am dying to meet next May at RT2014. Some like Kimberly Chase and Brenda Drake who took the time to give me advise and are always inspiring me by creating contest and reminding me there is always another contest and the Query trenches just keep writing. 

With that I have been writing and reading and editing and polishing. for the past 9 months I have been working toward a better MS. I am on my kind of final draft. With the help of my aunt and her editing eye we shall be ready for these contest. Problem is every time I proof read I find new things I forgot about and go back and research better wording or sentence structure. These are writer problems I suppose but this is where I am starting so I feel it important to tell others. We all start somewhere and we just have to keep going and keep editing and keep polishing. If your in writing for the money or the fame you are not in it for the right reasons writing is a way to express yourself when you cross the finish line you want to offer the world something you can be proud of. To my fellow writers keep going, you have a story in you and it will come out just breath and write. 

Now I will tell you what has kept me away... I had a change in job placement, we moved, been working on my daycare, Autism Walk, my daughters 7th birthday Disneyland for the first time trip and many days of child filled events. Most of you know my son is autistic and if you didn't well you do now. The Autism Walk really hits your heart cords, because not all kids are like my son, not all of them will have a fully functioning life. The ones who have overcome so much remind you that your not alone in this, its just an amazing experience. 

So contest I am entering.... Agent Treat , PitchMadness , possibly Pitch MAS and I shall be polishing that Query letter :) I want to go to New Orleans as an up and coming author that is my goal! 

Have a very happy weekend! 

Until next time keep smiling because your awesome! 

When An Idea Sneaks Up On You

Sometimes ideas creep up on you as a writer this happens often. Walking in the dark I started to feel like running heart racing I could feel the rain in the air and the wind whirling around me and then I could see her in my mind. A young girl Tanzie running and not scared but just trying to escape her life for a few moments. Unlucky for her it was raining and very windy. At that moment I rushed home a wrote this scene out and it is growing by the day. 

Granted I am still very much working on When Stars Collide but it is nice to have a story that isn't already written. New fresh different characters. This takes me back because I was very upset that Stephanie Meyer announced that she knew what was to come next in the Twilight Saga but refused to write it just yet, she wanted to work on other things. I get it now. Though I am burning the candle at both ends everything is slowly coming together and I can not wait to share these stories with my very loved and very awesome followers. 

I am having a vote going for When Stars Collide main character name. originally it was Mira and I went to Merra and now I am thinking Celeste, Zoey or Austora... Leave me a comment below on your thoughts. 

I always like to inspire with my blog, this week my son and daughter started their new schools and I was panicking trying to find something social for my daughter that wasn't to expensive, and I could get her to daily. A lady I ran into told me about Save The Children an after school program for grades 1st to 6th... After further investigation I found it was a learning based team building program. My Daughter is not a team person normally. She literally failed PE for not participating, Imagine my shock when they told me she was working in a team and helping and communicating on a Yoga routine they would do... Well she loves her program and I am a happy mommy so thrilled that she is growing and overcoming challenges  Pretty epic that 3 years ago she was Autistic and now she isn't even on the spectrum and granted dealing with ADHD ODD but always surprising her doctors and therapist with the boundaries she is willing to push. 



TTFN
KSPD :) 

For the Love of Writing

I keep hearing master pieces are not written in a day but I really do wish I could have this manuscript written out and ready for my hard edits... I try to a lot time for writing but things always come up or get disrupted I shall not give up though I shall press on. My goal was to be edited by December I suppose I better get my booty in gear. I entered a contest last year and got a lot of very great feedback I plan to enter it again this year with a beauty of a manuscript. 

I have a lot of people helping in the background of my life. My husband who literally hands me coffee and sends me to write, my son and daughter who try to help me make up characters... My family who I know think I am crazy to add anything else to my crazy day but help me in anyway they can... My Aunt Karen who is always encouraging and pushing me forward to push out that next chapter and her edits and feed back that really help developed the parts of my story that I was trying to say but couldn't depict the right wording. I suppose it is time for me to really dive into this adventure I can't wait to give you all updates and share more with you as it comes a long.... 

Other than that we are moved but we are not settled if that makes sense still unpacking and organizing, setting up the preschool I am starting and getting everybody ready for new schools... It is a fun and tiring week in this house but I will share photos soon!!! 
TTFN
KSPD 

Bound to Life

Life sometimes has a funny way of throwing us off track, and seems to think derailing is a really awesome way, to give us the want to go on and see what else can happen... The past couple months have been very trying in my life funny enough though everything seems to be falling into place. Maybe that is what life is about maybe it isn't about the day to day mumble grumble but the 10 year picture the long term.


I don't get into the personalities of my life this is the internet for goodness sake; but I will tell you that even among the flames of hell I came out on top. Now my blogging and writing on the other hand well those have suffered a bit. The blog I bring you today is to inspire you to keep going and keep dreaming and keep reaching. I haven't written in a month. Every time I sit down to write I am slammed with yet another travesty, but I will keep sitting down because I know that at some point the fire will clear and the calm of the roaring ocean will enforce my story and project greatness. 



As for amazing books for Young Adult I finished Numbers 1 to 3 of mortal instruments series which I really enjoy and am excited to finish the last two. I have fallen in love yet again with Aprilynn Pikes new amazing stories (Life After Theft and Earth Bound). I am struggling to read them both at the same time because I feel the characters fight over my attention and I am betraying one by spending time with the other but were getting through. (Yes, I am still planning on going to Illinois next May to meet her.... geeeee) I am going to start reading Terry Brooks yay! I also have began the Harry Potter books with my daughter who loves magical realism and alternate worlds like her mommy! 



So while I am moving and settling and setting up this new adventure of a home enrichment program and day care I shall attempt to still blog to you guys!! My Aunt asked me about short stories I am considering it but they all seem to drag on longer than short story material hmmmmm decisions! 



TaTaForNow 
KSPD 

Sunshine Award

I was nominated by Roberta Goodman for the Sunshine award. I haven't ever been nominated for something like this so it is really exciting. This past year has been a learning experience to say the least. I wrote half a novel chucked it wrote another 15k words saved it and then I wrote a 53k manuscript and well that is be re-written. I have learned though that no matter what challenges I face I can make it through. I have loved to write since I was very young but having dyslexia and writing are not always the easiest of things. When you love to do something though; a little word mix up is worth it. As a nominee I was asked to do a few things.... 
First thank you Roberta your blog is fantastic as well! www.rgoodman.com check her out!!

The Rules: When you receive the award, you are asked to do a few things…

1. Post the Sunshine Award Logo you see at the top.

2. Accept the nomination and link back to the nominator.

3. Answer the questions below.

4. Nominate ten other blogs and inform them of the nomination.

 

That is all :)

1) My favorite Color : I love blue's and purples they can be so vibrant and calming all at once. 

2) My Favorite Animal: Well I love animals, Turtles I love turtles. They are a reptile I know but Since I was about 3 years old I have loved turtles. I loved that they could just hide in their shell when they get scared and peak out every so often to make sure the coast was clear. 

3) My favorite number:  777 Three times the luck 

4) My favorite non alcoholic beverage: Tea I love tea with honey and agave.

5) My favorite Alcoholic beverage: Anything with Malibu Passion rum... 

6) Facebook or Twitter: I am better at Facebook because my family is on there but I do tweet as well. I am not really good at keeping up with everyone though three kids a dog and a husband, job, college and writing keeps you busy.

7) My Passions: My husband, daughter, and son's. They are my world my everything. Of course writing and I love being crafty or being outside. 

8) Giving or Receiving gifts: Giving, I try to give back in every way I can. My son has autism and I love helping other parents who need a direction or a new out look on it when their children are diagnosed. We do a lot of charity and volunteering as well for our kids schools and activities. 

9) Favorite City: I would have to say West Linn, OR It is so peaceful there and beautiful. Good schools and jobs but the part I love most about West Linn is the trees and green that surrounds it with a little vintage type town setting. 

10) Favorite TV Shows: Oh man this could be a long list. I love Grey's anatomy, Vampire Diaries, Castle, Bones, Revenge, Firefly, Dexter, Breaking Bad, anything supernatural that isn't to scary lol and funny ones like Up all Night and New Girl. 

My Ten Nominees: 

Trish Marie Dawson @Trish_Dawson

Red Tash  @redtashbooks

Elizabeth Briggs @Lizwrites

Dahlia Adler  @MissDahlELama

Kris Mehigen  @KKMHOO

Angela James @angelajames

Brenda Drake @brendadrake

Jen Malone  @Jenniferlmalone

Cassandra Marshall  @OnlyCassandra

Lori M Lee @LoriMLee

I have chosen women who inspired me to keep going even when I want to quit and are always uplifting and positive. If I ever have a question they answer it and they in so many words treat me like I am human. Even if I am some no name author right now. Their inspiration and passion helps me keep mine and they help so many others. Always volunteering for contests or just posting things that matter. Thanks ladies I pass the torch to you!