Writer's Retreat 2014!

Wow!  What an incredible weekend!  And thank you, Wendy Swore, for the awesome excuse to go and write to my heart's content!  I believe there was 22 authors in all that were there at the Authors Incognito Writer's Retreat 2014, and all made it an amazing experience, just like last year at my first retreat.  

A cabin, friends and fellow authors, great food, and a great view--all attached to TIME to write. It was an adventure.  I was able to pump out 21,000 words, lost 2300 of them, but was able to recover by writing up an outline of what went missing...the only downfall to writing till you are bleary-eyed.  :)  It was all worth it.  Now Book Three in The Huntington Saga Series Novels is about 1/3 of the way complete.  I moved the deadline to spring, since I know it won't be done this month, so put it on your calendars, folks!  

Here's to the beautiful stories out there in the world yet to consume!  I love reading, so here's to all of you awesome authors out there!

Ellise ;)

I've been avoiding them like the plague...

...and now I remember why.  Forums can either really bring out the nasties in people or show that the kind ones really, truly shine no matter where they show up.  


As for my first few attempts at getting involved in several different websites' forums, only one out of four brought forth a kind comment.  Perplexing.  And yet, its not.  If people have anonymity, them seem to show some pretty true colors...and so far, I'm not impressed.  Sad to say it, but many of my fellow authors out there in the myriad of writing communities can be downright ugly.  


That's why I keep coming back to my own little publishing world on my own little websites.  I don't have to talk to the meanies; rather, only to friends and other authors who care.  They've been there and haven't forgotten civility and concern for others.  I'm ever so grateful.  


I knew all along that stepping into this world of publishing and being seen by the 'world' would be tough on my sensitive nature, but my family and their needs are still worth the effort to push past the hurt feelings and even the ignorant words of others.  So I keep plodding along...trying to have a stiff upper lip.  Gosh!  I'm bad at it!


Have a great weekend, everyone!  And be determined!


Ellise~

---

Writer's Retreat was a Blast!

What a great experience that I'll never forget!  Click here for the article and for the photos!

Hugs,
Ellise

Writer's Retreat!

So...here I am at my writer's retreat, actually connected to the internet for however many minutes it will decide to be connected.  But honestly, the only reason I've needed internet is to stay in touch with my family, because there is no phone service here.  Anyhoo...it's been actually kind of cool to be restricted from the outside world up here in the mountains of Heber City, Utah, writing to my heart's content with 20ish other writers.  It's been awesome!!  We write and write and write.  So far, I've written 7,386 words that I've actually remembered to count.  We have contests, sprints, prizes, and yummy food.  

It's been so amazing to be so focused.  I've been able to finish all the new chapters for The Governess that I'm hoping to release this month, November 2013.  I can't do the fancy stuff on this computer since it's different than mine, but I'll do that at home when I have a chance.  I'll be working on a new cover as well, but most likely reuse one of them, but just add some stuff.  Not really sure yet, since I'm still learning to do that myself.  I hate bothering people.  I learned some stuff about creating covers but it all still leads mainly to paying for someone to do it for you.  I'm still poor enough that I'll keep it close to home. *sigh*  But...someday... :)I'm now working diligently on Pirate Bride.  Guess what!!  It's so fun!!!  I love writing when I get to do it like this!!  I love creating stories and characters and adventures.  I'm also thrilled to compare my skills and writing and sales with other authors.  Its been a real treat to see how well I actually am doing.  It's been great incentive to keep doing what I love.  Writing!  So hang on to your britches, the stories are coming.  I'm hoping that I'll have more time again once I get home.  I'll just have to be creative and schedule time wisely. (And probably significantly shorten the length of them.)Here's to more dreams, folks!  So dream on.Hugs,Ellise  P.S.  I sure miss my family though!  Love you!

Passed the 10,000 mark and didn't even realize it...

How could I have missed that?!?  Yes, I wondered myself...

So, why do I even bring this up?  Mainly because I'm proud of myself.  Secondly, because most authors that I've followed don't bring this up.  Yes, maybe they are more modest than I am, but honestly, isn't it nice to know what kind of numbers you can look toward when you're publishing?  I have had no guidance or counsel on what to expect.  It is pretty hard to calculate.  It's a guessing game, really.  But for any self-published wanna be authors out there--these are the numbers I'm coming up with, folks.  That is, 86 days and 10,000+ copies sold.  I'm psyched!

Thanks for hanging in there with my, peoples...
Ellise

Gearing up to do some Author Interviews soon! :)

I think it's inspiring to find out why authors write what they do.  I'm curious.  ;)

Ellise