Cut or uncut?

I am okay with rejection. Or at least that is what I told myself. I would say, “oh they aren’t rejecting my work they just don’t like the query.” Until, I got my first full MS rejection…in form letter. Ouch. I know, acquisition is purely subjective, right? One person didn’t like it doesn’t mean that nobody will like it. Still it is hard to hear without a bottle—I mean glass of wine. Dratz, why did I give up drinking this week again?




Dejectedly, I even thought of giving up writing. “I suck.” I told myself…“I suck I suck I suck.” It was like a sulking pout as I wallowed in my bed. I was ready to throw in the towel, at least on adult paranormal. Maybe I could work on my YA novel?…



Then, I decided maybe I could look into fixing the pacing of chapter one like EVERYONE has been saying could use help. I think it’s effin perfect but if everyone is saying it…



But guess why I was so reluctant to cut scenes from chapter one, besides it being effin perfect? Because you pull one string and then you have to go chapter by chapter and rework it. The more you cut the more you have to rework and the more you rework…Yes! The more you have to cut!



I just cut one of my favorite scenes that shows Devon and Mayne’s friendship…but it’s about ERIC and Mayne so…it is gone. Maybe I will stick it in Devon’s short story? No… *wipes tear*

The sea of No

The picture's artist.

Well, the beginning of the year I decided it was time to take a dive and go swimming.  For a writer that means start querying. Yes, if you are also a writer your heart probably started racing at the thought.  The dread, the excitement, the vigilant email watching, and the pending heartbreak.




Querying is like dating.  All those rejections in search of someone who will: see you, ‘get’ you, then love you enough to marry you and say “Yes, I want to share this journey with you. Yes, I believe in you.”

It's almost that time.

Hey folk,
  I have been hard at work lately and with Death Knows My Name off being edited, I am do for some major editing sometime next week when I get it back with what I am sure will look like the pages are bleeding.  I have found the perfect editor for me who is as passionate as the story I am telling as I am.  Which is awesome!
  So, any day now I will be ready to start the agent search.  *pulls hair out and screams*  It is so scary.  You hear so many whispered horror stories.  It is very intimidating, but I think I am ready.  I have been extremely bless thus far with surrounding myself with amazing people.  I found awesome critique partners, and now with my proof reader/personal editor...I am confident that I will find an agent who will do a spectacular job. 
  I am not delusional, I know, it won't be abracadabra, I get the call.  But eventually I am sure I will find the perfect one. 
  But the hard part will be NOT to sit back on my haunches and wait.  I have to keep writing.  I have a lot planned for my career.  I have the rest of the books in the DKMN world and I also have my YA story that was picked amongst the Editor's Choice last year.  In order to get all these first drafts done I am going to be doing a lot of Fast Drafts.  A lot.  December 1st I have one scheduled for the Remade.  Then I have to wait because I am planning a big move.  I know, I JUST moved to Missouri now I am going to Oklahoma?  Yes.  But I can probably squeeze in Devon's short story The Sun Catcher.  (I LOVE the title and once you read DKMN you will see why.) So I won't do another fast draft until most likely write after Christmas for When Lily's Fall re-do.  Immediately after (maybe 2 days break) I will Fast Draft working title: The Shattered (this title fits from my rough mind plot of hero but too many books have this title lately. Guess we like our men damaged aye ladies?)  It's the final book in the Reborn world.  Then I will go back and do some editing on all those fast drafts before I start picking through The Desecration Chronicles and making in one book with 3 parts (Born Through Desecration, Daughter of Desecration and Desecration's Queen).

Looks as if I am going to be one busy chick.
Keep reading,
Casse

Sage advice: Don't read reviews.

The Hiatus is over.

Hello!
  Long time right?  Well, I mentioned awhile back that I typed the end (figuratively) on Death Knows My Name and I have been really dragging my arse on edits and revisions.  Blah blah blah, all that writery stuff that makes us sound busy and important that just boils down to us changing shit around.  Okay, I am trying to remember the point of this post...
  Ah well, who needs a point?  NOT ME!  I took a new position at work that I thought would give me time to finish and do all my writery stuff.  Boy was I wrong.  I have been running around like a chicken with her head cut off that doesn't wanna be plucked for dinner!  *looks around concerned*  Have I mentioned that I am deliriously sleep deprived?  I am.  SO if this post is a little pointless and rambly...that is why.

To make up for the crazy of this post I will post a snippet of something I just cut. 
How I knew Eric wasn’t here, I don’t know. I did know it though. My skin wasn’t on fire the way it always was when he came around. Whenever he was in the same room with me it felt like a comfortable fire is glowing and shedding warmth on me. I was getting sappy I know but I couldn’t help how I felt. I would never admit this to Eric, Devon or anyone but I was willing to admit it to myself.

Completely awe{ful}some, right?
Thanks for sticking with me through this post.  I am going to go grab me some much needed sleep.
Keep reading and keep writing.
Casse

THE END

Typing THE END is such a great feeling. After, too many years, I finally got to type those two words on the first draft of Death Knows My Name. I found a way to give Mayne and Eric their HEA.

I am in the process of day four on BK 2 fast draft. Fourteen days of 5000 words or more to end up with 70k I actually need 80k so I try and write more on the two weekends.



Then after the fast draft I focus on editing and cutting out 5,654 words from DKMN and editing it before I send it off to both my CPs and get their opinions. When that is done I will decide if I send it out to Agents, Editors or Self pub it. Oh the decisions.



I am totally fine with self-pubbing it. I am just trying to figure out the long run of my career.



Keep writing and Keep reading,

Casse

Die For Me by Amy Plum

I stumbled across this book browsing emusic and decided to download a few sample chapters from Amazon. I can say I am hooked right away. I instantly told my book buddy about the book before I even reached chapter 3.

I downloaded the full version and the audio for when I can't sit and read. I find myself wishing I had more time to just devour this book. I also find myself wish I wrote this book! It is amazing!

GET IT NOW! READ IT! You will thank me forever.

Synopsis
“In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.”




“When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.



Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.