I’m now working on the fourth and final story for my next book. It’s coming together really well. There have been some pauses while I do some quick research. (The story is set just outside of London.) I should be able to finish it off this month.
I’ve also created boards on Pinterest for each one if you’d like to get a feel for the stories:
Four in Darkness I
Four in Darkness II
Four in Darkness III
Four in Darkness IV
In order to do that though, I’m going to take the month of August off from blogging. It will be the longest break I’ve taken in 10 & 1/2 years of blogging, but with many people already on break due to summer, I think it will be okay.
I’ll be back September 2 for the next IWSG post.
In the meantime, I’ll leave these notices for you:
My publisher, Dancing Lemur Press, LLC, is actively looking for submissions. The guidelines are here.
Those of you looking for the benefits of traditional publishing (credibility for the author, established distribution, publisher reputation, professionally designed books, early pre-publication reviews, royalties, etc.) with the benefits of self-publishing (higher profits, more control, etc.) need to check out Dancing Lemur Press’ imprint, Freedom Fox Press.
The Realms Faire is November 9-13, with games and prizes. Participants and prizes are still needed, so contact host M. Pax for details.
(This year, House Wolfe will present the Unicorn Hunt!)
Now if you will excuse me, I have some Minion cupcakes to eat.
I loved the pictures on your Pinterest boards. Happy writing and have a productive break.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! Everyone needs a break sometimes, so I wouldn't feel bad about it--although, I'll miss your posts! Love the Pinterest boards, and thanks so much for the information on submissions!! Hope all is well with you :)
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ReplyDeleteI'm sure your next book will be a huge success Diane. Hope all goes well with it. Also enjoy your break from blogging and will eagerly await your return in September.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Yvonne.
Congrats on getting your book done. I'm on break in August too. I may take a break from reading blogs too for awhile this month. See you in September!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blogging break! Sometimes it's necessary to take a breather. Hope everything goes well with getting the last book done!
ReplyDeleteThe Pinterest boards looks great and so does the cupcakes. Hope you have a productive break from blogging and find a little time to just relax too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! See you in September!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your progress. Glad to hear it's almost finished.
ReplyDeleteMedeia, I'm pleased you like them.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, let's both enjoy our breaks.
Mason, the cupcakes were delicious.
Good luck finishing up your book! I've always been intrigued with people having Pinterest stuff side=by-side with their book. I never see stuff that quite fits...
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a long time to be blogging and not taking a big break. Good luck with your story and have a nice break! :) Mmmm... cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteToo cute to eat!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the near completion of your book. love the pictures on Pinterest!
Take your break, my gosh you do deserve it. 10 1/2 years, amazing!
Happy break! Those cupcakes look so good.
ReplyDeleteWay to make waves with your upcoming releases! Last time I stopped in it seemed like you were a ways from the finish line.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break and I'll take a cupcake.
ReplyDelete10 and 1/2 years of blogging is a LONG time! Enjoy your break! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and have a cupcake for me. They look delish :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing
Love the cupcake pic!
ReplyDeleteGreat Pinterest boards! Congrats on wrapping up that book and those Minions! I'm particularly fond of the Cyclops ones.
ReplyDeleteHart, I've been fortunate to find some great images.
ReplyDeleteYolanda, it's been a long time.
Crystal, I can finally see it.
Chrys, yes it is.
Lee, they were delicious.
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ReplyDelete^ Sorry for the delete. Extra text copied over that would not have made any sense!
ReplyDeleteThe Pinterest boards are great. Aren't they inspiring for stories? I've been on Pinterest awhile, but only in the past six months or so did I integrate my writing world there. I figured inspiration boards were one more distraction, but making one for a WIP actually helped me craft two new scenes! What I was visualizing for my book was not matching up to what scenes were there. I found the visual aspect immensely helpful.
Enjoy your month off from blogging!
Here is my August IWSG post. It's the second post on my blog today because my Pitch Wars mentor bio needs to stay at the top. Thanks!
Have a most enjoyable and productive break, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI love the cupcakes. Did you make those? Enjoy your blogging break. I have a book coming out so I can't take off or I would do the same.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Best of luck! And enjoy that productive break . . . at this point in 10+ years, I'd say you deserve it lol
ReplyDeleteI have a writing inspiration pinterest board, but nothing specific to any story - though I can see how that might help! I might have to give that idea a try. Good luck on your endeavors this month!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the great progress -- and the decision to take a break! It's so important.
ReplyDeleteKeep on going after your break. The words will fall like rain.
ReplyDeleteKeep on going after your break. The words will fall like rain.
ReplyDeleteGood luck finishing the fourth and final story for your book! Have a nice blogging break!
ReplyDeleteHow cool. I especially like the feel of the first one. I'm going to miss you on the blogosphere. Seems like summer is getting to everybody :). See you in September!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're making progress on your book. I was. Now I have to mull over a sticky part. Looks like your other projects are moving along nicely too.
ReplyDeleteI hope the writing goes well, Diane.
ReplyDeleteHave fun crafting your stories.
Enjoy your blogging break and best of luck with the writing! Those cupcakes are awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi, Diane,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on you books! SOOOOO awesome! All the best! LOVE THE MINION CUPCAKES!!!!!!
Thanks for the info about your publisher and Fox... good to know.
Enjoy your blog break!
Ooh, I love the minion cupcakes! Enjoy your blogging break. I hope it recharges you. I loved your Pinterest boards. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteAre you eating all those minions by yourself!!???
ReplyDeleteLove the cupcakes. Enjoy your break. Sometimes the well is so empty, it needs refilling with rest, relaxation, reading, whatever works.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Diane IWSG #95
Stephsco, using the boards has really helped me visualize the stories.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I did indeed.
JE, that one is my most favorite of the bunch.
Michael, check them out.
Joylene, I've had lots of help.
Say, woman, you deserve a blogging break. Enjoy and don't feel guilty about it. I liked your Pinterest boards. I do this for my books too.It gives me roots. Thanks for the info on your publisher.
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy, and you did a great job with Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteMinion cupcakes are adorable - I'd eat the pants first, so they can watch it all go down until the last moment. Smiles.
Congratulations on your new book. And I love the cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteGot on board with Realm's Faire already with prize donations. Love the cup cakes! Enjoy the productivity break and we'll see you next month!
ReplyDeleteMinion Cupcakes!! Excuse me while I salivate... Congrats on being almost done with your stories. Those pinterest pics look amazing, especially the merry-go-round ones. I still have an eye on Freedom Fox for when I eventually finish my WIP. Thanks for the info about that. :)
ReplyDeleteMmmm, those cupcakes look good! Wow, four books! That's amazing - hope you have a great August to get everything done. :)
ReplyDeleteGee, thanks for the links! Will check them out.
ReplyDeleteThose cupcakes look so delicious! Now, I'm hungry. :-)
Wow, 10.5 years, that's pretty impressive. Sounds like you have earned your month off. Congrats on the book.
ReplyDeleteHi L Diane. I must have another look at Lemur Press. I have read the guidelines but had some questions which I'm sure have answers.
ReplyDeleteYou enjoy your break, Geez, someone who's been blogging longer that me! You have a lot of work ahead of you.
Denise :-)
Good for you for taking a break! And congrats on your story progress.
ReplyDeleteThose cupcakes are adorable!
Did your research for your book require you to travel to London? If so, I'm jealous. What an awesome location!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a nice break and are able to accomplish what you have planned. I am thinking of taking one myself to finish a MSS that I am stuck on and have been trying to finish for a year.
ReplyDeleteSee you in September!
Wow, L. Diane! Blogging over ten years?? You definitely deserve a break. I'm going to check out your Pinterest boards ASAP. I could only see a few from the post. I use it sometimes to get story ideas too. It helps kick start my imagination.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on almost finishing your fourth book! Uh-mazing. And thanks for putting out the info on Dancing Lemur and Freedom Fox. One day I might actually be in a position to submit something. :D I love your minion cupcakes. I'd beg for one, but I'm sure they're gone already... Have a great day. Eva
If that's your longest break in ten years, it's very well earned! Good luck on pulling everything together.
ReplyDeleteRobyn - LOL!
ReplyDeleteLexa, I loved finding all of those merry-go-rounds. Hope Freedom Fox is a good fit for you.
Denise, I've been blogging forever. Or at least, it feels like it.
Ken, fortunately, I visited there in 1999.
Lilica, they are all gone! I'm pleased you liked my boards.
Those antique carousels are so beautiful. Carousels from 1890s-1920s are my favorite and always remind me of Coney Island. At their peak there were thousands of hand-painted, handmade carousels and now there are less than 200 around. I can only imagine what wonderful stories you'll tell with those. Enjoy your blog break!
ReplyDeleteDid you pick up the plan for those Minion cupcakes whilst you were on Pinterest, by any chance?
ReplyDeleteI love using Pinterest boards to keep track of all the little inspirations for a story. Have a productive month off. You deserve it after 10+ years!
Pinterest? It just struck me the other day that I need to get onto Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteDo I have the time for it? No.
Is it necessary? Yes.
End of story.
Thanks for the links, Diane.
Enjoy your break.
Maurice, have you ever visited The House on the Rock in Wisconsin? Houses hundreds of old horses plus the largest carousel in the world.
ReplyDeleteNicki, no, I was inspired to do them by the Minion cupcake wrappers. LOL
Michelle, necessary or not, it's fun.
Have a great break! Sorry I missed you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wish I had something for Dancing Lemur Press, as I've heard so many good things about your publisher.
Beautiful images on your Pinterest Boards. Also, the minion cupcakes made me hungry. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove the minion cupcakes! Good luck with the writing. Sounds like you've been busy!
ReplyDeletegood for you taking a well-deserved break! will be nice to hear from you when you get back =)
ReplyDeleteenjoy!
Congrats on your book's progress! Hope you have a productive and restful break. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your writing. The cupcakes look great.
ReplyDeleteThe Pinterest boards are really cool!
ReplyDeleteI hope you've been having a great August so far.
Interesting use of Pinterest and those cupcakes look awesome!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making so much progress on your next book. I think you deserve a break. I don't know how you do all that you do. I just took a peek at your Pinterest boards. They are amazing. I never really considered using Pinterest for my novel. I mean, here and there I pin a setting I like, but I can see the benefit of separate Pin boards for each novel or one for the characters and another for settings. It's brilliant. Thanks for the agent and publisher tips and your cupcakes look yummy. Enjoy!
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