Monday, March 11, 2013

The Persistence of Story

Does it feel early to anyone else? Daylight savings, man...

Okay, first off, I'm over on The Kindness Project blog today talking about how I don't believe happiness is a choice. Feel free to hop over and disagree with me (link).

Now, what's this about persistent stories? Well, I'll tell ya.

We're all writers here. Or readers. And writers are readers, so that makes us all one and the same. My point is this: since the Dawn of Time, there have been folks telling stories and folks wanting to hear stories.

Putting on my storyteller hat, I'll admit the reason I'm a full-time writer now is because once I typed "The End" on that first book of mine back in 2009 (which is still in the drawer), it was like I'd pulled my finger out of the proverbial hole in the dyke.

(Don't be gross. It's a legend.)

All the stories just flooded my brain, and I've been working hard to keep up ever since. In that first year alone, I finished five books. Granted, I spent the next year revising two of them (The Truth About Faking and Rouge), and another year waiting for traditional publishing to have its way with me...

(Yes. I was thinking it that time. And Letting Go was written later, just fyi.)

Here I sit with three books out there, three more ready to go, one needing to be finished, and in my head is this new idea that's just bugging me...

I guess that's just what we do. We either have to tell stories or we have to listen to them. Hopefully they're good ones. Hopefully you like the stories I tell...

Or I don't know. Am I just talking to myself here? Do most of you writer-friends have very organized brains that behave and follow sequentially? Do I need my head checked?

(I know who's going to say Yes to that.)

Either way, I'll just keep on writing and putting them out there. I can't help it. It's how my brain's wired up. I smell hair burning...

While I untangle the wires, I've got two new stories to share that I'm pretty sure you'll like:

Great bloggy friend M Pax (love that name) has just put out #3 in her Backworlds series. I got to edit the very first one, and I can tell you, it is awesome!

I don't normally read space opera, and I was hooked, pulled in, and cheering for Craze (the main character) by story's end. That book, The Backworlds, is FREE, so run get (link)!

The new book is Boomtown Craze, and it sounds like another great installment. Here's the poop:

On Amazon
A Grand New Age of Boom or Dust?

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendents to survive in a harsh universe.

To secure his future, Craze must propel his world into a more prosperous era. Only days away from the grand opening of his new and improved tavern, he is confronted by a loony Backworlder intent on mucking up his plans.

Gaunt and trembling, she claims her spaceship is possessed. She also has a connection to the underworld that shakes loose the dark past of one of Craze’s closest friends. It all threatens to end Craze’s prosperity before it begins.

Meanwhile off world, Captain Talos works desperately to outwit the mercenary Jixes and lure them away from his and Craze’s budding prospects. The mind-control weapon Talos uses against them is wearing thin, and his next move may be his last.

Will Craze and Talos’s efforts bring about a grand new age of boom or damn them to forever struggle in the dust?

Other Outlets can be found at http://mpaxauthor.com.
MP!

M. Pax is a Browncoat and SG fan, she’s also slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. In the summers she docents as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory where the other astronomers now believe she has the most extensive collection of moon photos in existence. No fear, there will be more next summer. She lives in stunning Central Oregon with the Husband Unit and two lovely, spoiled cats.


And until March 22, you can enter to WIN! a set of signed Backworlds paperbacks, including The Backworlds, Stopover at the Backworlds’ Edge, and Boomtown Craze (US only), OR! a choice of five ebooks (open internationally). Click here to enter!

The second book is by bloggy friend Lisa Gail Green (link). It's not out yet, but here's the lovely cover and information:

Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.

Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she’s seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.

Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?

Add it on Goodreads today!

Follow LG2 on Twitter.


Oh, and my giveaway's still going on! You can enter to win a signed print set of The Truth About Faking and The Truth About Letting Go at this (link)

Have a super week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm just over here sorting it out~ <3

22 comments:

Lisa Gail Green said...

I think it's awesome to have so many stories in your head. Thanks for the love. <33 the LG2 He he he

Pat Hatt said...

I hate the stupid time change and yep I feel your brain pain, so many ideas up there I'll never get them all out. But I'm not complaining, beats having none.

Barbara Watson said...

It does feel early.

Lisa's cover is gorgeous (it's the first I've seen of it) and it also sounds so, so good!

Old Kitty said...

You are totally prolific LTM - good for you! Am totally is super AWE at all your books and projects on the go!!

And yay for M Pax, her hero Craze! and all the best to Lisa!! Take care
x

Summer Ross said...

Mary is all over the blogoshere and i';m so glad for her!

The second book looks amazing.
Your not crazy- don't need your head checked- it's a writer thing. :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Awesome you have so many ideas and are getting your stories written.

So excited for Lisa. Love her cover!

Patti said...

I really hate Day Light Savings time. I think I've always had stories in my head, it's just getting them down on paper that's the hard part.

Coleen Patrick said...

Way to go, Leigh! I think the hardest part is committing to the idea, just seeing it through to the final, polished end. Maybe that's the best part of new ideas popping in, they force you to finish the others! :)

Carolyn Abiad said...

Prolific is good.
Ideas come in whatever order they like, not according to convenience...and now I get your persistence comment on my post. ;)

M Pax said...

I hear you, Leigh. Sometimes I worry the flood will stop, but then there are things swirling around in there. You're blazing!

Thank you for the shout out! #3 is definitely the best yet. :) And Congrats to Lisa! Sounds like an awesome story.

And I do not like dst. Not at all.

Nicki Elson said...

I just never get tired of seeing Mary with that telescope. I just saw the Binding Stone over at Susan Kaye Quin's - so mesmerizing.

You just keep those stories coming! They're obviously meant to be told.

KM Nalle said...

I am thankful for your story blitzing brain. Congratulations to Mary and Lisa. Happy Monday.

Janet Johnson said...

Yeah, those stories keep calling out. I can't stop writing them or they'll be clattering around in my brain forever.

Congrats to both M. Pax and Lisa!

Lisa's cover is just gorgeous. Definitely sounds like my kind of read. :)

Stina said...

I can't not write. I've part of who I am. :D

I LOVE Lisa's cover!

Hart Johnson said...

It took me a little while after 'the end' but yes... eventually the floodgates opened. I try to keep them organized, but often I don't even recognize ideas that go together until they've been rattling around in there for a while.

These books look great!

PK HREZO said...

Girl, I can totally relate. Over the last two months I've had 3 shiny new story ideas hit me and all plotted out complete with character sketches... meanwhile, I'm trying to edit an old story for Wattpad and hoping to redo my first chapter of that thriller I wrote to self-pub in the summer. And shiny idea #3 is pestering me to get the first draft out. lol

LTM said...

@Carolyn--you said it all there! And yep. You are one persistent lady. I'm so impressed and proud to know you. Can't wait to see you take off~ :o) <3

Jemi Fraser said...

I've always got tons of stories running around in my head - wish I had more time to get them all down! :)

Love Lisa's cover and can't wait for it and Mary's story :)

Anonymous said...

I definitely have multiple stories roaming around my head. Hard to choose sometimes.

Julie Musil said...

LOVE the name Craze! Totally cool.

You are not alone in all those ideas swimming in your hair-burning head. I have pages and pages of ideas. Some of them I combine into one story. Some of them will get their own time on the page. Thankfully, I don't struggle for ideas.

You are an inspiration!

Jessie Humphries said...

Hole in the dyke...hehe. Umm, sorry. Anywayz, yes, you certainly have come a long way since typing THE END in 2009. So cool :)

LTM said...

@Laura--you said it! It IS hard sometimes. Julie's got a good idea--combine them! :D <3