Hey Everyone..got some neat-o news to share. Logan Thomas Snyder (an awesome writer) has featured me on his Week in Words this week with an outstanding review of the first book, Silo 49: Going Dark.
I giggled like a school girl when I read it. I admit it.
Here is the link if you want a peek.
Logan Thomas Snyder - This Week in Words
And just to keep you updated on book three, I'm working hard on Silo 49: Dark till Dawn. Current word count is 42,600 words out of a projected 80,000 words. Based on how it is going, I'm looking at possibly as much as 90,000 words. That's about the same as Deep Dark was.
What do you all think? Do you want it long like Deep Dark?
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Writer's Block Over, Reviews and a SNEAK Peek
Can you hear that big sigh of relief from where you are?
"I know who you are and how good you are and how good you think you are," he began in a voice somewhat roughened with age. "You're wrong about all of it. The element you're missing is the one I'm going to help you get and that is the ability to perform under pressure when you want to quit." He began to walk slowly back and forth in front of the two runners as he spoke. "Up to now, you've run because it's fun, because it's a thrill and because it lets you break a few of the rules. You quit when you're tired. Even though you probably think you're going beyond that, you aren't. You run through air, with your favorite old boots on and your coveralls tied low so you stay cool and can enjoy the breezes you make."
He stopped then and pointed at Leo, "Is that what it is going to be like out there?"
Leo cleared his throat and said, "No, Trainer."
Trainer Piper nodded and pointed at Lillian. She felt her throat try to close up and a cough coming on when that finger swung her way. He asked, "Are you going to be able to quit because you're tired when you're outside?"
Her voice broke a little in her dry throat when she answered, "No, Trainer."
Again, he nodded and took a few steps toward the tank. He pointed at the tank and looked back at them. "That will let you know a little bit of what it feels like outside. We'll strap on those weights so you know what it's like to walk in a suit with the air moving so fast it tries to knock you down. I'll run you in that tank until the skin of your feet starts to peel off and you know what?"
Lillian wasn't sure how to answer that one. It wasn't a yes or no question but he was looking at them and expecting an answer so she improvised, "What will happen, Trainer?"
He quirked an eyebrow at her, though she couldn't decide if that was a good quirk or a bad one. He answered them though. "It won't do an Other’ed thing to make you really ready for what is out there. It will help, don't get me wrong, but when you're out there and can't see the length of a landing in any direction and the air is hitting you so hard that it sounds like someone is dumping a bucket of seed over your head and your suit feels like it is making you double in size, well, there's nothing but what is inside you that can help you with that."
He walked away from them when he finished speaking and Lillian was, for the first time, a little afraid of what winning might mean. She shivered at the thought of it and decided that this was no game. This training needed to be paid attention to and followed. She realized that if she couldn't be devoted to it then she shouldn't be here.
Zara came forward again and told them, her voice once again clipped and more than a little impatient, "Okay, you rail clingers, go get your clothes issue and change into your tank gear and get back in here. You have until I get done in the bathroom to get back here."
Some reviews have come in and I am so very happy to see them. That some of you have really liked it is more important than any other thing when it comes to writing. Please keep sharing! Reviews are absolutely crucial to any indie writer since we rely on word of mouth rather than publicists. Okay...stepping down from my indie flavored soapbox.
My writer's block is officially over and I couldn't be happier about it. I opened up the latest file and was so happy to see the characters just waiting there for me to come back. They are rather like good friends or family when they are being written.
Oh, and before I forget, you can now find me on The Twitter.@ AnnChristyZ
Oh, and before I forget, you can now find me on The Twitter.
And because I'm so relieved and writing words that I don't immediately delete, I'm including a little sneaky peeky at a scene I really like. Keep in mind, this is just draft work so it might disappear before the final draft, but for now, I like it. What thinkest thou?
"I know who you are and how good you are and how good you think you are," he began in a voice somewhat roughened with age. "You're wrong about all of it. The element you're missing is the one I'm going to help you get and that is the ability to perform under pressure when you want to quit." He began to walk slowly back and forth in front of the two runners as he spoke. "Up to now, you've run because it's fun, because it's a thrill and because it lets you break a few of the rules. You quit when you're tired. Even though you probably think you're going beyond that, you aren't. You run through air, with your favorite old boots on and your coveralls tied low so you stay cool and can enjoy the breezes you make."
He stopped then and pointed at Leo, "Is that what it is going to be like out there?"
Leo cleared his throat and said, "No, Trainer."
Trainer Piper nodded and pointed at Lillian. She felt her throat try to close up and a cough coming on when that finger swung her way. He asked, "Are you going to be able to quit because you're tired when you're outside?"
Her voice broke a little in her dry throat when she answered, "No, Trainer."
Again, he nodded and took a few steps toward the tank. He pointed at the tank and looked back at them. "That will let you know a little bit of what it feels like outside. We'll strap on those weights so you know what it's like to walk in a suit with the air moving so fast it tries to knock you down. I'll run you in that tank until the skin of your feet starts to peel off and you know what?"
Lillian wasn't sure how to answer that one. It wasn't a yes or no question but he was looking at them and expecting an answer so she improvised, "What will happen, Trainer?"
He quirked an eyebrow at her, though she couldn't decide if that was a good quirk or a bad one. He answered them though. "It won't do an Other’ed thing to make you really ready for what is out there. It will help, don't get me wrong, but when you're out there and can't see the length of a landing in any direction and the air is hitting you so hard that it sounds like someone is dumping a bucket of seed over your head and your suit feels like it is making you double in size, well, there's nothing but what is inside you that can help you with that."
He walked away from them when he finished speaking and Lillian was, for the first time, a little afraid of what winning might mean. She shivered at the thought of it and decided that this was no game. This training needed to be paid attention to and followed. She realized that if she couldn't be devoted to it then she shouldn't be here.
Zara came forward again and told them, her voice once again clipped and more than a little impatient, "Okay, you rail clingers, go get your clothes issue and change into your tank gear and get back in here. You have until I get done in the bathroom to get back here."
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Nerves, Reviews and Writer's Block
Hello All!
I see that quite a few of the readers out there have grabbed up the second book, Silo 49: Deep Dark and I'm happy that you have. I sure hope you enjoyed it...however...
I have no clue if you did.
The first review came, surprisingly, from the UK Amazon site. (Shout out to John M, whoever you are. Thank you!)
That is where the nerves and writer's block come in. I waited an absolutely agonizing three days for the first review for Going Dark and thought I might explode by the time that first one rolled into sight. It's been eleven days since the new one is out and not a single review.
Since I figure out the meaning of things in the world for a living, I have a tendency to analyze what goes on around me. Who wants to bet that I haven't been obsessed with what the lack of reviews mean? LOL. I wouldn't take that bet.
My tendency is to think that means people walk away with a "meh" feeling. They don't hate it enough to rant and they don't love it enough to say Wow. Or, perhaps, it means that because it is longer and isn't likely to be one that people open and finish at once, that they are tired of it by the time it is over. ::shrugs:: Either way that is bad.
On the up side, I have received a few emails from people who said they loved it and wanted to either know when book three is coming or if they can be Beta readers for book three. That is very nice!
But, as time goes on, I worry. And I haven't written a word in five days. I deleted one, but I simply couldn't even find a single word to replace that one.
So, please help me shake off this writer's block, upset tummy and nervousness. Whether you hated it, loved it or it just left you cold, say so on Amazon! Leave a review! It doesn't have to take long and it doesn't have to be War and Peace. It will help others to know if they should take it or leave it, too. That can only be a good thing. Silo 49: Deep Dark on Amazon
I would really appreciate it! And so would Lillian, Leo, Greg, Zara and all the other characters who are languishing in awkward positions while I try to write them.
I see that quite a few of the readers out there have grabbed up the second book, Silo 49: Deep Dark and I'm happy that you have. I sure hope you enjoyed it...however...
I have no clue if you did.
The first review came, surprisingly, from the UK Amazon site. (Shout out to John M, whoever you are. Thank you!)
That is where the nerves and writer's block come in. I waited an absolutely agonizing three days for the first review for Going Dark and thought I might explode by the time that first one rolled into sight. It's been eleven days since the new one is out and not a single review.
Since I figure out the meaning of things in the world for a living, I have a tendency to analyze what goes on around me. Who wants to bet that I haven't been obsessed with what the lack of reviews mean? LOL. I wouldn't take that bet.
My tendency is to think that means people walk away with a "meh" feeling. They don't hate it enough to rant and they don't love it enough to say Wow. Or, perhaps, it means that because it is longer and isn't likely to be one that people open and finish at once, that they are tired of it by the time it is over. ::shrugs:: Either way that is bad.
On the up side, I have received a few emails from people who said they loved it and wanted to either know when book three is coming or if they can be Beta readers for book three. That is very nice!
But, as time goes on, I worry. And I haven't written a word in five days. I deleted one, but I simply couldn't even find a single word to replace that one.
So, please help me shake off this writer's block, upset tummy and nervousness. Whether you hated it, loved it or it just left you cold, say so on Amazon! Leave a review! It doesn't have to take long and it doesn't have to be War and Peace. It will help others to know if they should take it or leave it, too. That can only be a good thing. Silo 49: Deep Dark on Amazon
I would really appreciate it! And so would Lillian, Leo, Greg, Zara and all the other characters who are languishing in awkward positions while I try to write them.
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