Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Tuesday Quote


The stories we love best live in us forever.

   --J.K. Rowling

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Two Years Ago Today...


Two years ago today, I wrote my first blog as I started my writing adventure.

It's unbelievable how fast time has flown.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Five Things You Don't Know About Wisteria Mountain


Fact One

The town was originally founded as a safe haven for all paranormal creatures and their mates, some of which were human. A hundred years later, there was a battle between good and evil. Neither side won, but the children of both are now suffering.

 
Fact Two

People who stumble upon Wisteria Mountain find a run-down, dying town. A strong sense of foreboding comes over them and they have to leave as quickly as possible.

 
Fact Three

Wisteria Mountain wasn’t the town’s original name. When the town was first founded, it was called Mysteria Mountain. After the Great Battle, the name was changed to Wysteria Mountain. The spelling eventually evolved to Wisteria Mountain, though the other spelling is turning up more often.

 
Fact Four

Wisteria Mountain sets on a source of magnetic energy. Most paranormal creatures are drawn to it.

 
Fact Five

Wisteria Mountain is a fictional town. It is not based on any specific town or place, but rather is a mixture of a lot of places I have visited, but it is located in Texas.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

More Books to Come in Both Series


The Children of Atlantis

There are several more books planned in the series. I was writing the short story, Ethan’s Trials, when I realized this was actually the beginning of book 4 in the series. So, I stopped writing and set it aside. I need to plot book 4 with this story incorporated into it.

I’m finishing the outline for book 3. I’m one of those writers who has to know what happens from the beginning to the end of the book. The outline is my road map. I have to know where my characters are going on their journey.

My goal is to have book 3 out sometime in December/January.



Wisteria Mountain High series

The Monster’s Scribbler has been out in ebook for a couple of weeks. The paperback is now available at Amazon. In a few days, it should be available in paperback at Barnes and Noble. I’m really excited about this book.

The Monster’s Scribbler was actually written several years ago…a good three years before I even had the idea for Guardian of Atlantis. After I finished The Monster’s Scribbler, I started the search for an agent. I got several partial requests (they wanted to see x amount of pages) and even a request for the entire manuscript. I was ecstatic!

But the manuscript was rejected.

The common excuse was “it’s not right for us.”

During this time, I wrote the second book and started outlining the third and fourth books. As the rejections piled up, I decided to shelve the series and move on to another idea. At the time, self-publishing was not even on my radar.

A couple of months ago, I was sifting through some of the files I had moved from my old computer over 1 ½ years ago. I had not looked at them in years, and had no idea why I decided to move them to my new computer, but I did. Anyway, I found the Wisteria Mountain series file and tucked inside was The Monster’s Scribbler.

I read the story.

I read it again, this time fixing anything I thought needed fixing. I created a cover, formatted the files, and uploaded everything.

The Monster’s Scribbler, Book 1 in the Wisteria Mountain High series was finally published.

Book 2 in the series needs to be read, fix any plot problems, and rewrite. I also need to look at the plots I’ve already done for the next two books and redo them.



Friday, July 11, 2014

Movies from Books I Have Not Read


1. Hunger Games (series)
Lots of my students have read and loved the books as well as the movies, and several have recommended I read the series. It is on my To Read List.

2. Warm Bodies
I didn't get the opportunity to go to the theater to see this movie, but I did record it the other day. Have I watched it yet? No. I really want to read the book first, but I may have to go ahead and watch the movie to free up space on the recorder.

3. Vampire Academy
I had not heard of the series until I saw the trailers for the movie. I definitely need to check this series out.

4. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
This is another series that is on my To Read List.

5. Twilight
I have to be honest. I have tried several times to read this book. I couldn't get into it, but a lot of my students have loved it.


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Tuesday Quote


Never trust anyone who has not
brought a book with them.
   --Lemony Snicket

Monday, July 7, 2014

Wisteria Mountain High School Facts


Mascot: Bears

School Colors: Black, Blue, and Silver

Student Population: 372 students @ High School

Humans, werewolves, various other shifters, a Scribbler, ghosts, various monsters, and vampires make up the student population, but these are just a few of the paranormal creatures attending school.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Interview with Phoebe Wilson from The Monster's Scribbler



Annie here. In celebration of the release of The Monster’s Scribbler, Phoebe Wilson stopped by to answer a few questions.

Annie: What is your full name?

Phoebe: Phoebe Lynnette Wilson.

Annie: You are a Scribbler. What exactly is a Scribbler?

Phoebe: Actually, I’m still trying to figure it out. A scribbler is a person who can see and hear monsters as well as be seen and heard by them. Monsters are drawn to scribblers. We listen to them, give advice, and document everything. We’re kind of a therapist to the monsters. I hope that made sense.

Annie: So there are actually a lot of scribblers?
Phoebe: I haven’t meet any others. It would be nice if there was someone else out there, that way I would have someone to talk to about what we’re supposed to do.

Annie: Do you have any special abilities?

Phoebe: None that I know of, but a lot of weird things happen around me. I don’t think it’s because of me though.

Annie: Why do you say that?

Phoebe: Wisteria Mountain is not a normal town…well, it is normal…it’s a town with people and houses. You know what I mean about normal. The town has a strange past that’s been hidden from everyone. There’s a lot of strange things going on in and around town. The town is filled with monsters. What do you expect?

Annie: Let’s talk about some of your favorite things.

Phoebe: Okay.

Annie: Favorite color.

Phoebe: Midnight blue.

Annie: Favorite ice cream.

Phoebe: Vanilla. You can add all kinds of stuff to it to change it up. You can’t quite do that with other flavors.

Annie: Favorite food.

Phoebe: Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza.

Annie: Favorite school subject.

Phoebe: History.

Annie: Favorite music genre.

Phoebe: Pop is my favorite, but I like a lot of other stuff too.

Annie: What would be your ideal day of fun?

Phoebe: A day that I could hang out with my friends and go shopping or to the movies.