New Life *Official summary*

I know you have been patiently --more or less-- waiting for this official summary.  The reason it took me so long to post it is because I was waiting to upload the last chapter of Cursed with Power before talking about the sequel.  Now that I'm editing and revising CWP for who knows how long, I can tell you about New Life. There's not all that much I can say for now, but I do have the official summary for you.  (Remember how you couldn't read it before?)  This summary will later on be posted on my personal blog, as well as on the page for New Life on this blog.

None of that you care about, though, right?  Let's get on with the official summary already.  I'm saying official because this isn't a teaser.  This honestly is the summary I would most likely be keeping for the book --it could of course change once I become involved in writing the book.

`Official Summary of New Life`

Léal had changed his looks because he wanted to; he was forced to change his life because he had to.

"I could hardly believe it myself—I probably wouldn’t have if it was not everywhere. I can see it in people’s eyes now... Nothing is going to be as it was in the past."
Léal had changed everything about his looks: the way he dressed, the length and color of his hair, and the way he walked. He had done it all because he could and because he wanted to. 

--------------

After meeting another Dark magician named Celestria, Léal comes to realize that he must change his life while he has the chance. He also discovers that he has feelings for her but she seems un-attracted to him, and he certainly does not expect to ever see her again after she sends him away.
Then in the darkest of times he finds that he can reach out to Celestria. They join together again with the help of a third Dark magician, Alaire Sencler. Now, though he is in good company of people he knows and trusts, what happens next is almost certain. Léal must change his life. It is either adjust or suffer, and he is not sure which is worst.

^

Can't wait for New Life?  Later tonight hear more about the sequel to New Life, ask questions, and read more.
Until then, there's....
Cursed with Power

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

Chapter 30: Get Out Alive *LAST CHAPTER OF CWP*

Chapter 30

Get Out Alive

Wow.  I don’t know where to begin because I don’t think any of us were expecting for the end of Cursed with Power to come so soon.  After all of the buildup for chapter 30 I honestly thought I was going to post something saying a specific date it was being uploading.  Well, dearest readers, you got better.  The LAST CHAPTER is finally uploaded.  No more emailing me complaints; look at the bookJ

I understand it took me months to upload this chapter.  The reasoning for that is because I was trying to add in everything else before posting the ending chapter.  I’m at the point where I’m editing and revising like my life depends on it, so I finally have the ending here for you.  Know what that means?  Hello official summary to New Life.  Ladies, please contain your enthusiasm, haha.

Finally it is time for me to talk about chapter 30, and yes I should tell you know that this post won't be short and sweet because I think we all can agree that this is a big deal.  (From the amount of emails I received, it seems this is all you have been waiting for.  Hey, I'm not going to complain.)

While one would think I wouldn't be able to say much about the chapter because it is the ending chapter, there actually is quite a lot I can say.  I know in the past I have said other chapters were challenging, but determining what the final end to the madness would be was rather interesting to say the least.  (Interesting?  Ummm, right...)
Anyways, here's an excerpt from chapter 30 which was uploaded last night but I never got the change to blog about.  Sorry everybody.  At least I'm only a day late with the update.  And now what you've been waiting for...

Excerpt:

The man, whose name I had no recollection of, continued to hold onto my frail body.  Soon I would be limp, and moments after that I would be dead.  I tried to think back to my sister and… What was his name?  My mind was shutting off my thoughts, as if they would cause more damage.  Perhaps it seemed logical in thought, but I needed something to hold onto; somebody to continue breathing for.  Staring and resisting the urge to give up, I listened to a noise above the water.  Someone spoke, but their words were muffled by the water filling my ears.

Welcome to your conclusion. I thought to myself.  A conclusion… The only thing I could hope for now and the only end I expected.  My body was prepared to give up, but it was a faint heartbeat that kept me alive.

The ending of this book isn't at all the end of this blog or the series for that matter.  There is New Life and the other books that follow after Cursed with Power, and each of them return to Celestria's account of events.  Even though I'll be doing edits and revisions for Cursed with Power now, there is much more I have to think about, plan out, and prepare for.  I'll be giving presentations in a few months about Cursed with Power and in addition I need to start thinking about New Life while querying agents.  During these times when I receive rejections I will need something to keep me going.  In the past I always was confused on how that would work, but now I am certain that so long as I am writing something I can find the motivation.  (If that makes any sense.)

During the time I've been working with Cursed with Power, I feel like I have made several connections with Celestria.  At first I worried I would never be able to feel any kind of closeness with her, but I definitely do now.  Working out Celestria and Alaire's relationship has been... Well, it had its ups and downs --and by that I mean for the two of them, not me.  And while originally I thought I wouldn't hate anybody except for Aldemund, I discovered that Aldemund I can deal with.  It's Japhet who drove me absolutely insane when he entered into the book.

Being at the point where revisions are essential, you would think I wouldn't have much to look forward to.  Again, though, I can start planning out what happens next while working out edits.  There have been numerous ideas filling my head (and four journals) during these ten --soon to be eleven by tomorrow-- months, and it will be challenge to figure out if and where they can fit in.  

I am just as excited as you about New Life, but in the mean time you'll have to believe me when I say I am doing everything I can to share Cursed with Power with the rest of the world.

For those of you who enjoyed Cursed with power and you're uncertain with how you'll feel about the sequel, I am here to reassure you that the main story of the series does not change in New Life.  I know everyone has been wondering what will happen in book 2 and etc., etc. but honestly so long as you come along for the journey I'm certain you'll find a character to love, a place to be interested in, and a joke or two to laugh at.  (I can't believe some people say Léal is funny, but hey I'm not going to question it.)

There are a lot of new exciting posts coming your way, and I'll keep you updated on progress with CWP.  In the mean time, there's that official summary for New life that you have been waiting for --some more than others-- and that I will also post before anyone starts a riot.

Once again, this is only the beginning of a very long journey.  Enjoy the last chapter.  

COMING NEXT: NEW LIFE (!!!!!!) 

`

Cursed with Power

Power, love, heartbreak...

Violence, Screaming, blood...

His eyes rolled back into his head.  I had done this.

Read the book today.

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

Cannot Carry On

You asked me once if I would wait for you.  What I would do without your voice, without your body, without your jokes…without you.  Here I am.  And though I thought it would be easy, and I could make it through this… The truth is I lied.

If there’s one thing I miss the most it’s the reassurance that you are beside me.  Perhaps I am weak in the heart to be missing you already, but now I am suffering for the times I took your company for granted.  Without you I am realizing how dark and cruel the world can be, and I do not like the feeling at all.  I am empty without you and until your return I will not be able to turn around and look at the sun.

You.  You are my only light.

The picture at the top of this post was what inspired me to write what I just did.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever use this as a letter, quote, or thought in one of the books [in the series], but even so I feel like it can work with what happens to two characters in a later book.  For now it’s just something to give you to think about.

`

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

First rejection

At some point or another reality strikes us, and other times it seems like it stabs us in the heart.  In one word: REJECTION.  That’s right, blogging friends, I have officially started the querying process and have received my first rejection.

“This is not for me, but thanks for the look.”

The first rejection is always the most difficult to deal with.  I remember when I was querying for The Magic of Light that I felt close to tears every time I read a rejection letter.  I suppose this one didn’t hit me as hard because, let’s face it, I know what it’s like.  All the same, this was the first rejection I got for Cursed with Power.  And a part of me was thinking, “How could they say this to my baby?!” but rejection is something us writers must be prepared for.  This is only the beginning of a long and frustrating path I am taking, so I am certain there will be many more time I will share my rejection stories.  All I know is that in the end it’ll all be worth it.

I’ll keep on querying because if I don’t then Celestria’s world will remain a secret to everyone... except us.

Keep checking back in!  Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the last chapter of Cursed with Power and the official summary of New Life.  I wasn’t too pleased to see CWP’s ranking go down again, but I have faith in all of you and by that I mean: READ the book. .. please J  Enjoy your Tuesday; I’ll hopefully be back later on with more news and whatnot, but for now it’s back to answering questions for CWP.

Cursed with Power

Readable to all on inkpop.com (link here)

Power, love, heartbreak… Violence, screaming, blood… His eyes rolled back into his head.  I had done this.

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

What do you want me to blog about?

Even though I know it has been forever since I’ve been able to post as I have been... Where the heck are you guys?  There are 22 followers of this blog; I find it somewhat shocking that all 22 of you decided to fall off the Earth the same exact moment.

Anyways, I have literally been trying my all to keep this blog alive, even during my absences, and now I want to ask YOU:

What do YOU want from ME?  What am I not blogging about [at all or not eough] that you want involved in the blog?

I cannot read your minds, so please tell me your thoughts and give me some feedback.  I want this to be an interesting and enjoyable experience for all of us, and if I’m going to blog and try to keep you interested it would help if I knew what you wanted to hear mostly about.

`

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

*New* scene in Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Pleasure and Pain

**NEW SCENE**

Since this hasn’t been talked about yet, I figured it was about time I get you up to date on the new scene that was added into chapter 21.  (In case anyone still checks in on this blog and the book, for that matter.) 

The new scene that was added in was --surprise, surprise—unexpected.  However, throughout the editing process I have been thinking a lot about what I can add in.  After all, if Christopher Paolini has his 900 page books that he somehow has published, I can clear up the confusion my book and keep it under 900.  (Really, I can’t imagine 900 pages.  I think it would kill me... or someone else. That was a joke, for those of you who didn’t get it.)

Anyhow, before I continue to ramble on I should give you an excerpt to read.  Jolly-oh good excerpt, aye mates? (Got to love the British, that’s all I’m going to say.)

EXCERPT:

Glass shattered and fell from the windows while flames hissed out from every corner of the church.  I stopped filling my bucket with water, and the men around me did the same.  It was only ALaire who continued retrieving water from the well, throwing it at the building, and repeating the process again.  All I could think of was how sick he was and that he needed to return to Grefin’s.  It wasn’t right to for him to be throwing water on a burning church when there was a chance his injuries would cause him pain again.  The fire roared, and I feared sparks would hit Alaire.

Two new pages were introduced into the story because of this scene, and I can honestly say that even though it wasn’t the easiest to write I am beyond glad that it is finally on paper.  I was happy with how Alaire’s character continued to evolve this late in the book, even though the end was not all that far away by this chapter.

In regards to “where the heck is the last chapter? When are you posting it?! Why can’t I read it?!”  My lovely readers, rest assured knowing that I do have the last chapter typed up and I do plan to post it.  Please be patient with me.  I want this chapter to end on a shocking note, and while it does I also want to make sure that when I write “the end” it actually is the end.  Keep in mind that the official summary for New Life won’t be posted up the final chapter of Cursed with Power is uploaded --apologies!

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.

"I want...your heart."

“All my life people have told me I’m beautiful, funny, and interesting to be around.  Those are lovely traits, but why should I care about them?  All I want is your attention, your endless love, and your heart. 

Your heart… the one I need to hear beating because every time I see you my heart races.  Beauty is something of the past.  All I want is to know love..”

Above is a possible new quote I’m considering using later on.  Unfortunately for you I cannot give away too much without spoiling anything, but just keep this quote in mind because you’ll probably see it in one of the books in this series.  Tell me your thoughts on the quote.  I'd love to hear some feedback.

"There's a lot that I want." He said. He smirked as he said it like he knew he was pushing my patience.