Some of my favorite things to watch online and read are "TOP 10" lists. And since I'm sad that Christmas is over, I need to create a little fun for myself. So I'm going to start posting my very own "Top 5" lists of random funness.
My first "Top 5" list: THE TOP 5 THINGS I HAVE RESEARCHED RECENTLY.
#5 - Tympanoplasty. Say that one ten times real fast ...
#4 - Prisons in Denmark. Seriously, I've looked this up.
#3 - Shrapnel, not "scrap metal" like I've called it my entire life.
#2 - Tolkien's Orcs. Go ahead my son, call me a nerd.
and #1 - Mellaril, which side effects include akathisia, impotence and anorgasmia <- Not fun.
Of course all of these things have to do with the current book I am writing, SECOND SIGHT, all except for #2. I researched that one simply for my own enjoyment and because I'm a huge Tolkien fan.
I tease my husband that my computer is being watched because of some of the things I've looked up. Actually, I wouldn't be shocked in the least bit if it was.
Kristin
Monday
Sunday
My first e-mail from a random fan.
"I loved your book and I can't wait to read the next one. My sister is reading The Trait now - she likes it as much as I did. Thanks for the entertainment over the holiday."
~ L. F.
Well, L.F., thank you for the feedback. I'm SO GLAD you enjoyed it.
Kristin
~ L. F.
Well, L.F., thank you for the feedback. I'm SO GLAD you enjoyed it.
Kristin
Wednesday
"Mom, mom! There's a mistake in your book!"
This is what my daughter said to me about an hour after I opened the first box of my books.
At first, I was sick about it. I knew there would be a few errors in the first edition. There are errors in every first edition printed. When you are dealing with multiple edits and 85,000 words, its impossible to achieve perfection. So, I revert back to what my editor told me. "Some people might complain if they see any typos, and it's always great to have as professional a book as possible, but every book on the market has missed punctuation corrections and/or typos. When I worked in-house for a publisher, we went through from 3 to 6 proofs and there'd still be typos or missed proofing items. That's just how it works."
So, that's just how it works. Even though my book was professionally edited three times, there are a few errors. When we reprint THE TRAIT, the small errors will be corrected and then, I'll be so happy and hopefully my daughter won't have anything to say when she's reading it.
Kristin
At first, I was sick about it. I knew there would be a few errors in the first edition. There are errors in every first edition printed. When you are dealing with multiple edits and 85,000 words, its impossible to achieve perfection. So, I revert back to what my editor told me. "Some people might complain if they see any typos, and it's always great to have as professional a book as possible, but every book on the market has missed punctuation corrections and/or typos. When I worked in-house for a publisher, we went through from 3 to 6 proofs and there'd still be typos or missed proofing items. That's just how it works."
So, that's just how it works. Even though my book was professionally edited three times, there are a few errors. When we reprint THE TRAIT, the small errors will be corrected and then, I'll be so happy and hopefully my daughter won't have anything to say when she's reading it.
Kristin
Friday
Monday
Giddy.
I love this word. I use it quite a bit, not so much in my writing but when I speak. Out of habit, I looked up the definition ... it's kind of anticlimatic but I'm giddy, so who cares, right?
adjective, -di·er, -di·est, verb, -died, -dy·ing. –adjective
gid·dy
[gid-ee]adjective, -di·er, -di·est, verb, -died, -dy·ing. –adjective
1. affected with vertigo; dizzy.
2. attended with or causing dizziness: a giddy climb.
3. frivolous and lighthearted; impulsive; flighty: a giddy young person.
Yes, I'm a giddy young person. I'm lighthearted, almost dizzy. Why? Because my printer has a bound book in hand!!!
Kristin
Yes, I'm a giddy young person. I'm lighthearted, almost dizzy. Why? Because my printer has a bound book in hand!!!
Kristin
Thursday
Second to writing ...
I LOVE GRAPHIC ARTS.
Very few things thrill me more than taking a concept, usually scribbled on the first paper-like item I can get my hands on, and giving it a graphic life.
I was going to go into a drawn-out explanation about my love for graphic arts, but I think it will be more fitting for me to simply say that
I miss the scrapbooking industry . . . a lot.
Kristin
Very few things thrill me more than taking a concept, usually scribbled on the first paper-like item I can get my hands on, and giving it a graphic life.
I was going to go into a drawn-out explanation about my love for graphic arts, but I think it will be more fitting for me to simply say that
I miss the scrapbooking industry . . . a lot.
Kristin
Monday
Adieu.
I am saying goodbye to my romance novels. I am not throwing them away, of course. I am putting them in my personal vault. Through this journey of publication, I've come to the realization that my first seven novels will more than likely never see the light of ... print. And I'm okay with it. At first, I felt like I was betraying myself for removing them from my writing catalog. After months of back and forth, I'm now content with my decision.
So, as I say good-bye to those characters in my first seven novels; Leslie and Aaron, Molly, Jack and Christian, Tatum and Gideon, Morgan, Chase and Graham, Paisley and Wren, Mersadies and Colby, Evan, Nic and Tori, I want you to know that I wouldn't be the writer that I am today without you. I will never forget that the place I started is a big part of where I am going.
Kristin
So, as I say good-bye to those characters in my first seven novels; Leslie and Aaron, Molly, Jack and Christian, Tatum and Gideon, Morgan, Chase and Graham, Paisley and Wren, Mersadies and Colby, Evan, Nic and Tori, I want you to know that I wouldn't be the writer that I am today without you. I will never forget that the place I started is a big part of where I am going.
Kristin
Sunday
Not to get off track here,
but I had to upload the new book trailer for THE KEEPERS. The first of three installments of this romantic fantasy series is scheduled to be released around November 15th, 2012. I was going to release THE ARC after THE TRAIT, but it will follow THE KEEPERS now.
Enjoy.
Kristin
Wednesday
Monday
My photos just came in
and I can't tell you how pleased I am. I had Angie Clayson, a friend and professional photographer, take not only my head-shots for the book but some family photos as well. It was a miracle (I'm not kidding!) clearing all four of our schedules AND all four of us being ready at the same time ... but Team Damon pulled it off.
A very special THANK YOU to Angie for her patience and incredible work! She is a truly gifted photographer.
www.angieclaysonphoto. com
Kristin
A very special THANK YOU to Angie for her patience and incredible work! She is a truly gifted photographer.
www.angieclaysonphoto. com
Kristin
Saturday
SEPTENARY is
finished. For the record, I've never spent as much time trying to complete a novel as I did on this one. THE PROMISE is a close second, but seriously--SEPTENARY took me forever to write. I blame the prolongation of SEPTENARY on the edit of THE TRAIT--which will arrive in all it's hardcover glory in just a few weeks. Yes.
Kristin
Kristin
Monday
Ah yeah!
I want to thank the following people/groups for their love and support over the past eight weeks as I suffered through the edit of THE TRAIT:
Zero7
Thomas Newman
Pharrell
Jill Scott
Gregorian
Gary Numan
Keane
Imogen Heap
John Williams
Jay-Z
Kenny Loggins
Owl City
and Howard Shore.
Thank you for keeping me going, for distracting me and for inspiring me ... because without you, I'd still be accepting track changes.
Ah yeah ... THE TRAIT's edit is done ... yeah!
Kristin
Zero7
Thomas Newman
Pharrell
Jill Scott
Gregorian
Gary Numan
Keane
Imogen Heap
John Williams
Jay-Z
Kenny Loggins
Owl City
and Howard Shore.
Thank you for keeping me going, for distracting me and for inspiring me ... because without you, I'd still be accepting track changes.
Ah yeah ... THE TRAIT's edit is done ... yeah!
Kristin
Sunday
I laughed out loud so hard tonight.
While I was reviewing my edit, which is moments away from being FINISHED, I ran across this, my most favorite line of edit from my editor ever:
"Unless they are toasting with pewter beer tankards, I would say 'clinked.'"
Isn't that the best?
Kristin
"Unless they are toasting with pewter beer tankards, I would say 'clinked.'"
Isn't that the best?
Kristin
Saturday
Tuesday
Update.
You know those vinyl clings that are so popular right now? You can stick them on the walls of your house, your car window, dishes, frames, just about anything. Well, I just ordered one that says SIMPLIFY.
I can't wait until I can become a minimalist. I just want to write. I have been trying to finish book two of the 4CRs series for about three months now, but there is constantly something else to do; websites, business cards, t-shirts, dust jackets, edits, promo material. I am not complaining -- what is going on in my life is a dream come true for me. So many good things are happening and I've been incredibly busy. Busy is good, but so is simplicity. OR even better would be a nice even keel of both, a little bit of busy with a simplistic undertone. Wouldn't that be heavenly?
It is coming, the day when I can focus on nothing but my stories. It's a good thing that my daughter pushes me to write. She is obsessed with Aidan, the hero in the 4CRs. I wonder if it's healthy for her to love the characters of my books. I guess it's better than a real-life junior high romance, yes?
On to more work. The websites are near completion. They were much more involved than I/we thought they'd be, but I am proud of them, nonetheless.
Here's to future with simplistic balance for all.
Kristin
I can't wait until I can become a minimalist. I just want to write. I have been trying to finish book two of the 4CRs series for about three months now, but there is constantly something else to do; websites, business cards, t-shirts, dust jackets, edits, promo material. I am not complaining -- what is going on in my life is a dream come true for me. So many good things are happening and I've been incredibly busy. Busy is good, but so is simplicity. OR even better would be a nice even keel of both, a little bit of busy with a simplistic undertone. Wouldn't that be heavenly?
It is coming, the day when I can focus on nothing but my stories. It's a good thing that my daughter pushes me to write. She is obsessed with Aidan, the hero in the 4CRs. I wonder if it's healthy for her to love the characters of my books. I guess it's better than a real-life junior high romance, yes?
On to more work. The websites are near completion. They were much more involved than I/we thought they'd be, but I am proud of them, nonetheless.
Here's to future with simplistic balance for all.
Kristin
Wednesday
WEBSITE!
Wow. This one little seven character word has translated into a great deal of work for me, but the results are going to be phenomenal. I am so happy with the design of THE TRAIT website and I can't wait for it to go live. The projected go live date is set for October 4th. Oh yeah - that's an actual date. I am starting to get those actual dates now and each time I do, it makes me giddy.
I will post links to the websites as each one goes online.
Kristin
I will post links to the websites as each one goes online.
Kristin
Monday
Summertime.
School is out and it's a sort of a buzz ...
back then I didn't really know what it was,
but now I see what have of this
the way that people respond to summer madness.
I can't believe that summer for me and my chillens (a.k.a. kids) is almost over. We have been exceptionally busy as a family. My son is almost half way through a 3 week trip back east, and my daughter is leaving for the east-north-central region of the country (GO BUCKEYES!) in a couple of days ... leaving my husband and me alone for a entire week. Seven days together, alone, without a child in sight hasn't happened in our home since 1993. It will be an interesting marital adventure, I am sure of it. If my husband knows what is good for him, he'll buck up and take me to the Happy Sumo like he promised me he would. I will let you know if he comes through.
Oh, and just a side note ... I just finished book one of a two book series, THE 4CRs. It is a good story line, meaty and savory, just like the Surf and Turf roll I plan on devouring at the Happy next week. On to more writing. I don't have a release date yet for THE TRAIT, but we're talking about mid-October!!! Yes! Now to enjoy a little Will Smith and his lyrical genius.
Kristin
back then I didn't really know what it was,
but now I see what have of this
the way that people respond to summer madness.
I can't believe that summer for me and my chillens (a.k.a. kids) is almost over. We have been exceptionally busy as a family. My son is almost half way through a 3 week trip back east, and my daughter is leaving for the east-north-central region of the country (GO BUCKEYES!) in a couple of days ... leaving my husband and me alone for a entire week. Seven days together, alone, without a child in sight hasn't happened in our home since 1993. It will be an interesting marital adventure, I am sure of it. If my husband knows what is good for him, he'll buck up and take me to the Happy Sumo like he promised me he would. I will let you know if he comes through.
Oh, and just a side note ... I just finished book one of a two book series, THE 4CRs. It is a good story line, meaty and savory, just like the Surf and Turf roll I plan on devouring at the Happy next week. On to more writing. I don't have a release date yet for THE TRAIT, but we're talking about mid-October!!! Yes! Now to enjoy a little Will Smith and his lyrical genius.
Kristin
Monday
Hello, is anybody there?
Whew, it's been a while since my last post and a lot has happened since. I finished book three of The Keepers series, ROUNDABOUT. Oh how I LOVE TO PROOFREAD. No, I am completely serious. I love to go back after I have finished a novel and read what I have written. It is the most therapeutic, rewarding thing I get to do in my life.
Surprisingly, the end of this series didn't contain as much death and destruction as I had initially planned. Porter, Meagan and Deacon all end up in relatively good "ever afters" and I know I will miss being a part of their lives on a daily basis.
AND I can't forget to mention that we just got back from a week of magic, happy tunes and pixie dust compliments of Disneyland. Good times. I now need a vacation from the vacation. I am planning to take a few weeks off while I decide on my next project. I've got two series outlined and ready to start. I just need to figure out if I have the backbone to write a ghost story.
Until I decide ... forever thinking happy thoughts and smiling as a review my work.
Kristin
Surprisingly, the end of this series didn't contain as much death and destruction as I had initially planned. Porter, Meagan and Deacon all end up in relatively good "ever afters" and I know I will miss being a part of their lives on a daily basis.
AND I can't forget to mention that we just got back from a week of magic, happy tunes and pixie dust compliments of Disneyland. Good times. I now need a vacation from the vacation. I am planning to take a few weeks off while I decide on my next project. I've got two series outlined and ready to start. I just need to figure out if I have the backbone to write a ghost story.
Until I decide ... forever thinking happy thoughts and smiling as a review my work.
Kristin
Thursday
I have been indulgent.
I shouldn't, hence I know it won't be for but the benefit of my own heart's desires to allow my spirit to become enthralled with the beckoning of other satires, but I find it impossible to resist. My heart takes me where my head dare not travel, yet I blush at the thought of what I might miss in it's absence. I know, living, writing in these most troubling of times is a quarrel I might be forced to surrender to, but to no avail. I will press on, forsaking my inability to remain true to the oath of my own narrative, and not his.
I am forever bound by my obsession, my lack of will against the pull of his very tongue. And yet, this morning past, I nearly succeeded incorporating the word Exchequer in to my latest quest, Roundabout (Keepers III). It's a very pathetic existence I lead, I beseech you.
Kristin, Queen of Damondon
I am forever bound by my obsession, my lack of will against the pull of his very tongue. And yet, this morning past, I nearly succeeded incorporating the word Exchequer in to my latest quest, Roundabout (Keepers III). It's a very pathetic existence I lead, I beseech you.
Kristin, Queen of Damondon
Tuesday
Monday
I'm back .....
Last night, at 1:08 am, I finished the first book in my most recent series, THE KEEPERS. Oh, how I love the characters in this book. Meagan, my protagonist, couldn't be sweeter and more helpless at the beginning of the story, and I have to say, I have enjoyed being able to grow her character quickly through the first installment. Deacon, bad boy hero #1, and Porter, good boy hero #2, both care deeply for Meagan. The story, although laden with strong fantasy/sci-fi tones and content, centers around Meagan and the relationship she has with both of these men. The outcome for the series, a.k.a. who Meagan chooses in the end, still has me bothered, as I love so much both of my heroes. The antagonist, Proxy, is the only character I don't care for, of course, as he keeps me up at nights wondering if what I write about him in my books could actually happen in real life.
Taking a small break before I start book two. The last series I wrote, THE ARC, I started with a strong outline of the complete story, and I found that I wasn't so desperate to go from one episode to the next. I knew what was going to happen, and I didn't feel the pressure to keep writing to avoid losing my "story line" like I did in THE TRAIT series. The outline for THE KEEPERS is the most detailed yet, so I am sitting pretty for a week or so off. YES! Maybe I'll read, maybe I'll clean, or nap or get a manicure or do some laundry. My thrilling choices are endless.
Kristin
Taking a small break before I start book two. The last series I wrote, THE ARC, I started with a strong outline of the complete story, and I found that I wasn't so desperate to go from one episode to the next. I knew what was going to happen, and I didn't feel the pressure to keep writing to avoid losing my "story line" like I did in THE TRAIT series. The outline for THE KEEPERS is the most detailed yet, so I am sitting pretty for a week or so off. YES! Maybe I'll read, maybe I'll clean, or nap or get a manicure or do some laundry. My thrilling choices are endless.
Kristin
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