Archive for June, 2008

The first draft of Vixen is finally complete. It ended up a LOT longer than I expected, to the tune of nearly seven thousand words. Looking back I realise that there wasn’t much chance that it would have fit into the 15k anyway, and I had already cut a whole subplot. It does make me wonder where it would have ended up had I thrown everything in!

Each new story is a journey all it’s own I find. And Vixen is no exception. It’s been plotted and replotted to within an inch of it’s life and even as I write it, new angles keep occuring. Secondary characters surprising me by fleshing out so easily their own stories beg to be told. I struggled with Dark Embrace but Vixen is coming together a lot easier, the words practically laying themselves down on the page. Of course this is the first draft, editing may see a LOT of this pared out.

And today’s image, created for my husband after a rambling, half drunken explanation from him last night. Quick and dirty but I’m pleased with it (and so is he).

… so playing with images again this afternoon. I have to say I definately recommend 123RF as a source of stock images. I had a very nice little email from my account manager today (not that I knew I actually had one but there you go). He did get my name wrong, since when have I been called Valerie, but was very apologetic about it when I pointed it out (and with more tact that ‘wtf is Valerie?). Apparently I get discounts now, which is always nice.

Anyway, onwards. Playing with images produced a couple of lolcats inspired captions and this, which I’m rather pleased with…

Trouble is, now I’m damn impatient to write the story to go with it!! Just need to get Vixen out the way first.

Since I wasn’t overly impressed with myself with the first cover I did for this one I thought I’d have another go. Making sample covers in photoshop is something I do to amuse myself (and colouring hedgehogs purple but that’s another story entirely!!) and get a sort of visual for the story set in my mind before I start to write it. I’m pleased with this one, it has that grungy sort of feel I was after so now… back to the writing!

Ok, so I finally decided to put a ‘face’ to these mad scribbles and random artwork that I do. As much for one link to head to rather than dozens dotted all over the place as for a place to actually organise myself. On the whole I think it looks pretty snazzy, although I’m still learning how to use it!

To celebrate this new change I decided to take up the Book In A Week Challenge over on Main Street at Cobblestone Press to get Vixen started / finished off.