Tag Archive | deadlines

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Aug27

My granddaughter saw the green witch and immediately said, “Bad lady.” She is nearly 2 1/2, but not all witchy, evil people are green and scary to look at.

So I looked at the date last night and OMG, it’s time to proof Legend of the White Wolf 10th Anniversary Edition. I had started a while back, but I stopped because I was on a roll with the current new book, Red Wolf Christmas.

Every time I stop, I get behind on the current book, can’t remember where I left off. You know. It’s like time traveling into the past ten years ago. Then I’m all wrapped up in the other wolf pack…anyway, you know what I mean.

Okay, this is due Friday, and I have my granddaughter back on Wednesday, so it’s nearly impossible to get any writing work done when she’s here. And that means I HAVE to get this done! I worked on it last night–skimmed through the whole thing, okaying what I could, have about 5 things I need to really look at, and even managed 1500 words on the new mss. BUT, this book is 132,000 words long (with the new added novella–338 pages), so it’s LONG.

So the next step is to actually re-read the whole thing. Starting as soon as I quit yakking here.

I’m nearly up to the minimum word count on Red Wolf Christmas, only 8500 words to go. I hate having to stop!

Have a great day, I’ve got to get busy! Hope you don’t run into any bad people today, green or otherwise.

Oh, and this one is a witch too, but she is all kinds of good–unless you’re the bad guy.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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Research Helps…

Aug18

to get me on track.

Superfast Wing-Flapping Pipevine Swallowtail on Zinnia

For Red Wolf Christmas, I’ve done tons of research. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I’m reading, I can’t stop reading. But guess what? It can pay off in the long run. I think, man, I wasted a whole day writing. Or two whole days writing. And nothing has come of the story. How did that happen? That’s how it happened. But…days later, something finally clicks.

And I’m thinking, wait, that would work in the story! So I was writing, got a 1,000 words early yesterday morning, then finally got another in the afternoon, slowly, but then the story started to gather steam. Three-thousand words. Four thousand. That’s what I was shooting for so that I could have some extra words (2,000 a day for the next couple of days so when I do the edits on the 10th Anniversary of Legend of the White Wolf I won’t be behind). But I was still going. Five thousand. Time for bed. But I printed off some pages to edit in bed and realized as I was editing, I had more to say. And more and more. I have to type up the edits, but it was getting so late, I will write the rest today. And that will give me a start anyway.

So see? All that research paid off. That’s why I absolutely cannot write an outline of my book. It doesn’t work for me. As I was searching for a place to set one of the plats of land, I found this neat online plat and owner finder. Who would have ever known? She had the deeds, but she didn’t know where one of the plats of land was located. And so I was looking for a place to set the plat and the town just hollered to me. Here! This is it! The name? Christmas Valley. It’s a Christmas story. Yes! And there’s a neat history to it. Soooo, more research, more story plot, more words.

Speaking of which, I need to get busy. Have a super fun day!!!

I’m off and running! Again. Yay!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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Carolina Anole–Friends in the Garden

Mar20

I love the little Caroline anoles. They change colors, depending on where they’re sitting. I like their green color best. The bumblebees and honeybees are busy now, and unfortunately, so are the fire ants. I was out weeding yesterday, moving more Asian Lilies and finding the bad ants. The butterflies were fluttering around in mating dances too. It’s spring!

I wrote two of the scenes I needed and edited the prologue and first 2 chapters yesterday. Today is baby day and I have to take her to a drs. appt and we’ll probably get groceries. I keep running out. How is that happening? I think I’ve bought everything I need and then wait, there’s only one of those left in the package?

Hopefully, I’ll get some editing done today and write the final scene and finish editing tomorrow.

In the meantime, have a great day!!!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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Finished Bear! No Work on Novella-to my dismay

Mar11

I finished the bear. Yay!

Clan MacLean

And I went to do the novella changes yesterday so I could focus on Wolff brother today, but can’t open my editor’s file. We have this problem all the time, but I was so sick when she contacted me, I didn’t even think to try and open the file. Ugh. Or else I would have done that. So until I get a file I can open, it’s not done.

My fever returned last night, much higher. I was reading that you feel worse at night–that fevers return, which are raising your temps to kill off the germs. I’d prefer not to get antibiotics if I don’t have to because your germs can become resistant to the antibiotics. I’m dead tired this morning because of all the coughing last night, and I’m continuing with the coughing today. So do I go in to see a doctor? Expose others with what I have and others expose me with what they’re in for? Or just figure it’s running it’s course and will be over within its own good time?

Sunflower from Birdseed

Usually, I’d say I’d rather write. But I’m so tired….I can’t think straight. Time is of an essence though. One day goes by, and then another, and then all of a sudden, it’s time to turn in the book. So, tired or not, I’ve got to write. It’s not like I haven’t been thinking about it either. A scene keeps playing out in my mind, so today, I’ll figure out where it needs to go and write it.

I think I’ll tough it out for another day, no doctor. If the fever returneth tonight, I’ll see how I feel in the morning. Sound like a plan?

Max is sitting on my lap, his head over my left typing arm. Wait. You did not just go to sleep on my arm, sitting up, Max, did you?

They are concerned about me being sick. They are such good little dogs. They are goofy too. I feed them breakfast right away or they will perish first thing in the morning. Really. That’s what they tell me. But when I eat breakfast, maybe 3 hours later, they want to eat again too–lunch. No, it’s not lunch time. But if I eat, it means it’s lunch time.

Then later, I will eat lunch, and they really do have to be fed. Dinner is no problem. Only I get it. It’s just the issue of breakfast and lunch that confuses them.

Okay, off to think about writing as I’m coughing my head off. Hope you are in a sick-free zone this week! Have a great one!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
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Colder Inside than Outside

Feb23

That means your house has good insulation, right? I was shocked to go outside and find it was 71 degrees out first thing. It is winter! Strong wind blowing, felt great, walked back inside and it feels like I have the air conditioner on. I don’t, but it felt like it. The temperature will drop again, but it’s just such a shock to be this warm, this early in the morning! In winter! My flowers think spring has sprung. I’m afraid we’re going to get a shock and end up in the Ice Age one of these mornings. Flagstaff, Arizona had the first major snowstorm, 36 inches of snow, they’ve had in 104 years, so, no telling!

I’m 2,000 words ahead on Wolff Brother and I hope to keep up the pace if I can. The more ahead I get, the less behind I get when I have to do more edits on other books that need final proofing and whatnot. And then I can start on the next deadline book.

African daisy and coreopsis in bloom!

So my friend tells me that her weather app shows it’s going to rain. Mine shows fog. I took the dogs out and got drenched. Her app was right.

Have a super lovely day. I’m writing while I’m drying out. So much for weather reports!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
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Done! And Getting There!

Feb21

Something is chasing her! Daddy. Wait, I found a leaf. Playing chase was halted for a moment. Such is the life of a toddler.

I could say that somehow through a miracle I managed to not only take care of my granddaughter, AND finish up the SEAL Wolf Team to the Rescue novella and turned it in last night to beat the March 1st deadline, DONE!!! AND whittled down being 14,000 words behind on Wolff Brother (working title), to being 3,000 words behind to a miracle, but really, it was work, and Keira’s 3 hour-long naps, and giving her little candy boxes from a gift basket I received at Christmas (empty candy boxes) that she played with for hours, opening and closing the little flaps, sticking a rubber star into the one, pulling it out, sticking it in–all engineering feats, I’m sure, and having some ideas that came to me that allowed me to go forward!

Fun work and I’m feeling great about the progress! Okay, so I’ve had requests for writing sequel books for: The Magic of Inherian–the third book in the trilogy, Emerald Isle of Mists, and the second book in Ghostly Liaisons. Both were started and I looked and I still have them. Sometimes I’ve had major computer crashes and I have lost a couple of stories. I also have the 2 sequels to Kiss of the Vampire (YA) started. And I was asked where Bound for Trouble, the sequel to Bound by Danger, was??? It”s also written, but needs major revisions. I work on it periodically when I’m not in a deadline panic. And usually when I’m trying to come up with an idea on a new deadline book. It helps me to be doing SOMETHING writing-wise, makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.

My daughter asked me the other day how many books I have published. Around 70. How many books have I written that I haven’t published yet? Needing major revisions, around 20. How many started books? Around 15. So what am I doing about it???

Laughing. It took me a year to finally finish writing Claiming the White Bear and it took me 8 years to write the sequel to Shadow Elf, Darkland Elf. I think it was 3 years to write Demon Hunter, which is the third demon YA story. It’s not that I don’t want to write the other books, but I have a ton of HAVE TO books to write each year. And it seems the number keeps going up. The others WILL get done. Eventually.

Speaking of which, I’m off to write! Have a fun-filled, productively fun day!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
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Thwarted by the Baby

Feb13

Is that like the dog ate my homework?

Okay, so I’m nearly done on the novella when back comes the baby. I’ve really, really, really got to finish this novella because I need to get back to the novel. I planned to have it all done and off to beta readers this weekend, but guess what????

For the first time ever, baby is staying with me overnight! Yes! Saturday morning through Sunday, and the corgis are going to be here too and my doggies. Ohmigod! Finish the novella over the weekend? And then the baby is back on Monday. And Wednesday.

Chill. The novella will get done. Maybe by Friday? This Friday? It better be!

Hope you are having a great week!!! Mine may be a disaster. Can’t think like that. It’s going to be great. Baby and dogs will be great. And the novella will be done.

If you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know why.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
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Thought I was Getting Ahead of the Game

Feb1

But it was all an illusion. Have you ever thought that and then new deadlines are looming and you’re like…well, shoot, now you’re even behinder (author made-up word that should be a real word) than before.

I managed to write my word count for yesterday, 2,000 words, catch up the 1,000 I was behind, and write an additional 1,500 to put me ahead of the game on the Wolff Bros, due April 1st, because I need to start writing on the new novella, due March 1st. BUT, I ended up with SEAL Wolf Surrender to proofread last night, due in two weeks. So yes, I was getting a little ahead, and now….behinder.

That means I’m off to work! Hope you have a deadline-less day. Hope I get an inspirational idea for the novella, SEAL Wolf Team to the Rescue. I keep thinking of where I want this to go, but it doesn’t work with my hero and heroine having a romance. So, still searching for a good idea.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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Making the Most of an Unscheduled Day Off!

Jun9

I hear people say all the time, their kids started school, or they had extra time off and planned to really get so much more done. But then they filled their days with other stuff, and didn’t write, or whatever else they had really wanted to use the time for.

I had 3 books I’m juggling to finish. Turned A Billionaire Wolf for Christmas in. With a trip coming up, 2 more deadlines, and with a free day off (baby and momma stayed home to be sick), I worked and worked and worked on Friday on the jaguar edits. I’m over halfway done on edits for Jaguar, and thrilled!!! Now the title is: You Had Me at Shifter.

*sigh*

Purple Magic Crepe Myrtle, St. Patrick’s Day bear and 2 Santa Bears Sold!

And my editor changed my hero’s last name to Anderson to make it more hero like. ONLY one problem with that. The jaguar couple who join them is also named Anderson. And the human homicide detective that gets into the act is named Sanderson. And since my editor changed Howard’s name already, I was scrambling to remove the new Anderson to Armstrong, the name I had suggested, without screwing up all the other names. Which I made the mistake of doing. Yep. Find and Replace turned the other jaguar shifters’ Anderson name, when I didn’t want that. I didn’t realize he and his mate were in the book until I read through further. (I’ve worked on 3 books since I wrote this one), AND Sanderson became SArmstrong. I have trouble with names anyway. PLEASE don’t create more problems for me! lol

Anyway, I’m over halfway through and I’m ecstatic! Hopefully, I’ll be able to finish it up today or tomorrow, and jump on SEAL again. Once I finish these, I need to write another wolf book on deadline, but I can take a day break to just get other stuff done. Or…not. I have 6 bear orders stacking up on me. lol Four of the bears are made, just need to finish up details, embroider paws, etc. Two are waiting on fur–those are the pandas, and one is waiting on tartan fabric from Scotland. One of the Santas needs a bag of toys.

Okay, enough goofing off. It’s time to play with the jaguars and wolves again until they’re finished!!!

Have a super fun weekend!!!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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signature line email Seal Wolf Undercover, Cougar Undercover, Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas, My Highlander 300 x120

Cardinals Having Breakfast

Mar12

Female cardinal is trying to figure out which seed will be the best. The male has already grabbed his. And the cardinal was sharing the food with a sparrow.

I only have 8K left to write on the book!!! Lots more to do, but that’s the word count anyway!

I’m in a photo challenge, using light from a doorway to take a photo of your subject. I did it with my granddaughter a couple of weeks ago. So I’ll try a new one with me standing outside. I was trying to take pictures of her in my box of fur and I had to let the dogs out. When I did, I realized how much soft light entered the room. Plus the baby was fascinated with everything going on outside and she still couldn’t figure out how to get out of the box to join the puppies. 🙂 <3 The light streams in from outdoors, but a patio cover keeps it from being harsh.

But for now, I have to get back to the story!!!! Do you ever notice how slowly the time goes when you have a vacation coming up? And how fast it goes when you have a dreaded deadline coming???

Don’t sweat the small stuff! And keep on going with the deadline stuff! Have a great one!!!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears: http://www.celticbears.com
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Follow Me for new releases and book deals: www.bookbub.com/authors/terry-spear

signature line email Seal Wolf Undercover, Cougar Undercover, Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas, My Highlander 300 x120