Amanda McNeil's Blog - Posts Tagged "tova-gallagher"
Holy Crap on a Cracker: First draft of zombies finished!!!
I KNOW, RIGHT?! I can't believe I whipped out the last um 8,000ish words of the book on a Monday morning. Who does that? Me, apparently.
You guys, this makes the first full-length novel that I've conceived and finished. Ever. In my life. Oh I've started lots of novels and got halfway through. But I always petered out. Not this time, I told myself. I gave myself a dead-line, and I pretty much met it. I was originally supposed to finish the first draft by the beginning of August, but I'll take mid-August, thank you very much.
It even has a title! Which I'm not telling you yet, because I want to let it set and fester and see if I really truly like it and if it suits the book. Yes.
So the game-plan from here is to set that manuscript aside for a weekish and whip out the next entry in the Tova Gallagher series. That way when I come to edit it, I'll be coming at it with fresh eyes, which is super-important to make sure nothing in the plot is confusing or what-not. If you're too close to it, it's easy to miss confusing bits in the editing. Then after the main first edit, I'll send it to my writing partner(s) for critique. Then hopefully the book cover will be made by a friend then it will just be prepping for the release date in October!
Whew, I feel like panting just reading all of that there is to get done. But I'm not tired thinking about it. Just excited. This story is incredibly close to my heart, and I'm so excited to get it out there.
<3
You guys, this makes the first full-length novel that I've conceived and finished. Ever. In my life. Oh I've started lots of novels and got halfway through. But I always petered out. Not this time, I told myself. I gave myself a dead-line, and I pretty much met it. I was originally supposed to finish the first draft by the beginning of August, but I'll take mid-August, thank you very much.
It even has a title! Which I'm not telling you yet, because I want to let it set and fester and see if I really truly like it and if it suits the book. Yes.
So the game-plan from here is to set that manuscript aside for a weekish and whip out the next entry in the Tova Gallagher series. That way when I come to edit it, I'll be coming at it with fresh eyes, which is super-important to make sure nothing in the plot is confusing or what-not. If you're too close to it, it's easy to miss confusing bits in the editing. Then after the main first edit, I'll send it to my writing partner(s) for critique. Then hopefully the book cover will be made by a friend then it will just be prepping for the release date in October!
Whew, I feel like panting just reading all of that there is to get done. But I'm not tired thinking about it. Just excited. This story is incredibly close to my heart, and I'm so excited to get it out there.
<3
Tova Gallagher #2 Update
Hey everybody! As you know, the first draft of the zombie book is finished. I've set it aside while I write the first draft of Tova Gallagher #2. I have the whole plot in my head, and I just need to get it down!
As you all know, I have a full-time day job, but recently I found myself needing to take a part-time job as well in order to help make ends meet. This economy, eh? What that means is that the timeline is needing to be adjusted a bit for zombies but not Tova Gallagher. Tova Gallagher #2 is still absolutely coming out the week of Thanksgiving, but depending on how editing on zombies goes, that might get pushed back a bit. I'll keep you all posted!
The other thing is that I will be designing my own covers for Tova Gallagher #2 and zombies. My artist friends are all incredibly busy with their own pursuits, so it's up to me with my limited and completely not trained artistic abilities. I do have some artistic talent, but here's hoping I can create covers worthy of the books for you all. I am excited to try it, though, since the feedback on the first cover was mediocre. It's encouraging me to change it up and try new things. Cross your fingers for my artistic abilities!
As you all know, I have a full-time day job, but recently I found myself needing to take a part-time job as well in order to help make ends meet. This economy, eh? What that means is that the timeline is needing to be adjusted a bit for zombies but not Tova Gallagher. Tova Gallagher #2 is still absolutely coming out the week of Thanksgiving, but depending on how editing on zombies goes, that might get pushed back a bit. I'll keep you all posted!
The other thing is that I will be designing my own covers for Tova Gallagher #2 and zombies. My artist friends are all incredibly busy with their own pursuits, so it's up to me with my limited and completely not trained artistic abilities. I do have some artistic talent, but here's hoping I can create covers worthy of the books for you all. I am excited to try it, though, since the feedback on the first cover was mediocre. It's encouraging me to change it up and try new things. Cross your fingers for my artistic abilities!
