|
I'm not, but my work is semi-quarantined doing in home cares, so as long as no one directly in my circle gets it then life continues as normal besides limited shopping. However, I understand that many of you are restricted from work, school is out, and you might be going stir-crazy. In that respect, I have put both available Nightvisions on Smashwords. You can download and read them for free HERE or choose a comfortable price. As an artist, I also have printable coloring pages available on Etsy, and have marked them down 40%, for cheap coloring entertainment that you don't have to leave the house to buy.  Other great authors are offering free reads and discounts too! HERE is a grouping Jasmine Walt has put together.
I hope you all stay safe and healthy. C. H. Knyght
0 Comments
I was so busy with edits on Dawn's Sacrifice, I forgot that And Man Grew Proud launched. And then, horror of horror, ice fell off the roof and crushed our phone lines on Fri, meaning we were without internet all weekend. I actually sighted my illusive teenage siblings as they were driven from their rooms in search of cell signal. Thankfully, the world has since been righted and functional again. It was sunny and warm for late winter, it's only March *sigh*, so I spent a good chunk of my day outside doing chores, and built a catproof screen door, reinforced to handle Panya's claws and goat-like enthusiasm and snoopiness. I had anchor all of my dragons on the top shelf of my bookcases because he insists on climbing around up there. What's your favorite season? Mine is actually fall, but I can't wait for it to warm up enough to open all the doors and windows and air out the house, and flowers, all the flowers, I have perennials I'm always happy to welcome back and a few new ones I'm waiting to see if they will survive through the MN winters. For them I imagine MN's zone 3 winters on the gardeners' map is like an apocalypse. XD Right, rambling a bit. 'And Man Grew Proud' is out! If you like post-apocalyptic tales, this one is for you. It was a challenge presented last summer to write a novelette in a week. I almost failed before I started because I avoided the math to figure out a daily word count and fell dangerously short until like the third day when I realized I needed to kick in a higher gear. Renewed dedication and late nights got my entry in just in time, and my Humanity's Descent was picked to join this great selection of tales of survival.  Dawn's Sacrifice has graduated from developmental edits to copy edits. I sent it out on Monday and should have it back in couple weeks. I think we are on target for a march release. Now, I have to find other work to do while I wait. No thumb twiddling. I say that as though I don't have a to-do list a mile long. I have SPF courses to finish, Newletter Ninja to read, Fiction Formula...I am determined to learn and succeed. I have a steampunk fantasy in progress, Skyborn, that's up on the docket. In the writing of it, I realized that it is actually book two in the timeline, so as soon as I wrap up draft one, I'm going to set it aside and write Ironblood. Any one here like steampunk? I think it has the coolest aesthetic. For those wondering, Panya is settling in and growing like a weed. He still seems small, but he's catching up to Koneko fast. She still doesn't love him, but mostly tolerates him, except in the morning before breakfast, she's too hangry first thing in the morning and yells at him until I feed them. 0.0" He lost a baby tooth yesterday. I probably wouldn't even have noticed, but he spit it out at me. I was worried he'd broken it for a minute until I remembered cats lose their milk teeth too. XD Dawn's Sacrifice is close!!! ^.^  My kitten, Panya, I mean. Isn't he adorable?  My cat, Koneko, is NOT pleased by this intruder to her space. She alternates between ignoring him or yelling at him for existing. It's not his fault someone dumped him in the middle of winter where I work. At least that's what we figure. He was too clean to have gone far through the boonies around here, no chip, no missing notices. Sad that someone does this to them, but it actually is how I've gotten a good percentage of my pets over the years. Koneko herself showed up on our property and was never claimed. I'm happy to love them. She's getting used to the idea. It's only been a week since Panya came home. He's settled right in much to her dismay and Arashi, my dog's confusion, she thought she had a new chase toy but he loves her and rubrubpurrpurrs all over her, and she's totally confused by him. LMAO Her face every time. Spark, my other dog, has been pretty laid back about it as long as he gets his share of the loves. I have learned that my house is NOT kitten proof. I didn't realize how mature Koneko is these days, she's 11 already. Panya is a very busy little boy and gets up and into everything he can and thinks my sketch board is his personal slide/ramp. (it's really really not.) -.-" We're working on that one. For those still wondering, Panya is Japanese (anime nerd here) for baker. Because he runs around squishsquishing with his paws. On a similar strain, Koneko=kitten, Arashi Harou=stormy blessings, if I've got all my translations right. I didn't know I was keeping Spark when I named him or I probably would have done a bit better. (He's from Arashi's first and only litter.) ...I think this is already the longest post I've ever written and not a word about books yet. haha. ^.^' What can I say? I love my fur babies. On the bookside. Dawn's Sacrifice is on my editor's deck for the second round. (Nerves.) Clockwork Dragons steampunk fantasy anthology is out! I got my copies yesterday. I know I keep saying it, but it suits my astethic, isn't it pretty? There's a peek at my artside project underneath it. I'm carving on a big cedar chest I came across at the thrift store.  It's here! The cover for Dawn's Sacrifice is ready and waiting for the final draft to be the best that it can be. Watch for upcoming release dates. ;) And now the reveal!  The culmination of a decade, the full trilogy is here. (almost.) Excuse me while I coo over my book babies, the first of many. Have you read the first two yet? Get them here while you wait for Dawn's Sacrifice.  Clockwork Dragons is out! I love how much it matches Nightvision though it was done by a different cover artist. Makes me want to do my whole cover aesthetic purple with a circle. ;) Fantasy Steampunk, what's not to love? Get it while it's hot!  Of course you do! Subscribe and be the first to see the beautiful (If I do say so myself) cover for Dawn's Sacrifice! And get a free printable coloring version , only for subscribers!  Need something to read while waiting for Dawn's Sacrifice? Check out these free shifter books!  We are approaching the turn of the year. An established author on Twitter, Cat Rambo, reminded us in the writing community to be proud of our achievements and that there are people scouting for books published this year for their lists and awards. It isn't bragging to record our achievements, and we damn well should, because we earned it through dedication and hard work; because that's what writing a book takes. So, my list of published stories this year is short. I've got two to my name in 2019 'Midnight Sands', book two in the Nightvision trilogy came out back in February.  A prince without an elemental partner. A princess with untamed power. Their world is dying. In this second exhilarating book of shapeshifters and magic, Dante and Nakai search for the key to stopping Prince Kobrona as the taint of his death magic spreads, infecting the wild magic of the Mother. Dante faces new doubts. Nakai discovers new fears. Torn apart, they fight to survive in a labyrinth of tunnels filled with danger and betrayal. Vital knowledge lies at their fingertips, if only they can reach it, but time is running out. The hour of Communion draws near. If you adore Amelia Atwater-Rhodes or Mercedes Lackey, then read Midnight Sands NOW! And, 'Dusk Sorrow's" came out as a preview, prequel of Nightvision. You can read it by signing up for my email list. If you like fantasy and shapeshifters and battle royals, this series is for you.  Shapeshifters, magic, elementals: Fight! It's come time for Dante to prove himself as the crown prince. Stopping a feral fire elemental from burning down Ookamimori should be a good start. Read it for free! That's it for out and new, doesn't seem like much from here but...I actually have fifteen new short stories to my name, two of which are aimed to be published early next year, and at least one still out to the jurors. Plus, the third and final book of the Nightvision trilogy, Dawn's Sacrifice, is in the final stages, and I've about wrapped up the first draft of a fat steampunk fantasy, Skyborn, so I anticipate this list to be longer next year. Here's to writing and working for my dreams for another year! One word, one sentence at a time. Blessings and Kindness to all, Care H. Knyght  Get this other awesome writer's gifts from Redbubble!  I'll swear by this program. It doesn't replace an editor but it definitely makes both our jobs easier. ;) ...my day I mean, I woke up this morning teetering and not really in the mood for being on the move. Sometimes, usually, it's the little things that make the difference. Today, it was the return of a blog review for Twilight Shadows. I didn't want to look, I was too tired to deal with a negative blow. After some coffee, I sucked it up and read the review, 4stars YAY! and that one thing turned my day from tired and dreary, to tired and hopeful. (It's Friday, I'm more than a little done with the work week and still have tomorrow to go.)) But, I was reminded that I can do this. One word, one sentence, paragraph, chapter, book at a time. Writing is a long game. 99.999999 percent of the time, it is not an overnight success. Take the small wins and celebrate them. This works for whatever you do in life. Celebrate and share the positives. I've been struggling, NaNoWriMo is hard, making solid sequels is hard, but I am persevering; because, I love books, and I want to write books that other people love, ecape and empowerment through the trials life throws at us. Today, a small review changed my mood. I will work towards a positive tomorrow. Check out the day changing review here! If you like steampunk, or haven't tried it yet, check out my new story in the Clockwork Dragons Anthology! Isn't the cover beautiful? I love it. Probably because it matches my usual aesthetic of black and purple, even though I had no input. Kinda looks like it would fit in next the Nightvision books right? This is my third of four accepted anthologies. To see the others I have stories in go here.   To write a book in a month? Fifty Thousand words here I come. Given a win this Nov. my steampunk/fantasy wip, Skyborn, with be over 100k for the first draft. I expect that will be heavily trimmed down during revisions as sentence structure gets tightened up, but edits will tell when the time comes. I won my first NaNoWriMo by writing almost entirely on my phone, here, there, and everywhere, when I had time. Which, unless you are one of the speed demons out there, 50k in a month a takes significant time investment. (There are some who spill their counts out in the first day or week. Ouch and how?) But I tend to be the plod along to the standard daily count of 1667 until the last few days when I hit my deadline pressure point a dump out a couple 5k days and call it won a day or two early; though the story is often not complete yet. This year, I am going to try adding dictation to my routine and see how it goes. I also have a specific writing channel on pandora that I listen too when I'm writing. It's kind of pirate metal, weird but has a beat, and I absolutely only listen to it if am I writing. Video game music is a great soundtrack option too-If you are like me and can't stand silence anyway. I always have something going given the choice. So for those of you who are braving the challenge, welcome! I won't say it's easy, but it is doable! Prepare your snacks. Stretch your fingers. Here are some link you might find helpful, we all have our own systems of churning out the words. The official site! www.nanowrimo.org You'll find partners, sprint, gauntlets, and all sorts of word games to bring the challenge along. Writing Game fun! Get your word count and progress in the story game here. https://4thewords.com/home It is a paying game, but past Nanowrimos have been open and free for the month and if you win the official nano, there's been discount codes for the site. Free and simple, if unfinished, is Fighter's Block, it's timer system keeps the fingers moving. http://cerey.github.io/fighters-block For writing progress breakdown beside the official site, try Pacemaker https://www.pacemaker.press/ There's a NaNoWriMo facebook group, which usually has sprints running all month Same for Twitter. Probably tumblr too, though I've not run into it. Track all of your new characters and their imporant details with my Writing Workbook series! https://www.chknyght.com/writing-workbooks.html You can find some fun prompts here: https://www.chknyght.com/fav-writing-tools.html Whatever you do, don't stop, don't edit. don't fall into the research pit. It can all be made pretty and sensical after the fact, in like February. Just make notes as you go. I like to insert them like ((this in parenthesis)) so I can find them later with the search function. It is an international month of writing madness! If you join the challenge, good luck! If you're not writing, cheer us on! If you know one of us in person, check up, make sure we are eating, and aren't beating our head on our keyboards, or totally lost in the worlds we are creating. It happens. ;P  Or NaNoWriMo as we call it, # it, sob it into our keyboard, scream enthusiastically into the night of Nov1, sob it into our keyboards about a week and a half in. Ok maybe a little dramatic, maybe, but we are writers, what else do you expect from us? You know, besides the cliché introverted, coffee-guzzling, cat-snuggling, drowning in the research wondering why we aren't getting any work done writer's life. NaNoWriMo if you have heard of it, starts Nov 1, the goal being writing fifty thousand words by the end of the month. We all approach it our own way, classic, rogue, overkill, planner, panster, plantser. However we pull it off, the idea is to spew out the first rough draft of your book. Once, it exists, it can all be made pretty later, draft two-infinity. Nano is purely for getting it out there. There are actually other months, April and June I believe, that have similar challenges called Camp NanoWrimo. This will be my fifth NaNo, I am semi-rebelling by working on an already in-progress project, Skyborn a steampunk tale I worked on previous Nano, but I am intending to add another full 50k to it, so it still counts. ;) There's time to prepare and jump in! Have a book you've been dreaming about? nanowrimo.org/nano-prep-101  In other news, Nightvision Dawn's Sacrifice is off to endure its first editing round. Getting it edited is nerve-wracking, but my developmental editor, Michelle Dunbar, will help me make it the best it can be, and it's nice to have other eyes on it to point out the weak spots that I'm blind to.  |
AuthorC. H. Knyght. author of fantasy and paranormal tales. Magic is creation. Archives
February 2020
Categories
|
RSS Feed
