04/28/2019

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and to be honest, I feel like I’ve been stuck in a rut since 2017.

It was the summer of 2017 that I started writing my ninth manuscript, Tourist Trap. That fall, I finished the first round of edits on the two manuscripts I’d written in eight months between the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017. And in the last few months of 2017, I started applying and interviewing for (non-writing-related, bill-paying) jobs. And that was the last time I remember feeling productive in quite a while.

In 2018, I continued to work hard, but I just didn’t see any results. I continued to apply for jobs and I must have interviewed at least half a dozen times. Based on the location I live and the specificity of jobs I was applying for, not to mention my general personality, that’s a lot. Despite that, I kept getting passed over for the positions. I was feeling more and more stressed out by the job that I already had, and some of that carried over into my writing. I had to work through quite a few more blocks than I have on my other novels, and I struggled to get to the end of the story. It seemed like the more I wrote, the farther from the actual plot my storyline went.

This past week, everything’s changed. First of all, I am extremely excited to announce that I have FINALLY finished the rough draft for Tourist Trap! I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 words to get rid of, so there’s still a long road ahead, but I love the story and I love the setting. I’m excited to start editing so I can put out a finished product that I’m proud of.

I am also very excited to announce that, as of last Wednesday, I have a new (non-writing, bill-paying) job. In many ways, the job is very similar to what I did before (I work retail), but in other ways, it’s a huge change. I still have a lot to learn, but I already feel like it’s going to be a great fit and I’m excited to keep learning.

And, as if the week hasn’t been eventful enough, I’m also on the verge of finishing my t-shirt quilt! This was another project that I started back in 2017. I brilliantly decided to do a collage of t-shirts instead of normal squares because my shirts were all different sizes and I couldn’t make the squares work. My advice to anyone thinking of doing this, unless you are an experienced quilter or the world’s most patient person, is DON’T DO IT. If I had the project to do over, so many things would be different, but I am going to love the finished result, even if it does look like the whole thing was sewn by candlelight by someone who’d had too much to drink.

I know this is a lot of words and most people probably aren’t going to make it to this point of my update, but I want to say that the entire process has taught me so much, and I want to encourage anyone else who is in a period of waiting right now. God loves you, He is for you, and He has not forgotten you. Waiting is not fun. It’s really, really hard. But God’s plan and His timing are perfect. As I faced disappointment after disappointment, I had to learn to trust God completely and accept that He is enough for me, even if He doesn’t give me my dream job or inspire me with the perfect words to finish my novel right when I want to. I had to learn to worship while I waited. Now, I have to learn to stay grateful and always praise the Lord for what He’s given me. I think it will be a little easier because I waited so long. When I look back, I know I’ll be able to see how God was with me the whole time, working everything out for my good and His glory.

06/20/2018

I am excited to announce that “Tourist Trap” is nearly completed as far as the word count, but less excited to announce that I still have a long way to go in the plot in order to reach my intended conclusion. I have a lot of editing in my future, and I know I’m going to have to make some difficult decisions regarding cuts and consolidation. That being said, I’m extremely happy with the story and the way I have been able to tell it.

“Tourist Trap” is a mystery set in a tiny tourist town on the edge of a state park in South Dakota, and in many ways, it is inspired by my own adventures in the Black Hills. Kara Chatham, a recent college graduate, is traveling through the area when her car breaks down and she finds herself stranded. Three friendly strangers come to her rescue, find her a job and a place to stay, and become her tour guides for the summer. When Kara witnesses a murder, they also help her navigate the various personalities and politics involved until they discover a link between the murder and a series of other unexplained crimes. Unfortunately, the new information could bring down all of the new friendships, not to mention the local animal shelter and a few more victims.

As I engage in my own summer activities and draw inspiration from what I hope are many hikes (and picnics, barbeques, etc.), I know I will have less time for writing. I expect to finish the rough draft soon, but I’m sure it will be well into the fall before I’m able to edit enough to truly know what shape this novel will take. Wherever it goes, I know it will be an incredible ride.

12/20/2017

Merry Christmas!

I have to admit, as a retail employee, I am excited not so much for Christmas Day, but for the end of the Christmas season when the trees and the glitter have all gone out the door, the mad rush of returns has wrapped up, and the Valentine’s Day candy is coming out. Still, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of a Savior, and as such, it is a joyful occasion, no matter what.  It is my desire to share that joy with as many people as I can this holiday season, whether through good customer service, gifts and donations, or just a smile.  I hope that everyone who reads this has a wonderful day and a magical Christmas!

Although it has been a busy time for me, both at work and in my personal life, I am extremely excited to announce that, just in time for Christmas, I have put the finishing touches on my manuscript, “Under Investigation.”

“Under Investigation” is its own story of a less-than-joyful Christmas. Maki and the others at the clinic think that getting along through the decorating and the holiday stress and finding the perfect gifts for each other and the other special people in their lives are going to be the hardest parts of the season.  Then, a close friend is found murdered and an expensive antique goes missing from the next room.  As far as the police are concerned, everyone at Grace Point is a suspect, and even though they know that one of their own could never be responsible, they are forced to admit that somewhere among those they once called friends is a cold-blooded killer.

Read more about “Under Investigation” on the “My Writing” tab, and follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

October 14, 2017

It’s been a busy summer of hiking, camping, touring, writing, and editing. Now that it’s starting to get cold outside and I’m confined indoors more often, I’m finally getting to my indoor tasks, such as updating everyone on the progress of my writing activities.

I am currently working on the final edits for “Under Cultivation,” the fifth “Under Examination” novel, and writing the synopsis. I am also well into edits for “Under Investigation,” the sixth “Under Examination” novel.  I should have the mini-synopses up under the “My Writing” tab soon.

I have also begun work on my ninth novel, “Tourist Trap,” and I’m about a quarter of the way through the rough draft. I can’t reveal too much about it yet, since it isn’t finished and I’m liable to change my mind about any fact at any time, but I can say that I’m really excited about the characters and even more excited about the setting.  “Tourist Trap” is a mystery set in a tiny tourist town bordering a state park on the very western border of South Dakota.  All of the people, places, and events in my books are either fictitious or used in a very fictitious sense, but there’s no denying that my experiences in Custer State Park this summer, and in previous years, have been a huge inspiration to me.  Hopefully I’ll have more news on this project soon!

July 20, 2017

I spent the last few days camping near Custer State Park: hiking, doing research, and getting inspiration for my latest book.  I’ve already started the writing process, and so far, though things are progressing slowly, I’m really happy with what I have.

Editing of  “Under Cultivation” and “Under Investigation” is ongoing, and soon I will have to start thinking about writing synopses.  Everyone knows how much that thought excites me…

April 13, 2017

I recently finished work on “Under Water,” the fourth book in my Under Examination series, and I am currently in the process of writing two more books for that series, tentatively titled “Under Cultivation” and “Under Investigation.” The rough drafts should be finished by the beginning of May, at which time I hope to get some editing done before I take a break to spend as many summer days as possible outside and gather inspiration for another writing project, a mystery set in a tourist town bordering a state park.  Look for more information on all three of these upcoming books around the end of the summer and into early fall.

Aside from my writing, I’m afraid I have no interesting news to share. In addition to work, I’ve been getting my apartment deep cleaned, and as the weather continues to improve, I’ve been trying to spend some time outdoors.  I even put my geranium out for a bit today!  Nothing earth-shattering is going on in my life, but be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and my most recent duck-sightings.