Merry Christmas To All !

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful New Year!

Wishing you...

I'm wishing you all a most wonderful Christmas and New Year! I know I will enjoy mine with all the family home for the holidays. Family...one of the greatest joys of my life!

Rough Draft complete

The rough draft is now complete on my novel, Unicorns and Orchids. It has been fun to see how it has developed as I have been writing it. Along the way, many things have come out that I hadn't planned for, but was excited to see surface in the story line. Many novels seem to have a life of there own and this one certainly has.

Don't forget to add a copy of my newest novel, Shadowed in the Springs, in the stocking of your loved ones.

Young Adult Fantasy Novel is doing well!

My young adult fantasy novel is coming along wonderfully. I did not write up an outline to start with and just let it happen, scene by scene. I have been pleasantly surprised by the curves and direction the story line has taken. It's been a fun journey and it's not over yet. I've just completed the rough draft and can see that Vyolet's story is going to take at least a second novel to tell her tale, but probably will turn out to be a trilogy (three books) when it's finished.

It's a world of unicorns, fairies, trolls, centaurs, etc. all set into a mythical world that Vyolet (a fourteen year old human) finds herself drawn into. Befriended by the young centaur, Jontur, she finds herself being pursued by a mysterious force that is determined to consume her. Jontur must not only help keep her safe, but find the answers to both present and past questions, as the two seem to be on a collision course.

NaNoWriMo is on and it's Magic for me!

I tell myself every year that I just don't have the time to participate in the NaNoWriMo contest that is held each November, but I can't leave it alone. This is the National Novel Writing Month for those who don't know. It is an event where on the first day to the very last day of this month thousand of people attempt to write a novel of at least 50,000 words. This means that one has to write at least 1667 words per day in order to accomplish this goal. At first, t seems like a lot of words to put down, but as one unfolds their story out, it can flow in parts where you just can't stop writing the scenes, leaving you with many more words to acknowledged that day. Of course, all days don't flow so well and you might get stuck not knowing what happens next. So leave it for awhile and let your mind play with it. It will eventually come out when it's ready.

For this event, I've decided to leave the genre I usually write in, Mystery, and try something new this year...Fantasy. Yes, Fantasy. I have been challenged to write a fantasy novel and this will be a challenge for me, but I've already found a story coming forth. It is a story about a teenage girl called Vyolet. I'm already off and running, so wish me luck. I'll let you know how it proceeds.

Nice reviews-Thanks!

Thank you for the nice reviews you have posted about my new novel, Shadowed in the Springs. I really appreciate them and hope you all have enjoyed living the adventures that Stormy and Lance Winters find themselves in. As Stormy and Lance have several more trips planned out, they're sure to run into others in need of their help along the way. I hope you will continue to post your reviews out there for others to read what you think. Thanks again!

Goodbye to "A Real Mystery"--Hello to "Short Stories & Articles"

I have posted on my website why I became a writer, why certain stories, and about my published books, including links to purchase them. For quite awhile now, I've had a fun set of links on my website called "A Real Mystery" and have received a great number of hits following that mystery as it unfolded and beyond.

Though I've had a lot of fun with it and the reader who presented it for me (as well you, the readers) to solve, it is time to move on to other things. So, with fond memories I say farewell to "A Real Mystery." Many thanks to the reader/fan who provided it for us!

The newest pages, "Short Stories & Articles" will be a collection of my writings. I plan to put a few on at a time, so if you find them to your liking, check back from time to time and see what's new.

Great Feedback!

Several more copies of my novel have been sold, including many in E Book form. And I am getting some great feedback from those who have read it, Shadowed in the Springs. I would like to ask those of you who have read it to please post comments not only on here, but also on barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com. It would really help other readers to find my novel and to see what other readers think of it.

Thanks for your help.

"Shadowed in the Springs" Out For Purchase

I want to let my readers know that my next novel in the Stormy Winters Mystery series, Shadowed in the Springs, has been published and is out for purchase. This is the second novel in the series and I have at least four more planned and in the works to come forth in the future. The third novel I am currently working on is set in the beautiful surrounding of Oahu in Hawaii, but for now I hope you will enjoy the adventure and intrigue in the wonderful surroundings of Colorado Springs. And thank you for all of your encouragement and for the great response I've had so far.

You can purchase your own copies here on my website, either in soft cover, hardback, or E Book form. Let me know what you think of it.

My Article in San Antonio Express-News

Check out my article entitled "City Bulk Day Brings Forth the Scavenger" in this coming Sunday's San Antonio Express-News newspaper.  You will find it in the S A Life section. No, the S A in S A Life does not stand for S A Slack, but that's cool, huh! 

Let me know what you think after you've read it.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Bulk-Item-Day-brings-out-scaveng
ers-3810705.php

New Stormy Winters Novel To Come out!

It's finally here! The next book in the Stormy Winters series, Shadowed in the Springs. It's slated to make its debut in late September or early October of this year. So be on the look out and join Stormy and Lance, and their niece, Ann, on another adventure, this time set in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Hopefully, you've already been introduced to Stormy and her husband, Lance, in their first book, The Austin Fires, which takes place in the exciting city of Austin, Texas. If so, you'll be aware of the fact that Stormy has a knack for finding trouble and danger, or does it find her? You decide. You'll also be reunited with a couple of the other characters you met in The Austin Fires.


Hope to hear from you. A big thank you to all my readers out there. I've loved your e-mails.

Characters Do Have a Life of Their Own!

Have you ever read a book and wondered at the end of it, "What did he do after that?," or "Why did she do that? Couldn't she see what it would lead to?," or "If only they had ...?"  I'm sure most of us have thought this. I know I find myself doing just that. And my husband and I have had many a discussion about books, or episodes of a favorite program on TV, after we've read or watched them, wondering about the characters actions... heroes and villains alike.

I am here to confirm something you have probably heard before....the characters in these stories DO have a mind of their own. I know mine do. At least to some extent.

When I begin a novel, I first research the basics of where the story will take place and what types of characters will be involved in the story line. (More research is usually needed along the way.) Next, I form a rough outline of events I want to include in the novel and what I think the plot should include. Then I sit down and begin the adventure and see where it takes me, all the while having my original notes close at hand. And I find myself amazed at how the story unfolds along the way as the characters begin to take shape. I've even had to change some of their names after a few chapters, as if they say "Wait a minute, that's not my name, it's really ..."  Even different characters' feelings come out as I'm writing 'their' story that I hadn't planned on.

I can honestly say that I've been surprised at the reactions of several of my characters throughout my writing!

From Editing to Publisher to Reader--Thank You

Hi, everyone! Hope you've had a wonderful Valentine's week. It's been cold and raining here in San Antonio, but nice to have the moisture.

I received my second Stormy Winters novel back from my editor, and I'm busy making the changes to get it ready for publication. It's interesting to see the little mistakes (in bright red) one makes as you immerse yourself in your characters and plot, moving right along as the story unfolds before your eyes. I praise the editors who go through page-after-page, line-after-line, to make for a better story flow: a better story period. Also, I must praise those who take the time to read the writing before the book goes to the publisher. They add a lot to the process. Thanks, guys!

And finally, a hardly felt thank you to all of you readers out there who have bought and read my books. For your  own words to me of praise and encouragement. You keep me writing!
S A Slack