HELLO AGAIN

Dearest readers,

Today is a really really big day for me. If you hadn't guessed already, it's because YES. This is the first blogpost I've done in a little over a year!

So for some catching up…HAPPY NEW YEARS (like twice?). And some crazy shit has been going on. Like if you're in America, is anyone else asking why Trump is running for president?

And honestly, I really have missed you all.

I'm going to do my best to start posting again, at least once a week if not more.

I'll also have you guys know that I'm kinda starting up a bit of an editing business…I actually wouldn't go so far to call it a business, more of a hobby that will make me a little bit of money. I won't be charging much, though price will depend on word count and quality of writing. (So if you're in your first draft, I'll charge more than if you're closer to your final draft.) I'm also totally cool with just looking at a chapter or two (or as many as you like) if you want.

Keep in mind, I'm a 19 year old, but I definitely have more of youthful mindset. So if your book or story is intended for young adults, I'm happy to give you an idea about how your audience might receive your book.

ANYWAY. If you'd like me to take a look at something just email me at violingirl4036@gmail.com. Yes, that's still my email address, I don't know when I'm going to change it.

Also let me thank Nicole Zoltack for helping me come up with how to set a price and everything, she's an amazing editor. She edited From the Ashes for me at a great price, and I'll be having her look at The Inferiors my second novel once I've finished editing it.

ANYWAY YES I'M BACK SO PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU'RE ALL DOING AND HOW MANY OF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE OUT THERE!!!

Peace

–Jess

Hello and Thank You

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry I haven't posted in so long! I have just been so busy, and blogging took up a lot of my time for writing…I'm a senior in high school so it's just been so crazy recently.

I just wanted to thank all of you so much for commenting, and for remembering me! Hopefully I will be able to start blogging again sometime soon.

Miss you all!

And once again, thank you so much, you are all the best.

–Jess

Also, my book is going on sale on October 3rd for 99¢, please go check it out HERE!

Marketing Is Scary

I guess my plan for blogging more over the summer didn't go down so well.

Either way, I'm done with excuses, because there's really no excuse, nothing I have to say in my own defense as to why I didn't write more over the summer.

Anyway, what's done is done.

Okay, so I'm sort of nervous.

See, I love to write.

I mean, obviously.

Then again, you wouldn't say you love to breathe. You only do it because if you didn't, you would die. I live to write, and write to live. My world, and writing are dependent on each other. It's become a fact of my existence, I guess.

The thing is…

With my book out, and everything, I have to worry about marketing now.

And I don't like marketing, I just like writing.

Let's put it this way.

I'm not really a "people" person.

I'm a writer because I'm not a good speaker.

Although I could probably write a good speech for myself, there's no guarantees I'll actually say it well.

No, really, all I want to do is write.

And meet some hot male protagonist, but that's beside the point.

So my mom has kind of taken the role of a marketing advisor, and been helping me get my books into local book stores. Actually only one bookstore so far, and I haven't even given them the copies they requested yet, but hey, it's a start.

I'll admit, it scares me a little.

Like, a lot.

And it makes me wanna go like this "ASL;DKFJAS;DFJKL" all over the keyboard.

Seriously though…not that I'm going to have one any time soon, but…what exactly do you do at a book signing? I mean, besides sign books? Do you have to answer questions? Are there certain questions that people tend to ask?

Ahhh I'm making myself nervous.

Please, though, if you have any suggestions let me know.

–Jess

Stuff

Hello strangers…I know it's been a while, but the good news is that I'm back. I've just…kind of been…trying to…maybe…avoid responsibilities…like blogging.

It's really easy to get out of the loop on things.

I skipped the A to Z Challenge, thinking I'd easily be able to come back in May, but…one thing led to another, and…it's not that I didn't have enough time, it's just I didn't really make time.

I'm taking a few classes over the summer (one of which I failed during 9th grade, so…so yeah…don't judge) which is making things very hectic. And then there's all this teen drama no one wants to get caught up in, so I'll spare you the details on that one. Oh and I got my wisdom teeth out last week.

The Inferiors, my sequel, is coming along alright, except I'm coming up against these brick walls which making things very difficult. I won't say too much about it, but it starts off in the Crystal City, and…well…maybe it isn't as perfect as it's made out to be. So Jaina's going through her issues there.

I think over the long period of time I was publishing, I sort of lost my connection with Jaina. The Inferiors starts four, long, tiresome months after From the Ashes, so she's grown more during that time. And the thing is, it's been five months since I've been published, and well…I've grown during that time. I guess she and I just need to spend some Author/Character bonding time together and see how we can work things out.

Other than that, though, I've been revising and writing a lot of poetry, which I may or may not end up sharing with you.

So yeah.

That's it for me.

What are you guys up to lately? I need to catch up.

–Jess 龍

I'm Almost Free!

Life has been so crazy lately. I'm so tired and burned out from the whole school year, the only thing keeping me going is the fact that it's almost over! I only have about two weeks left of school, and god, am I relieved.

Not really looking forward to finals, though, and I'm taking a few classes over the summer.

Anyway, I got this really good (or, at least I hope it's really good) story idea recently, and I've been having a lot of fun adding to it and making character sketches, but I feel like I really should be working on The Inferiors, the sequel to From the Ashes.

It's such a hard choice, because now, I've got people waiting for me to finish it. At the absolute earliest, even if I worked really hard at it, I don't think it'd be done until the end of the year, which I might add, is approaching much more swiftly than I expected. It always does, I guess.

Is it so bad to want to take a break from my main story now and then?

Maybe.

Guess we'll find out.

What do you think?

Have a nice day!

–Jess

P.S.

IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 4 OF DOCTOR WHO or ever plan on watching Doctor Who (which you MUST), DON'T HIGHLIGHT THE FOLLOWING WORDS HIGHLIGHTED IN BLACK.

I just made it to the 5th season of Doctor Who on Netflix, and I'M SO SAD. Okay, at least Matt Smith does a good job, but I was so heartbroken seeing the Doctor die as David Tennant! And DONNA. I don't ever cry, not really about anything, but I got tears in my eyes watching the episode where she forgets. Breaks. My. Heart.

The thing is, most people have made it that far, because I'm so awfully behind in the series. So I probably don't need that spoiler alert. Gotta be safe, anyhow.

BYE! :)

IWSG: I'm Still Here, Reviews, and Doctor Who?

Yes, everyone, I am still here, and hopefully I will be "here" much more often!

I hope the A to Z challenge went wonderfully, and I felt bad that I didn't participate, but ohmygosh did I have tons of stuff to get done. I can't say I have time to be blogging right now, but eh…I'm making the time for it.

So today is IWSG post day!

Right now, I'm really insecure about From the Ashes. I know, I know, I can't control the sales or anything. But when it slows down, it makes me nervous.

The good thing is, all of the reviews I've gotten so far have been really encouraging, and it makes me want to hurry up and get on with the sequel, The Inferiors.

I mean look! It makes me so excited looking at my Amazon page and seeing THIS:

(By the way, if you can't see it tell me because if you can't, then I can see why you may think I'm going crazy. Just click the link if it doesn't show up.)

I mean, a few people here and there have said that it's a little bit too much like The Hunger Games, and I try to pretend like it doesn't bother me. But hey, even the people who have said that still liked the story.

Anyway, yeah, that's all for today, and I think I'm back into blogging again :)

Happy May 1st!

–Jess

P.S.

I've gotten overly obsessed with Doctor Who lately. Hadn't watched the show before a few months ago, and my god, I'm hooked like a fish. Only on Series 3 though.

Do any of you watch Doctor Who?