One Sentence at a Time

Saturday:   Today I'm going to write my blog post…
Sunday: …and then I'm going to work on this great idea of the next chapter…
Monday: …oh, and finally I'm going to squeeze in some marketing time for book 1 and #amediting.
Tuesday:  Where did Tuesday come from, I haven't even finished my Saturday blog post yet.

Shh.  Don't let my calendar know but I'm trying to sneak this post in between meetings, family time, needy friends, exercise, house projects, tweeting and maybe a nap but probably not.  This reminds me of a time six months into writing Angst, I was frustrated for not getting enough done.  Not by anyone else's standards, I simply had a story that needed to come out.  I quickly found it wasn't the instant gratification of winning a video game or an evening out with friends, this novel required a commitment like training for one of my marathons.

Amidst my frustrations, I happened to catch an NPR bit about some established writer (don't ask me his name because I can't even remember where I put my keys yesterday).  The gist of his wisdom during the 15 minute interview boiled down to … it's okay to write just one good sentence a day.  Progress, any progress, counts.  It's really good advice when I remember to heed it.

I get upset when I intend to write War & Peace and Les Miserables in one sitting and end up with a paragraph, or even just a sentence.  But, on those rare occasions when I experience flashes of realistic expectations I remember how important that one good sentence is, I remember that it counts as progress, and I'm a little less frustrated.  A little.  Since this post counts as more than one sentence, I'm gonna throw my cape back on and go fix something.

Review copies of Angst now available

I am making a limited number of Angst review copies available at no charge.  These can be downloaded from Smashwords for free by going here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/38779 and using the coupon code TF24B.  E-mail me the link of your review and I will gladly share that link on my blog, facebook page, and via tweets.  Thanks for your support!

If you are interested in seeing reviews others have posted, I have included some links below:
Review of David J. Pedersen's "Angst" by J. M. Tresaugue http://jmtresaugue.blogspot.com/
goodreads reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9802360-angst
Amazon reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Angst-David-J-Pedersen/dp/1452824088/
Barnes and Noble reviews: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Angst/David-Pedersen/e/2940011870057/
Fantasy Faction: http://fantasy-faction.com/forum/reviews-recommendations/angst-david-j-pedersen/

Just to make it official...

I am scraping together every second of free time I can find to write Angst 2, and am officially making progress.  Right now I'm working through some of my rough draft mess that @angiepedersen has been kind enough to help clean up with her amazing editing skills.  I hope to have the first 8 chapters to share with alpha readers in the next couple of weeks, I just need to find a great little cliffhanger to leave them at so they are hungry for more ;)

Angst Cover Art Project

I had fun today meeting with my friend Allie (@angst_fan) and Eric Dilday to look over cover sketches he put together for Angst.  Eric shared a few roughed out concepts for review.  I've seen some of his detailed work, and it's amazing!  These pics taken with my iphone on a table, don't do justice to these drawings or his finished work, but they are fun to see.

This very first one of Angst nailed the size of Chryslaenor, and I love the cape (I want one...er, both, a cape and the sword).  He's a little too muscular, not pudgy enough, and Allie requested the hilt to be a little less Thor like.

This second drawing was Eric's favorite.  The hilt looks a lot more accurate, and the rose (which would be marble of course) is a nice addition.

This is closer to what the cover may end up being.  Angst, Rose, and Chryslaenor with a castle in the background.  Eric is going to make Angst the same height as Rose, change up her wardrobe a little, give her daggers, and place the castle further away.

I find it fascinating to see an artists concept of the characters, the sword, and the world of Ehrde.  We'll meet again in a week to view a revised version of the sketch with Rose and Angst, and I'll be sure to share the progress.  Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas, I'd love to read everyone's thoughts.