Been Gone

It seems like forever since I have had time to post a blog. For the past week I have been in California for my day time job working a convention for my companies members.

Anyone who has ever worked a convention knows the days are very long anywhere from 12 to 18 hours on your feet. Plus I could not get adjusted to the 2hr time difference from St. Louis to Anaheim. I was always feeling like I was going to miss a meeting if I didn't get up at my normal ST.L time which is 3am in CA. Crazy I know; so I was working on anywhere from 3 to 4 hours sleep. I can say I worked my butt off but I also had a blast with everyone.

As I was working in CA Kiku was back in STL working on the changes suggested from our editor. Most of the changes a very small but it can become very time consuming on top of that she had been under the weather.

Well I only have limited time because I'm back to CA in 7 days for another 4 days on a convention floor.

Fading...
Lodemai

The week is finally over!

Okay I just want to say I am so glad this week is finally over with; it has been very long and filled with stress. I haven't worked on the book as much as I should have my heart has not been in it. My personal life had been taking a front seat for the moment it involves the kids so that means everything else must stop until it is settled.

When writing the first book my grandmother died; Katrina hit New Orleans which affected one whole side of Kiku's family, this resulted in us stopping for almost 2 months to take care of family issues.

Now we are working on book two and right off I have to take care of some issues with my kids. I wish things could be easier but then if everything was easy you could not appreciate things. I believe each challenge only make a person stronger which is why I choose the photo of the Phoenix. The legend goes that when the Phoenix burns out it is reborn from its ashes. As when we make it through a trial we are reborn a different person from the experience.

2006 is a year of changes.
*Trying to get our first book published (Fae Dreams)
*Working on our second book (The Vault)
*We want to get our first store opened by next year
*I want to look at buying my first home in a year
*Kiku and myself are going to start learning French (so we both have decided to teach the kids)
*We both are working on our health
*Also going to starting working for my bother-in-law on his web site store
*Finally I'm going to start drawing again

Fading...
Lodemai

Feeling Lost

Artist Amy Brown
The day was a hard one for me. I have been waiting several weeks for this day and trust me I wish this did not have to come. T-Birds Father has been missing in action for over a year. He has issues he is dealing with but in the mean time T-Bird had not been a part of his life. Yesterday we set up an agreement for support but I would give anything for him to just spend time with his little girl. Money will never replace the love of a father. This had dominated my life way too much lately. I have had a hard time concentrating on the on the second book.

So yesterday Kiku and I spent time working on 'The Vault'. It has helped me some having Kiku to walk with me through all of this. She understands how I feel the most because she is a single mother like me. Believe me my other friends love and care for me and my children but its Kiku that understands the madness that can run through my head.

This second book is proving to be a challenge in the early stage. Unlike 'Fae Dreams' I need to make sure I stay true to each of the characters while developing new villains. We have a good foundation which we have started; it will come to us once we get rolling. In 'Fae Dreams' we seemed to always know what was missing and everything flowed so easily. I'm sure that I didn't say that though when we were writing the first book. :)

Fading...
Lodemai

Meeting with Editor

Artist Amy Brown.

Most of you know that yesterday we had a meeting with Peggy our editor. It was hard to stay composed while she was describing our book. She loved the book and said she wants to see it in publication! Once Kiku and I made it to the car we let loose with high pitch screams only dogs could hear. :-)

What made both of us happy was the fact that Peggy was able to get the subtle hints we placed in the book she was also able to feel the emotions of our characters. She said she could visualize everything that was going on and could even hear them speaking to each other. I can only say that this is what Kiku and myself work so hard to do.

Kiku is so pumped that she wants to do all the corrections this will free me to keep working on the story line of the second book 'The Vault'. Kiku will also be sending out the book to publishers with the cover letter. Kiku is very good at this part of the game. Peggy said it can take some time before we get a publisher to give us a chance but she also reminded us that the hardest part is done.

Well today is busy we have a birthday party planned for my son Alexzander he is 12 (wow where did the time go?) and I have so late night oil to burn doing research for book 2.

Fading...
Lodemai