Category Archives: A Round of Words in 80 Days

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Blog Update and ROW80 Check-In 10

Hello gentle reader,

I hope you had a lovely week!

If you’re here to enter my Best Book Ever Giveaway and have a chance to win The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo, click on the image below (giveaway ends tomorrow):

Best Book Ever Giveaway

If you’re here for my ROW80 Check-In, know that I spent my week running like a headless chicken for my crazy day job. Therefore I didn’t do any writing, I barely did any editing and I only did a bit of reading.

ROW80 LogoPlease note this is my last check-in for this round (although this round won’t be over until 20th June).

Indeed I have decided to join a summer challenge called Ready. Set. Write!

ready-set-write-button

Hosted by Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, Erin Funk, Jaime Morrow and Elodie Nowodazkij, it’s a summer writing intensive that starts Tuesday 11th June and will go on for 2 months. The idea is to update weekly on Wednesdays on what we’ve been writing and on our new goals for the week.

Sunday Giveaway

Finally and starting this week as well, I’ll be hosting a giveaway each Sunday. I will give you the opportunity to win one e-copy of a YA book I’ve read this year or will be reading this summer. I borrowed this idea from the wonderful Amy Plum whom I met in Paris at the SCBWI Conference in March.

So that’s what will happen on my blog until 15th August!

I wish you all a great summer and hope to read your comments below.

Let me know how your week was and what you have planned for the summer!

In the meantime, happy reading, and happy writing!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 9

Hello gentle reader,

june is here and it’s time for another weekly check-in! I hope you had a great and productive week. Mine had its ups and downs…

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day.

This week however I… didn’t write. At all. I was waiting to hear back from my beta readers, and instead of writing, I read books and helped my CPs with their query letter/manuscript/blogs.

TV Show of the Week

Supernatural-Season 8

Supernatural – Season 8 (CW)

This week I’ve been catching up on the last season of Supernatural. This show isn’t what it used to be, but I still love Dean and Sam. And Castiel when he shows up.

Good News of the Week

This week, Rachel O’Laughlin launched her Street Team for the release of her Epic Fantasy novel. You can sign up and join the fun here!

Links of the Week

On my blog I posted about the Versatile Blogger Award here and shared the ups and downs of my week here (with GIFs!).

On There And Draft Again I posted about the writing device known as Deus Ex Machina.

And JuNoWriMo has started! If you need a writing challenge to help you write a book in a month, do consider joining, it’s not too late!

Next week

Next week on my blog I will host a book giveaway. I have recently gained a lot of new followers and I want to say thank you!

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 8

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for another weekly check-in! This week I’m happy to be back to my normal routine, and I can offer you a proper Week In Review post…

Quote and Film of the Week

the-great-gatsby-leonaro-dicaprio_1

“I was within and without. Simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.”

The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Film by Baz Luhrmann.

To me, The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece because of its writing, not because of its story. Thus turning the book into a film is incredibly hard. I enjoyed Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation because that’s what it is: a vision of the book.

TV Show of the Week

World Without End

World Without End (Channel 4)

I missed this show when it aired in September. I played catch-up this week because I love The Pillars of the Earth and this is the sequel. However I was a bit disappointed: the plot is exactly the same and therefore very predictable.

Good News of the Week

I bought my first Kindle! I resisted peer pressure for a long time, because I love reading paper books. But I travel all the time and my bookshelf space isn’t unlimited, so I finally gave in and got the Kindle Fire. Any tips welcome!

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week again I managed to write

2 days out of 7.

With my WIP in the hands of beta-readers, I basically took the week off writing…

Links of the Week

I was interviewed by the ever awesome Serena Lawless about my Work In Progress. You can read it here.

On my blog I posted my reasons for writing Lily In The Shadows.

On There And Draft Again this week, it’s giveaway time! Our group blog has reached 100 followers and we’re giving away Fantasy books to celebrate. Make sure to enter here.

The Like a Virgin Contest has been announced! It will be held in July 2013. It is co-organized by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez, the ladies behind the weekly Thursday’s Children blog hop. It will be open only to manuscripts that have yet to go through the online contest trenches. They want your fresh, sparkly and new manuscripts. How exciting is that?!

Next week

Next week on my blog I will be sharing my latest readings…

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 7

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for another weekly check-in! I hope you had a great and productive week. Mine was very buzy and I apologise for my lack of posts and this short check-in. I’ll be back full-time next week, I promise!

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write or edit every day. This week again I managed

5 days out of 7.

Word Count of the Week

This week I revised my Work In Progress and added 1000 words to this draft.

TV Show of the Week

Dracula_NBC

Dracula (NBC)

This TV show is coming this fall and I’m so excited for it! You can watch the trailer here.

Good News of the Week

Lily In The Shadows is now in the hands of its first beta readers and I’m waiting on their feedback…

Next week

Next week on my blog I shall finally accept the Versatile Blogger Award and return to a regular blogging schedule!

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 6

Hello gentle reader,

This post is one day late and I apologise for this. You’ll see below I had a very busy week. I hope your week was as productive and good as mine!

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal this round is to write every day. This week I managed to write

5/7 days

Word Count of the Week

This week I wrote 9000 words and finished my Work In Progress. It needs some fine-tuning now, but I’m quite pleased I managed to write a whole book in 5 months.

Movie of the Week

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

I finally managed to see Iron Man 3 and I really enjoyed it! Some impressive action scenes, great humor, well-developed characters… all in all a very entertaining film.

Good News of the Week

I received the Versatile Blogger Award no less than 5 times this week (!). I’ll write a post about it this week. Thanks to all the bloggers who thought of me for this award!

I hope you all had a wonderful week too! Feel free to leave me a comment below and to visit the other ROWers here.

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 5

Hello gentle reader,

It is already time for the fifth check-in of this round! I hope you had a good and productive week…

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write

4/7 days

Word Count of the Week

I’m currently trying to keep the Camp NaNoWriMo momentum and this week I added 7000 words to my Work In Progress. I’m very pleased with this, especially since I edit as I go. This word count means I’m *nearly* done with this novel…

TV Show of the Week

doctor-who-the-crimson-horror

This week’s episode of Doctor Who was set in Victorian England! It started off as a Gaslamp Fantasy, which I was thrilled about, but ended up being a sci-fi episode. I had a great time watching it nonetheless!

Links of the Week

This week I wrote a guest post on Aimee L. Salter’s blog about Writing Rules.

On my blog, I discussed How To Make The Most of a Novel Writing Month When You Don’t Have Time For It.

There And Draft Again now has over 100 followers and this week, Mara posted about Creating Fantasy Creatures and Rachel shared her Top Ten Fantasy Movies.

Meanwhile, The Write Stuff for Boston Auction is still in full swing and I suggest you check what’s being auctioned every day. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, there’s something for you there!

Finally, in case you missed it and if you need to smile… here is a Channing Friday post. I promise you it’s awesome.

Next Week

Next week I shall finish Lily In The Shadows. There’s no going back, now.

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 4

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for the fourth check-in of this round! I hope you had a good and productive week…

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write

3/7 days

Word Count of the Week

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

I added 4000 words to my Work In Progress. I won’t win Camp NaNoWriMo this year, but at least I added some words to my Work In Progress.

TV Show of the Week

The Vampire Diaries - The Originals

The Vampire Diaries – The Originals (CW)

So what did you think of this first episode in the spin-off series?

Good news of the Week

The lovely Sarah Cradit awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award, the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award in this post. I have already received these awards, but I’m happy and humbled Sarah thought of me as deserving of them again. Go and visit her blog!

Links of the Week

This week on my blog I discussed how to build a bridge between Genre fiction and Literary fiction.

On the There And Draft Again group blog, Rachel wrote about the editing process and Kathi talked Myths and Legends in Fantasy.

Finally, make sure to check out The Write Stuff for Boston Auction and to bid for items such as signed books, advance reader copies (ARCs), artwork, critiquing services, book-related swag, author visits, book bundles, or the chance to name a character in an upcoming book. All proceeds will benefit the victims and families of the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15, 2013.

Next Week

Next week I’ll be writing a guest post for the wonderful Aimee L. Salter  so make sure to check out her blog on Monday!

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 3

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for the third check-in of this round! I hope you had a good and productive week…

Quote of the Week

“All the elements in your body were forged many many millions of years ago in the heart of a faraway star that exploded and died. That explosion scattered those elements across the desolations of deep space. After so, so many millions of years, these elements came together to form new stars and new planets. And on and on it went. The elements came together and burst apart, forming shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings.

Until, eventually, they came together to make you.

You are unique in the universe.”

The Doctor in Doctor Who, “The Rings of Akhaten”

Picture of the Week

EM Castellan April 2013

Daffodils in the park… it’s springtime!

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write

2/7 days

Word Count of the Week

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

I added 3000 words to my Work In Progress. Well below my goal, but still better than nothing…

TV Show of the Week

The Borgias

The Borgias (Showtime)

The Borgias are back! I LOVE this show. Can’t wait to find out what they are up to this season.

Good news of the Week

This week my wonderful Critique Partner Jessica Montgomery has launched her Editorial Services! Need  help with your query, your synopsis, your manuscript? She’s your girl!

Links of the Week

This week on my blog I’m holding a giveaway to celebrate my 400th Blog Follower! You can still enter here and win a signed copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

Since it was also a week full of sad events around the world, I blogged about Kew Gardens, one of the most beautiful and peaceful man-made places on earth.

Elsewhere, you can watch Thirty Seconds To Mars new music video, Up In The Air. You know how much I love them.

And the Undiscovered Voices competition (for UK and EU Children’s Unpublished Writers) is coming up soon, so check out the website for information.

Next Week

Only ten days left of Camp NaNoWriMo… how is it going for you? Will you meet your goals?

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 2

Hello gentle reader,

this week’s post will be short because I am in London for the London Book Fair…

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write

4 days out of 7.

Word count of the Week

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

My goal during CampNaNoWriMo is to write 1500 words a day. This week again I only wrote an average of 1000 words a day.

TV Show of the Week

Hannibal NBC

Hannibal (NBC)

I started watching this thriller this week and found the first two episodes very promising…

Good News of the Week

I am now on Pinterest! If you are too, let me know, I’ll be happy to follow you!

Next Week

Next week I’ll have my 400 Followers Giveaway! Drop by to see what awesome bookish prizes you could win…

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!

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My Week in Review – ROW80 Check-In 1

Hello gentle reader,

It is time for the first check-in of this second round! I hope you had a good and productive week…

Quote of the Week

Yes, it’s terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 2, Episode 7 “Lie To Me”)

Picture of the Week

M.LIN Nature - Snow

Photo by my friend M.LIN

Look! It’s springtime! (Or not)

ROW80 Check-In

ROW80 Logo

My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write

every day!

Word Count of the Week

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

My goal during CampNaNoWriMo is to write 1500 words a day. This week I only managed to write an average of 1000 words a day.

Movie of the Week

From Hell

From Hell (2001)

I watched this movie for research (it’s about the Jack The Ripper murders in Whitechapel). It turned out to be a decent movie!

Good news of the week

DestinyGift-AMAZON-684x1024

This week my friend Juliana Haygert published her NA Paranormal Romance DESTINY GIFT! Find out more about it here.

Links of the Week

This week on my blog I wrote a recap of the SCBWI Europlitan Conference.

On There And Draft Again, I discussed Gender Bias in Fantasy novels.

On her blog, Carissa Taylor talked about rejection in a fantastic post quoting best-selling YA authors.

The amazing Summer Heacock also wrote a blog post entitled When You Wish Upon A Book… and you should read it!

Next week

Next week I’m attending the London Book Fair! Stay tuned for a recap…

How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!