Thoughts from a writing mom

I realize I should have probably shared this a while ago, but here is a little more about Absolved and how it came to be. Those that know me well know I’ve written since I was young.   I started writing stories shortly after I learned how to write.   I have some handwritten stories from when I was a little girl.   I have a picture of one on a previous blog post.   In high school I became interested in journalism, and was the editor-in-chief of the high school newspaper my senior year.   It was called the Haltom Image.   I have a scrapbook in my closet with clippings of every article, column, and editorial I wrote for that paper.   It was a lot of fun for me. During my time in the Navy I didn’t write much other than journal entries.   I did start what I thought might be my first book while I was living in the barracks, but it never amounted to anything.   I wasn’t sure I would ever finish anything I started when it came to writing. ...

You know what feels strange?   Setting up a facebook author page.   At the request of my publisher I did this recently.   It’s very bare right now, but it exists.   I understand this is an important marketing tool.   I am just not that skilled when it comes to social media, so it isn’t at all an easy process for me.   As of right now I have a total of zero likes.   Will you help me change that?   I promise it won’t always be such a boring page.   As my release date gets closer I’m sure I will have more to fill it with.   You can find this at www.facebook.com/christydecker83 .   And yes, I also set up a twitter account after I signed my publishing contract.   If you happen to be there, follow me! @christydecker83 My latest writing news is that my second book is nearly at 13,000 words.   I had a rough couple of weeks that included my husband, children, and I getting the flu, or that word count would be higher. ...

I really am trying to update this blog more now.  Obviously it isn't easy to find the time.  I also still really need to write the acknowledgements for Absolved, and send it to my publisher.  I've just been so anxious to work on my second book that when I find the time to write, it is all that I work on. "The Consequence" is now over 10,000 words.  Oh, it made me smile to hit this mark.  At this rate I will definitely have it finished before a year...maybe even half that time if I can keep this up!  It has still been fun to write, so I think I can.  Tonight I was able to sneak in a little over 200 words while my husband and kids watched a Disney movie.  It's nice to get work done before they sleep, this way, I can get some rest too!  As I've written in a previous blog, the majority of my writing is done at night while they sleep. Alright.  I wanted to start sharing the books I read with you all.  I recently finished ...

Working on my second book and another couple of sentences will put me at 6,000 words.  I started it about a month ago.  To some, this might not seem like much.  However I am the full time mother of four kids aged four and under....so for me, this number isn't too bad. People have asked when I have time to write.  Ha!  I don't.  I stay up late to write.  I miss out on sweet, precious sleep to do it.  Even then I'm often interrupted by a waking child.  All I can say is THANK GOODNESS FOR COFFEE IN THE MORNING.  And in the afternoon.  Coffee is my survival. So, a little about the new book.  Surprisingly this one already has a title.  It's had a title for about a year and a half now, when I thought of the idea for the story.  It's called "The Consequence", and it involves a couple whose lives are turned upside down by infidelity.  Originally I was going to make the male the cheater, but right before I began writi...

Literally, as I type right now, a 22 month old is asleep on me.  It has been a rough few days for our family.  Diarrhea, vomiting, fevers.  This little one had diarrhea eleven times today.  Eleven.  So we are checking her throughout the night to be sure she isn't doing it in her sleep...and of course the last time I checked her, she woke up.  She wanted to be held and I can't blame her so I just brought her in the living room with me.  Before that, I was working on my second book.  I'm just over 3500 words.  It's called The Consequence, and it is about a relationship that gets turned upside down by infidelity.  I'm really enjoying writing it.  I do still hope I can finish this one in under a year, but days like today, I doubt my timeline.  I am, afterall, taking care of my four children full time. I do hope with all my heart I am able to one day call writing a source of income for my family.  To be paid for what I enjo...

I've officially signed a contract with eLectio Publishing.  The tentative release date for my book is April 8th, 2014.  The website for eLectio Publishing is http://www.electiopublishing.com/. The title of my book is Absolved.  Can you guess by that title that it has a major theme of forgiveness?  Well, it does.  I believe my book will appeal to anyone who has ever struggled with the concept of forgiving and moving on from past grief and hurt.  I do hope you'll check it out.  It will be available to purchase in paperback from my publisher's site after the release, but I believe the easiest way to purchase will be on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or iTunes.  I do want to write more right now.  However, an almost two year old is currently screaming.  Of course.  I will be back again soon. 

No, I haven't signed yet.  Still waiting on an attorney.  I really should sign by the end of next week.  I am looking forward to getting the ball rolling on my book! I wanted to share something.  This picture is of a story I wrote in 1992.  I was nine.  For whatever reason, I still have it.  It's just three pieces of paper stapled together. I actually tell a variation of this story to my kids now.  They love it!  Looking at this story, thinking of the series of events that have happened recently, I almost wish I would have been a little more confident about my writing before.  I've been so secretive about it. Family and friends have been wondering why they had no clue I was even writing a book.  I doubted myself even though the truth is I really enjoy writing.  A little part of me has known I will never stop writing.... and of course a big part of me hoped I would do what I've done, finish a book.  So....

I have a contract from eLectio Publishing.  I am almost certain I am going to sign!  I just want to be safe and still haven't had it looked over by an attorney so I am waiting for that.  Also, I have started a new book that I am really excited about!  I am going to try and get this one finished in less time than my first.  I have a little more confidence now that I may have a publishing deal now and I just want to write and write and write and get my work out there.  This is an exciting time, but a scary one as well.  I have no idea what I'm doing and I am going to actually have to market my work if I want it to sell.  They say the real work begins when your book is finished, and I believe that.  So.  Here is what it looks like when I try to write around here.  My three year old happens to be napping near me.  Yes, my laptop is missing keys. This is what happens when you live in a house with four kids aged fou...

My absence from this blog is mostly due to the fact that my kids tend to consume my days and nights.  I am not complaining, I want these little distractions.  I love them.  :)  I do, however, have to find more time to get back to this blog, and to even possibly put myself out there now...because... I MAY BE GETTING A BOOK DEAL.  Whew.  Can't believe it's true.  Here is a brief update on my life of writing right now.... As you know from the last blog post that was written FOREVER ago, I finished my book.  I did start querying agents.  I had a lot of rejection.  Something kept me going though... Over a month ago I decided to write to some small publishing companies that were accepting unsolicited manuscripts from authors.  Last week, an email came to me from one of the publishers.  It wasn't a rejection.  It was a request for a phone conversation.  Next day, spoke on the phone with someone from this company...