Where To Start?

Where To Start? I am a writer—I write urban fantasy/ romantic suspense.  I may, in the future, write in other genres, but for now, that’s what I write.  BUT, writing a blog is very different from writing fiction.  I find it excruciating because I have to talk about myself and my interests and my opinions.  Gross.  WHAT IF my opinion changes.  I’m a girl—these things happen.  For example, I used to have a crush on Charlie Sheen when he was in that movie Lucas way back when—that changed.  (Not that I have anything against Charlie. I’m just not a “goddess”…I wonder if he would mind me calling him Charlie or if he would prefer that I refer to him as Mr. Sheen…he is famous and I am, well, me).  And then there is the whole “the internet is written in ink” thing,  (Yes, I saw The Social Network) so that makes me think: this is so completely suspect because I can’t take anything back once I enter it into the annals of society (or “anals” if it stinks).  I have to be cautious of what I say and what I reveal.  But, that’s boring.  Who wants to read something like that?  So, here I am…blogging.  I have to be real, right?  Because if I tell you that I shanked another inmate because she tried to steal my peas it may make me sound more exciting but you’ll never really know who I am, will you?  Okay, so maybe I’ll just tell you about what’s been happening lately.

A few days ago I submitted corrections to the proof for my debut novel entitled Inescapable: The Premonition Series.  I wrote the manuscript in the summer of 2008 while I was watching my, and every other neighbors’, kids swim in our pool (which, if you have ever had the pleasure of watching a pool full of kids, you’ll know it is one of the most boring jobs on the planet—perfect for letting your mind wander and your characters roam free).  I have written three more books in this series to follow it.  But I’m finding that publishing is very different from writing.  Publishing is excruciating because you have to edit (like a million times), decide font sizes, write an enticing snippet for the description/cover (which is probably the most difficult part of writing a book), help design and approve the mock-ups, and format the interior to discover if you have used any hard tabs in your work.  (Because hard tabs are the devil’s handmaidens of publishing—throw a hard tab in your work and watch the chaos ensue.)  If one has hard tabs, then she is considered a complete moron.  (Of which I am guilty.)  

It probably wouldn’t be as difficult if I was not self-publishing, which I am.  My decision to self-publish was based on a couple of things:  word count and compromise.  If I wanted to attract an agent, I would have needed to pare my word count down to around 100,000 words.  I did that:  I took my book from 135,000 words down to around 105,000 words, but I found that the compromise took the life out of the story.  So, I decided not to compromise and to publish it myself at around 135,000 words—and by “do it myself,” I mean with the help of my mother, Gloria, who enjoys her role of Editor-In-Chief and executive critic.  (I understand that the risk for an agent/publisher would be very high, especially since no one knows who I am, so I do see the point.)  So, I should be at the end of the editing process.  (You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes). I will get a physical proof back in about 5 business days and then I hope to approve it and have a finished novel.  And then…I’m really a writer…officially…I write…I have written...I will write more and be writerly  (I made up a new word).  Now, if I can just figure out how to blog…