Working on Forecast and like always, one song seems to fit my characters. For Coral and Taran, it’s Beautiful Mine by The Butterfly Effect
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M_PpfLs8XA”]
Author: RindaElliott
New Lap Desk
Edit: This post gets a lot of traffic. I guess there are quite a few people out there looking for the right lap desk. It’s now January 4th and I wanted to add that this desk is still holding up well. It’s sturdier than I first thought and being able to adjust the legs for my different writing areas is priceless. I’d recommend it. Unfortunately, I don’t see the link on Amazon anymore for the silver–but there is pink. <g> I think there are other colors available, too, if you want to look around. )
One of the small but big-to-me problems of being on a laptop so much is that I HATE having a laptop on my lap. I’ve tried many different lap desks and the truth is, if they are actually ON my lap, it doesn’t work for me. There are heat and circulation issues. Sore legs.
I work at a desk as much as possible, but let’s face it, there are times you need to work on your bed or on the couch. A huge, heavy breakfast tray doesn’t work either. They are hard to maneuver when you get up and down a lot, they’re heavy, bulky and the worst? Too freaking high for non-painful typing. Right now I can’t work at my desk. Have a kiddo home and she’s using my office, so I’ve been trying everything to make this work.
I finally broke down and tried something new. It arrived today. Here are my feelings so far. It’s light, the legs are adjustable so I can have it right over my lap and not ON my lap. I’ve been on it an hour and so far, the heat isn’t an issue and the typing height is perfect. I’ll let you know how it holds up. That will be the big test. Already, the tray dips a little with the weight of my laptop. Oh and my laptop isn’t very wide–this wouldn’t work for the larger sized laptops. 
News and Beri O’Dell
I ended up with overlapping deadlines, so I’ve been extremely busy. I also have revisions and page proofs and so many other more exciting things going on.
My big news is I’ve seen the cover concepts for my Harlequin Teen books and they are gorgeous! I am SO looking forward to sharing.
In the meantime, my first two Beri O’Dell novels are still up and chugging along. Unfortunately, I’ve been a little too busy to do a lot of promo, so if you’ve enj
oyed the books, feel free to tell your friends. Amazon reviews help quite a bit too. Beri could use a little exposure. 🙂
Blood of an Ancient Print Date
The print date for Blood of an Ancient is October 7, 2014! Excited to hold it in my hands. Until then, it will still be available as an electronic book.
Nice Review!
I love the full review from Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks for Blood of an Ancient!
My Book Is Out
Today is the day! Scroll down to the last post (Or click here) for a list of places you can get Blood of an Ancient today!
Release Day Tomorrow
Blood of an Ancient releases tomorrow. I probably won’t sleep tonight. 😉
Here are a few places you can get it:
My publisher Samhain Publishing where it is only $3.85 (For another week!) and comes in all e-formats: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/blood-ancient-p-73054.html
Amazon ($4.24): http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Ancient-Beri-ODell-Book-ebook/dp/B00DUB24M8/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Barnes and Noble ($4.99): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-of-an-ancient-rinda-elliott/1116010912?ean=9781619214279
Kobo ($4.59): http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/blood-of-an-ancient
And here are a few early reviews you can check out to help make up your mind.
Vampire Book Club: http://vampirebookclub.net/early-review-blood-of-an-ancient-by-rinda-elliott-beri-odell-2/
Scorching Book Reviews: http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-vicky-review-blood-of-ancient-by.html?zx=83e0fd8be15cd8c6
Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks: (She’ll be releasing the full review soon, but did have this to say on Goodreads.) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/578131737
You Can Win Both!
An exclusive excerpt of Blood of an Ancient and a giveaway of BOTH Beri O’Dell books going on at Scorching Book Reviews! http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/exclusive-excerpt-giveaway-blood-of.html
Blood of an Ancient comes out in EIGHT DAYS. So excited. And nervous. But more excited… wait.
Winners of Blood of an Ancient!
I probably didn’t promote my giveaway enough. LOL! Because I only had two comments…you both win! Email me at rindaelliott(at)gmail(dot)com and let me know which electronic format you’d prefer. And congratulations! Hope you enjoy Blood of an Ancient.
For those coming in late who missed the giveaway, there will be another at Scorching Book Reviews on Monday. Blood of an Ancient was their Waiting on Wednesday post this week. See? http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/waiting-on-wednesday-blood-of-ancient.html
One, Two, Three, Three Read-Throughs Ah ha ha!
(Me during another cold.)
No. Not three. More. So many more.
So, one perk of working at home–woke up with a cold today, so I can stay in pjs and work on my laptop. The downside is I can’t curl up and sleep off the cold because I have too much work. Not that I’m complaining. I LOVE THAT I FINALLY HAVE ALL THIS WORK.
(BTW, the big downside of working at home is you always feel like you should be working. But that’s another post. LOL.)
Anyway, I have to read through one of my books all the way through today. Again. So…how many times does an author do this? Let’s see. After the many times we’ve read it while writing (this can be a LOT) and it’s off to editor:
1: First revisions.
2: Second revisions.
3. Final check.
4: Line edits.
5. Galley check.
And because I’m digital first and print second,
6: Last check for errors before print.
So, at least six full read-throughs after all the work you first put into its creation. Not all authors go through a second round of revisions, but my Samhain editor is thorough and she fact checks with me. For instance, I wanted this pretty setting color in one of my books and tried to pass off a mild winter to explain it and we’ve both now researched and realized I can’t get away with it. (Unless any of you live in southern Louisiana and can send me a message to say otherwise. It’s about kudzu. In January. <G>)
What’s really fun is the different emotions you can go through with each read.
You’re not so sure about this book…
Wait, this book isn’t that bad…
Oh, who am I kidding? I’m a FRAUD…
You know, I kind of like this book.
However, no matter what, I can guarantee that every author gets sick of reading their own book at some point.
Don’t forget, you can comment to win an early copy of Blood of an Ancient here. I’m hoping the low number of comments is because so many already pre-ordered the book. heh
I’m picking a winner tomorrow or maybe Friday. 😉
Me!