Before the Pritchard and Decker, Adara had a contract on an explorer class ship. The ship was supposed to be her home, the crew her family. With a rigid by the books captain, Adara found herself written up, reprimanded and in danger of losing her contract. Still she forms bonds with people on the crew. Carving out a niche, she finds a balance until fate intervenes with a deadly asteroid shower.
This is a short story about Adara’s experience and rescue on the Aegis. It is available for sale on Smashwords and Amazon:
It’s been a rough week. I’ve had higher pain levels and less motivation for a week. I’m still struggling with pain but I can’t let that stop me from moving forward with things that need to get done.
The good thing about a rough week – I listened to a number of audio books while I crocheted. It is about the only thing I can do that doesn’t hurt. I finished three gifts and two other small projects.
The purple shawl is supposed to have buttons on it but I want to have Vicki here so I can place the buttons in the right spots. This was a pattern I liked the looks of but had to rework it. The person who designed it gave only directions for a magic ring start and a non-chain double crochet. I’ve done them. I don’t like how they look. I rewrote the pattern and I think it turned out nicely. The blue scarf isn’t done yet though I’m close. It is baby yarn that will make a nice light weight scarf for spring / summer / fall. I still need to get some length on it but I’m pleased with how it is working up.
I finished my niece’s afghan, the throw for my student worker and a hood / wristers set for another student worker. I’m not posting pictures of them for obvious reasons but I do have to say I think the afghan turned out particularly nice.
I finalized the cover for Wayfarer Aegis and got preliminary covers for Wayfarer Trials and Murder Next Door. TJ Jahns did a wonderful drawing of what I needed for Murder Next Door.
I finished my preliminary edits on Wayfarer seven. This gives me four manuscripts to edit and I’m hoping to get them done soon. Wayfarer Aegis has the final paper edits done, I just need to get them on the computer and read them one more time before it hits production. I’ve posted a look at the cover and a description on my web site. http://eileentroemel.weebly.com/
Most of what I need to get done can be done on my netbook but production work – finishing edits on manuscripts and prep for publishing – has to be done on my computer in my office. When I’m in pain, this is difficult. Until the pain eases, I will work on whatever I can on my netbook. I certainly have a litany of tasks I can work on up until production becomes necessary.
This week I’ve struggled with attitude and self image. When all I can do is sit in the recliner and hope the pain will ease enough so I can think, it drags me down into a well of grumbliness. I hate not being able to get done the things I know need doing. I keep reminding myself it will pass, it will get better. All I can do is what I can do when the pain washes over me.
People genuinely care and are concerned about my welfare which is nice. It helps remind me to keep looking up. When they ask ‘are you feeling better’ I hate telling them no. It’s hard for people to understand that there are layers to the pain. There are the days where I start out feeling fine but go downhill. There are days I start out feeling awful but can force myself to get through the day. There are days when I can’t do anything more than sit in my chair and hope the pain goes away. The thing is…. the pain is always there, always tearing at my joints. I can’t remember the last time I went without pain. All I can do is manage and hope I can get through what needs to be done and not fall into that well of darkness where the pain wins.
Accomplishing things, like the crocheting or writing which take little movement, helps clear the grumbliness I feel. It helps me be able to say, at least I can do this. At least I can accomplish something for now. Even in my worst moments, I know it will get better and I’ll batter back the pain to a level I can tolerate so I can keep moving forward.
Yesterday I managed to check off two big things on my to do list. I got the taxes done for my mom and sister as well as the paperwork for my uncle. Last night I finished writing the rough draft of Wayfarer 7.
This morning I promptly rewrote the ending as it felt bad and abrupt last night. I woke up knowing a better way to end it. One of my test readers said it felt too final and the tweak I had in mind I hope makes it feel less final.
However, this means I now have four manuscripts in the editing phase. I will try to get them through this phase and into production. It will take time. I swear I’m going to write on the Defenders series next.
Before I turned to the Defenders, I want to get some crocheting done. I think today will be a day of going through the LARGE stack of coupons I have to clip and then crocheting to see how many gifts I can make. In all honestly I’m working on the throw I need to make and hoping I can finish it today.
As is normal for me after finishing a project, I feel rung out and used up. The ending for seven was tough, One of the constants in the book goes away. Now I’ll have to replace it in the next book but I’m not thinking about eight until I get some editing done.
I think I’ll work on crocheting for the next two weeks with the editing thrown in. Hopefully I’ll be able to do a cover reveal for Wayfarer Aegis shortly. I am excited for the release of all these books. I love them all and can’t wait to get them edited and into production.
If I do the coupons, I can lay out my crocheting on the card table and figure out which projects I can get off my to do list. If Ken doesn’t want to watch Babylon 5 with me, then I’ll probably listen to the new JD Robb book. Either way, my crochet hook will be going and my brain will hopefully get a rest from creating – well creating a story anyways…
It’s dang cold out, it seems like the perfect day to stay inside and get things done, fun things like harassing my husband and crocheting. All while I wait nervously for my test readers to come back with whether they like seven or not.
I hesitate to use the word normal because I don’t consider myself normal but I guess I could qualify it as normal for me.
This week has been busy with work and writing. I’m neck deep in a manuscript (Wayfarer 7) and working towards finishing it. I’m also attempting to get some editing done which thinking of all the aspects of all the novels related to whatever I’m editing. Since one is a prequel to Wayfarer, this means I have to keep in mind all the things that have happened in the books since and how they relate to the prequel. I’ve also got a murder mystery novel to edit and the first edits (search and replace) for the sixth Wayfarer novel.
Edits inevitably lead to the need for a cover. I have the prequel one done and will be doing an event to share the cover. I worked with TJ Jahns to get the cover going on the murder mystery. I’m hoping she will come back with a cover for me to use. It still leaves me with a cover to make for Wayfarer 6 which I still don’t have a title for yet but I’m working on it. I have one in my head, I just have to think it over and decide if I like it.
I started one of the crochet projects I need to get done. I’ve got the new JD Robb book Obsession in Death to listen to so I may take a break (once I’m done with 7) and listen to that while I work on the crochet project.
This weekend I’m working on taxes for people and helping my uncle with some paperwork. It promises to be busy and possibly frustrating. I was going to work on my own taxes but then I got notified that two or three of the forms I got were wrong. I believe I will get the corrected forms next week – I hope so at least.
To do list – marketing of Wayfarer (on sale) finish writing Wayfarer 7 Editing three manuscripts Crochet gifts – student workers, wedding, baby, Virginia’s afghan Read new JD Robb Taxes for people and paperwork for my uncle.
These are just the things I need to do by Saturday or Sunday. I hope I can get them all done. Ken’s back home so I’m less productive though he is very understanding and gives me lots of time and space to do what I need to. Still I sort of like spending time with my husband. Seems like if he’s around and in the house, I could maybe spend some time with him.
Oh and I have season 5 of Downton Abbey. I wanted to watch it this next weekend but I don’t think that’s going to happen. If I get all of my to do list done maybe I can do it next weekend. I can work on crocheting while I watch.
Adara Stone youngest pilot in the Interstellar Planets Union survived one ship’s destruction only to be treated like a jinx. Being half human and half Wayfarer, she’s always been set apart. Captain Decker Flannery thinks she’s too young, too solitary and too sexy to be on his hsip. He needs a third pilot so he has no choice but to hire her. He knows he’s just hired trouble.
The first of five in the series – Wayfarer starts the adventures of Adara and Decker. Get the first installment for only 99 cents right now. Just follow one of the links above. If you like the first installment, check out the others Wayfarer Clans, Wayfarer Immemorial, Wayfarer Negotiator, and Wayfarer Wedding.
I’ve been busy. I did sales summary analysis for January, billed for an editing job, responded to a bunch of emails, ate three meals yesterday (though supper was a bit late), and wrote. I wrote an epilogue of sorts to Wayfarer Aegis. One of my test readers insisted. I was reluctant but having written it I see how it changes the tone of the ending and connects it better to the first book. My test readers agree. I wrote a blog for here, did posting on Facebook, answered posts on Facebook, and checked on Linked in, Goodreads, Pagan Square and looked for new reviews. In addition to all of those things I wrote about 7,000 words for the sixth Wayfarer novel.
I went to sleep last night trying to figure out if I wanted to write a love scene between two characters or leave it as strong implied. I couldn’t decide. I slept on it. This morning I woke up with the love scene playing in my head. I sat up and wrote it and the following scene as well.
I have to check my business email this morning about the editing job I worked on. However, I think I’m going to go take a shower. When I’m done with my shower, I am hoping I’ll figure out what I want the next scene to be. I know in general what it will be but I’m having Adara do a private negotiation that Admiral Chesnik specifically asked her to do. I don’t know what will be under negotiation. I have to figure that out. Once I do, I’ll be able to write the scene. After that I have one more scene for this contract day. Then I’ll be jumping forward, I know the next scene for the new contract, I just have to figure out all the details of it. It’s going to be complicated and involved but I think I know how it will play out.
If I can get all of that written today I will count it as a good day of writing. The thing is I even know what happens after all of these scenes. I know where I’m taking the story and sort of how it is going to play out but not the details yet. It’s always fun for me to see the details unfold as I write.
If I can get Wayfarer done today or maybe in the next day or so, I can move on to Defenders. I really want to tackle the final story in that series. It’s two thirds done, I just need to finish it so I can work on edits. There are battles to be fought, people who need to die, people who shouldn’t die, and justice to be done in that story. It is exciting and should be fun once I get to it.
For those who are worried, stop. Yesterday I managed to remember to eat, sleep and even shower. On top of which I finished Wayfarer Aegis. I may work on the cover for it today. It went off to my test readers. The first one got back to me last night and she loved the changes I made. It pleases me that the added scenes helped to polish the story.
I worked on Wayfarer six last night. I don’t have a name for it yet. They generally come to me as I’m writing so for now it is six. When I ran out of energy for writing I slept and woke up this morning with at least one scene in my head. I have a lot to do in this one so I think it is going to be a dense story.
I remembered to call Ken to wish him a Happy Birthday! He’s 54 today and better than he was at 20 when we married. I admit to no bias in that statement.
I’ve had breakfast, took my meds, and brushed my hair. I’m managing to remember to do the basics. Of course I haven’t started writing yet. All bets are off once I start writing. Classical music is on and I’m at the computer.
I’m up and working. In my head there is a list of what I want to get done today which I’m trying to tackle before the scenes in my head take over forcing me to write. My list includes blogging, facebook marketing, email, invoice for editing job I did and then WRITING. I’ve already done the sales review for the month. I just have to check tomorrow to see if there were sales today.
Yes I’m pretty sure I’m obsessed with writing. I’m pretty sure if I stopped writing my head would explode because there would be too many words and stories in it.
Virginia and Stephanie are with Ken and they are doing the birthday and superbowl thing this weekend. Vicki is at a conference getting tons of books. I’m writing. Everything is good and right in my world.
Ken went off to visit the girls and I’m just back from dropping him at the airport. I get to be home alone for the next week! I am very excited about this as I plan to WRITE until my fingers fall off.
I sent Ken with goodies for the girls. I’ve been crocheting for them for the last two weeks. They got two scarves and something like twenty six coasters. Virginia requested the purple and gray combo and then Stephanie sent me her color choices. I got baby yarn for the scarves so it would make a nice light scarf. They both turned out beautifully. I LOVE the yarn and will be purchasing it again.
Now their stuff is done, I have to turn to my other projects. I have a scarf I’m working on for Vicki which is almost done. When it’s done I’ll be working on the gifts for my student workers and my niece who is getting married. I have four gifts to get done by beginning of May and one by July.
While I’m alone this week though I’m going to focus on writing. My short story didn’t place for the contest I sent it to but I think it’s good enough to publish so I’m going to polish it up some more, add a couple more scenes and put it out there for purchase. For the rough draft, I have two or three more scenes to write and then it can go in the editing pile.
I just finished writing Murder Next Door. I know exactly what I want for a cover (I think) so I have to figure out if I can get a photo of it or if I will try to get a picture (drawn) for it.
This week I have three things I want to get done – Wayfarer Aegis (which is just the two or three scenes), the Defenders third book, and the Wayfarer sixth book. All three projects are started and in varying degrees of being written. I just need to finish them.
On the drive home, I tried to settle into one of the stories to see if I could plot out the first steps. I think the Aegis is going to be the first one. Part of that is because it is so close to being done. I need to write about so little to polish it off and then I think I can send it to my test readers. If they don’t have any problems with it, I can start the editing process and get it out for publication. The other two are going to be longer and more complicated to write, edit and publish.
Enough with sharing for now. I’m on to writing. Adara and the Aegis here I come.
With the wedding only 106 days off, the men in Adara’s life decide to send her family ships to the Hettians known location. Adara fixes a flawed plan to send them off. She negotiates property and payment for the risk her clan must take.
While checking in on the shop keepers on Space Station Zed, Adara discovers Devoe is moving to Castitate colony – a human’s only colony. After training the pilots on the Galway, Adara returns to assist in rescuing a mother and daughter from a stranded mini scout. The mother has been raped and beaten. They are from the Castitate colony. This prompts Franklin to dig deep into the pasts of the founders. He opens a fifteen year old case of a prison fire.
Trainees show up for Adara to assess after a shuttle accident on the Command space station. She assesses and trains them in practical applications of flying.
Decker and Adara field demands from his mother about the proper way to have a wedding. Decker puts his foot down on how his mother treats Adara telling her to be nice or lose them both.
