Author: MCD

I'm a writer. I also bake. And knit. A lot. My novels are available anywhere ebooks/paperbacks/audiobooks are sold online. Find more info on my blog: http://www.madebymeghan.ca

Categories
writing

Sometimes all you can do is a …

… page one rewrite. After talking my issue(s!!) (see my last blog post) with writing the next Amplifier book over with Michael ad nauseam, I finally came to the conclusion earlier this morning that I was forcing Amplifier 5 to be something it was never meant to be – a full-length novel. I was trying to combine the next two Amplifier stories (aka not necessarily novels) into one book, gearing up for capping the series at book 6 (technically a seven-book arc, plus shorts, counting the prequel).

And now that I’ve come to that conclusion the only thing I can do about it is … a page one rewrite.

*cue silent weeping*

On rare occasions, even a detailed plot and well-utilized notebook aren’t a solid enough structure on which to build a great novel.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve gone so far off track (with an outlined book!!) that I needed to scrap everything and reimagine the story I wanted to tell. I actually can’t remember the last time I had to start with a blank page, and in this case, a new blank notebook.

Thank goodness I have a habit of overbuying notebooks! LOL

Here we go!

New notebook + redraft = a fresh start for Amplifier 5.

To clarify, Amplifier 5 will (likely) will now consist of an Emma novella and a Zans novella. And the projected release date will definitely shift further into 2022. Though, thankfully, I have a draft of the Zans story already done.

Here we go (for the fourth time)!

Categories
writing

What I should be doing … part 42

What I should be doing: writing Amplifier 5. You know, the book I’ve been working on since 2020.  

What I’m actually doing: writing a prequel short for a new (urban fantasy, portal fantasy?) universe. 

I really don’t know what is wrong with me. Aka why can’t I focus on what I’m supposed to be writing? Other than being in constant pain, of course.

Michael says I should be happy that I feel like writing anything at all while recovering from major surgery. Unfortunately for me, logic rarely counters fretful anxiety aka the shoulds that I allow to build up in my beleaguered brain. But … I must admit, there is always truth in the ‘focus on new words’ idea … writing is a balm for just about anything, so … maybe I should listen to Michael (this one time only). LOL

Yes, it takes multiple notebooks when brainstorming/worldbuilding a new series/universe.

Have no idea what I’m talking about? I shared the ‘first words’ I wrote for Waypoint 42 in the Muse is Not Monogamous in April 2021. Also, there is a huge hint about this upcoming project in Burgundy’s Moments of the Adept Universe 1 novelette. Did you catch it?

Categories
quiz

Oracle Series Trivia Quiz!

Okay! Next up in the Adept Universe quizzes: the Oracle Series! I tried to cobble together a mix of questions, some obscure and hopefully some tricky. Ten in total. If you haven’t read the Oracle Series yet, book one is I See Me and it comes after Dowser 3 in the reading order.

Oracle Series book covers by Elizabeth Mackey Graphic Design

Click here to take the quiz!

Did you miss the Dowser Series Trivia Quiz? Well then, click the link to take it!

Categories
excerpts personal reflection

MCD health update and a Kandy snippet.

In case you haven’t seen my posts on my various social media platforms, I had a hysterectomy (everything but ovaries) almost two weeks ago. I’ve been taking my pain meds diligently and reading a book a day but getting seriously restless. This afternoon, I’m doing some slow walking on my treadmill desk, which in turn spawned some slow, slow writing on a short, short Kandy story that I was hoping to include in Moments of the Adept Universe 1 but didn’t quite make it.

Needless to say, my publishing schedule is now even more delayed than usual. As are my newsletters, etc. But I’ll get back to work on Amplifier 5 as soon as I’m up for it.

Here is a tiny Kandy snippet to tide you over (hopefully).

I stood on the land of the pack of my birth and felt nothing.

The gate had been open, but the long drive was filled with vehicles so I’d parked my Jeep on the street and walked. Walked until the behemoth of a house loomed over me. The white siding and columned front porch showed signs of age for the first time in my recollection. The dusty pink roses woven through the trellis that stretched up to Justin’s bedroom window on the top corner didn’t quite hide the broken cross brace midway up. And I could see that the untreated splintered wood had grayed with age.

Five years and five months of age to be exact.

I’d broken that trellis the last time I’d sneaked out of Justin’s bedroom. Though he’d asked me to spend the night, and nothing happened clandestinely in a house occupied by adult werewolves, no matter how stupidly large that house was, so sneaking around was just a game.

Just a game.

Fooling around with Justin and Dedra at the same time.

Pretending I wasn’t committed to anything or anyone, least of all some imposed sense of place, or status within the pack. The pack I’d been born into, bred into really. Bred to be the best of the best.

At the time I’d thought that walking away was one of the hardest things I’d ever done, ever have to do.

I’d been wrong.

And not for the last time.

Because it was possible — no matter that I was happy as I could be in Vancouver and within the loose structure of my pack of choice — I wasn’t going to be able to bring myself to walk through the front doors, let alone jog up the few steps leading to them.

My mother was dead.

– A Moment of Reflection (Moments of the Adept Universe 0.8), first draft

Categories
quiz

Dowser Series Trivia Quiz!

Okay (if you saw me freaking out about this over on Facebook) the quiz app/software had an update available this morning, and miraculously the quiz that I spent far too much time putting together a few weeks ago now works!! YAY!

Click here to take the quiz (and warning, it is fairly difficult!)

I’ll do more quizzes for the other series if you all like this one.

😊

Categories
excerpts

Amplifier Series: dramatic reveals and dessert

Pearl Godfrey crossed to greet us, raising her hand to meet Aiden’s handshake without a moment of hesitation. He flashed her a charming grin that just slid right off the elder witch.

Now that was impressive.

But then I pretty much melted whenever Aiden even glanced my way, even after all these months of the minutiae of spending every waking moment together. And the sleeping moments as well.

Pearl kept hold of Aiden’s hand, her head tilted thoughtfully. “Pearl Godfrey. You must be Aiden Myers.”

“Aiden Azar,” he replied smoothly.

That gave me pause. Though I hoped my surprise hadn’t shown on my face. I hadn’t known that Aiden had decided to resume using his father’s name. But then, it wasn’t at all surprising that he’d want to distance himself from his mother, and the Myers coven.

Pearl smiled at him knowingly. “Dramatic reveals usually come after dessert, sorcerer.”

Aiden chuckled. “My apologies. I figured my presence was enough of a disturbance that I should just dive in.”

– Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), chapter three, first draft

Categories
excerpts writing

Amplifier Series: pit bulls and dinners with witches

Here is a great example of how I completely fail at marketing. I should be sharing pretty memes and quotes or reviews from either of my two newest releases, Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) or Moments of the Adept Universe 1, but instead, I’m sharing half-baked new words because they amused me (and my attention span is just that insanely short). 😆

“Witches,” Aiden sneered. “Nosy and self-righteous. I believe I shall come to dinner with you.” He returned his attention to his book, ignoring the pointed look I gave him.

Paisley pressed her shoulder to my knee.

“Sorry,” I said. “The sorcerer I’ll be able to pass off as an overprotective, controlling asshole, but the witches aren’t going to believe that my pit bull needs to come to a buffet.”

Aiden snorted, amused.

Paisley narrowed her eyes — at the offending sorcerer, not me.

– Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), first draft

Categories
Merchandise

Amplifier Series: Oracle Cards

Note: April 28, 3pm PST: I have added EIGHT final (for the nearish future) sets of Oracle cards to my ‘store’ but please see all my caveats in the note below.

CLICK TO BUY THE AMPLIFIER ORACLE CARDS

$32 CDN + oversized letter mail

Full set of Amplifier Series Oracle cards – 23 cards printed on thick card stock, glossy on both sides. Plus three autographed MCD bookplates.

[You are all insane – in the best way – I can see orders coming in even as I write this blog post to announce that the cards are available 😂 ].

As promised, I’ve made another 50 sets [as of Feb 23] of Christopher’s Oracle Cards from the Amplifier Series available in my store. $32 CDN + oversized letter mail. Click the previous link for more info and/or to purchase.

The cards first appear in Close To Home (Amplifier 1.5) which is bundled with the Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0).

Note: same caveats as always: please remember I’m not a store. I’ve simplified the shipping, etc, as much as possible. For example: set shipping rates, no tracking, no extra sets, no special orders. Please remember I’m trying to write as much as possible and these are just meant to be fun extras. The prices are set in Canadian currency (which means some of you are getting a great deal!) so a different charge might show up on your credit card statement. Also, I believe there is a 5.5%+ $0.30 charge for certain payment methods.

Fun! Fun!

Categories
giveaways

Archivist 2: paperback and illustration giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! LUCKY #32 HAS BEEN EMAILED.

Happy Friday! In lieu of doing some sort of ‘marketing’ post because I’m really not in the mood to figure anything out, I thought I’d finally post an autographed Archivist 2 paperback giveaway! And! When I got the limited-edition Archivist giclee prints printed, the printers randomly printed extras of Ravine’s illustration, so that is up for grabs as well. Whoot!

There are a few of the (numbered) full sets of illustrations still available in my store. Just FYI.

An autographed paperback of Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2), a giclee print of an illustration of Ravine, and an MCD bookplate.

Are you interested in winning an autographed paperback of Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2), a giclee print of Ravine’s illustration by Nicole Deal, and an MCD bookplate?

Yes?

To enter please comment below with your favourite character or scene or quote (and WHY it is your fav) from any of the Archivist Series books.

Yes, that means you need to have read at least one of the Archivist series books to enter. But since I gave the first one away for free (on numerous occasions) and all the books are available through your local online library that should be an easy requirement to fulfill. And that should also mean that a true fan – aka readers who would actually want the limited edition print, etc – will win the giveaway. Yay!

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Only entries that follow the stated requirements will be valid. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary – all my books are available for free via your local library. The comments are moderated. I will approve your entry just as soon as I have a moment to do so.

Giveaway closes SUNDAY, FEB 6, 2022 at 8pm PST.

Are you new to the Archivist Series? The first book is the prequel, Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0).

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Click here for the full reading order.

Categories
excerpts

Archivist Series: Ravine Byrne

Guess who just realized that she’d never shared Nicole Deal‘s amazing illustration of Ravine on her blog and therefore couldn’t link to it under Extras and Freebies? Me. That’s who. *shakes head at self* Thankfully the illustration also appears in the book!

Ravine from the Archivist Series. Illustration by Nicole Deal.

Ravine’s bright-blue gaze was riveted to me. Then she smirked. “I can be powerful too, Dusk.” She tightened her grip on the crown.

I caught Prince’s frown from the corner of my eye.

The metal mage raised the crown, deliberately holding it over her head.

“No!” Prince shouted. “You aren’t powerful enough.”

He lunged for her, though I was already certain he couldn’t actually take the crown from Ravine without permission. That was why he’d released her from his beguilement. Magic had rules, in all dimensions.

Ravine placed the crown on her head.

– Excerpt from Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)

Are you new to the Archivist Series? The first book is Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0). Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) or click here for the full reading order.